Chapter 105 - The Hellish Great Journey (4)

"You look... very tired."

At Wang Geumsan's words, Jin Taesan was startled and rubbed his own face. Did he look that bad?

"You look exactly like a giant panda."

"..."

Come to think of it, the dark circles under his eyes were getting darker.

He was happy that the merchant group was gradually getting organized and that more money was coming in, but thinking about how much he had to grind himself down for it inevitably drained his energy.

"But... Lord of Wangga Manor, you don't look so well either..."

Wang Geumsan's wretched state also entered Jin Taesan's eyes. Unlike him, Wang Geumsan was wearing silk clothes and a golden sash, but he was skin and bones.

"... Indeed. We are both suffering quite a bit because of our exceptional children."

A bitter smile hovered around Wang Geumsan's mouth.

Was Wang Soso's business talent said to be that outstanding?

According to the rumors he heard, the influence of Wangga Manor in Shaanxi, Gansu, and Qinghai had doubled.

They said that a new trading route with the Western Regions had recently opened, greatly increasing the amount of tribute goods supplied to Beijing, to the point where they could build buildings out of gold.

"Did I perhaps interrupt you?"

At Wang Geumsan's words, Jin Taesan tilted his head.

Wang Geumsan was someone that anyone involved in Murim or officialdom wanted to meet. For such a person to speak with a tone that seemed to be walking on eggshells around the External Hall Leader of a mere small sect was quite incomprehensible.

"Why would you say such a thing? I was actually planning to ask for your advice, Lord of Wangga Manor, but I kept putting it off thinking you would be busy."

"Haha, they say great minds think alike, so that's a relief."

"Yes, whenever you need something, don't travel this long distance and just call for me. I will personally visit you anytime."

He was someone who didn't brag even once despite donating a massive amount of funds.

They had received a lot of help in developing the iron ore mine, and the merchant group matters went without saying.

Hadn't he even thrown a modest feast recently to celebrate the Taiyi Sect disciples passing the Third Gate? From Jin Taesan's perspective, he was someone worthy of welcoming barefoot.

"It's nothing else, I came because of Soso."

"Hmm? Does she have any difficulties at the Taiyi Sect?"

As far as he knew, Wang Soso already had a firm grip on the kids of the Taiyi Sect. He wasn't sure how she managed it, but unlike with Gye Cheolyeong, there wasn't a single kid who didn't follow Wang Soso.

Furthermore, Zhuge Cheongi, who had recently entered as a lay disciple, and Kang Yuseong, who had returned as an exchange disciple from the Moyong Noble Clan, were serving Wang Soso as if she were a Hall Leader.

"No. It's not that. It's just that there are traces of her having learned martial arts in her movements."

"Ah...!"

"Do you know anything about it?"

"It seems it is probably because of the Taiyi True Scripture."

"If it is the Taiyi True Scripture... are you talking about the true inheritance of the Taiyi Sword Emperor that was recently found?"

"Yes."

"Is she going to be okay?"

Because of her illness, Wang Soso couldn't learn any martial arts other than the Taiyi mental cultivation method. If her inner qi became turbid, the nature of her Extreme Yang Body would resurface.

"You don't need to worry. You can consider the Taiyi True Scripture to be an advanced version of the Taiyi mental cultivation method. Furthermore, as the study is profound, the inner qi in her Dantian will become even purer."

"Haha..."

Wang Geumsan's expression was complicated.

It was an expression of not knowing whether to be happy about this or not.

Jin Taesan continued with an apologetic expression.

"I am sorry. I should have told you in advance so as not to cause worry, but no one within the sect managed to pay attention to it."

"No, it's fine. Doesn't it mean there are no problems to the point you forgot to mention it? But, is there a footwork among those martial arts that leaves behind afterimages?"

"If it's... afterimages...?"

"When the child moved, her footprints were left behind."

It sounded like he was talking about the Taiyi Eighty Thousand Divine Steps, but to think her attainment had already risen to the point of leaving afterimages?

"Huh..."

"W-Why are you reacting like that?"

At Wang Geumsan's surprised appearance, Jin Taesan quickly hid his expression.

"It seems business talent wasn't the only thing your daughter possessed."

It was said that only Kang Chaeseok, the Hall Leader of Taegwang Hall, left afterimages when using the Taiyi Eighty Thousand Divine Steps. Considering that afterimages still didn't remain when the Sect Leader Hong Mungi used the footwork, one had to see Wang Soso's attainment as being higher than Hong Mungi's.

