Got Dropped into a Horror Murim

Nam Gyeol narrowed his eyes as the familiar sound of light footsteps echoed down the marble hallway.

He didn't turn around.

Not immediately.

He kept his arms folded behind his back.

The collar of his long dark robes rippling slightly with the breeze from the open windows.

He heard it.

That annoyingly chipper whistle.

Hyobin.

"I see you're finally back."

Nam Gyeol said flatly, not turning.

"I see your memory's as bad as ever."

Came the bright, cheeky voice.

Nam Gyeol turned his head with a slow, deliberate look.

"Where have you been?"

Hyobin blinked innocently, then squinted at him.

"Don't tell me…

Have you been eating blossom petals again?"

Nam Gyeol stared.

Hyobin leaned closer, inspecting Gyeol's face with an exaggerated squint.

"Yep.

There's that dumb glazed-over look again.

Definitely eating petals.

Did you try to photosynthesize or something?

Gyeol-nim, that's not how inner cultivation works—"

Thunk.

The sheathed corner of Gyeol's sword came down squarely on the top of Hyobin's head.

"OW!"

Hyobin recoiled, hands shooting to his head as he hunched forward.

"You trying to cave in my skull?!"

"Relax."

Nam Gyeol's voice was deadpan.

"It's not like I crippled you."

"There's a vital acupoint on the top of the head that could paralyze a martial artist if struck, you know?!"

"You're not a martial artist."

"W-Wow."

Hyobin clutched his chest.

"That hurt more than the square hit to my head."

*Sniffle.

Seo Joon looked at Hyobin as he admired the character he created along Nam Gyeol.

His intention of giving Nam Gyeol an assistant was to recreate the type of bond he and Minjae had.

For a moment he smiled while looking down.

Nam Gyeol then sighed, brushing past him.

"Quit being dramatic."

"But you hurt my heart, Gyeol-nim.

My innocent, loyal, long-suffering assistant's heart—"

"You were on break..."

Gyeol cut in.

"By my orders.

You went home to your family.

Did you get softer or just dumber?"

Hyobin pouted, but the grin tugged at his lips again.

"Aww, did you miss me?"

"No."

"You sure? Because I think I saw a smile."

"I didn't smile."

"You did!

Right when I said I got hurt!

You're a sadist!"

"I'll hit your other acupoint next."

"AHHH—"

Hyobin ducked, scampering around him like a squirrel on sugar.

"No need, no need!

I come bearing gifts.

News. Reports. Joy.

And classified documents, o mighty Chief Overseer!"

"...Then shut up and follow me to my office."

Gyeol strode ahead, but Hyobin's feet padded beside him in half skips.

As they walked, Nam Gyeol let the silence settle between them.

Truthfully, he'd gotten used to the quiet in Hyobin's absence.

But not in a good way.

There were fewer interruptions, yes.

Fewer paper frogs leaping out of ink wells.

But also fewer smiles.

He hadn't realized how much he relied on the idiot's chatter to keep his thoughts grounded.

He sighed.

Hyobin's eyes gleamed.

"Was that a sigh?

A wistful sigh?"

"I will reassign you to stable duty."

"I was just saying!

It's cute, Gyeol-nim.

You get all grumpy and distant when you miss people, like a housecat left alone for too long."

"You are aware I carry a sword, right?"

"Doesn't scare me.

You're all bark and fancy clothes."

They reached the door of the office.

Gyeol opened it with a push, stepping into the grand, yet sparsely decorated room.

Everything was organized to military perfection.

Except the desk, which had one singular item out of place: a half-finished tea cup with dried petals floating inside.

Hyobin pointed at it.

"See? Blossom petals.

You have been eating them!"

"That's tea."

"That's denial."

Nam Gyeol plopped into his seat, letting his sheathed blade rest against the desk.

He rubbed his temple, finally conceding to the weight of responsibility returning to his shoulders.

Hyobin shut the door and grew more serious, dropping a thick black scroll tube on the desk between them.

"This is the first half of the reports I gathered while you had me off-duty."

He said, voice leveling out.

"Most of them routine, but…"

He pulled a parchment out from the tube, unrolling it.

"This one came in two days ago.

Priority.

Chief Investigator Seo Jang sent it directly, but asked that I deliver it myself to you."

Nam Gyeol leaned forward.

"From the southern region?"

"Southern and central."

Hyobin said grimly.

"It's about a carriage discovered outside the Yunshan pass."

He spread out the scroll.

An illustrated report, detailed and sharp.

Drawings of a carriage blackened with blood.

Bodies found inside.

All deceased, but not simply murdered.

"Cannibalism."

Gyeol said coldly, scanning the images.

"Yes," Hyobin nodded.

"But that's not all.

Turns out, that very carriage has been reported missing twice in the past five years.

Once in the Southern Plains, and more recently in the Central Plains."

Nam Gyeol's eyes sharpened.

"Explain."

"It was originally stolen after a noble clan dispute in Jinbyeok province.

Used for smuggling low-grade qi elixirs.

Then again during the Ghost Lantern festival, it reappeared in an arson incident in the Central region.

Two towns burned, bodies missing."

Hyobin pulled out another report, flipping to a section.

"Trafficking.

Illegal detainment.

Theft of religious artifacts.

Minor crimes stacking like bricks.

All connected."

"And now this."

"Yes.

Except now, the trail leads somewhere else."

Hyobin's tone darkened.

Nam Gyeol stiffened.

"Where?"

"The archives stamped on the rear axle."

Hyobin pointed at the sketch.

"Belong to one of our sects in the demonic faction. "

He took a breath.

"The Duskwidow Valley Sect."

Silence.

The air thickened.

Nam Gyeol's face did not change outwardly, but inside…

---

Duskwidow Valley Sect.

Gyeol's thoughts spun.

He could feel his left eye twitch.

Oh, lovely.

Just fantastic.

I told Doyoung that if she, if that woman, that venomous woman...

If she was tied to any part of the cannibalism case, I'd personally drag her in shackled.

He looked at the ceiling. Blank. White.

Why.

Why did I say that.

Why the hell did I make it sound so final.

I was dramatic.

But now I have to live with the weight of those dumbass words—

He inhaled.

Then exhaled.

Then looked straight at Hyobin, who was watching him silently.

"Hyobin."

"Yes, boss?"

"Arrange a visit to the Duskwidow Valley Sect."

Hyobin's brows lifted.