Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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6
7. <A Sea of Blood Spreading Through Sichuan (3)>
When he heard that Jin So-woon had applied to go out, Cheol Sunjik found it strange.
The academy term had only just begun, so where exactly was the representative saying he would go? Just as he was about to let it pass, thinking, ‘As expected, he is an unpleasant man who cannot be predicted.’
When he heard that his destination was Sichuan, and that the Righteous Way Society had gone there for field study, he could not simply let it pass.
A man who had been completely relaxed even when people were dying inside the Soul-Destroying Formation was hurriedly chasing after a sightseeing field study that amounted to nothing more than a rebellious demonstration by the Righteous Way Society?
And even mobilizing the Azure Dragon Pavilion’s strike force for it? ‘He really is an unpleasant man in so many ways.’ For Cheol Sunjik, who originally disliked most things that could not be predicted, Jin So-woon was an unbearably uncomfortable existence.
That was why he had volunteered to follow on this trip.
To find out what kind of person he was, always slipping outside his expectations. ‘Whether he is just a greenhorn who repeatedly acts on impulse as his feelings pull him, or else…….’ Cheol Sunjik’s thoughts, as he stared at Jin So-woon’s back, were cut off there.
“Anyone who falls behind will be left behind! Chase me to Chengdu in Sichuan with everything you have!” (Jin So-woon)
At Jin So-woon’s thunderous shout, Cheol Sunjik unconsciously gripped the reins tightly.
The members of the Twelve Peak Stars participating in Jin So-woon’s trip this time were also elites among elites.
They were not people who would struggle with a speed like this.
“Brother Cheol, why did you go out of your way to join that man’s trip?” (Nam Hwa-seong)
At Nam Hwa-seong’s question, Ha Yeong-yeong, Sang Mu-heun, and the others came up beside Cheol Sunjik and began talking to him.
It was an action close to a feat of skill, but not a single person found it difficult.
Nam Hwa-seong even furrowed his brow as if he truly could not understand.
“And even handing over command authority at that.” (Nam Hwa-seong)
At those words, Cheol Sunjik could not help but burst into a chuckle.
Just before they set off, Jin So-woon had unexpectedly accepted his proposal to accompany them without hesitation.
There was only one condition he had put forth.
Absolute obedience.
The elites of the Twelve Peak Stars, including Nam Hwa-seong, had objected, but Cheol Sunjik had accepted his condition in the end.
Only now were the group members pressing him with the doubts they had been holding back.
“To be honest, you all joined because you were curious about Jin So-woon as well, did you not?” (Cheol Sunjik)
“…….” (Nam Hwa-seong)
No one answered Cheol Sunjik’s question.
“I’m going because I want to see Jin So-woon fight those Nine Sects One Union bastards…… That guy always charges in without thinking of what comes after.” (Nam Hwa-seong)
At Nam Hwa-seong’s words, Cheol Sunjik nodded.
“I am the same.” (Cheol Sunjik)
“Huh?” (Nam Hwa-seong)
“There is always a reason behind his actions.” (Cheol Sunjik)
He was a person who took unpredictable actions.
An unpredictable action referred to an action most people would not take.
An action most people would not take meant that the probability of a good result was low.
And yet, that did not apply to him…….
His unpredictable actions had always given him the best possible result.
As if that had been the hidden answer sheet all along.
It had been so on the Demon Spirit Plateau, it had been so in the Murim Civil Service Examination, and it had been so in the incident of the Soul-Destroying Formation.
“Brother Cheol, do you still not know that? That bastard is a lunatic. Just a lunatic whose mind has come loose.” (Nam Hwa-seong)
At Nam Hwa-seong’s words, the members of the Twelve Peak Stars all burst into laughter at once.
“Hahaha, you think so as well?” (Cheol Sunjik)
Some people underestimated Jin So-woon.
That he was a madman, or a Black Path man whose mind was a little gone and who thought of himself as White Path.
Such evaluations probably stemmed from the envy of those who could not accept the reality that he always produced the best results through unexpected choices.
“That is why I am curious.” (Cheol Sunjik)
Whether he really was just a lunatic with no thought for what came after…….
Or whether he was a new kind of existence walking a different path that others did not choose…….
In Cheol Sunjik’s view, his generation living in the current murim was already ruined.
This thought had been firmly planted in his mind when he first met Yong So-a in the past.
In his generation, no one could surpass Yong So-a.
As long as he existed, their generation could not dominate the murim, the Central Plains.
No matter how much the power of the Twelve Peak Stars grew and no matter how many masters appeared, in the end, no one would be able to surpass Shaolin’s Ilmyeong and Wudang’s Yong So-a.
In the end, they had to wait for the next generation.
They had to wait until those people no longer existed in the martial world.
“If he is an existence capable of escaping this firm prediction of mine…….” (Cheol Sunjik)
Cheol Sunjik’s gaze fixed sharply on Jin So-woon’s back as he ran ahead of him.
