#1
7
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Seunghodang and the 12 Bongseong members immediately went into rest to regroup.
However, not everyone could rest.
Nam Hwa-seong, who was not included in that ‘all,’ let out a loud scream.
“What on earth are you talking about!”
Nam Hwa-seong’s face was deeply contorted.
Nam Hwa-seong had expected to get some rest upon arriving in Chengdu, but when Jin So-un spouted the nonsense that he was leaving immediately, Nam Hwa-seong was filled with resentment.
“Not only Seunghodang, but everyone else is resting for at least half a day before setting off. So why do we have to go first!”
Jin So-un answered as if nothing were wrong.
“We must aim for those at the forefront. Where on earth do they say there is time to rest?”
Nam Hwa-seong’s lips trembled, but Jin So-woon merely shrugged.
“Do you perhaps dislike it? If you do, go back.”
That damn bastard always has “Go back, go back” on his lips at the slightest provocation.
He must be saying this knowing full well that he cannot return alone while the other 12 peaks are all remaining here.
“……
“What if I were to collapse while moving like this?”
At Nam Hwa-seong’s serious voice, Jin So-un lifted his chin.
Is that all Samwonmun’s Namhwaseong is capable of?
Crunch.
Are you going or not?
I feel like quitting everything right now and going back to the academy. But I couldn’t.
After finding out last night that he was moving with Jin So-un, Cheol Sun-jik secretly sent telepathic messages.
Remember his every move; this incident will put him in shackles.
I don’t know what Cheol-sun-jik is plotting, but it must certainly be beneficial to the 12 Peaks.
That is why I had no choice but to follow.
“Lead the way!”
Nam Hwa-seong gritted his teeth as he watched Jin So-un smirk and turn his horse around. ‘You must be exhausted enough by now.’ He would hold out to the very end and make sure he put Jin So-un to his knees.
I don’t know about my inner strength, but when it comes to stamina, I have never lost to anyone anywhere.
Although Cheol Sun-jik had told him to just watch, it was more important to crush that guy’s pride first. Even after leaving Seongdo and entering the main road leading to Padang, Jin So-un had been running for several hours without getting tired at all.
With his buttocks feeling so sore they were on the verge of tearing apart, Nam Hwa-seong finally couldn’t hold back and spoke again.
Hey, aren’t you going to take a break?
Are you tired already?
Even if I say it… …!
Jin So-un’s words, which were really getting on his nerves, made him furrow his brow deeply.
“If I keep going like this, I’m sure I’ll get exhausted quickly!”
I don’t get tired.
“Then at least slow down. There is a Green Forest stronghold nearby!”
The road from Chengdu to Padang is connected to the main road leading to Xijiang.
Since it is a road frequently traveled by merchants from the Central Plains and the Western Regions, it is only natural that a Green Forest stronghold, rather than an ordinary one, is located there.
However, not a single trace of worry is visible on Soun’s face.
“Don’t worry. There is a way to avoid it.”
Are you seriously out of your mind? You’re saying you’re just going to pass by three Green Forest strongholds that are blatantly blocking the main road?
Nam Hwa-seong couldn’t believe his ears.
The Green Foresters are the ones more sensitive than anyone else to tolls.
They were more sensitive about the money they did not receive than the money they did receive.
“Nam Hwa-seong, what did you say before we left?”
That damn absolute obedience again…
Even though this is not wartime, what reason is there for absolute obedience simply because we are going together?
“If you have a complaint, feel free to curse at me; I never cared in the first place. But if you refuse to obey, go back now.”
“…….”
“Cheol-sun-jik must have told you to keep an eye on me, right?”
Nam Hwa-seong flinched in surprise at the unexpected words.
“Keep a close watch on them and report exactly what you see. I have no business with you. However, if you keep interfering, I will break your legs so you can no longer follow me.”
Even though he was riding the horse fiercely, Jin So-un’s voice was incredibly calm.
Hearing that calm voice, Nam Hwa-seong felt a chilling shiver run down his spine. ‘W-what?’ He certainly hadn’t raised any killing intent, yet he felt a shiver down his spine, as if someone had held a knife to his throat.
Nam Hwa-seong felt his head bowing involuntarily.
A resolute voice heard from above.
“What will you do? Will you follow? Or will you return?”
It hurts my pride to turn away in anger, and it hurts my pride to tuck my tail between my legs and follow.
You fucking bastard.
After meeting this guy, Nam Hwa-seong felt as though he often gritted his teeth.
However, there was nothing I could do in the face of the overwhelming intimidation.
I will follow.
Jin So-un smiled and nodded at Nam Hwa-seong’s heavy answer.
“Good. I hear the Nokgak Pungunjong of Samwonmun is that great, isn’t it?”
Of course, the Nokgak Pungunjong of the Samwonmun is considered one of the greatest in the Jianghu.
