Chapter 39: The Generous Mount Ei (3)
‘To beco the disciple of the Divine Physician?’
It was such an unexpected proposal that he felt bewildered.
But in truth, it was understandable.
A male disciple in the sacred grounds of Mount Ei, where n were forbidden.
It seed that the effort he had poured into easing Geum Hwa Sa-tae’s wariness had led to this very outco.
Sewoon was so astonished that he pretended to be at a loss for words, while in his mind he quickly began weighing the gains and losses.
The Subduing Tiger Divine Physician, Boyeon Divine Nun.
She was the Supre Elder of the Ei Sect and one of the Ten Masters of the Martial World.
‘Hmm, yes, she was indeed at the stage just below the Alliance Leader.’
During the confrontation with Lee Hoseong, when the Murim Alliance Leader appeared together with her, the Divine Physician had clearly shown the perfection of the Manifestation Realm.
Back in the days when she had road the Jianghu actively, the number of demonic leaders who perished at her hands was so great that one could not count them even with fingers and toes combined.
Even Poison Demon Yelü Sheng would have turned into a cold, lonely soul after only a few exchanges with her.
‘But Boyeon Divine Nun’s true worth lies in her dical arts.’
Though a generation had passed, the title of Divine Physician was still firmly hers.
Her skills in dicine were said to reach the heavens, to the point that even the Emperor of the Imperial Palace would urgently summon her whenever he fell ill.
If he were to accept Geum Hwa Sa-tae’s proposal and gain the Divine Physician’s dical knowledge—
‘……perhaps. I might even overco the Heavenly Punishnt.’
If he combined Poison Demon’s dical arts with those of the Divine Physician, he might truly be able to resolve the Heavenly Punishnt completely.
As Sewoon appeared lost in deep thought, Geum Hwa Sa-tae’s eyes glead as she spoke.
“If you worry that being bound to Ei would keep you from tending to your clan’s matters, you need not. I plan to request that my Master accept you not as an inner disciple, but as an outer disciple.”
“-!”
“In that case, would it not resolve your concern about being unable to leave your clan behind?”
At her words, Ha Yeong and Cheong Yeon’s eyes widened to the point of bursting.
For an outer disciple to beco the disciple of a forr Sect Leader…
It was a proposal that had no precedent in history and would never again occur.
It was proof of just how much Geum Hwa Sa-tae wanted Sewoon to beco a disciple of the Ei Sect.
At that mont, Ha Yeong quietly gazed at Sewoon.
She saw the expression of a man lost in deep contemplation.
‘If he becos my Ancestor Master’s disciple… then he would be my Martial Uncle?’
Indeed, if Sewoon beca Boyeon Divine Nun’s disciple, he would share the sa generation as Geum Hwa Sa-tae, making him Ha Yeong’s Martial Uncle.
To live within the sect gates of Ei, together with Sewoon…
As soon as Ha Yeong absentmindedly pictured such a scene—
Thump.
‘……?’
Her heart began beating slightly faster than usual.
Why?
As she blinked in puzzlent at the strange sensation she had never before experienced—
“I…”
After a long silence, Sewoon finally opened his mouth.
Everyone’s gaze, including Geum Hwa Sa-tae and Tang Muyeol, turned toward him.
But contrary to the expectations of the three from the Ei Sect—
“…I am sorry. I am deeply grateful for the Sect Leader’s offer, but I cannot accept it.”
“-!”
Sewoon chose not to walk the path of becoming the disciple of the Divine Physician.
Though tempting, the proposal carried as many drawbacks as benefits.
Just as the sudden appearance of Poison Demon had shown, even with regression, reality moved unpredictably.
That was why he had to move as quickly as possible.
‘If I beco bound to the Ei Sect, my freedom of movent will inevitably narrow.’
In such circumstances, becoming the disciple of the Divine Physician would bring more disadvantages than advantages.
Geum Hwa Sa-tae let out a short sigh at his refusal.
“Huuh, how regrettable.”
“I beg Sect Leader to forgive
with a heart as vast as the sea. Moreover, how could soone so lacking as myself ever be worthy to beco Divine Physician’s disciple?”
“What nonsense is that! I made this offer precisely because it was you.”
Geum Hwa Sa-tae raised her voice.
And she truly ant it.
The exceptional spirit of chivalry that drove him to risk his life for clan mbers held hostage.
The outstanding ntal fortitude to silently endure the horrific tornt of the Heavenly Punishnt, which she herself had once experienced.
The extraordinary martial skills that, without a doubt, placed him among the top three prodigies of his generation.
In Geum Hwa Sa-tae’s eyes, Sewoon was without question a pillar upon which the Orthodox Path of the Martial World would one day rely.
