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6. Private revenge (6)
The time when dawn rises.
Near Wuhan in Hubei Province, screams heralding the dawn echoed from all directions.
Snail extract
Amidst the flash of the Emei Sect’s Thirty-Six Jade Void Swords, Cheol Sun-jik narrowly dodges the blades and spins his body halfway to unleash an explosion of energy.
Bang!
At Cheol Sun-jik’s unexpected counterattack, the person presumed to be a disciple of the Emei Sect quickly turns their head to look for him, but Cheol Sun-jik was already hiding in a blind spot.
Please take a rest.
Pow!
“Ugh!”
An Emei sect warrior collapses like a puppet with its strings cut, without even a chance to counterattack.
Cheol-sun-jik eventually examined his body.
He appeared to be dealing with his enemies lightly, but there were long wounds on his arms and legs.
It’s a bit different from a martial arts match.
Since I had never anticipated clashing swords with members of the Nine Great Sects, who were practically allies unless it was a duel, the damage was all the more significant.
Of course, the opponent was just that strong, too.
Could Cheol Sun-jik of the Jukhyeonbang, a member of the 12 Peaks and one of the 108 Peaks, have ever imagined that he would have to fight the Jeongdohoe with all his might, especially against the elites of the Nine Great Sects?
It is beyond absurd; it is incredibly strange.
and.
It was all Jin So-woon’s fault that such a ridiculous thing had happened. ‘He really is the kind of person who does preposterous things.’ To think he would help Dam-ak escape.
Of course, they did not readily believe the story that Jeong Do-hoe had raided Damak.
However, Jin So-un asserted.
If the person hindering the escape is not ‘Jeong Do-hoe,’ it is okay to turn back halfway.
Faced with such a confident attitude, the academy classmates had no choice but to act.
Of course, I cannot deny the fact that I was even more tempted by the phrase Jin So-un added at the end: ‘a good opportunity to seriously go head-to-head with the Nine Great Sects.’
Those who had somehow managed to guard their posts under the cover of darkness eventually had no choice but to believe the fact that Jeong Do-hoe had attacked Dam-ak, just as Jin So-un had said.
It was baffling that the assassins didn’t even bother to make the slightest effort to hide their identities. ‘I really don’t know what’s going on.’ Now I understand why Damak tried to escape so hastily.
If you carelessly get swayed by the Jeongdohoe’s schemes now, you might never be able to leave the Murim Alliance for the rest of your life.
You must have decided that the best way was to completely ignore everything and run away.
However, in the process, neither Dam-ak, who asked Jin So-un for help, nor Jin So-un, who accepted it, seemed to be in their right minds.
Anyone who knows how to judge what is right now would say that Jin So-un did nothing wrong, but do things in the world really always go according to established logic?
There was perhaps a reason why Jin So-woon was called a ‘madman’ rather than a ‘traitor’ of the world.
Because regarding things that someone else might just let slide, this crazy… no, man, throws himself at them with all his might, telling them to stop their bullshit.
He throws himself wholeheartedly into the injustice and does not back down, even while shedding blood.
To the common people, it just looks like the behavior of a madman. ‘A madman, yes, he is definitely a madman. But… …’ The students of the Seventy-First Martial Arts Academy love Jin So-woon like that.
Even those who initially pointed fingers and criticized him as a madman, just like others, have now come to love him deeply.
It was the act of declaring alone that he would “bring everyone back alive” in Mukrim, where all the academy students had given up on life.
And the countless amounts of blood shed to keep that declaration.
Despite shedding countless amounts of blood, they did not retreat a single step from the very front until the very end.
All those scenes were etched into the minds of the students.
Even ordinary criminals would feel their hearts race if they saw someone’s back like that.
How much more so for the academy students who have chosen the path of a warrior.
There was a good reason why Baekranggak was not only filled with people but also overflowing with them.
This time is no different.
The reason the academy students stepped forward without hesitation, despite the dangerous situation that might put them at odds with Jeong Do-hoe, was that they wanted to trust him once again.
No, going further, it might be because he wants to protect his back.
“How many people did you meet?”
“…….”
Jong Chu-ak of Jongnam suddenly appears and asks a question.
Cheol-sun-jik’s brow furrowed as if he had come face-to-face with a strange creature.
