“Hahaha!”

An annoyingly high-pitched laughter echoed throughout the assembly hall.

“Fake? The Asura Blade? I don’t need to hear any more. It seems the reputation of the Blood Tribute Girl was exaggerated! Hahaha!”

As Mahu laughed like a crow, the surrounding atmosphere began to slowly join in.

“There’s a limit to recklessness. What do you mean it’s suddenly fake?”

“Hoho. That’s right. She’s still young, so her imagination must be running wild.”

Narin pouted her lips at the people’s reactions, snickering and mocking her.

‘I knew this would be the response.’

However, Narin couldn’t make any counterargument.

It was because she had no evidence to support her claim that the Asura Blade discovered in Jaryong Hall was fake.

There was only one reason why Narin opened her mouth despite knowing she would be ridiculed.

“Taebok. Go to Mannyeonjeon and tell them to delay the event.”

It was because she thought only Dokgo Cheon would believe her.

“Pardon? Are you serious?”

“……”

“Gasp! As you command!”

Taebok ran out hastily.

Only then did the smiles disappear from people’s faces.

Regardless of what Narin said, the moment Dokgo Cheon took it seriously, they had no choice but to take it seriously as well.

“Leader. You don’t really believe the Blood Tribute Girl’s words, do you?”

Mahu tilted her head as if she couldn’t understand at all.

The Dokgo Cheon she knew was a man who didn’t feel emotions and moved solely based on logic and reason.

His current action of blindly believing Narin’s words felt strange to her.

‘Could it be…?’

The moment Mahu stared intently at Dokgo Cheon’s face as if trying to read it.

“Don’t take Mahu’s words lightly. I’m just following along.”

Gong Son Wu stepped forward.

He focused attention on himself before Mahu could find a trace of emotion on Dokgo Cheon’s face.

“Ah. Excuse me. It was Mataehu, right?”

Mahu’s expression distorted.

People had been calling her Mahu instead of Mataehu because the generational change had not taken place. It was a way of emphasizing that the power she enjoyed during the previous leader’s lifetime had long disappeared.

“Still rude as ever. Jiguk Cheonwang.”

“My apologies. Mataehu. As you know, I come from a lowly background. From now on, I won’t forget and will definitely address you as Mataehu. Mataehu.”

“……”

An uncomfortable current flowed between the two.

The people around them just cleared their throats and averted their gazes to avoid getting involved.

“Come to think of it, I heard the Blood Tribute Girl is Jiguk Cheonwang’s disciple.”

Mahu smirked provocatively, raising one corner of her mouth.

“As a teacher, shouldn’t you share in your disciple’s faults?”

It was an obvious ploy.

‘That old hag is trying to drag Master into this!’

Narin widened her eyes and shook her head roughly from side to side at Gong Son Wu.

It was just a hypothesis that hadn’t been verified at all, even though she said it in a hurry!

Gong Son Wu responded, pretending not to see Narin doing that.

“Of course.”

“Master!”

“Mataehu is right. What are you doing? I, as the master, should take responsibility for the words coming out of this little chick’s mouth. That’s what an adult and a guardian should do.”

‘If I knew this would happen, I wouldn’t have said anything!’

Narin made a face that showed she felt wronged, but now that the words were out, she couldn’t take them back.

“Then let’s do this.”

On the other hand, Mahu continued with a face that couldn’t hide her joy, like looking at prey caught in a spider’s web.

“If the Asura Blade turns out to be real, contrary to the Blood Tribute Girl’s words, Dongcheon Palace will close its doors for a year. As a sign of self-reflection.”

The crowd greatly stirred at Mahu’s proposal.

Closing the palace doors!

“Tsk. You’re going too far.”

Even Gong Son Wu couldn’t help but click his tongue at this scheme.

If Dongcheon Palace closed its doors, not only would the subordinate organizations like Cheongryong Brigade and Swallow be unable to avoid closing as well, but the eastern part of Shimandaesan could also be left defenseless.

“I think that’s too extreme, even if you say so.”

“That’s right. Mahu. Closing the doors is a bit……”

Now that things had turned out this way, it was the other people who were in a difficult position.

Even though Dongcheon Palace didn’t do as much work compared to the other three Jewel Law Palaces, it was still one of the Four Heavenly Palaces.

“Alright.”

Of course, Gong Son Wu didn’t care about that.

“Master!”

“Jiguk Cheonwang!”

“However, Mataehu must also share in the fault.”

“Interesting. How should I do that?”

Mahu waited for Gong Son Wu’s words with an intrigued expression.

“If Narin’s words are true, Bukmangsan will close its doors for 10 years.”

Mahu’s eyes, which had been relaxed until just now, shook violently.

Who were the dead of Bukmangsan?

Even if they were treated as dead people, their essence was the highest masters of the Demon Cult.

Bukmangsan was a powerful reinforcement that the current leadership could ask for help when something beyond their control happened, and naturally established itself as a force that kept the power in check due to its strength.

‘You dare try to shackle our ankles? And for a whopping 10 years at that!’

Thinking rationally, it was a bet that should never be accepted.

1 year and 10 years. That alone was an unfair bet with a tenfold difference. However……

‘Do you think this girl will back down even if I do that?’

Mahu didn’t think she would lose, so she had no fear of what she put at stake.

“Okay.”

“What are you trying to do!”

“Your Highness! Please stop the two of them!”

As the two authorities clashed with each other to the death, it was the people around them whose throats were burning. No matter how things turned out, either Dongcheon Palace or Bukmangsan would have to close its doors, so it was understandable.

“……”

Dokgo Cheon quietly observed all of this and then opened his mouth.

