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9.
The place where Saheukryeon is located is Shanxi Province.
To get there from Wuhan, one had to cross Hubei Province and pass through Henan.
There were no major difficulties on the journey of the group.
Competent escorts guided them along a smooth path, allowing for comfortable movement, and the banner of the Murim Alliance was hoisted at the head of the procession to prevent minor disputes.
Still, it’s a shame.
Dang Seo-hui wore a sullen expression as she sat on a horse that somehow looked bigger than others.
I’ve heard that, as the saying goes, major and minor incidents occur on the journeys of a traveling guild.
That’s a scary thing to say.
If we get involved in an incident with these people right now, there is no solution.
To think I’m getting entangled in conflicts big and small when I should be stopping the current incidents…
It is terrible just to imagine.
However, Dang Seo-hui’s sullen expression shows no sign of lifting.
“Senior Tang, haven’t you been active in the martial arts world for quite some time?”
“If you go around with the Yongbong Branch, no one will pick a fight with you.”
“……
Isn’t that a good thing?
When I looked at her with a puzzled expression, Dang Seo-hui’s cheeks puffed out slightly, as if she had been puffed up.
I want to subdue the villain as a chivalrous hero.
“…….”
Ugh, what on earth is with that expression?
I shook my head vigorously to keep my wits about me.
Wait, didn’t I play the role of a chivalrous hero enough while participating in the Yongbong Branch activities?
What is the reason the Black Path martial arts world shudders at the mention of the Unemployed Goddess?
This was precisely because the number of people killed by her hands was greater than the total number dealt with by the entire Yongbong Branch…
“We are an envoy. In fact, it is better for us not to get involved in such matters.”
Moreover, since Henan can be considered the territory of the Shaolin Temple, even the dark bandits are aware of this and exercise caution in their actions.
However, from now on, the influence of the Martial Arts Alliance begins to weaken in Shanxi Province.
“It means we need to be on high alert as well.” “Anyway, they have settled in a prime location.” I had thought that the Black Dao Alliance would be established near Mount Daebyeol in Henan, just like in my previous life, but in this life, the Black Dao Alliance has settled in Shanxi Province.
In fact, even if one were to take root anywhere in the martial arts world, one would not be able to escape the influence of the Martial Arts Alliance, but Shanxi Province is in a delicate position.
Since there are many Black Dao sects on Daebyeolsan Mountain in Hanam, we can use Daebyeolsan as an advanced base when engaging in a battle with the Murim Alliance.
When targeting Shaolin, the Big Dipper of the martial arts world, you just need to establish a pincer movement from both sides at Mount Daibie and Shanxi Province.
Conversely, if the Murim Alliance were to raise an army and head north to conquer the Black Alliance, the Emperor in nearby Beijing would stand on end and suspect the Murim Alliance of treason.
For the Murim Alliance, it was a situation where they had to gauge Beijing’s reaction before attacking the Dark Alliance. ‘Is there anyone in the Dark Alliance acting as the brains?’ In his previous life, the Demonic Cult’s attacks were so swift that the Black Alliance was formed in the blink of an eye, and even that disbanded before it could last long.
In the present life, the Black Dao Alliance was formed even faster and even secured a strategic position.
I felt a sense of anticipation that perhaps the history of the future might truly change.
Around the time I was lost in such thoughts.
“Our delegation’s ideological interrogator… no, the head, Ak Byeong-bi, said.”
We are taking down the flags now.
“yes?”
Akbyeongbi stares at me with a look that still shows his displeasure.
What is it? Do you have a problem?
“We are now in Shanxi Province. How can you lower the flag when we do not know what dangers lie ahead?”
If we raise the flag in Shanxi, it could be mistaken for a signal that our Martial Arts Alliance is submitting to the Black Alliance.
Wait, isn’t it usually done the other way around?
Why are you insisting on holding onto your pride in a dangerous place?
“With the opening of the Black Alliance, the dark sects in the Shanxi region must be aware that a large volume of supplies is being exchanged. An accident is bound to happen.”
Despite my calm explanation, Ak Byeong-bi shouted with his characteristic emotionless gaze.
