Chapter 171
At the training hall of the Blue Dragon True Troops in Mount Toham.
Two boys were competing on the wooden floor that had twin dragon patterns on it.
One of the boys was from the Blue Dragons, while the other was from the White Tigers. Despite being young, they were used to high-level swordsmanship.
Even though Yeon Heungs swordsmanship wasnt the best, he excelled in martial arts, so he was pretty flexible, like a young tiger.
Crack!
The training grounds fence broke down in the fierce rain. The two swords glistened in the sunlight, dazzling their eyes.
The four Baek-Song-Wol-Young, who were looking at this scene, were all nervous. It was a childrens spar that couldnt be taken lightly.
Chang!
Came the sound, and the two swords crossed. Both were trying to push the other away, and screams rang out.
In the next moment, the two swords stopped at the opponents neck at the same time.
Enough! That is the end!
Seo Geom stopped them. The two boys smiled and bowed to each other as if the spar had never happened.
Both of you were wonderful, but
Seo Geom got into the fighting area.
While reviewing the spar that happened, he informed them of the mistakes they made. It was about the basic swordsmanship of the Hwarangs, so it helped both kids.
The four elders of the White Tiger Troops looked at Seo Geom.
The air around him changed. Dont think that he is the same Seo Geom-rang we knew.
Right. Dont you think that he has relaxed as a person?
At Song Ok and Hyo Wols words, Baek Eon nodded.
It is still shocking that he took the initiative of proposing this joint training. Why did the High Governor say that Seo Geom-rang is fickle-minded?
Actually, Seo Geom-rang is now fine because the doubts within his heart have been released.
Seol Young answered.
The High Governor praised him for something, but he became angry that he couldnt remember it and said something stupid. Actually, I was angry at him. Those pitiful idiots of the Blue Dragon Troops, too
The three of them looked up, and Baek Eon spoke with a worried expression.
Seol Young, it seems like your curses towards the Blue Dragons Troops lack soul in them these days. I am a bit worried. Didnt we all see it? That curse that he said isnt even a curse. Actually, what we saw today was more like an obsession. Perhaps you, to the Blue Dragon Troops
Seol Young felt goosebumps rise.
No.
He cut off their words and went to Seo Geom-rang and said something that made his eyes wide.
As if unable to believe what he heard, Seo Geom continued to stare back at Seol Young, who went back to his place.
Then Song Ok asked,
What did you swear to him for him to react like that?
I said the same thing to him that I said to Hwa Un-rang.
What? You didnt curse him? Maybe the sun will really set in
Hyo Wol hit Song Ok, and the three went back to watching the spar with smiles on their faces.
Seol Young thought,
It is fun to surprise others.
That was the same for his hyungs and the trainees too. Thanks to the spar, everyone was excited.
All this time, because of Seol Youngs work, they had kept a distance from the other groups, so they didnt have any spars unless there was an official event. Looking at the three hyungs, it felt like this would continue until the evening.
They wanted Seol Young to be here more, but according to the rules, he didnt have the right to stay. Also, if he would say a few words that might cross the line, the mood might turn cold
Moreover, he was busy.
Then, I will head to the Hwarangs Hall. I need to see if the seal has been opened.
Right. Go ahead. It must be bothering you.
Yes.
Seol Young bowed to them and went down the mountain as he headed straight for the Moon Palace.
However, the Hwarangs Hall was empty, so he ran outside only to be greeted by the wrong person.
Then Seol Young went stiff.
The Great Heavenly Pavilion Head was there with a black robe and black accessories.
She was walking with her officials on the other side of the hall, and their eyes met.
After the incident with the harp box case, she had been quiet and never said much, but Seol Young couldnt let his guard down.
She was looking at Seol Young as if she were scanning his body.
And before he could even greet her, she asked him,
Seol Young-rang, what did you take out of the Wonhwa Tower?
Just an old item.
Then why did the High Governor and the Governor bring it to the Treasury, and there was a change in the flute?
The flute changed?
Seol Young was surprised on the inside, but he tried to keep a poker face.
You see, the flute is a divine thing, so isnt it natural for changes to occasionally happen?
He took off as soon as he said that and rushed for the Treasury where the flute was kept and asked the official, to which he responded,
I heard that the High Governor and Governor did enter with the relic, and the smoke from the flute suddenly thickened.
Is that so?
The flutes black smoke was a sign that something strange was happening. If the smoke that had been reduced for a while reacted to the relic and emitted a thick smoke, wouldnt that mean that the relic had something to do with the God of Cataclysm?
It seemed like this wasnt in vain.
Well, if such a thing happened in the process to find out was
Seol Young thought and then turned around.
I need to go there.
So he went out of the Moon Palace.
The couple in Zahas home picked up a chair and looked at the ground.
Is it there?
Its not here either.
In the silence, their keen sense of hearing picked up a sound. Outside the window, far from the garden, a bell rang,
Who could it be?
The two opened a small window that was next to the gate. A Hwarang, dressed in a white robe, stood there with a cold face.
Seol Young-rang, come in. You can just come in without ringing the bell.
