Chapter 60
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Encountering the Green Forest (1)
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Originally, the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly was a gathering for the rising stars who would lead the future of various sects and families.
However, at some point, the assembly's purpose had become corrupted, turning it into a place for ranking and classifying people.
“Bronze. How amusing.”
Cheon Muryang stared at the bronze tassel.
The standards they used were truly laughable.
Who were they to judge anyone?
“How utterly arrogant.”
This invitation itself...
...symbolized the arrogance of the Orthodox Martial World.
And so, he intended to show them.
That they were wrong.
Tap.
Taptap.
Cheon Muryang tapped his fingers on the desk, deep in thought.
“Who should I take with me?”
Cheon Muryang had one concern.
Who to bring along.
He planned to take three people under the guise of an entourage.
“Woryeong, Neung Ryeoun, and Cha Myeonghak should do.”
Those three were to become his core aides, and he wanted them to gain a great deal of experience.
“I'll have to take the Wandering King, too.”
This was a golden opportunity for the three of them to grow.
The Wandering King's presence had pushed them to advance, so it seemed he would have to ask him to accompany them.
Whoosh!
The Heavenly Light Sword hummed.
It seemed to thirst for a challenge.
At this, Cheon Muryang stroked the blade of the Heavenly Light Sword and spoke.
“Yes. You can look forward to it. In the vast martial world, there will be swords to satisfy your thirst for battle.”
He was filled with anticipation.
The swordsmanship Namgung Sang-hyeok had displayed was, in itself, astonishing.
“If I hadn't broken his momentum, it would have been a much harder fight.”
Thus, Cheon Muryang could assess himself with extreme objectivity.
There were rising stars who were considered even stronger than Namgung Sang-hyeok.
“I will defeat them all.”
That would be the starting point heralding the Cheon Family's new leap forward.
He had to immerse himself in meditation for a long while to calm the boiling blood of a warrior within him.
* * *
A few days later, Cheon Muryang prepared to depart for the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly as the representative of the Cheon Family.
There was less to prepare than he had thought.
In fact, he was practically just bringing himself.
At this, Cheon Wigang furrowed his brow.
“You could take a carriage. Must you insist on walking?”
“Yes. Gaining experience in the martial world is another one of my goals, so I feel a carriage would be an extravagance.”
“Hmm...”
What could he do?
They themselves insisted on it.
However, his concern was Namgung Seo-hui.
“Will you be all right?”
“Yes. I will be fine. Simply allowing me to stay with the family until now has been more than enough.”
“Hmm...”
The Sword's Edge, Namgung Seo-hui.
The swordsmanship she displayed had become a great inspiration to those who trained in the Cheon Family's sword arts.
Cheon Wigang was no exception; at some point, Namgung Seo-hui had come to be recognized not as a daughter of the Namgung Family, but as a swordswoman in her own right.
“Come to the Cheon Family anytime. You will be welcomed.”
“Yes. I certainly will.”
Namgung Seo-hui smiled.
With just that, the space around her seemed to brighten.
“I have a reason to return.”
The place her bright smile was directed at was a group of women who had recently finished their treatment and been employed by the Cheon Family.
They had lost their emotions.
However, they opened their hearts and smiled only for Namgung Seo-hui.
“I will be waiting.”
“Thank you for the Cheon Family's kindness.”
Namgung Seo-hui expressed her gratitude to Cheon Wigang.
“Hmph.”
Then, Cheon Wigang gave a small cupped fist salute to the Wandering King, who still looked displeased with the situation.
“Then, Wandering King, I entrust these children to you.”
“Honestly, why rough it on the road when you could travel comfortably... Just give them a hefty sum of money.”
“I would very much like to do so, but...”
Cheon Muryang's stubbornness was as stubborn as it gets.
“We'll be taking minimal funds as well.”
“Ahem. What does this brat know about the martial world!”
“Then, Wandering King, you could add your own funds.”
“Ugh!”
With a single sentence, Cheon Muryang blocked the Wandering King's interference.
Leaving the grumbling Wandering King behind, Cheon Muryang bowed his head to Cheon Wigang.
“Then, we will be on our way.”
“Yes. Go on now.”
A glance.
He saw Cheon Seonhak standing beside Cheon Wigang.
Cheon Seonhak gave a small nod, silently wishing him good fortune in his martial endeavors.
[Have a safe trip.]
[Yes, Uncle.]
[By the time you return, the family will have changed beyond recognition.]
