Chapter 548: Side Story 48

Chapter side_48

Near Mount Wudang, there was a large village. A very long time ago, it was nothing more than a simple hamlet, but it grew since the Wudang Sect’s name started becoming known, and now it had changed into the largest village in the vicinity.

The villagers there all received evaluations of being simple and generous. However, since most of the villagers had formed ties with Wudang in the past, and there was a considerable number of those who had lived there for generations, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that half the villagers fundamentally knew martial arts.

Therefore, no one easily caused a commotion here.

That was because if someone started something unnecessary in front of the villagers who were deeply under the influence of Wudang, one of the pillars of the Orthodox Faction to the bone, they might not even be able to gather their bones.

Naturally, a secret rumor was spreading in that village, which could be called the most terrifying place for enemies threatening the Orthodox Faction.

“What? The Demonic Saint?”

“I’m telling you it is. They were definitely people from the Heaven and Earth Cult.”

Someone’s words spat out in the guest house aroused the curiosity of the people eating.

Naturally, their gazes turned toward them.

“They parked a carriage near Mount Wudang… looking at it, it seems they will strike Wudang soon…”

In an instant, people’s expressions changed coldly.

The rumor that the Demonic Saint had entered Hubei had already spread widely. Therefore, there didn’t seem to be many who thought those men’s words were a lie.

“Is that true!?”

“If it’s true, this isn’t the time to stay still!”

Warriors holding swords stood up from their seats everywhere.

The Heaven and Earth Cult was currently the enemy of the Orthodox Murim.

Them strutting around was already a matter that hurt their pride, but hearing that they were staying near Mount Wudang to strike the Wudang Sect of all places was something warriors deeply colored by the Orthodox Faction to the bone couldn’t just let pass.

The people who were eating stood up one by one.

Killing intent flickered in their eyes.

* * *

“Whew… A distance that would have taken a month if we came by the main road…”

Jang Sam-tae, who was camping, clicked his tongue as he recalled the time it took to get from Hunan to Wudang.

Because unlucky things happened, their time was delayed considerably, and this was serious in that it wasn’t just a matter of a day or two.

Hadn’t it been nearly two months?

When he thought about the road they still had to travel, it felt distant.

“Think of it leisurely. Hahaha- I gave up from the beginning.”

Namgung Cheon picked up a piece of the rabbit meat they had hunted and smiled. From the beginning, was there ever a time when incidents and accidents didn’t happen on the path Dan Woo-hyun walked?

Considering that, he thought this journey also wouldn’t be easy.

Being delayed by nearly a month wasn’t a big deal.

“What the hell is that Heaven and Earth Cult anyway for them to be acting up like this. Goodness, not even being able to crack down on things like that…”

“From what I’ve heard, it’s an organization that has been active in secret for a long time. The reason they didn’t reveal themselves… is because there were quite a lot of big and small incidents during that time… right.”

Namgung So-hye shook her head.

The Heaven and Earth Cult started revealing themselves in earnest when the Hunan Dan Family completely stopped its activities. It’s said they existed before then, but wasn’t the reason they weren’t revealed obvious?

Because Dan Woo-hyun and the people of the Hunan Dan Family stirred up Zhongyuan everywhere and caused trouble, other incidents and accidents were completely buried.

And once everything was sorted out, they took advantage of that space to grow their power and expand their influence.

In a way, it wasn’t as if the Hunan Dan Family had no responsibility.

“Kuhaha- Even so, they’re just a religious group.”

“Haha- If you think about it, isn’t the Demonic Cult also a religious group?”

“How dare you compare them! Are bastards like that the same as the Demonic Cult?”

“It’s because they seem similar in my eyes. If you don’t think so, then that’s that! Hahaha- Don’t get heated up.”

Namgung Cheon laughed heartily and stroked his beard. He was telling him not to get angry, but his eyes were undoubtedly disparaging the Demonic Cult.

They had been together for ten years, yet they didn’t change.

Namgung So-hye grabbed her forehead.

In an instant, she flinched at the momentum spreading in a flash.

It felt like it would be more comfortable to watch a fight between a tiger and a bear instead.

“Whether it’s the Demonic Cult, the Orthodox Faction, or a pseudo-religion, they would all look the same in our Manor Lord’s eyes, so what are you caring about?”

At that moment, Jang Sam-tae picked his nose and opened his mouth.

It seemed he had the underlying perception that no matter how great the Murim was, they couldn’t compare to Dan Woo-hyun. Therefore, even if the two old men argued about who was better or worse, it was just funny to him.

Smack!

“Kkeuak?! My nose… My nose! Blood!”

“Why do you keep spouting bullshit, you bastard?”

“Haha- Do you want to see blood from your face instead of your nose?”

Jang Sam-tae grabbed his nose, which was streaming with a nosebleed, and slumped down. He didn’t even feel like he said anything wrong, so why were they beating him up as if he committed a great wrong?

“Aigoo, I’m dying…!”

“Mister, are you okay?”

“Whew… He reaps what he sows.”

Namgung So-hye let out a small sigh.

Namgung Cheon and Sado Hak were already deeply dyed in things like the Orthodox Faction and the Demonic Cult. It was natural to get beaten up for saying Dan Woo-hyun was the best or not in front of such people.

Furthermore, wasn’t Jang Sam-tae in a position like Sado Hak’s disciple?

