Chapter 104: Chapter 104
Ma Yong-seok hurriedly followed behind Cheon Woo-jin.
He had not expected him to actually make the decision to go to the Green Forest single-handedly.
“Alliance Member Cheon!”
Ma Yong-seok stopped Cheon Woo-jin in his tracks.
At that, Cheon Woo-jin looked at him with a puzzled face.
“Why do you do so?”
“Are you really going?”
Cheon Woo-jin nodded his head.
There was a needed spirit medicine, and he knew where it was.
Was there any reason not to go?
Facing such a gaze from Cheon Woo-jin, Ma Yong-seok sighed inwardly. Did not Alliance Member Cheon’s eyes look exactly like those of the young castle lord?
A person not bound by common sense and conventional concepts. A person who simply acted without weighing consequences if it was needed…
Because Ma Yong-seok had assisted such a young castle lord for a long time, he knew well. That once a decision was made, he could not be dissuaded.
“I would rather make a request to the young castle lord. Even without that, upon hearing the news that Alliance Member Cheon had arrived, he said he would come right away.”
“Is the young castle lord nearby?”
“Yes, saying he should enjoy Sichuan food after a long time, he is visiting.”
Food was an excuse, and he had simply followed Ma Yong-seok, who rushed over in a single breath at the news that a close comrade was injured, saying it would be boring alone.
However, there was no need to mention such things to an outsider.
Cheon Woo-jin’s brow furrowed somewhat.
“Then I must hurry.”
As he had felt before, the young castle lord was a tiresome person to meet. Because he knew no fear, one could not intimidate him, and because he was skilled in speech, having a conversation made one feel constantly drawn into his pace.
On the other hand, to resort to martial force, his father was a junior whom Master Black Elder cherished.
Around the time Cheon Woo-jin quickened his steps thinking so.
“What? Charging into the Green Forest?”
Cheon Woo-jin tightly shut his eyes. He had intended to leave in a hurry, but the young castle lord had arrived first in the end.
Ha In-seong approached Cheon Woo-jin while letting out his characteristic sleek smile. It was truly a lighthearted stride.
Cheon Woo-jin spoke.
“Do not think of dissuading me. Because it is an already decided matter.”
“Dissuade what? There is no way I would do that.”
Beside them, Ma Yong-seok let out a sigh. It was because he anticipated the words that would follow from Ha In-seong’s mouth.
Soon Ha In-seong spat out words without an inch of deviation from that expectation.
“Let us go together.”
Ma Yong-seok’s gaze turned toward Cheon Woo-jin this time.
‘I refuse.’
This time as well, the expectation proved accurate. Cheon Woo-jin looked at Ha In-seong and said calmly.
“I refuse.”
“Why?”
“Because it is troublesome.”
“The elder Divine Physician is currently a guest of the Black Overlord Castle. Such a person is treating a Martial Alliance squad leader.”
“…”
It was a correct statement. This was goodwill shown by the Black Overlord Castle.
After looking at the young castle lord for a moment, Cheon Woo-jin spoke.
“If you get in the way, I will leave you behind.”
Of course, Cheon Woo-jin also knew that would not happen.
Ha In-seong was of the same age group as Namgung Jin, Song Yi-yeon, and Jin Un. They were also called geniuses, but the bearing felt from Ha In-seong was on a different plane even from them. It was a bearing that could only be displayed after a natural genius cultivated for decades and ascended to a mature realm.
“Good, let us depart.”
Ha In-seong took light steps, then suddenly turned around, saw Ma Yong-seok’s dumbfounded expression, and spoke.
“Do not report to Father.”
“…That is my duty, though.”
“You are my escort, not Father’s person.”
“Even so, it is too dangerous.”
“By nature, the life of an Unorthodox Path man is perilous.”
“Alliance Member Cheon is not an Unorthodox Path man, however.”
“By nature, the life of a martial artist is perilous.”
“…”
Ma Yong-seok, who had exchanged words without a breath to spare, finally shut his mouth. He kept forgetting the fact that nothing good came from arguing with the young castle lord.
“It is the Green King, Young Castle Lord.”
“Alliance Member Cheon, are we going to fight?”
“We are going to talk.”
Ma Yong-seok tightly gripped his forehead. With two men who would not listen teaming up, it truly felt like talking to a wall.
Soon Ma Yong-seok spoke as if resigning himself.
“I will deploy the Black Wolf Squad. If it is dangerous, send a signal flare. We will be on standby near the Green Forest main base.”
“Sure, it will be good for everyone to get some fresh air after a long time.”
Ha In-seong readily nodded his head. In truth, he was not pleased with it. How hard had it been to obtain time alone with Cheon Woo-jin? However, if he did not permit even this, Escort Ma would immediately run to his father and tell on him.
* * *
Cheon Woo-jin and Ha In-seong walked side by side.
The aura of the two was seemingly different yet similar.
While they resembled each other in that a deep and dark atmosphere lingered around them, unlike the reticent Cheon Woo-jin, Ha In-seong talked a lot.
‘If Young Hero Song had been born in the Unorthodox Path, he would have been just like this.’
Their sleek appearances were another point of similarity.
