Heavenly Inquisition Sword Novel - Chapter 266
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Chapter 266: I’m a Man Too
Chilriha Village.
Midnight (11:00 PM).
In the eastern region of the Sage of Heaven and Earth Alliance, where the members of the Evil Faction resided, only one house remained illuminated at this late hour.
“Damn it. Why do I have to be left alone at a time like this?”
Baek Gyo, the Invisible Hand, paced nervously around the room, his face filled with worry.
The Jeokpung Stronghold had left for Five Peaks Mountain two days ago, leaving the neighboring houses empty. Although there were other strongholds around, he couldn’t let his guard down.
It wasn’t as if Jegal Seun was just a mere scholar. He knew he was an expert far superior to him, and he couldn’t afford to be careless. He had decided not to visit the taverns or brothels for a while. He didn’t want to end up dead like Namrin.
At that moment, he heard a faint noise in the yard. He cautiously approached the door, trying to listen more carefully.
Soon, he heard a soft clearing of the throat.
“Hum.”
Although the visitor had arrived stealthily, they didn’t seem to be an assassin.
“Damn it. What a scare.”
Baek Gyo relaxed slightly and stepped into the yard.
In the moonlight, he saw an unfamiliar man.
“Who are you?”
“I bring a message.”
“From whom?”
The man pointed towards the Sage of Heaven and Earth Alliance.
At this hour, only Jegal Seun could send a message from there.
“As expected, the Jegal are meticulous. They won’t leave any traces of evidence.”
Baek Gyo walked down to the yard and observed the man. Seeing that he wasn’t armed, he felt a bit more at ease.
Then the man pulled something out from his tunic and handed it to Baek Gyo.
Baek Gyo examined the object before taking it. It was a bundle of promissory notes.
“Damn it. Why don’t you use your mouth to talk?”
Grumbling, Baek Gyo took the notes and quickly verified the amount.
Thirty thousand nyang.
Baek Gyo’s face twisted in displeasure. Twenty thousand were missing from the fifty thousand they had agreed upon.
“Hey, man! The money is short.”
“This is what they could gather for now. The rest will be given to you in three days. Just wait a bit longer.”
Had Baek Gyo met the man during the day or if he had been a more skilled expert, he would have noticed the man’s expression was strange. But the night was deep, and Baek Gyo hadn’t reached the pinnacle of his skill.
“Three days, huh? Fine. Tell them if they’re late by even a day, I’ll go to the patrol.”
“Understood.”
The man bowed and turned away.
Baek Gyo watched him until he disappeared from sight. Thirty thousand taels of silver was a large sum of money. He couldn’t afford to relax for even a moment.
Back in his room, Baek Gyo sighed deeply. He was pleased with the fortune but also more worried. Now he had one more reason to be killed.
Secrets and money.
He couldn’t trust even his fellow Nokrim members with thirty thousand nyang. In Nokrim, they killed each other over a few nyang.
After hiding the promissory notes under his bed, Baek Gyo stayed awake all night.
Three days after leaving Chilriha Village.
Zhengzhou.
Bamboo Grove.
After lunch.
A group of merchants from the Chamber of Commerce in Zhengzhou approached the Bamboo Grove where the experts of the Vermilion Bird Division and the Human Division were resting.
Shortly after, they began selling their goods in a corner of the bamboo forest.
Namgung Cheon, the Blue Cloud Swordsman, watched from a distance.
“Wow! Jeokha, watch closely. Making a living is like going to war. These merchants come here to sell their goods, even in a place where a fight could break out at any moment.”
“You’re right.”
Yeon Jeokha nodded. The merchants who sold to the Sage of Heaven and Earth Alliance were prey to the Yoomyung Cult. Despite the risks, they sold to both sides, albeit at much higher prices.
Yeon Jeokha couldn’t take his eyes off the merchants. Or more specifically, off Namgung Yeon, the Heart-Reading Solitary Flower, who was selecting products among them.
Namgung Yeon mainly bought food, especially the kind that Yeon Jeokha liked.
As Yeon Jeokha thought about the food he would receive, his expression hardened when he saw Seonu Jin, the eldest son of the Seonu Family, talking to Namgung Yeon.
Yeon Jeokha sharpened his hearing to listen to the conversation.
“Haha. Sister Yeon, what are you looking for so intently?”
“Chicken.”
“You like chicken? I do too. Would you like me to recommend something easy to heat up?”
“No, thank you.”
Namgung Yeon avoided Seonu Jin, moving from place to place. But Seonu Jin didn’t give up and followed her persistently.
Namgung Cheon watched the scene and clicked his tongue.
“Tsk tsk. Seonu Jin, you’re making all men look bad.”
“What kind of person is he?”
“He’s the eldest son of the Seonu Family. He’s a good guy, but he’s been chasing after Yeon since they were young with no success. I like him, but it seems women think differently.”
