Chapter 213
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 213
Chapter Title: I Seem to Have Worried for Nothing
< I Seem to Have Worried for Nothing >
The road back to Changsha from Nanchang was exceptionally quiet and peaceful.
Traveling in several carriages was even comfortable.
The carriages were all of fine quality, the kind that were hard to procure even with money.
Unlike ordinary carriages, one could ride in them for a long time without their rear getting sore or feeling tired.
Thick, plush blankets were laid out inside, making it easy to drift off to sleep in an instant.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages had been marveling ceaselessly ever since he got into the carriage.
"Where on earth does one find carriages like these?"
"Are the Underworld Sect folks your average Joes? They must have their ways of getting things."
"Anyway, traveling like this is really comfortable and nice. At this rate, wouldn't it be fine to travel with the Young Master?"
"I'd still rather rest comfortably at home. I was more at ease when I was making medicine."
The Divine Doctor of the Ages chuckled, lying on his side with his head propped on his hand.
"That's true for me too. Home is the best."
So Cheongmyeong, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, cautiously asked.
"But... is it alright for just us to be in this carriage? It seems like the other carriages have more people in them..."
The Divine Doctor of the Ages snickered.
"Why? Does seeing the pretty girls make your heart flutter? Want to try and make a move or something?"
So Cheongmyeong was appalled and vehemently waved his hands in denial.
"What are you saying! It's absolutely not like that. I was just..."
"Just what?"
"I was just worried they might be uncomfortable."
The Divine Doctor of the Ages said with a mischievous expression.
"Don't you go giving your heart away. All those girls live only for our Young Master."
"Pardon?"
So Cheongmyeong's eyes widened like saucers.
"Doesn't the Young Master have a fiancée?"
As So Cheongmyeong said this, the image of Yeon Harin came to his mind, and he unknowingly blushed.
Yeon Harin's beauty was truly stunning.
It was to the point where one wouldn't even dare to harbor romantic feelings for her. And upon hearing she was Byeok Taesan's fiancée, he had found himself nodding vigorously without realizing it.
"Well, they'll figure it out. Anyway, my point is, don't get your hopes up and keep your head on straight. Got it?"
So Cheongmyeong mumbled timidly.
"I never had any other ideas in the first place."
The Divine Doctor of the Ages chuckled and poked So Cheongmyeong in the side.
"Keuk!"
So Cheongmyeong let out a strange groan and twisted his body.
"Wh-what are you doing!"
"What do you mean? So, who is it?"
"I-I don't know what you're talking about."
"I'm asking which girl you've set your heart on."
"Wh-what! No! There's no one like that!"
"Oh, come on. The way you look at the girls is anything but ordinary. You, watch your gaze. It's quite scandalous."
"Scandalous? That's too harsh."
"So, who is it? Don't tell me!"
As the Divine Doctor of the Ages spoke loudly, So Cheongmyeong flinched and looked at him.
"Could it be Harin? Well, Harin's beauty is no ordinary thing. In my opinion, no one in the world can compare. And what about her martial arts?"
So Cheongmyeong was horrified by the Divine Doctor's words.
"Wh-what! No! How could that be!"
But the Divine Doctor of the Ages only said what he wanted to say.
"Certainly, someone like Harin is desirable enough to covet, even if she's taken. So, when are you going to have a go with our Young Master?"
"I told you it's not her! The person I have in my heart is not her!"
The Divine Doctor's eyes sparkled. The One-Needle Eccentric, who had been just listening, quickly sat up and stared intently at So Cheongmyeong.
So Cheongmyeong realized his mistake, but the cat was already out of the bag.
"Ha, this guy. He acted all innocent, but he was already up to something. I knew it. Guys who look like this are always different on the inside."
So Cheongmyeong's jaw dropped in disbelief.
The Divine Doctor of the Ages looked at the One-Needle Eccentric and said.
"Brother, you should get a good look at this fellow too. Memorize his facial features. That way you won't get stabbed in the back somewhere down the line."
The One-Needle Eccentric looked back and forth between So Cheongmyeong and the Divine Doctor.
"Somehow... he seems to resemble you."
The Divine Doctor's expression turned serious as he looked at So Cheongmyeong.
"You better choose your expression carefully. Why do you look so displeased? That's the face I should be making."
The One-Needle Eccentric roughly summed up the situation.
"Stop it, you'll make him cry. By the way, isn't it unsettling how comfortable this is?"
"Brother. Please watch what you say. Every time you say something like that, my heart can't take it."
"I'm saying, isn't it a bit strange?"
At the One-Needle Eccentric's words, the Divine Doctor nodded.
