Episode 114
“······Amazing.”
Baekho Team member, who played the role of test tube, wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out an exclamation.
A young man who came to the test site dressed simply and carrying only an iron wire.
To be honest, I had a feeling of disdain.
However, I knew it the moment I competed for the first sum.
That the opponent is a skill that is in no way inferior to oneself.
‘It’s the peak of maturity at an age when it’s not even ripe.’
It was questionable why a late Jisoo with such skill would quietly take the entrance exam instead of participating in the martial arts competition.
If I had been lucky in the match, I would have been able to finish in the top tier.
“Are you thinking of joining the White Tigers?”
“······?”
“I shouldn’t have done this in the first place, but I think it would be a waste to lose a talented person like you. If you wish, I would like to make a recommendation to the High Lord. Of course, it is the Lord who makes the decision, and there are various administrative procedures, so I cannot make any definite promises…”
An unconventional proposal.
The examiner had no doubt that the young man would accept his offer.
“Thank you for your words, but I will accept your wishes.”
One young man shook his head without any hesitation.
The examiner looked perplexed at the cold response.
“Why?”
“My assignment has already been decided.”
“······That’s right.”
The examiner tsk and clicked his tongue.
It happened occasionally.
These people use their personal connections to apply in advance to the department they want.
The young man in front of me seemed to be one of the same illegal cheaters.
‘I’m in a bad mood.’
I thought I had found a useful talent for the first time in a long time, but he turned out to be a sold-out man who had already been recruited by someone in the upper echelons.
‘Of course, that’s right,’ he muttered, scratching the back of his neck.
“It’s a shame. “Which department has your assignment been decided on?”
“This is the Sacheon branch of the Murim League.”
“Sacheon branch. It’s okay… what?”
“Why do you look at me like that?”
“Your assignment to the Sacheon branch has been decided? “Not Cheongnyongdae or Hyeonmudae?”
“yes.”
The young man, Damun, answered calmly and nodded.
The examiner’s expression became blank.
Now that I see it, it looks like he wasn’t taken in by anyone in the upper echelons.
‘On the contrary, I think it looks hateful?’
* * *
The day to leave Honam has arrived.
As previously mentioned in Heuksi, Cheon Ji-ryeong decided to return to the monastery to resolve the succession issue.
I said goodbye to her in light attire.
“Please proceed carefully.”
“you also. Stay healthy until we see you again.”
Tang Seo-yeon, Damun, Cheon-woo Dojang, and Seo Ho-seon each said a word to see Cheon Ga-ryeong off.
In particular, Dojang Cheonwoo showed an overtly regretful expression and waved his hand until she disappeared from sight.
“Let’s leave now.”
I climbed onto the chariot prepared in advance and motioned to the group.
The seal of Cheonwoo was seated in the coach seat.
“······Why are you naturally asking me to be your coachman?”
“Are you dissatisfied?”
“Of course I’m dissatisfied. “I didn’t lose the bet like before, so why should I take on all the dirty work?”
“Originally, I was going to entrust the escort service to Pyo-guk, but as the tourists who had been flocking to the Honam area have recently left, it has become impossible.”
“I guess so. “I heard that the bureaucracy is experiencing a serious manpower shortage due to the flood of escort requests.”
“For the same reason, it was difficult to find a coachman. In fact, it was quite difficult to find a horse and carriage.”
“I don’t think that’s a reason why I should drive the horse alone.”
“You are not alone. “Please take turns taking a break with Master Seo.”
“What about the others?”
“I will take care of the meals, the party leader will take care of the campfire and sleep, and Dam Sohyeop will take care of the night watch.”
“······A reasonable distribution of roles.”
“If you understand, why don’t you stop complaining and leave?”
Soon the wheels of the carriage began to roll with a rattling noise.
I muttered as my eyes scanned the streets of Honam seen outside the window.
‘I guess this is what Geumui Hwanhyang (錦衣還鄕) is like.’
* * *
The whole of Central Plains was abuzz with news about a young man.
“Did you hear that story?”
“What story?”
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“I’m talking about the recently held Yongbong branch.”
“Well, I’m not that interested in the affairs of Moorim. “Anyway, those with great reputations, such as the Nine Masters and the Five Masters, would have swept the top ranks.”
“You are right. But there is just one exception. “He is the winner of this competition.”
“That’s a little surprising.”
“The successor of a one-man legend whose name is not known to the world. If you look at his skills alone, they say he has easily surpassed the level of the late Jisoo. “A young man who has only just reached the age of maturity.”
“Ho… … .”
“It’s not just that. “It is a fact that has only recently come to light, but it is said that the young man is the same person as Hu Myeonhyeop, who was active in Zhejiang not long ago.”
“Homyeonhyup? “Are you talking about the robber wearing the fox mask?”
“Did you know?”
“I know.”
“He said he was not interested in Moorim’s work.”
“Isn’t it obvious? My wife’s family is in Zhejiang. “My mother-in-law is among those who received help from Homyeonhyeop.”
“I see.”
“Anyway, it’s amazing. “The identity of the mysterious master was a young man.”
“There is one thing that is even more surprising. “They say he subjugated the third disciple of the Demonic Cultist who was secretly operating in Honam.”
“The Demon Cult’s third disciple?!”
“I heard they were planning something to target the Yongbong branch, but I don’t know the details. “It seems that even the government has not yet clearly grasped the truth.”
