Chapter 89 - Time to Hunt (3)

"Prepare for battle!"

SHING-SHING-SHING-SHING!

The hundred and fifty warriors on horseback drew their gleaming swords, looking ready to crush the enemy at a moment's notice.

The enemy far outnumbered them, but the horses they rode and the crests of the Namgung Clan and Iron Sword Sect they wore overwhelmed the enemy's momentum.

"Fortunately, we aren't late."

Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa approached my side.

I still couldn't hide my surprise at their appearance.

"Were you in Suzhou?"

"Of course not."

Seong Moran looked at Namgung Seonhwa and smiled meaningfully.

"We stayed up for three nights crossing over from Anhui Province. Why on earth wasn't Young Master Jin in Anhui Province, but all the way in Zhejiang Province instead?"

When I tilted my head at words I couldn't comprehend, Namgung Seonhwa merely nodded.

"Let's talk a little later."

"..."

Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran straightened their postures and looked at Song Baek.

"It's been a while, Song Baek."

Song Baek's expression was a subtle one, unable to frown or smile.

"I didn't expect to see the two of you in a place like this."

Namgung Seonhwa looked around without even glancing at Song Baek.

"I heard the Hwayang Escort Agency supports many martial arts halls, so I suppose it was all for this?"

"... An escort agency never stops its support in order to secure excellent escort warriors."

"None of the people here look like they are taking the Murim Academy standard exam. Is that my misunderstanding?"

"..."

"Are there any of you who have secured a First Gate admission token or Second Gate admission token right now?"

No one stepped forward.

Song Baek quickly continued.

"They are currently taking the exam because they have yet to acquire an admission token."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. That's right."

Namgung Seonhwa nodded as if she saw right through him.

"Anyway, are you planning to continue?"

"I was robbed of my admission tokens by him."

At Song Baek's words, Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran looked at me with dumbfounded expressions. It felt like they were saying, *'Even in the midst of all that?' *

Letting out a sigh, Namgung Seonhwa continued.

"... Didn't the others come to steal Young Master Jin's admission tokens too?"

"..."

"From now on, you'll have to face our Namgung Clan and Iron Sword Sect as well."

Song Baek looked alternately between me, Namgung Seonhwa, and Seong Moran.

"Why is the Namgung Clan taking the Taiyi Sect's side? Furthermore, aren't the Iron Sword Sect and the Taiyi Sect sworn enemies?"

"That is none of Young Master Song's business."

"No matter how powerful the Namgung Clan is, you cannot carelessly interfere in Jianghu's affairs."

"What if our Namgung Clan and Iron Sword Sect are in a cooperative relationship with the Taiyi Sect?"

"..."

"Then we have the right to interfere, don't we?"

"Are you truly intending to do this?"

Song Baek's eyes sharpened.

His gaze was dry, as if even the slightest remaining goodwill had completely fallen away.

"Even for the Namgung Clan and Iron Sword Sect, you cannot ignore the Hwayang Escort Agency in Suzhou."

Song Baek raised his head and looked atop the wall.

Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran's gazes followed him.

Up there, the magistrate was visible, his expression clearly flustered.

"... That's true. One cannot ignore the Hwayang Escort Agency in Suzhou. But do you think you can ignore the Namgung Clan in Jianghu?"

"..."

"If the magistrate's term ends and he is transferred elsewhere, wouldn't the influence of the Namgung Clan reach there more than the power of the Hwayang Escort Agency?"

"!"

If the Hwayang Escort Agency was the king of Suzhou, the Namgung Clan possessed the power to dominate the entirety of Jianghu.

Atop the wall, the magistrate's face turned pale white.

Unless he intended to be buried in Suzhou, he would eventually finish his term and be assigned elsewhere.

"If you take revenge later for what happened during the Murim Academy exam, that is also considered cheating."

"I never said anything about taking revenge."

"..."

Song Baek twitched his lips.

His gaze kept darting back and forth toward the magistrate on the wall.

While he could easily crush the Taiyi Sect using the power of the officials, the Namgung Clan and the Iron Sword Sect were not opponents a mere magistrate could do anything about.

Perhaps having come to an understanding, the magistrate waved his hand.

At that, the archers began lowering their bowstrings one by one.

Then, the magistrate disappeared from sight, and the constables quickly began ushering away the people lined up at the gate entrance.

