#1
8
7.
First, carts to carry the injured were dispatched from Hwaeomchae.
Perhaps because they had frequently raided merchants in exchange for collecting tolls, the mountain stronghold was filled with sturdy wagons and carts.
“How dare you raid innocent merchants?”
It was perhaps only natural that Bang Du-chil, enraged by this, beat up the loan sharks.
The assault stopped only after the words “From now on, we will only collect tolls” came out of their mouths.
On the road from Hwaeomchae to Seongdo, skilled warriors from the mountain stronghold were selected to handle escort and night duty.
The strange journey of the Murim Academy students, the Murim Alliance, and the bandits continued for several days, and they were eventually able to reach the capital.
And Bang Du-chil and his party, who had accompanied us to the capital, bid us farewell.
In any case, I was grateful to him for coming running unconditionally at my call.
“Where do you plan to go now?”
“For now, I plan to take a tour around Sacheon.”
At this time of year, I would recommend touring Guizhou Province rather than Sichuan.
“Why?”
Because a big war is going to break out in Sichuan now.
However, I can’t confess the truth.
Sacheon is going to be noisy for a while. It seems like it will be difficult for you to travel comfortably.
“Hmm… is that so?”
Judging by his expression, it seems he wants to stay in noisy Sichuan a little longer.
He also seemed to have roughly figured out how things were going.
As expected, Major Baek steps forward first to sort out the situation.
“Gaga, do as Young Master Jin says. When have you ever suffered a loss by listening to Young Master Jin?”
“Should I? I was planning to stop by another mountain stronghold on the way back anyway, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to move a little faster.”
Although he spoke very lightly, it was easy to predict that he would visit each of the Seventy-Two Green Forest strongholds and wage a ‘Battle for the Mountain King.’ ‘Is the Road to the King of Fighting already beginning?’ Considering that his conquest of Jiangnan came much later in his previous life, it was a truly dramatic change.
Gangnam will soon be at your feet, big brother.
Bang Du-chil said, twitching his lips.
Is that so?
However, Gangbuk will not be that easy.
In reality, the strongmen of the Seventy-Two Green Forest Villages are mostly gathered in the north.
Still, I should be able to unify the country a few years faster than in my previous life.
As I continue thinking about it that far, I feel a sense of surprise all over again.
Although we had some degree of ties in our past lives, it wasn’t to the extent that they would act solely on a single scroll like they do now.
Although I managed to prevent Bang Du-chil from getting injured in the dantian, I couldn’t really tell if it was actually for his sake or for mine.
Nevertheless, Bang Du-chil was showing me infinite loyalty, and that pure and deep faith felt like it was weighing down my heart a little.
“Please just listen carefully to your sister-in-law. Then there won’t be many hardships on your path.”
Ahem, ahem!
I gave sincere advice.
The rough Bang Du-chil let out a cough, his face flushed red, and Baek So-ryeong covered his lips and laughed heartily.
It was a truly longed-for sight, and I was glad to see it again.
“You should take care of yourself, too. From what I hear in the rumors, neither the past nor the future looks very smooth.”
“…….”
Bang Du-chil’s face turned quite serious.
“People like you and I are bound to stand out wherever we are. It is only natural that we are ostracized for that reason. However, even if we try to hide and conceal it, we will not be able to easily assimilate. For a hawk stands out too uniquely among ducks.”
Bang Du-chil continued speaking in a manner uncharacteristic of him, filled with dizziness.
Then, soon, his eyes light up and he grins.
“In that case, there is no need to necessarily become a duck, is there? Become a hawk to rule, or become a predator—that is all there is to it.”
Was there a moment when he, too, wanted to blend in with the flock of ducks?
While I was thinking that he must have had a difficult time, Bang Du-chil was staring intently at me.
So do not curse your claws and sharp beaks. We each have our own place to play.
The reason he is suddenly saying this must be because he has seen me among the dormitory students over the past few days.
It seems that even in his eyes, I don’t look quite right for the Murim Academy.
“Thank you, Brother.”
I spoke with sincerity.
It felt as though his advice was leaving a deep mark on my heart once again.
Although we became sworn brothers by chance, I never expected to feel such a sense of reassurance and thoughtfulness from him as an older brother.
He grabbed both of my shoulders with his large hands and said.
“So, come back to the Black Dragon Fortress anytime. Now that you have the Hwaeom Fortress as well, aren’t you saying you have two mountain strongholds to lead?”
“ah…….”
Was that what you meant by the duck thing?
Damn it… The feeling of reassurance and thoughtfulness I had just felt crumbles away.
“Listen carefully! After conquering all of Gangnam, I will head to Gangbuk! At that time, we will be together as Twin Dragons, of course.……”
“Go! Hurry up and go!”
Sensing that my expression was unusual, Major Baek began to lead Bang Du-chil.
Bang Du-chil did not stop talking even as he was being dragged away by Lieutenant Baek.
“If that happens, you rule Gangbuk and I rule Gangnam! The two of us will have the world at our feet! Mmmph!”
In the end, Major Baek even covers his mouth.
