The Non-Equal World
Even if he was on this mountain, we had no way of knowing. There was no ill intent behind it. Perhaps he was simply signaling to a comrade, or to one of the spirit beasts he raises.”
Shin Woo nodded, finding the explanation reasonable.
A full sigyeong—roughly thirty minutes—passed without incident.
The night on Geommun Mountain remained utterly still, as if nothing had happened at all.
The nervous rogues gradually extinguished their campfires one by one and lay down to sleep.
Only when everyone else had fallen asleep did Dan Yeop quietly rise from his spot.
When the rogue standing watch approached, he clutched his stomach and said,
“I need to relieve myself. I’ll be right back.”
The rogue waved him off with a flick of his hand and returned to his post.
Geommun Mountain, Birobong Peak.
A monk wearing a bamboo hat stood atop the summit, bathed in moonlight.
It was the Blood Maitreya Hong Jin, one of the Dharma Lotus Masters of Cheonlyeon.
Behind him, staff of black steel in hand, another figure descended lightly through the air.
“You’re late. While waiting for you…”
Hong Jin turned as he spoke, only for his eyes to widen in shock.
The person who had arrived was not Dan Yeop. Instead, an old man was staring at him with piercing eyes.
“Who… are you, sir?”
The old man’s aura was as imposing as Mount Tai itself, naturally compelling polite speech.
“This old one is the Flying Heaven Sword Sovereign, Hwang Cheon-gang, a protector of Geomgak. Who are you to cause such a disturbance within Geomgak’s territory?”
“This humble monk is called Hong Jin. I merely sent a signal because I had someone to meet. I had no intention of disturbing your senior’s peaceful cultivation.”
Hong Jin answered honestly, having no desire to offend Hwang Cheon-gang.
At the same time, he felt deeply wronged.
After all, the Great Sword Peak where Geomgak was located was a full ten li—roughly four kilometers—away from here.
Damn it. They really weren’t exaggerating when they said a hundred li around here belongs to Geomgak. How terrifying.
As Hong Jin grumbled inwardly, someone else ascended the peak like a gust of wind.
It was Dan Yeop.
Dan Yeop flinched in surprise when he saw the old man standing face-to-face with Hong Jin, as if confronting him.
Hwang Cheon-gang’s gaze shifted toward the newly arrived beautiful youth.
“So you’re the one who arranged to meet this monk?”
At the old man’s somewhat cold tone, Dan Yeop let out a small sigh of relief inside.
The old man didn’t seem to be part of the same group as Hong Jin.
Deciding to distance himself, Dan Yeop carefully replied,
“I am Dan Yeop, a constable from the Jangan County Office. While performing my duties, I heard a suspicious whistle and came up to investigate.”
He then pulled out his constable badge from his robe and showed it to the old man.
Hwang Cheon-gang turned back to Hong Jin.
“Why did you lie to me?”
“I didn’t lie. While I didn’t promise a meeting, it is true that I whistled to call him here.”
Hwang Cheon-gang pondered for a moment before asking,
“Which sect’s disciple are you?”
Hong Jin hesitated, unable to answer immediately.
Hwang Cheon-gang’s brow furrowed, and he suddenly roared,
“You bastard! Will you not answer properly?!”
Hong Jin’s eyes slowly filled with killing intent after being cursed at so abruptly.
“Senior, isn’t it too much to insult me when I’m not even a disciple of Geomgak?”
“Hmph! So you still have some pride left. A sinister fellow who can’t even reveal his own sect when questioned by a vastly senior elder.”
“Your words go too far!”
Dan Yeop’s mouth itched to speak, but he held back and simply watched.
Hwang Cheon-gang, an elder of Geomgak, continued his provocations as if he had decided to fight from the start.
“So? What are you going to do about it?”
“If you continue to oppress me, I have no choice but to fight back!”
“Then try it.”
At that moment, Hong Jin could endure no longer. He shot into the air.
As Hong Jin vanished, five afterimages appeared in the empty space above.
Shhhshhshhshh—!
The five afterimages each executed different movements—horizontal sweep, straight thrust, upward strike, downward press, and spinning blow—before descending upon Hwang Cheon-gang.
Dan Yeop forgot to breathe, stunned by the bizarre and unprecedented supreme technique.
Yet Hwang Cheon-gang was no ordinary master either.
The instant he drew his sword, he thrust its tip toward the empty air.
