Chapter 393: Chapter 393

The carriage was going up toward Sichuan via Guizhou, not Chongqing.

Since countless corpses would already be scattered in Chongqing due to the fight with the Blood Heaven, they chose Guizhou, not wanting to see such things.

The journey was not so weary.

The road was smooth, the sky was clear, and there were also no bandits picking fights.

In a situation where the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds were already shattered, since disputes were occurring among those aiming for the next power, the figures of Green Forest bandits were not seen.

However, these things bring somewhat of a boredom.

Is it not precisely the fun of a journey for something to happen and to solve it?

The children, who were excited at first, also became sullen.

It was because it was a feeling too different from what they had thought.

After staying a night in the provincial capital of Guizhou Province and starting to move again for about three days, they entered the border of Guizhou and Sichuan before they knew it.

“You will have to be careful from here.”

“For what reason?”

Inside the carriage, Zhuge Un spoke first.

They crossed Guizhou and entered the Sichuan border. That meant that not far from where they were, there was a place where a fight with the Blood Heaven was taking place.

“According to the Hao Sect, a fight is taking place three days’ distance from here. It is information that the Blood Heaven crowd is pursuing them as they retreat.”

The information of the Hao Sect is reliable.

Although it was impossible to trust everything entirely, it looked to be true that the Orthodox and Unorthodox groups were retreating.

“Retreating? Without blocking them?”

Namgung Cheon asked.

Under the situation where they had to block them from entering Sichuan, he could not believe at all that they were retreating. If the late-arriving reinforcements of the Blood Heaven were to arrive, they would never see a good sight.

“I hear Zhuge Hyeon is there. He must have some thoughts.”

“Sigh… even so, just what does he intend to do…”

Zhuge Un shined a bitter smile.

He was aware of Namgung Cheon’s worry to some extent. Also, Zhuge Hyeon’s thoughts were also inside his head. To retreat, draw them to a good place to ambush, and then shatter them at once.

This was one of the solutions the orthodox members could take currently. Of course, if the opponent read the move, they would suffer a counterattack instead, and if so, they would never see a good sight.

Even so, the reason they proceeded with this plan was…

‘The Sichuan Tang Family’s influence must have been great.’

The Sichuan Tang Family is crafty and cunning.

Even in this situation, they tried to look after their own interests. Thus, they must have strongly pressured Zhuge Hyeon, and in the end, it was Zhuge Un’s speculation that the plan was created.

“Then what are we doing! We must go right away! Go and shatter them!”

Jeok Mu-seong raised his voice, clenching his fists.

He looked ready to chase and capture and kill all of the Blood Heaven bastards. Killing intent flowed roll-roll, looking as if he would not leave behind even a single fellow. It was showing how great his hatred toward the Blood Heaven was.

“The children are first.”

At that moment, Dan Woo-hyun muttered.

Simultaneously, the gazes of the four turned toward him.

They knew the children were first. But hearing those words, did it not seem as if he had the intention to intervene in this fight?

What kind of change of heart was it?

Sa Do-hak let out a dumbfounded laugh.

“What are your thoughts? You look full of intent to fight.”

“It is too noisy.”

Dan Woo-hyun let out a sigh while saying such things.

He thought that if left alone, they would clash and perish naturally.

In fact, the one he cared about in the Blood Demon Cult was the Blood Demon, and the Blood Heaven, whose head had vanished, was not even in Dan Woo-hyun’s sight.

However, it was way too noisy.

Twice in Hubei alone.

The problems bursting out here and there including Sichuan and Henan were foretelling that they would soon sweep even to Hunan.

The reason he decided on this trip to Sichuan this time was also partly due to this.

Namgung Cheon laughed haha and nodded.

“Just a moment… I shall bear it for just a moment. Then the destination is Sichuan’s Chengdu.”

Each nodded their head.

However, Mu Cheon-pung sent a doubtful look.

“Are we going to fight?”

“Yes.”

“Not to find Geum Wang-su?”

“Both.”

With an ‘Umm-’, Mu Cheon-pung swallowed a groan.

His purpose was strictly Geum Wang-su.

Since catching that fellow could be called the purpose of his lifetime, he did not want to waste time in vain. Furthermore, whether a fellow called the Blood Heaven ruled the Central Plains or not was a matter in which he had not a sliver of interest.

No matter who ruled this Central Plains, the noise was all the same.

“Then I shall go catch Geum Wang-su. Everyone, gain strength.”

Mu Cheon-pung spoke casually and laughed.

Just thinking of seeing the fellow’s face, laughter flowed for no reason already.

However, weird looks were sent from here and there.

Mu Cheon-pung wondered if he had said something wrong, but since there was nothing wrong no matter how much he thought, he asked back with a doubtful expression instead.

“Why is everyone acting like that?”

“What are you talking about, rather?”

“Huh?”

“Since you came, you must go together.”

“Uhh? This old man Geum Wang-su…”

At the sudden words, Mu Cheon-pung wore a dumbfounded expression.

If their purposes differed like this, was it not better to split according to purpose?

“He said he who does not work, neither shall he eat.”

“Huh?”

Mu Cheon-pung turned his head at the heard voice.

Dan Woo-hyun’s gaze pierced.

He was seen wearing an insidious smile. In a vainly anxious mind, he shrunk his body despite himself.

“Th-This old man did work, though…?”

