MUC 64

Chapter 64

“It might be hard for them to make a move with you and me around, but once you’re gone, they’ll be caught up in all sorts of schemes again. Whether they’ll be able to endure it then… I don’t know.”

Poongryang sipped his drink calmly, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, but Eun Sowol couldn’t brush off his words so lightly.

“Well, then again, maybe not. There’s a chance the Lord of Mukhyang will have his attention elsewhere.”

“What?”

Eun Sowol was stunned by how quickly he changed his tone—from serious and intimidating to casual, like a squad leader switching stories mid-conversation.

“There’s a rumor going around that the Lord of Mukhyang caught a ‘Noesu’.”

“Noesu? You don’t mean that Noesu?”

Even Dokgo Ryong, who hadn’t flinched at the mention of the Sadoryeon, reacted for the first time. When Poongryang nodded, Dokgo Ryong let out a hollow laugh. Eun Sowol looked between the two and asked,

“What’s a Noesu?”

“Noesu is one of the legendary spiritual beasts.”

The Noesu (Thunder Beast)—a spirit creature known for summoning storms and thunder.

It was said to be violent by nature, and when provoked, it could incinerate livestock, people, or anything else in an instant.

“Is it like a Ten-Thousand-Year Hwary?”

“It’s rarer than that. A Ten-Thousand-Year Hwary is just a Hwary that’s lived ten thousand years. That’s all.”

Wouldn’t that make it more impressive though?

Still, if even her uncle—who hadn’t blinked when hearing about rare elixirs or inner cores—was reacting like that, it had to be a truly extraordinary creature.

“But what does this Noesu have to do with Uncle Jaeha being safe?”

“Why do you think the Lord of Mukhyang wanted to bring Yu Gok Sangdanju under his control?”

“Well, that’s because…”

“To take control of his skills.”

Lee Jaeha was known for his deep knowledge of herbs—so much so that people whispered he was a disciple of Yakseon. He could find rare herbs and process them without fault.

For the Lord of Mukhyang, who sought to dominate the black market of Heuksigok, Lee Jaeha was too tempting a prize to ignore.

“Spiritual beasts instinctively seek out spiritual elixirs. And the rarer the beast, the better it is at finding them.”

“Oh!”

Now Eun Sowol finally understood what Poongryang meant.

The Lord of Mukhyang hadn’t been after Lee Jaeha, but rather his ability. And now that he had captured the Noesu, which could do the same thing, it meant…

He might no longer have any reason to go after Jaeha.

“But if he doesn’t need Uncle Jaeha anymore… wouldn’t that bad man try to kill him instead?!”

He was someone who had murdered Jaeha’s wife and household just to recruit him. Even if he had found a replacement, would someone like that really give up so easily?

Of course not! If he couldn’t have him, he’d try to kill him!

“That’s why I said it might not happen. I don’t know what that bastard will do either.”

How irresponsible could one man be?

Eun Sowol gave Poongryang a look of disbelief, and he awkwardly cleared his throat.

“Ahem. Anyway, now that your business is done, it’s best to avoid getting involved with that pair any further.”

“…So you’re saying his skills are real?”

“Hm?”

“You said he was a disciple of Yakseon. That means he’s really skilled, right?”

“Well… yes? But it’s more of a rumor. He’s probably not an actual disciple.”

“Anyway, thank you. You didn’t have to tell us all this—especially the parts not related to the Sadoryeon recruitment.”

It finally dawned on Eun Sowol that Poongryang had done them a favor.

As the mediator of Heuksigok, he had honestly shared sensitive information about the region’s power balance.

Poongryang grinned as he stood up.

“By doing this, I’ve earned myself a little debt from you. I might cash that in someday.”

“You can’t call something this small a debt.”

“Then call it goodwill. I want to stay on your good side, after all.”

Then Poongryang pulled something from his robe and tossed it to Dokgo Ryong.

It was a wooden tag with the character “邪” (Evil) inscribed on it, adorned with red tassels at the end.

“If you ever have to enter Sadoryeon territory, use that token. It’ll let you through most places.”

“…That would count as a debt.”

