Chapter 731: Guest (3)

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Unlike the nervous Li Wei, Hyunmoo smiled softly and exchanged greetings.

Hyunmoo spoke to Hwang Jiho, smiled at me, and greeted Baekho-gun.

“How have you been, Baekho? It’s the first time I’ve seen you since you became an auspicious beast.”

“Yeah.”

“You’re not frustrated? Every time I wandered around the world, I thought of you.”

“…”

“You’ve become much less talkative than before.”

Hyunmoo’s tone was full of longing.

Baekho didn’t talk much, but he seemed to be pleased enough to nod his head occasionally at Hyunmoo’s words.

Watching this, Hwang Jiho said a word.

“Baekho is tied to this land, but he was the most free-spirited member of the Tiger Clan a long time ago. He’s also got quite the connections.”

Baekho-gun wished for the power to go anywhere, so that must be true.

He must’ve had a lot of friends.

Looking at his steely facade, everyone would be curious and want to be close.

But there was a catch.

‘Not many people from PMH came to meet Baekho-gun or offer a helping hand… Ah.’

The reason was at hand.

It was the blindfolded Hyunmoo.

If it’s Baekho-gun who lived and made friends with legends, they were likely to have high divinity just like Hyunmoo.

Hwang Jiho didn’t seem to have built it up, but if he decided to, he could become a superior being.

Most of those who had exchanges with Baekho-gun have left this land to become superior beings.

“I heard that Cheongryong’s love for his descendant is special. Are you still doing well with yours?”

“It’s as you think.”

“Haha, I see. Someone as stern as Cheongryong can’t do anything now that he’s met a Hongryong-like descendant.”

Stern Cheongryong?

The image of Cheongryong next to the Red King waving a Hongryong light stick while watching Playlist came to mind.

Not a tinge of sternness was in his image.

Something suddenly came to mind from Baekho-gun and Hyunmoo’s conversation.

‘Baekho, Cheongryong, and Hyunmoo were part of the Four Auspicious Beasts. Then the remaining one is…’

As if to give me the answer, Baekho-gun asked Hyunmoo,

“And Jujak?”

Hyunmoo and Jujak didn’t appear in PMH so I thought they became superior beings, but when we went to that coverage trip in China, I found out that the two remained of royal lineage.

I’ve had a conversation with Hwang Jiho before.

— Is this Hyunmoo’s base?

— To be precise, it belongs to the Four Auspicious Beasts; Baekho (White Tiger), Cheongryong (Blue Dragon), Jujak (Vermillion Bird), and Hyunmoo (Black Tortoise). It was built by those who served the four. The Jujak and Hyunmoo often stayed here, opening the Yashi whenever they pleased.

Jujak and Hyunmoo would’ve stated close, so it’s highly likely that they know what the other has been up to.

However, when Jujak’s name was mentioned, Hyunmoo’s mouth went down a little.

“Jujak is doing well in the human world. Maybe.”

Maybe?

Did Hyunmo lose contact with Jujak?

“The business run by Jujak is thriving.”

“You know it well.”

“Have you forgotten that this body is leading Hwangmyeong Group? Any businessman would know about the Zhuque Konzerne.”

I snapped into attention at Hwang Jiho’s words.

Zhuque Konzerne is a mega-corporate group considered China’s symbol of the otherworld industry.

The existence of the Konzerne prevented the Player’s Association from stepping up.

And Zhuque is the Chinese equivalent of Jujak.

‘I thought the founder was related to Jujak. I thought it was an order at best, but it turns out it was Jujak himself.’

Just as most businessmen thought that the Hwangmyeong Group has close ties with the Tiger Clan, most people don’t imagine that it’s run by them.

I heard that one of Geum Chansol’s relatives is on the board of directors of Zhuque Konzerne, so is his family related to Jujak?

Hyunmoo spoke awkwardly as he raised the corner of his mouth.

“I haven’t seen Jujak since we fought over ascension. Jujak has a lot of affection.”

“It looks like it. Jujak even asked if there was anything he could do for Baekho’s kindness.”

“It’s the first I’ve heard of it.”

“Hahaha! Because it’s the first time I’ve said it. I was waiting to tell you once you’re curious about the news of Jujak, but you didn’t ask at all.”

Hwang Jiho smiled at the silent Baekho-gun.

This old man must’ve kept his mouth shut waiting for this moment.

After looking away from the laughing old man, Baekho-gun said,

“How long has it been since you saw Jujak?”

“Not long after the worldly collisions… it must’ve been when Jujak decided to set up the Zhuque Konzerne. Was it after the collision that he became distant with royal lineage and superior beings?”

From a human’s perspective, it became possible to sense and feel royal lineage and superior beings clearly, but it must be different from the perspective of royal lineage.

The Royal Lineage were drawn out of this world, so they must’ve become close to humans but far from superior beings.

Therefore, the question of whether or not a royal lineage would become a superior being was a very sensitive topic.

“I feel sorry for you and Cheongryong, so I’m not willing to think that I will ascend.”

