novelraw Chapter 125 : Chapter 125
Chapter 125 : Chapter 125
Chapter 125 Prince Yeomseong (3)
“You’ve truly been through a lot. I never imagined the Demonic Cult would go as far as using the martial arts of the Blood Cult……. The Green Forest is only listed as part of the Sado Alliance’s headquarters in name; we operate completely independently under the Green Forest King’s guidance, so I had no idea about those details.”
Sam-sik toyed with his beard and brought the wine cup to his mouth. I opened my mouth to address him.
“It was a matter that couldn't be delayed. Because of that, I had to frantically chase their traces every day, and in the end, I couldn't make time to stop by the Beggars’ Sect. I’m truly sorry.”
Sam-sik waved his hand at my apology.
“Not at all. Hearing the story, it’s only natural. I would have done the same. I heard from the Green Forest King that the movements of those Demonic Cult bastards were unusual…… but they were drawing a much larger picture than I thought.”
Deep in thought, Sam-sik let out a heavy sigh and held out the wine bottle toward me.
“This is embarrassing. I resented you because I thought I was the only one rolling around on the mountain like crazy…… while you were actually risking your life to stop the Demonic Cult bastards.”
─ TRICKLE TRICKLE
Sam-sik, who filled my wine cup, shook the last bit of wine into his mouth and stood up. Walking to the entrance of the tent, he returned with meat received from a bandit waiting outside.
“It’s a wild boar caught yesterday, and the taste is quite good. You’ve suffered a lot in many ways. You’ll have a lot to exert your strength for even after going to the Imperial Palace…… so you must eat well.”
With familiar skill, Sam-sik took out a short sword, carved the meat, and placed a large chunk in front of me.
I took the golden-brown, steaming meat, cut it into small pieces, pushed half toward Pan Bing-yeong, and then split the remaining half to push toward Sam-sik.
“Thank you for understanding. This matter is an important task where there absolutely must be no failure. If we fail to cut the connection between the Blood Cult and the Imperial Palace this time, there will be no chance forever.”
‘Hmm……? We?’
Sam-sik momentarily flinched at my words. After stealing a glance at Pan Bing-yeong and me as we began to eat the meat, Sam-sik rubbed his goosebump-covered arms.
‘He said "we." He must be talking about Miss Pan, right? Yeah. That must be it. I’ve worked like crazy to finally establish myself, so surely he’s not trying to drag me into this situation.’
Glancing at me repeatedly, Sam-sik chewed his food, swallowed his saliva, and cleared his throat.
“Ahem.”
Sam-sik, who slowly walked to one end of the tent, opened a box in the corner, gathered several items, and returned to his seat.
“However, in a situation where you have to do such an urgent and important task, why did you bother to stop by such a remote place? You could have said hello next time. I wonder if I’m unnecessarily holding up busy people.”
Placing a bundle of copper coins, a large bunch of beef jerky, and several wine bottles down, Sam-sik pushed the items toward me with a benevolent smile.
“This is high-quality jerky made from carefully selected fatty parts, the fortress’s emergency funds, and the famous wine of Hubei. These are things I’ve saved and gathered carefully…… but since Young Brother is doing such a great thing, I should lend a hand in this way at least.”
Staring at the items Sam-sik had pushed forward, I raised my head and smiled at him.
“Thank you. I knew you would help willingly. Then, since there isn't much time, can we leave immediately this afternoon?”
Sam-sik, who had been wearing an awkward smile, suddenly stopped his hand.
“Leave? What does that……”
“You have to go with us. To the Imperial Court.”
Sam-sik failed to control his expression and quickly turned his head to the side.
‘What kind of nonsense is this? Those Imperial Court bastards are the type to chop off three generations of heads if even one thing doesn't please them. And you're including me in the trip there?’
Cold sweat trickled down his back.
The ominous feeling he had felt so desperately when he was thrown alone before the Green Forest King at the Moyong Family filled Sam-sik’s entire body.
