NOVEL NEXT chapter 1037 - Injection (7)
If Cheong-ho’s physical body had been found, then the task for the Hojo clan was clear: recover it.
However, there were many questions.
These doubts seemed to have prevented the Hojo clan from acting rashly.
Was that why Yao Ruichi was summoned? It seems like playing music for Cheong-ho’s body holds some significance. But there’s something strange about it.
Although Hwang Ji-ho’s words were brief, there were far too many points that raised questions.
The Three Knights’ Oath couldn’t be unaware of the fact that the Hojo clan was keeping watch over them.
Perhaps they acted because they had the confidence to shake off the surveillance, but they must have known it was risky.
Even so, the Three Knights’ Oath had moved Yao Ruichi to take action.
The decision to play music for Cheong-ho’s body must have been deemed important enough to warrant that action.
The strangest part is how easily they found Cheong-ho’s body. Even if we were to track the Chinese students, we’d only get clues. But now, the body has been found just like that?
The Three Knights’ Oath, formed less than a century ago, had somehow obtained and now controlled Cheong-ho’s body, which had been lost for thousands of years.
But one thing was certain—the dark forces were involved in this.
The fact that the Hojo clan was able to find Cheong-ho’s body so quickly was suspicious.
Because of this, Hwang Ji-ho seemed deep in thought rather than leading the Hojo clan in a large-scale operation to reclaim the body.
“Where was Cheong-ho’s body found?”
“Hyun-moo, along with Li Wei, had once followed Yao Ruichi’s trail. They found a cave there, not too far away.”
Hwang Ji-ho displayed a map with a hologram, pointing to the location.
The red pointer indicated an area on the outskirts of Gyeonggi Province, not far from Eungwang-gu.
It wasn’t far for the Hojo clan to make a quick move and reach it.
To hide Cheong-ho’s body there was not only unusual but almost like openly inviting conflict.
Did they sense this intention? Not just Hwang Ji-ho, but the energy from the other Hojo clan members also grew sharper.
“I’ve ordered Jeokho to withdraw from the cave for now.”
“So, it seems Jeokho can’t bring Cheong-ho’s body right away.”
“That’s right. We determined it would be impossible. If Jeokho could have brought back the body safely, he would’ve ignored my orders and gone ahead with it, regardless of the risks.”
Considering Jeokho’s personality, Hwang Ji-ho was right.
Even if an arm was severed or a stomach pierced, Jeokho would have ignored Hwang Ji-ho’s command if he thought he could bring Cheong-ho’s body back safely.
But Jeokho had obeyed Hwang Ji-ho’s order to withdraw.
Jeokho had concluded that it was impossible to retrieve Cheong-ho’s body alone.
“Cheong-ho’s body is said to be in a coffin. Jeokho detected unusual abilities around it. Moreover, the cave path leading to the coffin is littered with weapons associated with the myth of the slain tiger, and tiger traps fill both the floor and ceiling. If it weren’t for Jeokho, no one would have been able to come and go safely.”
Hwang Ji-ho didn’t elaborate further, but it was clear the cave had been set up with the Hojo clan in mind.
The numerous tiger traps seemed to be connected to the coffin containing Cheong-ho’s body.
If dark forces were involved, they likely thought it better to destroy the body than to let it fall into the Hojo clan’s hands.
But even with all the defenses, the Hojo clan, if they put their full strength into it, shouldn’t be unable to break through...
I still couldn’t figure out what moves the opposing forces would make, or what my own next step would be, and without clarity, I couldn’t recklessly move the chess pieces.
The Three Knights’ Oath likely needed the Hojo clan for their dealings, so there was still time.
If that was the case, there were things I had to confirm before setting out to find Cheong-ho’s body.
Click.
As I was deep in thought, Eun Ho silently handed me a teacup.
Despite the turmoil over Cheong-ho’s body, Eun Ho looked at me with a gentle expression, concerned for me.
If you are reading this translation anywhere other than .net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.
“Yi-shin, you’re facing tomorrow’s match, so I’d like to tell you to leave this to us, but I’m sure you won’t agree.”
That ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) was true.
This was an internal Hojo issue, and if they told me to stay out of it, there was nothing I could do.
“If we’re excluded here, Jo Yi-shin might think he’s not related to the Hojo clan…”
“Baek Ho, I know that too. You don’t need the blessing of your true name to understand.”
Baek Ho opened his mouth again, but then received a refill of dried persimmon tea.
