Chapter 232 : Approaching the Truth (1)

Chapter 232: Approaching the Truth (1)

I, Yong Hwarin, knew—because I had lived a past life.

What happens when you don't accept the heart of someone who longs for you.

I was surprised that Bukri Sogun turned out to be Bukri Sehee. But I didn’t dislike Bukri Sogun—she was always someone who lingered in my mind.

And because I felt pity for Bukri Sehee, I couldn’t coldly turn away from her heart.

In a way, I hadn’t known Bukri Sehee for long, but she felt as familiar as a woman I’d known for years.

‘It must be because of Bukri Sogun.’

If a man and a woman who didn’t even know each other were stuck together in a narrow cave, feelings were bound to form.

Even more so when both harbored affection for each other—their emotions would inevitably deepen.

If a woman betrayed her own clan and even drew her own blood to save me—if she even risked her life—how could she not be lovable? That would’ve been stranger.

I spoke gently.

“It may be late to say it, but when I first saw you at the Sky Ocean Merchant Union, I liked you.”

Bukri Sehee, who had been bowing her head with a blush, suddenly lifted her head at those words.

And tears spilled down her face.

“Don’t lie. Don’t pity me.”

Even though she knew those words weren’t false, Bukri Sehee wanted me to deny what she said.

And fortunately, I understood a woman’s heart well.

I knew what to say to make her happy.

“I like both Bukri Sogun and Bukri Sehee. In a way, Sogun kept her promise. She introduced me to a truly beautiful and kind older sister. I was already planning to meet her if she did. And above all else, Sehee, you’re beautiful—that’s why I like you.”

“Orabeoni.”

Bukri Sehee burrowed into my arms.

And like someone dying of thirst, she began to seek my lips.

That night, until dawn, the two of us burned with passion, indulging endlessly in one another.

Afterward, we fell into a sweet sleep, unaware even of the breaking dawn.

I awoke to the cool air drifting into the cave.

Bukri Sehee was still asleep, face buried in my chest, her hand resting on my stomach, breathing softly.

‘She must be exhausted after being worn out all night.’

The sound of rain was no longer there.

I rose and checked my body.

My recovery was astonishing. The four puncture wounds on my body had already healed.

The Realm of Self-Existence of the Tai Chi Dantian had effects that were extraordinary, even to me.

The sword wounds I received fighting the Blood Shadow Guards had faded, leaving only light burn marks.

Even when I lay with Bukri Sehee, the wounds had only ached slightly—they hadn’t worsened or festered.

It seemed like time to return, so I woke Bukri Sehee.

She hurried to put on her clothes with a bashful look.

Even though we had spent the entire night bare, she was quick to be embarrassed.

“Now, let’s head back outside and return to the Sky Ocean Merchant Union. What will you do? If you’ve been missing for several days, it’ll raise suspicion.”

“It’s fine. They’ll think I’ve been under a Forbidden Restriction, so they won’t suspect a thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“Actually, that parasite made it impossible for a man and a woman to even perform intercourse.”

“Heh. So from the start, you aimed to remove the parasite.”

“Hehehe.”

When Bukri Sehee giggled with her tongue sticking out, I patted her head. It was a habit Bukri Sogun had often shown.

“A girl shouldn’t do that. It’s unbecoming.”

“Then let’s return to the Sky Ocean Merchant Union together. I’m worried about what may have happened to them.”

I was concerned about the state of Hoi Unkyung, Eum Sajeok, and the Demonic Masters.

I was also worried they might come looking for me, out of concern.

The rain had stopped, and the mountain, saturated with moisture, glistened with a soft luster.

It was late autumn—except for the evergreen pines, most of the trees stood bare. Yet even such a lonely scene looked beautiful to Bukri Sehee.

She had changed—not a mere girl anymore, but a woman belonging to one man. And that change had transformed the way she thought.

“I wish I could live with you in a place like this forever.”

But I didn’t say a word to that.

