Chapter 321 : Muhwa Corps (2)

Chapter 321: Muhwa Corps (2)

"Then from now on, please take command of the Muhwa Corps."

"Who is currently the captain? Shouldn’t we get his approval first?"

"I don’t have the authority to lead in battle, but I do have control over the Muhwa Corps, so it’s fine."

"Will the one with command authority allow it?"

Chouhui smiled slightly.

"He’s one of the top experts under the Imperial Household. He’s competitive with Young Master Yong, but he wouldn’t dare defy me, since I’m the one given authority by the Muhwa Corps Leader. That’s because he’s both her close aide and a martial expert who must follow her orders."

In other words, being under the Imperial Household meant he wouldn’t dare incur the Muhwa Corps Leader’s displeasure.

Chouhui continued.

"Retrieving the Records of Wanghu is an extremely important task, which is why I joined this mission myself."

Just by seeing Chouhui—who was the closest aide of the Muhwa Corps Leader—join, it showed how seriously the leader regarded this mission.

"But isn’t the Muhwa Corps alone insufficient to go against Soh Yonghwa?"

"That’s why we came to find Young Master Yong, isn’t it."

Yong Hwarin let out a faint laugh as he looked at Chouhui smiling warmly.

"We never intended to confront the Unrivaled of Three Absolutes directly. We were only going to track them and determine their direction. After that, we planned to borrow the authorities’ power to retrieve the scroll."

Chouhui still had no intention of fully exposing the Muhwa Corps.

Moreover, the anti-imperial faction had little to do with Dark Echo Valley.

In such circumstances, even clashing with Soh Yonghwa would only result in losses for the Muhwa Corps.

Jeong Minji spoke after hearing the full story from Yong Hwarin.

"Gaga, I’ll go with you too."

"Min Mae, listen to me without misunderstanding. Right now, your mother is with the Sky Ocean Merchant Union. She’s probably very worried. The proper thing to do is to visit her and let her know you’re safe."

"I know. But that can be solved with a communication token. Right now, what’s more important is helping you, Gaga."

Yong Hwarin smiled softly at her words.

"You know what? If your mother hears that, she’ll say there’s no point in raising a daughter. That you’ve gone mad over a man."

"That’s the way of the world."

Jeong Minji continued.

"You never know what variables may arise in the search for the Records of Wanghu. At such times, someone trustworthy and dependable is needed. And this isn’t just about you, Gaga. This mission is connected to me as well. If I return without the Records of Wanghu, my mother will surely scold me severely. That’s the kind of person she is."

The Jo Gyeongmae that Yong Hwarin knew was indeed someone who would.

"Alright, let’s go together, Min Mae. But you must listen carefully to what I say."

"When have I ever disobeyed you, Gaga?"

Chouhui couldn’t hide her envy as she watched Yong Hwarin and Jeong Minji converse so affectionately.

She was deeply envious of Jeong Minji, who received Yong Hwarin’s love.

Originally, Chouhui hadn’t paid much attention to the man named Yong Hwarin. But after passing through the Omugwan and seeing him walk away without a trace of greed after gaining martial arts, he remained embedded in her mind.

Having met many men in life, she kept realizing just how fine a man Yong Hwarin truly was.

And the more she realized that, the more possessiveness and interest she felt.

But Chouhui also knew that Yong Hwarin was a man beyond her reach.

There was no longer a way to make him hers.

That alone made her feel deeply regretful.

"Can we find out where they went?"

When Yong Hwarin asked, Chouhui nodded.

"The tracking unit reported they headed toward Jinyang. That’s the opposite direction of Shaolin Temple, so it seems the Sect Leader of Northern Ocean Gate hid the Records of Wanghu there."

Yong Hwarin was surprised inside at those words.

"So that’s where they went… I can guess now."

"Huh? How do you know?"

Yong Hwarin recalled a memory from his previous life that had sunk deep into his consciousness.

‘Jinyang Inn Blood Incident!’

In his previous life, Yong Hwarin had been on an escort mission and arrived a day late in Jinyang due to heavy rain.

Jinyang Inn had always been his usual lodging when passing through Jinyang County.

But when he arrived after the rain stopped, all the guests and staff at the inn had been slaughtered in a massacre.

Even martial experts had been staying at the inn, but they were all killed without resisting, which led everyone to suspect that an absolute master had committed the act.

The culprit was never caught and the case ended unresolved, but it remained in Yong Hwarin’s memory for a long time—it could’ve easily been his own death had things gone differently.

If he hadn’t been delayed by half a day due to the rain, he would’ve stayed at the Jinyang Inn and likely wouldn’t have survived the massacre.

‘Could it be that the Records of Wanghu were hidden in the Jinyang Inn? Would the Northern Ocean Gate’s Sect Leader really have needed to do that? Could that incident have been related to the Records of Wanghu?’

Yong Hwarin kept following the thread of his memories.

‘A few days after that, I remember hearing that only one waiter had survived. The waiter had gone out to buy groceries, got robbed, and couldn’t return to the inn, thereby avoiding the calamity. Because it was the work of an expert, there were rumors that a martial arts secret manual had been hidden in the inn.’

As he pieced together one memory after another, he began to think that the scroll from his past life could very well have been the Records of Wanghu.

‘The Sect Leader of Northern Ocean Gate hid it in the Jinyang Inn, and then it got exposed due to some incident, allowing the inn’s people to see it. If a heavy downpour hits today, the timing will perfectly match that event from my past life. That was when I had just entered the Sky Ocean Merchant Union and was frequently taking escort missions to gain their trust.’

"Follow me."

