SYM 40

Eun-hyeon let out a sigh. 

“I don’t think that kind of talk is important in this situation…”

His head was spinning.

What kind of conversation was this, when there was such a serious situation with an undead not made by the Mosan Sect roaming the Central Plains?

“The fact that there’s an undead not made by the Mosan Sect in the Central Plains seems like a far more important matter.”

“Well. I see it differently.”

“Then, you’re saying that what kind of relationship we have is more important than that?!”

Eun-hyeon shouted with a reddened face, but Ha Yeo-un merely chewed on the food the waiter had brought with an indifferent expression.

“I don’t understand why the Young Master is so worried when it was Madam Hwang who invited the Mosan Sect Taoist to the Namgung Clan. Hasn’t the Sect already brought someone in to resolve this?”

Suddenly, Eun-hyeon fell silent.

Although Madam Hwang hadn’t been a good stepmother to him, thinking she had ill intentions with the undead was merely his own speculation. Hadn’t Yeo Muho also said he came to the Namgung Sect at Madam Hwang’s invitation to study the undead?

“Or does the Young Master think he can handle matters better than the sect’s matriarch? Oh my, I didn’t realize the Young Master was such an impressive person!”

His blood pressure seemed to rise at Ha Yeo-un’s sarcastic remarks.

“It seems you’re quite determined to corner me today, Great Hero Ha.”

He had always struggled with low blood pressure, but talking with Ha Yeo-un today made him feel like his low blood pressure had been completely cured.

“Haha, if I were really trying to corner you, would I have done just this much?”

What more could he possibly do here? Just imagining it made his head dizzy.

“I understand well what you mean, Great Hero Ha. I know I’m not that remarkable a person. However, having heard such information, it seems difficult as a human being to simply pretend not to know.”

“Difficult to pretend not to know, is it? Then what do you plan to do? Will you go directly to Madam Hwang and ask?”

“That wouldn’t be possible. If I were to ask, she would be even less likely to answer.”

Eun-hyeon showed a troubled expression at Ha Yeo-un’s words before taking a moment to collect himself.

“…I’m not sure if I should say this, but truthfully, I suspect Madam Hwang. In fact, from the moment Young Hero Yeo mentioned her name, I thought she probably hadn’t called him with good intentions.”

Ha Yeo-un flicked his fan as if telling him to continue.

“I suspect Madam Hwang because if the Sect Leader knew about this matter, he wouldn’t have entrusted such instructions to her. Both Madam Hwang and I lack martial arts ability. Even though her family is wealthy, they’re not a martial arts family. He wouldn’t have entrusted a matter that should involve the Martial Alliance to Madam Hwang. If he had entrusted it to Eun-gwang, that I could understand.”

Ha Yeo-un nodded. He had been thinking the same thing. It was highly suspicious that Madam Hwang was quietly handling a matter that wouldn’t have been surprising for Namgung Juwon to handle directly.

“Then what does the Young Master think Madam Hwang’s intentions are?”

“…Well. I think there might be two possibilities. Thinking optimistically, she might be doing this to direct credit toward Eun-gwang.”

Eun-hyeon hoped it was this. The thought that the Hongbaek Sect, which was thought to have disappeared, might be showing its demon horns again was truly terrifying.

“Then what’s the other possibility?”

Eun-hyeon let out a long sigh.

“The worst-case scenario. The possibility that Madam Hwang has joined hands with the Hongbaek Sect. I hope that’s not the case…”

Eun-hyeon sincerely hoped Madam Hwang hadn’t allied with the Hongbaek Sect.

The Hongbaek Sect was publicly condemned by all factions – righteous, evil, and demonic alike.

If it became known that she had joined hands with the Hongbaek Sect, even if it was her independent action, it would ultimately damage the Namgung Sect as well.

It would be fortunate if it was just the discovery of remaining undead artifacts from the cult, but if not, they had to assume the worst.

“Seeing how your mind works, you don’t seem quite so foolish after all…”

Eun-hyeon frowned, sensing what the unfinished statement implied.

“Young Master. I agree with your opinion. But to understand what’s really going on, we should first verify the undead that’s supposedly in the Namgung Clan.”

“…Yes. But even the Mosan Sect disciple couldn’t determine the undead’s origin exactly. Would anyone else be able to tell?”

Ha Yeo-un smirked. His face was full of confident smiles.

Eun-hyeon, somehow finding that face annoying, subtly turned his head away.

