novelraw Chapter 99 : The Bull and the Five Men
Chapter 99 : The Bull and the Five Men
"Young Hero Jin."
"Yes?"
"Is something wrong?"
Moyong Susu asked with a worried voice.
The reason she was worried about Jin Sohyun was because of his face.
Sunken eyes as if he hadn't slept for a week, and hollow cheeks.
Moreover, his martial arts robe was a mess.
Jin Sohyun now looked like a soldier who had rolled and rolled on the battlefield for several years.
"It's... nothing."
'I think I'll get it if I try a little more.'
Jin Sohyun had been training in the realm of no-work on a deserted mountain for a month now.
But.
As befitting of the final realm of the Flying Heaven Ten Swords, the realm of no-work was not easy.
It was on a different level from the wind flow, lightning flash, and thousand hands that he could imitate just by hearing and seeing them.
'It feels like I'm holding a mountain with a needle.'
The realm of no-work felt like holding Mount Tai with the tip of a needle.
When he thought he had a clue, it would get farther away, and when he thought he was about to reach it, it would get farther away again.
Since he was pouring in his internal energy as soon as it gathered, even the great Jin Sohyun was getting tired.
"Everyone, gather."
The call of Gwak Myeong was heard in the ears of Jin Sohyun, who had been thinking about the realm of no-work.
The thirty officials had all gathered in one place.
They had grown by leaps and bounds compared to a month ago.
It was not just because of the training at the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple.
'The teachings of the Five Great Masters of the Central Plains.'
The single line of teaching that Kang Cheon had laid out like a nagging had implicitly made the officials grow by one or two stages.
In fact, Go Durim, Hyeok'ugun, and Peng Xiaofeng, who had received the teachings, were showing remarkable growth.
'This is why the teachings of a senior are important.'
The teachings of a senior who had walked the path ahead.
This became a shining beacon that illuminated the hazy path ahead for the juniors.
Especially since the beacon that Kang Cheon had created was even brighter and more brilliant.
The growth of the officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple was natural.
And now.
It was time to gain experience through real combat.
"As you all know, the Martial Arts Alliance is literally an alliance created to protect and guard the Orthodox Martial World. It is also the reason why the name 'Alliance' is attached to the name of the Martial Arts Alliance."
The 'Alliance' in the Martial Arts Alliance meant a promise or an oath.
It was an oath shared by the sects and martial families that they would protect the Orthodox Martial World.
"For this, the Martial Arts Alliance is still protecting the Orthodox Martial World today. For example, the Alliance receives a very diverse range of requests. Most of them are requests to mediate between sects or to protect them from the unorthodox faction."
At Gwak Myeong's gesture, an instructor appeared, holding a bundle of parchment.
"This is a summary of the requests sent by the orthodox sects belonging to the Martial Arts Alliance."
The officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple looked at the bundle of parchment with curious faces.
"From now on, the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple will help those who need the help of the Martial Arts Alliance and carry out their requests."
Gwak Myeong grinned.
"In other words, from now on, it's real combat."
* * *
The officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple were divided into six groups of five.
"The leader of the third group... Jin Sohyun, you will be in charge."
"What? Me?"
"Yes."
Jin Sohyun, who had received the golden armband that symbolized the team leader, had to wrap it around his arm with a displeased face.
"And this is the request that your third group must carry out and the silver plaque that symbolizes that you are a member of the Martial Arts Alliance. Make sure to always carry it with you."
Jin Sohyun, who had put the silver plaque in his bosom, read the contents of the request letter.
"The Deungho Sect, which has long belonged to the orthodox faction, has recently been experiencing difficulties..."
"The Deungho Sect?"
A martial artist from the Hebei Peng Clan, who had become a member of the same group, popped his head out.
Unlike Peng Xiaofeng, the man with an ordinary physique was named Peng Ogyeong.
"It is a small sect located in Namsohyeon, west of Hebei. Brother."
"Brother?"
At the unfamiliar title, Jin Sohyun was puzzled, and Peng Ogyeong made an embarrassed face.
