Episode 263: Meal prepared by Mother.
“Is the leader of the Demonic Cult behind the plunder?”
The prayers of the sword dance became cold as a name that should not have been mentioned was mentioned.
“The female leader has decided to take care of the aftermath of this incident so that it doesn’t get any worse.”
As the head of the Honam branch of the Cheonmasingyo, he was a person with great power in the region to be able to make such a promise.
“What evidence is there that he was involved?”
“There is… no evidence. He is not the type of person to leave evidence in such matters. I am the witness.”
The moment he uttered Yeo So-gwang’s name, Lee Eom crossed the bridge of no return. He had to abandon Yeo So-gwang and find a way to survive on his own.
“What if you are plotting against Zidane?”
“Then you may kill me.”
Judging by his attitude and the earnest look in his eyes, he was telling the truth. It’s not really that shocking or surprising.
When I first returned, it was easy to think of the Demon Lord. He had been using the Demon Lord for personal gain. If up until now, I had been controlling the inside, now it was time to control the outside as well.
“How did you find out about Honam Jeilpyoguk’s recent performance?”
“There is a person among those heads of state who is mine.”
“Who are you?”
“I’m Yang Dae-nam.”
Once Lee Eom’s mouth opened, there was no hesitation.
“Let’s start with what we plundered during this trip.”
“Okay, follow me.”
Lee Eom got up from her seat. Her body felt heavy. Before she knew it, she felt the internal energy in her danjeon being suppressed.
‘I was subdued without even knowing it.’
Yi-eom realized that his opponent’s martial arts skills were far beyond the level of a typical master. It was definitely not because the blood sword was careless that he killed it with a single strike of chopsticks. Perhaps he could have killed the blood sword with a small wooden skewer that could be stabbed.
‘She is a master who is much stronger than the female protagonist.’
Not only is he skilled, but he doesn’t seem to be afraid of Yeo So-kwang at all. If he’s the leader of the Demonic Cult, he’s someone with great power, so who on earth is this person?
When Lee Eom moved the device hidden in the bookshelf, the wall rotated and a secret space appeared.
There were three fairly large boxes there, filled with gold.
When Geommu-geuk saw the treasure they had stolen, he became angry at Yi-eom and Yeo-so-gwang. This incident was worse than the case of people without money trying to make a quick buck.
Both of them probably already had a lot of wealth, and even without this, there were plenty of ways to make money. Especially if it was someone like Yeo So-gwang, he would probably be receiving a lot of bribes from here and there.
And yet you do something like this?
Geommugeuk asked calmly, without showing any sign of anger.
“Did Hyulsoogeom do this all by himself?”
“It was easy because Yang Pyo-du had already revealed the route of movement. We were able to set traps in advance and launch a surprise attack.”
“Even the method was lethal.”
Lee Eom, who had been excitedly telling stories, closed his mouth and looked at Geommugeuk’s expression.
“You have so much money, why did you do something like this?”
“… … .”
“Aren’t you going to answer?”
“Money… isn’t the more the better?”
“If it was the money you earned, then yes.”
Yi-eom lowered his head without saying anything. He wanted to be honest. In the world of martial arts, where people eat and are eaten anyway, isn’t it the one who gets robbed that is the idiot? Don’t you think the same? You hypocrite! He wanted to shout.
Geommugeuk came out and ordered Jeokyeon, who was waiting in the hallway.
“Tell the people in charge of Hwangcheon-gak and Tongcheon-gak in this area to come in right now!”
“all right!”
When Yi-eom heard that, he was shocked. He had heard from Yeo So-gwang that Hwangcheon-gak and Tongcheon-gak were the core organizations of the Demonic Cult. Why would he call the leaders of such core organizations like this?
At that moment, Eom’s gaze turned to Jeokyeon’s chest. At first, he only saw the evil spirit. But now he could also see the shield surrounding the evil spirit.
‘no way?’
I also heard this symbol briefly once at a drinking party.
‘Cheonmajeon Escort?’
Lee Eom’s gaze turned towards the sword dance.
‘Then what about the interest? No, really… the leader of the Demonic Cult? Hehehe!’
Lee Eom’s heart sank. If he had made a mistake, he had really made a mistake.
He fell face down on the floor, his legs giving out.
“Please save me! I didn’t know you.”
No matter how much he knelt down and prayed, the gaze of the swordsman directed at him was cold.
As if to prove that Eom’s prediction was correct, the Hwangcheon-gak and Tongcheon-gak minions in charge of this place came running like the wind.
The work of the sword dance was carried out without a hitch.
