Chapter 189
Chapter 189
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 189
Chapter Title: Drawing Their Gaze
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Mengjin, a county-level city at the western edge of Henan. Situated on the main stem of the Yellow River, it was a place where the fishing industry thrived.
[Third Young Master, are you sure about this?]
Neung Un-bi smiled faintly at Shin Ye-rang’s telepathic message. She was subtly glancing around, her eyes darting without being obvious.
Taking advantage of the loosened Heavenly Net, they had moved and immediately descended into the town. Without hiding, they strode confidently through the streets and had just settled down in the corner of a respectable inn.
Their only disguise to hide their identities was a change of clothes, bamboo hats, and veils, so it was understandable that Shin Ye-rang and the others felt anxious.
But what did it matter?
Bamboo hats and veils?
The inn, not to mention the entire town, was teeming with people dressed just like them.
Martial artists from all over had flocked here to join the Heavenly Net cast by the Orthodox Murim Alliance.
Because of this, Neung Un-bi's group actually looked rather ordinary.
Was that all?
A group composition of one old man and three young people was common everywhere.
In other words, Mengjin was like a vast ocean. No one cared where the water within it came from.
Given the circumstances, Neung Un-bi's group simply looked like any other martial artists moving under the orders of the Orthodox Murim Alliance.
Of course, this calm demeanor was only possible because Hyang-i, disguised as Neung Un-bi, was drawing the attention of the Heavenly Net.
[Third Young Master...]
Neung Un-bi raised a hand to stop Shin Ye-rang's repeated, anxious telepathic messages and perked up his ears.
The low voice of a young martial artist who had rushed in and joined his companions at a nearby table.
“Did you find out?”
“Yes. They say the Demonic Cult bastard showed himself south of Luoyang last night.”
“South of Luoyang? He's already made it that far?”
“The main forces of the Orthodox Murim Alliance are moving in that direction, so it seems to be true.”
“Hah! What an incredible man. It was surprising enough that he escaped the encirclement spread across the foot of Mount Gonyong and appeared in Yanshi, but to be in Luoyang already...”
“It seems the Orthodox Murim Alliance found it so unexpected that they hastily ordered the Heavenly Net to be moved.”
“Hmm... That makes sense. The prey is somewhere else now.”
“Elder, shouldn't we also head to Luoyang quickly?”
“Right. We should at least show our faces to the main family's martial artists.”
A smile formed on Neung Un-bi's lips at the elder's words.
Was their conversation the only one he heard?
Most of the martial artists in the inn were having similar discussions.
Even if the order for the Heavenly Net was issued throughout the Central Plains, the core forces would be the Nine Sects, the Five Great Families, and the reasonably large martial clans.
No matter how skilled the hundred thousand beggars of the Beggars' Alliance were, orders wouldn't reach the martial artists of small, unknown factions immediately. In the end, those who didn't receive the call had to figure out the situation themselves and act accordingly.
Until just last night, his whereabouts had been at the foot of the mountains near Gonyong, just as they were saying.
These people had probably come to Mengjin to join the northern encirclement.
The same was likely true for the martial artists filling the inn.
But they couldn't have known that he, who was in Gonyong, had suddenly appeared in Yanshi, a good distance to the southwest, thanks to Hyang-i.
That young martial artist must have sensed the strange shift in the atmosphere and barely managed to learn the situation from a nearby Orthodox Murim Alliance liaison office.
And if even people like them were moving based on rumors?
The main forces of the Orthodox Murim Alliance, the Nine Sects, and the Five Great Families would be moving without question.
In other words, the northern waterway would now be open.
That was precisely why Neung Un-bi had come down to Mengjin, located near the Yellow River.
A place where the fishing industry thrived.
A place where, no matter how urgent matters in the martial world became, people's livelihoods continued as usual.
And so, boats were plentiful.
“It's time for us to move.”
“...?”
“Everyone's flocking to Luoyang. We can't just sit still, can we?”
* * *
Leaving the inn, Neung Un-bi's group headed for the docks, in the opposite direction of the martial artists who had filled the inn and were now heading south along the inland roads.
Amidst countless boats and bustling fishermen.
The group had also changed into the clothes of ordinary fishermen.
“What? You want us to go alone?”
“Yes...”
“But, why...”
“Because I can't abandon those who trust and follow me, nor the one who became a decoy at my request without complaint.”
“...”
Neung Un-bi said with a faint smile.
At first, it had been like that.
He had thought that after meeting Yun An-ro, he could just leave the Demonic Cult behind.
But how could he do that?
He couldn't abandon the nagging Wang Cheon, Ju Seung and the Crescent Moon Division who always showed him infinite loyalty, or the gluttonous Hyang-i who, despite her prickly personality, had always helped him.
If he used them as bait and saved only himself, wouldn't he be no different from the hypocrites of the Orthodox Murim Alliance?
“Hmm... So, Third Young Master, you intend to draw attention here to save your subordinates.”
Neung Un-bi nodded at Yun An-ro's words.
Two rabbits fleeing in different directions.
Catching both at once was nearly impossible.
But even so, Neung Un-bi had to save both Yun An-ro's group and his own followers.
While an escape route had opened for his group, Hyang-i's situation was different.
From the north and east came the Orthodox Murim Alliance and the Five Great Families; from the south, Wudang and Zhuge; and from the west, the Tang Clan, Qingcheng, and Emei.
Besides them, numerous smaller factions were gathering, forming a wide encirclement around Luoyang.
No matter how formidable Hyang-i's martial prowess was, shaking them all off and escaping was impossible.
He had to open a path for her before she was completely isolated. That was his role.
“Then we will help as well.”
“...”
“Having received the grace of having our lives saved, how could we flee comfortably on our own?”
