Chapter 206: I Knew It Would Be Like This (1)
Chapter 205 – I Knew It Would Be Like This (1)
“An item to deliver to Paeng Su-hyeok?”
At Bi Ryang’s question, Namgung Cheon nodded.
“Yes.”
“The Hebei Paeng Clan is currently very busy preparing for war. Is there a need to go and deliver it right now?”
“That is why I must deliver it now. Since it will be of help in the war.”
At Namgung Cheon’s calm reply, Bi Ryang paused for a moment and then turned his gaze to the others.
“What about you guys?”
Yu Hyeon, Yun Jong-seung, and Jin So-hong, who stood behind Namgung Cheon, flashed awkward smiles.
“We are just here as friends… haha.”
“Friends?”
“Actually, looking at Young Hero Namgung, there is much to learn, so I want to stick around him as much as possible.”
When Yu Hyeon confessed first, Yun Jong-seung also nodded and replied.
“I feel the same way.”
Lastly, Jin So-hong glanced at Namgung Cheon once and said.
“As a merchant’s daughter, I feel that Namgung Cheon is worth investing in. My time, effort, and even money.”
At that, Namgung Cheon shrugged his shoulders and said.
“As you heard, they are not guys I brought along. Rather, I wanted to go alone, but the trouble is they keep tag-along. If it is a problem, you can just send me.”
“No way! Please send us together!”
When the other three shouted simultaneously, Bi Ryang rested his clasped hands on his chin and fell into thought.
“Hm. Do you guys know that all the Alliance’s manpower is currently gathering in Yunnan?”
“We know.”
“Right. The Heavenly Brain Hall believes that the unorthodox forces will gather in Yunnan and then strike upward. All circumstances point that way.”
Namgung Cheon nodded.
That would be so.
For if Ryu Nan had really stepped forward, he would have prepared meticulously enough to deceive the Heavenly Brain Hall.
Besides, is there not the Forbidden City in Beijing, where the Hebei Paeng Clan is located?
Although there was an unwritten rule of mutual non-aggression between the government and the Martial World, it must have been the Heavenly Brain Hall’s judgment that unless one was incredibly bold, it would be difficult to engage in sword fights in the front yard of the Forbidden City where the emperor resided.
The more it was so, the more Namgung Cheon’s conviction tilted toward Hebei.
‘Yunnan is a distraction.’
But unexpectedly, the same words flowed from Bi Ryang’s mouth.
“Yunnan is a distraction.”
“……?”
“That is what I think.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean I think they will strike down from Hebei.”
“Why?”
“Just a hunch.”
“A hunch…?”
Namgung Cheon furrowed his brow slightly.
A mere hunch.
What kind of hunch was so certain that it even contradicted the decision of the Heavenly Brain Hall?
Well, having active in the Secret Line Division and experienced numerous actual battles at the boundary of life and death, his instincts could have developed a lot.
Even so, in the case of such assumptions, there was usually some basis for making the judgment.
Bi Ryang smirked and stated the basis.
“Do you remember Yeo Sin-woo, whom we fought near Guilin?”
“I remember. Naturally.”
“Right. If something were to happen in Yunnan, it is highly likely he would have led everything. But the man I saw did not seem to be making such preparations. Should I say he was overly relaxed to be viewed as someone who would personally do something right before a major event?”
“Now that you mention it, that is true.”
“Of course, this is not definitive proof. My guess could be wrong. But there have not been many times when my hunch was wrong.”
Indeed.
Most of those with genius talents possessed excellent instincts. Therefore, it was also easy for such people to seize opportunities.
Those who did not know well would merely think they were lucky, but there was a habit of not overlooking even the most minor details.
‘Or, even if you lived your whole life walking on eggshells like me, your five senses would develop.’
Namgung Cheon suppressed his inner thoughts and asked.
“But does that become a problem?”
“Geez, what were you listening to? Of course it is a problem. If my hunch is correct, the unorthodox forces will strike Hebei. Then the place you want to go will become extremely dangerous.”
“We will be as careful as possible.”
Bi Ryang smirked.
“You? You will be careful?”
“Well, I can be careful.”
“Hey, you are not a person who will be careful. It will be a relief if you do not cause more trouble.”
“My, my. You really do not trust people.”
“Besides, the bigger problem is that I cannot go with you guys.”
