Chapter 155

While turning the pages, two old letters fell out from between the pages of the book. Upon picking them up and reading them, he found they were from Yeon Jeok-san's master to his disciple.

"Yeon Jeok-san, now that you have finished your training, go to Hubei. You must live up to this master's expectations as soon as possible."

Cheong-ra recalled Yeon Jeok-san being engrossed in martial arts competitions in Hubei at that time. So he had gone to Hubei on his master's orders. As he traced his memories, he unfolded the next letter to find only four characters written in the same handwriting.

"Gan nao tu di" (肝腦塗地: A phrase meaning 'to have one's liver and brains smeared on the ground,' used to describe giving one's life for the country without regard for personal safety.)

Cheong-ra's brow furrowed involuntarily. He wondered how this could be something a master would send to his disciple.

Feeling uneasy, Cheong-ra put the letters back and closed the martial arts manual, then examined the obsidian token. The token, with a thin crescent moon engraved on it, was clearly from the Blood Cult. He put the martial arts manual back in the box and tucked the obsidian token into his bosom. He searched the storage room further but found nothing else of value.

Cheong-ra took lanterns and red silk from the storage room and began making red lanterns. Lacking sincerity in his efforts, the red lanterns were slowly taking shape in an unsightly manner. As he half-heartedly made them, he wondered when Dang Ran-yeong would come to find him.

Yeon Jeok-san returned only the next morning, looking completely exhausted. Cheong-ra tossed aside the crudely made red lantern and quickly welcomed him.

"San-san! You're back! Was it difficult?"

As he wiped Yeon Jeok-san's sweat with his sleeve, a look of emotion spread across Yeon Jeok-san's face. He unwrapped his bundle to show the items he had procured, saying "Look at this." Among them, surprisingly, was a bride's wedding dress suitable for Cheong-ra to wear. Cheong-ra inwardly clicked his tongue, not expecting Yeon Jeok-san to obtain a wedding dress so quickly.

"Wait, are you thirsty? I'll make some tea."

When Cheong-ra personally brought tea, Yeon Jeok-san grinned happily despite his ragged appearance. Seeing his chance, Cheong-ra smiled and suggested to Yeon Jeok-san,

"Shall we make red lanterns together?"

In the place he pointed to, about twenty shabby lanterns with red cloth attached only to the bottom were piled up. Yeon Jeok-san sat down and muttered blankly,

"Cheong-ra, you're quite rough with your handiwork."

Then, with no other choice, he began fixing the red lanterns with a tired look. Cheong-ra pretended to be diligently making red lanterns together and spoke up,

"If my master saw our wedding, he would have been pleased."

Yeon Jeok-san's face turned pale, recalling his past experience of sneaking into Moon Lake Sect, repeatedly throwing dead animals, and being caught and beaten severely by Oh Tae-ryeong. He shook his head and said,

"He would prefer to be informed by letter."

Indeed, if his master saw this, he would immediately behead Yeon Jeok-san. Inwardly sneering, Cheong-ra subtly probed Yeon Jeok-san.

"San-san's master would have been pleased too, right?"

"My master..."

Yeon Jeok-san's face was no longer just pale but had hardened to a ghastly white. His hands trembling as he touched the red lanterns. The expression that momentarily appeared on his face was not respect or awe, but fear and terror. His reaction was so stark that even Cheong-ra, who was secretly observing, was surprised. Yeon Jeok-san quickly hid his expression and agreed,

"That's right. My master would have been pleased too. But it's not an appropriate time for him to come now, so I'm not feeling good about it."

Cheong-ra responded casually, "I see," and started making red lanterns again, but he couldn't forget the expression Yeon Jeok-san had shown for a moment.

Even Cheong-ra, who had once been close to Yeon Jeok-san, knew almost nothing about Yeon Jeok-san's master. This was because Yeon Jeok-san refrained from mentioning his sect and master, as it was a unique martial art.

Of course, not all masters and disciples have good relationships. Especially in evil factions, they can be so ruthless that patricide often occurs. Nevertheless, he kept feeling uneasy for some reason. He then subtly probed about what he was most curious about.

"By the way, about that person who is said to be able to control all the insects in the world."

"...Why him?"

This question seemed impossible to just let pass, as a dubious look appeared on Yeon Jeok-san's face. Pretending not to notice, Cheong-ra sighed deeply and lamented,

"There's no chance I'll meet him, right? As you know, San-san, I'm a bit afraid of insects... But now I'll be joining the Blood Cult too. If I happen to meet him... then I..."

It wasn't just words; the mere thought was truly terrifying. His hands trembled as he made the red lanterns, and this wasn't an act but came from deep within his heart. The suspicious look disappeared from Yeon Jeok-san's face, and he even burst into laughter.

