The Genius Youngest Disciple of the Wudang Sect

Chapter 380

After experiencing various things and moving diligently to the east, we were able to arrive in Sichuan Province.

Many people know that it was named Sichuan because four rivers, the Min River, the Jinsha River, the Tuo River, and the Jialing River, flow through it, but when I heard it from a martial artist from Sichuan in the past, I heard that it was not so.

I had heard in passing that the character 'chuan' (川) in Sichuan has the meaning of a plain in addition to the meaning of a river, and that it was called Sichuan because of the four plains and the huge road.

Since I had actually been here only a few times, I came with the feeling of traveling to a new place.

When we had walked for a long time and a gate-like thing was visible in the distance, Wang Hyeon-seong looked back at us and opened his mouth.

"To enter Sichuan, you must pass through this passage. Of course, you can go over the mountains or go through a path that people don't often pass through, but this is the only place where you can pull a carriage loaded with such goods."

At his words, I looked around, and a high wall was built next to the gate we were about to pass through.

But the wall was not as long as I thought and was cut off at some point.

"Manager-nim. The wall is cut off over there, can't we go in that way?"

"That's right. The back side is not visible from here, but it is a very wide and deep cliff. So there was no need to build a wall."

"I see."

Although I wanted to see how steep and deep the cliff behind there was, I couldn't move alone, leaving the group, so I thought I should come back later and kept quiet.

"You're working hard. It's hot, so please have a drink of this while you work."

"Huh? Aren't you Manager Wang of the Eungnam Merchant Guild? What brings you here in person today? It's been hard to see your face for a while."

"Guard Captain, have you been well? As the merchant guild has grown, I have too many things to do there. In fact, I'm much more suited to leading a carriage like this in person."

"But isn't it better in many ways to come out like this sometimes? Please come out often. It's good to see your face after a long time."

"Yes. I should. To think that I was stuck in a small room, just stamping documents, leaving this fun thing behind, it feels like I've wasted my time. Hahaha!"

Wang Hyeon-seong, as if he knew the captain of the guards who were guarding the passage to Sichuan Province well, exchanged friendly conversation.

As if his face was no different from a pass, thanks to him, we were able to enter Sichuan Province without any inspection.

After receiving the mission, the senior uncles had said that the current atmosphere in Sichuan Province was not good, so it might be difficult to enter, but when we came with Wang Hyeon-seong, we entered so easily.

"You seem to know him well."

"Yes. This year marks the tenth year since he became the guard captain here. I started my business eight years ago, so you could say we almost started together. At that time, I used to go in and out of Sichuan Province almost twice a month, so I couldn't help but get to know his face. I built a friendship little by little by greeting him as I came and went, and by getting him the things he needed if he said he needed them."

"I see."

Although Wang Hyeon-seong said it as if it were nothing, I know very well how amazing that is.

To be honest, is he the only one who frequents this place like Wang Hyeon-seong?

Perhaps there are many people who frequent it more often than him.

But I thought that there would be few people who were more friendly with the guard captain than Wang Hyeon-seong.

'Just like what he did to the bandits last time, and to the guard captain... Wang Hyeon-seong's greatest weapon seems to be not making enemies and drawing everyone to his side.'

I felt like I knew how Wang Hyeon-seong had succeeded as a merchant.

Of course, there was also a guy like Jin Tae-jin who tried to take advantage of Wang Hyeon-seong's nature.

Because that guy, knowing Wang Hyeon-seong's side, who had been a long-time friend, had taken advantage of it and even betrayed him.

Wang Hyeon-seong also said that after that, he had become much more careful in dealing with people than before, and since his carefulness is at this level now, I couldn't even guess what he was like in the past.

"We've only passed through one gate, but don't you feel like the air has changed for some reason?"

"I really think so. The trees also look strangely different."

I was the same, and my senior brothers were busy looking around.

As Wang Hyeon-seong had said, we had only crossed that boundary, but Sichuan Province had a strangely different atmosphere.

Just by looking at this, I think I know why the Sichuan martial world keeps a little distance from the Central Plains martial world.

In the first place, since the culture and lifestyle they share are so different, the psychological distance naturally becomes farther.

"If you go inside, you will see many more different things. Not only the architectural style, but also the clothes they wear are subtly different, and the food is also different."

"Ah! You mean Sichuan food?"

"Yes. From ancient times, Sichuan has been said to be the best place to go on a gourmet trip. That's how much food there is and how diverse the types are. If you like spicy food, there is no better travel destination than this place."

Although he was not from Sichuan, he said proudly in a tone as if he were introducing his hometown.

Come to think of it, it would be no exaggeration to say that Sichuan is his second hometown.

