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“…What?”
Both Bukgung Yoon and Yeon Mujin had not expected that answer.
“What did you just say?”
“What did you just say?”
The two flustered people asked at the same time.
“Ugh…”
When the two questioned him together, Bukgung Dam-deok visibly deflated a bit.
The elderly man beside him took over speaking.
The old man’s name was Hwan Bija, one of the third young master’ most trusted retainers.
“Young master keeps various spirit creatures. There are carp, turtles, flowers, and medicinal herbs. But about two months ago, that Hongye just stopped eating entirely.”
“Hongye?”
“It seems to be the carp’s name.”
Yeon Mujin answered on his behalf.
“Hongye is the young master’s most cherished companion, so he’s greatly upset. They’ve tried every effort to feed Hongye but nothing worked. That’s why they came to Flying Swallow Manor’s lord.”
“Oh…”
I understood the situation, but
“What does that carp Hongye have to do with me? I’ve never raised a carp.”
Bukgung Dam-deok seemed to have something to say about that.
“Yo—Yoon, don’t you re—remember?”
“What?”
“W-Well, when I was a child I once raised a pig. One day the pig got very sick, and even when we fetched doctors, no one could cure it. But you took care of it and it got better.”
“Ah, I remember. The pig’s name was probably Moon Pig, right?”
“Y-Yes. That’s right. It had a crescent-shaped mark on its back.”
Bukgung Dam-deok seemed pleased that his younger sibling remembered Moon Pig.
The corners of his mouth twisted upward — a peculiar smile of his that was hard to tell whether it was a laugh or a sob.
“But that friend was Moon Pig, and this time it’s a carp? I don’t know anything about carp.”
“It d-doesn’t matter if you don’t. We’ve already tried every method we could; we just need your h-help…”
“If that’s all…”
Bukgung Yoon acquiesced readily, and Bukgung Dam-deok and Hwan Bija were greatly relieved.
Just as she stood to leave, Yeon Mujin stopped her.
“Manor Lord, wait a moment.”
He asked Bukgung Dam-deok.
“May I ask one thing?”
“What is it?”
“Does that carp Hongye happen to live inside the Ghost Valley manor?”
Hwan Bija looked troubled.
“Ahem, well…”
“Where exactly does this carp Hongye live?”
“H-Hongye lives in the Hundred Ghost Mountain Manor.”
“Where is the Hundred Ghost Mountain Manor located?”
“It’s a bit far from here.”
“How far?”
“Down below, in Guiyu City…”
Guiyu City is a distance that would take about forty-one days on foot from here in Taiyuan.
Moreover,
“I’ve heard rumors that Hundred Ghost Mountain Manor is where all kinds of monsters and spirit creatures of Guiyu gather and live, isn’t it?”
“….”
“They say those who enter Hundred Ghost Mountain Manor come out as one of two things: dead or mad. Isn’t that so?”
“The young master has no intention of harming the lord of Flying Swallow Manor.”
It was an answer that effectively admitted Yeon Mujin was right.
“We understand the Ghost Valley Manor Lord’s request. Our lord needs time to consider, so please return for now.”
“Hey, you. The lord of Flying Swallow Manor already agreed to this — who are you to interject?”
Hwan Bija did not hide his discomfort.
But Yeon Mujin did not flinch.
“If you’re asking a favor, you should explain it properly. You make it sound like the neighbor’s carp is sick, when in fact that carp is all the way in Hundred Ghost Mountain Manor. And you hide the part that entering that manor could lead to unknown dangers. Why omit that? Saying it nicely doesn’t differ much from attempting to abduct the hall master.”
“What? Abduction? Are you twisting the young master’s meaning?”
“Twisting? They were the ones who left out the important details. Listen, Hwan Bija. I’ll ask one last thing: even if the third duke has no intention of harm, can you say Hundred Ghost Mountain Manor is a safe place?”
Hwan Bija was at a loss for words.
What lived inside Hundred Ghost Mountain Manor were truly monsters; among people and beasts together, nothing sane remained.
It may be safe for the manor’s owner, Bukgung Dam-deok, but if anyone else incurred the manor’s wrath…
“S-Stop.”
At that moment, Bukgung Dam-deok, who had been listening to their argument, interjected.
“Yu, Yoon. I’m sorry…”
“Yes?”
“I—I’m bad with words and couldn’t explain it properly… Hongye lives in Hundred Ghost Mountain Manor. That place may be dangerous. But I’ll protect you as much as I can…”
Bukgung Dam-deok spoke in an uncharacteristically firm tone.
“T-This is a promise as your brother…”
“….”
“….”
“….”
People fell silent and stared at Bukgung Dam-deok.
Bukgung Yoon was a little surprised, Yeon Mujin was utterly astonished, and Hwan Bija was stunned as if the sky had turned upside down.
It was the first time all three had seen Bukgung Dam-deok speak like that.“
“P-Please…”
Snap!
Bukgung Yoon grabbed Bukgung Dam-deok’s hand.
Bukgung Dam-deok was startled.
“All right. Since Hongye is your brother’s friend, I’ll go along and take a look.”
Bukgung Yoon had no intention of refusing someone who had summoned courage.
“Let’s go. To that place called Hundred Ghost Mountain Manor.”
“…So, it turns out we’ll be going to Guiyu with the Maor Lord.”
With his arms folded, Yeon Mujin flicked his fingers and spoke to the External Protection Troops.
“I’d like about four more to go. Who will go?”
But no one readily stepped forward.
They were all just watching each other.
