ALL NOVEL Chapter 111
I felt my hazy consciousness returning. The ringing in my ears settled and my vision cleared. As I slightly furrowed my brows, Jeok Biwol chuckled.
“Have you come to your senses?”
“…What did you do?”
“It’s a phenomenon experienced when the blocked energy flows as the meridians that were clogged due to an imbalance in the body are opened. Is this your first time experiencing it? It’s common for martial artists.”
As Jeok Biwol said, it was a feeling I was experiencing for the first time. That’s because all the people who had checked my pulse before said my meridians were open and my inner energy flow was smooth.
So I had no memory of being blocked or naturally unblocked.
As I slightly furrowed my brows, Jeok Biwol chuckled and took out another large needle, slowly inserting it above my wrist while continuing to speak.
“What do you think?”
Black Dao Sect.
Her eyes were fixed on my arm like the needle, but her question was directed at me.
I narrowed my eyes, recalling her words.
What could it mean that the Black Dao Sect had found something that made their mouths water?
-A heavenly elixir.
Lee Jehak’s words came to mind. He had evaluated me that way. That I was an elixir that would make him stronger.
Although it was unpleasant and creepy, I thought I’d never see him again once I returned to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
But what if the reason the Black Dao Sect was moving was me, and if they were planning to attack me on my way back?
As I organized my thoughts for a moment, another needle was inserted. I looked at Jeok Biwol at the stinging pain.
She had taken her eyes off my arm and was staring at me blankly. As if telling me to answer, I slightly frowned at her unwavering direct gaze and spoke quietly.
“What am I supposed to think? I don’t know. How would I know what the Black Dao Sect is thinking?”
“You had a conversation with that man in the final martial arts match. It seemed like quite a long conversation… Wasn’t it?”
“I just criticized him for his cruel actions in a formal martial arts match. I have nothing to do with the Black Dao Sect.”
“Hmm… Is that so?”
Jeok Biwol stared at me intently with suspicious eyes, then put strength into her hand holding my arm.
I felt one eye slightly twist as I felt the sensation of my arm being pressed firmly.
“You know what? The Golden Blood Sand Sect is quite proficient in lies and deception as much as using poison. Who would drink it if you calmly say there’s poison in the tea when you need to poison someone? So we learn to lie from childhood.”
She hummed a tune as if something was so enjoyable while taking out another needle and lightly inserting it.
“The Golden Blood Sand Sect is the originator of lies. So if you’re going to lie, either do it perfectly enough to deceive yourself or be prepared to be caught.”
I stared blankly at Jeok Biwol’s words without any reaction. She inserted the last needle and put away the tube.
Her hand that had been moving calmly slowly came to rest on her thigh, and her gaze turned towards me.
“The innocent Young Madam has no talent for lying. If you become addicted to gambling, you’d lose all your assets no matter how much you have. So, I’ll ask once more.”
She crossed her arms and opened her mouth again with a tilted gaze.
“I said we have the same enemy. So speak honestly.”
Jeok Biwol rarely frowned.
“What did you talk about with Lee Jehak?”
* * *
In the end, after pondering for a moment under Jeok Biwol’s pressure, I thought there was no need to hide the matter with Lee Jehak and spoke nonchalantly.
Jeok Biwol also listened to my story and made a dejected expression, saying ‘Is that all?’
She scratched her brow and rolled her eyes, then glared at the needles stuck in my arm.
“This doesn’t balance out? My medical skills are expensive.”
“Was there a price?”
“Do you think I’m digging the ground for business? I thought there would be quite good information, but it was all just exchanging content I already knew… It’s a loss?”
“…You already knew everything?”
Jeok Biwol nodded curtly.
“I told you before. The Golden Blood Sand Sect also deals in information. The information that the Black Dao Sect is targeting Moyong Sowol, who is estimated to possess the Nine Yin Pulse, came in as top secret. Especially, I heard that Lee Jehak, who is mentioned as the next leader of the Black Dao Sect, is very covetous.”
“This is the first time I’m hearing this?”
“I told you earlier too. It’s top secret. Even the Demon Cult shouldn’t ignore the Golden Blood Sand Sect’s information power. This place rivals even the Intelligence Bureau.”
Her confident expression filled her face then quickly disappeared.
Jeok Biwol lowered the corners of her mouth and pushed her eyebrows.
“Haa, I thought I could get some plausible information, but is it a bust?”
“I told you words I wanted to keep hidden, and you say it’s a bust? Are you picking a fight with me?”
As I slightly furrowed my brows, Jeok Biwol shrugged her shoulders.
She licked her lips and spoke while pulling out the needles stuck in my arm and putting them in another bamboo tube.
“Of course not. As I said earlier, you and I have the same enemy. So I don’t particularly want to fight.”
I stared blankly at the needles being removed one by one, then spoke slowly.
“I’ve been wanting to ask, why do the Demon Cult and the Golden Blood Sand Sect have the same enemy?”
“If Black Demon has a history of killing the Demon Cult’s leader, he also killed the Golden Blood Sand Sect’s leader. My great-grandfather lost his life and honor at Black Demon’s hands. The fallen reputation didn’t return easily, and it took 30 years for the Golden Blood Sand Sect to become solid again. So it’s natural for the Golden Blood Sand Sect to bear a grudge against the Black Dao Sect.”
Jeok Biwol chuckled and put away the bamboo tube containing the large needles in her bosom. I stared intently at her eyes and spoke slowly.
“The Golden Blood Sand Sect is also an enemy of the Demon Cult if you think about it.”
“Well, that’s true, but let’s think of it as ‘enemies on the same boat’. Because both the Demon Cult and our sect have grudges against the Black Dao Sect rather than killing each other.”
