Chapter 280

Chapter 280

A short while later. Not much time passed.

“…Where is this?”

—The immortal realm. Sohyeop has died.

“Ah, aah… I knew it.”

“Don’t joke around. Sect Master.”

When I floated around and nonchalantly lied to the warrior who woke up, Seohwa, who glanced at me once, sat properly with her legs together and checked the warrior’s condition. The warrior’s appearance, still unable to grasp the situation shortly after waking up.

“You are… the one approaching that yokai.”

“Nice to meet you. Sohyeop. I’m Seohwa from Uicheonmun. May I ask about Sohyeop’s affiliation and name?”

“Affiliation, name…?”

At Seohwa’s words, the warrior who seemed to think briefly looked at Seohwa’s face then flinched and turned his head while blushing. And the words that follow.

“I-I’m Gang Ryung. My affiliation is… well, I’m from Gojeongchon village…”

“Not a sect?”

“Yes. I didn’t learn martial arts from a sect but from my master. By chance, fate brought us together…”

This is something that happens quite commonly in such remote places. Becoming a master after receiving martial arts transmission from reclusive extraordinary people who turned their backs on the secular world.

Understanding Gang Ryung’s situation and nodding, Seohwa winked one eye as if saying her guess was right. And looking at that, Gang Ryung carefully glanced at me.

“Uh, who is this person…?”

—I’m called Uicheonmunju Baek Riyun. Gang Ryung Sohyeop.

“Uicheonmunju… Baek Riyun?”

—I’m the master of Seohwa beside you. Right now, due to circumstances, I’m taking this ghost-like form, but I’m not a wicked existence.

“I-is that so?”

—That’s right. It would be a long and lengthy story to explain, but please think of it as a type of sorcery technique.

“My goodness… Uh?”

Staring blankly at me as if asking whether such sorcery exists, Gang Ryung, who suddenly came to his senses, hurriedly stood up. And the voice that bursts out.

“Th-this isn’t the time for this! I’m grateful you saved me, but I must get to the Murim Alliance branch as quickly as possible!”

—Murim Alliance branch? Why are you going to the Murim Alliance branch?

“There was a yokai attack! I don’t know if Kunlun Sect’s defense line was breached or what happened, but a tremendous number of yokai suddenly attacked the village…!”

—Ah, if it’s that, it’s fine.

“…What?”

—We selected Sohyeop for that very reason too.

“What on earth does that…”

At my words, Gang Ryung, who looked at me briefly, suddenly turned his gaze to scan our group and gulped. Gang Ryung’s eyes passing over the companions one by one.

“C-come to think of it, how did you handle that terrifying and vicious yokai…”

—Isn’t she behind you?

“Haha. Hahaha! You joke well. Such an eerie joke…”

—If you think it’s a joke, try looking behind you.

“…Really?”

—Really.

At my answer, Gang Ryung, who briefly wiped his sweaty hands on his pants, carefully turned his head. Gang Ryung’s gaze going past me and Hyeong-nim. Seohwa. Seomun Cheok. Then passing Wangpal and Sinui to reach the very back.

“Th-there isn’t anyone…”

One by one.

Gang Ryung, who was checking the companions’ attire while confirming no yokai power could be felt, let out a sigh of relief and patted his chest. And at that moment.

“You looking for me?”

“Hieeeek!”

At Toehui suddenly sticking her face close and grabbing his collar, Gang Ryung had a seizure.

“Wh-why is a yokai…!”

—That’s also a long explanation, but an ally.

“How can humans and yokai be allies!”

—Mm.

Really, it’s bothersome and long to explain.

Sending a glance toward Seohwa meaning to explain well for me, Seohwa, who noticed my gaze, sighed then lightly explained to Gang Ryung what had happened until now. And Gang Ryung, mouth hanging open, looking at us after hearing that explanation.

“So, this yokai here…”

“…Yokai?”

“…This yokai-nim is a great yokai counted among the best on the continent.”

“Mm. That’s true.”

“And a different great yokai opposing that yokai-nim is the mastermind behind this incident.”

—Correct.

“You’re saying you’re trying to seize the Baekgwiyahaeng to prevent that yokai from building strength…”

—Right. You saw it accurately.

“…How can I believe such an absurd story!”

—You’re quite a suspicious Sohyeop, not believing people’s words.

How can it be this difficult to persuade?

Shaking my head at Gang Ryung, who was trying to turn away from the truth thrust before his eyes, I continued speaking.

—Sohyeop. Think carefully. Was there anything wrong in what Seohwa explained?

“…Well.”

—It’s also true that yokai power, which wasn’t felt even a hair’s breadth before, is beginning to mix bit by bit in the atmosphere, and it’s also true that yokai appeared. If what we say is true, doesn’t it all explain everything?

“That’s…! That may be so…”

—Besides, Sohyeop has no choice. We plan to force you to guide us anyway.

“Guide?”

—That’s right. Because by the time Sohyeop goes to the Murim Alliance and confirms the truth, it will be too late.

Xinjiang and the most adjacent place is Qinghai. And naturally, those who notice first that the Great Seal has been destroyed are Xinjiang’s yokai.