“Ask me for help.”

“…What?”

“Young Master. You need to learn this – that you can’t handle everything by yourself. Unless you’re as capable as I am, which you’re not.”

Eun-hyeon deeply furrowed his brows at Ha Yeo-un’s words.

Ha Yeo-un reached out and rubbed the wrinkles between Eun-hyeon’s brows. Eun-hyeon tried to back away, but was trapped against a pillar with nowhere to move.

Ha Yeo-un silently continued rubbing with his finger until Eun-hyeon’s furrowed brows smoothed out.

Finally, Eun-hyeon couldn’t help but smile. How could one not laugh at Ha Yeo-un’s serious face as he rubbed between his brows? Only when Ha Yeo-un saw Eun-hyeon smile did he smile as well.

Eun-hyeon drew in a short breath. He couldn’t understand why his heart was racing at the sight of Ha Yeo-un’s smile.

“Eun-hyeon, say it. Ask for help.”

It was the first time Ha Yeo-un, who always referred to him as Young Master, had called him by name.

Eun-hyeon, unsure what expression to make, ended up turning his head away.

His heart fluttered. Though this Ha Yeo-un was clearly Cheong-un, his disciple, why was his heart pounding so wildly for his disciple?

“It’s not difficult. You’re worried about the Central Plains, aren’t you? Just one word asking for help, and I’ll help you.”

“…Please help me.”

“Of course.”

Hearing Ha Yeo-un’s response, Eun-hyeon found himself smiling unconsciously.

The thoughts that had been complicating his mind had somehow vanished.

* * *

“Why didn’t Amhon report about the undead?”

“…I apologize.”

“Ju-myeong. Lately, I find myself growing increasingly disappointed with Amhon.”

“F-forgive me! I shall atone for this sin with my life…”

Yoon Ju-myeong, the leader of Amhon, knocked his head against the floor at Cheong-un’s calm voice. Though his forehead swelled and blood trickled down, Yoon Ju-myeong didn’t stop until Cheong-un raised his hand.

For this matter, he would have no defense even if he were beheaded.

He never imagined Madam Hwang would be hiding an undead.

Part of his carelessness stemmed from her being a civilian who, though cunning, wasn’t from a martial arts family and knew no martial arts. Who could have thought she’d have connections to the Hongbaek Sect?

“Remember that this is truly your last chance.”

“Yes, Master! I will keep it in mind! I will do my utmost to ensure such mistakes never happen again!”

Yoon Ju-myeong firmly resolved to personally oversee Amhon’s training from today. Clearly, their discipline had grown lax lately, resulting in such shameful failures.

“First find out where Madam Hwang is hiding the undead. And who those others are that the Mosan Sect Taoist mentioned. You need to approach this prepared to find everything – what she ate, who she met, down to a single strand of her hair.”

“I will ensure you are never disappointed again.”

Cheong-un smirked as he watched Yoon Ju-myeong speak with wide eyes.

“Ju-myeong. You absolutely must. If another mistake occurs, I will return to the Cult and replace all of the Amhon Unit, including you.”

“…Yes, Master.”

Replacement in the Amhon Unit only comes through death. It meant that if such a thing happened again, all of the Amhon Unit would retire through death.

When Cheong-un learned that the Amhon Unit had missed this matter of the undead, he was genuinely furious. It was unforgivable to miss such a major issue. Eun-hyeon could have been in danger because of this. Given his personality, he wouldn’t stay quiet after learning about something connected to the Hongbaek Sect.

When Cheong-un fixed his cold eyes on the Amhon leader Yoon Ju-myeong, he flinched and lowered his head deeply.

Cheong-un decided that upon returning to the Demon Cult, he would personally train each member of the Amhon Unit, starting with Yoon Ju-myeong.

The current Amhon members were wholly inadequate as Eun-hyeon’s guards. Eun-hyeon was unbelievably weak, liable to trip over his own feet at the slightest breeze. Yet with his personality that would surely confront injustice when he saw it, it was crucial to prevent such situations from occurring in the first place.

Once back at the Cult, he would drill and drill the Amhon members until their martial arts improved by at least one level. Since he had spared those who begged for death, this time he would make them beg for death.

Cheong-un nodded as he entertained these malicious thoughts.

“Ju-myeong, contact the Cult and summon the Asura Demon.”

“The… the Asura Demon?”

Yoon Ju-myeong’s face turned pale.