Path of Tears (1)
Path of Tears (1)
Hmm!
This won't do.
Seeing how her eyes were rolling back, there's no way I could communicate with her, no matter what I said.
I quickly gave up on the idea of returning to the [Academy].
It's truly a pity that So-ha, who used to be so cute and kind, ended up like that, but I'm not a psychiatrist or anything.
I can give someone a mental illness, but I can't cure one.
I thought maybe I could just avoid the poison on the door handle or the tea So-ha hands me, but... with eyes like that, you never know what a person might do.
If a guy who used to be a Protector of the Demonic Cult said, "I've returned, and I won't act like a human butcher anymore, so let's make up and get along," would anyone actually believe him?
Whether it's So-ha or the young lady of the Namgung family, I don't have a big problem dealing with them.
But I have absolutely no desire to become a public enemy of the Murim world again and be chased until I'm on the brink of death.
If it were pretty noonas obsessing over me and chasing me, that'd be one thing, but having burly, hairy middle-aged men chasing me, trying to split weak, frail little me in half just to make a name for themselves? Once is enough.
I could avenge my sect and kill people I didn't like while I was at it.
And yet, those righteous faction bastards throw a fucking fit if even one of their own kin dies!
Typical of them, raising their voices about how the evil faction exploits the common people, while they do the exact same thing by collecting tolls and protection fees.
It's not like this world doesn't have the [Government-Murim Non-Aggression Pact], but it's a bit different.
I should say the righteous faction is practically half the government.
Each clan or sect collects taxes directly from the regions they are in charge of and sends them to the central government where the Emperor resides.
However, if they collect ten silver coins in taxes, maybe one or less actually makes it to the Emperor.
Of course, he must be pissed, but what can the Emperor do?
Guys who can split a mountain in half by themselves pop up every now and then, so if you want to live a long life, keeping your mouth shut is the wisest choice.
So the Emperor just... half-disbanded his expensive army and outsourced everything to the Murim world.
Thanks to that, all sorts of bandits are overflowing in every river and mountain valley, but... wouldn't that be a good thing for the righteous faction people too?
They could double the tolls and protection fees, and no one would say a word.
So, to punish those vicious landlords and capitalists, I, Baek Yeon-cheong, tied a red headband around my head and tried to sacrifice this body with revolutionary spirit to wipe them all out, but unfortunately, that was my previous life—a failure.
Actually, all my problems would have been neatly solved if I had reincarnated as a gender-bent pretty girl, but unfortunately, the world isn't that easy.
I wouldn't have to do anything; others would just take care of things and move exactly as I wanted, and occasionally, noonas would just dote on me!
Anyway, even if I just stood still, everyone would dote on me, and if I just avoided the people who occasionally try to 'warallalla' (munch/cuddle) me, it would have been a truly perfect life...!
Thinking these silly thoughts, I headed to the ferry terminal.
It's to go to the Heavenly Mountain where the Divine Cult is.
Shinnyeo-nim even sacrificed herself to send me back to the past for my sake, so I have to help her.
I'm not confident I can do better than my last life, but it'll work out somehow.
Or maybe not. Since I died after being toyed with by So-ha in my last life, I think I can live better than that no matter what I do.
Anyway, I'm trying to go to Heavenly Mountain, but I don't have the money to get there.
Come to think of it, a great way to get a free ride on a boat came to mind.
Back in the day, when I was a Protector, I was told not to just waste food and do something, so I went out on a missionary activity to spread the merits of the Divine Cult.
I visited the people from the nearest Kunlun Sect, and also the Emei Sect, and the Diancang Sect that I had half-destroyed.
But the ones I encountered the most were the water bandit friends who called themselves the Yangtze River Water Bandits.
Whenever I tried to send supplies by river, they'd constantly demand I pay tolls or offer one-fifth of the supplies to them.
They were guys who talked a lot about joining the righteous faction if I didn't.
When others were riding boats that were so slow they seemed to be crawling, these guys rode small but incredibly fast boats, so I couldn't outrun them, which was a headache.
So, I picked a day, dunked them into the water, and 'ppuyya-ppuyya' (thrashed) them.
Then, perhaps realizing the preciousness of life, they deeply accepted the teachings of the Divine Cult and all became faithful believers.
Good memories.
Though I'm very sad now at the thought that I have to rob the very people I shared those memories with.
The ferry terminal was creating a strangely lively atmosphere, with the smell of fishy water mixed with the sweat of people.
I poked around looking for a boat going to Kunlun.
Then I found a boat that was reasonably shabby and old, one that I could comfortably afford with the small change I had.
"Old man, where does this boat go?"
