Murim Troubleshooter Chapter 188 : Venerable Huiyin

Chapter 188: Venerable Huiyin

The dawn mist at the mountain gate of the Ei Sect gradually lifted, and warm sunlight began to slant down.

Beneath peaks that seed to touch the clouds, the grand gate was already crowded with prospective lay disciples gathered from all directions.

I lightly tapped the unfamiliar sensation of my long black hair and slowly looked around.

The scenery and atmosphere were clearly different from the Shaolin Temple. For one thing, unlike that gloomy place filled only with n, this place had only won gathered together, so it felt brighter sohow.

“There are more people gathered than I expected, Sister Muhong.”

“…….”

I flinched at the word “sister” that Ilhong had spoken.

For this infiltration, the identity we had chosen was none other than sisters. Thinking about it again, I realized that because of requests, I truly experienced all sorts of strange situations.

Once, I even had to flirt with another man to lure out a degenerate from Namseongga. And now, I was infiltrating a male-forbidden sacred domain while dressed as a woman.

“Geumhong, don’t cling to .”

My husky, androgynous voice had been created by swelling my vocal cords with dicinal herbs.

Now that I had finally discarded the shackles of my male disguise, I lightly pushed away Ilhong, who was clinging to

with a face that looked as if she was thoroughly enjoying herself.

“Oh co on, what’s wrong with won being close to each other?”

“Sotis you scare , Seo Geumhong.”

After going through several undercover operations, I had realized sothing—perhaps because she was a forr operative of the Hao Sect, this girl’s adaptability was exceptional.

Already she was acting like an inseparable and affectionate sister, gripping my arm as if binding it.

“Sister Seomuhong, we’re finally entering the Ei Sect. Why do you look like that? Smile, smile.”

There was playful mischief hidden in her innocent smile.

“…You seem to be having fun, don’t you?”

Who was the idiot that said cross-dressing was a manly act?

Every ti I walked, my hair swayed and my sleeves fluttered. It made my skin crawl and was unbearably uncomfortable.

Once we went inside, we would wear Daoist robes, so it would be easier. But for now, our cover story was that we were the children of wealthy households who had co to beco lay disciples.

“Now it finally feels real what we’re about to do.”

I muttered while watching the line of won entering the gate gradually shorten. On both sides, martial artists of the Ei Sect holding spears and swords were receiving the lay disciples.

“Not ‘now it feels real.’ At tis like this you should say, ‘Oh my.’ Sister.”

“…….”

Ilhong covered her mouth with her hand and spoke in an exaggerated tone.

“Co on, repeat after . Oh my—”

They say raising subordinates is useless.

When the line in front cleared, I ignored her and strode forward.

“Ah! Captain, that’s unfair.”

Ilhong hurried after , accidentally letting the word “captain” slip out.

“Those who wish to receive the teachings of Ei, please line up in an orderly fashion here.”

An Ei martial artist holding a spear calmly called out.

Won gathered together in an awkward and unfamiliar atmosphere.

But unlike the Shaolin Temple—where even riffraff gathered hoping to build connections—many of the won here had already learned martial arts to so extent.

There were even a few who could release Breathing Technique sowhat.

Thinking about it, the number of won who learned martial arts in the Murim was relatively small. Among them, the teachings of the Ei Sect were famous for being harsh and frugal.

Thus, the fact that they had gathered here ant that rather than seeking connections, they already had a genuine aspiration to practice martial arts despite being won.

I continuously looked around at the mysterious and secretive initiation scene of the Ei Sect.

As I glanced around with curious eyes, soone behind

tapped my arm and spoke.

“Is this your first ti at the Ei Sect?”

Of course it is. Who cos to a place like this twice?

In this tense situation, soone casually starting a conversation made

wonder if it was another person like Venerable Huiyul. Without replying, I walked forward toward the area where the belongings inspection was in full swing.

“Ah! Don’t ignore !”

Ignoring the shout behind , I quickened my pace and stood before the Ei martial artist as if marching.

Perhaps because the Ei Sect was sowhat influenced by worldly Daoist traditions, the admission process was not as strict as the Shaolin Temple, which was called a sacred site of Buddhism.

