I Became the Owner of the Heavenly Flower Palace-Chapter 70: The Inn

Jincheon’s group arrived in Hefei, the central city of Anhui.

It was on the fifth day that the scattered guards began to regroup.

"Lord!"

Commander of the East Wind, Ak Mujin, arrived, and Gi Seoran and Po Eunryeong reached Hefei along with Lord Heemun.

"Gi Cheonhwa, Po Cheonhwa."

Seeing the two of them again, a bright smile blossomed on Jincheon’s face.

Gi Seoran and Po Eunryeong each dropped to one knee and bowed their heads to Jincheon.

"You’ve all worked hard."

"Your words are more than we deserve."

Lord Heemun also offered a bow to Jincheon.

"I pay my respects to the Palace Lord."

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Her greeting was neat and flawless, but her complexion was noticeably pale.

"Are you alright?"

When Jincheon asked, she gave a gentle smile.

"Yes."

But she didn’t look alright at all, so Jincheon quickly ordered her to rest.

Six of the Palace Attendants among the Gungjung Chilbi also quickly gathered.

"We have been remiss."

"Oh, it's been so long!"

"Palace Lord!"

"Wow! It really is our Palace Lord!"

"I missed you so much!"

"It was fun!"

Their greetings were mixed with strange remarks, but seeing the lively six attendants again was a delight to the eyes and ears.

Jincheon answered them with a smile.

"I'm glad to see you all again too."

"Wow! Me too!"

The youngest, Toyo, beamed with wide eyes, but quickly lowered them when she met Ilyo’s sharp gaze.

That too was so amusing that the smile never left Jincheon’s face.

And so, day by day, the scattered guards gathered in Hefei.

However, there were no results from the search—they had scoured dozens of cities, but found no trace of the former vanguard.

It wasn’t something Jincheon had expected anyway. He was simply relieved that everyone had returned safely without injury.

While waiting for all the scattered guards to regroup, Jincheon devoted himself to daily training in the Yongcheon Sword Art.

Swhik.

The light-laced blade sliced through the air.

As if severing the very void, the blooming light carved a vivid trajectory, tracing the sword forms of Yongcheon Sword Art.

Tap, sarak.

Jincheon’s movements now flowed naturally.

There was no wavering, no hesitation.

Wind and Cloud, the sword he held, moved with determined resolve, and at times, with gentleness, following Jincheon’s will along the sword path.

Whoooong.

The light shimmered.

Throughout his training in Yongcheon Sword Art, the light blooming on the blade consistently asserted its presence.

Tap.

Jincheon rotated the sword and hid it behind his back.

Thus, he completed the final form of Yongcheon Sword Art.

"Hoo."

Half-opening his eyes, Jincheon slowly calmed his breath.

Along with his breathing, the light lingering on the blade gradually faded away.

Jincheon lifted his head.

"How is it? Do you think I’ve improved a lot?"

Neither Gi Seoran nor Po Eunryeong could answer.

They only gazed at Jincheon with trembling eyes.

And then they knelt.

"...We dare not speak on it."

At their bowed words, Jincheon gave an awkward smile.

It had been a mistake to ask them about his swordsmanship in the first place—after all, light had bloomed from his blade.

Jincheon turned his head.

The six Palace Attendants showed similar reactions.

They too knelt, gazing at Jincheon with expressions tangled between confusion and awe.

Only Ilyo remained unshaken, meeting Jincheon’s gaze with unwavering eyes.

Thud.

Commander of the East Wind, Ak Mujin, banged his forehead against the ground.

Jincheon moved to stop him, but seeing Ak Mujin’s shoulders trembling, he held his tongue.

"...Raise your head."

Swish.

As expected, Ak Mujin’s large eyes were brimming with tears.

The sight stirred something in Jincheon’s heart, and he let out a soft sigh.

'Just what is this light...'

He glanced at the Commander of the North Wind, Neung Gayeon, but she merely gazed at him with a serene smile.

In the end, Jincheon had no choice but to avert his gaze.

For Jincheon, meeting the eyes of such an elegant beauty for too long was still difficult.

****

Hefei was the heart of Anhui.

