Heavenly Inquisition Sword Novel - Chapter 186
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C186. No, You Must Know
Murim was engulfed in a calm before the storm.
No one was unaware that the war between the Yoomyung Cult and the Justice Alliance was imminent.
While the Justice Alliance organized a martial arts tournament in Nanjing, the Yoomyung Cult held an event in Zhengzhou. Both had gathered their best warriors in Nanjing and Zhengzhou, respectively.
The mood of the people shifted like the wind.
Those who boasted of connections with the Yoomyung Cult suddenly disappeared.
Simultaneously, strange phenomena began occurring throughout the region.
Taking advantage of the conflict between the Yoomyung Cult and the Justice Alliance, sects from both the righteous and demonic paths began to expand their influence.
———–
Cheonhwabang in Kaifeng was one such sect.
Seong Yi-wol, the Boss of Cheonhwabang, reached out toward Hwasang Village, which still had no clear owner.
Kaifeng.
Cheonhwabang.
Around noon.
In the spacious inner hall, four women were seated around a table, sipping tea.
The Boss Seong Yi-wol and the three division leaders were present.
Seong Yi-wol, a woman in her fifties, smiled as she encouraged the young division leaders.
“I know my ambition has caused you all much trouble. I am always grateful to you.”
Ju Hwa-yeong, the Leader of the Peony Division, responded with a smile.
“Don’t say that. Rather, we should be the ones thanking you. If not for you, we would still be selling smiles in teahouses.”
The other two division leaders nodded in agreement.
It was well known that the division leaders of Cheonhwabang came from teahouses.
Even Seong Yi-wol had been a courtesan before being trained in martial arts by a retired Murim master.
Later, she gathered young courtesans and founded Cheonhwabang.
Although the sect now also included male disciples from Haomun (Hao Sect), the name ‘Cheonhwa’ (Thousand Flowers) had lost some of its original meaning.
In the midst of the lively atmosphere, the division leaders presented their reports.
When it was Ju Hwa-yeong’s turn, everyone paid attention.
“Yesterday, I met the owner of the inn in Hwasang Village. He made excuses and refused our offer. So that night, I took action. We bought all the supplies from the village shops and signed a contract with Hapma Cheonggo to ensure they wouldn’t sell elsewhere. Soon, the inn will have to close.”
“Do you plan to acquire the inn?”
Ju Hwa-yeong shook her head at Seong Yi-wol’s question.
“There’s no need. There isn’t enough traffic in the village to justify an acquisition. I just wanted to scare him to raise the prices of supplies and protection fees. His attitude irritated me.”
“What exactly did he do?”
“That old man from a remote village turned out to be more ambitious than the owners of the houses in the city. First, he said he had few customers, then that he couldn’t decide alone because there were two owners. Cheap excuses.”
Su Ga-yeon, the Leader of the Rose Division, asked cautiously.
“Are you sure there’s no other sect backing him?”
“There isn’t. There’s no established sect in Hwasang Village, and no Murim warriors are seen around there.”
“Wow! Then that old man has a lot of audacity. What is he relying on to be so brazen?”
“That’s what I’m saying. That’s why I decided to teach him a lesson. An exemplary punishment so the other owners in the village will be easier to control.”
“Show no mercy until he begs.”
Go Eun, of the Camellia Division, added.
“Yes, our Cheonhwabang is more generous than other sects, and still, he rejected us.”
As the leaders exchanged comments, someone crossed the courtyard and approached the hall.
It was a male disciple guarding the entrance of Cheonhwabang.
“Leader, a boy from Hwasang Village is here to see you. He says he’s from the inn. What should we do?”
The leaders laughed in unison.
“Are they surrendering in just one day?”
“How exaggerated! I thought they’d hold out for at least a few days.”
“If they had accepted from the start… There are many who don’t understand kind words.”
When the laughter subsided, Seong Yi-wol nodded.
“Let him in.”
“Yes.”
Shortly after, the disciple returned with a boy of about twelve years old.
The boy, Sangdo, advanced timidly.
Ju Hwa-yeong recognized him immediately and adopted a stern expression.
“You’re the boy who works at the inn. Why are you seeking our Boss?”
“Ah, yes, the… the young master of our inn, Yeon Jeokha, has requested the Boss to come.”
“Who is Yeon Jeokha to request the presence of our Boss?”
“He’s someone who was swindled by some criminals.”
“What are you talking about?”
Ju Hwa-yeong frowned.
The story was nothing like what she had expected.
Sangdo summarized the recent events.
“…After that, Senior Shim went to find the swindlers, and only Yeon Jeokha remained at the inn.”
“So, that man who acted as the owner for a month asked to see our Boss?”
“Yes.”
Ju Hwa-yeong looked at Seong Yi-wol with a complicated expression.
She thought Nam Cho-gyeol was making up excuses, but it seemed he was telling the truth.
“Why would a man who isn’t even the owner want to see our Boss?”
“I don’t know.”
Sangdo couldn’t convey exactly what Yeon Jeokha had said and fell silent.
The three leaders said nothing.
It seemed they were being cautious because that Senior Shim could be a Murim warrior.
After a moment of silence, Seong Yi-wol spoke to Sangdo.
“I understand, you may go.”
“Yes.”
The male disciple took Sangdo away.
The hall fell into an uncomfortable silence.
After a long while, Seong Yi-wol spoke.
“The boy said that old man went to Kaifeng and returned with that merchant from the Mundok Chamber of Commerce in less than thirty minutes. That’s an incredible movement skill. Has anyone heard of that Old Shim?”