That is not a problem, though.
Still, since he was curious about the reason, he asked.
“Why?”
“An order came down from the Alliance. Even the cadets must go to Yunnan.”
Reflecting on this, Jin So-hong tilted her head.
“Is that not too late? If we set out now, it seems we will only arrive after the battle is completely over.”
“Probably. But that too will be a learning experience. The more casualties there are, the more work there is to do right after the battle.”
“But you said Yunnan is a distraction?”
“Even so, there will be a battle. They cannot deceive the Heavenly Brain Hall without anything happening.”
This time, Yun Jong-seung abruptly stepped forward.
“Then are we going back to Yunnan? It has not been long since we returned from Guangxi Province, so it is a bit disheartening.”
Since Yunnan and Guangxi were located right next to each other, it was understandable for the cadets to feel this way.
Bi Ryang shrugged and replied.
“Actually, it is not very difficult to send only you guys separately to Hebei at my discretion. It is just that if something happens there as I expect, it could be too dangerous. Besides, I cannot go with you.”
“Then you should send us all the more!”
When Yun Jong-seung raised his voice after a long time, everyone turned to look at him.
“According to you, Instructor, Paeng Su-hyeok is in danger too. Should someone not go to Hebei?”
“Hm.”
Bi Ryang let out a low groan and shook his head inwardly.
‘Ugh. I shouldn’t have said it.’
Even the cadets, who had followed Namgung Cheon without much thought, now wore somewhat stubborn expressions.
Had a sense of solidarity formed among the cadets through their past journey?
Right then, Namgung Cheon opened his mouth.
“I hope you do not turn us into greenhouse flowers because of a pledge you made on your own.”
Although he used the term ‘us,’ to be precise, it was directed at himself. Because Namgung Cheon had heard Bi Ryang’s pledge while returning to the Alliance some time ago.
For Bi Ryang, he might be trying to make up for feeling indebted to Jin Cheon-rang in this way, but…
‘It is rather troublesome.’
Namgung Cheon stared intently into Bi Ryang’s eyes and finished speaking.
“Because no one wants that.”
The gazes of the two remained entangled in the air for a long time.
In the end, Bi Ryang let out a sigh.
“Fine. I will send you guys to Hebei. Be careful instead.”
“We will keep that in mind!”
The cadets replied in a thunderous voice.
* * *
The half-white middle-aged man was a person with a gentle and charming smile. Even his posture of leaning back in his chair and putting both feet on the desk looked likable.
A man who exuded a strangely mysterious atmosphere.
While listening to his subordinate’s report, he gradually turned expressionless.
Yet even that appearance seemed somewhat melancholy.
“That is all.”
When the subordinate finally finished reporting, he let out a low groan and opened his mouth.
“Hmm. The captives from the branch?”
“They have all been locked up in the dungeon.”
“I see. Bring the letter here.”
“Yes, Valley Leader.”
Replying politely, the subordinate walked to the office desk and handed over the letter in his hand.
The man called Valley Leader unfolded the letter and read it for a long time.
Although the words were short, he kept reading them repeatedly. Only after a long time did he shrug as if admitting it and mutter.
“The elixirs of the Demonic Pill Valley were a failure in the end.”
“But we succeeded in making the Martial Alliance gather in Yunnan.”
“It should be so.”
Valley Leader smiled gently, nodded, and continued speaking.
“The Yellow Crane Tower also failed, but this place succeeded.”
He turned his gaze and looked to the side.
Beside the office desk, another middle-aged man was bound tightly with capturing ropes and groaning. He was struggling as if he wanted to say something.
Valley Leader watched quietly and then casually shot out a finger gust.
Pook! Pook-pook!
“Keo-heok!”
Only then did the man, whose speech was restored, pant heavily and pour out his words.
“What do you want? Do you know where this place is to do such a thing…!”
“The Martial Alliance Hebei Branch. And you are the Hebei Branch Leader, Paeng Jin-ak.”
“Knowing that, yet…!”
“So you should be even more nervous.”
“……!”
“In other words, we are not acting blindly without knowing anything, but committing these acts while knowing very well.”
“Does that mean you intend to wage a war against the Martial Alliance!”
“You are slower to grasp the situation than I thought. I assumed an instruction from the Alliance had already come down by now.”
