Chapter 168 - Blood Sea Spreading in Sichuan (4)

After receiving such lavish treatment at Geumgak Manor in Jingzhou, there were no complaints bursting from the mouths of those heading to Sichuan.

Because some of the hall members occasionally asked things like, "If we run for two days straight without resting, can we rest at an even better place?", Gu Jeongryong was actually worried that Jin Sowoon might overhear them.

In any case, as soon as they realized that extravagant rest and food would be provided, Seungho Hall's speed increased even further.

Their horses were swapped for fresh ones every time, and whenever they left a guest house, they were fully restocked with jerky and water to eat on horseback, allowing them to maintain their speed with only brief breaks in between.

They had never been on any expedition that moved this quickly yet comfortably.

From the very beginning, when they first entered the Murim Alliance branch, they had braced themselves to handle every single aspect on their own.

From that perspective, this procession led by Jin Sowoon was moving more comfortably than any other.

It wasn't comfortable simply because they were receiving the full support of Wangga Manor.

The procession led by Jin Sowoon acted as if it knew every single road in the world inside and out, running faster than usual where they needed to be fast, and even taking breaks where they needed to go slowly.

Moreover, Jin Sowoon constantly changed the positions of the riders so that no one person would feel overly fatigued.

This was a measure that preemptively prevented the exhaustion felt by those who traveled long distances on horseback.

Even seeing it with his own two eyes, Gu Jeongryong found it hard to believe that Jin Sowoon, who was barely twenty years old, could manage things at this level.

'No, from the start, this isn't something a first-year academy student can do.'

From managing the unit to securing supplies through connections.

There was nothing ordinary about him.

It was as if he were looking at a seasoned squad commander, or a battlefield commander with a wealth of experience.

At this point, his curiosity flared.

He wondered why someone this outstanding was mobilizing all his abilities to head to Sichuan.

"I have one thing I want to ask."

At Gu Jeongryong's question, Jin Sowoon looked back.

"You still haven't actually told me why we need to go this fast."

"..."

"Do we really have to go this quickly just to stop an event?"

The goodwill of Wangga Manor?

No matter how close they were, if he caused them this much of a loss, Jin Sowoon would surely have to give something back to Wangga Manor.

Maeng Ju-won's order?

The same applied to this—it involved moving a manager of the Mantong Bureau. No matter how capable Maeng Ju-won was, if the Council of Elders raised an issue later on, Jin Sowoon would also be torn to shreds in that massive storm.

And yet, the objective he was pushing for while bearing all of these risks was merely to go to Sichuan and disrupt an event organized by the Council of Elders...

It didn't make sense.

Just what was the true reason...

"... It would be nice if we could stop it."

At Jin Sowoon's words, Gu Jeongryong's breath caught in his throat.

"You're truly going to stop the event?"

Jin Sowoon's expression subtly grimaced.

"In reality, it's a bit more complicated."

"No matter how complicated it is, I'll listen."

Frowning, Jin Sowoon stared off toward somewhere in the distance.

But at that moment, a sharp light flashed from his two eyes.

How should one describe this?

It wasn't quite killing intent, but something far more viscous?

If the surroundings were dark, it was the exact kind of atmosphere that would perfectly suit a legless entity emitting it...

'Grudge?'

On top of that, he was grinding his teeth so hard that, to anyone watching, it looked entirely like the expression of someone hunting down their parents' murderer rather than chasing after the Murim Alliance's Council of Elders.

"I'm talking about the unidentified group that the Council of Elders went to find."

The actual purpose of the event was to investigate Sichuan, but Gu Jeongryong was well aware that it was effectively a junket.

"I received information that they are a far more dangerous group than we thought."

"Information?"

"Yes, and that is why we are going to stop them."

He still didn't understand.

"... No matter how dangerous the group is, they have the academy students and the Alliance's elders with them. Is there a need to go to such unreasonable lengths?"

"According to the information, they are beings who use dangerous forbidden techniques."

"Forbidden techniques?"

He had never heard of such a thing.

"If we don't arrive in time, there will be massive casualties."

"Wait, wait, wait. I also heard about the incident that occurred in Sichuan during the standard exam. But this is the first time I'm hearing about forbidden techniques. Where is the source of that information?"

"It's Haomun."

"Haomun? Did you purchase it from them?"

"No. It was passed on to me. I have some ties with them."

"..."

Haomun was a group that vied with the Beggars' Sect for the world's information.

Considering that Haomun's reliability had been rapidly increasing lately while the Beggars' Sect's reliability had slightly fallen, it wasn't a completely baseless story.

He had heard the term 'forbidden techniques,' but Gu Jeongryong's true question was focused elsewhere.

"You have a personal relationship with Haomun? Not a financial transaction?"

Jin Sowoon answered as if it were no big deal.

"Yes."

Just what kind of sect was Haomun?

When it came to money, they were as notoriously strict as loan sharks, yet he had received information from such a place without paying a single coin.

'Just what is this kid's true identity?'

