Tap the text to show or hide reading controls.
“…!”
Ai Ja’s eyes widened as much as Bi Mokja’s.
The other brothers, unable to close their mouths, stared at Yeon Mujin, who looked perfectly fine.
Especially the broad-mouthed Gyu Guja didn’t even notice, as if a few insects had crawled through him.
“No, I slept poorly.”
“Now that you say it, you do look like it. This inn site seems cursed.”
“Impossible. I slept very soundly and woke up refreshed.”
Indeed, Yeon Mujin looked truly refreshed.
Anyone tormented all night by the dream-scent could never be that fine. Even Ai Ja, who made the dream-scent, couldn’t do that.
A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan urgently gathered their heads together.
“How did this happen?”
“Youngest, did you properly burn the Yellow Flower Incense?”
“The Yellow Flower Incense is stored separately, so there’s no way to confuse it with another.”
“Then what on earth is that fellow?”
Ai Ja glanced at Yeon Mujin.
Just then, Yeon Mujin’s eyes met his.
Then his telepathic voice reached Ai Ja’s ear.
—The infamy of Soul Dream Ghost seems widespread across the land, but it appears the rumors were exaggerated.
“…!!”
Soul Dream Ghost was Ai Ja’s old alias.
—The monstrous strength of Extreme Strength Ghost is less than the rumors said, and Soul Dream Ghost’s dream-scent isn’t that impressive either; much of A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan’s old renown seems inflated.
Ai Ja’s expression stiffened at Yeon Mujin’s telepathic words.
The brothers, finding this strange, asked him.
“Youngest, why are you like that?”
“That man provoked us.”
Ai Ja relayed Yeon Mujin’s telepathic remark to the brothers exactly.
Unable to contain himself, Bi Mokja leapt to his feet and said.
“We should beat that bastard to death immediately.”
But it did not go as planned.
Because the third son, Bukgung Dam-deok, had arrived.
Bukgung Dam-deok came to A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan and spoke.
“Yu, I talked with Yoon and we need to increase the speed going to Hundred Ghost Manor. Once the meal is finished, let’s get horses and move.”
A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan suppressed his anger and followed Bukgung Dam-deok’s words.
“Understood, young master.”
Throughout the journey, A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan constantly looked for any chance to make a fool of Yeon Mujin.
“We can’t let this pass. What will become of A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan’s face?”
Gyu Guja huffed and said.
“That fellow must be making a mockery of the four of us. Otherwise, why would he send you such a telepathic message?”
The iron rule they had learned in the martial arts world was to never let others look down on you.
Better to be feared than laughed at. The best way to make people fear you is to show your skill.
“Brother, I’ll step forward again. If I use my true strength, that feeble fellow…”
Bi Mokja’s words were stopped by Hwan Bija.
“Enough. If you step forward you’ll stand out too much.”
Then Ai Ja stepped forward and said.
“This time I’ll burn a different dream-scent. Something that will completely cut off his boasting so he can never show off again…”
“You can’t do that. If the External Protection Troops’ captain suddenly dies, who will they suspect most? If Flying Swallow Manor takes offense and refuses to go to Hundred Ghost Manor, how much would the young master’s heartbreak be?”
Hwan Bija admonished the youngest.
“You must not take the External Protection Troops’ captain’s life. Just ruin his face.”
Hwan Bija looked at the second brother.
“Gyu Guja.”
“Yes, brother.”
“Can you do it?”
“Of course.”
Hwan Bija gripped Gyu Guja’s shoulder firmly.
“Flatten that creature’s nose. The honor of Ghost Valley Manor is at stake.”
Gyu Guja clamped his large mouth shut firmly and said.
“I’ll break that arrogant fellow’s pride.”
“Se-gwang, how was it?”
“His arms were like rocks, and his legs like trees rooted in the ground.”
“If you couldn’t overpower him by strength, was there any chance that technique would work?”
“I tried adjusting qi to unsettle his center, but he didn’t budge at all. It’s not that technique is superior. His strength is overwhelmingly good, so technique couldn’t take hold.”
“I felt the same.”
Yu Se-gwang and Pyo Gang-hyuk were reviewing last night’s power struggle with Bi Mokja.
“Even if a proper bout might differ, his sheer strength was extraordinary. Truly the rumors of innate dragon power were apt.”
“The captain who defeated such a man by strength…”
Yu Segwang looked at Yeon Mujin with eyes of admiration.
“Perhaps the captain himself is born with extreme power? I was astonished to see the Lord overcome Bi Mokja with strength.”
“Se-gwang, don’t measure the Lord by common standards. The captain is simply the captain.”
“Indeed, the captain…!”
Yang Gwan-wol, who’d been listening to their conversation, replied wearily.
“That incessant captain praise. Why don’t you become an adopted son under the captain?”
“He wouldn’t accept me.”
“…You’ve already asked him?”
It seemed Yu Se-gwang’s blind faith exceeded what Yang Gwan-wol had imagined.
Yang Gwan-wol turned his stiff neck and muttered.
“Ah, my head. My body’s been awful all day. What kind of crazy dream did I have last night…”
“Every time I run my stomach churns; I could die.”
“Me too. Is it just a feeling?”
At that moment, Ha Do-yeop stepped forward and said.
“It’s not just a feeling.”
“Yes?”
“We’re probably all poisoned.”
