Chapter 205: Chapter 205

“Isn’t it awfully noisy?”

The party, who arrived in Xining of Qinghai Province, took a room at an inn while listening to the whispering voices of the people here and there. Strangely, anxiety was visible on the people’s complexions.

They looked anxious as if something had happened, and the atmosphere was also very subdued.

Jang Sam-tae frowned, feeling an atmosphere quite different from last time.

This was his third time coming to Xining.

Once was around the time he entered Mount Tianshan, and the other was when he left Mount Tianshan and moved to the Central Plains.

Although it was only twice, the atmosphere had changed so much compared to that short time ago that he could hardly adjust to it.

Unlike Dan So-mi, who opened her eyes wide and was lost in the scenery she was seeing for the first time in her life, most of the party noticed the strangeness and wore grim expressions.

“It seems some trouble has indeed broken out.”

Namgung Cheon muttered, observing the eyes of the people. Because there were too many voices coming from all over, important information did not enter his ears.

While he frowned and sighed.

Dan Woo-hyun, who had been sitting quietly, opened his mouth.

“They say Kunlun has been destroyed.”

“……!?”

“Gasp……!”

“What!”

Everyone was startled by the single remark Dan Woo-hyun tossed out so casually. In particular, Namgung Cheon’s shock was even greater.

Where was Kunlun?

Although its power was not as prosperous as in the past, it was a sect that had reigned as the guardian of this Qinghai for a long time.

That such a place had been destroyed was not something that could be easily accepted.

“Is…… is that true?”

“It seems so. I do not know the details either.”

The corners of Namgung Cheon’s mouth trembled.

The distance to Mount Kunlun, where the Kunlun Sect was located, was a ten-day journey from here. Even if one rode a horse and dashed at full speed, it would take three or four days, so it could not be confirmed with one’s eyes immediately.

“How could such a thing happen……?”

Namgung Cheon’s hands trembled violently.

It was Kunlun of all places, not anywhere else.

A place that was once the strongest among the Nine Sects and could find no rival.

It was not the case now, but even a hundred years ago, did not even the one who was the master of the Tianshan Demonic Sect at the time pay respect to them?

How could such a Kunlun fall?

His mind was tangled in confusion.

Crack-!

At that moment, Sa Do-hak broke the chopsticks he was holding, his eyes flashing fiercely.

The one to do such a thing could be none other than the one called the Black Wind Demonic Devil.

“Do not mind it. The Martial World is originally this kind of place.”

“I know that, but!”

Sa Do-hak shouted as he stood up abruptly from his seat. At that single shout, the gazes of the surrounding people poured in. Even Dan So-mi, who had been playing with a teacup, opened her eyes wide.

“……It is nothing.”

Dan Woo-hyun was right.

The Martial World was originally this kind of place. Betrayal existed anytime and anywhere, and if the one who was a friend today turned their back, it was a place where they swung a sword.

It was the Martial World where one always had to worry about tomorrow even while sleeping, and live by eliminating those who were more outstanding than oneself.

The bastard called the Black Wind Demonic Devil was also like that.

What that guy was doing was no different from what many people had done all this time.

“Haha…….”

Namgung Cheon burst into a hollow laugh.

He also had the same thought as Sa Do-hak, but even so, the destruction of Kunlun was a shock beyond imagination. His troubled feelings would not easily go away.

It was just then that the waiter approached.

Namgung Cheon took out silver from his pocket and handed it to the waiter.

“If you happen to know anything about what happened to Kunlun, tell me.”

* * *

“I never thought you would be in a place like this.”

“Haha, is that so?”

At the entrance of Yueyang, at a place lavishly decorated as if built for boating, two people exuding a strange atmosphere were sitting.

The two were sharing drinks back and forth, and one person had quite a high-class appearance.

Dressed in a court robe that high-ranking officials would wear, his hair was even neatly tied up and seemed to be oiled.

He, who looked like a well-educated scholar no matter how one looked at him, was none other than Zhuge Un.

In front of him sat a man who truly did not match such a place.

Shabby clothes, a worn-out rag that seemed as if it would tear immediately if pulled.

Just standing near him brought a grimy smell, but no one opened their mouth carelessly about his attire.

Because they had rented this entire place, there were no customers to point it out, but even if there had been customers, they would have stepped backward with their mouths shut tight as if dead upon seeing the knots on his waist.

Beggar Emperor Bang No-baek.

For he was one of the five who had reached the highest peak of this Central Plains.

“You seem to have no intention of returning to the Martial Alliance?”

“That is correct. Since the place called the Martial Alliance no longer seems to have value……”

At Zhuge Un’s cold remark, the Beggar Emperor smiled bitterly.

Since it was split into two, blood was bound to flow.

Whether it was the Martial Alliance or the Heavenly Dao Association, if one side was not unified, sword fights would be rampant in the Central Plains.

“Then, the reason you called me?”

“I believe you have already heard and know.”

“Do you mean the matter of Kunlun?”

Zhuge Un nodded slightly.

A groan also escaped the Beggar Emperor’s mouth. Detailed contents were written in the carrier pigeon message that had urgently flown from the Beggars’ Guild on his way here.

“Of the total three hundred Taoists of the Kunlun Sect, those who survived are not even forty. In fact, it is destroyed.”

“I know.”

Hmm? The Beggar Emperor sent a strange look.

This information was currently being kept secret even within the Beggars’ Guild. How did Zhuge Un, who was so far away, know such a thing?

‘Is a rotting herring still a herring?’

The dreadfulness of Zhuge Un was revealed once again.