It is because of this.
Seol Young pointed behind his back, where a cart was loaded with alcohol. And the couple were shocked.
Why did you bring so many?
It is the chrysanthemum alcohol that I brought last time and took back. I said I would bring a new batch that is much better to drink. How can I just not do that after saying that to the High Governor?
Despite his polite words, he was talking with a cold expression, and he thought,
But there would only be just one drinking glass on the table.
Even though Zaha would react negatively, he wouldnt care.
If he could find out the reason why Zahas spell in the past failed to seal the evil spirit, then he could control the demonic energy much better. And could there be anything more shocking than that?
Seol Young brought the cart inside.
Well, we will be back. Please wait here.
The couple made Seol Young sit in the study and brought him tea. Then they left right away since they had work to do.
Seol Young sat down for a while, pretending to drink, and then looked around as he sneaked into the closet.
Can I finally take this?
When he opened the door, he saw the Tomb Ghosts sitting there together, but
Seeing Seol Young, Lady Mo reached out and tried to grab him. Her eyes looked strange, as if she were desperately trying to say something.
She wasnt even a soul, just a fragment of thought.
And it had been a long time since she had done something with so much determination, so Seol Young asked,
What is it?
The two kids got up and motioned for him to follow them, so he did. They floated and reached the bedroom.
The door to the room was open.
The couple was lifting the furniture and examining the ground. Seol Young asked,
What are you looking for?
Ah, earrings.
The couple responded.
The other day, our master went to bed and woke up, but he didnt have his earrings. He gave up after looking for it, but we were thinking that we might find it.
Earrings
They were just simple accessories, but they were usually like righteous weapons with spiritual power in them, so they couldnt just be thrown away.
And
Seol Young looked at the kids, who were looking at him in earnest.
It seems like there is a reason.
So he told the two of them,
I will try searching for them too.
Seol Young-rang too?
Yes. You can go and do something else too.
Seol Young sent them away and then asked the two kids,
Who took it?
Fast, fast.
But they didnt answer and just urged him.
Not here?
Seol Young followed the two out of the bedroom. The hallway was dark even in the daytime.
There were no lights, and only the old lanterns lit up the place at regular intervals.
A cackling laugh could be heard from somewhere behind.
Is that him?
The spirit of the landlord was strong, so there could be nothing else that could hide in this place.
But this place had a naughty young goblin residing in it. And why were the Tomb Ghosts so worried?
The laughter of the kids echoed around.
The house was too large, and this one goblin moved oddly. He managed to catch its movements and opened the door as he went inside.
At that moment, Seol Young stood still.
A Hwarang was standing in the middle of the room.
His hair was red, the whites of his eyes were black, and his pupils were red. With a face that was cracking as if it were a mask, he looked at Seol Young and smiled.
He saw it for the first time, but he realized what it was right away.
A Disfigured Spirit.
It had to be fake, but it looked so natural, and Seol Young almost mistook it as real.
A childs prank.
He could understand why the Tomb Ghosts were shocked and wanted him to get rid of it.
A roar of laughter erupted in the air.
Seol Young reached out and grabbed the fake being. Then he snatched the earrings that were in its hand and scolded it.
You cannot be walking around here looking like this!
At the same time, he struck it with his spiritual power, and it turned into a broom.
It wasnt even a body?
He heard a roar of laughter from across the room and followed it. Since this old mansion was like a maze, he wasnt sure where he was moving to.
After a good time wandering around, he finally found it. But again, it was the broom that he had taken down.
Laughter rang out again.
It seemed like it was playing with Seol Young. After it played hide and seek, he finally caught it.
At that time, he felt a familiar presence, and from the edge of this place, a golden light shone.
Seol Young-rang! Is there something there?
Before he knew it, Zaha had returned, and despite knowing it was a fake, he didnt plan on showing it to him.
Lets just destroy it.
Seol Youngs hands were ready, and when he was about to hit it, the young one slipped away, smiling.
That was when he realized it.
This wasnt its main body, but it was also the main body at the same time. Like a thin cloth hanging over his neck, it was floating around.
It was the Disfigured Spirits illusion.
The moment he figured that out, Seol Young-rang smiled.
He was out of breath, and the door opened.
Seol Young-rang
And he ran into Zaha, who had pulled out his Dead Slayer sword.
At that moment, Zaha saw it.
Seol Youngs figure that was covered with the illusion.
There was no way he would think of this as a goblins prank.
If anyone turns into a Disfigured Spirit, I will cut them down right then.
It was Zahas only mission and one that he would never hesitate to do.
So this is how I die.
In that fleeting second, he went stiff in fear.
Did talking even matter when Zaha would cut him down right away?
Because of this curse, he would die right then. And the earrings would fall from his hand after he stopped breathing.
He could already see his body slumping to the floor.
But
It was quiet.
The sword didnt even move, and its owner
He just stood there, staring at Seol Young. In the dark, his golden eyes went stiff.
He was frozen as if he were trapped and his face was expressionless.
It was Seol Youngs first time seeing this expression on Zaha.
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