Chapter 181: The Next Best Option (1)
Chapter 180 – The Next Best Option (1)
“There is a survivor here!”
When a porter shouted, the escorts rushed over.
Clamor arose from everywhere.
Groans, screams, shouts, and cries were mixed together in confusion.
“Hey! We need a stretcher here too!”
“It’s urgent here too, so hurry!”
The scene was indeed so hectic that one’s soul seemed to drift away.
Yeon Chu-ryang, the Master of the Biwol Sect, gave instructions endlessly.
“Examine all of our wounded without exception! Exclude those in critical condition from the escort party and transfer them straight to the nearest clinic!”
“What should we do with the surviving enemies?”
“Leave them be, whether they live or die!”
Yeon Chu-ryang directed coldly.
Under normal circumstances, his nature would have made him treat even enemies, but this time, their own casualties were not light.
In the first place, did they even have a justification? He eagerly wished to search for every single breathing enemy to deliver a finishing blow, but he was suppressing it.
‘There is no need to go out of my way to find and kill them, but I am not so full of affection as to save those in critical condition!’
Wearing a cold expression, Yeon Chu-ryang raised his voice again.
“I repeat! Treat the injured allies, and transfer the critically ill straight to the nearest clinic! Do not concern yourselves with the Three Peaks Sect and Black Mountain Stronghold fellows!”
The loss of combat power was severe.
They could not drag the wounded along as prisoners either.
Not only was there no particular use for them, but they would only waste food and slow down their movement speed.
While Yeon Chu-ryang was tending to the wounded and reorganizing the martial artists, Yi Sa-heum, the Chief of the Jangheung Escort Agency, checked each wagon one by one to see if there were any missing goods.
As he approached the porters in charge of the last wagon, a cargo handler came forward, bowed, and reported.
“Sixth Squad, no issues.”
“I see. Well done. You aren’t hurt anywhere?”
“Fortunately, it’s just light wounds.”
“I see. We will leave soon, so prepare.”
“Yes, Chief.”
Only then did Yi Sa-heum breathe a sigh of relief and approach Yeon Chu-ryang.
“Since our combat strength has dropped severely, I plan to set off immediately. What do you think?”
“That is fine. The lightly wounded will join us as they are, and the severely injured will be sent to the clinic. Although the speed will slow down a bit due to the reduced manpower, it seems we will still arrive on time.”
Yi Sa-heum nodded at Yeon Chu-ryang’s reply.
“That’s a relief. It really could have been disastrous.”
“Are there no missing goods?”
“Yes. Fortunately, we found some of the missing goods again nearby.”
“That is a relief.”
Yeon Chu-ryang nodded and looked around at the surroundings once more.
Coincidentally, the cadets were gathered over there, talking.
In fact, the cadets were currently holding a heated debate over whether Namgung Cheon and a few other cadets had really been in the canyon throughout the battle.
“You were really fighting the entire time?”
The one asking with an expression of complete disbelief was Yun Jong-seung.
Namgung Cheon shrugged his shoulders and replied slyly.
“I said so. We fought risking our lives.”
“But how did we not see you at all?”
This time, Jin So-hong expressed pure curiosity.
Murong Gang, who stood far apart with folded arms, tossed out words indifferently.
“Hmph! Maybe you ran away somewhere and just returned.”
“My, how can you not trust a person’s words? It’s just that you guys couldn’t track my movements with your eyes.”
As Namgung Cheon replied with his chin raised, Murong Gang wore a dumbfounded expression.
Unable to watch any longer, Paeng Su-hyeok also stepped forward.
“Hey! Look at our state! Can’t you see we suffered to the point of dying?”
Indeed, the cadets who had entered the royal tomb and come out, including Namgung Cheon, were all covered in white dust and blood.
Yun Gyeong, who was listening quietly, nodded and said.
“Certainly, judging by your appearance, it looks as though you fought in another world.”
“Whoa! What do you mean another world! Do you think we fought dead people or something? I said absolutely no such thing happened!”
At Paeng Su-hyeok’s precarious remark, Namgung Cheon and Yu Hyeon flinched and checked the reactions of the other cadets.
‘Ah, I can’t even sew that simpleton’s mouth shut.’
Fortunately, Yun Gyeong also seemed to brush off Paeng Su-hyeok’s words as mere chatter.
