Time for the Hunt
"Jeomchangpa's Elder Myeonghyeon has come to visit."
At the words of the Mantongbu staffer, Jegal Somyeong's brow furrowed deeply.
"Did you tell him I'm not here?"
The man who relayed the message spoke without a hint of tension, as if it were none of his business, even as Jegal Somyeong—the total military strategist of the Murim Alliance, head of both Mantongbu and Simhyeongak—radiated clear displeasure.
"He says he came after checking the entry records."
Anyone else might have trembled in apology, unsure how to respond. Jegal Somyeong fell silent for a moment, lost in thought as he escaped reality, then let out a long sigh.
"...Hoo. Of all days, today. I've got mountains of work to handle."
The exam atmosphere was already overheated compared to the previous Murim Academy trials, and the documents awaiting his review filled one desk to overflowing, spilling onto the floor. On top of his packed schedule, Myeonghyeon's visit would only sour his mood and slow him down further.
"If he just stands out there, it'll make it hard for the staff to work. Please get rid of him quickly."
"......"
If any other subordinate had said that, Jegal Somyeong would have beaten them to a pulp and kicked them out on the spot. But since it was Maeng Ju-won who spoke, he gritted his teeth and let it slide.
"...Bring him in."
With that, Jegal Somyeong moved to a corner table in Mantongbu. It was a shabby one the staff used for quick meals—something he never touched otherwise.
Soon, Elder Myeonghyeon of Jeomchangpa entered Mantongbu under Maeng Ju-won's guidance.
"I see the total strategist."
"Come in."
After a light exchange of clasped-hand salutes, Jegal Somyeong sat, but Myeonghyeon scanned the room without taking a seat at the dingy table.
"It seems quite chaotic here. Shall we move somewhere else?"
For Myeonghyeon, accustomed to the finest treatment as a high-ranking figure in the Murim Alliance, conversing in this filthy space indistinguishable from a warehouse was utterly uncomfortable. Knowing this, Jegal Somyeong nodded.
"My apologies. I'm short on time, so I'm receiving guests here. If it's inconvenient, why not schedule for a better place next time?"
If you don't like it, then leave. At the blatant dismissal, Myeonghyeon's face crumpled like paper before he gave up and sat with a sigh.
"Ahem. Very well. Who knows when we'd meet again."
"......"
Maeng Ju-won, who had handled the greeting, brought tea. But Myeonghyeon's brow furrowed again. A sour stench wafted from Maeng Ju-won, as if he hadn't bathed in days.
"Ahem."
Myeonghyeon openly showed his disgust, but Maeng Ju-won set down the tea indifferently and returned to his work like a corpse. It was outrageous for someone to show no tension before an Alliance elder, but recalling that Jegal Somyeong had personally scouted and appointed him all the way to Baekho Pavilion, Myeonghyeon swallowed his anger.
"Heh heh. My apologies. With the Murim Academy exam underway, the kids can barely grab a meal."
On top of Mantongbu's usual duties, overseeing the Academy exam was shredding their already thin manpower. Staff shortages were chronic, but this year's overheated trials had piled on even more.
"Ahem, no need for excuses. Isn't this scent just part of striving for the future of the jianghu?"
"More tea?"
"...No, I'm fine."
After roughly toying with Myeonghyeon, Jegal Somyeong cut to the chase. He had too much work to waste time bantering.
"What brings you here?"
"In this high scholar exam, our Jeomchangpa disciple Mu Muntak failed by a narrow margin."
Jegal Somyeong's face soured again. Did he really have to deal with this amid his crushing workload?
"Isn't Mantongbu's constant manpower shortage due to your strict exams, Total Strategist?"
"......"
The Murim Alliance selected scholar retainers for smooth operations, but entry to Mantongbu required passing the total strategist's notoriously brutal high scholar exam. No one had passed in years.
"How can you blame only me? It's all because of the Murim Academy exams that focus solely on martial arts and background."
"......"
Since becoming total strategist, Jegal Somyeong had repeatedly demanded reforms to the Academy and Murim regular exams, but they were always blocked.
"I've said it before: running the Academy exams like this means only the rich without skills or those who've trained only martial arts blindly will get in."
"We're not here to discuss the current exams."
"......"
He'd warned them endlessly, yet they only heard what they wanted.
"Moreover, with this exam so overheated, I hear your Mantongbu staff can't even go home and are sleeping here."
"That's right."
"Mu Muntak is renowned in our sect for his scholarship and martial insight. Why not specially appoint him this time?"
No matter the shortage, they couldn't leave key positions in Mantongbu empty—it drove the entire Alliance and jianghu. Top Academy performers or those Jegal Somyeong approved could enter. Myeonghyeon sought that exception.