But why are you suddenly bringing that up?
Nam Hwa-seong was engulfed in an inexplicable sense of anxiety.
From now on, I will abandon words.
Are you saying you’re going to go across?
The anxiety soon became reality.
“okay.”
Nam Hwa-seong was terrified.
“Didn’t you just say you were avoiding the Green Forest Village!”
The Green Forest bandits are more sensitive to beings approaching from the mountains than from the main road.
Most of those coming to the main road are likely guests, whereas those coming to the mountains are likely enemies of the Green Forest Village.
I’m going to avoid it.
Jin So-un smiled broadly as he looked at Nam Hwa-seong.
It might be a bit rough, though.
A little?
Nam Hwa-seong felt a shiver run down his spine for no reason. #Beep—a sharp flute sound echoed through the mountains and valleys.
One of the Green Forest Villages located on the mountain ridge was buzzing, appearing as if they had already received the signal and were ready to set out.
“I’ve been caught.”
At Jin So-un’s nonchalant words, Nam Hwa-seong cursed inwardly. ‘Do you think we won’t get caught?’ In broad daylight, while bandits were keeping watch from watchtowers set up all over the mountain, two warriors without even stealth clothes were seen climbing up the mountain.
At this level, even an average herbalist would recognize it.
“Pace up.”
what?”
Weren’t I running at full speed until now?
Whether the flustered Nam Hwa-seong answered or not, Jin So-un began to move ahead.
However, the direction was a bit strange.
“Hey, hey, hey! Where are you going!”
Forgetting that he had to avoid the gaze of Nokrim, Nam Hwa-seong shouted at Jin So-un.
Jin So-un was running straight to the watchtower in the mountains.
“That, that crazy bastard….”
Jin So-un, having climbed the steep mountain path as if on a downhill slope, threw a punch straight toward the watchtower.
Around his first volume, about a dozen volumes remained, striking the watchtower bridge with force.
Crunch!
Aaaargh!
It’s an intruder!
It’s a raid!
As the watchtower collapsed, white dust rose in all directions.
“M-crazy!”
Seeing the dust, the bandits standing guard from all directions began to gather at the watchtower.
As Nam Hwa-seong belatedly approached the watchtower, Jin So-un was running in that direction.
I’m going down like this.
“what?”
Now that I’ve drawn their attention, I must break through the siege.
“What the….”
“Didn’t you learn about the ‘East Island West Hole’ operation?”
Do you think it becomes a “strategy” just by adding “strategy” to the phrase “appearing here and there”?
However, Nam Hwa-seong could not object to Jin So-un’s nonsense.
As soon as the watchtower was destroyed, the bandits began to rush in with fire in their eyes.
Nam Hwa-seong ran desperately to Nokgak Pungun-jong and barely managed to match his distance.
“Damn it, I knew it from the moment you gave it that ridiculous name!”
What is your complaint?
“Why are you carrying out such a doomed operation!”
There are countless bandits rushing up before my eyes, wielding large swords and axes.
“What are you talking about? If you break through, it’s not a failure.”
You crazy bastard, you said you’d avoid it!
visor.
Jin So-un drew his sword and charged straight at the ten bandits.
The bandits’ momentum was also formidable.
“Kill him!”
“You bastards! How dare you! What do you think you’re doing here!”
Drive!
Faced with bandits charging from all sides, Jin So-un cut them down at a speed easily twice as fast as theirs.
*Cough*.
“Ugh.”
“Fast…….”
In the blink of an eye, Jin So-woon is running again, and the unrealistic sight of bandits collapsing belatedly in the spot where he passed. ‘What on earth?’ Just winning the battle against Ilgak had already caused quite a stir within the Murim Academy.
However, the movement shown now was on a completely different level from back then.
It is hard to believe that there has been so much progress in just two months that it feels like a completely different person.
“Nam Hwa-seong, aren’t you going to get your act together!”
Looking ahead at Jin So-un’s shout, I saw four bandits striking down with their great swords simultaneously.
Nam Hwa-seong wildly swung his fists while wearing gauntlets.
Papapapapang!
Energy bursts out in all directions, and bandits fly around like stones.
Then, a voice of dissatisfaction bursts out from Jin So-un.
“How stupid. If you go out of your way to make a noise like that, won’t the Dongseomseohol operation become meaningless?”
“No, you were a lost cause from the very beginning, you bastard…….”
Without even properly listening to Nam Hwa-seong, Jin So-un set off first and said
“Go. The operation is ruined because of you…”
His cold gaze flies in and pierces.
“You’re going to have to run properly.”
You crazy bastard, it’s not because of me that it failed!
Jin So-un threw something at the bandits running down from the watchtower and started running. ‘A flower bud?’ A brass-colored flower bud falling among the bandits began to bloom with a ‘click’ sound.