“Hmph! I’m not afraid of those Black Bandits!”
Damn, this is why I didn’t want to come.
If an administrator who didn’t know martial arts had come instead, they would never have suggested lowering the flag.
Amidst the chaotic atmosphere, Il-myeong calmly puts his hands together, his head sparkling.
“Master Jin, do not worry too much. The Dark Sect members are all human beings. They will not commit evil against just anyone.”
What would a monk who knows nothing of the world know?
As my sigh grew deeper, Dang Seo-hui spoke, her eyes sparkling rarely.
It’s so heart-pounding!
My heart is pounding too. Damn it. After passing through Zhengzhou, Luoyang, and crossing Jiyuan, we soon entered Shanxi Province.
Contrary to my worries, no major disputes arose in the small town. ‘Well, I suppose our guild is just so peculiar.’ A hulking man holding an iron bar. A monk rolling prayer beads. To think a group consisting of a girl draped in green silk exuding an ominous aura.
No matter how much of a haughty ruffian walks around, they wouldn’t dare approach.
Come to think of it, isn’t there a tendency even within the Dark Martial World to be more wary of figures in bizarre attire?
Unless they are big shots, they wouldn’t easily take a chance, and big shots wouldn’t be interested in us in the first place.
“Perhaps my worries were nothing more than groundless fears. ‘I should have…’ Gaoping, the first major city I stayed in after entering Shanxi Province.”
As we were having an awkward meal at an inn in Gopyeong, a voice tickled our ears.
“Do you want to die, you son of a bitch? Aren’t you going to lower your eyes?”
“You dog-foot-like bastard! Shall we try jump rope with your guts today?!”
A common dispute at an inn.
Moreover, as all the dark sects from across the country gathered for the opening ceremony of the Black Alliance, fights broke out more frequently than usual inside the inn.
“You fucking bastard! Do you have a heart attack? Do you know the Four Swords Sect? The sect leader there is my eldest brother’s sworn brother!”
“You worthless bastard! You! Do you know Akhomun? The sect leader there is the cousin of my cousin’s friend’s wife!”
As the voices grew louder, the party members of the fighters began to rise one by one, and a small skirmish created tension in the surroundings. ‘Still, it won’t lead to a full-blown fight.’ If they had intended to fight in the first place, they would have gripped their weapons and lunged at each other.
However, since the numbers on both sides are formidable, they will likely just end up engaging in a war of nerves.
Just as I stopped caring and turned my head.
Deeply
Along with a strange sound, screams filled the inside of the inn.
“Aargh!”
“Ugh! Th-chopsticks?!”
A wooden chopstick was stuck in the arm of each of the two people who had instigated the argument.
Soon, a voice filled with a hint of excitement for some reason is heard from beside me.
“This is as far as I’ll let it slide. I’m telling you not to harm people anymore.”
Looking at Dang Seo-hui with eyes of disbelief…
She held a bundle of chopsticks in her hand.
As soon as Dang Seo-hui’s eyes met mine, she whispered in a somehow proud voice.
“I practiced knowing something like this would happen.” “Crazy!!!” I mean, they didn’t even pick a fight with us, they’re just fighting amongst themselves, so why are you throwing chopsticks?
As I was speechless in my bewilderment, the guys with the chopsticks stuck in them rolled their eyes and tried to lunge at me.
“You son of a bitch! You suddenly ambushed me?”
“You fucking bastard, you think you can get yourself killed?!”
The Black Daoists, with their eyes rolling back from the chopsticks stuck in them, seized the opportunity and defined us as enemies.
The reason they decided it was better to take down us, who are only four and have unique attire, rather than fighting among a group of nearly forty.
I quickly looked at Il-myeong and Akbyeongbi.
Unlike Ilmyeong, who quietly rolled his prayer beads and watched the Black Daoists, Akbyeongbi slammed his iron bars onto the floor as if he were ready to strike at any moment.
“No, you’re the captain! You shouldn’t be fighting alongside them, you should be stopping them!” “Hah… I’m screwed…” “I don’t know anymore.”
I think I’ve done enough.
