“Are you serious?”

“Of course.”

The conversation between the two ended with the appearance of Jin Sohyun and Cheon Yerang, who had brought firewood.

They started a bonfire and finished their meal with the dried meat they had brought in advance.

And even when everyone was asleep, Gu Yong couldn't easily fall asleep.

—Crush them! Kill them! And trample on them!!

The moment Gu Jucheol’s suppressed nature was partially revealed, Gu Yong felt goosebumps all over his body.

At the same time, a question arose.

‘How is the best under heaven made?’

What was confusing Gu Yong was not Gu Jucheol’s nature, which he had witnessed by chance.

It was himself, who could not refute the answer he had thrown.

‘It’s too difficult a question for me.’

Gu Yong forced himself to close his eyes.

But he couldn't fall asleep.

The next morning.

The party, who had woken up from sleep, filled Ok Myeon’s gag with water to replenish his fluids and then hurried on their way.

“We’ll arrive in another half a day.”

The road to meet the Demon-Subduing Ghost was very rough.

They had to proceed along a winding forest road, and in the process, they encountered roads that the cart could not pass.

Thanks to that, Gu Jucheol’s revolutionary sword had to spew sword ki to make a new path.

And so, after going for another half a day, the cart pulled by Hwanggu was able to arrive at a small village.

A small and cozy village surrounded by mountains on all sides.

As new faces with an ox appeared in the village, which didn't even have the common fence, the villagers came out one by one.

Gu Yong showed his two hands to reassure the villagers and smiled lightly.

“Haha… hello. I am a very healthy young man named Gu Yong.”

“Hello!”

“Wow! It’s a guest!”

“A guest has come to our village too.”

Unlike Gu Yong’s worries, the residents of the small village welcomed Gu Yong and his party warmly.

“Welcome. You can tie the ox over here.”

“Oh my, he’s so handsome!”

“This person here is a great beauty.”

Jin Sohyun and Cheon Yerang even felt a strange feeling toward the residents who approached and spoke to them without hesitation.

While they were entrusting Hwanggu and the cart as if it were a natural flow, some residents couldn't hide their wonder as they looked at Ok Myeon, who was tied up all over.

“What’s wrong with this person here?”

“Are you okay?”

“Should I help?”

As the residents hesitated and reached out to Ok Myeon, Gu Jucheol stopped them.

“He had a seizure due to epilepsy, so we tied him up for a while, so don’t worry.”

“Oh my, this is!”

“How pitiful…!”

An old woman approached the party, who were pushing away the residents gathering around Ok Myeon.

The old woman, who looked to be over sixty and had wrinkled skin, was walking proudly with a straight back, without even a cane.

“Welcome. Welcome to Nakhyang Village. I am the village chief of this village…”

The old woman said with the benevolent face peculiar to the elderly.

“My name is Cha Yong.”

***

“The Demon-Subduing Ghost… was a woman?”

At Jin Sohyun’s question, Gu Yong also had a bewildered expression.

“This is my first time seeing her in person too…”

The Demon-Subduing Ghost was one of the reclusive masters managed by the Beggars' Sect.

She only existed on paper, and this was Gu Yong’s first time seeing her in person.

While Cha Yong had left for a moment to get tea, Gu Jucheol spoke to the party who had come with him in a strong tone.

“From now on, never let your guard down. If necessary, use your internal energy to protect your mind and body. Focus on protecting your mind rather than your body. And finally…”

Gu Jucheol said with a sigh.

“Phew… never believe Cha Yong’s words.”

Before Gu Jucheol’s words could end, a young girl appeared before them.

Was she about fourteen years old?

The girl, who had come with a tray holding a teapot and cups in her cute two hands, placed the cups in front of the four people and poured tea on them.

“Thank you.”

As Jin Sohyun expressed his gratitude, the girl smiled shyly and blushed.

“Hehe…”

“Are you that happy?”

Cha Yong, who had appeared at some point, said, stroking the girl’s head.

“This child is my granddaughter, Cha Seol. She lost her parents early before she could even recognize their faces, so she is now following my surname, so don’t think it’s strange.”

“My name is Seol.”

Cha Seol bowed her head, holding the tray to her chest.

“Go inside. This grandmother has to talk with the guests.”

“Yes!”

Cha Seol quickly went into the room.

Gu Yong, who was watching this with a pleased expression, sipped his tea and then said.

“Your granddaughter is very cute.”

“She is a very lovely child. Ugh.”

Cha Yong sat down on an empty chair and carefully examined the faces of the four people one by one.

The place where Cha Yong’s eyes, which were sweeping over the four people, stopped was Gu Jucheol.

“It’s been a long time, Great Master Gu.”

