Chapter 55 - You Never Know the Ways of the World
A group of men came charging up in a cloud of dust, pulling up right in front of the travelers.
About twenty of them skidded to a halt in the middle of the road, doubling over with ragged breaths.
"Hah... hah... hah... hah..."
"Aigoo... outta breath..."
Some braced their hands on their knees, gasping desperately, while others' faces burned beet red.
Jin Muhon gazed down impassively at the men catching their breath.
"Something wrong? Why the rush?"
One man, not even fully recovered, lifted his head and wiped the sweat from his brow.
"W-we heard the Family Head was coming... hah... hah... so we hurried..."
Small eyes, sharp nose, thin lips. By his face alone, he looked like the type to harass women in a brothel or inn.
In truth, he'd lived that way until meeting Jin Muhon, who had elevated him to sect leader of the Ghost Soul Sect. Chukang bowed deeply to Jin Muhon with a delighted grin.
"Have you been well, Family Head!"
The Ghost Soul Sect disciples bowed in unison, shouting as one.
— Have you been well, Family Head!
Unscrupulous unorthodox warriors bending at the waist and bellowing made passersby quicken their steps with fearful glances.
Go Seokchu blinked, eyeing Chukang.
'Doesn't look like the type to save money...'
Jin Muhon nodded, accepting the Ghost Soul Sect's greeting.
"Good. No issues?"
"None, sir! All is peaceful! This is all thanks to you, Family Head!"
"And the Iron Blood Society?"
"Getting along great with Brother Cheolgun! He drops by Yichang when he's bored for a drink. Who knew a man his age could hold his liquor like that? A real boozehound. Hahaha!"
The Ghost Soul Sect and Iron Blood Society had once clashed over their very survival as sects.
Jin Muhon had stepped in, forging a sworn brotherhood between sect leader Chukang and Iron Blood Society leader Ha Cheolgun. Things seemed to be going better than expected.
Then Chukang's bodyguard, Bang Cheolsan, blinked and spoke up.
"Family Head. You been takin' care o' your skin lately? Look ten years younger, ya do."
"......"
Bang Cheolsan's words had the Ghost Soul Sect disciples nodding vigorously.
Chukang clapped in admiration.
"I thought the same! You've gotten so much more handsome since last time!"
"Heh heh heh."
Shedding one's mortal shell, reduced to mere skincare.
Yeon Jeokhwa covered her mouth from behind, giggling softly.
Jin Muhon smirked at Bang Cheolsan, who seemed a few cards short of a full deck.
"Does it suit me?"
"Yessir! Looks mighty fine!"
Bang Cheolsan beamed, thumbs up.
Chukang scowled and smacked the back of his hand.
"Insolent fool! Who gave you leave to act so freely? Stand down!"
"Ah, sorry 'bout that. I was just so happy to see ya..."
"Act like a proper bodyguard! Stand there like a screen! How many times I gotta tell ya!"
"Screen. Screen. Screen."
Bang Cheolsan mulled over the order, nodding slowly.
Only then did Chukang relax his scowl and bow to Jin Muhon again.
"This way, Family Head. We'll escort you."
"Lead on."
The Ghost Soul Sect disciples swarmed toward the carriage.
Chukang guided the group to an inn overlooking the Yangtze River.
The waves sparkled under the sunlight, and the leisurely drifting boats brought a sense of calm just to watch.
"Wow! What a view!"
"Hahaha! Right? Best view in all Yichang! First time we met here, Family Head! Cleared the top floor when we heard you were coming!"
Yeon Jeokhwa eyed Chukang with pleasant surprise.
"My, you're quite capable!"
"Hahaha! Hardly. All thanks to your teachings, Family Head. But... may I ask what relation this lovely young lady has to you...?"
Chukang rolled his eyes sneakily, scanning the group with Jin Muhon.
A beauty who seemed colorblind, two men who couldn't use their limbs properly but had striking looks, and one rat-faced handyman.
