Chapter 132. This Guy Knows How to Treat Hao Men Disciples Well
Won Seung fell silent, and Go Yeongju spoke up.
"I know Young Master Joo got caught up in this by accident. That's why I've come. Martial experts in the jianghu treat nobodies like us as ants. They don't give a damn about circumstances. If we get in their way, they just slice—gone."
Go Yeongju mimed slicing his own throat with the side of his hand.
"Ugh. All I did was buy a house...?"
Won Seung protested weakly, but he knew it was pointless with Go Yeongju.
"If they commissioned you to watch this house, there must be a reason. Even if Young Master Joo stumbled into it blindly and knows nothing, they'll squeeze you anyway, figuring something's bound to come out. I'll bet ten silver taels on it."
Won Seung groaned. If the Thousand Sword Mountain bastards really grabbed him and tortured him... he might spill about the Bi Sword Sect Horizontal Heaven Sword Manual.
Even if not, guys who'd cut down half the Central Plains' top hundred experts would brush off someone like Won Seung like kicking a roadside pebble.
"So Young Master Joo, you'd best sell this place quick and change your identity. I'll help."
Go Yeongju gave the advice with a meaningful look. Won Seung realized the man knew he wasn't really Joo Neung. Otherwise, he wouldn't treat switching identities like changing clothes.
The Hao Men must have eyes and ears in every Sichuan inn.
He'd have to check the errand boys first from now on when staying at Huangdo inns. But first, the immediate problem.
Won Seung glanced around the house and sighed.
Move? Easier said than done. He'd spent the winter sprucing it up, building a medicine room, slaving away with Jong Bi on frozen ground...
It had taken over a month to settle in, and now he was finally sorting his tasks.
Plenty to do. First, meet Father Won Guksa quietly—filial duty to let him know he's alive. Then scout Jeokhyeolsan's main base. Set up a network with Sam Sam Alliance Leader Dongho-gun.
Monitor Seongwangbu's movements post-Sangyang bloodbath. Train his martial arts amid it all.
Sneak to Sangyang in spring.
Maybe hole up somewhere for a bit?
Won Seung finished pondering and spoke.
"Where's this Thousand Sword Mountain? When do you think they'll show?"
"Lucky for you, it's way off in Guangxi. But Hao Men's network is top-notch—they've probably already set out. Not much time left for Young Master Joo."
It had been over a month since he bought the house. Send word by pigeon to Guangxi, hustle from there—they'd arrive soon.
"Who exactly is after the Bang family?"
"Don't know. Sword expert, looks late twenties."
Bi Sword Sect?
Another to avoid. If Bi Sword Sect, they'd torture him for the sword manual too. That made him the bigger threat.
Not the time.
Won Seung shot to his feet.
"Thanks for the premium customer service, Hao Men."
"Need help, just say. We're always open."
Go Yeongju opened his money pouch meaningfully. Right price, any service. Favor's a favor, business is business.
Won Seung had a bad feeling he'd be Hao Men's golden goose from now on.
"Where's the eastern branch?"
"Uh... Huaping Inn. We just do jobs. No needless grudges."
A sudden thought struck Won Seung.
"Ever hear of 'kill to silence'? If Thousand Sword Mountain learns Hao Men knows their identity, they'll wipe you out."
Go Yeongju replied calmly.
"Then Thousand Sword Mountain gets crushed."
"?"
Won Seung's eyes widened in shock. Was Hao Men that powerful?
"We have experts, sure. But our real strength is Hao Men disciples nationwide. Touch us, and every branch knows. Your dirty laundry—down to your eighth cousin's—is exposed to the world. Interested parties handle it themselves. Plenty of sects that poked us and vanished."
"Whoa!"
Won Seung was deeply impressed by Hao Men's power. Everyone has dirt. splashed across the Thirteen City Chronicles? You'd hide in the mountains from shame.
Never cross Hao Men.
Escorting Go Yeongju to the door, Won Seung suddenly pulled out a silver tael and pressed it into his hand.
"Thanks for coming all this way. Grab something tasty on the way."
Go Yeongju eyed Won Seung thoughtfully.
Worth the trip. This guy's one who knows how to treat Hao Men disciples right.
