2
8
9.
The wary warriors frown at my words.
We are not opponents to fight against anyway.
Isn’t it said that the enemy of my enemy is my friend?
Put away your sword.
The priests, who had been tense at my words, hesitated for a moment before putting away their swords.
As we showed no intention of attacking, the unmanned soldiers also began to lower their guard one by one.
“Why did you guys come out of there? And what’s with that look?”
Still feeling skeptical, he asks a question about the warrior.
But is our situation really that serious?
I turned my head to look at the priests… …
That’s serious.
“Ahem, we were originally heading toward a different cave but ended up coming this way.”
It was a ridiculous excuse, even to me, but what could I do when I had nothing else to say right now?
I have no choice but to make up an excuse.
But it seems this worked.
It looks like you went there out of greed and suffered a harsh fate.
It’s not like we’re from Jongnam, so there’s no need to fight.
Finding the elixir is the priority right now.
The warriors seemed to accept it surprisingly readily, and soon began to lose interest in us.
Because everyone was busy taking out maps of the Open Sea from their pockets to find their way.
“I told you we have to go this way!”
“No! The place where it appeared before isn’t here!”
“Then you go over there!”
While they were busy finding their way, we blended into the crowd.
A little color returned to Dongryong’s face as well.
As the urgency subsided a little, the appearance of the people began to come into view.
But why are these guys so neat?
There wasn’t a single one of them with even a speck of dust on them, let alone a bloodstain. ‘Surely they didn’t come all the way here without running into a single one of those Jongnam guys?’ Only then did I understand their attitude of not being particularly wary despite the appearance of strangers like us.
Having only taken the comfortable path, one’s vigilance is bound to naturally loosen.
“Senior Brother, it seems they haven’t fought a single battle before. Maybe that’s why they let their guard down so quickly.”
As expected of Eunho. You saw right through it in an instant.
Give a compliment… … .
“If I had known this would happen, was there really a need to come in from the other side?”
huh?
Did you really dare give the Senior Brother a look?
I guess I must punish a naughty child.
“Eunho.”
His shoulders flinch at my voice.
Look at that, look how slender the shoulders are still.
What am I to do with Geomsu’s shoulders being so frail?
I smiled, took two iron balls out of my bundle, and handed them to Eunho.
“car.”
“……
I’m sorry… … .”
Yeah, never mind. The car.
The guy, whose eyes were even trembling, soon clenches his fist tightly.
“Is there any point in adding a steel ring when the pupil isn’t even used? It doesn’t seem logically sound.”
Wow, you really say the right things.
therefore.
“Do you want to get hit illogically?”
“…….”
Eunho finally accepted Cheolhwan.
He seemed to be debating whether to put it on his foot or his hand, and then he added an iron ball to his foot.
Well, there’s no way it would be difficult with just that much weight.
I looked around again.
For now, it is important to hide yourself in the crowd.
With this many people watching, even Jongnam wouldn’t be able to act recklessly.
After giving an order to the priests with a nod, just as he was about to blend deeper into the crowd.
uh?”
I just ran into the person I least wanted to meet.
Ha, seriously.
“Representative Jin, why are you here?”
Why is this bastard Cheol-sun-jik so clueless?
Do they not know when to butt in and when not to?
I answered in a low voice so as not to cause a commotion.
“Ahem, it just happened that way. But didn’t you say Jukhyeonbang wasn’t coming in…?”
no way.”
Now you’re even cutting me off.
Cheol-sun-jik, who had ignored my words, looked us up and down and was shocked.
Did you dig a hole on the other side to get in and eventually make it this far?
Damn it, that’s why I hate quick-witted bastards.
I was about to feign ignorance.
“No, the one who came in right after breaking through the entrance was…….”
As expected, it was you, Representative Jin, who broke through the new entrance.
Aaaargh!
I confessed that I pierced a hole with my mouth.
Perhaps because my mind went blank due to that damn master from Jongnam, I cannot see through the insidious intentions hidden in Cheol Sun-jik’s words at all.
It’s all or nothing now.
“So what, are you going to reach Jongnam?”
Since I couldn’t cause a commotion, I quietly drew out the Black Dragon Sword halfway and glared at Cheol Sun-jik.
That’s not like Representative Jin. Going so far as to threaten.
If you toy with me, then I become a hooligan too.
He asked if he was going to Zhongnan.
“In the first place, I entered this place without obtaining permission from Zhongnan.”
Ah, come to think of it, that makes sense.
Jongnam would be quite pleased to see a disciple of Jukhyeonbang, who is supposed to stop other martial artists at the newly opened entrance, enter Cheondong Cave.