"It seems to be over."

The moment the magistrate sent the signal that he would not interfere in this battle.

The scales tipped in our favor once again.

"What will you do? Will you leave like this? Or will you continue?"

Namgung Seonhwa suppressed the opponent with an overwhelming, imposing presence she had never shown before.

"... If he returns the admission tokens, I will consider it."

Song Baek's voice trailed off. Namgung Seonhwa looked at me.

I stated the obvious.

"I'm not giving them back. I have no intention of returning them. Go back!"

* * *

In the end, Song Baek left empty-handed.

Demanding the return of what he had lost in the middle of the standard exam was no different from a child's whining in the first place, so Song Baek could no longer act obstinate.

"Eldest Senior Brother..."

Eunho whispered quietly.

"Will we be moving together with them from now on?"

"Well..."

Thinking my voice was a bit too loud, Eunho gave me a look and lowered his voice even more.

"Since things turned out this way, shouldn't we travel together? There's a limit to us taking turns standing watch by ourselves."

What we needed right now was sufficient rest and nourishment.

Having not slept properly for a single day since the exam began, the kids' fatigue had already pushed them to the brink of madness.

No, judging by how they acted at the guest house, they might actually be a little out of their minds.

"But where are we going right now?"

"By the way, why have you been lowering your voice since earlier?"

Eunho sneaked glances at Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran.

"It's just... we shouldn't unnecessarily offend them... by talking too loudly."

"Haa..."

I was wondering why even Geumpyo and Dongryong had become unusually quiet; it turned out they were incredibly tense being in front of Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran.

"Can't you treat your Eldest Senior Brother the same way?"

"What's the difference?"

"... Never mind. Forget it."

We were immediately escorted by the warriors of the Namgung Clan and the Iron Sword Sect toward the Cangqiong Merchant Group branch located in Suzhou.

"First, let's have a meal... Actually, it might be better if you wash up before we eat."

Namgung Seonhwa, who had been about to suggest a meal, offered a bath instead upon seeing our condition, and The Geum-eun-dong Brothers were guided to the bathhouse with flushed faces.

"Whoa!"

"How is a bathhouse as big as a pavilion in the Taiyi Sect?"

"Amazing."

In the center of the bathhouse, which appeared to be a communal washing area for escort warriors, sat a massive wooden tub, and hot water poured endlessly from a waterway connected to the ceiling.

"Kyao!"

"Ooh... that's hot."

Immersing themselves in the bath, the three Geum-eun-dong brothers wore expressions as if they had tasted paradise.

"I'd have no other wishes if I could just rest like this for three days."

"Really. This is so good."

"Ugh..."

As The Geum-eun-dong Brothers submerged themselves in the bath, an immense amount of dried blood scabs and dirt washed off their bodies.

But soon, due to the hot water falling from the ceiling, the tub filled up, and the contaminated water quickly turned clear again.

Enjoying the bath to his heart's content, Geumpyo asked me a question as if he had remembered something.

"Senior Brother, then sects with branches nationwide must be safe from ambushes during the exam."

"Probably."

"Wow..."

We were taking the same exam, but disciples of the Taiyi Sect were constantly exposed to ambushes the moment they left Anhui Province... no, the moment they left Hefei.

Conversely, sects with direct or indirect branches nationwide, like the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Noble Clans, could utilize lodgings where they didn't have to worry about attacks.

"It's a truly absurd exam."

An exam that inherently made it impossible for the weak, as well as the moderately strong, to pass easily.

That was why people called the Murim Academy's standard exam a hellish exam.

Unlike the grumbling Geumpyo, Eunho, who had been deep in thought, stared at me and asked.

"Eldest Senior Brother, how did you become acquainted with Lady Namgung and Lady Seong?"

"Various things happened. Why do you ask?"

"Because it doesn't make sense. Aren't they taking the exam too? But I don't understand why they would 'deliberately' cross provincial borders just to save you, Eldest Senior Brother."

SPLASH!

I slapped the bathwater, splashing a huge handful of it onto Eunho's face.

"Ugh! Eldest Senior Brother! Don't you see this dirty water?"

"Even so, why add the word 'deliberately'?"

"From their perspective, doesn't it seem like that?"

In truth, I was wondering about that as well.

