Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Traveling Companions - 2
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"Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing."
There wasn't anything worth calling a problem right now. Or more precisely, there wasn't any major issue at all.
The problem in the novel was that the Heavenly Martial Hall's investigation team went to probe the Blood Cult, and Joo Yuri ended up dying.
In other words, when the Righteous and Evil Factions moved together, only the Righteous survived, giving the Four Black Alliances a pretext to act.
From that perspective, the current situation might actually benefit me more. If Joo Yuri died to the Blood Cult in Sichuan without the Righteous Factions joining in?
The leader of the Four Black Alliances would set everything aside and pour all his strength into smashing the Blood Cult.
Meaning I could get one of the Eight Great Heavens of the Nine Provinces on our side without lifting a finger.
For me, that was a good situation.
Yeah. I could call it that, but...
"Fist Sovereign."
"What is it?"
"Can you just stand by and watch a child walking toward a cliff?"
No one knows if that child will fall off the cliff or not.
The child might not even know. Even so, would you just watch?
"Even if you could save them?"
"Yes."
Fist Sovereign Cheon Si-jeok groaned with his arms crossed. His immediate response was affirmative.
"We'll save them."
"Even if it means going through the trouble yourself?"
"...I'd still save them."
Yeah. That's what a person should do.
If an innocent person is heading down a path to death, and you can stop it, isn't it human duty to act?
"I hope we can join them and travel together."
"Them? Hm... Why?"
"Personal reasons."
"As long as it doesn't interfere with the mission, I don't mind."
"Thank you. It won't cause any issues with the mission."
Having reached an agreement, the Fist Sovereign and I entered the village right away.
I could see Joo Yuri's group walking ahead in the distance. We'd followed them for a while, and now I saw them entering the village inn.
"Looks like they're staying here. We should do the same."
"Cheonyang Inn, huh. Seems like the only inn in this village... Places like this usually charge a steep price for lodging."
Well, supply and demand, right?
"Short on funds? If so, I can—"
"Ha. As if. I've got plenty of money, so don't worry about the stay."
"Ah. Yes. Thank you for your consideration."
"Enough. More importantly, are you confident?"
The reason the Fist Sovereign was cooperating with me was due to the conversation I'd had with Yu Ye-ryeon before leaving.
We'd all had doubts about the man-eating ghost and planned separate investigations. That's when Yu Ye-ryeon asked him to protect me well since I'd be a big help, which is why he's being so cooperative.
"Yes. I'm confident."
Before departing, I'd thoroughly reviewed everything from the novel. The parts where the Blood Cult Protector appeared were detailed, so I pretty much knew how things would unfold.
And I knew the Blood Cult Protector's weakness too, so if things got dicey, I could just strike there.
"Good. Then let's head in."
We entered the Cheonyang Inn together. After securing a suitable room and having a late lunch downstairs, I was pondering how to join up with her when a low voice came from our direction.
"Um... aren't you Fist Sovereign Cheon Si-jeok, sir?"
It was a clear, polite voice. Turning my head, I saw a beauty with long light-brown hair standing before us.
It was Joo Yuri.
I'd been thinking about how to approach her, and here she came on her own.
"That's right."
"It's an honor to meet you! I'm Joo Yuri, daughter of Four Black Alliances Leader Black King Joo Hyo-cheong. This junior is honored to meet her senior once more!"
Once more? I'd seen the Fist Sovereign before, and he stroked his chin beard before nodding.
"I met Black King once before. He introduced me to his daughter back then. Right. You've grown so much."
"Thank you for remembering! But... why is the Fist Sovereign here...?"
"We're heading to Sichuan."
I couldn't miss this chance. I spoke up to Joo Yuri, who stared blankly at me for interrupting before tilting her head.
"Who...?"
"Disciple of Sword Heaven."
"Not a disciple."
"Sword Heaven's...? Then you're the one who killed Gil Jeong and defeated Paeng Yu-seok...?!"
Mu Yeong-geol-gae's words came to mind. There were plenty among Heavenly Martial Hall's later-generation disciples gunning for me.
Joo Yuri before me was one of those later-generation disciples too. It wouldn't be strange for her to feel competitive toward me.
I could sense strong hostility emanating from her right away.