'Foxes they aren't.'
He knew the Jeongdo Council, led by the Nine Great Gates, had long eyed influence in Mantongbu. They wanted to expand there, legitimize their clique as an official body with a Jeongdo Pavilion, and eventually swallow the Alliance whole. That was their petty grand plan.
"I didn't want to point it out and seem to pick on you, Elder, but Mu Muntak didn't even finish half the exam in the time limit, and half of what he did was completely wrong."
"......"
Myeonghyeon's face twisted worse than when he'd smelled Maeng Ju-won's stench.
"If you want to shove someone in here, at least bring someone halfway competent."
"......Like Tae-eul Gate's Jin Sowoon?"
"...?"
For the first time, Jegal Somyeong felt flustered, his mind blanking. Why bring up that kid here?
"It was quite the stir. The identity of the boy you gave an entry token to for the first time—a token you hadn't even given to my own clan..."
Five entry tokens each for the Alliance Leader and total strategist. While the Leader used his for politics or personal favors, Jegal Somyeong had never used his once. So when he finally did, the whole Alliance buzzed.
"But what can you do? The boy was about to face major trouble during the Academy exam."
"......"
A smug smile crept onto Myeonghyeon's face for the first time.
"I hear our sect's disciples are targeting him. Along with Wudang and Huashan."
Disciples from the three strongest of the Nine Great Gates moving? No one could stand against that.
"Here's the deal: We'll protect him from Jeomchang. Wudang and Huashan seem after him too. If he travels with us, what can they do?"
Best case, he'd lose the pass tokens. Worst, death.
"In return, value Mu Muntak highly."
"......"
Heavy silence fell between them. Even the staff's paper rustling stopped as they eavesdropped.
As the quiet threatened to swallow them, Jegal Somyeong's lips parted slightly.
"...Who are you talking about?"
"...Pardon?"
"I clearly gave the entry token to the Namgung family... Oh, right!"
Jegal Somyeong slapped his forehead.
"That's it! It was such a bind back then, so I gave it to some Tae-eul Gate disciple..."
"......"
"But I figured Namgung San would snatch it back... Didn't he?"
Jegal Somyeong turned to Maeng Ju-won, who replied as if waiting.
"Since the Namgung family entered the exam too, it seems Jin Sowoon still has it."
"Is that so...?"
A sneer curled Myeonghyeon's lips. What shallow tricks... Just as he opened his mouth to retort—
"Come on, Elder Myeonghyeon. Know your limits. Tsk. If you really want to plant someone in Mantongbu for your grand schemes, at least bring a kid with a brain. Not blockheads like you who can't think straight."
"Wh-what?! What did you just—"
Myeonghyeon bellowed, but Jegal Somyeong lowered his voice menacingly.
"You've gotten cocky since becoming an elder, haven't you? Want me to give you another beating like old times?"
"What do you... I-I'm an elder of the Murim Alliance..."
"And I'm the total strategist."
"......"
A forgotten past resurfaced, making Myeonghyeon tremble.
"Go home. I'm busy."
Shaking with humiliation, Myeonghyeon slammed the door on his way out. Piles of Jegal Somyeong's documents tumbled down.
"Tsk. Give a position to someone unqualified, and this is what happens."
"Why not just accept him?"
Maeng Ju-won grumbled while picking up the fallen papers. Jegal Somyeong scowled.
"What?"
"Make him clean Mantongbu. Look at this place—can't tell if it's a butcher shop or command center."
"......"
"Plus, Jin Sowoon's operating with just four people. If he dies, we'll be stuck pulling all-nighters till we drop."
"You little... Do you know how much work Mantongbu—?"
Even indulgence had limits. As Jegal Somyeong geared up to scold him, a question struck.
"Wait, how do you know about Jin Sowoon?"
He'd only casually asked about the Namgung matter, yet the answer came smoothly, and now he seemed to know plenty about the kid.
"I've been watching since you gave him the entry token. And this guy's incredible. How's he managing with just four..."
From Heavenly Eye Mountain to recent Mokgan Mountain, he knew everything Jegal Somyeong had secretly observed.
"Tsk tsk, slacking on your duties... No wonder we're all-nighters every day."
"He's future Mantongbu talent. As a senior, I gotta look out early."
"Hah... How many years till he graduates the Academy and joins?"
"Grand schemes look ten years ahead, don't they? I don't plan to all-nighter here after marriage either."
His cheeky grin was infuriating.
"...Didn't you hear? Jeomchang, Wudang, Huashan are after him. Surviving's the best he can hope for."
"But you just said 'how many years?' That implies you expect him to pass, right?"
"......"
Mantongbu needed sharp minds, but sharp minds were quick to catch on and balk. As Myeonghyeon said, maybe scout some for simple tasks.
