Chapter 109

Bu Eunseol, who had been listening to Namgung Woon in silence, furrowed his brow.

“Why do you wish to accompany me?”

“There might be stronger people in the Murim than you, brother. However, I doubt there are many your age who are as well-versed in Murim affairs.”

Namgung Woon had instantly grasped that Bu Eunseol possessed not only extensive Gangho experience but also outstanding insight.

“I am currently living as a wandering vagrant.”

“I know. Isn’t that why I registered as a wandering vagrant too? I’m saying let’s travel together.”

Clearing his throat, he spoke again.

“Of course, even if we travel together, I don’t need my share of the money. If you want, I can even pay you.”

Bu Eunseol shook his head firmly. “I decline.”

“Please reconsider. I may lack Gangho experience, but I will be quite helpful.”

“Lacking Gangho experience is the biggest problem. Dragging a chick around will only hinder whatever I do.”

At the cold refusal, Namgung Woon lowered his head. When had he, a proud direct descendant of the Namgung Clan, ever received such poor treatment?

But suddenly, Black Leopard made an ‘ah’ sound.

“Young Master. Why not accept him?”

“What do you mean?”

“Doesn’t the Divine Maiden Palace have considerable friendship with the Namgung Clan?”

Bu Eunseol made a ‘hmm’ sound.

Many of the masters in the Divine Maiden Palace were from the Namgung Clan. Because of this, even the reclusive Divine Maiden Palace maintained quite a bit of exchange with the Namgung Clan.

“Divine Maiden Palace?”

Hearing Black Leopard’s words, Namgung Woon blinked. “Don’t tell me you received a mission hostile to the Divine Maiden Palace?”

Black Leopard spoke quickly, “No. Of course not. There is a job to retrieve one of the items in the Divine Maiden Palace.”

“Item?”

“They say it’s some kind of pearl… and that it can be obtained just by taking a test. But how would outsiders like us enter the Divine Maiden Palace, which is covered in all sorts of mechanisms and formations?”

“Oho, that’s nothing.”

Namgung Woon grinned and pointed to himself with his thumb.

“My aunt is at the Divine Maiden Palace, so I often went there to play. Entering the Divine Maiden Palace is no trouble at all for me.” Then he wore a faint smile. “If you allow me to accompany you, I will try to use my influence for that matter. How about it?”

Bu Eunseol pondered for a moment. Ransacking the Divine Maiden Palace with his current martial arts level was impossible. For the first time since entering the Gangho, he faced a problem that could not be solved by martial arts or intellect alone. However, if Namgung Woon could resolve it with a single word, it would certainly not be a loss.

“Fine.”

After pondering briefly, Bu Eunseol nodded.

“But only while I am working as a wandering vagrant at Silent Heaven, Desolate Earth.”

“Agreed. But I still don’t know your name, brother.”

“Seol So.”

At that, Namgung Woon smiled brightly.

“I look forward to working with you. Young Hero Seol.”

***

Divine Maiden Palace.

Because it was located on Mount Wu in Hubei Province, it was commonly called the Mount Wu Divine Maiden Palace.

It had long been a sect forbidden to men, consisting only of women, but recently it had been interacting with various Orthodox sects. In particular, since daughters of the Namgung Clan who had entered in the past came to hold key positions in the Divine Maiden Palace, it maintained close exchanges with the Namgung Clan.

“Namgung Woon greets the Hall Master of Hall of Flower Resolution.”

Inside the Hall of Flower Resolution of the Divine Maiden Palace.

As Namgung Woon bowed deeply, the Hall of Flower Resolution Master, Namgung Se-ah, laughed and shook her head.

“I heard you were traveling the Gangho.”

Namgung Woon had caused trouble since he was young, and even when she was at the Namgung Clan, he had caused accidents big enough to be beaten half to death by the Hall Master of Punishments. Yet to think he had become such a fine man and come to visit the Divine Maiden Palace. Namgung Se-ah felt a fresh wave of emotion.

“So, what brings you here? And who are they?”

“These are friends I made in the Gangho, wandering vagrant of Silent Heaven, Desolate Earth. Seol So, Young Hero Seol, and his servant.”

“Wandering vagrants? Why have they come to this Palace?”

“Actually, they…”

At Namgung Woon’s continued explanation, Namgung Se-ah furrowed her brow slightly.

“A treasure of this Palace?”