"Were you very scared of the centipede you met at the Phoenix-Qilin-Iris-Orchid Contest last time? Don't worry. That guy can't escape. He's surrounded by a thousand people and three hundred meters of water on all sides. How could someone who hasn't even learned martial arts escape?"

A place filled with a thousand people and three hundred meters of water? Although he didn't know where this place was immediately, he could tell it was an important clue. Cheong-ra engraved it in his mind as he held up a completed red lantern. Then, with a bright smile, he said,

"I'm glad I won't have to meet such a terrible person. Come on, let's quickly make the red lanterns and hang them when the sun sets today. Then we'll form our marital bond."

Just as they were almost finished making the red lanterns together, the person Cheong-ra had been waiting for finally arrived.

***

...When did he doze off?

Although his body felt endlessly languid and heavy, Cheong-ra forced his eyelids open. Had he fallen asleep while making red lanterns? Coming to his senses, he found himself neatly lying on a bed. Judging by the lack of any human presence around, it seemed Yeon Jeok-san was making red lanterns alone.

Cheong-ra felt inside his clothes. However, he couldn't find the obsidian token he had discovered in the storage room that morning. Had he lost it while sleeping? Had Yeon Jeok-san noticed and taken it back? As Cheong-ra was lifting the blanket and looking around the bed, something flew in front of his eyes.

"Here, take this."

Reflexively catching it, he saw it was an object carved from white jade in the shape of a carp. Cheong-ra muttered as he fiddled with the white jade,

"This isn't obsidian..."

But what was this? Its familiar shape closely resembled the Joyful Leaping Carp that Dang Ran-yeong had used to torment him severely... No, that's exactly what it was. Throwing it away in shock and looking up, Cheong-ra's eyes met with Dang Ran-yeong, who was observing him with his chin resting on his hand.

"Young Master Dang, when did you arrive? Where's Yeon Jeok-san?"

When he asked in surprise, wrinkles formed on the other's smooth forehead. Sighing deeply, which was rare for him, he chided someone,

"Monk, he's still not in his right mind."

"Lord Dang... This humble monk told you it would take time."

Cheong-ra belatedly realized that not only Dang Ran-yeong but also Nam Gang-ryong was present, and he became bewildered. Nam Gang-ryong was looking at Cheong-ra with a pitying expression, holding prayer beads in his hand. As his surroundings seemed unfamiliar, as if seeing them for the first time, he reflexively asked,

"Where's Yeon Jeok-san?"

Then he immediately recalled. After making the red lanterns, Yeon Jeok-san, still feeling uneasy, had repeatedly played the melody that controlled the Demon Soul Insects, making his head even foggier. As they were about to go hang the red lanterns and he was about to follow, Dang Ran-yeong had arrived. After playing around with Dang Ran-yeong for a bit, Yeon Jeok-san was about to do something dangerous...

"Ah, that's right. I killed Yeon Jeok-san."

With his head feeling cloudy as if covered in fog, Cheong-ra shook his head from side to side. Was it because he had let go of the thread of consciousness he had barely been holding onto as soon as he saw Dang Ran-yeong, or because the tension had suddenly eased? His thoughts didn't connect well and kept breaking off. Dang Ran-yeong abruptly lifted Cheong-ra, who had become dazed in an instant.

"Now that you're up, let's eat. You've been starving for four days straight."

"...I've been starving for four days?"

Cheong-ra asked in confusion as he followed closely behind Dang Ran-yeong. Come to think of it, he did feel weak and a bit hungry. Dang Ran-yeong went downstairs and beckoned to a man who was pacing while rubbing his hands, ordering him to bring various things. As Cheong-ra sat blankly, food was brought out one after another. He belatedly asked,

"Young Master Dang, where is this?"

"An inn I bought."

Ah, he bought an inn. By now, this wealth was no longer surprising. Cheong-ra just nodded at Dang Ran-yeong's answer, when Nam Gang-ryong, who had been sitting beside him, poured tea and offered it.

"Devotee Baek, why don't you drink some tea first?"

"Thank you, Monk Gang-ryong."

After moistening his throat with tea, hunger soon hit him in earnest. Cheong-ra was eagerly eating when something suddenly occurred to him. He quickly swallowed his food and spoke,

"Young Master Dang, I don't think I had Demon Soul Insects. Monk Gang-ryong, I wasn't controlled by Demon Soul Insects. It seems there are no insects in my body. ...By the way, where did Young Master Wi and Miss Hwan go without even eating? Anyway, there are no Demon Soul Insects. I can return to my sect now."