Chapter 163: No, Why Don't You Show Up! (2)
Chapter 162 – No, Why Don’t You Show Up!(2)
The transport led by Yi Sa-heum had now entered the canyon.
Namgung Cheon, following the carriages laden with cargo, kept glancing back.
‘Strange. It’s about time they showed up…’
Namgung Cheon scanned the surroundings with a sharp gaze.
It was definitely around here.
The map drawn by the Saber-Severing Ghost!
The location of the Demon Elixir Valley!
In order to enter the Demon Elixir Valley, the transport would have to be held up at some point…
‘Why are they so late? Those idiots!’
Lest the Three Peaks Sect be too stupid to chase after them, he had even purposely left markers on the path.
Of course, if the Biyue Sect or the Jangheung Escort Agency found out about this fact, there would be an uproar.
Even looking up with his head tilted back, it didn’t seem like the Black Mountain Stronghold would appear.
‘Huh… we shouldn’t just pass by like this…’
The path where they should have slipped off to the Demon Elixir Valley just now had already passed.
‘What brainless bastards! Being this sluggish, it’s a wonder they manage to make a living as bandits.’
Namgung Cheon shook his head, worrying about the stronghold when it was none of his business.
At any rate, he could not let the transport continue like this.
He had to do something.
Scanning the surroundings briefly, Namgung Cheon slowly approached the carriages.
*Rattle… rattle…*
Cruelly, the carriages rolled on, oblivious to Namgung Cheon’s feelings.
“The weather is really nice.”
Stretching lazily while looking up at the sky for no reason, Namgung Cheon scanned his surroundings once more.
‘Good, no one is watching, right?’
In an instant, Namgung Cheon quietly slipped his scabbard toward a carriage wheel.
*Jolt!*
*Crunch!*
As the scabbard got caught, the carriage shook violently, and before long, the wheel shattered.
*Thud…!*
*Neigh…!*
As the carriage tilted and collapsed, the horses raised their front hooves, creating chaos.
“Whoa! Whoa!”
While the porters and escorts quickly ran over to calm the horses, Yeon Chu-ryang rushed to Namgung Cheon.
“What is going on?”
“Uh… I was just walking, but the wheel got caught on my scabbard.”
“What?”
Yeon Chu-ryang’s brow trembled.
The wheel got caught on your scabbard? It was the other way around, you bastard!
While Yeon Chu-ryang massaged his temples, the Escort Agency Lord, Yi Sa-heum, approached and examined the situation.
“Hmm. The wheel is completely shattered.”
“I am sorry, Agency Lord. Because of that cadet…”
“Not at all. We have spare carriage wheels, so it is fine. Besides, the porters seemed a little tired since we entered an unfamiliar route.”
“Ugh. You, please be careful!”
As Yeon Chu-ryang roared at Namgung Cheon, Namgung Cheon shrugged as if aggrieved.
“But really, the wheel suddenly rolled into my scabbard.”
“Stop that nonsense!”
“I am sorry. I guess I got a bit tired too.”
Tired, my foot…!
Yeon Chu-ryang’s eyes trembled.
No matter how lacking in experience the cadet was, Yeon Chu-ryang knew that Namgung Cheon’s martial power was substantial.
For it would be impossible by sheer luck to win the Joint Conference and even smash the Three Peaks Sect’s Young Sect Leader and the bodyguard.
Yet to say he was tired after walking only this much?
‘That makes no sense. He could just admit his mistake.’
Yeon Chu-ryang clicked his tongue, shook his head, and turned away.
Following the Agency Lord’s instructions, a few porters diligently changed the carriage wheel.
Namgung Cheon approached and added a word for no reason.
“It must be very hard, so take your time.”
As he kept looking back even then, Yun Jong-seung approached his side and asked.
“What do you keep glancing at? Are you waiting for someone?”
“Waiting? What would I be waiting for! Do I look like such a wicked guy to you?”
As he flared up and questioned him, Yun Jong-seung wore a blank look for a moment.
Does he not know that he is wicked?
Concealing his thoughts, Yun Jong-seung scratched his head and said.
“No, just… because you keep looking back.”
“I’m guarding the surroundings.”
“Uh… okay.”
Yun Jong-seung replied with a somewhat skeptical expression.