Because he must have spent a considerable amount of time in Sichuan since he had the idea of selling Sichuan's goods to the outside.

"First, food! How about we go eat first?"

"I was thinking the same thing. I know very well how well you Dojang-nims eat, but you haven't had a proper meal on your way here, have you?"

"As expected of you, Manager-nim."

"If we go a little further, there is an inn I often went to. It's a place with a large stable to store the carriage, so how about we stay there for today?"

"Alright. Since we've passed through Chongqing and come out to the left, it won't be that far from Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, right?"

"Yes. If we continue to follow the official road we've been following, Chengdu will appear. The road is well-paved from here."

"I see. So that's why you took this route, Manager-nim."

He just smiled broadly instead of answering.

I felt that consideration could be felt in his every action.

To be honest, while living as Unhwi of the Wudang Sect in this life, I thought I was living while thinking about and being considerate of others much more than in my past life.

But looking at Wang Hyeon-seong, I felt that I was at a level where it was embarrassing to say that I was considerate of others.

Of course, it's not possible to be this considerate and nice to enemies, but I think I'm learning a lot from him on this trip to Sichuan.

"We've already arrived at the inn. The five of you, please go in first and get a table in the restaurant. I will leave the horse and carriage and follow you in soon."

"Yes, Manager-nim."

We entered the inn.

Perhaps because it was a quite popular place, the restaurant was already filled with quite a few people.

We took a table, and Wang Hyeon-seong also followed us in soon and ordered a lot of various dishes.

When asked if this was a famous place, Wang Hyeon-seong showed his confidence, saying that in Sichuan, you can never fail with the taste of food in any decent shop.

During the short time we were waiting for the waiter to bring the food, we were silent, and perhaps because we were not talking, Wang Hyeon-seong also waited silently without saying anything.

As a result, I began to hear the conversations of the other people around me.

In the midst of the chaotic exchange of various stories, one conversation that caught my interest flowed into my ear.

"The master of the Four Evils Alliance has changed? Then what happens to us?"

"What do you mean, what happens?"

"I'm talking about the money we were paying as tribute. Should we just pay it as before?"

"I guess so. We weren't really paying tribute to Dokgo Ju-gwak, were we? We were paying tribute to the Four Evils Alliance."

I glanced at the two men, and from their attire and way of speaking, they seemed to be people who were doing business in this area.

As if they had no idea that I was eavesdropping, they continued to talk.

"My... to be honest, I trusted the master of the Four Evils Alliance more than the Four Evils Alliance itself, but for the master of the Four Evils Alliance to suddenly change... did he die while fighting with the Sichuan martial artists?"

"I don't know that much. I just heard that he suddenly disappeared."

"Suddenly disappeared...?"

"Well. He might have run away because he didn't want to be the master of the Four Evils Alliance anymore, or as you said, he might have become a guest who never returned after fighting with a mysterious master he met on the street."

The two, with a bottle of wine between them, continued to talk while sipping.

"I just hope it doesn't get harder than it is now. If we have to go back to the old days... I'm thinking of just quitting my business and going back to my hometown to farm."

"It's the same for me. I'd rather die than go back to that time."

I, hearing that story, naturally thought that the past they didn't want to go back to was the time before Dokgo Ju-gwak took control of the Four Evils Alliance.

But the words that followed were enough to surprise me.

"If this place becomes the territory of the Sichuan Tang family again... there will probably be many people like me who want to leave this place."

"Hey, man. What if someone hears you talking so loudly?"

"It's still the territory of the Four Evils Alliance, so it should be fine, right? I just hope the new master of the Four Evils Alliance will also protect this place well from the Tang family..."

I was dumbfounded after hearing that story.

The Sichuan Tang family is a prestigious orthodox sect, and the Four Evils Alliance is an evil faction.

Of course, I had been thinking that the Tang family was good and the Four Evils Alliance was bad.

But judging from the stories of those men, it seemed that it was not necessarily so.

Because they were saying that the past, when the Sichuan Tang family was in control, was much harder than now, when the Four Evils Alliance is in control.

'This... I need to find out.'

Since I was on my way to the Sichuan Tang family anyway, and asking them directly what was going on when I got there might be the most certain way, but to be honest, a better way than that is to collect information about the Sichuan Tang family in advance, and after knowing about them, meet them in person.

"Customer. Your food is coming."

When my thoughts reached that point, the waiter began to carry plates full of food with both hands, and we naturally began to eat.

I, while continuously scooping food with my spoon, thought.

'I should look for the Swallows after a long time. There must be some in this area too, right?'

Although there would be a branch of the Beggars' Sect, it was because this kind of work was best left to the Hao Mun.

(End of Chapter)