Suddenly he worried about Song Yi-yeon. Since the Heavenly Tiger Squad Leader had personally escorted him away from the battlefield, there would be no danger to his life.
However, given Song Yi-yeon’s personality, he would suffer over the thought that he had fled alone while leaving his seniors and comrades behind.
“What are you thinking about so deeply?”
“Thinking that your way of speaking gets on my nerves.”
Ha In-seong’s eyes grew round. It was the first time in his life that someone had pointed out his way of speaking. While he knew his tone was somewhat elderly for his age, given his position, treating people with such a tone was frequent.
“So, are you going to ditch me and leave right away?”
Ha In-seong asked thus. Before long, his tone had shifted like the rising stars of their age group. Ha In-seong was one to immediately reflect Cheon Woo-jin’s opinion.
Cheon Woo-jin did not bother to answer.
Even so, Ha In-seong’s words could not be stopped.
“When you return, the Black Tortoise Squad Leader will be promoted.”
“I heard that the position of Division Head is vacant.”
For the White Dragon Squad Leader had committed such deeds out of fear of the Black Tortoise Squad Leader’s promotion to Division Head.
“He won’t be a Division Head, but a Hall Master.”
Cheon Woo-jin turned his head and looked at Ha In-seong. In truth, it had been a puzzling matter from before. The one who had informed him of the fact that the White Dragon Squad Leader was colluding with the Unorthodox Path was Ha In-seong.
In the letter he had sent, it was written that the Black Tortoise Squad Leader was slated to be promoted to Hall Master rather than Division Head.
“Why do you think so?”
“Now, look.”
Delighted at the thought that Cheon Woo-jin had finally asked first, Ha In-seong explained with a shrug.
It was quite a long explanation, but summarized, it was like this.
Signs that Tang Bi-cheon was plotting rebellion had been captured from long ago.
While it was self-evident that trouble would erupt someday, Ha In-seong anticipated it to be next year, when Tang Bi-cheon’s term as President of the Dragon and Phoenix Society reached its ninth year. Because his power would be greatest then.
Ha In-seong’s anticipation was only half right. The existence called Cheon Woo-jin provoked Tang Bi-cheon into advancing the plan by a year.
If trouble erupted in the Tang Clan like that, the Martial Alliance would certainly deploy the Black Tortoise Squad there. Because among the Nine Great Sects and One Clan and the Five Great Clans, there were barely any bastards to trust.
“How about that? My predictions were all correct, right?”
Cheon Woo-jin nodded his head obediently. For in reality, things had unfolded just before precisely according to his expectation.
“How does that lead to promotion to Hall Master?”
“Because the moment you were deployed, the Sichuan Tang Clan was finished.”
“…”
Cheon Woo-jin looked at Ha In-seong once more.
“Just what did you see in me?”
“Myself.”
Ha In-seong smirked. At that sight, Cheon Woo-jin shook his head from side to side and looked ahead again.
“In any case, the Sichuan Tang Clan is finished. And the bastards who concocted the plot alongside them must be caught. That is the work of the Inspection Hall Master, but it is vacant. Conveniently, the Black Tortoise Squad Leader has plenty of seniority, has ability, and above all, has you under his command.”
“So he is suitable for the position of Inspection Hall Master?”
“Exactly. The Alliance Leader intends to plant you deeply into the Martial Alliance on this occasion. Of course, I intend to bring you to the Black Overlord Castle, though.”
Cheon Woo-jin, who lightly ignored the last remark, marveled internally.
Regardless of whether he liked Ha In-seong or not, his insight was truly astounding. Receiving a letter from him was quite some time ago, but didn’t that mean he had foreseen all of this from that time?
“What kind of person is the Lord of the Black Overlord Castle?”
“Father? A great man. Far more so than me.”
Cheon Woo-jin nodded his head. If he was a man acknowledged by Master Black Elder, and at an age just past forty was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Alliance Leader Bukli Cheon, he was certainly a great man.
“Dok-ra-su wishes to join the Black Overlord Castle. Can you arrange a meeting with the Lord of the Black Overlord Castle?”
“Is that your wish?”
“It is.”
Ha In-seong made a disappointed face. He had expected Cheon Woo-jin to speak of a far more interesting wish. However, a promise was a promise, so he could not refuse to grant it.
“Well, if it is Senior Dok-ra-su’s level, Father will readily accept him as well. For despite hailing from the Righteous Path, he is a truly genuine evil person.”
“…There is one problem.”
“What is it?”
“The one who released poison on Escort Ma’s daughter was none other than Dok-ra-su. At that time, I saw those traces, tracked Dok-ra-su down, and subdued him.”
Such was the first meeting with Dok-ra-su.
Ha In-seong wore a troubled expression.
“Then that would be troublesome.”
“You said you would grant any wish.”
“Ahem, I did. If a man goes back on his word, he should cut this off, but…”
Ha In-seong repeatedly pointed downward with his finger. Cheon Woo-jin wore an expression as if having seen something he shouldn’t have.
“You said he is a bastard who released poison on the daughter of my most cherished subordinate. Accepting such a bastard is a betrayal toward my subordinate. That is not something an Unorthodox Path man would do. I’d rather cut it off. Here, take it. Cut it off!”