I had heard from Haomun that they were attacked early on and were hiding from their enemies. I couldn't easily understand why they came to save me when they should have been busy trying to pass the exam.

"Ah!"

Geumpyo, who had been contemplating along with Eunho's words, snapped his fingers.

"That's it. It makes sense if it's that."

"Huh?"

Eunho gave a deeply suspicious glare at the fact that Geumpyo had figured out something he himself couldn't comprehend.

"Love."

"..."

For the first time, only the sound of water echoed in the bathhouse.

Eunho abruptly stood up and shoved Geumpyo's head underwater.

GLUB-GLUB-GLUB.

"Keuh! W-Why are you doing this!"

"You should say things that actually make sense. Love? Did you suffer qi deviation during combat or what?"

I was of the same mind as Eunho.

GLUB-GLUB.

"Ugh! Don't. Water, glub. I'm drinking water!"

"Is Eldest Senior Brother even a worthy match for Lady Namgung Seonhwa, the daughter of the great Namgung Clan? He has no background, he doesn't look like much, and his personality is weird too. The only thing he has is a rat's tail of a memory. Why on earth would Lady Namgung Seonhwa harbor affections for Senior Brother?"

"..."

The words that followed from Eunho were strange.

"And Lady Seong Moran? Ha! Just a few months ago, they were growling at each other like sworn enemies! Besides, does Lady Seong Moran's family pale in comparison to the Namgung Clan? Between their beauty and martial arts achievements, do you really think those two consider our Senior Brother as anything more than dirt between their toes?"

"... Eunho."

"Yes? Ah! Eldest Senior Brother, don't worry. I'll make sure to strictly educate Geumpyo *hyung* so he won't spout nonsense in front of the ladies. Please convince them well so they can travel with us."

I spoke to the triumphant Eunho.

"... Do you want to drink all the water in this tub?"

"... Hic."

* * *

"Nice to meet you."

The meal proceeded modestly.

In a small space set aside in the dining hall, only Namgung Seonhwa, Seong Moran, myself, and The Geum-eun-dong Brothers were seated.

"It-It's an honor!"

"I-It's nice to meet you."

"Hellooo..."

Despite the three brothers showing off their spirit while stark naked in the bathhouse, swearing they would never show an intimidated appearance, they now moved as unnaturally as wooden puppets, as if that bravado had never happened.

Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran covered their mouths and chuckled at the sight, finding it cute.

"Hahaha."

"If I knew Young Master Jin's junior brothers were this cute, I would have come to see them sooner."

Geumpyo, whose face was flushed red, kept scratching the back of his head with a silly grin.

Eunho, who had cursed the Iron Sword Sect so much in the past, was now acting as if he was wagging an invisible tail in front of Seong Moran.

Dongryong was hanging his head low, red as a carrot.

It might be difficult for boys this age to appear composed in front of the opposite sex, but they were taking it to extremes.

'Then again, it's Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa.'

Along with Wang Soso, those two were renowned for their beauty even within Anhui Province.

Thinking about it that way, there were also things I still couldn't understand.

There's no way these guys lacked immunity to beautiful women when they saw Wang Soso every day. Was it because of Wang Soso's personality? Or is immunity to someone dressed up versus someone unadorned a different matter entirely?

"Stop that and sit down."

"... Yeeees."

"... Yeees."

"..."

Daring to be disrespectful, Geumpyo and Eunho shot me looks full of complaints before sitting down.

As expected, I should have made them drink more bathwater.

"You must be hungry. Please, eat first."

Thanks to the Cangqiong Merchant Group's consideration, there were a whopping eleven dishes laid out for a table seating only six.

The same guys who had shoveled food into their mouths like starving ghosts at the guest house earlier today were somehow picking at their food with chopsticks, tasting it little by little.

I ignored them and looked at the two women.

"What happened?"

Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran looked at each other and flashed a meaningful smile.

"Are you not glad we came?"

"Of course I am. Thanks to you, we escaped the most critical moment."

If it hadn't been for the two of them, the Hwayang Escort Agency would never have backed down so easily.

"Though, I heard that you two also suffered heavy casualties and were in hiding."

"You heard about that?"

I remembered it clearly because it was incredibly surprising that anyone had dared to touch the groups of the Namgung Clan and the Iron Sword Sect right after the First Gate ended.