Well, would the mighty Blood Spirit and the White Beast Goddess So-bul really die at the hands of those Black Dao riffraff?
They’ll probably just get on bad terms with the Black Alliance because of this, ruin the alliance, break the agreement, and end up going to war.
Tsk.
Feeling completely drained as if a thread in my head had snapped, I sat down and was about to pour the alcohol into my mouth.
“uh?”
Two men and women mixed in with the group of black bandits caught my eye.
A beautiful woman who looks like she has just entered her thirties and a gaunt old man who appears to be eighty.
The two of them had sparkling eyes, as if waiting for the fight to begin.
Those people… … .
My head felt numb as if I had been struck. ‘A bloody battle with Yeom Gwi-bi!’ Although her appearance was clearly different, her habits, behaviors, and even her gaze were exactly the same as what I had seen in her past life.
The infamous absolute masters of the Black Path had been concealing their aura and hiding among the Black Path scum!
I shouted without even a moment to think about why they were hiding here.
“Wait, wait!!!!”
My voice echoed loudly through the inn.
Everyone who was just about to start fighting looked at me, and I quickly went into the center and rummaged through my pockets.
“Oh dear… I am sorry. Our group made a mistake.”
At my sudden change of attitude, the Black Bandits’ eyes glared at me.
Then, glaring at me, they pointed at the chopsticks stuck in their arms.
“mistake?”
“What is this little brat talking about?”
I said, putting on the nicest smile I could.
“I am sorry. I am sorry. That person is a daughter of the Tang family, and she has practiced martial arts so much that her hands often reach out even in everyday life.”
“A, a daughter of the Tang family?”
I can feel the two people’s eyes wavering slightly.
I quickly nodded.
“Yes, have you heard of the White Water Goddess of the Yongbong Society?”
“Gasp…….”
I took out a coin from my pocket and handed them to the two people.
“I am sorry. The pain of a wound cannot be measured in money, but wouldn’t this be better than starting a pointless fight and getting hurt further?”
As the gold flickered before his eyes, Heukdo, who had been contemplating, reached out and grabbed the gold.
“Hmph! Keep a close eye on things from now on! If you make the same mistake again, you will have to face the Lord of the Four Swords, my eldest brother’s sworn brother.”
“Be careful if you don’t want to meet Lord Akhomunju, who is the cousin of my cousin’s friend’s wife!”
“Yes, yes. Of course. Of course.”
The group of black bandits spun around and began to rush out of the inn.
Fortunately, Yeom Gwi-bi also left the inn with a look of regret that could not be erased from her face.
“ha…….”
As I turned around letting out a long sigh, Dang Seo-hui and Ak Byeong-bi were staring at me with expressions full of dissatisfaction.
“Why did you interfere? Because of you, justice in the martial arts world has fallen to the ground!!!”
He didn’t even know I saved him…!
Justice won’t be established properly in the first place just because those bastards are punished!
“You… seeing as you worry about the harm to the Black Daoists, you are certainly rooted in the Black Dao!”
Ak Byeong-bi, the ideological interrogator, was glaring at me with eyes that looked as if he wanted to ‘serve justice’ at any moment. ‘Ha, damn it, you guys almost all died right here!’ If I were to die in this delegation, it would probably be due to a fit of rage.
I feel like chanting Buddhist prayers, something I used to hate so much. #Passing Gopyeong, staying overnight in Sangchi, and heading toward Jinjung.
In the middle, we took a short break and had a meal.
The escorts kept watch over the surroundings and inspected the goods and wagons, while the attendants fed the horses with food and water and prepared the food for us to eat.
Traveling with a courier is really convenient in this respect.
Because other people do all my work for me.
As I was eating my meal with satisfaction, a small voice came from beside me.
“Um… but would it be alright if you had a meal with us?”
I answered the question from the middle-aged man.
It’s fine. I feel like I might get indigestion if I eat over there. Are you perhaps uncomfortable with my presence?
“Oh, no! We’re fine.”
