Invitation to the Chatroom of the Gods - Chapter 54



Only Krnovel

Episode 54 – Wrong Encounter (1)

Namgung Yerin wondered what was going on.

Suddenly, I couldn’t understand why Dang So-hyang was at the missionary office.

Was it the same for Dang So-hyang?

“Young Lady Yerin, you don’t often go outside Anhui Province, do you? And why are you at the missionary office…?”

That wasn’t a wrong statement.

Unless something really special happened, Namgung Yerin rarely came out of Anhui Castle.

Even though Anhui Province was a single province, it was very large. It was not that people did not go out at all, but even if they did go out, they never moved ‘alone’.

But that wasn’t just an issue that applied to Namgung Yerin.

“That’s what I wanted to say. Shouldn’t Young Lady Sohyang be in Sacheonseong?”

Because Dang So-hyang was more and more determined not to leave Sacheonseong.

What does Sacheonseong mean?

Dangso-hyang is the city of Chengdu where the Sacheon Tangmun is located, and it does not leave the Tangmun.

It would be accurate to say that there is no escape.

Five years ago, when she visited Sacheon Castle, Namgung Yerin met Dang So-hyang.

The first impression I had of Dang So-hyang back then was that she was a ‘sickly beauty’. And now, she is no different from then.

Tang So-hyang’s figure was quite slender for a woman. She was as thin as a flower petal swaying in the wind, and her pale skin was almost colorless, almost pale.

He looked even more frail than when I last saw him.

It wouldn’t have been strange at all if he had collapsed soon, but this was Tang So-hyang, who could not and should not be in this distant Gangseo Province and Seonmu-gwan.

however······.

Namgung Yerin’s gaze once again scanned Dang So-hyang’s entire body.

“What is that outfit······?

Dang So-hyang was wearing a type of clothing called ‘Gyeongjang’.

As you can see from the meaning, it was a rather light and comfortable outfit, and it was comfortable clothing that was mainly worn when living ‘at home’.

“I didn’t know that a guest would suddenly show up at the missionary office.”

“······Huh? Yeah, yeah?”

I wondered what this meant.

You didn’t know there would be guests at the mission office?

What does that have to do with Dang So-hyang?

It was natural that the missionary’s ‘owner’ should be responsible for handling guests who came to the missionary office.

And the master of the missionary office is Cheongun.

There is only one condition under which Dang So-hyang can say something like that.

It was the kind of sound that a missionary’s ‘hostess’ should make.

“······.”

As her thoughts reached this point, Namgung Yerin’s heart sank.

The reason······was unknown.

It felt like my heart just sank below my stomach.

So Cheongun didn’t receive a single letter for several months.

While other men were trying to have a word with her at all costs, Cheongwoon was the only one who treated her indifferently, like a sack of barley that had been thrown away.

Namgung Yerin’s gaze turned to Dang Sohyang again.

Tang So-hyang was truly so beautiful.

Her long, dark hair seemed to embrace the Milky Way in the night sky.

It fell gracefully down her shoulder, drawing a soft curve like the flowing Milky Way, and her beauty, combined with her distinct facial features, was so beautiful that even Namgung Yerin could see it······.

The saying that she was the most beautiful woman in the Sacheon region was not an exaggeration.

Dang So-hyang was so······pretty that even her weakness was transformed into beauty, and in some ways, she even made Namgung Ye-rin’s beauty fade.

Was that why?

A sinking, inexplicable feeling of sadness rising from the chest.

“············Bad kid.”

Namgung Yerin’s eyes naturally turned red as she spoke without specifying the target.

* * *

Two women looking at each other silently.

The scene was like a painting, but the emotions felt by the two women in that scene were very different.

Dang So-hyang and Namgung Ye-rin had different questions on their minds.

Namgung Yerin’s question was about Dang Sohyang’s ‘existence’ as to why she was at the missionary office, and Dang Sohyang’s question was about the ‘purpose’ as to why Namgung Yerin came to the missionary office.

Namgung Yerin did not know that I was the Cloud Dragon of the Yangtze River and the Great King of the Yangtze River.

Ju Gwan-cheon vaguely noticed it while receiving my letter, and it was in Jiangsu Province that he was able to confirm my identity.

However, the identity of the Yangtze River’s dragon was not known to the public.

There was no way I knew who Namgung Yerin was, and there was no way I had any contact with her after the Yeommae incident.