Countless goods and countless people gathered in Hefei, but the city was even more famous for something else.

It was the presence of the Namgung Clan in Hefei.

"Martial artists are gathering, you say?"

"Yes."

Namgung Cheol, the Chief of the Outer Office, furrowed his brows.

"Where are they from?"

"We have not yet identified them."

At his subordinate’s answer, Namgung Cheol’s thick eyebrows twitched.

"...How many are there?"

"This morning, the number exceeded sixty. Each day, between three and nine more are joining."

"Are they from the same sect?"

"Judging by their similar uniforms, we presume so."

Namgung Cheol of the Outer Office fell into thought.

He tried to guess which sect or clan could pull something like this, but no clear candidate came to mind.

Who, in a place like Hefei—where the Namgung Clan resided—could openly do such a thing?

They would have to be mad.

"What’s peculiar is that more than half of them are women, and their martial prowess is extraordinary."

"Women?"

"Yes."

When it came to women, the first thing that came to mind was the Emei Sect.

But Emei was a Buddhist sect. Besides, as a member of the Murim Alliance, Emei had no reason to gather in Hefei without informing the Namgung Clan.

"And they’re making no effort to hide their movements. It’s as if they’re... no, as if they have nothing to do with the Namgung Clan at all."

Namgung Cheol easily understood what his subordinate had originally meant to say.

"They're not even paying attention to us?"

Namgung Cheol’s gaze turned fierce.

His subordinate immediately lowered his head. But Namgung Cheol’s displeasure did not dissipate.

"Martial artists, in uniform and armed, dare to ignore us after setting foot in Hefei? They dare to act as if the Namgung Clan doesn’t even exist?"

Namgung Cheol’s voice, low and biting, revealed his naked irritation.

"W-we currently presume they are outsiders."

'Outsiders.'

The explanation was somewhat convincing.

There had been cases where people from Beihai, Tibet, or even Tianzhu had wandered into the Central Plains, causing trouble.

But the numbers were too high.

There were already over sixty, and they were still increasing.

At that scale, there should have been an issue at the border.

Maybe they had deliberately scattered and only regrouped after crossing into the region.

"...How are you monitoring them?"

"Two disciples from the Outer Office are working with merchants to gather information."

Meaning they were relying solely on voluntary reports from merchants.

"Increase it to five. From today, have them directly observe their movements."

His subordinate immediately bowed to accept the order. The group had now been officially marked for surveillance by the Namgung Clan.

"And send people to the Provincial Magistrate’s Office and the Commander’s Office. Inquire about their identities and check if any warrants have been issued."

For the Chief of the Outer Office, that level of cooperation from local officials was easily obtainable.

At least here in Hefei.

"Understood."

The subordinate cupped his hands in salute. When Namgung Cheol nodded, he quickly exited the room.

Click.

As the door of the Outer Office closed, a deep furrow formed between Namgung Cheol’s brows.

'Just as the Gu Yang Clan seems to have quieted down, now we have these outsiders?'

The Namgung Clan, counted among the Five Great Clans of the world, was constantly targeted by those seeking to surpass it.

Even the Gu Yang Clan of Kaifeng had shown clear ambitions to claim Henan Province despite the existence of Shaolin.

Shaolin, being a Buddhist monastery, rarely involved itself unless the situation was dire.

"Tch. Pathetic insects not knowing their place..."

Namgung Cheol let out a short laugh.

People said the Gu Yang Clan would soon rise to challenge the Five Great Clans, but the Namgung Clan didn’t see it that way.

The Five Great Clans stood on a different plane altogether.

Whether it was the Gu Yang Clan or these outsiders, to Namgung Cheol of the Namgung Clan's Outer Office, they were nothing more than moths flying into the flame.

"Tsk."

Namgung Cheol clicked his tongue.

His eyes gleamed with a cold, ruthless light.

****

It took no more than fifteen days for all the guards to gather.

Once Jincheon confirmed that everyone was safe, he spoke to Commander of the North Wind, Neung Gayeon.

"We will head to the inn."

Neung Gayeon immediately understood Jincheon’s words.

It meant he intended to go to the inn where he had once met the former vanguard.

"I will prepare at once."

