Chapter : 59
In Munryeong Pavilion, Moyong Yunhwan was frowning as he listened to the report that had just come in.
“He didn’t even show himself today?”
“The excuses are becoming more elaborate by the day.”
“If it was the same as yesterday, how could we turn away someone who came again today? But if they’ve dragged even his father into their excuse, then the head of the Daejeong Merchant Guild will truly have to come from Henan to Yichang.”
If he came and was summoned to the Murim Alliance, then Yu Geonmyeong and that girl would have no choice but to leave Yichang Office and accompany him.
If they refused to come, he could simply accuse them—adding all the excuses they had piled up so far—of misleading the Murim Alliance’s concerns and disrupting the atmosphere.
Either way, they would have to come out of Yichang Office.
“Why on earth are they holed up in there and refusing to come out? It’s already been nearly ten days since I last saw the young lady in person. From what we’ve observed at a distance, she rides horses and takes walks, so she seems to be doing fine… Surely, she couldn’t really have…?”
Sak Gisun recalled how, some time ago, his lord had suspected that the young lady might have slipped out of Yichang and gone elsewhere.
At the time, he thought it absurd, yet a corner of his heart had remained uneasy.
“Who knows. Perhaps she only pretends to be in Yichang Office and has slipped away, or perhaps she’s deliberately staying shut in, waiting for us to make a reckless move.”
“Would the young lady really go that far?”
“Why? You think she wouldn’t? Since that wench met the young master of the Daejeong Merchant Guild, how many absurd things has she done?”
Moyong Yunhwan scoffed as he recalled recent events.
“By the way, there’s still no word from Hyeongmun Mountain? Even if not from Yuno, shouldn’t there at least be a report from the Samukyeong?”
“Exactly. It’s so delayed that I was just considering whether we should verify the situation.”
“Hm.”
After a brief calculation in his head, Moyong Yunhwan spoke.
“If we send someone now, it’ll be too late. Go to Sangri and find those who conduct trade across the Yangtze or operate escort agencies. They constantly exchange information through messengers and carrier pigeons. If something has happened at Hyeongmun Mountain, someone will know.”
The mere fact that rumors were starting to spread about something meant to be handled quietly was already a problem.
For now, they needed to determine exactly what had happened.
Sak Gisun bowed and withdrew.
Pressing his temples firmly, Moyong Yunhwan felt anger rise at the thought of Moyong Yuno, and his stomach churn at the thought of that girl’s actions.
“These youngsters are all equally insolent and useless.”
At that moment, he did not yet know that being able to think such thoughts was, comparatively, the better state of affairs.
“It’s a disaster.”
Sak Gisun, his complexion pale to the point of bluish, knelt before Moyong Yunhwan.
Moyong Yunhwan immediately sensed that something was very wrong.
“Speak.”
“In Sandohyeon near Hyeongmun Mountain, people who made their living there have frequently gone missing or lost consciousness and then awakened. While investigating, they discovered traces of a battle among martial artists.”
This was the problem.
Word of a fight might have spread. Suspicion might have arisen.
But if the Samukyeong had carried out their mission properly, there should have been no evidence left behind.
If unavoidable circumstances had arisen, they would have given prior notice.
Yet there had been no contact at all…
“We must proceed on the assumption that all of them, including the Samukyeong, are dead.”
Sak Gisun could not speak.
“If the Samukyeong died, then the likelihood that Yuno—one of the targets—survived is low. And that means the force that stole the ledger escaped alive.”
Sak Gisun remembered his lord once saying that under no circumstances must Moyong Yuno be discovered at Hyeongmun Mountain.
The Samukyeong’s identities would not be exposed, and those around Yuno had already changed their identities before beginning the pursuit from Eunri County.
Other corpses could be covered up.
The problem was Yuno.
If he were found alive—or even if his corpse fell into another faction’s hands…
Sak Gisun pressed his forehead as if nursing a headache.
“How did we learn of this?”
“The head of an escort agency in Sandohyeon received a carrier pigeon message from the county magistrate while staying in Sangri.”
In the provinces, government offices and local powers were closely entangled; urgent matters often spread through such channels first.
Sak Gisun continued.
“The escort chief added that since he frequently conducted escort runs and hunting transactions to Hyeongmun Mountain, he took it as a precautionary warning.”
Moyong Yunhwan nodded, deep in thought.
Yuno’s whereabouts were a problem—but how were they to recover the missing ledger?
Then suddenly he looked at Sak Gisun.
“What about Jiwonhyeong? Didn’t I tell you to inquire about his movements at that time?”
“No one knew. The only thing we heard was that he had been seen meeting acquaintances from his academy days.”
Cold sweat ran down Sak Gisun’s back.
