Heavenly Inquisition Sword

Episode 128: How Do You Know All That?

Butang Village.

Anbinbanjeom Inn.

Yeon Jeokha's group finished their breakfast and gathered by the window, waiting for the coachman Lee Sa to bring the carriage. While they waited, they noticed half a dozen beggars passing by the inn.

Yeon Jeokha murmured absentmindedly as he looked out the window.

"There are a lot of beggars out early today."

"It seems so. Today is especially noticeable."

Namgung Cheon slightly frowned.

Suddenly, one of the young beggars from the group quickly entered the inn.

He swiftly approached Yeon Jeokha.

"Seo Chang, the Dan-Du, has sent someone to Guangming Manor. Be careful."

Without waiting for a response, the beggar hurriedly exited through the back door.

Yeon Jeokha, who was staring in shock, asked Namgung Cheon.

"What did that beggar say?"

"Hmm! It seems that Seo Chang, whom we met in Menglin, is a Dan-Du. That man appears to have informed Guangming Manor of our location. A member of the Beggar’s Sect seeking justice has secretly given us the information."

"This is complicated."

"When a Dan-Du deviates from the path of the Beggar’s Sect, people who act independently may emerge. It seems that Guangming Manor will not remain idle now... Tch!"

Namgung Cheon scratched his head, recalling how he had allowed the beggars to follow them the previous day. He felt embarrassed that his attempt to be kind had led to complications in just one day.

Yeon Jeokha glanced at Old Shim, remembering how he had told him not to worry about the beggars.

Old Shim was smiling contentedly.

"Old Shim, why are you so happy?"

"I'm not."

"Then why are you smiling so much?"

"Hehe, did I laugh?"

"Look! They're telling us that Guangming Manor might attack us, and you're happy. What kind of attitude is that?"

"With the Young Master here, what's there to worry about? I don't care if ten or a hundred come."

"Wow! You shouldn't talk so much..."

Yeon Jeokha stood up as the carriage arrived in front of the inn.

As he was about to leave, Old Shim asked.

"What do we do if the beggars follow us again?"

Yeon Jeokha paused for a moment and replied.

"Let them. There are decent beggars among them."

"Understood."

Old Shim didn't ask further.

If it hadn't been for the young beggar earlier, he might have discreetly dealt with the beggars. But, as Yeon Jeokha had said, there were decent beggars, so he decided to leave them be.

Did the young beggar know that, thanks to his action, dozens of beggars would be spared?

--------------------------

Around noon.

Yeon Jeokha's group's carriage was passing through Jodong Village when a group of men dressed in black appeared like ghosts and blocked the road.

"Hiiiin! Prrr! Prrr!"

Startled, the coachman Lee Sa pulled the reins, abruptly stopping the horses.

Yoo Geunsik, who was sitting next to the coachman, shouted in fear.

"Who are you to block our way?!"

One of the men in black, Sah Do-yeong, leader of the Dark Division, stepped forward.

"Is the Grand Inspector of Nokrim, Yeon Jeokha, in this carriage?"

"Who are you?"

Sah Do-yeong ignored him and shouted.

"I am an envoy from Guangming Manor. Yeon Jeokha, the Grand Inspector of Nokrim, come out now."

With a thud, the carriage door opened.

Six people stepped out one by one.

Yeon Jeokha, upon meeting Sah Do-yeong's gaze, tilted his head curiously.

"Wait, I think I know you. Who are you?"

'Damn it!'

Sah Do-yeong trembled upon recognizing Yeon Jeokha.

He was the young man who had destroyed his combat technique, the Talhon Suragi, with a single blow.

He vividly remembered the encounter three years ago when they were robbing the Paljuryeong.

'So he was the Grand Inspector of Nokrim!'

That day, both he and Ungjaegwi had fled hastily. Not only because the Paljuryeong was their priority but because that young man's skills were too formidable.

Sah Do-yeong, stiff with fear, suddenly turned around.

"Immediate retreat!"

With those words, he used his lightness technique and disappeared without a trace.

The twenty men in black who accompanied him also vanished in an instant.

Yeon Jeokha, who was waiting for a response, murmured in a daze.

"So, who was that?"

"Was he someone you knew?"

Namgung Cheon asked, and Yeon Jeokha shook his head.

"His face looks familiar, but I don't know him. I think I've seen him somewhere..."

Old Shim, with his vast experience, commented.

"Young Master, those men in black seem to be the same ones we encountered three years ago on the way to Jiangnan."

"Ah! Yes, now that you mention it. It was them. That day they also killed many people from that Chamber of Commerce for the Paljuryeong, right?"

"That's right. Now I realize that it was the Yoomyung Cult behind it."

Namgung Cheon looked at Yeon Jeokha.

"What happened three years ago?"

"Well, it was about three years ago..."

Yeon Jeokha recounted the strange experience he had while heading to the Nokrim Tournament in Jiangnan.

"...That person and another elder were there. After taking a few blows, they fled immediately."

"Wow! So that happened."

Namgung Cheon nodded.

Namgung Yeon, who had been listening silently, spoke up.

"Jeokha, the Chamber of Commerce you mentioned, is it called the Water Moon Chamber?"

