Chapter 265

After leaving Seocheon, we moved day and night, chasing rumors of the Water God.

“The matter you two mentioned certainly seems to be a cause for concern.”

The possibility that if one’s body and mind were taken, even the right to return could be stripped away.

After hearing our opinion, Shin Pyoeul nodded with a somewhat serious expression.

“It seems there won’t be any time to spare.”

“Even so, finding all five remaining ones won’t be an easy task…”

Indeed, just meeting Cheong Joohwa alone took over a month.

Considering that was also a result of considerable luck, simply gathering information and chasing rumors might be a poor strategy.

It was Shin Pyoeul who offered an alternative opinion.

“How about seeking help from Daehwarim?”

“The Taoist Masters of Daehwarim?”

“Yes. I’m not sure about their actual capabilities, but they are definitely a fairly large force in this area. Since they are a gathering of Taoist Masters, if we can secure their help, our hardship would be greatly reduced.”

It was certainly a reasonable plan.

As I and Cheong Joohwa showed interest, Shin Pyoeul chuckled and continued.

“Coincidentally, north of here is the main base of Daehwarim. We could visit while chasing traces of the Water God.”

“But wouldn’t it be difficult to pique their interest with just any ordinary proposal?”

In response, Shin Pyoeul threw back a reply as if asking what I meant.

“If necessary, we must even consider taking control of the entire Daehwarim. Your mission is that important.”

“……”

“Oh ho, that’s quite an enticing proposal.”

Somehow, she seems to have developed a more radical disposition than us after hearing the secret.

However, it was clearly worth attempting, so we decided to visit Daehwarim’s headquarters if the opportunity arose.

As we moved from village to village and continued our journey, we eventually managed to obtain more specific information about the Water God.

“The village where the rumors first started is Yeongrim, two days from here, and there are two more places where her traces were spotted.”

“Rather than heading somewhere specific, it feels like she’s wandering around this area, doesn’t it?”

The two were right. The Water God was being sighted in places that almost formed a circle centered around Yangamji, the city we were currently in.

If it were Seo Jian, I felt I could roughly guess her thoughts.

“Rather than blindly searching for the group, it seems she set up an information network in a certain area and waited for one of her companions to visit nearby.”

That’s certainly a method the ever-cautious her would choose. Hearing this, Shin Pyoeul asked a question.

“So, you mean her informants are likely somewhere around here?”

“I can’t be certain, but I think so.”

If that’s the case, we might not even need to actively search for her.

If we could just reveal our presence, she would surely contact us.

Thus, we began deliberately asking about the Water God around the city or exorcising nearby Specters, laying out bait.

And soon, a reaction came.

“Are you the ones looking for the Water God?”

A young man wearing a bamboo hat and clad in strangely expensive-looking clothes.

He said to us:

“Follow me. The Water God is staying with our family.”

Following the young man, we finally confirmed the identity of the one called the Water God.

But it wasn’t Seo Jian.

The one who greeted us was a girl with russet hair, whom I was meeting for the first time.

“Nice to meet you. Though it’s embarrassing, I am Sang A-yunyeon, the one called the Water God.”

“…Are you truly the subject of the rumors?”

“Do you require proof?”

As Sang A-yunyeon raised her hand, a stream of water rose from a pond prepared in a corner of the garden and swirled around us.

Certainly, she too was a user of Natural-Type Sorcery, but I could sense a familiar scent from it.

“You’ve met Seo Jian.”

“……”

The Natural-Type Art she used was clearly the same as what I had taught Seo Jian. Hearing my words, she blinked and opened her mouth again.

“…I thought it might be possible, but you all really seem to be the companions she was looking for.”

Soon, a brief summary of events began to flow from Sang A-yunyeon’s mouth.

“As you guessed, the real Water God is her. I was merely acting as the Water God under her instruction, waiting for her companions to find us.”

“Where is she?”

“She left some time ago. With a mysterious young man named Jin Wonbu.”

At those words, my and Cheong Joohwa’s expressions darkened. Shin Pyoeul, reading this, tilted her head.

“Isn’t Jin Wonbu one of your companions?”

“No. It’s a name we haven’t heard.”

“Somehow, it’s becoming more and more complicated…”

We asked Sang A-yunyeon about his identity, but she also replied that she didn’t know the details.

“I also thought he was undoubtedly her companion, but seeing your reaction, that doesn’t seem to be the case.”

“Did she not reveal her destination either?”

“No. She merely entrusted the aftermath to me and left. I heard she was heading somewhere west, but even that is uncertain. However, she left a message for you all.”

Seo Jian reportedly said this:

When the time comes, I will find you myself, so don’t look for me.

In the end, after obtaining a few more pieces of information, we had no choice but to part ways with her without any real gain.