“What do you like about him, brother?”
“He’s very helpful to me. The heirs of the Prestigious Families of Murim are usually arrogant, but he’s like a willow. Of course, it’s probably because of Yeon. Hahaha!”
“I’ll do anything for you, brother.”
“We’re brothers. It’s only natural. I’d do anything for you too. But let’s try to go to good places, not hell.”
Namgung Cheon considered the Yeon family as brothers due to their shared destiny. He had great affection for Yeon Jeokha, who had helped him a lot in his training.
Yeon Jeokha smiled, though his comment had gone unnoticed.
Namgung Cheon continued:
“Seonu Jin’s father also approves of Yeon, but she and our father don’t seem interested.”
“Why?”
“Our father cares for her deeply. As for Yeon, she doesn’t seem to be interested in men. There’s no one who meets her standards.”
Namgung Cheon shook his head.
With her unparalleled beauty and intellect, it seemed there was no man in this world who could match her.
“Brother.”
“Yes?”
“No, nothing.”
Yeon Jeokha hesitated, wanting to ask if he would be enough, but he didn’t dare.
“How bland. Seonu Jin has that quality too. Maybe you’re similar in that way.”
“Similar? I don’t want to be like him.”
“Right? Don’t be like him, chasing a woman endlessly. Tsk tsk.”
Namgung Cheon, forgetting that he himself had chased after Jin Seolha, mocked Seonu Jin.
Shortly after, Namgung Yeon returned with her hands full of food. Seonu Jin followed her like a shadow.
Namgung Cheon laughed at the sight.
“Haha. Jin, you’ve worked hard.”
“It’s nothing. I wanted chicken too. I didn’t know Yeon liked chicken.”
“Eh? Yeon doesn’t like chicken much. She doesn’t eat a lot of meat.”
“Oh! Then did she buy the chicken for you?”
“For me? I prefer beef. It’s Jeokha who can’t resist chicken.”
“Ah, it was for Yeon Jeokha.”
Seonu Jin looked at Yeon Jeokha with narrowed eyes. Yeon Jeokha returned the gaze with equal intensity. Both watched each other like lions fighting for leadership.
But it was only for a moment. Soon, they regained their composure. They couldn’t show their true feelings in front of Namgung Cheon and Namgung Yeon.
Namgung Yeon broke off a chicken leg and offered it to Yeon Jeokha. He accepted it with a triumphant smile and began to eat.
Seonu Jin stared at the other chicken leg in Namgung Yeon’s hands. However, she ignored him completely.
Namgung Cheon, seeing Seonu Jin swallow hard, commented:
“Yeon, what about Jin?”
“Brother, I’m not a servant.”
Coldly, Namgung Yeon handed the bag of chicken to Namgung Cheon, who carefully took a wing.
Seonu Jin, feeling out of place, stood up.
“I just remembered I have something urgent. I’ll take my leave.”
“Oh, sure. Goodbye, Jin.”
Namgung Cheon was polite, while Namgung Yeon and Yeon Jeokha barely acknowledged him.
Namgung Cheon, watching Seonu Jin walk away with slumped shoulders, remarked:
“Yeon, if you keep pushing men away like that, you might grow old alone. Lower your standards a bit. If you treat men like you do Jeokha, many would be willing to die for you.”
“I mind my own business.”
“Trust me, sister. No one will dare harm you while I’m here.”
“Thank you.”
Namgung Cheon shook his head at their conversation.
“Jeokha, this isn’t about fighting. Look at Yeon. She only has you and me around. She should be married by now.”
‘Brother, why do you say those things? I’m a man too.’
Yeon Jeokha felt unfairly excluded, not understanding why Namgung Cheon and Namgung Yeon didn’t see him as a complete man.
Luoyang.
White Horse Temple (Baekmasa).
Receiving Hall.
Seven Great Demon Generals were gathered in the spacious hall. Unlike before, they seemed relaxed.
After contacting the Eight Emperors, their attention had shifted from the Sage of Heaven and Earth Alliance to their leader.
“What’s the reason for this meeting?”
Kang Sangpi spoke in an irritated tone. He had traveled two hours from Wanghosan Lodge to be there.
Before responding, Martial Mountain Maiden Lee Maehwa sighed. Since they learned that their leader was in Shanxi, everyone had let their guard down.
“A spy in Chilriha Village informed us that the experts of the Sage of Heaven and Earth Alliance have moved. About a hundred to the west and fifty to the north. It seems they want to probe us while we’re at White Horse Temple.”
Sword of Chaos Cheok Jingyeong laughed loudly.
“Haha! What can they do with so few? Are they begging to die?”
“Damn it! Did we gather because of those hundred men?”
Kang Sangpi, who had taken his men to Five Peaks Mountain, complained.
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