Chapter 145 :

Those Wearing Black Masks (4)

“I offer my greetings to my benefactor.”

The marks of time spread faintly across her face, and white strands streaked through her black hair.

Though time had stolen her youth, the woman bowing deeply radiated a unique, mysterious beauty all her own.

I hurried to help her up.

“Excessive courtesy is unbecoming. By the seniority of the murim or by age, I’m your junior. This kind of lavish welcome makes me uncomfortable.”

The woman only smiled faintly at my words.

“If someone who saved my child from her mother isn’t a benefactor, then who could be?”

She was Haeryeong, the first disciple of Yeo Mimi, the Haomun sect leader.

Haeryeong rose calmly and gestured elegantly toward the table.

For some reason, Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa seemed to grow even stiffer at her gesture.

“May I prepare some tea for you?”

The two young ladies nodded at the same time, and Haeryeong gave a small laugh, as if she found them adorable.

With a gentle trickle, she prepared and poured the tea.

Every movement was beautiful.

This must be what people meant when they spoke of refinement.

In front of her, Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa were tense, like students sitting before a strict teacher.

The fragrant tea steamed.

My throat was dry, so I gulped it down in one go.

Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran stared at me in astonishment.

“……!”

What was with those looks?

“What is it?”

“……It’s nothing.”

“Um…… may I ask who you are?”

Seeing the usually boisterous Seong Moran suddenly turn into such a proper lady, I wondered if Haeryeong had some kind of imposing aura I couldn’t sense.

I wasn’t sure how to introduce Haeryeong, the first disciple of the Haomun sect leader.

I’d never expected to meet her here.

And even if I had, given her preference for secrecy, I would have assumed she’d make Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa wait outside.

But before I could decide what to say, Haeryeong stood and bowed deeply.

“I’m Haeryeong, Pavilion Master of Manbin Pavilion of the Haomun.”

I tilted my head, wondering what I’d done wrong.

The two women didn’t answer.

Instead, Haeryeong covered her mouth and chuckled, clearly amused by their reaction.

“You haven’t changed, Young Master.”

“Not enough time has passed for me to have changed, has it?”

“In that short time, your reputation in the murim world has changed by the distance between heaven and earth.”

“How could I have done it all by myself? It was only possible thanks to the help of an excellent sect like the Haomun.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

As Haeryeong and I chatted about things only the two of us knew, Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa looked at me, unable to contain their curiosity.

At Haeryeong’s words, the two exchanged glances and slowly gaped in disbelief.

“If you’re the Pavilion Master of Manbin Pavilion…… then you’re the Haomun sect leader’s first disciple……”

“Yes. She took in someone as inadequate as me.”

“Ah……”

“……I heard the Haomun never reveals information about its key members to outsiders.”

Haeryeong looked from me to the women and replied, “Because you’re friends of our Young Master Jin.”

“……‘Our’?”

“……Did she really say ‘our’?”

The two looked utterly bewildered.

While they continued to puzzle over it, Haeryeong turned to me.

“You’ve come because of Master Jang, haven’t you?”

“You knew?”

“We’ve been keeping an eye on the situation. When I heard you’d come to Yueyang, I thought you would stop by.”

If she’d anticipated that much, the Haomun wouldn’t have sat idle.

I swallowed and carefully asked, “……Then is it really the Demonic Cult?”

That was the most important question.

The two young ladies, who had been momentarily stunned, lifted their heads at the words “Demonic Cult.”

Haeryeong stood and went over to the bookshelf.

“The rumor that the Demonic Cult is kidnapping people is actually why I came to Yueyang.”

She spread a large scroll across the middle of the table.

It was a map densely marked with the whole of Yueyang.

Red and black dots had been scattered across it.

“The red dots mark people whose deaths haven’t been confirmed. The black dots mark those whose deaths have been confirmed.”

“Is this all of them?”

The number and spread of the dots were so vast that it was impossible to pinpoint a particular area.

There had been too many disappearances and murders.

“There’s nothing the dead and missing have in common. Heo Huran here was eighty years old and traded in grain. Jeonghwa, who disappeared here, was a courtesan who performed at a pleasure house.”

“……We can’t tell what the culprits want.”

“No.”

I listened, then asked about the question that had first occurred to me.

“Where did the rumor that the Demonic Cult was behind this come from?”

If the real Demonic Cult had been active, their identity would never have been exposed.

If it had been, the Martial Alliance would already have been in an uproar.

“We don’t know either. Ever since this began, people in the marketplace have all started talking about the ‘Demonic Cult.’”

Their goal was to rule through demonic ways, not plunge the world into chaos.

Besides, pointless killings and kidnappings like these would only make people more wary of the Demonic Cult.

As I thought it through, I felt my anger slowly rising.

“So someone…… impersonated the Demonic Cult for their own gain.”

Haeryeong nodded silently.

How many brutal deaths had I witnessed in my previous life while fighting against the Demonic Cult?

So many sacrifices and setbacks had been caused by them.

This went far beyond someone simply acting for personal gain.