Ju Hwa-yeong, Su Ga-yeon, and Go Eun shook their heads.
They had less experience in Murim than the Boss.
Ju Hwa-yeong, hesitating, offered.
“Boss, should I go first to see this Yeon Jeokha?”
“No, if he specifically requested me, he must have a good reason. I will go myself.”
At Seong Yi-wol’s words, Ju Hwa-yeong fell silent.
Considering the skills of that Old Shim, it made sense for the Boss to handle it personally.
———————-
Bingke Teahouse.
“I said tell me where that woman is hiding! Damn it!”
Crash!
“Ah!”
The sounds of objects breaking and women screaming echoed through the teahouse.
Nok Dampyeong, the deputy leader of Sambobang, was turning the place upside down like a madman.
Bam! Bam! Crash!
The teahouse employees had gathered in a corner, silently watching the destruction.
After a month of this, they were used to the situation.
Nok Dampyeong, after causing yet another commotion, glared at the teahouse owner.
“Remember, don’t think I’ll give up. Until you tell me where that woman is, you won’t be able to do business. I’ll make sure of it. Understood?”
“Deputy leader, please, have mercy. We don’t know where Nam Su-gyeong is. It seems she fled in the night. How could we know?”
“No, you know. You must know. Find out. Find out where she’s fled to, even if you have to search all her acquaintances. Otherwise, you’ll have to shut down your business.”
“……”
Nok Dampyeong looked around with eyes full of murderous intent before leaving the teahouse.
Finally, the employees lifted the tables and cleaned up the mess.
An employee tried to console the dazed owner.
“At least this time, it took him seven days to return. It seems he’s spacing out his visits. Maybe he’ll stop soon.”
“Before that happens, I’ll die of anger.”
The teahouse owner cursed Nam Su-gyeong for leaving him with Nok Dampyeong.
Hwasang Village.
Around 3-5 PM.
A group of ten Murim warriors arrived at the village.
They were Seong Yi-wol, Boss of Cheonhwabang, three division leaders, and six disciples.
They crossed the village and headed towards the riverbank.
Soon, the inn appeared before them, and Son Gye-young, who had been guiding them, discreetly withdrew.
Seeing the inn, Seong Yi-wol murmured to herself.
“It’s small.”
Compared to the inns in Kaifeng, it was unimpressive.
That explained why Ju Hwa-yeong hadn’t wanted to acquire it.
Seung Yi-wol was displeased.
Larger matters had been resolved by the division leaders. Why did this matter require her intervention?
Silently cursing, Seong Yi-wol opened the inn’s door and entered.
“Welcom…e…”
Sangdo, who automatically greeted, was petrified.
Seeing the Boss of Cheonhwabang in person left him paralyzed.
Seong Yi-wol, sensing his fear, spoke.
“I’m here to see Yeon Jeokha. Where is he?”
“The young master is at Suicide Rock.”
“Suicide Rock?”
Frowning at the ominous name, Seong Yi-wol gestured to Sangdo.
“Take me to him.”
“What? Ah, yes.”
Sangdo, who had just come out of the woods, pointed ahead.
“He’s over there. Young Master!”
Seeing Yeon Jeokha, Sangdo tried to run towards him, but Seong Yi-wol stopped him.
“That’s enough. Return to the inn.”
“Yes.”
Sangdo, feeling relieved, quickly left.
With the boy gone, Seong Yi-wol and the other leaders slowly walked toward the rock.
Upon reaching the base of the rock, Seong Yi-wol and the three leaders leaped up.
Yeon Jeokha, sitting on the rock with his back to them, didn’t turn around.
Yeon Jeokha’s indifference made Ju Hwa-yeong frown.
“Hey, are you Yeon Jeokha?”
Suddenly, Yeon Jeokha raised a finger and brought it to his lips, signaling silence.
“Shh!”
He then resumed watching the river.
Confused, Seong Yi-wol and the other leaders looked where he was gazing.
The yellowish water flowed forcefully.
Alternating between the river and Yeon Jeokha, Seong Yi-wol was puzzled.
“Is he crazy?”
What could be more important than receiving the leaders of Cheonhwabang?
Unable to bear it any longer, Ju Hwa-yeong shouted:
“Are you deaf? I asked if you’re Yeon Jeokha!”
At that moment, a sword came out of the sheath beside Yeon Jeokha with a “Cheng!” sound.
The sword flew toward the river like an arrow and paused in the air before diving down like a hawk.
Ju Hwa-yeong, not understanding what had happened, stared at the river in confusion.
But Seong Yi-wol’s eyes were fixed on Yeon Jeokha’s right hand.
Especially the position of his finger, making a sword gesture.
“Could it be…?”
As if responding to her thoughts, Yeon Jeokha’s finger pointed to the sky.
Swish!
The sword emerged from the river, and a large carp was skewered on the blade.
With the carp still wriggling, the water glistened in the sunlight.
“Gasp! Did he catch a fish with Sword Control?”
Seong Yi-wol was astonished, unable to close her mouth.
Yeon Jeokha flicked his wrist, and the sword returned.
Swish!
The sword flew toward Ju Hwa-yeong.
“Ah!”
Screaming in fear, Ju Hwa-yeong dropped to the ground.
The sword passed over her head, turned, and landed softly beside Yeon Jeokha.
Thud. Thud.
The carp was still wriggling, its movements causing the sword hilt to tap against the rock.
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