"Well... it is a bit strange."
So Cheongmyeong replied with a similar expression.
"It feels like... no one can see us, don't you think?"
At those words, the two men nodded emphatically.
That was exactly it.
From the start, they had been traveling slightly off the main road, so they hadn't encountered anyone head-on.
In fact, that itself was strange. Why would they deliberately drive the carriages off the main road?
But it was Byeok Taesan's order, so no one could question it.
Even so, people coming and going should have paid them some attention.
Yet no one paid any mind to Byeok Taesan's group of carriages.
They passed by as if there was nothing there at all.
At first, they thought nothing of it, but as it kept happening, wasn't it suspicious?
"I found last night even stranger."
"Last night?"
They had camped outdoors last night. Even that was quite comfortable, thanks to the members of the Underworld Sect.
They had lit quite a few campfires, and since Byeok Taesan's maids had all pitched in to cook a proper meal, the food was excellent.
"With so many people gathered and so many campfires, you'd expect someone passing by to join and ask to share the fire, but there was no one, was there?"
"Well... that could happen."
So Cheongmyeong shook his head firmly.
"No. They definitely looked this way. But their gaze... it was as if they were just looking past us into empty space."
"Are you sure you didn't see it wrong?"
"Do you think so?"
So Cheongmyeong looked back and forth between the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric.
The two men fell silent, as they had been thinking something similar.
Honestly, it was a bit strange.
"It seems... the Young Master is up to something again..."
"Seems that way, doesn't it?"
After the words "Young Master" were spoken, the Divine Doctor and the One-Needle Eccentric nodded a few times and then stopped worrying about it.
So Cheongmyeong stared blankly at them.
'Is this... something we can just ignore? Is that really okay?'
It seemed he would need a bit more time to adapt to this place.
* * *
The carriages arrived in Changsha.
It had been quite a long journey.
Because they had faithfully followed Byeok Taesan's instructions not to rush, they had traveled at a very leisurely pace, taking a considerable amount of time.
Upon entering Changsha, the carriages turned onto a main street.
But no one tried to get out of the carriages' way.
The Underworld Sect members driving the carriages were bewildered and stopped.
People would bump into the carriages and still not see them, becoming startled and afraid.
And the Underworld Sect members who witnessed this were equally astonished.
What in the world was happening?
They had seen a few strange sights on their way here, but this was the first time it had been so blatantly confirmed.
Just then, Byeok Taesan's voice came from inside the carriage.
"Keep going."
With troubled expressions, the Underworld Sect members started the carriages again.
Since people couldn't see the carriages, it seemed an accident was inevitable.
But as soon as the carriages moved, people miraculously began to avoid them.
It wasn't that they could see the carriages. People didn't even know they were there until they were right upon them.
When a carriage drew near, people would simply move aside.
They didn't seem to do it consciously. They would unknowingly take a step and move out of the carriage's path.
And after the carriage passed, they would return to their original spot.
Taking in this mysterious sight, the Underworld Sect members continued to drive the carriages at a leisurely pace.
And so, they arrived at the Mooncarver Inn.
* * *
Byeok Taesan looked over the men standing before him with a satisfied expression.
He was in a rather good mood.
The men standing before Byeok Taesan were Na Changgil, Na Heontak, and Je Wiryong.
Je Wiryong was fidgeting, desperately trying to avoid Byeok Taesan's gaze.
Na Heontak and Na Changgil, however, were perfectly calm.
Byeok Taesan nodded as he looked at Na Changgil.
"You've been wielding your sword quite a bit."
Na Changgil quickly bowed his head.
"It is an honor that you've noticed."
He looked genuinely moved.
"I will strive with all my being so as not to disappoint the... no, the Young Master's expectations."
Byeok Taesan gave a slight nod and then looked at Je Wiryong.
"Um... please give me a little more time. It's almost done. Just this much, really, just this much left."
Je Wiryong held his thumb and index finger almost touching, his expression pleading.
Without saying anything to Je Wiryong, Byeok Taesan looked at Na Heontak.
Na Heontak calmly explained the situation.
"We have slowed the Golden Moon Trading Company's movements by blocking their cash flow through various means. After that, we used a newly established trading company to strike at key points."
"Just the conclusion."
What was the point of him listening to such complicated stories? They could handle all that themselves and just bring him the results.
"We've severed the flow of funds between the Golden Moon Trading Company's headquarters and its branches. Now we just need to take them down one by one."
"Sounds like you're still a long way off."
Na Heontak slightly bowed his head.
"The Golden Moon Trading Company is quite large, so it requires a lot of time."
