Moon-Shadow Sword Emperor
Chapter 425

Episode 425

[Namgoong Choun? A member of the Changgung Swordsman that I saw in Hubei before?]

[Yes. I’m talking about Namgung Choun.]

[Why him?]

[I feel a strange sense of strangeness. I can’t explain it exactly, but…]

It was a conversation I had with Dok Go-seong, who suddenly came to my office a few days ago.

When I asked the interviewer what was going on, the answer was that he had left after saying he would go to the side.

A statement based on simple feeling without any evidence.

If Namgung Choun, the person involved, had heard this, he would have gone crazy, calling it a ridiculous conspiracy.

‘but.’

I couldn’t just dismiss it as nonsense.

That’s because the reason I gave Dok Go-seong the role of interviewer was to test his abilities.

‘I wasn’t specifically instructed to replace the infiltrator, but he found a suspicious person on his own and came to report to me.’

Even though he knew that it was an action that had no benefit to him and that he might end up criticizing me.

Because I didn’t understand it, I actually trusted it.

Of course, Dok Go-seong could have been mistaken.

In fact, Nangong Chaoyun was innocent and this matter might have caused great disrespect to him.

But even so, I wanted to believe it once.

‘Even if a problem arises, it will be easy to cover it up. There is already a precedent where the disciples of the Baek-faced Reaper disguised themselves as members of the Changgung Sword Team and went into hiding.’

It wasn’t that I didn’t feel puzzling.

As I said, the Baek-faced Reaper and his disciples had already pretended to be members of the Changgung Sword Team once.

But will they try to use the same method when infiltrating the Cheonan Inspectorate?

Even though you knew for sure that you would be suspected?

‘You never know. ‘Maybe they’re trying to use this mentality in reverse.’

There was no meaning to a family that just continued one after the other.

What had to be done was clear.

Weeding out those suspected of being ganjas, including Namgung Choun.

It would not be too late to postpone the resolution of the doubt until later.

[But is Namgung Choun the only blood relative of the Namgung family who applied for Cheonan Kambu?]

[No. Namgung-geum, vice-chief of the Changgung Sword Team, also supported. It is highly likely that the two accompanied him while traveling from Anhui to Honam.]

[Did you see anything strange about Nam Gung-geum?]

[Yes. I looked at him waiting for Namgung Choun’s next turn, and I didn’t feel anything strange.]

[You probably know that. I know that I am making a statement that is likely to be misunderstood.]

[Of course. If a problem arises due to this incident, I will take responsibility for it.]

[I don’t feel like saying this, but it doesn’t make much sense for Master Dokgo to take responsibility. A matter is a matter, isn’t it?]

[…….]

[So, I will take responsibility.]

[Director Bu.]

[Dokgo warrior, no, you don’t have to worry about the future. I will solve the minor problems.]

[…….]

[I will delegate the matter to you. From now on, just focus on replaceing the infiltrator. However, don’t overdo it or get hurt by the pressure of having to live up to expectations. Do you understand?]

[I understand, brother.]

By now, Dok-go-seong would have been wandering around the Murim Alliance with Byeok-riso and Geom-hu in the name of guidance.

He said I didn’t have to feel any pressure, but I could tell without looking how heavy his shoulders were.

It was not a task worth entrusting to a boy who had not yet reached his prime, but I decided to trust my intuition just as Dok-go-seong trusted his own.

‘Prove that you are the child of a tiger.’

* * *

‘It’s called pupil.’

Geomhu glanced sideways at the middle-aged man walking next to him and sighed inwardly.

Although I heard Yeonsun’s explanation that he hired him because he needed it, I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable.

From the first time I saw Byeokriso, I felt an instinctive repulsion.

It wasn’t until I found out that he was a pupil practitioner that I realized the reason.

A person who can uncover someone’s secrets just by looking at them.

Not only himself, but everyone else would feel disgusted.

‘On the other hand, the boy over there.’

Geomhu’s gaze turned forward.

Dokgo-seong takes the lead and leads the way with an awkward expression.

It felt like I was looking at a wooden doll, as its movements were stiff and stiff.

Geomhu burst into laughter and shook his head.

This is why I couldn’t figure out who the guide was.

‘It is noteworthy that his skills are clearly superior to those of martial artists of the same age, and his father is the Thunder King, renowned as an absolute master. But…’

That was all.

It was hard to think that it would help in this matter.

Both the competency and experience aspects.

It still seemed lacking in every aspect.

‘Now that I think about it, Director Cheonangam was the disciple who followed the progress of the Thunder King.’

Did he want to give his teacher’s child a chance to make a mark?

I felt a little disappointed.

Was the famous Dragon King ultimately a person who prioritized personal connections over skills?

“By the way, I think you said you were an interviewer. Does this mean I don’t have to return to work?”

“I decided to stay away for just one day. “I’ll have to go back to work tomorrow.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to focus on your job as an interviewer rather than walking around with us to get a closer look at all applicants?”

“The first round of interviews have already been completed. “I checked all the applicants at least once, so it’s okay.”

“…….”

Geomhu’s eyebrows narrowed slightly at the unreliable answer.

I’ve seen it once so it’s okay.

These were not words for someone who had been given a mission of great responsibility.

Dok Go-seong’s questions that followed were of a type she had never thought of.

“There is one thing I would like to ask the Lord of the Flying Dragon.”

“Tell me.”

“Is it possible that Sojeo, Yohwa, is a lay disciple of Botaam?”

“…!”