Gu Jeongryong's curiosity about Jin Sowoon only grew stronger.

* * *

'Just don't do anything stupid!'

If one were to point out one of the Murim Alliance's chronic problems, it was their arrogance.

Put nicely, one could say they were overflowing with confidence.

True to those who had gone without a rival for five hundred years, carelessness was ingrained in their very bodies like a habit, anytime and anywhere.

Come to think of it, the extreme casualties in my past life were also due to them scattering their manpower in all directions as if diversifying investments, which made it easy for the Corpse Mountain Blood Cult to defeat them one by one.

Since they hadn't managed to drag in the personnel of the White Path Council and the Twelve Peaks and Castles compared to my past life, I thought they wouldn't do something so idiotic this time.

But after reading the missive delivered through Haomun, I couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

-Academy students entered Sichuan's Chengdu. Divided into five groups and began moving.-

As expected, those bastards didn't disappoint me and were executing the exact same mistake as in my past life.

"Eldest Senior Brother, are you alright?"

At Eunho's question, I handed him the missive and spoke.

"It seems we're already too late."

As if realizing the severity of the missive, Eunho also hardened his face.

"... Where does it say Jaehwa and Seollan are?"

"Both the Chengdu Branch and Haomun said they couldn't determine their whereabouts."

I had tried to figure out where Moyong Jaehwa and Eun Seollan at least were, but this fundamentally disorganized group that only boasted deep roots didn't even leave records of how they divided the personnel.

It was obvious that they had just gathered in small groups of three or five with their friends however they pleased.

And they likely filled in the empty spots with the forcibly conscripted academy students to make up the numbers.

"It's an absolute shitshow."

I agreed.

Even a group of vagabond warriors wouldn't operate this haphazardly.

"Moreover, why is their speed so fast?"

Eunho scratched right at the most frustrating part.

These fools, who couldn't predict a damn thing about their enemy, were overflowing with confidence, so they moved without any hesitation.

It was similar to my past life.

In my past life as well, those who marched straight to Padang via Mount Emei were turned into corpses one after another.

"Is there no chance that those culprits will show up late?"

"I, too, wish for nothing more than for that to be the case."

From the very beginning, the incident they caused during the standard exam was to set up this current event.

A hunter waiting after digging a trap does not delay when their prey approaches.

'Please be in the back groups...'

The only thing I could do was hope that Eun Seollan and Moyong Jaehwa belonged to the back groups.

Because no matter how fast we ran, there was a high chance we wouldn't be able to catch up to the speed at which the front groups reached Padang.

'Please! Don't foolishly step out in front!'

Carrying that desperate wish, I struck my whip down again and again.

* * *

"They said Mount Emei was the greatest scenic spot in the world. Haha."

At Myeonghyeon's chuckling words, the young man assisting him from the side handed him some tea water brought from the Emei Sect and spoke.

"They say that among the Eight Views of Emei, one must absolutely visit the Myriad Lights of Shengji, the Clear Clouds of Luofeng, and the Clear Tones of Shuangqiao. How about using this opportunity to broaden the academy students' horizons, Elder?"

At his disciple's words, Daoist Myeonghyeon furrowed his brow.

"Did we come here to play?"

"..."

"We came here to root out those who dared to ignore the strict warnings of the Murim Alliance and disrupted the standard exam."

The disciple quickly bowed his head.

"I apologize. This disciple failed to understand your great will and spoke carelessly."

When the disciple spoke as if he were ready to throw his life away at any moment, Grandmaster Hyeseong spoke benevolently.

"Although it is an urgent matter, since the journey to Sichuan was not easy, how about broadening the children's horizons after the task is finished? Is it not also the duty of our generation to show them the vastness of the world?"

At Grandmaster Hyeseong's words, Daoist Myeonghyeon nodded.

In truth, the matter in Sichuan wasn't all that urgent.

If it had been that urgent, they would have turned Sichuan upside down right after the standard exam to finish the investigation.

The reason it had suddenly become urgent now was because the situation had changed.

The suspicion that the Yuwol Sect, which was a lay sect of the Mount Cangshan Sect, had committed crimes in Hunan while impersonating the Demonic Cult.

Adding to that, the fact that a disciple of Mount Cangshan had also participated made the Mount Cangshan Sect impatient.

At times like this, wasn't the best topic to divert people's attention the eradication of demons and evil?

Considering how past emperors had conducted northern expeditions and conquests whenever their regimes wavered, there was no method as guaranteed to succeed as this.

"Above all, eradicating demons and destroying evil is the highest priority given to our Murim Alliance. Ensure that none of you forget today's teachings."

At Daoist Myeonghyeon's words, the disciples bowed their heads in unison.

To Daoist Myeonghyeon's eyes, it was a very pleasing sight.

Grandmaster Hyeseong, who was watching the scene from the side, formed a smile on his lips.

'It must feel like hell for him.'

Myeonghyeon surely had his reasons for spurring on the investigation in Sichuan.

His dark ulterior motives were plain to see.

