Chapter 104: Chapter 104

“I see…… It is more serious than I thought…….”

Namgung Cheon frowned.

Due to the appearance of the Snake Blood Band, Anhui was shaking greatly.

Not only that, but the Orthodox Martial World was also thrown into shock.

The name of the Namgung Family carried more weight than any of the Eight Great Families. Because it was a force that had led the Orthodox Faction alongside the Thousand-Year Shaolin, the place where the Orthodox members held more trust and awe in their hearts than even the Martial Alliance was indeed the Namgung Family.

Just the absence of the Sword Emperor had already left people with no choice but to be shocked, and in addition, the fall of the Namgung Family was enough to shake many people’s hearts.

Namgung Cheon closed his eyes tightly.

It felt as if all of this was his fault.

“Then, is it impossible to know where the Snake Blood Band is located?”

The innkeeper shook his head.

There was no way he could know such information in the first place. He was a person who ran an inn, not someone who dug up and sold information.

“I am sorry.”

“No, not at all. There is no need to be sorry. Rather, it seems this old man asked something unnecessary.”

“No. Rather, I am more sorry.”

The innkeeper waved his hands.

It was actually himself who had to thank Namgung Cheon. He felt even more sorry that he could only do this much.

In addition, having no choice but to watch the Namgung Family crumble was also one of the reasons that weighed heavily on his heart.

“This old man will take care of the rest, so you may go. Lest sparks fly to you unnecessarily.”

At Namgung Cheon’s words, the innkeeper bowed deeply.

The innkeeper, who was merely a merchant and not a martial artist, knew well that there was nothing more he could do. Whatever he tried would only hold them back.

What he could do for them now was to provide a comfortable lodging and serve delicious food.

“Rest comfortably.”

The innkeeper, bowing deeply, left the room.

Sa Do-hak, who had been quietly watching that, spoke.

“Great loyalty. It must be hard to do such things……”

Sa Do-hak sent an envious gaze.

There were many people around him too. If counting only those who had dedicated their bodies to swear loyalty, it would reach hundreds. However, if one knew their inner thoughts, one had no choice but to be surprised by that man who offered loyalty without any reward.

The Demonic Cult was always a world of the law of the jungle.

Since suppressing those stronger than oneself and taking their place was extremely natural, there were those who bowed their heads but were whetting sharp blades in a corner of their hearts.

Even just those who came to mind right now would be four or five.

Sa Do-hak smacked his lips.

At that moment, Dan Woo-hyun stood up.

“Then you guys rest. I will take So-mi and go sightseeing for a bit.”

“Yay!”

At that sound, Dan So-mi happily threw herself into his embrace.

For this young child, this kind of atmosphere was hard to endure. She could not understand what was happening at all, and only difficult words were spoken.

It was to the extent that going out to play alone was more fun.

Furthermore, it was not Hunan, but the provincial capital of Anhui.

Because it seemed there would be many things to see, she was already highly expectant.

“I will follow you.”

Gwon Mu-jin and Jang Sam-tae also stood up.

they were full of thoughts of following along.

Jang Sam-tae also preferred following Dan Woo-hyun rather than staying with the two old men. Because Sa Do-hak’s torment was growing worse day by day anyway, he wanted to avoid being near him as much as possible.

“Where are you going, you bastard? Stay here.”

“Ack!”

“Ack? What do you mean ack! Shut up and sit down.”

Jang Sam-tae looked at Dan Woo-hyun with a gaze begging to be saved, but Dan Woo-hyun kicked that expectation away and turned his gaze. Because he knew Sa Do-hak’s torment would only be helpful to Jang Sam-tae, not harmful.

“Well, we shall be back.”

Dan Woo-hyun left the inn with Gwon Mu-jin and Dan So-mi. He walked along the road casually, engraving the scenery visible before his eyes one by one.

Did they have to go a bit further for the marketplace?

The destination was the marketplace.

It was no exaggeration to say it was a place where one could see everything of that town. Furthermore, since they had come all the way to Anhui, there would be local specialties, and if there was a chance, it would not be bad to buy various things and return.

“It is quiet.”

“It must be. Since the place they had trusted and followed for a long time has collapsed.”

He saw people coming and going busily. Although voices were heard here and there and the surroundings were quite noisy, he somehow thought it was worse than Yueyang.

The Namgung Family they had trusted and followed so much had collapsed.

There was no way the shock from that would fade easily.

“Wow! There are so many people holding swords.”

“Haha, there are always martial artists wherever one goes. Did you not see them in Yueyang too?”

“But…… it was not this ominous, though?”

Dan So-mi let out a groan, frowning her fine brow.

The atmosphere was different.

The martial artists holding swords felt threatening somehow. It did not seem like they intended to harm, but because their gazes were fierce, it was impossible to even stare back.

“Are they vagabonds?”

“It could be so, or it could not. Since the Namgung Family fell, they might be groups aiming for an opportunity.”

Dan Woo-hyun thought realistically.

If such a large family had collapsed, just occupying the vacant spot would allow one to grasp immense wealth and fame. Although it was said that the Snake Blood Band’s hiding place was unknown, if someone appeared to dispose of them, an opportunity to dominate all power in Anhui would arise.

There were bound to be groups that would not miss such an opportunity.

Dan Woo-hyun smirked and walked.

Leaving that place which still emitted an ominous atmosphere, he entered the marketplace. It was filled with much larger and more diverse goods than expected.

The voices of those calling out to customers seemed ready to burst, and the merchants selling goods coming in from here and there were also full of vitality.

The feeling was different from the other side.

Dan So-mi looked at the items she saw for the first time in wonder.

“The atmosphere is different again.”

“It must be because they have to survive here. Isn’t the livelihood of their families dependent on that single dumpling or that single item?”