She seemed to want a spar, but that wasn't important now. I stood, clasped my hands in greeting, and bowed to her.
"I'm Jin Hyun, of Sword Heaven Manor."
"...Joo Yuri, of Heavenly Martial Hall."
A polite greeting first. As she flinched at my lack of hostility and returned the bow, the Fist Sovereign tapped the table.
"As this guy said, we're going to Sichuan. What about you?"
"Perfect! We're heading to Sichuan too!"
"If there's no special issue, I'd like to travel together. That alright?"
"W-We'd be honored, but... may we know why you're going to Sichuan?"
"We stopped by Ami Sect briefly, and now we're investigating the man-eating ghost rumors in Sichuan. What brings you to Sichuan, miss? I heard earlier it was a Heavenly Martial Hall mission... Is it the man-eating ghost investigation?"
"Oh. No. We're going to the Tang Family for some business."
The Tang Family? As I looked at her, she fell silent for a moment before nodding.
"Word came that the Tang Family discovered a new poison. Heavenly Martial Hall assigned us to retrieve information on it."
"A new poison?"
The mention of poison piqued the Fist Sovereign's interest. Makes sense—it was a common tool for assassinating rulers since ancient times.
As guardian of the imperial family, he'd need to know plenty about poisons.
"Yes. It's said to act through blood as a medium... We don't know the details ourselves. That's why we're heading to the Tang Family directly."
One of the other Blood Cult Protectors used poison, mainly blood poison. Touch his blood poison, and your whole body's blood turns toxic. Then he spreads it around to create a plague.
A horrific poison, but fortunately, it only appeared late in the story.
If things went well, we might even eliminate that poison-using Protector early. I whispered to the Fist Sovereign.
"Looks like traveling together is the way to go."
"Indeed. Understood."
Whatever we thought, it seemed fine to Joo Yuri—she looked quite pleased. Of course she would.
Forget me; this was a chance to build ties with one of the Eight Great Heavens of the Nine Provinces, no less someone from the imperial side.
"Thank you! Sir!"
"We might be the ones who should thank you. Well... you young folks talk among yourselves. I'm tired and heading up."
Leaving it to me, the Fist Sovereign went upstairs. In the brief silence that followed, Joo Yuri pointed to the two women beside her.
"These are my handmaids who've been with me like sisters since we were young."
"Yun Ryeong."
"Su Ryeong."
"We trained in martial arts together and entered Heavenly Martial Hall as well."
"I see. Nice to meet you. I'm Jin Hyun. Looking forward to traveling together."
After that, there wasn't much talk. Once the simple introductions ended, Joo Yuri sent Yun Ryeong and Su Ryeong up before sitting back down.
"Rumors of the man-eating ghost have reached Heavenly Martial Hall too. They're spreading around Sichuan, right?"
"Yes. Looks like Heavenly Martial Hall knew as well."
"The Martial Alliance made a request. Sword Heaven was supposed to handle the investigation. So why isn't Sword Heaven here, but the Fist Sovereign instead?"
"Imperial command."
"...There must be a reason. Then Sword Heaven...?"
"Went off on imperial command. To the south, where..."
That was when it happened.
"Kyaaack!!"
A horrific scream erupted from outside. Without a word, we all rushed out.
"...What the."
I spotted someone staggering toward us, badly wounded.
What was this? A thick smell of blood hit me as the village guards rushed about frantically.
I grabbed one of the running guards and asked.
"What's going on?!"
"The dead are swarming the village outskirts right now!"
The dead?
Joo Yuri and I exchanged glances before heading toward where the guards were running.
When we arrived, we saw them.
A horde of at least a few hundred mounted men.
"The dead, huh?"
"That's what they call the bandits rampaging around here! Filthy scum who style themselves as the undead!"
Narrowing my eyes, I saw plenty with skulls, corpses, or entrails draped over their bodies. What rotten taste. Why carry that crap around?
But it was perfect for intimidating foes—the guards' morale had already plummeted at the sight.
The village defenses weren't that numerous.
One wrong move, and the whole village could fall. If we could fight, we should.
"Kuhahaha! Open the gates, and I'll spare your lives!"
The apparent leader thrust out his massive sword and shouted. Surrender and live? Yeah, right.
What a load of nonsense.
Looks like I'll be killing quite a few today.