The Treacherous Path to Sichuan
“Hmm.”
The road to Sichuan was treacherous. Yeon Hojeong knew that well enough—he had visited the province several times before. Yet the path leading out from the Martial Alliance was truly perilous. Any ordinary expert who lost their balance for even a moment would plummet to their death. The plank roads were hardly worthy of the name; to those walking them, it felt no different from balancing on a single tightrope.
“Sichuan truly is a natural fortress. Leading an army through here would be a nightmare from the start.”
Moyong Gun clicked his tongue. He too was a supreme master who had cultivated peerless martial arts. Lately, he had been pushing himself to the limit every single day, striving to catch up to Gong Gong Dae-sa. No one knew the heights he had reached—not even Eon Ja-bang, who had long served as his shadow and handled every piece of intelligence.
If even Moyong Gun was impressed by the difficulty, the road’s danger needed no further explanation.
Eon Ja-bang shook his head. “You say that, yet you’re crossing it with ease.”
“For you or me, it’s nothing. The real problem is the troops. No matter how powerful a master is, they can’t wage war alone. Numbers matter in battle, but forcing an army across this path would only cost us needless lives.”
“We could simply take it slow.”
“That’s the issue. You know how critical speed is in war.”
Eon Ja-bang’s eyes deepened. “Are you seriously considering war with the Sichuan martial world?”
“Of course not. Still, one never knows what might happen. It pays to keep such possibilities in mind.”
What a tiring way to live, Eon Ja-bang thought. Yet he held no resentment toward Moyong Gun. This was simply who the man was. Perhaps such habits were necessary to fulfill the ambition burning in his chest.
Reaching the top of the cliff, Moyong Gun gazed down at the Sichuan basin. A vast depression spread out before him, its sheer scale enough to overwhelm.
“Even setting that aside, if the Sichuan martial world ever fell into enemy hands, we would have no choice but to send forces to reclaim it.”
“……”
“I can only hope such a day never comes.”
Eon Ja-bang studied Moyong Gun with a peculiar look. Over the years, he had carried out countless tasks from within the man’s shadow—some so vile he could barely speak of them. No matter the contract, he had often thought Moyong Gun was no different from a demon. Then again, I lent a hand to that contract myself. I’m no better.
Lately, however, Moyong Gun had begun showing a different side. Eon Ja-bang could not say what change had occurred in his heart, but the man before him now seemed far more at ease than in the past. More precisely, he looked like a true member of the orthodox sects.
“Got something to say?”
“Hmm?”
“You’ve been staring.”
Eon Ja-bang shook his head. “I was merely thinking that you remain a difficult man to understand.”
Moyong Gun burst into hearty laughter. “Why? Is it so strange that I worry about the martial world?”
“A little.”
“To become the master of the field, the field itself must remain intact. If the land I intend to claim is ruined by ruffians, how could I possibly be pleased?”
“I understand. Still, you seem much gentler than before.”
“If that’s how it appears, then I’m glad. I’ve been trying to soften myself as well.”
Moyong Gun smiled brightly. “They say honeyed words hide a dagger, and a smile conceals a blade. The truly dangerous man isn’t the one glaring like the Tang patriarch. The one who hides a sword behind a smile—that is the truly frightening sort.”
“Do you intend to become such a man?”
Moyong Gun offered no reply. He simply looked up at the sky. Sichuan was famous for its scarce sunlight. Perhaps that was why the morning sky remained dark, and a strange mist seemed to hang over the lands below.
Moyong Gun shrugged. “I hear you’ve made progress restoring the Eon Family Fist lately.”
“……”
“Without advancements in corpse manipulation techniques, the Eon Family Fist would struggle to regain its former power.”
Eon Ja-bang’s eyes grew deeper. “What exactly are you trying to say?”
“I want to ask. Do you wish to reestablish the Jinju Eon Family in this land once more?”
“……”
“When we first made our contract, you said you would restore the Eon Family’s corpse arts and fist techniques to honor your ancestors’ names.”
Moyong Gun met Eon Ja-bang’s gaze. “Is your dream to revive the Eon Family’s former glory, or to reopen the family gates?”
Eon Ja-bang stared back in silence. Moyong Gun smiled.
“It seems difficult to answer.”
“……”
“Well, that’s fine. You must have much to think about.”
“Why ask such a question?”
“This war is an opportunity for you.”
“……?”
“You want to restore the Eon Family’s martial arts and show them to the world? How exactly do you plan to do that? Wander the land challenging others? Even if you win every match, will people who already hold poor memories of the Eon Family truly acknowledge you?”
“……”
“But if you crush the demonic cultists with your own fists in this war, the bad reputation surrounding the Eon Family will diminish considerably.”
Eon Ja-bang’s eyes deepened further. “I have my own dreams, but I do not wish for the Central Plains to descend into chaos for their sake.”
“I know. The important thing is that such crises are gradually approaching, isn’t it?”