The reason he brought men to the Divine Maiden Palace, where only women resided, was to obtain a treasure of the Palace? She suppressed her anger and berated, “We cannot give the treasures of this Palace to outsiders.”

“I heard that one could obtain some pearl just by taking a test at the Divine Maiden Palace?”

“Test? Surely… you mean the Primordial-Preserving Divine Pearl?”

Namgung Se-ah’s expression turned peculiar. It was a look as if she had discovered an unidentifiable foreign substance in her rice bowl while eating. But Namgung Woon, failing to notice that expression, clapped his hands.

“Correct. If you give them the chance to take that test, they will be deeply grateful to you, Aunt.”

Staring intently at the faces of Bu Eunseol and Black Leopard, Namgung Se-ah shook her head.

“I don’t think it will work.”

“Pardon?”

“Too ordinary.”

“Ah, that is not true. This person recently dealt with Wang Jeong, who drove the Mount Fuding area into terror.”

At Namgung Woon’s answer, Namgung Se-ah said something strange.

“I don’t mean martial arts…”

Muttering something, Namgung Se-ah shook her head.

“Anyway, it is impossible.”

“Aunt.”

Namgung Woon clasped his hands and pleaded with Namgung Se-ah.

“To be honest, Young Hero Seol saved my life this time.”

“Life?”

“Yes. I came here with him to repay that debt.”

“Hmm.”

Namgung Se-ah sighed. Although she was a Hall Master of the Divine Maiden Palace, she prided herself on being a member of the prestigious Namgung Clan. She couldn’t simply ignore that her nephew owed a life debt.

“Hmm.”

After a short groan, Namgung Se-ah stared intently at Bu Eunseol and asked, “How old are you?”

“Twenty-three.”

“Have you formed a family?”

“Not yet.”

“Hmm.”

Staring intently at Bu Eunseol, who had changed his appearance with the Face Changing Bone Altering Art, Namgung Se-ah nodded.

“Fine. I will try to petition once.”

“Thank you. Aunt!”

“No need for thanks.” Namgung Se-ah sighed and shook her head. “Because that test is not easy. One misstep and he could lose his life.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

At Bu Eunseol’s calm answer, Namgung Se-ah nodded.

“Then let us go.”

Bu Eunseol’s party followed Namgung Se-ah’s guidance into the Palace of Hidden Manifestation where the Young Palace Mistress reportedly stayed. There was a beautifully decorated flower garden, and a unique building shaped like a water drop stood there.

Entering the building, a large hall appeared, and a large door with a bamboo curtain drawn across it was visible in front.

“Please wait a moment.”

Seeing the maidservant go inside to announce Namgung Se-ah, it seemed the Young Palace Mistress received guests here.

Namgung Se-ah looked at Bu Eunseol and sighed low. “Hmm. I don’t think this is right. I don’t know your background, but there is no need to risk your life for useless fame.”

“What do you mean suddenly?”

“In the past, many outstanding talents tried to obtain the Primordial-Preserving Divine Pearl. But the majority of them lost their lives.”

“Aunt.”

Hearing those words, Namgung Woon suddenly stepped forward.

“Then how about I try challenging it first?”

“What are you saying all of a sudden?”

“I have a debt to Young Hero Seol. If I pass the test first and receive the Primordial-Preserving Divine Pearl, wouldn’t I have a chance to repay the debt to him?”

At that, Namgung Se-ah spoke with a hardened face.

“You must absolutely not step forward.”

“Pardon?”

“Success isn’t possible with skill alone, but in truth, obtaining the Primordial-Preserving Divine Pearl is…”

At that moment, with a rustling sound, a faint shadow appeared inside the bamboo curtain. The Young Palace Mistress of the Divine Maiden Palace had sat down in front of the curtain.

“Young Palace Mistress.”

As Namgung Se-ah bowed lightly, a small voice came from within the curtain.

“What brings you here suddenly, Hall Master of Hall of Flower Resolution?”

For a moment, the faces of Namgung Woon and Black Leopard flushed slightly. Because the voice inside the curtain was as sweet and soft as if lips were touching their earlobes and speaking.

“Who are those people?”

“My nephew and his friends. They say they wish to obtain the Primordial-Preserving Divine Pearl…”

At that, the Young Palace Mistress spoke in a small voice, “Is there still… someone who remembers that promise these days?”

“It seems so.”

Turning her head, Namgung Se-ah spoke to Bu Eunseol in a suggestive voice.

“Come before the curtain.”

As Bu Eunseol approached, Namgung Woon also quickly stepped forward.

