#105. <Avici Hell Great Journey (4)>
"You look…… exhausted, Lord Wang."
Jin Taesan startled at Wang Geumsan's words, touching his face. Was it that bad?
"You look just like a giant panda."
"……."
Come to think of it, the dark circles under his eyes were getting worse. The merchant group was slowly getting organized, and the influx of money was a joy, but realizing how much it had ground him down left him utterly drained.
"But…… you're not looking so hot yourself, Lord."
Jin Taesan's eyes took in Wang Geumsan's state. Unlike himself, the man wore fine silk robes cinched with a golden belt, but his cheeks were hollowed out.
"……Yeah, tell me about it. We've both been through hell thanks to our wonderful kids."
A bitter smile tugged at Wang Geumsan's lips.
Wasn't Wang Soso's business talent supposed to be off the charts? Word had it that the Wang family's influence had doubled across Shaanxi, Gansu, and Qinghai. Lately, new trade routes to the West had opened up, boosting tribute deliveries to Beijing so much they could build with gold bricks.
"Did I interrupt something?"
Wang Geumsan tilted his head at Jin Taesan's puzzled look. The man was someone anyone in the martial world or officialdom would kill to meet, yet here he was, speaking almost deferentially to the outer hall lord of a minor sect. It didn't add up.
"What are you saying? I was the one hoping to pick your brain, but you've been so busy I kept putting it off."
"Haha, great minds think alike, then."
"Exactly. Next time you need anything, don't trek all the way here—just call, and I'll come running."
The man had poured in massive funds without a single brag. They'd gotten huge help developing the iron mine, not to mention the merchant operations. Hell, he'd even thrown a modest celebration when Tae-eul Gate disciples passed the Three Passes.
From Jin Taesan's view, he was someone to greet barefoot.
"It's about Soso."
"Hm? Trouble at Tae-eul Gate?"
As far as he knew, Wang Soso had the kids wrapped around her finger. No clue how, but unlike with Gye Cheolyeong, every single one followed her lead. Even the new lay disciples Jegal Cheongi and the Moyong exchange student Yuseong trailed her like she was their hall lord.
"No, nothing like that. It's just…… I noticed traces of martial arts training in her movements."
"Ah……!"
"Do you know something?"
"Probably the Tae-eul True Scripture."
"Tae-eul True Scripture? You mean the true manual of Sword Emperor Tae-eul that you found recently?"
"Yes."
"Is that okay?"
Wang Soso couldn't learn anything beyond Tae-eul Heart Technique due to her illness. Turbid inner energy would awaken her Heavenly Sun Physique again.
"No need to worry. Think of the True Scripture as an advanced form of the Heart Technique. Its profound studies will only purify her dantian energy further."
"Heh……."
Wang Geumsan's expression was a mix of emotions—hard to say if he should be thrilled or not. Jin Taesan continued apologetically.
"I'm sorry. I should've warned you sooner to ease your mind, but no one in the sect paid it any heed."
"No, it's fine. If you forgot to mention it, that means it's no issue at all. But…… does that martial art include a footwork that leaves afterimages?"
"Afterimages……?"
"When she moves, footprints linger behind."
Sounded like Tae-eul Eight Myriad Divine Steps. Had she advanced enough to leave afterimages already?
"Heh……."
"Wh-what is it?"
Jin Taesan masked his shock at Wang Geumsan's surprise.
"Your daughter's got more than just business talent."
Only Hall Lord Gang Chaeseok of Taegwang Hall left afterimages with those steps. Even Sect Lord Hong Moon-gi didn't yet. That put Wang Soso ahead of him.
"Congratulations. You've raised an incredible daughter."
"Heh…… this……."
Wang Geumsan couldn't hide his grin, lips twitching.
"Must be thanks to Tae-eul Gate's fine teachings."
Jin Taesan swallowed the urge to say, 'We haven't even mastered it all ourselves.'
"What did you want to see me about, Lord?"
"Ah! Right. As we ramp up the merchant ops, I'm stumped on forming an escort detail. Tae-eul Gate's in closed-door training, so I can't rely on direct escorts."
"Hm…… How about hiring an escort bureau but adding one or two warriors and a Tae-eul Gate flag to mark it as ours?"
