Chapter 611: Biwoegun.

Immediately after recalling a way to find Namgung Bi-ah.

As much as I wanted to quit everything and run out, the information I could get was too scarce, so I had to endure it for now.

Even so, I wouldn’t be able to endure it for long.

Since I had already reached my limit.

Leaving the place where the Palace Lord was and coming outside, Baek Ryeon-geom was waiting for me.

“You’re here?”

My gaze towards Baek Ryeon-geom wasn’t exactly pleasant.

How could it be pleasant?

Because I was told to go see him, I went to see the Palace Lord as soon as I woke up, but I’ve just come back after enduring a lot of hardship.

Seeing my expression, Baek Ryeon-geom smiles awkwardly.

“Looks like something happened.”

“Yes, I just went through some really shitty stuff.”

Not only was I subjected to an interrogation disguised as something else, but I’ve also been through a whole lot of damn trouble.

If my body were just a little better, I would have just charged right at them, Palace Lord or whatever.

That I couldn’t is all I regret.

So, I didn’t have particularly good feelings towards Baek Ryeon-geom, who guided me to this matter.

Separate from meeting him after a long time.

As soon as I saw him, I asked Baek Ryeon-geom.

“Did you know?”

It’s a question laden with many meanings.

Whether the meeting with the Palace Lord was intended as an interrogation, and if he knew that.

Also.

“That guy is from the Northern Sea. Did you know?”

That Woo Hyuk guy is from the Northern Sea, and even that he’s from a clan called the Blue Wolf or something.

Did Baek Ryeon-geom really know?

Asking with that meaning, Baek Ryeon-geom smiles bitterly and tells me.

“I didn’t know with what intention the Palace Lord summoned you.”

“Do you know now?”

“If you explain, I’ll listen carefully…”

Perhaps sensing that something unusual was happening, Baek Ryeon-geom’s expression wasn’t good either.

Seeing that, I clicked my tongue inwardly.

“Never mind…”

To someone I don’t know, I can’t press further.

I could press the issue if I wanted to, but pressing it now would just be taking it out on Baek Ryeon-geom.

“Please answer from the next question onwards.”

“…”

When I asked about Woo Hyuk, Baek Ryeon-geom moved his lips.

“…If it’s about that child, I haven’t known for long.”

“What you’re saying means that it’s true, doesn’t it?”

“…”

Woo Hyuk is indeed from the Northern Sea.

Furthermore.

“That he caused a rebellion is also true?”

“…Yes.”

At Baek Ryeon-geom’s words, I gritted my teeth.

‘That bastard, what the hell is he doing?’

When Namgung Bi-ah said she was going to the Northern Sea, I didn’t want to let her go, but I was somewhat relieved since Gwe-seon and Baek Ryeon-geom, and that Woo Hyuk guy were going too.

Even though Woo Hyuk was a strange guy, he wasn’t someone who’d do anything terrible.

I thought he’d somehow clean it up even if something happened.

‘I never thought this bastard would cause the biggest trouble.’

My head started to ache.

‘Rebellion? What rebellion?’

In a country that’s just living fine and well, what is this talk of rebellion?

A guy who seemed to have absolutely no greed, and he’s involved in a rebellion?

I couldn’t understand it at all.

‘Why on earth?’

Why would that guy cause something like this?

If Woo Hyuk truly not only participated in the rebellion but also personally instigated it,

‘What could be the reason?’

What reason would he have had to do that?

That thought comes first.

If he went so far as to cause something like this, there must have been a reason for it.

Because he was that kind of guy.

Funnily enough, I even had this kind of faith.

[Go on ahead.]

[Thanks for being my friend until now.]

“…”

Right before he died, his words and the face he made towards me come to mind.

Fucking bastard.

So I wouldn’t forget. He could have at least died with a smile.

Pushing away the annoying thoughts, I asked Baek Ryeon-geom something else.

“Then, that guy…. no.”

After pausing for a moment, I spat it out, frowning.

“What happened with Namgung Bi-ah?”

Although I hesitated to say her name directly, now, it wasn’t the time to hesitate about such things.

“…That child…”

Hearing this, Baek Ryeon-geom also showed a sign of hesitation, but she must know. If she didn’t give me a proper answer here, I wouldn’t hold back any longer.

Looking at Baek Ryeon-geom filled with such emotions, she gave her answer.

“…Bi-ah was serving as the Palace Lord’s guard.”

“Guard?”

I had to be surprised hearing that.

“…She served as the Palace Lord’s guard?”

“At first, she was assigned to guard princesses or clan members….”

“Wait.”

I cut off Baek Ryeon-geom, who was about to continue explaining. Because there was something more important to ask first.

“…Why was she serving as a guard?”

Why was Namgung Bi-ah suddenly serving as a guard? I had to ask that first.

She left to train, so what was she even doing as a guard? I heard this before too, but it was such a random thing.

To this, Baek Ryeon-geom said.

“From what I heard, Hyung-i made a direct contract with the Palace Lord.”

“Hyung-i, you mean….”