Regardless of that, Namgung Cheon stared intently at the path they had traveled and fell into thought.
‘Ah, those bastards. They are appearing damn late. Did they not get beaten enough? Should I have visited the Three Peaks Sect that day and really run wild?’
If he had, wouldn’t they be chasing after them tenaciously by now, grinding their teeth?
Whether the Three Peaks Sect or the Black Mountain Stronghold appeared, Namgung Cheon planned to run toward the Demon Elixir Valley under the pretext of taking cover.
And taking advantage of the confusion that broke out near the Demon Elixir Valley…
‘I will slip into the Demon Elixir Valley all by myself.’
Namgung Cheon smiled vacantly for no reason, feeling good just thinking about it.
However, even after a half-hour passed, no one appeared to raid the cargo.
At this rate, they might completely exit the canyon and arrive at a village.
If that happened, they would grow increasingly distant from the Demon Elixir Valley.
‘That would be troublesome…’
Namgung Cheon, resting his chin on his hand, suddenly asked Yun Jong-seung.
“Why isn’t the Black Mountain Stronghold showing up?”
“Ref? Well… because we didn’t go the route we usually take?”
“Even so, there is no way the stronghold would miss the transport when they know about it. Besides, according to my intuition, the Black Mountain Stronghold and the Three Peaks Sect…”
“And the Three Peaks Sect?”
“Never mind. Since it’s nothing certain. Why isn’t the Three Peaks Sect chasing us?”
“Is that also because the transport didn’t take the route we always take, so they can’t catch up?”
“Hey! If they are that stupid, they shouldn’t even step foot into the Jianghu!”
As Namgung Cheon suddenly roared, Yun Jong-seung pulled his neck in like a turtle and replied.
“Why are you raising your voice at me? And this route was your suggestion in the first place.”
“Even so… Hmm… it’s strange.”
“Anyone looking would think you are wishing for them to attack.”
“Who said that? Which bastard?”
As Namgung Cheon flared up for no reason again, Yun Jong-seung quickly calmed him.
“No, it’s just a figure of speech.”
As another quarter-hour passed, the wheel replacement was finished, and Yi Sa-heum shouted.
“Now, we set off again!”
“Wait a moment!”
As Namgung Cheon raised his hand and shouted, Yi Sa-heum frowned.
“What is it?”
“Uh… mm… shouldn’t we check if the wheel rolls properly?”
“It is fine. Such things are common, so we possess sufficient skill.”
“Uh… still, as the saying goes, even tap a stone bridge before crossing…”
“We set off!”
Yi Sa-heum did not reply further and turned around.
*Rattle… rattle…*
As the carriage set off again, the transport continued.
‘Damn it, why aren’t these sluggish bastards coming?’
Namgung Cheon was on the verge of visiting the stronghold directly at this rate.
Had they moved about ten zhang?
“So it is the Jangheung Escort Agency! Did you think our stronghold would not find you if you took a detour?”
A voice infused with internal energy resounded loudly through the canyon.
As the people of the transport turned pale and raised their heads, did a large number of Black Mountain Stronghold martial artists not reveal themselves on the hill?
The Black Mountain Stronghold, which Namgung Cheon had waited and waited for so long, had finally appeared. Their headcount seemed to easily exceed three times the size of the transport.
“Oh! You have finally appeared!”
As Namgung Cheon brightened up unconsciously, not only the escorts but even the Black Mountain Stronghold martial artists frowned.
‘ ?’
Ignoring the brief thought, the Black Mountain Stronghold Leader, Gang Sang-do, curved his mouth and shouted.
“Teach manners to those who looked down on our stronghold!”
“Understood!”
The stronghold martial artists replied in unison and began to shoot arrows.
*Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!*
Slicing through the air, a swarm of arrows flew in darkly.
“Block them!”
The escorts and the Biyue Sect martial artists rose in unison and began to strike away the pouring arrows.
The cadets also stepped forward without hesitation and struck away the arrows.
Seeing them cope quite resolutely, perhaps because they had all experienced a real battle once, Yi Sa-heum was internally relieved.
‘They aren’t a burden.’
It was at that moment.
An escort from the rear ran over and shouted.
“Agency Lord! It seems the Three Peaks Sect has chased us!”
“The Three Peaks Sect, in the end?”
