Chapter 169 - Blood Sea Spreading in Sichuan (5)

'Somehow, the atmosphere is turning strange.'

Cheol Sunjik's gaze, which had been watching Seungho Hall and Jin Sowoon, lightly settled.

Was it from Jingzhou?

Jin Sowoon, who had been merely a nominal commander, was at some point commanding a force of over a hundred from the front.

The Hall Leader, Gu Jeongryong, had now taken a step back and was following Jin Sowoon's orders.

While all academy students had experience following orders while taking the standard exam, what was important was that the personnel currently assigned were Seungho Hall.

The martial faction evaluated as the strongest in the Murim Alliance.

Azure Dragon Pavilion.

And among them, the strike force created solely for preemptive attacks.

Seungho Hall.

Skill was skill, but due to the group's nature, their roughness was enough to put average wandering warriors to shame.

This rough group, where even a true disciple of the Shaolin Sect would come out a hooligan if they joined, was somehow following Jin Sowoon's orders to the letter.

No, taking it a step further, the Seungho Hall members were even asking Jin Sowoon directly without going through Gu Jeongryong.

"Representative Jin! They say there's a stronghold blocking the way ahead!"

Jin Sowoon answered as if it were a matter of course.

"It's a newly established stronghold. We'll just break through."

"Ey, it's still a stronghold in its own right, so we should pay the toll."

Seungho Hall, the Murim Alliance's strike force, paying a toll...

Since when did Seungho Hall do the work of escort warriors?

The ridiculous remark was full of intentions to test the commander, Jin Sowoon.

"If you are scared, step aside. Our Taiyi Sect will break through."

"Ehey, then we'll eventually have to step in anyway. Let's not do that, and how about increasing the one bottle of liquor you give us every night to two bottles?"

Perhaps they were demands that were natural, given that they had been treating the other party with money up until now.

Cheol Sunjik could understand because he had experienced the same thing.

'This is why you shouldn't carelessly flaunt your wealth to others.'

The power commonly accepted in Murim was ultimately martial might, not money.

To those who had risen to become Seungho Hall members of the Murim Alliance purely on their own skill, Jin Sowoon, who flaunted his money, couldn't help but look like a naive rich young master.

Furthermore, wasn't Jin Sowoon treating them with Wang Geumsan's favor rather than his own wealth?

To those with as much seasoned experience in Jianghu as the Seungho Hall members, this entire situation would simply look ridiculous.

"Bandits spotted ahead!"

At the shout of a Seungho Hall member who had gone ahead, the hall member talking with Jin Sowoon urged him.

"What will you do? I think you need to decide quickly."

The other Seungho Hall members must have also felt that the liquor had been lacking, as they all listened closely to the conversation between Jin Sowoon and the hall member with faces full of anticipation.

Jin Sowoon let out a soft chuckle while looking at the Seungho Hall member.

"I've been treating you all so well because I heard you were the strongest in the Murim Alliance, but you want to pay a toll just because you're scared of a newly formed stronghold?"

Jin Sowoon's eyes had suddenly turned resolute.

"From now on, we will change horses at the stables and sleep at Murim Alliance branches."

"Eh?"

This wasn't how it was supposed to go.

Bewilderment colored the hall member's face.

But before he could even salvage the situation, Jin Sowoon acted first.

"Disciples of the Taiyi Sect, step forward!"

"Yes, sir!"

The Geum-eun-dong Brothers took their positions at the front, and behind them stood Hong Saryeon, Namgung Seonhwa, and Seong Moran.

Jin Sowoon drew his sword and spoke to the Seungho Hall members.

"None of you should step forward. Because if you do, I'll have to house you in 'luxurious and comfortable' guest houses."

With those words, Jin Sowoon began to charge forward.

At that, the ones who began to grow urgent were the Seungho Hall members.

Curses erupted from here and there.

"Ah, fuck! Hey, you bastard! Why the hell did you have to spout such useless nonsense!"

"That bastard's mouth is always getting us in trouble. Someone knock his teeth out!"

"..."

The hall member who had been receiving the full anticipation of the other Seungho Hall members just a moment ago became a traitor in an instant, and out of fear that they might actually have to sleep in the branches, the Seungho Hall members began to rush past the Taiyi Sect disciples and charge at the bandits.