People voluntarily handed over items that might stir worldly attachnts among the belongings they had brought.

Of course, most of those who ca were determined to properly learn martial arts, so they readily gave up the things they had brought as if cutting off their ties to the mundane world.

But I saw Ilhong pass through with a shaless expression, saying, “I didn’t bring anything,” while hanging Thunderburst Bombs all over inside her clothes.

“…Geumhong, don’t use those. You understand?”

“Oh co on, they’re for self-defense.”

Self-defense, my foot. If you carry eight small grenades inside your clothes, you’re preparing for war.

“Seriously, you shouldn’t say things you can’t back up.”

When I snorted and shook my head, Ilhong added another playful remark.

“You should say ‘Oh my.’ Try it….”

Thud!

Because of her words inviting a beating, I ended up smacking the top of her head.

Thus began the training of the Ei Sect.

As with any Daoist sect, it started with theoretical lessons preaching unity with nature, harmony of yin and yang, and the concept of natural non-action.

“This is unbelievably boring….”

I pinched my thigh to resist the overwhelming drowsiness.

It was tedious and dull, but if I wanted to infiltrate deep into the Ei Sect and uncover the identity of the Sect Leader, I needed to morize and study it even by force.

I had heard that top students could enter the Lotus Court and even be granted an audience with the Sect Leader.

“The training atmosphere is completely different from the Shaolin Temple.”

At Shaolin Temple, since young n who could fight gathered in droves to learn martial arts, there were always rivalries and competitions over who was stronger.

“Sotis they even ganged up on soone they didn’t like.”

It was a place that slled strongly of male aggression, far from the Buddhist Way.

But here, there was none of that. It was quiet—almost awkwardly solemn.

“If they find out the captain is a man, that gang-beating atmosphere might return.”

“…….”

For a mont, an image flashed in my mind of being surrounded by won and beaten while being called a “pervert.”

Ilhong’s sharp remark—sothing that could very well happen if I were exposed.

At Shaolin Temple, it was fine because I was a man. But here, if my identity was revealed, the scandal would force

to take down the sign of the Troubleshooter Office.

“Hehe, don’t worry, Sister Muhong. I’ll take good care of you.”

Ilhong winked.

“…Right. Geumhong. I’m counting on you.”

I could sohow feel subtle pressure in her words telling

to treat her well.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, she leaned even closer under the pretense of being my sister, and I couldn’t push her away.

Leaning against my arm, Ilhong giggled.

Days passed like this as we endured the ti of frugal living and training in the basics of the Ei Sect.

We took turns receiving instruction from the True Mountain Disciples. Then, when the long-awaited martial arts training ti finally arrived, Ilhong and I spotted familiar faces.

“Miss Gi Hyo… Miss Jeong Yo…?”

Under the bright sunlight, two won of the Tiger-Subduing Monastery approached with their white Daoist robes fluttering.

The one with neatly tied hair and sharp eyes was Gi Hyo, and the woman with clear eyes but a suspicious-looking expression was Jeong Yo.

The worn treasured swords hanging at their waists and the calluses from training made it clear they were core martial artists of the Ei Sect.

“Hmm? Soone called our nas.”

“Do you know us?”

The two won looked

up and down, puzzled by my carefully crafted androgynous appearance.

“…Aren’t you the female chivalrous heroes of the Ei Sect who gained fa through the Evil-Slaying Campaign? I’ve heard much of your reputation.”

I quickly improvised a response. I told them that although I had never t them, I had heard of their reputation in the Jianghu.

At that, the two won clapped their hands in delight. Their expressions showed proud satisfaction.

“Oh my, we didn’t do anything that deserved such fa.”

“Perhaps the rumor spread after we beheaded the villain Samdumma last ti. In any case, I’m glad.”

They explained that such nicknas and reputations should be recognized and praised among female martial artists, as it was a sign of strong solidarity among them.

They whispered with smiles that we should keep speaking like this in the future.

“But if you two are mbers of the Tiger-Subduing Monastery who should be out in the field, why are you participating in training lay disciples like this…?”

