◈ Episode 20. A Flower in the Sky
“I meet the Lord Rim.”
Rimju’s cozy office.
When Jinmu Rip bowed respectfully, Chomu Kang smiled and stood up.
“That won’t happen here. I heard that you treat Wonju like a swindler in private, so don’t be so polite to me.”
“Hahaha. Okay, I understand.”
As Jinmu-rip sat down, Chomu-gang personally poured him some tea.
“How about Gwangryongdae?”
“It’s useful.”
“They are people who held quite high positions in the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office. They have strong pride, so they won’t be easy to deal with.”
Jinmu-rip just smiled broadly.
Because no one dared to show off their pride in front of Yongchu’s relentless beatings.
After a brief conversation between uncle and nephew, Cho Moo-gang began to speak earnestly.
“You haven’t met Yurim yet?”
Cho Yu-rim is Cho Mu-gang’s only daughter.
Since Jinmu-rip came here, I have been staying at my maternal grandparents’ house, so I have not had the chance to meet him.
“It looks like we’ll be meeting soon.”
When Jinmu Rip anticipated this mission, Chomu Kang’s expression darkened.
“Yes. We’ll meet on this mission. Now that things are settled here, I’d like to ask you a favor.”
“Please speak.”
“My wife’s family is in Pajunghyeon, ten days away from here. It is small in size, but if you call it Jeonggajang, everyone in that area knows it.”
Cho Moo-gang, who explained the destination, spoke directly.
“I have to find my missing father-in-law and brother-in-law.”
***
After receiving the mission, Jinwu-rip secretly headed to Anga in Chongqing.
In a small manor with two buildings built in front and back, Jinmu-rip’s signal guard, Eunmu-dae, was staying there, its identity hidden.
In the room, Jin Mu-rip and Dae-ju Seo Jin-hwan greeted each other politely.
“You have regained control of Chongqing through the Grand Inspection Gate. Congratulations.”
“This is just the beginning. Have you received any separate contact from Culture?”
“Yes. I’m sure you’ll be very busy as you’ll be focusing on building up your inner strength.”
Even if all the mountain animals in the world are integrated, those who have lived as bandits for decades cannot change overnight.
Those whose personalities do not fit the purpose pursued by Sangcheon, namely coexistence with the martial arts world, must be kicked out, and those with useful talent must be brought up to the top.
It was fortunate for Sangcheon, who was trying to strengthen his inner strength, that his relationship with the Murim was not bad and there were no major conflicts.
Jinmu Lip said.
“There is too little information about the Sacheon martial arts world. Starting today, disperse to each region and find out everything you can about the masters of each faction, the conflicts between their forces, and their corruption.”
Seo Jin-hwan asked worriedly.
“Is it okay if I don’t help you out?”
“There’s no need to worry too much, since Yongchu is here. He may be ignorant, but he’s not completely stupid.”
Seo Jin-hwan, who had been thinking for a moment, lowered his head.
“All right.”
“I guess I should go now.”
Jinmu-rip, who was about to go out, glanced up at the ceiling and smiled.
“The major and minor shareholders move together.”
“yes?”
“Just do it.”
As Jinmu-rip was leaving the room, he heard a woman’s elegant voice.
[Thank you, Lord.]
While Jin Mu-rip returned to Gwangpyeongjang and gathered his men, horses were brought in according to the number from Naerimwon.
A look of worry was evident on the soldiers’ faces.
“I heard you took charge of the head of the household.”
“Do you know anything?”
“Because there are so many rumors. Some say it is the work of the Heavenly King, while others say it is the work of the Bloody Heavenly King or the Mad Demon.”
Jinmu-rip’s expression was somehow gloomy.
Bloodthirsty Asura and Mad Horse are monsters that belong to the three evil spirits of the world.
In the country where he extremely disliked the upper heavens, he was called one of the four evils of the world, including the King of Myeonsan Mountain.
In any case, from Jinmu Rip’s perspective, it was unfair that Sangcheon was suspected along with those people.
‘I won’t let that guy off the hook if I catch him.’
While Jinmu-rip was making a resolution in his heart, Sangho-gun spoke again.
“If it is indeed the case that the Three Evils of the World are involved, do not hesitate and immediately request their support. Although their conduct is vicious, their martial arts skills are on par with those of the ten greatest masters.”
After bringing Jinmu-rip, Sangho-gun taught Madorim swordsmanship from time to time.
Jinmu Rip, who was born with the outstanding five qualities of the Cheon-eum-ji-che, was quickly absorbing the teachings, but was not yet at a level where he could compete with the masters.
At least in the eyes of the mutual army.
Jinmu-rip nodded calmly.