“Don’t look for me… what on earth is she thinking?”

“I wonder. But she said the atmosphere wasn’t coercive, so she must have some plan.”

Seo Jian is a clever person.

If she said that, it would probably be better to exclude her for now and chase the other companions first.

“Then the next destination is decided. Let’s go to Daehwarim’s main base.”

Certainly, in the current situation, that seems best.

Having decided to secure their cooperation, we traveled for another four days and finally arrived at Chongpyo, where Daehwarim’s headquarters was located.

“I’m not sure about the ordinary members of Daehwarim, but their representative figures are certainly capable Taoist Masters. If it comes to a display of force, it would be wise to be cautious.”

Certainly, the figure called ‘Jongsa’ that Jang Ryeokyeong mentioned before must also be here.

We nodded at Shin Pyoeul’s words and headed towards Hwang Mountain in Chongpyo, where Daehwarim’s Taoist Masters resided.

After climbing the mountain path for a while, Daehwarim Taoist Masters who appeared from somewhere immediately blocked our way.

“Who are you? You don’t look like simple clients.”

“We came with other business. Could you call a superior?”

“Nonsense! Unless you are a client or an invited guest, we cannot recklessly allow entry to this mountain.”

At those words, Shin Pyoeul sighed and was about to draw Spiritual Power when I, stepping in front of her, glanced at the opponent and spoke.

“I received an invitation to visit the main base from Jang Ryeokyeong, a Taoist Master of this place. Will that not suffice?”

“B-Brother Jang? Wait a moment. I’ll check.”

The man who climbed the mountain, leaving a few subordinates behind, returned to us about ten minutes later, greeted us, and opened the way.

“So you are the young Taoist Master that Brother so admired! The visit of a hero like you is always welcome.”

Seeing the path open with absurd ease, Cheong Joohwa tilted her head.

“What happened?”

“I cooperated with one of their comrades some time ago. It was during the incident with the Nine Dragon Son, Kongha.”

“Ah, that incompetent one…”

Cheong Joohwa, recalling the memory, quickly covered her mouth.

Fortunately, those around didn’t seem to hear. Seeing this, Cheong Joohwa’s eyes sparkled as she spoke.

“Looking at it now, that person seems to have quite a standing here. If he’s only at that level, it seems we could even swallow them whole, right?”

“…That would be too conspicuous. Let’s keep that only as a last resort.”

However, I also had no intention of returning with only vague results.

I was determined to settle things here today and utilize all their forces to advance the search for our companions.

Climbing further up the mountain and passing several checkpoints, Daehwarim’s main base finally unfolded before us.

“…This is quite a massive scale, more than I imagined. I had no idea Daehwarim was this big.”

“If we can just secure their help, the search operation might really yield results.”

Truly, as they said.

Daehwarim was a larger force than I had heard, and above all, the terrifying point was that most of them were Exorcists who had mastered Cursed Techniques.

Coming here, I finally gained conviction.

If we secure their full support, the task of finding our companions’ whereabouts would truly no longer be a vague endeavor.

Feeling such emotions, I noticed a young man approaching me from afar.

“It really was you! I’m glad you came to find me.”

“It’s been a while, Mr. Jang Ryeokyeong.”

It seemed he had been staying here and training continuously since visiting the Pyeong Clan. Indeed, I could feel his aura had changed somewhat compared to before.

His Level had even risen by 2, and now he truly seemed capable of acting as an Exorcist anywhere without issue.

“Come along. The elders and the Jongsa of Daehwarim also wish to meet you.”

At Jang Ryeokyeong’s words, we exchanged glances and followed him towards the center of the main base.

Entering the building and walking for a while longer, we finally reached a luxurious room that seemed for receiving guests.

“Elders, I have brought the Taoist Masters you mentioned.”

Waiting for us there were two middle-aged men, one old woman, and one old man who seemed to hold a higher position than them.

The old man seated at the highest position stood up and greeted us.

“Welcome. I am Yeongwan, the Jongsa of Daehwarim. I have heard much about the rumors of you all circulating in the world.”

“You flatter me.”

“Keke, is that how it seems? However, if you defeated one of the Nine Dragon Sons of the world and repelled the entire pack of jackals in Seocheon, you are worthy of such praise.”

From his words, I could discern that the old man before me possessed information-gathering abilities beyond my expectations.

He was absolutely not an easy opponent, but considering our future goals, he was someone we must absolutely bring to our side.

And the old man Yeongwan, sensing something from my gaze, soon let out a low hum.

“My, it seems you have come with quite an overt purpose.”

“……”

“Do you all intend to take control of this Daehwarim?”

At those words, the gazes of everyone in the hall sharply focused on us.