Since we had never exchanged letters, it was only natural that she did not know that I was the Unryong of the Jang River, and Namgung Yerin only knew me as ‘Seonmu-gwan’s Cheongun.’

On the other hand, Tang Xiaoxiang knew that I was the new King of the Yangtze River and the Cloud Dragon of the Yangtze River.

Furthermore, he knew that I was the one who solved the salt bribery case and that I was the Imugi of Gangseo Province.

But I didn’t know the detailed circumstances.

Tang So-hyang had a weak body and had never left the city of Seongdo, let alone Sacheon.

In other words, I only heard about the details of the salt-selling incident through limited ‘rumors’, and even then, I was not able to hear the full rumors because I was quite far from Gangseo-seong.

“Lady Sohyang… why are you at the missionary office?”

“Why did Lady Yerin come to the missionary office…?”

The two women were asking the same question, but with different answers.

But it seemed like they were not strangers because they called each other by their names.

So it seemed like we knew each other······.

“············Bad kid.”

Suddenly, Namgung Yerin’s tearful voice was heard.

Since the target was not specified, it was not possible to be sure who was being referred to.

However, Namgung Yerin’s eyes were red and clear tears were welling up inside them, drop by drop.

At that moment.

Knock knock.

The squirrel that pecks at my leg.

When I looked down, Eungseon nodded once.

And then suddenly the eyes that were staring at me······.

Click.

It seemed like he was wondering what to do about it.

I wondered why she was asking me that, but it seemed like Namgung Yerin was seriously misunderstanding something.

I don’t know what the misunderstanding was, but the red corners of her eyes and the tears inside them were tightly closed, like flower buds ready to burst if touched.

“When are you getting married············..”

······I think he misunderstood that Dang So-hyang and I were married.

But I don’t think you need to cry like that, right?

I swallowed my doubts and stepped between the two women.

“Lady Namgung.”

“···Hot!”

Then Namgung Yerin was startled and shook her body violently.

Namgung Yerin was someone who could be summed up as ‘pretty’ in everything, but that was only because her beauty was unparalleled.

Namgung Yerin was a warrior with considerable skill who even had the nickname Okmyunseolgeom (玉面雪劍).

Even though Dang So-hyang was sickly, there was no way Namgung Ye-rin wouldn’t have noticed that I was approaching her.

Still, seeing him being so surprised made me think he was quite out of his mind.

“who······?”

And Namgung Yerin who doesn’t recognize me.

Even Eungseon didn’t recognize me at first, so it seemed like I had completely transformed and my appearance and atmosphere had changed a lot.

“I’m going. Cheongun.”

“Huh? Prince Yun······?”

Only then did Namgung Yerin recognize me and open her eyes in surprise.

He looked like a really surprised rabbit with red eyes, but I looked into Namgung Yerin’s rabbit-like eyes and said.

“I think you have misunderstood something. Lady Dang and I are not married.”

“············to?”

Namgung Yerin really made a stupid expression.

Dang So-hyang shouted as if she had finally realized what Namgung Ye-rin was like.

“I was wondering why you were suddenly crying, and was it because of that?”

“Ah, no···.”

“I never told you that I married Prince Yun.”

Namgung Yerin’s silver hair shook at Dang So-hyang’s words.

When I thought about it carefully······ it seemed like that was the face.

“Then why is Lady Sohyang at the missionary office···?”

“I am indebted to Prince Cheongun as a guest of the missionary office.”

“Sikgaek······is that so?”

Dang So-hyang looked at me at Namgung Ye-rin’s question.

He seemed to be asking if he could tell me the circumstances, but I nodded since I had no particular reason to hide it.

And then came the long story of Dang So-hyang.

As the story progressed, Namgung Yerin’s face and expression became increasingly strange.

At the end, Namgung Yerin’s expression was truly unusual······.

“Huh? Huh······??”

Namgung Yerin suddenly had a breakdown.

Namgung Yerin once for me and Dang Sohyang once for me.

And then once again, me, once again, Dang So-hyang.

“Eh, ehh …

It was Namgung Yerin who was really broken.

It was strangely in harmony with the face that had been sobbing just a moment ago, and it looked just like a rabbit that had just cried and was at a loss as to what to do.