Kim Shinrok’s face grew pale as Hyunmoo talked about his perspective on superior beings and ascension.

I guess he can relate because his only close friend is on the verge of it.

Jeokho cut the conversation.

“Baekho’s old friend talks a lot. Did you come all the way here to chat? You should emulate your quiet friend.”

“I see how a father’s love for his son is special, Jeokho. It’s amazing knowing how you were in the past.”

“I don’t have a memory of you from the past.”

“Yeah, There weren’t a lot of people you paid attention to.”

Jeokho didn’t care much about anyone other than the Tiger Clan, Ungnyeo, and Kim Shinrok.

I think it’s quite similar now.

“We’ve kept our guests waiting for a long time. Let’s go.”

Hwang Jiho took the lead and walked us through the wide corridor.

He talked to Li Wei, who looked nervous.

“You said you were eighteen last year. You must be nineteen now.”

“Ah, yes. If we were on a Korean age basis, then yes.”

“Are you still a high school student?”

“Yes.”

Li Wei sincerely answered Hwang Jiho’s questions.

China’s curriculum is different from Korea’s.

For example, Kakao High, China’s state-run university entrance exam, is held over three days in June, compared with Korea’s CSAT which is usually taken in November.

Hwang Jiho asked as if he was interested in China’s curriculum as the Chairman of Eungwang High.

Li Wei attends a player-specialized high school.

‘Is this our destination?’

As I listened to Hwang Jiho and Li Wei’s conversation, we reached a door at the end of the corridor.

There was an unusual energy from beyond the door.

Standing close, the underground air seemed to get colder.

“You seem less nervous than earlier so I will ask you something.”

“Please go ahead.”

Talking to Li Wei wasn’t just for his curiosity.

Hwang Jiho seems to be thinking of asking Li Wei a question that he couldn’t answer in the past.

“Beyond this door is the head of the Cow Clan. If you want me to open this door, you will have to give me a reason.”

When we met Hyunmoo and Li Wei before, Hwang Jiho offered the latter a deal.

Li Wei’s light skill is connected to Yeomje Shinnong, and he has a rare power to possibly heal Jeokho.

Although Yoo Sanghee is close, Hwang Jiho asked Li Wei to do two things because he can’t leave the life of his friend to a single Yoo Sanghee.

First, to use his light skill when the Tiger Clan requests it.

Second, to not divulge the details of the transaction to the outside world.

— I’ve heard of the 12-point alliance in Korea.

— Let me meet the head of the Cow Clan

Hwang Jiho replied that he would think about it if Li Wei gave a reason, but Li Wei did not talk.

Li Wei must be here now because he’s determined to talk.

He took a breath and opened his mouth.

My father met the head of the Cow Clan just before he died.”

Isn’t Li Wei’s father a recipient of Yeomje’s order?

Hwang Jiho was supposed to contact Li Wei’s father, but when we went to China, he was already dead.

Instead, we met Li Wei.

Hwang Jiho wasn’t aware of Li Weis’ father’s death.

“Before my father met the Cow Clan’s head, he left me with these words.”

“What words?”

Li Wei looked under his feet and at the door.

Other than hesitation, there was a faint sense of guilt in his eyes.

“If he doesn’t come back, run away from the head of the Cow Clan. And don’t ever set foot on the Korean Peninsula.”

What is the relationship between Li Wei’s father and Uma?

It’s still unknown, but Li Wei seems to feel guilty for breaking his father’s will.

“But you asked to meet the head of the Cow Clan and you came here. I don’t think you accepted this body’s deal because of your own will.”

“…I have something to show you.”

Li Wei took an old notebook out of his arms.

In the notebook was a letter, and based on the last name written, it must be a keepsake left by Li Wei’s father.

“According to my father’s diary, the head of the Cow Clan made a dangerous suggestion to him.”

“That must have something to do with your father’s death.”

“I think so. I don’t think my father had any intention of accepting the offer.”

“I’ll see for myself. Open the page that says it.”

Li Wei immediately turned the page.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

How many times has he read it over again for him to remember all the pages in that diary?

Hwang Jiho’s eyes, reading the pages from Li Wei’s hand, were a little blurred.

“It’s absurd, but I can’t deny it. There were people in Korea who wanted to do similar things, and Uma used his power.”

“What does the diary say?”

Hwang Jiho answered Jeokho’s question.

“Uma attempted to take away the power of a superior being. He had Yeomje’s order, and he tried to take his power through the human who had a light skill connected to him.”

“Such nonsense…!”

“It’s not ridiculous. Uma used the power of Gugalanna who was close to being a god.”

Hwang Jiho was right.

Gugalanna was a bull in the sky that was close to being a god.

If Gugalanna decided, he could’ve ascended as a superior being anytime.

And there was a group in Korea that tried to do something similar to Uma.

After taking power from a powerful royal lineage, they took a human who had a connection to a healing god.

‘It’s similar to the TC Research Institute that imprisoned Wu Zhiqi and threatened Yoo Sanghee.’

The Artificial Descent Project must have a separate purpose.

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