Almighty God of War - Chapter 35

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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035

Around sunset, in the study of Bamboo Forest Manor.

Guyang Cheongang, who had returned from Heavenly Fragrance Tower, sat facing Heo Ilbi and Heo Choryeong.

Guyang Cheongang shared all the information he had received from Heavenly Fragrance Fairy with Heo Ilbi and Heo Choryeong.

The legendary great thief Ghost Hand Divine Thief, the Great War between Orthodox and Demonic Sects forty years ago, and Daeyang Mountain Island in Poyang Lake.

Finally, even the ominous rumor that the island might be a secret branch of the remaining Demonic Cult forces.

After finishing his story, Guyang Cheongang opened his mouth with determination.

“I must go to Daeyang Mountain Island myself.”

Heo Ilbi spoke with a stern expression.

“Absolutely not!”

His face was filled with worry as he continued speaking.

“How can you go to such a dangerous island with your condition? Moreover, these are rumors from forty years ago. It’s uncertain whether any clues still remain there, and we don’t know what dangers might be lurking.”

However, Guyang Cheongang’s will was firm.

“Uncle, there’s a reason I must go despite that. The cold energy of Nine Yin Severed Meridians that I suffer from resonates with the energy of Ten Thousand Year Cold Jade.”

Heo Ilbi and Heo Choryeong’s eyes widened.

The cold energy of Nine Yin Severed Meridians resonating with that of Ten Thousand Year Cold Jade.

They had never heard such a thing before.

Guyang Cheongang looked directly at Heo Ilbi and continued speaking.

“Therefore, only if I go myself can I quickly find the Ten Thousand Year Cold Jade. If someone else goes, there’s no telling how long it would take to find it.”

Heo Ilbi was momentarily at a loss for words at his argument.

It would be hard for any sane person to believe such a story, but the one who said it was Guyang Cheongang, whose abilities were unfathomable.

So he had no choice but to believe it.

However, it wasn’t easy to blindly permit going to an island where unknown dangers might lurk.

Heo Ilbi let out a deep sigh and looked at his daughter Heo Choryeong.

Receiving his gaze, Heo Choryeong spoke in a spirited tone as if she had been waiting.

“Father, I’ll go with Gang-je and return.”

Both Heo Ilbi and Guyang Cheongang’s gazes turned to her simultaneously.

“Ryeong-a, you too!”

Heo Choryeong looked at Guyang Cheongang with clear eyes and continued in a strong tone.

“As Father said, it would be too much for Gang-je to go there alone with his condition. I’ll stay by his side to protect him and help find the precious treasure.”

Her words didn’t come from simple pity to help the sickly Guyang Cheongang.

After the alley incident last time, he was no longer a frail being who needed protection in her eyes.

Rather, he was a mysterious figure with secrets and abilities that transcended common sense.

She felt strong curiosity toward such a person, along with a desire to witness with her own eyes the path he would take.

‘Protecting him’ was merely an excuse to accompany him.

Heo Ilbi read both his daughter’s true intentions and his nephew’s unbreakable will.

He closed his eyes briefly and fell into thought.

In any case, he couldn’t send Guyang Cheongang alone.

If so, there was no more trustworthy escort than Heo Choryeong, who was both his daughter and the successor of Bamboo Forest Manor.

Opening his eyes, he spoke.

“It can’t be helped. Ryeong-a, you shall accompany Gang-a.”

He added in a stern voice toward his daughter.

“Remember this well. Your mission is to help Gang-a find the Ten Thousand Year Cold Jade and ensure Gang-a’s safety in any situation. If even a single hair on his head is harmed, this father will not forgive you.”

Heo Choryeong answered with unwavering eyes.

“Yes, Father. I will remember.”

Guyang Cheongang, who had been watching the father and daughter, bowed his head.

“I’m grateful for both of your consideration. I will definitely return with good results.”

The next morning, Guyang Cheongang left Bamboo Forest Manor on horseback with Heo Choryeong and Elder Hwang.

* * *

Golden Tower Manor in Chang’an, Shaanxi Province.