"Congratulations. You truly have an amazing daughter."

"Haha... this is quite..."

Wang Geumsan twitched his lips, unable to hide his smile.

"It must all be thanks to the excellent teachings of the Taiyi Sect."

Jin Taesan forcefully swallowed the words, 'Actually, we haven't even fully learned it ourselves yet.'

"Why did you wish to see me, External Hall Leader?"

"Ah! Right. I've had many concerns about how to organize the caravan while properly operating the merchant group. To handle the escorts ourselves, the Taiyi Sect is currently closed off."

"Hmm... For now, how about commissioning an escort agency, but placing one or two warriors and raising a flag to announce that it is the Taiyi Sect's caravan?"

"I also think positively about announcing that it's the Taiyi Sect later on, but wouldn't it be a bit early to raise the flag now?"

Wang Geumsan had an expression that asked what nonsense he was talking about.

"Why would there be a need to wait to announce it later? If you raise the flag now, the escort agency will even make the escort fees cheaper, you know?"

"Pardon?"

What on earth was the Taiyi Sect for them to lower the escort fees?

"Didn't Jin Sowoon pass the Third Gate with his junior brothers?"

"T-That's true."

Actually, for Jin Taesan, it was a story whose authenticity he was curious about even after hearing the rumors. When he sent them off to take the exam, they had shown this and that resolve, but he had just thought of it as mere words.

Honestly, did it make any sense for disciples of a miserable sect like the Taiyi Sect to take the Murim Academy's standard exam without their sect's support?

Anyway, whatever happened, they passed the Third Gate, and he heard the news that only the Pandemonium Great Journey was left.

But what did passing the Third Gate have to do with reducing escort fees?

"Could it be... you didn't know?"

"About what?"

"That... everywhere your son goes, the corpses of his obstructors pile up like mountains and blood flows like a sea, so isn't he called the Mountain of Corpses and Sea of Blood Black Flame Dragon..."

"..."

Mountain of corpses and sea of blood? The Moouuntain of coorpses and seeaa of bloood Black Flame Dragon?

It was over.

Wouldn't anyone see this as a blood-crazed member of the Underworld? Just as they were barely growing the sect and trying to get their legitimacy recognized, they were about to have their roots doubted before they even started.

"Ah, of course, the gossips who like to talk have embellished it a bit, but still, considering that Jianghu figures fear the Taiyi Sect because the Wudang Sect was half-destroyed, I think raising the flag is a sufficiently good idea."

"..."

Wang Geumsan was puzzled as to why Jin Taesan's expression was not good.

Honestly, for a Murim sect, wasn't it better to instill fear than to look like easy pickings to others?

Or perhaps he felt burdened that he was making his son Jin Sowoon shoulder the weight of the Taiyi Sect alone? Indeed, come to think of it, Jin Sowoon had done way too much for the Taiyi Sect up until now.

"After all, didn't the Taiyi Sect only have four participants? Thanks to that, The Geum-eun-dong Brothers even got the alias Black Blood Three Dragons."

"Ugh! Keuheuk!"

He had spoken to smooth things over, but Jin Taesan's face gradually turned pale.

He looked like he would faint if Wang Geumsan said anything more.

Wang Geumsan thought something was wrong and quickly changed the subject.

"A-Anyway, it's a good thing that escort fees are saved, isn't it?"

"..."

Jin Taesan's gaze, which had been full of goodwill, somehow seemed to turn cold.

'I won't even be able to bring up what I wanted to say.'

Wang Geumsan had come all the way to Hefei in person to casually ask what he thought about taking in a live-in son-in-law, but he was ending up having to return without even recovering his initial investment.

* * *

"You must be Great Warrior Black Flame Dragon, the Eldest Senior Brother of the Black Blood Three Dragons. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"..."

Contrary to his friendly smile, the alias that felt full of malice made me tilt my head.

Black Blood Three Dragons?

What kind of alias is this horrifying?

If you just replaced the character 'Dragon' with 'Dog', it would automatically bring to mind blood-crazed Underworld madmen.

"Ah, it's the alias used to call The Geum-eun-dong Brothers."

Namgung Seonhwa's quietly relayed words naturally made me frown.

'Black Blood' for kids who haven't even reached adulthood yet, are they crazy? What bastard was deliberately attaching such malicious aliases only to the Taiyi Sect disciples?

"Hahaha, it seems you were so devoted to the exam, Great Warrior Black Flame Dragon, that you were insensitive to the world's gossip."

