Episode 171. Yeohwalu (如花樓)
“Hey. Have you ever heard of a person called Demon Lord?”
It has finally come.
Have you ever heard of it? I’m doing this to catch him.
Ebi Han said.
“I’ve heard of it.”
“What do you know?”
“Just… you’re saying he’s going to be a really bad guy?”
“haha. In fact, very little is known. “The Murim Alliance conducted a lot of research, but there was little to no results.”
“Hmm. “The Great Murim Alliance conducted a large-scale investigation, but if it’s at that level, it’s truly strange.”
“So… we are speculating that the name may have been fabricated.”
“A hoax?”
“okay. “I wonder if there is another person with that title.”
“hmm. Does this mean that they may have deliberately used a different name to draw attention?”
“Well, it’s just a guess. In any case, the only thing that is certain is the fact that both the palace lord of Cheonseonggung and the lord of Qilianmun, which can be classified as dark, are acting under the instigation of this evil spirit master.”
The ultimate bad guy. What is this?
But why?
Why are the famously vicious people in the martial arts community following this unidentified person?
And why does he have to kill this evil spirit to escape this world?… As
he was lost in thought for a moment, Ki Bong-rim spoke.
“Based on information from our various insiders, the only people presumed to be in direct contact with this evil spirit master are Ok Tae-je, the lord of the Cheonseong Palace, and Gwak Nam-geon, the lord of the Qilian Gate.”
‘If it’s Giryeonmun, it seems to be the group that requested the token from Yeosunpyo Bureau…’
Han Ibi asked.
“Then what are the movements of the Demonic Cult?”
Gi Bong-rim said while stroking his short beard.
“The Northern Protestants have also been acting strange for a few years now. “Isn’t that why we established the Salt Society?”
“Of course.”
“I’m not sure if they are connected to the evil spirits. However…”
Gi Bong-rim continued with a serious expression.
“If the three major powers of Cheonseong Palace, Qilian Gate, and Northern God Religion join hands, there will be a bloody storm that cannot even be compared to the great war between the two centuries ago. “It is our job to prepare in advance to prevent that from happening.”
“Us?”
“okay.”
“me too?”
“Hasn’t he already been promoted to the position of the Murim Alliance’s Small Five Dragon, Blue Dragon?”
‘oh my. ‘This… was done by the system.’
“I see.”
‘Ah… I feel like I’m going to get more tired…’
At that time, Han Ibi happened to remember something.
“Ki Daehyeop.”
“why?”
“By the way. About two hundred years ago, the first head of our Zhongli family…”
At that time, Ki Serim, who was quietly drinking, intervened.
“Is that what you want to talk about? “During the Battle of Demonic Cultivation, the Zhong Family fought together in the Kunlun Sect.”
“yes.”
“If you answer that, you’ll be disappointed.”
“why?”
“From your point of view, the heavenly head of the family is from our Kunlun sect…”
At that time, Ki Bong-rim was heard yelling.
“Serim! Are you drunk already?”
Serim also spoke without giving up.
“Then, do you have any talent for staying drunk after drinking?”
Lightly twisted pronunciation.
Ki Bong-rim quickly turned to Han Ibi and said.
“I’m sorry. Zhongli Small Colony. I’d better pretend I didn’t hear this story. “It is inappropriate for us to mention it as it is a matter of the agreements of past sects of thought.”
“Ah yes.”
But I’m not particularly curious.
Actually, I am Han Ibi.
At that time, Ki Bong-rim said.
“It’s already late. There will be guests tomorrow, so go up to your room and rest. “I will come here early in the morning.”
Han Ibi asked curiously.
“You’re going together? “Do you mean the Cheonghae branch of the Murim League?”
“okay.”
“Why is that…”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“yes?”
“I am also the head of the Cheonghae branch of the Murim League. “You have to be ready to welcome guests.”
omg.
Is this person…?
Gi Bong-rim continued.
“But we’re not going anywhere together.”
“Why is that?”
“Because the head of the Maeng clan will come here.”
