Chapter 230: Tangled Incidents
White-robed warriors blocked the entrance to the inn. They were experts from the Elder Council who had pursued the Jujakjeon into the jianghu.
Two of them pushed open the door and stepped inside.
"Those are the bastards! They're the ones who brutally slaughtered our comrades!"
A man whose upper garment was soaked in blood pointed at Cheol-u and the monk, shouting.
Another white-robe snarled coldly at the pair.
"You dare harm warriors of the White Night Cartel. You know better than anyone how grave that sin is! Drop your swords and come quietly. Otherwise, not just you two, but everyone around you will face bloody retribution."
Cheol-u felt inwardly flustered.
'White Night Cartel...'
On their way to the Iron Blood Family with the monk, a trivial quarrel had erupted on the official road. Several white-robes racing up from behind had suddenly slashed at the monk without warning, claiming he hadn't yielded the path. It was a situation no one could endure, and in the end, the monk had killed them. Cheol-u had no choice but to intervene as well.
'I thought they were all dead...'
This was awkward. If it was the White Night Cartel of all places, the backlash wouldn't be minor. If his identity was exposed here, it could bring disaster to the Iron Blood Family and the entire north.
There were two ways to resolve this: slaughter every white-robe here to silence them, or simply flee.
Neither Cheol-u nor the monk was wearing their faction's garb—just ordinary traveler's robes—so identifying them wouldn't be easy. Fleeing now would likely keep their identities hidden.
Cheol-u chose the latter. The tiger behind was far more fearsome than the fox ahead.
[No reckless moves. When I give the signal, head straight to the back yard and get out of here.]
[They swung first. Why should we run? Let's just crush them all and shut their mouths.]
[These aren't just anyone—they're White Night Cartel warriors. If even one escapes alive, your Shaolin Temple will be annihilated. Do as I say.]
The monk's face twitched. As a disciple of the Buddha, he couldn't help but balk at casually invoking his sect's destruction after so freely breaking precepts.
"Hurry up and drop your swords!"
At the white-robe's thunderous roar, Cheol-u replied in his signature emotionless tone.
"Your comrades swung first, just because we didn't step aside. If we'd been weaker, it would've been us dead, not them. Seems like karma's balanced enough..."
"Settle that in hell!"
Shing.
The white-robe drew his sword. The others waiting outside rushed in, spreading out to surround them.
[Now, pig.]
No sooner had Cheol-u's transmission arrived than the monk shot backward from his seated position, thrusting out his twin palms.
Shooo!
Boom!
The powerful energy from his palms blasted not the white-robes but the table in front, erupting in flames with a deafening explosion.
At the same time, Cheol-u unleashed attacks on the white-robes ahead.
Crack!
Crash!
As tables and chairs flew wildly, Cheol-u and the monk smashed through the door to the back yard and bolted outside.
Snap!
Bang!
"Chase them!"
"Don't let them escape!"
A midnight pursuit erupted out of nowhere. But it was brutally short—the white-robes lost Cheol-u and the monk due to the vast gap in their lightness skills.
Cheol-u and the monk raced nonstop to the city's outskirts. Even then, the monk clutched a chicken leg, gnawing at it gluttonously.
Cheol-u stopped his lightness skill and landed when he deemed it safe. The monk approached.
"Feeling better now?"
"Don't act like it's nothing. You held back too—feared the backlash on Shaolin, so you didn't use your temple's arts."
"Caught that, huh? Kahahaha!"
"Pig."
"I've got a proper dharma name—Hyemong—and you keep calling me pig. Real pigs might get offended. Ahem."
"One more reckless stunt, and I'll chain your neck and drag you."
"Kahaha! Then I'd look just like a pig headed to slaughter. Kahahahaha!"
The monk laughed with his uvula flapping wildly, looking utterly carefree. Cheol-u let out a hollow chuckle.
"Damnable mortals. Haven't even filled my belly yet... Patron, how far to the nearest city from here?"
"Straight to the destination now."
"Gah! I'll starve to death! Let's hit another inn quick—grab some booze and food to go!"
"If you wanna die by my hand first, be my guest."
"Scary, patron."
"Then shut up and follow, pig."
"Aw."
Cheol-u headed north. The monk trailed behind with a pout.
A bizarre rumble echoed from the monk's gut.
Grrrrowl!
* * *
Yeon-hoo headed to the city's outskirts. Spotting a lantern signaling an inn nearby, he turned toward it.
"How were they?"
"Their martial arts?"
"Yes."
"Hmm..."
Yeon-hoo couldn't properly assess Wolga's experts. All three died to his ambush before showing their true skill. Still, one had managed a fierce counter and a window escape attempt mid-fight—that alone was impressive.