Chae Munseong, the leader of the intelligence organization Jijuhyeol, entered the inner palace and bowed his head before Dong Hyeondo, who sat in the Grand Master’s chair.

“What is the matter?”

Chae Munseong bowed his waist and began to speak.

“An interesting report has come up from Nanchang, where we’re monitoring Guyang Cheongang.”

“Something interesting?”

“Yes. Two families in Nanchang called Bamboo Forest Manor and Hwa Family Trading House had a conflict over their children’s marriage and held a martial duel.”

“Those are families I’ve heard of. So, how did it turn out?”

“It ended in Bamboo Forest Manor’s complete victory. However, several difficult-to-understand points were discovered in the process.”

“If you couldn’t understand it, it must be no ordinary matter. What was it?”

“Bamboo Forest Manor Lord Heo Ilbi’s martial arts became incomparably stronger than before within a few days, defeating Jin Mun, the sect leader of Half-Dragon Blade Sect, in just over fifty seconds. Heo Ilbi’s daughter Heo Choryeong’s martial arts similarly improved, defeating Hwa Doryeong, the Young Manor Lord of Hwa Family Trading House and Jin Mun’s disciple.”

“Hmm… It’s strange, but hardly something to call interesting.”

“A situation occurred where all the medicinal herbs stored in Hwa Family Trading House’s warehouse became unusable overnight. Including the compensation paid to Bamboo Forest Manor, the estimated loss is calculated at fifteen thousand nyang.”

Dong Hyeondo’s eyes narrowed as a sharp, piercing light flowed out.

“Now that’s somewhat interesting. Hwa Family Trading House will suffer quite a bit for a while.”

He looked at Chae Munseong and spoke.

“I don’t like such incidents happening around that child, Cheongang. Did you investigate the inside story?”

“It appears Heo Ilbi was lucky enough to gain great enlightenment. As for the medicinal herbs matter… we haven’t yet identified who was responsible.”

Dong Hyeondo put down his tea cup and chuckled softly.

“Heh heh heh heh.”

At that laughter, Chae Munseong felt a chill down his spine.

“Something you couldn’t identify… In any case, it’s hard to see such incidents happening consecutively as coincidence.”

Chae Munseong bowed his head and spoke.

“This subordinate is foolish and cannot see what the Manor Lord sees. Please enlighten me.”

Dong Hyeondo looked at Chae Munseong with cold eyes and spoke.

“It’s the work of someone very clever. Those two incidents elevated Bamboo Forest Manor’s status to the top level in Nanchang. It’s a very precisely and boldly orchestrated scheme. I still don’t know the intent behind such actions though.”

“Ah…”

“It’s not Heo Ilbi. If he had such capability, he wouldn’t have been groveling in Nanchang until now.”

Dong Hyeondo fell into thought.

‘Someone behind Bamboo Forest Manor… Was there such a person in Jiangxi Province who could orchestrate such a scheme for Heo Ilbi? Guyang Cheongang? That sickly child is clever, but he can barely take care of himself, so he’s not even worth discussing.’

His gaze sank as deep as a swamp.

‘Then, is there an external force I don’t know about protecting Bamboo Forest Manor? Even so, why?’

His eyes became more desolate than ever.

‘Cheongang, these incidents are happening where that child is. It’s too unsettling to dismiss lightly.’

“Blood Leader Chae.”

“Yes, Manor Lord.”

“Send Jijuhyeol’s elite, ‘Black Bead,’ to Nanchang.”

“Yes, Manor Lord!”

“Monitor and report everything about Heo Ilbi and his daughter, as well as every breath and every cup of tea that child Guyang Cheongang drinks while staying at Bamboo Forest Manor. The external force helping Heo Ilbi must be hiding around him.”

Dong Hyeondo neither guarded against nor suspected Guyang Cheongang.

However, he could not tolerate incidents he didn’t know about happening around him.

“Yes, Manor Lord! I will implement this immediately!”

Even after Chae Munseong withdrew, Dong Hyeondo continued looking outside the window for a while.

