episode_0099

“Hmm.”

Jegal Cheong was reading through the documents, chin resting on the back of his hand.

The list of martial artists who had visited Gangsuk since the incident occurred had finally been completed.

Her peculiar gaze, which earned her the nickname of “Dreamy Hwa,” was mesmerizing.

She was being observed by Gogwigan, who was not particularly pleased to be involved with Jegal Cheong.

He found her to be a discomforting superior.

However, that was a personal feeling, and he believed that it would be helpful in various ways for the case at hand.

Their abilities and resources were different.

If she hadn’t mobilized the members of Bi Gak, this investigation would have been impossible.

“There are quite a few.”

Jegal Cheong spoke up.

“Yes, considering the vast land, it’s not surprising….”

Gogwigan scratched his head.

Gangsuk’s land was vast, and there were many martial artists.

The saying that the heavens are wide and martial artists are as numerous as grains of sand was not an exaggeration.

“We need to do some pruning.”

“Yes, if we eliminate the members of the orthodox factions….”

“Why eliminate the members of the orthodox factions?”

“Pardon?”

Gogwigan’s eyes widened in confusion.

Eliminating the less likely suspects is basic in investigations.

Especially in cases like this where there is no evidence or witnesses and the suspects need to be broadly considered, it is necessary to narrow down the possibilities.

That way, there is a chance of finding a lead to solve the case.

But what is this reaction?

“…90% of the cases taken on by the Murim Guild are caused by disruptive elements or middle-ranking individuals who do not belong to any faction. So, focusing on the higher probability side of the investigation is only natural….”

“That’s Gog Daehyeop’s standard.”

“….”

“My standard is different. What’s important is not which side of the orthodox factions they belong to, but what kind of person they are.”

I understand what you’re saying, but how do you know that!

Frustrated, Gogwigan barely managed to hold back what he wanted to say.

It was a tearful social life.

However.

Jegal Cheong confidently picked up a small brush and immediately began crossing out names on the list without hesitation.

“What, what are you doing?”

Gogwigan asked in confusion.

“Of course, pruning.”

“Pardon?”

Gogwigan’s expression was one of disbelief.

…Is this a joke?

No matter how dreamy Hwa of Bi Gak is, there’s no way she can seriously prune this quickly.

However.

Jegal Cheong’s gaze was so serious and composed.

Only then did Gogwigan realize that this was definitely not a joke.

“Wait a minute! Isn’t this too hasty? Let’s be more careful….”

“It’s okay.”

“Pardon?”

“Because it’s all in my head.”

…What are you talking about?

It’s in your head?

Wait a minute.

Could it be…?

Suddenly, Gogwigan’s eyes widened as he realized something.

In the martial arts world, there is a saying.

There is no place in the world where the eyes of Bi Gak cannot reach.

It may sound absurd, but Gogwigan knew that it was close to the truth.

In the current era where the Murim Guild boasts the greatest power in its history.

The power of Bi Gak’s eyes, the eyes of the Murim Guild, was beyond imagination.

It would probably surpass the Haomun or the Kae Bang.

If she was able to absorb all of Bi Gak’s tremendous information into her mind?

‘…It could be entirely possible.’

Gogwigan inwardly groaned.

It’s hard to believe, but if there is a person who can do that, then surely.

‘No, it’s right in front of me now…’

Gogwigan broke out in a cold sweat.

Swish. Swish. Swish.

Meanwhile, Jegal Cheong’s pruning continued.

And then, for the first time.

Jegal Cheong’s brush hesitated.

곡위강의 눈에 놀람이 깃들었다.

“What’s going on…?”

“There’s someone whose judgment is questionable.”

“Oh…?”

Even with the information from Biak, the judgment is still unclear?

Who on earth could it be?

Is it even someone as prestigious as Eungeogi?

“Geumryongjangju Bang So-un.”

Jegal Cheongha narrowed his eyes and muttered.

“Ah, Hangju’s Tang-a.”

Unexpectedly, Gogwigang immediately reacted to the name of a famous figure.

A rising star in the world of power and wealth.

Bang So-un was currently the person Gogwigang despised the most and felt sick of.

Just sitting on a money cushion?

That’s unlikely.

Especially since his wife was Hwangboseol, the most beautiful woman in Gangnam, and the woman he was fooling around with was Eunhwayoung, the most beautiful woman in Hangju.

Living off the wealth of two worlds, how could he not feel sick?

He was the enemy of men themselves.

“Do you know him?”

Jegal Cheongha asked.

“Oh, that lucky… heh heh, isn’t he just a lucky vagabond?”

“A lucky vagabond?”

“Well… not just any vagabond, he’s good at charming women with his half-and-half face. So he must have won the hearts of both Hwangboseol and Jeokanyoho. Anyway, the women in the martial arts world need to be more careful. Just because he’s half good-looking and knows how to sweet-talk, if they fall for him, they’ll definitely regret it later. This is the truth of life…”

“Are you jealous?”

