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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Suspicious Rumors
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"In truth, I don't believe the rumor that the Heavenly Qi Master is dead. There's something off about that rumor itself."
Dan Hyeong-u's eyes gleamed. Hyeong Pyo looked into those eyes sparkling with anticipation and continued.
"To explain in detail why would take too long, so to cut to the chase, it feels like the rumor was spread intentionally."
"Intentionally?"
Jo Seol-yeon asked with keen interest. Before they knew it, not only Jo Seol-yeon but even the nearby porters had been drawn into Hyeong Pyo's words.
"That's my judgment. It's as if someone deliberately went around shouting that the Heavenly Qi Master was dead."
"So does that mean the Heavenly Qi Master is still alive?"
There was even a hint of hope in Dan Hyeong-u's tone. It was a stark contrast to his usual emotionless way of speaking. Uncharacteristically, Dan Hyeong-u was a bit excited.
"Who on earth would spread such a rumor, and why?"
Jo Seol-yeon's question followed. Hyeong Pyo took a moment to organize his thoughts before looking at Jo Seol-yeon and replying.
"That's the biggest suspicion. The source of the rumor isn't clear. In other words, it was an unverified rumor. And yet people believed it as if it were confirmed fact. Doesn't that strike you as strange?"
"It certainly does."
"It could be a rumor spread by the Heavenly Qi Master himself, or maybe by someone playing a prank. Personally, though, I put a lot of weight on the idea that it was the Heavenly Qi Master. There must have been a reason he had no choice but to spread word of his own death."
"Ten years ago, was it?"
Hyeong Pyo nodded at Dan Hyeong-u's question.
"Ten years..."
Dan Hyeong-u felt a bit confused. He couldn't properly piece together the timeline in his head. The time he'd spent in hell had been impossibly long.
He had no idea when exactly ten years ago had been. Still, he believed it couldn't be the time when he and his friends had been captured. The time he'd spent in hell was far too long for that. He didn't know exactly how long, but...
As Dan Hyeong-u fell deep into thought, Hyeong Pyo stopped speaking. The others were curious about what came next, but they held their tongues, watching Dan Hyeong-u's expression.
While Dan Hyeong-u was lost in thought, Tang Ho-gwan halted and raised his hand. Spotting the gesture, Hyeong Pyo quickly stopped the escort caravan and hurried over to him.
"What is it, Elder?"
"Take a look over there."
Tang Ho-gwan pointed to a single carriage. It was quite ornate, and two men stood beside it, eyeing them sharply.
Hyeong Pyo flinched momentarily at the men's piercing gazes but soon calmly surveyed the carriage and its surroundings. The wheels were completely shattered, leaving it unable to move.
"Looks like someone's still inside the carriage."
Tang Ho-gwan nodded at Hyeong Pyo's words. Tension rippled through Tang Ho-gwan and the Tang Family warriors. The aura emanating from the two men guarding the carriage was far from ordinary.
Hyeong Pyo figured he should go speak to them first. The broken carriage was blocking the road, so they had to clear it to proceed.
Its position was cleverly chosen—without moving it, they'd have to take a long detour.
Just as Hyeong Pyo was about to step forward, the carriage door creaked open, and someone stepped out. It was a man in black robes, solidly built, with his energy well-contained.
The man strode straight toward Hyeong Pyo and Tang Ho-gwan as soon as he dismounted. He then politely cupped his hands in greeting.
"My apologies. We've unintentionally caused you trouble."
Hyeong Pyo stepped forward at the man's courteous words.
"No need. It looks like your carriage broke down."
"Yes, the wheel suddenly gave way. Could you perhaps help us repair it?"
Hyeong Pyo turned to look at the porters. One of the men who'd been driving a carriage hurried over astutely.
"You take a look. See if it can be fixed."
At Hyeong Pyo's words, the porter rushed to inspect the carriage. While he poked around, the two men standing nearby kept their eyes fixed on him, watching vigilantly.
"We have to get to Chengdu, and it breaks down the moment we enter Sichuan. What a headache—your timing is fortunate."