Nothing connected them to Jin Muhon.
He couldn't dare ask directly, but Yeon Jeokhwa's friendliness gave him an opening.
"I'm Brother Muhon's little sister. Nice to meet you, Sect Leader Chukang."
"H-heh! Y-your sister? Family Head has a sister?"
Chukang glanced at Jin Muhon for confirmation.
Jin Muhon nodded indifferently.
"Yes."
"B-but... she's colorblind..."
"She is."
"Ah..."
Chukang shut his mouth quick.
Seeing Jin Muhon reluctant to elaborate, probably half-siblings.
But if Jin Muhon acknowledged her as blood, that meant one more person to serve.
"An honor to meet you, miss. I'm Chukang, leader of the Ghost Soul Sect. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
"Hohoho! We're the ones who should be grateful. I'm Jin Yeon Jeokhwa."
"Yes, Miss Jin."
Yeon Jeokhwa turned to see the two brothers just reaching the third floor, carried up by Ghost Soul Sect disciples. Their frail bodies made it no burden.
"The skull-faced one is my second brother Jin Baek, and the gloomy one behind is the youngest, Jin Jaryeong."
"Uh... so..."
"Yes, we're the four Jin siblings."
"F-four! Siblings!"
Chukang's eyes bulged as he stared holes into Jin Baek and Jin Jaryeong's faces.
All had such distinct features. Not a hint of resemblance.
"What're you starin' at."
Jin Baek glared.
Chukang flinched and looked away.
'Family Head... must've had one hell of a father.'
Three wives and four concubines weren't a flaw for a hero... Chukang, who hadn't known true love himself, indulged in pleasant fantasies for a moment.
Tap. Tap.
Jin Muhon lightly tapped the table with his chopsticks.
"What useless thoughts are you pondering so seriously."
"N-no, sir! Why's the food taking so long? Boy! Bring the orders quick!"
— Yes, sir!
As everyone settled, the chaotic mood eased.
Jin Baek and Jin Jaryeong shared a table with Go Seokchu and Bang Cheolsan.
Jin Muhon sat across from Chukang and Yeon Jeokhwa.
"How's that bastard Ak these days? Any word?"
Ak Manho, chief of the Long River Bandits.
With the bandits stirring, Jin Muhon suspected trouble at the waterways base.
Chukang glanced around and lowered his voice.
"Well... something feels off."
"Off?"
"Yes. Past few days, boats that look like water bandits keep gathering. Seems headed for the main base."
"Hmm."
The bandits call a general assembly, and the water bandits summon their forces across the Yangtze.
All around the same time.
Something was definitely brewing.
Jin Muhon turned toward the river. Chukang hurried on.
"But the mood isn't tense or anything! Probably just getting together for drinks after ages! Right!"
Thud thud thud thud!
Then the waiter bounded up the stairs, balancing huge platters in both hands.
"Food's here!"
"Yeah! Over here!"
Chukang beckoned him.
Jin Muhon, who'd glanced at the river, turned back and met Yeon Jeokhwa's eyes.
"Take them to the Ghost Soul Sect and wait."
Guessing his intent, Yeon Jeokhwa nodded without question.
"Yes, brother. Alone?"
"Taking the rat with me."
"Mm... hope he doesn't hold you back."
"If something's up, better to have eyes on him."
"Fair enough."
Steam rose invitingly from the delicious dishes on the table.
Chukang couldn't touch his chopsticks, waiting for their talk to end.
The other tables were the same.
Noticing them sitting like statues, Jin Muhon reached for a dish.
"Dig in."
"Yes, Family Head!"
— Let's eat!
Laughter returned to the inn.
A tense night hung in the air.
Moonlight pierced the clouds overhead like a hairpin in the dim sky.
The night breeze from the Yangtze dampened the water bandit stronghold, and the faces of the bandits around scattered campfires showed no mirth.
