Chapter 38
“Is the Shanxi Yu Clan here to reclaim their belongings? But that’s strange.”
It was true that Muyeon had sold the Shanxi Yu Clan’s items to the Haomun. However, this transaction was conducted in secret, so no information should have leaked.
The only people within the Haomun who knew about it were Sichuan Branch Leader Munseok and the Haomun Leader herself.
So how did the Shanxi Yu Clan know to come to the Haomun? And to the Sichuan Branch, where the transaction took place?
Dang Wolhwa’s curiosity was piqued, so...
“Should I handle them as usual and send them off?”
“No, I want to meet them myself.”
“...You, Haomun Leader, personally?”
...She made a decision different from her usual practice.
“I plan to show my face publicly from time to time now. Our Haomun needs to be a bit more assertive. And I’m curious how the Shanxi Yu Clan found us.”
“Yes, I will prepare the room.”
After Munseok bowed respectfully and left, the Haomun Leader immediately prepared to receive the guest, making various conjectures about the visitor.
**
Since it was a public meeting, the guest was received not in the shabby Inn basement on the outskirts of Sichuan, but in Cheongwolru’s Reception Room.
It was something she could do with confidence, as, starting tomorrow, they were moving their base of operations elsewhere anyway.
*Creak—*
As Dang Wolhwa opened the door and entered, a young lady was waiting for her.
The rumor that the Precious Child of the Shanxi Yu Clan had personally visited was true.
*“Yoo Somyung... was that her name?”*
She slowly observed Yoo Somyung, who was staring back at her.
Yoo Somyung possessed a youthful beauty that suggested she had just come of age. Her face was slender and innocent, her demeanor calm and graceful, showing excellent comportment.
She truly had the appearance of a model young lady, a rising star of the Righteous Faction.
“I apologize for the delay. I am Wolhwa, the Haomun Leader.”
“...Ah?”
Yoo Somyung looked surprised that the Haomun Leader herself had arrived. However, as Dang Wolhwa offered a Cupped Fist Salute first, Yoo Somyung quickly regained her composure and returned the courtesy.
...My apologies. I am Yoo Somyung of the Shanxi Yu Clan.
“Oh?”
Dang Wolhwa found something interesting in that.
No matter how much the Haomun’s influence grew, the Demonic Path was still the Demonic Path. Many people disregarded the Haomun and its leader.
Especially the young Rising Stars of the Righteous Faction, with their immense pride, were even more inclined to disregard the Haomun.
But from Yoo Somyung, there was no such hint. Rather, she seemed genuinely intent on showing respect.
Because of this, Dang Wolhwa’s assessment of Yoo Somyung became quite generous.
“What brings you to our Haomun?”
“...”
At her words, Yoo Somyung silently took something out and placed it on the table.
*Thud.*
It was a medicinal pellet with a fragrant scent, and as soon as Dang Wolhwa saw it, she knew what it was.
“This is the Yuhwadan, the Inherited Elixir of the Shanxi Yu Clan. It was discovered here in Sichuan.”
“...”
Since the Yuhwadan was among the items she had inspected recently, she knew that the one before her was also a genuine product of the Shanxi Yu Clan.
But for this to be discovered in Sichuan...? The Haomun hadn’t sold any of their items...?
This question was answered by Yoo Somyung’s next words.
However...
“The one who had it was a Wine Merchant from Hubei. He said he encountered a Bandit during his travels, had his wine stolen, and received this in return.”
“...Excuse me?”
...The content was quite absurd.
It was clearly Muyeon who had possessed the Shanxi Yu Clan’s items before selling them to the Haomun. So, Muyeon had sold an elixir to a Wine Merchant and had bought wine with it...
...No, he exchanged such a precious elixir for mere wine?
For the Haomun Leader, who possessed a strong merchant’s acumen, this was an utterly incomprehensible action.
However...
*“Heh heh, so the Great Hero has such a clumsy side too.”*
To the Haomun Leader, whose eyes were already clouded by infatuation, even that seemed good.
*Of course*, if he wanted to drink, he could sell an elixir or a secret martial arts manual to get it.
In any case, she quickly grasped the situation.
In the past, Muyeon had paid an elixir to a merchant for wine, and that elixir was discovered in Sichuan, leading Yoo Somyung of the Shanxi Yu Clan to come here personally.
By a stroke of luck, Yoo Somyung had accidentally found the location of her clan’s items.
Because of this, Dang Wolhwa couldn’t help but be even more troubled.