She jerked her chin as she finished speaking.
At her chin gesture, I examined my body condition. My heavy body felt a bit lighter, and the flow of energy that had been somehow dull was smoother.
As I slightly raised my head while examining my inner energy, Jeok Biwol snorted with a smug face and stood up from her seat. I raised my head following her movement.
Jeok Biwol faced me and continued speaking haughtily.
“Anyway, it’s true that the Black Dao Sect is moving. I don’t know what they’re aiming for, whether the thing that makes their mouths water is the item that will be given as the prize for winning this time, or the Young Madam with the Nine Yin Pulse, but it’s not something to simply laugh and joke about.”
Winning prize? As I muttered quietly, Jeok Biwol nodded her head.
“The winner this time could request one thing they wanted from the Murim Alliance in addition to what was announced in advance. The Black Dao Sect probably intended to take what the Murim Alliance has through winning.”
“What is that?”
“Of course that’s…”
Jeok Biwol was about to continue speaking smoothly but stopped with her mouth open and furrowed her brows.
She glanced at me, then tightly closed her mouth. Her voice flowed quietly.
“…A secret. Are you trying to eat the Golden Blood Sand Sect’s information raw?”
She giggled and stepped back.
I followed her with my eyes out of regret, but she didn’t seem to have any intention of answering.
Jeok Biwol approached the door, stopped, then twisted her waist and glanced at me while speaking quietly.
“If I give you one piece of advice, Black Demon was publicly called by the Demon Cult, evil sects, and Righteous Sect at that time. And when he was cornered to the end, the ones present were Namgoong Gyeom, who was the Murim Alliance Leader at the time, and the father of Cult Leader Hyuk Muhyeol, who was the grandson of the murdered Demon Cult leader. Namgoong Gyeom took one thing from the fight with Black Demon and brought it to the Murim Alliance to hide.”
“What is that?”
Jeok Biwol grinned.
“If you want to know that, ask the Vice Cult Leader on your side, not me. The Thousand-Killing Demon was also present at Black Demon’s end.”
* * *
Regardless of Jeok Biwol’s credibility, her medical skills were certain. Seeing how my groaning for two days was completely cured with just one acupuncture session from her, her skills seemed certain.
Even Hyuk Dojin, who had been worried if we could leave in three days, showed a relieved reaction.
After resting well for about a day and spending time, on the day before leaving, Moyong Do visited again.
He seemed to have been caught by Joo Hwarin while hesitating in front of the door.
“You came?”
I stood up from my seat during the meal, surprised by Moyong Do’s sudden visit.
What brings him here so early in the morning?
Moyong Do glanced at me and Hyuk Dojin who were having a meal, then made an awkward expression.
“If I had known you were having breakfast, I would have come a little later… It seems I’ve disturbed you.”
“Not at all. Have you eaten, Brother? If you haven’t eaten, eat with us. Our cook here, Geum Baekcheon, is very good at cooking.”
“…Meal?”
Moyong Do opened his eyes wide as if surprised at my words. His gaze turned to the food placed in front of me.
His hardened expression was clearly visible in my eyes.
Ah, come to think of it, this might be an unfamiliar scene for Brother?
I couldn’t eat properly even in the clan. As Moyong Do was used to a life where two dumplings for me were everything, the current appearance seemed to feel awkward to him.
At his gaze, I smiled slowly and slowly approached, grabbed his arm and sat him down in a chair at the dining table.
“Is it okay if I eat with Brother?”
“If my wife wishes, by all means.”
Hyuk Dojin nodded his head, smiling freely.
As soon as Moyong Do sat down, he turned his head to Hyuk Dojin. And he spoke in a polite posture.
“I’m sorry for coming early in the morning. It seems I’ve disturbed the couple’s enjoyable meal time.”
“It’s alright. If it’s my wife’s brother, he’s like family to me too. Eating together is also an enjoyable thing. Please eat comfortably.”
Despite Moyong Do’s sudden appearance and my actions, Hyuk Dojin acted calmly.
I thanked him for his composed appearance and sat down again.
As soon as I sat down, I picked up the dumpling placed in front of me and naturally put it in my mouth, chewing.
And one more, and another. Moyong Do seemed amazed at my appearance, staring blankly before soon letting out a laugh.
“You’ve really recovered.”
“I can handle three plates of dumplings now. Isn’t that great?”
Moyong Do nodded his head slowly.
He picked up his chopsticks, lightly stirred the noodles Geum Baekcheon had brought out, then took a bite and opened his eyes wide.
“…This is delicious.”
“You know the taste of noodles, you’re a true person.”
Hyuk Dojin, who had been staring intently at that appearance, made a pleased expression.
Is Moyong Do approved in the eyes of a man who insists on noodles no matter what other food is available?
When Moyong Do nodded his head, Hyuk Dojin smiled.
“By the way, what brings you here so early in the morning? Is there something?”
Hyuk Dojin made a puzzled expression.
Moyong Do put down the noodle bowl he was holding, then looked alternately at me and Hyuk Dojin and spoke carefully.
“I heard you’re leaving tomorrow, so I came separately to see your face and say goodbye, and also because I have something to give you.”
“Something to give?”
Moyong Do finished speaking and took out a small book from his bosom.
There was no explanation and no words on the cover.
He held out the book to me. I received the book from his hand and slowly opened it.
[Complete Nature Transference]
I hurriedly closed the book and looked at Moyong Do at the words that entered my eyes as soon as I opened it. He smiled gently.
It was a book on the ultimate technique that only the clan leaders of the Moyong clan could learn, Complete Nature Transference.