Who Dared Touch What? (5)
Early the next morning.
"Urrgh."
Gwak Hoe trudged along, lugging a huge bucket.
"Down to taking care of dog food, huh."
The dogs that the Beast Palace Taoists had dragged in and abandoned during the Heavenly Friends Alliance founding ceremony had remained on Mount Hua, settling in as though they owned the place.
There had been plenty of voices arguing that they should be sent back down the mountain at once, but when the sect leader, Hyun Jong, said, "Since there was a bond that brought them here, how could we possibly drive them out simply because they cannot speak?" no one in Mount Hua dared suggest getting rid of the dogs again.
As a result, feeding the dogs had been added, all too neatly, to the list of the Cheong generation's main duties.
"Urrgh. Still, they're cuter than I expected, so I guess it's fine..."
The truth was, Mount Hua was an utterly barren place.
The environment? No. The people.
It hadn't always been like this, but now it was full of devilish lunatics with no trace of cuteness to be found no matter how hard you scrubbed your eyes. In other words, Mount Hua was hell descended into the mortal world.
And for those living there, the dogs that came running over and wagging their tails the moment you approached were a great comfort. Watching them pant sweetly with their bellies exposed, tails swishing back and forth, made it possible to forget those demonlike senior brothers and sisters for a brief moment.
The problem was that comfort and inconvenience were clearly two different things...
What could he do? If he felt wronged, then he should have had a higher rank.
"Feels like we should be getting a Baek generation soon... Maybe then I'll be able to escape this kind of busywork."
With a sigh after muttering to himself, Gwak Hoe turned the corner and opened his mouth.
"Hey, you guys, time to e—"
Huh?
But the sight before him made Gwak Hoe freeze, forgetting even what he had been about to say as he blinked hard.
What exactly am I looking at right now?
The dogs were lined up in a neat row.
Well, that much he could more or less understand. If dogs had come all the way up Mount Hua, then they ought to follow Mount Hua's rules. If they started acting like they did when they were living out on the streets, some rabid bastard even worse than a dog would foam at the mouth and come charging in.
The problem was that all the dogs lined up in formation were lying flat on the ground with all four paws pointed straight up at the sky.
Are they dead?
No, no. That didn't seem to be it...
Their outstretched legs were trembling all at once, so they must still be alive. It wasn't as if they'd all eaten something they shouldn't have, so why were they posing like that in such a bizarre way...
Hahaaah!
Then a sharp cry rang out, making Gwak Hoe flinch and turn his head.
At the front of the row of sprawled dogs, Baek Ah was lying there in a crooked, lopsided pose.
"..."
From behind, the pose looked exactly like...
like some lunatic from Mount Hua had gotten drunk and collapsed with a wine jug in his hand.
The sense of déjà vu sent chills racing over Gwak Hoe's entire body.
No way. Now it's come to this...
No matter how he looked at it, this was clearly that damned marten disciplining the dogs, wasn't it?
Because they had dragged in every dog they saw on the road, their sizes varied widely, and among them were some nearly as large as a person. And yet they were being bullied without the slightest resistance by that tiny, mouse-sized marten...
Gwak Hoe's nose stung.
It was just like...
Hahaaah!
Baek Ah let out another fierce hiss, and the dogs that had been lying there instantly flipped over and sprang to their feet.
Then they lined up in a row with flawless discipline, not the slightest bit out of place.
Baek Ah slowly rose, looking thoroughly put out. As the pure-white cotton-ball of a creature widened its black, glossy eyes, every single dog in line tucked its tail and trembled.
Hiss!
At Baek Ah's short cry, the dogs suddenly bolted toward the sect gate at full speed.
Kiik!
With a scoff at the sight, Baek Ah tilted its head.
"..."
"..."
The gazes of Gwak Hoe, who was holding the dog food, and Baek Ah met in that instant. A brief silence followed.
Huh?
Baek Ah stared with round, innocent eyes and cocked its tiny head to the side as though it knew nothing at all. Gwak Hoe was left speechless.
That, that detestable little...
Of course it was just like its owner!
There wasn't a single sane thing in this damn Mount Hua, whether person or beast. Not a one!
"Urrgh."
Hyun Young, who had rushed over late after hearing the story, also had his face twisted tight. Irritation bled freely into his voice.
"Are we some kind of village punching bag or what? Bandits, water bandits, Maninbang... Looks like all the local evil sects just take turns coming to jab at us."
"There's nothing to be done about it," Unam said with a shake of his head.
Businesses of Mount Hua's scale were generally run either by famed merchant houses of the Central Plains or by great sects on the level of the Gupailbang. Such places had usually built up unshakable foundations over years of doing business.
With a sigh, Hwang Jong-ui said, "No matter how much Mount Hua has become the head of the Heavenly Alliance and its name now resounds throughout the world, it's still lacking compared to the established Gupailbang sects."
"Hmm."
"From their point of view, it's an easy place to probe."
"Urrgh. Easy to probe, huh."