"I agree on signaling Tae-eul Gate eventually, but isn't raising the flag now a bit premature?"
Wang Geumsan looked baffled.
"Why wait? Hoist it now, and the bureau'll cut you a deal on fees."
"Pardon?"
Tae-eul Gate? Discount fees? What?
"Didn't Jin Sowoon and the juniors pass the Three Passes?"
"Y-yes."
Jin Taesan himself was skeptical of the rumors. When they'd left for the exams, they'd talked big, but he'd figured it was just talk. A disciple from a nothing sect taking the Murim entrance exam without backing? Absurd.
Somehow they'd passed, with only the Great Journey left.
But how did that get discounts?
"You didn't know……?"
"Know what?"
"Wherever your son goes, piles of corpses stack like mountains and blood flows like seas—they call him the Corpse Mountain Blood Sea Black Flame Dragon."
"……."
Corpse Mountain Blood Sea? Black Flame Dragon? Done for. That screamed blood-mad black path maniac.
They'd just started building legitimacy, and now the roots were tainted before takeoff.
"Ah, gossips exaggerate, of course. But with Wudang half-destroyed, the rivers and lakes fear Tae-eul Gate. Raising the flag's a solid move."
"……."
Wang Geumsan puzzled at Jin Taesan's darkening face. Wasn't fear better than being underestimated for a martial sect? Or was he burdened by his son shouldering all of Tae-eul Gate's weight?
Fair—Jin Sowoon had done too much already.
"And Tae-eul Gate only sent four, right? That's how the gold-silver-bronze brothers got their Black Blood Three Dragons moniker."
"Ack! Cough!"
He'd tried to smooth things over, but Jin Taesan's face paled further. One more word and he'd faint. Wang Geumsan pivoted fast.
"A-anyway, locked-in fees are good, right?"
"……."
Jin Taesan's warm gaze turned icy.
'Can't even broach the son-in-law topic.' He'd come to Hebi himself for that, but now he'd leave empty-handed.
#
"You must be the Black Flame Dragon, senior brother to the Black Blood Three Dragons. A pleasure."
"……."
The friendly smile clashed with the malice dripping from the nickname. He cocked his head. Black Blood Three Dragons? What kind of creepy-ass moniker was that?
Swap 'Dragon' for 'Dog' and it'd scream blood-crazed black path lunatic.
"Ah, it's what they call the gold-silver-bronze brothers."
Namgung Seonhwa's whisper soured his mood. 'Black Blood' for kids not even twenty? Insane. Who was slapping these malicious tags on Tae-eul Gate disciples?
"Hahaha, the Black Flame Dragon's been too buried in exams to hear the talk."
"Hahaha."
"Hohoho."
A handsome youth in golden robes laughed, joined by seven men and women in varied attire.
The 12 Bongseong. Disciples from eight of their sects had sought him at Changgung Merchant Group.
"……."
Staring blankly at their oblivious laughter, he watched them recover composure.
"Pardon my late introduction……."
"Cheol Sunjik of Jukhyeonbang."
"!"
His casual call lit a spark in the man's eyes. Jin Sowoon's finger pointed from the hulking brute behind to each in turn.
"Nam Hwaseong of Samwonmun, Ha Yeongyeong of Cheongeom bang, Sang Muhon of Seocheonmun……."
Naming all eight left the room stunned.
"How…… do you know us all……."
Even elite 12 Bongseong disciples hadn't been active much; no wonder they were shocked he knew them.
"We've been together since then……."
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. Why'd you want to meet?"
Cheol Sunjik, Namgung Seonhwa, and Seong Moran all looked dying of curiosity. Not that they'd believe the truth.
"Ahem…… Anyway, disciples from Bipungmun and Guigungmun will join us too, heading to Muhwan together."
"I see."
Ten elite 12 Bongseong disciples meant at least eight hundred warriors. Sane folks wouldn't touch that. With their squad half-wrecked, it was enviable. Practically guaranteed exam passes, so networking made sense.
Cheol Sunjik eyed Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran.
"Sorry to the ladies, but mind if we talk privately?"
His uneasy hunch hit. If it was exam talk, no need to exclude them.
"……Pardon? Ah……."
"……."