“I allow it.”

[This is the timeline separator]

They’ve all gone crazy.

Sitting in the carriage heading to Mannyeonjeon, Narin couldn’t understand at all how things had come to this point.

‘I said it without any real confidence.’

If things went wrong, Dongcheon Palace might have to close its doors for a year.

As Narin let out a deep sigh, Gong Son Wu, who was sitting across from her, spoke.

“Why are you worrying so much? It’s not like you said something untrue.”

At Gong Son Wu’s thoughtless words, Narin jumped up and shouted.

“How would you know that, Master!”

“Your pronunciation is slipping again.”

“Is my pronunciation important right now? Dongcheon Palace might have to close its doors!”

“So what?”

Gong Son Wu shrugged his shoulders as if it was no big deal.

“It’s just for a year at most. We can use this opportunity to intensify the training at Cheongryong Brigade and enjoy a long vacation for a change.”

Narin sat back down with a confused feeling at Gong Son Wu’s nonchalant attitude.

Strange. People were definitely worrying as if something huge had happened.

“Really?”

“Of course. We’re not Bukcheon Palace. Dongcheon Palace doesn’t have much to do in the first place.”

Somehow my pride is hurt.

“So why did you think the Asura Blade was fake?”

“Ah, because Wangzzajeung Grandma said so. She said the Asura Blade couldn’t have disappeared on its own.”

Narin narrowed her eyes, stroked her chin, and continued.

“I thought about why she said that, and the gist is that only those with the Blood Demon bloodline can touch the Asura Blade, right? But if this premise isn’t true, then anyone can move the Asura Blade……”

“Sorry to interrupt, but by Wangzzajeung Grandma, do you mean Mataehu?”

At Gong Son Wu’s question, Narin asked back with an annoyed tone.

“You know, so why are you asking?”

“It was so fitting that I just had to point it out.”

I guess so.

Narin nodded her head in agreement with Gong Son Wu’s words and returned to the story she was telling.

“Remember what I told you, Master, when we handed the Asura Blade to that Jeokga bastard?”

Gong Son Wu thought for a moment and then answered.

“Yeah. I was worried that Jeok Gun Ak would lose, damage, or make a fake Asura Blade, but you reassured me that he didn’t seem like the type to pull such tricks.”

“I’m taking that back.”

“Now of all times?”

“They say it’s the fastest when you think it’s too late.”

Is that how the saying goes?

Gong Son Wu made a dissatisfied expression but soon let it go. This wasn’t the important thing to discuss right now.

“So you’re saying that bastard Jeok Gun Ak pulled some tricks?”

“Probably. Thinking about it, he wasn’t the type to give up on tricks because his tail might get stepped on. He was the type to plot a scheme to avoid being a suspect even after pulling tricks!”

Narin pounded her head with her fist as if she deeply regretted it.

“He planned from the beginning to present Jaryong as the suspect.”

“I bet he even put someone in place to tempt him, saying, ‘Sir! You must take a look at the Asura Blade before it’s offered!'”

“That vile bastard!”

“That’s what I’m saying! That vile Demon Cult ba…!”

Narin was about to say ‘Demon Cult bastard’ without thinking but quickly stopped. This is why habits are scary.

“Ba?”

“Ba… He must have made a new Asura Blade.”

Ding!

[*Your ability has increased due to your brilliant quick-wittedness in thinking on your feet. (Eloquence +1)]

It was a welcome notification that she hadn’t seen in a while.

I always feel this way, but the increase in Eloquence ability is really small.

Narin cleared her throat with an ahem and continued.

“He had plenty of time to make a fake while holding onto the Asura Blade under the pretext of investigation. Since a fake can be moved by someone without the Blood Demon bloodline, it’s not strange that it was found in Jaryong Hall.”

“Indeed. That must be it.”

Gong Son Wu, who had been nodding his head repeatedly at Narin’s words, suddenly asked as if a thought struck him.

“Then where is the real one?”

That’s the problem.

Narin rested her chin on her knee and sighed.

“If I knew that, I wouldn’t be so anxious. If the blade at Mannyeonjeon turns out to be real, Dongcheon Palace will have to close its doors.”

“And Jaryong will have his head cut off without any way out.”

“His head will be cut off?!”

“Isn’t it obvious? If stealing a divine object only leads to execution, that would be fortunate.”

Oh no.

Being expelled from Somyeong Palace, losing the qualification to become the Junior Sect Leader, destroying the danjeon, and cutting the geunmaek of the arms and legs – she had expected all of that, but to think they would lop off the head of the Sect Leader’s eldest son.

“…It has to be fake.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

At that moment, the carriage suddenly stopped.

Thinking they had already arrived at Mannyeonjeon, she looked outside, but that wasn’t the case.

Even at a rough glance, it seemed like they still had to go about 10 li (4km) to reach their destination.

“I apologize to you two, but we can’t go any further by carriage.”

The coachman’s words were true.

The crowd gathered to watch the offering ceremony was swarming all the streets centered around Mannyeonjeon.

“Let’s get off here and walk the rest of the way.”

“Yes, Master.”

“I’m truly sorry.”

“No, it’s better than forcibly squeezing through and causing an accident.”

Narin hopped off the carriage with a bounce, and Gong Son Wu followed after her. Perhaps because of the large crowd, a lively atmosphere rarely seen in this season was permeating the entire street.

“Are all these people here to see the offering ceremony?”

“To be exact, they’ve come to see the Asura Blade. It’s a rare opportunity to feel the presence of a god.”

The presence of a god, huh.

Come to think of it, it was a topic she had never thought deeply about.