Cheon Myeong stopped his training midway and headed to the reception room where Hong Yeorin was waiting.
According to Mihwa, it seed that Hong Yeorin had said she would wait until the training was over.
But since it would take quite a while for the training to end, it was sowhat uncomfortable for him to make Hong Yeorin wait until then.
Moreover, the fact that Hong Yeorin had co here ant that there was sothing she had found out.
Although training was also important, that was more of a priority right now, so as soon as Cheon Myeong heard from Mihwa that Hong Yeorin had co, he stopped his training and was heading to the reception room.
Creak-.
Cheon Myeong opened the door as soon as he arrived in front of the reception room.
Then, inside, there was Hong Yeorin, who was leisurely drinking tea.
"Ah, you've co?"
As soon as she discovered Cheon Myeong, Hong Yeorin said with a smile, just as she had done before.
As expected, he still wasn't used to that smile.
But perhaps because it was the second ti, it felt a little more familiar to see it than the first ti.
"I've kept you waiting."
"Not at all. But you've co faster than I thought, I heard from the maid that I would have to wait for an hour because you were doing sothing else."
"Ah, don't mind that. This is more important."
Cheon Myeong said that and sat down opposite Hong Yeorin.
And he looked at Hong Yeorin with a aningful gaze and asked.
"The fact that you've co here ans that there has been so progress, right?"
It was a tone that suggested that the atmosphere would beco quite grim if she had co to see him for another reason.
As if she had sensed that, Hong Yeorin imdiately gave the answer that Cheon Myeong wanted.
"Yes, that's right."
"..."
"As you said, I investigated the hidden weapons, and it seems I have obtained the information you want, Young Master."
As expected.
He had thought that if it was Hong Yeorin, she would be able to find out the information he wanted.
"Speak."
"First of all, what you are most curious about is the source of the hidden weapons, right?"
Cheon Myeong nodded his head without a word.
Seeing this, Hong Yeorin continued to speak.
"To conclude, I was not able to find out the source of so of the hidden weapons."
"On the other hand, you have found out the source of so of the hidden weapons?"
"You are sharp."
Now, this appearance of Cheon Myeong was not very surprising.
"Among the hidden weapons you gave , there was a hidden weapon with so characteristics. I investigated by going back with that characteristic, and I was able to find out the source of the hidden weapon."
Just as a sword has characteristics, a hidden weapon also has characteristics.
Especially, the more precise and complex the use of the hidden weapon, the more pronounced the characteristics beco.
For example, there is the Cheon-roe-gu of the Tang family.
Since that is a unique hidden weapon that only the Tang family can produce, if a Cheon-roe-gu is discovered, one would be able to know that the source is the Tang family.
The information that Cheon Myeong had hoped for from Hong Yeorin this ti was also like that.
He was planning to find out the culprit who had sent an assassin to him with a hidden weapon with characteristics.
"Perhaps what you are interested in is this."
Hong Yeorin said that and took sothing out from her bosom.
At a glance, it looked like a ring, but if one looked closely, one could see that a rather sharp blade was sticking out from one place.
"..."
Cheon Myeong took what Hong Yeorin had held out and examined it closely.
Co to think of it, there was also sothing like this among the things he had put in the wooden box.
At first, he had thought it was just a decoration, but he rembered that he had discovered the part with the blade and had taken it off the corpse's finger and had put it in.
"It is called a Neuk-a."
"Neuk-a?"
"Yes, it is said to be a hidden weapon that is worn on the finger and is used to assassinate the opponent with the poison applied to the blade."
After hearing the explanation, Cheon Myeong examined the hidden weapon called Neuk-a again.
A hidden weapon that looks just like a ring at a glance.
That's why, even if one approached openly, wouldn't it be quite easy to kill secretly?
If it was a deadly poison, a small amount would be enough to kill a person, so even if one just pricked slightly, it could be a frightening hidden weapon.
'It doesn't seem to be poisoned now.'
Perhaps from his mory, it had been like that since he had discovered the Neuk-a.
That ant that the assassin had no intention of using this hidden weapon on him.
In other words, it would be okay to think that this was a hidden weapon that the assassin had unconsciously had.
Flash-.
Thinking so, a light flashed in Cheon Myeong's two eyes.
In fact, what Cheon Myeong had been worried about was that there might not be a hidden weapon among the hidden weapons that the assassin had that could reveal the identity of the culprit.
Since the assassin was a guy who had even committed suicide to hide the identity of the culprit, wasn't there a high probability that he did not have a hidden weapon that could be traced?
Although he had been concerned about that part, since this was the only clue, he had entrusted the investigation to Hong Yeorin.
This is good.
Cheon Myeong thought so as he looked at the Neuk-a.
'Perhaps this hidden weapon was habitually worn on the assassin's finger.'
So wasn't it that he had not been able to take it off?
The fact that it was not sared with poison was the biggest proof of all.
And since Hong Yeorin had taken out the Neuk-a as if it were a decisive clue, it seed that it would be good to have high expectations.
"Did you say Neuk-a... where is it used?"
"It is the Snake Jo Family."
"The Snake Jo Family..."
He had heard that na before.
A place that was surely one of the Five Great Demonic Families.
Since Cheon Myeong had thought from the beginning that the identity of the culprit was one of the Five Great Demonic Families, everything was now falling into place.
"And I found this out by chance."
As if she had more to say, Hong Yeorin said.
"It seems that Jang Hyeon and Jo Seokjin have had quite a bit of interaction with each other."
Cheon Myeong imdiately knew what that ant.
And it seed that the outline of this incident was visible.
