The Return of the Namgoong Clan’s Granddaughter - Chapter 162
Only Noblemtl
Episode 162
* * *
After soaking in warm water and eating, Seolhwa heard in detail through the spirit what had happened after she entered the Imoogi’s formation.
The story goes that Nomun lost an arm to Namgung Mucheon and ran away, and obtained some information about the Blood Cult from the remaining traitors.
The story goes that most of the disciples of the volcano who became livers were captured by the blood cult when they left the main temple, and they cooperated with them in order to survive, but were eventually persuaded by their strong power.
“I tried to get information somehow, but the gold was so strong and I died soon after, so I couldn’t find out much.”
“Die? The livers?”
“Yes. They all have loneliness in them.”
“ah.”
I guess so.
In the Blood Cult, they instill loneliness in the Blood Cult members who are forced to join the cult.
No matter how much they swear allegiance to the Blood Cult, they think they can betray it at any time, so they put in place minimal restrictions.
At this time, the existence of the great power called the Blood Cult was being hidden, so they must have been particularly careful about keeping it quiet.
‘There’s nothing to be gained by catching the liver.’
In fact, they don’t even give important information to those who are practically just throwaway cards.
“Are you going back to your hometown now?”
Seolhwa shook her head at Yeong’s question.
“I won’t go back home.”
“Huh? You’re not going back?”
Seolhwa nodded.
This is what I thought while continuing my training in the Imoogi formation.
There were more important things to do right now than returning home.
“Ha, but….”
The spirit was confused.
“The Lord will be waiting. And Lord Il too… Are you not planning on sending me any news?”
“No. I have to tell you the news. You must be worried. I’ll be back home soon. I have some things I need.”
Last time, in the Manrishintu’s secret mission, in addition to the detox pill and a piece of jade tablet, I also obtained a book.
The book was a secret weapon that could help one learn the martial art of Kang-gi. The name of the martial art was ‘Byeok-dok-gang-gi (劈毒罡氣)’.
Masters who have reached the level of Hwagyeong can use the self-protection technique (護身罡氣) to surround their bodies with energy and protect their bodies from physical impact, which is a similar martial art.
According to the book, it is a powerful martial art that can block any poisonous invasion.
However, in order to learn martial arts, a special elixir was needed, and that was the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure obtained from the Heavenly Palace Guardian.
‘Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure and Martial Arts Secret.’
A wall-reading technique that can only be learned by obtaining two things.
Since Hosin Ganggi is a martial art that can be used by those who have reached the level of Hwagyeong, Byeokdok Ganggi is likely to be similar.
So, there are three conditions that must be met in order to learn the wall-reading technique.
‘It’s a tricky martial art.’
However, as difficult as it is, it is an incredible feat.
It can prevent any poison invasion.
‘If you learn this martial art, you will be greatly at an advantage in the fight against the Blood Cult.’
Blood Cult often uses various poisons to weaken the opponent and then launch a surprise attack.
So, just by learning the martial arts to block the poison invasion, you can prepare for more than eight times the surprise attacks of the Blood Cult.
To do that, I needed the Golden Dragon Jade Blood Treasure from my home.
“If so, where do you plan on going? I will follow you, young lady.”
“Of course. You are my bodyguard.”
“!”
Seolhwa smiled faintly.
“I promised my grandfather. I will definitely have a bodyguard with me until my realm reaches its peak.”
If we include the power of the Imoogi, it can be said to be at the realm of Hwagyeong, but Seolhwa’s own power has not yet surpassed the peak.
Promises must be kept.
“I’m sorry I didn’t ask your doctor, but you have to protect me.”
“…miss…”
When Seolhwa said she would not return to her hometown, Yeong was worried that she would leave him behind.
He was her bodyguard, but she had never needed a bodyguard.
Every time I felt like I was unnecessary, I regretted my rude behavior when we first met, so I tried harder.
“Are you okay?”
As if she knew his feelings, Seolhwa willingly reached out to Yeong.
The spirit looked at the small hand extended to me, lowered his head, and grabbed the hand.
With all his might, as if he would never let go.
“This Namgungryeong. Wherever you go, I will stay by your side.”
Seolhwa smiled brightly at his overflowing loyalty.
The spirit, who had straightened his posture again, asked her.
“If you don’t go back to your hometown, where do you plan to go?”
“For now, I have a place in mind.”
“Where did you have in mind?”
“We will be black from now on.”
“!”
The spirit’s eyes grew wide.
“Huh, is it black?”