The corner of Yeon Mujin’s eyebrow crookedly lifted.
“Oh? Look at these guys?”
“No, Great Lord. We’re not going alone; we’re going with the Ghost Valley Hall’s people?”
“Yes. We’ll go with the Ghost Valley Hall master. Their martial men will likely accompany us.”
“That’s a bit…”
Yang Gwan-wol showed reluctance.
“There are so many ominous rumors about that Ghost Valley Hall. They say if you clash with them, boils appear all over your body, or you suffer from ghosts every night — such stories are widespread…”
“Who told you to fight to the death with Ghost Valley? We’re just accompanying them.”
The External Protection Troops still felt uneasy.
Sometimes baseless superstitions make people more skittish than a powerful foe.
They would have followed an order to fight with swords openly, but the bizarre rumors that trailed Ghost Valley were enough to make the External Protection Troops hesitate.
Then, one of the External Protection Troops suddenly raised his hand.
“Ha Do-yeop? You’re volunteering?”
“Captain, could you tell us where in Guiyu we’re going?”
“Hundred Ghost Mountain Manor.”
Upon hearing that, Ha Do-yeop’s expression stiffened.
“You seem to know Hundred Ghost Mountain Manor.”
“That’s my hometown, Guiyu.”
“Is that so? Then introduce those idiots to what Hundred Ghost Mountain Manor is like.”
The men looked at Ha Do-yeop.
“Hundred Ghost Mountain Manor… is known as a place where those who enter on their own two feet cannot come out on their own two feet.”
“That’s right.”
“Because those who entered with a sound mind are said to have either died or come out insane.”
“Indeed.”
“Hundred Ghost Mountain Manor is known as a gathering place for all sorts of monsters of the Central Plains martial world, spirit creatures, rare transformative herbs, and ghosts. Many famed martial artists recklessly entered to conquer it and then went missing.”
“….”
Yeon Mujin was pleased by the silence of these full-grown men suddenly cowed with fear.
So he asked.
“Very precise explanation, Ha Do-yeop. So, who’s going?”
“Wait — captain, did you already know?”
“Of course I knew.”
“You wouldn’t leave us and hang back yourself, would you?”
“I’ll go. How could I feel at ease sending only you to a place like Hundred Ghost Mountain Manor? Even if you all go mad, someone must remain to protect the hall master.”
“Captain, are you confident you won’t go mad?”
Then Seo Nak-il nearby jabbed Yang Gwan-wol’s ribs and said.
“The captain is already mad.”
“Ah, I see.”
Yeon Mujin nodded.
“So the two deputy captains are desperately begging to go. Fine. I’ll take you all.”
“I’m sorry.”
“That was a joke.”
“Anyone else want to go?”
Ha Do-yeop raised his hand again.
“Ha Do-yeop, you’re going too?”
“I’ll go. Please be sure to take me.”
“You said you know how dangerous Hundred Ghost Mountain Manor is, right?”
“Yes. I know it well.”
After a brief silence, Ha Do-yeop added one more thing.
“I’ve entered Hundred Ghost Mountain Manor once. Although it was only the entrance.”
“Oh-ho.”
Yeon Mujin admired Ha Do-yeop’s courage.
“Good. Ha Do-yeop. Now one more person is needed.”
“One more? You mean we’re still going in?”
“I’ll go!”
The next to volunteer boldly was Yoo Se-gwang.
“How could I not go where the Great Lord goes!”
As expected of Yoo Se-gwang — never disappointing.
Then one hot-blooded young man, provoked, spoke up.
“Se-gwang! If you go, I’ll go too!”
It was Pyo Kang-hyeok.
“Warrior Pyo!”
“Se-gwang!”
These two had recently become inexplicably close.
“Captain, now that there are five of us, can’t one person stay behind? I need to briefly return to Suzhou.”
“Why Suzhou?”
“While the main household’s gates are sealed, my younger sister is going to receive Shaolin teachings for a while. It’s a final chance for the family to gather…”
“That frog lady?”
“Yes.”
Yeon Mujin had seen Seo Nak-yeon, daughter of the Brahmacharya Leader, before.
For that rambunctious girl to receive Shaolin martial teachings — it’s an unusual decision for conservative Shaolin.
It shows how much the sealing incident of Brahmacharya clan weighed on Shaolin’s thoughts.
“Good. Then Nak-il, you’re excused.”
“Seo Nak-il, you traitorous brat!”
At Seo Nak-il’s desertion, Yang Gwan-wol looked like a puppy needing to relieve itself.
“Captain, I also…!”
“What’s wrong with you, Gwan-wol.”
“My stomach hurts a bit…”
“Don’t use such a weak excuse; it won’t work.”
Yang Gwan-wol desperately searched for a reason.
A manor teeming with ghosts — he’d rather strip and dance on Taewon’s main street…
Yang Gwan-wol hated ghosts above all. Even the fearsome Captain Yeon Mujin was less terrifying than ghosts.
“I’ve recently attained enlightenment and need time to recuperate.”
“I’ll guide you on the way.”
“There’s trouble in my family…”
“Your expression is the biggest trouble right now.”
It was hopeless. Nothing he said seemed likely to work.
Yang Gwan-wol gambled his masculine pride on one last plea.
“Captain.”
“What is it?”
“The truth is, I’m afraid of ghosts. Ghosts are the scariest thing in the world. Please don’t take me. I might soil myself.”
Yeon Mujin was deeply impressed by such a manly and frank request and nodded.
And he responded to Yang Gwan-wol’s spirit.
“Let’s overcome it this time.”
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