“……”
“Even if you raise your fists for the world’s sake, not everyone will recognize you. If you die in some insignificant battle along the way, the Eon Family’s name will only fade faster.”
“I will not die so easily.”
“You had better not. What I’m saying is that you need to be a little more cunning—whether you aim to reopen the family or simply prove your martial arts.”
Moyong Gun’s eyes gleamed. “I want you to prove your worth in this Sichuan upheaval.”
“What do you mean?”
“Go wild properly. You don’t want to waste your time under me handling intelligence manipulation and control, do you?”
“……!”
“If you perform well, I’ll recommend you to the Martial Alliance. Once may not be enough, but as your achievements accumulate, the world will see you and the Eon Family differently.”
Moyong Gun smiled. “Becoming a Guardian might be difficult right away, but you could take on an important post in the Alliance—openly, at that.”
“……!”
“I will personally put your name forward. But to do that, merit is required.”
Moyong Gun looked at Eon Ja-bang. For a moment, Eon Ja-bang felt unsettled. He saw intense ambition burning in Moyong Gun’s eyes. What was more terrifying was that his own reflection in those eyes looked no different.
“I’ll show you that choosing me was the right decision. So give it everything you have.”
Eon Ja-bang found himself nodding without realizing it. Moyong Gun grinned.
“Your spirits seem properly lifted. Now then, shall we make our way to Sichuan’s foremost family?”
* * *
“Whew.”
Yeon Hojeong had returned at dawn, yet he never got the chance to drink. If this battle truly ended the matter, it would be one thing, but the problems in Sichuan had barely been investigated. He needed to restore his body to peak condition. After spending the entire day circulating his energy to heal his internal injuries, he finally finished bathing half a day later and descended to the second floor. Night again.
The inn was empty. Yeon Hojeong thought he understood why.
“Drinking alone?”
Dang Gwan sat alone by the window on the second floor, raising a cup. He gestured with his chin toward the seat across from him. Yeon Hojeong sat down.
“Where is everyone else? I didn’t sense anyone in their rooms.”
“No idea.”
With his personality, I doubt he bothered holding a proper conversation.
“What about the nun?”
“Sent her to the branch.”
“I see.”
Yeon Hojeong nodded. “So you went to fetch Songha Sinni.”
With the battle over, it was time to retrieve Songha Sinni and Deunghwa, who had been hidden away safely. Though Dang Gwan claimed ignorance, it seemed the group had taken on the task of sending the nun to the branch—and would likely bring Songha Sinni along as well.
“How long have you been drinking?”
“Since you shut yourself in your room to cultivate.”
He had been drinking from dawn until now. Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue. “Aren’t you drunk?”
Dang Gwan replied curtly, “Who do you think I am?”
Fair enough. The man possessed resistance to poisons far deadlier than alcohol. His detoxification ability operated on an entirely different level from ordinary experts. If his stamina held, he could drink for days.
Yeon Hojeong held out his empty cup. “If you’re not getting drunk, why drink so much?”
Without a word, Dang Gwan filled the cup. Yeon Hojeong smirked.
“This is white liquor, isn’t it?”
“……”
“What happened to promising me good wine?”
“Shut up.”
Yeon Hojeong downed the cup in one go. Dang Gwan, who had been watching him quietly, pulled a small pill from his robe and tossed it over.
Yeon Hojeong caught it, his face filled with confusion. “What’s this?”
“White Transformation Pill.”
“And what does it do?”
“It’s medicine for internal injuries.”
It was the Tang Family’s exclusive internal injury remedy. If even the family head carried it, its value must be immense. Yeon Hojeong gave a bitter smile.
“You should have given it to me earlier.”
“Its effectiveness halves if used before treatment gains momentum.”
“You had it all planned out.”
“I can’t hand a blade to a man I’m using, but I can at least provide something for his mouth.”
Yeon Hojeong smiled. So this day has come. Dang Gwan had changed considerably. They had sparred, coordinated on missions, yet Yeon Hojeong had never expected a conversation like this. In his previous life, Dang Gwan had been the enemy who drove a poison-laced hidden weapon into his chest.
Strange feeling. Still, it wasn’t unpleasant. The Dang Gwan before him was a different man from the one in his past life. Yeon Hojeong drew that distinction, and it held true.
“Have you sorted out your feelings?”
Dang Gwan let out a short laugh. “Do you think something like that can be tidied up just because you try?”
“Fair point.”
“We depart tomorrow. Drink a few cups, then go back and heal yourself properly.”
“Don’t worry about that.”
The two men emptied their cups in silence. Dang Gwan, who had been staring at his cup, rose from his seat.
“I’m getting drunk.”
There was no way a man who had drunk all day without getting drunk would suddenly become intoxicated now. He clearly wanted to be alone. Yeon Hojeong spoke up.
“May I ask one thing?”
“What?”
“What was your relationship with the previous family head like?”
Dang Gwan’s eyes sharpened instantly. “Why do you ask that?”
Yeon Hojeong’s gaze was just as sharp. “Because that man could become the decisive variable in this game.”