Chapter 562
Chapter 562
Chapter 562. The Divine Transformation Art (1)
As soon as I returned, I had to throw myself into work without a moment to breathe.
It seemed the effect of unexpectedly losing time by going to Luoyang was significant.
Seriously, the Martial Alliance is no help to my life at all!
I was working while cursing the Martial Alliance inwardly.
“Seoho!” (Jeongho)
The door opened, and Brother Jeongho came in.
After I returned, Brother Jeongho’s face improved day by day.
“What?” (Eun Seoho)
At my curt response, he chuckled and held out a letter to me.
“A letter came from Father.” (Jeongho)
“Hm? From Father?” (Eun Seoho)
Ah, it must be about that.
After returning from Luoyang this time, I had sent a letter to Father through Geumryeong.
The matter of the right I had received from the Alliance Leader to choose the seat I wanted in the merchant area was very important.
It was probably an official letter regarding that.
I took the letter and opened it.
[Seoho, listen. As I told Jeongho as well, the Murim Grand Banquet will be held in Luoyang this tenth month. And our Eunha Merchant Guild will also be active in the merchant area there.]
I chuckled.
It was nothing special, since I already knew the contents through the reply Geumryeong had brought, but I could clearly feel Father’s excitement from the letter.
It was a letter that seemed to say, Let us make a huge profit at this Murim Grand Banquet!
[And since I must go to Luoyang in person this time, I cannot leave this place vacant. Thus, it seems Jeongho will have to return to the main branch for the time being.]
Ah, so this was the main point.
It cannot be helped.
It had been comfortable all this time.
“What is it? Why are you making that face?” (Jeongho)
At Brother Jeongho’s words, I laughed awkwardly.
“What did I do?” (Eun Seoho)
“You have the expression of someone disappointed that he will not be able to work me harder.” (Jeongho)
Ugh, he caught me.
Brother Jeongho is rather sharp.
“Come on, what are you talking about? I am not that shameless.” (Eun Seoho)
“Really?” (Jeongho)
I smiled awkwardly and changed the subject.
“Then when are you going back?” (Eun Seoho)
“In about a month?” (Jeongho)
“That is a relief.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, Brother Jeongho glared at me.
“What exactly is a relief?” (Jeongho)
I grinned.
There was something I realized through this incident.
That was that I needed a transformation art.
Because Warrior Jinyu and Miss Seohyang needed to hide their identities.
And there were times when I needed to cover my conspicuous face a little.
So I recalled the transformation art Master had used during the last Dragon and Phoenix Martial Arts Competition.
The transformation art she had learned from her friend was truly astonishing.
Because it could even change one’s energy.
Of course, it could not hide the fundamental clarity of the Supreme Yin Ice Sea Divine Art from those who had learned the same martial art.
That day, I sent a letter to Master, and Geumryeong brought back the reply.
“Kkui! Kkui!” (Geumryeong)
Geumryeong struggled and climbed in through the window, and Palgap, who discovered her, quickly received her.
“Kkui?” (Geumryeong)
Using Palgap’s hand as a foothold, Geumryeong hopped down and landed snugly in my arms.
I chuckled and stroked Geumryeong’s back.
“You are back?” (Eun Seoho)
“Kkui!” (Geumryeong)
At that sight, I felt as though I understood why Geumryeong always insisted on climbing in through the window.
“Geumryeong, you wanted to hear me praise you, didn’t you? That is why you insist on coming through the window, right?” (Eun Seoho)
“Kkui?” (Geumryeong)
“Hm? No?” (Eun Seoho)
“Kkui! Kkui! Kku!” (Geumryeong)
“Uh……. So, you mean it is because you get hungry faster if you pass through walls?” (Eun Seoho)
“Kkui!” (Geumryeong)
“And you are willing to pass through walls if I pay you more?” (Eun Seoho)
I said with a laugh.
“Just climb in through the window.” (Eun Seoho)
“Kkui…….” (Geumryeong)
Geumryeong’s ears drooped, and I chuckled as I untied the letter bound to Geumryeong’s tail.
[I happened to meet my friend during the last escort trip, and I was able to receive permission from that friend to pass on the transformation art. I will go to Beijing this time and teach it to you. It seems I will arrive in Beijing in a few days.]
I smiled at the words that Master would personally come to Beijing.
Because that meant I did not have to leave my post.
Brother Jeongho will like that.
“Kkui!” (Geumryeong)
“All right, I know.” (Eun Seoho)
I gave Geumryeong one silver coin.
Last time, I had forgotten to give Geumryeong three gold coins, but that was also because Geumryeong had not urged me.
So I had given Geumryeong three gold coins and asked,
Why did you not urge me this time? (Eun Seoho)
According to Geumryeong, once the deadline for payment passed, she had intended to receive interest.
