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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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“Why did you show up in Shaanxi when you said that you were returning to the Hengsan Sect?”
“I was travelling around to calm my mind after resigning from my investigator position. Since when did the Martial Alliance start questioning the whereabouts of every single martial artist? Is there perhaps a reason that I’m not allowed to roam around the Shaanxi area?”
It was a lie. Im Seo-ryeon had been discreetly gathering information on the Violet Night Sword’s whereabouts and tracking him. She had eliminated him when no one was watching, and buried his body in the dirt. Since she was just removing an evil man and saving good people, Im Seo-ryeon felt justified.
“People have seen you in a village near here on the day of the duel competition. What were you doing there?”
“I became curious since Do-cheol, the leader of the Hongryun Sect whom I investigated, was participating in the duel competition. But I thought that there would be rumors if I, the previous inspector, was to directly watch the competition when all suspicions were not cleared yet, so I decided against it.”
It was a lie. It was just that she hadn’t gone to the competition in case she was suspected of getting rid of the Violet Night Sword if she was to be seen there.
“Do you know about the Violet Night Sword?”
“I heard that there were many people who were waiting for a chance to kill that Violet Night Sword while I was working at the Shaanxi branch because of his vicious methods. For a second-rate man, he’s built quite the notoriety. It’s surprising that even you are mentioning his name.”
“…Hmm.”
“Do you have more questions?”
“It’s fine. Then, you may leave.”
Im Seo-ryeon turned and then left the room. When I looked to the side, a man with a gaunt face and with an unpleasant aura followed Im Seo-ryeon and entered the room. The man’s voice could be heard before the door closed,
“What was that about asking about the Violet Night Sword? Did that bastard finally die? If he’s dead, then you have to tell me. I have to piss on his grave.”
Im Seo-ryeon shook her head and then left the Martial Alliance’s Shaanxi branch. After the Violet Night Sword’s disappearance, they had been investigating his whereabouts by asking many people in the Shaanxi branch. They would ask those who had a grudge against him if they had killed him, and ask those who were close to him if he had perhaps run away.
Im Seo-ryeon didn’t have any connections with him, but because she had been seen in the village near where the Violet Night Sword had disappeared, after saying she was going back to the Hengsan Sect, she had become a suspect.
Although she had managed to clear her name easily because there was no evidence, she felt disappointed that she had been caught up in something like this. It felt like she had revealed that she wasn’t yet perfect.
“I feel a little regretful that I couldn’t have been more discreet.”
She confided in Yeong-ha, whom she met at the inn. Jegal Yeong-ha gave a wry smile at her words and said,
“But you were released without much problem. It’s a little chaotic now, but if the Martial Alliance investigates deeply, then it would also be troublesome for them, so they’ll stop soon. They wouldn’t have said anything even if you killed him, since the Violet Night Sword was a notorious villain in this region. Even if you said you had killed him to uphold justice, they wouldn’t have any justification to find fault.”
“There’s no justification for them to find fault, but I would still be a suspect. If you’re going to do it anyway, then you have to be perfect.”
“But, Senior Im, you’re not an assassin. It was perfect, if I think about that.
If the conversation were to continue like this, then it would turn into a debate of whether she was right or wrong. Im Seo-ryeon did not like these kinds of pointless exchanges of compliments and refusals. She lifted her cup and said,
“How’s the atmosphere inside?”
“It’s very chaotic in many ways. After rumors that my eldest brother was interested in the Hongryun Sect started spreading, it seems like our family is talking about something with Master Gold Fortune.
“I also heard those rumors. I heard that he went to the competition himself.”
“I don’t know the details, but because he’s such a strange and unpredictable person, I’m just hoping for the best. Since my eldest brother has caused quite a few incidents, I can’t help but worry.”
“There is no scarier person than those who call themselves eccentrics in the martial world. You should also be careful.”
That was one of the things she had realized while working as an inspector. In the martial world, those who called themselves eccentrics were the most dangerous. Even if they were family, they had to be wary of such people. Although Yeong-ha couldn’t just accept Im Seo-ryeon’s warning to be careful of his brother, he nodded his head.
“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Im Seo-ryeon placed her cup down. She wasn’t one to enjoy drinking, and she wasn’t feeling like it because of the annoying investigation. When she licked her lips and looked around, she saw a merchant from the west inviting customers in the distance.