“……Damn them……”

Even after searching through the records of the world in my archive, I’d found no connection between this case and the Demonic Cult.

That meant something that hadn’t happened in my previous life had happened in this one.

“When did this case begin?”

Haeryeong flipped through the book she’d brought with her and answered.

“Six months ago. The first incident took place on the fourth day of the first lunar month of the Year of the Tiger.”

“Six months ago…… What happened in Yueyang around then?”

“Nothing in Yueyang, but something rather significant happened in nearby Hubei Province.”

“In Hubei Province? What happened?”

Haeryeong chuckled and looked at me.

“You went to the Martial Alliance at the head of the heretical sects, Young Master Jin.”

I’d been so absorbed in the case that I’d completely forgotten what I’d done around then.

“What are you talking about? It’s a misunderstanding. I only attended out of respect for their noble intentions, going beyond factional boundaries.”

“We’ll spread that version of the story for you, too.”

Haeryeong covered her mouth and chuckled. She seemed to find it all very amusing.

It was irritating.

“……Anyway, did this begin in Yueyang right after that?”

“No. The heretical sects based in Yueyang—Mukhyul Gang, Cheukbu Palace, Yuwol Gate, and Changseong Sect—were locked in a tense conflict. There was even bloodshed.”

“Weren’t those two sects the established powers in Yueyang?”

“After the incident at the Maling Plateau, Mukhyul Gang and Cheukbu Palace held a grudge. Following the gathering of the heretical murim, they seem to have tried to divide Yueyang between them by manufacturing a pretext. But they ultimately failed, and the result was the establishment of Seongsadawon by the Diancang Sect.”

“Then we could assume that a heretical sect committed these crimes out of resentment over that affair.”

Haeryeong nodded.

“But we ultimately couldn’t find evidence implicating Mukhyul Gang or Cheukbu Palace.”

“………”

The case quickly became a maze.

If Haeryeong had solved it, she would have brought me the information already.

I asked her permission, then skimmed through the book listing the missing and dead, committing each detail to memory.

I thought that perhaps, when solving the case later, some small clue might prove useful.

But as I memorized the names one by one, I suddenly stopped at one entry.

“Isn’t Eunbong Inn run by the Shandong Ak Family?”

“Yes. It’s one of the three largest inns in Yueyang. The innkeeper died, so Eunbong Inn was closed for a while.”

“………”

“What seems strange to you?”

Instead of answering, I memorized the rest of the booklet.

Then I went through it again, comparing it with the information in my mental archive.

Something…… it felt like a thin thread was just within reach, but kept slipping from my grasp.

Then, the moment I caught the faintest trace of it—

Tap.

“There’s no one connected to the Diancang Sect among the dead or missing.”

“……!”

An inexplicable silence settled over us.

It wasn’t just because we were deep underground.

“Do you have information about the victims, too? For instance, what happened to their businesses or families after they died……”

“……Yes.”

Haeryeong swallowed and brought over a thick booklet bound together like a wooden case.

It wasn’t properly made into a book. It looked more like a bundle of information bound together haphazardly, but it was enough to check the details.

“After the death of Heo Huran, his grain-trading rights passed to an escort agency run by Changseong Sect.”

“……Jeonghwa’s father is the master of Cheongjuk Pavilion. Cheongjuk Pavilion was recently negotiating an acquisition with the Diancang Sect.”

“So, after these incidents, the ones who always benefited were the Diancang Sect and the sects connected to it……”

As we compared the details one by one, the weight in the room grew heavier, pressing down on the air around us.

And when we’d checked all the information, no one could bring themselves to speak.

The information we’d confirmed so far wasn’t enough to prove the Diancang Sect was behind the crimes.

It could all be coincidence.

Perhaps the incidents happened by chance, and those who profited afterward just happened to be connected to the Diancang Sect……

“Yeah, right.”

The three of them raised their brows at my curse, which broke the heavy silence.

“Pillars of the Martial Alliance, impersonating the Demonic Cult to line their own pockets?”

Haeryeong looked at me with concern.

“Young Master, we can’t jump to conclusions based on this evidence……”

Of course, they might be unrelated.

But in a case so closely tied to Yuwol Gate and Changseong Sect, the Diancang Sect couldn’t be entirely free of suspicion.

It was practically impossible for this to have happened without the Diancang Sect’s consent.

Haeryeong’s meaning was clear, though she put it delicately: it would be impossible to punish the Diancang Sect.

Even if we called in the Inspection Pavilion to investigate, the Diancang Sect could simply deny everything.

Then the accusation would turn back on me, giving them grounds to claim I’d insulted them.

The Diancang Sect’s disciples might even come running to the Martial Academy to take my head.

“I know.”

“………”

“Even so, we can’t just let it go. Don’t you agree?”

Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran looked anxious.

Haeryeong, on the other hand, gave a small sigh.

“How can I help?”

“You’re willing to help?”

“You’re going to carry this out even if I don’t help, aren’t you?”

We returned to Jang Dowon’s house.