“Oh right! I, I will also try challenging it!”

“You rascal!”

As Namgung Se-ah scolded him with solemn eyes, Namgung Woon spoke in a shrinking voice.

“Please. Aunt.”

“Woon, you rascal…”

She wanted to slap his cheek, but she couldn’t act rashly in front of the Young Palace Mistress.

“Be quiet and stay back.”

Namgung Se-ah had excelled in martial arts and had a fiery personality since childhood, enough to be called a heroine. Under her stern gaze, Namgung Woon had no choice but to retreat again.

“Would it be alright to give this person a chance to obtain the Primordial-Preserving Divine Pearl?”

However, an unexpected answer came from within the curtain.

“Please do not. It’s an impossible test anyway, isn’t it?”

Though the reason was unknown, the Young Palace Mistress’s voice was full of resignation and regret.

“Countless talents have challenged it until now, but all failed. I do not wish for them to be hurt for a useless cause.”

“Understood. In that case.”

Just as Namgung Se-ah was about to nod with a regretful expression—

“There is no such thing as impossible.”

Bu Eunseol stepped forward and spoke confidently.

“Give me a chance. I will certainly pass.”

“Do you know what kind of test it is?”

“I do not.”

“Then I will tell you. You must break through the Twenty-Four Heavenly General Formation installed directly by the Palace Mistress in the Purple Mist Secret Cave.”

The Divine Maiden Palace was a place renowned for mysterious formations. Though he had never heard the name, since the Palace Mistress installed it herself, it was surely a strange and difficult formation.

“The Twenty-Four Heavenly General Formation is a superposition of the twenty-four best formations of this Palace, and includes an Illusion Formation that penetrates the human spirit.”

The Young Palace Mistress inside the curtain spoke with a sigh.

“Therefore, no matter how knowledgeable a person is in martial arts or formations, they cannot break it alone. In light cases, hallucinations; in severe cases, Qi Deviation.” Pausing for a moment, she spoke again, “I absolutely do not want to recommend it. I hope you reconsider.”

“Give me a chance.”

“Even if you lose your life?”

“Correct.”

At Bu Eunseol’s firm words, the Young Palace Mistress inside the curtain spoke in a low voice.

“If you desire it so much… it would be fine for the Hall of Flower Resolution Master to give you a chance once.”

“Understood.”

Perhaps his reckless nature surged again, Namgung Woon suddenly stepped forward, avoiding Namgung Se-ah’s gaze.

“Young Palace Mistress. Couldn’t you give me a chance once as well?”

“You too?”

At that, Namgung Se-ah’s eyes sharpened.

“Woon-ah. I told you no!”

Despite her shouting, Namgung Woon bluffed.

“Don’t you have to measure it to know if it’s long or short?”

And straightening his shoulders, he spoke confidently.

“I am currently traveling the Gangho. If I avoid and turn away because it is dangerous, I will never become a dignified figure of the main house.”

“Hmm.”

Namgung Se-ah groaned. Only then did she realize that bringing her nephew, rumored to be a prodigy of debauchery, here was a mistake.

“Fine.”

At that moment, the Young Palace Mistress inside the curtain spoke calmly.

“Fine. If you want it that much… try challenging it.”

“Thank you!”

At Namgung Woon’s words, Namgung Se-ah had no choice but to bow her head.

“Then we will go down to the underground Secret Cave.”

“Wait a moment.”

At that moment, the Young Palace Mistress sitting inside the curtain slowly rose.

“I will accompany you.”

“The Young Palace Mistress… herself?”

“Not only an outsider but also the Hall Master’s nephew is challenging it. How can I just watch?”

“To care so much… thank you truly.”

As Namgung Se-ah wore a moved expression, Bu Eunseol, Black Leopard, and Namgung Woon tilted their heads.

—Is observing something to be so grateful for?

As if piercing their thoughts, Namgung Se-ah spoke low.

“If the Young Palace Mistress observes together, she can stop the formation midway. Then you will at least not lose your lives.”

“Aha, I see. That’s a relief.”

Just as Namgung Woon grinned—

Rustle.

The bamboo curtain was lifted, and a woman dressed in white clothes like snowflakes walked out slowly with two maidservants in front. Her face was covered by a veil made of celestial silkworm thread, so her features were unknown, but her exposed large, clear eyes were tinged with a slight blue hue.

Extreme beauty.

She seemed to hold all the beauty of the world in just a pair of eyes.