“Aha. What are you talking about now? Everyone has their own path. Yongho Fortress is finally starting to settle in little by little, so me stabilizing and growing the fortress here is the most efficient way to prepare for the war with the Demonic Cult……”
“I’m sorry, but there’s no time for that. We have to cut the link between the Imperial Court and the Demonic Cult right now.”
I answered firmly before Sam-sik could even finish his words.
“Th-that's something you can handle as brilliantly as you have so far, Young Brother. I have the task the Green Forest King entrusted to me, and it seems I’m not the right person for this job anyway……”
Sam-sik’s voice trailed off as he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“I already told the new Alliance Leader before leaving. He said he would talk to the Green Forest King as well, so you don't have to worry about this place anymore.”
At my words, Sam-sik turned his head in shock.
“No, what does that mean? You already told the Green Forest King? How could you do this without a single word of consultation with me……!”
“Revenge against the Demonic Cult. You haven't forgotten, have you?”
Looking into my calm eyes, Sam-sik suppressed the harsh words that had risen to his chin.
“……Of course not. My desire to give those Demonic Cult bastards a proper blow hasn't changed at all. It’s just that the thing I can do to be more helpful efficiently is growing this fortress……”
─ SLAP!
Pan Bing-yeong, who slapped Sam-sik’s arm, opened her mouth.
“Hero Jang. Young Hero Jaun has a plan and a reason for asking you to go. We climbed up this rough mountain path because he said your strength was absolutely necessary. Are you going to act like a small-minded coward?”
At those words, Sam-sik looked between Pan Bing-yeong and me with an incredulous expression.
“Ha. Small-minded? Even if you brought the Abbot of the Shaolin Temple and sat him here, he would shake his head at this!”
Sam-sik let out a loud snort.
“Last time, you suddenly sent me off to the Green Forest King, and this time, you barge in without notice and tell me to go to the Imperial Court together? Does this make any sense?”
From what he heard of the things I had gone through, this was a matter he could not possibly handle. Thanks to that, he had been thinking for the first time that joining the Green Forest was a relief, but suddenly, he was told to go to the Imperial Court.
Sam-sik shook his head with a determined expression.
“I really don't think I can do this. How can you be so reckless!”
“Then, shall we just hand over the Central Plains to the Demonic Cult?”
Sam-sik bit his lip hard at my words.
“That’s not it. But……!”
“This task is something only martial artists whose faces are not known to the Imperial Court can do. Even if Miss Pan can hide her face with a veil because she’s a woman, others cannot. Among the martial artists whose faces are not yet properly known in the Jianghu, only a true man and a strong warrior can do this.”
“Something only a true man and a strong warrior can do…….”
At those words, the corners of Sam-sik’s mouth twitched slightly.
“Ahem. Now I see why Young Brother came looking for me. If you’re looking for a true man, it’s this body. However, even if that’s the case, going to the Imperial Court without proper preparation would be nothing more than a suicidal act.”
“That’s why I’ve already made a request to Miss Eun-wol. Brother, do you remember what Miss Eun-wol said during the merchant journey last time?”
“What…… ah! She said one of her grandfathers was in the Imperial Court.”
“That’s right. I contacted her in advance, so she will be preparing in Beijing. So you don't have much to worry about. We will be together, and the lady’s grandfather in the Imperial Court will also help us.”
“Ahem…….”
Sam-sik, whose heart wavered, scratched his head and kicked the ground.
“You said you wanted to leave a deep mark on the Murim. Are you really going to throw away the chance to participate in such a momentous task as purifying the Imperial Court contaminated by the Blood Cult?”
At my final words, Sam-sik’s wavering heart tipped completely to one side.
“Damn it…….”
Letting out a deep sigh, Sam-sik grabbed a handful of the wild boar meat on the table, stuffed it into his mouth, and snatched the jerky to put it in his robe.
“If that's the case, I’m taking all of this back. Since I’m the one who’s going to suffer, I should put it in my body. Fine, what do I need to do? Let me hear the story first.”