I feared Bukri Sehee might have expectations.

When I gave no reply, her lips pouted.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. I’ll just live alone. Later… much later… if you ever miss me, come here.”

I simply smiled and stroked Bukri Sehee’s head.

When I left Goyi Mountain and returned to the Sky Ocean Merchant Union, I was disappointed to learn no one had come looking for me.

“We believed you’d return safely and focused on protecting Hoi Sojeo. If we had gone after you, we knew we’d be harshly scolded. I did well, right?”

Seeing Mu Iso speak with a face begging for praise, my disappointment vanished.

‘No matter the situation, there’s nothing more important than trusting each other.’

Yong Hwarin soon let go of his disappointment.

“Well done. If anything had happened to Hoi Sojeo in that gap, I would have been greatly disappointed.”

At that moment, Jeong Suji approached and asked,

“But were you with Bukri Sehee all day?”

Jeong Suji questioned, clearly having heard something somewhere.

Yong Hwarin nodded casually, as if it were nothing.

“Yes. I was gravely injured, and Bukri Sojeo nursed me through the night. I was hiding in a cave to avoid the pursuers at the time.”

“Just the two of you?”

“Yes, just the two of us.”

“And nothing happened?”

Yong Hwarin smiled gently and replied,

“If you're curious, would you like to spend a day alone with me in a cave?”

“Wh-what are you saying? How shameless.”

“Hahaha, it seems Second Miss is more lewd than she appears.”

As Yong Hwarin disappeared, leaving the flustered Jeong Suji behind, she turned to Jeong Minji beside her.

“You heard that, unni? That man is a total scoundrel.”

“On what basis are you saying that?”

When Jeong Minji asked, Jeong Suji burst out indignantly.

“He brushes it off without explaining what happened and just leaves suspicions behind.”

“But why do we need to interrogate Yong Gongja about that?”

“Well, that’s because…”

Realizing what Jeong Minji had said, Jeong Suji was left speechless.

But she quickly found an excuse.

“That’s because you…”

“What am I to Yong Gongja?”

“That’s…”

“You have nothing to say, do you? Then you shouldn't speak carelessly either.”

Jeong Minji said as she walked into her room, and her expression didn’t look too pleased.

Seeing that, Jeong Daji scolded her.

“Second Unni, you’re really clueless. Why are you scratching at Big Unni’s heart like that? Her mood probably isn’t great to begin with.”

“What? ‘Scratching’? How dare you say that to your older sister?”

“Why wouldn’t I? And it’s not just me saying that. Do you know what people are calling you?”

Jeong Suji flared her eyes and asked.

“What are they saying?”

Then Jeong Daji enunciated clearly.

“They call you Yeoheop, Pierce-Stopping Sword, Jeong Suji.”

Pierce-Stopping Sword (止剌劍) was a nickname recently given to Jeong Suji.

It sounded like a curse word, and the vulgarity of it upset her, prompting her to ask,

“Do you have a nickname too, Unni?”

“Of course. They call me Phoenix Sword (鳳凰劍).”

Jeong Suji nodded.

Back when she fought with Gaechundo Gu Hyeong of the Sam Sammajeol and used the Vermilion Phoenix Grand Heavenly Art, people said she looked like a phoenix and gave her the nickname.

Jeong Suji glanced at Jeong Daji and asked,

“You have one too?”

Asking whether Jeong Daji had a nickname of her own.

“Of course.”

“What is it?”

Jeong Daji responded with a triumphant smile.

“They call me Yeoheop, Jade Pendant Sword (覇玉劍).”

“Jade Pendant Sword?”

Jade Pendant Sword was a nickname that reflected Jeong Daji’s usual fighting style.

She attacked with tyrannical momentum despite being a woman.

Also, with the implication of being the finest jade, she acted affectionately toward men but fought like a yaksha, so the name was meant as a compliment.

“But I actually like the nickname Pierce-Stopping Sword more than Jade Pendant Sword. It’s unforgettable once you hear it.”