[I look forward to it.]
[You have every reason to. It's been a while since my brother has been this fired up.]
[Still, you must continue your training. You remember what I told you last night, right?]
[Of course.]
A grin.
The two great pillars of the Cheon Family.
They smiled at each other.
“Let's go.”
“Yes!”
As if he had been waiting, Neung Ryeoun attached himself to Cheon Muryang's right side.
At this, Cha Myeonghak, not to be outdone, followed right beside Neung Ryeoun.
It seemed the debate over who was the right-hand man and who was the left-hand man was still not over.
“The Dragon and Phoenix Assembly... I don't get why you'd want to go to a place like that.”
To the Wandering King, it must have looked like nothing more than children bickering, so his reaction was understandable.
To say such a thing meant, in other words, that he had seen the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly before.
Cheon Muryang simply asked lightly.
“Do you happen to know something about it?”
“Just once.”
“...?”
“I had a chance to watch the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly.”
The Wandering King seemed to recall something, a mysterious smile on his face as he gazed at Cheon Muryang.
“If it's that fellow...”
“That fellow?”
“Yes. He was of a completely different nature than you, but there was another one with quite an interesting sword.”
Cheon Muryang's eyes lit up.
He was intrigued by someone whose sword could impress the Wandering King.
“Who was it?”
“All I know is that he was a disciple of the Wudang Sect. Spouting nonsense about how the world is full of the Dao and something about the Taiji... It gives me chills just thinking about it now.”
The mere thought of that time made the Wandering King shudder.
It was so bad that the Wandering King had actually given up on seeing his sword first.
“But, that bastard's sword was the real deal. I don't know if he'll come to this Dragon and Phoenix Assembly, but if he does, it'll be quite a sight.”
“A disciple of the Wudang Sect...”
“Well, setting him aside, you'd do well to be more cautious of the Peng Family's saber.”
“Are you talking about the Hebei Peng Family?”
“Yes. That tiger family possesses a rather fierce saber art. If you're not careful, the sky of the Cheon Family you're so proud of might just get torn apart.”
The Wandering King laughed.
In response to that smile, Cheon Muryang also replied with a smile.
“That would be great. It has to be at least that good to make this long journey worthwhile, wouldn't you agree?”
“No, so, are you really going to walk all the way to Anhui without a carriage?”
“The weather is nice, so I was thinking of taking a leisurely trip.”
“Do you all think so too?”
Neung Ryeoun and Cha Myeonghak remained silent.
“...”
Woryeong nodded her head.
“It is the Young Lord's will.”
She expressed her agreement.
At this, the corners of the Wandering King's mouth curled up.
“You lot are digging your own graves. You fools, do you still not understand why I'm accompanying you?”
“...?”
“I'm telling you in advance, you'd better be prepared. From now until we reach Anhui, hellish training awaits.”
“Hmm...!”
“What?”
The three of them had let their guard down.
In their excitement about going to the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly with Cheon Muryang, they had failed to grasp the true meaning of the Wandering King's accompaniment.
“Don't tell me...”
“That's right, you brats. Travel by day, train by night.”
Whap!
The gazes of the three shot toward Cheon Muryang like arrows.
However, Cheon Muryang answered with a smile.
“Ah, don't worry too much. I plan to travel slowly. Fortunately, we still have plenty of time.”
“...!”
“Honestly, I don't know if you're just clueless or if you trust this kid too much.”
“Young Lord?”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Can't we take a carriage?”
“No.”
Cheon Muryang patted Woryeong's slumped, lifeless shoulders.
“You need to become stronger. Look. Lady Namgung Seo-hui is quiet.”
“Ugh!”
Namgung Seo-hui was composed.
It was a demonstration of her will to face all of this together.
“I-I was quiet too!”
“Oh?”
“Yes, yes!”
Woryeong, as if determined not to lose, clenched her teeth.
“Shall we get going then?”
“Yes...”
For some reason, only Cheon Muryang's voice was full of energy.
* * *
Zhejiang and Anhui were neighboring provinces.
As such, due to their proximity, they had frequent exchanges.
It was said that these exchanges had increased recently.
The long lines of cargo carts on the main road were proof of that.
“This is incredible.”
“I agree.”
If they had come by carriage, they might have ended up arriving later than if they had walked.
“Is this what they call foresight?”
“Ugh...”
The Namgung Family was already massive.
