Yongjeong Inn (4)
“Shaolin Temple?”
Those were the first words out of Joo Eun-ri’s mouth.
Her eyes wide and head tilted in that adorably childish way that belied her age.
If Wang Yi Sam had been awake, he’d have swallowed hard, heart pounding.
But Seo Baek focused on what she’d say next.
“The area around Shaolin Temple is swarming with revenants, making it the most dangerous place in the Central Plains by far.”
“Doesn’t matter. We came all the way from Sichuan to get to Shaolin Temple. No stopping halfway.”
“I see.”
Joo Eun-ri nodded as if she finally understood.
Her reaction was just like someone hearing about the Shaolin journey for the first time.
Watching her, Seo Baek thought,
Was it pure coincidence that the Namgung Family picked Yongjeong Inn as the rendezvous point?
For now, she seemed innocent enough—but he couldn’t be sure.
Trusting a mysterious woman running an ancient inn was the kind of mistake only a fool like Wang Yi Sam, falling for a honey trap, would make.
Remember this: the Central Plains is full of people who lie without batting an eye.
As Seo Baek recalled his master’s words, Joo Eun-ri asked again.
“Why go to Shaolin Temple?”
“To stop the revenant outbreak.”
This time, he answered readily. Regardless of any ties to the Namgung Family, wiping out the revenants was a cause every martial artist could get behind.
But if the next question came, he wouldn’t answer.
Like, how exactly do you plan to stop it?
That would tie straight to the scroll his master had hidden in his clothes.
No one at Shaolin even knew about the scroll.
They only knew someone from Shika Manor was coming—no one but Seo Baek knew if he carried it or not.
Anyone prying into the revenant solution was worth suspecting.
But Joo Eun-ri didn’t ask that.
“Isn’t talk of heading to Shaolin supposed to be a secret?”
“It is.”
A question that pierced right through his thoughts in reverse.
Joo Eun-ri was no ordinary innkeeper, that much was clear.
“Then shouldn’t I pretend I didn’t hear?”
“Doesn’t matter. Anyone trying to stop us from reaching Shaolin, we just cut down.”
“Hohoho, right.”
But as she covered her mouth laughing, the smile vanished from Joo Eun-ri’s face. Her expression turned ice-cold.
Seo Baek sensed something off and asked,
“What’s wrong?”
“Northwest.”
Song Hyeon had found the torn talisman at the southeast watchtower, so northwest was the opposite direction.
But the direction wasn’t the issue.
“Wang Il and Wang Yi ran into uninvited guests.”
Her tone was the same, but Joo Eun-ri’s voice lacked any emotion now—flat, mechanical.
And she stared silently at empty air, as if seeing something there.
Speaking in that emotionless voice, like a doll’s mouth opening, an eerie chill hung in the air.
Seo Baek realized what was happening.
Some kind of sorcery?
Sure enough, a red glow began emanating from Joo Eun-ri’s wrist.
Her robe’s long, flowing sleeves hid her wrists even during rituals. But now, a faint crimson light seeped through the fabric.
Only one thing that could mean.
Talisman tattoo.
When they’d fought the Zhuge family head turned revenant, his body had been covered head to toe in tattoos—no bare skin in sight.
Not ordinary tattoos, but talismans etched into flesh.
Back then, when the sorcery activated, those tattoos glowed blood-red. The light shining through Joo Eun-ri’s sleeve worked the same way.
But right now, the intruders’ identity mattered more.
“What kind of people?”
“On horseback, swords at their waists. They’re pointing blades at Wang Il and Wang Yi.”
“Then we go save them.”
“No.”
Joo Eun-ri shook her head slightly—the motion stiff, mechanical, doll-like, just like her voice.
“Wang Il and Wang Yi are already surrounded.”
“Not too late yet. Let’s move fast.”
Seo Baek figured, given Wang Il and Wang Yi’s skills, they wouldn’t go down easy even surrounded.
But Joo Eun-ri shook her head again.
“The martial artists number ten, twenty, thirty… over a hundred.”
“……”
“Wang Il and Wang Yi fought back… but couldn’t even unleash a few techniques before they were caught.”
At that, Seo Baek and Song Hyeon exchanged cold glances.
They’d long known Wang Il and Wang Yi weren’t ordinary errand boys or cooks. Not peak experts, but on par with swordmaster Wang Yi Sam—tough one-on-one.
And they’d been taken after just a few moves?
That meant more than just overwhelming numbers.
There were foes beyond first-rate among the intruders!
“After capturing Wang Il and Wang Yi, they mounted up again.”
The next instant, life returned to Joo Eun-ri’s eyes.
No longer staring blankly like a doll—they sparked with vitality. She’d snapped out of the trance.
“No time to waste. They’re heading for Yongjeong Inn.”
Her voice warmed back to normal Joo Eun-ri.
“Only one pinned down Wang Il and Wang Yi, but there seem to be at least five such experts among the intruders.”
“……”
Seo Baek and Song Hyeon’s already cold gazes froze over completely.
