Chapter 113: Chapter 113

Twenty Ghosts.

Swoosh!

Their figures moving forward while slicing the wind were bizarre somehow. They wore goblin-shaped masks on their faces, and the clothes they wore were hard to call martial robes, yet also hard to call ordinary clothes.

The clothes wrapping their entire bodies seemed like it would be hard even to move, but they were using lightness art without any trouble, heading somewhere.

The twenty masked people had no words.

They were not transmitting sound, nor looking at each other and nodding. Nevertheless, as if they were communicating, they moved toward the same direction without a single error.

Also, they were fast.

That the sound of treading the ground was heard late meant their movements were faster than the sound of stepping on the ground.

Those who could by no means be considered ordinary.

Seeing that not even a little internal energy dried up despite running for several hours already, it was hard to even imagine how much internal energy they possessed.

The goal of the Twenty Ghosts was only one.

To faithfully perform the received command.

They were people with no other goal than that.

It was unknown what kind of mission they had received, but their footsteps advancing continuously showed no sign of stopping at all. Also, their gazes were burning more fiercely than ever.

* * *

Jang Sam-tae was slumped on the driver’s seat.

Although he thought he had finally escaped from the life of a coachman, in the end, without returning home, they decided on the trip to Henan again, and he had to go a longer distance.

On the driver’s seat where sitting itself could be called a torment even though there was a backrest, Jang Sam-tae frowned and grumbled with complaints.

“Why on earth are we going to Henan?”

“Well, it is the Lord’s command, so we have no choice but to go.”

“No, are you fine? You are an Unorthodox fellow, aren’t you?”

Jang Sam-tae slightly turned the horse reins he was holding and looked at Gwon Mu-jin. He was surely an Unorthodox fellow, and Henan was no different from a holy land of the Orthodox Faction.

‘What kind of trouble would happen if we went to such a place…….’

Perhaps everyone would rush in carrying swords.

Just thinking about it made him dizzy.

“It has been a long time since I left the Martial Emperor Castle.”

“Does stepping on dung and rubbing it on the ground make it so that you didn’t step on dung?”

“…….”

Gwon Mu-jin glanced at Jang Sam-tae.

Even when making a comparison, it had to be like that…….

‘Should I beat him?’

It seemed it would be fun to throw him out of the carriage. Or tie a rope to his body and make him run. Whichever it was, he was full of intention to tease this fellow who was like a damnable Demonic Cult guy.

Did he notice such an unsettling atmosphere?

Jang Sam-tae quietly turned his head and whistled.

Eventually letting out a sigh, Gwon Mu-jin opened his mouth.

“Isn’t that the same for you? Although you aren’t bestowed with martial arts, think about who is training you.”

“Huh? Who else could it be but that senile old man?”

‘He has no self-awareness. This man.’

Gwon Mu-jin shook his head.

“Stupid…… anyway, if you think about it, you are also a pillar of the Demonic Cult. From the Demonic Cult’s standpoint, you are no different from the Demonic Emperor’s disciple.”

“Pahaha! Stop joking. That cannot be, right?”

“Sigh…… how pathetic.”

Seeing Gwon Mu-jin let out a long sigh, Jang Sam-tae broke out in a cold sweat. Judging by that state, he did not seem to be speaking falsely.

But no matter how much he thought, that made no sense, right?

To be treated as the disciple of a senile old man who just gave unsolicited advice instead of learning the Demonic Cult’s martial arts? Jang Sam-tae was someone who could not understand a martial artist’s thoughts in the least.

At that time, Dan Woo-hyun’s voice was heard from behind.

“It seems the sun will set soon, is the village still far?”

“It seems we still have a long way to go. Furthermore, because the road here is rough, we cannot go fast either.”

At Jang Sam-tae’s words, Dan Woo-hyun nodded.

Already several hours had passed since they rode the carriage. Although filling their hungry stomachs was simply a matter of having simple snacks, his desire to rest in a comfortable place was large, even if only because of Dan So-mi.