A smile appeared on Namgung Yerin’s face without me knowing. Maybe it was because of my smile that Namgung Yerin, who had been broken, was instantly fixed······.

“Now, just a moment···!”

Namgung Yerin suddenly shouted at me.

“So that means······ Prince Yun is the King of the Yangtze River······?”

“Yes.”

Now that there was nothing to hide, she nodded without hesitation. Then, Namgung Yerin’s eyes opened wide like a really surprised rabbit.

“Huh?!?!?”

And Namgung Yerin broke down again.

“Th, those words···!”

Namgung Yerin covered her mouth with both hands, but then suddenly, she started pouring out her words.

“The fact that he created the Yangtze River Swordsman Corps and is responsible for the security and safety of the Yangtze River, the fact that he overthrew the lord of Jiangsu Province, Tian Shanzi, the reason the Jiangnan region is in an uproar, the reason that our Namgung family is enjoying unprecedented prosperity, the person recommended by the imperial family as the temporary lord of Jiangsu Province… are you saying that it’s all because of Prince Yun?!”

······huh?

This time, all of a sudden, my head tilted.

The creation of the Jang Gang Hyeopgaekdan and the overthrow of Cheon Sanja.

Furthermore, Anhui Province also has the Yangtze River flowing through it, so Nanggong Shi was able to utilize the previously blocked waters of the Yangtze River.

These are things I have done myself and they are things that can be easily figured out.

however.

“Temporary Lord of Jiangsu Province?”

What does this mean?

Of course, since Cheon San Ja, the lord of Jiangsu Province, was dragged down for treason, it was only natural that a new lord should take his place.

But am I the target of that?

······It was the first time I heard that.

And for the time being, it was nonsense.

There are degrees of reward for the emperor.

How could the position of provincial governor, especially the provincial governor of Jiangsu Province, the capital of the Gangnam region, be given to a mere military officer?

Even if you say it’s ‘temporary’, it doesn’t make sense.

There was no way the emperor would have recommended me if he was not in his right mind. It seemed that the rumor had spread like wildfire and was spreading in a strange way······.

‘Could it be Ju Gwan-cheon?’

······Maybe so.

If that’s really true, I’ll become the temporary lord of Jiangsu Province without even knowing it.

This bastard is really desperate to kill someone, to the point where he’s even planning ‘assassination’.

Of course, no matter what, I wouldn’t give out official positions in this way, so it seems like the rumor spread in a strange way······.

“Are you saying that all of that was done by the lucky Confucius?!”

Maybe that’s why Namgung Yerin broke down again.

* * *

Namgung Yerin’s emotional changes were summarized as doubt, shock, relief, and astonishment.

Questions about Dang So-hyang being in the missionary office in light attire.

The shock of Cheongun marrying Dang So-hyang.

I was relieved to find out that they weren’t married.

And the shock that Cheongyun was the new king of the Yangtze River and the cloud dragon of the Yangtze River.

The two reasons why the Namgung family is currently enjoying unprecedented prosperity are the ‘Yeommae Incident’ and the ‘Jangjiang River’s Flow.’

There were so many favors that Namgung Se-ga had received that he could not even dare to count them all. One of them was done by Cheong-un, and the other was done by the Yun-ryong of the Yangtze River.

Of course, I thought they were separate things.

But then I found out that it was done by one person, Cheongun.

It was no different from Cheongun raising the Namgung family.

However, Cheongun did not ask anything of Namgung Se-ga.

Even though he shouted a little and showed off a little, and no one said anything, he just didn’t reveal his actions.

While others were busy boasting about small things, Cheongwoon tended to talk about big things in small terms.

······He was truly an incomprehensible man.

That’s why I wanted to know a little more.

That’s why he was a man I wanted to get a little closer to.

“By the way, why did Lady Namgung come to the mission office?”

Cheongun’s voice was heard beyond my dazed mind.

Namgung Yerin hurriedly pulled herself together and answered.

“Maybe Yongbong-.”

Then he paused and stopped talking.

The Yongbong Branch is a competition held by the Murim Alliance, and the winner of the Yongbong Branch is given the honor of being considered one of the best later-generation leaders of the time.

That is why Namgung Yerin was not without desire to win.

Of course, the later indexes of the Gupaebang and the records of the Five Great Sects participated. Furthermore, all the sects in the world participated, but Namgung Yerin was confident.

