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nThe prospects, including Yeonharin, were moving on a large ship.

nThey left Homuryeon early this morning, and got a bunch of boats from the dock in Uichang, and set off.

nHomuryeon took care of finding the boats, so all personnel were able to find boats without any issues.

nTwelve large ships departed simultaneously.

nFlags of Homuryeon and flags of each family were fluttering on top of all the ships.

nThe scale alone was enormous, but considering the power the flags possessed, they wouldn’t have to worry about pirates while returning.

nSo the atmosphere was relaxing.

nThere were a lot of people on the deck. Everyone enjoyed the scenery and talked about it.

nAmong the twelve ships, only the ship with Yeonharin was subtly different from that of the other ships.

nYeonharin came out on the deck for fresh air and looked at the flowing river.

nThere were three guards standing around Yeonharin in a slightly nervous state.

nYeonharin’s bodyguard warriors had to receive Yoo Seoyeon’s education back in Homuryeon.

nIn particular, the bodyguards having their services bought by the Seomun Household, Gu Yang Household, and the Chu Household, were treated in a very poor manner.

nYeonharin’s bodyguards didn’t relax for a moment with their eyes mixed with determination and fear.

nThey couldn’t imagine what would happen if they made any mistake and it got into Yoo Seoyeon’s ears.

nYeonharin admired Yoo Seoyeon’s ability while looking at the guards behaving that way.

nUsually, if you bother someone to that degree, they will develop bad feelings, but these guards didn’t have any bad feelings at all.

nThat was a great ability. At least that was what Yeonharin thought.

nYeonharin was thinking of the people she had left back in Homuryeon while watching the flowing river.

nHalf of her thoughts were on Byeoktaesan, and the other half was on Yoo Seoyeon.

nIn fact, Yoo Seoyeon said she would follow Yeonharin. However, Yeonharin firmly refused.

nAs Yeonharin judged, Yoo Seo-yeon was in the midst of a moment.

nIf she had come back with her from there, that would be her kicking her luck.

nWhen she thought about that, Byeoktaesan came to her mind.

nA smile lingered around Yeonharin’s mouth and then disappeared in an instant.

nShe didn’t want to laugh carelessly here.

nYeonharin looked around.

nThere were many people who constantly glanced at her from a distance.

nFortunately, they didn’t seem to have seen her smiling.

n‘It’s okay if it’s this much I guess.’

nThese people didn’t dare come near Yeonharin. Even if they did and spoke to her, they were very careful with what they said.

nIt was completely different from Seomunjaehak, Gu Yang su, or Chu Younghak.

nIt was really painful back then, but now she felt more relaxed.

nTwo hours have passed since she had left Uichang. Because the speed of the ship was not slow by any means, they had come already quite far away.

nA little further ahead, she saw several branches of the river show up.

nIt was a place where small rivers joining the wide river appeared one after another.

nBut a boat was coming out of that small river.

nThree or four ships came out from each river, but there were so many small rivers that it equaled to about a few dozen ships.

nAnd there were several other ships approaching from the distance.

nShe instantly felt tense.

nYeonharin focused her eyes on the approaching ships.

nShe saw a bunch of men with swords.

nYeonharin turned around with a stiff face and checked on the other people.

nUnlike before, there was a heavy feeling of tension in the air.

nThe men who were watching Yeonharin approached her.

n“It seems like pirates appeared. It is dangerous, so I think it would be better for Lady Yeon to go inside…”

nAt the words of one of the men, the rest of the men nodded.

nHowever, Yeonharin replied with a cold expression.

n“I did not learn and practice martial arts to hide behind in cases like this. I will fight too.”

nAfter saying that, Yeonharin turned around and stared at the pirates.

nEveryone stared at her blankly.

nFeelings of worry, admiration, and gratification were entangled in their eyes.

nIn the meantime, the ships of the enemies came closer.

n* * *

nByeoktaesan slowly ate lunch and headed to Geumokru.

nCheon Gyeong-wan and Yoo Seoyeon followed after him.

nThey were nervous thinking that Byeoktaesan might say he was going alone.

nThey prepared at least five things to say in their heads should that happen.

nOf course, there was no need to use any of them because Byeoktaesan asked them to go together.

nToday, they practiced like hell as well.

nYoo Seoyeon regretted not insisting to Yeonharin to follow her when she asked her to remain.

nOf course, now that the pain was gone, she did not regret it.

nIf she just returned like that, when Cheon Gyeong-wan came back later, it was obvious her martial arts would be much inferior to him.

