Chapter 70

"Then, what if it's not the Blood Cult, but the work of a highly skilled master?"

"It's possible. After all, this room is used to entertain important guests."

As Cheong-ra fell silent, having something in mind, Dang Ran-yeong stared at him intently. Unable to resist that gaze, Cheong-ra willingly confessed. In fact, it was a past event that didn't need to be hidden. Most of Cheong-ra's acquaintances knew about it.

"Something similar happened to me before."

"Explain in detail."

Cheong-ra searched his past memories. Though it was already several years ago, it had been quite shocking, so it was still vivid in his memory.

"It was when I was... fifteen. There was someone who was being a bit troublesome."

It was more than just a bit troublesome. It was such a famous incident at Moon Lake Sect at the time that even younger disciples like Lim Jeong knew about it.

At that time, a certain martial artist had become particularly obsessed with Cheong-ra, following him around and even engaging in eccentric behavior. At first, it seemed like normal interaction like with other people, but gradually his behavior became strange. He showed strong interest in anything Cheong-ra was interested in. However, the degree of that interest was unusual.

For example, if Cheong-ra went flower viewing, he would somehow hear about it and rush over. If Cheong-ra bought an ornament while browsing the market, he would definitely purchase and wear the same one. He tried to dress as identically as possible, even copying Cheong-ra's hairstyle and hair tie.

Not satisfied with just imitating, he would sneak into where Cheong-ra was staying in Moon Lake Sect, despite not being allowed free access, and steal his belongings. He would send dozens, hundreds of letters with strange contents. These actions gradually escalated to an excessive level.

One day, a pheasant with a broken neck and a letter were left in front of Cheong-ra's room. The letter asked if the pheasant meat he had for lunch was delicious, and expressed a wish to eat together next time. Cheong-ra tried to ignore it, but it was chilling to find artificially placed bunches of hair or long-cut fingernails in his room.

Eventually, word of these strange occurrences reached Oh Tae-ryeong's ears. Although she usually didn't interfere in her disciples' affairs, she happened to witness firsthand a strangled monkey and a bizarre letter written in blood.

Extremely angered, Oh Tae-ryeong personally hid and caught the culprit who appeared with a dead animal carcass in hand, laughing gleefully. After beating him severely, she personally broke his arms and legs and sent him away on a stretcher. He never appeared again after that.

"But it was so long ago, he must have forgotten about me. Besides, he was just memorable, but such things happened more than once or twice. Anyway, I mean there's a possibility it could be something like that."

Just as he finished saying this, Yeo-jin returned. She apologized profusely and said,

"I'm sorry, Lord Owner. I interrogated the servants, but couldn't find out anything. If you give me more time..."

"That's enough. For now, take these figurines and investigate them."

"Yes, Lord Owner."

Cheong-ra watched with regretful eyes as the zodiac figurines rolled into Yeo-jin's hands. Thinking there was no connection to him, he was about to give up and leave the room when Dang Ran-yeong asked,

"So, what was that person's name?"

Cheong-ra recalled the name he had recently heard from his junior Lim Jeong after a long time and answered.

"They called him Yeon Jeok-san, nicknamed Thousand Forms Sword."

***

Having fought hard and taken a beating at the Hengshan Sect, and not having rested properly on the hurried return journey, Cheong-ra fell asleep as soon as he washed up.

When he woke up the next day, his whole body was stiff as the fatigue hadn't fully dissipated. After practicing the Moonlight on Snow, Mind and Heart Formula for the first time in a while, he immediately went outside The Pavilion of Golden Fragrance. It was to deliver the information he had learned at the Hengshan Sect to his master. Thinking that Moon Lake Sect might fall victim to the Blood Cult's schemes like the Hengshan Sect, he felt pressed for time.

The Beggar Sect's Chang'an branch was located at the end of a street lined with inns. It was perfect for beggars to beg for food as it was always a place where food was being prepared. Walking down the street filled with food smells from all directions, Cheong-ra felt very hungry, having skipped dinner the night before and not eaten breakfast.

"Young Master Baek, where are you going in such a hurry?"

Hearing a familiar voice, he looked back to see Wi Je-ho. The face he was seeing for the first time in almost two months still looked handsome and radiant.

"Young Master Wi. It's been a while."

As Cheong-ra greeted him, Wi Je-ho approached with a friendly smile on his good-natured face.

"What perfect timing. I was just on my way to have breakfast. Would Young Master Baek like to join me?"

"No, I have some business to attend to..."

Cheong-ra declined, not feeling particularly inclined as he had to send an important letter to his sect, but Wi Je-ho immediately continued,

"Ah! Then how about we go for a meal after you finish your business?"

"I've already had breakfast..."

"I know you haven't had breakfast yet. Come on, don't refuse. I know a place with delicious food. Let's go have a drink."

Was this his way of saying he was monitoring him, or was it just casual conversation? Cheong-ra looked at him dubiously before nodding. While they hardly conversed at The Pavilion of Golden Fragrance, outside Wi Je-ho was chatty and friendly.

"So, did you enjoy your sightseeing at Mount Heng?"

