#168. Blood Sea Spreading to Sichuan (4)
After receiving such lavish treatment at the Jingzhou Golden Pavilion Merchant Guild, no one in the group heading to Sichuan had a single complaint. Some disciples even asked things like, "If we push without resting for two days, can we rest at an even better place?"—which left Gu Jeongryong more worried that Jin Sowoon might overhear and get the wrong idea.
Either way, the moment they learned of the overly generous rest and meals awaiting them, the Victory Hall group's pace quickened even further. They swapped horses for fresh ones at every stop, and each time they left an inn, their mounts were loaded with plenty of jerky and water for eating on the go. With only brief pauses in between, they maintained their speed without issue.
They'd never moved this fast and comfortably on any mission before. From the start, they'd braced themselves to handle everything from one to ten upon entering the Murim Alliance branch.
In that sense, the procession led by Jin Sowoon was moving more comfortably than any other. It wasn't just the Wang Merchant Group's full support that made it easy. The group under Jin Sowoon seemed to know every road in the world inside out—rushing faster than usual where speed was needed, and taking rests where they had to go slow.
Moreover, Jin Sowoon constantly rotated the positions of the riders, ensuring no one grew overly fatigued. This was a measure to prevent the exhaustion that came from long-distance travel. Gu Jeongryong could scarcely believe that Jin Sowoon, a mere youth in his twenties, managed operations at this level.
'No, this isn't something a first-year academy student should be capable of.'
Not just troop management, but even logistics through personal connections. Nothing about him was ordinary. He seemed like a seasoned caravan leader or a battle-hardened commander.
At this point, curiosity bubbled up. What could drive someone this exceptional to mobilize all his resources toward Sichuan?
"I have one question."
Jin Sowoon turned at Gu Jeongryong's words.
"You haven't told me why you need to get there so quickly."
"……."
"Is it just to stop the event?"
The Wang Merchant Group's favor? No matter their friendship, after causing this much loss, Jin Sowoon owed them something in return. The Alliance Lord's aide's orders? Same issue—he'd mobilized the head of the Myriad Communications Division. Even for Maeng Ju-won, if the elders raised a fuss later, Jin Sowoon would be torn to shreds in the storm.
Considering all that and still pushing forward, just to disrupt an elders' event in Sichuan...? It didn't add up. What was the real reason...?
"......If we can stop it, that'd be great."
Gu Jeongryong's breath caught at Jin Sowoon's words.
"You're really going to stop the event?"
Jin Sowoon's expression twisted subtly.
"It's a bit more complicated than that."
"No matter how complicated, I'll hear it."
Jin Sowoon, who had been frowning, gazed off into the distance ahead. But in that instant, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes.
How to describe it? Not quite killing intent, but something stickier? If the surroundings were dark and some voiceless entity exhaled it, it'd fit perfectly...
'Resentment?'
His teeth ground together with a crack—anyone seeing him would think he wasn't chasing Murim Alliance elders, but hunting the enemy who killed his parents.
"You mentioned that unidentified group the elders are after."
The event's official purpose was investigating Sichuan, but Gu Jeongryong knew it was mostly a junket.
"I received info that they're more dangerous than expected."
"Info?"
"Yes, that's why we're rushing to stop them."
It still didn't make sense.
"......Even if they're dangerous, there are academy students and Alliance elders with them. Is there really need for this kind of mobilization?"
"The info says they use dangerous sorcery."
"Sorcery?"
He'd never heard that before.
"If we don't arrive in time, there'll be massive casualties."
"Hold on, hold on. I heard about the incident during the regular exam in Chengdu. But sorcery? First time hearing that. Where'd this info come from?"
"Haomen."
"Haomen? You bought it from them?"
"No. They passed it on. I have some connection there."
"……."
Haomen rivaled the Beggars' Sect for worldly info. Lately, with the Beggars' Sect's credibility dipping, Haomen's was soaring— so it wasn't entirely unreliable.
But 'sorcery' aside, Gu Jeongryong's doubt latched elsewhere.
"You have a personal connection to Haomen? Not a money transaction?"
Jin Sowoon answered as if it were no big deal.
"Yes."
What kind of sect was Haomen? Ruthless about money, worse than loan sharks—yet he'd gotten info for free?
'Just what the hell is this kid's deal?'
Gu Jeongryong's curiosity about Jin Sowoon only grew.
#
'Don't do anything stupid!'
One of the Murim Alliance's chronic issues was arrogance. Put nicely, overflowing confidence. After five hundred years without rivals, carelessness was ingrained in their bones.
In his past life, their losses were severe because they'd scattered forces everywhere like dispersing investments, making it easy for the Blood Cult to pick them off one by one.
At least now, without pulling in the Orthodox Path Society and Twelve Peaks, he thought they wouldn't repeat that idiocy.
But after reading the missive from Haomen, he could only let out a long sigh.
— Academy students entering Chengdu, Sichuan. Divided into five groups and beginning movement. —
As expected, they hadn't disappointed him—repeating the past life's blunders to the letter.
"Senior Brother, you okay?"
At Eunho's question, I handed him the missive.
"Seems we're already too late."
Eunho's face hardened, grasping the gravity.
"......Where are Jaehwa and Seollan?"
"Neither the Chengdu branch nor Haomen could pinpoint their locations."
I'd tried to track at least Moyong Jaehwa and Eun Seollan, but this rootless organization didn't even record how they split up. They'd probably just grouped up casually with friends, filling gaps by dragging in academy students.
"Total shitshow."
Agreed.
Not even ronin bands operated this haphazardly.
"And why are they moving so damn fast?"
