Chapter 90. Haerak’s Rhetoric
Silence fell over the previously noisy gathering.
A man frowned and asked.
“If the Blood Demon is so all-powerful, why did he pretend to be defeated for decades and only reveal himself three years ago? Couldn’t he have just swallowed the murim?”
It was a voice laced with reproach.
“In my view, the Blood Demon probably had no intention of revealing himself. Wasn’t he planning to quietly take control of the Central Plains? That way, he could use the existing structure of the Central Plains while avoiding resistance from the people. No losses, efficient, and perfect domination. Didn’t he suffer greatly by carelessly devouring the Outer Regions sects, which led not only to the Five Palaces of the Outer Regions but also the Demonic Sect coming after him to kill him?”
“Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that he was manipulating the Central Plains from behind the scenes to use its structure. But why show himself now?”
“Exactly. I was curious about that too.”
The man in fine clothes who had been leading the conversation whispered quietly,
“Could it be that the Blood Demon lost his ability to control time due to an unexpected accident?”
So-hwa turned to look at Haerak, who was sitting beside her. He was wearing his habitual smile, but his eyes were not smiling.
So-hwa opened her mouth as if to ask, then quickly closed it.
He couldn’t say it himself, so he used someone else’s mouth. But if she asked, it would be as if he had told her.
At that moment, another man’s answer was heard.
“He had no intention of showing himself, but he got exposed. To undo that, he’d need to turn back time, but he’s lost his method of doing that, so he can’t.”
The gossipmongers continued their conversation.
So-hwa lowered her gaze to hide her expression, picked up her chopsticks, and pretended to listen to nothing as she placed a piece of fish in her mouth. Laughter fell from above her head.
“It’s a relief that the orthodox sect young ady is smart. I’ll live a long, healthy life thanks to you.”
So-hwa’s sharp gaze lifted upward.
"Don't open your mouth, chew thoroughly. That way, the digestion will be good, So-hwa."
At the teasing words, So-hwa set down the chopsticks she had been holding.
She had no appetite anyway, almost to the point of vomiting up even what she had eaten earlier in the morning.
Her head was spinning at the unbelievable words.
‘The Blood Demon can manipulate time? No, could he manipulate it?’
In her past life, if she had heard such words, she would have laughed them off as nonsense, but now she could not.
Wasn’t she now living through this mess because she had returned to the past?
How in the world can one turn back time?
If it was true that the Blood Demon lost the method, did it mean she now held the method he had lost?
But no matter how much she thought about it, So-hwa couldn’t figure out how to turn back time.
She had only assumed that Namgung Hyun’s death and the calculations written on the painting might be related to his return.
However, it was hard to believe that Namgung Hyun had returned the Blood Demon’s time. The fall of the Five Palaces of the Outer Regions had occurred long before Namgung Hyun was even born.
So-hwa raised her gaze to look at Haerak.
The man using the lost martial arts of the vanished Great Desert Solar Palace caught her eye.
‘Just what are you trying to tell me?’
Suddenly, So-hwa felt a surge of fear. She couldn’t grasp how vast the structure of the Blood Sect might be or what the Blood Demon might have grasped.
A voice burst out from outside the window.
“This man’s nonsense! Ah, if there really were a sorcery that could control time, the world would have been unified long ago! They could have taken not just the Western Regions and the East but even the new continents beyond this continent, and even the heavens!”
When one person said that, the others burst out laughing.
The man in the fine clothes also laughed and emptied his cup.
“Ah, people are always so uptight. In gatherings like this, exaggerated stories are a must. But wasn’t it an amusing tale?”
“Hehe, it was amusing. But I think the most interesting stories are always about romantic affairs, don’t you think?”
“Oh-ho, keep such scandalous talk to yourself.”
“Speaking of which, it’s not exactly a romantic affair, but I heard an interesting story recently floating around Murim.”
When someone mentioned a lighthearted topic, people sneered. But soon, they quieted down because the next words piqued their interest.
“You know, there are direct descendants in both the Tang Clan of Sichuan and the Namgung Clan, right? By chance, I heard those two have caught each other’s eyes.”
“Tang Clan of Sichuan and Namgung Clan?”
Anyone with an interest in Murim would know those noble clans. And now, the direct descendants of these grand clans were said to be involved, naturally drawing attention.
Meanwhile, a woman who had been quietly eavesdropping grimaced. It was clear to anyone that they were talking about her.
Especially seeing the Blood Sect bastard in front of her, suppressing his laughter, made her mood worse.
Unaware of her feelings, the gossipmongers continued their talk.
“I heard from an acquaintance in the Namgung Clan that the clan was turned upside down after the Alliance of Noble Clans. You see, the Namgung Clan Head’s illegitimate child wasn’t in a favorable position, but when rumors spread that he might become the Tang Clan Head’s son-in-law, the treatment he received completely changed.”