Han Ibi asked back, wriggling her eyebrows.
“Why is that?”
“That’s because Cheongwol Guest Ban here is the Cheonghae branch of the Murim League. Now, say hello.”
At that moment, a chef with a bloated body and somewhat long hair appeared from the back of the kitchen.
He is approximately five to sixty years old.
Gi Bong-rim said.
“All the delicious food you are eating right now was made here by Jibaekrim Ji Daehyup. This person was once a lay disciple of Shaolin…”
At that time, the large chef interrupted.
“Nice to meet you. Zhongli Small Colony. “I have heard of the King of Destruction’s reputation.”
At the same time, I was giggling to myself as to what was so funny.
Ji Baek-rim spoke again to Han Yi-bi, who awkwardly returned the favor.
“I have returned to secular life now, but I was once a real monk at the Shaolin Temple. The name of the law at that time was Cheongwol (聽月), and I practiced meditation there for over ten years.”
Ebi Han said.
“So the name here was Cheongwol Gaekjan. Ahaha.”
He said he was a master at Shaolin Temple, but why did the food taste so good… I
wonder if it’s because he only handled vegetables…
At that time, a young Jeom Soi and a person disguised as a customer, three people in total approached one after another and greeted him.
Han Ibi had no choice but to awkwardly respond again.
A wide-eyed, masculine-looking young man spoke.
“Congratulations on being selected as a Small Five Dragon. “My name is Zhuge Wei of the Zhuge family.”
At that time, Ki Bong-rim smiled and said.
“He will be the Lord’s only son.”
Han Ibi said, somewhat surprised.
“okay. Nice to meet you.”
The boy next to him said.
No, to be exact, I thought it was a boy.
It was difficult to identify him because his face was covered with smallpox marks.
“nice to meet you. Zhongli Small Colony. “My name is Chua-jin (鄒芽珍) of Amifa.”
Yes.
A woman’s voice.
Han Ibi answered.
“Nice to meet you. Chu Soje.”
Finally, a middle-aged man with a full beard in merchant clothes spoke.
“This is An Song-ja (安松慈) of Chaoyangmun.”
He didn’t talk anymore, probably because he usually talks a little.
As she greeted them, Han Ibi realized something.
He is a person like no other in the world.
Even though he was holding the map drawn by the Murim Alliance, he had no idea that this place was there.
It was then.
Tiriring.
[Main Quest Accomplished: Contacted Qi Fenglin of the Kunlun Sect.]
[Reward: Obtained a hint regarding the Demon Lord.]
[Hint 1: The people who are actually in contact with the Evil Spirit Lord are Emperor Ok Tae-je, the palace lord of Cheonseong Palace, and Gwak Nam-geon, the lord of the Qilian Gate. In order to track down the evil spirit master, contact with one or both of these two people is essential.] [
Hint 2: Evil spirit master may not be a direct title.]
* * *
“Dang Maeng….”
Han Ibi said as she looked around the inside of the closed Cheongwol Guesthouse.
“…This is a bit of a branch of the Murim Alliance…”
Maeng Gap-son said with a grin.
“Too shabby?”
“What can I say?”
“How many people pass through this mountainous area? It is only occasionally visited by merchants or powerful people who travel to and from the western region. So the bigger it gets, the more it will only raise suspicion.”
“It has that meaning…”
At that time, Maeng Gap-son said while waving his hand.
“Actually, that’s just an excuse, and considering that Cheonghae is a strategic location for monitoring the forces in the western region, no one wants to work there. So every three years, each clan takes turns sending dispatches.”
“Oh, I see. Well, anyway, just because it’s small doesn’t mean it’s not important.”
“You know something.”
Ebi Han said.
“But why did you send everyone else out?”
Maeng Gap-son lowered his voice and said.
“Only four people should know about this. Lord Maeng, the fourth prince, and you and me.”
“Is it really that secret?”
“then. “Security is directly connected to the line of duty.”
“But when you say the fourth prince, do you mean King Ye-seong?”
“that’s right.”