In truth, if there had not been contact from the sect leader of Hao Sect, who was serving Dan Woo-hyun, he would not have known anything either.

“Then, do you also know this?”

The Beggar Emperor looked at Zhuge Un with a strange gaze and slowly opened his mouth.

“The culprit is……”

* * *

“I see…… thank you.”

Having heard all the stories, Namgung Cheon nodded. There was no important information. Since the waiter had also only heard rumors, he had merely gathered the stories leaking from here and there.

Was it a relief that not all of the Kunlun Sect’s Taoists died?

Although they said those who survived were few, it would be enough manpower to rebuild the sect. Even though that time would take endlessly long.

While Namgung Cheon let out a sigh with a “Huu”.

With a squeak, the door of the inn opened.

“Amitabha-.”

There were those who entered inside chanting a Buddhist invocation.

They were only two people, but their presence was no joke. In an instant, the gazes of everyone poured in and they fell silent. A quiet silence lingered, enough to hear even the sound of swallowing saliva.

“Yikes!”

The ones who were most startled upon seeing them were none other than Jang Sam-tae and Ma Jang-gang.

The two suddenly lowered their heads and hid themselves by going behind Dan Woo-hyun.

“…….”

Dan Woo-hyun sent a look asking what they were doing, but the two shook their heads vigorously and made gestures of blocking their lips with their fingers.

The two Lama monks slowly looked around and approached toward an empty seat. However, they suddenly looked at Dan Woo-hyun and the two people wearing masks, and stopped in their tracks.

“Amitabha-.”

“What is it?”

Sa Do-hak asked, wearing a frown that was invisible due to being covered by the mask.

Even at a glance, they were not ordinary guys. They must be considerable experts even in the Potala Palace.

Since such people suddenly approached and chanted Buddhist prayers, irritation surged.

“Excuse me, benefactor. Since we came because there is a familiar face, we hope you do not feel uncomfortable.”

One Lama monk stared at Jang Sam-tae, who was stealthily hiding behind Dan Woo-hyun.

The eyes of Sa Do-hak, Namgung Cheon, and the other companions naturally turned toward Jang Sam-tae.

“Ah…… hello. Ma…… Master.”

“Puhahaha!”

Jang Sam-tae cautiously stood up, clasped his hands in prayer, and bowed his head. When the word master even popped out of his mouth, Sa Do-hak burst into roaring laughter.

The Lama monk glanced at Sa Do-hak.

However, without breaking that expression, he clasped his hands and asked.

“Your hair has grown again.”

“Yes, as time passes, it grows again.”

“Keke……!”

At his polite appearance, which was completely different from usual, laughter leaked from here and there.

Because they were people who had known Jang Sam-tae for a long time and had also seen his usual appearance, there were also those who wore expressions showing they could not quite adjust.

Jang Sam-tae broke into a cold sweat.

He glanced at Dan Woo-hyun to ask for help, but he also only wore a amused smile and did not say anything.

At that moment, the Lama monk took out a small dagger from his chest.

“Did they not say that originally a monk must cut off love and leave home?”

Abandoning desires, leaving one’s family, and concentrating on asceticism.

That was the reason monks shaved their heads.

Since his hair had grown, it meant desire had arisen, so shaving it anew to shake off desire was also a duty.

However, it had nothing to do with Jang Sam-tae.

Jang Sam-tae slightly avoided the Lama monk’s gaze and muttered in a small voice.

“I’m…… not a monk though?”

“Puhahaha!”

“Kehehe…….”

In the end, laughter burst out.

At that laughter that burst from the mouths of Namgung Cheon and Sa Do-hak, Jang Sam-tae wore an embarrassed expression. Even Namgung So-hye, who was quietly watching the situation, lowered her head and shook her shoulders, so how embarrassing it must be.

The Lama monk’s face turned red.

He had been embarrassed in front of this many people.

“You rascal! Does the one who received the grace of the Palace turn away from it? Are you planning to break the commandments?”

“Bre, breaking commandments or whatever, in the first place I had no intention of becoming a monk though?”

“Then why did you learn the martial arts of the Palace?”

The gazes of everyone in the inn poured toward Jang Sam-tae.

The opponent was the Potala Palace of all places.

As it was famous for its rules being stricter than anywhere else, one must not carelessly accept what was offered from there.

Yet Jang Sam-tae learned the martial arts and even shaved his head. That meant becoming a member of the Potala Palace, but now he suddenly said he was not a monk, so the position of the Lama monks who were angry could be understood.

At that moment, Jang Sam-tae looked up at the ceiling of the inn.

Then he scratched his cheek with a small sigh.

“I learned it because they said they would teach me…… would I have learned it if I knew I had to shave my head? Of course I wouldn’t have……”

“Kahaha! This crazy bastard!”

Sa Do-hak burst into roaring laughter and laughed once again.

The guy who would eagerly accept just because they said they would teach him would be only that guy. And the one who could speak so openly like that when the parties involved were right in front of him would also be only Jang Sam-tae.

Therefore, his laughter did not fade.

“You rascal-!”

In the end, the Lama monk who was angry to the top of his head roared.

His eyes burned fiercely as if a flame was rising, and the gaze staring at Jang Sam-tae was filled with killing intent.

His right hand swelled up greatly.

Great Hand Print.

A secret technique of the Potala Palace.

At the moment he was about to thrust it forward, a scabbard touched his neck.

“It is in front of a young child. Do not use martial arts carelessly.”

Dan Woo-hyun’s voice spread calmly.

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