"Halt! This is the territory of the Akju Stronghold... U-Uh?"

Bewilderment filled the faces of the bandits blocking the road.

Among the Seungho Hall members, some whose horses couldn't advance because their paths were blocked by those in front leaped off their steeds and sprinted directly toward the bandits.

"These bastards don't even have the basics of being bandits down!"

"You bastards! If you saw the Murim Alliance flag, you should've just run away! What are you doing holding your ground?"

"Hey! Leave one for me! I don't want to sleep at the branch!"

Every time the Seungho Hall members unleashed a move, two or three bandits fell.

The moment ten men crumpled to the ground in the blink of an eye, the bandits finally came to their senses and frantically began to flee.

Ultimately, by the time the Taiyi Sect disciples and Jin Sowoon arrived, the path had already been blown wide open.

"Representative Jin, we've cleared it out nicely. Don't mind what that idiot said earlier. We'll keep clearing the path forward for you."

Jin Sowoon nodded and spoke.

"As expected, you possess skills far beyond my expectations."

"Who do you think we are! Aren't we the Murim Alliance's strongest strike force, Seungho Hall?"

"Then it should be fine to increase our speed from now on, right?"

"..."

They were already pushing the pace so hard that the horses would collapse from exhaustion after a day's ride, and he wanted to go even faster from here?

"Or is it that you're only at the level I thought you were?"

Jin Sowoon's face was filled with dissatisfaction.

It was an expression asking if this was all they had when they dared to talk back to him.

"Haha! Haha! Of course! I was actually feeling frustrated because our speed had been so slow lately."

Only then did Jin Sowoon nod in satisfaction.

"Let's go quickly! If we ride even a little faster, your resting time will increase, won't it?"

The Seungho Hall members glared murderously at the hall member who had talked back to Jin Sowoon.

'He is seasoned.'

Watching the series of events unfold, Cheol Sunjik let out an inward sigh.

And it seemed Cheol Sunjik wasn't the only one surprised.

Nam Hwaseong subtly stepped up and spoke to Cheol Sunjik.

"Brother Cheol, doesn't it seem like the atmosphere is turning strange?"

"... He seems to have a seasoned side unbefitting his age."

The other Twelve Peak Stars also added their words.

"He's like a mature adult."

He was definitely so seasoned that it was hard to believe he was someone who had just passed his twentieth year.

Because the relationships between people were not determined solely by absolute martial might and financial power.

The series of processes of seeing through and grasping the opponent's schemes to dominate and lead them was not something that could be learned just by having good or bad comprehension.

What mattered was ultimately pure experience!

Only when experience was built up step by step would proper authority emerge.

In that regard, even though Jin Sowoon had been born in the poor environment of the Taiyi Sect, for some reason, he possessed authority.

"He has excellent qualities to serve as a puppet."

It had been the same during the standard exam, but he truly was a covetable existence.

That was why he needed the Twelve Peaks and Castles.

If they tied him to the string known as the Twelve Peaks and Castles and presented him to the public, the people would undoubtedly cheer.

Of course, the one pulling that string would be him.

By meeting a master like him, Jin Sowoon would be able to transcend the position of academy representative and stand tall within the Murim Alliance.

Perhaps he might even become the new light of their generation, overshadowed by Yong So-ah and Ilmyeong...

"Kuhuhuhu."

A laugh burst out upon seeing Jin Sowoon's unexpected true worth.

Right then, Jin Sowoon sharply turned his head and looked this way.

"Academy student Cheol Sunjik! Is that as fast as you can go! What are you giggling at?"

Cheol Sunjik erased the smile from his lips and put on a serious face.

The ones who had been chatting weren't just him, but the entire Twelve Peaks and Castles.

So why was he the only one being singled out?

Wondering this, he looked around with a dumbfounded expression, but...

Nam Hwaseong and the rest of the Twelve Peaks and Castles were already riding far ahead.

What the? When did they ride all the way out there?

When Cheol Sunjik looked at Jin Sowoon with a bewildered expression,

"Yes! I'm talking to you, Cheol Sunjik! Are you going to speed up or not? Do you want to sleep at a branch?"

