Chapter 973: Lost Soul.

“You know?”

You know the location of the sacred tree? My eyes widened at those words. I only asked on a whim, but I was slightly taken aback that you actually knew.

“Yes, I know.”

“…Where is it?”

To my question, Noyya lightly pointed to the floor with his hand. Following his fingertip, my gaze moved, but all I could see was the stone floor.

Just as the question arose in my mind as to why he was pointing here.

Noyya spoke to me.

“Underground. The sacred tree of Yawal exists deep underground.”

‘Underground?’

If it’s a sacred tree, isn’t it the same as that giant tree on Hwasan? But for such a large tree to exist underground instead of outside, I was momentarily stunned.

How could such a large tree possibly exist underground?

“Well, I know it’s underground… but I don’t know how it exists. I don’t know the way to enter it.”

“Does that mean there’s a separate way to enter?”

“Of course. If you consider the value the sacred tree holds, it’s natural that it wouldn’t be easy to approach, wouldn’t you agree?”

“…But wait, wasn’t the Hwasan Sect openly built?”

You said it’s natural for it to be inaccessible. Just looking at Hwasan, I could see the contradiction in your words.

So, asking incredulously, Noyya said with a somewhat awkward smile.

“That was also hidden in its own way.”

Hidden my ass. You can see the old tree from miles away.

“I’m telling you it’s true? In the first place, Hwasan is a place people can’t easily enter.”

Noyya said, seemingly trying hard to explain, but it wasn’t something I could believe. I just nodded as if accepting it.

“This guy…”

Seemingly displeased with that attitude, Noyya clenched his fist. Seeing that, I said quickly.

“So, if you mean you don’t know the entrance, do I have to find it myself?”

At my hastily spoken words, Noyya clicked his tongue and lowered his fist. That’s a relief. Looks like I managed to get out of that okay-.

Thump-!

“Kkuhk…!”

It seems that wasn’t the case, as I clutched my head. Damn it.

“Yes, you have to find it.”

Perhaps hitting me eased his mind a bit, as Noyya continued speaking with a better expression than before.

“Still, the fortunate thing is, you don’t have to search aimlessly.”

“…What do you mean?”

“What do you mean? It means there’s someone who knows where it is.”

“Someone who knows?”

“Yes.”

Noyya said with a smirk.

“It’s not just anything. Isn’t someone who knows everything about Yawal right nearby?”

“That is… Ah.”

I was about to ask who, but then I realized. A being who knows everything that happens in Yawal, or that has happened in Yawal. That is none other than the ruler of this land right now.

“You mean Usa?”

The ruler of Yawal.

General Usa.

If it’s him, he would naturally know. It was true.

‘He couldn’t possibly not know.’

The sacred tree itself seems like something bestowed upon the General. For Usa to not know where it is didn’t make sense. He would know.

That’s true, but…

“But. How to get that…”

I was about to ask how to obtain it from Usa, but I closed my mouth again. Because words flashed through my mind.

“…Noyya, could it be…”

The fact that Noyya specifically came to Yawal to meet Usa comes to mind. I thought the purpose was just to shake Usa up and try to achieve something. But now, could that mean…

“…Weren’t you originally trying to find out the sacred tree’s location from Usa?”

Was Noyya’s goal the sacred tree from the beginning? As I recalled that and asked…

“Tsk tsk.”

Noyya laughed. It meant ‘correct’.

---

Around the time the day had clearly brightened, a commotion broke out in Yawal. It was only natural. The news that the head of the Azure family, who held the largest commercial district in Yawal, had been attacked was spreading, not to mention information that he had suffered fatal wounds and lost consciousness in the process.

A noble was attacked. The atmosphere was already not good due to what happened to the White family last time. Now that a second attack had occurred, the current situation demanded an even more intense atmosphere than before.

The attacker not only entered the mansion boldly, but they say he fought the head alone, defeated him, and then disappeared. In the process, they say he even mocked the heir by gouging out his eyes.

How could they do such a thing? Not only attacking a noble who boasted immense power in Yawal, but mocking him like that and even escaping!

While the people of Yawal were in chaos due to such an unbelievable situation. That chaos… was spreading, even reaching the leaders called the current nobles.

The mansion located at the highest point of Yawal Castle. It was smaller than the mansions owned by other nobles, and its location was incomparably higher, but it was a place no one dared to find fault with. The mansion’s name was none other than Yawaljong. It was a space built directly under the orders of Yawal’s ruler, Usa, and it was a space where nobles gathered to hold meetings whenever danger or unmanageable situations arose within the castle. It was also a place that had been opened for the first time in nearly fifty years.

In such a place.

“…I didn’t expect to see your face again like this.”

The head of the Black family, a member of the Black Wolya clan sitting at the round table, quietly spoke. At those words, the giant man sitting opposite him, the head of the White family, ground his teeth and said.

