Chapter 167 - Blood Sea Spreading in Sichuan (3)

When Cheol Sunjik heard that Jin Sowoon had requested to leave, he felt a sense of doubt.

The academy's term had just begun, so where on earth was the representative going?

Just as he was about to brush it off, thinking, 'He really is an unpredictable and unpleasant person,'

he heard that his destination was Sichuan, and that the Orthodox Council had gone there for a field trip, and he couldn't just brush it off.

A person who was full of composure even when people were dying inside the Soul-Extinguishing Array was urgently following an overseas-style field trip that was nothing more than a rebellious protest by the Orthodox Council?

And mobilizing the Azure Dragon Pavilion's strike force to do so?

'He truly is an unpleasant person in many ways.'

For Cheol Sunjik, who originally disliked most things that were unpredictable, Jin Sowoon was an incredibly uncomfortable existence.

That was why he had stepped forward, volunteering to follow along on this journey.

To figure out just what kind of person this man who constantly defied his expectations was.

'Whether he is just a greenhorn who continuously makes rash moves driven by his emotions, or if he's...'

Cheol Sunjik's thoughts as he stared at Jin Sowoon's back were cut off there.

"Anyone who falls behind will be left behind! Chase after me with all your might until we reach Chengdu in Sichuan!"

At Jin Sowoon's booming shout, Cheol Sunjik unconsciously gripped his reins tightly.

The members of the Twelve Peaks and Castles who participated in Jin Sowoon's journey this time were also the elite among the elite.

They were not the sort of existences to struggle with merely this level of speed.

"Brother Cheol, why did you go out of your way to participate in that man's journey?"

At Nam Hwaseong's question, the group, including Ha Yeongyeong and Sang Muhon, approached Cheol Sunjik's side and began to strike up a conversation.

It was an action close to a martial art, but not a single one of them found it difficult.

Nam Hwaseong furrowed his brow as if he couldn't understand it at all.

"And even handing over the right to command him, at that."

At those words, Cheol Sunjik chuckled without realizing it.

Right before their departure, Jin Sowoon had surprisingly accepted his proposal to join them without hesitation.

The condition he laid out was just one.

Absolute obedience.

The elite members of the Twelve Peaks and Castles, including Nam Hwaseong, had protested, but Cheol Sunjik ultimately accepted his condition.

The group was only now questioning the doubts they had been holding back.

"Honestly speaking, didn't you all participate because you were curious about Jin Sowoon as well?"

"..."

No one answered Cheol Sunjik's question.

"I'm... going because I want to see Jin Sowoon fight those bastards from the Nine Sects and One Gang. That guy always charges in without thinking about the aftermath."

At Nam Hwaseong's words, Cheol Sunjik nodded.

"I am the same."

"Huh?"

"There is always a reason behind his actions."

He is a human who acts unpredictably.

Unpredictable actions refer to the actions that the majority of people do not take.

And actions that the majority do not take mean that the probability of a good outcome is low.

But that doesn't seem to apply to him...

His unpredictable actions always brought him the best possible results.

As if they were the originally hidden answer sheet.

It was like that in the Demonic Spirit Plateau,

it was like that during the Murim standard exam,

and it was like that during the incident with the Soul-Extinguishing Array.

"Brother Cheol, do you still not know? That guy is a lunatic. Just a lunatic who lost his mind."

At Nam Hwaseong's words, the members of the Twelve Peaks and Castles burst into laughter all at once.

"Hahaha, do you think so too?"

Some people underestimated Jin Sowoon.

Saying he was a crazy human, or an Underworld member who had gone slightly insane and thought himself part of the Orthodox faction.

Such evaluations likely stemmed from the jealousy of those who could not accept the reality that he always produced the best results through unexpected choices.

"That is why I am curious."

Whether he truly is just a lunatic who doesn't think about the aftermath...

Or if he is a new kind of existence walking an extraordinary path that others do not choose...

In Cheol Sunjik's thoughts, his own generation currently living in Murim was already doomed.

This thought had firmly embedded itself in his mind when he first met Yong So-ah in the past.

In his generation, no one could surpass Yong So-ah.

As long as he existed, their generation would not be able to dominate Murim or the Central Plains.

No matter how much the power of the Twelve Peaks and Castles grew and how numerous the experts that emerged were, in the end, no one would be able to surpass the Shaolin Sect's Ilmyeong and the Wudang Sect's Yong So-ah.

Ultimately, they had to wait for the next generation.

They had to wait until the moment those two no longer existed in Jianghu.