Jegal Somyeong eyed Maeng Ju-won mid-thought. Greasy hair from days without washing, but no sour stench now.
"What was that stink earlier?"
"Caught some stinkbugs. If you get mad, we suffer more."
"You pest!"
Unable to hold back, Jegal Somyeong splashed tea at him, but Maeng Ju-won dodged as if expecting it. Watching him flee tail-between-legs, Jegal Somyeong spat curses.
"Still... wonder if he'll pass the regular exam."
From Mareung Plateau to every move, nothing ordinary. He'd zoned out for a while hearing Jegal Cheongi—imprisoned in his own clan—was rescued. How'd he convince those thick-headed fools? And Jegal Cheongi ignored even his grandfather—how pull him from self-imposed confinement? Simple curiosity for the entry token was turning to real expectation. Could this near-solo kid truly pass the Murim regular exam? He was eager to see.
After leaving Mokgan Mountain, our journey had been suspiciously smooth. No attacks at all.
"Not sure if this is good or bad."
Eunho muttered it while warming himself by the fire after days, gnawing jerky.
Looking at his face—
"Why, big brother?"
He looked the epitome of beggar. Geum Pyo scolded from the side.
"You're staring 'cause you jinxed it."
Geum Pyo was no better—practically half-feral. Dongryong devoured roasted rabbit on one side, flashing a grin when our eyes met before resuming.
Beggars' guild would shun them on sight.
"...Let's hit a village first."
"Huh? But if pursuers—"
"Pursuers aren't the issue now."
"Then?"
"People might mistake you for Beggars' Guild, not Tae-eul Gate disciples."
"......"
"......"
Geum Pyo and Eunho exchanged looks, then nodded silently.
No attacks now didn't guarantee safety. Better to move boldly—easier against foes.
'Wudang, Jeomchang, Huashan will take time to mobilize.'
Yang Gunbaek's words had made me tilt my head. Wudang in Hubei, Huashan and Jeomchang in Shaanxi—coming all the way to Zhejiang for us?
"Not their main disciples."
Yang Gunbaek answered my doubt.
"But you know they're not to be underestimated, Sowoon."
Lay disciples from giant sects got support tied to masters' interests. Direct sect-backed main disciples. Below: direct support but protected by lay sub-sects. Lowest: sect disciples without direct aid, relying on affiliated merchant groups and family warriors.
"Targeting you: direct support but with lay sub-sect escorts."
Nine Great Gates and Five Great Families' lay sub-sects outpowered mid-small sects. Couldn't top main teams in-province, so they traveled far. Local mid-small sect disciples suffered.
"Still surprising they'd come to Zhejiang."
They'd end up like dogs chasing chickens if we lost passes first.
"Probably some prior collusion."
Not mains, but Wudang-Huashan-Jeomchang alliance wasn't dismissible.
"So please be careful."
Yang Gunbaek's final warning lingered. After crossing into Jiangsu, with Suzhou ahead, the gold-silver-bronze brothers buzzed excitedly.
"Suzhou's got the Four Great Gardens, right? Can we see 'em?"
Geum Pyo's casual remark drew Eunho's tongue-click.
"Gardens? Forgot we're in hell-mode regular exam?"
"Who forgot? Just heard they're famous."
"Sometimes you act younger than Dongryong."
Geum Pyo bristled, asking Dongryong.
"Dongryong, what do you wanna do in Suzhou?"
"Hm? ...Big brother. What's famous food there?"
"Dunno. Heard freshwater fish dishes..."
Dongryong nodded eagerly.
"I wanna eat fish in Suzhou."
"Hah..."
Eunho sighed, shaking his head. I smiled at them.
"No gardens, but let's try all the food."
"Is that okay?"
Geum Pyo mocked Eunho's worry.
"You worry, so guard while we eat."
"...Say that again, and you're done."
"Done? You just 'done'd your senior?! Brothers! This punk—"
Bickering gold-silver brothers froze, sensing stares.
"......"
In Suzhou's bustling streets, sword-bearing warriors flanked us, eyes locked. Whispers drifted.
-Those Tae-eul Gate guys?
-Probably.
-Got lotsa passes, huh?
-Tons after 'em.
-Gotta join in.
Brothers hadn't caught words but clamped mouths under the pressure.
"This way."
Before I spoke, they'd wandered like wooden puppets; now they stuck to me like chicks to a hen.
"Relax. Looking tense invites attacks."
"...Yes."
"Got it."
"Yes, big brother."
Eunho rolled shoulders, easing a bit. But his face froze entering the inn.
"......"
"......"
"......"
The rowdy inn hushed instantly. Everyone—first floor, second—stared, swords at hips. A nightmare scene.