By then, the porter had finished checking and hurried back to Hyeong Pyo.
"Can't be fixed, sir. The wheels are smashed, and the axle's broken clean through."
Hyeong Pyo nodded at the porter's report. The porter bowed quickly and returned to his post.
Hyeong Pyo looked at the man as if to ask what they should do. The man scratched the back of his head with a troubled expression.
"This is quite the pickle."
"We'll need to move the carriage first."
The man hurriedly replied to Hyeong Pyo.
"Please wait a moment. I need to inform the young lady first."
Without waiting for a response, the man dashed back to the carriage. His light, fluid movements caught the eye. Hyeong Pyo and Tang Ho-gwan exchanged glances, their eyes sharp.
The man opened the door and spoke to someone inside. A woman then stepped out. She wore light, comfortable clothing easy for travel. The moment she appeared, silence fell over the group.
Her beauty was breathtaking. Even just seeing her profile, the men watching couldn't tear their eyes away. Most stood there slack-jawed, drool forming unnoticed.
"Gulp."
A swallow echoed from someone's throat, triggering gasps of admiration all around.
"Haa..."
Amid sighs like exhalations, the woman fully dismounted. She turned her head slightly, her expression a subtle mix of smile and neutrality.
The men who saw her face straight on felt their breaths catch. They'd never encountered such stunning beauty in all their lives. Even Tang Ho-gwan, seasoned by age, widened his eyes in shock.
While everyone was still stunned, the man who'd been at the front of the carriage ran back to Hyeong Pyo.
"I hate to ask, but could we travel together at least until our paths diverge?"
Hyeong Pyo instinctively nodded before catching himself and glancing at Tang Ho-gwan. Tang Ho-gwan nodded back. Strictly speaking, they shouldn't, but even he couldn't refuse. Deep down, he thought traveling with such a woman wouldn't be bad.
"Thank you."
The man cupped his hands again and hurried to the woman's side. He carefully escorted her over to the group.
The woman stood before Tang Ho-gwan and Hyeong Pyo and bowed lightly.
"I'm Umun Hye."
Her clear voice sent shivers through the men's ears. A few swallowed reflexively.
"I'm Hyeong Pyo."
Hyeong Pyo hurriedly introduced himself.
Umun Hye glanced around before speaking.
"You're escort warriors from the Henan Escort Bureau."
"Ah, yes. Y-yes, that's right."
"Please take care of me."
As Umun Hye finished her greeting, the man behind her stepped forward briskly.
"We should clear the carriage first."
At his words, Hyeong Pyo gestured, and the porters rushed to the carriage. A few Tang Family warriors joined in after a glance. Tang Ho-gwan frowned slightly at the sight but stayed silent—it was understandable.
The carriage was large and heavy, but with the Tang warriors helping, they cleared the road in no time.
Once the path was open, the man beside Umun Hye—the Shadow Envoy—stepped forward quickly.
"If it's alright, may we place the young lady on one of your carriages...?"
Hyeong Pyo looked flustered and glanced at Tang Ho-gwan. Of course, this was improper. No one was allowed on the cargo carriages.
It was a basic rule for the safety of the goods. He should have refused outright. But Umun Hye's beauty made it impossible. Hyeong Pyo was a man, after all—a lonely one past forty.
Tang Ho-gwan scowled at the Shadow Envoy. Meanwhile, Umun Hye walked toward the carriage as if it were natural. The two men who'd been by the original carriage—Gold Envoy and Silver Envoy—quickly flanked her.
Before Tang Ho-gwan or Hyeong Pyo could protest, Umun Hye climbed aboard and settled lightly atop the cargo.
"Let's go now."
At her words, the escort caravan resumed. The porters had unconsciously urged the horses forward. Despite the suddenness, it felt perfectly natural, and no one objected.
Hyeong Pyo started walking without thinking, then startled and looked at Tang Ho-gwan. The elder's face was deeply furrowed. Feeling awkward and sorry, Hyeong Pyo slipped back.
As he retreated, something felt off. Suspicious, even. In times like this, the only one he trusted was Dan Hyeong-u.
