Chapter 97 - To the North Sea
Two months had flown by before anyone knew it.
The biting chill of winter had retreated, blanketing the rivers and mountains in vibrant spring energy. Blossoms burst in every color, clothes grew lighter, and the markets buzzed with lively laughter.
Winter yielding to spring was only natural, of course.
But the spring in Unbong County was different from the rest—very different.
Thud! Thump! Boom boom boom!
A modest village cradled by Unbong Mountain like a folding screen.
Yet starting around last year, strangers had begun trickling in by the pair. Now, massive construction projects were underway.
“Hey! Jang! What'd you do last night to be shakin' like that?!”
“Aigoo, boss, go easy. Jang here's on his honeymoon, y'know—honeymoon.”
“What?! And that's enough to make your legs all wobbly? I can still go ten rounds in a single night!”
“Hah! That's 'cause you're the boss, sure.”
Sweat poured down their backs like rain, but smiles never left the faces of Unbong County's folk. Work meant better livelihoods, after all.
And in these chaotic times, that was the greatest blessing for the common folk.
“Still, the Murim Alliance settin' up in our village? What's all that about?”
“Gotta be thanks to Jin the family head, right?”
“Huh? That guy's that big a deal?”
“You serious? Haven't you heard? The village is crawlin' with martial artists these days! All here tryin' to cozy up to Jin the family head!”
“No kiddin'? Our Jin the family head's that hot stuff? Hahaha! Makes me feel proud just hearin' it!”
“Heh, since when you two buddies?”
“Hey! Back in the day, me and Jin the family head's brother were thick as thieves—sworn brothers!”
High on Unbong Mountain's slope, a safe distance away, Buso-yong and Jegal Gak watched the scene unfold.
After ascending as Alliance Leader, Buso-yong needed to establish her base.
Convention dictated using the leader's sect as headquarters, but Okhwa Palace's remote location made it impractical for impending wars.
In the end, she chose Unbong County for the Murim Alliance headquarters.
In these distrustful times, plagued by Ma-seon's puppets everywhere, Jin Muhon was the one person she could trust absolutely.
“It's a relief to see them so welcoming.”
Jegal Gak gazed at Buso-yong with a faint smile.
Buso-yong, who had worried about burdening the quiet village, nodded with a soft smile of her own.
Jegal Gak knew her age well, yet that smile stirred something oddly in his chest.
“Indeed. The villagers truly adore Jin the family head.”
“Hahaha! You can say that again. I was surprised myself when I arrived.”
Not just the sweating laborers, but passersby too—all boasting their ties to Jin Muhon, trading jokes and tales.
Buso-yong, standing midway up Unbong Mountain, watched them for a long while before turning her gaze to the village outskirts.
“And how are things over there?”
Jegal Gak followed her eyes.
Encircling the village like guards were outposts of unorthodox sects.
Not riffraff, either.
Infamous factions that had once threatened the Murim Alliance under the Four Emperors banner had now established branches in Unbong County.
“There were clashes with our warriors at first, big and small. But lately, we've reached a mutual tolerance.”
“Thanks to Jin the family head, no doubt.”
“Yes. Righteous and unorthodox alike have gathered here, centered solely around him.”
Buso-yong nodded and lifted her eyes.
A clear blue sky.
Unbong Mountain's crisp spring breeze tickled her cheek, and suddenly she understood why Jin Muhon had left the Demonic Cult to return home.
“Storms of blood must be raging across the land.”
“There will be side effects, but purging Ma-seon's puppets comes first. Once each sect sorts its house, we'll prepare for full war against Ma-seon.”
“Yes.”
Buso-yong's head nodded heavily.
Were it not for Jin Muhon and Muheo frolicking below, she'd have tossed the leadership aside and fled back to Okhwa Palace right then.
“Where is Jin the family head now?”
“He should have entered the northern plains by now.”
“He'll reach Beihai Binggung soon, then.”
“Yes.”
A heavy silence fell between them.
When Jin Muhon first declared he'd head to Beihai Binggung to confront the Demonic Cult, no one believed their ears. The Demonic Cult wasn't some neighbor's dog—why march to the distant north?
Yet scouting parties sent to probe the east had all gone silent.
Whether the Demonic Cult was truly heading north was unknown, but something was afoot.
Please... come back alive.
Buso-yong closed her eyes, thinking of the two disciples she'd sent with him.
***
Leaving the Central Plains for the north brought the eternal gales of the North Sea.
Between them stretched endless northern plains—vast and brutal, where without a skilled guide, one became beast fodder.
Clop clop clop.
A lone carriage raced across the barren expanse.
Reining the horses was a fierce-looking one-armed bandit, with a dark-skinned local guide beside him.
“Village up ahead, milord.”
Oepari eyed the guide curiously.
“Village? I heard northern folk roam the plains.”
The guide grinned.
“Most do, sure. But some make a living off travelers to and from the North Sea—like me.”
