Chapter 68

Byeoktaesan, who was trying to go to Yeon-Ha-rin, turned around seeing Yeon-Ha-rin and the old man talking with a very serious expression.

He didn’t want to get in there and interfere.

He didn’t have any particular business with her anyway.

He decided to head towards the place a little further away from Byeoktaesan, where the Geumokruju was interrogating the muscular giant.

After all, it’s best to grab someone in a situation like this and have a serious conversation.

Byeoktaesan approached the giant with light steps.

As he slowly moved there, he recalled the familiarity he felt when he saw the fight between Yeon Ha-rin and that giant.

‘I wonder why he felt familiar?’

If he wanted the memories of the days when he was a Cheonma, he can vividly recall them as if he was going through them again, but the identity of that familiarity was not easily remembered.

It was obviously familiar, but he couldn’t even tell where it came from.

At first, he thought that the giant was a person he originally knew. But that wasn’t the case.

Although that giant was definitely pretty skilled, even then his skills were far too low for Cheonma to notice him.

‘Then was it the weapon he was holding?’

The giant used a huge sword that fits his size. Byeoktaesan shook his head.

It wasn’t that either. The likelihood of seeing such a low-level sword like that would have been really low back when he was the Cheonma.

Perhaps maybe if it was before he became the Cheonma then it was possible.

‘Wait before I became the Cheonma?’

Byeoktaesan tilted his head and shook it.

It wasn’t even that. Even in the memory before he became the Cheonma, there was no memory of such a huge and low-quality sword.

Even if he had ever encountered it by chance, it wouldn’t leave an impression on him.

While thinking about that, he arrived in front of the giant.

The giant sat in a state of being half fine.

His latent power exploded so he wouldn’t quite die, but he couldn’t get back his original body either.

No, he can fix it completely for him, but he didn’t.

As Byeoktaesan approached, the Geumokruju hurriedly moved away and made room.

In fact, she didn’t want to be here.

Because it was meant that she would be exposed in front of so many people.

However, she had to give up everything and do what he told her to do at a single chin gesture from Byeoktaesan.

Nevertheless, there were no complaints. Byeoktaesan’s instructions were always so important that it cannot be compared with the likes of her identity.

There were many people who could replace the Geumokruju anyway. When her identity was revealed, she could always take on other tasks.

“Did you find out anything?”

The Geumokruju responded politely to Byeoktaesan’s question.

“For now, just his name and his affiliation.”

His eyes widened when she said she had found out his name and affiliation. He had never said that himself.

“His name is Ma Seok Kwang, and he is the leader of Cheongryuchae.”

“Cheongryuchae?”

“It’s a group of pirates that were active around Uichang. They aren’t active anymore. It has been a few years since their leader had disappeared.”

“So… It seems that the lost boss, who disappeared, reappeared leading half Kang-shi?”

“That’s right.”

The giant Ma Seok Kwang looked at the Geumokruju with shocking and confused eyes.

What she asked of him was really no big deal.

But how did she find out that?

Byeoktaesan asked while looking at Ma Seok Kwang.

“You, you don’t know anything, do you? Well, It only makes sense that you don’t. You are just a little bitch that do what you are told to do so it would be weird if you knew anything. “

Ma Seok Kwang stared at Byeoktaesan. But he couldn’t refute a single word. Because it was all true.

“By the way, why did you explode your latent powers? You didn’t mean to commit suicide, right?”

“I was going to pop it halfway. Then I can have it fixed.”

“Explode your latent power halfway? Is that even possible?”

“It is possible for me. It is a technique that can be used once during an emergency.”

Byeoktaesan turned his head this time to find the Cheon Chu Shin Ui and the Il Chim Gui. From now on, it was time for them to find out.

“By the way, aren’t these idiots being way too mischievous using human bodies as experiments?”

Byeoktaesan muttered and frowned.

* * *

Yeon Ha-rin was sitting face to face with the old man and talking.

In fact, she didn’t go to the old man first, but the old man came to Yeon Ha-rin to talk to her first.

“Thank you. If it weren’t for you, the damage would have been great.”

“It was nothing. Actually, I didn’t do much.”

Yeon Ha-rin said that and glanced at Byeoktaesan in the distance.

“He did it.”

The old man nodded at her words. That was true. If it wasn’t for Byeoktaesan, everyone would have had to bury their bones here.

As such, the half Kang-shi had a terrifying feel to them.