In other words, the reason for the increased exchange lay not with the Namgung Family, but with the Cheon Family.
‘So there was this positive side effect after getting rid of all the leeches that were eating away at the family.’
The people who embezzled funds were gone, and the capital that had been leaking like a bottomless pot was now contained.
Furthermore, all the corrupt allies who had engaged in all sorts of illicit activities were also cut off.
‘This means the Cheon Family can finally exert its true capabilities.’
And this was the result.
A distinct increase in the volume of goods.
This signified the Cheon Family's financial power.
“I hear Zhejiang is a great place to live these days.”
“They say the Cheon Family treats people so well.”
Where money gathered, talent always followed.
The Cheon Family was once again preparing the stepping stones for another leap forward.
Perhaps Cheon Muryang had wanted to witness this vibrant scene for himself.
‘This is very promising.’
These people were the first to feel the winds of change blowing from the Cheon Family.
Every single conversation they exchanged represented the current reality.
“It might be too soon to say, but if they knew this many people would be coming, shouldn't they have maintained the roads a bit?”
“You're right. It was already a rush to get from village to village because they were so far apart, but if the roads are this congested, it's hopeless.”
There were certainly many shortcomings as well.
The maintenance of the main roads, the lack of waypoints.
Cheon Muryang was able to learn about problems he had never even considered.
‘If we address these issues, things will get much better.’
The thought occurred to him that it wouldn't be a bad idea to create a village that could serve as a waypoint connecting Anhui and Zhejiang.
Pwoooooo!
It was then.
From somewhere, the sound of a horn blared.
The murky sound suggested the horn was in poor condition.
“Here they come again.”
“Tsk! Damned bastards.”
“Watch your mouth! They might hear you!”
“No, I have to speak the truth. What in the world are the Namgung and Cheon Families doing?”
“What can you do? This is the outskirts.”
“I know neither the Namgung Family nor the Cheon Family can act rashly, but that doesn't give those bandits the right to run wild!”
“Hey! You! I told you to be quiet!”
“Tsk!”
The merchants clicked their tongues, busily preparing something.
“Hm?”
Not too far away, a group of disheveled men appeared.
Draped in tiger, wolf, or bear skins, they looked every bit the part of bandits.
However, the fact that they all wore green headscarves suggested they were not ordinary.
“Tsk. It's those Green Forest bastards.”
The Wandering King furrowed his brow.
Given his personality, it wouldn't have been strange for him to fly into a rage and crush the bandits, but instead, he turned his head away as if he couldn't even be bothered to deal with them.
“I don't want to get involved with those bastards, so you handle it. Either crush them or pay the toll.”
“Alright, I will.”
He didn't press for details.
He would find out when the time came.
For now, Cheon Muryang decided to remain silent and observe the situation.
“Well now, where is everyone off to in such a hurry!”
A man who appeared to be the leader of the Green Forest approached with a swaggering smile.
‘Look at how fat he is.’
So plump like a pig, he wondered if the man was really a destitute bandit.
“We'll be collecting a toll on behalf of the Namgung and Cheon Families, so let's make this easy on everyone.”
It seemed this wasn't the first or second time.
The fat bandit even exchanged greetings with the merchants.
“Oh, what goods do you have this time?”
“Ah, th-this is ginseng from the far-off land of Haedong.”
“Ginseng! Such a precious thing!”
“Hehehe. Please be generous...”
The one who had most harshly criticized the Green Forest had prepared gold.
“Ahem. Sell a lot of it.”
As he was collecting the money, the bandit leader's gaze fixed on something.
“And where might you be from, my lady?”
Over there, Namgung Seo-hui was tending to the injured nearby.
“Oho.”
Beside her was Woryeong, who was assisting Namgung Seo-hui.
“I've hit the jackpot.”
The bandit leader's feigned magnanimous smile revealed everything he was thinking.
“That's far enough.”
And Cheon Muryang, facing that smile, naturally did not hold back.
No, there was no need to hold back.
“And who are you?”
“Me? Cheon Muryang.”
“What...?”
“Cheon Muryang, the Great Young Lord of the Cheon Family.”
Whoosh!
When had it happened?
Cheon Muryang was holding the Heavenly Light Sword.
Fwing!
The wind blew.
Thwip!
And for some reason, the green headscarf wrapped around the bandit leader's head was sliced off and fell to the ground.
“Make your choice. Either you quietly return the money you just collected and get lost, or you get a beating and then get lost.”