Chapter 158 : Change (2)

Chapter 158: Change (2)

‘The way he spoke so gently… it seems like he’s still holding some regrets.’

‘I have something to ask. Did you buy the estate in Nampyeong County because of the  Red Immortal Herb?’

‘Looks like you heard that from my daughter. Yes, that’s correct. It was because the  Red Immortal Herb could cure my daughter’s severed meridians.’

‘Then, did you also find out that the  Red Immortal Herb can be cultivated in large quantities on the ground, not just on Mount Tianzhong?’

‘I tried, but I failed.’

‘Ah… I asked because it seemed like that middle-aged Demonic Master succeeded.’

‘Is that so? Then that’s good. I gave up after a few attempts. My daughter passed away not long after I purchased the estate.’

Yong Hwarin felt disappointed. If the Demonic Master had truly discovered a way to cultivate the  Red Immortal Herb on ordinary land, there would have been no reason for him to seek out that middle-aged Demonic Master.

“But what are you going to do about Ihwa Fairy?”

When Seok Unjeong asked that question, Yong Hwarin felt a headache coming on again.

After hearing everything about why Ihwa Fairy had kidnapped her, Seok Unjeong had been greatly shocked. She trembled in horror when she heard that Ihwa Fairy had tried to steal her Moon Yin Energy to complete her Martial Art.

Hearing those words from Jegal Cheongyeong, Seok Unjeong had burst into tears over her miserable fate.

Jegal Cheongyeong had treated Seok Unjeong like a friend, even though she was the daughter of the Demonic Master, because she was kindhearted and had nothing to do with the martial world.

From Seok Unjeong’s perspective, she couldn’t help but be curious about what would happen to Ihwa Fairy, Man Inhwa.

“Because of this, the Namgung Clan is probably in a difficult position too. After all, the Ihwa Palace isn’t a faction that can be ignored. If the Namgung Clan were to kill Ihwa Fairy, the Ihwa Palace might declare an all-out war.”

“But when we held Ihwa Fairy hostage, didn’t the people from Ihwa Palace attack us without caring about the hostage?”

Seeing Seok Unjeong ask something so obvious, Yong Hwarin smiled.

She was asking that because she didn’t understand how the martial world worked.

“Since the Ihwa Palace has been in seclusion for two hundred years, their strength must have grown overwhelmingly. The fact that they’ve revealed themselves to the martial world now probably means they no longer see a reason to remain hidden. If the Namgung Clan kills their Young Mistress, that gives the Ihwa Palace a perfect excuse to come out into the open. Even if they don’t kill Ihwa Fairy, just attempting to rescue her would serve as a justification. If that happens, no one in the martial world would be able to stop their appearance. After all, the martial world is a place where people fight based on pretexts.”

“Ah!”

Seok Unjeong didn’t fully understand, but she felt like she was starting to grasp what Yong Hwarin was trying to say.

“Then… shouldn’t we just let Ihwa Fairy go?”

At that question, both Jegal Cheongyeong and Jeong Minji burst into laughter.

It had been a long time since they had laughed so freely.

“Hahaha! Seok Unni, you’re too naive.”

Seok Unjeong looked around in confusion, not understanding why they were laughing.

With tears still glistening in her eyes, Jegal Cheongyeong explained.

“We are martial artists. Our way of thinking is very different from that of ordinary people. If the Namgung Clan were to simply release Ihwa Fairy, other sects would criticize them harshly. They would question why the Namgung Clan let go of someone who tried to kill their Young Mistress. If that happens, the Namgung Clan would become an outcast in the martial world overnight.”

“But if they let her go, wouldn’t that prevent a fight?”

Seok Unjeong asked again, still looking like she didn’t understand.

This time, Jeong Minji responded.

“Martial artists exist to fight. As long as there’s a reason to fight, they don’t hesitate to do so. And if there’s profit involved, then fighting becomes inevitable. Why do you think martial artists wield their swords?”

Hearing that, Seok Unjeong’s expression darkened.

Now that she understood, she felt afraid of such a martial world.

“Someone told me once… that my father is a Demonic Master. Is that true? Then why are you all leaving me alone?”

Because the question was so basic, the group exchanged glances, unsure of where to begin.

Yong Hwarin smiled as he explained.

“We don’t shy away from fighting, but we don’t fight recklessly either. If you were like your father, a practitioner of demonic arts, we wouldn’t hesitate to act against you either—just like we did with Ihwa Fairy. But you didn’t even know your father was a Demonic Master, did you? You didn’t even consider yourself a martial artist, right? Since you aren’t part of the martial world, we don’t associate you with your father. If you ask why… it’s because we belong to the Righteous Faction. Unlike the Demonic Faction, the Righteous Faction follows the principle of not taking meaningless lives.”