"Hahahaha."

"Hohohoho."

Following the laughter of the handsome young man wearing a golden robe, the seven men and women of various attire sharing the table with him smiled together.

The Twelve Peak Castles.

Among them, disciples from eight sects came looking for me at the Cangqiong Merchant Group.

"..."

I stared blankly at their smiling faces that had no idea what I was feeling inside, and they soon regained their composure.

"My introduction is late..."

"Cheol Sunjik of the Jukhyeon Hall."

"!"

As I casually spat it out, a strange light glimmered in their eyes.

My finger pointed starting from the giant behind him in order.

"Nam Hwaseong of the Samwon Sect, Ha Yeongyeong of the Cheongeom Hall, Sang Muhon of the Seocheon Sect..."

When I named all eight of them like that, everyone in the room couldn't hide their surprise.

"Huh... how do you know all of us..."

Even if they were the elite disciples of the Twelve Peak Castles, they hadn't been active in Jianghu all this time, so they couldn't help but be surprised that someone knew of their existence.

"So you were together since this time..."

"Pardon?"

"It's nothing. For what reason did you ask to meet me?"

Not only Cheol Sunjik, but Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran also had expressions like they were dying of curiosity. Of course, even if I told them, they wouldn't believe it anyway.

"Ahem... anyway, besides these, the disciples of the Bipung Sect and Gwigung Sect will also join us, and we plan to go to Wuhan."

"I see."

If ten elite disciples of the Twelve Peak Castles gathered, the number of people moving would be at least eight hundred.

It was a scale that no sane person would even think of messing with.

From our position, where our forces were on the verge of being half-destroyed, it was an extremely enviable situation.

They practically passed the exam already, so if they came just to socialize, it would be fine to smash their heads, right?

Cheol Sunjik looked at Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran and spoke.

"I apologize to you two ladies, but could we speak amongst ourselves for a bit?"

Somehow, my anxious prediction seemed to be hitting the mark.

Because if they came to discuss the exam, there would be no reason to send Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran out.

"... Yes? Ah..."

"..."

Just as Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran were about to get up with dumbfounded expressions, I spoke.

"These two have been with me, and they are people who will continue to be with me. Unless it's personal chatter, if it's related to the exam, there is no reason they can't listen with me."

"..."

"Young Master Jin, we are fine."

"We will step outside."

Unlike usual, I ignored their opinions. Because right now, that was the right thing to do.

"Please sit. You probably came to talk about the exam."

Otherwise, I'll really smash his head.

I hadn't even slept ten hours in a week.

"... Why do you think the Murim Alliance's Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Noble Clans line everyone up into the system called the 108 Peaks?"

The story he was telling was something that, even if Seong Moran didn't care, Namgung Seonhwa would find uncomfortable.

"To further solidify the Murim Alliance's system."

I spoke honestly.

"As expected, you are an extraordinary person."

"Isn't it something everyone knows? That is also the reason the Twelve Peak Castles was formed."

The Twelve Peak Castles was a council formed by twelve sects of the 108 Peaks rebelling against the Murim political climate that revolved around the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Noble Clans as the core.

Since they completely cut ties with the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Noble Clans, one might think they were just empty shells, but as a combination of those who held quite a bit of influence in Jianghu, even the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Noble Clans couldn't easily ignore them.

"Knowing it and being able to spit it out of your mouth are strictly different, aren't they?"

"..."

"As you said, Great Warrior Jin, not only the 108 Peaks system, but the Murim Academy's exam and the Murim Alliance's structural system were all made for only a select few. And the rest of us must line up before them and eat the scraps of food they leave behind."

Cheol Sunjik glanced at Namgung Seonhwa occasionally during his story.

It was clearly a sarcastic jab at how she was a descendant of the Five Great Noble Clans yet in danger of failing the exam.

"..."

Namgung Seonhwa's face flushed red, and Cheol Sunjik soon looked at me again as if he had no interest.

"We are moving to break down that obsolete system. It is to improve the evils the Murim Alliance has committed in Jianghu up until now and construct a constructive new Murim."

"I see."

Because some of his words were what I had always thought as well, I nodded. At that, Cheol Sunjik became even more excited and began to talk.

"In that sense, what the Taiyi Sect has achieved in a short time is enough to surprise us. Of course, I am well aware that the process was very difficult."

Cheol Sunjik nodded to himself and continued his words.

"So now, we have come looking for you because we want to offer a little help. Please accompany us all the way to the Murim Academy."