It was also not easy to stop that one great master among them.

At the same time as Byeoktaesan appeared, the great master fell behind. And the peculiar half Kang-shi that came with him also rushed out.

They were much stronger than the other half Kang-shi, but because of them, the damage on this side was not small by any means.

They were able to manage with the other ordinary half Kang-shi. Anyway, the ones here were promising prospects from each family, and they were masters who followed to protect them.

But strong half Kang-shi were very difficult to deal with even with such masters.

It was much stronger and faster. In addition, the attack was sharp and subtle as see if they had practiced martial arts quite a bit.

If the old man had been able to fight properly, the situation wouldn’t have turned out this way, but the old man had to fight their leader.

He was such a great master that the old man could hardly deal with him.

“But if it weren’t for you, your fiancé wouldn’t have come, so it is right to give credit to you.”

Yeon Ha-rin did not deny those words. She laughed softly. It was her wish and faith after all.

The old man looked at Yeon Ha-rin with regretful eyes.

“It seemed like you would get along really well with the child of my family, but it’s a shame. It would have been nice if we had met a little earlier… … .”

The old man’s name was Baek Li Jang Cheon, a Baek Li Household’s elder.

He was also the elder brother of Baek Li-yeop, the current Homuryeonju.

Of course, the child of the family he had in mind was Baek Ri Moon Ryang, the most influential successor of the Baek Ri Household.

Yeon Ha-rin smiled and spoke.

“We were engaged since we were very young, so maybe even if we met early, nothing would have changed.”

Baek Li Jang Cheon laughed. Wasn’t it an answer that didn’t leave any room?

“You really have a firm faith. But… I’m not sure if your fiancé feels the same as you. Don’t you think so?”

Yeon Ha-rin replied with a serious expression.

“Why would that be important?”

Baek Ri Jang Cheon opened his eyes wide shockingly because Yeon Ha-rin’s answer was so unexpected.

“It is just my will to believe in him and follow him to the end. And… … .”

Yeon Ha-rin thought about it for a while, and then finally spoke.

“I have already received enough.”

Baek Ri Jang Cheon smiled at the appearance of Yeon Ha-rin.

“You are making me more regretful. Really now… I envy that guy.”

Yeon Ha-rin did not answer. Honestly, she thought that it wasn’t Byeoktaesan that he really should be envious of but her, but she didn’t want to go that far.

Only useless talks would get prolonged by her saying that after all.

“Anyway, the reason I wanted to see you like this was because I wanted to write a letter of recommendation to the Yeon Household.”

“A letter of recommendation?”

Yeon Ha-rin’s eyes were round.

“I may look like this but I am the brother of the Homuryeonju. If it’s my recommendation, it won’t be too difficult to get a place in Homuryeon. Some of the seats are empty too.”

Baek Li Jang Cheon looked at the expression of Yeonharin and spoke.

“It won’t be a very high-ranking position, but I can bet you it will be a pretty important one. I wish to appoint a person from the Yeon Household for the job, what do you think?”

It was a very shocking proposal.

In fact, the Yeon Household was quite inferior to the other prestigious families.

They did sign up for Homuryeon, but getting a place for them in Homuryeon was a farfetched dream.

The seats were limited, and the number of families connected with the Homuryeon was huge.

However, Yeon Ha-rin did not accept his offer so readily. She pondered carefully.

“I am sorry but… that doesn’t seem to be a matter for me to judge. I think I should go back to the family and consult with the elders of the family first.”

Baek Li Jang Cheon smiled.

“Why are you making this so difficult? I’m just writing a letter of recommendation. Whether you use it or not is completely up to you.”

Baek Li Jang Cheon said that and pulled out an envelope from his chest pocket.

It was a recommendation letter he prepared in advance to use whenever something like this happened.

Yeon Ha-rin politely received it as it would be rude if she hesitated to this point.

“Thank you.”

Baek Li Jang Cheon smiled and nodded.

“It feels good to see a good prospect like you after a long time. I hope you will continue to devote yourself.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

The conversation between Baek Li Jang Cheon and Yeon Ha-rin ended like that.

Yeon Ha-rin quickly searched where Byeoktaesan was.

Her eyes moved much faster than usual when looking for Byeoktaesan. Soon, she found Byeoktaesan in a distance.

* * *

The atmosphere of the place where Byeoktaesan was located was quite serious.

