Chapter 180: Suspicious

“Uncle.”

“What is it?”

“It’s just a sudden thought… but don’t you think I’m somehow being left out?”

Tang Sa-yeon, who was grinding herbs diligently at the branch family of the Sichuan Tang Clan established in Samyang County, grumbled toward her uncle, Tang Jo-yang.

Because it was a somewhat sensitive topic, Tang Jo-yang, who carefully organized his thoughts, said suggestively:

“Didn’t you say you would focus on what you can do best because you seem to be lacking in appearance, martial arts, and popularity compared to those you have to compete with?”

“That… was true! But the important person is not here, you know!!”

Tang Jo-yang sighed and coaxed Tang Sa-yeon, who was throwing a tantrum.

“What can we do if the conditions don’t allow it? Still, it is clear that you have set your direction well, so work hard as you are doing now. Since he recognized your effort, didn’t Young Hero Yeon teach you that?”

The medicine Tang Sa-yeon was currently making was a spiritual medicine made with a recipe taught by Yeon Cheong-un.

Moreover, it was said to be Bian Que’s secret method.

Although it was not easily believed, they could not treat what Yeon Cheong-un said as a lie.

As a result of succeeding in manufacturing after several trials and errors, it was indeed a spiritual medicine.

“Well, that… I was happy when I obtained this, but…”

If one took it steadily, one’s body would become healthy and one’s qi and blood would become tough.

Moreover, since it was not difficult to obtain the ingredients, it could be made more easily compared to other spiritual medicines.

Although it was not the type of spiritual medicine like Shaolin’s Great Returning Pill or Wudang’s Great Pure Pill, from which one obtained decades of cultivation by eating just one, in some aspects, it was better than that.

For a martial artist, a tough qi and blood meant that a foundation to move energy more easily was established.

Therefore, a constitution with tough and sturdy Eight Extraordinary Meridians became a great talent in learning martial arts.

As a spiritual medicine to assist training in raising newcomers, it was safe to evaluate it as a priceless treasure than which there was nothing better.

This was the guarantee of Jang Mun-gyeong, who had a fanatic side toward martial arts.

In fact, most of the spiritual medicines currently being made were requested by Jang Mun-gyeong.

Circumstantially, it was clear that they were being used by Jang Mun-gyeong himself as well as in the Bright Fate Escort Agency.

“Young Hero Yeon, whom I have watched all this time, is not a heartless person, so if you work hard, he will recognize it someday.”

“Sigh…”

Tang Sa-yeon sighed and ground the herbs again.

Leaving Tang Sa-yeon’s disheartened appearance behind, Tang Jo-yang, who walked outside, also let out a deep sigh.

“Sigh… It is a problem even when a person is too outstanding.”

Tang Jo-yang grumbled alone, having walked far outside the village.

Although he had comforted Tang Sa-yeon nicely as her uncle, Tang Jo-yang also understood his niece’s feelings.

It had to be so, because even Tang Jo-yang, who prided himself as quite an expert in the Tang Clan, felt small here in Samyang County more than once or twice.

It was shocking enough with only the Pale-handed Divine Demon, who was one of the Three Non-Mortal Marvels, but when he faced the Vajra Iron Demonic Sovereign, who was a peerless expert of the Demonic Cult, he even thought he was dead now.

He seriously contemplated fleeing in the middle of the night but soon gave up.

Because if he accidentally offended their feelings, it was a force that was more than capable of destroying even the clan to silence him.

He had resolved to endure any humiliation, but what came back was a recipe for a spiritual medicine of immense value.

He wondered if it was a kind of test, but Yeon Cheong-un felt sorry instead, as if he were asking a difficult favor.

Did he say that if even one more outstanding expert emerged in the orthodox faction, it would be a great fortune for the Martial World?

And then, as if embarrassed, he smiled brightly, making a ‘joke’: ‘If someone reaches the realm of an immortal like Wudang Sect’s Master Zhang Sanfeng with my help someday, it will be very rewarding.’

“Whether he has a grand scale or a unique ambition…”

He is indeed a great man.

Each and every person gathering around him is also far from ordinary.

Therefore, Tang Jo-yang was convinced.

“This place will surely become great.”

The connections following Yeon Cheong-un coexisted and harmonized among the orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic.

Yeon Cheong-un was a talent harboring the possibility of opening a new era.

If things went well, this Samyang County might become the capital of a massive force leading the future.

“Hmm?”

In the sight of Tang Jo-yang, who was lost in thought while tracing the possibilities of the far future, a considerable group was seen approaching.