Go Yeongju gave a polite clasped-hands bow. A bit of silver tightened their bond.
After Go Yeongju left, Won Seung hurriedly packed. The man had offered help, but Won Seung dismissed it outright. Bonds tied by money snap easily.
He grabbed clothes, hidden weapons, poisons, then headed to the girl.
"Pack up. We leave tonight."
"Why?"
She asked with frightened, anxious eyes at his abrupt words.
"Your enemies might come back. I'm in the crossfire too."
She scrambled to pack—really, just the winter clothes he'd bought her.
Dusk fell.
"You know lightfoot skill?"
"……."
"I know you know martial arts."
She nodded.
As full dark settled, they left. Won Seung headed south. Over one small mountain, then another—midway up, a massive temple appeared.
Yeongtap Temple.
Still here.
He'd come once as a kid with Mother. South of Huangdo, Yeongtap Temple's Buddha was famed for miracles—crowds came from afar. Faint memory led true.
Rumor: 108 prostrations to Yeongtap Buddha for a hundred days grants wishes. Done at night, so the grounds bustled even then.
Thud! Thud!
Won Seung knocked on the firmly shut front gate. A guest-receiving monk appeared.
"What brings you?"
"From far Sangyang for 108 prostrations to Yeongtap Buddha. Got lost over mountains—arrived late."
The monk eyed Won Seung and the girl, nodded, and let them in. Yeongtap's fame drew distant pilgrims—no oddity.
Won Seung handed over ten silver taels.
"Sister's tired from the road. Mind if we rest a few days before starting...?"
The monk beamed at the silver, guiding them to guest quarters.
"Morning meal in the hall over there."
He pointed out the dining area and latrines, then left.
Their rooms adjoined.
"Use this one. Oh, right—what's your name? Can't call my 'sister' nameless."
"Im Cho-ye."
She blurted it naturally at his casual question, then clapped a hand over her mouth. Trail fatigue melted in the inn—true name slipped.
"Nice name. But no using it here. I'm Unsaeng, so you're Un-ye. Pretty, right? I'll call you Ye-a. You call me big brother."
Won Seung brushed off the real name like nothing; she relaxed and nodded.
Won Seung wondered inwardly.
Dead Bang guy used a fake name? Or was she Im clan?
He entered his room, tapped the adjoining wall twice. Silence. He went next door and knocked.
Im Cho-ye opened up.
"Hear me tap the wall?"
"Yeah."
"Two taps: all clear. Three: run. Back over the mountain path, hide somewhere. You do the same if trouble. Temple or not, world's harsh—pretty girl like you draws it everywhere."
Flattered and cared for, Im Cho-ye nodded readily. Won Seung returned, tapped twice. Two taps replied.
That night, amid wooden-fish beats urging 108 prostrations, Won Seung linked yin-yang points till late, then slept.
Next morning.
Won Seung blinked at the unfamiliar sight, recalling last night. He jumped up, tapped her wall twice. Two taps back.
Out he went, calling Im Cho-ye. Washed up, to the dining hall—no one but a few pilgrims.
A young monk in the kitchen handed rice and veggies with clasped hands.
"Temple morning meal's at maoshi hour."
"Sorry. Late arrival, overslept."
Won Seung bowed politely, devout as any.
After eating, he called Im Cho-ye to his room.
"Your enemies Thousand Sword Mountain?"
She gaped, eyes widening further at his directness.
"Got friends in Huangdo. One tipped me—Thousand Sword Mountain experts coming. For you, I can't even go home. Gotta know the story to handle it."
"……."
She bit her lip, hesitated, then spoke.
"Not sure if Thousand Sword Mountain. Just know they're top experts. Lived training at Uncle Bang's—then they raided. Uncle repelled them, but took internal wounds. Fled here to Huangdo."
"Where from originally?"
"Fukju coast."
Fukju—Fujian.
Bi Heavenly Sword descendants, sure. Huangshan and Fukju aren't far.
Im Cho-ye eyed him.
"Tell me about big brother."
"Me? Joo Neung. Eldest disciple of Sichuan Bokho Hall. Master was secular Shaolin—died unjustly. Fled to Huangdo for revenge, building strength. Who'd guess you'd drag me into expert fights, life hanging by a thread?"