SYM 38

It referred to the techniques used to handle corpses.

There were only two places known throughout the Central Plains where one could create an undead: the Mosan Sect and the Hongbaek Sect.

The Mosan Sect was a legitimate martial arts faction, but due to its association with undead techniques, it had a negative reputation among the general public. However, since it was a Sect with a very limited transmission of knowledge, encountering a Mosan practitioner was akin to plucking a star from the sky. Moreover, even when they were occasionally encountered, they did not cause harm to others, so the public perception of the Mosan Sect was not particularly bad. In fact, there was even a belief that meeting a Mosan practitioner brought good fortune.

The real problem with undeads arose from the Hongbaek Sect.

The Hongbaek Sect had emerged about 200 years ago.

Two hundred years ago, a man with a face as pale as a pear blossom and lips that looked as if they had been painted with a brush appeared, calling himself Hongbaek. He claimed to be the savior who would save the world. Due to his bizarre appearance, there were not many who believed and followed him as the leader of the Hongbaek Sect.

Then, in one particular year, there were unusually many natural disasters.

In spring, there was a severe drought; in summer, torrential rains poured down. In autumn, a great earthquake occurred, splitting the ground open and swallowing all the grains. In winter, an unprecedented blizzard followed.

As disasters increased that could not be dealt with by human power, people began to seek out Hongbaek, who had called themseve a savior. During this time, Hongbaek demonstrated the ability to save people using undeads, and a fervor for the Hongbaek Sect arose like wild grass.

The Hongbaek Sect grew rapidly enough to be monitored by the imperial palace.

The problem arose next. Hongbaek Sect began to collect the corpses of those who had died from natural disasters and turned them into undead. While the Mosan Sect could at most create one or two undeads, the Hongbaek Sect produced countless numbers. The undeads created in this manner became Hongbaek’s guards.

Seeing this as a threat, the imperial palace attempted to suppress the Hongbaek Sect, but by then, the Hongbaek Sect already commanded an army of tens of thousands of undead. To confront this undead army, the righteous Sects united their strength, and even the imperial army joined in.

However, it was a difficult task to face an army of undeads that did not eat, sleep, or fear injury. Ultimately, only after countless lives were lost could they capture the Hongbaek Sect.

This was the reason why people still shuddered and looked down upon undeads.

But now, undead had appeared in Hefei City. This was no ordinary matter.

“Does the Namgung family head know about this?”

“Since the Madam invited me, the Namgung family head must already be aware. The appearance of undeads in the world is no trivial matter.”

Eun-hyeon thought that despite Yeo Muho’s words, there was a high probability that Namgung Juwon was unaware of this matter.

If undeads truly had appeared in Hefei, it was something that needed to be reported to the Martial Arts Alliance and Beijing. It was not something that could be resolved solely by the Namgung family. However, it was unreasonable to think that the mere fact of undeads appearing meant that the Hongbaek Sect had resurfaced.

“Young Hero Yeo, about those undeads… Could they possibly be undeads created by another Sect of the Mosan Sect?”

At Eun-hyeon’s words, Yeo Muho chuckled and set down his cup with a thud.

“Young Hero Ha, do you think I wouldn’t recognize a Mosan undead? Of course, within the Mosan Sect, the techniques for handling undeads are divided into several types depending on the master, but it is impossible not to recognize them. How could a person not know whether the hand attached to their arm is their own or someone else’s?”

From Yeo Muho’s attitude, it seemed clear that undeads existed. But if those undeads were not from the Mosan Sect…?

The undeads of the Hongbaek Sect had been barely exterminated through the combined efforts of the entire martial world and the government. If the undeads of the Hongbaek Sect had reemerged in the world, it would truly be the worst-case scenario.

“Then where on earth were they created? Could it be…?”

Yeo Muho shook his head at Eun-hyeon’s words.

“It’s too early to make a conclusion. Although it is not widely known, there are very small Sects that research undead techniques. That is why the Madam called for me.”

“Then where do you think they were created, Young Hero Yeo?”

“I’m embarrassed to say, but I have no idea. From the start, they were not complete. I couldn’t tell if the technique was wrong and they couldn’t move, or if the creation itself was flawed. But there’s no need to worry too much. It seems that others are also researching it.”

“Young Hero Yeo, what do you mean by that? There are others?”

Eun-hyeon was taken aback by the mention of others. However, sensing Eun-hyeon’s surprise, Yeo Muho shook his head.