“Okay. Let’s go.”
Led by Jin Mu-rip on horseback, a force of about fifty men and horses set out from Madorim.
***
Two women appeared at the bottom of a high hill with no end in sight.
A woman wearing a cotton turban and a woman wearing a bamboo hat.
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Although his face was covered, his curvaceous body was clearly visible above his red uniform.
The two people stopped for a moment, raised their heads, and looked at the hill.
The woman with the bamboo hat spoke in a polite tone.
“Miss. Would you like to take a break?”
“is it so.”
Although it was the beginning of autumn, the midday heat was still as intense as summer.
As the two people sitting in the shade of the trees by the roadside took off their cotton and bamboo hats, the surroundings seemed to brighten for a moment.
The cynical face of the bamboo woman was beautiful, but the cotton woman, with her beauty as splendid as a spring flower, was so beautiful that even the expression “beautiful as the world” was not enough.
The woman who had been engrossed in the beauty of the person she was serving came to her senses and spoke.
“Miss, I heard an interesting story on the way here.”
“Interesting story?”
“It is said that the Chungkyung Madorim destroyed the Great Sword Gate and regained supremacy over the region.”
From here, which is the crossroads of Pajunghyeon, it is not that far to Chongqing.
I heard a passing rumor from a village I stopped by for a moment.
The bamboo woman said after taking a sip of water.
“It was once a prosperous place, so much so that it was called the best in Sacheon. With its long history, it probably wasn’t a place that would collapse easily.”
“I heard that the number of Daegeommun is more than twice that of Madorim. I wonder how the Sogongja planned it all out, so I wonder how he was able to bring it down.”
When the woman with the bamboo hat smiled brightly, for a moment I had the illusion that light was on her face.
“If I do well, won’t I find out this time?”
“yes?”
“The head of the Jeong family in Pajunghyeon is related to Madorim by marriage. Madorim, who has regained control of Junggyeong, must be aware of the difficulties that the head of the Jeong family is facing.”
“Oh, that could be the case.”
The place the two are headed to is Pajunghyeon.
The purpose was closely related to the Jeonggajang incident.
“Let’s go now.”
As the thin cotton cloth covered her beautiful face, the bamboo-clad woman also stood up following her.
“miss.”
“huh?”
The woman holding the bamboo stick said after a brief hesitation.
“If, as rumored, the Heavenly Lord Mu-myeon-san-wang is involved in this incident, we must contact Hwaryeong-do and wait for his support.”
A faint smile spread through the cotton cloth covering her face at her worry.
“Are you saying that you’re not my opponent yet?”
“It’s not that I don’t know about your martial arts skills, but your opponent is one of the Five Kings. I’m worried that you might get hurt.”
“I know very well how great the Wu Wang’s power is. I am still lacking in that regard. However······. If the Wu Mian Mountain King is behind this incident, I must meet him and confirm it.”
“Is this the rumor that he is the son of the Eight Emperors who started the Great War?”
The cotton lady nodded.
“I heard from my master that even the lowest-ranking warriors of Eungok were stronger than the leaders of the small and medium-sized factions. He said that even our Hwaryeong, where my father and master were, could not stop them without the help of those around them. If the son of the Eight Emperors’ Clan Lord began to lead Eungok, it would be something that could never be overlooked.”
“I have not seen anyone among the people of the Heavenly Realm using the martial arts of Eungok. The rumors of a monster with three heads and six feet, or a dark enemy that sucks the blood of children, all came from the Pyoguk who were pushed out by the Heavenly Realm and lost their position. I suspect that those rumors are also the work of the Pyoguk.”
It is Sangcheon that declares its will to coexist with the world.
Since their appearance, the stability of the upward trend has increased incomparably.
It would have been unimaginable for a mere peddler to cross a mountain pass alone, but Sangcheon made it possible.
Although the identity of the leader was unclear, the actions of the Heavenly King were not those that would cause a bloody disaster.
The cotton lady said.
“I also have doubts about the truth of the rumors. However, if you do not want to repeat the nightmare of history, you should not ignore even the rumors that are floating around. That is the duty of Hwa-ryeong, who is respected by the world as the best sect in the world.”
The woman with the dead body couldn’t say anything else because of her firm will.
The best in the world, the golden jade leaf and the favorite disciple of Emperor Cheonyeong.
Because the will of the one and only flower in the sky, Danryehwa, cannot be stopped by a mere bodyguard like herself.
The two people resumed their steps that had been paused for a moment.
As they climbed to the middle of the high hill, Yeon So-jeong, who was following Dan Ryeo-hwa, sensed the sound of approaching horse hooves.