Yet, the reason he played along to his tune was to set the stage for him, knowing that no matter how much he struggled, he would eventually have to give up the Council Head position anyway.

The day the Council Head seat returned to Shaolin was not far off now.

Because of public opinion claiming that Wudang and Shaolin were monopolizing the Council Head seat, they had temporarily handed the position over, only for the entire Orthodox Council to be shaken to its core.

Now it was time for the original owner to reclaim it and reestablish the righteous spirit of Jianghu.

The one slight regret was that the situation in Yueyang had calmed down quite quickly.

Shaolin had planned to step in once the Underworld factions—including the Dark Blood Gang and the Black Axe Palace, which had been hiding their strength—turned Yueyang completely upside down and severed Mount Cangshan's roots. However, those bastards, who seemed ready to wage an all-out war, suddenly halted their advance.

Because he was so curious about the inner workings, he had just ordered an investigation.

"Have you looked into Yueyang?"

From the side, Ilgak replied.

"Yes. Both the Gang Leader and the Vice Gang Leader of the Dark Blood Gang were killed, which caused the Dark Blood Gang to be torn apart, and it seems this has taken the wind out of the Yueyang situation."

"The Dark Blood Gang did?"

"How did that happen?"

Ilgak's lips parted slightly.

It was difficult for him to judge whether it was right to speak of this or to keep quiet.

"What are you doing instead of speaking up quickly?"

At Hyeseong's sharp reprimand, he slowly continued his words.

"It is said that Representative Jin Sowoon, who stood with the Yujang Sect, assaulted the Dark Blood Gang alone and killed the Dark Blood Gang Leader."

"Hah?"

"Afterwards, the Yujang Sect and the Dark Blood Gang held a 'decisive sparring match', and Representative Jin Sowoon reportedly even severed the head of the Dark Blood Gang's Vice Gang Leader. Due to this, the Dark Blood Gang ceased their war, and it is said that no one among the other Underworld sects is waging war anymore."

"What!"

Hyeseong's eyes went wide.

"That Jin Sowoon kid did...? No, even so, why did the other sects stop the war as well?"

"That... I was unable to find out in detail."

"..."

Since the size of a missive was fixed, there was bound to be a limit to the information it could convey.

Even so, it simply didn't make sense that the collapse of the Dark Blood Gang alone could so cleanly quell the entire Yueyang situation.

Hyeseong instantly felt it.

"He must definitely be involved."

That there was something related to Jin Sowoon in the inner workings that he didn't know about.

And then, goosebumps broke out all over his body.

Assaulting the Gang Leader of the Dark Blood Gang, or fighting the Vice Gang Leader?

The elite disciples of his own mountain could easily accomplish that as well.

However, it was impossible to control the chaos with just that single move.

"What a terrifying kid."

"Pardon?"

To say one could control chaos meant they understood that chaos deeply.

This, in turn, meant they could also incite chaos.

"I knew there was something unusual about that child."

Five Evils among the Eight Evils had definitely participated in the Yueyang situation as well.

Even Hyeseong himself wouldn't be confident in ending the war between both sides in such a situation.

Yet a kid who had just entered the academy managed to do it.

"He is a Demon."

"..."

At Hyeseong's words, Ilgak's face stiffened rigidly.

Because he knew who he was calling a Demon.

"Gak."

"Yes, Master."

"If I become the Council Head this time, I will place you in the academy representative position."

"..."

"Therefore, you must surely crush that Demon so that he can never grow again. Do you understand?"

Even though Ilgak heard Grandmaster Hyeseong's promise to return the position he had so deeply desired, his heart somehow felt heavy.

And when faced with a question that was this difficult to answer, he uttered the words he always used.

"Amitabha..."

At that same time.

Moyong Jaehwa, who had climbed to the Golden Summit of Mount Emei, was gasping for breath as if he were about to die.

"Pant, pant, d-damn it..."

Because he wielded a bow instead of a sword, Moyong Jaehwa had continuously acted as the vanguard, causing him to move nearly three times as much as the others.

"Young Master Moyong, are you alright?"

Eun Seollan, who was looking at Moyong Jaehwa with pity, reached out her hand and emitted cold qi for him.

"They said there was nothing on this damn Mount Emei, so why did they insist on climbing up here?"

Moyong Jaehwa had already scouted Mount Emei and moved forward ahead of the group.

However, at the signal to return, he had just climbed all the way back up Mount Emei.

Hesitating at Moyong Jaehwa's question, Eun Seollan answered carefully.

"Well... they said that since we are the front group, shouldn't we receive its righteous spirit..."

"Pardon?"

Moyong Jaehwa doubted his own two ears. He must have misheard something...

"I just heard it too. They said that if we absorb the spirit of Mount Emei before going, things will work out well..."

They told someone who had already descended the mountain to climb all the way back up just for that?

"..."

Moyong Jaehwa felt as though he wanted to fire a Thunderbolt Arrow right this instant at the peak where the elders and their disciples were standing.

'Seriously, if I had only completed it, I would have fired it. I swear!'