Chapter 382: Chapter 382

“Hah, hah, is… is anyone there…?”

Knock, knock-

At the sound of someone knocking on the door, the gazes of those inside the manor all turned toward the main gate. This place was quite an remote area even in Yueyang, and guests were at most Hong Won-chang who occasionally visited.

Since a sound was heard suddenly in such a place, the gazes of the people who were looking at the main gate once again naturally returned toward Dan Woo-hyun.

Soon, Dan Woo-hyun let out a chuckle.

Although what he was thinking did not show on his expression, it felt as if he was plotting a mischievous deed.

“Open it.”

“Yes!”

At Dan Woo-hyun’s single word, Ma Jang-gang hurried to the main gate. Before long, when the door opened with a creaking sound, a haggard old man was seen gasping for breath with a dirt-covered appearance.

“I-I’m sorry my appearance is like this… I, because I haven’t eaten for a long time… could I get a meal? O-Of course, I w-will repay you. Even if I look like this, there are many things I can do.”

“…….”

Ma Jang-gang stared intently at the old man.

A dirt-covered and emaciated appearance.

Even at a single glance, he did not look that good.

The gasping breath was to the extent that it would not be strange if it cut off right away, and even his complexion was bad, making him look as if he would die soon.

“Hmm…”

Ma Jang-gang let out a groan for a moment.

No matter what, he had to get Dan Woo-hyun’s permission, but the pitiful old man’s appearance, to the point of naturally evoking sympathy, made his heart grow weak for no reason.

Around the time he was thinking whether it would be better to just squeeze some small change into his hand and send him out.

“Here.”

Dan So-mi, who came running patter-patter, extended what she held in her hand. That dumpling, which Mae-hyang had bought in Yueyang, was a new one without even a trace of being bitten.

Since warm steam was still rising gently, it naturally stimulated the hungry belly.

“Is… is it alright?”

“Yes! When hungry, we must share and eat.”

Dan So-mi said so and wore a beaming smile. There was not an inch of doubt in the hand extending the food, and no pretense was seen on her face either.

However, cold sweat flowed on Mu Cheon-pung’s face.

That child smiling in front of his eyes now.

She was definitely one of the children he saw in the mountains. To think he would see this child of all things in the place he visited to reclaim the treasure.

Mu Cheon-pung let out an awkward smile.

“Th-Thank you.”

He stealthily reached out and grabbed the dumpling.

The moment he took a bite, rich juices overflowed. How delicious it was, it felt as if his dulled brain was newly awakened.

“It is… extremely delicious.”

“Right? It is a place that is extremely famous in Yueyang. I also like the dumplings here the most.”

Dan So-mi’s words were not a lie.

To buy the dumplings, they had to wait at least fifteen minutes, and if long, over an hour. Due to Dan Woo-hyun, who thought buying and eating something while waiting was a useless waste of energy, unless Mae-hyang or someone bought them like this, she did not get to eat them.

“Where… where on earth do they sell such things?”

“In the Yueyang marketplace.”

“Haha, if I could eat this to my heart’s content, I would have no other wishes.”

“Right?”

The two began talking snugly.

The continuously extending praises of the dumplings showed no signs of ending at all. Ma Jang-gang, who was standing blankly, watched the two with a somewhat perplexed expression.

Because since they had fed him food, they should kick Mu Cheon-pung out soon, but she did not give him time to do so at all.

His gaze returned toward Dan Woo-hyun.

“What kind of fellow are you?”

At that moment, Dan Woo-hyun, who was at the furthest distance, spoke.

That single word was heard clearly in the ears of Mu Cheon-pung, who was at the furthest place. Since it was heard as if whispering by his side, Mu Cheon-pung naturally raised his head and looked at Dan Woo-hyun.

“I am just… a passing old man… but while wandering here and there with no place to go, I saw this place by chance and came.”

Instantly, Dan Woo-hyun laughed with a dumbfounded expression.

That was the same for Namgung Cheon and Jeok Mu-seong as well.

He absolutely did not look like just an old man with no place to go. Although he had a haggard appearance, no matter how one looked at him, he was someone who could not be called ordinary.

“I think I have seen him somewhere?”

Namgung Cheon muttered in a small voice toward Dan Woo-hyun.

It was only to the extent that Jeok Mu-seong, who was by his side, could hear that story.

“Aren’t you thinking so just because his appearance is similar to Elder Bang?”

“No. I think I really saw him somewhere…”

Namgung Cheon fell into thought while hesitating.

He had definitely seen that face shape. It was just a problem that he did not remember well, perhaps because it was considerably long ago.

Moreover, since Mu Cheon-pung and Namgung Cheon had only seen each other a few times as if passing by, remembering itself was a laughable thing.

Jeok Mu-seong also watched the old man intently.

However, there was no one who particularly came to mind.

This was because Jeok Mu-seong and Mu Cheon-pung had never clashed even once.

Although Mu Cheon-pung was one of the Five Emperors, because his presence was so secretive and he did not show himself well before people, those who knew his face were extremely few.

Even if they were of the same Five Emperors, would the one who could recognize Mu Cheon-pung be Sa Do-hak at most?

Even at that time, Jeok Mu-seong had not even put his name on the Five Emperors.

“Come in, Grandpa. I have a lot of delicious things.”

“Is… is that really alright?”

“Ayy, what does it matter? We are all trying to eat and live together.”

Dan So-mi had no hesitation.

This tiny child had absolutely no interest in who the opponent was or what kind of mind he held.

Right now, she needed a being who could talk about delicious food with her, and that was none other than Mu Cheon-pung in front of her.

Although it was indeed a somewhat sympathetic hand, since they knew in the first place that Dan So-mi had this kind of personality, everyone wore casual expressions.