If he could read my thoughts, he could wait until he drank all of it.
He seemed to have wanted to speak but had managed to restrain himself for quite a while.
Once he opened his mouth, it seemed like the promise to not interfere had worked.
“Since Baek Ho mentioned it, this must be a very important message.”
I projected the hologram centrally so that the Hojo clan members could see it clearly.
Even though Baek Ho had referred to the Hojo clan leader as “Doro,” the Hojo clan members immediately knew who he was referring to.
“A message came from Dokgo Miro. He said Han I has something to talk about. It looks like he’s calling for you too.”
After scanning the message, Hwang Ji-ho nodded without hesitation.
“Of course, we should go. If he’s calling at this hour, there must be a reason.”
“Should I tell him to wait by Jiik Hall?”
“No, it’s better somewhere without ears. We don’t know what could happen in the dormitory.”
After all, it wouldn’t be surprising if something were to happen in the dormitory, where a lot of Class Zero students were staying.
Hwang Ji-ho immediately chose the location.
“Let’s meet at Eun Hwi-gwan.”
So, it was decided that we would head to Eun Hwi-gwan in the middle of the night.
Only Hwang Ji-ho and I were heading there, but Eun Ho would listen to the conversation in real-time and respond accordingly.
I hadn’t said anything to Baek Ho, but he must have been reading my mind anyway.
“You’re quick.”
At Eun Hwi-gwan’s director’s office.
The secretary, who had been waiting in the director’s office, opened the door, and Dokgo Miro, who had arrived early, greeted us after putting down a glass of sparkling water.
Being suddenly called to the director’s office might have left him confused and feeling pressured, but Dokgo Miro greeted us as casually as if he were welcoming classmates into a classroom.
“Haha! It’s only natural to come out to listen to a friend’s story.”
Hwang Ji-ho seemed pleased with Dokgo Miro’s attitude, letting out a brief chuckle.
However, his smile faded as he looked at the person sitting across from Dokgo Miro.
“I’m sorry to call you out at this late hour.”
Besides Dokgo Miro, there was one more student from our class present.
Sitting across from Dokgo Miro, Han I was holding a cup of hot chocolate but hadn’t touched it.
“I thought this was an important matter, so I brought Han I along. I didn’t think it was something we could solve alone.”
“I see. Thank you for consulting with me.”
“...If we hadn’t learned anything from the first match, I would’ve consulted with Gong Cheong-hyun instead of you guys.”
When Dokgo Miro spoke the last sentence, he turned his head so that Han I couldn’t read his lips.
As expected, Dokgo Miro had called me and Hwang Ji-ho because he believed the issue was tied to the Hojo clan.
Han I seemed uncomfortable being dragged here by Dokgo Miro but didn’t get up from his seat.
“Earlier, I heard that the Hwangmyung Foundation tried to restore Han I’s hearing. That’s when I learned Han I had a case different from ordinary hearing impairment.”
“Hm, it’s not my concern, but did you get Han I’s permission?”
“Of course, I got Han I’s permission. He said, ‘Do whatever you want,’ so I did.”
It wasn’t just permission—it felt more like abandonment or neglect, didn’t it?
Anyway, the request was made after getting some form of consent, it seemed.
At this point, Dokgo Miro must have known that Han I’s hearing was in a special state that couldn’t be fixed by even powerful healing abilities.
According to Hwang Ji-ho, Han I didn’t have the function of “hearing.”
“Han I told me that he’s never heard anything in his dreams. Until just a few days ago.”
“...Han I heard something in his dream? What did he hear?”
According to Dokgo Miro, it seemed that Han I had indeed heard something in his dream.
Hwang Ji-ho widened his eyes in surprise, but Han I only wore a troubled expression.
For someone who had never heard anything before, explaining what it was must have been extremely difficult.
It seemed that Dokgo Miro had already come to a conclusion.
“Han I couldn’t explain it properly, but it sounded like a song. He couldn’t express the melody correctly, but he remembered the rhythm and recreated it.”
Dokgo Miro rhythmically tapped his finger on the table.
At first, it was hard to understand, but both Hwang Ji-ho and I soon realized what it was.
It was the song that the Rookie and the Black Tiger had sung and played during the first match.
Ding-dong.
At that moment, a message notification came through on my device.
It was from Kozuka Yashiro.
But it wasn’t just me who received
the message.
Hwang Ji-ho silently showed me the hologram.
It was a message from the Knight of Earthquake.