I flashed a wide smile at Sam-sik’s words.
***
“Heh…… it seems three times larger than I thought.”
“It really is huge.”
The three of us, standing before the city gate of Beijing, tilted our heads back as far as possible to look up.
Having traveled down the mountain all day, the state of the three of us was a mess. At least Pan Bing-yeong hid her face with a veil, but on the faces of Sam-sik and me, traces of grime were left here and there. Furthermore, every time we dusted off our clothes, a cloud of dust rose.
Giggling at each other’s appearance, the two of us wiped our faces roughly with our sleeves.
“Let’s head in for now. Miss Eun-wol said she rented a manor inside the city, so let’s go there and rest.”
“Hmph. She’s trying so hard to get involved with Young Hero Jaun. She must be busy with merchant business, so why did she come to Beijing herself?”
When Pan Bing-yeong let out a snort, the veil covering her face fluttered.
As I chuckled and entered the city, Sam-sik followed behind, and finally, Pan Bing-yeong passed through the city gate while grumbling.
As soon as we entered the city, a massive marketplace unfolded before our eyes.
“Wow…… Beijing is truly different. The market in Uichang is quite large, but this feels dozens of times larger.”
“Tsk tsk. What have you two been doing with your lives, never even having been to Beijing?”
I turned my head toward Sam-sik in surprise at his words.
“Huh? Have you been here often, Brother?”
“Of course. Beijing is the only place where you can trade proper leather. I would skin the animals I met in the mountains and come down once every three months.”
Pan Bing-yeong tapped the arm of the boasting Sam-sik.
“Don't just talk; lead the way and guide us. They said the manor Miss Eun-wol got is right next to the Fabric Store Street.”
“Ahem. The only places I’ve been in Beijing are the inn and the leather workshop…… but judging by the atmosphere, it should be around there.”
“You are accurate. That direction is correct.”
A clear voice was heard from behind the group. Simultaneously turning our heads back, the group discovered someone and froze on the spot.
Red high-quality silk clothes falling from head to toe.
A bundle of jewels reminiscent of white flowers pinned to the side of her hair.
Jade rings and gold rings worn on every other finger.
And fair skin that made all of those things shine even more.
The woman standing there in such a dazzlingly splendid appearance was indeed Moyong Eun-wol.
“……It’s been a long time. Un-a.”
Eun-wol took a step toward me, and the fresh scent wafting from the powder on her face and her scent pouch tickled my nose.
“U-uh…… it has been a long time.”
I, who had been buried in the Murim full of blood and sweat, had never seen anyone dressed up so properly, so I was quite flustered.
As I stood there unable to regain my senses, Sam-sik stepped in and offered a greeting to Eun-wol.
“Wow……. Are you truly Miss Eun-wol? It hasn't been that long, but you’ve quickly become a lady. I knew you were a beauty to begin with, but seeing you dressed up like this, I really wouldn't have recognized you.”
“It is a pleasure to see you, Hero Jang. Have you been well? Thanks to you, our merchant group is receiving much help.”
“Ahem! Well, we’re helping each other. We’re also living a plentiful life in the mountains without going hungry thanks to the passage tax the merchant group provides, so it’s something to be thankful for.”
Sam-sik nudged my side while answering Eun-wol. Only then did I regain my senses and speak.
“Is there…… some event today?”
Sam-sik looked at me and let out a sigh as if frustrated.
However, as if that was actually more like me, Eun-wol smiled brightly and took another step toward me.
“……For me, it’s a day more important than any event. The day I can see you this closely.”
Hearing Eun-wol whisper to me, Pan Bing-yeong turned her head.
“……Stop it, will you? Even if you act like that now, you’re only grasping at shadows.”
As Eun-wol turned her body, her ornaments collided and made a beautiful sound.
“It’s been a long time, Unni. Have you been well?”
“I’ve been very well. Traveling in the same boat as Young Hero Jaun and even staying in the same room.”
At Pan Bing-yeong’s words, a spark flashed in Eun-wol’s eyes.