* * *

Early in the morning, Guyang Cheongang’s party left Bamboo Forest Manor and headed toward Poyang Lake.

Throughout their ride on horseback, Heo Choryeong kept stealing glances at Guyang Cheongang who was riding alongside her.

In the past, he had been a sickly scholar who couldn’t endure even half a hour before collapsing.

But now, though his complexion was still pale, he sat upright without showing any signs of fatigue as he rode his horse.

In her mind arose the memory of Guyang Cheongang’s overwhelming gaze and presence when he had confronted Hwa Doryeong in that alley.

The behavior he had shown during the month since they reunited had been a continuous series of surprises.

Guyang Cheongang also felt her gaze, but didn’t bother to acknowledge it.

His mind was completely filled with future plans, thoughts about Daeyang Mountain Island, and the real-time analysis of surrounding terrain information that Akasha was providing.

The next day, by the time they arrived at a small fishing village by Poyang Lake, darkness had fallen deeply.

The cool, damp wind blowing from the lake carried the fishy smell of water.

Having grown hungry, the party headed toward a two-story building with a sign reading “Taeir Inn.”

It was the only inn in this village.

Clop-clop- Clop-clop-

As Guyang Cheongang rode his horse toward the inn, he tilted his head in puzzlement.

In the streets of this small fishing village that should have been quiet, there were unusually many martial artists carrying swords and blades.

They gathered in small groups with stern expressions, whispering about something, and an invisible tension hung thick in the air.

[Doctor, the ratio of armed people compared to this village’s population density is abnormally high.]

‘I was thinking the same thing. Is something happening here?’

Though Guyang Cheongang felt puzzled, with his lack of experience in Gangho, it was difficult for him to accurately judge just how abnormal this situation was.

Heo Choryeong, having grown up as a young lady of a prestigious family, also seemed unfamiliar with this kind of atmosphere and appeared to think it was simply a bustling place.

After finishing a simple meal, the party called the innkeeper and asked him to prepare a room since they would be staying the night.

And then they faced an unexpected difficulty.

“Oh my, I’m truly sorry about this.”

The wrinkled-faced inn owner continued, not knowing what to do.

“As you can see, the inn is small but guests have strangely flocked here… There’s only one room left.”

“O-only one?”

Heo Choryeong’s face instantly flushed red.

[Doctor, this situation is a typical cliché with an 82% ‘major event occurrence probability’ in 21st century Earth romance novels. Please be mindful of your heart rate management.]

‘Things are hectic enough as it is, could you be quiet for a bit?’

Guyang Cheongang clicked his tongue inwardly and opened his mouth.

“Elder Sister, Elder Hwang and I can spend the night in the stable. So you can take the room…”

Before his words could even finish, Heo Choryeong cut him off with a firm voice.

“How can you two sleep outside!”

She looked back and forth between the two men, her earlier embarrassment completely gone as she spoke with a determined expression.

“Gang-je’s body isn’t fully recovered yet, what if he catches cold from the wind and gets sick.”

Then she made a bombshell declaration without a moment’s hesitation.

“We’ll all sleep in one room!”

Elder Hwang, startled, quickly went outside saying,

“I’ll sleep in the barn. You two go up to the room.”

It all happened before Guyang Cheongang could even try to stop him.

With this turn of events, it became difficult for him to refuse Heo Choryeong’s suggestion.

Having no choice, he followed the innkeeper’s guidance with Heo Choryeong up to the guest room on the second floor.

However, once Guyang Cheongang entered the room, his expression was calmly composed, unlike when he was downstairs.

He turned to Heo Choryeong and spoke in a gentle tone.

“Elder Sister, I can practice energy circulation and breath control all night, so I don’t need a separate sleeping place. So please feel comfortable and sleep on the bed.”

His words contained not a trace of ulterior motive or awkwardness.

Heo Choryeong, who had been trying to hide her flustered feelings in the awkward atmosphere, was momentarily at a loss for words.

She unconsciously blushed as she compared her own panicked state with Guyang Cheongang’s mature way of handling this difficult situation so naturally.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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