Chapter 30

Chapter 30

That evening.

Hwa So-mi, who returned from school for the first time, looked in quite a good mood. She was all smiles all day long, and the laughter filled on her face did not fade.

Watching that, Dan Woo-hyun spoke to her gently.

“You must have liked it.”

“Yes! I learned something called the Thousand Character Classic. I don't really know what it means yet, but… it's really fun.”

Dan Woo-hyun responded and stroked her hair. She also chattered about various things, like having learned calligraphy at school.

Without finding it bothersome, Dan Woo-hyun nodded and listened to her words to the end.

Eventually, seeing Hwa So-mi who had fallen asleep in his arms, he pinched her cheek.

It seemed she had truly enjoyed the school she went to for the first time.

“She must have liked it.”

A voice was heard.

Dan Woo-hyun's gaze naturally turned back. Namgung So-hye, wearing light attire after a long time and holding a sword in one hand, was standing there.

Under the shining blue moonlight, she was as beautiful as a descended celestial maiden. All the surrounding scenery felt as if it existed solely for her.

Dan Woo-hyun watched this quietly and chuckled.

“You drew lines on a pumpkin.”

“Do you want to see how scary a lined pumpkin can be?”

Namgung So-hye twitched her lips and rolled up her sleeves. Judging by her expression, it felt as though she might actually hit him.

Then, she let out a small sigh and spoke.

“Do you know that?”

“What is it?”

“That child, she talks a lot about what she learned and what she did, but she didn't say a single word about friends.”

“…….”

He had not thought about that at all.

Just as Namgung So-hye said, even tracing back Hwa So-mi's words from the beginning one by one, she had not mentioned making friends or becoming close with anyone.

That meant she had played alone.

Dan Woo-hyun looked down at Hwa So-mi who was sleeping peacefully. Then, he stroked her head and let out a soft sigh.

“Do not worry. It must be because it was the first day.”

“Hmm… is that so? Anyway, I'm heading out now, are you coming with me?”

“Yes, did you call them the Five Swords of Hunan?”

“Yes, they are the very people who decimated the Black Dao Association.”

As if emphasizing that it was an incident resolved by martial artists rather than imperial people, she spoke with her shoulders squared proudly.

Dan Woo-hyun chuckled and looked for Jang Sam-tae.

First, he had to move the sleeping Hwa So-mi inside.

* * *

The Five Swords of Hunan.

Those who used that name did not exist. At least, not until quite recently.

After the Black Dao Association was decimated and rumors began to circulate that there was someone behind the County Magistrate, the name of the Five Swords of Hunan suddenly appeared.

Currently, the place where the Five Swords of Hunan stayed was a small cabin built in the mountains.

It was surrounded by trees and rocks on all sides, and since it was dark, one could not distinguish even an inch ahead unless they had bright eyes.

“Are… are we really going to be okay? The opponent is the Murim Alliance…”

“Don't worry, you bastards. Since the Murim Alliance placed a bounty on the head of the Black Dao Association's Leader, we just need to take that and flee to the Western Regions.”

“I… I'm worried we might get caught…”

“Who is this big brother! I am Ma Il-woong. What is your name?”

“M… Ma I-woong…”

“Yes, and Sam-woong, Sa-woong, and Oh-woong too. We are all blood brothers! Has there ever been a time when we pulled off a job and failed?”

The four figures who thought quietly shook their heads. No matter what scam they pulled, they had never failed even once.

Possessing second-rate martial arts as a baseline and having an exceptionally outstanding disposition as scammers, they had survived until now.

Ma Il-woong patted his younger brothers and spoke.

“But the opponent is of the Namgung Clan…”

“Hmph, that measly Namgung Clan! I shall show you that if we play our cards right, we can deceive even the Eight Great Noble Clans.”

Ma Il-woong was truly confident.

Finding Namgung So-hye was truly a coincidence. Around the time Yueyang was in an uproar because the Black Dao Association had been swept away, he had accidentally seen Namgung So-hye wandering around the marketplace to verify something.

Since the reason for it was also easily understood, how could this not be called a golden opportunity of a lifetime sent by heaven?

Ma Il-woong had been exceptionally bold since childhood and was born with a natural talent for deceiving people.

This current location was created for that purpose, and if only this matter succeeded, their lives would change drastically. Once they got their hands on the bounty and fled beyond the borders, could even the Murim Alliance catch them?

Ma Il-woong chuckled.

“B… Big brother, they are coming.”

Just then, the footsteps of someone approaching were heard.

Glancing over, two figures were approaching their house.

‘Two people?’

It should definitely have been Namgung So-hye alone, so who on earth was that man who suddenly appeared?

Ma Il-woong stared at the man following behind Namgung So-hye with a puzzled look.

“Are you… the ones who decimated the Black Dao Association, the Five Swords of Hunan?”

At the slender, beautiful voice, Ma Il-woong swallowed his saliva.

Because the moment he looked at the woman's face, which was dimly visible despite the darkness, he fell into an ecstasy so deep that his heart sank.

But he soon came to his senses.

He had to concentrate.

The moment even a single thing slipped, they would immediately ruin everything.

With an indifferent expression, Ma Il-woong looked at Namgung So-hye.

“I do not understand what you are talking about.”

First, he must play dumb completely. He had to emphasize the point that he had put the County Magistrate forward and let him take all the credit.

Snicker-

At that moment, an irritating snicker was heard.

Looking at the main culprit of the sound with side-glancing eyes, it was that man.

Just then, a voice that woke Ma Il-woong from his thoughts was heard.

“I've already investigated everything. You are the ones who backed the County Magistrate and decimated the Black Dao Association, right?”