Spinning
A flower made of metal blooms and spins wildly in place.
Nam Hwa-seong, who had been staring blankly at the sight with great fascination, suddenly froze.
“Aaaargh!”
“Cough!”
“Aaaargh!”
Dozens of bandits running down the mountain ridge began to collapse to the ground simultaneously, clutching their faces and necks.
“Nam Hwa-seong, aren’t you going!”
It must be related to the flower bud Jin So-un threw.
However, I couldn’t even begin to guess what it was.
When the metal flower bloomed, dozens of the Green Forest soldiers fell at the same time.
I wonder what kind of expression Cheol-sun-jik would make if I reported this to him?
Would they even believe me in the first place?
You can’t even trust me.
Nam Hwa-seong felt that he somehow wouldn’t be able to report it.
“Nam Hwa-seong!”
“I’m coming, go, you punk! Your voice is giving everyone away!”
Nam Hwa-seong kicked his feet with all his might again and barely managed to catch up to Jin So-un.
“If it’s going to be like this, couldn’t we just go to the main road?”
It was already twice as hard because I had to go up to the mountaintop and back down.
“Don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll avoid it this time.”
“Why are you making that face? Do you not trust me?”
Would you believe it?
Nam Hwa-seong could not understand why Jin So-un was so confident.
However, she found herself following him without even realizing it. ‘Hmm… Wasn’t I supposed to be a member of the White Dao Society in the first place?’ Mo Yong Jae-hwa tilted her head as she stopped while carrying a tray of food.
He is clearly a direct descendant of the Five Great Clans, and although he is not qualified, he is the successor who will lead the Murong Clan next.
He may have a somewhat strange personality, but he is the only grandson of Pungbaekpageom, one of the absolute masters of the Jianghu.
To put it bluntly, if I hadn’t been following Brother Jin So-woon, I would have joined the Baekdohoe long ago and easily secured a high-ranking position. ‘Hmm… but what is this?’ He couldn’t quite grasp why he was attending an event led by the Jeongdohoe, not the Baekdohoe, and doing menial tasks.
Scratch, scratch.
“Hey! What are you doing! The Elder says he’s hungry!”
At the sound of people calling for him, Moyong Jaehwa scurried over saying, “Yes, yes!” and delivered the food.
Although he delivered the food with a smile while suppressing his rising doubts, Jeomchang’s disciple who actually received the food frowned deeply.
“What is this! The food is all cold!”
It is a high-altitude area and a forest, isn’t it? It cools down quickly.
Moyong Jaehwa tried to soothe him nicely, but Jeomchang’s disciple threw the food and screamed angrily.
“Can’t you even do the work I told you to do properly! How dare you think of offering such trashy food to the Elder?”
Moyong Jae-hwa stared blankly at the food rolling on the floor.
Jeomchang’s disciple who threatens such a Moyong Jaehwa.
It’s strange. Something is off.
But why am I doing these menial tasks?
Moyong Jaehwa tilted his head and asked.
“I am the eldest son of the Murong family, a direct descendant, and Lord Pajeom’s grandson. Why am I the one doing this?”
You said you would do it!
“I?”
“Right! Didn’t you say you’d do it instead of Eun Seol-ran!”
Moyong Jaehwa, finally coming to his senses, hit his own head several times.
“Ah! Ah! Ah! That’s right! Exactly! Right. That’s how it was.”
Just as I was about to go to sleep after returning from the search, I saw Eun Seol-ran serving me, so I lost my temper and snatched the plate away.
“Prepare it again! If you can’t do it properly this time either…….”
“hey.”
The atmosphere instantly turned somber. Jeomchang’s disciple frowned, wondering if he had misheard.
Did you just say ‘hey’?
Are you anything special?
“Is it any good? Are you supposed to inherit the Jeomchang?”
Compared to Jin So-un, these guys got in without even taking a proper exam.
The way you ignored Jin So-un was already pathetic enough.
To think they are acting like entitled fools without even knowing their place.
Moyong Jaehwa clenched and unclenched his fists for no reason, feeling a tickling sensation in his fingertips.
“That’s not true, is it? I don’t want to, but I could inherit the clan. Are you just going to live at the academy and then retire to the martial arts world? Are you going to stand tall in front of the Murong clan?”
“You’re not, right? So stop acting up.”
Jeomchang’s disciple nodded his lips and went directly to where the cooks were.
Moyong Jaehwa’s cold gaze followed him. “Sleep… I’m so sleep-deprived…” He couldn’t even remember how many days it had been since he had slept properly.
It felt like I was awake even when I was asleep, and asleep even when I was awake. ‘Damn it, if I had known it would be like this, I should have just followed Akyang…’ If I had done that, at least I wouldn’t have come all the way here and am going through all this trouble.