Eunho nailed the most frustrating part. Cocky about foes they knew nothing of, their advance was unimpeded. Just like the past life. Back then, they'd barreled from Mount Ami straight to the Pafang, becoming corpses one after another.
"Any chance those monsters show up late?"
"I'd love that more than anything."
The regular exam incident was bait for this. A hunter who sets a trap doesn't dawdle when prey approaches.
'Please be in the rear group......'
All I could do was pray Eun Seollan and Moyong Jaehwa were in the back. No matter how fast we went, we might not catch the vanguard reaching Pafang.
'Please! Don't be stupid enough to lead the front!'
I cracked the whip with desperate fervor, again and again.
#
"They say Mount Ami is the world's greatest scenic spot. Heh."
At Myeonghyeon's hollow laugh, the attending youth offered tea brewed from Mount Ami's spring water.
"Among the Eight Views of Mount Ami, you must see Seongjeokman-gyeong, Nabong Cheon-un, and Ssanggyo Cheongeum. Why not broaden the academy students' horizons this time, Elder?"
Myeonghyeon furrowed his brow at his disciple's words.
"Did we come here to sightsee?"
"……."
"We're here to expose those who dared ignore the Murim Alliance's solemn warning and disrupt the regular exam."
The disciple bowed deeply.
"Forgive me. I failed to grasp the greater purpose and spoke rashly."
As the disciple spoke as if ready to die, Hye-seong mercifully interjected.
"It's urgent, but the road to Sichuan wasn't easy. Why not let the young ones see the world after? Teaching them its vastness is our forebears' duty, no?"
Myeonghyeon nodded. Truth be told, the Sichuan matter wasn't that pressing. If it were, they'd have torn it apart right after the exam. The urgency now stemmed from changed circumstances.
Suspicions that Yuyue Sect—a lay branch of Jeomcheong Sect—impersonated the Demonic Cult for crimes in Hunan. And a Jeomcheong disciple involved? That made Jeomcheong desperate. What better distraction than demon-hunting?
Emperors had used northern expeditions and purges when thrones shook— a guaranteed win.
"Above all, demon extermination is the Murim Alliance's top priority. Don't forget today's lesson."
The disciples bowed as one. Myeonghyeon was pleased. Watching from the side, Hye-seong smiled faintly.
'Must taste like death.'
There was reason Myeonghyeon pushed the Sichuan probe. His dark motives were transparent. Yet Hye-seong played along—to let him thrash futilely before yielding the council leader seat. The day Shaolin reclaimed it wasn't far.
Public gripe about Shaolin and Wudang monopolizing had led to handing it over temporarily, but the Orthodox Path Council had nearly crumbled. Time for the rightful owner to restore order.
One regret: Akyang's chaos quelled too quickly. He'd planned for Shaolin to intervene after hidden forces like Mokhyeolbang and Heukbu Palace—plus other black path sects—uprooted Jeomcheong. But they'd halted abruptly.
He'd ordered an investigation out of curiosity.
"Any word on Akyang?"
Ilgak answered from nearby.
"Yes. Mokhyeolbang's leader and deputy are both dead, splintering the group and cooling Akyang's unrest."
"Mokhyeolbang?"
"How?"
Ilgak hesitated, unsure if he should speak.
"Out with it!"
At Hye-seong's bark, he continued slowly.
"They say Jin Sowoon, Yujang Sect's rep, raided alone and killed the leader."
"What?"
"Then, in a 'non-lethal duel' with Yujang Sect, Jin Sowoon beheaded the deputy too. Mokhyeolbang halted the war, and other black path sects followed suit."
"What?!"
Hye-seong's eyes bulged.
"That Jin Sowoon......? Fine, but why'd the others stop?"
"......Couldn't dig deeper."
"……."
Missives had limits. Still, Mokhyeolbang's collapse alone quelling Akyang? Implausible. Hye-seong sensed it instantly.
"That brat's involved, no doubt."
Something tied to Jin Sowoon in the shadows. A chill ran down his spine.
Raiding the leader or facing the deputy? Elite disciples could manage. But controlling chaos with that alone? Impossible.
"A fearsome one."
"Pardon?"
Controlling chaos meant knowing it well—implying he could cause it.
"Knew he was no ordinary youth."
Even five of the Eight Evils had joined Akyang's fray. Hye-seong lacked confidence ending that war. Yet a newbie academy student did?
"A fiend."
"……."
Ilgak's face stiffened at the word. He knew whom Hye-seong called fiend.
"Ilgak."
"Yes, monk."
"If I become council leader this time, I'll put you in the academy rep spot."
"……."
"So crush that fiend for good. Understood?"
Despite hearing his long-desired position restored, Ilgak's heart grew heavy. For such impossible questions, he uttered his usual refrain.
"Amitabha……."
The same moment.
Ascending Geumjeong Peak on Mount Ami, Moyong Jaehwa gasped like he was dying.
"Huff, huff, damn it all......"
Forced to scout ahead with his bow instead of sword, he'd moved nearly three times the distance of others.
"Young Master Moyong, you alright?"
Eun Seollan, pitying him, extended a hand with cooling energy.
"They said there's jack shit on this damn Mount Ami—why make us climb?"
Moyong Jaehwa had already checked and gone ahead, but returned at the signal.
Hesitating at his question, Eun Seollan answered carefully.
"Well...... As the lead group, shouldn't we absorb the mountain's spiritual energy......?"
"Pardon?"
Moyong Jaehwa doubted his ears. Must've misheard...
"I just heard it too. Absorbing Mount Ami's energy ensures success......"
All this for that? Calling back someone who'd descended first?
"……."
Moyong Jaehwa itched to loose a Thunderbolt Arrow at the peak where elders and disciples stood.
'If I'd perfected it, I'd have fired. For real.'