nMuryangbo was a devilish martial art, but it was very effective.

nEven only after a few days of practicing, she was able to feel the effect.

nHer muscles got really firm and flexible. In addition, her gimaek became stronger.

nThe inner strength training was smoother than before, and the flow of understanding the basics was very smooth even with other training.

nIt was like this, so if she had gone back, how much would the difference be?

nHonestly, if Byeoktaesan did not force them to practice Muryangbo as it was now, she wasn’t sure she would practice it properly past 30 minutes a day.

nIt was that painful.

nAnyway, it was only a short time, but to her, it was a precious time since she was suffering from pain.

nYoo Seo-yeon and Cheon Gyeong-wan did not say a word and walked while enjoying the normal walk.

nThey were thrilled over the fact they did not feel pain from walking.

nAfter a short time, they arrived at Geumokru.

nUnlike the last time they came, the door opened wide before arriving in front of Geumokru, and courtesans rushed out and greeted Byeoktaesan.

nThe Baekhwaruju was mixed among the courtesans.

nThe Baekhwaruju bowed more politely than ever.

n“I was waiting for you, my lord. Let us head inside first.”

nByeoktaesan went into the Geumokru under the guidance of the Baekhwaruju.

nThe Baekhwaruju took Byeoktaesan to a small pavilion in the deepest part of Geumokru.

nIt was a place that was not open to customers.

nThe pavilion consisted of numerous small rooms. And the top floor was used as a single room.

nThere were people in each room, but it seemed that this was where Hao guild’s information was stored and organized.

nThe room on the top floor was the office and bedroom of the Uichang branch’s Hao Guild manager.

nByeoktaesan sat at the seat reserved for seniors as if it were natural.

nThe only people who entered this room were the Baekhwaruju and the Geumokruju, the head of the Uichang branch.

nCheon Gyeong-wan and Yoo Seo-yeon waited by the door outside the room.

nThe Geumokruju looked at the Baekhwaruju with peculiar eyes while watching Byeoktaesan go to the senior seat and sitting down.

nIn fact, the colorful chair on which Byeoktaesan sat on was not originally found there.

nThe Baekhwaruju had brought it. She had said it will have its use someday.

nThe Geumokruju kept a close eye on Byeoktaesan, who sat on the senior seat as if it was perfectly natural for him to sit there.

n‘He is a person who is used to sitting in the senior seat.’

nByeoktaesan sat in the senior seat and stared at the two people sitting in the chairs in a slightly lower position.

nThen, the Baekhwaruju proceeded to give him the information he was looking for.

nByeoktaesan received a few documents from the Baekhwaruju and scanned them.

n“Hoh. You figured out the route they are taking?”

nA smile came to the mouth of the Baekhwaruju.

n“I couldn’t figure it all out. However, we are doing a separate investigation on parties that clearly cooperated with them in the process.”

n“There aren’t any half Kang-shi there right?”

n“I think it would be safe to assume that there isn’t a single half Kang-shi left in Uichang.”

nThe Homuryeon was so agitated and constantly on the lookout for them, so it was likely they pulled all of them out of Uichang.

n“Throw any information about them to the Homuryeon.”

n“Yes. I will do as you say.”

nProbably, just by throwing a few pieces of evidence at them, the Homuryeon will take care of them on their own.

n“Hmm, river… … .”

n“This is the fastest and safest way to bring half Kang-shi into Uichang without being caught. I’ve already identified the places the half kang-shi would have disembarked from.”

nByeoktaesan looked at the Baekhwaruju with sparkling eyes.

nIsn’t this quite competent?

n“You actually figured it out that far already.”

n“Actually, the pirates around here were acting a little weird, so I was already in the midst of investigating. So I was able to find the route more easily.”

n“Pirates? Are pirates involved in this mess?

n“It looks very likely that they are.”

n“Then, wouldn’t that make it very likely that the half kang-shi is with the pirates right now?”

n“I suppose… so?”

n“I see.”

nByeoktaesan made a strange expression and rubbed his chin.

n“It feels like you did a very good job in just a few days.”

nThe Baekhwaruju quickly lowered her head.

n“It was all thanks to you, my lord.”

nIn the eyes of the Baekhwaruju, who raised her head again, an earnest desire flashed.

nIt was all thanks to the Amyeongbo that the level of the Hao guild increased in just a few days.

nIf the Amyeongbo was delivered to other guilds, it probably wouldn’t have made this much of a difference.

nBut the Hao guild was different.