“It’s been a long time, Cha Yong.”

“Huhu… what brings you to such a remote place with such a handsome man and a beautiful woman? From the looks of it, you’ve tied someone up like a croaker caught from the sea.”

“I have no intention of taking up much of your remaining time. The name of the person tied up outside is Ok Myeon. He is an executive of a secret information organization called the Hao Sect. We need to open his mouth.”

“Hehe! You’ve come to see this old woman’s shabby skills.”

“Because you were the best in that field.”

“I don’t know what to do with myself when the great Ghost-Faced Revolutionary Sword praises me.”

“Can you do it?”

“I’ll have to take a look first. If you’ve come to find me yourself, there’s a high possibility that a strong suggestion is in place.”

“That… we’ll have to see.”

“I’ll take a look. Please follow me.”

Cha Yong stood up from her seat and opened the door to the basement in the house.

“Please bring the person named Ok Myeon to me.”

As Gu Jucheol nodded his head, Gu Yong and Jin Sohyun brought Ok Myeon, who was tied up outside.

Ok Myeon’s two eyes, realizing that something unusual was happening, shook rapidly.

“Ugh-ugh!!”

As Ok Myeon struggled and thrashed, Gu Yong raised his hand.

“First, we have to knock him out…” 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

At that moment, Cha Yong, who had approached at some unknown time, caressed Ok Myeon’s cheek with a gentle touch.

“It’s okay. Everything will be fine, so don’t worry.”

At Cha Yong’s soft and benevolent voice, Ok Myeon stopped resisting.

“How…?”

“Now, please come inside.”

Gu Yong moved Ok Myeon to the basement with Jin Sohyun, with a bewildered face.

The structure of the basement was simple.

One chair.

That was the only piece of furniture that existed in the basement.

Gu Yong sat Ok Myeon down in the chair at Cha Yong’s instruction.

“Please untie all the ropes, and also untie the gag.”

“But we don’t know what this person will do.”

As Gu Yong said worriedly, Cha Yong waved her hand.

“Don’t worry. And if possible, could you please call Seol?”

“Yes. Miss Cheon! Could you please call the girl named Seol?”

At Jin Sohyun’s shout, Cheon Yerang, who was on the upper floor, walked to the front of Cha Seol’s room.

“So… that’s what happened…”

At the sound of conversation coming from inside, Cheon Yerang took her hand off the doorknob and knocked lightly on the door.

“Miss Cha.”

“Yes!”

The closed door opened.

But inside, there was no one other than Cha Seol.

Cheon Yerang felt a sense of wonder, but she didn't mind and said.

“Your grandmother is calling you.”

“I’ll be right there!”

As Cha Seol came down, Cha Yong caressed her granddaughter’s cheek and said.

“If the suggestion is strong, it will take quite a long time to release it. In the meantime, would you three be my granddaughter’s friends? There are no children of Seol’s age in this village, so the child is very lonely.”

“Friends…”

Although the four were quite different in age to be peers, Gu Yong nodded his head and pounded his chest.

“Leave it to me!”

“Then I’ll leave it to you. Seol, please show your new friends around the village.”

“Yes.”

Cha Seol approached with a shy face and took Jin Sohyun’s and Cheon Yerang’s hands.

At that small and delicate touch, Jin Sohyun and Cheon Yerang had to be careful not to put too much strength in their grasp.

“I’ll help you look around the village.”

“I’ll leave it to you.”

As Cha Seol left the house with the three, including Gu Yong, Gu Jucheol let out a deep sigh.

“Does it take a long time?”

“We’ll have to see.”

“I’ll go down with you.”

“I was about to ask you first. If you would do that.”

Gu Jucheol went down to the basement with Cha Yong.

There, Ok Myeon was sitting quietly in a chair.

“Then let’s begin.”

Cha Yong met Ok Myeon’s gaze, who was sitting in the chair, and then opened her mouth.

“Ok Myeon. Look deep into my eyes. What do you see?”

Ok Myeon looked deep into Cha Yong’s two eyes as if he were possessed by something.

And at that moment.

Ok Myeon saw something from Cha Yong’s two eyes.

That was.

“I… see myself.”

It was himself.

***

“Seol!”

“Ah! Uncle Jo!”

“Haha! You’ve come with the new people. Have you already become friends?”

“No, not yet.”

“I see.”

The three, who had set out to look around the village with Cha Seol, looked around and saw the small village.

The scale of the village was very small, with the number of residents being less than thirty.

Moreover, as Cha Yong had said, there were no young children to be seen.

“Seol!”

“Sister Sumi!”

“Why don’t you come over here and play with us?”