"Moran *unnie* suffered the most. All because of me."

The inside story went like this.

By the time the standard exam began, Namgung Taeha and Namgung San had not appeared, so Namgung Seonhwa ultimately had no choice but to take the exam with only twenty warriors.

Fortunately, Seong Moran did not abandon Namgung Seonhwa and stayed by her side to take the exam.

Thanks to Seong Moran's warriors, the two barely managed to pass the First Gate, but they were immediately subjected to attacks.

"And it turned out it was our branch line."

In the end, because they were the Namgung Clan, they could strike the Namgung Clan.

Without even thinking about the Second Gate, they tenaciously pursued Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran, and in the process, the few warriors they had left were inevitably sent back due to injuries.

"But it's a huge relief. Grandfather came out."

Namgung Taeha, having perfected the Cangqiong Unwi Sword Technique, reportedly summoned the entire branch line right away to reorganize the clan.

Right after the First Gate ended, the branch line of the Namgung Clan had relentlessly pursued Namgung Seonhwa in order to block Namgung Taeha.

As soon as Namgung Taeha sorted out the clan, he sent Namgung Seonhwa a spiritual pill along with an additional eighty warriors of the Namgung Clan.

"Just when we thought we could catch our breath, didn't we hear the news that Young Master Jin had become a target of Wudang, Mount Hua, and Mount Cangshan?"

"... Huh?"

"... What?"

"???"

The Geum-eun-dong Brothers reacted as if this was the first time they were hearing this.

Namgung Seonhwa asked me in return.

"You didn't know?"

"I knew. I just didn't think there was a need to deliberately mention it."

"... Crazy..."

"... No, Eldest Senior Brother..."

"..."

Grumbling complaints burst out.

"Would bathwater be good for dessert?"

"..."

Watching The Geum-eun-dong Brothers shut their mouths completely again, Namgung Seonhwa made an expression of utter incomprehension.

I smoothly changed the subject and continued speaking.

"Did you by any chance come after hearing that?"

Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran nodded heavily.

"Of course. We naturally had to come."

"It's the obvious thing to do."

For some reason, I felt sorry.

"I'm worried I've burdened you two unnecessarily. Still, thanks to you, we survived."

"It's only natural. You saved our lives, after all."

"*Unnie*, for me it's twice."

As they giggled together, this time it was The Geum-eun-dong Brothers who looked at the two ladies in confusion.

"Ah... you didn't tell them this story either?"

"... Well, I didn't have time to talk about it. They were probably too busy with their training anyway."

"Still, they should know what kind of person their Senior Brother is."

Saying that, they began to recount the events on the Demonic Spirit Plateau, what happened on the way to the Namgung Clan, and so on.

The Geum-eun-dong brothers, who had been eating, soon forgot their food and absorbed the entire story.

"That's how it happened."

"..."

"Senior Namgung Seonhwa and Senior Seong Moran, you were both on the Demonic Spirit Plateau?"

The Geum-eun-dong Brothers' jaws dropped as the two women nodded.

They seemed to have found out about the Demonic Spirit Plateau incident to some extent when the Underworld sects showered the Taiyi Sect with gifts, but they probably didn't know who was actually in there.

Having sorted things out in their heads, the three brothers, who had been awkwardly putting on airs, shouted in astonishment.

"As expected of Senior Brother! There was a reason for it all!"

"See, *hyung*! I told you there had to be a reason."

"Perhaps, during the rescue at the Demonic Spirit Plateau, affections of... Mmph!"

When Dongryong tried to sprout weird words, Eunho swiftly clamped a hand over his mouth.

Then he abruptly jumped up from his seat.

"We seem to be a bit tired; would it be alright if we went up first?"

"...? Ah, yes. Rest well today, and let's see each other tomorrow."

Once the three Geum-eun-dong brothers left, a servant girl came in carrying tea.

By the time the thick steam from the tea slowly dissipated.

Namgung Seonhwa spoke with a heavy expression.

"You seem more unconcerned than I thought you would be?"

"It's not something that worrying will solve, is it?"

Namgung Seonhwa let out a sigh of disbelief.

Seong Moran continued.

"Wudang, Mount Hua, Mount Cangshan... these three places..."

Then she stared intently at me.

"If they are targeting just you alone, Young Master Jin... I'm sorry to say this, but it's as good as over."

