Chapter 87
“We would never abandon Sowol.”
“Here, Sowol, don’t be like that. These are freshly made glutinous rice cakes. They’re soft and chewy—don’t they look tasty?”
Eun Sowol glanced at the rice cake in front of her, then slowly reached out her hand.
A snowy white rice cake was placed snugly into her small hand.
Eun Sowol twisted her upper body, turning her back to them again, and began chewing on the rice cake.
With the white powder clinging to both her cheeks, it looked as if her face had turned into a rice cake itself.
They trembled with effort, trying to hold back their laughter.
“Little one. What are you supposed to say when an adult gives you food?”
At some point, Dokgo Ryong had appeared, his warning voice low and rumbling. Eun Sowol’s cheeks, still busy chewing the rice cake, paused for a moment.
Then she mumbled with her chubby lips covered in powder,
“Th-thank you….”
“Kuahahahaha!”
“Puhahaha! That’s right, our little Sowol, eat up!”
The two men couldn’t hold in their laughter anymore and burst into fits of laughter.
Naturally, Sowol’s expression grew sulkier.
✧ ✧ ✧
An hour and a half later.
People who would participate in the hunt for the Mannyeonhwari gathered at Haenam’s largest martial training ground.
Haenam’s top elite—composed of elders and first disciples—along with Namgung Gyeong’s Changryong Unit, as well as Hwa-Wang, Dokgo Ryong, and Dang Jinak, exchanged brief farewells with their own groups before heading to Yeomobong.
“Brother, travel safely.”
“You too. Stay close with the Changryong Unit, and don’t get into trouble.”
“…I’m not foolish enough to repeat the same mistake again.”
Namgung Un, who had been a bit rude earlier that morning, seemed more subdued now.
He’d been scolded sharply in private a little while ago, and it seemed he was reflecting on his actions.
‘It was something that had to be corrected eventually. Let’s think of it positively.’
Frankly, Namgung Un looked much better now, his eyes gleaming with clarity, than when he used to be full of arrogance.
As the two wrapped up their goodbyes, Namgung Un turned his head.
At the end of his gaze was the girl who had always answered back so clearly.
She was surrounded by Hwa-Wang and two other men, laughing brightly.
“I heard that child is Haenam’s honored guest.”
“Well, she’s Hwa-Wang’s disciple, after all.”
“But it seems it’s not just because of that. Do you see the man in green robes beside her?”
“Yes.”
“He’s the third son of the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
“What? The third son of the Sichuan Tang Clan?”
Namgung Un recalled the infamous playboy of the Five Great Families—the third son of the Tang Clan.
“I saw him at last year’s Five Clan Conference, so I’m sure. Though he’s rumored to be a scoundrel, he was once known as the Tang Clan’s top genius. Do you know what he calls that child’s uncle?”
Namgung Un, unfamiliar with their relationship, shook his head.
“He calls him ‘brother.’ And he also seems quite close to Hwa-Wang.”
“Who is this uncle, then? Is he some renowned master of the martial world?”
“He’s Gwangryong, the undefeated troubleshooter.”
“…Gwangryong? I’ve never heard of him.”
“Not surprising. He’s not a famous master known across the world. But he’s not someone you can just dismiss either. What’s certain is that child has some powerful backing.”
Surprised by Eun Sowol’s unexpectedly strong connections, Namgung Un unconsciously swallowed.
“I’m not saying you have to be friends. Just don’t pick a fight with her. Nothing good will come of it.”
“…Yes, brother.”
With those final words, Namgung Gyeong casually turned his gaze toward Hwa-Wang’s group.
Perhaps sensing the movement, Gwangryong’s eyes met Namgung Gyeong’s.
A subtle energy of evaluation passed between them, just as Dang Jinak spoke to Gwangryong.
“The Changryong Unit will be joining us as well, Brother.”
“I know. Whatever the reason, it seems the head master permitted it.”
Dokgo Ryong turned his eyes from Namgung Gyeong to look at Dang Jinak.
“I don’t know the full details, but it seems someone close to the alliance leader suffered a major incident.”
That’s why, upon hearing that Mannyeonhwari existed in Haenam, the leader of the Murim Alliance quickly dispatched the Changryong Unit to retrieve it.
‘Wait… Weren’t they just after the elixir and overstepping boundaries?’
Eun Sowol, who was recalling the original story, felt a disconnect from the conversation.
In the original, it was the Namgung Clan, not the Murim Alliance, that possessed the Mannyeonhwari’s inner core, and the protagonist later obtained it from the clan leader.