First, I explained this incident to the people in charge. Then, I informed them that since the Honam branch leader was involved, I couldn’t use their minions, so Hwangcheon-gak and Tongcheon-gak had to step in.
After finishing the explanation, Geommugeuk gave the order to the Hwangcheon Pavilion special investigator first.
“First, return the looted items and the corpse of the bloodstained sword to Honam Jeilpyoguk and explain the situation. Also, tell them to deal with the person named Yang Daenam who stole information about this incident.”
“All right.”
Lee Eom was watching the process with a nervous heart, when Geommugeuk looked back at her and said.
“And send the author to our school and lock him in the brain prison.”
Trapped in the brain prison of the Cheonmasingyo? Lee Eom’s eyes darkened.
“No! Please save me!”
The swordsman asked indifferently.
“Did you really think I would just get away with something this big?”
“So I didn’t tell you everything?”
“So you didn’t kill him?”
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Yi-eom was speechless. At a time like this, what was needed was a bribe. But seeing as he was asking for the return of the prize, it didn’t seem like that would work either.
The sword dance gave me a choice.
“Okay, then choose! Do you want to go to Brain Ok? Or do you want to go to Honam Jeilpyoguk?”
Yi-eom knew that both choices would result in death.
“Please save me! I only made plans!”
“This isn’t the first time something like this has happened to you, is it?”
“This is my first time.”
Yi-eom’s voice trembled and she couldn’t meet Geommu-geuk’s gaze.
How could it be the first time? I just watched as the Blood Sword was brought in and brutally killed the servants. Just by looking at that one thing, I could guess what his life was like.
“In my opinion, you are the worst of the three.”
Geommugeuk threw his fist without hesitation.
Crack! Crack!
Lee Eom died with her heart broken.
Gurrrrrr!
Everyone there was startled by the thunderous sound coming from the fist. It was as if punishment had been sent down from heaven.
The swordmaster continued to give orders.
“Dismantle Pungsu Mountain Villa and distribute all the money it generates to the families of the deceased!”
“All right.”
Although I felt sorry for the families of the victims, I also had a reason why it had to be done that way.
“Is Honam Jeilpyoguk a faction of the Jeongpa faction?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
In each region, there are places where the Cheonmasingyo is strong, and places where the Murim Alliance or the Sadomaeng is strong. Naturally, the closer the region is to the main temple, the stronger the power, and the farther away it is, the weaker it becomes.
Honam Province is a place where the influence of the Cheonmasin religion is strong.
However, this does not mean that all sects here follow and support the Demonic Cult.
There were many sects that followed the orthodox or sectarian sects, although their numbers were relatively small. In Honam Province, there are branches and chapters of the Murim Alliance, and the Sadomaeng is the same.
“Tell the Murim Alliance to avoid any misunderstanding. Tell them that we will handle Yeo So-gwang ourselves.”
Since Tongcheon-gak interacts a lot with the Murim Alliance, they will handle it well.
“For the time being, please take special care of this village. It’s where my escort’s mother lives.”
Jeokyeon was watching Geommu-geuk’s bold yet meticulous work from the side. Watching this, he had this thought. It really wasn’t something that just anyone could do.
After finishing his work, Geommugeuk went to the guest room to rest and wait for Hwasun.
“It’s all over. Let’s go back now. I want to eat the food that Mother makes.”
Hwasun felt relieved at those words. From the bright expression on Geommugeuk’s face, she felt that things had been resolved well. Her heart, which had been anxious until the end, finally calmed down.
“I should do it, of course I should do it.”
“I told you to speak more comfortably.”
“That can’t be. This is more convenient, Your Majesty.”
Even when they came out, the escort drones formed a line to protect Hwasun.
When they arrived at the carriage, Geommugeuk said to Samho and Hwasun.
“Only two people can ride in the carriage.”
Hwasun looked puzzled.
“I want you to have a nice chat with your son after a long time. Come on, get in. We’re leaving.”
The sword dance was on the horse’s back. Samho said it couldn’t be done, but he solved it with one word, “It’s an order.”
The carriage carrying Hwasun and Samho began to race towards the village.
How far did you run?
Hwasun’s laughter was heard from the carriage cabin.
It was the most pleasant sound I’ve heard since leaving school.
Geommu-geuk has no memories of his mother. She passed away when he was very young. That’s why he misses her on days like this.
‘Mother, my sons are living well without fighting.’
The fight for succession that did not involve bloodshed with his brother was also a gesture of consideration for his deceased mother.
The carriage arrived at Hwasun’s inn.
When Hwasun got off the carriage and looked at her guest room, she finally felt that she had returned safely.
