Heavenly Inquisition Sword Novel - Chapter 212
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Chapter 212: The World is Wide and There Are Many Men
Kaifeng, Hwasang Village.
After breakfast, Yeon Jeokha didn’t head out to the cliff as usual but stayed lounging at the inn.
The waiter, who was cleaning the tables, approached timidly.
“Young Master, aren’t you going to the cliff today?”
“Why? Does my presence here bother you?”
“No, it’s not that.”
“But it seems like it does.”
“Oh no! How could that be? I was just wondering why you didn’t go since you always do.”
“I need to rest sometimes too.”
“Weren’t you going there to rest?”
“How can a person rest in just one place? To truly rest, you have to move around.”
While Yeon Jeokha was chatting idly with the waiter, Nam Su-gyeong came down from the second floor and was surprised to see him.
“Oh! What wind blows today that has you watching over the inn? Did you stay because it’s cold? But you don’t feel the cold.”
Nam Su-gyeong sat across from him as she spoke. That was the difference between her and the waiter, who was standing with a cloth in hand.
Seeing that Nam Su-gyeong was willing to chat, the waiter discreetly retreated.
“Come on, tell me. Why haven’t you gone out today and are just sitting here worrying about something?”
“Am I a puppy to be whining?”
“Then, don’t you want my advice?”
Yeon Jeokha, looking distractedly elsewhere, said offhandedly, “They say I have a living maternal uncle, along with half-siblings.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“And?”
Nam Su-gyeong showed interest. If Yeon Jeokha was worried about the conflict between the Yoomyung Cult and the Justice Alliance, she had nothing to say. But if it was a family matter, it was different. She could offer her support as a friend.
“When Shim Tong returns, I was thinking of going to visit him. But the longer I wait, the less he comes.”
“Ah! So, you’re debating whether to go alone or not?”
“More or less.”
“Why are you worrying so much about it? Master Shim is not a child. He can wait a few days. Whether you wait for him or he waits for you, it’s the same, isn’t it?”
“Oh? Hearing it like that, it makes sense.”
Yeon Jeokha’s eyes brightened.
Now that he thought about it, there was no difference between him waiting for Shim Tong or Shim Tong waiting for him.
“Did that help?”
“Yes. A lot.”
“Haha! I’m glad. Where does your uncle live?”
“In Seokjang Village, in Jeongju (Zhengzhou).”
“When Master Shim returns, I’ll tell him you went to see your uncle. Don’t worry and go with peace of mind.”
“Can I really do that?”
Though he had already made up his mind, Yeon Jeokha timidly asked if it was okay.
This was what Shim Tong always said was his delicate side.
Nam Su-gyeong spoke as if she didn’t understand why he was asking that.
“Of course, you can. You’re not going on a trip, you’re going to see your family. Master Shim will understand. If you don’t go first, he’ll reproach you for waiting so long.”
“Right? Then I’ll ask the cook to prepare some food to take with me. I might have to camp outside.”
“Don’t worry about that, I’ll prepare it. You just pack your bags.”
“You’ll do that? Thanks.”
Yeon Jeokha stood up and went upstairs to pack his bags. The thought of meeting his uncle and his family filled him with joy.
Jiangsu Province, Suzhou, Sugu Village
The Grand Canal, which flows quietly alongside the village, hadn’t frozen over yet in the middle of winter. Several boats navigated the canal that passed through Suzhou.
Around noon, the road parallel to the canal became crowded. Three hundred and fifty members of the Demon Extermination Unit, along with about fifty merchants following them, filled the path.
The leader, the Great Swordmaster Lee Euijung, had delegated the lead to about thirty members of the group and was walking with the main group. Walking beside him were the leader of the Cheongseong Sect, Taoist Wonyang, and the leader of the Quanzhen Sect, Master Wujong.
The Leader of the Uicheon Sect, Virtue Swordsman Lee Yeon-ik, was marching at the rear with the sect’s disciples, looking after his children. Most of the sects had brought their direct descendants to this war against the Yoomyung Cult. Not only because it was an essential experience for them, but also because their skills were superior to those of other members.
Lee Yeonik, the Leader of the Uicheon Sect, had also brought his two sons and daughter. As he walked with his children, he glanced at his youngest daughter, Lee Somin, who was chatting animatedly with a young woman named So-kyo from Luoyang.
“They say she’s the daughter of the leader of the Cheongun Pavilion.”
In the Demon Extermination Unit, there weren’t many girls her age, so they became friends.
The eldest son, Lee Woo-shin, spoke in a low voice, “Her name is So-kyo. They say she handles most of the affairs of the Cheongun Pavilion. She’s much better than those slackers from the Five Heroes of Luoyang.”
“Are the Five Heroes of Luoyang here too?”
“Yes, they say they came for revenge.”
