Book 6 Chapter 39

The Meeting Between Hyoryong and Muhun Ilho

"You're here?"

Hyoryong said without looking back, arriving at the edge of a gloomy cliff where human footsteps rarely tread.

This was indeed the place indicated by the secret message.

Hyoryong had left under the pretense of scouting for ambushes.

Since the ambush by unknown masked individuals, the surrounding security had become even tighter. He couldn't afford to make any suspicious moves.

"Yes!"

Muhun Ilho, who had appeared behind him unnoticed and prostrated himself, replied briefly but intensely. As the leader of the Muhun Biyoungdae, the strongest organization in the Palace, his demeanor always made Hyoryong feel burdened.

Hyoryong thought that perhaps only this person prostrating behind him could freely enter and exit the impenetrable Cheonmu Academy. Already this year, five secret lines had gone silent. Indeed, Cheonmu Academy was not to be underestimated. It allowed no room for even a moment's mistake.

"Why did you suddenly leave a secret message?"

In such a secluded place, with limited space and movement, it was paradoxically easier to attract attention. Therefore, it was rare for Muhun Ilho to initiate contact.

This implied that a critical matter that absolutely had to be reported had occurred.

Furthermore, he had also requested an investigation into the suspicious ambushes that had occurred several times previously.

"Sir… there are suspicious movements within the Palace. It feels like there's an undercurrent."

"A suspicious undercurrent? Does that mean you don't know its nature?"

Hyoryong asked, his tone tinged with surprise. Muhun Ilho was someone who could access the highest echelons of secrecy. Yet, he spoke of an undercurrent whose nature he couldn't ascertain…

"I apologize, Third Young Master! It is due to my inadequacy."

Muhun Ilho's face, seemingly lost in darkness, bowed deeply towards the ground. He was truly remorseful.

"Then, this is something happening at the very top! Could it be the First Young Master's faction?"

Hyoryong looked at Muhun Ilho with wide-open eyes. If his suspicion was correct, the situation might be more serious than he thought.

"We cannot rule out that possibility. You might not be able to clear yourself of suspicion for this ambush either. It seems the leadership is involved. If only your elder brother were here at a time like this…"

Muhun Ilho said through gritted teeth, spitting out his words with a heartbroken feeling.

Hyoryong, who had been quiet, suddenly shouted.

"Silence. 'Brother' is a forbidden name in both the Palace and the Alliance. Even though it's just the two of us, speaking rashly is dangerous."

"I… my words were too careless."

Muhun Ilho lowered his head with a look of realization, apologizing. He had momentarily forgotten that the person before him would be the most hurt by that name and had spoken out of turn.

"It's alright. More importantly, please pay closer attention to the Palace's movements going forward."

"Understood!"

"Swish!"

'Leave no trace when meeting and parting.'

Muhun Ilho, adhering strictly to the paramount rule of maintaining a clandestine relationship and acting like a spy, vanished into nature as secretly and naturally as he had appeared, like a model hermit.

"Sigh! He always leaves me with a burden and disappears!"

Hyoryong let out a pathetic sigh.

Muhun Ilho's respectful demeanor always weighed heavily on his heart.

It was as if he was always projecting the image of his grandfather onto him. After all, he was a descendant of his bloodline but had not inherited his abilities. The thought of projecting the shadow of his grandfather, a former idol and legend of the underworld, onto himself, a flawed product, always burdened him.

The return of his grandfather was a title befitting his only elder brother, and even then, no one truly lived up to that name anymore.

"…Brother!"

His brother, who would no longer answer even if he called. Not since that day five years ago…

It was then.

"Clang! Clang!"

'The sound of clashing swords?'

It was undeniably the sound of swords clashing. Moreover, judging by the sound, he instinctively felt that the situation was dire.

'Where is it? Damn it!'

The location was clearly where the training camp was. It seemed another assault had begun.

"Kwakwakwakwang!"

'Damn it! And now the sound of an explosion of internal energy?'

To make matters worse, now he could hear the sound of internal energy clashing, which only occurred when two powerful internal energies collided. The mountain seemed to vibrate.

'How strong are the attackers?'

The sound of an internal energy explosion clearly indicated that someone capable of wielding internal energy martial arts had arrived. These were beings on a different level from the previous assailants.

'Damn it, just how strong an opponent have they deployed?'

Hyoryong moved swiftly towards the direction of the training camp.

Unaware of what dark, fated hand was reaching out to him!

'I can't let my friends die!'

His speed increased. Indeed, such dark and sinister affairs were not his forte.