Chapter 547: Side Story 47

Chapter side_47

“Wow… So this is Mount Wudang…”

Dan So-mi looked at Mount Wudang with a fascinated expression. She seemed to remember coming here once when she was young, but it wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the scenery she saw now as an adult was literally breathtaking.

Of course, they were still a bit far away, but she felt like she knew why that place was called one of the Five Great Mountains of Zhongyuan.

“Hmph, even so, it wouldn’t match up to the Heavenly Mountain.”

“But look over there, Grandpa. The autumn leaves are so deep and wonderful, aren’t they?”

“Even so, it’s not as good as the Heavenly Mountain. I’ll make sure to show you the magnificence of the Heavenly Mountain. If you see that, other mountains are just side dishes, mere side dishes.”

“Wow- really?”

Dan So-mi sent him an expectant look with sparkling eyes.

Even though she was listening to his words full of pride, she couldn’t imagine what it would look like. It seemed better to see it in person rather than just thinking about it.

Thus, her expectations boiled up.

“We’re going to the Heavenly Mountain after this, right? My heart is already pounding.”

Seeing the scenery in front of her, she must have thought it finally felt like a sightseeing trip, as she continually looked around without minding the fatigue from their long journey.

The flower field Ju Ji-yak brought them to last time was also wonderful, but the scenery of Mount Wudang seen from a distance evoked an indescribably mysterious feeling.

It seemed it wasn’t called a spiritual mountain for nothing.

“By the way, it seems… you have no intention of resting at a village.”

“Our destination is right ahead. We’ll climb first and then rest.”

At Dan Woo-hyun’s words, everyone shook their heads side to side. Because Mount Wudang was a place called a spiritual mountain, it was famous for its rugged terrain, and there were many places where even climbing was difficult.

Of course, these were things that most places called famous mountains possessed, but Wudang was so harsh that it ranked in the top three among them.

“No, but still… there are tired people, can’t we rest for a bit before going?”

Jang Sam-tae looked at Dan Woo-hyun with hollow eyes and asked.

To avoid people’s eyes as much as possible, they traveled on rough roads. That forced march exhausted their minds and bodies beyond description, and Jang Sam-tae, who had to drive the carriage all day and even prepare meals, felt like he would collapse at any moment.

The shadows under his eyes were deep.

No, there was a darkness that looked like it would suck you in.

At the same time, his two bloodshot eyes looked as if the capillaries would burst at any moment, and his unconsciously trembling grip made him realize that he was already pushed to his physical limits.

Dan Woo-hyun lost his words upon seeing that.

“You look like a mummy.”

“It’s because of you, isn’t it?!”

Even if he was harsh, to think he would be this harsh.

Couldn’t he consider others a little?

Jang Sam-tae glanced back and looked at the people.

Dan So-mi’s physical condition rarely deteriorated since Dan Woo-hyun was by her side. Namgung So-hye had trained since childhood and took care of her own condition, so although she looked a bit tired, she appeared reasonably fine.

What about the remaining three people?

What more was there to say.

They looked perfectly fine, so much so that one would believe it if they said they just came out of their houses.

“Haha- That’s because you usually neglect your training.”

“Say that after giving me some time to train.”

Jang Sam-tae frowned.

Doing all sorts of chores and errands from morning to evening made it night before he knew it. Furthermore, once he finished his daily routine and went to his room, he had to take care of his two children, so he didn’t even have enough time to sleep, let alone train.

‘Oh heavens…’

Jang Sam-tae looked up at the sky while on the verge of tears.

Today, he missed Maehang’s face unusually much.

It was a day when he needed the nagging he heard every day.

“Don’t worry. I’ll climb Mount Wudang alone.”

“Eh?!”

“You… alone?”

When they heard the unexpected words, everyone opened their eyes wide. Because there wasn’t a person who didn’t know the relationship between the Three Heavens and Dan Woo-hyun, and because it was a place sending them off, they thought they should all go together.

Did he realize those looks?

Dan Woo-hyun smirked.

“For this time… I plan to go alone.”

“Hnng… If you’re going to do that, then well…”

“I have no complaints. He’s not our side’s person anyway.”

Namgung So-hye said nothing, and Jang Sam-tae was fine with anything as long as he could rest. Only Dan So-mi seemed to ponder for a moment, but she soon nodded with a bright smile as if she understood something.

“By the way… it’s quite quiet.”

At that moment, Namgung Cheon looked around and expressed his doubt. Even though they were close to Mount Wudang, Wudang’s people were nowhere to be seen.

Ordinarily, they should have encountered them at least once somewhere, but it was as if they had hidden away, as no one was seen.

“From what I’ve heard, it seems there was an attack from the Heaven and Earth Cult recently. They must have lost quite a few disciples… Now they seem to have locked their doors and are waiting for the Murim Alliance’s support.”

“Haha… What? Wudang was attacked?”

“Yes, that’s what I heard. The Murim Alliance has currently sent support… and they intend to hold out however they can until they arrive here.”

Namgung Cheon frowned.

He couldn’t believe at all that the world-renowned Wudang was being bested by bastards whose roots weren’t even deep, let alone the traditional Demonic Cult.

Of course, he couldn’t deny that their combat power had weakened due to the many events of the past, but it was still hard to easily accept that they were being pushed back to this extent.

“Don’t interfere in unnecessary matters.”

At that moment, Dan Woo-hyun’s cold voice could be heard.

It was already a journey entangled in enough displeasing matters. If Namgung Cheon picked up his sword to save Wudang in this situation, there was no telling what else would happen.