"..."

Right then, Nam Hwaseong chimed in.

"Brother Cheol! Please ride a bit faster, we keep getting cursed at because of you."

"..."

No, you were the one who started talking first!

"... GRIND."

Cheol Sunjik clenched his teeth and pulled his reins even harder.

* * *

'I'm an idiot for expecting anything.'

The groups, split into five, had all toured Mount Emei, then went on to Mount Myeong and Mount Qingcheng. There was even a group that stopped by the Nine Dragons Valley before moving on.

Their numbers were fewer than in my past life, but they were scattered in all directions.

Because they were solely comprised of the disciples of the Nine Sects and One Gang and their subordinate sects, their travel speed was ridiculously fast, so by the time the information sent by Haomun arrived, their locations had already changed again, making the intel completely jumbled.

Since they had been stirring up Sichuan like this, there was no way the bastards of the Corpse Mountain Blood Cult, who had already spun their webs, wouldn't know.

It was truly a situation where a trap capable of swallowing people whole could spring at any moment.

"Ride a bit faster!"

"PANT! PANT! PANT!"

"Eldest Senior Brother, we need to start stopping soon. We're all going to die at this rate...!"

"The Seungho Hall members haven't said a word for several two-hour periods now either."

We had traveled in a way to tire them out as little as possible, but because we moved so fast, everyone was full of fatigue.

Even if my group and the Twelve Peaks and Castles were fine, Seungho Hall naturally carried combat supplies and provisions, so they tired much more easily than the others.

To begin with, it would have been impossible to travel safely at all if it weren't for Seungho Hall.

"Chengdu in Sichuan is just ahead. Let's go a bit slower."

With even Namgung Seonhwa speaking like that with a worried face, I couldn't push them any further.

'What should I do?'

Looking at the timeframe, no matter how fast we rode from here, a few of the groups were bound to eventually encounter the Corpse Mountain Blood Cult.

If we all moved together, we might not even be able to properly prevent the damage that could have been prevented.

Ultimately, the only path I could choose here was for us to also move like them.

"Seungho Hall, please make your move after finishing your reorganization in Chengdu."

It would defeat the purpose of dragging them all the way here if Seungho Hall, who had to execute the Mantong Bureau's orders, collapsed weakly in front of the Council of Elders, let alone the Corpse Mountain Blood Cult.

"I honestly thought I was going to die if we kept going like this."

"It's the first time in my life I've moved this hard."

"My ass is completely chafed."

The Seungho Hall members all let out sighs of relief.

I looked at my group and Cheol Sunjik, and spoke.

"While Seungho Hall reorganizes, the Twelve Peaks and Castles and we will split into five groups, locate the Orthodox Council's personnel, and move while exchanging contact."

At my explanation, Cheol Sunjik tilted his head.

"Representative Jin, exactly what is the purpose of this operation?"

"It is to halt their event and make them return to Chengdu."

"Just with us?"

Elders were currently accompanying the Orthodox Council's event.

Meaning that unless a group at the level of Seungho Hall stepped forward, they wouldn't budge easily.

"If that's the case, wouldn't it be better for us to move together with Seungho Hall as well?"

Cheol Sunjik furrowed his brow slightly as he continued.

"What use is there in us going out ahead by ourselves to deliver orders that won't even be carried out?"

"If the Orthodox Council refuses to listen until the end, we will have only two people return."

At my words, the faces of the Twelve Peaks and Castles, including Cheol Sunjik, stiffened hard.

"Two people? Who are you referring to?"

"Moyong Jaehwa and Eun Seollan."

"... Haha!"

Cheol Sunjik's gaze sank. In addition, a cold sneer formed on his lips.

"Are you saying you came here not to save the Orthodox Council, but to secure those two people?"

"That is correct."

"Moyong Jaehwa and Eun Seollan... You are acquainted with those two, aren't you, Representative?"

Cheol Sunjik put on an enigmatic expression, as if he knew something but wasn't quite saying it.

"So you ultimately halted the academic schedule and mobilized Seungho Hall to come all the way out here for the sake of those two?"

"..."

He was once again precisely hitting upon the very things I would be reluctant to address.

