Chapter 60

Chapter 60

Nothing was gained.

Considering the money and time the Murim Alliance had invested in this incident, it would not be an exaggeration to say that they had literally collapsed. That was how little they had achieved.

The Hunan branch of the Murim Alliance.

Namgung Sohye sat quietly, waiting for news. She had dispatched informants in all directions to gather information on the vanished Demonic Cult faction, but no significant contact had arrived.

Was this really the work of the Demonic Cult?

Questions followed one after another.

However, what gripped her attention even more was something else.

The tablet that had been shattered into pieces.

The name that appeared when she put those pieces together.

"Dan Woo-hyun…"

The Three Heavens had certainly placed a tablet commemorating the Martial God there. She had already heard that from the serendipity hunters, and since she had obtained what could be considered evidence, it could not be a lie.

"Surely it isn't that Dan Woo-hyun…"

Namgung Sohye shook her head vigorously.

There were countless people with the same name.

Just as there were those who used the surname Namgung but with different meanings outside the Namgung Family of Anhui, anyone could appear with the same name.

However.

'His identity is also unclear…'

Namgung Sohye, who was the first to return to the Murim Alliance branch, conducted a background check on Dan Woo-hyun.

She had sent carrier pigeons not only to the Beggars' Sect but also to other information organizations, but except for the fact that he suddenly appeared in Luoyang, she could find nothing.

She had searched for everyone named Dan Woo-hyun in the Central Plains, but the fact that not a single person matched him meant that no information about him had come up.

"Haha, what are you worrying so much about?"

"Ah, Grandfather…"

"It is fine. Stay seated. Is it because of the matters at Gunja Island?"

"…That is also true, but there is something else that is bothering me a little."

"Oh? A man problem?"

"A-Ah, no… Ah… It's not that, it's just…"

"Hahaha, it seems you have reached the age to get married."

Namgung Cheon burst into laughter as he watched the flustered Namgung Sohye. Who on earth was the man who had made this girl, who was always like an iron wall, act like this?

His curiosity did not fade.

"Grandfather…"

"Yes, tell me what is on your mind."

Mm, Namgung Sohye took a small breath.

Actually, she thought that even speaking of this might make others think she had gone mad.

"Can a person… live for a thousand years?"

"Hahaha, "

As expected, Namgung Cheon burst into a hearty laugh.

In an instant, Namgung Sohye's face turned beet red. Even she had to admit that this was an absurd question.

"A long time ago, the First Emperor of Qin strove so hard to make an elixir of immortality, but in the end, he could not escape death."

"That is… true."

"Everyone dies. Though there were occasionally those who were exceptions…"

"You are talking about… the Eight Immortals?"

"Yes, those who are said to have become immortals and have been protecting this Central Plains Murim for a long time. Of course, it is practically a legend, so there is no credibility, but I suppose if one reaches that level, it might be possible."

Pfft.

Namgung Cheon smiled.

That meant it was a stage that could not be easily reached by human strength alone.

Of course, since the Eight Immortals were also humans in the past, it was not impossible, but no matter how she thought about it, there was no way that man had entered the immortal realm.

'His personality is too weird!'

Namgung Sohye quietly thought of Dan Woo-hyun.

Yes, when she thought about it carefully, there was no way.

There was absolutely no possibility that he was a person from a thousand years ago, or the same person who was called the Martial God.

Who was the Martial God?

He had only been passed down in legends, but now that his existence was confirmed, he reigned as the strongest in the history of the Central Plains Murim, a transcendent being whose tales would continue to spread.

If she considered that such a person robbed the pockets of bandits and teased her, the probability of them being the same person was zero.

A person of that caliber should be noble, refined, and dignified like Namgung Cheon, and yet exude an aura of overwhelming majesty.

Nodding her head with an 'Mm, mm!', Namgung Sohye let out a long sigh.

Now that she had organized her thoughts, her mind felt at ease.

"Have you relieved your worries?"

"Yes, thank you, Grandfather."

"Haha, yes, yes. Well, since I am with my granddaughter after a long time, I was thinking of going to see Dongting Lake. What do you think?"

"Do… Dongting Lake?"

Namgung Sohye broke into a cold sweat.

For some reason, nothing ever went right whenever she went there.

* * *

"Is it really not you?"

"Yes, it is not."

Jang Sam-tae stared intently at Dan Woo-hyun.

Seeing him murmuring with an unchanging expression, the words 'brazen face' naturally came to mind.

No, anyone could see it was the remains of the Three Heavens, so how could it not be him?

How could he pull a scam like this?

"But the tablet…"

"Only the name is the same."

Cheon Mu-gwang, Nam Ju-ryeon, Tae Gong-jin.

Could the names of these three people really be the same?

'He must think we are fools.'

Jang Sam-tae murmured, twitching his lips.

"It is not like our eyes are useless, is it?"

Dan Woo-hyun glanced back and forth between Jang Sam-tae and Gwon Mu-jin. The two of them were watching him with quite determined looks, seeming to have certainty about it.

Their eyes were indeed not useless.

They were neither blind nor foolish, so he should not think of deceiving them.

Their expressions seemed to speak those words.

Dan Woo-hyun chuckled.

"That might be so."

"Ahem! I shall go and train…"

At those words, Gwon Mu-jin was the first to slip away.

He was not radiating killing intent, but looking at Dan Woo-hyun's face, he felt that if he pried any deeper, nothing good would come of it.