Paeng Jin-ak clenched his molars tightly.
An instruction from the Martial Alliance had indeed come down.
However, the Alliance was focusing on Yunnan rather than Hebei.
Thus, he had been somewhat complacent.
Yet, only two shichen after the incident occurred, the Hebei Branch was occupied.
Even though they had finished preparations in their own way to brace for contingencies, they were helplessly defeated.
Paeng Jin-ak asked with a growl.
“Who the hell are you?”
“Hmm, we should introduce ourselves. I am the Valley Leader of Black Mist Valley, Ryu Nan.”
“Ryu Nan…”
“It seems the Paeng Clan is still dominant here in Hebei. I heard their power was once quite weakened, to the point of not even being included among the Seven Great Clans.”
“Because this is Hebei. However, the Jianghu is wide. It will be troublesome for you if you look down on the Martial Alliance just because you occupied the Hebei Branch. As you said, my family is not even at the level of the Seven Great Clans. This Alliance is far greater.”
“Fine words.”
Ryu Nan nodded, picked up a liquor bottle resting on one side of the desk, and filled a cup.
Pour, pour, pour…
Ryu Nan brought the liquor cup to Paeng Jin-ak’s mouth.
“Drink.”
Without refusing, Paeng Jin-ak accepted and drank it with just his mouth.
The burning strong liquor was felt going down the esophagus into his stomach.
Ryu Nan filled the cup again, took a sip himself, and spoke.
“It seems you have a wife and children.”
“You despicable bastards! Touching my family…!”
“Do not get ahead of yourself. I did not say I would touch your family.”
“Then what are you trying to say!”
“I will give you a chance to choose.”
“A choice?”
“As you can see, we have now emerged in the Jianghu. We intend to make the existence of Black Mist Valley known to the world. Hebei is merely the beginning.”
“……!”
“We will gradually expand our influence. That being said, we need a symbol of Black Mist Valley’s emergence, so I am thinking of doing one of two things.”
“If it is one of two things?”
“I might burn down the branch. In that case, all the martial artists of the branch locked in the dungeon will die. Instead, I will let the branch leader go alive. So that you can report in detail what happened here.”
“What is the other one?”
“I might decapitate the branch leader and send it to the Alliance.”
“……!”
“Choose. I will grant it as you wish.”
“You bastard…! Why are you playing such games…!”
“A game. I suppose you could think of it that way. However, this is no trivial game.”
“Then what meaning does this have!”
Instantly, Ryu Nan looked at Paeng Jin-ak with a calm expression. Because that gaze seemed benevolent at a glance, Paeng Jin-ak felt a truly strange sensation.
“If you save the lives of your subordinates, it will be a warning that we must not take the Alliance lightly. For it will mean that people with their own convictions still exist in the Alliance. However, if you wish to burn all your subordinates to death and survive alone, then is the Alliance not rotten to the core after all? If you would drive all your subordinates to their deaths just to save your own life… such an organization will collapse without even needing effort.”
“In short… you will gauge the level of the Alliance through my answer?”
“Well, that is not all, but please think of it as a combined purpose.”
Ryu Nan wore a faint smile.
Because that smile was so peaceful, it was to the extent of temporarily forgetting the current situation.
Ryu Nan opened his mouth.
“Now, it is your turn to answer. Will you warn us? Or will you induce complacency? Show us the level of the Alliance.”
Paeng Jin-ak ground his molars hard.
* * *
Zhengding County, Hebei.
“Let’s rest at that tavern today.”
At Yu Hyeon’s words, Yun Jong-seung and Jin So-hong looked back at Namgung Cheon with somewhat earnest eyes.
Seriously, they had no memory of resting properly since leaving Wuhan. Though that itself served as training, their bodies were at the point of dying.
Namgung Cheon looked up at the night sky for a moment and nodded.
“Let’s do that. Let’s set out early tomorrow morning.”
Only then did the other cadets also let out sighs of relief.
It was just when the four of them were about to enter the tavern.
Thump.
Yu Hyeon, who happened to bump shoulders with someone leaving the tavern, bowed his head and apologized.
“I am sorry.”
“…….”
However, the other party did not even reply and kept walking with a bundle on his back.
Just as he was passing Namgung Cheon like that.
“Freeze.”
Namgung Cheon called and stopped the man with the bundle.