Tzutzutzutzut—!
Dozens of sword shadows shot from the blade’s tip and collided with the five afterimages.
Papapapat—!
The five afterimages disintegrated into dust under the sword shadows.
Just when it seemed to be over, Hong Jin appeared like a ghost and brought his steel staff crashing down toward Hwang Cheon-gang’s head.
Faced with the unexpected attack, Hwang Cheon-gang instead released his sword.
The blade flew straight toward the descending steel staff.
Shweeeek—!
Kwaaaang—!
With an ear-splitting explosion, Hong Jin was sent flying backward.
Hwang Cheon-gang pointed at him with a sword-finger gesture.
The sword that had collided with the staff and remained hovering in midair now flew toward Hong Jin once more.
It was the terrifying Igi Eogeom—telekinetic sword control.
Hong Jin, who had already suffered light internal injuries from their earlier clash, didn’t dare meet the attack head-on. He spun in midair and fled.
Hwang Cheon-gang did not pursue. He simply retrieved his sword.
Then he approached Dan Yeop, who stood there looking awkward.
“I heard my junior, Naeng, is in your debt?”
“Pardon?”
“I am a martial uncle to Naeng Han-sang. I am the Flying Heaven Sword Sovereign, Hwang Cheon-gang, a protector of Geomgak.”
“Ah! Yes, so you are Elder Naeng’s martial uncle. It is an honor to meet you.”
“What is your relationship with that monk who just ran away?”
“I encountered him while investigating Cheonlyeon. He called himself one of their Dharma Lotus Masters. You could say we are like water and oil.”
“Since he comes from the Lesser Thunder Sound Temple, you would do well to be cautious.”
“Lesser Thunder Sound Temple?”
“Those five afterimages that appeared in the air earlier are a supreme technique of the Lesser Thunder Sound Temple called the Arhat Demon Suppression. That place possesses many bizarre martial arts, so do not let your guard down.”
“Ah, thank you for the warning.”
“Ahem! Consider the debt my junior Naeng owed you repaid by me.”
Before Dan Yeop could say anything more, Hwang Cheon-gang leaped off the cliff into the distant valley below and vanished.
Having unexpectedly had his nose wiped by someone else’s hand, Dan Yeop descended the mountain with light steps.
Episode 110. Just Who the Hell Are You?
At the foot of Geommun Mountain.
The Blood Maitreya Hong Jin trudged along the mountain path, his body and mind both utterly exhausted.
He hadn’t even managed to exchange a single word with Dan Yeop, the one he had come to settle things with. What a pathetic sight this was.
“Haa… Why did I have to blow that whistle for no reason…”
He had never dreamed that the Flying Heaven Sword Sovereign Hwang Cheon-gang would come rushing over from Geomgak, which was ten li away.
“Does that old man not sleep?”
Grumbling to himself, Hong Jin spotted a cozy crevice between some rocks and quickly slipped inside. He sat down in a lotus position.
Even the Arhat Demon Suppression followed by the Bodhi Extinction Array would have been enough to defeat most experts, yet Geomgak was truly on another level.
That level of Igi Eogeom made the loss feel acceptable.
What bothered him was that Dan Yeop had been watching from the side.
I still need to settle things with Dan Yeop…
That thought refused to leave his mind the entire time he was treating his injuries.
The foothills of Geommun Mountain.
Dawn had broken.
While eating breakfast, the rogues began chatting about the events of the previous night.
“There was a whistle right after sunset, and then around midnight, didn’t you hear that dry thunderclap?”
“There was thunder too?”
“This guy’s hopeless. You can’t have such heavy sleeping ears. Even if you’re asleep, keep your eyes closed and your ears open, they say.”
Perhaps because of the early evening whistle and the late-night thunder?
Even while nearly half the rogues were still eating, the upper guards moved about, urging everyone to prepare for departure.
Dan Yeop swallowed the last piece of dried meat, stood up, and watched as Won Beom passed by, muttering,
“Aren’t those upper guards way too timid? They should at least give us enough time to eat properly. I barely even tasted the food—felt like it went up my nose instead of my mouth. How on earth did they sleep at night if they’re that scared?”
Seo Hwa, who was walking beside him, naturally chimed in.
“They probably just don’t want to get caught up in a fight between high-level experts. There was thunder coming from the mountain all night, after all.”
Dan Yeop quickly shouldered his travel pack and followed the two of them.