Seok Unjeong, who had grown up sickly and knew nothing about the martial world, had been searching for her father when she was kidnapped, almost killed, and then rescued.

After that, living among martial artists, she felt lost because this world was so different from the one she used to know.

“Jegal Yohye told me… that my father is being forced to act as a servant for the evil faction because of me. If that’s true, shouldn’t we let him know I’ve been rescued so we can pull him out of there?”

“Of course, we have to let him know. Your father is being used by them because of you.”

“When?”

Seok Unjeong asked, looking up at him cautiously, which made her seem quite adorable.

“We still don’t know where the people with your father are. Once we find out, we’ll make our move.”

“Then… will you help us, Young Master Yong?”

Though she asked like it was a suggestion, the way she looked at him made it clear she was hoping Yong Hwarin would take responsibility. Yong Hwarin let out a bitter smile.

“I’ll help if I’m not caught up in something else.”

“Really? Promise me.”

Holding out her pinky finger, she demanded a promise. Yong Hwarin smiled as he looked at her.

He barely restrained the urge to pat Seok Unjeong’s head.

Yong Hwarin also needed to meet the middle-aged Demonic Master at least once.

Ever since hearing from Seok Unjeong about the  Red Immortal Herb, he had been thinking about striking a deal—handing over the daughter in exchange for the method to cultivate the herb on ordinary land.

After parting with Seok Unjeong, Yong Hwarin headed toward the stone chamber where Ihwa Fairy was imprisoned. He wanted to question her about the whereabouts of the Demonic Master or the Third Young Master.

“Hmph! What brings the great Heavenly Sword Hero here to see me?”

Ihwa Fairy, Man Inhwa, greeted him with the same cold sneer as before.

“This is your last chance. Tell me where the Third Young Master and the Demonic Master are, and I’ll let you go.”

“Hahaha! How could I possibly know where they’ve gone?”

Man Inhwa still held a deep grudge against Yong Hwarin for cutting off both her ears.

“Didn’t I tell you? This is your last chance, Miss Man.”

When Yong Hwarin called her name in the same low, calm voice he had used when cutting off her ears, Man Inhwa shivered.

Unconsciously, she backed away.

“Don’t come any closer!”

Yong Hwarin stepped toward her.

“Stay away!”

Cornered against the wall, Ihwa Fairy began to tremble uncontrollably.

“I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you!”

Yong Hwarin raised his hand. Mistaking it for a gesture to cut her nose, she quickly covered her nose with both hands.

But instead, Yong Hwarin placed his palm on Man Inhwa’s Heavenly Spirit Acupoint and injected the Demonic Master’s spirit energy into her.

“Ugh! What are you doing?!”

As an unfamiliar energy and unbearable pain invaded her mind, she screamed.

“What kind of dark sorcery is this?!”

“You call what you do martial arts, and what I do sorcery? You’re a demonic wench of the Demonic Faction—how laughable.”

Yong Hwarin injected the soul of the Demonic Master into Ihwa Fairy’s mind and began tracing her memories.

Several incomprehensible images entered Yong Hwarin’s head.

He did not know what those images meant, but they felt oddly familiar.

‘What do these mean?’

However, because the images were so fragmented, nothing further came through.

But then, the cityscape of Jeongju in Henan, along with the figures of the Demonic Master and the Third Young Master, began to overlap.

‘The Third Young Master and the Demonic Master are plotting something in Jeongju of Henan.’

That alone was not enough. To find out exactly what they were scheming, Yong Hwarin pushed even more intense qi into Ihwa Fairy’s mind.

“Kkueeegh!”

Ihwa Fairy convulsed, foaming at the mouth, as if she were being torn apart.

‘She’s trained in the Moonline Demonic Art. There’s a limit to how much my soul can invade. If I push further, she’ll die!’

When the Demonic Master issued the warning, Yong Hwarin slowly withdrew his qi.

Even just learning that the Demonic Master and the Third Young Master Eum Sajeok were in Jeongju of Henan was a great result.

Looking at Man Inhwa, who was drooling white foam from her chin, he spoke.

“Still, I won’t kill you. You’re a valuable hostage in your own way, aren’t you? The Namgung Clan will have to negotiate to get you back.”

Man Inhwa rolled her eyes and muttered.

“Do you think the Main Palace will sit quietly? You will pay dearly for this!”

She still glared at Yong Hwarin with venom in her eyes, as if she intended to kill him.

Yong Hwarin heard those words and turned his back on her.

At that moment, Man Inhwa flinched and curled up in a corner.

