SYM 102
by Emerlyn“Eldest Senior Brother was merely interested because your energy is similar to those who studied in Kunlun. Eldest Senior Brother has always been enthusiastic about Martial Arts research.”
“…Master seems to think highly of Head Jeong-hyeon.”
Eun-hyeon nodded at Cheong-un’s words.
Regardless of whether he had any ulterior motives towards Eldest Senior Brother, Eldest Senior Brother was a respectable person.
“Of course, Eldest Senior Brother is the very image of a righteous gentleman from the orthodox Faction, as if painted in a picture.”
Eun-hyeon recalled Jeong-hyeon from today and spoke.
Jeong-hyeon’s appearance was the image of an orthodox Martial World warrior that Eun-hyeon once aspired to be. Prioritizing righteousness over personal desires, being upright and impeccable.
“I know that not all orthodox Faction people follow righteousness. For example, the Namgung Clan and other aristocratic families prioritize their family and clan over righteousness.”
As aristocratic families were formed by blood ties, their bonds were strong, but they were also more worldly.
On the other hand, the Nine Sects tended to value righteousness and greater causes, but their internal politics were fierce.
“Eldest Senior Brother is a disciple of the Sword clan who has devoted his life to Taoism without marrying. How can one not respect such a person?”
Eun-hyeon finished speaking and subtly observed Cheong-un’s reaction. He expected Cheong-un to be disgusted and make a fuss, but surprisingly, Cheong-un remained still.
“So that’s how you see him, Master. As a Taoist-like Taoist, an upright and impeccable righteous gentleman.”
“Then how did you see him? Did he seem like a greedy orthodox Faction Martial World warrior to you?”
Cheong-un shook his head at Eun-hyeon’s words.
“Of course not. I saw him that way too. He is someone who came running at once without hesitation after receiving a troublesome request from the Martial Arts Alliance Leader. He seemed like a respected Master to his disciples.”
Eun-hyeon nodded.
“However.”
Cheong-un paused for a moment.
“That’s why I was suspicious.”
“Huh?”
“Isn’t the righteous gentleman that the orthodox Faction speaks of like a fleeting moon reflected on the river? It seems visible, but when you reach out, it’s just an illusion.”
Eun-hyeon was momentarily speechless.
He couldn’t think of anything to refute Cheong-un’s calm words.
“The more perfect he seems on the outside, the more suspicious I am. Why didn’t such a perfect righteous gentleman come to see you, Master? It wasn’t that far away.”
Eun-hyeon’s heart stung as if pierced by a sharp awl at Cheong-un’s words.
It was a question he himself couldn’t bring himself to voice.
Eldest Senior Brother must have known that he was in the Tian Shan area. He had encountered Kunlun disciples several times when he went to the village below the mountain to buy daily necessities.
But why hadn’t he come to see him even once?
Was it because he didn’t want to displease Master? Or was it because his existence was only worth that much to Eldest Senior Brother?
“I don’t believe in righteous gentlemen in the orthodox Faction. Humans are actually not that different from each other. I am suspicious of that person.”
Eun-hyeon had nothing more to say.
Cheong-un seemed to understand all of Eun-hyeon’s thoughts and continued.
“I was rude last night. Even though I knew that nothing happened between him and you, Master, I was blinded by jealousy. I was even more jealous because I couldn’t reach the time you spent with him.”
Just then, the carriage made a loud noise as if it had hit a rock. Cheong-un caught Eun-hyeon, who was about to fall forward.
“But I can’t shake off my suspicion.”
“…Cheong-un. Yes, perhaps Eldest Senior Brother is not the righteous gentleman I think he is, as you said. But that doesn’t mean he’s a suspicious person.”
Cheong-un chuckled softly at Eun-hyeon’s words.
“You have always trusted people like that, Master.”
Eun-hyeon had been like that before. He never got angry at the merchants who charged him twice as much money.
But he was different. He felt relieved only when he repaid what he received many times over. So he later went around finding and taking revenge on the humans who had scammed Master. That was Cheong-un’s hobby.
But his Master, who had returned from death, was still the same as he remembered.
He was too young to interfere back then, but now it was different.