"But if he is an existence who can break free from my firm prediction..."

Cheol Sunjik's gaze sharply pierced Jin Sowoon's back as he galloped ahead of them.

If he truly isn't just a simple lunatic like some people think.

If he is 'that kind of existence' that I am thinking of.

If a hopeful existence capable of opening a new era, one that I could not predict, has appeared in our generation...

"Hey! Twelve Peaks and Castles! What are you mumbling about! Aren't you going to hurry up and chase me?"

"..."

Cutting off his thoughts, Jin Sowoon was glaring at them with a face like a yaksha.

Cheol Sunjik tried his best to maintain his composure and spoke.

"Representative Jin Sowoon, are we going to keep running like this? If we continue this way, everyone will fall behind from exhaustion."

"What?! You guys were the ones who asked me to bring you along! If you're going to come so sluggishly, why did you even chase after me! Go back to the academy!"

"..."

Was he really just running without a single thought?

At this rate, let alone the Twelve Peaks and Castles, even the incredible Seungho Hall wouldn't be able to last much longer, right?

"... Brother Cheol."

Nam Hwaseong spoke softly.

"Please speed up. Because you keep lagging behind, even we are getting cursed at by that lunatic."

"No, I..."

"Weren't you the one who suggested we come, Brother Cheol? Just speed up."

"... I apologize."

To thoughtlessly push and drive people like this... maybe he really was just lucky all this time...

For some reason, the scales in Cheol Sunjik's mind were tilting toward one side.

* * *

"We will cut straight through Chongqing."

At Jin Sowoon's words, Gu Jeongryong's brow furrowed deeply.

Most traveling groups heading from Hubei Province to Sichuan would ride the Yangtze River, go around Shaanxi, and head to Sichuan.

Traveling using the river was efficient in many ways.

Compared to land routes, there was a massive difference in cargo capacity, but above all, it was comfortable.

Because of that, most people heading to Sichuan would usually take this route...

But to cut straight through Chongqing.

This was a route suitable only for those who needed to move quickly while carrying light travel bundles.

For a fully armed group leading horses like them to suggest cutting straight through Chongqing was the perfect way to get cursed at for being crazy.

But less than a day after Gu Jeongryong had handed over the right to command, Jin Sowoon was spouting such crazy nonsense.

"Are you out of your mind? Cutting straight through Chongqing. Leaving the warriors aside, the horses won't be able to endure it."

The reason Gu Jeongryong had given the right to command to Jin Sowoon was because of Maeng Ju-won's tearful pleading.

It was a favor he could easily grant due to a past debt, but since someone of the rank of Manager in the Mantong Bureau had pleaded in front of the hall members, crying, 'Please, just this once, for my charming wife and adorable children...', he couldn't refuse.

'Wasn't that person, Maeng Ju-won, still a bachelor in the first place?'

Anyway, touched by his desperate heart that even sold out a non-existent wife and children, he decided to empower Maeng Ju-won since they were going to do it anyway and handed over the command, but even so, he couldn't just unconditionally follow such an irrational course of action.

"This is the only way to narrow the distance with the leading group."

"Why are you rushing like this?"

"The best time to catch up with those who departed first is right before they arrive at Mount Emei. But if the Yangtze River's current is as fast as usual, we would only arrive long after they have reached Padang. To catch up to them, we have no choice but to cut straight through Chongqing."

It was a valid point, but that was strictly theoretical.

Because humans and horses were not existences that could move exactly according to theory.

"Even if we set aside Hubei Province, there is no Murim Alliance branch in the midway stop of Chongqing. Of course, the aftermath is a problem too. Where on our way to Chengdu in Sichuan is there a place that will feed and house nearly a hundred people and even swap out our horses?"

This was the most important matter.

To roll out Seungho Hall just to stop an overseas-style field trip when a war hasn't even broken out?

The backlash from the hall members would be no joke.

"You don't have to worry about that."

"What?"

"I have already asked for help, so you need not worry. Of course, I don't know what that person might want in return later on, but..."

Jin Sowoon's words made no sense to him.

Gu Jeongryong had no choice but to issue a stern warning.

"You are aware of the responsibility that comes with the right to command, aren't you?"

"Of course."

"That includes the dissatisfaction of the Seungho Hall members. Overworking warriors without a proper reason will incite their backlash."

"..."

"Even if we ride all the way to Jingzhou like this, the Murim Alliance's Jingzhou Branch will likely already be closed. Will you be able to quell their dissatisfaction?"