Looking at Geumryeong sitting in front of the table, licking the silver coin with little flicks of her tongue, I thought,
This fellow Geumryeong is no ordinary one. (Eun Seoho)
.
.
.
Some time later.
Master came to the Beijing branch.
Seeing that only a few people had come with her, it seemed she had come on an escort job that required quick and covert movement.
And every one of those accompanying her was an outstanding expert.
I politely clasped my hands and greeted her.
“Your disciple greets Master.” (Eun Seoho)
“It is good to see you like this.” (Master)
“Are you on your way back after finishing an escort job?” (Eun Seoho)
“That is right.” (Master)
Master nodded.
“The destination of this escort job was here in Beijing.” (Master)
“I see.” (Eun Seoho)
I continued.
“I have prepared lodgings within the branch so you can stay comfortably.” (Eun Seoho)
“I will not refuse.” (Master)
“If you had refused, your disciple would have been very saddened.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, Master laughed.
I personally guided Master to her lodgings.
“You may use this place.” (Eun Seoho)
Master’s lodging was in the place where the estate near the Beijing branch, which we had bought before and which had collapsed, had once stood.
After that, construction had begun again, and now it had been made to connect with the branch.
It was for family, employees dispatched to Beijing, and guests to stay in.
I could have offered it to Team Leader Won’s party as well, but I did not because I did not want to.
“You may use this place.” (Eun Seoho)
The place I guided Master to was a detached building.
It was well furnished with household goods, spacious and comfortable, and offered only to important guests.
“To think I would have such fine lodgings! Thank you.” (Master)
“Please do not say that. This is only natural as your disciple, so do not feel burdened. Master.” (Eun Seoho)
“Understood.” (Master)
“Please rest comfortably. I will send word at mealtime.” (Eun Seoho)
When dinnertime came, I headed to the banquet hall.
Because I had prepared a banquet for Master’s party.
I sent Palgap to Master, and soon Master’s entire party arrived at the banquet hall.
“I have brought them.” (Palgap)
“You worked hard.” (Eun Seoho)
I greeted Master.
“You must have had a hard time coming all the way here, so I prepared a small banquet. I hope it suits your palate.” (Eun Seoho)
“You do not need to worry. We eat anything well.” (Master)
Why did those words sound sorrowful?
Well, they must not have had the luxury to be picky about food all this time.
They had to keep living by eating anything that could be eaten, after all.
We sat down at the table and began eating.
“It is nice that my disciple is rich.” (Master)
“I will earn even more and let you live in luxury.” (Eun Seoho)
The fact that I was Master’s disciple was now known to everyone in the world, so there was no need to hide it.
After everyone finished a satisfying meal like that, I arranged a separate place with Master and shared a conversation with her.
“I was surprised when I received your letter last time. I had guessed that the culprit would be the Martial Alliance, but to think it was true.” (Master)
At the time, after I heard the full story of the matter from the former Clan Head of the Jegal Family, I had immediately sent a letter to Master.
“Master, had you already guessed it?” (Eun Seoho)
“That is right.” (Master)
Master nodded.
“When you go on escort jobs, you end up hearing and seeing more than you might think. Thanks to that, I also came to know of the Martial Alliance’s movements, and since those movements somehow did not sit right with me, I had been suspecting them.” (Master)
Master continued.
“Thanks to you, I no longer need to go around stirring up this place and that to uncover the culprit.” (Master)
“But Master. The problem is the reason. If we cannot find out why they did that to the Snow Wind Palace, we cannot guarantee the Snow Wind Palace’s safety.” (Eun Seoho)
“I think the same.” (Master)
Just why did the Martial Alliance have to destroy the Snow Wind Palace?
Even to the point of burning everything.
“Still, I can only be grateful to the Young Palace Head for allowing me to turn my guess into certainty.” (Master)
“I am embarrassed. What did I even do?” (Eun Seoho)
“Why would there be nothing?” (Master)
Master said with a smile.
“My fist almost went out for a moment, so please be careful with your modesty.” (Master)
Eek!
I cannot block Master’s fist.
“Yes, I will be careful.” (Eun Seoho)
Master took a sip of tea, then brought up the main subject.
“By the way, I understand that you wanted to learn that transformation art, but why now?” (Master)
“Did you not tell me before, Master? That at the level of the peak realm, one could only transform about one part of the face, and one had to be at the transcendent realm or higher to use it properly.” (Eun Seoho)
“You remember. Well, your memory is extraordinary.” (Master)
“I requested it this time because I seem to have adapted to and stabilized my current realm.” (Eun Seoho)
I continued.
“And this time, I moved under the Alliance Leader’s orders……” (Eun Seoho)
“Pardon? The Alliance Leader’s orders?” (Master)
Ah…….
I had not yet told Master about this.
“At the time, the matter was urgent, so I could not inform you in advance. Please forgive your unworthy disciple.” (Eun Seoho)
“No. If Young Captain did so, there must have been a reason. Still, it seems there were no particular problems.” (Master)
“I returned safely and in good health.” (Eun Seoho)
I continued.