Even in my past life, he used to do the exact same thing to his superiors on the battlefield.

I could tell that Cheol Sunjik was trying to manifest his specialty.

Questioning the commander's morality and grasping their weaknesses to manipulate them as he pleased.

Because a commander who had lost the trust of his subordinates could no longer assert authority, they would have no choice but to move according to Cheol Sunjik's intentions in order to avoid damaging their morality.

Even in my past life, Cheol Sunjik had always used this method to prevent the Twelve Peaks and Castles from being pushed away from the very frontlines in the Orthodox-Demonic Great War.

But I wasn't a fool who would be swayed while knowing full well what he was doing.

"That's right."

At my answer, the corners of Cheol Sunjik's mouth trembled.

The members of the Twelve Peaks and Castles also furrowed their brows.

I hammered the nail in once more for them.

"I came all the way here to protect my people."

When we departed from the academy, I had roughly guessed what Cheol Sunjik's intentions were in offering to accompany us.

Watching the Orthodox Council continuously misstep and the academy representative ignore the academic schedule, he must have felt that it was finally the Twelve Peaks and Castles' turn.

And his intention was to seize a weakness during this journey to put the finishing touch on his plan.

But I could play along with what that bastard wanted as much as he liked.

"If you don't like my intentions, I don't care if you return at any time."

As long as they paid the appropriate price.

"However, if you wish to join us, you must keep the one promise I mentioned originally."

"... Are you referring to absolute obedience?"

"Yes."

At my firm assertion, an icy chill circulated among the Twelve Peaks and Castles.

"Do you realize that this action is enough to threaten your position as representative?"

"I know."

"Then why are you pushing forward with it?"

Why... 'Why,' he asks...

Because Moyong Jaehwa and Eun Seollan will be major heroes of the future Orthodox-Demonic Great War?

That was also true.

But prior to that, they were beings with whom I had shared a connection in this current life.

Moyong Jaehwa, who had even given up on the standard exam for my sake.

Eun Seollan, who treated Saryeon like a real sister and followed me like a real brother.

To me, in this current life, they were irreplaceable...

"Because they are my people."

Perhaps it was because I hadn't been able to protect a single one of my people in my past life that I desperately wanted to protect them now.

And such superficial truths might make someone uncomfortable.

Nam Hwaseong spat out a curse with blazing eyes.

"Fuck, are you kidding me? You caused all this fuss up till now just to save your friends?"

I didn't care if he cursed and spat at it for being a terrible selfishness.

More than anything else, I did not want to see my people die in vain again due to someone else's incompetence.

No matter what price I had to pay.

"Would it be alright if I took issue with 'those words' just now?"

At Cheol Sunjik's words, a scoff escaped me naturally.

"The Orthodox Council, the White Path Council, the Twelve Peaks and Castles. Aren't all of you the same? Don't you all do whatever it takes for the sake of your own people?"

"I would prefer it if you didn't change the subject."

I smiled while looking straight into Cheol Sunjik's eyes.

"By all means."

At my reply, one corner of Cheol Sunjik's mouth crept up.

It was his unique habit that showed whenever he was having wicked thoughts.

"Very well."

When Cheol Sunjik nodded, the one who panicked was Nam Hwaseong.

I asked Nam Hwaseong, who wore a dumbfounded expression.

"What are you going to do? Are you going to return?"

"... No, why are you suddenly dropping honorifics..."

"I never asked you to follow me in the first place. Speak. Will you go back, or will you stay?"

Nam Hwaseong looked at Cheol Sunjik as if hoping for a decision, but Cheol Sunjik merely stared at me.

Nam Hwaseong eventually nodded, as if saying he would join us.

"From now on, we split into five groups."

I formed the groups in order of skill and informed the personnel, excluding those at the very front, of the locations they should target.

Nam Hwaseong, who had been looking back and forth between me and Cheol Sunjik...

"W-Wait, then I, I'll stay too, I said!"

Nam Hwaseong yelled in a panic.

When I said I was going to save my people, he spat out curses, did he?

There was an immediate prescription for a guy like this.

"Nam Hwaseong, you're going with me."

I'll take this chance to teach you what real suffering is.