Yeong-ha picked up a dumpling from his plate and then said,
“So what are you going to do now?”
“I should really return to the Hengsan Sect. After finishing the Hongryun Sect’s investigation, a sense of enlightenment has been lingering in my head. It seems like things have calmed down, so I truly intend to focus on training. The things that we can do increase if we have the power for it. Peak level is better than first-rate after all.”
“We won’t be able to see each other for a while then. How about stopping by the Hongryun Sect and greeting them?”
Im Seo-ryeon’s face became slightly flushed at Yeong-ha’s suggestion before calming down. In her head, the passionate massage and the pleasure she had received were lingering. Just by thinking about it, she felt her lower belly tingle, and it felt as if her underwear was becoming damp.
She rolled her eyes and said,
“D-don’t be absurd.”
“Understood.”
Yeong-ha shrugged and then pointed towards the empty dumpling plate and said,
“Would you like to order more? It’ll be a while before we can see each other, it’s on me.”
“I appreciate the thought, but I think I should get going now.”
Im Seo-ryeon said that, but she realized that Do-cheol’s massages were coming to her mind. In truth, she would always try to recall the feeling of his touch, the way his hand would caress her body, when she was alone in her bed.
When she imagined that the intangible Do-cheol would be pressing on her meridians and lewdly rubbing between her legs, the pillow between her legs would become wet, and she would be so heated that her breath would create white mist as she exhaled.
Im Seo-ryeon casually turned her head and then shook it. In order to delete the delusions in her head, she needed to shake her head violently. Yeong-ha, looking at her actions, recalled her warning to be wary of eccentrics.
“Th, th, then I’ll be going.”
Im Seo-ryeon turned around and went on the road as if she was being chased.
“Then please, have a safe trip.”
Yeong-ha ordered more dumplings and gave her a farewell greeting.
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“Buying goods! Buying goods! Various goods available!”
A merchant from the west had a foreign appearance, but his language was fluent. Im Seo-ryeon, who was rushing back to Hengsan, was caught by the merchant’s unique and awkward invitation.
“This item! It has a very expensive jewel attached. It sparkles when you wave it around!”
He had a high nose bridge and various items with mysterious colors displayed on his stall to draw attention. Swords decorated with luxurious jewels and rugs with strange patterns that seemed just right for decorating a house were popular amongst people.
Im Seo-ryeon, who was watching the merchant for a moment, froze after seeing that he had pulled out a small bottle. A transparent bottle that was curved like a woman’s figure was filled with a viscous liquid, and a subtle scent was emanating from it that could be detected even from afar.
After enough people had gathered, he raised the bottle and shouted,
“This item! It’s great! Rub rub on woman’s body! Rub rub on man’s body! It smells nice, and is slippery! Makes you feel good when you use it! The scent is great, and it’s easy to wash off so it’s the best! It’s an oil that sells well back in my hometown!”
“Oh my, how could you be selling something like that?”
“Oh my, oh my, who would even buy something like that?”
But the reactions of the people were not good. Because his explanation clearly sounded like it was an adult toy. People were covering their mouths or making a fuss while their ears were flushed red, and Im Seo-ryeon was standing there in the middle of it all, blushing and remaining silent.
Another martial artist, who was watching, recognized Im Seo-ryeon and said in a low voice,
“Oh my god, I’ve heard that merchants from the west would bring some strange things, but the culture is truly different.”
Im Seo-ryeon felt a stab in her chest and nodded.
“…Yeah.”
The martial artist nodded and said in a strong voice,
“No, if you advertise it like that, who would buy something that’s used for such a vulgar purpose?”
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Thump! Thump! Thump!
The banging at the door since morning was annoying.
I scratched my head and said to a servant,
“Go and see who is there.
“Yes, leader.”
The servant went toward the gate, carefully opened the door and then shouted in a loud voice,
“Leader! Leader!”
I scratched my belly and walked out at the servant’s frantic voice.
“What is it? Did the Green Forest bandits come or something?”
The servant had a troubled face as he was looking past the gates, and Im Seo-ryeon was standing there at the end of his gaze.
Her face was flushed red, and she was holding out a strange-looking bottle.
“…What’s that?”
“M-massage…”
“…Massage?”
“M-massage with… this…”
Im Seo-ryeon’s voice became even smaller.
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