“Hm... I see.”
Come to think of it, the path was rough but carriage-worthy.
With a giant like Beihai Binggung nearby, traffic from outsiders was inevitable.
“Ah! There it is!”
“Mm...”
The guide pointed ahead excitedly.
Beneath the sunset horizon.
Oepari strained and barely made out a faint shadow.
“Sharp eyes you've got.”
“Hahaha! Livin' here does that. I sent word ahead—room's ready. Let's go!”
“Got it. Hya!”
Snap! Neighhh!
The horses snorted and surged forward with the whip crack.
Clop clop clop clop!
Neighhh!
The carriage soon halted before a rundown mansion.
Unlike the others, it was built in Central Plains style—clearly for guests.
Yet weathered by time, it exuded an eerie aura.
“Hmmm...”
Oepari stared from the driver's seat.
The guide hopped down first.
“Best lodging around. There's a tavern, but it's full of rough types—ladies like yours wouldn't rest easy.”
He glanced at the carriage and lowered his voice.
Oepari nodded, dismounted, and stood by the door.
“Family head. Sun's down—we should rest here tonight.”
Creeeak—
The door opened, revealing a man in white robes with a black sword at his waist.
Jin Muhon, his expression as impassive and cold as ever.
Gulp.
The guide shrank whenever he saw Jin Muhon.
That inexplicable pressure was more chilling than a pack of starving plains wolves.
Without the two women following, he might've dropped the bags and bolted.
“You've worked hard.”
“Thanks to you, it was smooth.”
Hongcheong descended behind Jin Muhon, veil in place.
The guide stared, dumbfounded.
Beauties were rarer than rain in drought up here.
He couldn't see her face, but those jewel-like eyes peeking over the veil were enough to stir his heart.
“Ah, y-yes, ma'am!”
“Ho ho! Ma'am, is it?”
“S-sorry! I thought you and that gentleman were...”
The guide sneaked a glance at Jin Muhon's back as he entered.
Hongcheong passed with a gentle smile.
“We are.”
“Yes, we are.”
She followed Jin Muhon, leaving those light words.
“Mm...”
They'd camped rough many nights on the way, yet how did such fragrance linger?
The guide closed his eyes, savoring the scent in the air.
“Ah...”
“What're you doin'?”
“Eek!”
His eyes flew open.
Jin Muhon and Hongcheong had vanished inside.
Oepari glared like he'd seen a madman.
“G-go on in! Yes! I'll show you!”
Face beet-red, the guide bolted inside.
“Damn fool. Pick your targets.”
Oepari clicked his tongue, scanning the surroundings.
Jin Muhon was leagues beyond him, but vigilance was key.
Then, a weathered wall by the entrance caught his eye oddly.
Oepari approached.
“Huh? What's this?”
He traced it with a finger.
Strange geometric shapes and unfamiliar script faintly etched there.
***
“Rest well, then.”
“This girl will retire now.”
Early evening.
Hongcheong had seen to Jin Muhon's meal and bed before quietly leaving.
They always wore veils, but removed them around him, revealing their refined beauty.
Hong was bright and flashy in looks and spirit;
Cheong, proud yet demure, possessed a serene allure.
“Should've left 'em behind after all.”
Heirs apparent to Okhwa Palace after Buso-yong.
Despite their status, they'd served him like maids the entire journey.
The fate of Okhwa Palace rests on Jin the family head's decision. Don't take it lightly—judge with care.
Even for Jin Muhon, the foe was the Demonic Cult bent on annihilating Beihai Binggung.
Their elites were likely mobilized.
Thus, he'd planned to go alone with just Oepari.
But Buso-yong insisted on sending her two disciples.
Long trips bring tedious chores no man wants. The girls will be useful.
Buso-yong had set up Murim Alliance headquarters in Unbong County—her new home.
Unbong County was now the martial world's heart.
With Four Emperors and the Alliance converged, Jin Hayeon's safety was assured.
Jin Muhon, indebted, couldn't flatly refuse her plea.
Thud.
Early yet for sleep, but Jin Muhon extinguished the light and lay on the bed.
His reborn eyes pierced the dark, illuminating the room by moonlight alone.
A woman, huh...
Perhaps the northern chill.
His mind wandered restlessly tonight.
Hongcheong—beauty enough to stir any man.
She'd strip and rush to his bed at a word.
Buso-yong wanted it too, and the women as well.
“Pointless.”
A scoff escaped him.
Lying in comfort after so long invited stray thoughts.
Even that one: if relaxed enough for him to loosen, others would fall like dominoes to any trap here...
“Hm?”
Jin Muhon bolted upright.
Something off.
Remote northern village or not, the presences felt too faint.
Woooong—
A strange hum reached his ear.
He looked up.
“......”
From the pitch-black ceiling, blood-red lines laced with baleful energy spiderwebbed out, devouring walls and roof.