Originally, she had planned to keep the Shanxi Yu Clan’s items for a few years and sell them at a high price. However, now the owner came directly, and the Haomun was certainly short on funds due to the urgent relocation.
Even if it meant a smaller profit, a quick sale now wasn’t a bad idea.
She was just about to decide to immediately sell the Shanxi Yu Clan’s items to Yoo Somyung.
“Young Lady, actually...”
Thud.
“Have you perhaps seen this man in Sichuan?”
Before Dang Wolhwa could continue, Yoo Somyung took out something else and placed it on the table. It was...
“...”
...Muyeon’s Wanted Poster.
“Why are you looking for this person?”
“I must find him and repay him.”
It was clear from her tone and demeanor that what Yoo Somyung meant by “repaying” was a grudge.
However...
“...”
The Haomun Leader was a person with good intuition. She was also skilled at reading others’ emotions.
In her eyes, it was clear.
The reason Yoo Somyung was looking for Muyeon... wasn’t simply because of a grudge.
*Could it be that this child also...?*
“Ah! Isn’t this the man who works as a bandit?”
“Y-yes, that’s right! Have you seen him?”
“I have seen him, but... *sigh*...”
“Please tell me anything you know! I *must*... I *must* find him!”
Noticing the desperation in Yoo Somyung’s voice, Dang Wolhwa continued with a straight face.
“He was truly a man of low character... After coming to our Courtesan House, he indulged in drinking and merrymaking every day, and called for Courtesans every single day...”
“C-Courtesans?”
“He stayed at our Courtesan House for seven days and nights, and every night he would call for four Courtesans to sleep with him.”
“Four, four Courtesans every night for seven days and nights without fail...? Th-this perverted bastard—!!”
This information seemed too much for a girl who had just come of age, and Yoo Somyung’s face turned crimson, on the verge of bursting.
Moreover, she was so agitated that she even blurted out curses, which was certainly not the behavior expected of a young lady from a Prestigious Family, causing Dang Wolhwa to flinch.
And as if that wasn’t enough...
“This Womanizer! This lecher! This *Perverted Bastard*! I knew he was that kind of person—!! You bad man—!! Why did I ever harbor feelings for such a person... No, no—!! I don’t like such a pervert—!!”
Yoo Somyung clutched her forehead and mumbled to herself for a long time, as if suffering from a split personality. As Dang Wolhwa watched this scene with a slightly fearful expression, Yoo Somyung raised her head towards Dang Wolhwa.
And with bloodshot eyes, she asked Dang Wolhwa.
“Where did that lecher go? Do you know his location?”
It seemed she had completely pushed aside finding her clan’s items, prioritizing finding Muyeon.
Towards such a Yoo Somyung, Dang Wolhwa...
“I believe he said he was heading towards Zhejiang Province.”
...She pointed her in the exact opposite direction of Muyeon’s residence on Muak Mountain.
Normally, such an easy answer would raise suspicion, but Yoo Somyung, already in a state of extreme agitation, seemed unable to hear anything else.
“Zhejiang... Zhejiang... Haomun Leader, I will not forget this kindness. I am in a hurry now, so I will take my leave.”
“Yes, please hurry.”
As Yoo Somyung bolted out, Munseok, who was guarding outside the door, couldn’t help but be flustered.
Curious, he entered the room...
“Haomun Leader, where is Young Lady Yu of the Shanxi Yu Clan rushing off to like that...?”
“Pfft—, *gasp*, *gasp*, *gasp*.”
...Inside the room, the Haomun Leader was covering her mouth, wearing a joyful smile.
“Haomun Leader, what happened?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I merely eliminated one rival.”
“Excuse me?”
Indeed, there were many rivals who coveted Muyeon. Though she didn’t know the full details, Yoo Somyung seemed to be one of them.
However, Yoo Somyung was a truly naive girl. There was no way such a naive Young Lady could be a match for the Haomun Leader, who had clawed her way up from the bottom.
She watched Yoo Somyung through the window, who was using her Lightness Skill to rush towards Zhejiang, and burst into laughter once more.
“Hahahaha, look at her run, completely oblivious.”
“...Heh heh.”
Munseok couldn’t help but be a little flustered seeing the Haomun Leader like that.
After all, she wasn’t someone who openly expressed her emotions. She always hid them, wearing a mask on the outside.
Yet, seeing her finally shed her mask and show more of her true self... Munseok was pleased.
He could clearly see this. Ever since Muyeon had visited... she had changed.
“A little kid like you can’t beat me. Heh heh heh.”
“...Haomun Leader, you should still maintain your dignity.”
...Though it didn’t seem to be a change for the better.