The GO Queen. (2)

Scholar Baek-bul, studying the ancient characters on the prayer bead, tilted his head and said, “After combining the characters, it says the Emei Founder’s principles are inside this, and that it will save the fallen Emei Sect…”

The Emei Founder referred to the founder of the Emei Sect.

“She’s inside the prayer bead? What kind of riddle is this?” Yu Jinsan muttered. “And on top of that, a strange prophecy.” He and his granddaughter, who had been full of expectation, couldn’t hide their disappointment.

But there had to be a reason they wrote it that way.

While they pondered, Eun Hwa-rin, who had been watching quietly, spoke up. “I’ve seen it in the records. The Emei Sect’s founder was a bhikkhuni named Gwak Yang.”

“Hmm. I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere, too.”

“Yes. According to the records, she was an incredible internal-qi warrior who even devised a peerless internal-qi cultivation method.”

“I see. But how on earth could she have ended up inside a prayer bead?”

Eun Hwa-rin hesitated a moment, then asked Scholar Baek-bul, “Is saying ‘inside’ accurate?”

“Yes, that part is certain.”

“Then it’s not simply a physical body. It could be anything containing Gwak Yang’s vital essence—innate qi, perhaps. What could that be?”

Everyone fell silent, lost in thought. The hall grew suddenly quiet. Something small enough to fit inside a prayer bead—there was no easy way to guess what that could be.

Then Yu Seol, who had been silently watching, offered a clue. “A bead. There’s a round bead inside.” She seemed to have used her qi to sense the internal shape—something Yu Jinsan couldn’t even imitate.

At that, Yu Jinsan brightened and clapped his hands. “…A bead? Then perhaps…?”

Eun Hwa-rin, curious, urged him on. “Do you have any guesses?”

“I’ve heard that deeply practiced monks can sometimes produce a bead within their bodies. It’s extremely rare, but isn’t it a possibility?”

“Do you mean śarīra? If it’s Gwak Yang the Venerable, it’s certainly possible, elder.”

If it were a śarīra, the size would fit the interpreted text.

Scholar Baek-bul added, “There are types of śarīra. Some possess special powers. You can tell by the color.”

“Hm. We can make a hole and check the color.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to find an expert and entrust them with the extraction? If it gets damaged…”

The problem was that the contents were tightly lodged inside the prayer bead. It required professional expertise; if force were applied incorrectly, it could be ruined.

But there was a peerless warrior with more precision and delicacy than anyone—what could be the problem?

Yu Jinsan plucked a single hair from his head, then handed it and the necklace to his granddaughter.

“Would you like to try?”

Yu Seol had been very curious about the contents anyway. Without hesitation she took the hair.

The hair infused with Yu Seol’s innate qi and stiffened like a needle. “You trust me, right?”

“Of course! Naturally.”

“Earlier when we played go you said you didn’t trust me.”

Yu Jinsan, stung, let out an awkward laugh. “You know me. That was just a joke.”

Yu Seol nodded once and began to make a hole in the prayer bead with the hair.

Everyone watched with sweaty palms. It looked like a rough poke, but in reality it was a movement of absolute precision with no margin for error.

Some time passed like that.

“Wah!” A sudden exclamation burst from Yu Seol’s mouth.

Those watching were stunned—bright light poured from a small crack in the prayer bead, like a night-luminous pearl glowing in the dark.

Scholar Baek-bul stammered, “Th-this is among śarīra the rarest—an immortal śarīra!”

“An immortal śarīra? What is that?”

“It’s a sacred relic that appears only from a great practitioner who achieved enlightenment.”

“Is it rare?”

“I can say with certainty it’s the highest grade, appearing only a few times in history.”

It was certainly an item of immense value. But that wasn’t the part Yu Jinsan was most curious about.

“But what meaning does this itself hold?”

“According to what I studied, upon ingestion it would transfer not only internal qi but also the practitioner’s innate qi.”

To inherit the innate qi of a supreme practitioner like Gwak Yang? If true, it would be more valuable than any Spiritual Pill.

‘I hit the jackpot. If I can just take that…’ Yu Jinsan’s thoughts stopped midway.

Yu Seol, having retrieved the necklace, slipped it back around her neck. “Good. This is my treasure now.”

Her solemn muttering made it clear she wouldn’t hand it over easily.

As he briefly pondered how to take the immortal śarīra from his granddaughter, Scholar Baek-bul clasped his hands toward Yu Seol in flattery. “My congratulations. You’ve obtained the finest of treasures among treasures.”

“Thanks. I’m not giving this to anyone.”

Yu Seol glanced at her grandfather with a look that said she would never give it up.

Yu Jinsan laughed nonchalantly and let it go as if he didn’t care. ‘You’ll give it to your grandpa anyway.’ It was only natural he coveted Gwak Yang’s immortal śarīra. Trained since infancy with innate talent and fate, Yu Seol had reached a stage where the amount of internal qi didn’t greatly affect her. Besides, hadn’t she already mastered the invincible Buddha Lion Roar Divine technique?