"I saw some rather unpleasant things."

Wi Je-ho nodded as if he understood completely. Suddenly curious about something, Cheong-ra asked,

"By the way, has Miss Hwan returned?"

Unlike when they departed, Hwan-hong wasn't there when they left the Hengshan Sect. There had been no news since she left on Dang Ran-yeong's orders. However, neither Dang Ran-yeong nor Nam Gang-ryong seemed particularly concerned about Hwan-hong. When Cheong-ra asked worriedly, the only answer he got was that she would return on her own.

"Ah, Hong isn't back yet. Finding a spirit beast takes a long time and a lot of effort. She'll contact us when she finds it."

Seeing that Wi Je-ho wasn't particularly worried either, it seemed Hwan-hong had the means to protect herself well.

Cheong-ra stopped by an inn along the way and bought a bottle of wine and some food. As always, the Beggar Sect gladly accepted the food and took Cheong-ra's letter. It was a letter detailing what had happened and stating that he would investigate further.

'I've done everything the Sect Leader instructed, but...'

The Sect Leader had ordered him to investigate the forces that attacked Moon Lake Sect, nothing more. Nevertheless, Cheong-ra felt the need to learn more about the New Blood Cult. It seemed that just uncovering their identity wouldn't be enough.

After delivering the letter, he followed Wi Je-ho. Given how luxuriously Dang Ran-yeong lived, Cheong-ra expected Wi Je-ho to take him to a grand place, but it was more modest than he thought.

Soon, various dishes came out, including noodles, dumplings, and stir-fried mushrooms. Perhaps because he was hungry, it tasted good even to Cheong-ra, who was accustomed to all the delicacies of The Pavilion of Golden Fragrance. Wi Je-ho offered alcohol from the morning and said good-naturedly,

"Calling you Young Master Baek is a bit stiff. Can I call you Beauty too?"

Cheong-ra, who had been smiling, immediately turned serious and shook his head.

"No, I don't like that."

"How rigid, is it a pet name only used between the two of you?"

Despite the immediate rejection, Wi Je-ho grumbled but didn't seem particularly upset.

"It's not a pet name... Young Master Dang is just calling me that unilaterally."

Regardless of whether he liked being called "Beauty" or not, Cheong-ra felt uncomfortable with others using that term. It was a different feeling from being called Moonlight Beauty Sword. Wanting to change the subject, Cheong-ra looked around and noticed something.

"It seems accessories with moon engravings are fashionable these days."

Cheong-ra enjoyed observing other people's attire and accessories, and as he ate slowly, he noticed that many of the accessories worn by people in the inn had moons and clouds engraved on them. Come to think of it, even Jang Sa-eop, whom he had encountered in Xiangyang, and the young novice at the Hengshan Sect had accessories with moon carvings.

"Well, it has suddenly become popular recently..."

Wi Je-ho's eyes narrowed as he sipped his drink and said this. He suddenly looked at Cheong-ra and said,

"Come to think of it, Young Master Baek, you have a moon too, don't you?"

"On my body, you mean?"

Cheong-ra asked back, examining himself, but there was nothing except for the jade tablet he always carried.

"Not only your nickname Moonlight Flashing Sword, but isn't there a moon in the name of Moon Lake Sect as well?"

"Ah..."

Cheong-ra nodded and looked down at his clothes. The characters for "Moon Lake" were embroidered small on his collar.

"It's said that the sect's founding ancestor, Mirror Moon Sword Mun Cheon-sang, gained enlightenment while looking at the moon reflected in a lake. That's why the sect was named Moon Lake Sect."

"So that's how the moon came to be included. Then, was the moon reflected in that lake a full moon?"

Receiving this unexpected question, Cheong-ra tilted his head. He had told stories about Moon Lake Sect and its founding ancestor many times while traveling around the Central Plains, but this was the first time he had received such a question.

"According to oral tradition, it was a full moon. That's why the lake is called Full Moon Lake."

"Hmm. A very good name."

Wi Je-ho nodded with a strangely satisfied expression. Unconsciously, Cheong-ra's gaze turned to the jade tablet Wi Je-ho was carrying. He had thought Wi Je-ho might also carry an accessory with a moon carving, but looking again, it was a carving of a large circle overlapping a smaller one.

Curious, he was about to ask what that carving meant when the outside suddenly became chaotic and heart-wrenching screams began to be heard.

As the faint screams gradually drew closer, Wi Je-ho and Cheong-ra immediately reacted, grabbing their swords and jumping to their feet. Cheong-ra, who had been sitting near the exit, rushed out first, followed by Wi Je-ho, who tossed money for the food to the innkeeper.

"The food was delicious!"

The innkeeper, who had unexpectedly received a large sum for the meal, unconsciously looked outside and then, turning pale, slammed the inn's door shut.

On the main street, people were screaming and fleeing in one direction. Then, witnessing the cause, Cheong-ra opened his mouth in surprise. One of the fleeing people screamed in a sharp voice,

"A tiger! It's a tiger! Help! A mad tiger has appeared!"