As the excitement subsided a little and a chill filled my head, reason gradually returned.
“What nerve did you have to walk in here?”
Cheol-sun-jik’s expression turned quite complicated at my question.
I came in because there is something I wanted to see.
Something you want to see?
A rather serious voice.
There is such a thing.
You’re acting all high and mighty for no reason.
Inside the Heavenly Cave, where a bloodbath between the martial artists and Zhongnan is clearly bound to break out, isn’t all you can see blood and corpses?
Anyway, I really can’t understand what’s going on inside the heads of those devious bastards.
“Then you didn’t come to look for the elixir?”
It’s not something you can have just because you want it in the first place, is it?
Cheol-sun-jik frowned deeply, looking as if he was fed up with my question.
“If you could get it, would you have it?”
What are you talking about?
But I don’t believe it.
Among those who have mastered internal energy and are gripping a weapon, how many could there really be indifferent when faced with a miraculous elixir?
“Let’s do a job together.”
You can just use it instead.
“If you succeed, I’ll give you five pun of Oryeong Seonhwa Yu.”
What kind of scheme are you plotting again?
There’s a bit of a nuisance chasing me from behind. Hold him off for me.
Cheol-sun-jik’s eyes widen slightly at my words.
“Do you… believe… no, think that I have that level of skill?”
I curled the corners of my mouth into a smirk.
“Who told you to fight that guy?”
“……?”
“You know what you’re good at. I’m asking you to do that and block it.”
Something I’m good at?
Cheol-sun-jik asks back, as if curious for the first time.
“Inciting people to the brink. Making them jump into a fire pit of their own accord—you’re good at that kind of thing.”
Representative Jin…….
Cheol-sun-jik glares at me with eyes full of dissatisfaction.
But well.
It’s not like I made things up, honestly.
Because that’s his specialty.
However, Cheol-sun-jik’s gaze is still fierce.
Phew, I guess it can’t be helped.
“Fine, I’ll be generous. I’ll give you eight cents.”
Of course, no matter how easy the job may be for Cheol-sun-jik, he would not move for a pittance given the risks involved.
If it’s that guy, he’ll try to take at least 30 to 40 percent.
So, the key is to win within a 30% margin as much as possible.
Because you need at least 70% of the Five Spirits Immortal Flower Oil to make 100 Spirit Elixirs.
“I’m not asking you to risk your lives fighting; I’m just telling you to pit them against each other. It’s not that difficult for you.”
You speak of it so easily, but do you realize how difficult this actually is?
I knew you would say that.
I don’t know what he came in to see, but Cheol-sun-jik is quick-witted and wouldn’t be the type to miss a chance to get the elixir.
As expected, it is not easy.
“Alright, then I’ll be generous and…….”
To work.
“huh?”
Hey, what are you saying?
I tilted my head, wondering if I had heard wrong.
Then the guy continues speaking.
“If Representative Jin obtains the Oryeong Seonhwa Yu, please give me one-tenth of it. Then I will stop the unknown.”
What’s going on? There’s absolutely no way this guy Cheol-sun-jik would do this.
The moment I proposed the deal, he must have already finished calculating his profits and losses in his head…
Are you saying you’re only asking for work?
What on earth is going on?
Just as I was about to ask Cheol-sun-jik something more, “……
Senior Brother.
Dong-ryong grabs my arm with a pale face.
Damn it, is it already here?
I have absolutely no idea what Cheol-sun-jik is plotting, but since I can’t waste any more time, I have no choice but to let it slide for now.
“Okay. I’ll get to work.”
When I extended my hand as a verbal promise, Cheol-sun-jik grasped it back.
Then, he stares at me blankly.
This kid really ate something wrong…
I must survive … …
Keep your promise.
Why do you say something so unlucky at the end again?
“I get it.”……
Just as I said, he’s a guy I don’t like. #Tadadadadak.
Cheol Sun-jik let out a small sigh as he watched Jin So-un and his group run to the other side. ‘I have no idea what on earth they are thinking.’ Besides, what on earth are those iron rings on their hands and feet for in a life-or-death situation?
It has long been established that training with sandbags is useless for a martial artist who uses internal energy.
He is a person who cannot understand anything from A to Z.
As I hang out with him, I find myself becoming strange myself.
“To think I’m haggling over something I haven’t even gotten yet. But why did I even negotiate?” Just as thoughts were about to cross my mind.
Swoosh
– I had no choice but to stop forcibly.
I don’t know who the ‘annoying guy’ Jin So-un mentioned is, but I could sense someone with a stern aura approaching.
“Good grief…”
A chuckle escapes.