We told the Taeul Sect children what we’d learned, and the four of them were even more furious than we were.

But no matter how angry they were, we couldn’t just unleash everything.

“If we provoke the Diancang Sect, it won’t just be us who suffer. The Namgung Family and the Iron Sword Sect will be in trouble, too.”

I agreed with Saryeon.

The problem had to be resolved, but if we acted rashly, we’d be caught in the backlash and shattered instead.

“The Namgung Family won’t just sit by and watch this happen.”

Namgung Seonhwa said that, but if we gave the Diancang Sect an excuse, we could throw the Namgung Family—which had only just regained stability—into turmoil all over again.

“So we have to find the missing people without letting the Diancang Sect catch on.”

At Eunho’s words, I nodded.

“The Haomun has gathered people and started searching in earnest, but it’ll take time. And if they find out we’re looking, they might try to destroy the evidence.”

Eunho thought for a moment, then looked up and scratched his cheek.

“Um…… this is a bit off topic, but Geumpyo and I eat our snacks as soon as we get them. Dongryong always saves his for later.”

“……What?”

I tilted my head at the unexpected story, but Eunho continued.

“We know Dongryong saves his snacks, so we always look for the places where he hides them. But he’s been getting better and better at hiding them.”

“……And?”

“So one day, we asked Dongryong if he’d eaten the snack he’d hidden. We told him it was really, really sweet, and that ants would get to it if he left it there.”

Dongryong’s eyes sharpened as if he remembered what had happened.

“Dongryong fell for it and hurried to where he’d hidden the snack. Then the two of us got to share what he’d stashed away.”

“You little……”

As soon as Eunho finished his story, Dongryong lunged at him, and Eunho tried to stop him, pretending to be the mature one.

“………”

Instead of searching for them ourselves, we’d make them come to us……

That wasn’t a bad idea.

I left Eunho and Dongryong bickering and turned to Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran.

“Shall we try it?”

“……Try what?”

The streets of Yueyang were more dazzling at night than during the day.

The city was packed with people who had come from all over the world to see Dongting Lake at night, and with others rushing about to profit from the crowds.

That was Yueyang after dark.

The people, who’d barely spared a glance even when high-ranking officials or famous figures from the murim appeared, began turning their attention to the two women.

“Good heavens…… Is she human? Or a fairy?”

“I thought my Soul-Seducing Xishi and Jade-Faced Xiao Xiao were the pinnacle of beauty, but tonight has opened my eyes.”

“Who are they?”

“Don’t even think of approaching them. A group of Young Master Hwahwa’s men spoke to them earlier and got sent flying three jang.”

“They’re that skilled, too?”

The two women who’d drawn everyone’s attention headed for Hwayol Pavilion, one of the most expensive pleasure houses in Yueyang.

The men whose eyes had been captured by the women began streaming after them.

The Hwayol Pavilion attendant, who’d been soliciting customers, thought this was a windfall and hurried to open the doors.

As soon as the two women entered, the whole pavilion fell silent.

Then the patrons began whispering as they stared at the two women, apparently having forgotten the conversations they’d been laughing over moments before.

The attendants rushed over, each competing to host them at his table.

“Allow me to attend to you tonight.”

“Please leave it to me.”

“Do you have a particular type? I’ll search all of Yueyang to find him for you.”

The women exchanged glances and chuckled at the attendants’ competition.

“We haven’t come here to drink and enjoy the music.”

“Oh, then……?”

“We came to see my sixth cousin. I heard she plays the geomungo here.”

“Ah…… Is that so? May I ask her name?”

“Jeonghwa.”

At Namgung Seonhwa’s answer, the attendants looked at one another and tilted their heads.

“Is there a courtesan named Jeonghwa?”

“I’ve never heard of her.”

“There’s no courtesan by that name at Hwayol Pavilion.”

The attendants answered all at once.

“That’s strange. I heard she played the geomungo here.”

While the first and second attendants wondered what to do, the third stepped forward and asked, “May I ask why you’re looking for her?”

“It’s nothing serious. My grandfather told me to make sure she attends the Namgung Family’s upcoming event.”

“What?”

The attendant was so startled that Namgung Seonhwa tilted her head.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Might you be……”

“I’m Namgung Seonhwa.”

“………”

“Jeonghwa is a distant relative, but my family and grandfather were especially fond of her.”

“……I-I see.”

“If she isn’t here, there’s nothing we can do.”

Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran left Hwayol Pavilion without finding Jeonghwa.

They hadn’t been looking for her there in the first place.

When the people in the street turned their attention to them again, they put on veils to cover their faces and turned into an alley.

They’d been walking in the dark for a while when a voice transmission reached Namgung Seonhwa.

Thank you for your help.

The one who sent the message was none other than Jin Sowoon, watching the scene from the roof of Hwayol Pavilion.

Namgung Seonhwa gave a small nod, making sure no one could see.

Has anything changed?

One of the attendants is pushing past the kitchen staff and heading outside.

It must be the one who spoke with me.

That’s likely.

The culprit was on the move to check the hidden snack.