"!!"

"!!!"

The elites of the Twelve Peak Castles and the eight hundred warriors they led. No matter how much anyone coveted the Taiyi Sect's admission tokens, no one would easily approach them. In that case, from our position, it was a chance to comfortably finish the exam for the first time.

However, instead of a positive answer, I stared at him piercingly.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"There's naturally a condition to a sweet proposal, right?"

The Cheol Sunjik I knew was not someone who showed generosity or moved out of compassion just because their political views aligned.

"Haha, it seems the alias Black Flame Dragon wasn't a superficial one. It's truly a joy to meet someone with whom my thoughts align so perfectly."

Did he know? That in my past life, because I thwarted the strategies he put out time and time again, he hated me to the bone.

"Of course there is, but it's nothing major. It's just that you part ways with those you are currently with and go your separate ways."

"..."

"..."

Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran's expressions stiffened rigidly.

"They weren't people who were meant to be with the Taiyi Sect in the first place. Furthermore, due to their respective circumstances, they aren't even being of much help to the Taiyi Sect. Isn't that right?"

He must be pointing out how the other factions of the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Noble Clans were moving after forming large forces.

For the Namgung Clan, Namgung Seonhwa even had a hard time gathering a hundred warriors due to the branch line gaining power, and for the Iron Sword Sect, there was no one to compete from within the sect as Seong Mohyeon got locked in the Golden Jade Prison.

"From what I've heard, Great Warrior Jin has an overwhelmingly large number of Admission Tokens compared to other examinees. Great Warrior Jin will enter the Murim Academy as the top student and show the world that the prestige of the 108 Peaks is second to none against the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Noble Clans."

Cheol Sunjik's eyes were sparkling as if he were watching the Academy's entrance ceremony all by himself.

-Young Master Jin.

Just then, Namgung Seonhwa's sound transmission was heard.

-... We are fine. For now, I think it's right for you to go with them.

Seong Moran also gave a small nod.

Cheol Sunjik saw Namgung Seonhwa's lips moving but continued his words, pretending not to know.

"We plan to depart when the Bipung Sect and Gwigung Sect arrive in Zhengzhou in two days. How about moving your lodgings first? We can also discuss the details."

I turned my head again and looked at Cheol Sunjik.

"I will decline."

"Then for now... Pardon?"

"!!!"

"Young Master Jin!"

"Young Master!"

Cheol Sunjik's face stiffened rigidly. Seeing the face that acted so smug in my past life change like that made me feel refreshed.

"I told you I'm declining. Is there a problem?"

"But... no, why?"

"Do I have to reveal the reason for my refusal as well?"

It wasn't something to be so curious about, because to me, it was obvious what they were going to do from now on.

There were sects that did not properly participate in the exam due to the fundamental differences in their martial arts.

The representative sects were the Bipung Sect and Gwigung Sect mentioned just now.

Those whose main martial arts were flying sword techniques and archery, respectively, didn't properly take the Murim Academy's standard exam from the start, knowing it would be disadvantageous to them.

They would just wander around idling away their time until the Third Gate exam was over, and then bet everything on the final Pandemonium Great Journey.

Probably after joining them, they would spout all sorts of sweet talk and suggest dividing up the Admission Tokens. As if doing so was the best direction.

As for why I know this so well...

'Because that was what they did when they pushed the Minor Orthodox Unit to the front lines.'

Creating a political atmosphere to drive people into a corner was Cheol Sunjik's best specialty. A mere four out of eight hundred people? Even if I didn't, The Geum-eun-dong Brothers might take out their Admission Tokens from their clothes and hand them over on their own.

Anyway, since I coincidentally met Cheol Sunjik, with whom I had an ill-fated relationship in my past life, I had no intention of just letting him go. At the very least, I wanted to make him feel unpleasant.

What reason should I give to screw over Cheol Sunjik?

Something as irrational and nonsensical as possible...

"Wouldn't it be better to travel with these two ladies than to travel with gloomy folks like you?"

"..."

As if he couldn't believe it, the corners of Cheol Sunjik's eyes trembled for the first time.

"Are you... being serious?"

"Yes. You see, I consider aesthetic things to be very important. Could these ladies come along too?"

"..."

"I guess not, right?"

Cheol Sunjik kept his mouth shut without saying a word.

It was a shame I couldn't smack him in the face, but seeing his expression looking like he got beaten up with just a few words, I should be satisfied with this for today.