"..."

"You're well aware of what will happen after the Third Gate, right, Young Master Jin?"

A hellish grand journey.

Once you pass the final gate, the true hellish standard exam will probably begin.

There will be so many casualties that it won't even compare to the number of people who died during the First Gate, Second Gate, and Third Gate.

Since there are those who haven't participated in the exams and are just waiting for the Third Gate to end.

Furthermore, three sects among the Nine Sects and One Gang are openly and proudly declaring that they are targeting me.

"I am well aware. Which is why I ask..."

Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran had already each obtained one First Gate admission token and one Second Gate admission token.

At this rate, they would be able to pass the Third Gate and pass the Murim Academy exam.

And flow into the directions of the lives that were previously set for them.

"Are you, perhaps, planning to travel with us?"

Even if they heard of my danger, they could have just offered a single word of worry and concern, forced themselves to ignore it, and gone their own way. Then they would be able to tread the exact future that was meant for them.

However, if they clumsily stepped forward out of unnecessary bravado or a sense of justice, the paths of their lives would be completely overturned.

"If you travel with us, your passing might become a distant hope... No, the odds of failing would be even higher."

"..."

Repaying the favor of saving their lives was something I was truly grateful for, but since I hadn't done it expecting a reward in the first place, I had no intention of forcing them.

Furthermore, I had already received some compensation to overflowing.

I was telling them not to do so if there was any sense of obligation forcing their hearts.

Because the losses they would suffer by acting on hot-blooded impulses were far too great.

"It is enough for me that you two thought of me this much. In fact, I would rather you not join us. If you suffer a great ordeal because of me, I would have no face to show to the Divine Sword or the Iron Sword Sect Leader."

"..."

I quietly swallowed my cooled tea.

If I held the cards known as Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran in my hand, the strategies I could devise would become limitless.

But even so, I had no desire to use them as tools like Yong So-ah or the Murim Alliance.

Because treating them entirely as my people whom I am responsible for, versus using them as tools for my own gain, is a difference as vast as heaven and earth.

To me, they were still people standing on the border between tools and my people.

"Truly..."

Seong Moran, who had been silent for a long time, opened her red lips.

"Those are words befitting Young Master Jin."

"*Unnie*, didn't I say Young Master Jin would speak exactly like this?"

Finding something amusing, the two women made eye contact and nodded.

"We said the exact same thing the moment we heard news of you, Young Master. So, please do not think of this as repaying a debt or a favor."

"That's right. Because from the start, we wanted to be with you, Young Master Jin."

The scales tipped to one side.

At their words, my choice also became firm. Instead of answering, I nodded slowly.

"I look forward to working with you."

"We are the ones who look forward to working with you this time as well."

At Namgung Seonhwa's banter, the tense atmosphere dissipated in an instant.

"But why are Wudang, Mount Hua, and Mount Cangshan specifically targeting you and the Taiyi Sect? I heard there was friction with the disciples of Mount Hua and Mount Cangshan when the Dragon-Phoenix Summit visited the Taiyi Sect. But why Wudang?"

Before she could hear an answer, Seong Moran continued.

"It's because of that bastard Yong So-ah, right? That bastard escaped the Soul-Extinguishing Array all by himself. Because of that, he was cursed at while you were revered, Young Master Jin."

"I can't say that has no influence, but the exact reason is probably because of the admission tokens I possess."

Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran tilted their heads at the same time. Their appearances were so different, yet their actions were just like sisters or twins.

"You didn't know?"

"Know what?? Don't you just have one admission token each?"

"...?"

"I have nine First Gate admission tokens and six Second Gate admission tokens. Ah! We stole one of each from Song Baek earlier, so that makes ten and seven, respectively."

"What?"

"What?!"

Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran's mouths dropped open with expressions as if they had been struck by lightning.

"From the beginning, I have been assuming that not only Wudang, Mount Hua, and Mount Cangshan, but the entirety of Jianghu is targeting us."

"..."

The two wore blank expressions, as if their souls had been drained.

Did they really come without knowing?

I quickly added.

"I thank you once again for your promise to travel with us, staked on your honor as warriors and the names of your noble clans."

"... We never staked our honor as warriors..."

"... Uh... *Unnie*, did I stake my clan's name earlier...?"

No take-backs.