Chapter 71

Chapter 71

“I guess you are not going back.”

Dan Woo-hyun, who had returned after walking Dan So-mi to the academy, muttered as he watched Namgung Cheon, who was now holding and swinging a real sword.

Considering how his expression had changed the moment he heard the news that Murong Hyeok-mun had become the leader of the Murim Alliance, he actually thought it wouldn’t be strange if he ran there immediately.

Namgung Cheon quietly lowered his sword.

“What use would it be if I went now?”

Namgung Cheon, who had lost the leadership of the Murim Alliance, had lost his power. Even if he went back and demanded explanations for this situation, there was no one who would listen to a powerless man like him.

He had become the leader of the Murim Alliance not because of his character, but because of his power.

On the contrary, provoking Murong Hyeok-mun might cause an even greater disaster. If Murong Hyeok-mun had truly betrayed Namgung Cheon, things would not end simply.

“He must be quite something. This Murong Hyeok-mun fellow.”

“Even with a healthy body, he is certainly a somewhat difficult opponent to handle, hohoho.”

Namgung Cheon let out a short laugh and smiled awkwardly. It was not for nothing that he was called the second most powerful figure of the orthodox path. He was a man who put in that much effort and whose talent was also not lacking.

As one of the two people who opened the era of the Eight Great Families by pushing aside the Nine Great Sects and One Gang that had protected the orthodox path for a very long time, he was undoubtedly an incredible person.

“I know well that Murong has a bad personality, but he is the one chosen by the people of the Murim Alliance. Since I cannot interfere and do not wish to do so either, I intend to put that matter down now.”

He saw the sincere look in Namgung Cheon’s eyes.

They were never the eyes of a person who spoke with hatred or falsehood about another. Furthermore, there was no evidence anywhere that Murong Hyeok-mun had pulled Namgung Cheon down to become the alliance leader.

Could it not be that things had simply flowed that way?

He did not want to doubt a close friend of many years over something that was not certain.

“I see. Does everything flow as it goes…?”

“Although he is a fellow with a somewhat strange personality… he is still a man who leads a family. Such a point is actually reassuring and good, hohoho.”

At Namgung Cheon’s words, Dan Woo-hyun nodded.

Being able to believe in someone was quite an interesting thing.

However, a trace of bitterness was buried within his eyes.

Even though he realized that, Dan Woo-hyun smiled and turned his head.

This was Namgung Cheon’s business.

He had no intention of giving advice or stepping in.

Because he had made the decision.

“Come to think of it, do you happen to know a man named Gold King Hand?”

“It is my first time hearing of him.”

Thinking that it was as expected, Namgung Cheon nodded.

The Dan Woo-hyun he had seen so far was a master with outstanding skills. However, having no connection to the Murim, he seemed to know nothing about the things there.

Or should it be said that he seemed to have no interest?

It was quite a peculiar thing.

With skills of Dan Woo-hyun’s level, it would be natural for him to make a name for himself in the Central Plains.

“Gold King Hand was the most outstanding thief in the Central Plains.”

“Was?”

Namgung Cheon nodded slightly.

It was in the past tense.

Even until a few years ago, he was a thief who caused a stir in the Central Plains, and it was said that there was no place he could not enter and no place he could not rob.

His lightness art was so fast that no one in the Central Plains could catch up, and his ability to hide his appearance was also so great that it was said that once you lost sight of him, you could never pursue him again.

Even if one followed his tracks, he was already gone.

“He must have been a man of great stealth and lightness art.”

“His stealth was not that good. In fact, there were many cases where he was caught after infiltrating. However, one of the reasons he was able to pull off thefts perfectly was indeed his lightness art.”

I see, Dan Woo-hyun nodded.

He did not have a great interest in thieves. Because for most of them, even if they stole something, their end was not good. Looking at Jang Sam-tae, had he not lost all of that vast amount of money?

“This old man also tracked him once for fun. And I obtained this.”

Namgung Cheon rummaged through his clothes and pulled out a small container. He had hidden it so deeply that it remained on his body even when he was attacked.

Furthermore, even though he had fallen into the water of Dongting Lake, the contents inside the container were not wet. It had been made that tightly.

“A map?”

“It is a treasure map. The treasure of Gold King Hand, that is.”

For a moment, Dan Woo-hyun’s eyes flashed.

He had no interest in thieves, but he was interested in the gold and silver treasures they possessed. As it was, because the number of dependents had increased, the money leaking out here and there had also increased.

Just as he was thinking about how to fill that gap, a treasure map had suddenly appeared before his eyes.

Dan Woo-hyun looked at it with an intrigued expression.

“I know well that I am staying in this manor but not doing anything helpful. So, I shall give this to you.”

“To find and take this? Might that fellow not have already taken it away?”

“Hohoho, that might be the case, but it might not be. Furthermore, the rumors about Gold King Hand already stopped three years ago, and most people say that he is dead. Because… the last place he robbed was quite a famous place. Moreover, that place was quiet without even a disturbance breaking out.”

“Are you certain?”

“Of course.”

Namgung Cheon smirked.

The treasure might or might not be there. The probability was fifty-fifty, and it could also be a task that required hard work. However, if there was indeed treasure, it was also an opportunity to lay hands on a massive amount of gold and silver treasures.

It was Dan Woo-hyun, who could not resist money.

There was no way he would not fall for it.

After staring silently at the map for a while, he nodded.

“I shall take it.”

He quietly examined the map he had received.

It seemed to depict a certain region and village, pointing towards something. Since it was not properly shown where it was, and there was not even a single writing, it seemed he would have to rack his brains quite seriously.