Dan Woo-hyun must have his own reasons, so probing into it would yield nothing.

However, Jang Sam-tae was quite persistent.

"Ayy! Manor Lord, don't be like that and just tell this Sam-tae. How on earth did you bring them back?"

"Did I not tell you it is not me."

"Are you really going to be like this!?"

"Uncle Jang, the ball flew over there and I cannot find it. Please help me."

Just then, Dan So-mi ran over with light steps, grabbing Jang Sam-tae's sleeve with tearful eyes. Her face looked as if she was shocked that the ball she was playing with had vanished.

Jang Sam-tae quickly pulled away from Dan Woo-hyun.

"I will fetch it for you right away!"

"Hehe, thank you."

Dan So-mi quietly watched Jang Sam-tae disappear with a bright smile. Soon, when he was completely out of sight, she sat down next to Dan Woo-hyun and lay down, resting her head on his lap.

At that sight, Dan Woo-hyun smiled.

"Did we even have a ball in our house?"

"He… Hehehe, I… think we did?"

Dan So-mi smiled awkwardly, looking away.

Among her toys, there was no such thing as a ball. It was merely something she blurted out because Dan Woo-hyun seemed to be in a difficult spot.

"Lying is not a good thing. But then again, white lies are sometimes necessary. Isn't that a rather strange thing?"

"He… Hehe, it is. But what does Uncle Jang keep asking about?"

Dan So-mi tilted her head.

Normally, he would not hold onto a question so tenaciously. If Dan Woo-hyun did not answer, he would usually just let it go.

But today, because he was clinging so persistently, Dan So-mi eventually stepped in.

"Sometimes, ignorance is bliss. You will also learn such things in the future."

"Yes, Somi understands what that means. Hehehe."

Dan Woo-hyun let out a small chuckle and stroked the hair of the smiling child.

He, who had not been in a good mood for two days after burying the remains of the Three Heavens, realized that her laughter was warm in some way.

As he also laughed, Dan So-mi snuggled into his arms.

"By the way, what about older sister?"

"I wonder. Wouldn't she be quite busy?"

Dan Woo-hyun quietly thought of Namgung Sohye.

The Murim Alliance, which gained nothing, must be furious. They would dig into not only the Demonic Cult but also other factions, striving to find clues about this matter.

That was how much money and time they had spent on this.

Naturally, wouldn't Namgung Sohye also be busy?

Just as he was thinking that.

Dan Woo-hyun's gaze turned toward the main gate.

He was about to call Sam-tae, but when he thought about it, Sam-tae had disappeared to find a ball that did not exist.

In the end, Dan Woo-hyun slowly stood up.

Walking toward the main gate, he felt something and raised his head. Realizing that the momentum felt in the wind was unusual, a small smile appeared on his lips.

How long had it been since he felt this kind of momentum?

The moment he reached out and opened the door.

"Ah, haha, he… hello?"

Namgung Sohye was seen smiling awkwardly. She looked restless with a somewhat uncomfortable expression, constantly scanning Dan Woo-hyun's face.

However, Dan Woo-hyun's gaze was not directed at her.

The old man visible behind her.

It was Namgung Cheon.

"It seems a precious guest has arrived."

"Hahaha, thank you for thinking so."

Namgung Cheon was seeing Dan Woo-hyun for the first time.

Although he knew that the words coming out of his mouth were certainly not in honorifics, it was not to the extent that he felt offended by it.

Because it was so natural, it did not even bother him.

"You see, we were sightseeing at Dongting Lake… and tried to get… a room at an inn, but there were too many people…"

"Enough. Come in."

'Eh?'

He was not angry.

Namgung Sohye looked at Dan Woo-hyun with a rather surprised expression. She thought he would naturally get angry if they showed up suddenly without any prior notice, but strangely, he accepted it easily.

'Is he planning something else?'

She looked around with a suspicious expression.

"I thought the Murim Alliance would be very busy, but surprisingly, you seem to have leisure."

Step, step.

The voice of Dan Woo-hyun, who was walking ahead, was heard.

Before Namgung Sohye, who had finally snapped out of it, could say anything, Namgung Cheon, who was standing beside her, spoke.

"It is a task done in old age, so what good would it be if there wasn't even this much leisure, hahaha."

"Amusing. You can laugh even after suffering such an event."

"Oh? Could you tell this old man what that event is?"

Namgung Cheon looked at Dan Woo-hyun with sparkling eyes.

The fact that there was no harvest at Gunja Island was something that had not even spread as a rumor yet.

If Dan Woo-hyun knew about it and spoke of it, it was practically saying that he was also involved in that matter.

Just then, Dan Woo-hyun, who was walking ahead, stopped dead in his tracks.

He slowly turned around and locked eyes with Namgung Cheon.

Shiver!

And he saw it.

At the same time he met Dan Woo-hyun's gaze, Namgung Cheon lost all strength in his body. Though it was only for an instant, his vision went dark and cold sweat poured all over his body.

He swallowed hard and forced a smile, but that only fueled his fear even more.

"Sometimes, it is better to know nothing."

At the single sentence that followed, Namgung Cheon regained his senses. He took a step back without realizing it and swallowed hard.

That single sentence from Dan Woo-hyun's mouth fueled an endless sense of fear.

To this great Namgung Cheon.

Cold sweat trickled down his forehead.