Chapter 128

Chapter 128

The next day. Uicheonmun’s great dining hall.

Kwang!

“This won’t work. What are you planning to do?”

At Baek Risan’s words as he struck the table hard, Seohwa, who had been quietly bowing her head, flinched. And Seonwoo Gang answered quietly in Seohwa’s stead.

“What do you mean this won’t work?”

“You know. The reason we’re making no progress.”

“Because we’re insufficient.”

“That’s not wrong if you look at it overall, but you know that’s not actually the case, don’t you?”

At Seonwoo Gang’s words, Baek Risan snorted and stared directly at the Uicheonmun disciples while striking the table repeatedly. The declaration that followed.

“We can’t beat that guy. At least not in the current situation.”

He’d felt it painfully over the past few days. How strong and strange Baek Riyun was. How formidable Baek Riyun’s energy sense was when he deliberately spread it.

Even when they approached at dawn holding their breath, he was already standing with his foot on the Uicheongeom. Even when three of them blocked his way while he was eating, they couldn’t hold him back even a single step and let him slip away.

When they take one step, Baek Riyun closes ten steps of distance. Like how the distance traveled by a great roc and a sparrow differs vastly even with the same number of wing beats. At twilight, in the dead of night, at the breaking dawn.

They couldn’t avoid his energy sense. There was also no way to win by fighting fairly.

That is, if they fought fairly.

“We just need a hand to touch the sword and it’s over. No, not even a hand. Just any part of the body touching it is enough. How easy is that?”

“Of course, we’ve realized over the past few days that it’s not as easy as we thought… but still, we’re fighting with this much disadvantage. It can’t be impossible.”

If it had been judged impossible from the start, he wouldn’t have even assigned it. The elder brother Baek Risan knew didn’t enjoy showing off his abilities that much. He must be conducting this test judging that there’s definitely a possibility.

“In terms of frontal martial force, we’re insufficient. We can’t even get close to being on the edge.”

“Even so, if there’s a variable, it’s not Wangpal, Seonwoo Gang, or me. It’s you. Seohwa.”

At Baek Risan’s firm words, Seohwa flinched and averted her gaze. And the rebuttal that followed.

“How could I…….”

“How would I know? If I knew, I would have already tried it.”

Baek Risan snorted and shook his head.

“But it’s certain that you’re the variable. At least among us, you’re the one who understands that guy most deeply.”

“……Me?”

“Yeah. You. Not me, not Seonwoo Gang, but you.”

Who is the person who understands the current Baek Riyun best?

If you ask whether it’s the person who spent the longest time together, you could say no. Since a person’s whims can change in a single day even after spending ten years together, while the time spent together can have some meaning, you can’t say it gives an unconditional advantage in understanding that person.

“Fifteen years. I saw that guy after fifteen years.”

“Honestly, I don’t remember well since it was when we were young. Even though we spent six years together, the memories are hazy. Seonwoo Gang, who only saw him briefly for half a year and couldn’t even talk properly while training, and taciturn Wangpal—you both know as little about your sect master. But.”

Seohwa is different.

“When something comes up, that guy calls you first and talks to you about it. Is it simply because of seniority? Because you’re the Grand Senior Sister? Or is it because he’s comfortable with you?”

“He’s not that kind of guy. That guy isn’t.”

Baek Risan, who had rapidly fired off words, frowned.

“The more people talk, the more they understand each other. And among us, you’re the person who communicates best with Uicheonmun Sect Master Baek Riyun. Do you understand what I mean?”

“You mean we… share the same perspective.”

“Right. Among us, the only one who can even vaguely share the same perspective as that guy is you. I don’t know how it’ll be after about a year, but at least right now, that’s how it is.”

To catch a tiger, you must be able to think from the tiger’s perspective.

“There’s no one else but you. The way to break through this situation.”

“Me……?”

“Yeah. You.”

At Baek Risan’s words, Seohwa, who had pressed her lips tightly shut, quietly looked at her fellow disciples. Wangpal and Seonwoo Gang, who were watching her silently without denying or affirming.

‘Can I… accomplish something that important?’

Does she understand Baek Riyun well?

She doesn’t know.

It’s true that she had many conversations and learned many things. She learned how to see the world, and how to deduce the whole from a fragment, didn’t she?

The Baekgeom Competition , the Gimyopyo Jeolsimsari . Muryeon Hall training. Baekgwiyahaeng, and even the Exchange Tournament between the two great halls.

She had watched from the side all the many things Baek Riyun had done. She had engraved them in her eyes without omission.

But even so, could she be confident that she understood Baek Riyun, understood even a speck of her sect master’s perspective?

“I… can’t do it.”

“What?”

“I’m still lacking. Both experience and skill…….”

As time passes, the burden accumulates. The rapidly increasing skills of her fellow disciples. Her own martial arts, which are far below in comparison. The sense of inferiority arising from the gap in years that cannot be filled.