“Thank you for your kind words, Sect Leader. Please also know that I never ant to look down on or disregard Ei.”
“I already know well your character. Do not trouble yourself with such needless worries. This old nun is rely regretful, that is all.”
“Your words alone bring
gratitude.”
“Huuh… only now do I understand the bitter heart of the late Alliance Leader.”
Sighing deeply, Geum Hwa Sa-tae spoke, while Tang Muyeol simply wore a dazed expression.
‘No matter how I look at it, I still can’t believe it.’
The situation before his eyes felt unreal.
His own son had received proposals to beco the disciple of both the Murim Alliance Leader and the Divine Physician.
And he had rejected both of them of his own will.
It was hard to tell if this was a dream or reality.
Pride filled Tang Muyeol’s gaze as he looked at Sewoon.
‘……When did he grow so much?’
Truly, the greatest joy of parents was seeing their child’s growth.
Along with his pride ca the suffocating mory of how his son had hovered between life and death for days.
At that mont, Sewoon clasped his hands in a martial salute toward Geum Hwa Sa-tae and spoke.
“However, if you are ever in need of a hand to treat soone, please do not hesitate to call upon
anyti, anywhere. I will be the first to rush to aid Ei and the Sect Leader.”
“Hmph, after casting
aside so coldly, do you think sweet words like that will soothe ?”
“N-no, that wasn’t my intention…”
Flustered by Geum Hwa Sa-tae’s unexpected reaction, Sewoon stamred.
Seeing this, she soon broke into a bright smile.
“Haha, I was only jesting. At tis like this, you truly seem like one of your age.”
“Ah…”
Watching Sewoon breathe a sigh of relief, everyone in the room couldn’t help but smile faintly.
“You are truly mischievous, Sect Leader. Even I was deceived.”
“Oh? For even the Clan Head to be fooled, perhaps I’ve just discovered a hidden talent I never knew I had?”
“Haha, it seems so indeed.”
Within that warm atmosphere—
Brilliant golden sunlight stread into the room through the open window.
If asked to na the sect representing Gansu Province, all would ntion the Kongtong Sect, one of the Nine Sects One Gang.
However—
If asked to na the most influential power in Gansu Province, the answer would change instantly.
Everyone would point to the Lee Trading Company, headquartered in Lanzhou, the capital of Gansu Province.
Lee Jamyeong, the head of Gansu’s foremost trading company, the Lee Trading Company, had from his youth involved himself in all manner of shady and filthy dealings, so long as they brought profit.
By employing every thod without scruple and always succeeding, he had risen so high that even the Chief Inspector, who oversaw the entire judicial system of a province, could not treat him lightly.
This was because he had secured close ties with high-ranking figures of the Imperial Court through lavish bribes.
With such unchallenged authority in Gansu Province, Lee Jamyeong then turned his gaze southward.
His eyes fell upon a most enticing prey—Sichuan Province.
To achieve his grand ambition of extending his reach beyond Gansu into Sichuan, he began his great plan by sending his son into the Qingcheng Sect.
Through the Great Disciple of Qingcheng, his son had been on the verge of officially becoming the youngest disciple of the Murim Alliance Leader.
Yet only days before, his only son, Lee Hoseong, had returned ho with one arm severed and an incurable madness.
On a night shrouded in deep darkness.
In the innermost chamber of the Lee Trading Company—
Clink.
Lee Jamyeong personally poured tea with all due courtesy into soone’s teacup.
His sharp, blade-like features were clad in silk garnts worth enough to buy several pleasure houses in Luoyang.
Yet the man seated across from him looked utterly shabby, the very opposite of his own grandeur.
“How does the tea taste?”
Lee Jamyeong asked politely to a man who appeared barely past twenty.
Then, to his surprise—
“Pah! Disgustingly bitter.”
The young man sipped the tea, grimaced, and spat it aside without hesitation.
Anyone in Gansu who witnessed such insolence would have been aghast.
For a re instant of such disrespect toward Lee Jamyeong would normally an imdiate beheading.
Yet Lee Jamyeong’s expression betrayed not the slightest stir of emotion.
“My apologies. I should have prepared a more refined tea.”
“No need. I hate anything bitter. Just bring
sothing sweet—like candied fruit.”
“As you wish.”
At his words, Lee Jamyeong signaled to a maid.
Soon after, she returned with a tray full of candied fruits.
“Oooh!”
The young man’s eyes lit up, and he devoured the sweets as though he hadn’t eaten in days.
Chomp, chomp.
Quietly watching the gluttonous scene, Lee Jamyeong finally spoke in a slow tone.
