Peach's Jianghu Journey - 4
Screeech! "Gah!" As I brought the motorcycle to a halt, a man's pained groan echoed from behind.
"Aigoo, we're far out. Let's rest a bit before heading out again."
"Eung!"
"Bbiit!"
The fluffy bundles clinging to the windshield scrambled up onto my shoulders with a soft rustle. They must have enjoyed the wind a lot—the fur on their heads was all ruffled and sticking out backward.
Clack. "Whoa, whoa." Jeon Ho led the horse he'd been riding without any trouble, keeping pace perfectly.
"You're following along well on horseback?"
"Yes. At this level…"
As he spoke, Jeon Ho glanced around nervously before carefully continuing.
"I believe it may be a military horse."
"A military horse?"
"Yes."
Now that he mentioned it, the mane gleamed with a healthy sheen, and the muscles beneath were no joke. Definitely not some nag meant to pull a shabby carriage.
"Come to think of it, the guy we had tied up earlier was babbling about the imperial family or something?"
I walked around to the back of the motorcycle. The man whose legs were bound lifted his head. His eyes were full of venom.
"You want to die? Can't keep those eyes looking nice?"
"I…!"
Smack! "Guh…"
The man who had been about to lash out took a slap to the face and planted his face straight into the dirt.
"S-Sir Divine Physician…"
"Hey. You come here too. Didn't I tell you not to call me 'Sir Divine Physician' because it draws too much aggro?"
"Hrk! W-what's aggro…"
When I strode toward Jeon Ho, he turned pale and started backing away.
"It's 'Ogu-ra Yuna,' you bastard."
Smack! "Guh!"
Jeon Ho clutched the spot where he'd been slapped.
"You think I'm taking you around because I like you?"
"N-no, sir."
"There are things you say to a kid and things you don't. Suddenly getting all worked up again."
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry…"
Fear filled Jeon Ho's eyes. It was understandable—after all, he'd just seen someone's head explode like a firework right in front of him.
"If you're sorry, does that end your jianghu life?"
"No…"
"No? Then why'd you do it?"
"I'm sorry."
"Does being sorry fix everything?"
"N-no…"
Whack! "Ghk!"
I lightly kicked Jeon Ho's shin, and he stumbled backward.
"Hey."
"Yes…"
"Look at you, voice shrinking like that."
Smack! "Ghk!!"
Jeon Ho kept backing up until he finally stopped with his back against a large tree.
"Hey."
"Yes!"
"Hey."
"Yes!!"
"Hey."
"Y-yesss!!!"
Realizing there was nowhere left to retreat, panic was written all over his face.
"You think wearing that hat makes you something special?"
"No!"
"Life must be easy for you."
"N-no…"
Smack! "Gahhh!"
"Voice."
"Nooooo!!"
Jeon Ho squeezed his eyes shut and shouted at the top of his lungs, loud enough to echo through the surroundings. Birds flew up from the nearby forest in a flurry.
"You rebelling?"
"Hrk! N-no…"
"Don't want to live long, huh?"
"No!!"
"Now that you're wearing the armband, you think the entire murim belongs to you?"
"N-no!!"
"Life's easy, right?"
"No!!"
"You know I hold grudges, don't you?"
Jeon Ho's eyes darted around, unable to find a place to look.
"Pathetic."
"I'm sorry!"
"Say what you said earlier again."
"T-that…"
"Say it."
Gulp. Jeon Ho swallowed hard before carefully opening his mouth.
"I-I was just worried the child might be sick… I was thinking of you, Sir Divine Physician…"
"Wow! So the only one who cares about me is our Jeon Ho?"
"N-no…"
"I should turn you into an idiot too so you can reflect on yourself for the rest of your life. Right?"
Jeon Ho's trembling eyes rolled toward the man tied up behind the motorcycle, limbs twisted and skin torn.
"N-no!!"
"No? You weren't worried about me?"
"N-no, that's not it…"
"Then what is it?"
"It's…"
With the tree blocking his retreat, Jeon Ho scrambled his feet uselessly against the ground.
"It's not something you say to a child's face. Right?"
"…Yes. No."
"No? Then why did you say it?"
"S-sorry…"
"No, no. Why would our great Inspector Jeon Ho apologize to me? It's only natural for lowly things to catch diseases and die. Right?"
Jeon Ho frantically shook his head.
"N-no! It's really not like that…"
"No? Then why did you say it when you knew better? Anyone weaker than you just looks easy to bully."
"I'm sorry…"
A bead of sweat rolled down Jeon Ho's chin.
"Hey."
"Yes!!"
"When we get to the Murim Alliance or whatever the hell it is, gather everyone above you."
"…"
"Answer."
"Y-yesss!!!"
Flutter! "You rebelling?"
"S-sorry…"
***
"Ghk!"
The Heavenly Blood agents hiding in the forest using concealment arts covered their ears while watching Han Ga-eul.