Had he said it was a dangerous mission?

She’s insufficient in both experience and skill to follow along. This isn’t training. It’s a test, and it’s not something they must pass. If so,

“This request…….”

Must be let go. If they follow, they’ll only be a burden. If something happens to even one person due to her mistake, and they become crippled or die……?

Such a thing must not happen. It would be absurd to put disciples in danger based on her judgment.

However, unconditionally sheltering disciples who are martial artists is also not right. Living in this Gangho, danger is something one inevitably encounters on a daily basis.

Thoughts chase their tails. A conclusion not easily reached.

Isn’t she driven by her own greed to push disciples into a death trap? Doesn’t she need to proceed more cautiously?

She pondered until the sun that had risen to mid-heaven was dyed purple. Until the waning crescent moon reached mid-heaven again.

And then.

The next day.

“I’ll give up…….”

Give up.

Seohwa, who had organized her thoughts over the past four days, bit her lip and carefully tried to voice her opinion. That she would give up. This request isn’t something they should follow along on. Let’s gain a bit more experience at Uicheonmun, and then go out next time.

That’s what she was about to say.

Kwang!

“It’s been a while, everyone.”

Until the door to the great dining hall burst open as if it would break.

“……Seo, Seomun Cheok? Is that you, Seomun Cheok?”

“……Yeah. Seonwoo Gang. It’s me. By the way, isn’t this door oiled too well? It opened harder than I thought. Is there any scratch on it…….”

Seomun Cheok, who had instinctively made excuses seeing the door he had opened forcefully make a loud noise as it hit the wall, cleared his throat and checked the door’s condition. His complexion quickly returned, as there fortunately seemed to be no scratches.

“It’s fine. The door is sturdy.”

“Why are you here…….”

“I came to enter the sect.”

“Enter? Uicheonmun? Becoming my fellow disciple?”

“Yeah. Should I call you Seonwoo Gang Senior Brother?”

“That gives me chills.”

“I didn’t like it either. I should ask the sect master to treat you as my peer instead. Anyway.”

Seomun Cheok, who had rapidly exchanged small talk, looked around at the group.

“I’ve decided to enter, but right now I’m in a different status.”

“Different status? You mean Muryeon Hall disciple?”

“I withdrew from Muryeon Hall.”

“Then…….”

“The sect master asked me to take on a role.”

“A role?”

“Yeah. You’ve decided to take a test for a week to touch the Uicheongeom, right?”

Pisik.

Seomun Cheok, who let out a faint laugh, stared directly at the Uicheonmun disciples. And the declaration that followed.

“I’m the facilitator of that test.”

“Facilitator? Why is that necessary?”

“Well, because someone needs to have the Uicheongeom stolen by bandits and bring it back.”

“……What?”

“Didn’t you know?”

Seomun Cheok, who had raised the corners of his mouth crookedly, raised both hands. Empty-handed, showing his empty palms spread open.

“Uicheonmun had the Uicheongeom stolen by bandits today.”

“What did you say?”

“I took it and presented it to them. To Jeokwangchae.”

Jeokwangchae.

Though its scale doesn’t match its name, it’s still a bandit group with Nokrim Chilsipichae above them. One that regularly pays tribute to Nokrim Chilsipichae.

“When I looked into it, weapons apparently have especially high priority for tribute.”

“The next tribute departs in two days. Won’t the Uicheongeom be included in it?”

If the Uicheongeom is paid as tribute from Jeokwangchae to a higher bandit group, it’s over. No matter how skilled Baek Riyun is, he can’t go alone to Nokrim Chilsipichae and take back the Uicheongeom.

And what that means is only one thing.

“Two days. If you can’t retrieve the Uicheongeom within two days.”

Seomun Cheok smiled wickedly and put his hands on his waist.

“Uicheonmun’s sacred treasure will be lost. Forever.”

“……Boss. Are you listening? Boss!”

“Huh? Mm? Ah?”

Two hundred li southwest of Akyang. Makbusan Jeokwangchae .

Ma Jeok, the boss of Jeokwangchae who had been dozing off while sitting in a chair covered with tiger skin, suddenly came to his senses at his subordinate’s call and blinked his eyes. The drowsiness that rushed in because he hadn’t slept while doing ‘business’ all night.

“Heuaaam. What is it?”

“What do you mean what is it, I asked if you were listening.”

“So what about. You bastard!”

“You weren’t listening at all.”

The grumbling subordinate carefully continued speaking.

“Business. The business we did at dawn today.”

“This morning?”

At the subordinate’s words, Ma Jeok, who recalled the memory, wore a satisfied smile. It had been profitable business.

“It was lucrative business. We stripped one youngster who had a good-looking sword, didn’t we? What was it? Seomun Cheok? I think that was the name.”

“That’s right.”

“He didn’t even resist and handed it over obediently, so we just sent him off without even stripping his clothes. Why?”