"No need to fear Wolga preemptively. But don't underestimate them either."
"Rumor has it they're tracking specialists. If more are around, they might tail us."
"If they track the ones who left the inn first, could be trouble."
"Hm. Possible."
"No need to worry overly. The streets were empty when they left—no way Wolga spotted them."
"Ah! Right."
Seobaek's furrowed brow finally relaxed into a bright smile.
That was when it happened.
Boom!
Crack!
A massive explosion rocked the inn they were approaching, followed by something shattering. Flames then burst from the entrance.
Seobaek's eyes widened.
"Whoa? Fight breaking out?"
Yeon-hoo halted and turned.
"We go elsewhere."
"Someone's escaping!"
Half-turned, Yeon-hoo looked where Seobaek pointed. Two shadows shot north from the inn's rear at blinding speed. Pursuers followed.
Both escapees and chasers displayed astonishing lightness skills. Too far for faces, but the pursuers' white robes were clear.
"Experts swarming this backwater... Something big going down?"
Yeon-hoo shared the thought. But he quashed his curiosity. Priority was meeting Akso and Baekun at Gu Ryong Guest Inn to retrieve Umunjeok.
"Stop staring. Find another inn."
"Yes."
* * *
The weather was mild. Snow melted fast, letting Akso and Baekun move quicker.
Akso pondered the mad monk and demon-like killer the Elder Council expert mentioned.
Baekun glanced at him. "What're you brooding over?"
"Wondering who killed those Elder Council experts..."
"No way they knew they were White Night Cartel elites. Takes a lunatic or someone with balls of steel to use realm-shaking power on them."
"They said mad monk."
"Ah... Yeah, could be. Monk screams Shaolin right away."
"Shaolin picking a fight with White Night Cartel? Insane."
"Mad monk, though?"
"..."
Then—
Thud thud!
Umunjeok pounded the carriage wall.
"Gotta take a piss."
"Damn it."
Baekun reluctantly halted. As Umunjeok opened the door, he bellowed.
"Don't drip all day—blast it all at once! Quit wasting my time!"
Umunjeok ignored him and headed roadside.
Baekun yelled again. "Hey! Downwind, damn it!"
But Umunjeok had already dropped trou and squatted.
"That shitty..."
"Cut it out. You'll get attached."
"Attached my ass! Let's extract the intel from his skull and smash it, bro!"
"Tell the lord that yourself."
Umunjeok's voice carried over. "I hear ya. Ngh!"
Splatter!
"Ew, gross!"
Baekun blocked his hearing with qi. Akso smirked, staring ahead.
Then—
Clop clop clop!
Horse hooves thundered from behind. A large group of riders charged like the wind, in varied garb. Akso eyed the lead rider on horseback.
Mid-forties? Piercing eyes, twin swords on back—pure expert aura.
Akso turned to Baekun. "Pull the carriage aside."
"Just let 'em pass?"
"Meeting lord tomorrow at Gu Ryong Guest Inn. Can't waste time on trouble—move it."
"...Yes."
Baekun eased the carriage roadside. The riders thundered past.
Clop clop!
In that instant, Akso's and the blue-robe's gazes clashed mid-air. But it was fleeting—the blue-robe vanished from view.
Akso narrowed his eyes at the receding figure.
'Familiar face...'
Baekun spoke. "That blue-robe just now."
"Know him?"
"Don't remember?"
"Feels familiar, but..."
"Saw him a month ago at White Night Cartel. When crowds mobbed the gate for that secret op unit returning—remember passing him on our way to the warrior diner?"
Akso recalled: the blue-robe entering amid cheers, unlike other White Night warriors—his group in mismatched garb.
"Heard Elder Chairman Seomunhoe dotes on that special unit... Why're they here?"
"Something blew up."
"Rushing like that—think they found Jujakjeon?"
"Jujakjeon's at the lord's residence. How'd they know?"
"That's just your guess, bro. Lord's missive to Geomga's strategist just told us head to lord's place—no explicit Jujakjeon mention. Maybe one of us should tail 'em?"
Akso shook his head firmly.
"Lord knows we're hunting Jujakjeon. Still ordered us straight there—means it's under his control at minimum. Ignore and head to Gu Ryong."
"Got it."
Baekun nodded, then grimaced mid-rein tug—Umunjeok was still occupied.
"What kinda shit lasts all day..."
Just then, Umunjeok finished and returned.
"All at once, huh."
"Urgh."
Thud!
As Umunjeok boarded, Baekun glanced at Akso. "Really going?"
"If it goes south, my responsibility. Do as ordered."
"Yes. Moving out."
Clop clop clop!