At that moment, a snide voice twisted with irritation cut in.
"Those bastards think we're easy pickings, huh?"
"Chung Myung, calm down!"
"Good boy! Easy now."
"H-Here! Have a sweet. A sweet! There, there, look over here."
Jo Gul, Yoon Jong, and Baek Cheon all rushed to clamp down on the suddenly raging Chung Myung from every side, stuffing a sweet into his mouth.
"Mmph, let go! You won't? Now they've gone and stuck their heads in too, even those water bandit bastards. Damn it, the world's gone to hell! What, are those fish-eating creeps suddenly supposed to be brave?"
Chung Myung... if water bandits are fish-eating creeps who splash around in the water, then bandits are dirt-splashing creeps, and we're just mountain-climbing people.
Mount Hua had developed in many ways, but the most developed thing of all was its unshakable mental strength. In other words, no matter what kind of nonsense Chung Myung caused at their side, they could carry on the meeting without so much as blinking.
"What do you think we should do?"
"What else is there to do? Chung Myung is right, obviously!"
Hyun Young cut in decisively, as if there was nothing to even think about.
"If you get hit and just stand there, you'll turn into a straw mat and a pushover. Haven't we learned that bitterly enough by now?"
"Exactly."
"And besides, this isn't just any place. It's the problem of Ghost Sect and the Eunha Merchant Guild. If we don't step up here, then who will?"
Hyun Jong quietly nodded. It was a gesture that clearly agreed with Hyun Young's words.
But Hyun Sang did not seem to think so.
"This is not something to treat so lightly, Sect Leader."
"Hmm?"
At the unexpected remark, Hyun Jong looked at Hyun Sang as if urging him to continue.
"The opponent is not a good one."
"Not good?"
"Yes."
Hyun Sang nodded with a grave expression.
"Meeting bandits in the mountains is a frightening thing, but it cannot be compared to meeting water bandits on the water. No matter how high and rugged a mountain may be, it is still a place where one keeps one's feet on solid ground. But to face water bandits, you inevitably have to take a boat out onto the Yangtze River."
"...True."
"Fighting on a boat is several times harder than fighting on land. What's more, our children have hardly any experience at all riding boats."
"That is also true."
"There could be any number of variables. So this is not something to take lightly."
"Hmm."
Worry settled over Hyun Jong's face.
"I think the same, Sect Leader."
Even Unam stepped forward to support Hyun Sang.
"Our opponent is the Yangtze River Eighteen Water Forts, one of the Five Hegemons of the Jianghu. Of course, Mount Hua is not what it once was, but whether or not to make an enemy of one of the Five Hegemons of the Jianghu is something that must be decided very carefully."
The name Five Hegemons of the Jianghu weighed heavily upon Hyun Jong.
Had they not already become entangled with Maninbang, one of those very Five Hegemons? In such a situation, adding another enemy among the Five Hegemons was definitely not something to decide lightly.
"Then what do you think we should do?"
"Force is not the only answer."
Unam glanced around and said, "The reason the Water Bandit Sect is suddenly targeting Eunha Express is obvious. They've heard rumors that Eunha Express is making a lot of money. They may covet the cargo itself, but they also know it can't be sustained forever. In the end..."
"In the end?"
Unam hesitated slightly, looking a bit embarrassed, before saying, "Just as other sects do, they'll want a toll for crossing the Yangtze River."
"...You mean a toll?"
"Yes, Sect Leader."
Hyun Jong's expression twisted faintly.
"You mean we must pay water bandits and beg them to let us cross the Yangtze?"
"Sect Leader. Please listen. You needn't think of it that way. As far as I know, even merchant caravans run by other sects pay the Water Bandit Sect a toll when crossing the Yangtze."
"..."
"It's cheaper than making a fuss and escalating things."
Hyun Jong turned to Hwang Jong-ui, as if seeking confirmation of the truth. Hwang Jong-ui nodded.
"That is true, Sect Leader."
"Good heavens..."
Glancing carefully at Hyun Jong's reaction, Hwang Jong-ui added, "In fact, whether you meet bandits or water bandits, paying an appropriate toll and avoiding conflict is the basic approach. It's just that Eunha Express has never had to pay one on the mountain because of our good relationship with the Green Forest."
"So you're saying we have to pay the Water Bandit Sect?"
"...Sect Leader. We have been preparing personal tolls all along."
Hyun Jong's brows twitched.
What was that supposed to mean now?
Under Hyun Jong's pressing gaze, Hwang Jong-ui lowered his eyes a little guiltily.
"If... if they are demanding a toll, then it's not a personal toll they're after. They would want a fixed amount paid on a continual basis, not just by the escort team, but by the merchant guild as a whole."
"Heh heh heh..."
Hyun Jong let out a dry, incredulous laugh.
"Do you honestly expect that to make sense?"
"Of course, it's not an easy matter..."
It was, in truth, a difficult subject for Hwang Jong-ui to answer. He was in no position to demand such a thing of Mount Hua. So Unam answered instead.