After saying that, Na Heontak turned his head slightly to look at Je Wiryong, who was fidgeting beside him.
"With such a brilliant mind setting the plans, the work has been exceptionally smooth."
Hearing this, Je Wiryong looked at Na Heontak as if he had just grasped a lifeline from heaven, then turned back to Byeok Taesan.
"If you give us a little more time, we can completely take care of Changsha."
Byeok Taesan stared silently at Je Wiryong.
Under Byeok Taesan's gaze, Je Wiryong felt like a mosquito about to be crushed.
"Two months! I need two months. I've run all the calculations, and in two months, we can send those bastards to their graves! Please, believe me!"
Byeok Taesan chuckled.
"I see why you ran away."
Byeok Taesan stroked his chin as he looked at Je Wiryong.
Je Wiryong's heart sank at Byeok Taesan's look.
He had a strong feeling that Byeok Taesan was contemplating whether to kill him or not.
"I'll do a good job!"
Je Wiryong shouted loudly, standing at attention.
Byeok Taesan chuckled at the sight.
"I'll give you three months. Erase the Golden Moon Trading Company's headquarters within that time."
Je Wiryong's face lit up. He bowed his head repeatedly.
"Thank you! Thank you! I will absolutely not disappoint you! I will get it done, no matter what!"
"You're loud."
Je Wiryong quickly shut his mouth. Then he grinned foolishly.
Sensing that he might get a severe scolding if he kept that up, Na Heontak quickly stepped in.
"But, Young Master. Is it alright to name the trading company Hyeoncheon?"
Byeok Taesan stared at Na Heontak. His gaze asked what the problem was.
"There is a possibility that those who know its meaning will act with ulterior motives."
"Who do you think would do that?"
For a moment, Na Heontak was at a loss for words.
First, he had to consider who would know the meaning of Hyeoncheon.
The leaders of the Secret Heaven Group know it. Because Hyeoncheon is the word used to command them.
Therefore, those who can command them would know its meaning.
The high command of the Heavenly Demonic Cult. At the very least, one would have to be an elder to know. Or the children of elder-level figures.
These are all people who are unlikely to appear.
Perhaps the masters of the Martial Alliance or the Black Alliance might know. Their intelligence networks are nothing to scoff at.
When he thought about it that way, it seemed there was no need to worry for now.
As for the Secret Heaven Group, it would be better if they came. He could just have them join his side as they arrived.
And the Heavenly Demonic Cult's high command couldn't get out anyway because of the Hyeoncheon Formation, so there was no need to worry.
There might be some who weren't trapped in the Hyeoncheon Formation, but after meeting Byeok Taesan, they would end up in the same predicament as him.
And for the time being, the Martial Alliance and the Black Alliance wouldn't be able to pay any attention to this side of things because of Nameless.
"On second thought, I seem to have worried for nothing."
Byeok Taesan nodded.
"Find more of the Secret Heaven Group."
Na Heontak bowed respectfully.
"I will keep that in mind."
Honestly, even Na Heontak didn't know how many members of the Secret Heaven Group the Heavenly Demonic Cult had planted throughout the world.
But it would not be a small number.
Just by absorbing all of them, they would be able to operate with considerable stability.
There was a martial art that Byeok Taesan had specially provided to the members of the Secret Heaven Group, and just by learning it, they had become about fifty percent stronger.
As more time passed and their training deepened, they would likely become much stronger.
Therefore, if they could absorb the entire Secret Heaven Group, they would secure enough power to no longer have to worry about the Martial Alliance or the Black Alliance.
Na Heontak's heart pounded.
Somehow, it felt like that day would come soon.
After hearing the gist of the report, Byeok Taesan waved his hand dismissively.
The three men bowed respectfully and withdrew.
Left alone, Byeok Taesan sat on his bed and gently closed his eyes.
During the journey from Nanchang to Changsha, he had trained in various ways to suppress his presence using spiritual energy.
He had enveloped all the carriages with his spiritual energy to erase their presence, but at first, trying to wrap them all resulted in a tremendous waste of energy.
Then, he recalled that old worker from the Hwangbo family.
He remembered the frugal way the man had used his spiritual energy and applied some of that method.
He adjusted the spiritual energy that was wrapping the carriages, making it seem as if the energy was seeping into the carriages themselves.
As he did so, his ability to control spiritual energy grew steadily.
He also mastered how to control his presence in various ways.
So, wasn't it natural for him to be in a good mood?
If he hadn't been in such a good mood, Je Wiryong might not have been able to leave with a smile on his face earlier.
The smile on Byeok Taesan's face deepened.
< I Seem to Have Worried for Nothing > End