This was strictly a matter of the Murim.

Weren’t Namgung Cheon and Sado Hak already people who had left the Murim and remained in the Hunan Dan Family because they decided to live in seclusion?

If they were attacked, the story would be different, but unless that happened, there was no need to deliberately seek them out and draw their swords.

“Haha… Of course.”

Namgung Cheon struggled to erase his bitter expression.

Namgung Cheon had lived in seclusion but helped the Orthodox Murim from the shadows while wearing a mask. Even though they had split and were grinding their teeth at each other, as the Alliance Leader representing the Orthodox Murim, he also bore the responsibility of disappearing without fulfilling his duties.

Over ten years had passed since then, and the Murim was now operating without Namgung Cheon.

It wasn’t proper for him to step forward again here.

“Stop the carriage nearby. I’ll go alone from here.”

“Uha! Then we’ll rest and do some sightseeing!”

Jang Sam-tae laughed loudly at Dan Woo-hyun’s words. Thinking that he could now escape his grasp and rest, his mood already soared.

If only he hadn’t been unfairly framed and hadn’t had his money taken by Dan Woo-hyun at a time like this, he could have had a much better time, so it was truly a pity.

“Will here do?”

Jang Sam-tae stopped the carriage near Mount Wudang.

There was no road entering it, but it was a path where people rarely came. Therefore, they could rest peacefully, and the probability of someone picking a fight didn’t seem too high either.

“Yeah.”

Only then did Dan Woo-hyun nod and get off the carriage.

He soon approached where the coffins were and pulled one out.

The absolute master representing Wudang.

It was the coffin of Tae Gong-jin, known as one of the Three Heavens.

“…”

Dan Woo-hyun quietly stared at the coffin for a moment.

An indescribable feeling seeped into him.

He then subconsciously smirked.

“Fate is truly strange.”

It was a single phrase holding various meanings.

They weren’t in a relationship that could be called close friends, but it couldn’t be said that they weren’t either. However, they could be considered sworn enemies, so how should this be explained?

Even sending him off like this would be considered a luxury by someone else.

However, Dan Woo-hyun folded away his other thoughts.

“Then… I’ll be back.”

Soon, he shouldered the coffin and started moving.

His back, heading toward the rugged mountain, gave off a strangely pitiful feeling. It was undoubtedly because of the bitter smile he showed at the end.

Jang Sam-tae, who had been quietly watching his back, finally plopped down and sighed deeply when Dan Woo-hyun was no longer visible.

“Aigoo… Now I can finally rest.”

“Ahaha. Mister, you’ve worked hard.”

“As expected… You’re the only one who worries about me, So-mi. Just wait about ten years. When my son grows up…”

“I said no, didn’t I?”

In an instant, Dan So-mi, who had been smiling, turned serious and glared at Jang Sam-tae. The child who always showed only a benevolent appearance making such an expression made his heart feel like it plummeted.

“Stop talking nonsense… shouldn’t we prepare to camp? It seems we’ll have to stay here for a bit… long?”

At that moment, Namgung So-hye stealthily approached and began searching the carriage. She started preparing by pulling out the equipment needed for camping one by one.

There was no way to know when Dan Woo-hyun would return.

They thought he would be fast, but looking at the sun, it seemed it would be evening when he returned no matter how fast he was.

* * *

Watching the group camping from afar, Chu Jakhwan smirked. Because the distance was quite significant, their figures could barely be seen clearly, but it was undoubtedly that bastard and his group.

“You’re overflowing with leisure.”

Chu Jakhwan narrowed his eyes.

The face that was praised as beautiful was no more. It was a humiliating matter for Chu Jakhwan, who lived with the pride that he was more handsome than any man in the world.

Moving first like this even though the Cult Leader’s order hadn’t come down was because his desire for revenge from being bested twice showed no signs of fading.

Chu Jakhwan glanced back.

The branch personnel operating near Wudang were all gathered in one place. With their numbers exceeding two hundred, it was no exaggeration to say it was truly overwhelming.

They bowed their heads at Chu Jakhwan’s gaze.

“Execute as ordered.”

“Yes-!”

Everyone answered and kicked off the ground.

They were so fast that in the blink of an eye, they left the field of vision and scattered everywhere, and that sight was so magnificent that it evoked a sense of wonder.

It showed that their skills were by no means low.

But wasn’t that natural?

They were people selected to face Wudang, one of the Nine Great Sects and One Union. Every single one was a master who reached the first-rate level, and among them, they had to be the ones with considerable experience.

Therefore, it was also a matter that definitely wouldn’t fail.

“Right… Although I know I can’t win against you.”

Perhaps finding it absurd even as he said it himself, Chu Jakhwan hung a bitter smile on his lips.

But facts were facts.

Since everyone was bested by an overwhelming difference in skill even in a situation with his subordinates, the gap between him and that guy couldn’t be described as just a thin sheet of paper.

From the beginning, Chu Jakhwan was the weakest among the Four Heavenly Kings.

His role of winning people over with his outstanding bewitchment arts and plotting schemes to shake his opponents was the very reason he made his name as a Four Heavenly King.

He had forgotten that until now.

“But today will be different. Because I realized to the bone… why I was acknowledged by the Cult Leader.”

Killing two birds with one stone.

Today, along with desperate retribution, he would obtain what he wanted.

If he utilized his overwhelming numbers and strength, no matter how strong the bastard was, or even a divine beast that only appeared in legends, he could definitely get his hands on it.

Thus, the smile on his lips showed no signs of fading.

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