The darkness gathering in Sohwa’s eyes suddenly turned past Zhuge Jihwi, toward his back.
There was no sound, but she could faintly feel the scent of pine resin drifting in.
She stared at the door, then lifted her gaze to the sky.
Namgung Hyun had said they needed to return once the moon passed a certain point, but she could not tell where that was at all.
Considering that she could not remember it no matter how many times he explained it, it seemed the eyes of a sorcerer were not exactly ordinary.
Sohwa simply gauged the time through Namgung Hyun’s presence. It seemed it was already time to go back.
“If the records held by the Zhuge family are records from Geumeunsan, how much of them have been moved?”
As if conceding defeat to Tang Sohwa’s persistent suspicion, Zhuge Jihwi confessed,
“I do not know how many records Geumeunsan holds, but it should still be far from complete. The Blood Cult said it would take twenty years, so that means there is still a great deal left to move.”
Zhuge Jihwi’s voice was strange. It was heavy, as if tinged with regret.
Sohwa did not miss that nuance.
“You don’t seem pleased.”
“Yes. There is something I need in those records, but since I don’t know when that information will be delivered, it leaves me a bit restless.”
“May I ask what kind of information you need? I have seen some things myself, so it might be of help.”
Zhuge Jihwi let out a small laugh.
“It’s nothing special. A method to restore the eyesight of someone who went blind due to qi deviation.”
Sohwa closed her mouth for a moment.
She felt she understood who those records were meant for.
After quietly thinking it over, Sohwa spoke.
“I do not know whether such a method exists, but if there is a record of it in the treasury, there is a way to find it immediately.”
“What do you mean?”
“There is someone in the Black Tortoise Pavilion who manages the treasury. Since it is something he said himself, it is hard to trust completely, but that man claims to have memorized all the records inside the treasury and to be fluent in every Outland language. Because of that, despite committing a grave crime, the Blood Demon spared his life. If you can extract just that manager, you should be able to obtain the record you want without wasting time.”
The flicker that had passed through Zhuge Jihwi’s eyes vanished, leaving them clouded.
“...Are you telling me to go alone into Geumeunsan and kidnap one of the Blood Demon’s people? Haha. Waiting twenty years sounds more realistic.”
Sohwa understood why Zhuge Jihwi was afraid.
If even the Alliance Leader had failed to defeat the Blood Demon at Geumeunsan, then Geumeunsan would be all the more terrifying to Zhuge Jihwi.
Rising from her seat, Sohwa said,
“I spoke in hopes it would help, but if it is difficult, then it cannot be helped. I snuck out while things were hectic, so I should return now. I hope we can speak again later.”
“Yes, of course.”
Zhuge Jihwi also stood.
As he opened the door, he added,
“Next time, instead of summoning me to Sagye Hall, let us meet at Baekgeumgak. Headquarters has too many eyes from my household, so it’s a burden.”
Sohwa gave a small nod.
“By the way, what is the situation with the Tang Clan? Are things all right?”
Zhuge Jihwi, his tension now eased, finally asked something that mundane.
It was a question he could ask because he knew they were all right. The fact that Tang Sohwa was here, calmly holding a conversation, made it easy to guess that the Tang Clan’s situation was favorable.
He swallowed a hollow laugh.
'Well, with even the sorcerer the Blood Demon has been clinging to on her side, what is there to fear?'
In an instant, the frames of the Northern Sea and the Great Desert, into which the Blood Demon had poured the most effort, had become her people—and now even a sorcerer had joined her.
'If the demonic sect has already vanished, and even the Blood Cult collapses...'
A thin crease formed between Zhuge Jihwi’s brows.
If the Blood Demon were to disappear, it occurred to him that this woman might end up gripping the entire world in her hands.
Of course, it was one of many outlandish worries that flitted through his mind.
As he opened the door, he flinched.
Namgung Hyun was standing in front of it.
He was surprised to see Namgung Hyun openly walking around headquarters. It was far removed from the cautious temperament he had heard about until now.
'Wasn’t it said he went to the Tang Clan? If someone sees him moving around like this, suspicions will arise.'
Passing Zhuge Jihwi, Namgung Hyun looked at Tang Sohwa. Tang Sohwa also seemed to sense something unusual about him and spoke first.
“Let’s go back now.”
However, Namgung Hyun did not seem inclined to return.
“Before that, there is someplace we need to stop by.”
“...Are you openly ignoring me? I’m hurt.”
Zhuge Jihwi joked, trying to cut through the somber mood.