“……
Why on earth did you come out?
“Why else? I came out because Danju told me to.”
“You might run into Senior Jeong Do-hoe.”
“Jeongdohoe? What are you talking about… There’s no way Jeongdohoe would do something like this.”
An anxious gaze directed toward the distant mountains, contrary to words.
I wondered what kind of extreme escapism this was, but I just accepted it.
Because if they didn’t do that, they would absolutely not be able to accept the reality that they were rotten.
Perhaps being betrayed by the Four Sects at Mandokmun made him dream of revenge.
Because enduring the terrible pain of being betrayed by someone you trusted must certainly be a difficult and painful experience.
Jong Chu-ak, who had been looking down at my tightly clenched fist for a moment, explained the reason for his visit in a serious voice.
“Ma Sae-jin of the Kunlun Sect has asked for help. We need to move quickly.”
Did they say he was a tough opponent?
“I don’t know if it’s difficult. They say the numbers are too many.”
“Isn’t the Kunlun Sect’s original tactic supposed to be hit-and-run? You’re saying we’ll go for a head-on battle?”
Jong Chu-ak lets out a light laugh at Cheol Sun-jik’s question.
“That bastard Ma Sae-jin just rose to fame overnight thanks to Danju Jin. Wouldn’t even Baekranggak be too good for him?”
“Did Jongchuak always enjoy making jokes like this? I used to think he was a bit more rigid.” “Well, he probably just got tainted by meeting the wrong Danju.” Cheol Sun-jik stopped his delusions and began to move.
The sun was already rising, and their leader wanted to go even a little further.
The sun gradually rising as if to illuminate the whole world.
They took a step forward, thinking that for some reason, that figure resembled the back of Jin Dan-ju, who had reliably protected them.
This time, it was their turn to shed blood in his place.
“Let’s go.” #To get from Hubei Province, where Wuhan is located, to Shanxi Province, the fastest route is through Shaanxi or Henan.
Of course, if it were an ordinary caravan, they would go straight to Shanxi Province via Zhengzhou in Henan Province.
Shaolin Temple is located near Jeongju, Hanam, and there is no safer route than that.
However, that infinitely safe path has now become a dead end for us.
Hubei, Henan, and Shaanxi are like the front yard of the Chengdu Society.
If you go to Anhui, you can only reach Shanxi by passing through Jiangsu and Shandong and then Hebei.
Although it was effectively a route that circled half the continent, Damak chose that path.
“Once you reach Anhui, the guards will be waiting for you.”
People from Shanxi Province must pass through Henan to come to Anhui.
The northeastern part of Henan protrudes outwards, bordering Shandong and Hebei.
Currently, the fastest way for people from Shanxi Province to come to Anhui is to pass through Henan.
Since the group departed at the same time as I did, they should be waiting for me in Anhui by now.
Did you expect something like this to happen?
Damak tilted his head when I asked in surprise.
Even if you don’t expect something like this to happen, isn’t it only natural to be prepared for that much?
Instead, he asks back as if it were strange.
Damn it, what on earth is this level of preparedness?
Then again, considering he was a gentleman who could figure out the paths of the Demonic Cult members without even seeing them in his previous life, this situation is not surprising.
And then a great realization struck me. ‘Who on earth did those idiots of the Jeongdohoe dare to pick a fight with…?’ They tried to slit my throat when they should have been begging me to get along, only to fail; if I were a Jeongdohoe executive, I would have immediately crawled under the covers, hugged a wooden pillow, and trembled uncontrollably.
Anyway, thanks to Damak’s insane preparedness, we ended up going to Anhui Province.
Since the Taeeul Sect and the Wang family are located in Anhui Province, even if I rush there in a carriage, I will have an excuse later. ‘It is a contest to see who can pretend more shamelessly.’ They will desperately try to hide the fact that they attacked Damak, and I must somehow hide the fact that I helped Damak.
My heart feels narrow-minded at this petty den of evil.
To think this is the battle between black and white in the martial arts world, to think this is the Murim. Damn, I’m getting so fired up.
The problem is that we don’t have time, while they have plenty of time.
If I had enough time, I would mobilize all the academy students and the Wang clan’s personnel to proceed step by step as if in a demonstration, but currently, dark martial artists from all directions are making a fuss, demanding that we hand over ‘our precious Damak.’