It was a scale dozens of times larger than the Baek Family Escort that had headed to Mount Tianzi.

“Who are they… Young Hero Yeon?”

Tang Jo-yang, who prepared to respond by holding hidden weapons in his hand in a familiar manner, discovered Yeon Cheong-un’s figure at the front of the group.

Seeing them coming together, it seemed they were not enemies, but somehow the attire of those who spread out like a background was too unruly.

No matter who looked, those were mountain bandits.

“Ah? Uncle Tang. What brings you out here?”

“Just to get some fresh air… No, more importantly, who on earth are they…”

“It seems Uncle Baek is going to do some business. So you can view these people as business partners.”

“…Business partners?”

Tang Jo-yang seriously contemplated whether the word ‘business partner’ had gained a different meaning without his knowledge.

If it was someone Yeon Cheong-un called Uncle Baek, it was indeed Baek Jin-seong, the Chief of the Baek Family Escort.

For the chief of an escort agency to partner with these people, who were clearly a Green Forest gang?

Did he plan to change his line of business?

Or was Baek Jin-seong actually a spy of the Green Forest?

Although it was nonsense, this Samyang County was a place where such nonsense became reality.

Let alone that Baek Jin-seong’s eldest daughter was the Pale-handed Divine Demon, the legend of the unorthodox path.

“Do not think too complicatedly. It seems Uncle Baek also has his own thoughts.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, well. In fact, this is also a number that has decreased quite a bit.”

“Hmm… It wasn’t something I particularly wanted to know, but… I see.”

Listening to the calm Yeon Cheong-un’s words, Tang Jo-yang wondered if the strange one was himself.

“Who is this?”

At that moment, someone who appeared to be from the Green Forest gang spoke to him.

“Oh, greet him. He is an uncle from the Sichuan Tang Clan staying in our county.”

“Oh! I see! Haha! I am Dan Ya-heun, the Fortress Leader of the Dry River Fortress.”

“…I am Tang Jo-yang of the Sichuan Tang Clan.”

It was indeed the Green Forest.

Tang Jo-yang could not understand why he was calmly exchanging names with this mountain bandit.

He also could not understand why the mountain bandit, who had greeted him calmly, hugged him and laughed as if meeting a welcome acquaintance.

“Let’s get along well in the future!”

“…”

He was confused.

It seemed there was really nothing running normally in this place called Samyang County.

Feeling a serious threat to his identity, Tang Jo-yang stood in that spot for a long time, and only after consuming quite a bit of time could he finally regain his senses.

“…Will it be okay, this place?”

Tang Jo-yang, who had received a cultural shock, looked up at the far sky.

***

When Byeok Ji-sim split the Seventy-two Forts of the Green Forest in half, and when each faction killed each other at Mount Tianzi, the transport business utilizing post stations that had been initially planned was as good as ruined.

In the first place, the reason the Green Forest showed interest in the transport business using post stations was that if their numbers grew through grand integration, they would become a size that could not make a living by mountain banditry using traditional methods.

Naturally, since the Green Forest’s grand integration fell through with the outbreak of internal strife, it was normal for the business plan to be discarded as well.

Let alone that the faction attached to our side had no particular focal point.

In other words, it was enough to return to the traditional mountain bandits’ methods.

In fact, many of the fortresses that had attached to our side at Mount Tianzi scattered in that way.

However, about thirteen fortresses decided to act together with us as they were.

They were Yi Cheon-gyeong and the factions of the fortresses that had learned demonic arts, and the factions of the Thousand Mount Fortress and Dry River Fortress, as well as Ak Gun-pae, and so on.

“More gathered than I thought…”

Considering the number of people gathered, it was not a number a single escort agency could handle.

Even if we swept up all the work in the vicinity, I didn’t know if we could handle it.

In the end, it seemed we would have to execute a plan similar to the post stations.

‘Since the fortress leaders who are under the Thousand Mount or Dry River factions have fortresses based in Hubei, will it work somehow?’

Anyway, the person who would suffer to progress the business was Uncle Baek Jin-seong.

Of course, that did not mean my work was completely non-existent.

“Fortress Leader Yi.”

“Yes, Sovereign.”

Ah, it’s burdensome.

“…Young Hero.”

Recognizing my reluctant expression, Yi Cheon-gyeong quickly changed his words.

Considering that clueless appearance at Mount Tianzi, it was a giant leap forward.

‘Right, at least he didn’t call me Heavenly Demon.’