“If you ever do something to enrage me again, I’ll cut off everything sticking out of your body. The rest, I’ll leave to your imagination.”

When Yong Hwarin said that with a grin, Man Inhwa turned her head away.

Man Inhwa, who once prided herself on her unrivaled venomous spirit, could not even meet Yong Hwarin’s gaze.

Despite having lost only her ears, just looking into Yong Hwarin’s eyes made her knees tremble.

‘One day, I will tear you to pieces and kill you.’

Grinding her teeth, Man Inhwa glared at Yong Hwarin’s back as he walked away.

Yong Hwarin considered staying a few more days at the Namgung Clan, at least for Mu Iso’s sake. He felt that if he announced his departure, Mu Iso would cry and cling to him.

‘Is it really alright, considering the difference in status?’

Yong Hwarin was concerned about that.

Although there was an age difference, the bigger problem was their social gap.

Pang Cheollyeon was the precious daughter of a prestigious noble family, while Mu Iso was merely a disciple from a small sect.

The difference was as great as between a tiger and a dog.

Yong Hwarin called for Mu Iso.

“Did you call for me, Young Master?”

“Commander Mu, listen carefully. This is about Miss Pang.”

Hearing those words, Mu Iso’s expression darkened instantly.

He was already aware that his love was something he could never achieve.

‘It seems Pang Gongja said something to our Young Master. I dared to approach Miss Pang...’

Thinking that, he answered gloomily.

“Please speak, Young Master.”

“If you wish to win Miss Pang, there is one way.”

Mu Iso lifted his head in surprise at those unexpected words.

“What? Is that true?”

Yong Hwarin nodded with a smile.

“What is it?”

“You must build a reputation that everyone acknowledges. Commander Mu, you’ve only earned the title of one of the Ten Talents of the Heavenly Central Sect. That alone is not enough to claim a daughter of the Pang Clan. You must build a reputation that surpasses mine. Only then can you boldly demand Miss Pang’s hand.”

Mu Iso became despondent again.

“Isn’t that realistically impossible? Young Master, how could I possibly surpass you? Do I have greater talent than you? Am I more intelligent? Or do I know more martial arts?”

Yong Hwarin looked at the dejected Mu Iso and said.

“I will make that possible for you. I will teach you the martial arts that I know.”

Yong Hwarin planned to teach all the martial arts he knew, except for the Tai Chi Profound Heavenly Sutra.

“Is that true?”

“Yes.”

“Young Master, this grace…”

Suddenly, Mu Iso stood up and bowed deeply to Yong Hwarin.

It was a ceremony usually reserved for receiving an important mission, but this time, Mu Iso bowed with sincere gratitude.

Through this moment, Yong Hwarin came to a significant realization.

Not only for the Blood Demon Castle but also to fight places like Ihwa Palace, the sect’s disciples needed to be turned into elites.

Training alone had its limits. To face such enemies head-on, they needed superior martial arts. Teaching only the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword or the Azure Bamboo Sword was no longer sufficient.

Therefore, he also intended to teach the Yong Eun Heavenly Art and the Yong Lin Needle Art, which he had acquired from the Demonic Master.

The Yong Eun Heavenly Art was not only an excellent stealth art but also a cultivation method that could store a vast amount of qi.

Additionally, to handle many enemies with a few warriors, they needed secret weapon techniques.

Since he had the Yong Lin Needle Art, he decided to use that.

However, the Yong Lin Needle Art had a flaw that needed improvement.

It required pulling out one’s fingernails to perform the technique, which was madness.

There was a need to research a way to execute the technique without such self-mutilation.

Driving needles under the fingernails was equally insane.

Still, Yong Hwarin believed that if these two martial arts were added to their arsenal, the disciples of the Heavenly Central Sect could become warriors capable of standing against a hundred foes.

That very day, Mu Iso began learning the Yong Eun Heavenly Art.

“Please teach this martial art to the others as well. However, this technique must never leak outside.”

“Do not worry. All the Ten Talents of the Heavenly Central Sect are trustworthy elites of our main family.”

Seeing Mu Iso’s excited expression, Yong Hwarin smiled faintly.

‘Grow stronger. Grow strong so you can protect the one you love.’

Yong Hwarin was not the kind of person to pass martial arts around carelessly.

Even in his past life, he wasn’t someone who gave away wealth just because he had plenty.

He only gave to those who truly needed it.

It was the same now. To Yong Hwarin, martial arts were like money.

Even the smallest amount, when given to someone in need, could become a priceless treasure. Martial arts were the same—they could become supreme techniques when given to those who truly needed them.

Yong Hwarin looked forward to the day when the Ten Talents of the Heavenly Central Sect would become even stronger.