Over a hundred martial artists.
And at least five experts on the level that took down Wang Il and Wang Yi?
Fighting now wouldn’t just be disadvantageous—it’d be certain defeat.
Seo Baek assessed the situation coolly.
Song hyung-nim and I might not beat them, but we could escape with our lives.
Two hostages already taken.
Plus Joo Eun-ri, with superior lightness skill and mystical sorcery, but unclear martial prowess.
And one oblivious, dead-drunk swordmaster snoring away…
No kid of three could miss that a head-on fight was hopeless.
So the immediate play was…
“We fall back for now.”
“Agreed.”
Song Hyeon nodded at Seo Baek’s words.
One of the famous stratagems, the Thirty-Six Tactics, ended with “run like hell”—strategic retreat.
When defeat loomed, pull back, turn the tables later. Blind flight wasn’t the point; maneuver to gain advantage. Key principle of warfare.
Prestigious sect folk had too much pride for retreat—they saw it as shameful.
Word of fleeing a fight could mean reprimands, even formal censure from the sect.
But Seo Baek, taught by his master, felt no shame in it.
If things go south, pull back. The priority is reaching Shaolin safe.
He figured Song Hyeon, far from stuffy prestige, would agree—and sure enough, he did.
Decision made: time to move fast.
Seo Baek shook the snoring Wang Yi Sam.
“Wang hyung-nim, wake up.”
“Zzz! Snore….”
Expected—he wouldn’t open his eyes.
“Wang hyung-nim, enemies inbound. Get up now—”
“Grahhh! Pfffttt….”
Still snoring. Song Hyeon stepped up, whispered in his ear.
“Wake up or the booze goes cold.”
Instantly, Wang Yi Sam—face-planted on the table—eyes snapped open, bolting upright.
“…Keurk! Can’t have that… Even War God Guan Yu beheaded Hua Xiong before his drink cooled. Wang Yi Sam won’t let booze chill… What’re you waiting for? Booze, booze!”
Seo Baek and Song Hyeon sighed, shaking their heads.
“Seo Baek, scout outside. You support him.”
“Got it.”
Song Hyeon and Joo Eun-ri cracked the door, checked, saw clear—then slipped out. Seo Baek slung Wang Yi Sam’s arm over his shoulder and hauled him along.
“Huff, huff… junior? Booze?”
“Keep spacing out, and I dump you in the mud and leave you.”
“……”
Seo Baek’s icy tone finally snapped Wang Yi Sam sober—he shut up.
Seo Baek half-dragged the stumbling drunk, following Song Hyeon and Joo Eun-ri.
Heading southeast.
Intruders who nabbed Wang Il and Wang Yi came from northwest—so opposite direction.
Sun long set; no way they’d be spotted moving.
Up front, Song Hyeon halted at a spot.
“Good place to hide.”
He pointed to a perfect ambush or hideout.
Flat ground suddenly dropped into a sheer half-zhang cliff-like depression.
Then flat again beyond. Hug that cut-in wall, and no expert peering from the inn would spot them, even straining their eyes.
The group dropped down, backs to the wall, hunkered.
Then Joo Eun-ri stared blankly at empty air again.
“The martial artists reached the inn.”
Sorcery reactivated.
“Five dismount, eyeing Yongjeong Inn.”
Earlier she’d spotted about five peak-level experts. These riders off horses were likely them.
Five experts leading a hundred-plus martial artists!
“Two of the five have swords at their waists. The other three: bare hands, one dao, one spear.”
Seo Baek thought,
Different sects.
Two swords aside, five varied weapons—no single sect. Coalition from various factions.
“The martial artists say, ‘This Yongjeong Inn?’”
Seo Baek’s brows furrowed slightly in surprise.
She wasn’t just seeing the distant scene like it was right there—she was hearing conversations?
The Zhuge estate had lion statues spying on visitors, relaying words. But mechanisms had limits.
Worlds apart from Joo Eun-ri’s sorcery.
Back then, he and Song Hyeon had guessed mechanisms. Now, these martial artists suspected nothing of her remote viewing.
Sun Tzu said: Know yourself and your enemy, win a hundred battles unscathed.
Scout and eavesdrop undetected?
That alone could seize victory in any mess.
Even unflappable Seo Baek couldn’t hide his awe at her sorcery.
Joo Eun-ri relayed their talk nonstop.
“‘Search it.’ ‘Yes, sir!’ The five command, and a dozen martial artists dismount, enter the inn.”
Seo Baek’s eyes narrowed, gaze turning frigid.
“A martial artist comes out, reports to the five leaders. ‘Not a rat in sight.’ ‘Is that so?’”
Ordered to scour the inn for someone.
Seo Baek knew their identity now.
Namgung Family and their remnants.
The Namgung Family, who’d posted bounties via underworld thugs: grab anyone heading to Shaolin from Murim Alliance intel, at Yongjeong Inn.
Now they’d stormed the place with allies from other sects.