Chapter 202
Chapter 202
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 202
Chapter Title: A Test of Loyalty
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"We'll be in Gansu soon."
"Yes."
Drenched in sweat, Neung Un-bi nodded at Jong Ri-gang's words, gazing at the plains stretching out below the mountain.
The escape had been more arduous than he'd expected. Even disguised as bandits, like the Green Forest King's subordinates, they had to avoid people's eyes, trekking through mountain paths and moving hidden among the reeds by the river.
Yet, it felt as though everyone they'd seen along the way was watching them.
If Mak Cheong-ju hadn't led his fleet north, it would have been difficult to break through the tight surveillance and escape from the Three Gates Gorge to the border of Gansu.
Moreover, the path Jong Ri-gang had guided them on.
It was a route known only to the people of the Green Forest, who hid from the authorities and the Murim.
"Elder, thank you so much."
"My goodness... you've already thanked me several times."
But despite hearing it multiple times, Jong Ri-gang didn't seem to mind Neung Un-bi's gratitude, a faint smile gracing his lips.
"But, what is your connection to them?"
"..."
Following Jong Ri-gang's gaze, Neung Un-bi looked at Yun An-ro and the others.
He had to be curious. Why would he, a disciple of the Demonic Cult, risk his own life to save them?
Even if they were some distance away, everyone could hear. How could he possibly explain?
His relationship with them, his true identity.
And the fact that he had been reborn.
All of it was simply inexplicable.
*They... are my life.*
*Hm?*
Neung Un-bi scratched his cheek awkwardly.
It was a rather cringeworthy thing to say, but he had no other way to put it.
Without them, there was no way to explain the life Cheok Wol-rin had lived.
"Hah... If that's the reason, then they were worth saving, even if it meant trading the Demonic Cult for them, eh?"
"Yes."
Though he couldn't possibly understand, Jong Ri-gang seemed to accept it without further questions. Neung Un-bi was immensely grateful for his consideration.
"Hoo, anyway, the real problem starts now."
"Pardon?"
"The truth is, there are no more paths that only our people know."
"Ah..."
"Gansu has always been like this. You could say the balance between the Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Demonic factions is perfectly maintained. So, we never needed to use secret paths."
"I see."
Neung Un-bi could roughly understand what he meant.
While the Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Demonic factions coexisted throughout the Central Plains, Gansu was a bit special. A neutral territory, so to speak.
Thus, in Gansu, no single faction could claim to have more influence. It was the only place where the balance between the three was maintained.
So, as Jong Ri-gang said, the Green Forest wouldn't have bothered making hidden paths. They could just retreat to a region where they held sway.
"However, the atmosphere is different now, and that's the problem."
"Hmm..."
"Those bastards from the Orthodox Murim Alliance, preparing for a battle with the Demonic Cult, have set up a blockade. Since it concerns the Demonic Cult, even the Unorthodox Faction has no choice but to cooperate with them this time. Especially in southern Gansu, which we must now cross, the Orthodox Faction's influence is strong..."
"It's a matter of justification."
"Exactly. No matter how the Orthodox and Unorthodox have coexisted, the Demonic Cult has long been their common enemy."
Noticing the predicament in Jong Ri-gang's eyes, Neung Un-bi offered a smile.
He was worried.
Mak Cheong-ju had become a decoy, but he wasn't in a position to antagonize the Orthodox Murim Alliance. He had only moved his fleet.
On the contrary, if the Alliance pursued and tried to stop them, they would suffer great losses. If Mak Cheong-ju flatly denied any connection to him, the entire Unorthodox Faction would surely protest the unwarranted disrespect.
Who would stand by when one of their elders was insulted?
But the Green Forest King's position was different. If he were seen with them, he couldn't escape the Alliance's offensive.
Furthermore, the Unorthodox Faction wouldn't help him. Even though he was one of their leaders, just like Mak Cheong-ju, he would be seen as collaborating with the Demonic Cult.
"Elder."
"Hm?"
"I understand. I'm already grateful for you helping us this far. How could I impose on you any further?"
"Hmm..."
"Please don't court danger unnecessarily. You've already done more than enough to save my life."
At Neung Un-bi's words, Jong Ri-gang scowled.
"Is there any way to contact the Demonic Cult?"
"The Demonic Cult?"
"If they knew you were here..."
"They won't come."
"Hm?"
The Cult Leader had already declared he wouldn't interfere with whatever he did in the Central Plains, and the opposing faction was probably in an uproar over his actions.
He was heading to the Demonic Cult to evade the Orthodox Murim Alliance for now, but he hadn't thought about what would happen after that.
"No, why?"
"The Demonic Cult has its own circumstances."
"Hmm..."
"Don't worry. Since Elder Changrang acted as a decoy, the Alliance's attention is entirely focused to the north. We should be fine until we reach the blockade. Your help up to this point is more than enough."
But Jong Ri-gang found Neung Un-bi's smiling face all the more concerning.
"Damn it, there's no helping it. Let's go as far as we can."
"Pardon?"
"Since I decided to help, I might as well see it through to the end."
"Elder, the Green Forest could be put in danger."
"So what? When have we not been? We of the Green Forest are always on the run, aren't we?"
Seeing Jong Ri-gang let out a hearty laugh, Neung Un-bi's brow furrowed.
"Why go this far...?"
"Didn't I tell you before?"
"Pardon?"
"I, for one, am a man who lives as he pleases, regardless of what others say."
"..."
"The world's opinion? To hell with it. I'm just looking at you from my own perspective. And I want to keep watching. To see what becomes of you."
Seeing the firm resolve in Jong Ri-gang's expression, Neung Un-bi couldn't say another word.
What was he to say...
How could he ever repay their help?