“I’m sorry, Young Master Murong. I could have just done it myself.”
When she returned to her seat, Eun Seol-ran wore a guilty expression.
Those guys are the ones who did something wrong, so why is Eun Seol-ran feeling guilty?
“No. It is my responsibility to bring food to the elders of my sect. But Miss Eun, aren’t you cold?”
As they entered the high mountains, the others could not withstand the cold and were wearing blankets and outer clothes in two or three layers.
“I’m fine. My hometown is naturally cold, and the martial arts I’ve mastered have a strong Yin energy.”
Ah, you said you came from the North Sea.
Now, even the memories I used to know don’t come to mind properly.
By the way, are you okay?
“Huh? What?”
Eun Seol-ran looked worriedly at Mo Yong-jae-hwa, whose eyes were bright red from bursting blood vessels.
“You look very tired…….”
“Me? No, I’m not.”
Although he said that, Moyong Jaehwa’s appearance was a mess.
I couldn’t even get proper sleep, let alone eat, because I was staying up all night doing reconnaissance work.
“Young Master Jaehwa. You don’t have to work that hard, do you? The others were just pretending to scout.”
But you never know…
yo. this.”
Moyong Jae-hwa, who was speaking, dozes off.
However, he soon opens his eyes wide and stands up.
“…
Confucius of wealth.
haha.”
Moyong Jae-hwa scratches the back of his head in embarrassment and speaks cautiously.
“May I sleep for a little while?”
Yes. Please do so.
Eun Seol-ran quickly covered Mo Yong-jae-hwa with the blanket she had received as her share and added more firewood.
“thanks……
woah…….”
Moyong Jaehwa fell asleep the moment the words left his mouth.
You must have been really tired.
Eun Seol-ran looked at Mo Yong-jae-hwa with pity.
Although I was dragged along against my will to the Jeongdohoe event, there was nothing particularly special about the event itself.
The advance party, centered around Jeomchang and Shaolin.
Their attention was focused solely on how well the subordinate sects would treat them.
She said she had come out to investigate the Jeongsi incident, but she didn’t even go near it. ‘What a mess.’ Her mind was filled only with the thought of returning quickly to complete the Soosu Divine Art.
This was because, although she had found a new path for the Minor Divine Art after attaining enlightenment inside the Soul Annihilation Formation, she was still far from unleashing the power described in the legends. ‘I should get some advice from Brother Jin,’ she thought, staring blankly at the campfire.
Is it… a bit cold?
The temperature in the mountains was dropping rapidly.
Perhaps because of that, the students who had been chattering incessantly as if they were on a trip were all asleep in front of the bonfire, tightly wrapped in their blankets.
Breaking through the silence amidst the freezing cold.
Srrk.
A red centipede passed by the campfire.
Eun Seol-ran saw the disgusting centipede, but after staring at it blankly, she became puzzled. ‘Don’t centipedes live in humid and hot places?’ The snow in this area hadn’t even completely melted yet, and not a single fallen leaf was rolling on the hard ground.
“uh?”
The centipede crawled out of the hard ground and slowly began to head toward the academy student.
Srrk, srrk, srrk, srrk.
Another one.
Then another one.
Dozens of red centipedes appeared from somewhere and began approaching the people.
Eun Seol-ran was startled and tried to sit up to catch the centipede, but she couldn’t budge an inch. ‘Huh?’ As she lowered her head, her gaze fell upon the centipede that had suddenly covered her entire body.
ah
– evil
I opened my mouth and tried to scream, but no sound came out. Instead, red centipedes began to burrow wildly into my mouth, nose, and ears.
The moment my body trembled violently from a terrible sensation…
Ran, … …
I, ……
It’s me.
An urgent yet warm voice heard from somewhere.
The moment when you feel like you are about to burst into tears in a situation where you want to answer but cannot.
Miss Seolran!
Eun Seol-ran woke up from her dream and snapped back to reality.
In front of her, Mo Yong-jae-hwa, who had woken up at some point, was looking at Eun Seol-ran with a worried expression.
Eun Seol-ran, remembering the red centipedes that had covered her body, jumped up from her seat and shook her whole body.
“Aaaah!”
“are you okay?”
“Gasp! Gasp! Gasp!”
There were clearly countless red centipedes, enough to cover my entire body. ‘Huh, they’re gone?’ The centipedes vanished without a trace.
Zzz
“Recite the Demon-Suppressing Mantra! Miss Seolran!”
At Moyong Jaehwa’s voice, Eun Seol-ran quickly began to mutter the Demon-Suppressing Mantra.
Then, strangely enough, the pain that was stabbing inside my head subsided.
However, a strange sound begins to be heard again near my ears.
Clink. Clink.
“Th-what is this?”
“enemy……
It seems like it.
“An enemy?”
A chilling bell sound was ringing all around.
