Almighty God of War - Chapter 54
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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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054
Around sunset, on the second floor of Taeir Inn in Namchang City.
Guyang Cheongang sat by the window, indifferently looking down at the winter scenery spread out below.
Wearing a human skin face mask, he looked like an ordinary young man in his early twenties that could be seen anywhere.
Outside the window, the midwinter sun was setting, painting the western sky red.
Snow had accumulated on the bare tree branches, and white breath puffed from the mouths of people coming and going on the streets.
Guyang Cheongang had arrived in Nanchang one hour ago.
The reason he came straight here after leaving the Guyang Family Estate was due to a single conclusion he had reached after days and nights of contemplation.
Before leaving the family estate, he had pondered ways to discover the whereabouts of Master Jupyo of Heaven and Earth Single Hand.
‘Akasha, please organize the data on Master Jupyo of Heaven and Earth Single Hand once more.’
[Yes, Doctor. However, there is no meaningful information. Since he left the Guyang Family Estate over thirty years ago, he has not appeared in any official records. Even his life or death is unclear.]
As Akasha’s analysis indicated, finding a supreme master who had deliberately hidden himself decades ago through ordinary methods was nearly impossible.
‘In the end, requesting help from places specialized in handling information would be the fastest method…’
The information networks of Gangho came to mind.
[Currently, the most reliable information networks in Gangho are the Beggar’s Sect of the orthodox faction, the Hao Sect which stands between orthodox and unorthodox, and the internal intelligence organizations possessed by the Five Great Clans. However, approaching them carries the risk of exposing your identity, Doctor.]
‘Hmm…’
As he pondered, the mysterious figure of a woman came to mind.
It was Heavenly Fragrance Fairy.
Though she didn’t reveal herself, she possessed a powerful information network, and most importantly, she was favorable toward him.
She was someone who moved in her own way, different from massive sects or family estates.
‘Right. For now, Heavenly Fragrance Fairy is the best option.’
Having reached that conclusion, he came straight to Nanchang as soon as he left the Guyang Family Estate.
He did not stop by Bamboo Forest Manor.
Since it was well known how close Heo Ilbi was to Guyang Baek, if he stopped by Bamboo Forest Manor, there was a possibility of catching Golden Tower Manor’s attention.
His gaze, which had been looking outside the window, turned back inside.
‘The sun will completely set soon. It’s time to move.’
He stood up from his seat while stroking the silver-furred Golden King on his shoulder.
In front of the main gate of Heavenly Fragrance Tower.
A gatekeeper with a sturdy build blocked Guyang Cheongang who was trying to enter.
His duty was to filter out worthless people who didn’t match the standards of Heavenly Fragrance Tower beforehand.
The young man with ordinary clothes and appearance standing before him was precisely one of those ‘worthless people’ who needed to be filtered out.
The gatekeeper looked Guyang Cheongang up and down and asked in an indifferent tone.
“What business brings you here?”
Though his attitude was rude, Guyang Cheongang answered with a calm smile.
“I’ve come to see the Tower Master.”
The gatekeeper snorted lightly and said.
“The Tower Master doesn’t meet just anyone. Please leave immediately.”
He waved his hands as if shooing away annoying insects.
However, Guyang Cheongang did not move from his spot.
“Then, please convey this message.”
He continued with a slight smile.
“Tell her that the person who cured Samae has come.”
“What? How dare you speak such nonsense!”
The gatekeeper frowned at the absurd words and stepped forward to forcibly push him away.
Guyang Cheongang spoke to him with an expressionless face.
“If you don’t convey these exact words, you will face very serious trouble.”
Though his voice remained gentle, the energy contained within it was different.
The gatekeeper snapped to attention.
He felt a chilling fear as if all the hair on his body was standing on end from the cold killing intent, as if a dagger was touching his throat.
Though he couldn’t be called first-rate, he was also a martial artist who had learned martial arts, so he realized that the ordinary-looking young man before him was a master.
“Ugh…!”
With a low groan, he swallowed dry saliva and spoke with difficulty.
“Pl… please wait a moment.”
Without realizing it, his speech pattern had changed from informal to respectful.
The gatekeeper who had been backing away turned around and rushed inside.
Shortly after, the tightly closed main gate of Heavenly Fragrance Tower opened wide, and a female chief manager in her forties came rushing out in a fluster.
Her face was flushed red as she bowed deeply before Guyang Cheongang.
“The gatekeeper failed to recognize such an honored guest and committed a great discourtesy, Young Master. Please forgive us. I’ll immediately deal with this ignorant fool…”
The chief manager glared at the gatekeeper with angry eyes.
Guyang Cheongang waved his hand lightly toward her.
“He was just doing his job. Stop that and just guide me to the Tower Master.”
At his words, the chief manager bowed even more deeply.
“Yes, yes. Young Master, please come this way.”
Guyang Cheongang left behind the thoroughly intimidated gatekeeper who couldn’t even make eye contact, and entered Heavenly Fragrance Tower under the chief manager’s respectful guidance.
Guyang Cheongang sat facing Heavenly Fragrance Fairy in the Fragrance Chamber, the Tower Master’s private space.
On his shoulder, the Golden King with silver fur was rolling his red eyes here and there, looking around the room with a curious expression.
Heavenly Fragrance Fairy, dressed in palace attire with a face veil covering below her eyes as before, was still dazzlingly beautiful.
Her gaze swept over Guyang Cheongang’s ordinary face and the mysterious silver monkey on his shoulder in turn before she spoke.
“Young Master is truly an interesting person.”
“…?”
“You cover that handsome face with an utterly ordinary human skin face mask, yet casually carry around a precious spiritual creature that might be the only one of its kind in the world on your shoulder.”