At Yun An-ro's determined words, Shin Ye-rang and Kim San nodded.
But Neung Un-bi shook his head and smiled coldly.
“That will be difficult.”
“What?”
“Do you think you, Division Master Yun, and the other two will be of any help?”
“...”
“An injured person will only be a burden. Furthermore, with the level of martial skill Shin Ye-rang and Kim San possess, they won't be of any help. They'll just be baggage I have to protect.”
Yun An-ro and the others frowned at Neung Un-bi's harsh assessment. They knew his words were true.
“It's much easier for me to move alone.”
“But...”
Yun An-ro was beside himself with guilt, but Neung Un-bi continued speaking.
“The Orthodox Murim Alliance's attention is focused on Luoyang, so their guard on the waterways should be weaker. However, I can't hold their attention for long.”
“Third Young Master...”
“As you know, the Zhuge Clan is not to be underestimated. My feint is merely a stopgap measure to open the northern waterway for a very short time.”
“They will soon devise their next plan, and the situation will become even more difficult.”
Yun An-ro had no choice but to agree with Neung Un-bi.
Was the Zhuge Clan praised for their heaven-sent wisdom for nothing?
The reason he had achieved nothing despite thirty years of effort after Cheok Wol-rin's death was because of their existence, manipulating the Central Plains from the shadows.
Because his own strategies couldn't even reach the soles of their feet...
“I don't have the talent to save both groups at once. I can only save the other after one is safe.”
“...”
“The fortunate thing is that my subordinates are capable enough to hold out while I save your group, Division Master Yun. But it won't be for long. The more time you waste stubbornly obstructing my actions, the greater the threat they will face.”
At Neung Un-bi's calm persuasion, Yun An-ro finally slumped his shoulders and nodded.
He could no longer be stubborn. He wanted to help his benefactor, but he couldn't deny that he would only be a burden.
“For now, take a tributary to the Sanmen Gorge. And don't go west, go north.”
“North... you mean the lands of the nomads?”
“Yes. Follow the northern waterway that divides Shanxi and Shaanxi, and keep moving towards the lands of the nomads.”
“But that place...”
“Their relationship with the Central Plains is poor due to past grievances. That's why you must go there. Even the Orthodox Murim Alliance won't be able to cast their Heavenly Net in that land.”
“Hmm...”
It was the right judgment.
The northern lands. A place where the descendants of previous dynasties and their people lived.
Filled with resentment towards the Central Plains that had brought about their downfall, they disliked people from the Central Plains.
“But... can we cross the heavy security?”
At Yun An-ro's words, Neung Un-bi smiled faintly and looked at Shin Ye-rang.
“With Ye-rang's abilities, it should be possible.”
“What?”
At those words, Shin Ye-rang stared at Neung Un-bi with a surprised expression.
“Podu County.”
“...!”
Shin Ye-rang's eyes widened at the specific mention of the place name.
“You can do it, right?”
“...”
Of course, it was possible.
A long time had passed, but she had once created an escape route there for Cheok Wol-rin.
She even knew someone there who could help them...
But how could Neung Un-bi possibly know that?
Unless it was Cheok Wol-rin himself, no one should know that place name.
Shin Ye-rang looked at him with a strange gaze, but there was no time for detailed explanations.
“I'm counting on you, Ye-rang. Division Master Yun's safety is in your hands from now on. This is something you must accomplish.”
“...I understand.”
Shin Ye-rang nodded at Neung Un-bi's words. Then, it suddenly occurred to her that the way he entrusted this to her was strangely similar to Cheok Wol-rin.
However, that thought quickly vanished at Neung Un-bi's urging.
“Now, please board the boat quickly.”
Yun An-ro and the others boarded the fishing boat with reluctant, uneasy expressions, as if they had no other choice.
“Third Young Master, please... please be safe.”
“Of course.”
Neung Un-bi smiled and nodded.
*I have to survive.*
*I have to survive, no matter what.*
*I will not let it end like this.*
Soon, the fishing boat left the docks with Kim San at the oars.
Yun An-ro's gaze lingered on Neung Un-bi as they departed.
Thirty years.
After all that long time, they had finally met again.
He hadn't even been able to properly reveal his identity, nor had they shared a drink reminiscing about old memories.
*We will surely meet again.*
*And then, we will never be separated.*
*Until the day we change this Central Plains together...*
Neung Un-bi stood at the docks until the boat was no longer visible, then let out a long breath. He drew his Flying Swallow Sword, gripped it tightly, and slowly turned to head into the heart of Mengjin.
It was time to turn the steps of the Orthodox Murim Alliance, which were flocking to Luoyang.
*Thud.*
As he left the docks and entered the main road of the city, Neung Un-bi took off the bamboo hat and veil that had covered his face and threw them to the ground.
He let his sword hang loosely and brazenly revealed his identity, but while some people looked at him with curiosity, no one recognized him. Everyone's attention was focused on Luoyang.
There was no need to tell them who he was. It was more effective to find a place that would instantly inform the Orthodox Murim Alliance of his appearance in Mengjin.
The Orthodox Murim Alliance's liaison office in Mengjin.
Neung Un-bi stopped, looking at a sign written in a powerful script, and a martial artist at the entrance, puzzled, approached him.
“Who are you?”
Even if a description of his appearance had been circulated, it was impossible for them to recognize him at a glance.
“Me?”
Neung Un-bi grinned, unleashed a powerful wave of demonic energy, and swung his sword.
*Screeech!*
The main gate was sliced clean through, along with the sign.
Towards the martial artist, whose eyes had gone wide at the sudden event, Neung Un-bi grinned and said.
“I'm the Neung Un-bi you've all been chasing!”