*Cough, cough, cough!*

As if he heard something, Gogwigang sneezed repeatedly with a flushed face.

Jegal Cheongha stared at him intently.

Gogwigang quickly extended his hand in a panic.

“W-what are you… I, Gogwigang, am not that insignificant!”

Normally, someone who gets angry would be more flustered.

But Jegal Cheongha seemed to imply that there was no need to dig deeper.

“Anyway, you don’t know much?”

“Well, I… only know what others know…”

“I see. Anything unclear always requires investigation.”

Jegal Cheongha’s brush passed by Bang So-un.

And the name of the bodyguard Jangil below.

Swish. Swish. Swish.

The pruning resumed smoothly until the end.

Thud.

Jegal Cheongha’s brush lay on the desk.

“It seems like you’ve organized everything… What do you plan to do now?”

Gogwigang asked.

“Of course, we need to investigate.”

Narrow down the suspects through investigation from the pruned list.

That was only natural.

However.

“Me too?”

“Of course.”

“Y-yes…”

It seemed like it would be a continuous struggle for a while.

After all, taking a break while the case was still unresolved was like a dream.

“Don’t worry. Even if the manpower is not sufficient, there will be no shortage.”

Jegal Cheongha moved on to the next task.

“Let’s start dividing the work right away.”

***

Thunk.

A pigeon flew in.

Bang So-un quickly read the letter attached to the pigeon.

And.

“Hm, good news from my senior disciple.”

He muttered with a pleased smile.

“Oh, really, sir?”

The face of Jangil beside him also brightened.

Because when Bang So-un said it was good news, it meant it was truly good news.

“Yes, he says he has completed a very precious treasure.”

“A very precious treasure? What is it?”

“Okbaekdan. Do you remember?”

“Okbaekdan?”

“It’s a medicine, an elixir.”

“Oh, that one?”

Okbaekdan.

The ultimate elixir of the martial arts world, considered the most precious treasure of the Absolute Deity of Joldeung.

Guei, who asserted that treasures like the Great Hwandan of Sollim, the Jaso Dan of Hwasan, and the Taechung Dan of Mudang couldn’t even be compared to Okbaekdan.

-It’s like comparing the sun and the moon, Master.

In other words, while Okbaekdan is the sun, those elixirs are nothing more than the moon.

The effects were so remarkable that they were beyond imagination.

But there was one problem.

The extremely rare material, the Thousand-Year Ice Crystal, which is the divine material of the Ice Palace, is so precious that only two pills can be made with it.

There are no more ingredients left.

Of course, the reason for the contact this time was the two Okbaekdan pills.

“One pill must be eaten by you no matter what.”

Bang So-woon said without hesitation.

“Oh, I appreciate it, but can I really eat such a precious thing…?”

“Haha, what are you talking about? You are the biggest strength of the master.”

Bang So-woon chuckled.

The fact that one’s internal energy is closely related to one’s abilities has already been proven by numerous experiences.

The explosive increase in internal energy was already expected to have a significant effect on abilities.

Moreover.

“Poison is a very troublesome thing. Very much so.”

Even if the San Gong poison of the Goeui had an amazing effect, ultimately, it was necessary to poison the opponent.

If the opponent was completely subdued, it wouldn’t matter, but poisoning a strong opponent with a sense of vigilance was never an easy task.

And poison itself has variables.

Even if the poison spread, if there were people around at that time, it could turn into a mess, or they could attack in a life-or-death struggle or choose to flee.

“Well, that’s true, sir.”

Jang-il agreed.

If they had to continue to feed San Gong poison to top-notch masters like now, it would be cumbersome and they might face unexpected variables in urgent situations.

“Yes, that’s why the rapid growth of your internal energy is essential for the master.”

Bang So-woon grinned.

“Haha, I understand. Since the master has given me such a precious treasure, I will absorb the medicine properly and achieve a tremendous increase in my internal energy.”

Jang-il confidently said, tapping his chest.

“Good attitude. Then let’s receive the Okbaekdan right away. And immediately.”

“And immediately?”

“Start with the Lung Meridian cultivation.”

“L-Lung Meridian cultivation?!”

Jang-il looked at Bang So-woon with a gaze that seemed to say, “Why should someone like me do what those high-level masters do?”

However, Bang So-woon was firm.

“You can’t just receive the medicine. If you don’t absorb it properly, you’re just wasting that precious treasure.”

“I-I’ve heard such words before, but…”

“Don’t worry. I know you can’t do it alone. I will generously provide you with Yeon Mae, the master’s top-notch master. Know that you won’t come out until you see results.”

“Ugh, it’s so frustrating if I can’t come out in between. I need to see some progress…”

“Don’t dream. It was said that when you take medicine, you must endure it. You must endure it too.”

“Ugh…!”

“Stop shouting weirdly and bring the Okbaekdan.”

***

The next day, after receiving the Okbaekdan from Goeui.

Jang-il, along with Yeon Soo-rin, immediately began the Lung Meridian cultivation without a moment’s rest.