However, as Jang Sam-tae said, because the road was rough, he was driving slowly, and thus they had no choice but to be somewhat late.

Dan Woo-hyun looked up at the sky.

Since it was a deep mountain road, the day grew dark faster than usual.

If it seemed they could not reach the village, he thought it would be better to camp around here.

“Find a place to camp nearby.”

“Yes! Understood!”

Jang Sam-tae replied energetically and slowly stopped the carriage. Since it was just when he wanted to stretch his waist, Dan Woo-hyun’s words were like sweet honey.

Smiling broadly, he stretched thoroughly.

Then, moving quickly with Gwon Mu-jin, they searched the vicinity. Camping did not mean they could sleep just anywhere. A place where wild beasts would not likely approach.

A place with few snakes and insects.

A place where the ground was flat to sleep comfortably.

One had to choose such a place.

Finding a good place to camp was Jang Sam-tae’s specialty. Because he had slept in all kinds of places when wandering without a home in his childhood.

“Manor Lord! I think this place will be fine.”

Discovering a certain place, he called Dan Woo-hyun. Soon, he approached and examined the surroundings, then nodded with a satisfied expression.

Only this kind of thing was excellent, right? Isn’t that so?

Jang Sam-tae, who smiled giggling, organized the surroundings to sleep, and gathered firewood to light a fire. Soon, when the group gathered in small groups around it, he made food using what they had brought in advance.

Although it was a simple meal, it was better than eating beef jerky.

“Hehe, it is delicious.”

Watching Dan So-mi eat happily, Jang Sam-tae felt a joy like no other. He had a pleasant imagination that perhaps he should open an inn later.

Rustle!

It was about an hour later that the sound of someone approaching was heard.

Although Sa Do-hak, Namgung Cheon, and Dan Woo-hyun seemed to have felt it from the start, Gwon Mu-jin, who detected the presence late, quickly grabbed his sword and glared at one place.

‘He is chilling.’

An appearance entirely different from the usual Gwon Mu-jin.

Could that be called a martial artist?

Although cool, it was terribly scary.

“Who is it?”

Jang Sam-tae turned his head toward that place without hesitation and asked. Since he knew someone was there, it was full of meaning telling them not to play tricks and come out.

In the first place, he did not think any trick played on the people here would work.

Swoosh, the bushes parted and a group of people revealed themselves.

At the same time one of them appeared, Gwon Mu-jin’s saber, swung out, aimed at the man’s neck.

“Uh…… I am sorry, but there is no hostility.”

The man slightly raised his hands and smiled awkwardly.

Unlike his sharp appearance, his tone was also quite gentle. Gwon Mu-jin, who aimed the saber, stared at him quietly, and soon spoke with a frown.

“Ma Jang-gang……”

“Haha, do you know me? I seem to have seen you somewhere……”

Ma Jang-gang slightly reached out and pushed away the blade aimed at his neck. Then he looked at Gwon Mu-jin with an interested gaze, his eyes shining.

The blade that flew in quite fast.

Although he did not try to block it because there was no hostility, if killing intent had been mixed, he thought it would have been a pretty difficult situation. Where on earth did such a person appear from?

Seeing him call his name, he seemed to have seen him before…….

“Hahaha, Vagabond King? To see you again in such a place.”

Namgung Cheon laughed heartily.

Watching that, Ma Jang-gang only then searched his memory. Come to think of it, they had the same appearance as those he had seen at the inn.

No matter how bad his memory was, there was no way he would not recognize those wearing masks.

If so?

Turning his gaze quickly, he saw her.

The small child named Dan So-mi.

A man was beside her, and seeing her sticking close, he thought that man was likely the child’s father.

Ma Jang-gang smirked.

“I am called Ma Jang-gang. I was searching the vicinity to camp, and was led here by a delicious smell. If you do not mind, may we join you?”

Saying that, Ma Jang-gang examined everyone.

His naturally turning eyes were toward the man beside Dan So-mi.

That made it certain.

