Before heading to Zhongyuan, it was late in the evening.
I sought out the Palace Lord in the dead of night to attend to my final matters in the North Sea.
"This place has always been accessible only to bloodline descendants, specifically those destined to take the position of the Palace Lord."
The location I found under the flickering light of a single lantern was an underground passageway, situated on the outskirts of the royal palace.
Why does everything here have to be underground?
Following the Palace Lord's guidance, I walked deep into the passage. As we continued, the Palace Lord suddenly broke the silence and spoke to me.
"Young Master Gu."
"Yes?"
"I have something I wish to ask you."
"Please, ask away. I will listen attentively."
"Why did you choose to save Vioe-gun?"
It was an oddly-timed question, coming amidst the darkness and silence.
I steadied my breathing, glanced at him, and replied,
"What exactly do you mean by that?"
"I mean it quite literally. I made my deductions based on your actions, but I fail to understand your reasoning."
Hearing his words, I nodded slightly.
As expected.
âSo my assumptions were correct.â
The tension I felt when I first met the Palace Lord.
It confirmed what I suspected thenâthat his seemingly confrontational demeanor was deliberate. It meant he had foreseen that I would need Woo Hyuk and had chosen to act accordingly.
"What if I were to say itâs simply because weâre friends? Would that be an insufficient reason?"
"How does it sound to you, Young Master Gu?"
"It does sound somewhat lackingâ¦."
Could I add more to my explanation?
Certainly, if I wanted to.
"His condition suggested heâd be useful if I brought him along."
Woo Hyuk had been forcibly transformed into a human weapon by Mangâs energy. He had grown significantly stronger, and with demonic energy infused in him, the likelihood of betrayal was slim.
Thereâs no bond more reliable than one forged through shared purpose.
"There also happened to be a suitable task I could entrust to him. The circumstances just aligned perfectly."
Whatâs more, Woo Hyuk was originally a key figure of Wudang. Though his current status was ambiguous, he had once been one of its most promising disciples.
Even though Wudangâs top master, the Hermit of Wudang, had an odd temperament and erratic behavior, under normal circumstances, Woo Hyuk would have been seen as a candidate for the next sect leader.
Considering all that, simply having Woo Hyuk by my side was immensely advantageous.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
He was not only a disciple of the next potential sect leader but also Wudangâs most talented rising star.
At his young age, he could already rival elders in martial skill, showcasing exceptional talent.