The Culprit Leaves Traces Behind. (2)

“Storm Rider, huh. I’ve only heard a little by rumor. They say he did Age Revival twice— is that true?”

Eun Hwa-rin nodded and explained what she had investigated.

“Yes, it’s certain. Around Zhejiang Province he’s been famous for a long time as a legendary master. To the eastern martial world he’s a symbolic figure.”

“Hm. Still, since I haven’t heard of him, it seems his activity wasn’t as vigorous compared to his martial skill.”

Although Zhejiang Province was very far from Yu Jinsan’s hometown, he had never even heard the rumor before.

As expected, his area of activity must have been confined to the eastern region.

“Our investigation agrees. And they say about eight years ago, after repelling challenges from countless masters, he suddenly disappeared somewhere.”

“…Goodness. Surely you don’t mean we have to find someone who retired from the Central Plains to fight him?”

If he had left the Central Plains, it was not a matter he relished.

But seeing Eun Hwa-rin’s expression, there seemed to be something else.

“Not necessarily. There’s information that his figure has recently been spotted in various places.”

“You mean he started acting again?”

“It’s not certain, but for now it appears so.”

“Hmm…”

Yu Jinsan crossed his arms and pondered for a moment.

He thought they might be making an unnecessary trip.

“Please make the decision, elder. But as long as Storm Rider exists, the eastern martial folk won’t recognize anyone else as the supreme.”

Hearing her, he felt uneasy about simply passing it by.

At that moment, Yu Seol, who had been quietly watching, opened her mouth with bright eyes.

“Let’s go, Grandpa.”

With his granddaughter wanting it too, there was no reason to hesitate.

Having made up his mind, Yu Jinsan asked her again.

“Where must we go to meet Storm Rider?”

“We can’t know the exact location. They say he appears like the wind in unspecified places and disappears like the clouds.”

“Still, you must have places you’ve checked? Tell me quickly.”

Eun Hwa-rin smiled and handed over a sheet of paper.

“You can read me like a book, elder. It’s right here.”

The paper she handed over contained information about a specific faction.

“Soyo Mountain Villa?”

“Yes. The head of that place, Meng Nam-cheon, is said to be Storm Rider’s only disciple.”

Yu Jinsan muttered as he looked over the document she had given him.

“The Invincible Sword, never once defeated. If he has such a moniker, the disciple’s skill must be considerable.”

“That’s right. Except for Storm Rider, he would be Zhejiang Province’s top swordsman.”

In any case, their target was Storm Rider.

If they went to Soyo Mountain Villa, they would find a lead.

Then, as Yu Jinsan scanned other contents, he tilted his head and said.

“But it seems this place has some complicated circumstances too.”

“Yes. Soyo Mountain Villa is currently at war with the White Flower Blood Cult.”

“…White Flower Blood Cult?”

No matter how he tried to remember, the name did not exist in Yu Jinsan’s memory.

“It’s a force that rose up about ten years ago in Jiangsu Province. They’ve rallied the eastern region’s heterodox groups and are expanding their power at a terrifying speed.”

Heterodox cults practice cruel techniques like demonic arts, so they aren’t welcomed in the martial world.

A faction that should be hidden openly rising up meant they must be confident; it was puzzling.

“Was the Murim Alliance just watching that?”

“Not exactly. The Murim Alliance did once form an extermination force, but apparently it was driven back. Currently they’ve passed it off to Soyo Mountain Villa and are holding back.”

It was hard not to be surprised.

To the point that even the Murim Alliance failed the extermination? It was clearly not a force to be taken lightly.

“The Cult Leader’s power must be great.”

“All we’ve learned about the Cult Leader is the name Yeom Hwi. He’s also called the Asura Blood Demon.”

Even without confirmation, it was surely a terrifyingly skilled master.

In any case, he had no intention of meddling in every fight between other factions.

What mattered was the duel with Storm Rider.

“Thank you for the investigation. For now we must go to Soyo Mountain Villa.”

“Yes. While you go pacify the eastern martial world, we’ll look into the situation in the north.”

At that moment Yu Jinsan flinched and asked again.

“The north? What is that about?”

The north was originally a region with little martial activity, so it drew little attention.

Thus he had planned to finish the journey by defeating Storm Rider and seizing the Murim Alliance leader afterward.

But he seemed to have been gravely mistaken.

“You mustn’t take the warriors of the great steppe lightly. They simply didn’t get attention because of constant internecine wars among tribes.”

“Is it something we need to pay attention to?”

“The situation has changed from before. They say a great warrior who unified all the tribes has recently been born.”

With no information about the great steppe’s masters, he didn’t feel fear—only annoyance.

But no matter how bothersome, he would do anything to make his granddaughter the supreme.

Anyway, matters concerning them could be considered after facing Storm Rider.

“Understood. By the way, how are you all doing these days?”

“Everything is fine now. Thanks to you, the Evil Sect Alliance is watching our back.”

“That’s a relief. If there’s anything we can help with, tell me.”

The Black Night Clan held a special meaning for the duo.

They had shared life and death through hard times; so offering help cost them nothing.

“Just your words make us feel safe. We’ll let you know if we need help.”

“Do so.”

Yu Jinsan nodded with a pleased smile and continued the conversation.

He planned to confirm a few more pieces of information before departing.

The duo left Jinryong Trading Company and set off straight for their destination.

They had to travel a very long distance to reach Soyo Mountain Villa in Zhejiang Province.

But there was no reason to march hard from the start.

This Guangdong Province area especially had many sights to see.

They had been walking for two days.