The sword dance treated her as if she were his own son.
“Mother, we are hungry!”
Hwasun rolled up her sleeves and went into the kitchen.
The sword dance and escort warriors were able to eat a home-cooked meal made with mother’s love for the first time in a long time. Her cooking was really delicious.
Hwasun felt so happy seeing her son eating with his colleagues.
Overlapping with that image was an image of me as a child, gathering at my house with my neighborhood friends and eating together.
‘When did you grow so big?’
Her son, who was once a brat, has now grown into a man and is eating with his colleagues. She feels proud and touched.
Geommugeuk, who had just emptied a bowl of rice, spoke to her.
“I want to take you to my school and eat the meals you prepare for me every day.”
She felt relieved. With such a good boss, she didn’t have to worry about her son.
She brought me more rice and side dishes.
“Your Majesty, please have another bowl! I added more meat.”
At her words, Geommugeuk smiled brightly.
“I will cherish my son more than any other child!”
She laughed at the joke of the sword dance and the escorts laughed along with her.
Hwasun was truly grateful to Geommugeuk. Although she didn’t know the details of how the matter at the mountain lodge was handled, she could feel that it was resolved thanks to Geommugeuk.
‘Thank you, Confucius.’
* * *
The Geommu-geuk troupe stayed there for four more days.
Originally, they were supposed to leave the next day, but they wanted to give Hwasun and Samho more time since they had met for the first time in three years.
Samho paid his debts to his parents.
On the third day, I took my mother to a nearby temple. On the way back, I ate delicious food and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Samho carried his mother, who had sore legs, on his back.
When her son asked her if she wanted to go live in Magachon, she shook her head. She did not want to be a burden to her son, and she did not want to leave her hometown where she had lived her entire life.
Four days later, the Geommugeuk group said a sad farewell to Hwasun and rode their carriage toward Honamjidan.
During a short break, Samho came to Geommugeuk.
“I heard that you have ordered us to take special care of our hometown.”
It seems that Jeokyeon told him.
“Of course you should. From now on, visit your mother more often. This is also an order.”
Samho realized this time that he had been too indifferent to his mother because he was busy.
“Thank you very much. I will never forget the favor you have bestowed upon me this time.”
“Thanks to you, I was able to eat a lot of the delicious food my mother made. I am more grateful.”
When the break was over, Jeokyeon sat down on the coachman’s seat and said he would drive the carriage himself.
“I will run as fast as I can.”
“Let’s take it slow. I’m not busy.”
Jeokyeon asked with a puzzled expression.
“Shouldn’t we go quickly?”
“why?”
“If he ever finds out that his corruption has been exposed, won’t he run away?”
There was no chance of that. The Hwangcheon-gak and Tongcheon-gak were not that lax in their handling of affairs. At least, they would be handled so that nothing would be known until we arrived.
“You’re saying you’re going to step down from your position because of this incident? That’s impossible, but if you were to, that would be a punishment in its own right. You’d regret it and live your whole life lamenting it. But that’s impossible.”
Lee Eom said that Yeo So-gwang left no evidence of his involvement in this incident. But there’s no way he would run away in fear.
“Because we are all full of greed, we cannot escape from this lump called greed.”
In this way, the carriage leisurely rode towards the Honam branch of the Cheonmasingyo sect.
* * *
Yeo So-gwang was looking out the window.
He didn’t look like a mine at all, as he had a relaxed and friendly demeanor.
“Have you still not heard from this master?”
To Yeo So-gwang’s question, his right-hand man, Hwang Pyo, answered.
“Not yet.”
There should have been a message saying the goods had been sent, but there was no word from Lee Eom.
“Could it be that he has other intentions?”
Yeo So-gwang shook his head firmly.
“You wouldn’t be a great person like that.”
Besides, the sword he used this time was a blood-sucking sword. The reason he used that greedy guy was because he was worried that there might be a chance. It wouldn’t be easy to deal with that guy, so he wouldn’t dare have other thoughts.
“The young leader?”
“It’s running behind schedule.”
“You’re suggesting that we have a fight. You learned bad things from a young age.”
“Have you heard the rumor? It is said that the new successor, Lee Gongja, is truly extraordinary.”
“Of course it would be extraordinary.”
Still, Yeo So-kwang was relaxed.
“Even so… … .”
He’s still just a young man with a lot of energy. No matter how hard he tries to hide it, there’s an inevitable age-related weakness. I plan to slowly melt him away with sweet words.
It will clearly show you how to rise from an ordinary drone to a master.
“So, come quickly, Young Master.”