As Yeon Chu-ryang asked back in surprise, Yi Sa-heum calmed him down.
“Even so, doesn’t the Three Peaks Sect advocate a righteous sect? Perhaps it is a good thing. Might they not help us?”
“If so, it would be a relief…”
In the meantime, the Black Mountain Stronghold, having run down the hill, filled the front and narrowed the distance.
Finally, the Three Peaks Sect martial artists were seen running over in the distance. As soon as they identified the escort agency, they stopped their steps with relaxed expressions.
“Biyue Sect Leader! Did you think you would be safe if you fled after evading my duel?”
At the words shouted with a lion’s roar, Yeon Chu-ryang stepped forward and replied.
“We did not evade the duel! It was an unavoidable choice because the transport date overlapped! I shamelessly ask the Three Peaks Sect Leader here! Since our sect and the Jangheung Escort Agency have met the Black Mountain Stronghold and seem likely to struggle, if you temporarily delay the duel and help us, we will never forget that favor!”
“Hahahahaha!”
Do Ji-baek suddenly burst into laughter and asked with a somewhat malicious expression.
“Why should I do that?”
“What?”
“Of course, the reason I rushed here is to help the Biyue Sect and save the Jangheung Escort Agency.”
“Oh! Thank…”
“However, our sect failed.”
At Do Ji-baek’s incomprehensible words, Yeon Chu-ryang and Yi Sa-heum tilted their heads and looked at each other.
Do Ji-baek continued speaking with a fishy smile.
“Our sect tried to help you two, but unfortunately, we arrived a little late and could not save you. Instead, we had no choice but to declare that we would defeat the Black Mountain Stronghold and establish a new escort agency in Guilin.”
He was speaking of events that hadn’t even occurred yet as if they were in the past.
Having grasped his hidden intention, Yeon Chu-ryang’s and Yi Sa-heum’s expressions stiffened.
Unable to watch any longer, Yi Sa-heum stepped forward and roared.
“How can you utter such nonsense!”
But Do Ji-baek did not stop his sarcasm.
“Then why did you do that?”
“What?”
“It is your fault for purposely seeking out the Biyue Sect and entrusting them with requests three times.”
“Such…! To do such a thing while wearing human skin… Are you even human!”
“Hey, Agency Lord. You seem to be missing something. The reason I am doing this is not because I am a monster in human skin. I am doing this because I am human. Do you still not know humans that well?”
“……!”
Yeon Chu-ryang’s and Yi Sa-heum’s expressions hardened completely, and this time, the Black Mountain Stronghold Leader, Gang Sang-do, let out a husky laugh from behind them.
“Kekeke. Are you finished talking? For that reason, you all must be buried here.”
“Tsk!”
Yeon Chu-ryang gripped his sword anew and clicked his tongue.
He hadn’t expected to complete the transport mission without incident in the first place.
He had figured that interference would come from somewhere, whether from the Black Mountain Stronghold or the Three Peaks Sect.
Still, it was true that he had harbored a slight expectation after hearing Yi Sa-heum’s words.
Since the Three Peaks Sect aimed to be a righteous sect, might they not join forces for now and fight the Black Mountain Stronghold together?
However, it was a futile expectation.
Looking at it now, wasn’t it already a situation where the Three Peaks Sect and the Black Mountain Stronghold had joined hands?
It was unknown since when they had joined hands, but could all the series of events that had occurred in the meantime not have been a joint effort of the two organizations?
‘Damn it! This is the worst. Since things have turned out this way, I wish I could save at least the cadets…’
*Swoosh!*
At that moment, an arrow flew toward Yeon Chu-ryang’s forehead, tearing through the air.
*Bam!*
Immediately after, a hot wind seemed to rise, and did the arrow not stop right before Yeon Chu-ryang’s eyes?
‘, …… ?’
Surprisingly, the one who caught the arrow was none other than Namgung Cheon.
Not only Yeon Chu-ryang but also Yi Sa-heum beside him and Do Ji-baek, who had shot the arrow, widened their eyes.
Namgung Cheon snapped the arrow with one hand and raised the corners of his mouth.
“Ah, I was anxious for nothing. I was thoroughly scared that the Three Peaks Sect might join forces with us to fight.”
No, that was not something to be scared of. It was something to welcome.