The prospects, including Yeonharin, were moving on a large ship.

They left Homuryeon early this morning, and got a bunch of boats from the dock in Uichang, and set off.

Homuryeon took care of finding the boats, so all personnel were able to find boats without any issues.

Twelve large ships departed simultaneously.

Flags of Homuryeon and flags of each family were fluttering on top of all the ships.

The scale alone was enormous, but considering the power the flags possessed, they wouldn’t have to worry about pirates while returning.

So the atmosphere was relaxing.

There were a lot of people on the deck. Everyone enjoyed the scenery and talked about it.

Among the twelve ships, only the ship with Yeonharin was subtly different from that of the other ships.

Yeonharin came out on the deck for fresh air and looked at the flowing river.

There were three guards standing around Yeonharin in a slightly nervous state.

Yeonharin’s bodyguard warriors had to receive Yoo Seoyeon’s education back in Homuryeon.

In particular, the bodyguards having their services bought by the Seomun Household, Gu Yang Household, and the Chu Household, were treated in a very poor manner.

Yeonharin’s bodyguards didn’t relax for a moment with their eyes mixed with determination and fear.

They couldn’t imagine what would happen if they made any mistake and it got into Yoo Seoyeon’s ears.

Yeonharin admired Yoo Seoyeon’s ability while looking at the guards behaving that way.

Usually, if you bother someone to that degree, they will develop bad feelings, but these guards didn’t have any bad feelings at all.

That was a great ability. At least that was what Yeonharin thought.

Yeonharin was thinking of the people she had left back in Homuryeon while watching the flowing river.

Half of her thoughts were on Byeoktaesan, and the other half was on Yoo Seoyeon.

In fact, Yoo Seoyeon said she would follow Yeonharin. However, Yeonharin firmly refused.

As Yeonharin judged, Yoo Seo-yeon was in the midst of a moment.

If she had come back with her from there, that would be her kicking her luck.

When she thought about that, Byeoktaesan came to her mind.

A smile lingered around Yeonharin’s mouth and then disappeared in an instant.

She didn’t want to laugh carelessly here.

Yeonharin looked around.

There were many people who constantly glanced at her from a distance.

Fortunately, they didn’t seem to have seen her smiling.

‘It’s okay if it’s this much I guess.’

These people didn’t dare come near Yeonharin. Even if they did and spoke to her, they were very careful with what they said.

It was completely different from Seomunjaehak, Gu Yang su, or Chu Younghak.

It was really painful back then, but now she felt more relaxed.

Two hours have passed since she had left Uichang. Because the speed of the ship was not slow by any means, they had come already quite far away.

A little further ahead, she saw several branches of the river show up.

It was a place where small rivers joining the wide river appeared one after another.

But a boat was coming out of that small river.

Three or four ships came out from each river, but there were so many small rivers that it equaled to about a few dozen ships.

And there were several other ships approaching from the distance.

She instantly felt tense.

Yeonharin focused her eyes on the approaching ships.

She saw a bunch of men with swords.

Yeonharin turned around with a stiff face and checked on the other people.

Unlike before, there was a heavy feeling of tension in the air.

The men who were watching Yeonharin approached her.

“It seems like pirates appeared. It is dangerous, so I think it would be better for Lady Yeon to go inside…”

At the words of one of the men, the rest of the men nodded.

However, Yeonharin replied with a cold expression.

“I did not learn and practice martial arts to hide behind in cases like this. I will fight too.”

After saying that, Yeonharin turned around and stared at the pirates.

Everyone stared at her blankly.

Feelings of worry, admiration, and gratification were entangled in their eyes.

In the meantime, the ships of the enemies came closer.

* * *

Byeoktaesan slowly ate lunch and headed to Geumokru.

Cheon Gyeong-wan and Yoo Seoyeon followed after him.

They were nervous thinking that Byeoktaesan might say he was going alone.

They prepared at least five things to say in their heads should that happen.

Of course, there was no need to use any of them because Byeoktaesan asked them to go together.

Today, they practiced like hell as well.

Yoo Seoyeon regretted not insisting to Yeonharin to follow her when she asked her to remain.

Of course, now that the pain was gone, she did not regret it.

If she just returned like that, when Cheon Gyeong-wan came back later, it was obvious her martial arts would be much inferior to him.