Her gaze lingered on the Golden King for a moment before returning to Guyang Cheongang.
“But why are you wearing the human skin face mask? Thanks to that, I’ve lost the chance to feast my eyes.”
Guyang Cheongang smiled bitterly and said.
“I don’t particularly like receiving attention from others. So wearing this makes me feel comfortable.”
Guyang Cheongang immediately got to the point.
“I’ve come because I have a request for the Tower Master. Among the martial artists from the main family who left the Guyang Family Estate over thirty years ago, there is a master called Master Jupyo of Heaven and Earth Single Hand. Could you find his whereabouts?”
Heavenly Fragrance Fairy did not ask about the reason for the request.
That was like an iron rule for people who dealt with information.
Her eyes lit up with interest.
“Master Jupyo of Heaven and Earth Single Hand… Finding someone who has hidden their tracks for decades falls under very expensive requests. What are you thinking of as payment for this request, Young Master?”
Guyang Cheongang spoke firmly.
“I will pay whatever compensation you desire that is appropriate for the request.”
Hearing his answer, Heavenly Fragrance Fairy nodded.
“With the reputation of the Dragon Nourishing Pills you created shaking Nanchang, there’s no doubt about your ability to pay.”
She fiddled with her tea cup for a moment before speaking again.
“Young Master, money is not very important to me. This Heavenly Fragrance Tower is filled with silver coins.”
“Do you want something else?”
“Yes. Instead of money, I want to receive your abilities as payment. I have one matter that is very difficult for me to resolve. If you would grant that request, I will also actively search for Master Jupyo’s whereabouts.”
Guyang Cheongang fell into thought for a moment.
“If the request you mentioned is not something that goes against morality, I will gladly accept.”
“You don’t need to worry about that.”
Heavenly Fragrance Fairy continued with a gentle smile around her eyes.
“However, since the situation related to that request is still changing, could I tell you the details tomorrow morning when it’s confirmed?”
“I understand. Then I’ll visit again tomorrow.”
As Guyang Cheongang was about to stand up, Heavenly Fragrance Fairy smiled brightly and said.
“Young Master is truly a benefactor to me.”
“Why do you think so?”
She continued with a mysterious smile that was playful yet couldn’t be seen as merely that.
“Whenever I face difficulties that are hard for me to resolve, Young Master appears like someone sent from heaven. Wouldn’t someone like Young Master be a true benefactor?”
Heavenly Fragrance Fairy provided Guyang Cheongang with a separate building in the back garden of Heavenly Fragrance Tower.
Since Guyang Cheongang also needed to avoid people’s eyes, there was no reason to refuse her consideration.
Not long after he arrived at the separate building, a clear and melodious woman’s voice was heard from outside the door.
“Young Master, may I come in?”
He tilted his head at the unfamiliar voice and said.
“Please come in.”
The person who opened the door and entered was a beautiful young woman he had never met before.
She was a woman overflowing with healthy and cheerful energy, with peach-colored cheeks full of vitality, sparkling eyes full of intelligence, and vigor radiating from her entire body.
Guyang Cheongang asked.
“Excuse me, but who might you be…?”
Then the woman smiled brightly.
“Young Master, it’s Nokju.”
“Nokju… Young Lady?”
Guyang Cheongang’s eyes widened.
The girl remaining in his mind was one with pale skin whom he had worried might stop breathing at any moment.
He could hardly believe that the woman before his eyes was that girl.
Remembering that he was the one who had treated Nokju, Guyang Cheongang felt pride and satisfaction rising from deep within his chest.
The sight before his eyes was Nokju’s original appearance, before being consumed by the Soul Slumber Thread’s deadly qi.
As he stood there dazed, Nokju entered the room and performed a deep bow as if she might fly away.
Having already heard from Heavenly Fragrance Fairy, she showed no surprise at seeing his face changed by the human skin mask.
“Young Master, though it’s late, I now formally greet you. I will never forget the grace of saving my life.”
At her sincere words, Guyang Cheongang smiled awkwardly.
He deliberately spoke in a light voice to change the awkward atmosphere.
“Please don’t speak such heavy words. I had the ability to cure Young Lady’s illness, so I simply did what I should do. Please get up.”
As Nokju rose from her position, her gaze turned to the Golden King on his shoulder, who was staring at her intently with round eyes.
“Oh my…!”
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she unconsciously let out an exclamation.
When she extended her hand, surprisingly, the Golden King didn’t show any wariness and instead jumped into her arms as if he had been waiting for it.
“What a playboy of All Under Heaven…”
Guyang Cheongang clicked his tongue and continued.
“Golden Brother is a monkey without even a speck of integrity, so it would be better not to get too close to him, Young Lady.”
At his words, Nokju burst into laughter.
“Hohohoho, Young Master, that advice might be difficult to follow. This child seems to like me as much as I like him. But what’s his name?”
“He’s called Golden King. Despite his appearance, he’s quite old, so don’t be fooled by his looks.”
“He’s old?”
“Yes.”
“How old?”
“Probably older than Young Lady’s Grandmother.”
Nokju’s eyes widened as if she couldn’t believe it, and she asked.
“You’re joking, right?”
“Well, who knows.”
“Hmm… I don’t think it matters. If it’s such a cute creature, what does age matter?”
She hugged the Golden King tightly and rubbed her cheek against him.
The Golden King seemed to agree with her words, burrowing deeper into her embrace and sticking his tongue out at Guyang Cheongang as if showing off.
Guyang Cheongang shook his head from side to side.
Thus, the first night at Heavenly Fragrance Tower deepened.
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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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