If he truly was not merely the simple lunatic some people thought he was.
If he was the kind of existence I thought he was.
Then even in our generation, a hopeful existence capable of opening a new era I could not predict has appeared…….
“Hey! Twelve Peak Stars! What are you mumbling about! Are you not going to hurry up and follow?” (Jin So-woon)
“…….” (Cheol Sunjik)
Jin So-woon, who had cut off his thoughts, was glaring at them with a face like a yaksha.
Cheol Sunjik spoke while striving to maintain his composure.
“Representative Jin So-woon, are we going to keep running like this? If we continue this way, everyone will get exhausted and drop.” (Cheol Sunjik)
“What?! You were the ones who asked to be taken along! If you’re going to come that slowly, why did you even follow us! Go back to the academy!” (Jin So-woon)
“…….” (Cheol Sunjik)
Is he really just running without thinking at all?
At this rate, not only the Twelve Peak Stars but even that impressive Seungho Hall will not last long, will they?
“…… (Nam Hwa-seong)
Brother Cheol.” (Nam Hwa-seong)
Nam Hwa-seong said in a low voice.
“Pick up the speed a bit. As it is, because Brother Cheol keeps falling behind, even we are getting cursed at by that lunatic.” (Nam Hwa-seong)
“No, I……” (Cheol Sunjik)
“Was Brother Cheol not the one who said we should come? Just pick up the speed.” (Nam Hwa-seong)
“…… (Cheol Sunjik)
I am sorry.” (Cheol Sunjik)
Driving people like this without thinking, perhaps he had simply been lucky all this time…….
Cheol Sunjik somehow found the scale of his thoughts tilting to one side.#“We will cut across Chongqing.” (Jin So-woon)
At Jin So-woon’s words, Gu Jeongryong’s brow furrowed deeply.
Most caravans heading from Hubei Province to Sichuan take the Yangtze River, circle around Shaanxi, and head toward Sichuan.
Traveling by river is efficient in many ways.
Compared to an overland route, there is a big difference in transport capacity, but above all, it is comfortable.
That is why most people heading to Sichuan take this route in…….
But to cut across Chongqing.
This is a route suited only for someone carrying a light bundle and moving quickly.
If a group armed to the teeth and even leading horses, as they were now, said they had to cut across Chongqing, they would be called mad on the spot.
Yet less than a day after Gu Jeongryong handed over command authority, Jin So-woon spouted something insane.
“Are you in your right mind? Cutting across Chongqing? Leaving the warriors aside, the horses will not be able to endure it.” (Gu Jeongryong)
The reason Gu Jeongryong had given Jin So-woon command authority was because of Maeng Ju-won’s pleading.
It was a request he could have granted readily enough, given an old debt, but a man who was even a deputy chief of the All-Communication Department pleaded in front of the hall members, saying, ‘Please, just this once, for the sake of my fox-like wife and rabbit-like children……,’ so he could not refuse. ‘Was Maeng Ju-won not still a bachelor in the first place?’ In any case, because of his earnest feelings, even selling off the wife and children he did not have, Gu Jeongryong decided to give Maeng Ju-won strength in something that would happen anyway and even granted command authority, but that did not mean he could unconditionally follow such an unreasonable action.
“This is the only way to close the distance with the leading group.” (Jin So-woon)
“Why are you in such a hurry?” (Gu Jeongryong)
“The best time to catch up to those who departed first is before they reach Mount Emei. But if the Yangtze River’s current is as fast as usual, we will arrive late even after they have reached Padang. To catch up to them, we have no choice but to cut across Chongqing.” (Jin So-woon)
It was a reasonable thing to say, but that was only theoretical.
Because humans and horses were not beings that could move only according to theory.
“Leaving Hubei Province aside, there is no Martial Alliance branch in Chongqing, the intermediate stopping point. Of course, after that is also a problem. On the way to Chengdu in Sichuan, where is there a place that can feed and house nearly a hundred people and even replace the horses?” (Gu Jeongryong)
This was the most important matter.
It was not as if a war had broken out, so to mobilize Seungho Hall merely to stop an external field study with a strong sightseeing flavor?
The resistance from the hall members would be no joke.
“You do not need to worry about that.” (Jin So-woon)
“What?” (Gu Jeongryong)
“I have asked for help, so you do not need to worry. Of course, I do not know what that person will ask for later…….” (Jin So-woon)
Jin So-woon’s words were impossible to understand.
Gu Jeongryong had no choice but to give him a stern warning.
“You do know about the responsibility that comes with command authority, do you not?” (Gu Jeongryong)
“Of course.” (Jin So-woon)
“That includes the dissatisfaction of the Seungho Hall members. Overworking warriors without a proper reason brings about their resistance.” (Gu Jeongryong)
“…….” (Jin So-woon)
“Even if we run all the way to Hyeongju like this, the Martial Alliance’s Hyeongju branch will already be closed. Can you settle their complaints?” (Gu Jeongryong)
Even under Gu Jeongryong’s pressure, Jin So-woon’s expression was nothing but relaxed.