Cheong-un reached out and brushed Eun-hyeon’s hair back. The corners of his mouth unknowingly lifted at the touch of his Master’s skin after a long time.
“You can just stay still in that spot, Master. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“…Cheong-un?”
“Since you like righteous gentlemen, Master, I’ll just have to weed out and eliminate them until only righteous gentlemen remain in front of you.”
Eun-hyeon felt a chill run down his spine at the sight of Cheong-un’s smiling face.
After that, the two talked about what to do in the future.
Eun-hyeon no longer mentioned Jeong-hyeon. Now was the time to focus on the Hongbaek Sect.
“Cheong-un, now that I think about it, I didn’t hear where you were going. Where are you planning to go?”
“I’m planning to go to the Third Prince’s palace.”
“Third Prince!”
He couldn’t believe that he had completely forgotten about such a suspicious person until he heard Cheong-un’s words.
“That’s right, there was the Third Prince. I don’t know why I forgot about the Third Prince. Wasn’t the Third Prince’s residence on the list given by the Beggar Clan?”
“It wasn’t included in the Beggar Clan’s information.”
“Did I tell Father about the Third Prince?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“Why?”
“I’m cautious about bringing up stories about the Imperial family without solid evidence, and above all, I can’t trust the orthodox Faction people.”
“What does that mean…! Weren’t we supposed to join forces to stop the Hongbaek Sect?”
“I cooperated on the matter of the antidote, so now we have to move separately. I have no intention of entrusting my back to the orthodox Faction guys. For example, Namgung Juwon, even that guy.”
Eun-hyeon flinched involuntarily at Cheong-un’s sharp gaze.
“He’s acting like he cares about you now, but who knows how long that will last? For example, if he finds out that it’s not Namgung Eun-hyeon who’s occupying Namgung Eun-hyeon’s body, but you, Master, how will he react?”
Eun-hyeon felt a chill run down his spine at Cheong-un’s point.
What would Namgung Juwon, who had a strong attachment to his blood relatives, do if he knew that a completely different person was occupying his son’s body?
Cheong-un brought up a story that he had been secretly ignoring. Eun-hyeon bit his lip tightly.
Cheong-un looked at Eun-hyeon and slowly continued.
“So I can’t trust the orthodox Faction guys. They’ll change their position like paper as soon as the situation changes.”
“But… everyone will join forces on the matter of the Hongbaek Sect.”
“I can’t trust that either. The mistress of the aristocratic family has been infiltrated by the Hongbaek Sect and is playing the role of a spy, and the prince is related to the Hongbaek Sect. In this situation, anyone can be a spy for the Hongbaek Sect. For now, I can’t trust anyone other than the Demonic Sect people who were born and raised in the Demonic Sect.”
Eun-hyeon was truly speechless this time.
Outside the swaying carriage, a huge fortress wall could be seen.
“Master, what should we do when we reach the fortress wall soon?”
Then Yoon Ju-myeong’s voice, who was driving the carriage, was heard.
Yoon Ju-myeong was calling Cheong-un “Master” in places where others could hear.
“Can you guys get over there?”
“It’s impossible during the day.”
Eun-hyeon was quite surprised at Yoon Ju-myeong’s words that it was impossible during the day.
Yoon Ju-myeong and the other Amhon freely crossed the fortress walls of Hefei and Xi’an as if they didn’t exist. But this was the first time he had said it was difficult since coming to Beijing.
“Okay. Then I’ll get out of the carriage and walk in. I’ll be at Number One Building Under Heaven for now, so come there. Be careful not to get caught by the Eastern Depot or the Brocade Guard.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Soon the carriage stopped, and Cheong-un and Eun-hyeon got out of the carriage.
A huge fortress wall was spread out before their eyes.
“It won’t be a problem for you and me to go inside, Master. You haven’t learned Martial Arts, and I’ll lower my Martial Arts level to the level of a second-rate Martial Arts warrior. Let’s match the words as the Young Master of the Namgung Clan’s bodyguard.”
“Bodyguard?”
“Please call me Bodyguard Cheong-un.”
Cheong-un smiled brightly.
Eun-hyeon stared blankly at the huge fortress wall built of bricks. He had a feeling that it would be difficult to get in here, but it wouldn’t be easy to get out either.