nEverything in the Hao guild was made based on the Amyeongbo.

nSo, every time they got a piece of the Amyeoungbo, their level increased dramatically.

nHistorically, the development of the Hao guild was also related to the Amyeongbo.

nIf someone among the past the Hao guild leaders gained a new understanding of the Amyeongbo, Amyeongbo itself was supplemented and it affected the entire Hao guild.

nSo, that made the Baekhwaruju anxiously want the Amyeongbo.

nNo, not only the Baekhwaruju but everyone who knew the relationship between the Hao guild and the Amyeongbo was waiting for the Amyeongbo.

nIn fact, inside the Hao guild, there were opinions on whether they should use a more forceful method into acquiring the Amyeongbo.

nBut the Baekhwaruju put a stop to that as if her life was at stake.

nIn her view, Byeoktaesan was a person who should never be approached that way.

nFor the Baekhwaruju, what she was doing was the best way.

nByeoktaesan looked at the Baekhwaruju, who was looking at him with all that heart.

nWhen he first saw her, he thought she wasn’t an ordinary person. But after dealing with her for a bit, she ended up being better than he expected.

nIf she continued to grow like this, he thought, as long as she doesn’t run into trouble, she wouldn’t have much trouble becoming the next leader of the Hao guild.

n“So what are you saying is, give you more food is that it?”

n“How dare I… I just show my appreciation if the lord should ever show grace. Even if you don’t, my feelings of gratitude will never be shaken.”

nByeoktaesan nodded.

n“Okay. It would be wise of you to keep that thought.”

nFor some reason, the Baekhwaruju thought that those words weren’t just said for no reason.

nHis tone and attitude didn’t change at all, but for some reason, the feeling was different from usual.

nThe Baekhwaruju glanced at the Geumokruju next to her. And she made a puzzled look.

nThe Geumokruju was trembling noticeably.

n‘What is wrong with her?’

nThe Baekhwaruju quickly shed her thoughts and concentrated on Byeoktaesan again.

nThere was a moment of silence.

nThen, a piece of paper fluttered and flew in the air and landed in front of the Baekhwaruju.

nIt was the third piece of the Amyeoungbo.

nThe Baekhwaruju picked it up with trembling hands.

n“Will you be a little more competent with that?”

n“I will definitely make it that way.”

n“Well, that is up to you to do. As for me, I think I should have a chat with these so-called pirates. Ones that have the highest possibility of being involved with this mess. You can help me with this right?”

nHe had asked if she could help with it, but the answer was fixed. Even if it wasn’t possible, she had to do everything in her power to make it possible.

n“If you set the time for us, we will guide you immediately.”

nByeoktaesan smiled.

n“Right now.”

n“Pardon?”

nThe Baekhwaruju was amazed and looked up at Byeoktaesan with her head raised. But quickly she lowered her head again and answered.

n“I will prepare right away.”

n“Alright. Hurry up. I’m not one to savor my food.”

nShe didn’t know what that meant, but the Baekhwaruju was in a hurry. It felt like a fear of an unknown reason permeated her heart.

n* * *

nThe Baekhwaruju that came out started running at once.

nAnd the Geumokruju ran alongside the Baekhwaruju.

nThe Geumokruju’s face was still pale.

n“Are you okay?”

nThe Geumokruju nodded at the question of the Baekhwaruju.

n“I’m okay now.”

n“Now? Looks like something did happen earlier. What happened?”

nThe Geumokruju glanced at the pavilion with Byeoktaesan in the back. It was obviously a noticeable act.

n“That person, no, the lord… What is his identity?”

n“You already know. The second son of the Gold Wall merchants. And he is also the one who uses us as he sees fit with this.”

nThe Baekhwaruju gently touched the piece of the Amyeongbo she kept in her arms.

n“Right. But… Sigh.”

nThe Geumokruju shook her head.

n“No. I was just a little scared. It was my first time experiencing that… … .”

nAfter saying that, the Geumokruju looked at the Baekhwaruju with new eyes.

n“And I think I know why you so strongly stopped the bull** of those old people. Really… I think we avoided a catastrophe.”

nThe Baekhwaruju laughed. Then spoke after focusing.

n“Ah, let’s hurry up. He’s not someone who likes to wait… … .”

nHearing that the Geumokruju focused her inner power and sped up in no time.

n“What the hell is she so scared about?”

nThe Baekhwaruju tilted her head and quickly pursued the Geumokruju.

nAnyway, it wasn’t so bad for her since she felt like she got herself a good comrade.

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