Muryangbo was a devilish martial art, but it was very effective.

Even only after a few days of practicing, she was able to feel the effect.

Her muscles got really firm and flexible. In addition, her gimaek became stronger.

The inner strength training was smoother than before, and the flow of understanding the basics was very smooth even with other training.

It was like this, so if she had gone back, how much would the difference be?

Honestly, if Byeoktaesan did not force them to practice Muryangbo as it was now, she wasn’t sure she would practice it properly past 30 minutes a day.

It was that painful.

Anyway, it was only a short time, but to her, it was a precious time since she was suffering from pain.

Yoo Seo-yeon and Cheon Gyeong-wan did not say a word and walked while enjoying the normal walk.

They were thrilled over the fact they did not feel pain from walking.

After a short time, they arrived at Geumokru.

Unlike the last time they came, the door opened wide before arriving in front of Geumokru, and courtesans rushed out and greeted Byeoktaesan.

The Baekhwaruju was mixed among the courtesans.

The Baekhwaruju bowed more politely than ever.

“I was waiting for you, my lord. Let us head inside first.”

Byeoktaesan went into the Geumokru under the guidance of the Baekhwaruju.

The Baekhwaruju took Byeoktaesan to a small pavilion in the deepest part of Geumokru.

It was a place that was not open to customers.

The pavilion consisted of numerous small rooms. And the top floor was used as a single room.

There were people in each room, but it seemed that this was where Hao guild’s information was stored and organized.

The room on the top floor was the office and bedroom of the Uichang branch’s Hao Guild manager.

Byeoktaesan sat at the seat reserved for seniors as if it were natural.

The only people who entered this room were the Baekhwaruju and the Geumokruju, the head of the Uichang branch.

Cheon Gyeong-wan and Yoo Seo-yeon waited by the door outside the room.

The Geumokruju looked at the Baekhwaruju with peculiar eyes while watching Byeoktaesan go to the senior seat and sitting down.

In fact, the colorful chair on which Byeoktaesan sat on was not originally found there.

The Baekhwaruju had brought it. She had said it will have its use someday.

The Geumokruju kept a close eye on Byeoktaesan, who sat on the senior seat as if it was perfectly natural for him to sit there.

‘He is a person who is used to sitting in the senior seat.’

Byeoktaesan sat in the senior seat and stared at the two people sitting in the chairs in a slightly lower position.

Then, the Baekhwaruju proceeded to give him the information he was looking for.

Byeoktaesan received a few documents from the Baekhwaruju and scanned them.

“Hoh. You figured out the route they are taking?”

A smile came to the mouth of the Baekhwaruju.

“I couldn’t figure it all out. However, we are doing a separate investigation on parties that clearly cooperated with them in the process.”

“There aren’t any half Kang-shi there right?”

“I think it would be safe to assume that there isn’t a single half Kang-shi left in Uichang.”

The Homuryeon was so agitated and constantly on the lookout for them, so it was likely they pulled all of them out of Uichang.

“Throw any information about them to the Homuryeon.”

“Yes. I will do as you say.”

Probably, just by throwing a few pieces of evidence at them, the Homuryeon will take care of them on their own.

“Hmm, river… … .”

“This is the fastest and safest way to bring half Kang-shi into Uichang without being caught. I’ve already identified the places the half kang-shi would have disembarked from.”

Byeoktaesan looked at the Baekhwaruju with sparkling eyes.

Isn’t this quite competent?

“You actually figured it out that far already.”

“Actually, the pirates around here were acting a little weird, so I was already in the midst of investigating. So I was able to find the route more easily.”

“Pirates? Are pirates involved in this mess?

“It looks very likely that they are.”

“Then, wouldn’t that make it very likely that the half kang-shi is with the pirates right now?”

“I suppose… so?”

“I see.”

Byeoktaesan made a strange expression and rubbed his chin.

“It feels like you did a very good job in just a few days.”

The Baekhwaruju quickly lowered her head.

“It was all thanks to you, my lord.”

In the eyes of the Baekhwaruju, who raised her head again, an earnest desire flashed.

It was all thanks to the Amyeongbo that the level of the Hao guild increased in just a few days.

If the Amyeongbo was delivered to other guilds, it probably wouldn’t have made this much of a difference.

But the Hao guild was different.