So the Murim Alliance’s involvement was just a cover, and it was really Namgung Clan pulling the strings behind the scenes… but was that not the case here?
“Hmph… There can’t be enough Mannyeonhwari to share it among everyone, right?”
“That’s why we agreed—whoever catches it first gets it.”
Yang Huicheon answered for them.
“We understand their situation, but that doesn’t mean we can just hand over a rare Mannyeonhwari so easily.”
“…That’s true.”
“We just need to focus on our own task.”
Though Yang Huicheon said it nonchalantly, the fact that more people were now aiming for the elixir was hardly reassuring.
“Halboojee… What if… really what if! The Changryong Unit catches the Mannyeonhwari? Wouldn’t that be super unfair to Haenam?”
In the original, they had taken the Mannyeonhwari’s inner core, which caused a rift with Haenam.
“You don’t need to worry about that. If they do catch it, the Alliance promised appropriate compensation.”
“Oh! Then Haenam won’t suffer a loss!”
“That’s right. That rascal may seem gentle, but he’s the head of a martial sect. He’s not easy to deal with.”
She never thought he was gentle… Maybe Yang Huicheon just saw everyone as kids.
“If the Changryong Unit is here, others may also climb Yeomobong for the Mannyeonhwari. You two better be fully prepared.”
“Yes, elder.”
Dang Jinak bowed, and Dokgo Ryong nodded.
“You, little one, stay out of trouble. And you too, rat.”
“Hey, Uncle! When have I ever caused trouble?”
Kyureung! Kyurureung!
Eun Sowol, flustered by his sharp glance, avoided his eyes and whistled awkwardly.
Baekun, once defiant, hid in Sowol’s arms and curled his tail.
“We’re heading out now!”
Haenam’s first disciple raised his voice.
“We’re off. Be good and listen to the grownups.”
“Okay! Everyone, stay safe!”
Eun Sowol followed them to the gate, waving both arms until they were out of sight.
Though the training ground had been filled with people, they disappeared quickly.
Now alone again, Sowol felt an unexpected bitterness.
Perhaps sensing her mood, Baekun nudged his face against her cheek.
Just as Sowol was looking blankly in the direction they’d gone and was about to turn back—
She locked eyes with Namgung Un.
He was staring straight at her.
There was no killing intent or anger, but the intensity of his gaze made her uncomfortable.
Then—
“Sowol! Come here! I’ll show you around the training ground today!”
“Okay, unni!”
Just in time, Dam Hwiyun called out brightly. Sowol smiled and skipped over to her.
Dam Hwiyun whispered while holding her hand tightly.
“Did that Namgung guy bother you?”
“No! He just looked at me.”
“Like he did something worth looking for. Does he even remember what he did to our sect leader? I still don’t get why we let the Murim Alliance in! If we hadn’t, that guy wouldn’t be staying here with us!”
Having developed resentment toward both the Murim Alliance and Namgung Clan over her sister’s situation, Dam Hwiyun vented her emotions honestly.
“If that jerk gives you trouble, tell me. I’ll teach him a lesson! You too, Baekun!”
Like a true disciple of Haenam, Dam Hwiyun raised a fist larger than most of her peers.
Sowol burst into giggles at the sight, and Baekun stood proudly on her shoulder, growling—Kyurureung!
✧ ✧ ✧
One hour after leaving Haenam.
They had been trekking through a deep forest path so overgrown that not even wild animals would pass through it.
After a while, the elder of Haenam stopped.
“We’re here. This is the cave.”
The spot he pointed to had a cave emitting a chilling air that could blow away the humid heat.
“This is unexpected. I thought Mannyeonhwari lived in lava, so we’d be entering a crater.”
“The volcano’s been dormant for a long time, but there’s still a magma lake below the crater. If you go down that way, you’ll meet the King of Hell before the Mannyeonhwari.”
At Yang Huicheon’s explanation, Dang Jinak nodded curiously.
“Following this cave leads deep into the volcano. Normally, it’s off-limits.”
“But for a place where lava flows, this place is awfully cold.”
Namgung Gyeong also showed interest, brushing his arm as the cold air from the cave touched it.
“It’s like this now, but go in a bit further and it’ll get hot quickly.”
As Dokgo Ryong murmured beside him, Namgung Gyeong turned.
“Have you been inside before, sir?”
“This is my first time.”
“Then how do you know it’s hot inside?”
“I can feel it.”
The heat? But right now, all they could feel was frost-like cold…