Originally, I was supposed to eat with the delegation, but I couldn’t swallow a single bite because of Ak Byeong-bi, who stared at me with eyes full of suspicion every time I took a spoonful. ‘It looks like I’ll lose at least a year of my life on this journey.’ If it were someone openly picking a fight, I would have subdued them immediately and irritated them even more, but Ak Byeong-bi didn’t really raise any other issues with me after that day.
Likewise on this journey, they were simply not pleased with me, but since they were treating me well as a member, I actually ended up feeling even more uncomfortable.
The middle-aged peddler bows his head slightly.
I would like to thank Confucius.
“What? What do you mean?”
Although I told the attendants and escorts to speak freely, their status as students of the academy seemed to make them nervous.
“Um, you always stop fights, don’t you?”
The middle-aged peddler scratched his head awkwardly.
I can’t express how reassuring this is.
After all, when a fight starts, the weakest are the first to die.
“you’re welcome.”
“Anyway, I’m worried about the future. We’re about to encounter the bandits soon. Since the flag has been lowered… I’m concerned they might just leave you to pay the toll, Captain.”
I was puzzled and asked back.
“Wild vegetables? Are there many wild vegetables?”
“Originally, there were only two large mountain strongholds on the road from Shangchi to Jinzhong, but many have sprung up this year due to the drought in Shanxi Province.”
Commonly known as subsistence bandits.
How long has it been since the harvest ended, and yet people are already going up the mountain?
From what I’ve heard, the officials in Shanxi Province seem to be quite corrupt.
“Still, they won’t demand a heavy toll. Especially if they spot any unmanned people, they won’t really rush at them either.……”
I roughly understood what you meant.
I reassured him.
“Do not worry. The delegation’s mission is to reach Taiyuan safely, not to cause a disturbance along the way.”
Of course, there are people like thunderbolts who explode at the mere smell of the dark side, and those who cannot distinguish between martial arts novels and reality… but somehow, haven’t we managed to make it this far?
The middle-aged peddler bows his head, his eyes shining with emotion.
Th-thank you!
“Thank you, Confucius!”
The other squires also bowed their heads in unison, as if they were quite worried about it.
I resolved to stay even more alert, if only for their sake.
Not long after leaving the main road and starting to climb an unnamed mountain.
The escort standing in the front row of the procession raised his hand and stopped the procession.
“What’s going on?”
In response to Ak Byeong-bi’s question, the bodyguard pointed forward and said
It seems a group of people are blocking the way.
Is it a mountain hideout?
“This place wasn’t here originally. It looks like it appeared recently. They seem to be people who went up the mountain because they had nothing to eat. What should we do?”
If you want to cross, you will have to pay a toll, and if you do not want to pay the toll, you will have to fight.
Of course, the delegation wouldn’t be defeated by those amateur bandits, so the escort’s intention must be to pay them and let them cross over.
Because they, too, know how cruel the reality is of being unable to bring food to their families as heads of households.
however.
The Murim Alliance will neither compromise nor turn back!
Look at that, look how completely blocked up it is.
At Akbyeongbi’s words, the bodyguard lets out a small sigh.
As if they had expected this, the other escorts also began to pick up clubs instead of swords.
The intention is that even if they cannot give money, they will at least not take a life.
By the time I reached the top of the hill like that.
A strange sight caught my eye.
Dozens of people who looked like clumsy bandits were kneeling on one side, and on the opposite side, a man and a woman were standing and looking down at the bandits.
Soon, an unpleasant smell wafted in on the wind. ‘Blood?’ My gaze turned toward the corpses piled up on one side.
Corpses dripping with blood, appearing as if they had not been dead for long.
The escorts quickly put down their clubs and grip their swords.
By the time the members of the delegation were each cautiously drawing their swords.
“Oh my? Who is this? Haven’t we met in Gopyeong?”
A beautiful woman looking down at the bandits waves her hand gently at this side.
What a coincidence!
A coincidence?
Although the route taken by the escorts is fixed, there are dozens of roads from Gaoping to Taiyuan.
It is too exquisite to be a coincidence.
I gazed at the woman with a picture-perfect smile and the old man standing rigidly. ‘Damn it… Were they waiting for us?’ The true identities of the two were none other than Empress Yeom and Bloody Battle.
