Chapter 344: The Truth of the Vermilion Bird Blood Chalice (1)

I headed toward the Sky Ocean Merchant Union with Mo Biyoung and Jong Seok, talking as we walked.

Mo Biyoung had a rather large rucksack slung over her back.

“Instructor Mo, did you bring what I asked for?”

It looked like the item she was carrying was the Vermilion Bird Blood Chalice, so I asked.

“Yes. The Sect Leader was worried because he didn’t know what you were going to use it for.”

As expected, I thought, looking at the rucksack.

‘As I thought, Father doesn’t know much about the Vermilion Bird Blood Chalice. No… he probably doesn’t even know about the Azure Dragon Three Marbles. There’s no way he’d know only one of the Four Great Divine Items. If he had known, he would’ve told me before.’

I couldn’t understand why the story of the Four Great Divine Items hadn’t been passed down in Father’s generation.

The other Four Great Clans had all passed down their predecessors’ will, yet the Heavenly Central Sect alone seemed to have no tradition regarding the Four Great Clans or the Four Great Divine Items.

“Let’s see it.”

It would have been strange to ask to see something like a chamber pot here, but since I seemed to be treating something important, Mo Biyoung handed over the rucksack without a word.

I accepted the rucksack and opened it.

Inside was indeed the Vermilion Bird Blood Chalice I had seen in the Ancestral Hall.

“Thank you for bringing it all the way here.”

To her, I must have looked a bit comical, holding the chalice close to my chest as if it were some precious treasure.

“It’s not even heavy.”

Jong Seok glanced at Mo Biyoung.

“Hyung-nim, you know what’s funny? Even though I offered to carry it, Instructor Mo insisted on doing it herself. I didn’t even get a chance to see what it was.”

“Hmph, how do I know you wouldn’t try to sell it off, Young Master Jong?”

“You see? This is what I mean! Instructor Mo here would probably risk her life to protect something if you told her to, Hyung-nim. I wouldn’t be surprised if she followed you into a blazing fire.”

From Jong Seok’s perspective, Mo Biyoung was simply someone with an unshakable sense of responsibility, with unmatched affection and loyalty toward the Heavenly Central Sect.

“Hmph, why would I do that? And besides, the Small Sect Leader here wouldn’t tell me to walk into a fire for no reason.”

“Hahaha, Instructor Mo is right.”

When I laughed heartily, both of them seemed to have the same thought.

‘If anything, Hyung-nim would be the one to walk into the fire himself.’

They looked at each other and laughed.

About one shichen later, we arrived at the Sky Ocean Merchant Union.

Just as I was about to enter, I flinched.

A sudden telepathic message had reached me.

‘Why is Myeong Gujeong here?’

As I wondered, his voice came through via telepathy.

— Master Yong, I’m the one grilling pancakes next to the steamed bun stall. Follow me.

Myeong Gujeong, in disguise, gave me a brief glance before turning and walking away.

It seemed like he had something urgent to tell me.

“You two go to the escort agency first. I’ll join you soon.”

“Where are you going?”

When Jong Seok asked, I replied,

“There’s someone I need to meet. It’s urgent.”

“Really? Want me to come with you?”

“No, I’ll be quick.”

Mo Biyoung said,

“Young Master Jong, don’t worry about the Small Sect Leader. He’s not the type to get into a fight somewhere.”

“Haha, alright.”

Realizing he was worrying too much over someone far stronger than himself, Jong Seok felt a little embarrassed.

Once the two of them went inside, I hurried after Myeong Gujeong.

He was grilling pancakes while watching an artist painting on the spot.

I stood across from him, pretending to browse goods in an antique shop, and sent a telepathic message.

— What brings you here in person?

— I thought this might be important information for you, so I waited.

— What is it?

— Hong Ayul is trying to make a deal using the Azure Dragon Three Marbles.

— A deal? With whom?

— Man Inhwa.

— What is she trying to trade for with the Azure Dragon Three Marbles?

— Her younger brother.

— Younger brother? Is Hong Ayul from Ihwa Palace?

— No. Long ago, Il Taegong took her in as a disciple when she was an orphan. It seems the younger brother she was separated from in childhood is being held as a hostage in Ihwa Palace. That’s why she’s trying to exchange one of the Four Great Divine Items for him, as Man Inhwa demands.

— Do you know where the trade will take place?

— Two days from now, at the Yeongcheon Cemetery.

— Why a cemetery?

— My guess is that it’s because they’re bringing her brother in a coffin.

— Understood. Thank you for telling me something so important.

— I’ll be off, then.

I called out to him,

— Who are you, and why are you helping me? Will you not answer this time, either?

— I can tell you this much. You’ll know someday, but now is not the time. The time hasn’t come yet.

— When is “that time” supposed to be?

— It’s clearly approaching. When the time comes, I’ll personally answer your questions, Master Yong.

— Understood. And thank you for telling me the location of the Three Supreme Swords’ debate.

— I hope you make great progress.

There was no mistaking it—Myeong Gujeong’s gaze toward me was warm.

That much was enough to show there was some kind of connection between us, though I had no idea what it was.

He had even told me the location of the Three Supreme Swords’ debate because he wanted me to gain enlightenment from witnessing it.

That alone showed he had some sort of tie to me.

‘And yet… I have no idea who he really is.’

I quietly watched Myeong Gujeong stroll away, flipping pancakes without a care.

“The Ten Prodigies of the Heavenly Central Sect should have a match to see how much they’ve trained.”

Mo Biyoung had once been the instructor who trained the Ten Prodigies.