“I…… see.”

Gwon Mu-jin broke out in a cold sweat.

He had not adapted to the atmosphere which was highly different from a moment ago, but come to think of it, Dan Woo-hyun’s words were correct. It was true that public security had worsened because the Namgung Family had collapsed.

Even so, they could not remain sullen.

They had to sell to live and look forward to tomorrow.

This too shall pass someday.

It seemed they lived day by day with such thoughts.

“Look, look! Look at this!”

Dan So-mi held a doll in her hand and lifted it. Thinking she had seen it somewhere before, she recalled that it was a doll made in the image of the Demonic Heavenly Monarch.

Dan Woo-hyun and Gwon Mu-jin’s faces stiffened.

In truth, they did not even want to see such things anymore now.

“It is an…… interesting thing.”

“Hehe, I think Grandfather Sa will like it if I bring it to him.”

She quietly looked up at Dan Woo-hyun while saying those words.

Inevitably, his gaze naturally turned toward the doll. Looking closely, the material was very cheap. Although it seemed they had made the appearance well, it looked weak enough to rip immediately if tugged slightly.

Dan Woo-hyun looked at the merchant and asked.

“How much is this?”

“Three iron coins.”

“……This?”

“Yes.”

He spoke quite confidently. Although three iron coins was an amount he could easily afford to buy it for, considering the material of the doll, he could not help but feel it was a waste.

Furthermore, she would quickly grow tired of playing with it.

Yet he could not refuse to buy it either.

Dan Woo-hyun scratched his head and handed over the iron coins.

“Thank you!”

The merchant smiled broadly.

He hurriedly pocketed the iron coins and handed over the doll.

And he glared with a gaze indicating that returns were impossible.

In fact, while the Gentleman Sword doll sold well, the Demonic Heavenly Monarch doll was one of the items that really did not sell, so he was in a situation where he had to dispose of it as quickly as possible.

But since he was taking it readily, he had to hand it over quickly.

“By the way, do you know where the Namgung Family is located?”

“The…… the Namgung Family? What do you plan to do, knowing that?”

Surprised by the sudden question, the merchant quickly looked around and swallowed his saliva.

Although there might be people who thought it was nothing because the atmosphere of this marketplace was lively, talks about the Namgung Family were of the kind that could not be spoken of carelessly.

Because they did not know when those Snake Blood Band fellows would appear.

“The Namgung Family is the most famous place in Anhui, and since I came sightseeing, I simply wanted to see its appearance. There is no other meaning.”

“Ha, what? Haha, you are someone who cannot gather their senses. If you linger near there now, you won’t even be able to gather your bones. Even if the Snake Blood Band is not visible, we don’t know where they will appear from.”

“I will take care of that myself. So which direction is the family located?”

“Sigh, if you go straight along the main road from here, it will appear. But let me tell you in advance, unless you intend to commit suicide, it is better not to go. Several people went to look around there and simply!”

He made a gesture of slitting his throat with his hand.

It signaled that they had failed to return alive. It was not one or two people but about ten, and they could not even know by whom they were killed.

They only vaguely anticipated it.

Therefore, many people had no choice but to be reluctant to go near the Namgung Family.

“Are we going there?”

Dan So-mi looked at Dan Woo-hyun with a somewhat anxious gaze.

She had felt fear from the merchant’s expression and tone. The mere fact that people had died came as an unbearable shock to this young Dan So-mi.

“Haha, do not worry. We will not go.”

“Umm.”

But she soon smiled brightly.

If Dan Woo-hyun said so, it was so.

The anxiety in her heart vanished in an instant.

“If it is your first time in Anhui, there will be many places to look around. Do not go to places like the Namgung Family; take the kid around and do some sightseeing. That is easier on the mind.”

“I will do so.”

Dan Woo-hyun led Dan So-mi’s hand and left the place.

There were singularly many places to look around.

Thanks to having more things to see than Yueyang, their gazes kept turning here and there. They ate delicious food and bought interesting items. As if they had truly come on a sightseeing trip, the three spent a peaceful time.

Watching Dan So-mi’s bright smiles, the smile also did not leave Dan Woo-hyun’s lips.

This was indeed the life he had wanted.

It was about four hours later when they returned to the inn. The exhausted Dan So-mi was already fast asleep while carried on Dan Woo-hyun’s back.

Even the fatigue of the long journey had not faded, and since she had walked around the marketplace for a long time, it was inevitable that the young Dan So-mi would be exhausted.

Returning to the inn and entering the annex, Dan Woo-hyun put Dan So-mi to sleep in a large room and entered the room where the two old men were.

“Is So-mi sleeping?”

“Yes. Since I left her to Sam-tae and Mu-jin, she will be fine.”

“Umm. It would set my mind at ease if you were by her side, though.”

Namgung Cheon sent an apologetic gaze.

Because of the thought that he might have unnecessarily involved Dan Woo-hyun in his own affairs. As a result, all of this was a situation that Namgung Cheon himself had to resolve.

“It does not matter much. I have interest too.”

However, Dan Woo-hyun chuckled, treating it lightly. Thinking of the past, helping someone was something unimaginable for him.

Since he was always lonely and alone.

Those with whom he had connections were only about the Three Heavens, but they too had their own forces and were in positions to command them.

They could not look only at Dan Woo-hyun forever.

Thus, this current situation was quite novel.

Moving together with someone.

Isn’t it quite interesting?

Smirking, he opened his mouth.

“Smirking, he opened his mouth.”

“Let us go. To the Namgung Family.”

“Hahaha, since you speak thus, it cannot be helped.”

Namgung Cheon smiled pleasantly and stood up.

Another wind began to blow in Anhui.

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