“This old man also possessed it for a long time but could not solve it. If you solve it, would this old man also not be excited? Hohoho.”

“It is harder than I thought. Since only the terrain is shown, where is where…”

Namgung Cheon also agreed with Dan Woo-hyun’s words.

He also did not know well because where was where was drawn crudely. Therefore, he had given up on searching and had only kept it carefully in his bosom.

In case he came across a similar place while wandering around the Central Plains.

“…Is that not Hubei?”

At that moment, a small mumbling voice was heard.

Gwon Mu-jin, who had approached them at some point, spoke up.

“Hubei?”

“Yes, if you follow the waterway to the west from Wuhan, the provincial capital of Hubei, there is a large village called Hanchuan. It seems to have depicted that place…”

Dan Woo-hyun and Namgung Cheon listened intently to Gwon Mu-jin’s words. In fact, they could not know whether his words were correct or wrong, but listening to the confident Gwon Mu-jin, they felt there might be a probability.

“Hubei… Hubei…”

“First of all, there is no mistake. That is a place where I lived for about a year in the past, so it is familiar.”

It was not because he wanted to live there.

Gwon Mu-jin had once taken on the role of hiding himself in Hubei and passing information about that place to the Martial Emperor City. Since Hanchuan was close to Wuhan, the provincial capital of Hubei, and the village was also quite large, it was also the most suitable place to obtain information.

“I see.”

Dan Woo-hyun nodded, looking back and forth at the map and Gwon Mu-jin. Although it was an expression that made it completely impossible to know what he was thinking, he soon put the map in his bosom and spoke of what he had thought.

“I should… go on a sightseeing trip to Hubei for a while.”

“Where are you going?”

That evening.

During dinner, which they ate gathered together warmly, at the words he blurted out, Jang Sam-tae and Dan So-mi opened their eyes wide in surprise. Because there had been no sign until now, and the words had come out of nowhere.

“Hubei.”

“So-mi also knows! I heard that is a place where the Wudang Sect is located.”

Dan So-mi wore a look full of expectation with a beaming smile. In Hubei, the superb view of Mount Wudang was quite famous. As it was to the extent that the young Dan So-mi knew about it, Hubei was also a place as famous as Hunan.

“Why Hubei of all places? I admit there are many famous places and many things to see, but…”

Jang Sam-tae muttered with a somewhat uncomfortable expression. Unlike Hunan, Hubei was a place controlled by Murim families and sects.

To the west was the Wudang Sect.

To the east was the Zhuge Family.

Even now, the people of the Wudang Sect were fiercer than ever. Because they had not been able to find the bodies of the Three Heavens at Gentlemen Island last time, they were keeping their eyes wide open.

If one were to cause trouble in such a place.

A sword fight with Wudang would break out immediately.

As if he shuddered just thinking about it, Jang Sam-tae trembled.

Watching that sight silently, Dan Woo-hyun smirked.

“You and So-mi cannot go.”

“Yes?”

“Eh?”

At the same time, strange sounds flowed from the mouths of the two. While he was talking about going to Hubei and all, he was telling them not to go, so their eyes were full of bewilderment.

Especially Dan So-mi, who had been looking forward to it immensely, was even more so.

With an expression that looked like she would shed tears at any moment, she barely opened her mouth.

“Why…?”

“First, the distance is too far. To take the young So-mi along, that is. Furthermore, do you not also have to go to the academy?”

“That… that is true, but So-mi also wants to go.”

“Second, we cannot leave the manor empty.”

At those words, Jang Sam-tae flinched.

Dan Woo-hyun’s words were correct.

Recently, two Murim sects had entered Yueyang. Although they were said to be small, nameless sects, they were expanding their influence and controlling the surroundings.

In such a situation, if they left the manor empty, they did not know what kind of plight they would face. Because it was a place where no one lived, people might take things away as they pleased.

A person who could grasp the situation in Yueyang was needed.

Also, although it was a pity, if Dan So-mi could not go, there was no person as suitable as Jang Sam-tae to look after this child.

Although it was possible to leave her with Hong Won-chang like last time, Dan Woo-hyun did not seem to have any intention of doing so. Although there was also the reason that he was busy as the sects of Yueyang had entered recently, So-mi would also like her own home, and there was no way another’s home would be good.

“Third, if everyone leaves the house… the crops will die.”

‘That’s it.’

‘So that was it…’

Jang Sam-tae and Dan So-mi had no choice but to understand.

The agricultural crops planted next to the manor were of a considerable amount. Since now was an important period to harvest them properly, a person who could manage them properly was needed.

But if everyone went, there was no one to do it.

Although Dan So-mi was important to Dan Woo-hyun, the biggest purpose seemed to be the problem that there was no person to manage the crops. Even while understanding, the two somehow did not like it.

“Hoho, then this old man will also remain and play with So-mi.”

“Is that alright?”

“Of course. In fact, I no longer have much interest in that, either.”

Namgung Cheon laughed heartily, lifted Dan So-mi who was sitting next to him, and placed her on his lap. Although he was curious about what the treasure of Gold King Hand he had possessed for a long time was, he was more satisfied with being with this child now.

“While your father is away, let us play with this grandfather.”

“Hehe, thank you, grandfather!”

Dan So-mi smiled brightly and snuggled into Namgung Cheon’s arms. The two were so close that if anyone who did not know saw them, they would surely think they were grandfather and granddaughter.

Dan Woo-hyun had an expression that showed he did not quite like that sight, but there was no need to find fault with the decision Namgung Cheon had made.

Nodding slightly, he opened his mouth.

“Then, I leave the manor to you.”