“Did you know…”
“Gulp. Hm?”
“The connoisseurs call our Lee Trading Company the foremost trading company of Gansu.”
At that mont, his eyes t the young man’s.
A chilling gleam flickered within Lee Jamyeong’s gaze.
“But had I wished to raise my company into the open, one of the Four Great Trading Companies of the Central Plains would have lost its na that very day.”
The Four Great Trading Companies—those that held the greatest wealth in the Central Plains.
For over a hundred years, their positions had never changed.
Yet Lee Jamyeong now boasted that, had he desired, he could have taken one of those seats for himself.
Slide.
He pushed a sheet of paper across to the man.
“Huh? It’s blank.”
“The numbers you write upon that page shall be your reward.”
It was a blank banknote.
A declaration that no matter the sum, he would pay it.
Silence filled the room for a ti.
At last, Lee Jamyeong voiced his true desire.
“Bring
the head of the Tang Clan’s heir.”
Lee Jamyeong was ordering the assassination of Sewoon.
Indeed, the man before him was none other than an assassin.
A heavy killing intent seeped from Lee Jamyeong’s entire being.
“Pah, just na your price, huh? That’s cool, old man.”
The young man scratched his head as he replied.
“But sorry to say, I’ll have to pass.”
“-!”
Lee Jamyeong’s pupils quaked as though struck by an earthquake at the unexpected refusal.
And then it happened.
Kyaaaaak!
A shrill, ghastly wail—like the cries of tortured spirits—burst out from beyond the door.
“Y-young Master, please, please spare …!”
“Grrr! Tang Sewoon! Ta–Tang Sewoooon!”
Slash!
With a chilling slicing sound—
The door of the room split in half, revealing Lee Hoseong with a sword in hand.
Thud.
At the sa ti, the body of the maid who had brought the candied fruits collapsed into the room.
“Kihihihi! I killed him! I killed Tang Sewoon!!”
Lee Hoseong drooled as he stared at the maid’s corpse, laughing in delight.
Pointing at him, the young man spoke.
“That bastard. No matter how you look at it, he’s soone who deserved to die.”
“-!”
For the first ti, Lee Jamyeong glared at the man.
Part of him wanted to cut down the fool whose blood hadn’t even dried yet.
But he barely restrained himself with extre patience.
The man—and the force backing him—was not one he could treat lightly.
Slide.
The man pushed the blank banknote back to Lee Jamyeong.
“Sorry. We’re not so cheap group that kills anyone just for money.”
They were a group of assassins known for thoroughly investigating both client and target, only killing those who had a reason to die.
And once they accepted a commission, they had never failed in all history—undisputedly the greatest assassination organization of all ti.
“…You will regret this.”
“Oh, co on, old man. Why so serious again?”
Grinding his teeth, Lee Jamyeong spat out his words, but the man only grinned.
“I’ll send the paynt for the sweets later. I’ll be off now…”
“Graaah! Tang Sewoon—!”
“-!”
Fwoosh!
Suddenly, Lee Hoseong’s crazed eyes widened as he charged at the man with his sword.
It happened too quickly for Lee Jamyeong to intervene.
‘How troubleso.’
Yet even in the face of mortal danger, the man only frowned in annoyance.
Rustle.
At that mont, Lee Hoseong’s upper garnt slipped, exposing the hideous scar of his severed arm.
“-!!”
And with that—
The man’s entire aura transford.
Shaaah!
A terrifying killing intent flooded the room.
Thud.
Lee Hoseong collapsed mid-charge, unconscious.
“Gurrrk! Grkkk!”
“…Why is this happening?”
Though Lee Hoseong foad at the mouth and convulsed violently, the man ignored him and stared at the scar.
For the first ti, a spark of interest flickered in eyes that had until then been filled with emptiness.
Interesting.
Wearing a bright smile, the man turned to Lee Jamyeong.
“I’ve changed my mind.”
“…What?”
“I’ll accept your request, old man.”
“…!”
“Mm. Here, the commission fee is about this much.”
Scribble, scribble.
Dipping his finger into the blood pooling on the floor, he wrote an outrageous figure onto the blank banknote.
Then, without hesitation, he turned his back.
He was already preparing to head toward Sichuan.
In haste, Lee Jamyeong called out to him.
“W-wait.”
“Hm?”
“…Why did you suddenly change your mind?”
At his question—
Grin.
The man only smiled and leapt out the window.
Fwoosh!
Racing into the pitch-black night without a shred of moonlight—
‘Because I need to find out how a Tang Clan brat knows my ultimate technique.’
The heir of the Gate of Assassins, Naless, muttered inwardly.
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