But Namgung Hyun did not play along. Instead, he said something cryptic even to him.
“Young Clan Head, it would be best if you returned to the Zhuge family right away.”
“Hmm. I was planning to do that anyway, but hearing it from you makes going home feel scary.”
After hesitating briefly, Namgung Hyun spoke carefully.
“The marriage envoys have crossed into Hubei.”
At those words, all expression vanished from Zhuge Jihwi’s face.
“They left headquarters just now, so they may already be heading for the Zhuge family. If they learn you stayed at Sagye Hall, you could face needless questioning, so you should return before they arrive.”
“Where are you two heading?”
Namgung Hyun seemed to have lingering doubts, but reluctantly explained.
“The marriage envoys have confirmed that the Tang Clan’s quarters within headquarters have been moved, so it seems some of them will go to the Tang Clan. Before that, we plan to stop by Baekgeumgak to check the situation and then return. It’s the only organization that gathers news about the Blood Cult quickly and is favorable toward Young Lady Tang.”
Zhuge Jihwi gave a small nod. The playfulness vanished from his face.
“I’ll head straight back to the main house and look into things as well.”
After Zhuge Jihwi left, Namgung Hyun and Tang Sohwa split off in another direction.
Zhuge Jihwi glanced back slightly.
The two of them were heading behind the hall.
'Was he someone who could move so cooperatively like that?'
It felt strange to see someone so calculating—someone who even demanded compensation from the Blood Demon—moving as if it were his own affair.
He grew curious what Tang Sohwa could possibly have offered him as a condition.
***
Crossing over the wall, Sohwa swept Baekgeumgak with a peculiar look.
She did not feel the distinctive warmth of the Sun Palace bloodline.
“Please, go inside.”
They quietly went up the stairs. Upon reaching the floor where the Vice Hall Lord stayed, the two looked around. Their faces darkened.
Not only was the Vice Hall Lord absent; there was no one guarding the area either.
Sohwa turned to Namgung Hyun and asked,
“Is there a chance the marriage envoys stopped by Baekgeumgak first?”
Namgung Hyun shook his head.
“The marriage envoys are the most loyal followers of the Blood Demon. They disdain frames and are not on good terms with the Crimson Blood Hall, so the likelihood of them coming to ask for help is low. At the same time, they aren’t strong enough to force orders on the Crimson Blood Hall.”
Listening, Sohwa looked once more around the Vice Hall Lord’s office. Seeing how neatly it was arranged, it looked as if he had deliberately left.
“It seems the Vice Hall Lord has gone to the Great Desert. I don’t know how many, but it looks like he took his subordinates with him. Those left behind aren’t important, so they’re probably working at an easy pace without worrying about appearances.”
“...That’s insane. If they knew the Crimson Blood Hall Lord’s temperament, there’s no way they would leave the hall this unguarded.”
Sohwa had an inkling and could understand their actions.
It was not that the Hall Lord had merely stepped out—he had reclaimed the Great Desert. They might no longer consider Baekgeumgak their base.
Sohwa did not search for those who remained and went up the stairs. Namgung Hyun followed behind her.
Upon reaching the top floor, Namgung Hyun hesitated in front of the door.
“This isn’t a place I should enter.”
It wasn’t simple courtesy toward a room whose owner was absent.
For a member of the Black Tortoise Pavilion, it was only natural to fear stepping into the territory of a mad dog.
“Young Hero, you may stay here.”
Sohwa opened the door herself and went inside alone.
A room with walls wide open to view was revealed.
There was no overwhelming aura to be felt in the hall. Outside, the night streets were also quiet.
Sohwa sat conspicuously by the window, yet no one came to seize her.
“It truly seems Baekgeumgak is empty. There doesn’t appear to be anyone keeping watch nearby either. For now, we should return to the Tang Clan, and later ask Young Clan Head Zhuge why the marriage envoys came.”
Just then—
Namgung Hyun leaned sharply backward.
He had felt a tremendous presence rising up from below.
Thinking it an intruder, Namgung Hyun tried to block the way, but the other party slipped past him with ease. In that brief instant, Namgung Hyun realized who it was.
“Vice Hall Lord?”
As if murmured to himself, the question left his lips, but the Vice Hall Lord was already standing in the middle of the Hall Lord’s room.
Approaching Tang Sohwa, the Vice Hall Lord collapsed to his knees.
Boom.
In his disheveled state, the Vice Hall Lord pressed his head to the floor.
“Please help me.”
His severely hoarse voice trembled.
“I’ll do anything. Please—right now, go with me to the Great Desert.”