That person was the leader of this group.

“The Central Plains is not my land, so what does it matter if anyone sits? If you are fine, sit.”

“……Ahaha, thank you.”

Ma Jang-gang looked at Dan Woo-hyun with a strange gaze.

To speak informally at the first meeting?

He felt slightly displeased. However, seeing Dan So-mi beside him bow politely, he smirked. The bad impression he had of Dan Woo-hyun in his head also seemed to vanish.

“I saw her at the inn last time, but she is a cute child. Is she your daughter?”

“Yes.”

“Oh. I see. I also had a daughter about that size. So I seem to have committed a rudeness at the inn without realizing it.”

There was no one here who could not understand the meaning.

It meant that daughter had died in the end.

Although it was a story that concerned them, perhaps they had no intention to pry into another’s life, as everyone present nodded and did not ask.

“What are you guys doing? Greet them and sit.”

“Ah, hello. I am called Ho Jeong.”

“I am Man Ho.”

The one quietly watching those who greeted was none other than Dan So-mi. Come to think of it, wasn’t that man named Man Ho the person who shouted loudly at the inn?

Did she recall that?

Dan So-mi wormed her way into Dan Woo-hyun’s embrace.

Meanwhile, Ma Jang-gang’s companions took seats around the fire. At Dan Woo-hyun’s command to give them food, Jang Sam-tae grumbled but even showed the generosity of handing them a mouthful of food.

“That aside, it is extremely rare for the Vagabond King to move directly. Did something happen?”

Namgung Cheon asked the most curious thing.

Because for him, who knew the rumors of Ma Jang-gang well, it was a highly bizarre thing. Even though managing the vagabonds would be overwhelming, he judged that moving directly was because of some big event.

“……Do you know those called the Twenty Ghosts?”

Dan Woo-hyun looked at Namgung Cheon and Sa Do-hak.

He saw them shake their heads, as if they also did not know. Not to mention Jang Sam-tae, Gwon Mu-jin also could not hide his wonder at the name heard for the first time.

“They are those wearing strange clothes and goblin masks. Traces of vagabonds’ corpses have been discovered since a few months ago, and those called the Twenty Ghosts were said to be at those places.”

“Are they simply interfering in the disputes of martial artists?”

Dan Woo-hyun asked with a smile.

Since he had the title of Vagabond King, he seemed to think he should naturally look after the vagabonds. Thus, he had stepped forward directly to capture those who caused disputes with vagabonds, or some such story.

Namgung Cheon and Sa Do-hak were also the same.

Unless that was the case, the Vagabond King moving directly was a somewhat bizarre story.

“No, it is not. If there is a dispute, is it not correct to resolve it on their own? I also think so, but…… the corpses of those dead vagabonds…… changed like wooden logs……”

At that, Sa Do-hak widened his eyes.

Actually, some of the Demonic Cult’s children had been attacked by something unidentified, and since their dead appearance turned into wooden logs, he had just ordered an investigation.

However, he calmed his startled heart.

Tianshan and this Anhui are considerably far apart. Also, in the carrier pigeon received from the Demonic Cult right before crossing over to Anhui, it was said that several such corpses were still discovered.

Unless they had a way to come from Tianshan to Anhui in a single instant, it was impossible. Also, his desire to find out a bit more information was large.

“So you are chasing them?”

“Yes, we succeeded in tracking them to Anhui, but…… we couldn’t find their traces after that.”

At that time, Dan Woo-hyun spoke.

“So, it seems you thought we were those fellows.”

“Well…… since you are wearing masks.”

Ma Jang-gang shrugged and showed a sheepish smile. However, sending a wary gaze, he seemed ready to swing his saber at any moment.

“However, no matter how I look, you all seem far from those fellows.”

“Thank you for thinking so.”

Smirking, Dan Woo-hyun leaned his back against the tree. While stroking Dan So-mi’s head with one hand, his gaze looking at the sky was not good somehow.

‘Is it the Demon-Absorbing Art this time?’

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