“Miss. You must do the work.”
The moment Danryehwa nodded, the faces of the two people moved and then quickly changed to their normal appearances.
At that moment, about fifty horses appeared at the bottom of the hill and quickly closed the distance.
The two women stepped aside, but Jinmu-rip stopped talking before them.
‘What’s with this woman?’
Jinmu-rip’s eyes were focused on Danryehwa’s cotton thread.
‘Can’t you all feel it?’
None of her subordinates seemed to know that she was hiding an unusual prayer.
Meanwhile, Danryehwa was also thinking the same thing while looking at Jinmurip.
‘There’s something wrong with this guy.’
She had a sixth sense that was just as keen, if not more so, than her father.
Danryehwa was convinced that Jinmurip was not an ordinary person.
As the two people facing each other were starting to feel confused, Yongchu suddenly spoke from behind.
“Hey. It’s pretty.”
When Yongchu, who looked like a bandit leader, winked, the two women felt goosebumps all over their bodies.
Jinmu Rip’s hand struck the back of Yongchu’s head.
“What kind of crazy guy is saying something that even a city idiot wouldn’t say.”
Yongchu, who had been touching his hair, looked as if he was being wronged and had a sad expression on his face.
“Don’t women like it when people tell them they’re pretty?”
“You have to choose the time and place for that too. Is it negative? Huh?”
Jinmu-rip let out a deep sigh and turned his head.
“I’m sorry. But I need to see your face.”
Yeon So-jeong came forward, revealing her discomfort.
“That’s rude.”
“We are the Madorim people who are on our way to solve the missing persons case of the Pazhong. We are checking all the guys with swords in the area on our way. Just show us your face and we will go.”
Judae’s eyes widened.
‘When did we ever do that?’
No matter how much I thought about it, I had no memory of ever being searched.
Although they were feeling uneasy because of the dragon’s tail, they couldn’t help but be interested in the word ‘Madori’.
Wasn’t one of the conversations we had just a moment ago about Madorim?
In addition, there was the Pajunghyeon incident, so Danryehwa lifted the cotton swab to have a quick conversation.
“we are······.”
Jin Mu-rip, who had checked the face, turned his head away with a calm attitude before he could finish speaking.
“Hey, you saw the wrong thing. Let’s go.”
Yongchu spoke as if he was meddling.
“It’s not very pretty. I’m thinking about gouging out my eyes.”
“Think about it seriously.”
As Gwangryongdae disappeared over the hill, Danryehwa’s face turned bright red.
“What kind of people are there like that?”
The feeling that something was going to happen was clearly my own illusion.
As soon as he turned his head, Yuda asked.
“What was it?”
Unlike a little while ago, Jinmu-rip’s eyes were quite serious.
“It’s on the way to Pajung, so when you enter the village, kill a few guys.”
“yes?”
Jinmu Rip’s voice was low.
“That face is so ugly.”
Judae’s eyes widened.
Because he himself didn’t find anything strange.
Their magic was so powerful that even Yoo Dae-ha, who had excellent eyesight, did not doubt it, but Jin Mu-rip was confident.
‘Slightly uneven skin texture. Unless you move it artificially, it’s rare for that to happen at a young age.’
If there is a woman there who hides her prayers so secretly that even the Gwangryongdae members cannot detect it, then you should pay attention.
***
Gwangryongdae, which had traveled a distance of ten days, arrived at Pajunghyeon in the evening four days earlier.
Jinmu-rip, who stopped the group at the entrance to the village, said, feeling the atmosphere was quite different from that of Junggyeong.
“The atmosphere is chaotic.”
Although Pajunghyeon was not a large city like Chongqing, it was not a small village with over 30,000 households.
The town, where the sunset had descended, had a desolate atmosphere even though it was not yet time to sleep.
Jeon Yu opened her mouth politely.
“I’ll go and find out.”
“Have a nice trip. Thanks.”
At Jinmu-rip’s words, Jeon Yu’s face suddenly distorted.
This is because after the Yongchu incident, not only Jinmu-rip but also his colleagues were called Ddaengjung.
“I’m a monk… No, I’m not a monk. I’ll be back.”
Jeon Yu, who almost claimed to be a monk without knowing it, quickly changed his words and entered the village.
As Jinmu-rip said, the empty streets were so empty that it was hard to believe that people were really living there.
Jeon-yu, who was moving busily, was able to find the guest house that was just about to close the door.
“Listen here.”
Even though it was a busy inn, Jeomsoi looked visibly surprised by the presence of a stranger.
“Oh, please speak, monk.”
Jeon Yu’s face was terribly crumpled.
“I told you I’m not a monk.”
