Moon-Shadow Sword Emperor

Episode 241

“Lord Moon!”

“What’s going on?”

“The Hongwon family has sent Jeon Seo-gu!”

“From the Hongwon family?”

Sangsalmunju (祥殺門主) Gwi Baekjo (鬼魄爪) Gak So-gyeong’s eyes narrowed.

He received the letter handed to him by his student, checked its contents, frowned, and muttered.

“What is this?”

“What does it say?”

“They say the Heavenly Dragon is planning to visit Namnyeong.”

“yes?”

“I’m asking you not to blindly antagonize me because I’m a person who has nothing to do with the fight for control over Guangxi….”

“Heavenly dragon? Aren’t you a 100-year-old expert? “It also belongs to Meng (盟)!”

“I don’t understand. “What on earth were you thinking when sending this letter?”

“You let someone from the Maeng faction roam freely in the territory of the original faction! “How on earth do you think this is so ridiculous that you ask me such a favor!”

“…….”

The noble swan, who had thrown the letter on the table, rubbed his chin in thought.

Party leader Hong Won-se could not understand his side’s intentions.

‘In fact, it’s closer to a notice rather than a request.’

The Hong Won Se-ju he knew was not a person who did things without a plan like this.

There was more to it than that.

‘The handwriting is different. This means that it was not a letter written by Hong Won Se-ju himself.’

The seal stamped at the end of the letter clearly symbolized the Hongwon family.

But the handwriting is not the matriarch’s.

Doesn’t it feel like you delivered the letter on someone’s behalf?

‘I don’t know the intention, so I have no idea how to respond.’

Of course, it was impossible to allow a giant as big as Heavenly Dragon to wander around the sect’s territory as he pleases.

It was a matter of Sangsalmun’s face and prestige.

If he obediently accepted the request of the Hongwon family, he would not be able to avoid the ridicule that he ‘got scared and rolled his tail.’

‘But that doesn’t mean we can just blindly suppress and detain him.’

Tianlong was one of the most famous figures in Tangjin Wulin.

His influence on martial society could never be taken lightly.

‘I can’t do it.’

Although it was reluctant, the action we had to take was decided in the end.

He had to step forward and face the Heavenly Dragon himself.

‘We will find out why Cheonryong wants to visit Namnyeong and monitor him thoroughly to prevent him from doing anything foolish.’

After organizing his thoughts, the noble swan turned his gaze in the direction where his disciple was.

The disciple, who was examining the contents of the letter from the corner of his eye, was startled and straightened his posture.

“I will give you a mission.”

“Please tell me anything.”

“When Cheonryong arrives at Nanning, you will personally go and greet him.”

“Do you mean me?”

“okay. You are the right fit. “If the next Sangsalmunju is next to me, no matter how much he is a heavenly dragon, I won’t be able to act rashly.”

“All right.”

* * *

Many, many, many.

As I was looking out the window blankly while riding in a fancy four-horse carriage, I glanced at the man sitting across from me.

Choyul, the grand duke of the Manjang Dynasty.

He was the person who pushed Cho Yeon-hee out and proudly took the position of the next head of the family.

He’s tall, has a handsome face, and is above average.

He was a man who didn’t miss anything.

Of course, this was true by the standards of the rural Murim Sega.

‘The Archduke in my memories must have been a cold-blooded and merciless person.’

I burst out laughing as I watched him fidget and couldn’t quite find his composure.

This was in contrast to General Wang, who did not seem at all intimidated even when facing his former assistant who had achieved success.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes yep!”

“You don’t have to be so nervous. We don’t even know each other. Please treat me as comfortably as before.”

“……All right.”

The atmosphere in the carriage became heavy due to the Archduke giving off an openly uncomfortable atmosphere.

I sighed softly and turned my head back out the window.

How much time has passed like that?

“Wow!”

Suddenly the carriage stopped in place.

This happened not long after we reached the outskirts of Namnyeong.

I put the damro on my waist and got up from my seat.

The Archduke got up after him and swallowed his saliva.

“…….”

I got off the carriage and checked the front, and there was a group of horsemen lined up as if blocking the road.

I asked, looking at the man in front of the group.

“Is there a problem?”

“Are you the Sacheon branch manager?”

“That’s right. “Who are you?”

“It’s called Sangsalmun’s Hogok Yeon.”

“You were a great hero.”

“Do you know me?”

“You can’t not know. “Aren’t you the next lord of Sangsalmun?”

“It’s a pleasure. “I can’t believe the Sacheon branch leader, who is renowned as a 100-strong expert, knew my name.”

I didn’t know originally.

This is what I learned recently while researching about Sangsalmun through Haomun.

“So, for what reason are you interfering with our movement?”

“I don’t mind being disturbed. “We were simply dispatched to protect the branch manager.”

“escort?”

“yes. Lord Mun instructed us to escort the branch leader.”

“There’s no need for you to do that…”

“Please understand even if it’s inconvenient. “We are also in a position to receive orders and move.”

“……All right.”

What kind of escort is freezing to death?

I guess I said surveillance incorrectly.

After exchanging a few words with Ho Gok-yeon, I got back into the carriage.

The horsemen surrounded the carriage as if surrounded.

The Archduke, who had been muttering for a while, asked me with a very nervous expression.