“I do not know from whom you heard such a story…”

“I am Namgung So-hye, the Squadron Leader of the Murim Alliance's Phoenix Squadron. I know well that you heroes possess high chivalrous spirits and are reluctant to step forward in the world, but I hope you will not lie now and answer properly.”

Namgung So-hye slowly inspected their appearances.

Wearing shabby martial robes, they each carried various swords at their waists.

But that was not the problem.

‘Did these guys really do it?’

The energy felt was too faint. Since these guys felt weak enough to not even be properly second-rate, let alone first-rate, she wondered if they could even catch ruffians, let alone the Black Dao Association.

At the moment she narrowed her eyes and looked at Ma Il-woong.

“It must be Mr. Jang. Did he tell you about us? Sigh, there is truly no one to trust in this world…”

“Then did you really decimate the Black Dao Association?”

“Since things have turned out this way, I shall tell you everything. Yes, we decimated the Black Dao Association.”

Namgung So-hye raised her eyebrows.

A confident gaze, unwavering eyes… although only for a moment, she could feel a spirit imposing enough to make her body flinch.

But…

‘Their momentum… is too weak, though?’

A martial artist recognizes a martial artist.

For Namgung So-hye, who had made quite a name for herself even among the first-rate, it felt as though she could subdue the people in front of her with a single finger.

“Are you perhaps doubting us?”

“The leader of the Black Dao Association is a master who reached the peak. His subordinates are mostly first-rate. But no matter how I look at you…”

It was then.

Ma Il-woong exchanged glances with the youngest. It was a very brief moment, and even Namgung So-hye did not notice.

Soon, as Ma Il-woong slowly moved his hand.

Crack-!

Creaaak-!

Suddenly, a tree near Namgung So-hye made a loud sound and began to fall backward.

Since there was no sound of wind, let alone anything being thrown, Namgung So-hye cast a bewildered look.

Thud-!

Soon, the large tree broke at its base and fell completely.

“Do you still doubt us? There are countless extraordinary individuals in the world. Our master was also such a person, and we are the same.”

“A… Amazing.”

Namgung So-hye swallowed hard.

To break a tree without making even the sound of the wind.

For someone who had reached this level, it could be said that subduing the Black Dao Association's leader was indeed an easy task.

In the first place, the reason the Black Dao Association could operate in secret for a long time was that it was run strictly as a point-to-point organization, and even if officers were occasionally captured, they committed suicide or were assassinated.

In addition, although they had subordinates with skills that reached first-rate, they were inferior to the warriors of the Murim Alliance, and although the Black Dao Association's leader was a master at the peak, his skills paled in comparison to the elders of the Nine Great Sects and One Band.

“If you are going to doubt us, please go back.”

“Ah, no! It's not that… just in case.”

When Namgung So-hye waved her hands with an awkward smile, Ma Il-woong glanced at the third brother and stomped his foot with a thud!

Simultaneously.

Boom-!

A large rock quite far away exploded, scattering fragments in all directions. That was by no means martial prowess that could be displayed by someone with weak internal energy.

“Go back!”

“Ah, no! Wait a moment, wait a moment!”

Watching the five turn their backs, Namgung So-hye hurriedly chased after them. Along with the thought that she must never lose them, perhaps acknowledging that her attitude was somewhat disrespectful, she kept offering apologies.

“……”

While they were slowly drawing away like that, Dan Woo-hyun stood still in his spot, inspecting the fallen fragments and the collapsed tree.

“They cut the tree beforehand and installed a mechanism. Quite clever.”

He let out an absurd laugh with a “Haha.”

To deceive someone, one must be perfect. If there was even a tiny loophole, quick-witted people would never fall for it.

In that sense, their choice was very good.

They chose a dark night, moreover a place where even the moonlight could not penetrate properly, to install the mechanisms. They probably activated them upon receiving a signal.

Because they had prepared so thoroughly, even the outstanding Namgung So-hye could not help but be deceived.

“If it were my childhood, I might have fallen for it too. Hahaha.”

Dan Woo-hyun burst into laughter, finding it extremely amusing.

For the first time, he was surprised by others. He was filled with admiration that one could deceive people in this way.

Moreover, these scammers seemed to be truly bold. To deceive a daughter of a reasonably famous clan.

Watching that was also a considerable source of amusement.

Dan Woo-hyun walked slowly, following behind Namgung So-hye.

He was curious about what else was happening.

At that moment, a voice was heard.

“The Murim Alliance definitely wishes to invite you heroes. For that reason, the Alliance Leader himself…”

“The Murim Alliance Leader himself?”

“Yes! Although I committed a discourtesy, I hope you will not decline the Alliance Leader's invitation.”

Ma Il-woong looked at Namgung So-hye with a triumphant expression. He had almost reeled her in completely. From now on, whatever he said, she would have no choice but to believe it.

“What on earth are we going to do at the Murim Alliance? If it is just to listen to stories and drink a cup of tea, I shall decline.”

“Th…! The… there is a Murim Alliance bounty placed on the Black Dao Association, so you can receive that too, and as you talk with the Alliance Leader, it might become a good relationship…”

At the mention of a bounty, Dan Woo-hyun's eyes flashed. Was it not only the imperial court that had placed a bounty on the Black Dao Association?

“Hmph, with a mere bounty…”

“Two hundred taels of gold…”

“Mmm?”

The ones startled by the words that came out of Namgung So-hye's mouth were not the Five Swords of Hunan. Because they already knew how much bounty was placed.

“Two hundred?”

The one who asked back in surprise was Dan Woo-hyun.

With eyes wide open, he stared intently at Namgung So-hye.