"I have heard about you several times from Brother Xiaofeng. I haven't had a chance to talk to you... it's an honor to be in the same group like this."
"Uh... nice to meet you too."
Unlike the bright and cheerful Peng Ogyeong, Jin Sohyun felt awkward for no particular reason.
Besides him, there were three other people who had become members of the same group as Jin Sohyun.
Un Bang of the Kongtong Sect.
Sangsuk of the Changryong Sect.
And Yu Useon.
"Young Hero Jin."
Since he had met Jin Sohyun before, Yu Useon approached with a happy face.
"We've become the same group. That's a relief. I was worried about what to do if I ended up in the same group as Young Hero Cheon again."
"I know, right?"
Jin Sohyun, Yu Useon, and Peng Ogyeong, who were showing a relatively friendly atmosphere.
But unlike them, Sangsuk and Un Bang were looking at Jin Sohyun with displeased faces.
'Why is that brat the team leader?'
'No matter how much he likes money... I didn't see him like that... the Daoist Temple Master was also quite a snob.'
Sangsuk and Un Bang thought that Jin Sohyun had once again used money to get the position of team leader.
And there was another reason why they were displeased with Jin Sohyun.
"Where are you going, Young Hero Jin?"
Moyong Susu and Oh Seolhwa, who had become members of the same group, came together.
At first, the two, who had been at each other's throats like a dog and a cat, were now walking together as if nothing had happened.
Although the two themselves did not seem to be aware of it.
"I'm going to Hebei."
Moyong Susu and Oh Seolhwa made disappointed faces at the same time.
"We're going to Gansu. We're going in the opposite direction."
Unlike the two disappointed women, Jin Sohyun's face was dry.
Since it was not the first or second time he had seen this expression, the two women just said they would see him later and turned their backs.
At that series of events, Sangsuk and Un Bang felt anger.
Those two were the ones who had received warm warmth and salvation from Moyong Susu and Oh Seolhwa, respectively.
'Why is a beautiful person like Young Lady Moyong with a lazy bum like that...!'
'A brat like that doesn't suit Young Lady Oh!'
Un Bang and Sangsuk glared at Jin Sohyun at the same time.
But Jin Sohyun, who had become used to such gazes, did not care.
He just looked down at the map he had been given and figured out the location of the Deungho Sect.
"It's far."
Since the distance was far, he felt a sense of annoyance.
"Sigh, what a hassle."
After all the groups were decided and the simple explanation was over, Gwak Myeong called the officials together in one place again.
"As you all know, the unorthodox faction is always after your lives. There was already an attack by the unorthodox faction in Guizhou. There is no guarantee that there will not be an attack from them this time either."
At Gwak Myeong's explanation, a sense of tension appeared on the faces of the officials.
"Move as stealthily as possible. You can disguise yourselves, or you can move stealthily along the forest path instead of the main road. You can use any method... just don't get caught. That is all."
Only then did the officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple realize.
That all the content they had studied so far was for this very moment.
Jin Sohyun opened the money pouch that had been given to him to carry out the request.
Inside were a few silver coins and iron coins.
"Then shall we start slowly?"
* * *
Clop— Clop— Clop—!
The four people who were on the cart did not understand why they were doing this.
"Why a bull and not a horse?"
At Un Bang's question, Yu Useon said with a small voice.
"The team leader said that a bull pulls a cart better than a horse..."
"And why hay of all things?"
This time, Sangsuk answered with annoyance.
"He said it's more comfortable."
The gazes of the three turned to Jin Sohyun, who was lying on the pile of hay.
As soon as he came out of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple, he had bought a cart, a bull, and a pile of hay at a rather expensive price from a nearby farmhouse.
And then, he had bought some plain clothes that a farmer would wear and had made his team members wear them.
—What is this?
At Un Bang's question, Jin Sohyun had said confidently.
—From now on, we will be young farmers. Then we won't have to take a big detour through the mountain path, and since we're not merchants, we won't get into a fight with bandits.
—As expected of Brother Jin! You are wise!
After Peng Ogyeong had even clapped his hands and had admired Jin Sohyun's plan, the three could not dare to criticize the team leader's decision.