Just then, Yeon Chu-ryang was walking with large strides toward them. Following behind him was Yi Sa-heum.
Namgung Cheon let out a light sigh.
‘What is it now? Are those two trying to question us too?’
However, Yeon Chu-ryang’s reaction upon drawing close was completely different from Namgung Cheon’s thoughts.
Salute!
Suddenly, Yeon Chu-ryang took a cupped-fist posture and spoke loudly.
“Young Master Namgung! I have received a great favor from you! Thank you very much!”
“Ah…”
“I underestimated you! Had it not been for you, the one who lost in this battle would probably have been our side! Today, I realized and learned a lot through you. Please forgive my past mistakes!”
I was tense for nothing.
Only then did Namgung Cheon ease his mind, waving his hand as he spoke.
“No need to go that far. Originally, when people live, they often fail to recognize an extraordinary person even if he is right beside them. How fortunate that you realized it now? Hahaha!”
As Namgung Cheon laughed heartily, Yeon Chu-ryang smiled faintly.
If anyone else had said such a thing, it would have been considered arrogance that knew no humility.
However, Yeon Chu-ryang found Namgung Cheon charming no matter what he said at this moment.
Just then, Yi Sa-heum, who stood beside Yeon Chu-ryang, also cupped his fists and said loudly.
“Young Master Namgung. I must apologize as well. I too underestimated you. My eyes for reading people were severely lacking. Please forgive me. And I sincerely thank you for preventing a disaster today.”
“Don’t mention it. Are there no missing items?”
“For now, it seems there are none. Your strategy seems to have worked perfectly from beginning to end.”
“Then that is a relief. What did I tell you? I said the path is good.”
Namgung Cheon grinned, looking toward where the royal tomb was inside the rock wall.
* * *
“Dammit!”
Boom!
As Gang Sang-do, the Chief of the Black Mountain Stronghold, threw a fist along with a curse, a crack split a large boulder, which soon broke apart and collapsed.
Thud!
Gang Sang-do, whose shoulders were trembling, quickly turned around at a presence he suddenly felt. The one who landed behind him was none other than Do Ji-baek, the Leader of the Three Peaks Sect.
Do Ji-baek looked at the shattered rock and clicked his tongue.
“Tsk… why take it out on an innocent rock…”
“Had I not broken the rock, I would have broken something else!”
Gang Sang-do shouted angrily at Do Ji-baek.
Do Ji-baek frowned slightly.
“Chief Gang. Let us not cross the line.”
“Hmph! It seems we have already crossed the line too much for that! What will we do about this massive damage? Forty percent of my stronghold’s martial artists have been lost!”
“My sect also lost about that much.”
“That is not my fault! Aren’t you the one who made this plan in the first place?”
“Chief Gang! Is now the time to argue over who is right and wrong? If you didn’t like the plan, you shouldn’t have joined! You agreed to it back then, and now you want to hold me responsible because you suffered losses?”
As Do Ji-baek stiffened his expression, Gang Sang-do did not back down either, growling in a low voice.
“Shouldn’t you have at least grasped how powerful their martial force was?”
“No plan can be perfect. Surely you cannot deny that the Black Mountain Stronghold has made handsome profits with the help of my sect in the meantime? Is it your doing when it succeeds, but someone else’s fault when it fails?”
“Leader Do!”
“Do not address me so casually! You are just a fellow leading a band of thieves!”
“What? Do you want to die!”
Boom!
At that moment, internal energy exploded from both of their bodies. With just that, the two slid back a couple of steps from their standing positions. Their robes swelled up as if to tear.
Rumble!
Their gazes, mixed even with killing intent, entangled complexly in the air. The fight of momentum, as tense as a thread about to snap, was settled as Gang Sang-do took a step back.
“Tch! While it is true that my stronghold benefited from your sect, it is also true that your sect benefited from my stronghold! You must make up for today’s losses by any means!”
“And isn’t that why I went to check on their movements?”
“So? Is there still a way?”
Do Ji-baek stared at Gang Sang-do and chuckled.
He pulled a statue the size of a forearm out of his tunic. It was the figure of a Buddha sitting cross-legged, with three lotus flowers blooming behind his back.
Gang Sang-do frowned.
“What is this?”
“The Three-Lotus Seated Buddha Statue. It is the most important of the goods transported by the Jangheung Escort Agency.”
“Why is that here…?”