“Even after seeing you after a long time, that annoying face of yours is still the same.”

At the growled words, the Black head calmly looked at him. Then he smirked. Seeing that, the White head narrowed his eyes.

“…You’re laughing?”

“Ah, I apologize. I couldn’t help but find it a bit funny.”

“What do you mean? What did you find funny?”

“How could I not find it funny? Someone who, until just moments ago, was confined to a small room, unable to even regain their senses, is suddenly acting tough.”

“You bastard-!”

Grrr-! At the Black head’s words, the White head pushed back the table and stood up. At the same time, killing intent erupted all around. Most of it was the White head’s aura, but as if not wanting to be outdone by it, a dark aura was also slowly rising. It was a situation on the verge of exploding. If things went slightly wrong, it was moments away from erupting into battle.

“…Could you two stop that?”

A fragrant voice pierced through the gaps in the auras. Then.

Fwaaaa—-!!

The intertwined auras suddenly loosened and scattered in all directions. At the unfolding situation, the Black and White heads looked in one direction. Although receiving their harsh gazes, the woman nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders.

“We gathered here specifically to talk, so it’s not right to act like this the moment we see each other’s faces, is it?”

“…Red.”

The woman’s hair was red. She was none other than Hong Jeong, the head of the Red family. Ignoring their reactions, the woman continued speaking.

“Let’s recall the reason we gathered. Brothers?”

She spoke gently, but the eyes of the one speaking were not soft at all. As if not hiding her blazing gaze, the Red head, her eyes reddening, said to the two.

“Although Azure was weak, he wasn’t someone who should have been defeated like that. You know that, right?”

“…”

At Red’s words, White frowned.

“That Azure, with his chest pierced, is hovering between life and death. Moreover, the heir had one eye gouged out, didn’t he? How about it? Does he look good?”

Kukukuku.

The words spoken as if she were enjoying herself were directed at White. Although the relationship between Black and White wasn’t great, the relationship between Azure and White was worse. Because they had fought as if to kill each other, and Azure had been defeated once. Hearing such words, White said nothing. It was different from how he had retorted while looking at Black.

“Moreover, even if it’s called an intrusion, they say the fight happened boldly within the mansion. Since it happened in his own territory, he has nothing more to say, does he?”

“…What are you trying to say?”

“Rather than specifically wanting to say something…”

Hmm.

Red swayed her head slightly and clapped her hands lightly, saying.

“It seems a rather dangerous friend has arrived. That’s what I wanted to say.”

“Ha… Are you perhaps scared?”

“Huh?”

At White’s taunt, Red widened her eyes.

“Oh my. Aren’t you scared, Brother?”

“What?”

“Was it Cheonma? You were already beaten badly by him and even shown in a pathetic state. Why are you still acting so proud…?”

“…!”

“Brother. Unnecessary pride tends to look a bit pathetic.”

“This bitch…!”

Perhaps feeling provoked by Red’s words, White scowled. At the same time, emitting the same aura as before, he tried to get angry, but…

“Oh, honestly.”

Red laughed. At that moment.

Kugu-gu-gu-gu-gu–!!

A powerful presence began to emanate from her body.

“You always have this problem, Brother?”

A deadly killing intent wrapped around her smiling face.

“Why do you keep baring your fangs? Makes me want to rip them out. Or do you want to see what your own facial skin looks like? If you’re curious, just say so.”

Another name for Red head Hong Jeong.

“Because I’ll let you see it yourself.”

The strongest noble.

That name was gradually taking form. Seeing this, Black clicked his tongue briefly. After telling them to calm down just moments ago, she had cunningly provoked White’s anger. And then, laughing as if it were amusing, what a sight!

‘She’s a dangerous woman.’

It was always like that whenever I saw her. By age, she’s no different from my son, yet not only did she rise to leadership at such a young age, but she possesses such power. And that dangerous personality too. Indeed, it reminded me of the words that she rose to power after killing her own siblings and parents.

‘How bizarre.’

I feel it every time I see her. White is just foolish, but Red is a dangerous being. Feeling that, Black was about to stand up to intervene, but…

“Oh.”

Suddenly Red widened her eyes. At the same time, she retracted the aura she was emitting.

What is it? Just as Black and White were wondering…

“Sit down.”

A voice came from the center of the round table. Above it, someone had appeared and was looking around. Recognizing the figure, White quickly took his seat. Red sat quietly in her seat, as if she hadn’t been angry moments before.

The one who issued the warning was a light green-haired young man. He was the one who convened this meeting, and…

“Let me tell you in advance.”

Called General.

“My mood is foul right now, so don’t annoy me. I might just kill you. Got it?”

He was Yawal’s apex predator.