Having no choice but to get on the cart, the five were heading towards Hebei at a very slow speed.
"At this rate, it will take at least five days to get to Henan."
"And this bull is very slow."
Un Bang still did not understand.
How could that lazy bum, who knew nothing but lazing around, have become the team leader?
'No... he does have the talent to create a monstrous sound with a daegeum. Don't tell me this is also part of the Daoist Temple Master's plan?'
Un Bang thought that this might be Gwak Myeong's plan.
'If I succeed in the request with that lazy bum as the team leader, my evaluation might change.'
Suddenly, he felt a surge of motivation.
He sat down next to Yu Useon, who was gently stroking the bull's rump with a whip.
"Give it to me."
"What?"
Un Bang, who had snatched the whip from Yu Useon, swung it with all his might.
The bull, which had been hit on the rump by the whip that even contained internal energy, let out a cry.
Moo—!
The surprised bull started to run, and the cart shook greatly.
"Yes! We have to run at this speed!"
Un Bang was very happy at the speed, which was on a different level from before.
Meanwhile, Jin Sohyun, who had been lying on the pile of hay, raised his head with a displeased face.
"Ogyeong."
"Yes, brother!"
"Don't you think the cart has gotten a little faster?"
"Official Un is whipping the bull. I think it has gotten faster thanks to that."
"Make him stop."
"Yes!"
There was no question of 'why?' from Peng Ogyeong.
He was just following Jin Sohyun's words as per the advice of the respected Peng Xiaofeng.
"Official Un!"
At Peng Ogyeong's angry shout, Un Bang narrowed his eyes.
"What is it, Young Hero Peng?"
"Stop the whipping at once. Don't you feel sorry for the bull?"
"Hmph! A bull is born to pull a cart and plow a field. It is just doing its duty."
Un Bang's eyes were still directed at Jin Sohyun, who was lying on the pile of hay.
"It's the same as that lazy bum lying on the pile of hay and sleeping all day."
"Are you insulting the team leader?"
"Am I wrong?"
The hot gazes of Un Bang of the Kongtong Sect and Peng Ogyeong of the Hebei Peng Clan clashed on the cart.
In the war of nerves between the Nine Sects and the Five Great Families, where there was no room for compromise, Yu Useon and Sangsuk hunched their bodies and just watched.
"Kkeung!"
At that moment, Jin Sohyun got up and tapped the golden armband on his arm.
"Hey. Official Un."
"What."
"Do you see this?"
"That's..."
"This is the golden armband that symbolizes the team leader, which the Daoist Temple Master himself has bestowed. Official Un must know well what this means, right?"
"Keuk!"
Un Bang let out a groan and raised his eyes.
In fact, there was one rule in this request, and that was to absolutely follow the team leader's orders.
There was Gwak Myeong's advice that if one were to violate this, it would be considered a rebellion against the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple and, furthermore, the Martial Arts Alliance.
"This is... an abuse of... authority!"
"That's right."
"...!?"
"So? What can you do about it?"
Jin Sohyun decided to be brazen.
"This brazen...! After this request is over, I will report your atrocities to the Daoist Temple Master in detail!"
"Well, do as you please. For now, follow the orders of me, the team leader. Ogyeong."
"Yes!"
"Confiscate his whip. From now on, any team member who whips our Hwanggu's rump will be hit on the buttocks in the same way."
Jin Sohyun, who had already given the bull the name Hwanggu, gave an order, and Peng Ogyeong moved.
He confiscated Un Bang's whip as if he had been waiting for it.
After finishing his order, Jin Sohyun ignored Un Bang, who was glaring at him, and lay down on the hay.
'As slowly as possible... let's arrive slowly.'
Although it was an outing to carry out a request.
Jin Sohyun was planning to use this to his heart's content.
As late as possible.
Let's go as slowly as possible.
He was planning to enjoy the laziness he had not been able to enjoy during this opportunity as much as possible.
'Absolutely! As long as I am the team leader, there will be no! speed!'
The cart carrying the five people headed towards Hebei at a very leisurely speed.
(End of Chapter)