“Huh. I know that each and every disciple of the Demonic Cultist is a great expert. “Didn’t you say that Seo Gun-ak, the Iron-Blooded Demon Lord who became your last disciple, also reached the state of Hwa-gyeong some time ago?”
“It was a lie that this person wasn’t interested in Moorim’s affairs.”
“Hmm. “I just picked up a few things while working as a peddler.”
“Anyway, it seems like there’s a lot of talk now because of that. It is known that it was Yeon Yeon-woon who discovered the existence of the Yeoksal Army, but it is said that the subjugation operation would never have been carried out without the help of So Hyeon-geom, an elder of the Maeng.”
“but. “No matter how great his skills were, there was no way a single latter-day Jisoo could have taken down a disciple of the Demonic Cult by himself.”
“The problem is that only this is known. “It is certain that Yeonsun and Sohyeongeom joined forces to catch the Demon Cult’s disciple, but no one has witnessed the process.”
“I think I know what you’re trying to say. Yeonsun and Sohyeongeom. “I guess there was a debate about who played bigger?”
“I see.”
“I really want it. “They seem like people who have nothing to do.”
“I heard Sohyeongeom himself said this. It was Yeon-woon who played a decisive role in the execution of the operation and was responsible for securing the supply and demand of the assassination army. But not many people truly believe that.”
“I guess so. There were once or twice that the Murim League used exaggerated propaganda to give the Maeng Dao credit. “What’s more, the grand prize winner is the winner of the Yongbong branch.”
“Some people say that Yeon-woon is a powerhouse approaching the level of a hundred great masters, while others dismiss it by saying that he is not at that level. “When I walk around the bases these days, I sometimes see people fighting over that topic.”
“You guys are funny. “Nothing has been clearly revealed, but it’s like people who aren’t even involved are arguing among themselves.”
“It’s not unreasonable. Isn’t this a story about the Homyeonhyeop, not someone else? Because there are more than one person who received help from him directly or indirectly. “The same goes for you right now.”
“but.”
“Oh, and I heard that Yeonsun recently got a new nickname.”
“Don’t you already have a nickname called Homyeonhyeop?”
“You can’t call it that forever, right? “Now I don’t wear a fox mask or go around acting like a bandit.”
“Is that also true?”
“They say the new nickname is Cheonryong (天龍).”
“Heavenly Dragon?”
“Isn’t the nickname ‘Yongbong (龍鳳)’ often given to late-stage players who have outstanding skills that are not appropriate for their age? “At first, he was given the nickname ‘Geomryong (劍龍),’ but it was eventually changed because his skills were too outstanding to be grouped on the same level as other late-stage exponents.”
“A dragon that flies through the sky.”
“Well, if I had to explain the meaning, it would be something like the dragon in the middle of the dragon, or the first dragon.”
“At least among the later exponents, there is no one who can rival him.”
“For your information, I heard that the title of Geomryong was inherited by the So family of the Namgung family.”
“So family head of the Namgung family? I remember hearing that. “There was a widespread rumor that he was a child prodigy since he was young.”
“Even though I somehow made it into the ranks of the dragons, I can’t be happy about it. “He may be feeling humiliated as the son of a prestigious family.”
“Well, I guess it depends on how you take it.”
“Anyway, there was one piece of news I didn’t understand.”
“······?”
“The winner of the Yongbong Branch is given the privilege of applying to the desired department of the Meng, and Cheonryong used that privilege to set his assignment to the Sacheon Branch of the Murim League.”
“Sacheon branch? “It’s not Cheongryongdae?”
“I see.”
“No, why would you volunteer to go to a place like that?”
“I don’t know.”
“Isn’t Sacheon already an area where Meng’s influence doesn’t reach much? “There is a long distance from the headquarters, but more than anything, there are three large martial arts forces in place.”
“Ami faction, Cheongseong faction, Sicheondang faction. “With the three forces holding a tight grip on local security with no room for water, it is natural that there is nothing for the Maeng branch to do anything about.”
“In particular, the presence of Sacheondangga is large. Because that family has a closed nature. Even if something happens, we will handle it internally and not ask for help from the Maeng branch. “It is difficult to imagine the party seeking cooperation from external forces.”
“Me too.”
“I heard that there are many cases where branches of the League that are idle due to lack of work have festered internally. “Didn’t something happen at the Hanam branch not too long ago?”
“Are you talking about the incident that caused an uproar when it was revealed that the branch manager had embezzled funds for activities that had been handed down from the headquarters for a long time? “There was no chaos because not only the branch manager but also his direct subordinates came together one after another.”
“If Hanam is like that, how many problems are there in the Sacheon branch? “I can’t even imagine.”
“yes.”
“What on earth was Cheonryong thinking when he voluntarily applied to the Sichuan branch?”
* * *
After finishing our trip in Honam, my group and I passed through Hubei and reached Shaanxi.
Shaanxi is the territory of the Huashan faction.
Dojang Cheonwoo, who was sitting in the coach seat, looked around with a nostalgic expression and muttered.
“You’re finally back.”
Around the time I drove the carriage and entered the main street.
A group of Taoist monks appeared as if blocking the path ahead.
They looked at the Tianyu seal with surprised expressions and shouted.
“No, Sasuk!”
“What kind of thing is that?”
martial arts,