"Leader. This is too painful…"
"Endure it. It's just a vicious sound technique."
"I think my ears are bleeding. Can't we just go back?"
After pondering his subordinate's sincere request for a long while, the leader finally shook his head.
***
—Chik, chik.
"Huu— Jeon Ho."
Leaning against a tree, I waved at Jeon Ho. He quickly approached.
"Yes! Sir! Ah, no, Miss Han!"
Jeon Ho crouched down to meet my gaze as he answered.
"Look at that."
"Yes."
I draped an arm around his shoulder and pointed at the motorcycle. His eyes followed.
"While our senior Jeon Ho is working so hard, the junior is just lying there passed out."
"T-that's right."
"What should we do?"
"I'll handle it."
Jeon Ho's eyes flashed as he shot to his feet and marched toward the motorcycle.
Smack! "Ghk!?"
"How long are you going to sleep? Get up!"
"You bastard!! Do you know who I am—"
Smack!
After knocking the man out with two strikes to the back of the head, Jeon Ho walked back to me and crouched down again.
"Our Jeon Ho did well."
"Thank you!"
I patted his shoulder, and he bowed his head.
"Good. Just keep doing that."
"Yes!!"
"But let's put in a little more effort? He passed out way too fast."
"Yes!!"
With a murderous glint in his eyes, Jeon Ho walked back toward the motorcycle.
Ding!
"Kids, time to eat."
"Eung!"
"Bbiit!"
The fluffy bundles that had been playing in the trees nearby scurried over.
"Over there!"
"Hm?"
Baek Seol, who had been handed a flower, perked her ears and looked deeper into the forest.
"They're still following us?"
"Eung!"
I stroked Baek Seol's head. She perked her ears once more before starting to nibble on the petals.
"They're working hard. Should I cook them a meal?"
Clatter. I pulled out a bunch of cooking tools from my inventory and spread them out, instantly turning the place into a picnic spot.
"You eat too."
I tossed a chunk of meat high into the air. A bird circling overhead snatched it up in a flash.
"Jeon Ho. I'll cook, so work hard in the meantime."
"Yes! Thank you!"
Jeon Ho, busy moving his hands behind the motorcycle, bowed his head before focusing on his task again.
Everyone seemed to be working hard at their own jobs, so I figured I should prepare plenty of food.
"Ah, I'm going to make a lot of food, so I hope someone eats it."
***
The door to the Alliance Lord's chamber burst open, and Yang Ik-jun, the Internal Affairs Head with his Lightning Spear, rushed inside.
"Alliance Lord!"
"Ahem, Internal Affairs Head. Mind your decorum. What is so urgent that you barge in without notice?"
Yang Ik-jun wanted to say that decorum wasn't the issue right now. But the person before him was Namgung Hwi, the Murim Alliance Lord and Sword King.
"Ah, my apologies. I have an urgent report to deliver, so I was discourteous."
"It's fine. So what is this urgent report?"
At the Alliance Lord's words, Yang Ik-jun, who had been wearing an apologetic expression, let a faint smile form on his lips.
"A letter has arrived from Deputy Inspector Jeon Ho. He says he is traveling with the Divine Physician."
"Hoho. To find them faster than those money-grubbing bastards. As expected of the Murim Alliance's Deputy Inspector, known for his cold efficiency."
The Alliance Lord stroked his white beard once and smiled in satisfaction.
"However…"
"Hm? Speak freely."
Reports must contain no falsehoods, and judgment must be made by the one with authority, not the reporter. The Alliance Lord believed it was also a virtue of a superior to allow subordinates to speak comfortably. That was why he smiled.
"It's difficult to say, but the Divine Physician's personality is said to be quite eccentric."
The Internal Affairs Head's heavily weighted report was something the Murim Alliance's strategist had already heard once before.
"Hahaha! I was wondering what it was. Look at this Alliance Lord. Geniuses are originally eccentrics and peculiar by nature."
"A-ah… I see."
A bead of sweat rolled down the back of Yang Ik-jun's neck.
'The person who turned your grandson into mush is the Divine Physician,' and 'He's dragging around someone who looks like an imperial official, beaten to a pulp like your grandson, tied to a horse'—he needed to add these reports, but seeing the Alliance Lord's delighted expression, he couldn't bring himself to speak.
***
Following the river upstream from Anhui Province leads to Bozhou. From the third floor of an inn there, the laughter of handsome men and beautiful women could be heard.
"We've come about halfway."
"At this rate, we'll arrive in about four days by carriage."
Namgung Un-hwi, the second son of the Namgung family, nodded grandly at Jeagal Jo-ryeong's reply.
"As expected of a daughter of the Jeagal clan. It's as if a complete map is drawn in your head."
"It's basic knowledge."
Namgung Un-hwi nodded again as he watched Jeagal Jo-ryeong smile modestly and bow her head slightly.