Even just by sensing his presence from afar, he is more than ordinary.
To think I’m just a ‘nuisance’.
Cheol Sun-jik patted the shoulder of the warrior standing in front of him.
He spoke softly to him as he turned his head in doubt.
“Would you please listen to me for a moment?”
There was no time to waste in order to verify whether the real Five Spirit Immortal Flower Oil had fallen into his hands, just as he had said. The small energy shot up by the idiot from Zhongnan earlier created a massive wave inside the Heavenly Cave.
It’s blocked here too.
“Senior Brother, it’s blocked here too.”
“Here, too…”
Thanks to that idiot, we were just going in circles on the same path inside the cave.
In addition, because I kept avoiding meeting people from Jongnam, I am unable to get close to Oryeong Seonhwa Yu.
As the time for Oryeong Seonhwa Yu to appear approached, I began to feel anxious.
To think that after all the effort put into setting the stage this high, we can’t even eat.
It was obvious that I wouldn’t be able to sleep properly for half a year because of the injustice.
Let’s take a break for now.
They say that the more urgent the situation, the more you should take your time.
I had the priests rest for now.
Because this rest might be the last one.
“Senior Brother, can’t we just fight our way through?”
Dongryong spoke cautiously.
He looks like he is needlessly worried that he might look like a murderous killer obsessed with fighting.
However, the other priests were not much different.
To those whose skills have improved dramatically through the academy, the Fourth or Third Disciples of Jongnam probably wouldn’t seem like such difficult opponents.
“You must not fight. You have to subdue them.”
yes?”
Dong-ryong tilts his head as if he doesn’t understand.
“No one from Zhongnan must die in this battle.”
You shouldn’t even get seriously injured.
why?”
Dongryong rolled his eyes as if he couldn’t understand at all.
Just then, Eunho, who had been thinking, blurted it out.
Justification.
“okay.”
It is true that Jongnam tried to control Cheondonggul Cave and monopolize the elixir for a ridiculous reason.
However, the fact that Jongnam’s disciple dies here is another story.
“If a disciple of Jongnam dies, he won’t care about what Jongnam is doing right now. And Jongnam will stop at nothing to collect the blood price. Moreover, those who have entered here are all figures recorded in the Beggar’s Sect. It will even affect their own sect.”
“Eek!”
Dong-ryong’s face turns pale again at the mention of it having a negative impact on the sect.
He had the face of a child who had heard a story about a tiger coming out at night.
“Most of those who entered the Thousand Cave must be aware of that. Moreover, this place is practically Jongnam’s front yard. Jongnam must be deeply wounded in their pride that a disciple died here. And to satisfy that pride, some blood may be shed.”
We cannot kill Jongnam, but Jongnam can kill us.
It’s a really shitty situation, but there’s nothing I can do about it.
This is politics.
This is how the world works.
It is a cruel story, but it is a story that children need to know.
That is the only way to learn how to survive in this cruel world.
“So, it is best to avoid the disciples of Jongnam if possible. Do you understand?”
Dong-ryong nodded, as if feeling guilty about having asked the question.
이제 슬슬 세 번째 입구로 들어온 무인들이 종남의 제자들을 만날 때가 왔다.
방심하고 있던 종남도 외부 인물들이 들어온 사실을 알게 될 것이고, 정보가 종남 전체에 퍼지면 그들을 막기 위해 제자들을 움직일 것이 분명했기에.
그나마 다행이라면 종남은 오령선화유가 어디서 나올지 모른다는 것.
종남이 제자들을 동굴 전체에 퍼트려 놓은 이유도 그 때문일 테지.
퍼진 제자들을 모아 외부 무인들을 막을 수는 있겠지만, 그사이 나타날 오령선화유를 종남이 발견할 가능성을 조금은 낮췄다고 볼 수 있다.‘거기에 더불어 놈들 손에도 슬슬 제약이 걸릴 테고.’내가 세 번째 입구를 뚫은 이유 중 하나가 바로 외부의 시선이 많을수록 종남의 움직임도 과감해지지 못하기 때문이다.
사문에 무단으로 쳐들어온 놈이라면 쳐 죽여도 아무런 문제가 없겠지만, 사상자를 줄이기 위해서 천동굴을 막았다는 종남이 천동굴에 무단으로 들어왔다는 이유로 사람을 쳐 죽이면 그건 또 나름대로 문제가 되지 않겠는가.
나는 눈을 감고 귀에 내공을 집중했다.
꽤 멀리 떨어진 곳에서 병장기 부딪치는 소리와 사람들의 비명소리가 울린다.
드디어 내가 기다리던 때가 왔다.