At that moment, Dan Woo-hyun wore a smile and looked at Mae-hyang.

It was a gaze that had some scheme.

“Bring tea and food.”

“Is… is it alright?”

“It’s fine, so bring them. Treat him well… since he will be an important guest.”

“Yes?”

Mae-hyang wore a somewhat incomprehensible expression, but since it was none other than Dan Woo-hyun’s words, she could not bear to refuse and nodded.

* * *

There were two people who did not dream that such an event was unfolding at the manor. Sa Do-hak and Jang Sam-tae, who were descending from Hubei to Hunan, let out groans and looked at those in front of their eyes.

“Kuuuung…”

“Umm…”

Moving along the mountain paths was very good.

They did not meet the Blood Heaven crowd, and there were also no people blocking the two.

Although encountering bandits occasionally was unavoidable since it was a mountain road, meeting those in front of them now was not what they expected.

“Ahem!”

“Hum…!”

In front of the two, there were several figures of the Cheondo Society.

The Namgung Family and the Sichuan Tang Family.

Those gathered snugly did not have a good atmosphere, but they looked to be heading somewhere together.

Jang Sam-tae and Sa Do-hak, who did not predict at all meeting such people in a place like this, wore somewhat flustered expressions.

Sa Do-hak quickly flipped his mask on and hid his face.

Otherwise, his identity would have surely been discovered by them.

“We… meet again.”

Namgung Yong let out an awkward smile.

To think they would see them while heading to Chongqing of all times. If it was only Jang Sam-tae, he could have treated him comfortably, but by his side stood the fearsome Demonic Emperor.

Since those who knew that identity were only members of the Namgung Family, all wore more cautious expressions, yet felt uncomfortable unconsciously.

“Why on earth are you in a place like this?”

At that moment, Jang Sam-tae asked with a dumbfounded expression.

They were helped to escape Hubei. Since it was a situation where more than half could have been annihilated if not for the people of the Hunan Dan Family, wasn’t it normal that if they were let out, they should flee quickly?

“Ha, haha, we are heading to Chongqing split into several branches right now.”

“…….”

Namgung Yong spat out words that were no different from a secret without hesitation.

Tang Jung-ak did not look upon that situation favorably, but he did not say anything. As long as they could borrow the strength of the Hunan Dan Family, he did not care much about anything.

“Yes, why are you here?”

Tang Jung-ak looked at Jang Sam-tae and Sa Do-hak and asked. Since the figures of the Cheondo Society were heading to Chongqing, it was not strange for them to be on this mountain path.

But Sa Do-hak and Jang Sam-tae were people who should have already left for Hunan.

Since such people were hanging around here, suspicion arose for no reason.

Moreover, wasn’t Jang Sam-tae someone judged to be a figure of the Demonic Cult side?

‘Is he the successor of the Demonic Emperor…?’

Tang Jung-ak’s gaze deepened.

However, no matter how he looked at him, it did not seem so. Although he possessed demonic qi, his martial arts itself was somewhat clumsy, making him a being who could be killed at any time if one set their mind to it.

To think such a fellow was that Demonic Emperor’s disciple?

It was a half-baked imagination.

“This great Jang Sam-tae is returning now after crossing the brink of death! Is there something wrong?”

Jang Sam-tae muttered while looking at Tang Jung-ak with a dissatisfied gaze. He did not like Tang Jung-ak’s attitude of scanning him with suspicious eyes.

“You rascal! Do you truly wish to die? A mere servant does not choose his words!”

“Aigo, who was that person of which family saved by a mere servant, again?”

Jang Sam-tae picked his nose and let out an absurd laugh.

He had no affection for orthodox martial artists.

He had known all too well from before how laughable that thing called righteousness they held was, and through this situation, he also realized that the orthodox faction were merely empty shells.

Since he had even realized that his martial arts was not at that third-rate level of the past, he became high-spirited and his nose soared high, not knowing the limit.

Sa Do-hak cast a dumbfounded gaze.

“What are you doing?”

“Don’t you see? I am spitting in the face of an unlucky bastard.”

Jang Sam-tae grinned and looked at Tang Jung-ak. It was a face snorting and clearly ignoring the opponent. Even the people of the Namgung Family watching could not hide their fluster.

Tang Jung-ak’s face flushed bright red.

He was already angry to the tip of his head, looking as if no one could even stop him.

“Why? Wanna try?”

Jang Sam-tae, full of confidence, wagged his finger. Even if it was the Sichuan Tang Family, they could not match the Hunan Dan Family, and having already seen their abilities to the bottom, Jang Sam-tae merely laughed while revealing self-confidence.

At that moment, Sa Do-hak stealthily poked Jang Sam-tae’s flank.

“Why are you doing that?!”

“You can’t beat him.”

“Yes?”

“I said you can’t beat him. You will die.”

“…….”

At Sa Do-hak’s single statement, Jang Sam-tae’s expression changed. At first, he thought he misheard, but looking at that face continuously, he did not seem to be lying.

Drip-

Jang Sam-tae, breaking into a cold sweat, looked at Tang Jung-ak. Flushed bright red, he looked as if he would extend a hand right away and turn Jang Sam-tae into a cold corpse.

Turning his head again, he looked at Sa Do-hak.

As he nodded.

“Hehehe, no, well, that’s just a manner of speaking. Is being saved by the Tang Family just once or twice? If not for the Tang Family, our lives would have already been ended. Hehehe.”

“…….”

At his behavior switching in an instant, everyone looked at Jang Sam-tae with dazed expressions. They wondered if a person could change in a split second like this.

“Hehehe, so where are our great heroes heading like that?”

Jang Sam-tae asked while rubbing his hands with a groveling expression.

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