Namgung Yerin was the eldest daughter of the Namgung family and a genius with the extreme yin body, so she was confident that she would not be pushed back even if she competed with the later leaders of the Gupa Ilbang.

But······ it wasn’t Cheongun.

I had absolutely no confidence that I could win against Cheongun.

Even when I was a snake from Gangseo Province, I was able to do something about it. But look at now.

A certain sense of pressure felt from Cheongun.

It was a presence that made Namgung Yerin feel intimidated even though it didn’t exude any particular momentum.

A dragon that ascended to heaven while biting the Yeouiju.

······Now, it seemed like I wouldn’t be able to win even if I beat him to death.

Just seeing the aura and pressure of the emperor and absolute ruler made my body flinch.

He was Namgung Yerin’s father, the head of the Namgung family, and the absolute master of the ten best swordsmen in the world, Namgung Sangcheon.

But even last time, it wasn’t to this extent.

Last time, Namgung Sangcheon’s appearance was ‘overlapping’ to the point where it looked like it was overlapping.

But now, it is at a level that is ‘matching’ Namgung Sangcheon.

But how long has it been since I last saw you?

Is it possible for things to get to this point in just a month or two?

In the first place, is it even possible that the comparison target is not the review index, but the absolute best of the best?

They say that a scholar should rub his eyes and look at someone again after being away for three days, but it wasn’t to this extent.

At this point, it can’t even be called a worthy opponent.

Sangjeonbyeokhae (Sangjeonbyeokhae).

When I came back, the mulberry field had become the sea.

Maybe that’s why I keep glancing at Cheongwoon’s appearance.

His broad shoulders were firm and strong, and the muscles that formed his entire body were so manly that they were almost explosive.

A sharp, falling jawline.

The smooth yet elegant facial features and the skin with a dewy sheen are really······.

‘Why do you look so much more handsome than before?’

Namgung Yerin’s face suddenly turned hot and flushed.

Anyway.

If Cheongun participates, it can be said that winning the Yongbong branch is a given.

Namgung Yerin’s victory was out of the question, and for Namgung Yerin to win, Cheongun absolutely had to not participate.

It was necessary to prevent Cheongun’s participation in some way.

That is why you should not let anyone know that the Yongbong branch meeting is being held.

but.

If Cheongun participates, we can be together during the Yongbong branch period.

Since the Yongbong branch was held throughout the leap year, they could have been together for at least ‘one month’, and if you include the time it took to travel to Shanxi Province, they could have been together for as long as ‘three months’.

So, that’s why you came all the way to the mission office.

So that we can be together the whole time we’re going back and forth.

I was able to get to know Cheongun more and become closer to him.

Victory or fortune?

At that crossroads of choice, Namgung Yerin could only speak.

“Do you have any plans to participate in the Yongbong branch meeting?”

“Are you talking about the Yongbong branch?”

Cheongun tilted his head.

It was not that I didn’t know about the Yongbong branch, but it was that I didn’t know that the Yongbong branch was being held.

“Is the Yongbong branch meeting being held?”

“Yes. There is a leap month early next year.”

“ah···.”

As expected, he was not unaware of the Yongbong branch.

“But am I qualified to participate in the Yongbong branch?”

“I looked into it and it was sufficient.”

“Is this Lady Namgung speaking?”

“Ah, that··· I’ll find out how to remove it while I’m at it······.”

“So Lady Namgung is also participating.”

“yes···.”

Namgung Yerin glanced down.

And close your eyes!

He summoned up all the courage in the world and shouted at Cheongun.

“If you’re thinking of participating, come with me-!”

“I don’t really have any thoughts.”

Cheongun’s answer came out of nowhere.

“·········to?”

For a moment, Namgung Yerin thought she had heard wrong.

However, the face and expression of Cheongun that he looked at was a question of ‘Why?’. So, it seemed like he was asking if he really had to participate in the Yongbongjihoe.

By any chance, do you not know what Yongbongjihoe is?

That wasn’t it.

Cheongun, who was also a single person, was definitely aware of what kind of competition Yongbongjihoe was.

This means that he is also aware that he can obtain the enormous ‘honor’ of being called the ‘best reviewer’ of his time.

But still, Cheongun was the one who asked, ‘Why?’

“Why, why, why, why?!?!?”

Namgung Yerin not only couldn’t understand Cheongwoon, but she also felt annoyed and resentful.