I was so surprised that I stuttered without even answering.
It was just before that I had promised myself that I would dedicate my body to you, but it was a shock that made me forget that feeling in an instant.
Black island? Black island?
Are you saying that it’s black?
How can I, who has lived my entire life under the roof of the Namgung family, become a black person?
“Why, why…? Why do you insist on becoming a black island? Black island is full of unscrupulous and dangerous people… .”
“That’s not necessarily true.”
Well, that’s not exactly wrong.
“Just because it’s the Black Sea doesn’t mean it’s full of evil and violent people. On the contrary, there are many people who are more cowardly and weak-hearted than those on the White Sea.”
“But why do such people live by stealing from others? Isn’t stealing something that only the cowardly and weak-hearted do?”
“What’s important is why you live like that.”
How did these guys called Heukdo come into being?
Because you don’t want to work?
Is it because it’s fun and convenient to live by stealing from others?
Do you enjoy tormenting others?
Of course, there are many people who commit evil deeds for that reason.
However, most dark forces were created out of necessity.
Because the crops are not growing.
Because I’m hungry.
Because there is no tax to pay to the royal family.
Because something that was yours was taken away by someone else.
“Those who have lost their homes run away to the deep forest. There is not much food in the forest, and they cannot find the supplies they need, so it is natural that they take from those who pass through the forest.”
Instead, there are those who are killed, captured by the punitive force, taken to the government office, and punished.
Because they are weak and do not have proper military force.
“Those people start to gather their strength to survive, and as people gather, a leader who can control them appears. As the size of the force grows, the number of people they need to protect also increases, and so they grow stronger. That’s how most factions come into being.”
Those who cannot return to being ordinary citizens.
Those who cannot live in ordinary ways.
“… Of course, just as the spirit said, it is a place overflowing with bad guys.”
Seolhwa let out an awkward laugh.
Since we decided to go to Heukdo anyway, I said nice things to reassure Ling, but in reality, there are more bad guys.
No, it’s a place where even good guys become bad guys.
A place where even the gentlest of men turn into vicious men.
That place is Heukdo.
That’s exactly what the story was trying to do.
Weeding out what is bad, cutting out what is excessive, and correcting the atmosphere that enjoys evil deeds and takes murder for granted.
“… .”
Ling’s face became serious, his fists clenched.
Of course, it would not have been an easy decision for her to accept, having lived her entire life as Namgung’s servant who had emphasized only integrity and innocence.
“If you don’t like it, you can return to your hometown….”
“no.”
Ling raised his gaze and looked at Seolhwa.
“I will follow you, young lady.”
“Are you okay?”
“There is nothing wrong with what you are doing, young lady. I trust you.”
“hmm….”
The spirit’s eyes were filled with determination.
Seolhwa nodded her head as she watched her make a big decision.
“Okay. Okay.”
* * *
“Is this the place?”
Ling looked at the black gate standing before him.
A black gate with no sign or indication of whose manor it is, surrounded by a forest with nothing around it.
So the gate looks even more suspicious.
“This is the headquarters of the guys called Heukunbang.”
“Black Cloud Room… .”
Seolhwa approached the front door and knocked hard. Soon, a small gap at the top of the door opened and fierce eyes appeared.
His eyes turned straight to the spirit in front of him.
“Who are you?”
The rough voice and wary gaze asked urgently.
Instead of answering, Ling looked at Seolhwa.
Only then did the fierce eyes look down.
The eyes that discovered the story belatedly widened for a moment.
“Oh, you’re here! Please wait a moment!”
Finally, a clanging sound was heard and the front door opened wide.
Ling opened his mouth wide.
That was because, beyond the door, a group of black people were lined up in a row, bowing their backs.
“You have arrived! Lord Soru!”
It was truly a bizarre sight.
Hundreds of adults greet one child with lottery tickets.
Ling looked at Seolhwa with her mouth wide open.
‘miss….’
Is this the evil spirit that is known in Heukdo?
My dear lady, what on earth have you been doing…?
Seolhwa took a step forward.
Then he turned around and called the spirit.
“Not coming?”
“Ah, ah. I’m, I’m going.”
Ling quickly followed Seolhwa.
The two passed through the entrance and crossed the Black Cloud Room’s main base.
But, even before reaching the main building, someone’s welcoming shout was heard.
“Ah-i-go- Lord Soru-!!”
Seolhwa paused and stopped walking.
A group of people was running towards me from afar.
The most advanced one was the Black Cloud Ark.