“…….”

At my question, their proud expressions suddenly drooped.

It seed sothing unpleasant had happened.

“…We ssed up an important task given by the Sect Leader, so we were exiled here.”

“Mm… you could call it a form of disciplinary reflection. It seems we won’t be allowed to breathe outside air for a while.”

Gi Hyo and Jeong Yo looked at distant mountains with gloomy expressions.

Within the strict and closed regulations of the Ei Sect, the authority to legally go outside was extrely precious.

Since there was always the possibility that soone might fall in love with a man and run away with the sect’s martial arts, only thoroughly verified individuals were allowed to enter the Jianghu.

“That’s all because of that Troubleshooter from Beijing who told us to trust him!”

Jeong Yo suddenly burst out, and I couldn’t help but flinch in shock.

Ilhong also exchanged glances with , barely suppressing her surprise.

“Ha… We should never have trusted an outsider. To think we’d be betrayed like this.”

Gi Hyo rubbed her furrowed brow and muttered bitterly.

“What did that Troubleshooter do?”

At my careful question, the won glared toward Mount Song.

“He disappeared without a word! We hired the Beggars’ Union to investigate, and they said he’s not even at the Shaolin Temple. What is this supposed to an?!”

At Jeong Yo’s outburst, Gi Hyo sighed and added,

“He claid he had never failed a request before, yet we were the ones who got scolded by Venerable Huiyin and ended up looking like fools.”

“Ahem.”

I covered it up with a cough.

There were circumstances and timing for everything. It seed they had searched quite diligently for

when I disappeared.

Honestly, whether it was Shaolin Temple or the Ei Sect, I didn’t know why my na was ntioned wherever I went.

Especially at Shaolin Temple, they said it had beco an outright forbidden topic.

“It’s your karma, Sister. Accept it.”

Ilhong whispered another remark that was hard to refute.

I needed to uncover the identity of Venerable Huiyin as soon as possible and clear up this unfair misunderstanding.

The problem, however, was how to approach her and how to find out the truth.

I had so broad ideas, but when it ca ti to act, it felt daunting.

“Anyway, was it Seo Muhong and Seo Geumhong? Both sisters are very beautiful. You must have attracted a lot of n’s attention outside.”

“Indeed. How can you be so pretty? And Muhong, you probably received a lot of attention even from won.”

The two won showed interest in , saying I had a charm that could captivate won as well as n.

Receiving praise for attracting n’s attention wasn’t particularly pleasant.

anwhile, Ilhong looked as though her mood had soared to the sky after being praised as a woman for the first ti in a while.

“Hehe. See, Sister? I’m this impressive.”

“Yeah, you’re amazing…”

Her face looked like it was lting.

She must have accumulated quite a bit of frustration after being treated like one of the guys by

all this ti.

Perhaps I should praise her like that occasionally.

“Anyway, let’s begin the training.”

“The first thing you’ll learn is the most basic martial art of the Ei Sect, called the Lesser Yang Sword…”

Jeong Yo drew the treasured sword from her waist and began explaining.

Just as the explanation of the Ei Sect martial arts was about to begin for their forr clients who knew nothing—

The atmosphere of the training ground suddenly changed.

From afar, a woman walked forward confidently, drawing everyone’s gaze.

Her slender and elegant figure moved with authority, the white Daoist robe fluttering in the wind.

The Ei martial artists gasped as the mysterious woman appeared.

“…Why is she suddenly here?”

“The Sect Leader… in a place like this…?”

The woman walking slowly forward was the target of the request that Venerable Huiyul had begged

to uncover.

She was the Sect Leader of the Ei Sect who had recently reached the Blazing Fla Realm—

Venerable Huiyin.

She personally ca to the training ground as if to inspect the lay disciples’ training.

“Ugh…!”

At that very mont, the Starfall Heart Cultivation thod that had accumulated Good Karma suddenly went berserk.

As if two opposite poles were repelling each other, the energies throughout my body reacted violently.

And even the burning Heaven-Slaying Star.

“…What the hell is that woman?”

I groaned in pain.