“Are you okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“There is no guarantee that they will not harm us.”

“It will be okay, at least for the time being.”

“Why are you so sure?”

“Sangsalmunju has a cautious personality. “We won’t act rashly until we figure out what the purpose of our visit to Namnyeong is.”

“Hmm…”

“You look like you don’t feel reassured.”

“To be honest, yes.”

“Let me tell you one more thing. “The person sitting in the driver’s seat and driving the carriage right now is senior Changmyeonggung.”

“Cha Changmyeong Palace? “Are you talking about Changmyeonggung, who is famous for being one of the most powerful among the hundred great masters?”

“Don’t look too agitated. The Sangsalmundists may have their doubts.”

“…!”

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about them overhearing our conversation. “I put a membrane around it a long time ago.”

“I’m glad everything happened.”

“Even if an emergency arises, it won’t be that difficult to run away with the Archduke. So you don’t have to worry too much.”

The Grand Duke’s expression brightened.

It was quite interesting to see his expression change with each word.

“It won’t be long before they start digging for information in earnest. At that time, you can act as I told you in advance.”

“All right.”

* * *

In a small mountain located to the east of Namnyeong, the remains of Cho Jaegang, the patriarch of the Manjang family and the ancestral head of the family, were buried.

A small guesthouse located near Somaksan Mountain.

My group and I unpacked our bags in our respective rooms and got plenty of rest.

Sit cross-legged on the bed and spend some time practicing fortune-telling.

A heavy, low-pitched voice penetrated my ears along with the sound of a knock on the door.

“Branch manager. “Are you there?”

“Is there a problem.”

“This is Hogok-yeon. “I came here because I have something to tell you.”

“Please wait a moment. “I’ll get dressed and go out.”

As I took care of the fence and opened the door, the figure of a middle-aged man dressed in fancy clothes came into view.

He said, pointing to the floor with his index finger.

“Munju wants to meet the branch manager.”

“Do you mean Lord Sangsalmun?”

“yes.”

“Are you sure you came all the way here yourself?”

“That’s right.”

I looked slightly surprised.

I never thought that Moonju himself would come forward.

Just by dispatching the next Munju, we can say that we have made enough progress.

“Could you please wait downstairs for a moment? “I will go down with the Archduke.”

“When you say grand duke, do you mean the grand duke of the Manchu Dynasty?”

“That’s right.”

“Why did he…”

“The reason Sangsalmunju personally went all the way to Ye is probably because he wants to know why I visited Namnyeong at this time.”

“…….”

“The person who will explain the reason is the Archduke.”

“I don’t quite understand, but I understand.”

Ho Gok-yeon nodded with a nervous expression and went down the stairs and disappeared.

When I knocked on the door of the next room, the Archduke, who had been eavesdropping with his ear to the wall, stepped into the hallway with a very intimidated expression.

“Sasangsalmunju is here….”

“Don’t worry too much. “It was a little sudden, but it was someone I would have to face at some point anyway.”

“…….”

“What the Grand Duke must do remains unchanged. Just remember what I said.”

When I went down to the restaurant on the first floor, accompanied by the Archduke, an old man with an ordinary build and an ordinary appearance stood up from his chair and greeted me.

Sangsalmunju Gwibaekjo.

Despite his simple appearance, the spirit he exuded was fearsome.

I introduced myself with a polite bow.

“This is Yeon-woon, the head of the Sacheon branch of the Murim League. “It is an honor to meet Sangsalmunju.”

“This is Choyul, the grand duke of the Manjang family. “For personal reasons, I am indebted to the Sacheon branch leader.”

The Archduke follows behind and bows.

I was worried that he might look trembling in front of a noble swan, but surprisingly, he had a strong voice.

I didn’t think there was any need to worry more than necessary.

‘Well, I don’t think I won the position of the next head of the family by gambling.’

I offered Choyul a seat and sat down at the table, looking closely at Sangsalmunju.

Looking at their appearance alone, they were not much different from the village women commonly seen walking around on the streets.

If it weren’t for his flashy attire and the deformed weapon he wore at his waist, not many people would have thought he was a martial artist.

“I’ll ask you straight.”

Sangsalmunju, who tilted his teacup to quench his thirst, looked straight at me and said.

“For what purpose did you visit this sect’s territory?”

“Confucius Choyul here will explain that to you.”

I responded, pointing to the Archduke with a hand gesture as if I had been waiting.

Everyone’s eyes were focused on the Archduke.

The Archduke cleared his throat once and opened his mouth with a serious expression.

“The purpose of my visit to Namnyeong is…”

* * *

Sangsalmunju, who heard the whole explanation, looked bewildered.

“…So, you came all the way to Ye to help the Grand Duke through his ordeal?

“That’s right.”

“Is that the only reason you visited Namnyeong during this turbulent time?”

“Actually, it is not known to the public, but I am from Manjangse. “I worked as an assistant to the Commander-in-Chief for several years.”

“Huh.”

“At that time, I owed some debt to the Archduke. “The reason I am accompanying Confucius now is to repay the debt I owed back then.”

“…….”

A light of suspicion appeared in Sangsalmunju’s eyes.

It was a natural reaction.

Who in the world would be fooled by such a flimsy excuse?

I muttered in my mind with a smile on my face.

‘Be more suspicious.’