Shortly afterward, the Jinbo Merchant Guild investigation team swiftly left their campsite behind.
The distance from Chang'an Castle to the Baekwol Kingdom was roughly two thousand five hundred li—about a thousand kilometers.
Even on horseback, it was a grand journey that would take twenty days.
Yet the Jinbo Merchant Guild investigation team reached the Baekwol Kingdom without suffering even the slightest loss.
Though fierce beasts and bandits lurked all along the route, the team was composed of rogues notorious for their roughness.
The beasts feared them, and even the bandits trembled. There was no need to draw a single blade.
Upon arriving in Namun Province, the Jinbo Merchant Guild investigation team first headed to Jeoksu Village in Monghwa Prefecture.
Monghwa Prefecture.
Even after entering Monghwa Prefecture, there was still no fighting to be done.
Not even the notoriously fierce martial artists of the Baekwol Kingdom dared approach the investigation team.
They were overwhelmed by the fighting spirit radiating from the sixty mounted warriors.
Startled by the sudden appearance of the armed cavalry, the warden of Monghwa Prefecture, Yu Cheong-un, came running in a panic.
“I am Yu Cheong-un, a warden of Monghwa Prefecture. May I ask where you gentlemen are from?”
Shin Woo, the leader of the escort unit, stepped forward.
“We are an investigation team dispatched from the Jinbo Merchant Guild in Chang'an Castle. I am Shin Woo, the person in charge of this team.”
“Ah, so you are Manager Shin Woo of the Jinbo Merchant Guild. Then, have you come regarding the incident that occurred last May?”
“That is correct. Our guild’s guild master was kidnapped here in Monghwa Prefecture. Do you happen to know anything about it?”
Shin Woo asked as if seeking confirmation.
After hesitating for a moment, Warden Yu Cheong-un answered,
“Since you already seem to know, I will speak plainly. Your guild master is currently being held by the Naphae Gate.”
“I understand that Naphae Gate is one of the major sects in Namun Province. Are they allowed to openly commit such illegal acts?”
“If your guild master disrespected the Naphae Gate, it would be difficult to call it illegal. In the Baekwol Kingdom, nothing is more important than honor.”
Na Bu-gang, who had been listening from behind, could no longer stay silent and cut in.
“Does that mean anyone can just kidnap people?”
Yu Cheong-un’s expression turned serious as he replied,
“Anyone? The sect leader of Naphae Gate is the Eastern Army Commander of Namun Province. Even if he killed your guild master, no one would dare say a word. On the contrary, they would likely criticize your guild for being rude.”
“……”
Shocked by those words, Na Bu-gang could only open and close his mouth wordlessly.
He had not known that the leader of Naphae Gate held an official government position.
Shin Woo shot Na Bu-gang a reproachful look before asking the warden again,
“Then how can we get our guild master back from Naphae Gate?”
“If you go to Naphae Gate and beg a hundred times, they might release him. Of course, I cannot guarantee it will definitely happen. That is simply my personal opinion.”
Warden Yu Cheong-un added a long string of qualifiers, clearly lacking confidence in his own suggestion.
“Understood. Thank you for the information.”
“How long do you plan to stay in Monghwa Prefecture? With so many armed men, I must report this to my superiors.”
“We will stop by the Cheongsu Wine House in Jeoksu Village to learn the full situation, then leave immediately. We will not stay longer than a day.”
“Very well. I will report that you will depart no later than tomorrow. Please be sure to keep the promise you just made.”
After speaking, Warden Yu Cheong-un bowed to Manager Shin Woo and left.
Shin Woo turned to Squadron Leader So Gang-mu, Na Bu-gang, and the Na Geum-ryeong siblings.
“You all heard him, right? We will head to Jeoksu Village as quickly as possible. After meeting the owner of the Cheongsu Wine House, we will proceed to Namun Province.”
Soon after, Manager Shin Woo and Squadron Leader So Gang-mu took the lead.
Jeoksu Village.
Cheongsu Wine House.
The investigation team came to a halt in front of the Cheongsu Wine House.
A short while later, three men in their fifties emerged from inside.
One of them bowed politely and asked,
“I am Myo Ran-ta, the owner of the Cheongsu Wine House. Are you gentlemen perhaps from the Jinbo Merchant Guild?”
Manager Shin Woo, who stood at the front, took one step forward—