“Nope. That’s me paying you back—for saving my life five years ago.”

Dokgo Ryong tilted his head in confusion, and Poongryang burst out laughing.

“You don’t even remember, huh? Anyway, debt paid. Take care. Hope we meet again.”

Then, with a gust of wind, Poongryang disappeared in the blink of an eye. Eun Sowol rubbed her eyes and looked up at Dokgo Ryong.

“Uncle, did you really save that guy?”

“Seems like it, though I don’t remember too well… Oh, wait. Could it be that?”

“Something come to mind?”

“I mean… I didn’t intend to save him, exactly…”

Five years ago, the two of them had joined a subjugation request against the infamous bandit group, the Baekgol Clan.

It was a large-scale operation with many mercenaries, and that’s when the two had met.

When the operation was nearing its end, with only the leader of the Baekgol Clan remaining, heavy casualties had occurred—made worse when the leader fell into a mental breakdown and became uncontrollably violent.

Poongryang was nearly killed in that chaos.

But before disaster struck, someone beheaded the leader.

That someone was Dokgo Ryong.

Strictly speaking, he hadn’t meant to save Poongryang. He had simply killed the leader—and Poongryang survived as a result.

“Well, you still did a good thing.”

“It wasn’t out of goodness—I just wanted the bounty on his head.”

“Still, you saved him. And now you’ve helped Uncle Jaeha too.”

Dokgo Ryong paused and looked at Eun Sowol. She gave him a triumphant look, as if to say I’m right, aren’t I?

“I was commissioned for this. I’ll be expecting payment.”

He turned abruptly and strode ahead.

Eun Sowol grinned at how unlike him it was not to match her pace.

Embarrassed, huh?

All she did was say he was kind, and he got all shy about it.

She’d discovered a new side of the Mad Demon. Eun Sowol couldn’t help but smile.

Meanwhile

A fog-covered mountain slope, like white silk draped over the world.

Before even the roosters crowed, a group was climbing a cliff-lined rocky mountain.

“What kind of mountain is this steep?”

“Are you sure this is the right place?”

The group consisted of Dokgo Ryong, Eun Sowol, Dang Jinak, and the father-son duo, Lee Jaeha and Lee Moogeol.

As Dang Jinak and Eun Sowol grumbled, Lee Moogeol nodded, gasping for air.

“Yes, just a little farther. As expected of martial artists, you’re keeping up well.”

“…If there’s nothing there when we arrive, you’re dead.”

It was the first time Dokgo Ryong had spoken—while quietly carrying Eun Sowol.

His chilling voice made Lee Moogeol hiccup in fear.

“Hic. I wouldn’t dare lie to someone like you, sir!”

“You already did once.”

“Well, I’m the only one who knows the spirit beast’s location—so its inner core is practically mine!”

If you were wondering why they were climbing a mountain at dawn without warning, you’d have to go back a few hours.

After Poongryang left, Dokgo Ryong demanded the inner core of a spiritual beast from Lee Moogeol as payment for completing the request.

But the answer he got was absurd.

He said there was no inner core.

Instead, he claimed he knew where the beast was and that they could just go catch it.

Talk about nerve—trying to scam my uncle in a life-or-death moment.

It was impressive, in a twisted way.

“But Geora, how did you find such a rare spirit beast? You never said a word to your father.”

“I discovered it while herb-gathering with Father the other day. I looked around and realized it lived in this area. I’m sorry for hiding it… I wasn’t sure what to do.”

“It’s a little disappointing, but I get it. Just the knowledge of a spirit beast’s location is valuable.”

The worth of a spiritual beast extended beyond its inner core—every part could be used for medicine or sold for a fortune.

That’s why, once rumors of a rare spiritual beast spread, everyone scrambled to claim it.

While raising one might seem like an option, they were often monstrous and impossible to tame—so hunting them was the norm.

But then—

“Brother, what were you planning to do with the beast?”

Even seasoned warriors struggled to hunt spirit beasts.

Usually, you’d need a team—or be a master martial artist.

But Lee Moogeol didn’t even practice martial arts.

So… how exactly was he planning to catch it?