In fact, the reason Yi Cheon-gyeong bowed his head like this was because I had the way to resolve his lifelong wish.

Yi Cheon-gyeong’s wishes were two.

Returning to the Demonic Cult someday!

Restoring the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, which had started to be passed down incompletely from some point, to its complete form!

‘A lower compatibility of the Heavenly Demon Kalpaless Hand…’

The Heavenly Demon Divine Art Yi Cheon-gyeong knew was a martial art from the time Master Heavenly Demon stayed in the mortal realm.

Master Heavenly Demon also had immature times, and the martial art he refined while gradually raising his realm was the Heavenly Demon Kalpaless Hand.

‘No wonder, I wondered what kind of martial art it was to have the realm of the Way of the Heart Sword pop out from the introduction…’

However, the masters said the problem was that he had eagerly accepted what was intended merely to grasp the concept as a taste.

Anyway, since I had heard the Heavenly Demon Divine Art from the time Master Heavenly Demon called immature separately, I would be able to teach him step by step.

Also, the manufacturing of the spiritual medicine I taught the young lady of the Tang Clan would have produced results.

While transmitting the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, if I trained him in the Sixteen Forms at the same time, I would be able to grow him rapidly.

“If you just trust and follow me, you will be able to grow rapidly.”

“I will follow you!”

***

“I must return.”

This was what the Divine Monk said when he came to find me as soon as we returned to Samyang County.

“Is there some matter at Shaolin…”

“What we saw at Mount Tianzi, the leak of Shaolin’s martial arts, weighs on my mind. I must conduct an internal cleanup.”

‘The leak of that doesn’t seem to be a matter of a day or two.’

Their history was long.

The completion of the martial arts we saw at Mount Tianzi was also not something achieved in a day or two.

Probably, the theft of Shaolin’s martial arts happened a very long time ago.

As such, even if the Divine Monk turned Shaolin upside down right now, the possibility of no results was high.

However, since he spoke that way out of concern for his sect, there was no reason to throw cold water on it.

Moreover, the Divine Monk’s judgment might not be entirely wrong.

‘Since they are thorough, who knows, maybe a spy of theirs still remains in Shaolin. In fact, there was also an attempt to insert a successor who received the Blood Cult’s great art as the first disciple of the Zhongnan Sect.’

It was indeed necessary to shake them up once.

If possible, it was my honest wish that they would shake up not only Shaolin but the entire Martial World, including the Nine Great Sects.

If traces really emerged in Shaolin, it was necessary to seriously contemplate.

“If it is for that reason, I cannot hold you back. Thank you for everything. Ah! If a problem arises, please contact me. I will surely add my small strength.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The Divine Monk answered simply and turned around.

Then, around the time some distance had opened, he tossed a word:

“It was enjoyable all this time.”

Whether he had no intention of hearing a response, the Divine Monk’s body vanished smoothly from that spot.

As he was a blunt person, my heart felt empty for no reason.

However, I soon composed myself.

Because there was a lot of work to do in the future.

The weather outside was fully spring, but it seemed my good days were all gone.

While thinking about how to discipline the demonic followers, including Yi Cheon-gyeong, a voice was heard in my head.

[Will it be okay?]

It was Master Bodhidharma’s voice. Having said he was busy for a while, he seemed to have gained some leisure recently.

But suddenly, will it be okay?

“Is there a problem?”

[I am asking if it is okay to show the teaching of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art to the surroundings.]

“Uh…”

Since I was caught by Sister Seol-ah anyway, I thought it would be fine, but hearing Master Bodhidharma’s words, it seemed I had thought too lightly.

Because there were indeed many eyes gathered in Samyang County.

Although demonic followers, including Old Man Jong, had taken their place, that was merely passed over tacitly internally.

Under a state where the Divine Monk, who had played the role of deterrent(?) against the demonic followers, was absent, practicing demonic arts was an act of crossing the line.

What if the demonic followers under Yi Cheon-gyeong caused an accident?

‘It might indeed be dangerous.’

I must strictly instruct Old Man Jong to discipline them.

And I also asked Master Bodhidharma’s opinion.

“Is there some way?”

[Ahem! That is to say. What about going on a training trip for a bit and visiting Mount Kunlun? Since it is a place where few people go, it shouldn’t be difficult to find a quiet place to practice…]

“…”

‘What is this?’

I got the feeling of smelling a third-rate medicine peddler, was it an illusion?

“…I will think about it.”

[Haha. Do so.]

Somehow, Master Bodhidharma’s behavior is suspicious.