She wanted to verify if they were strong enough to truly serve as the Small Sect Leader’s guards.

“Instructor Mo, we’re not who we used to be. We’ve inherited the ultimate techniques of the Small Sect Leader—techniques even you don’t know.”

Mu Iso, who had never beaten Mo Biyoung before, was fired up by his fighting spirit.

“That’s a good attitude. In that case, you’re worth sparring with.”

Her dismissive tone made Mu Iso flush.

“Fine. I’ll beat you and be done with those nightmares where you scold me in my sleep.”

Listening to them, I smiled at Mo Biyoung.

‘In my past life, she was always the most devoted to making the Heavenly Central Sect stronger. And now, she’s exactly the same.’

When I returned from meeting Myeong Gujeong, the first sight I saw was Mo Biyoung drilling the Ten Prodigies harshly.

I quietly slipped away, fearing she might challenge me to a spar as well.

I entered the escort agency, intending to receive a report.

“Hahaha!”

A sudden burst of laughter from the Headmaster’s Office caught my ear.

“We may have once been of the Ilseong Sect, but I served as the First Defense Captain. How could I possibly forget the Young Cult Leader?”

It was Deuksang’s boisterous voice.

“The Young Cult Leader is doing well in the Heavenly Central Sect. He even says these are the happiest days of his life.”

“I’m sorry we didn’t work harder to revive the Hidden Saint Cult.”

“No, the Young Cult Leader is all the more glad that you’re helping your sworn brother.”

Inside the Headmaster’s Office, Jong Seok, Deuksang, and Baekseom laughed warmly together.

Through conversation, they were shaking off the isolation they had felt while on the run. Meeting old comrades had reinvigorated them.

It pleased me.

Though unintentional, I could feel the strength of fate in seeing these ties I had woven now linking to one another.

With a light heart, I headed to my quarters.

When I arrived, the sound of a pipa floated over the Winter Gate.

The slightly imprecise notes told me Bukri Sehee was still practicing the piece left behind by Teacher Gwi Ryeongja.

Unable to practice martial arts, she had thrown herself into mastering the instrument out of sorrow.

At first, I had worried when I heard she was learning the Vermilion Bird Great Flame Heaven Bow from Jeong Minji.

For someone like Bukri Sehee, who had never trained in martial arts, an ascension-type martial art like the Vermilion Bird Great Flame Heaven Bow came with pain.

Forcing an untrained body to move in line with such forms required intense suffering.

Still, like all of the Four Great Divine Arts, it relied more on energy manipulation than on form execution, so given time, someone like Bukri Sehee could master it without too much difficulty.

Even Jeong Minji hadn’t fully mastered it yet due to her lack of cultivation.

That was why it was fortunate she had recently been learning sound arts from Demonic Master.

Even if she learned the Vermilion Bird Great Flame Heaven Bow from Jeong Minji later, it was important that she first gain insight into ascension arts through the sound arts.

Bukri Sehee was learning with the zeal of a true beginner.

Not wanting to interrupt her focus, I made my way to Ha Cheollyeong’s quarters.

There, he was diligently training in qi manipulation through the Tai Chi Profound Heavenly Sutra.

In the shade nearby, Dang Duhwa was crouched down, watching him.

“Cheollyeong, take a break and play a little.”

“No. Go play by yourself.”

His blunt reply made Dang Duhwa’s lips pout.

She then tickled the belly of the white cat.

Lately, with no one to play with, Dang Duhwa had kept the white cat—once hiding away—at her side like a pet.

I smiled at the sight of the rarely-seen cat.

Nearby, Demonic Master Seok Jamyung and Ha Deokgong were playing Go on a stone table.

Not wanting to disturb their peaceful day, I slipped out the back door.

I headed toward the rear garden to see Seok Unjeong. Before I passed through the Winter Gate, a deep voice reached my ears.

“Miss Seok, the Icefish Wind Stream is only possible if you fully control the energy of the Black Tortoise Supreme Yin Art. You must reach the stage where you can fire true energy through the Laogong Point. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t do it yet. For now, the Icefish Wind Stream is beyond your reach.”

Geum Yujin was patiently teaching Seok Unjeong the Black Tortoise Supreme Yin Art.

‘Unjeong has brightened so much. With the pain gone and her strength growing from the Black Tortoise Supreme Yin Art, her face has opened up. No wonder the people of the Sky Ocean Merchant Union notice her beauty now.’

Above all, I was glad that Seok Unjeong no longer suffered from the Moon Yin Meridian Blockage.

Every fortnight, the energy surge from the blockage had caused her terrible pain—something I had always pitied her for.

No medicine could treat her condition; only martial arts could.

For that, I was thankful to Geum Yujin.

Even though the Black Tortoise Supreme Yin Art was one of the Four Great Divine Arts, he was teaching it freely to heal her condition.

It was also good to see that she seemed to be getting along like friends with Jeong Minji these days.

‘Perhaps he’s healing his own heartbreak through Unjeong. Devoting himself to teaching her may be his way of forgetting that pain. One can’t simply erase a long-held affection overnight. It’s good that Unjeong seems to be comforting his heart.’

Watching the two train brought a smile to my face.

‘I hope this peace lasts a long time.’

I knew that to protect this peace, I had to become stronger than anyone else.

‘Stronger than anyone.’

As I thought that, I felt the weight of the rucksack on my back.

‘Once Min Mae masters the Vermilion Bird Great Flame Heaven Bow, there won’t be anyone who can treat us lightly.’

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