Chapter 60: Searching for Traces (1)

“Hmm, what’s going on?”

A group of instructors had gathered in front of the instructors’ office, their faces grim. They were whispering amongst themselves, their eyes fixed on a notice posted on the wall.

“Instructor Cho.”

Yeo Mae-hong, who was standing at the back of the crowd, waved at him.

“What’s going on? Why is everyone so serious?”

“Haven’t you heard? Something big happened last night.”

“Did a war break out somewhere?”

“No, not that.”

She lowered her voice conspiratorially.

“Instructor Yeom was seriously injured.”

Ah, right.

‘I took care of Yeom-gwang yesterday.’

It had been such a trivial matter that he had forgotten about it.

To be honest, losing the bribe from the Namgung Clan was a bigger deal than Yeom-gwang.

‘The Namgung Clan would have given me a golden calf.’

He sighed regretfully.

“Everyone seems quite shocked. Well, I guess he’s still a colleague, even if they didn’t get along.”

He was glad they had misunderstood the situation.

His priority was to gather information.

Dokgo Yul would have taken care of the aftermath, but he couldn’t be too careful.

“What happened?”

“Have you heard of the Hidden Moon Flying Thief?”

Of course he had.

He was the one who had lured him to Muhan City.

“I think I’ve heard of him.”

“He’s a notorious thief from the Demonic Faction. His unique movement technique, the Floating Cloud Steps, is considered one of the best in the Murim.”

“So he’s a fast thief.”

“He’s more than just a thief. He’s cunning and powerful. Just look at what happened last night. He managed to escape after injuring several senior instructors from Euncheon Hall, even though they were working together.”

She seemed quite shaken by the incident.

It was understandable. The senior instructors from Euncheon Hall were all skilled martial artists.

‘And they were attacked right outside the Shinmu Academy. How embarrassing.’

There were witnesses, so they couldn’t even deny it.

The previous incident, where several instructors had been killed, had been covered up because of a traitor. This time, they would have to cover it up out of shame.

“Instructor Ju Gyeom is no pushover.”

“Is he famous?”

“The Ten-Step Swift Sword, Ju Gyeom, is a renowned expert. He’s one of the strongest instructors in Euncheon Hall.”

Yeo Mae-hong was still struggling to comprehend what had happened.

“Even if the Hidden Moon Flying Thief is elusive, I can’t believe he defeated the Ten-Step Swift Sword so easily…”

A voice interrupted them.

“I can answer that.”

It was Instructor Yang, the Nine Hundred Iron Fist.

The middle-aged martial artist spoke in a grave tone.

“I heard from Master Dokgo that the Hidden Moon Flying Thief’s appearance in Muhan City is related to the item he stole.”

“The item he stole…? Ah! It’s because of the treasure he stole!”

“You’re quick, Instructor Yeo. That’s right, it’s because of the treasure he stole.”

Treasure.

An item worthy of being called a treasure in the Murim world.

Every martial artist dreamed of possessing the ultimate martial arts manual or a mystical treasure.

A young instructor asked, “Instructor Yang, what kind of treasure is it?”

“Don’t be surprised. It’s the Shadowless Silk.”

“The Shadowless Silk? I’ve never heard of it…”

The older instructors gasped.

“The Shadowless Silk! That explains it.”

“It’s a treasure that’s worth a fortune.”

“You can’t buy it with money. It’s a sacred relic of the Murim. To think it’s fallen into the hands of a thief…”

The younger instructors were confused.

“What is the Shadowless Silk?”

“Do you know about the Sky Silkworm Thread?”

The young instructor nodded.

“Of course. It’s said to be as strong as steel and as sharp as a sword. It’s a treasure used by assassins as a hidden weapon.”

“You’re well-informed. The Shadowless Silk is even more valuable. It’s stronger and sharper than the Sky Silkworm Thread. It can cut through steel like butter. But the most terrifying thing about the Shadowless Silk is that it becomes invisible when infused with internal energy.”

“Invisible?!”

“That’s right. Who would notice a single thread during a fight? And since it’s invisible, it’s no wonder Instructor Ju was defeated.”

“It’s a legendary hidden weapon for a reason.”

Someone added.

The conversation shifted from Yeom-gwang to the Hidden Moon Flying Thief and the Shadowless Silk.

Yeo Mae-hong seemed fascinated by the legendary treasure.

“It’s a terrifying weapon, isn’t it?”

“It is.”

He pushed the spool of thread deeper into his pocket and nodded.

“By the way, what brings you to work today?” she asked.

“I need to report to the Head Instructor about my visit to the Namgung Clan.”

“That’s right. You said you were going to the Namgung Clan yesterday. Did it go well?”

He wasn’t sure.

He wasn’t sure if he could call it a success.

But one thing was certain.

“They won’t be bothering me for a while.”

***

“Hmm…”

Head Instructor Chung-hyeon’s expression was unreadable.

He looked at the Namgung Clan’s seal on the family meeting permit, his chin resting on his steepled fingers.

“You didn’t cause any trouble, did you?”

He was startled.

How did he know?

“What? Do you think I’m always causing trouble? Nothing happened! I’m a responsible person, you know.”

“Hmm… really? You’re denying it too vehemently. That’s suspicious.”

His gaze was intense.