“You worked to earn money. Do you even know how much cost was spent on eating, sleeping, and coming all the way here?”

“Well…?”

“The unpaid fees alone are over two hundred taels, and the travel cost alone is one hundred taels.”

“W… What are you saying! There is no way it cost that much money, is there!”

“Originally, the one who sells dictates the price.”

Sa Do-hak chimed in while picking his nose beside him.

Mu Cheon-pung looked at Namgung Cheon with a desolate expression. Because since they were at least normal and orthodox members, he thought they would speak right words and do right actions.

In his eyes, a look asking for help was filled.

“Well… it is so. Do they not say the one fooled is a fool, and the one done in is an idiot?”

“What do you mean fooled?! I haven’t been fooled by anything!”

“Unless you are going to pay the money right away, work.”

“Ugh…!”

“Pay back with your body.”

Mu Cheon-pung wrapped his arms around his body. Then, he looked at Dan Woo-hyun with an anxious gaze and frowned.

He realized the meaning of his words was not like this. He could only scratch his head with a sheepish expression and let out a sigh.

The expressions of those inside the carriage were as if looking at a disgusting person.

“Ah, I understand, I understand!”

In the end, the one who threw up both hands was Mu Cheon-pung.

At that moment, Jang Sam-tae’s voice was heard from outside.

“Manor Lord! The sun is setting slowly… it seems we must camp in the open nearby.”

Jang Sam-tae muttered with a look of not wanting to at all.

As the day grew dark, whether it was about to rain, fog and clouds were cast in all directions. Since this was even a place without a trace of a person, it was a desolate atmosphere as if a ghost would appear.

Although camping in such a place was not appealing, a village did not seem likely to be nearby either.

At that moment, Dan So-mi’s voice was heard.

“Ah! Over there! There is a village in that place!”

Although riding in the rear carriage, it was loud enough to naturally penetrate everyone’s ears. Dan Woo-hyun looked out the window and searched for the place Dan So-mi spoke of.

“It exists indeed.”

It was seen in his eyes as well.

Although not that large, a village was certainly there. However, it did not seem like many people lived there.

“Let us go there first.”

Dan Woo-hyun was also not very fond of the village, but since it would be better than camping in the open, he slowly began to move toward that place.

* * *

The village was smaller than he had thought.

The people living there also did not seem to exceed twenty at most, and not a single place looking like a good house was seen.

It was natural, but though it was a small village, there was a marketplace, but the strange thing was that not to mention the inn, the places buying and selling goods did not open their doors.

In the end, since they were in a situation where they had to rent someone else’s house to stay, Gwon Mu-jin and Ma Jang-gang went ahead and knocked on the door of the largest house.

“Aigoo, I am sorry. We do not receive outsiders…”

“Is that so? Perhaps, we would be grateful if you could let us know of a place where this many people can stay.”

Gwon Mu-jin asked carefully.

However, the old man frowned with a reluctant expression.

As he said, a gaze guarding against outsiders was clear.

Had something happened?

Gwon Mu-jin could not bring himself to ask that because of the old man who spoke first.

“Since you even have children, it cannot be helped. However, the atmosphere will be somewhat unsettled… since it is a place where a person died.”

“A place where a person died… is it?”

“Yes. Still, there are intact places and it is spacious, so you will sufficiently be able to spend a night.”

Gwon Mu-jin glanced at Dan Woo-hyun.

He nodded casually.

“Even there is fine.”

“Umm… go straight along this path. If you go for about fifteen minutes, a large manor is built. Of course, most of it was burned down and collapsed, though…”

“Thank you.”

Gwon Mu-jin bowed his head and turned his back.

Soon, the door closed with a bang. Judging by the sound of locking the doors layer by layer, they seemed to dislike outsiders to the extreme.

The group frowned while watching all of those situations, but they had to move without being able to say anything. It was because they felt the gazes pouring toward them from all directions.

“I feel like I’ve become some animal.”

“Me too, haha.”

At Dan Woo-hyun’s single word, Namgung Cheon also nodded. Since people’s gazes poured from all kinds of places, he did not feel very good.

They were ordinary people who did not even know martial arts.

Had that not been the case, someone would have stepped forward to speak, but the people sending looks filled with fear did not even think of coming out.

They moved along the path for about fifteen minutes.

Whether the old man’s words were not a lie, a large manor revealed its appearance in front of them.

“It seems to refer to that place.”

“It seems someone set fire to it, though…?”

Traces of being burned were clear. The faces of the children hiding behind Namgung So-hye’s back turned pale.

To have to sleep a night in such a place?

Just thinking of it gave goosebumps enough to make one shudder.

This was the same for Zhuge Yeon and Namgung So-hye.

“Sh-Shall we not go elsewhere? It would rather be better to camp in the open.”

“It will rain soon. Camping in the open does not seem to be a good choice.”

Dan Woo-hyun spoke and stood in front of the main gate.

He looked at the signboard hanging askew.

Nokgak Sect.

“Was it a sect? Is there anyone who knows it?”

Namgung Cheon asked, looking at the signboard. Even though he thought he knew countless sects, it was his first time hearing of the Nokgak Sect.

This was the same for Jeok Mu-seong and Sa Do-hak.

Mu Cheon-pung went without saying.

“It seems none do… Sigh, how did a sect in such a place collapse so completely?”

As they opened the main gate with a creak and entered inside, traces broken and collapsed here and there stimulated their gaze.

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