He himself had no self-awareness, but strictly speaking, he should have sided with the Demonic Cult.

“By the way… the wind is very… strange.”

“Haha- Having followed around Family Head Dan so much, are you singing praises about the wind now too?”

In an instant, Namgung So-hye blushed deeply.

It was because she couldn’t even imagine such words coming out at this moment.

“W-What are you saying… I just said that because the wind seems to be blowing strangely?”

“Tsk tsk, until when are you going to chase after that Dan bastard’s tail? Isn’t it about time you got married?”

Namgung So-hye frowned her delicate eyebrows at Sado Hak’s words, which he spat out while snorting. Who was telling whom to get married right now?

“Elder, you should go first. You should have gone a loooooong! time ago, you know.”

“Ahem! I am married to martial arts.”

“Yes, yes, that’s truly amazing.”

“Are you picking a fight with me right now?!”

“Elder, aren’t you the one picking a fight with me?!”

Facing a person named Sado Hak, Namgung So-hye never backed down. She flinched at the momentum he lightly released, but she didn’t lose and glared at him exactly the same while releasing her momentum with all she had.

If provoked just a bit more, it felt like she would fearlessly swing her sword at Sado Hak.

“D-Don’t worry! Sister will definitely marry Dad.”

At that moment, Dan So-mi smiled brightly and intervened between the two. Whether it was because she felt like a really big incident was about to occur, or if it was just words she spat out to smooth over the situation, the two of them opened their eyes wide at Dan So-mi’s single sentence.

Especially Namgung So-hye, who was a sight to see.

She blushed even brighter red than before and lowered her head.

She looked dangerously close to bursting at any moment.

“I’ll…! make it happen!”

“Like your father would listen to that.”

Sado Hak chuckled, perhaps finding it entirely negative. That bastard getting married was a funny thing, but to think it would be Namgung So-hye, who had followed him for ten years without any results?

A passing dog would laugh.

“By the way… I feel a bit like that too.”

“Haha- What do you mean?”

“Should I say the wind feels a bit uneasy… Anyway, something is a little strange.”

“…!”

The two old men, who hadn’t paid any attention when Namgung So-hye said it, opened their eyes wide when Dan So-mi spat out the same words.

Soon, perhaps realizing something, they let out a groan, saying “Hmm-“.

“Is it because of those guys from earlier?”

“Haha- I guess we should have caught them.”

Shaking his head, Namgung Cheon stood up from his seat. Then he rummaged through his bundle and put on a mask, and his appearance was exactly like that of the Gentleman Sword from the past.

“Goodness… That’s why I said we should have caught them earlier.”

Sado Hak also put on his mask and expressed his dissatisfaction. Although they were somewhat numerous, it would have been better to reduce the trouble with a little effort rather than having annoying things happen.

Soon, sounds began to emerge from not far away.

One by one, what initially sounded small gradually came closer, causing everyone watching to open their eyes wide.

“W-What is this? How many are there?”

“Roughly… seems like there are four or five hundred…”

Feeling the slowly approaching presences, it roughly seemed so.

There might be masters reaching the first-rate level, and there might be those who weren’t, but this overwhelming number was so oppressive it was indescribable.

Of course, only to the two of them.

“This damn it! Why does nothing work out!?”

“What should we do? There are just way too many…”

Jang Sam-tae gritted his teeth and shouted, while Namgung So-hye seemed shocked by the overwhelming numbers. Even though she had quite a bit of experience fighting one against many, it was her first time facing such a large number.

Furthermore, wasn’t Dan So-mi by her side right now.

“Heaven and Earth Cult bastards! I’ll kill you all!”

“We mustn’t miss a single one!”

When a loud shout was heard shortly after, everyone’s gaze turned toward Jang Sam-tae. Hearing them mention the Heaven and Earth Cult and such, it seemed certain that they had come targeting that guy.

“I told you it’s not my fault?!”

“Be quiet. If you hadn’t been called an evil villain or whatever, things wouldn’t have gone this far.”

Jang Sam-tae couldn’t continue his words at Sado Hak’s sharp remark. He was already dying from being unfairly framed, but hearing them say all this was his fault made him feel needlessly dejected.

At that moment, Namgung Cheon casually looked around.

“Hmm… Let’s escape to the mountain for now.”

Namgung Cheon quickly made a decision.

There was no particular need to retreat, but since the opponents were misunderstanding this side, blindly beating them up wasn’t the best solution.

It was better to avoid them as much as possible.

This side was a minority, and that side was the majority.

In addition, Mount Wudang itself was very rugged, and its paths were haphazard, so even chasing them wouldn’t be easy. Therefore, it would also be easy to defeat them individually and minimize the damage.

“I wonder if the Wudang guys will step up at this rate.”

“Hahaha- I’d prefer if they held back on that, but…”

Namgung Cheon laughed heartily as he looked at those approaching. There would be vagabonds there, and there would be people associated with Wudang.

That was because such energy could be faintly felt.

However, among them, there were also those with sinister momentum. Since it wasn’t just one or two, he couldn’t count their exact numbers, but it was undoubtedly a quite large number.

If even Wudang intervened in this situation, it would be an absolute mess of a brawl. Perhaps even if they killed each other off, it wouldn’t even be noticeable.

“We’ve been played, haha-“

Namgung Cheon shook his head and smiled bitterly.

He thought that perhaps today, a rain of blood might pour down on Mount Wudang.

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