“In truth, from the first time I saw the Alliance Leader, I had a feeling that something about him did not sit right with me. And because of what I heard from Warrior Jinyu, I was even more on guard against the Alliance Leader.” (Eun Seoho)
Because Warrior Jinyu was an assassin personally raised by the Alliance Leader.
“I know about that as well.” (Master)
Then there was no need to explain it in a complicated way.
I told her in detail about this matter.
About how Team Leader Won had visited with the Alliance Leader’s letter, and how that had actually been the Alliance Leader’s test.
And about the conversation with the Sect Leader of the Guam Sect on Mount Tai, and even the matter of my stealing the Buddha statue.
The reason I told her even about my snatching the Buddha statue was because Master was someone I could trust that much.
And Master and I were also bound by a common fate.
“……That is how it happened.” (Eun Seoho)
“That could have been dangerous.” (Master)
“Yes. But even so, it did not deviate much from the plan I had thought of, so I was able to resolve it safely.” (Eun Seoho)
“Still, you must be careful. No matter how much his suspicion has faded, once he has suspected you, he may suspect you again.” (Master)
“I will keep that in mind.” (Eun Seoho)
I continued.
“That is why I requested to learn the transformation art this time. It is to prepare for when I become entangled with the Martial Alliance in the future.” (Eun Seoho)
“Then are Young Captain and your escort warriors thinking of learning the transformation art?” (Master)
“Yes, and Miss Seohyang must also learn the transformation art, but……” (Eun Seoho)
I trailed off.
Miss Seohyang had not learned the Cheonryu Art for very long yet, and her realm was not high either.
Master nodded and said,
“At present, Miss Seohyang, no, since I have decided to make her my niece, I will simply call her by name.” (Master)
“Yes. Please call her comfortably.” (Eun Seoho)
“What is Seohyang’s realm?” (Master)
“About second-rate.” (Eun Seoho)
“How long did you say she has learned the Cheonryu Art?” (Master)
“About two years……. I believe.” (Eun Seoho)
“Second-rate after only two years of learning the Cheonryu Art……. Hah! It seems you do not know because you yourself are a genius, but to begin learning martial arts as an adult and progress that much is an astonishing thing.” (Master)
“Uh…….” (Eun Seoho)
Come to think of it, because my realm and the realms of my escort warriors were rather high, I had not realized it, but that much could indeed be called genius.
“But no matter how much of a genius she is, that speed is…… Has she ever consumed spiritual medicine?” (Master)
“No.” (Eun Seoho)
I shook my head and thought of one possibility.
Could it be that because she has Ice Crystal Eyes, she is compatible with ice-arts-type martial arts?
Moreover, Miss Seohyang’s own insight is quite outstanding, and she is very diligent and sincere.
Those things must have combined to bring about her current achievement.
But this was not something I could tell Master.
Because I would have to receive the North Sea Ice Palace Head’s permission regarding the Ice Crystal Eyes.
“I look forward to her future.” (Master)
“Yes.” (Eun Seoho)
“In any case, at that level, it will be difficult to change much, but it should be possible to slightly change the shape of her lips or ears, or create a mole.” (Master)
“That alone is enough.” (Eun Seoho)
“And Warrior Jinyu…… his realm appears to be the peak realm. Is that correct?” (Master)
“Yes. That is what I know.” (Eun Seoho)
After thinking for a moment, Master said,
“I will have to meet Warrior Jinyu.” (Master)
I called Warrior Jinyu, and he soon arrived where we were.
“Did you call for me?” (Warrior Jinyu)
I said to him,
“Master said she wanted to see you, Warrior Jinyu, so I called you here.” (Eun Seoho)
“I see.” (Warrior Jinyu)
Master gazed at Warrior Jinyu for a moment, then said,
“It seems there has been quite some progress in your mental cultivation recently.” (Master)
Perhaps because they knew each other from the beginning, Master spoke comfortably to him.
“!” (Warrior Jinyu)
At Master’s words, Warrior Jinyu flinched and obediently explained the circumstances.
“In truth, when Liege went to Mount Tai and Luoyang this time, I received leave. So during that time, I devoted myself to meditation.” (Warrior Jinyu)
“That was the correct choice. Thanks to that, harmony between your martial arts and your enlightenment has been achieved.” (Master)
As Master said that, she suddenly moved.
Thud! Thwack! Thud! Tap! Thud!
Master struck various places on Warrior Jinyu’s body with her fists, and finally, Master’s fist sank into Warrior Jinyu’s abdomen.
“Keuuk! Cough!” (Warrior Jinyu)
Warrior Jinyu vomited blood, collapsed as he was, and lost consciousness.
It was so fast that neither he nor even I could properly react.
“M-Master!” (Eun Seoho)
Why was she suddenly doing this?