Chapter 102 –
As Moyong Jungcheon entered Hapbi, he was speechless at the sight before him.
This was once the territory of the Cho Hyun clan, a powerful group that had essentially taken over the Anhui region. He had visited it several times in the past and knew how magnificent and beautiful it was.
But now, only ruins remained.
The once-tall and sturdy walls were gone, and the grand buildings had all collapsed into ashes. It was so destroyed that even the ruins of the Namgung clan seemed better by comparison.
Nearby, members of the Murim Alliance branch were moving bodies. Most of them were beyond recognition—either burned beyond identity or mangled beyond form.
There were no survivors.
Everyone in the Cho Hyun clan, both main and branch families, had perished.
“…How could this happen?”
“Who did this?”
Moyong Hyuk asked the question, but Moyong Jungcheon didn’t answer. The real question wasn’t who did it—but why.
Was the target the Cho Hyun clan?
Or the people inside it—Yeom Ji-hak and his Blood Ghost Unit?
And who on earth was strong enough to destroy someone like Yeom Ji-hak, the lord of the “Square”?
Just looking at the wreckage, one thing was clear—an unbelievably powerful master had shown up.
Sigh—
Moyong Jungcheon looked at the branch leader of the Anhui Murim Alliance and asked:
“Is there any trace left?”
“I’m sorry, sir. We’re searching, but everything’s been burned or destroyed…”
The branch leader shook his head awkwardly. Most of the important evidence had been reduced to ash.
“The only thing we’ve confirmed… is that this was done by two people.”
“Two?”
“Yes. Witnesses say one man fought someone and got severely injured before running away. Then a second person showed up and caused all this destruction. They said it felt like a natural disaster…”
Moyong Jungcheon stroked his chin.
So, the first person might’ve been fighting Yeom Ji-hak and fled, while the second person—the latecomer—defeated Yeom Ji-hak and destroyed everything.
Just then, Moyong Hyuk, who had been looking around, approached carefully and asked the branch leader:
“Did anyone suspicious appear nearby?”
“Suspicious? Well, I asked around and… there was nothing really odd. Oh! Not suspicious exactly, but I heard the Young Lord of the Jin Family, Jin Cheon-woo, is staying at an inn nearby.”
Moyong Jungcheon turned his head at that.
He had seen that guy during the Pyo Hyeong Sword incident.
And now, he was nearby again during this disaster?
Given Jin Cheon-woo‘s unusual skills, it wasn’t strange to think he might be involved.
‘Could he be the one who ran away injured…?’
Even if Jin Cheon-woo was skilled, he couldn’t defeat Yeom Ji-hak. So maybe he got injured and fled?
Moyong Jungcheon turned toward the Unryong Inn, not far from where they stood.
“You plan to go there?”
“Yes. Even if he doesn’t know anything, I’d like to hear what he has to say.”
As he walked, he thought about Jin Cheon-woo.
He’d only seen him once, yet the impression stuck.
The boy had spoken calmly even in front of a Sword Emperor, showing both honesty and mystery. That kind of presence was rare.
Being from the Jin Merchant Family, it wasn’t surprising… but still, there was something strange and hard to ignore.
Before he realized it, they had arrived at the Unryong Inn.
As he opened the door and stepped inside, the many guests turned to stare.
“That’s… the Sword Emperor!”
“It’s really him! The Sword Emperor himself!”
“Did he come because of the Cho Hyun clan incident? Isn’t that too fast?”
Their chatter filled the room.
The innkeeper, startled by the commotion, came out nervously. But Moyong Jungcheon just glanced at him and headed toward the annex.
“Sir! The young master is staying there. You can’t go in!”
“I know. I came to see him.”
“I… I’m sorry, but even for you, sir, I can’t let you in right now…”
“You mean I can’t see him even though I came here for that?”
Moyong Jungcheon’s eyes narrowed.
He didn’t release any pressure—but just his stare was enough to make the innkeeper flinch and step back.
Moyong Jungcheon calmly waved his hand and pushed him aside. The man was powerless to resist.
Without hesitation, the Sword Emperor walked toward the annex, convinced that something was being hidden from him.
He reached the room where he sensed people inside and opened the door.
Click—
BANG!
The door burst open, revealing a tall figure.
Everyone at the table stopped eating and looked up.