Geomhu’s steps suddenly stopped.

Byeokriso and Dokgoseong looked back at her with puzzled expressions.

“Why are you doing that?”

“How did you know that?”

“yes?”

“I asked how you knew that Yoo Hwaran studied martial arts at Botaam.”

“Oh, of course. “It seems I was right.”

Dokgo-seong nodded as if he knew that would happen.

Seeing him being happy without notice, Geomhu made a grim expression.

“You’re asking the same question three times.”

“…I’m sorry if I offended you.”

“Rather than an apology, I would like to hear an answer to my question.”

The reason Geomhu reacted so oversensitively was because the woman Dok Go-seong mentioned was not officially Bota-am’s disciple.

Yoo Hwaran, who was born and raised in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, was a benefactor to Botaam.

When he was young, he climbed a mountain with his grandfather to dig up medicinal herbs and accidentally discovered Botaam’s martial arts secrets, which had been lost in battle, and passed them on to So Gyeonggakju (小景閣主) of the time.

Thanks to that background, she was able to learn Botaam’s Jinsanjeolhak (鎭山絶學) even though she did not shave her head.

The problem was that due to Botaam’s internal circumstances, she could not announce the fact that she had learned Bonsan’s martial arts.

At least at the moment.

‘There is no way that kid named Yowha would have revealed the secret with his own mouth.’

Bothaam’s swordsmanship was famous for its practical martial arts skills.

To put it in a good way, it was a martial art that was perfected through extensive training and experience on a solid foundation. In a bad way, it was a martial art that was perfect for getting lost and wandering because there was no clear path presented.

Since there were no unique characteristics, it was easy to hide where I learned it.

In the case of Yo Hwaran, he even learned Shimbeop and Gyeonggong, which were different from the martial arts learned by ordinary disciples.

So, in fact, it could be said that it was close to impossible to infer her asceticism through martial arts.

“I figured it out just by looking at it.”

Dokgo-seong answers while awkwardly scratching the back of his head.

There was disbelief on Geomhu’s face.

“You knew just by looking?”

“yes. To be exact, I found out that Yohwa is not Sojeo, but after watching Lord Biryongak.”

“Now are you telling me to believe that?”

“Really. Is there any reason for me to lie to each Lord? “What is the benefit?”

“…….”

“Actually, until a little while ago, I didn’t even know where the recluse of Sojeo, Yowha, was. “It was not specifically stated on the application form, and during the interview, I was told that I had learned household martial arts.”

“But how?”

“The manner in which Sojeo Yohwa behaved, his manner of speaking, his trivial habits, etc. Some parts seemed to overlap with the footnotes. Did you personally teach her martial arts?”

“…The states, including me, took turns giving advice.”

“That’s why. I think I may have been influenced subconsciously. To be honest, even if I said it like this, it was only half a feeling…”

“Huh.”

Geomhu let out a small exclamation and stared at Dokgoseong with new eyes.

People seemed different just by talking to them a few words.

Simply saying that he had excellent intuition or sixth sense was not enough.

I felt like I knew now.

Why did the Cheonan Inspector assign him to him?

‘perhaps.’

I thought that Dok Go-seong’s performance might be greater than that of Byeok Ri-so, who learned Pupil.

* * *

“So what should I do from now on?”

Jin Hyeong-gon, the Great Lord of Hwagon, asked me with an eager face.

I could clearly see that he wanted to improve his relationship with me before joining the army.

‘What should I do?’

I couldn’t think of anything to reply right away, so I racked my brain.

To be honest, there was nothing in particular worth entrusting to him.

Although I asked for help from Geomhu, I thought the picture would look strange if I didn’t say anything to the Hwagon Daeju who came with me, so I only requested his cooperation as a courtesy.

I didn’t particularly need his help.

I feel sorry for the Great Lord Hwagon, but he was nothing more than a side note.

To begin with, I didn’t know anything about him.

Other than being a great expert.

It would have been nice if we had become closer friends when we went to the Beast Palace together, but we couldn’t do that because we had an awkward relationship with each other.

What are your specialties and what are your tendencies?

Isn’t it necessary to know something to be given an appropriate role?

‘Shall I instruct you to join Geomhu now?’

The moment I thought of giving myself a role that required a bit of effort.

The door to the office opened and a young man with a handsome appearance appeared inside.

“Boss. “I finished my interview today and came to report.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

The young man, Sima Yun, exchanged eye contact with the Great Lord of Hwagon.

He placed the report on the desk and said, scratching the back of his head.

“If I had known there were guests, I would have come a little later.”

“it’s okay. Wouldn’t it have been exhausting to deal with applicants all day? “You too, Sima Xiaoxiao, should hurry up and get off work and rest.”

For a while, they just stared at me as I offered them a seat and picked up the report.

Sima Yun asked as if throwing a question.

“Is the work to replace ganja going well?”

“…Did you know?”

“I just thought that the manager I knew would not neglect his guard against infiltrators.”

“I don’t think we can beat the small cooperatives.”

“There is one thing I would like to ask you.”

“Please speak.”

“From what I’ve seen, it looks like the Grand Council of Jin has decided to help with the matter, isn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

“Then, could you please have Jin Dae-hyeop serve as my guard for a while?”

I put down the report and narrowed my eyes.

I asked why he came to report despite being rude even though there were guests.

This seems to have been the goal from the beginning.

The Great Lord of Hua Kun looked at me and Sima Yun in turn with a puzzled expression.

“May I ask why you are making such a request?”