"Huh? Yes. How do you know, noona?"

"Hehe, then you used the name Flying Dragon Sect, didn't you?"

"Yes! We thought no one would know. How do you know all this?"

"Well, who knows?"

Namgung Yeon smiled.

She had spent a lot of time trying to figure out the identity of the Flying Dragon Sect, and now she was finding out this way.

"Why did you choose the name Flying Dragon Sect?"

"The first move of the Nine Heavens Swordsmanship that I taught my sworn brothers is called Flying Dragon Ascension. That's why we called it the Flying Dragon Sect."

"Ah! So, when you said you were going to help the Ascension Clan, that's where the confusion came from. You must have been surprised to learn that there really is an Ascension Clan."

"Wow! I'm getting goosebumps. How do you know all that, noona?"

Yeon Jeokha couldn't help but admire her sincerely.

Talking about events from three years ago that only the Ten Heroes of the Five Peaks Mountain knew, as if she had seen them with her own eyes.

Jin Seolha, who was standing next to Yeon Jeokha, commented.

"It's getting cold, we should go back inside."

Only then did the others snap out of it and begin to return to the carriage one by one.

Seol Chaesu praised Jin Seolha by lightly patting her shoulder.

"Well done. That's the way to do it."

Ryangsan County.

Guangming Manor.

The Demon of Illusion, Ungjaegwi, opened his eyes wide.

"What? You say the Grand Inspector of Nokrim is the young man we encountered three years ago at the Water Moon Chamber?"

Sah Do-yeong nodded.

"Yes, as soon as I recognized his face, I withdrew immediately. It seemed like he recognized me as well."

"The world is small."

Ungjaegwi was amazed.

That fight was something he would never forget. It was the first time someone had pushed him to the limit after becoming a Great Demon General. What were the chances of encountering him again in Je-ryeong?

"Why did the Grand Inspector of Nokrim appear in Je-ryeong?"

"I don't know yet, but he's accompanied by six people."

"If they call him the 'angel of death of the Yoomyung Cult,' he must be traveling the country with hostile intentions towards us. Find out his purpose through Baek Uige."

"Understood."

"Also, go with the Black and White Twin Demons and assess their skills."

Sah Do-yeong was surprised to hear that.

The Black and White Twin Demons were the guardians of Guangming Manor and experts of the previous generation, superior to him.

"Forgive me, but what do you mean by assess their skills?"

"Kill him if you can. If not, withdraw properly."

"Understood!"

Despite the energetic response, Sah Do-yeong's face did not reflect his determination.

Perhaps due to the intense experience from three years ago.

Just thinking about that cunning young man made him feel anxious.

Ungjaegwi watched Sah Do-yeong, who looked dejected, and said.

"Do you think obtaining the Paljuryeong will be easy? I'm saying kill him if you can, but don't risk your life or that of the Black and White Twin Demons. Understood?"

"Yes!"

Finally, Sah Do-yeong's face brightened a bit.

"We need to assess how much he can hinder our cult's plans. Three Demon Warriors should be enough for that."

"I will return with his head!"

Sah Do-yeong proclaimed loudly, determined not to show weakness in front of Ungjaegwi. He really wished he could do so if he could.

Huwa Village.

Around the Hour of the Monkey (3:00-5:00 PM).

Yeon Jeokha's carriage stopped momentarily in front of a small village with about twenty houses.

Namgung Cheon, who was next to the coachman Lee Sa, looked at him curiously.

"Why are we stopping?"

"We've been traveling for about two hours since Jodong. If we continue, we might have to camp. What do we do?"

"Ah!"

Namgung Cheon exclaimed.

Although it was still early, he hadn't considered that. The coachman was right.

After a brief reflection, Namgung Cheon headed to the carriage.

"Jeokha, if we keep going, we might have to camp. What do we do?"

There was no one else to consult, so he asked the question directly.

As expected, the group inside the carriage discussed the issue for a while, and finally, Yeon Jeokha's voice was heard.

"Brother, let's keep going. This village is small, and we might not find rooms."

"That seems right. Agreed!"

The coachman Lee Sa cracked the reins with a shout, and the carriage resumed its journey.

Just as Lee Sa feared, they continued until night began to fall but found no more villages.

Finally, Namgung Cheon had to make an effort to find a suitable place to camp.

"We'll camp over there."

Namgung Cheon pointed ahead.

The carriage stopped in a clearing among bare trees.

When everyone got off, Lee Sa slightly turned the carriage to block the wind. Although they were outdoors, the place seemed cozier.

After several nights of camping, everyone knew what to do without needing orders.

Seol Chaesu's group diligently collected firewood, while the Namgung brothers inspected the surroundings.

Yeon Jeokha and Old Shim helped Lee Sa set up the camp.

Though saying "helped" was more of a symbolic gesture. In reality, Lee Sa finished everything before they could do much. The work was simple, but Lee Sa was extremely efficient.

Lee Sa didn't expect help from Yeon Jeokha and Old Shim.

Yeon Jeokha and Old Shim were the strongest people Lee Sa had ever seen, so he preferred that they rest.