“Why aren’t they with them?”
“It seems the daughter of Waryong Manor is in the Chamber of Commerce. They don’t have women to associate with, so they feel uncomfortable.”
“That’s good. This is not the place to seek fame.”
“Do you think even the Seven Great Sects will have trouble against them?”
“The average skill is similar to other bandits. The ones we need to watch out for are the Demon Warriors and the Great Demon Generals.”
Lee Yeon-ik raised his left arm with the loose sleeve, showing his stump.
“I was wounded by the Swordsman of Chaos, Cheok Jingyeong. He was one of the Three Elders of Nokrim, but with his sword control technique, he was a formidable opponent.”
“Do you think Grandpa can face the Great Demon Generals?”
“Cheok Jingyeong was formidable, but not as much as your grandfather. If the other Great Demon Generals are of similar level, your grandfather can defeat them.”
“Then can we be at ease?”
“At ease? Can you say that looking at your father’s severed arm?”
“….”
“Although Commander Jegal ignored the reports from the Zhengzhou branch, your grandfather and I do not. At that time, the branch was with Yeon Jeokha. If the Demon Warriors used magic, Yeon Jeokha would have known.”
“It seems you and Grandpa value Yeon Jeokha highly.”
Lee Woo-shin didn’t like that. After all, Yeon Jeokha was nothing more than a bandit. Yet his father and grandfather constantly praised him.
“Your grandfather doesn’t say things without reason. If he acknowledges Yeon Jeokha, it’s for something. So, don’t think about taking risks. If I tell you to retreat, take Somin and leave. Understand?”
“Yes.”
Lee Woo-shin reluctantly replied, frowning. He felt that his father and grandfather were overvaluing a mere twenty-one-year-old.
Lee Woo-shin received silent consolation from his brother Lee Woo-jin, who also seemed to understand his frustration.
While Lee Somin was walking alongside So-kyo, a tall young man with a broad sword approached.
“Miss Lee, the canal hasn’t frozen yet, it’s beautiful, don’t you think?”
Lee Somin turned her head slightly. The young man was Peng Gakmyeong, the heir of the Peng Family, one of the Four Great Families.
She looked uncomfortably at So-kyo. It was embarrassing that he only spoke to her when she was with her friend.
So-kyo smiled calmly, showing no signs of discomfort. She didn’t expect someone from the Peng Family to take an interest in someone from the Cheongun Pavilion. In that sense, Lee Somin was kind to be her friend.
Lee Somin sighed lightly. Peng Gakmyeong had shown interest in her since Nanjing, but he didn’t impress her. Perhaps because she already felt something for Yeon Jeokha, other men didn’t catch her attention.
“I haven’t noticed the scenery; I’m too worried about the Yoomyung Cult. When you face them, you won’t have time to admire the landscape either.”
“The Yoomyung Cult? Do you mean those third-rate thugs? Our family has killed several of their members, didn’t you know?”
Lee Somin slightly frowned. How could she know what the Peng Family was doing in the capital when they were in Nanjing?
“We’re facing their main force, not their stragglers.”
“Ha! If their stragglers are like that, they won’t be a match for the five masters of our family. Why don’t we have lunch together?”
“I’m sorry, I already agreed to have lunch with Miss So.”
Lee Somin politely declined Peng Gakmyeong’s offer. Although he seemed a bit disappointed, he didn’t give up.
“Ah, I see. Can I join you then? It’s good for battle companions to eat together. Miss So, is that alright with you?”
Peng Gakmyeong looked at So-kyo with persuasive eyes. As the heir of the Peng Family, So-kyo couldn’t refuse.
“I don’t mind. If Miss Lee agrees, it’s fine.”
Peng Gakmyeong quickly turned to Lee Somin, “Miss So agrees.”
But Lee Somin wasn’t a girl easily impressed. She didn’t want to be the center of gossip, especially not with someone she wasn’t interested in.
“I’m sorry, but I’m a bit sensitive and can’t eat with strangers.”
Hearing her firm refusal, Peng Gakmyeong shrugged with resignation.
“What a shame. Then, maybe we can have lunch together later. See you.”
Peng Gakmyeong made a slight bow only to Lee Somin and withdrew. She covered her mouth with one hand and whispered to So-kyo.
“What poor manners. Eating with him would give me indigestion.”
“Hehe. Don’t worry about me, it’s fine.”
So-kyo thought that Lee Somin had rejected Peng Gakmyeong because of her, not knowing it was because she wasn’t interested.
“It’s not that. I don’t want there to be rumors with him.”
“Why? Isn’t he a good match?”
Lee Somin smiled.
“So-kyo, it seems you haven’t met many people yet. The world is wide, and there are many men.”
Although they seemed at peace, it was just a facade. Even in times of war, love and new lives continued to bloom.
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