'As expected of the Jeagal bloodline. Her grandfather is a strategist, and her beauty is flawless. If I think of the future generations, she is undoubtedly the woman I must take as my bride.'
It was then, while Namgung Un-hwi continued to admire her, that a particularly large man among those seated around the round table performed a loud fist-palm salute.
"Brother Namgung. I heard you've entered the first-rate realm. Congratulations."
"Haha! Brother Paeng, thank you. But you're praising this unworthy one too much when I haven't even tasted your fierce blade technique yet."
"Kahaha! At your age, who else has entered the first-rate realm? Your humility puts this Paeng Mo to shame."
Screech! Sensing the good atmosphere, a short woman pulled her chair with a loud noise and sat down. Thanks to her, everyone's attention turned to the petite woman.
"As expected of the second young master of the Namgung family. At this rate, winning the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering is practically guaranteed, isn't it?"
"Haha! Thank you, Lady Dang. However, there are countless hidden masters in the murim, like grains of sand. Arrogance is not good."
Despite his humble words, Namgung Un-hwi was in an excellent mood at the words of Dang Eun-hye, the future star of the Sichuan Tang family.
"Oh my! You're too modest. Why not come up with a nickname at this opportunity? Something like Blue Dragon, perhaps?"
"Hahaha! The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering hasn't even started yet. Blue Dragon is too much."
While they were chatting around one table, a young waiter carrying a tray hurried over to them.
"Young heroes, your Wuyi Rock Tea is ready."
"Set it down."
"Yes!"
Though young, the waiter knew how arrogant the people wearing swords at their waists could be. That was why his speech, despite his age, already resembled that of a seasoned waiter.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Just as the waiter was carefully setting down the expensive tea-filled cups—
"You brat!!"
"Hrk!"
At Namgung Un-hwi's thunderous shout, the waiter who had been moving the tea flinched in surprise. To a martial artist, the life of a mere inn waiter was worth less than an insect.
"W-why are you doing this, young hero…"
"Can't you set it down carefully! Didn't a drop of hot tea splash toward Lady Jeagal? If the precious one's skin gets damaged, will you take responsibility?"
"Aigoo, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry. Please forgive me…"
Even at the waiter's apology, the anger in Namgung Un-hwi's eyes showed no sign of fading.
"I'm fine, young master."
Jeagal Jo-ryeong said it was okay. But her eyes were ice-cold, and she looked at the trembling young waiter with disdain, as if he were filthy.
"I'll just give him a stern warning."
At that moment, a dark shadow appeared behind Namgung Un-hwi, who had been about to stand up.
Boom! The person who suddenly appeared pressed down on the back of Namgung Un-hwi's head, slamming his face into the table.
"W-who are you!"
"A personality-broken thug who crawled out of hell to catch trash."
"Hey, thug…?"
At the sudden turn of events, the seated people shot to their feet, hands moving toward their waists.
"Namgung, you dog-shit bastards—did you all skip family education or something? What's with this state?"
"How dare you! Insulting the great Namgung family—!"
Crunch! "Guh!"
The harder Namgung Un-hwi struggled, the stronger the grip on the back of his head became. Namgung Un-hwi couldn't help but feel wronged. That was how he had been taught in his household, and that was how he had grown up. So to him, it was natural behavior.
"You all have it rough, biting and sucking on each other like that?"
Hearing the commotion, Jeon Ho, who had rushed up to the third floor of the inn late, felt like jumping into the Yangtze River at the sight.
"I."
Bang! Namgung Un-hwi's face was driven into the thick wooden table, thicker than a formal robe's waist.
"Told you not to touch the kids."
Boom!
"How many times."
Boom!!
"Did I say it."
Boom!!!
Crunch! Eventually, the thick wooden table couldn't withstand it and collapsed. Thanks to that, Namgung Un-hwi's once-handsome face, known as the Painting Prince, turned into a bloody mess.
Watching this, Jeagal Jo-ryeong hurriedly raised her voice.
"Y-you! When exactly did you say that—!"
"Shut your mouth, you bitch."
Smack—! Thud-thud-thud! Bang!
Slapped across the ear, Jeagal Jo-ryeong rolled across the inn floor before finally stopping after crashing into the wall. Blood trickled from Jeagal Jo-ryeong's toothless gums as she foamed at the mouth.
"Jeon Ho. Did I say it or not?"
"Y-you did…"
"What did I say?"
"You said you don't care if they cut each other's throats and play around, so don't touch the children…"
"Right? I clearly told you not to lay a hand on the kids?"
Jeon Ho's eyes rolled around before he gave a slight nod instead of answering.
'It's not like it's a thousand-li voice transmission. How would I hear something said in Hefei from a thousand li away…'
While everyone was dumbfounded by Jeon Ho's answer, Paeng San-wol, the largest among them, stepped forward.
"Y-you! Who the hell are you! Do you know who we are to do something like this!"
"A personality-broken goblin who crawled out of hell to catch trash."