How do I change that damn name, Black Dragon Fortress?
I pressed hard on my throbbing temples. As soon as we arrived at the Murim Alliance Chengdu Branch, Elder Suheo and Elder Sangwon were the first to break away from the group.
As soon as they finished their private meeting with the branch manager, they chartered the branch’s carriage, picked up the other elders, and set off immediately.
The disciples could not shake off their stunned expressions at the sight of the elders leaving without even saying goodbye.
The injured were all entrusted to the branch’s council room, and the students were assigned rooms at the branch and entered crammed together, three or four at a time.
Right now, neither an inn nor a guesthouse was important, as I needed to relieve the fatigue of the long journey.
I also intended to wash up right away to relieve my fatigue, but someone called me.
The branch manager?
“Yes. He says he wants to see me right now.”
In fact, the person in charge of this event was the Council of Elders, and the next in line was the Head of Seungho.
Why would someone of the caliber of a Murim Alliance branch manager go out of their way to meet the academy representative?
“The Black Dragon Fortress part is a misunderstanding…….”
Roughly speaking, it was highly likely that the summons were due to the Black Dragon Fortress, a huge snowball created by Bang Du-chil’s vain hopes and Baek So-ryeong’s pranks.
“Now that the fact that I participated in the Battle for the Mountain King has been discovered by every student at the academy, isn’t it obvious that I would have stabbed anyone who dared to? Damn bastards. I went out of my way to save them.” Had I not participated in the Battle for the Mountain King at that point, wouldn’t we have suffered quite a bit of damage as well?
I just did my best…
Let’s go quickly.
At the servant’s urging, I stared intently at him.
Do I really have to go?
“yes?”
A look that said, “Why are you asking such an obvious question?”
Right, that’s how it is.
It would be stranger not to leave after coming all this way.
But what I dislike is what I dislike.
Even in my past life, I didn’t have a single good memory of getting involved with the branch leaders of the Martial Arts Alliance.
Every single one of them is overbearing, self-righteous, and selfish.
At least I get told to come and go because I am a student at the academy; during my time in the Sojeongdae, I wasn’t even treated like a human being.
Although I have achieved dizzying success compared to my previous life, the sense of defeat from the past still remains.
Please go ahead. They have been waiting for a while.
I eventually took heavy steps.
When I arrived at the branch manager’s office, someone had arrived before me.
“Master Seungho.”
I pretended to know, but he only nodded briefly and didn’t react much.
Could it be that they are trying to keep their distance now because I am the leader of the Black Dragon Clan?
I didn’t see you as that kind of person…
“It’s a natural reaction, but it would be a lie to say I don’t feel disappointed. I was even planning to buy the Pasajeoryeong for the Seungho Party members.” Just as he was about to bow to the head of the Murim Alliance’s Seongdo branch, the man suddenly sprang up from his seat.
“Young Hero Jin, thank you for coming despite being tired.”
The first thing he uttered was incredibly strange. “Young Hero?” The position of branch manager in the Martial Arts Alliance is treated as a rank equivalent to a sect leader even within the Alliance.
It dominates the region while also serving as a conveyor of the Murim Alliance’s will.
The position of branch manager is a high-ranking post representing the Murim Alliance in each region.
Therefore, it is not a position one can usually attain based on one’s background.
Just looking at the background of the Chengdu branch manager right now, he is an elite member of the Jianchang Sect and a senior to a distant rank in terms of academy class.
It was Dang Hyeok-je, the Akyang branch manager, who was an exception; usually, branch managers don’t even treat academy students as official warriors…
“What kind of tea do you like? I have Longjing tea and Junshan Silver Needle, but…”
You’re even giving me the option to choose the car?
Why on earth is this happening?
It seems like Gunsan Eunchim suits my taste.
“Ah, ah…! Is, is that so?”
what?
For a moment, you looked a little regretful, didn’t you?
If you were so reluctant to let it go, you shouldn’t have said you had it.
It was worth saving just enough for ‘one’ meal.
The branch manager is making every effort to win me over, as if I were dealing with a creditor. ‘What on earth is going on?’ Until I came here, I thought I might be dragged to Geumok and interrogated about my relationship with Bang Du-chil, or if I might be a spy for the Black Dragon Fortress…
The aroma of the tea is truly wonderful.
It is truly a relief to hear that it suits your taste, young hero.
But why did you ask to see me?
If the other person is going out of their way to put me down first, is there any need for me to go along with it?
I straightened my hunched shoulders.
Snapping all over the body
– Stop
– A sound rang out.
Branch Manager Seongdo smiles at me as if he has met a one-of-a-kind benefactor.
I cannot express how grateful I am for preventing the damage to the Jeongdohoe from spreading widely.
I simply did what I was supposed to do.
“To think that sacrifice for others is taken for granted……. The future of the Jianghu is truly bright.”
If you are a branch manager, you should consider half of you a politician.
The branch manager Seongdo’s tongue was rolling around in his mouth as if it were coated in oil.
As someone who has never received such flattery in either my past or present life, I actually get goosebumps.