Sharp eyes, hardened expressions.
They fingered their sword hilts, staring silently at the command tent where the chiefs gathered.
Bam!
"Everyone got their tongues cut out? Why so quiet?"
Grand Chief Ak Manho, seated at the head, glared at his subordinates with turtle-like eyes wide as saucers.
Yet none dared speak easily.
The topic was that heavy.
"You bastards! And you call yourselves brave water bandits? Then why bother with balls? Cut 'em off!"
"Then you decide, Grand Chief. You called us 'cause you can't, right?"
A young chief at the foot of the table raised his voice boldly.
Cutting off precious balls? That crossed a line.
"What! Who said that!"
Ak Manho shot up in fury.
All heads turned to the young chief.
"Tch tch. These kids these days—arrogant or just rude?"
A wrinkled old chief clucked his tongue at the young one.
The reaction was instant.
"Talk about weird! What manners do water bandit punks need anyway!"
"What'd you say, punk! Say it again!"
"Then you keep your precious manners first."
"Hey! Get out here! Come on! Lucky day! I'll carve a man's scar on that pretty face!"
"Fuck. Old geezer. Senile?"
"What, what!"
Twenty-odd chiefs of great and small water bandit groups.
Now split into two factions, facing off.
The old guard, centered on the elder chief, wanted to accept the envoy's proposal.
The young blood, led by the youth, called it bullshit and demanded the envoy's head.
"Aigoo. headache."
Ak Manho rubbed his throbbing temple and slumped back into his chair.
'What the hell is this mess.'
As Ak Manho fell silent, the chiefs' bickering escalated.
"And you call yourselves seniors? Cooperate? Bullshit! Old folks should stick their noses in the river and become fish food! What cooperation! No pride?"
"Y-you, you damned bastard! What then? All die together?"
"Who's dying! A chief tucking tail before battle? Shameful!"
"You fools don't get it! How strong and vicious they are! We can't stand against 'em!"
"No Heavenly Demon, no Sword Demon! What's a Demonic Cult missing those two got to scare us shitless!"
"Aigoo... Buddha..."
Then.
Step. Step. Step.
The entrance flap parted, and three men entered.
All in blood-red uniforms, eyes flashing with murderous intent.
Their arrival sliced the tent's clamor like a blade.
"......"
"...Gulp."
Someone swallowed audibly.
Tension, wariness, resentment, fear.
The lead man smirked amid the charged air.
A chill-inducing smile.
"What? Tough decision?"
The man glanced lightly at the chiefs before addressing Ak Manho at the head.
"Grand Chief. Time for an answer today."
"Mm..."
Ak Manho's face twisted.
What madness was this.
Demonic Cult envoys crawling into the heart of the Central Plains.
A few days ago, they'd appeared demanding cooperation with the cult.
Or they'd burn the Yangtze in the coming righteous-demonic war, they threatened.
'Bastards...'
He wanted to lop their heads off, but they were envoys bearing proposals.
Killing them declared war on the Demonic Cult. So Ak Manho stalled.
"The bandits? Any word from them?"
"Hahaha! Water bandits scared of mountain rats? By now, their envoy's there too. Answer soon."
"...Fuck."
Thud thud thud!
Then. Footsteps raced from outside.
Ak Manho turned to the entrance.
"Hm?"
The other chiefs and even the Demonic Cult envoys looked with curiosity.
"Grand Chief! Gran— hah!"
The flap flew open as a water bandit stumbled in, panting.
Caught in every eye, he jolted wide-eyed.
Ak Manho scowled.
"What!"
"Uh..."
"Spit it out!"
"Ah! Yes! Jin Family Head wants to see you, Grand Chief!"
"......!"
Ak Manho sprang up.
His grim face bloomed into a grin.
Whoosh!
He leaped from the head seat.
"Bring him in! Quick!"
Who knew the Sword Demon could bring such joy.
Truly, the ways of the world were unknowable.