“Poisoned?”
Ha Do-yeop glanced at A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan walking ahead and spoke.
“There’s a rumor that A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan deals with monstrous powers. The first is ghostly, the second bizarre, the third dragon power, the fourth plague. The fourth, Ai Ja’s ability, is the dream-scent.”
Young Yu Se-gwang didn’t know exactly what the dream-scent was.
When he asked, Ha Do-yeop kindly answered.
“Simply put, it’s an inhaled poison. It can kill or heal pains. But its main use is to make one dream. If the dream-scent is burned while someone sleeps, that person suffers terrible nightmares all night.”
Ha Do-yeop’s explanation startled the External Protection Troops members.
“They made us inhale poison while we slept?”
If they were struck by the dream-scent without noticing, it could mean harm might have been done to the sect leader while asleep.
The External Protection Troops members were outraged.
“Shouldn’t we confront those fellows about this at once? How dare they try to harm the sect leader!”
“Let’s report this to the sect leader and return to Flying Swallow Manor.”
Then Ha Do-yeop shook his head.
“They weren’t aiming for the sect leader. If Ai Ja had burned a severe dream-scent, the leader wouldn’t be so fine. I think what they aimed for was…”
Ha Do-yeop’s gaze turned to Yeon Mujin.
“Captain, you knew, didn’t you?”
“What are you saying?”
“If Ai Ja intended to incapacitate the External Protection Troops with the dream-scent, it wouldn’t have ended like this. There’s no reason for that. I heard A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan has a strong pride and deep brotherly bonds; they cannot stand any brother’s face being damaged. Didn’t the captain intentionally provoke them last night to make himself the target of the dream-scent?”
At Ha Do-yeop’s words, the External Protection Troops members looked at Yeon Mujin.
“Hey, Ha Do-yeop.”
“Yes, captain.”
“Don’t overestimate me. I’m not that deep a thinker.”
At that, the External Protection Troops members nodded in unison.
“Indeed, the captain wouldn’t think of us that much.”
“The captain’s way is to throw us into the fire and tell us to survive on our own.”
“There’s no thoughtfulness in why I respect the captain.”
“What did you just say, Se-gwang?”
Everyone agreed that Yeon Mujin wouldn’t do that.
Only one, Ha Do-yeop, still looked at Yeon Mujin with suspicious eyes.
“Oh, wait. That fellow is coming this way?”
While they paused briefly on their journey, Gyu Guja of A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan walked straight toward Yeon Mujin.
“Hey there, External Protection Troops’ leader.”
“How do you do, broad-mouthed fellow.”
Gyu Guja didn’t like that form of address, but he let it slide for now.
“We’re off on a long journey—care to make a wager so it’s not dull?”
Yeon Mujin cast a quick look at A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan watching from behind and replied.
“Your master is frantic over saving a carp, yet you idly prattle about wagers. If you have the leisure, wouldn’t it be better to carry the manor lord and run to reach Hundred Ghost Manor sooner?”
“…That’s not what I meant.”
“Still, a wager is fine. Walking aimlessly is boring—where’s the fun in that?”
“Right?”
“Sure, of course. Whether it’s Hongyeo or Hongeo, I don’t care; let’s sit and place our bets. We’re talking among ourselves—how many people are suffering right now because of a carp’s life?”
“Hongyeo is not some common carp…!”
“Still, since Ghost Valley’s Manor Lord cherishes that carp, I feel pangs of conscience. No good—shall we run now?”
“Yes? Run?”
“No, External Protection Troops’ leader. Just hear me out.”
“No! Just buy any carp from a village on the way and release it into the pond. Good! Let’s wager!”
“No, the carp is important first of all…”
“What are you doing? Stop worrying about that damned carp and let’s bet!”
When he came to his senses, Yeon Mujin was urging them to hurry with the wager.
A-Bi-Gyu-Hwan watching from behind was about to lose his composure.
“That foolish fellow, what is he doing?”
“That External Protection Troops’ captain has an extraordinary tongue. From my view, it seems a ghost has possessed his tongue.”
Even so, Gyu Guja was still being tormented by Yeon Mujin.
“What are you doing! The wager! Hurry up and wager!”
“No, wait. It’s a bit…odd to wager…”
“Gyu Guja!”
Gyu Guja only then snapped back to his senses at Hwan Bija’s shout.
He hastily composed himself and asked Yeon Mujin.
“I saw yesterday that your strength was formidable. How about your agility?”
“Not particularly outstanding.”
“I see…”
Gyu Guja’s words were cut off again by the deflating response when he expected a proud answer.
“Still, I think you’ll be better than him.”
“That’s a relief.”
‘…What’s a relief about that?’
Even he was confused by his own words.
Talking with Yeon Mujin left his head in a complete jumble.
“Then how about you and I test our agility?”
“That sounds good. What will we stake on the wager?”
“Uh….”
So fixated on having a wager, he hadn’t thought what to put up as the stake.
While Gyu Guja stood dumbfounded, Yeon Mujin counter-proposed.
“How about this: the loser serves the winner. Crawl on all fours if ordered, bark on the roadside if told… In short, do whatever is commanded. The term lasts until we leave the next village.”
“That’s a fine idea!”
It was a perfect condition to humble Yeon Mujin.
Gyu Guja had not the slightest thought that he would lose.
Reading Settings