There were five cargo carriages in total. At Hyeong Pyo's request, Dan Hyeong-u walked beside the middle one, where Umun Hye rode.
No porters lingered near Umun Hye's carriage, intimidated by the auras of her guards, Gold Envoy and Silver Envoy. Amid them, Dan Hyeong-u walking alone naturally drew eyes.
Jo Seol-yeon wanted to stay by Dan Hyeong-u's side but hesitated, fearing comparison to Umun Hye.
"Escort Leader Hyeong. Is this really okay?"
Jo Seol-yeon's face held a touch of displeasure. Hyeong Pyo gave a wry smile.
"Of course not. This is a first for me."
Even for Hyeong Pyo, with decades as an escort warrior, this was unprecedented. How bewildering for the others. Yet no porter seemed fazed—they stole glances at Umun Hye whenever they could. The Tang warriors were no different.
Confirming this, Jo Seol-yeon let out a quiet sigh.
"Haa. I'm worried."
Hyeong Pyo nodded with his wry smile intact. In the entire caravan, only Jo Seol-yeon, Hyeong Pyo, Tang Ho-gwan, and Dan Hyeong-u remained clear-headed.
'This is pure enchantment.'
Hyeong Pyo shook his head inwardly. The remaining distance wasn't far—seven days at most to their destination. But he had a foreboding it would be far tougher than the journey so far, drawing another involuntary sigh.
Umun Hye sat quietly on the carriage, scanning her surroundings.
'They're porters. Thirty in number. Escort warriors... just one?'
An escort caravan with only one warrior was unheard of. Even with Tang Family warriors, it wasn't proper.
『This caravan was ambushed, and nearly all the escort warriors were wiped out. The Henan Escort Bureau itself was recently attacked and is on the brink of collapse.』
It was a telepathic message from the Shadow Envoy. He'd read her curiosity and sent the details mentally.
Umun Hye nodded inwardly. That explained it. Still, the Tang Family's involvement was unexpected. With all their warriors lost, why stick with the Henan Escort Bureau?
And they still hadn't identified the expert who'd repelled the Black Serpent Squad.
'No one here looks that capable.'
Tang Ho-gwan seemed the strongest, but nowhere near enough to face the Black Serpent Squad alone. Even all the Tang warriors combined wouldn't suffice.
'How did they fend off the Black Serpent Squad?'
Umun Hye's eyes sharpened as she scrutinized the group more closely. But no one stood out. Just as disappointment creased her brow, her gaze caught a porter walking beside her carriage.
'Hm? Interesting.'
A porter wearing a sword. If escort warriors were alive, they'd never allow it. With none left, they must've armed their strongest porter.
'Hmm, but he doesn't look that strong.'
By Umun Hye's judgment, other porters were far superior. At least compared to this one walking nearby.
'Come to think of it...'
Curiosity flickered in Umun Hye's eyes.
Everyone here reacted similarly, centered around her. Even Jo Seol-yeon stole glances when she could. Yet one person showed no interest whatsoever. A man, no less—Dan Hyeong-u.
Umun Hye subtly peeked at him. He didn't seem remarkable. Handsome enough, but nothing special compared to the late-stage disciples she'd seen. He didn't even appear to practice martial arts.
'You can tell from his steps.'
Experts had distinct gaits. Dan Hyeong-u's was ordinary, like someone untrained—regular yet subtly irregular. As someone proficient in footwork and lightness skills, Umun Hye's eye was sharp, and she trusted her judgment implicitly.
Umun Hye observed Dan Hyeong-u for a while, discreetly. Yet he never once glanced her way, as if utterly uninterested.
'Impossible.'
No way. A man ignoring her? Absurd. She figured he either hadn't noticed her or was enduring with superhuman restraint.
'Impressive.'
Her entrance had been flashy—he must've seen her. So he was holding back. That was truly remarkable. Her beauty could ignite the last embers in the hearts of emotionless assassins.
"Hey."
In the end, Umun Hye spoke to Dan Hyeong-u first. She believed no man could resist a second look.
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