By contrast, Yu Jinsan still had a long way to go. He’d made no recent progress with the Muscle Changing Technique, and the śarīra would raise his fire aura. Above all, if Gwak Yang’s power was pure qi, it might perfectly control even the demon’s power sealed on his left hand.

He briefly contemplated how to absorb the immortal śarīra.

Perhaps sensing his gaze, Yu Seol suddenly tucked the necklace inside her clothing.

“…Huh.”

Could it be she really didn’t want to give it to her grandfather? He couldn’t help but be exasperated.

At that moment Eun Hwa-rin, sensing the tension, changed the subject. “In any case, the prophecy written on the prayer bead has gone awry. It said the śarīra would save the Emei Sect fallen into the abyss, but it looks like the opposite will happen.”

It was enough to make Emei Sect wail in lament. Who would have expected this precious object to fall into the hands of the Yin Yang Twin Monster?

Moreover, Emei Sect’s elder Hwa Ryeong satae was their sworn enemy—the Murim Alliance leader.

“No, the prophecy wasn’t wrong. We’ll use that power to save the fallen nuns.”

At his joke, Eun Hwa-rin chuckled. “You’re right, sir. If the Murim Alliance leader finds out about this, she’ll faint.”

“I suppose so. Anyway, thank you for this. It’s been a great help.”

She replied with a meaningful smile.

“Save your thanks for later.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“You didn’t call us to appraise or examine an object. You haven’t even begun the real request yet, have you?”

Yu Jinsan glanced once at his granddaughter fiddling with the necklace, then spoke to Eun Hwa-rin. “You’re as sharp-eyed as someone else. You probably guessed, but I need information. Outside of Shaanxi you’re blind as a bat.”

“Of course we’ll help. What are you planning?”

“Well. Not long ago we met the Sword Empress.” Yu Jinsan summarized the conversation: unusual movements in Tianzhu and the plans going forward.

After hearing everything, Eun Hwa-rin asked with a puzzled expression, “She asked you to become the supreme of Murim?”

“She definitely said that. Only then, when their invasion begins, could we try to do something.”

“So you accepted?”

“There was no question—we accepted. Our aims aligned with her interests. If we could subdue the warriors of the Justice Faction, taking on the Murim Alliance leader would be much easier. There was nothing to lose.”

And there was one more reason: as clan head, making his bloodline the supreme of Murim was an exhilarating prospect.

“So you struck the Southern Edge Sect, moved down to Sichuan, and toured the Tang family and Emei Sect.”

“That’s right. You’re quick to understand, as expected.”

“Then where next?”

“That’s exactly what I want to ask. I’m not interested in small fries—can you investigate the absolute warriors across the regions?”

They hadn’t decided on a destination yet, so they’d consult Black Night Clan’s information to set targets and suppress them quickly.

“It won’t be difficult. The Sichuan branch should have some materials; we’ll compile them first.”

“Thank you. We always owe you, don’t we?”

“Have you forgotten? It’s because of the two of you that the current Black Night Clan exists.”

Considering their past ties, the response was natural. Yu Jinsan smiled sheepishly. “How long will it take?”

“First, we’ll deliver the information we currently have by tomorrow.”

He had expected at least five days, yet they could deliver it in a single day. Her skill was impressive; the Black Night Clan’s capabilities were no longer what they used to be.

“Then how about meeting at the inn tomorrow evening?”

“Sounds good. There’s a decent place nearby.”

After concluding the contact with Eun Hwa-rin, the grandfather and granddaughter returned to their lodging.

“I miss Hyun-hee unnie… and Yeop too,” Yu Seol said, thinking of the Black Night Gang. Hyun-hee was the clan leader’s wife, and Pung Yeop was her newborn baby.

“Hyun-hee is probably still recuperating somewhere. If we go to Henan later, we’ll visit her. I’m curious if Dong-gu is still alive too.”

Yu Seol’s mouth twitched with pleasure. “Heehee. Will we see Uncle Dong-gu too?”

“Yes. But give me that for a moment.”

“What?”

Yu Jinsan flicked his eyes toward his granddaughter’s neck. “That.”

“My necklace?”

“Yes. Hand it over.”

The smile on Yu Seol’s face hardened. “…Why? Are you going to eat it?”

As a necklace that emitted a lustrous glow, it was jewelry a girl would like. But this item possessed far greater significance.

“Yes. You heard the discussion earlier, right? It won’t have much effect on you, so hand it over.”

He couldn’t be certain of the exact effect, but it would surely make him stronger.

Yu Seol’s face looked as if she’d lost everything. “Hng. No. It is my treasure…”

“Whose treasure? Your grandpa found it—why is it yours now?” He held out one palm to take it, but she remained immovable.

“I won’t give it just like that. If you beat me, I’ll give it.”

“You’re asking a fight with grandpa?”

“No. With go…”

There was no way this would be fair; she would surely try some trick. Yu Jinsan snorted and refused outright. “Do you think I’m a pushover? I won’t play rigged games.”

When her plan failed, Yu Seol hesitated, then tucked the necklace even deeper under her clothing and said bluntly, “If you don’t like it, I won’t give it either.”