Book I Chapter 21
…
A few hours earlier…
When the group from the Urokai Sect arrives outside the town of Yemo, they could immediately see the large number of people celebrating the festivity.
Then they go their separate ways.
"Hey, Junior Jin… Where do you want to go?" asked Han Joonho.
"Want to see the street market…" Hyuna did not think twice and replied.
She missed the small festivals in her old village where she and her mother would stroll around. She would sometimes hear from the merchants and the people visiting the village at those times that the town and city festivals are grander and there are more fun things to see.
After listening to those stories, she dreamed of visiting town festivals as she grew up.
Now that she is able to do so, she is truly happy.
As she walked towards the street market, four people are walking along with her.
She found that the three are acting a bit weird.
"Why are you guys following me?" she asked with a frown.
"We… we not following you… We are… following them." Han Joonho replied while twirling his hand and then pointing at four women walking in front of the group.
As Hyuna looks at the woman, she showed a slight surprise in her eyes.
This is because; she could not recognize any of those women. Plus she noticed a jade bangle hanging on one of them.
"The Cloud Phoenix sect?" she muttered.
"Yes, they are from a neighboring sect a few mountains away from us… I think they were on a mission and just passed by in this place…" Ji Eun explained.
"Then… why are you tailing them?" Hyuna asked.
Who would have known that the direction she is going is also the direction those girls are going?
"Well… one of them… has a special relation with Senior Gong… I think she came here to make trouble with him."
"Trouble? What kind of trouble?"
"Sigh… it is a long story…" the inner sect disciple following them suddenly explained.
Senior Gong Heok is one of the core disciples of the sect who is about to reach the 3rd law perception. He was given a choice by the sect, to stay in the sect and become one of the elders of the sect if he truly reaches the 3rd law before he turns 80.
He agreed to this and was sent back to tell his parents.
On his way, he saved a cultivator from the Cloud Phoenix sect before leaving. After telling his parents about his decision, they agreed and he left.
On his way back to the sect, he was called by his master and the woman confronted him.
She claimed that he took her chastity and that he should be responsible for her.
Even the master of that female cultivator came to the sect at that time.
In his panic, Senior Gong told them that he already found someone he loves and that he would be married to that woman once she come of age.
Upon hearing this, the master and her disciple were outraged.
They demanded to see the prof that he truly has someone he is engaged with, if not then they would surely make him be responsible for that female cultivator.
"When did this happen? I think I've heard of this news…" Hyuna frowned as she thought for a while.
"It happened 2 months ago…"
As the four followed secretly, they suddenly hide in one corner as the four women began picking some accessories.
Hyuna frowned and stood straight.
"What are you doing?" asked Han Joonho in panic.
"To listen of course…" she said confidently as she walked to the nearby store and began picking some of the cloth on its booth.
"Hihi… Senior sister… are you sure that the guy is here now?" one of them suddenly asked.
"Of course, I'm sure… do you see that corner over there. Those cultivators are from the Urokai sect." a plain-looking woman said with a smirk.
"Ah… That is why they were following us a while ago." One of them said.
Then one of them suddenly noticed Hyuna picking some of the cloth and her eyes glowed as if seeing something really stunning.
"Oh my, what a handsome young boy…" she muttered.
Hyuna pretends to have not heard her.
"I want to buy this one, sir…" Hyuna said while picking a roll of flowery brocade.
"That's not a boy… that's a woman…" one of them said with a smirk.
"Really? But… but…"
"Anyway… So, what are your plans, senior?"
"I will go to the Urokai sect and talk to the sect master. I want that guy to reveal the truth… He has to be responsible for what he has done to me…" she said with a smug look in her eyes.
Hyuna felt a bit weird. How could a woman be so shameless as to announce such a thing in public?
That is something that could cause shame to any woman.
After listening to the group, she walked away and turns the corner.
"Guys… don't hide anymore… those four have already seen you…" she said while shaking her head.
"So… what did they say? They are too far and they are speaking in whispers…" the inner sect disciple asked.
"Sigh… Senior Gong would surely be in trouble now… That woman is going to enter the sect and demand that he show his fiancé. If not, then it would surely cause a scandal…" Hyuna explained.
"What? That woman is truly shameless… We must tell this to Senior Gong now." Han Joonho said as he quickly walked away.
The four soon saw Senior Gong and relayed what they have discovered. The face of Senior Gong went pale as he did not know what to say.
In fact, right now he is feeling a bit regretful for saving that woman that day.
He is a man of honor and virtue and he would not use anything to violate his own principles.
In the sect, he is known as the strictest but kind senior with regard to the rules of the sect.
And now because of that, he faced a very troublesome situation that could ruin his own reputation.
"Senior… What really happened that day?" asked Hyuna.
Upon hearing this, Senior Gong turned silent and showed a sad expression on his face.
He suddenly turned around and walked away with a heavy expression.
"Why did you ask that?" Han Joonho scolded as he lightly hit Hyuna's head.
"No one in the sect would ask that question to him because it causes him to show that sad and downcast expression." Another disciple said while shaking his head.
"Sigh… We can't let this be… We need to find a solution…" Ji Eun interjected.
"The only solution is that we find that woman which he said as his fiancée." Han Joonho suddenly said.
One of the disciples looks around and then gestured for everyone to gather.
"I will tell you the truth…" he said then puts his head up.
Then he went back down when he saw no one around them.
"There are no women… Senior Gong is a cultivation addict. He would rather spend his time inside a cave than to be with a woman…" the disciple said matter-of-factly.
Everyone gasped in realization.
"So that's why…" Han Joonho froze but then shakes his head.
"This is helpless… Why don't we ask someone…" he suggested.
"Senior, are you crazy?" Ji Eun scolded while cutting his words off.
"I think we can find someone who…" suddenly Han Joonho's eyes landed on Hyuna.
Then the rest followed his sight.
Upon noticing this, Hyuna frowned and then looks at the group of men looking at her.
Then she suddenly realized something.
"Oh, no… I won't agree with that plan… I am a man… I also have my dignity." she said firmly.
Though she heard of Senior Gong from the sect and has some interaction with him while she works in the library before, she is not that close to him that she would sacrifice herself for this kind of plan.
"Come on… Only you could pass as a woman out of all of us in here… Senior Gong's fate now lies in your hand…" Han Joonho tried his best to convince her.
Hyuna suddenly turns around and bolted out.
The group was surprised and quickly chased after her.
But no one uses their cultivation as this is prohibited in the town. If the sect discovers this, then they would be in trouble.
But who would have known that without their cultivation, they were not as fast as Hyuna?
Though they passed body refining, that is with regards to the strength of their physique. Their speed would always have help from Qi.
Without using Qi they were all as weak as a normal mortal guy.
But Hyuna is different from them.
Her muscles are purely trained physically without the help of Qi. That is why her every step and stride is fast and quick.
Soon, she was able to run out of the town and into the forest nearby. She wanted to hide from those crazy guys.
But who would have known that she would meet two women right at this time?