He was a sharp man.

But fortunately, he looked away.

“Haha, well, I guess even you wouldn’t dare cause trouble for the great Namgung Clan.”

“Of course not. I’m just a lowly instructor struggling to make ends meet.”

“That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?”

He didn’t seem offended.

In fact, he seemed relieved, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

“Well, at least the family meeting issue is resolved. Now all that’s left is this.”

“What’s all this?”

A mountain of documents and scrolls had piled up on his desk.

Head Instructor Chung-hyeon sighed.

“It’s the aftermath of yesterday’s incident. Haven’t you heard?”

“I heard that a few instructors were injured, but I didn’t realize it was this serious.”

“It’s worse than the rumors suggest.”

He didn’t elaborate.

‘Just as planned.’

He was clearly trying to keep the incident under wraps.

“It happened so suddenly that there’s a lot to deal with. We need to find a replacement for Instructor Yeom, and someone needs to take over his family meetings.”

“That sounds like a lot of work. I’ll leave you to it.”

“Would it kill you to offer to help?”

“I’m a sincere person. I don’t make empty promises.”

“Why don’t you try it sometime? Don’t you know how to socialize?”

“I’m a man of principle. I’ll stick to my convictions.”

“You never miss an opportunity to be difficult, do you?”

Head Instructor Chung-hyeon stamped the family meeting confirmation form with a sigh.

“Well, I’m going home.”

He hurried out of the office, but he heard a faint mutter.

“I need to find a way to make that guy work…”

He had made the right decision by escaping.

***

After work, he headed straight for the city.

He had a new routine these days.

He was searching for students who were out enjoying their break.

He entered a crowded tavern, and the waiter greeted him.

“Welcome back, sir.”

“Yes, is there a table available?”

“Of course, sir. Your usual table by the window on the top floor?”

“Yes, I’ll be up there. Bring me the usual.”

He climbed the stairs, scanning the tavern.

He saw a variety of people: laborers who were already drunk, merchants in fine silk robes, and couples whispering sweet nothings to each other.

“Another bust.”

He reached the top floor and sat at his table by the window, watching the crowds below.

He scrutinized every face, hoping to find a familiar one.

He waited patiently.

Then, he heard footsteps pounding up the stairs.

The waiter appeared, carrying a tray of food and drinks.

“Here you go, sir. Carp stew and white wine.”

“It looks delicious.”

“The chef used a secret blend of spices.”

“Good.”

He looked at the food, then asked the waiter, “Have you seen any students from the Shinmu Academy lately?”

The waiter pocketed the silver coin he had placed on the table and grinned.

“Yes, sir. There was a remarkable young man who came here recently. His name was Cheong-su…”

“Male or female?”

“Male, sir.”

Damn it.

The waiter, seeing his disappointment, hastily added, “He was an extraordinary man. He said he was the chief disciple of the Wudang Sect.”

“I don’t care if he’s from the Wudang Sect or the Five Poisons Sect. Have you seen any women?”

“I’m trying my best to remember, sir…”

The waiter racked his brain, knowing that a good tip was on the line.

“Ah! There was a very striking woman who came here.”

A striking woman?

His heart skipped a beat.

“Who is she?”

“I don’t know her name, sir. She was a very elegant woman…”

He swallowed hard.

‘Elegant… that sounds like her.’

The waiter continued, “She had snow-white skin…”

Yes, yes!

“And large, luminous eyes.”

That’s right!

Her eyes were so large and beautiful that he wanted to drown in them.

‘I’ve found her!’

His heart pounded with excitement.

The waiter added, “She was wearing a large butterfly-shaped hair ornament.”

“Ah…”

His heart sank.

“Oh well.”

His romantic hopes were dashed.

“What’s wrong, sir?”

The waiter tilted his head as he refilled his cup.

“It’s nothing. Never mind.”

“I haven’t finished my story, sir.”

He didn’t want to hear it.

He stared glumly at his cup and asked, “Did she have a teardrop mole under her left eye?”

“Now that you mention it… yes, she did.”

“And the butterfly hair ornament was black with red accents?”

“That’s right, sir. Do you know her?”

He did.

He had known her for a long time.

‘It’s the Poison Butterfly from the Sichuan Tang Clan.’

He remembered her pale skin, her long, light-colored hair, and her green robe, which complemented her red hairpin perfectly.

‘Tang Ae-hui, that bitch.’

He felt a surge of anger as he thought about the woman who had always been a thorn in his side.

“Ugh, another dead end.”

“…Again, sir?”

“You did well. Let me know if you see anyone unusual.”

He tossed a few more coins to the waiter, who scurried away with a grin.

He felt a bitter taste in his mouth as he realized he had spent a fortune without any results.

He picked at his carp stew.

“Nom nom.”

The tender meat calmed him down a little.

“At this rate, I’ll never find her…”

He remembered his conversation with Dokgo Yul.

*[My lord, would it be alright if I summoned Danya?]*

*[Danya? Why?]*

*[He’s the best at gathering information and working in the shadows.]*

He had refused at the time, worried about being discovered, but he was starting to reconsider.

‘Danya is the best at information gathering and manipulation among the Dark Soul Black Wind Guard. He would be a great help.’

But he shook his head.

“I’m not giving up yet. I never thought it would be easy.”