No matter how much the Demonic Cult is guarding the middle, since the area where Xinjiang and Qinghai meet is absurdly vast, monitoring and defending all those regions doesn’t make sense. Soon Qinghai will be covered with yokai that crossed over from Xinjiang.

—We must take measures beforehand to save Qinghai’s people.

“With this number of people, you’re saying you’ll save people?”

—You look like you can’t believe it.

“Well, it’s too few people for a rescue force… Only eight people.”

—Eight people is enough. Besides, we have no intention of fighting yokai.

“No intention of fighting?”

—We plan to install formations that avoid yokai’s attention throughout all the villages located across Qinghai.

Protecting all of Qinghai with these eight people?

Of course, it’s not impossible. After all, right now I’m in a ghost state so I can’t do anything besides moving my mouth, but even just Toehui is a tremendous great yokai, and Jeokyeol, who’s silently accompanying us, is also one of the Demonic Cult’s Chilryun.

No matter how numerous the yokai are, as long as they don’t follow a proper command system, protecting Qinghai itself isn’t difficult. If we stir things up here and there, striking and running while reducing the yokai’s forces, it’s possible.

—That would be meaningless. Because our goal isn’t limited only to Qinghai.

If we only protect Qinghai, does everything end?

That’s not so. Right at this moment, yokai are crossing over from outlying regions like Gansu or Yunnan, or perhaps Liaoning.

So we need to create a system where people can at least endure to some extent even without our assistance. That method is formations.

“I understand… the situation.”

—I’m glad you understand. Do you feel inclined to guide us?

“Just a little.”

“Could you give me just a little time…? I won’t ponder long.”

—Fine.

At Gang Ryung asking politely though with a hardened expression, I nodded and took a step back. Then Gang Ryung closed his eyes and fell into deep thought.

‘It must be burdensome.’

That’s what choice is. The weight of hundreds, thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of people’s lives depending on just one action of yours.

Those who haven’t felt that weight directly can’t know. The weight of being responsible for something is that heavy.

Time flows.

Waiting for Gang Ryung’s choice while receiving the fierce wind of the highlands blowing from Xinjiang’s direction, carrying yokai power. Gang Ryung, who sometimes wrinkles his brow while continuously thinking about something, sometimes clenches his fist. And.

“…Understood.”

Gang Ryung, who finally opened his eyes, looked directly at me and delivered his answer.

“I’ll cooperate. Where should we start?”

The answer that he’ll gladly help.

—Where to start… Where is your village, Sohyeop?

“It’s in a place reachable by using lightness arts for about half a day from here, but… going now won’t mean anything. When I left, it was already being attacked by yokai.”

—…I express my condolences.

“I’ve decided to grieve later. That’s the only way I can face my master who sent me off.”

Gang Ryung, who sighed deeply, shook his head and continued speaking.

“You said the yokai came from the Xinjiang direction?”

—That’s right.

“Considering my village’s location, there are about seven villages nearby that should be intact. All are small villages with around a hundred households each.”

—As expected, you don’t know them all.

“Isn’t Qinghai too vast to know everything? And there’s actually no need to know everything. If we save other villages, we can find guides there again.”

—Mm.

That’s also a valid point. How many people in this world would know all the villages in this vast Qinghai land?

—I’ll leave it to Sohyeop’s judgment. Where do you think will be attacked next?

“…If I narrow down the candidates, it’s two places. One is about fifty li from my village, and one is about thirty li away…”

—The thirty li place will be attacked first then.

“That’s not necessarily so. Because it’s blocked by a cliff. The fifty li village… the lower village’s path is relatively flat, so I think they probably went that way.”

—Hmm.

No matter how sensitive yokai are to human presence, that’s only a story when the distance is at a certain level.

When distance spreads to units of dozens of li, even yokai can’t detect human presence unless they have special abilities specialized in that. And in such a situation, they won’t do something like crossing a cliff.

—Let’s depart right now. It seems we don’t have much time.

At my answer, Gang Ryung, who looked at me briefly, took a respectful posture and cupped his fists. The words that soon flow out.

“I’ll do my best in guiding.”

“Please save even one more person. I ask you this.”

Save even one more person.

Looking at Gang Ryung bowing his upper body as if there’s nothing left to trust but us, I wore a bitter smile.

—You said to save even one more person?

—You’re wrong. We’re not moving to save even one more person.

“What does that…”

—We’re moving to make sure not even one person dies.

Protecting is like that. Not rescuing but blocking. Enduring with the resolve to never let what’s shouldered get hurt.

—Don’t worry.

—As long as our hands reach, we won’t give up on anyone.

Sacrifice the few for the many? Close your eyes to small sacrifices to save more people?

That’s not the way I pursue, and not the way Uicheonmun pursues. Probably not the way Hyeong-nim pursues either, and not the way Sinui would pursue.

If possible, save everyone. Even if not possible, make it possible. That’s Uicheonmun’s way.

—Any objections?

At my question, Gang Ryung, who had been cupping his fists and staring blankly at me, tried to say something then closed his mouth. And the answer that follows.

“None…!”

—Good. Then.

I heard Gang Ryung’s answer and grinned while turning my body.

—Now it’s time to guide us.