“He was the fourth.”
“yes. “You don’t know anything.”
“Because that’s so stupid.”
“good. “There’s nothing wrong with knowing, so I’ll just keep it simple.”
“What?”
“The person who is supposed to succeed the current emperor is King Yegyeong, the eldest of the princes. “The second prince is King Yepyeong.”
“Where did the third one go?”
Maeng Gap-son said while shaking his head.
“The third prince, King Yeheon, passed away several years ago after falling during an imperial hunting competition. “He was a very outstanding person, both in personality and knowledge.”
“Well. “It must have been a huge tragedy for the imperial palace.”
“Don’t say anything. The number of people who were held responsible and executed was in the dozens…”
“Tsk, tsk. ” “But why are you telling this story?”
“The previous three are the offspring of the Empress, and King Yeseong is the offspring of the Empress.”
‘If she’s an empress, she’s a minor, so King Yeseong is her half-brother.’
Maeng Gap-son continued.
“But… King Yepyeong’s movements have been unusual for a few years now.”
“Is this a royal secret struggle for the emperor or something?”
“Shh! “Be careful what you say.”
Maeng Gap-son looked around and spoke quietly.
“No matter how much you are a martial artist, you must refrain from speaking about matters related to the imperial family.”
“But why are you talking now?”
Then, Maeng Gap-son finally gave up.
“Because I need to know what I need to know. Just snap.”
“If you don’t like it, drink it. “It’s not that I really want to do it.”
Maeng Gap-son raised his fist as if he was going to hit him, but then he punched his chest and said:
“oh my. “Why did you trust and elect this guy?”
“So what is the conclusion?”
Maeng Gap-son returned with a serious expression.
“So… King Yepyeong is a wicked and ambitious person at heart. However, he is so brilliant and knowledgeable that many people in the imperial palace follow him.”
“This is a complicated situation.”
“In comparison, King Yegyeong’s personality is generous, but he is very timid and fearful.”
“I think I kind of understand. So, the next successor seems to be reluctant to have a second child.”
“okay.”
“And perhaps… King Yeseong is acting like a counterweight to the two of you.”
“At times like this, my head spins a bit.”
“What next?”
“That’s just the way it is. “If you try to know more, you will get hurt.”
“no way. “I thought there was some big secret.”
Then Maeng Gap-son smiled and said.
“If it’s a secret, then the things I’m going to tell you from now on are matters that should be done in secret.”
“Please stop talking now.”
“good. “You will receive training for ganja activities for about a month.”
“To whom?”
“Of course, from me. Gi Bong-rim will also help you a little bit. “This is something we two specialize in.”
“I said earlier that only four people should know the secret. “Then the total is already five.”
Then Maeng Gap-son slammed the table with his palm and shouted.
“Are you really going to try hanging out with me?”
Han Ibi also said with a grin.
“great. “Even if the whites of my eyes turn black, I won’t know.”
* * *
Human desire is the result of long evolution.
Regardless of the era, they are just similar.
Is there anything different about the West Station?
Where there is money, people gather, and where people gather, things to enjoy are created.
Even though Xinjiang had an extremely desolate environment, there were sparse guesthouses and roofs along the so-called Silk Road.
Among them, the most famous place is Yeohwaru (如花樓), which was transplanted from the shape of a staircase in the Jungwon area.
It was a foundation built under the secret protection of Okho-on (玉湖穩), the founder of Cheonseonggung, and was also an important source of livelihood for Cheonseonggung.
This was kept completely secret, and very few people in the world knew about it….
Of course, the main customers were wealthy merchants who peddled in large and small quantities along Saju-ro.
There are three efficient ways to extort money from those who are more stingy than the usual salty salt.
One is gambling.
One thing is female color.
And… drugs.
The secret bargain that was going on in the back room of Yeohwaru was closely related to one of them…
said the man wearing an imposing half-moon shaped sword.
“Have you been here before?”
Han Ibi answered with a smile.
“This is my first time. It will also be my first transaction.”
(Continued in the next part)