'...I've got him.'
Cheon Myeong thought so and put the Neuk-a in his bosom.
And looking at him, Hong Yeorin said.
"Was it helpful?"
"Yes, it was."
And a lot.
If he hadn't made a request to Hong Yeorin, Cheon Myeong would not have known about the existence of the hidden weapon called Neuk-a.
No, perhaps even if he had found out, he would have co a long way to reach here.
Because he had taken the shortcut called Hong Yeorin, Cheon Myeong was able to find out the identity of the culprit within a few days.
"I'm glad it was helpful."
Hong Yeorin said that and looked at Cheon Myeong with a silent gaze.
And Cheon Myeong, who had discovered that gaze belatedly.
At first, he had thought about why Hong Yeorin was looking at him like that, but he soon realized the aning of that gaze.
"Ah... if it's Pung-yu-hwan, I'll bring it within a few days."
"Not at all. If you tell the deadline, I will co to receive it."
"No, that's okay. I'll go. And don't co to the Socheongak like today."
Although Hong Yeorin had co to the Socheongak herself out of consideration for Cheon Myeong.
Hearing those words, it seed that that consideration was rather a burden to Cheon Myeong.
"Do you dislike coming?"
"It's not that, but it's a bit much if there are people like that outside the door every ti you co."
"Ah..."
"If you co to the Socheongak, people will think it's strange. So when you have business with , send soone to call ."
Cheon Myeong did not want to reveal his relationship with Hong Yeorin to the outside.
That way, Hong Yeorin's value to him would be even higher.
Well, it seed that it would be revealed in the near future, but the later he could delay that ti, the better.
"I understand."
Hong Yeorin answered as if she had understood, even though Cheon Myeong had not given a particular explanation.
She is a woman who understands quickly, indeed.
At first, that had been a headache, but in a part like this, it is a considerable help.
'Well, then...'
He could just manufacture Pung-yu-hwan and give it to Hong Yeorin.
Since it didn't take that long to make it anyway.
The problem was, now that he had revealed the identity of the culprit, what to do from now on.
'...Should I do that, after all?'
As if he had decided on a direction, Cheon Myeong's eyes were looking ahead to the next move.
* * *
Thump- thump-.
Rather rough footsteps. And as much as those footsteps, Jo Seokjin's face was also full of anger.
"..."
The person Jo Seokjin's anger was directed at was Jo Ducheon.
It had already been ten days since he had given Jo Ducheon another chance to assassinate Cheon Myeong.
But not only was there no news that Cheon Myeong had died, but there was also no news that he was sick in bed.
'What on earth is that guy doing?'
Ten days was enough ti to kill Cheon Myeong and hold a funeral.
But even now, there was no news from Jo Ducheon.
'Not even a report, is that guy looking down on ?'
If it was still being delayed, shouldn't he at least report the reason to him?
Of course, even if he had made such a report now, it was not that he could be forgiven.
Thump-.
At that mont, Jo Seokjin stopped walking.
As a thought ca to his mind, he had stopped walking without realizing it.
'Could it be... he ran away?'
He hadn't thought of it until now, but that possibility also existed sufficiently.
Wouldn't it be possible that Jo Ducheon had thought that it was impossible for him to assassinate Cheon Myeong and had run away to live?
Since Jo Ducheon would also know that he would be in a rough spot if he returned empty-handed, he might think of running away from him forever if he was going to give up on the assassination.
"Ugh..."
As that thought ca to him, Jo Seokjin was so angry that his teeth were chattering.
To dare to try and escape from his hands.
Although it was not yet certain, if Jo Ducheon had really made that choice, he had no intention of forgiving him.
'If he ran away from , I will surely find him and kill him!'
Not only that, but he would also kill all of his relatives.
As a branch family had broken its fate and had run away, as an example.
It didn't seem that his anger would be completely resolved even if he did that.
'For now, I have to find Jo Ducheon.'
Jo Seokjin had no thought in his head that Jo Ducheon would have died during the assassination.
That's why he had only thought of ordering soone to bring Jo Ducheon before him.
And as he thought so, he began to move his stopped steps again.
Whoosh-.
At that mont, sothing passed quickly in front of Jo Seokjin.
As sothing suddenly popped out from the blind spot, Jo Seokjin was slightly surprised and had no choice but to stop walking again.
'What!'
What on earth had passed in front of him?
Although he hadn't seen it properly, it wasn't a bug.
Peep-!
At that mont, a cry was heard from the sky.
Jo Seokjin heard that sound and raised his head.
'...A bird?'
What was flying above his head was a bird. And it was a bird that was all white.
Since it was a bird that could not be easily found in this area, Jo Seokjin was montarily lost in thought and looked at the bird.
Grind-.
But his face soon contorted.
It didn't matter no matter how rare a bird it was.
Jo Seokjin was in a bad mood at the thought that a re bird had blocked his path.
'Now even a bird...'
Jo Seokjin glared at the bird with the thought of picking up a stone and throwing it to make it fall.
Then, the bird circled the sky and then slowly ca down.
And Jo Seokjin, seeing this, moved his gaze, following the bird with the thought that it was a good thing.
"...?"
His gaze stopped at the place where the bird had landed.
At the sa ti, a question appeared on Jo Seokjin's face.
'Why is that person...'
The bird was sitting on soone's shoulder.
And Jo Seokjin's gaze was directed at the face of the owner of that shoulder, not the bird.
"Jo Seokjin?"
A short question.
Cheon Myeong, with Baekjo on his shoulder, said with a aningful smile.
(End of Chapter)
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