Chapter 586: Side Story 86

Chapter side_86

“There really isn’t much left now!”

Dan So-mi, who was looking outside the carriage, soon admired the scenery of Shanxi and showed an infinitely bright expression. Since they would arrive in Anhui, which could be called their final destination, if they went just a little further, the end of this long, long journey was in sight.

In Dan So-mi’s gaze as she quickly turned her head, there were Namgung Cheon and Namgung So-hye, whose eyes seemed extremely excited, though they did not show it on their faces.

Since they were going home after a long time, they seemed to have high expectations of meeting their family.

Indeed, it had been a few years, so they were bound to miss it.

However, there were also people who were the opposite.

Jin Tae-gong, who covered his face on the driver’s seat, was looking around with a continuously anxious expression, and Geum Ji-ran, who also covered her face, was constantly sighing as she looked at the outside scenery before her eyes.

Jin Tae-gong seemed to be afraid of something, and Geum Ji-ran looked like someone whose heart had a hollow hole in it.

“Why… are they like that?”

When she asked a question at that absurd sight, Namgung So-hye managed a bitter smile.

“Isn’t it because they’re feeling troubled?”

“Troubled? Why?”

“Well…”

Namgung So-hye let out a small sigh as she looked at the towering Martial Sovereign Castle visible in the distance. Since it was the place where Jeok Mu-seong, the supreme ruler of the Unorthodox Faction and one of the Five Sovereigns, resided, it was the most famous and respected place in the Shanxi region.

The place that moved the present and future of the Unorthodox Faction.

To the members of the Unorthodox Faction, the existence of the Martial Sovereign Castle held a meaning greater than that of the Orthodox Faction’s Murim Alliance.

“Whew…”

“Haa…”

“Foolish bastard.”

“…”

As a long sigh escaped from Namgung So-hye’s mouth after she had stared at the distant Martial Sovereign Castle for a while, Namgung Cheon and Sado Hak opened their mouths as if they had been waiting.

“How incompetent must one be to have the Martial Sovereign Castle taken away?!”

“Hohoho. Would he have wanted to do that? The ones who betrayed him are the bad ones.”

“Don’t make me laugh.”

Sado Hak let out a dry laugh and shook his head.

For Namgung Cheon, the Murim Alliance, which had protected the Orthodox path for so long, had split into two due to betrayal; the Demonic Cult, having lost its center in Sado Hak, was shattered into pieces due to power struggles; and the Unorthodox Faction’s Martial Sovereign Castle had been taken by the likes of the Gwangjong Sect, with Jeok Mu-seong’s whereabouts being unknown.

Since things that would have been unimaginable when they were young were happening one after another, did it not seem as if time was trying to open a new era?

Sado Hak was personally feeling the cruelty of time.

This was probably the case not only for him but also for Namgung Cheon.

“Those ridiculous bastards are really acting up in all kinds of crazy ways. It’s funny enough that the entire Martial Sovereign Castle was taken over, but to think that the Orthodox Faction and the Demonic Cult knew nothing about it until now.”

“Hoho. Doesn’t that mean they are just that good at hiding information? That must be why we were played.”

“Would this have been possible when we were young?”

“Hohoho.”

Namgung Cheon, wearing a bitter smile, did not answer.

But he knew.

It was something that could never happen.

The weight that the name of the Five Sovereigns gave to Murim.

From Zhuge Wun to Dongbang Gu, who guarded their sides.

Gathered with absolute loyalty and awe as they were, they would not have handled matters carelessly; they would have noticed even minor changes instantly and cut off the enemy’s breath before they could even move.

That was indeed the Murim of the three.

“Everything is like that. Nothing is eternal.”

“Shut up! In any case, shouldn’t we find that fellow Jeok Mu-seong first?”

“It would also be good to just go in and smash everything.”

Dan Woo-hyun smirked.

If he considered everyone an enemy anyway, the easiest way was to subdue them without looking back and forth. Since they were bastards blinded by power and strength who had submitted to the Heavenly Earth Sect, wouldn’t they slam their heads to the ground if they saw death right in front of them?

“Ho, hoho. It is a convenient way, but wouldn’t we see too much blood then?”

“Whether we see blood or not! We must first find out where that foolish bastard is! Then we will wipe out the Heavenly Earth Sect. Just like that, with a single sweep.”

Sado Hak, perhaps already excited, grinned as he drew his thumb across his neck. At the thought of trampling the bastards who had held and shaken the Orthodox Faction and the Demonic Cult, he seemed unable to hide his excitement already.

“Don’t get too excited. Whenever you get excited, things always go awry.”

“I will make them pay dearly for touching the Demonic Cult!”

Sado Hak’s eyes flashed.

How dare those Gwangjong bastards touch the Demonic Cult?

The brainwashed fools and the subordinates who followed them all deserved to die, but more than that, Sado Hak’s anger was directed at the Heavenly Earth Sect, which had tried to use the Demonic Cult.

“I won’t let a single one escape! Especially that fellow who calls himself the Cult Leader!”

“Hohoho. That is true.”

* * *

“…”

Dan So-mi looked out the window at the voices murmuring inside the carriage. Since the words flowing into her ears were harsh, such as smashing someone or not letting them escape, she stared only out the window as if trying not to think about them.

Ah, the sky is so clear today too.

The cloudless weather made her heart feel at peace.

By the way…

This journey to Shanxi wouldn’t end quietly either.

She unconsciously let out a deep sigh and turned her head.

Just then, her gaze met with Geum Ji-ran, who was huddling.

“Are you okay?”