The busy waiter froze mid-approach, awkward.
"Anywhere okay?"
He snapped to.
"Y-yes! Sit wherever."
"What's good here?"
"Dongpo pork's popular."
"Heard Suzhou's famous for fish?"
"Ah... Try Songshu guiyu?"
"Songshu guiyu, dongpo pork, braised pork knuckle, small noodles, dumplings."
"More coming?"
"Just us."
"...Got it."
"Oh, and heat water for baths, buy us clothes."
"Yes! One moment."
Three nyang silver on the table brightened the waiter's face; he dashed to the kitchen.
"Big brother, no need to say 'just us,' right?"
Eunho whispered, aware of eyes. Inn silent—even chopsticks paused to hear.
"We'll face hardships ahead. Don't shrink from what we've endured so far."
"...True."
We'd crushed Huangjian Sect, Qingdao Gang, rung alarms—but with passes, peace wouldn't last. More foes awaited post-third pass. Beyond the province: Wudang, Huashan, Jeomchang elites racing us.
Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap clap.
A silk-robed young master descended the second-floor stairs, applauding slowly. Two thirties-ish warriors flanked him like guards.
"Impressive boldness."
He smiled before us.
"Knew you'd head this way, but not so openly."
"......"
"Mind if I join?"
Our table seated eight. I shook my head.
"Don't like meal interruptions."
Shing.
His guards shifted, hands twitching toward swords. Standard guard training: Step up if your charge's ignored.
"Instead, I'll treat you."
"Juniors, make room."
"......"
Guards eyed me incredulously. What? Free food?
"......"
Eunho nodded.
"Big brother, more orders okay?"
"Silk robes over combat gear? You must be swimming in cash."
My jab drew only smiles from the young master.
"Here! Guihua guiyu, xiaocong ban doufu—oh, jiangyou rou too!"
"Hey! Huiguo rou—the one Gye Cheolyeong bragged about."
"Huiguo rou here!"
Overordered to irk, but his face unchanged. He clasped hands lightly.
"I'm Songbaek of Huaying Escort Agency in Suzhou."
Huaying Escort Agency. Top-five northern giant. Escorts straddled merchants and jianghu, rich in cash and force.
"Need passes?"
Inn erupted at my bluntness. Warriors tensed, watching. Songbaek's smile held.
"As rumored, no ordinary man."
"So?"
"Passed first and second passes."
Escort heir—knew northern bandits, easy elixirs via merchants.
"Then no need to find me?"
"Schedule eased after Mokgan Mountain, no?"
"......"
Waiter brought heaps, but brothers and I clamped lips, staring at Songbaek.
"In Jiangsu... Suzhou, relax. Huaying watches Tae-eul Gate disciples."
Suzhou overflowed manpower and goods beyond most provinces, yet Huaying claimed control. No one scoffed.
"Why this kindness?"
Songbaek shook head helplessly.
"I don't need to, but..."
Then sly glance.
"My seniors do."
"......"
"Met Jongbyeokgi senior already?"
Of course—Yongbong Assembly's tragic prodigy Jongbyeokgi.
"I'm a Jeomchang lay disciple."
"Ah... I see."
Clink. Clink.
At Jongbyeokgi's name, gold-silver-bronze shoveled food furiously. Songbaek glanced, continued.
"Senior Jong shared much."
"Good things?"
"Hardly."
Tae-eul Sword Lord's legacy—Tae-eul Gate's?—conspiracy spouter, pulped by Moyong Gang. Thought he'd suffer dragged by him post-madness, but mobile already?
"So other seniors hold grudges against Young Master Jin."
Then, second-floor warriors in matching garb descended. All exuded extraordinary auras.
"Join us till they arrive? I'd be in trouble if you fall first."
"Got money?"
"Pardon?"
"Said you'd buy food. Asking if you have cash."
Songbaek chuckled, pulling a pouch.
"Best restaurant."
I grabbed his head, slamming it down.
Thud.
Wooden table, yet cleanly split where his head hit. Qi shielded my hand; he took full shock, blood streaming from seven orifices.
"Y-you mad..."
Shing shing.
All guards drew swords. I yanked Songbaek, blade to his throat.
"Wanna watch your young master die?"
"......"
"......"
His warriors seethed murderously. Inn warriors gripped hilts too.
Then—
Slurp. Slurrrp. Chomp.
Eating sounds pierced tension. Eyes turned. Brothers ate oblivious to blades.
My baffled stare—Geum Pyo noticed, mumbled mid-bite.
"Can't eat now... gulp. Who knows when next... slurp."
"Big brother, hold a bit longer. Food's still hot."
Back to shoveling.
"......"
Huaying warriors—and everyone—gawked at gold-silver-bronze like lunatics.
So embarrassing.