Kneeling, Neung Gayeon quietly added,

"And there are some uninvited guests nearby."

Jincheon furrowed his brow.

A subtle flare of anger followed from Ak Mujin, Commander of the East Wind.

"Those damned rats...!"

Uninvited guests—and rats.

Having a rough idea, Jincheon called for Gi Seoran.

"Gi Cheonhwa."

"Yes."

Gi Seoran responded immediately. It was best to ask her about such matters.

"Do you know who they are?"

"They appear to be affiliated with the Namgung Clan here in Hefei."

'Ah, the Namgung Clan...'

He knew the name. He had heard of them.

But to Jincheon, they were not a group he knew well.

If they were called a clan, they must have been sizable, and he could only assume they were long-established figures in Hefei.

"Commander Neung."

"Yes."

"Expel them. But don’t go overboard."

No matter how deep their roots ran in Hefei, this was a major city where imperial law was alive and well, with many people living in it.

By what right were they spying on another’s affairs?

"We’ll depart as soon as preparations are complete."

Neung Gayeon bowed her head, accepting Jincheon’s command.

Finally, it was time to return to that inn.

The place where Jincheon had first met that man—the place where everything had begun.

The inn wasn’t far from Hefei.

But Jincheon thought he had come to the wrong place.

It had changed far too much.

"Hmm."

Jincheon frowned.

The inn had burned down completely, leaving only a skeletal frame behind. Even that was partially collapsed, with not a single part intact.

Overgrown with vegetation after months of abandonment, it had become so obscure that someone unfamiliar with it might not even find it.

"Is this the place?"

Ilyo asked.

Her voice was cautious.

Jincheon let out a soft sigh and answered.

"It is."

The expressions on the faces of the seven Palace Attendants, Neung Gayeon, Gi Seoran, and Po Eunryeong all turned grave.

Ak Mujin, too, clenched his jaw with a hardened expression.

Sarak.

They all simultaneously dropped to one knee and bowed their heads.

Even the guards waiting behind them all knelt. Even Lord Heemun did the same.

It was only natural.

For them, this place was the site of [N O V E L I G H T] a disgraceful ambush against the former vanguard.

Whether out of regret or reflection, the significance of this place ran deep.

Though for Jincheon, it wasn’t quite so heavy—but even so, he couldn’t help feeling a certain solemnity.

"Commander Neung."

"Yes."

"Inspect this place and its surroundings. Look for anything unusual or any remaining traces. Ah, the sewer connects to the river—make sure to check there too. And..."

Jincheon casually glanced at the sky to gauge the time. It was still morning.

"Tell them to stop and return once two hours have passed."

Months had already passed since then. It was unlikely any traces would remain now.

Jincheon knew that perfectly well.

"I accept your command."

Neung Gayeon bowed her head in acknowledgment.

The guards immediately began their search.

Jincheon quietly gazed at the ruins of the inn.

For some reason, his heart felt heavy.

Almost without realizing, he raised his hand to check the pocket where Wrath was tucked against his chest—when suddenly Ilyo spoke.

"Shall I prepare some tea?"

They would have to wait anyway. Jincheon nodded.

"Please do."

Just like before, a small table and chairs were set up, and warm tea was prepared.

The charred, crumbling wreckage of the inn ruined the scenery, but Jincheon didn’t mind.

As the faint aroma of tea spread around him, Jincheon sank into thought.

Old, yet vivid memories floated up one after another, as if it had all happened just yesterday.

The man who had boisterously bought drinks and food, the terrible smell crawling through the sewer, and even the flushed face laughing at stupid jokes.

"Hoo."

Jincheon let out a sigh.

In truth, he hadn’t expected to find anything here.

He had already thought of the next place to visit.

But the reason he couldn’t leave easily was because of the memory of that man.

'...Strange.'

They had only met for a day—no, even less than that.

They had crawled through the sewers together, escaped danger together, and entrusted a request to each other.

Yet, with so little between them, it was surprising how deeply that memory had carved itself into his heart.

Perhaps it was because he had become influenced by the atmosphere of the Heavenly Flower Palace people.

Sarak.

Clutching the teacup with both hands, Jincheon sat in long, quiet contemplation.