As the women rose, bewildered, he spoke.
"These two traveled with me and will continue to. If it's exam-related, not personal chat, no reason they can't hear."
"……."
"Jin gongja, we're fine."
"We'll step out."
He ignored them, unusually. It was the right call now.
"Sit. Probably exam business, right?"
Or heads would roll. He hadn't slept five double-hours in a week.
"Why do you think the Nine Great Sects and Five Families rank the 108 Peaks that way?"
Topic would irk Namgung Seonhwa, if not Seong Moran.
"To solidify the Alliance structure."
He answered bluntly.
"As expected, no ordinary man."
"Everyone knows that. It's why the 12 Bongseong formed."
The 12 Bongseong: twelve 108 Peaks sects rebelling against Nine Greats and Five Families dominance. They shunned them entirely—maybe bluffers, but enough clout that the big dogs couldn't ignore.
"Knowing and saying it are different."
"……."
"As you say, the 108 Peaks system, academy exams, Alliance structure—all built for a select few. The rest line up for their scraps."
Cheol Sunjik glanced at Namgung Seonhwa mid-sentence. Mocking her near-failure despite Five Families blood.
"……."
Her face flushed; he dismissed her, turning back.
"We're breaking that stale system. Fixing the Alliance's rot, building a constructive new Murim."
"I see."
He nodded—some points resonated with his own thoughts.
Emboldened, Cheol Sunjik pressed on.
"That's why Tae-eul Gate's rapid rise impresses us. I know it was tough."
He nodded to himself, continuing.
"So we want to help now. Join us to the academy."
"!!"
"!!!"
12 Bongseong elites and eight hundred warriors. No one would covet their passes then. First real shot at an easy exam finish.
But he stared piercingly instead of agreeing.
"Why the hesitation?"
"Sweet offers come with strings, right?"
Cheol Sunjik wasn't one for favors or sentiment.
"Haha, Black Flame Dragon lives up to the name. A delight to meet someone so sharp."
Did he know? In his past life, Jin Sowoon had thwarted his every scheme, earning pure hate.
"Of course, but it's minor. Part ways with your current companions."
"……."
"……."
Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran's faces stiffened.
"They weren't meant for Tae-eul Gate anyway. And their circumstances mean they can't help much. Right?"
Needling how other sects mustered huge forces while Namgung's sidelines crippled Seonhwa's recruits, and Iron Sword Sect locked up with Seong Mohyeon jailed.
"Word is you've got way more passes than others. Enter as top scholar, show the world 108 Peaks rival Nine Greats and Five Families."
Cheol Sunjik's eyes gleamed like he was at the ceremony already.
-Jin gongja.
Namgung Seonhwa's transmission came.
-……I'm fine. You should go with them.
Seong Moran nodded faintly. Cheol Sunjik ignored her lip movements, pretending ignorance.
"Bipungmun and Guigungmun arrive in two days at Jeongju. Shall we move your lodgings first? Talk details."
He turned back to Cheol Sunjik.
"I refuse."
"Then for now…… Pardon?"
"!!!"
"Jin gongja!"
"Gongja-nim!"
Cheol Sunjik's face hardened. Seeing that smug visage crack was satisfying.
"I said no. Problem?"
"But…… why?"
"Do I need to explain?"
Not curiosity—he knew exactly what they'd pull. Some sects skipped proper exams due to martial mismatches. Like Bipungmun (whip arts) and Guigungmun (archery). They'd wander till Three Passes ended, then bet all on the Great Journey.
After joining, honeyed words about sharing passes—as if it was the best path.
Why so sure?
'They did it when shoving Small Justice Squad to the front lines.'
His specialty: crafting political pressure.
Four amid eight hundred? Gold-silver-bronze might offer theirs willingly.
With past-life bad blood and this coincidence, no letting him off easy. At least sour his mood.
What excuse would stick it to him? Irrational, rude…….
"Better traveling with these two than stuffy types, no?"
"……."
Cheol Sunjik's eye twitched—first real crack.
"You mean that……?"
"Yes. I value aesthetics highly. Can they come?"
"……."
"Thought not."
Cheol Sunjik clamped his mouth shut. No punch thrown, but that beaten look? Satisfaction enough for today.