Saying so, Ha In-seong boldly placed both hands on his waist.
Cheon Woo-jin showed a rare disgust. It was surprising that Ha In-seong cherished his subordinates this much, but in any case, what was filthy was filthy.
Silence flowed for a while like that.
Perhaps because a round of conversation had passed, somehow the atmosphere between the two became somewhat more comfortable.
Ha In-seong did not open his mouth any further. He was a person who knew precisely the right moments when conversation was needed. He deemed that letting Cheon Woo-jin contemplate right now would be more beneficial to their relationship.
“Shall we start running soon?”
“That would be good.”
In that way, the two unfolded their lightness arts.
Cheon Woo-jin took the lead, and Ha In-seong pursued closely behind him.
‘…He really is astounding.’
In his entire life, he had never felt his lightness arts were lacking.
Yet no matter how fast he ran, that monster-like fellow was always ahead of him.
The distance between the two neither narrowed nor widened.
What that signified was clear.
That Cheon Woo-jin was matching his pace to Ha In-seong.
‘Did we get a bit closer?’
If it had been before, far from matching his pace, he would have unleashed his lightness arts with full power the moment they left the Black Overlord Castle and ditched him.
It was worthwhile having helped Cheon Woo-jin both materially and spiritually all this time.
Thinking so, Ha In-seong asked in a loud voice.
“Don’t tell me you’re just going to charge in and seize it? It is someone else’s treasure, after all.”
In Ha In-seong’s thinking, that did not seem to be Cheon Woo-jin’s way. In his eyes, a deep darkness clearly existed inside Cheon Woo-jin, yet bizarrely, a bright side also coexisted.
“There is a way.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
In that way, the two spurred on their lightness arts.
* * *
Tianshui Stronghold situated on Mount Tianshui in Guizhou Province.
The man who had killed the previous Green King and seized that moniker, it was the main stronghold of the Green Forest where the current Supreme Chief resided.
Cheon Woo-jin and Ha In-seong entered Tianshui Stronghold dragging something by hand. At that, the mountain bandits who had been eating meat and drinking wine in the yard looked over all at once.
“What are you bastards?”
At the question of one bandit, Cheon Woo-jin threw what he had dragged over toward them instead of answering. Suddenly watching this, Ha In-seong also followed suit and threw his slyly.
Thud, thud.
Along with heavy thuds, large objects plummeted down among them.
The bandits’ faces turned ferocious in an instant. Because what the two had thrown were their comrades who had gone down today in charge of the toll tax.
Cheon Woo-jin, bearing the bandits’ killing intent calmly, spoke.
“I came from an escort agency. Those fellows were taking unfair gains beyond the promised toll. They even threatened the porters by waving fearsome-looking axes.”
It was true. For he had witnessed that scene on the way and intervened. Of course, since it was something Green Forest bandits committed like eating a meal, he had deliberately waited until he saw such an occurrence.
At the mention of an escort agency, the bandits’ momentum became even more ferocious.
“Which escort agency? Just what kind of bastards dare pull this sort of dog shit!”
“Woojin Escort Agency.”
The bandits exchanged glances. Because they had never heard of such a stupid name.
“Pwahaha, he said Woojin Escort Agency.”
Ha In-seong snickered, wondering what was so hilarious.
In the midst of that, Cheon Woo-jin’s words continued.
“I wish to have a chat with the Stronghold Leader, so where is he?”
It was at that moment.
Whoosh!
A heavy sound of breaking the air rang out, and a flash gleamed. An axe flew grazing past the side of Cheon Woo-jin, who slightly dodged his head.
Soon, a slender middle-aged man whose body was only half the size of the other bandits walked out from within the stronghold.
“Woojin Escort Agency? Don’t tell me you are that Cheon Woo-jin!”
“What is this? How did you know?”
How could that bastard know his name?
Around the time Cheon Woo-jin thought thus, the middle-aged man’s words continued.
“You atrocious demonic head who slaughtered fifty-some brethren of Heungsan Stronghold! How could I ever forget that name!”
At the words of Green King Jo Woo-gwang, the bandits buzzed. Even without this, there was the incident where Heungsan Stronghold was massacred overnight.
They had reached the point of finding out that the mastermind behind it was a fellow named Cheon Woo-jin of the Martial Alliance. Although they were not ready to clash head-on with the Martial Alliance, they had been exploring various plans.
Yet that very person had abruptly appeared.
While the Green Forest bandits including the Green King flared their killing intent ablaze, Cheon Woo-jin tilted his head.
“…Was that so?”
He did not remember well. Long ago while on a mission with Young Hero Song, it felt like he had subjugated some group of mountain bandits. Or was it water bandits?
He could hardly remember. Because in the first place, subjugating a bandit stronghold was something he had done without attaching much significance.
At that attitude, the bandits wore even more vicious expressions.
In the midst of that, Ha In-seong could not hold back and burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! He calls you a demonic head, a demonic head!”
It was just so hilarious to Ha In-seong that a Martial Alliance member was being called a demonic head by Green Forest bandits.