If even one of them pulls out the “Oh, my hand slipped!” move, war will break out.
From then on, the ‘Escape Dam-ak’ operation will change into the terrible ‘Go to the Black Alliance with Dam-ak’ operation, so no matter what happens, you must throw Dam-ak to the Black Alliance unit waiting in Anhui Province on time.
The opponent probably knows that, so they must have deployed personnel here and there as a strategy to stall for time as much as possible.
Then a sudden voice woke me up.
“Stop! We are just checking for a moment…….”
A checkpoint with a brazier lit at this hour? Even the Green Forest Alliance lets people passing by at this time go.
How do I know? Well, I have a friend in the Green Forest Alliance, you see.
“Stop! If you don’t stop, in the name of the Murim Alliance…… Aaaargh! You crazy bastard!”
“Yaw! Yaw!”
No matter how formidable the name of the Murim Alliance may be, how long can it hold out against the momentum of these galloping steeds?
The people conducting the inspection curse and step aside.
Then, a scream of ‘Aargh’ was heard as the guards threw shurikens.
Rattling sound.
The small window of the carriage opened, and Damak peeked his head out.
“Hmm… It’s a checkpoint, shouldn’t we cooperate?”
I’d like to do that, too. As long as they don’t want your neck, that is.
I refused to listen to boring jokes, so I closed the window and pulled the reins.
As I sped up, I arrived in the area around Mount Horyeong before I knew it.
In terms of distance, it is still a long way to pass through Hubei Province, but once we cross Mount Horyeong, we can consider ourselves free from Wuhan’s influence.
If you can get to the meeting place, Masung, without being caught, you are already halfway to success.
“But things couldn’t possibly go that easily. Four? No, it’s six.” Six pursuers had attached themselves to our carriage as well.
Even if the academy graduates, including Cheol-sun-jik, tried their best to stop them, they did not expect to be able to stop all the warriors of the Jeongdohoe from the start.
No, I suppose we should consider this a decent effort. After all, the opponent is the Jeongdohoe’s special operations unit.
Anyway, it is still troublesome to let my identity be revealed.
If we get caught here, we will have to fight our way through to Anhui Province in a drawn-out struggle.
There is no way I would have the luxury of doing that at such a busy time.
Please take care of the horse’s reins.
“Is there a tracker following you again?”
As expected of an experienced coachman, he is quick-witted.
Instead of answering, I asked back.
“Can you drive without slowing down as much as possible?”
Of course. I have thirty years of experience.
Then please maintain your speed as much as possible.
So, I handed the reins to the coachman and climbed onto the roof of the carriage.
The guards raised their swords and tried to stand up together, but were stopped.
As I’ve said many times, if you guys step forward, the pursuers will clearly realize that Damak is here.
The best strategy is to keep it a secret which carriage Dam-ak is riding in until they cross Hubei Province.
The net will become that thin.
Because we will be able to break through the Jeongdohoe special operations unit.
“Not yet. If I fail to stop it, please step in then.”
The guards nodded slightly, and I looked around at the weapons placed on the roof of the carriage.
During a single expedition, the escorts use various weapons in addition to their primary weapons to deal with a diverse range of enemies.
After hesitating for a moment, I picked up a few old shurikens and a spear lying among the bow, axe, katana, and staff.
Because I have never used a spear in this life.
Moreover, he also knew a spear technique suitable for use right now. ‘It’s about time that damn fellow was kicked out of the Yuk family and entered Baekranggak.’ This madman, who called himself Yuksikrang, dared to steal the six spear techniques of the Yuk family and pretend to be a warrior.
The reason this guy was able to survive even after freely using the Six-Family Spear Style, a martial art of the Grand General’s Office, was because the Great War between the Righteous and Demonic Forces had broken out.
We used to tease him every time, telling him to bow toward the Demonic Cult twice a day. Even in the midst of the melee, the high-ranking officials of the Martial Arts Alliance would flinch in surprise whenever that damn bastard unleashed his spear technique. I wonder what kind of reaction that True Immortal Cheongsu will have if he sees this technique. Imagining that obnoxious face crumpling like a piece of paper, I began to gather energy at the tip of my spear.
The pursuers running up the trees leaped up with the dawn light behind them, like birds flapping their wings.