As Jeong Daji mocked and walked into her room, Jeong Suji fumed and turned to Mu Iso who was passing by.

“Give me a new nickname.”

“Pardon?”

It was nonsensical to ask someone to create a better nickname.

A nickname reflects one’s martial arts, personality, and deeds—it’s a name given out of respect and recognition from others. But Jeong Suji was being unreasonable simply because she didn’t like hers.

“What kind of name is Pierce-Stopping Sword, seriously?”

“Um, I wasn’t the one who came up with that nickname.”

“Then who was? Someone must’ve said it first.”

“It’s what people say—I don’t know who first said it.”

Mu Iso couldn’t bring himself to say that it was none other than the Young Lord of the Branch, Yong Hwarin, who had first mentioned the nickname Pierce-Stopping Sword.

It had started spreading when Yong Hwarin occasionally referred to Jeong Suji as Pierce-Stopping Sword in conversations with the Ten Prodigies of the Heavenly Central Sect.

If he revealed that, Jeong Suji would surely go berserk.

“Hmph! Just wait and see! I’ll show you how terrifying Pierce-Stopping Sword can be.”

Watching Jeong Suji huff and storm off by herself, Mu Iso shook his head from side to side.

When Yong Hwarin finished greeting the others and returned to his room, Baekseom approached him.

“You’re safe. I was worried.”

“Did the Leader escape safely?”

“Thanks to Yong Gongja, he was able to get out unharmed.”

Yong Hwarin asked something that had been on his mind.

“I still don’t understand why Sam Taegong didn’t come after me himself. If that old man had tracked me down, I would’ve been caught for sure. Even with Bukri Sojeo as a hostage.”

“We found out the reason later through investigation. Sam Taegong of the Heavenly Demon Sect had to stay in position due to the experts of the Northern Justice Alliance who were in hiding at the time.”

“Experts of the Northern Justice Alliance? Are you saying they were hiding even when I was there?”

“Judging by the fact that they emerged only after Yong Gongja had left, it seems they had already been hiding while you were facing off against them.”

“That’s strange. If they were Northern Justice Alliance experts, they must have come to capture Sam Taegong. Then why haven’t we heard that he was killed or injured? Do you know which of their experts came?”

“Yes. It appears the Five Swords of Mount Hua, the Four Diamond Vajras of Shaolin Temple, and the Tyrant Three Sabers of the Hebei Peng Clan were there.”

“If it was them, they should’ve been more than capable of subduing Sam Taegong, right?”

“In terms of sheer combat power, they would be enough to capture Sam Taegong. But they didn’t.”

“That can’t be. Are you saying Sam Taegong’s martial prowess surpassed theirs?”

Baekseom shook his head.

“There was a brief clash, but they reportedly fought to a draw and withdrew.”

“Then why didn’t the Northern Justice Alliance’s experts give it their all?”

“In my opinion, there are several possible reasons. First, they may have feared that killing Sam Taegong would spark a war between the Orthodox factions and the Heavenly Demon Sect.”

Yong Hwarin internally agreed with that point.

Sam Taegong wasn’t just an ordinary warrior of the Heavenly Demon Sect—he was one of the three leaders who commanded the sect.

If such a man were killed in a combined assault by Orthodox warriors, the demonic forces would unite, and a full-on clash with the Orthodox side would only be a matter of time.

That’s why the more renowned one was, the more careful they had to be with drawing their sword.

Moreover, to kill Sam Taegong, at least half of the gathered Orthodox masters would suffer great losses, so they likely chose to wait for a safer opportunity to strike again.

Someone unfamiliar with the inner workings of the martial world might not understand why the Orthodox warriors let Sam Taegong live, but those who knew the Murim would nod in understanding.

‘It’s clear the Orthodox factions aren’t ready yet… not ready for war. And if they let Sam Taegong go, they must have a ploy in mind… What could it be?’