The Legend of Red Cloud - Chapter 90

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 90. A Request That Smells Like a Trap
Following Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon, Jeok Sa walked between the pavilions.
Because of what had happened last night, he felt keen gazes flickering from all directions as he moved.
Without Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon at his side, they would surely have swarmed him like a nest of wasps—the intent and hostility were palpable.
But Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon was not oblivious to it.
“The Cheon San Ma Gyo disciples are full of youthful vigor, aren’t they? They know that if they charge, they’ll die. Yet they still act that way.”
“Do you see it as foolishness, sir?”
Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon shook his head at Jeok Sa’s question as they walked together.
“Not at all. That’s what makes it admirable. They believe their clan’s honor and their sect’s name matter more than their own lives. That’s what real martial artists are—not half-baked schemers like me, playing politics.”
At those words, Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon spoke to Jeok Sa, who was now regarding him with fresh eyes.
“Why do you look at me that way?”
“Both then and now, the Rim Ju I’ve met differs greatly from the rumors, sir.”
“Rumors are always like that. But tell me—have you truly no intention of coming over? No room left to reconsider?”
“I believe I’ve already given you my answer.”
Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon stopped, regarding Jeok Sa—who spoke as though there were no further choices—with a soft chuckle, then resumed walking.
As Jeok Sa followed him, Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon’s transmission reached him.
-I’ll throw you a lifeline, boy.
At the unexpected transmission, Jeok Sa glanced sidelong at Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon, but he merely walked on with a calm face.
To any observer, he showed no sign of relaying a transmission to anyone.
And yet—
-Why do you stare so? Do you really wish to die? What of your companion, then?
Whatever Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon’s intent, Jeok Sa had no choice but to follow his lead. He drew a quiet breath and replied through transmission.
“Sigh…”
-What is it? This lifeline you speak of?
-Bring me one person.
At the sudden proposal, Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon glanced back once more but continued looking ahead, his expression unchanged.
-I don’t believe you lack the ability to bring someone yourself, sir.
-I’m in no position to do it openly, that’s all.
-If the Rim Ju cannot, surely your subordinates among the masters would be sufficient enough—
-Finding someone trustworthy is devilishly hard these days, you understand.
It did not sound like a mere excuse to move him.
For the light in Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon’s eyes as he spoke was quite heavy.
‘So the situation within Gunma Rim and Ma Gyo is muddled enough that the Rim Ju must distinguish whom to trust!’
Noticing that Jeok Sa seemed to grasp something, Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon smiled faintly once more and continued his transmission.
-If you’ve understood, then grasp this lifeline. Once you do, I’ll guarantee your companion’s antidote and safety.
Had he been alone, he would never have hesitated.
But now—
-Where, and who? The person I’m to retrieve?
Seeing Jeok Sa’s interest, Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon spoke.
-First, your answer. Tell me you’ll grasp the lifeline, and I’ll tell you. It’s something of a secret, after all.
Jeok Sa hesitated briefly at Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon’s words, but he had to acknowledge that in his present circumstances, he had no other choice.
-I understand. I’ll grasp the lifeline you offer, Rim Ju.
-Your tone suggests you don’t fully believe me.
-It’s difficult to trust completely when you conceal so much.
-Fair enough. I take no offense.
Jeok Sa glanced at Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon as he smiled wryly.
-So who is it? The person I’m to retrieve?
-You’re promising? That no matter the situation, you’ll bring them back?
Jeok Sa pressed Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon, who still seemed to be hiding something.
-My companion’s safety—
-I don’t speak out of both sides of my mouth. I make no empty oaths.
At Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon’s firm assurance, the conflicted Jeok Sa nodded.
-Very well. I swear my promise as well.
Satisfied by Jeok Sa’s agreement, Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon smiled and sent his transmission.
-There is a place called Mun Chang So. A daughter of that house was abducted. Find her and bring her back.
-Abducted…?
-Indeed. Though the details will only be confirmed when you arrive, naturally.
-So I need only retrieve her?
-That is the objective.
At Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon’s answer, Jeok Sa’s eyes narrowed.
It meant there were conditions beyond the target itself.
-So you’re saying there are other demands besides the target.
-You’ll need to disguise yourself.
-You mean I must conceal my true identity.
-You must act as the betrothed of the kidnapped girl.
“Hmm…….”
Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon glanced at Ryu, who let out a displeased sound, and smiled softly before speaking again.
“What? You don’t like it?”
Ryu asked Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon, who had suddenly spoken aloud.
“Isn’t that why you had to hide the use of Jeon Eum?”
“That’s right.”
“Then why?”
“These fragmented exchanges would confuse you otherwise. Ha ha ha ha.”
Ryu watched Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon walk away, laughing loudly, then quickened his pace to catch up with the Rim Ju who had moved ahead.
-Is it really necessary?
Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon glanced at Ryu, who was asking him via Jeon Eum, then smiled and spoke.
-I’ve taken a liking to this quality of yours. Your instinct for what must be done and what must not be done is uncanny.
-Don’t waste flattery on me. Just give me the answer.
Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon chuckled at Ryu’s curt response through Jeon Eum and replied.
-It must be done. If your identity is exposed or my connection to you is revealed, the situation will become quite troublesome.
-Who is this person you need me to rescue, anyway?
-My son’s betrothed.
Ryu could not hide his surprise at Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon’s answer.
-You have a son?
-What do you take me for!
-Ah! My apologies. I’ve never heard that you were married…….
-That’s right. I was never married.
Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon shrugged as he continued, seeing Ryu’s confused gaze.
-I don’t have a son either.
As Ryu’s brow furrowed, thinking he was being mocked, Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon’s Jeon Eum followed.
-I’m not mocking you, so stop scowling.
-Then explain it properly. Make me understand what you’re talking about.
-Well, it’s like this…….
In brief, the story that followed from Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon was thus:
In his youth, when he was still a junior leader of the Cheon San Ma Gyo, he had traveled in disguise through Kangho.
He had made a promise with someone he briefly encountered then—that if they bore children, he would arrange a marriage between them.
The problem was that when he made this promise, his disguised identity was that of a martial artist from Hae Dong—that is, from Goryeo, the land beyond the sea.
-Why of all places?
-At that time, the only martial arts I could employ besides those of the Cheon San Ma Gyo were techniques from a secret manual I’d fortuitously obtained from that region.
In short, he had been using Hae Dong Martial Arts.
-I see……. So that’s it.
Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon continued the rest of the story as Ryu exhaled a sigh.
-To make the disguise more convincing, I even established a real base in Hae Dong, which was called Goryeo. I went through considerable effort, I’ll tell you.
-Impressive.
Though there was a note of sarcasm in his tone, Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon seemed to let it pass and chuckled before continuing.
-A few years after I finished my journey and returned, word came that she had borne a daughter there. I replied that I too had fathered a son.
-But why?
-It was simply amusing.
-How is that—
Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon spoke to Ryu, who stared at him in disbelief.
-Honestly, I thought it was a connection that would be severed anyway. In fact, I withdrew that base a few years later.
-Then isn’t it finished?
-I thought so too. But the man I withdrew had since been on an undercover mission elsewhere in Joseon. The infuriating part is that they found him and came to visit.
-What? What do you mean—
Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon answered Ryu, who asked in bewilderment.
-What I mean is, that fool of a son botched his cover. I’d have just—but I couldn’t help it. Under the circumstances, I had to keep him alive for the time being.
-Then couldn’t you just ignore it? You said you were planning to sever contact anyway.
-Not if I didn’t know. But even so, she’s my son’s betrothed—I can’t pretend ignorance now that I know.
-But you don’t have a son!
-Did I not tell you that I answered them saying I did?
—But you did say it, and it’s the truth, isn’t it?
—That’s true enough. I made a promise, you see. Said I’d arrange a marriage for her, no matter what.
—So you mean to keep that promise?
—How can I keep it when I have no son? But knowing she’s been taken and doing nothing about it doesn’t sit right either. I mean to rescue her. These people helped me when I was in dire straits.
It’s a matter of repaying a debt, simple as that.
And only now did I understand it.
All that talk about not being able to trust the martial artists under his command—it had been a pretense. The real reason he couldn’t speak openly.
The man who would become Gyo Ju couldn’t bear to let his subordinates know about his past, about the years he’d spent playing at masquerade.
—Hah… So then. What exactly are you asking me to do?
—Become my son. A rather accomplished martial artist of Goryeo—my son.
Ryu stared at him in disbelief, and Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon’s mouth twisted into a grin as he added one more thing.
—Right, and you’ll need to be a cripple too.
Ryu’s eyes widened, and Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon answered the unspoken question.
—In the last message I sent them, to make them abandon hope for a son, I told them he’d damaged his Dan Jeon during training. That he was useless now.
Ryu’s eyes narrowed to slits, and Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon asked carefully.
—You’ll go, won’t you?
—Did I have a choice in this?
—No… I don’t suppose you did.
At Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon’s matter-of-fact reply, Ryu let out a long, weary sigh.
—Ah… So where is it? Where this Mun Chang So is?
—Haenam.
At Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon’s answer, Ryu’s eyes widened in shock.
Why shouldn’t they?
Haenam was the heart of Baek Ui Ryeon.
The very seat of power—Haenam Geom Mun, where the Rim Ju of Baek Ui Ryeon resided, stood in Haenam Province itself.
Whether Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon noticed Ryu’s alarm or not, he burst into loud laughter.
“Krhahahaha.”
To Ryu, that laughter sounded exactly like that of a demon king.
And to such a Ryu, Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon posed a question.
“You’re not the sort to break a promise you’ve just made, now that you know what you didn’t before?”
The threat was plain in Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon’s eyes—if he reneged, Dong Pil would pay the price. Ryu had no choice but to nod weakly.
Whether Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon was pleased with Ryu’s compliance, or simply satisfied that things were unfolding as he wished, he laughed loudly once more.
“Euhahahaha.”
Ryu watched the laughing Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon with obvious displeasure.
***
Ryu couldn’t refuse when Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon insisted on taking him all the way from Dang Ga to Hae Dong—that is, to Goryeo—to perfect his false identity.
Dong Pil’s safety rested in his hands.
The result was that in mere days, Ryu had become the only son of a family from a place called Gang Do in Goryeo.
A son whose Dan Jeon had been shattered during training, leaving him a broken cripple….
With this newly forged identity, Ryu boarded a ship bound for Haenam from Gang Do in Goryeo.
Before boarding that ship, Ryu received a letter from Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon.

Whether it was a parting warning or a threat, the letter ended with a small postscript.

Having read the letter through to its end, Ryu’s eyes grew heavy and dark.
Hyeol Yeong Ma Jon’s subordinate took the letter from Ryu’s hands and immediately burned it.
They were leaving no evidence behind.
It made sense—they’d used Ryu instead of a subordinate precisely to keep things hidden.
As Ryu stood on the dock at Gang Do, preparing to depart, the memory of it all brought an involuntary sigh to his lips.
“Hah…”
Thinking of the danger that awaited him at his destination, there was nothing to do but sigh.

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