“I’m sorry. Today I have to show the new people around the village.”

“I see! Then let’s play next time!”

“Okay!”

Gu Yong, who was watching Cha Seol and the woman named Sumi talking affectionately, said with force.

“The villagers are very close to each other. It’s a very nice village to see.”

As Gu Yong had said, the villagers were very close.

Whenever they discovered Cha Seol, the residents would smile and greet her.

Naturally, their faces were in full bloom with smiles.

“Everyone looks happy.”

At Jin Sohyun’s words, Cha Seol nodded her head and smiled.

“That’s right. Everyone in Nakhyang Village is happy.”

“Yeah.”

Jin Sohyun, who was walking around the village holding Cha Seol’s hand, tilted his head.

‘What is it?’

Jin Sohyun, who had been walking around the village for a while, turned around without realizing it.

“Hmm.”

“What’s wrong?”

As Jin Sohyun stopped in his place, Cha Seol asked, curious.

“It’s nothing.”

Jin Sohyun, who was looking back at the path he had come, turned his head and met the eyes of Cha Seol, who was looking up at him.

Jin Sohyun, who was looking at the innocent girl’s eyes, shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s nothing. Is the village tour over now?”

“There’s one last place to go together!”

As Cha Seol ran off excitedly, Cheon Yerang approached Jin Sohyun’s side.

“Young Master Jin.”

“Yes.”

Jin Sohyun, who had nodded his head, looked at Cheon Yerang and said.

“There’s something… strange about this village.”

***

“What is your real name?”

“My real name… is Gyugeum.”

“Good. Gyugeum. From now on, you are my one and only friend.”

“Friend…”

“Good friends should be a sincere relationship without hiding anything from each other. Isn’t that right? Gyugeum.”

“That’s… right.”

Gu Jucheol, who was watching the conversation between Cha Yong and Ok Myeon, felt as if he was suffocating without realizing it.

‘Even though I already know, it’s so creepy.’

The professional interrogator of the Martial Alliance.

The Demon-Subduing Ghost, Cha Yong.

She had never once opened a prisoner’s mouth through torture.

Cha Yong had always made the prisoner her one and only friend, and had made them open their mouths of their own will.

The reason this was possible was thanks to the special martial art that Cha Yong had learned.

Soul Seduction Art.

The Soul Seduction Art, which was said to be able to be learned by only a handful of people in the Central Plains.

Cha Yong, who had learned this, had bewitched the prisoners of the Ming Cult who had been captured by the alliance with her unique voice and outstanding eloquence.

Thanks to her, the Martial Alliance, which had found out the secret information of the Ming Cult, was able to win the Righteous-Heretic Great War.

And after the war ended.

Cha Yong, who was the master of the Soul Seduction Art and was called the Demon-Subduing Ghost, had disappeared suddenly.

‘The Soul Seduction Art that even the Ming Cult feared. I think I know the reason why those bastards were so eager to kill her.’

Seeing it in person, he could see how outstanding Cha Yong’s Soul Seduction Art was.

“Great Master Gu.”

“I’m listening.”

“If I tell you his secret through Gyugeum’s mouth, what will you do for me, Great Master?”

“Tell me anything. I will reward you as much as my strength allows.”

“Then…”

Cha Yong said with a faint smile.

“They were a handsome man and a beautiful woman. Please leave one of them here.”

“What did you say?”

“I was just about to make a friend for Seol. Looking at the two, their appearance is beautiful, and the martial arts skills they possess seem very outstanding. If it’s to that extent, they will be able to be a good friend for Seol.”

“Nonsense! Do you even know who those two are!”

“It’s none of my business who they are. In any case… they will have already become a good friend of Seol.”

Gu Jucheol, who had realized something through Cha Yong’s words, drew his sword and shouted in anger.

“Could it be… you taught your granddaughter the Soul Seduction Art too!”

“The Great Luo Soul Capturing Art that I possess is a secret art that has been passed down through my family. And Seol is the child with the most outstanding talent among the successors who have inherited the Great Luo Soul Capturing Art so far.”

“Cha Yong!!”

“Great Master Gu. Although my martial prowess is no match for yours.”

Cha Yong placed her hand on Ok Myeon’s head.

“I am better than you at controlling people. Gyugeum could die at my one word. Isn’t that right?”

“Yes… for my friend… I can die.”

As Cha Yong took Ok Myeon hostage, Gu Jucheol also couldn't move rashly.

“This damn wench…”

“Hehehe… don’t be so angry.”

Cha Yong’s two hands grabbed the corners of Ok Myeon’s mouth and stretched them long, making it seem as if he were smiling, and said.

“They will surely be happy too.”

(End of Chapter)