“When the battle broke out, I told the First Peak Captain to secure this item immediately. I instructed him to focus his attack there, as it would surely be hidden in the most tightly secured place.”
“Then the First Peak Captain did that…”
Do Ji-baek twisted the corners of his mouth.
“Yes. Those fellows won’t realize that setting off smoke bombs was actually a mistake on their part. By now, they either don’t know the Three-Lotus Seated Buddha Statue has disappeared, or they are frantic trying to find the missing Buddha statue, one of the two.”
“Haha!”
“Do you understand now? All plans are bound to go awry. That is why one must keep a backup plan for the backup plan in mind.”
Only then did Gang Sang-do, whose anger had subsided to some extent, fold his arms and ask.
“Then what do you plan to do from now on?”
“What else. We must go straight to the Wuzhou Merchant Association.”
The Wuzhou Merchant Association was a merchant group located in the southern Wuzhou region and was of quite a large scale in Guangxi Province; it was also the destination for the goods of the Jangheung Escort Agency.
Do Ji-baek turned to Gang Sang-do and said.
“So don’t get too excited and let’s resolve this well. I am saying we haven’t lost yet. If this backup plan succeeds, I will give you half of the profits.”
“Hmm. Understood. But this time, let me go with you.”
“Together? For what reason?”
“I will just watch from the side. Shouldn’t I know how the situation turns out?”
“If Chief Gang’s identity is exposed…”
“Can’t I just use a human skin mask?”
“Hmm.”
Do Ji-baek groaned for a moment and soon nodded.
“Well, fine. Chief Gang has at least that much right.”
Do Ji-baek and Gang Sang-do faced each other, letting a despicable smile rise on their lips.
* * *
Chae Seon-il, the Owner of the Wuzhou Merchant Association, looked out the window while fanning himself continuously.
“Was it today? The day the Jangheung Escort Agency arrives.”
“Yes, they must arrive before the sun sets today.”
“Should I have commissioned another escort agency after all? Somehow, I feel very uneasy.”
“There isn’t really an escort agency to entrust it to anyway, is there? Please trust them and wait for now.”
The chief administrator spoke in a respectful voice to soothe him.
However, he too could not completely erase his uneasy mind.
The Jangheung Escort Agency had already lost goods and returned empty-handed twice. He was also the one who had strongly argued back then that they should sever ties with the Jangheung Escort Agency.
However, there was no suitable escort agency to commission. Since the Jangheung Escort Agency was the only one active in Guilin.
“How about we open an escort agency ourselves instead?”
At Chae Seon-il’s words, the chief administrator wore a bitter smile.
“The risk factor called the Black Mountain Stronghold is too great for that. According to what I’ve looked into, a new sect has emerged in Guilin, and that place is said to be reliable.”
“A new sect…?”
“I heard it is called the Three Peaks Sect. They have expanded their influence a lot recently, and are said to be larger than the local Biwol Sect.”
“Then it would be safer to entrust the escort’s protection to them.”
“That is not so simple either, as the Jangheung Escort Chief and the Biwol Sect Master are on close terms…”
“Good grief! A merchant driven by affection rather than money! He lacks the basics! Isn’t this a matter where one must weigh utility?”
“Well, if they fail this time too, the Jangheung Escort Agency will snap out of it.”
“Snap out of it? At that point, I won’t even look at the Jangheung Escort Agency! No, it might actually be a way to acquire the Jangheung Escort Agency and hand its operation over to the Three Peaks Sect.”
“That would be a method indeed. It seems the Three Peaks Sect, which is growing its influence, would also welcome it.”
“However, that is a story for later. Receiving the items is more important than anything today. Since it is hot and they might be exhausted from traveling a long distance, prepare plenty of food.”
Although Chae Seon-il was ruthless when it came to calculation, he was also someone who at least knew how to observe commercial ethics.
“Yes, I will prepare it.”
The chief administrator bowed deeply and left.
While Chae Seon-il paced alone in the empty room, the chief administrator who had left returned and reported.
“Owner. You should come out for a moment.”
“Hmm?”
As Chae Seon-il turned around, a look of fluster was on the chief administrator’s face.
“A visitor has arrived.”
“A visitor? Has the Jangheung Escort Agency arrived already?”
“No. That is…”
“…?”
“The Sect Leader of the Three Peaks Sect has come to visit.”
“…!”