“I’m just feeling uneasy about it.”

“About what?”

“No.”

At Ma Jeok’s retort, the subordinate waved his hands and carefully opened his mouth.

“That sword, wasn’t it too good a sword for a youngster to be carrying around? From what I saw, he didn’t look like a rich family’s son either.”

“He must have stolen it from somewhere.”

“You can’t think of it that simply. That guy didn’t show even a trace of fear or resentment when we robbed him. Would an ordinary person be that calm when all their belongings are stripped?”

“He must have given up on life. Wasn’t he overwhelmed by the spirit of us Jeokwangchae heroes? Hahahaha!”

“You interpret everything the way you want.”

“What did you say?”

*Kung!*

“Kaeek!”

Ma Jeok, who reflexively raised his hand and struck the grumbling subordinate on the back of the head, clicked his tongue at the fallen subordinate.

“Aigo, stupid and weak too. The one interpreting things the way he wants is you.”

“Ow, it hurts……. What did I interpret the way I want!”

“Think about it logically. If the sword in a youngster’s hands is something that would cause trouble, what would the situation be? An errand?”

“Would you send an important item in a youngster’s hands without even an escort?”

That couldn’t be.

At first glance, it’s a sword that looks good and its aura was also extraordinary, but it’s probably not a sword that truly ranks among famous swords. Because there’s no way there would be a youngster wandering alone on mountain paths in this dangerous world carrying such a famous sword!

“At most, it’s something that would make him sick for a few days or maybe a few months if he lost it. That’s about what that sword means to that guy.”

“But the feeling is still…….”

“How often is your feeling right? It’s always wrong.”

Ma Jeok snorted and continued speaking.

“Even if it’s an item that would cause problems, it doesn’t matter. What could that youngster do?”

“What if he comes with his sect members in a group to get revenge and demand the sword back?”

“We’re going to pay it as tribute to the higher-ups anyway, aren’t we? By then, we won’t have that sword, so we’ll just act tough and say ‘do your worst.’ It’s been passed to Nokrim, so what could they do?”

Nokrim Chilsipichae.

That bandit alliance, whose name stands alongside the Janggang Suro Sippalchae  that holds massive interests, isn’t much when looking at individual groups, but when united, they boast power comparable to the Nine Sects and One Gang or Seven Gates Two Families. Meaning that no matter how big that youngster’s backing is, they’re not opponents that can be easily touched.

“Evil faction guys are too shrewd to get hit in the first place, and orthodox faction guys don’t know well about Nokrim groups’ profit structure. If we say we’re a lower bandit group of Nokrim, they have no choice but to be intimidated.”

Those who can clearly know Nokrim’s power structure are about Gaebang  in the orthodox faction, and about Haomun in the evil faction. But such people don’t have loose lips.

Whether it’s Haomun or Gaebang, they don’t easily release information to outsiders. Organizations dealing in information have discretion as their lifeblood. And that means if someone Jeokwangchae can’t handle comes looking for the sword, they can easily get past it by invoking Nokrim’s name.

“There’s no way trouble will happen. From the ‘Uicheon’ inscription, it seems like an orthodox faction item, so there’s even less chance of trouble.”

“Really?”

“Ah, I’m telling you it’s fine. This guy keeps bothering me.”

Pak!

Ma Jeok snorted and slapped the back of his subordinate’s head with his palm again, then spoke.

“Forget about the master who won’t even come, and think about how to entertain the Nokrim elder brother who’ll come in two days. Right now we’re just getting money extorted, but we need to officially join as a Nokrim lower bandit group soon to survive.”

“For entertainment, well, we just attach women, set up a grand drinking table, and that’s it…….”

“That’s not enough! More creatively, more interestingly! Plan it so they can’t help but burst out laughing!”

Ppyeong!

“Aigo!”

“Tsk tsk.”

Ma Jeok, who clicked his tongue at the subordinate crying out as he left the room, drew the sword placed beside him. The blade engraved with the characters for Uicheon, shining in the lamplight.

“There’s no way trouble will happen.”

He’d done this many times already. It’s an established business method. Unless they’re a chivalrous hero blinded by reputation or a martial leader who’s just gone crazy, no matter how skilled they are, there’s no way they’d come alone to massacre Jeokwangchae with over two hundred members.

If you think about it logically, that should be the case.

“Ei, fuck. Making me hear unlucky things.”

Ma Jeok, who spat out curses, got up from his seat. It wouldn’t hurt to prepare just in case.

“You bastards. Anyone, come here!”

“What is it, Boss!”

“Sprinkle salt at the main gate of the bandit group.”

“Why sprinkle this precious stuff? We don’t even have enough to eat.”

“Ah, just sprinkle it if I tell you to sprinkle it!”

Ma Jeok, who handed over a salt sack and kicked the subordinate’s rear to chase him out, grinned.

After all, there’s nothing better than salt for warding off misfortune, thinking it’s money well spent.