Despite Gu Jeongryong's pressing, Jin Sowoon's expression was as relaxed as could be.

"Well, I don't know for sure, but it will be better than taking a catnap at the Jingzhou Branch."

"Hmm?"

He had no idea what he was talking about, but Gu Jeongryong decided to wait and see for now.

Ignoring Gu Jeongryong's words that they needed to rest before arriving in Jingzhou, they rode until the moon was high in the sky and ultimately arrived in Jingzhou only as the hour of the Pig approached.

"Haa... Haa... Damn it."

"I knew it would be like this."

"Damn it, just what is that Black Flame Dragon bastard thinking?"

And just as expected, the Murim Alliance's Jingzhou Branch was already closed.

Soon enough, the dissatisfaction of the Seungho Hall members began to burst out one by one.

"Hall Leader, what are we doing right now? We aren't even going out to fight, so do we have to be overworked like this?"

"No matter if it's a request from the Mantong Bureau's Manager, this is a bit too much."

"Hall Leader, if we keep going like this, everyone will collapse before we even reach Sichuan. Please make a decision."

With complaints bursting out alongside curses, the moment Gu Jeongryong thought he would ultimately have to take back the right to command.

"This way."

Jin Sowoon came to a halt in front of the largest guest house in Jingzhou.

"Young Master Jin! We have been waiting for you."

The Seungho Hall members and the Twelve Peaks and Castles, who had been bursting with complaints, all dropped their jaws wide open at the same time.

The Master of the Geumgak Guest House, reputed to be the number one guest house in Jingzhou, was lined up with his servants to welcome Jin Sowoon's group.

"Attend to the warriors!"

Without waiting for orders, the servants approached the martial artists, took their horses, and prepared cool, damp towels for them to wipe their hands and faces.

"We have finished preparing the meals and baths. You said you would depart early tomorrow, correct?"

At the Master's question, Jin Sowoon nodded as if he were accustomed to it.

"We will depart before the hour of the Dragon. Have the horses been secured?"

"Preparations have already been completed at each branch within Hubei Province, and they will finish preparing in Chongqing and Sichuan Province before you arrive, Young Master."

"I apologize for making such an unreasonable request."

When Jin Sowoon bowed his head, the middle-aged Master of the Geumgak Guest House looked overwhelmed and instead stopped him.

"Please, do not say such things. Thanks to you, I can earn more points with the Lord of Wangga Manor, so it is actually a matter I should be grateful for."

At that unfamiliar sight, the people stared blankly at Jin Sowoon.

The Lord of Wangga Manor? Did he mean Wang Geumsan, the man said to have built mountains out of gold?

What was even stranger was that the Taiyi Sect disciples, as well as Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran who constantly hung around Jin Sowoon, were nonchalantly accepting this treatment as if they were used to it.

'Is Jin Sowoon the child of Wang Geumsan or something? ... But their surnames are different, aren't they?'

After washing off all the dust in the bathhouse and coming out to the dining hall, the people's eyes widened at the lavish feast spread out before them, as if perfectly timed.

"Alcohol will be limited to one bottle per person. Because we still have a long way to go."

At Jin Sowoon's words, the Seungho Hall members cheered in unison.

The same people who had just been bursting with complaints started simultaneously praising the Black Flame Dragon, as if they had never complained at all.

"Black Flame Dragon! Black Flame Dragon!"

"Junior! You are a real man!"

"As expected, you have to meet a good commander!"

Gu Jeongryong was dumbfounded by the rapid shift in the Seungho Hall members' attitudes.

"..."

Gu Jeongryong, who hardly knew whether his food was going into his nose or his mouth, ultimately couldn't hold back and asked Jin Sowoon.

"Are you, by any chance, the hidden son of Lord Wang Geumsan or something?"

"Pardon? What are you talking about?"

"If that isn't the case, then why is Lord Wang Geumsan providing such accommodations? That's what I'm asking."

They were the only guests in this massive annex.

In short, for Jin Sowoon's sake, he had endured not only giving up today's income but also taking a loss.

"Lord Wang and the Taiyi Sect are originally very close. His daughter is also my Junior Sister."

At Jin Sowoon speaking as if it were obvious, Gu Jeongryong's questions only multiplied.

'He isn't even his son, so what does Lord Wang lack that he'd provide such accommodations for a Taiyi Sect disciple? Is he the son-in-law of Wangga Manor or something? What is going on?'

His doubts were not resolved in the slightest, but for some reason, Gu Jeongryong felt that he should get a little closer to Jin Sowoon.