It was Moyong Jungcheon, eyes shaking slightly as he locked eyes with Jin Cheon-woo.
He had expected someone to show up—but not the Sword Emperor himself.
But this confirmed something—Moyong clan’s involvement ran deeper than he thought.
Jin Cheon-woo slowly stood up.
“Lord Moyong Jungcheon? And…”
He trailed off, glancing behind the Sword Emperor.
There stood Moyong Hyuk—fully recovered.
The man who should’ve been bedridden for at least a year now looked perfectly fine. Bones, mind, everything seemed healed.
Only two people in the Central Plains could do something like this.
Chae So-ha, and the Lord of Shingak.
No doubt, he’d received help from one of them.
“It’s good to see you again, Moyong Hyuk.”
“Likewise.”
Moyong Hyuk looked away as soon as their eyes met. Though he tried to appear confident, he seemed unsettled.
Maybe that’s why Moyong Jungcheon glanced at his son, then turned to Cheon-woo and asked:
“Didn’t expect to see you here. What brings you?”
There was a sharpness hidden in the question—it was clear he suspected Cheon-woo was involved in the Cho Hyun incident.
Cheon-woo smiled and gestured casually.
“I came to meet Namgung Baek.”
“Namgung… Baek? Why?”
“We tried to recruit him during the Black Cow Society incident, but he refused. So I came to try again. And to buy him lunch.”
At that, Moyong Jungcheon looked at Namgung Baek, who was sitting quietly and nervously.
Meanwhile, Namgung Yeon, seated nearby, was staring at Moyong Hyuk with intense eyes—like he was sizing up her future rival.
Moyong Jungcheon turned back to Cheon-woo.
“You, personally, came to recruit Namgung Baek for the Jin family?”
“Yes. I needed another attendant. He’s good with people, so it’s a good fit.”
“And why did you come here, Lord Moyong?”
Cheon-woo subtly shortened the distance between them and pointed to a seat.
“If you’d like, would you join us for lunch?”
“No. What I want to know is—do you know anything about what happened last night?”
“Now that you mention it, there was a bit of noise. I heard something happened when I woke up. Is that why you’re here?”
“That’s right. You all don’t know anything?”
Moyong Jungcheon looked around. Everyone at the table shook their heads.
His frown deepened.
Cheon-woo turned back to him.
“Please, sit down. Let me offer you a drink. This one is quite good.”
He handed him a bottle of fine liquor.
Even the smell told you it was high quality.
But Moyong Jungcheon refused with a shake of the head.
“No, thank you. So, you really don’t know anything?”
“That’s correct. But if you need information, shall I reach out to some sources?”
He smiled gently, but Moyong Jungcheon declined.
He had already borrowed the Jin family’s intelligence during the Pyo Hyeong Sword affair. He wouldn’t owe them again.
As expected, the Sword Emperor turned away, uninterested now.
“If anything comes to mind while you’re here, come find me. That goes for all of you.”
“Understood.”
With nothing more to say, Moyong Jungcheon and Moyong Hyuk left the annex.
Jin Cheon-woo watched their backs with a small smile.
They had come so sure of themselves, yet gained nothing. That must be frustrating.
But at that moment…
Pain surged through his body.
“Urgh…!”
“Young Master!”
Chae So-ha’s voice was the last thing he heard before blacking out.
Outside the inn…
“Did you learn anything?” Moyong Hyuk asked.
Moyong Jungcheon shook his head, scowling.
That boy was suspicious—but he showed no signs of injury.
If he had been attacked by Yeom Ji-hak, his body or eyes would’ve shown it.
But Jin Cheon-woo looked perfectly healthy.
“If what we saw is the truth, then there’s no problem.”
But then Moyong Hyuk asked quietly:
“…And if it’s a lie?”
Moyong Jungcheon murmured, “Then he’s someone who must be killed above all others.”
He couldn’t shake the thought that Jin Cheon-woo might be behind everything.
Even though the evidence didn’t point to him—what if it had all been a trick?
That would be far more dangerous than anything else.
Moyong Jungcheon suddenly stopped walking and looked back at the inn.
Then, picturing Cheon-woo’s face in his mind, he spoke softly:
“…Let’s hope not.”
His words echoed through the streets of Hapbi.