"Now, now, let's forget this idle talk and hurry. Once we're out of the southern region, it'll be Unorthodox territory. We can rest there."
"...Yes."
The escape began once more.
Detouring far from villages, making their way through deserted mountains...
And then, some time after Neung Un-bi's group had left, another group of people arrived at the same spot.
The Black Hounds of the Beggars' Sect, dressed in rags.
And among them, a man in a striking blue scholar's robe.
It was Zhuge Min, who had rushed from the Orthodox Murim Alliance without rest to join the Sword Emperor.
"The Green Forest stayed here. Their numbers are between thirty and forty."
"Thirty to forty?"
"Yes. It's not an exact count."
"Hhmm... Excluding the Green Forest King, there are three in Yun An-ro's group, and Neung Un-bi with his so-called Waning Moon Unit are just over thirty. The numbers match up."
As Zhuge Min smiled, the Sword Emperor, Namgung Mu-wi, who had been waiting for the Black Hounds to finish their investigation, asked.
"So... does this mean it's certain that Jong Ri-gang has that bastard Neung Un-bi with him?"
"No. I am confident, but it is not certain."
"What?"
Namgung Mu-wi's face twisted at Zhuge Min's polite reply.
When he realized Neung Un-bi had tricked him, Namgung Mu-wi had intended to head north immediately. He couldn't let anyone else take the life of the man who killed his son.
But just then, Zhuge Min had presented him with a letter. It was from Zhuge Cheon-u.
At first, he hadn't wanted to help. Hadn't his trust in the Zhuge family already hit rock bottom?
But he had been persuaded by the suggestion that Neung Un-bi might be traveling with the Green Forest King and had hastily given chase.
But confident, yet not certain? What in the world did that mean?
"Are you trying to mock me?"
"Surely you don't think I would mock the Sword Emperor?"
"Then what is it?"
"It means that with the Green Forest King present, we must be cautious."
"Hmph! I don't care about the Green Forest King. If he has sided with Neung Un-bi, I'll take his head on the spot."
"I know."
"..."
"You would, if it were only the Green Forest King."
"What do you mean by that?"
Namgung Mu-wi's eyes narrowed sharply, but Zhuge Min continued speaking with a calm expression.
"According to my investigation, a master from the Demonic Cult is traveling with Neung Un-bi."
"..."
"Based on the testimony of the survivors from the battle at Roha-gu, that master's skill is comparable to the Green Forest King, Jong Ri-gang."
"Nonsense!"
"It's not certain. I haven't seen them myself; this is merely an inference based on what I've heard."
"..."
"But can you, Sword Emperor, face them all alone?"
"What?"
"The Green Forest King, a Demonic Cult master of comparable skill, Neung Un-bi, and the elite forces of the Demonic Cult."
"You insolent whelp!"
Namgung Mu-wi roared and gripped his sword, but he couldn't bring himself to draw it. He knew that Zhuge Min was right.
"Even if you were to win, what if they escape while you are dealing with the Green Forest King?"
"...Hnngh."
"For now, please trust me. This stratagem is not only to confirm their identities but also to divide their forces."
At Zhuge Min's calm persuasion, Namgung Mu-wi finally managed to suppress his anger.
"Fine. I'll trust you one more time. What should I do now?"
As Namgung Mu-wi showed interest, Zhuge Min smiled faintly and said.
"The Green Forest King is a man of great loyalty."
"A bandit talk about loyalty? Ridiculous!"
Namgung Mu-wi scoffed, but Zhuge Min paid him no mind and continued.
"Jong Ri-gang's loyalty is known to be thicker than blood. That is why the Green Forest follows him, even risking their lives."
"Get to the point."
"Yes. In any case, because of this nature, Jong Ri-gang rushes to his brothers' side faster than anyone if they're in trouble. That's how he met Neung Un-bi in the first place. Because Neung Un-bi attacked the Cheonghwa Fortress."
"Neung Un-bi attacked the Cheonghwa Fortress?"
"Yes."
"And yet they've gotten so close."
"The ways of men are unpredictable."
"So? What's your point?"
"Please use the Namgung family's Azure Sky Sword Unit, which is on standby, to attack one of the Green Forest's fortresses in Gansu."
"...!"
Namgung Mu-wi's eyes widened at the unexpected suggestion.
"What are you talking about? Asking me to suddenly attack a Green Forest fortress?"
"As I said, we're going to use the Green Forest King's loyalty."
"..."
"When he learns that one of his fortresses has been attacked, the enraged Green Forest King will rush there immediately. But if only the Green Forest King moves, then we'll have to check who remains behind."
"How can you be so sure the Green Forest King will act alone? They owe their lives to Jong Ri-gang. Even if they are from the Demonic Cult..."
"No. It is precisely because they owe him their lives that they will not go with him."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Knowing Neung Un-bi's character, that's what he'll do. Many martial artists have already gathered in northern Gansu to blockade the Demonic Cult. He must know that if the Green Forest King is discovered with him in this situation, the entire Green Forest will be in immediate danger."
"Hmm..."
Seeing the conviction on Zhuge Min's face, Namgung Mu-wi pondered for a moment.
"Fine. I'll do as you say. But if your plan is wrong, you'd best be prepared for the consequences."
"Of course. If I am wrong, you may take my head then."
As Zhuge Min unhesitatingly put his life on the line, Namgung Mu-wi nodded, seemingly convinced.
"Pyeong-baek!"
"Yes."
"Relay a message to the Azure Sky Sword Unit. They are to find and subjugate a Green Forest fortress in Gansu immediately."
"Yes!"
After giving the order, Namgung Mu-wi shot a cold glare at Zhuge Min.
"You'd better pray you're right. Unless you want to be torn to pieces in the most gruesome way imaginable."