In any case, there is no doubt that the Seongdo Branch Manager’s attitude is extremely strange. ‘Did Master Myeonghyeon leave without saying a word?’ I thought that if Master Myeonghyeon harbored a grudge against me, he would have sowed discord between me and his sect juniors right from the branch, but why is that junior acting like a tongue in my mouth?
“This matter is just as perplexing for the Sichuan Chengdu Branch as it is for us. That is why I cannot express how grateful I am for your help, Young Hero.”
The branch manager, who now talks as if I were the boss or something.
As I remained silent with a stiff expression, the branch manager, perhaps realizing something was amiss, cleared his throat and prepared to get to the point.
“I heard that you have a good relationship with Cai Zhou of Zhejiang’s Green Dragon, Fang Duqi.”
Hmm… From the Branch Manager’s perspective, it wouldn’t be just a ‘good connection,’ would it?
The branch manager asks me in a subtle tone.
“Perhaps your chivalry moved even the heart of that mere bandit, the leader of the Bang Du-chil village?”
“……
What do you want to say?
I was so frustrated that I finally asked directly.
Then the branch manager keeps moving his lips.
“May I ask how close your friendship is with the village head, Fang Duqi?”
My gaze turned toward the head of Seungho.
As if he knew what my gaze meant even without me asking telepathically, he shook his head slightly. ‘Leaving aside the Seungho Sect Master, neither Master Myeonghyeon nor the Jeomchang Sect academy students said anything?’ Judging by the atmosphere, the branch manager seemed unaware that I was sworn brothers with Bang Du-chil.
Naturally, they didn’t seem to know that I was the leader of the Black Dragon Clan.
These guys, they were actually pretty loyal, weren’t they?
For some reason, I was a little moved.
“I apologize for asking such a personal question. However, the survival of the Sichuan Chengdu branch currently depends on you, Young Hero.”
So… it seems the Sacheon Seongdo branch manager wants to ask Bang Du-chil for something through me.
I casually placed one foot on the other knee.
My legs hurt a little from sitting in a tense state for a long time.
And at the same time, I stretched out once.
I feel like Branch Manager Seongdo’s eyebrows are trembling for some reason.
I mean, when your body is stiff, you can’t even speak properly.
I cleared my throat slightly.
“Ahem, I am a bit hesitant to say this as a late-blooded disciple of Baekdo, but… you can consider us practically sworn brothers.”
“Oh! Is that so?!”
The branch manager opened his eyes wide.
Gu Jeong-ryong, who had been glancing at me, also opened his eyes wide in surprise.
“I have heard that Leader Bang Du-chil has brought the Green Forest Headquarters under his feet through the recent Battle of the Mountain King. Could you possibly ask him for help?”
I roughly understand it now.
Jeong Do-hoe came to Sacheon and suffered damage from an attack by the Blood Cult.
Moreover, as soon as the true identity of the Blood Cult is revealed, the Murim Alliance will dispatch a large number of warriors, and a war with the Blood Cult will break out in Sichuan.
Then why is the branch manager looking for Bang Du-chil?
“It is for the safety and peace of the Jianghu.”… …
They sugarcoat it like that, but they are probably afraid that if the Murim Alliance’s massive workforce roams across Sichuan, the Green Forests will not just sit idly by.
As if the branch manager’s head wasn’t already hanging by a thread because he didn’t even know the Blood Cult had established itself near Sichuan, if he couldn’t control the Green Forest Clan or the Black Bandits as well, he’d have to assume his head would just be chopped off.
“Moreover, the damage inflicted on Jeomchang was severe, so if I return to the headquarters like this, it is clear that they will find some excuse to punish me internally. ‘The peace of the Jianghu my ass… What a cunning human being.’ Listening to his hypocritical words makes the back of my neck feel stiff.”
I turned my head from side to side to loosen my neck.
The branch manager pleaded with a servile expression.
That is really important.
Since it is a life-or-death moment where my head might be severed or not, I suppose the word ‘young hero’ naturally comes out even to a much younger junior.
In fact, putting aside his despicable appearance, the Green Forest Village was already planning to make him restrain himself.
If we get involved here for no reason, Nokrimchae will be in big trouble.
I was about to tell him to keep his distance for the sake of the Green Forest Alliance’s future integrity. ‘But I can’t help him for free.’ With that fellow looking out for his own safety under the pretext of the peace of the Jianghu, why should I naively play along?
Still, I can’t just reveal my true feelings. I suppose I should start with something like, “If it is for the safety of the martial arts world, then of course I should help.”
As the representative of the academy and a junior disciple of the orthodox faction, I composed myself.
And then he spat out the words he had prepared.
“How much research have you done?”
Not only the branch manager, but also Gu Jeong-ryong gapes blankly.
“……?!”
What is this silence?
I looked back and forth between the two people’s faces at the strange atmosphere. ‘Huh? What’s wrong? Ah!’ And then I realized that my inner thoughts and the words I was speaking were switched.
“Haha, oh dear. I slipped my tongue…….”
Did you suddenly become as smart as Bang Du-chil just because you played the role of the Black Dragon Gang leader once?