"If there is a problem that can be solved with money, then it is better to solve it with money, Sect Leader. Isn't that better than recklessly putting our disciples in danger?"
Unam's voice was firm. Hyun Jong pressed a finger to his temple as if the problem had turned into a headache.
"Unam. But if we do it that way..."
"Sect Leader. Don't forget. Nothing is more important than our disciples. Not even Mount Hua's pride, if that is what stands in comparison."
Hyun Jong slowly closed his eyes. But the hesitation did not last long. In no time at all, he opened his eyes wide and nodded decisively.
"You're right. If danger can be avoided, then that is what we should do."
"A wise decision."
"Then..."
"Ah, wait a minute!"
At that moment, Chung Myung, who had been held down by Baek Cheon and the others, suddenly shot to his feet.
"N-now, Chung Myung, calm dow—"
"Move aside, will you?"
Chung Myung seized Jo Gul, who had tried to push him back down, and hurled him aside.
Bang!
Jo Gul slammed into the wall and slowly slid down it. Chung Myung didn't even glance his way as he went on speaking.
"What Great-Sect-Uncle said is right. If we can solve it without fighting, then of course we should."
"What?"
"Without fighting..."
"I mean, what did you say?"
"..."
Chung Myung shut his mouth and looked around cautiously. Every single person there wore the same expression: Did I hear that wrong? There’s no way those words came out of his mouth.
"Seriously, you people are all too much. Do I look like some bloodthirsty demon to you?"
"...That'd be better."
"You'd do fine as a demon."
"..."
Chung Myung's cheeks trembled.
These bastards, seriously?
"So what's your opinion?"
Just before Chung Myung was about to explode, Hyun Jong cleverly cut in and changed the flow. Chung Myung, half-boiling and half-stuck, let out a small groan before speaking.
"But this isn't that kind of situation. If those bastards really wanted a toll, they wouldn't have attacked the escorts trying to kill them. They would've taken the goods and grabbed hostages instead."
"...Hmm."
Everyone nodded as if that made sense too.
"What's clear is that the situation is more complicated than we thought. And... by now, things like this will happen often. When they do, it's too much to judge the situation and reach a conclusion in advance from this far away."
"Then what do you think we should do?"
"We have to go there."
Chung Myung shrugged.
"Whether it turns into porridge or rice, we need to go first and figure out what's actually happening. If it turns out to be something we can settle with words, then we do that. If not..."
"If not?"
"If not, well. Heh."
Chung Myung grinned brightly and scratched the back of his head.
"Do I really need to spell it out?"
"...No. No, you don't."
I think I know without even hearing it.
Hyun Jong nodded quietly. There was truth on both sides. The only certain thing was that with the information they had now, it was difficult to make a judgment. In the end, there was only one decision he could make.
"Listen well."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
"I will hold off on making a decision. For now, I will dispatch an investigation team as soon as possible to determine the truth and search for the missing."
"Yes, Sect Leader!"
There was no real room for disagreement.
"And..."
Hyun Jong's eyes fixed squarely on Chung Myung.
"You, Chung Myung, will not be joining this investigation team. Understand that."
"Pardon?"
At the utterly unexpected thunderclap of a remark, Chung Myung's eyes went round as fists.
"Me?"
"Yes."
"Me?"
"Yes!"
"...I'm not going? Why?"
"Why? Did you just ask me why?"
Hyun Jong burst into an amused chuckle.
"Didn't I say investigation?"
"Yes. And?"
"If there's even one person in this world less suited to the word investigation than you, then name them and I'll send them instead!"
"Jo Gul, Senior Brother."
At the answer that came out without the slightest hesitation, Hyun Jong flinched. That response had turned out far too convincing. Everyone's gaze, including Hyun Jong's, shifted to Jo Gul.
A wronged look flickered across Jo Gul's face.
"Why me..."
It was, truthfully, rather ambiguous. No matter how he thought about it, it was hard to say flat-out that it wasn't him.
"W-Well, of course Jo Gul is a bit untrustworthy, but..."
"S-Sect Leader!"
"Urrgh. Still, he's better than you, Chung Myung!"
"Good heavens... How can you say something so cruel..."
"What's cruel about it, you brat!"
Jo Gul shouted furiously and tried to lunge at Chung Myung, but before he could even throw himself forward, someone grabbed him by the collar and yanked him back hard.
"The Sect Leader is right here and you're running that mouth! That mouth! I told you not to act rashly, didn't I!"
Smack! Smack! Smack!
"Aagh! Senior Brother! My mouth! It hurts, mmph!"
"This mouth, I'll smack it clean off!"
Yoon Jong, who moved with the speed of light to restrain him, dragged Jo Gul off toward the corner. Hyun Jong watched the scene in a daze for a moment before shaking his head repeatedly.
"Anyway! Not this time. Absolutely not! This is the Sect Leader's order!"
"What the—"
Stunned by the blow, Chung Myung's mouth dropped open on its own.