나는 봇짐 속에서 복면을 하나씩 꺼내 사제들에게 나눠주었다.
“이제 본격적으로 도둑이 되는 거군요.”
은호가 잠시 농담을 건네곤 복면을 쓴다.
하여간 갈수록 배포도 커지는 게 녀석답다.
나 역시 서둘러 복면을 뒤집어썼다.
이미 개방에 눈에 들었기에 완벽히 신분을 감출 순 없겠지만, 최소한 오리발을 내밀 수 있는 성의라도 보여야지 않겠는가.
“다시 가자.”
사제들을 일으켜 다시금 전진했다.
싸움이 일어났으니, 제자들이 움직이기 시작할 것이고, 제자들이 움직이면 동굴에 퍼진 제자들이 한곳으로 몰려갈 것이다.
그리고 그런 내 예상은 적중했다.‘뭐, 완벽한 적중은 아니지만.’목표로 한 동굴에서 인기척이 느껴지지만, 숫자가 확연히 적다.‘두 명…….’애당초 여섯 명의 제자들이 한 조였던 걸 생각하면 이 정도는 완전 양호한 상태.
더구나 오령선화유가 나오는 동굴로 가기 위해선 이곳을 반드시 지나쳐야 한다.
이 길이 아니면 한참을 돌아가야 할 테니까.
상대가 일대 제자만 아니면 해볼만 하다.
여기까지 오면서 봤던 종남의 조 구성을 보면 일대 제자가 둘 이상 있을 리 없다.
계산을 마친 나는 동룡을 바라보며 전음을 보냈다.
-귀식행보로 접근해 단박에 제압해라. 아마 놈들도 최대한 경계를 하고 있을 테니 약점을 노려 제압해야 한다.
내 명령에 동룡이 몸을 움직이려 하자.
가장 어린 동룡에게 이런 일을 시키는 게 못내 마음에 걸렸는지 사련이 나서려 했다.
난 고개를 저었다.
-이건 동룡이 해야 한다. 이 중 가장 날카로운 검은 동룡이니.
사련이 짓씹듯 입술을 앙다물자, 동룡이 괜찮다는 듯 고개를 끄덕였다.
사뭇 이해가 안 갈 수도 있겠지.
왜 어린 사제에게 이런 일을 시키느냐고.
하지만 몰이해적인 감정과 미움을 받아 저들을 생존시킬 수 있다면, 난 어떤 오물을 뒤집어써도 상관없다.‘딱딱하게 죽어버린 녀석들의 주검을 보느니 차라리 경멸스레 찡그린 표정을 보는 것이 낫다.’나는 마음을 다지며 동룡과 함께 천천히 앞으로 나아갔다.
작은 횃불에 일렁거리는 긴 그림자가 우리 발끝에서 흔들린다.
나는 중도를 든 동룡을 향해 고개를 끄덕였고, 그 순간 나와 동룡이 순식간에 상대를 향해 짓쳐들었다.
눈 깜짝할 사이에 동룡의 검이 상대의 발목을, 나의 검이 다른 상대의 요혈을 찔러 들어갔다. 죽지는 않겠지만 더 싸우긴 힘든.
촤악!
하지만 분명 눈에 보여야 할 핏물과 살점은 온데간데 없었다.
“……!”
그저 찢겨 나간 천쪼가리와 머리카락 일부만 허공에 나풀거릴 뿐.
문제는 상대가 이미 흩날리는 천과 머리카락 사이로 검을 꽂아 넣고 있었다는 것.
쐐액
-나는 철판교의 수법으로 아슬아슬하게 검을 피하며 동룡을 뒤로 당겼다.
상처를 입진 않았지만, 나와 동룡이 또한 옷자락 일부가 잘려 나갔다.
그때.
“누구냐. 감히 종남의 행사에 겁 없이 끼어든 이가.”
낮게 깔린 고압적인 목소리가 들려온다.
점차 분명해지는 인영.
검은 머리 사이로 흰머리가 나기 시작한 두 중년의 사내는.
“외부인이 들어왔다더니 우리가 종남임을 알면서도 기습한 건가?”
기습을 당했음에도 불쾌한 기색이 전혀 없었다.
그리고.‘빌어먹을…….’되레 흥분하지 않은 모습이 더욱 위압적으로 다가왔다.
위급한 상황에서 당황하지 않는다는 건 그만큼 위험한 상황을 충분히 겪어봤다는 이야기.
일대제자만 아니길 그렇게 바랐건만.‘당주급이라니.’이거 좀 귀찮아질 것 같은데.
아직도 마신 새끼의 저주가 몸에 붙은 게 확실하다.
