Chapter 77 To shake off the Murim Alliance Leader and flee was absurd.
This was his stronghold—the Murim Alliance. At a single command, the Wind and Thunder Unit would swarm like hornets. It was wiser not to act rashly.
When she obediently stopped, the Murim Alliance Leader inclined his head in acknowledgment and turned to Dang Mae-ryeong.
"Sect Leader, explain what transpired here."
"While searching for you, we were attacked by some wretch. He wielded Ilgeom."
"Ilgeom? Is that true, Sect Leader?"
At Murong Sang-hui's alarm, Dang Mae-ryeong nodded.
"It is true. Likely Yeonghwang Yuse. Had this female hero not appeared to aid us, both I and Daoist Bang Woo would be in far worse condition."
The Murim Alliance Leader's face darkened. With a brief motion of his chin, men burst from the bamboo thicket and carried Bang Woo away.
Meanwhile, Murong Sang-hui examined the fallen puppet and frowned deeply.
"He has not been dead long. But his condition… it is ghastly. His bones are completely crushed."
"Sect Leader. Was Ilgeom in that corpse's hand?"
"Yes, Alliance Leader. Just before death, another intruder appeared and reclaimed Ilgeom. But how anyone other than Cheon Mu-ryeong could wield Ilgeom…"
Unlike Dang Mae-ryeong, who could not suppress her confusion, the Murim Alliance Leader appeared to have grasped the situation.
"Sorcery."
"Sorcery…? But that art has nearly vanished—"
"Indeed. Save for a few lineages, it has all but died out. Yet Cheon Mu-ryeong's techniques rival even Zhuge Hyeonmun, the greatest sorcerer of this age. It appears he used puppetry."
At the certainty in his voice, Murong Sang-hui and Dang Mae-ryeong's expressions darkened at once.
"Cheon Mu-ryeong… the First Evil… Alliance Leader, does this mean—"
"More urgent matters demand attention. We must dispatch men to find Namgung Soyo at once."
The Murim Alliance Leader stiffened.
"Find her? What do you mean?"
"It seems Cheonmyeon Magwi also moved while we were unaware. Whether the true one or not… Daoist Bang Woo said Namgung Soyo was with Cheonmyeon Magwi."
"..."
"We were in the midst of asking this female hero for assistance when you returned."
Returned.
Yeo Il found that phrasing curious. Then where had the Murim Alliance Leader been, with Murong Sang-hui in such condition at his side?
The Murim Alliance Leader's gaze shifted to the crude scabbard in her hand.
"That sword belongs to the Wind and Thunder Unit. Their members use such blades for infiltration."
Stepping in filth was nothing new.
She was not surprised that the wandering swordsman she had relieved of his blade had been from the Wind and Thunder Unit.
"On my way here, I received several reports about you. They say you stole a sword and ran straight to Jukryeongwon?"
"Not particularly."
"There are a few matters I would ask you about. For now, would you not move with us?"
It sounded like an invitation.
It was closer to a threat.
The Murim Alliance Leader did not underestimate her. If she so much as attempted to flee or acted suspiciously, he would draw his sword without hesitation.
But Yeo Il had no intention of leaving.
She had business with him. To learn why he had been absent while Jin Myo appeared and Cheon Mu-ryeong's puppet turned Jukryeongwon into chaos.
"There is no need. Namgung Soyo is in my hands."
Dang Mae-ryeong reacted first.
"Do you mean Cheonmyeon Magwi has been dealt with?"
"Draw your own conclusions."
"Draw my own— Regardless, that is fortunate. Matters have resolved more easily than expected. I will assign men from the Tang Clan. If you would guide Namgung Soyo to us, I would be sincerely grateful."
"Why should I?"
The blunt refusal caused the air to grow heavy.
"She was blind and frail—of no particular worth. I saved her from being abandoned to die. What becomes of her is my choice."
Dang Mae-ryeong's face hardened.
"…What do you intend to do with Namgung Soyo?"
"Sell her. Use her as a servant. As I please."
"Do not speak nonsense! To seize control of someone's life merely because you saved them? It is a martial artist's duty to aid the weak! How can you demand such a vicious price for a good deed?"
The Murim Alliance Leader raised a hand, calming Dang Mae-ryeong, and fixed his gaze on Yeo Il's veil.
"I will ask only once."
"..."
"What do you want?"
He was as perceptive as rumored.
"If my guess is correct, something has gone missing from the Murim Alliance. What is it, Murim Alliance Leader?"
Murong Sang-hui's eyes sharpened. The Murim Alliance Leader remained composed.
"On what grounds do you make such an assertion?"
He was the Murim Alliance Leader. If she answered vaguely, he would prolong the exchange and probe her identity.
"Yeonghwang Yuse would not expend this much time and manpower without reason."
At the mention of Yeonghwang Yuse, Dang Mae-ryeong and Murong Sang-hui grew more guarded.
"You do not seem inclined to reveal who you are. Are you pursuing Salmak?"
"If you intend only to pose meaningless questions without answers, I will take my leave."
"Wait. Do not rush. How are we to believe Namgung Soyo is truly detained by you?"
"If you do not wish to believe it, that is your affair. I am leaving."
As she turned without hesitation, Dang Mae-ryeong cried out,
"Murim Alliance Leader! We must consider the possibility. If Namgung Soyo truly is in that person's hands—"
The desperation in her voice was palpable. For her, Namgung Soyo was the sole clue to unraveling Hongyu's antidote.
The Murim Alliance Leader looked troubled.
He is not one to weigh lives lightly.
Which meant what had been taken was no trivial matter.
As Yeo Il considered what might press him further, Murong Sang-hui suddenly spoke.
"Nothing has been stolen from the Murim Alliance. At least, not by Yeonghwang Yuse."
Yeo Il gave no visible reaction.
"They did not target an object. They targeted a person."
A person?
Ah.
Murong Sang-hui's bruised face took on new meaning.
"So Yeonghwang Yuse targeted you, Murong Sang-hui?" the Murim Alliance Leader asked.
That was why he had hesitated.
Murong Sang-hui's eyes widened briefly before he nodded, his face cold once more.
"Yes. That should suffice. You asked what they targeted, not why."
True enough.
"Now answer plainly. Where is Namgung Soyo?"
Murong Sang-hui.
Why him?
Regardless, she had what she wanted.
Yeo Il tossed the stolen sword to the Murim Alliance Leader.
"Behind the Murim Alliance. Climb the secluded slope and head west from the abandoned house. A one-dageong distance."
"Murim Alliance Leader, I will personally—"
"No. Send Namgung Jeok-myeong. No one else. It must be Namgung Jeok-myeong."
The Murim Alliance Leader did not ask why. He nodded at once.
"So be it."
"There will be no one there if you go now. The appointed time is at the beginning of the Hour of the Dog. I trust you will not arrive early or late. If you set the Wind and Thunder Unit to follow me, I will slaughter every one of them and kill Namgung Soyo."
Leaving that warning behind, Yeo Il departed the Murim Alliance with Jin Cheong-ak.
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