When Yong Hwarin spoke with a serious expression, Chouhui didn’t dare respond.

Strangely, an overwhelming aura exuded from his body.

Even as she was about to object, recalling that the Imperial Household expert must follow her command, she couldn’t speak under the pressure of that energy.

He felt like if he opened his mouth for no reason, he’d get hit.

“Gaga, what’s going on?”

“I’ll explain later.”

Even under such pressure, when Jeong Minji approached Yong Hwarin and asked, Chouhui looked visibly envious.

Yong Hwarin spoke to Deuksang, who was about to withdraw.

“Leader Deuk, I’m sorry, but I’ll need you to come with me this time.”

“That’s why I’m here. Don’t worry. We are people of the Sky Ocean Escort Agency. And don’t forget, Young Master Yong, that you are the master of the Sky Ocean Escort Agency.”

Yong Hwarin smiled at Deuksang’s words.

“If I hadn’t met Leader Deuk, I wouldn’t be able to face any of this with such peace of mind.”

“Those words should come from me instead. If it weren’t for you, Young Master Yong, I might still be doing petty killing jobs and getting into danger. Being able to live like a human now is all thanks to you.”

“Those are kind words. In any case, don’t make any moves until I give the order. If this escalates into a power struggle, we’ll all be in danger.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Yong Hwarin tidied up the area and began running toward Jinyang.

The Muhwa Corps followed him in unison.

Gunyeom and Gunwi also hesitated before following behind them.

Yong Biyang led his group into the inn.

He was planning to bathe and rest thoroughly today.

There was still plenty of time before the Shaolin Temple Gathering.

That was why he had departed his clan early.

Martial artists gathering at Shaolin Temple before the gathering was to use the occasion for mutual interaction among Murim practitioners.

Inns and guesthouses on the road to Shaolin Temple were thus filled with martial artists from all over.

Those unable to attend the Shaolin Temple Gathering still came to catch a glimpse of the famed masters.

Sometimes, during these gatherings, friendly martial arts competitions would be held, and martial artists would spar in various places to learn from each other.

That’s why people flocked to these gatherings hoping to learn from top masters.

And since key figures from the major sects of Three Righteous Heavens were all present at the gathering, many believed it was indeed a chance to learn something.

As Yong Biyang opened the inn’s door and entered, the martial artists eating inside glanced his way, paused their meals, stood up, and cupped their fists.

“We greet the Azure Dragon Hero!”

“It’s an honor to meet the Azure Dragon Hero.”

“We greet the Sect Leader of Heavenly Central Sword Sect!”

Although some referred to him as the Sect Leader of Heavenly Central Sword Sect, most martial artists addressed Yong Biyang as the Azure Dragon Hero.

Yong Biyang turned around, thinking the one being addressed by that title was someone behind him.

It was his first time hearing the title Azure Dragon Hero for himself, and just then, a sturdy man approached him holding a bottle of liquor.

“I am Do Jungrak of the Hammer Flash Fist Sect. Are you truly the Sect Leader of Heavenly Central Sword Sect?”

“I am.”

“I thought so. I guessed it from the appearance matching the rumors I heard. There’s a rumor going around that on the way to Shaolin Temple, you rescued the Sangkwan Clan, Hongchangmun, and Mount Song Ak Clan from the demonic cultivators of Great Demon Castle. Since then, Murim folks have been calling you the Azure Dragon Hero.”

“Hahaha, is that so? Our Murim comrades have given me a far too generous title.”

Yong Biyang laughed heartily, seemingly not disliking the nickname.

“Not at all. The chivalrous spirit you displayed has become a model for many Murim people. Treating even your wounded enemies is something only someone with true chivalry could do.”

The title Azure Dragon Hero referred to a great hero from Cheonjung Yongmun and had originated from the mouths of the wounded.

When Yong Biyang tended to and treated the injured, they were deeply moved.

Quite a few survived thanks to his prompt treatment.

The injured could not bring themselves to call Yong Biyang by name, so they began calling him the Azure Dragon Hero.

And it was through those very injured that stories of Yong Biyang’s heroic deeds began to spread widely.

“This Do wants to offer a cup of liquor as a sign of respect.”

Do Jungrak filled a cup and handed it to Yong Biyang.

It was blocked by the Twin Swords of Violent Dragon.

“Apologies, but after our major battle with Great Demon Castle, we’ve occasionally been ambushed. Please understand that we can’t accept drinks recklessly.”

As Jung Wook dutifully performed his escort duty, Do Jungrak nodded.

“Ah, I see. This Do was just a little too eager.”

But Yong Biyang took the drink.

“No. I don’t believe someone offering a drink so sincerely to me could be one of the demonic cultivators of Great Demon Castle. Those people wouldn’t bother with such formalities. They don’t care for respecting others or honoring chivalry. There’s no reason for them to go through this trouble.”

Yong Biyang raised the cup and drank it in one go.

At that, the martial artists in the inn erupted in cheers.

In Yong Biyang’s bold action, they saw the bearing of a true hero.

“To the Azure Dragon Hero, I, Kang, offer a drink as well.”

From that moment, martial artists throughout the inn began stepping forward to offer Yong Biyang drinks out of respect.

Yong Biyang didn’t refuse.

It was his first time receiving such treatment in his life.

As he basked in his rising fame, he suddenly thought that the world didn’t feel so bleak after all.

Nam Wook muttered to Jung Wook.

“Turns out the Sect Leader kind of likes this stuff. The Small Sect Leader finds all the attention a nuisance.”

“Well, it’s the first time in his life he’s being respected as a martial artist. I understand the Sect Leader.”