Cheon Chu Shin Ui and Il Chim Gui were in the middle of scrutinizing the body of the Ma Seok Kwang.

Compared to when they first healed Ma Seok Kwang, they both continued with great care because they had to find something they couldn’t find earlier.

Soon the diagnosis was over.

Cheon Chu Shin Ui and Il Chim Gui talked about their findings and quietly shared their opinions for a while.

At the same time, they tried again, nodded, and discussed again.

That was done for 30 minutes.

Unlike usual, Byeoktaesan waited patiently without saying a word.

Then the atmosphere became heavier and heavier.

Ma Seok Kwang was overwhelmed by the atmosphere and was confused, so he could not say a word and only read the atmosphere.

When the discussion was over, Cheon Chu Shin Ui told Byeoktaesan.

“My lord, this guy is already a Kang-shi.”

“What?”

Ma Seok Kwang was surprised and shouted. To say he was a Kang-shi already, where was that nonsense coming from? He looked completely normal.

“It seems a little too late to revert the process. It might have been possible if he didn’t just stupidly burst his latent powers… … .”

“Do not be ridiculous! Me Kang-shi! You are saying I am a Kang-shi?”

“Be quiet.”

Byeoktaesan said in a calm voice.

Then, like it never happened, Ma Seok Kwang shut his mouth. He curled up to the fullest and looked at Byeoktaesan’s eyes. And he trembled like an aspen.

“Continue.”

Cheon Chu Shin Ui, who stopped talking because of the sudden situation, continued.

“The procedure that allows you to divide your latent power in half is to make a way to make them a half Kang-shi. It is to open up the energy through which the dead energy will pass.”

“And the reason why they blocked that pathway?”

“It seems to be because of the martial arts. It is difficult for the body with inner strength to accept energy given to them from the outside.”

“When they burst their latent powers, the energy inside will be drained away, thus giving the chance for the dead energy to fill the place. Is that what you are saying?”

“Presumably yes. But the exact thing can only be seen by watching the situation and checking more.”

Cheon Chu Shin Ui said that and looked at Ma Seok Kwang.

It was an irreversible situation anyway, so he wanted to use that guy to check the process of becoming a half Kang-shi.

“One thing is certain, this procedure is by no means simple.”

“It’s not simple?”

“A procedure that doesn’t outright kill them when they burst their latent powers wouldn’t be a simple procedure by any means, right? It probably cost a lot of money and effort.”

“It certainly would be.”

“And it will take a long time. It’s because they would need to give the dead energy sometime to settle down in the body.”

Byeoktaesan muttered as he stroked his chin.

“So did they all run away?”

Earlier, when Byeoktaesan appeared and defeated the half Kang-shi on the ship and absorbed their spiritual power, some of the people on the shore ran away.

Byeoktaesan also saw it, but at that time, he didn’t feel the need to pursue them. He thought he could go after them later anyway.

And in actuality, the Hao guild was tracking after them right now anyway.

“I suppose it’s something to look forward to.”

How would a half Kang-shi that has mastered martial arts be like?

Of course, the question here was not how strong the half Kang-shi was, but what kind of spiritual power they exude.

Obviously, they would be affected by inner strength, but how it will work was not yet well predicted.

“By the way, why didn’t you find it when you first fixed him? Is the person who performed the procedure better than you?”

Those words sparked the Cheon Chu Shin Ui.

“No, my lord. What sad words are you saying? We figured it out because it was us, but this was something almost impossible to figure out. Would we otherwise have a discussion about it for 30 minutes?”

And Il Chim Gui followed after his words.

“Surely, the guy who did this procedure is pretty good, but it’s too early to compare him with us. One thing is for sure, poison was used for this procedure.”

“Poison? Are there any signs of Dokma?”

“If it was the Dokma, he would not have left a trace.”

Il Chim Gui paused for a while and then spoke.

“It is a different poison from the poison used in the black iron room. The grain is completely different. And the way they used the poison was also different. It’s a different guy entirely.”

“Is it among the poisons I told you about?”

“There is something similar.”

In the past, he passed on all the poison recipes he obtained from Dokma to Cheon Chu Shin Ui and Il Chim Gui, and it seems that one of the recipes were similar.

Then that would mean the guy was another disciple of Dokma.

“That would mean that it wasn’t just one student that ran away and intervened in this.”

He got a little more interested.

And at that moment, one of the Hao guild members, who had been sent to pursue the escaped ones, returned.