Probably referring to Mu-dang Gwe-seon.

That old man made a contract with the Palace Lord and put Namgung Bi-ah into guard duty?

‘Has this old man lost his mind?’

He finally allowed her to go, so what is he doing making a child work instead of training?

It made me furious.

However, suppressing my emotions, I continued to ask.

“So, she also briefly served as the Little Princess’s guard. Is that what you mean?”

I heard that.

She was continuously active as the White Fox or something, wasn’t she?

“That’s right. She did that too.”

“Then, what’s the reason things turned out this way?”

So, ultimately, why is Namgung Bi-ah missing now?

If she was a guard, she should have stayed close, why did only that girl disappear?

“…That’s….”

Baek Ryeon-geom’s somewhat complicated expression. That look made me even more anxious.

“Due to the aftermath of the rebellion, while hastily heading to a hiding place….”

At the continued explanation, my brow furrowed involuntarily.

For the Palace Lord to hide, she had to leave the palace and move, and even in that situation, enemy forces relentlessly attacked.

If things continued like this, the Palace Lord would be in danger,

“She volunteered to be the decoy. Is that what you mean?”

“…”

So that the Palace Lord could move safely, Namgung Bi-ah threw herself forward, drawing the enemy’s attention, and in the process, she is currently missing.

Is that what you’re saying?

Moreover.

“And at the place where the battle occurred, no other traces were found….”

While listening to the explanation, I muttered to myself.

I’m angry.

In this land I know nothing about, for a human who is of no help whatsoever, that child threw herself.

It sounded like that, making my teeth grind involuntarily, but differently, my mind felt cold.

It bothers me.

It bothers me strangely.

‘Why did she do that?’

Why did Namgung Bi-ah volunteer as the decoy there?

Did she really do it for the peace of the Palace Lord and Bing-gung?

That wouldn’t be it.

I judged that there must be another reason for Namgung Bi-ah to have done so.

As I tried to figure out the questions with my cooled mind, just as I was trying to grasp the doubts.

“I’m sorry….”

Through the gap in my thoughts, Baek Ryeon-geom’s apology was heard.

“If I had been there, it was something I should have done, not that child….”

It was a voice filled with guilt. She truly lamented not being able to go instead of Namgung Bi-ah.

Looking at Baek Ryeon-geom like that, I said.

“Back then, where were you, Seonbae-nim?”

Why didn’t you go instead? It wasn’t a question implying blame. Nor was I suspecting her. Although I don’t know Baek Ryeon-geom well, I believed he wasn’t someone who would use despicable methods to save his own life.

“…At that time, I was carrying someone else and moving to the hiding place first.”

Carrying someone other than the Palace Lord, I was moving first. So, it means I wasn’t part of the group at that time.

If that’s the case,

“What about Gwe-seon? What was Gwe-seon Seonbae-nim doing?”

“…”

What happened to Mu-dang Gwe-seon, Woo Hyuk’s current master? If Woo Hyuk caused the rebellion, where is Gwe-seon now? Given he’s the master, I thought it wouldn’t be a good situation.

Hearing my question, Baek Ryeon-geom…

“…Can you follow me?”

Instead of answering, he leads me somewhere.

It wasn’t very far.

To put it simply, it was the upper floor of the cave, a quiet space where guards weren’t particularly visible.

Where I arrived walking with Baek Ryeon-geom, there was a bed, and I could see someone lying there.

The person lying there was surprisingly Mu-dang Gwe-seon.

The problem was.

‘What the…?’

Mu-dang Gwe-seon’s condition was not normal.

His left arm was nowhere to be seen, and his appearance otherwise was also quite bad.

He was precisely barely clinging to life.

“What is this….”

Why is this old man like this?

Gwe-seon was a martial artist of the Hua Jing realm, and a master easily counted among the top hundred experts, but where on earth did he suffer such a fate?

As such doubts crossed my mind,

“On the day the rebellion broke out.”

Baek Ryeon-geom added his explanation.

“Hyuk appeared carrying a blood-soaked Gwe-seon.”

“Him?”

“Yes.”

Hearing that, my eyes widened.

Woo Hyuk appeared carrying Gwe-seon?

“He suddenly appeared, entrusted Hyung-i to us, left only an apology, and disappeared. That was the last I saw of him.”

Entrusting his master, who was on the verge of death, and then disappearing? And on the very day the rebellion broke out?

‘I was told he started the rebellion.’

In that situation, entrusting his master here and leaving made no sense at all.

What kind of situation is this?

As I was racking my brain in my flustered state, something came to mind hearing this.

I immediately asked Baek Ryeon-geom.

“You mentioned earlier that you were carrying someone and moving first. Was that perhaps Gwe-seon Seonbae-nim?”

“…”

Baek Ryeon-geom remained silent at my question. This meant it was true.

Hearing something that was no different from an answer, I quickly processed it.

Baek Ryeon-geom carried Gwe-seon towards the shelter.