“Mm, though I cannot say for certain, it will probably be better than taking a nap at the Hyeongju branch.” (Jin So-woon)
“Mm?” (Gu Jeongryong)
He had no idea what Jin So-woon meant, but Gu Jeongryong decided to watch for now.
Ignoring Gu Jeongryong’s words that they should rest before arriving in Hyeongju, they ran until the moon was full and finally arrived in Hyeongju only when it was nearly the hour of the boar.
“Haa…… haa…… damn it.” (Seungho Hall member)
“I knew this would happen.” (Seungho Hall member)
“Damn it, what the hell is that Black Flame Dragon bastard thinking?” (Seungho Hall member)
And as expected, the Martial Alliance’s Hyeongju branch was already closed.
Before long, the complaints of the Seungho Hall members began to burst out one by one.
“Hall Leader, what exactly is this? We are not even going to fight, so must we be overworked like this?” (Seungho Hall member)
“No matter how much it was the All-Communication Department deputy chief’s request, this is a bit too much.” (Seungho Hall member)
“Hall Leader, if we go on like this, everyone will collapse before we reach Sichuan. Please make a decision.” (Seungho Hall member)
Just as Gu Jeongryong thought he would have to take back command authority after all, amid the complaints bursting out along with curses.
“This way.” (Jin So-woon)
Jin So-woon stopped in front of the largest inn in Hyeongju.
“Young Master Jin! We have been waiting for you.” (Geumgakjang manager)
The complaining Seungho Hall members and the Twelve Peak Stars all opened their mouths wide at once.
The manager of Geumgakjang, said to be the finest inn in Hyeongju, had lined up with the servants to welcome Jin So-woon’s party.
“Attend to the warriors!” (Geumgakjang manager)
The servants approached the martial artists without anyone needing to go first, took their horses, and prepared cool damp towels so they could wipe their hands and faces.
“We have finished preparing the meal and the baths. You said you would depart early tomorrow, correct?” (Geumgakjang manager)
At the manager’s question, Jin So-woon nodded as if this was familiar to him.
“We will depart before the hour of the dragon. Have the horses been secured?” (Jin So-woon)
“The preparations have already been completed at each branch within Hubei Province, and in Chongqing and Sichuan Province, they will finish preparations before you arrive, Young Master.” (Geumgakjang manager)
“I am sorry for making an unreasonable request.” (Jin So-woon)
When Jin So-woon bowed his head, the middle-aged manager of Geumgakjang became flustered and instead tried to stop him.
“Please do not say such things. Thanks to you, I can score more points with Manor Master Wang, so for me, this is something I should be grateful for instead.” (Geumgakjang manager)
At that unfamiliar sight, people stared blankly at Jin So-woon.
Manor Master Wang? Did that mean Wang Geumsan, who was said to have piled up a mountain with gold?
What was even stranger was that Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran, who always stayed with Jin So-woon, along with the disciples of the Taeul Sect, accepted this treatment as if they were used to it. ‘Could Jin So-woon be Wang Geumsan’s child? ……
But their surnames are different, are they not?’ After washing all the dust away in the bathhouse and coming out to the dining hall, the people’s eyes went wild at the feast spread before them as if timed perfectly.
“Alcohol will be limited to one bottle per person. We still have a long way to go.” (Jin So-woon)
At Jin So-woon’s words, the members of Seungho Hall all cheered at once.
As if they had never complained, they all began praising the Black Flame Dragon at once.
“Black Flame Dragon! Black Flame Dragon!” (Seungho Hall members)
“Junior! You are truly a man!” (Seungho Hall member)
“As expected, you have to meet the right commander!” (Seungho Hall member)
Gu Jeongryong was dumbfounded by the Seungho Hall members’ quick change in attitude.
“…….” (Gu Jeongryong)
Gu Jeongryong, who could not tell whether the food was going through his nose or his mouth, finally could not hold back and asked Jin So-woon.
“Are you perhaps Manor Master Wang Geumsan’s hidden son or something?” (Gu Jeongryong)
“Yes? What do you mean?” (Jin So-woon)
“If not, I am asking why Manor Master Wang Geumsan would provide such convenience.” (Gu Jeongryong)
There were no guests in this large annex except them.
In other words, for Jin So-woon, they had endured not only the loss of the day’s income but even additional losses.
“Manor Master Wang and the Taeul Sect have always been on intimate terms. His daughter is also my junior sister.” (Jin So-woon)
At Jin So-woon’s matter-of-fact words, Gu Jeongryong’s questions only increased. ‘He is not even his son, so what does Manor Master Wang stand to gain from providing this convenience to a disciple of the Taeul Sect? Is he the Wang Manor’s son-in-law or something? What is it?’ His doubts were not resolved at all, but Gu Jeongryong somehow found himself thinking he should get a little closer to Jin So-woon.