“Ah… yes, of course I am fine. I-I am not particularly afraid or anything. Ho, hoho.”

Geum Ji-ran, trembling, tried to maintain a calm expression. The reason her anxiety did not disappear despite having reliable people by her side was not so much out of fear of Yuk Cheol-wan, but rather due to the thought that the Heavenly Earth Sect, where she had lived since childhood, would soon collapse.

No matter how strong the Cult Leader was, he could not stop them.

The Five Sovereigns of the world.

Were they not the Sword Sovereign and the Demonic Sovereign, who were counted among the top two?

Soon, not even a trace of the Heavenly Earth Sect would be found.

Thinking about that made her feel complicated.

“Uh… well, come to think of it, you said you were in Shanxi, so do you know any good places?”

“Y-yes, of course. To the point where there is almost no place I do not know.”

At the sudden question, Geum Ji-ran nodded her head.

She was born and raised in Shanxi.

Since she had wandered here and there with Yuk Cheol-wan to gather believers, she had in her mind where things were and which places had good scenery.

But what did that matter now?

When they were talking about catching and killing, or massacring over there.

However, Dan So-mi clapped her hands and put a bright smile on her face, as if she did not care in the slightest.

“When we arrive at the inn later, could you guide us? Along with Baekho and Baekmyo. Ah! Of course, only to places with no people.”

“With… the two of them?!”

Geum Ji-ran asked with wide eyes.

Now, things like Baekho and the like held no meaning. Since her situation was no different from being expelled from the Heavenly Earth Sect, she no longer needed such things.

However, her thought of wanting to have them remained unchanged, and there was no need to state twice that the two existences were sacred.

Thus, her admiration for them still remained.

Her eyes sparkled to an unusual degree.

Dan So-mi broke into a cold sweat but soon nodded.

“Ah, since it seems we will arrive at night, let’s do it tomorrow. I wish we had… an escort as well…”

Saying so, Dan So-mi stealthily looked at the driver’s seat where Jang Sam-tae was. Jin Tae-gong, who was driving the carriage diligently with his face covered, came into view.

However, noticing Dan So-mi’s gaze, Jang Sam-tae opened his mouth.

“What? Go together? I’d love to!”

“No, not you, mister…”

“I’m better than a guy of unknown identity like him. Isn’t that right?”

Even though Jang Sam-tae must have heard Dan So-mi’s soft murmurs, he did not even care and laughed heartily. It was an act in which one could feel a determination to go with Dan So-mi no matter what.

What on earth was it?

“You should stay with us and clean up the mess, you rascal. Where do you think you’re going?”

“Eh?! What are you talking about, old man! Didn’t So-mi say she needs an escort? Of course I must guard her side. Hahaha!”

Jang Sam-tae did not intend to back down from his assertion.

No, he could not.

If he did not follow Dan So-mi, he would have to attend to both old men’s needs, and if things went wrong, he might become the protagonist of a historic massacre.

There was Sado Hak, who gritted his teeth at the Heavenly Earth Sect, of course, and Namgung Cheon, who believed they must be eliminated for the stability of the Orthodox Faction.

And there was Dan Woo-hyun, who did not seem particularly interested but could sweep away hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands instantly if he resolved to step in.

As a horrible sight came to mind just by thinking about it, he desperately wanted to get out of it this time, no matter what.

However, such thoughts did not easily come to fruition.

Dan Woo-hyun glanced at Jang Sam-tae.

“Remain with us.”

“Yes…”

The moment he answered without realizing it, Jang Sam-tae frowned deeply. After telling him to respect the wishes of those two when finding and bringing Geum Ji-ran and Jin Tae-gong, in the end, Dan Woo-hyun threw Jang Sam-tae’s wishes to the ground.

Or rather, should it be said that he trampled on them?

Damned bastard.

Although swear words were bursting out of him, he exerted his patience to the limit and endured. He barely stopped the words that seemed about to pop out of his mouth without thinking.

Jang Sam-tae, too, seemed to have made progress in his own way.

“Then I…”

“I wonder if… Uncle Jin would be good?”

Just as Namgung So-hye stepped forward and was about to speak, Dan So-mi glanced at her and spoke first. Since it was almost taken for granted that Namgung So-hye would take on the role of escort in this kind of situation, she looked at Dan So-mi with a surprised expression.

“Really… not me?”

“Y-yes, you are busy, sister.”

In many ways.

Dan So-mi, slowly turning her head, let out a short laugh.

Although she did not know much about Murim in detail, Namgung So-hye was trying to step forward for the sake of the Orthodox Murim.

She did not want to disturb her, and if Namgung So-hye went along, it was clear that Geum Ji-ran would be intimidated and unable to sightsee properly.

“Is… that so…? Then it can’t… be helped.”

Her dejected expression weighed on her mind, but what could she do? She did not have the slightest desire to bring Namgung So-hye along this time.

“Then let’s have Uncle Jin go. Is that okay?”

“Of course. If it helps, I will gladly… go.”

At Jin Tae-gong’s response, Dan Woo-hyun glanced at Dan So-mi.

He did not fail to understand with what thoughts she had made this plan. Since she was a good-natured child, she seemed to want to give Geum Ji-ran and Jin Tae-gong some fresh air.

A chuckle escaped him unconsciously.

“Am I not allowed either?”

“If Dad goes, it’s a bit… Everyone feels uncomfortable.”

“…!?”

At the words that followed, Dan Woo-hyun widened his eyes. Moreover, the single sentence uttered by Dan So-mi seemed to echo in his ears.

Soon, Dan Woo-hyun slowly turned his gaze away.

A sigh escaped from his mouth.

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