Everything in the Hao guild was made based on the Amyeongbo.

So, every time they got a piece of the Amyeoungbo, their level increased dramatically.

Historically, the development of the Hao guild was also related to the Amyeongbo.

If someone among the past the Hao guild leaders gained a new understanding of the Amyeongbo, Amyeongbo itself was supplemented and it affected the entire Hao guild.

So, that made the Baekhwaruju anxiously want the Amyeongbo.

No, not only the Baekhwaruju but everyone who knew the relationship between the Hao guild and the Amyeongbo was waiting for the Amyeongbo.

In fact, inside the Hao guild, there were opinions on whether they should use a more forceful method into acquiring the Amyeongbo.

But the Baekhwaruju put a stop to that as if her life was at stake.

In her view, Byeoktaesan was a person who should never be approached that way.

For the Baekhwaruju, what she was doing was the best way.

Byeoktaesan looked at the Baekhwaruju, who was looking at him with all that heart.

When he first saw her, he thought she wasn’t an ordinary person. But after dealing with her for a bit, she ended up being better than he expected.

If she continued to grow like this, he thought, as long as she doesn’t run into trouble, she wouldn’t have much trouble becoming the next leader of the Hao guild.

“So what are you saying is, give you more food is that it?”

“How dare I… I just show my appreciation if the lord should ever show grace. Even if you don’t, my feelings of gratitude will never be shaken.”

Byeoktaesan nodded.

“Okay. It would be wise of you to keep that thought.”

For some reason, the Baekhwaruju thought that those words weren’t just said for no reason.

His tone and attitude didn’t change at all, but for some reason, the feeling was different from usual.

The Baekhwaruju glanced at the Geumokruju next to her. And she made a puzzled look.

The Geumokruju was trembling noticeably.

‘What is wrong with her?’

The Baekhwaruju quickly shed her thoughts and concentrated on Byeoktaesan again.

There was a moment of silence.

Then, a piece of paper fluttered and flew in the air and landed in front of the Baekhwaruju.

It was the third piece of the Amyeoungbo.

The Baekhwaruju picked it up with trembling hands.

“Will you be a little more competent with that?”

“I will definitely make it that way.”

“Well, that is up to you to do. As for me, I think I should have a chat with these so-called pirates. Ones that have the highest possibility of being involved with this mess. You can help me with this right?”

He had asked if she could help with it, but the answer was fixed. Even if it wasn’t possible, she had to do everything in her power to make it possible.

“If you set the time for us, we will guide you immediately.”

Byeoktaesan smiled.

“Right now.”

“Pardon?”

The Baekhwaruju was amazed and looked up at Byeoktaesan with her head raised. But quickly she lowered her head again and answered.

“I will prepare right away.”

“Alright. Hurry up. I’m not one to savor my food.”

She didn’t know what that meant, but the Baekhwaruju was in a hurry. It felt like a fear of an unknown reason permeated her heart.

* * *

The Baekhwaruju that came out started running at once.

And the Geumokruju ran alongside the Baekhwaruju.

The Geumokruju’s face was still pale.

“Are you okay?”

The Geumokruju nodded at the question of the Baekhwaruju.

“I’m okay now.”

“Now? Looks like something did happen earlier. What happened?”

The Geumokruju glanced at the pavilion with Byeoktaesan in the back. It was obviously a noticeable act.

“That person, no, the lord… What is his identity?”

“You already know. The second son of the Gold Wall merchants. And he is also the one who uses us as he sees fit with this.”

The Baekhwaruju gently touched the piece of the Amyeongbo she kept in her arms.

“Right. But… Sigh.”

The Geumokruju shook her head.

“No. I was just a little scared. It was my first time experiencing that… … .”

After saying that, the Geumokruju looked at the Baekhwaruju with new eyes.

“And I think I know why you so strongly stopped the bullshit of those old people. Really… I think we avoided a catastrophe.”

The Baekhwaruju laughed. Then spoke after focusing.

“Ah, let’s hurry up. He’s not someone who likes to wait… … .”

Hearing that the Geumokruju focused her inner power and sped up in no time.

“What the hell is she so scared about?”

The Baekhwaruju tilted her head and quickly pursued the Geumokruju.

Anyway, it wasn’t so bad for her since she felt like she got herself a good comrade.