Namgung Bi-ah, afterwards, while moving with the Palace Lord to shake off enemy forces, volunteered as a decoy and disappeared.

Is all of this purely coincidence?

I thought the rebellion was planned to coincide with the exact moment, but if it’s like this,

‘Rather than it being a coincidence,’

it seemed more accurate to say the moment was created.

My head hurts.

If Moyong Hi-ah or Zhuge Hyuk were here, it would have been much easier to solve this.

With my meager brain, it was difficult to piece all this together.

Although it’s difficult to believe Woo Hyuk caused all these events and processes,

‘He is definitely involved.’

It was certain that the guy was involved in this matter, and moreover,

‘The ending bothers me.’

As Baek Ryeon-geom and Gwe-seon disappeared, and regarding the incident where Namgung Bi-ah volunteered as a decoy, I sense something strange.

Tuk-tuk-!

Since there was no desk to tap, I had to tap my waist with my fingers.

What is it?

There’s something, but why can’t I reach a conclusion?

What on earth am I missing?

As I was thinking for a long time like that,

Ttuk.

Suddenly, my tapping fingers stopped.

“First…. Since the reconnaissance is ongoing, you too….”

“I’ll be right back.”

“Huh? Wait-!”

Without hearing Baek Ryeon-geom out, I stepped outside.

Originally, I was planning to go see the others first, but I had to postpone that too.

I kept wandering in a place I didn’t know well.

‘I can’t think of it.’

No matter how much I think, it’s overwhelming to reach any conclusion.

There was too little information, and the situation was too sudden.

However.

There was one thing I could know.

‘Woo Hyuk was involved in Namgung Bi-ah’s disappearance.’

Is this a certainty figured out by tracing the path?

That’s not it.

Although the answer that came to mind while tracing each step was like that, this is based on my gut feeling.

It was always like this.

After thinking hard, I ultimately go where my gut tells me.

It was the same now.

It’s purely a hunch and close to a guess, but somehow I was certain.

that my thoughts were correct.

So what should I do?

“What do I do? I already told the Palace Lord.”

I’ll go find him directly and ask.

That was the conclusion I decided from the start.

I’ll go find Woo Hyuk and ask.

Why he did it.

If I ask him like that and get an answer, that’s all there is to it.

If that guy doesn’t answer, I’ll get it out of him by force.

‘To do that, I need to find out where Woo Hyuk is.’

If, as I suspect, Woo Hyuk is involved in Namgung Bi-ah’s disappearance, there was a related method.

Woong-!

A presence felt from afar.

Like it’s searching for me, an earnest sensation is felt directly in my heart.

That’s the place.

I don’t know where it is, but the presence is distinct.

Whether Namgung Bi-ah or Woo Hyuk is there, I’m not certain, but at least.

‘Lei Ya (Thunder Fang) is there.’

The Lei Ya she might have had must be there.

Moreover, Lei Ya was an object that couldn’t be touched by anyone except a few, so regardless of what it was, it was clear that Namgung Bi-ah’s trace was there.

I’m heading there first.

Just as I was about to move with only that thought in mind,

[…Please! Please open it!]

I heard someone shouting from somewhere.

It was a familiar voice.

It’s not far.

Is it further upstairs from here?

I moved my steps without hesitation.

As I moved, I suppressed my presence.

Fortunately, the path wasn’t too difficult.

After walking a bit towards the direction of the sound, at what seemed to be an entrance, several people were standing guard with weapons.

That’s fortunate.

Because I didn’t know where to go, I almost just broke through and left, but it seems the entrance is that way.

Good thing I found it.

From the direction that seemed to be the entrance,

“Princess… You mustn’t do this-!”

“That’s absurd… It can’t be. I, I have to confirm it myself.”

A white-haired woman of striking beauty was desperately speaking, holding onto the warriors.

It was Yu-ri.

“…Bwi-oe-gun couldn’t have done that…! There must have been some circumstances.”

“Princess! That person is a traitor who committed treason. How can you speak like that?!”

“He couldn’t have caused a rebellion…! He promised me…!”

To Yu-ri’s tearful cries, one of the guards said.

“…It seems she doesn’t properly grasp the situation. Escort her to her room respectfully.”

It seems they judged that Yu-ri wasn’t in her right mind.

“Yes.”

The one who received the order reached out towards Yu-ri. He probably intended to grab the resisting Yu-ri and calm her down.

However.

That hand didn’t reach Yu-ri, passing by like a graze. Because the soldier’s body immediately collapsed onto the floor.

Thump-!

The soldier falls to the floor.

“What is this…?”

The one next to him reacted upon seeing that, but

Thwack-!

“Gck-!?”

At that moment, the man was also hit in the jaw and immediately fainted.

“…Huh?”

At the situation that suddenly unfolded, Yu-ri wore a surprised expression. She didn’t seem to fully grasp what was happening.

I spoke to Yu-ri like that.

“What you were just saying.”

“…!”

At the voice suddenly heard from behind, Yu-ri looked back, startled.

There.

“Say it again.”

I stood looking at Yu-ri.