"It goes to Yichang. You getting on?"
The old captain took the money I handed him, nodded, and let me on the boat.
I waited for a while for the boat to depart, and maybe half a day had passed since it started moving slowly.
I was lying on the bow of the boat, using my arm as a pillow, dozing off while feeling the river breeze.
The river water rippled peacefully, and the sky was clear.
The unique smell of wet soil somehow calmed my mind.
Ppu-woo-oong!
Suddenly, a sound like a trumpet rang out, and the boatmen stopped rowing and sat down, stretching as if they were used to it.
I got up from my seat and looked across the river.
A boat that had appeared from somewhere was approaching, cutting through the water at an incredibly fast speed.
That's the one.
Those men on that boat with the delinquent expressions.
They are the ones destined to become faithful believers in the future.
Shinnyeo used to sigh and complain to me that the sect was poor and the number of believers was too meager right now.
Since the Divine Cult doesn't have a place to dock a boat yet, I can't take the boat itself, but I can certainly take the goods and the people.
Sob sob. I am so devoted to the sect.
The water bandits' boat pulled up close to the old boat we were on, stopping with a splash.
One of the scarred water bandits standing on the bow opened his mouth, acting arrogant.
"The weather is really nice today, isn't it, old man?"
The captain, as if very used to this, let out a short sigh and took an old money pouch from his bosom.
Then he took out three silver coins and tossed them toward the water bandit.
"The weather is nice, alright. Here, take it."
The captain clicked his tongue while replying indifferently.
The water bandit nimbly snatched the silver coins flying through the air and grinned.
"I don't think this will be enough for today. Old man, you know we don't have anything left if we get squeezed from above too."
The captain sighed and started rummaging through his money pouch more.
Meanwhile, I kicked off and landed lightly on the water bandits' boat.
At first, the water bandits were flustered and blinked, surprised by a person suddenly flying onto their boat.
But soon, as if to punish the guy who climbed up recklessly, they all drew their rough swords and broadswords from their waists at once.
I also smoothly drew the sword from my waist, and the water bandits looked at me with expressions that seemed slightly scared.
Unlike the poor and unskilled mountain bandits, these water bandit friends are high-quality personnel who know how to steer a boat and can do many things, more than you'd think.
Besides, sometimes you even catch guys who know how to build boats themselves.
Furthermore, just knowing how to handle wood well makes them very valuable talent.
Of course, it doesn't matter if I kill the guys in front of me.
High-quality personnel are always at the headquarters, after all.
Should I call the guys here subcontractors of subcontractors?
The Murim world is actually quite advanced in this regard.
Three water bandits shouted and rushed at me at the same time.
I lightly twisted my body, and every time the water bandits swung their swords, I tapped the side of their blades to make them drop their weapons.
I didn't miss the moment when the guys, their hands tingling, dropped their swords and gasped.
I lightly kicked their shins and butts, dunking them into the water one by one.
There aren't that many water bandits who are good at swimming, surprisingly.
They always ride boats, and how often would water bandits fall into the water anyway?
Anyway, after dunking all the water bandits into the water, I threw a thick rope that was rolled up in a corner of the boat toward the river.
"Gasp! Puh-ha-ack!"
The water bandits desperately clung to the rope, gasping for air to survive.
I leisurely pulled the rope and dragged them near the side of the boat.
Then, standing leisurely on the boat railing, I pressed my foot down on the wet heads of the water bandits as they struggled to climb up, preventing them from coming up.
"The water is a bit cold, isn't it?"
"Puh-ha! Save me, please save me!"
"Do you have any intention of converting to the Divine Cult?"
"W-what kind of bullshit are you... glug!"
"You still lack faith. I will give you time to open your heart and think about it sufficiently."
I pressed my foot gently on their heads, sinking them back into the water.
I watched the bubbles rising in the river for a moment, then pulled up one guy who was flailing because he was suffocating, and asked.
"W-whatever it is, I'll convert! I'll believe in anything! Please, just save me!"
"An excellent choice."
When I readily pulled him up at those words, the others hanging on the rope also scrambled to shout in hoarse voices that they would convert.
A while later, I looked down with satisfaction at the water bandits who had crawled onto the boat, shivering while soaking wet.
"What are you doing not steering? My brothers, you need to move quickly before your hands and feet freeze."
"Wh-where shall we take you, Great Hero......."
"For now, we need to go to Yichang. Please row vigorously."
Then the water bandits started rowing obediently.
However, seeing them exchange glances, it seems they're going to take me straight to the Surochae headquarters, forget Yichang.
I don't know if these underlings even know where the headquarters is, though.
At least a bandit den would be better than the [Academy].