“Ah, I didn’t intend to say this much, but I’ve said too much. They say that too many words shorten one’s life. Young Hero YHa, I apologize, but please forget what I said today.”

Having met a familiar young friend while feeling lonely at the Namgung family, he had inadvertently shared too much.

Yeo Muho realized too late that he had spoken too freely.

“Wait, Young Hero Yeo…!”

“Ah, Young Great Hero Ha. Doesn’t everyone only have one life? It seems I’ve been telling stories that hasten my demise today. Just forget about it.”

Just as Eun-hyeon frowned and tried to grab Yeo Muho, a figure appeared behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Ah…!”

Yeo Muho was so startled that he nearly jumped up like a grasshopper. If it hadn’t been for the hand on his shoulder, he likely would have.

“W-who are you! Who are you to…!”

Perhaps because he had just said something he shouldn’t have, Yeo Muho reacted even more violently. But upon confirming who was behind him, he felt as if his jaw had dropped.

“…White-Robed Divine Dragon?”

“It seems even more delightful to see you here, Young Hero Yeo.”

Yeo Muho felt dizzy.

It was a relief that the one who had grabbed him was not the Madam, but White-Robed Divine Dragon!

Holding the fan that had now become his symbol, Ha Yeo-un smiled brightly at both Yeo Muho and Eun-hyeon.

The chill in that smile made Yeo Muho feel as if his insides had dropped.

“Ah, did you perhaps hear what I said earlier…? Surely White-Robed Divine Dragon wouldn’t eavesdrop on someone else’s conversation? That can’t be…!”

Yeo Muho muttered with a desperate wish, but Ha Yeo-un only smiled in response.

At that meaningful smile, Yeo Muho’s face turned sorrowful.

“It’s a bit disappointing to be called ‘someone else.’ I just happened to pass by and saw a familiar face, so I stopped by. But it seems you two are having a very important conversation.”

“W-White-Robed Divine Dragon. That is, um…”

Yeo Muho trembled and turned his gaze away.

“I would like to hear that important conversation as well.”

Ha Yeo-un lightly tapped Yeo Muho’s shoulder with the fan he was holding.

At that, Yeo Muho sat down in a bizarre posture, as if someone were pulling him down. It was clear to anyone that it was not of his own volition.

“Instead, I will take care of the drinks and food.”

Without waiting for Yeo Muho’s response, Ha Yeo-un took a seat next to him. Holding the fan, he called for the waiter and ordered food.

“I skipped breakfast this morning, so I’m starving. Give me a Kung Pao Chicken and a bowl of noodles, quick. And it looks like we’re out of alcohol, so bring some of that too.”

After finishing his order, Ha Yeo-un smiled as he looked at Yeo Muho and Eun-hyeon.

Eun-hyeon flinched and averted his gaze without realizing it. He hadn’t done anything wrong to Ha Yeo-un, but it felt awkward to have been caught sneaking out of the family. Moreover, Yeo Muho didn’t seem to know who he was.

Just as those thoughts crossed his mind, Ha Yeo-un spoke up.

“It’s even more delightful to meet you here. The Eldest Young Master.”

Eun-hyeon let out a deep sigh.

This time, Yeo Muho’s eyes widened in surprise as he looked at Eun-hyeon.

“I didn’t mean to deceive you, and I apologize. I am Namgung Eun-hyeon.”

As he spoke, Eun-hyeon shot a glare at Ha Yeo-un.

Yeo Muho must have realized that he didn’t know who he was. It was clear that he was doing it on purpose.

“The Eldest Young Master…”

Before the topic of undead came up, Yeo Muho had been chattering away about the relationship between Namgung Juwon and the Eldest Young Master, but now he turned pale.

“Now, now, let’s set that aside and talk about something truly important. So, where are those undeads?”

“Th-that is…”

Yeo Muho’s face fell as Ha Yeo-un’s sudden intrusion caught him off guard.

Yeo Muho had been comfortably conversing with a young friend, only to find out that he was the eldest young master of the Namgung family, and now Ha Yeo-un had overheard something he shouldn’t have said. He truly felt like crying.

He should have just stayed with the corpse and kept quiet, no matter how frustrated he was.

He went outside for nothing and lost everything, and now he was even in danger of losing his life.

“Rather than thinking of anything else, it would be best to speak honestly as it is.”

Ha Yeo-un smiled as he picked up the bottle of alcohol that the waiter had brought and filled his glass.

It was a refreshing smile for a blackmailer.