Moyong Yunhwan’s face grew darker by the moment.
After a while, he rose from his seat.
“Lord Munryeong, where are you going?”
“To that wench in Yichang Office.”
He had meant to wait, but at this point, he could delay no longer.
His refined face settled into a cold expression.
Yichang Office was thrown into commotion by the sudden visitor.
Although the Provincial Inspector and the Judicial Commissioner did not, given their positions, hold the Murim Alliance’s Third Commanders in overwhelming awe, the issue was that the person he sought was not actually present in Yichang Office—and they were all covering for that fact.
Above all, the one responsible for creating this situation was none other than Yu Geonmyeong, whom even they could not treat lightly.
They worried that if matters went awry, harm might come to him.
Still, since no high-ranking government officials had come seeking them directly and the visitor had come to see someone else, it was difficult to intervene rashly.
All they could do was maintain the appearance that the office stood firm.
“Young Master Yu, the Provincial Inspector sent fine tea, saying you should properly entertain your guest.”
“Young Master Yu, the Judicial Commissioner sent refreshments, unsure if they would suit your guest’s palate, and asked that you enjoy them together.”
At Yu Geonmyeong’s nod, a table was set—not with expensive items, but with rare and elegant ones.
Sitting opposite him, Moyong Yunhwan spoke.
“Young Master Yu seems more suited to this place than to the Murim Alliance.”
“Since I often stayed at government offices following my uncle, perhaps I appear accustomed to it.”
Yu Geonmyeong replied calmly, though his mind raced.
The Third Commander’s reputation was so exalted that even the people he met and what he ate or drank would become gossip.
The fact that he had personally come to a government office was an unforeseen complication.
It was Moyong Yunhwan who broke the silence.
“And that wench? Why won’t she show herself? Has she forgotten her proper place while staying here?”
At those words, a spark flared in Yu Geonmyeong’s eyes.
He had long found that term unbearable.
“Please address her properly.”
“What?”
“I’m saying—do not call Yeonhwa so carelessly.”
“Ha. That wench grows more ridiculous by the day, and now even the mate she chose behaves the same.”
The laughter was perfunctory; his gaze was as cold as Yu Geonmyeong’s.
Moyong Yunhwan waved a hand, as if dismissing pointless emotional quarrels.
“Enough. Bring that wench here. Even if your relationship isn’t good, you’re bound as sworn siblings. Is it reasonable for an elder brother to come see his younger sister and not even catch a glimpse of her?”
By now, Moyong Yunhwan’s suspicion had hardened into certainty.
“What is this about? Yeonhwa is not in a condition to meet anyone right now. Please return to the Alliance first; we will come to you.”
“Go on.”
“Pardon?”
“I came in person, so the excuse about the Daejeong Merchant Guild’s head is useless now. If she’s unwell, I know better places for treatment than here, so it would be best for her to come with me. So—offer another reason. After that, I will go see Yeonhwa myself. And if you have nothing further to say, do not block me.”
“You’re being rude!”
“No—the rude ones are you.”
Moyong Yunhwan’s voice was low but edged with steel.
“To seat me—a martial artist and the head of the Alliance—in a government office and conceal her like this. That alone is worthy of reproach.”
They exchanged blade-like words without raising their voices.
However exceptional Yu Geonmyeong might be among his peers, he was no match for Lord Munryeong.
Cornered, Yu Geonmyeong ground his teeth.
After watching him briefly, Moyong Yunhwan shoved his chair back with a harsh scrape and stood.
“I don’t understand why you go to such lengths. You know well what position that wench holds in the Murim Alliance.”
He strode toward the door.
“To hide her so thoroughly within a government office and refuse to show her can only mean that something has happened to her. I will formally raise the matter and personally retrieve her.”
Moyong Yunhwan left the guest hall.
Yichang Office was vast; searching it thoroughly would take time.
When he gestured with his chin at a passerby, Kang Giryun—waiting at the entrance—immediately stepped forward.
Those seized knew they should not speak carelessly, yet before the commander of the Munsudae—one of the Murim Alliance’s finest—they could not endure.
When they regained their senses, they were answering smoothly.
“The new guest is staying in the inner quarters, separated from the main office.”
Moyong Yunhwan turned his head toward the indicated direction.
Without hesitation, he strode that way.
“Lord Munryeong, please wait—!”
Yu Geonmyeong, emerging too late from the room, tried to grab him, but Moyong Yunhwan was already out of reach.
At that moment—
As Yu Geonmyeong’s eyes wavered, unsure what to do, someone came running from the far side.
Her skirt fluttered, and her entire body was soaked.
Just as Yu Geonmyeong moved in shock to approach her, someone else seized her first.
“You wench, you—!”
It was Moyong Yunhwan.