“Well, he’s the Namgung Clan Head’s son, and if he’s also the Tang Clan Head’s son-in-law, no matter the circumstances, he’d appear to have a formidable background. It’s wise to align with him now.”
“Exactly. Ah, but that’s not the end of it.”
“Oh? Is there a more interesting story?"
The wanderer, skilled in speech, skillfully piqued the listeners’ curiosity.
He paused for a moment, then leaned in as if revealing a big secret.
“It’s about the Namgung Clan’s Young Lord. Apparently, the Tang Clan Head’s eldest daughter was originally involved with Namgung Jin. But while the Young Lord was in closed-door training, that impudent illegitimate son stole his half-brother’s woman!”
“Cough!”
So-hwa spat out the drink she had just taken in.
Haerak burst into laughter, but his voice was soon drowned out by the sighs of lament from outside.
“No way, he stole his brother’s lover!”
“What kind of wretched person does that?! This is why you can’t take in a black-haired beast!”
“The Tang Clan Head’s daughter is too much as well. A person needs loyalty—how could she switch partners just because he went into closed-door training? Tsk tsk.”
As So-hwa’s face twisted into a grimace, Haerak took a sip of his drink and casually asked,
“So, which of the two Namgungs is your type?”
“If you’re going to keep spouting nonsense, I’m leaving.”
So-hwa, as if she had been waiting, stood up from her seat.
“Why? It’s fun. Stay a bit longer and listen.”
An orthodox direct descendant wasn’t someone who would obediently listen to a Blood Sect bastard’s words. Tang So-hwa left the room.
Haerak emptied the remaining drink with a regretful expression. His eyes fell on the untouched food left on the table. The dishes looked delicious, but Tang So-hwa had barely touched them.
Shaking his head, Haerak also stood up.
***
“Ah, let’s go together.”
Before she knew it, Haerak had come up beside her, matching her pace as they exited the inn.
So-hwa spoke in a cold voice.
"It's probably best for you if I don't open my mouth today, so I'll be heading back now."
"It's probably best for you if I don't open my mouth today, so I'll be heading back now."
The Blood Sect bastard’s red lips curled into a smile.
“Did you forget we agreed to go boating?”
So-hwa, with the dark river reflected in her eyes, let out a cold laugh.
“Boating on the Yangtze River in the middle of the night... Are you trying to feed me to the pirates?”
“Even pirates care about survival. With the orthodox sects crawling all over Wuhan right now, would they dare make trouble?”
“Oh? From the way you say that, the waterway must be quite safe. And I suppose you yourself wouldn’t need to reveal your martial arts among so many orthodox martial artists.”
She added with a mocking tone.
“Or you don’t care if your true identity is exposed.”
“Surely not.”
Haerak frowned as if he’d heard something he shouldn’t have.
“I enjoy living as the handsome and wealthy Min Yeohong far too much. Why would I throw it all away over a few pirates?”
“...”
So-hwa’s gaze made it clear what she was thinking, causing Haerak to let out a chuckle.
Dropping the banter, he spoke sincerely.
“I’m doing this to show you something for your own safety. If my personal physician doesn’t survive, how can I live a long life?”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Speak plainly.”
Haerak’s eyes curved in a gentle smile as he stepped forward.
By the riverside in front of the inn was a small, crude ferry boat used for retrieving items that drunks might drop into the water. As the boat rocked slightly, Haerak placed a foot on it to steady it, then looked at So-hwa.
“This is how I’ll make it clear for you.”
Nod.
He tilted his head, signaling for her to get on first.
So-hwa hesitated for a moment but eventually took a step forward.
Sway.
As soon as she boarded the boat, she felt a surge of regret.
“Don’t worry. It won’t tip over.”
Fortunately, Haerak didn’t go far. He merely drifted just enough for the street noise to fade away.
Buildings shimmered like fireflies filling the night sky.
However, contrary to the dazzling scenery, a voice filled with deep unease reached her ears.
“Do you remember what I said last time? About the old man I know who keeps two ‘foot-wipers’?”
So-hwa nodded.
“One of them was found in Guangdong, but the other couldn’t be located, so we’ve been waiting. But I heard that one came to Hubei. He’s not here for me, he came chasing after you.”
Haerak’s voice was serious.
“There’s no one in the world who can match him when it comes to human-skin masks. Remembering his face is pointless. He can perfectly replicate a human form even with clay, not just human skin."
His gaze slid toward the riverside.
"The renegade monk who went up to the third floor of the inn we were just at, the courtesans on the second floor of the teahouse next door, the merchant at the stall across the way."
So-hwa followed his gaze. Though the people he mentioned appeared no bigger than her thumb from here, they were indeed there.
Soon, Haerak revealed the reason he had brought her here.
"The atmosphere isn't good, so once we're on land, remember their scent."