“Puhihi~”

They were on the outskirts of a village.

The granddaughter was giggling, perched on the back of a beast as big as a house.

Yu Jinsan watched her play from beside, his head tilted up.

“That’s a beast called an elephant. It seems to like you since it’s so tame.”

“Heehee. Grandpa, do you want to ride on my back too? It’s fun.”

“No. Grandpa is fine.”

Getting excited, Yu Seol wiggled her legs on the elephant’s head.

The long trunk approached and blew a cool breeze on her face.

“Kya!”

Yu Seol screamed and couldn’t stop laughing.

She seemed thoroughly delighted.

“We still have time, so play slowly.”

They had rented the time from the owner for an eclipse’s worth of time.

Yu Seol only climbed down after she had used up the time.

After returning the elephant, the pair walked side by side toward the market.

“Grandpa, I’m hungry~”

“You played plenty, so of course you’re hungry. What do you want to eat?”

“Let’s go over there. I’ll buy it.”

It was a quiet stall in the market.

Three small tables were set out front, but since the meal time had passed there were no customers.

“After all, you have all the money. Grandpa should eat what you buy.”

“Mmm~ smells delicious! Wait a moment, Grandpa.”

Yu Jinsan sat at the table and waited while his granddaughter ordered.

They ordered three skewers of pork and vegetables and three large king Bao Bun.

When the food was prepared after a while, Yu Jinsan asked with a puzzled look.

“Why did you order portions for three?”

Yu Seol slyly pointed somewhere with her finger and whispered.

“I’m thinking of giving it to that man. He looks pitiful.”

“What’s pretty about a guy who tails us?”

He was a Murim Alliance member who had introduced himself as Bang Yu-chul.

Even after getting severely handled once, he hadn’t learned and kept following.

He was one of those whose lack of fear was remarkable.

“It looks like he hasn’t eaten anything for days. We gave him two coins in silver, after all.”

Although hidden some thirty steps away, they had already observed everything.

His lifeless eyes and gaunt face were evident.

He must have been following solely driven by his conviction, risking his life.

Yu Jinsan sighed and beckoned the Murim Alliance member to come over.

He flinched at that gesture.

“Come here. I won’t hit you.”

It was a small murmur, but it reached Bang Yu-chul’s ears clearly.

It was something that couldn’t happen without tremendous internal power backing it.

“…?”

He hesitated briefly, then gripped his sword and began to approach.

He seemed not afraid of death at all.

As the distance closed, Yu Jinsan leaned on the table and asked.

“Why do you keep tailing us? Are you trying to ambush us?”

“…Yin Yang Twin Monster. Today, settle it with me and end this.”

“Even beasts run from their natural enemies; what on earth are you relying on to act like this?”

He thought the man had gone mad.

Yu Seol, happily eating Bao Bun, gestured to him and said.

“You’re hungry, right? Come sit and eat with us.”

Bang Yu-chul swallowed dryly as he looked at the skewers and Bao Bun on the table.

Having had his funds stolen and starved, of course he was hungry.

But different words came from his mouth.

“I’d rather take poison than accept food from you… Gah!”

He stopped mid-sentence and panicked.

Because his two legs were being dragged toward the table.

No one had touched his body.

Yet an unknown force drew him to sit in the chair.

Then Yu Seol offered him one Bao Bun and said.

“It’s delicious. Go on, try it.”

Bang Yu-chul became extremely confused.

What on earth was this situation?

The Murim Alliance’s nemesis, the Yin Monster, was offering him Bao Bun? He couldn’t possibly understand it.

At that moment Yu Jinsan added a comment.

“It doesn’t matter, we bought it with your money anyway.”

It wasn’t an untrue statement — his granddaughter had used loot she got from him to pay.

At that moment, Bang Yu-chul, in a daze, took the bao bun offered by the Yin Monster.

Yu Jinsan didn’t know whether he grasped it by his own will or was controlled by the granddaughter.

“See? You were hungry.”

“…”

Bang Yu-chul, clutching the bao bun, seemed plunged into deep anguish.

The duo ate their own food and silently watched him.

After a short while.

Suddenly Bang Yu-chul began to devour the bao bun in his hand greedily.

Was he trying to fill his stomach before dying? Or did he have another intention? No one knew his heart.

One thing was certain: he was eating the Bao Bun more deliciously than anyone else in the world.

As he gulped down the large king Bao Bun, he choked and cleared his throat.

“Cough! Cough!”

Then Yu Seol flicked out a hand, and a bamboo cup on the stall flew over with a whoosh.

Swoosh—!

“Here, drink some water quickly.”

Bang Yu-chul grabbed the bamboo cup and gulped down the water within.

Then he started finishing the remaining Bao Bun.

For some reason tears welled at the corners of his eyes.

Was there some story behind it?

Curious, Yu Jinsan asked in a gentle voice.

“So, for what reason did you follow us like that? The Murim Alliance wouldn’t have ordered you to tail us risking your life.”

Eating Bao Bun, Bang Yu-chul glared at Yu Jinsan with reddened eyes.

At the same time he burst out in a voice full of indignation.

“Do you truly not remember what happened ten days ago?!”

Yu Jinsan tilted his head in puzzlement.

“Wait. Ten days ago? Ten days ago we were only in the guestroom of Eunjin Inn, weren’t we?”

Since returning from Sea Dragon Island, they’d stayed inside the rooms the whole time.

They had been practicing the Muscle Changing Technique all day with his granddaughter’s help. They hadn’t left the inn until the bounty on the Battle Dragon was settled.

He needed to hear more to understand what nonsense this fellow was talking about.