◈ Episode 8. Northwest Meeting
After the banquet was over, Jin Mu-rip sent away the musicians and courtesans and called Yuk Mu-bong to a quiet guest room.
Although Yuk Mu-bong had drunk heavily, it only helped him forget his physical pain, and the slight intoxication disappeared the moment he sat down with Jin Mu-rip.
“I found out that there is something called the Northwest Association.”
“Yes. The six factions that manage the northwest road gather once a month in Dalpo to have a drink.”
“When is the next meeting?”
“It was ten days ago, so there’s still quite a bit of time left.”
“The Northwest Conference will be held again in a few days. Call me then.”
Yuk Moo-bong spoke cautiously.
“We meet at regular intervals unless something special comes up, so it’s still a long way until the next meeting.”
Jinmu-rip’s eyes narrowed.
“Something special is going to happen.”
***
Three days later.
The streets of Chongqing, where the dawn air had settled calmly, were filled with an unusual tension.
“Damn. There’s a ghost coming out. Is everything gone?”
The man with both hands stuck in his trouser pocket, Yongbo of the martial arts studio, frowned as he looked at the desolate street.
Yongbo, who was spitting phlegm on the floor and heading towards the northwest road, discovered something and hurriedly hid in an alley.
‘What, what is it?’
Yongbo, crouching down and looking around the corner, took in the sight of the swordsmen filling the street.
‘Are you planning to start a war with Madorim?’
Their tension was palpable even from this far away place.
Yongbo realized that the awkward atmosphere on the street was because of them.
As the Grand Inspector Generals paused to chat, Yongbo’s large ears perked up.
“The opponent······the branch manager······the master······be careful······.”
As soon as they finished their conversation, they split up and disappeared.
The voice was so small that he couldn’t hear it properly, but Yongbo repeated the words he heard here and there in his head.
“The other party, the branch manager, the master, be careful? What’s going on?”
Although we couldn’t know for sure, it was clear that something had happened at the Grand Inspectorate.
Yongbo, who had been crouching and thinking, suddenly came to his senses and felt a chill run down his spine.
‘no way?’
Yongbo turned his head and found a little boy peeing on his back while still asleep.
“This son of a bitch.”
***
A strange man entered the annex of the Cheongha Guesthouse where Jinmu-rip was staying.
Jinmu-rip took a sip of water and looked at the man with a trembling face.
“Why you of all people?”
Yongchu, a man with a fierce face reminiscent of a bandit, was not only a bandit in appearance, but a real bandit.
“Chaeju told me to go.”
A few days ago, Seo Jin-hwan, the Eunmu Daeju, who received a secret order from Jinmu Rip, went to the nearest Geomsanchae.
Upon receiving an order to send several bandits disguised as ronin, Chae Ju-jung went to Sacheon to find an unknown subordinate, and ended up sending Yong-chu, who had recently come over from Shanxi.
There was another reason why Jinmu-rip, who had given the order, was nervous.
‘This kid is so ignorant.’
Yongchu, who trained in the art of the divine, was a warrior with incredible strength and a body that could not feel pain.
However, he was a person with very little common sense, having traded power for knowledge.
“Shall we go again?”
“No. That’s enough. From now on, your status is that of a ronin. For the time being, call me Little Prince instead of the Lord of Heaven.”
Yongchu said with a grin.
“Understood, Your Highness. Now, which one should I kill first?”
“Not now. Do not strike anyone without my order.”
Yongchu’s expression turned indifferent.
“Why did you call me when you don’t have any friends?”
Jinmu-rip already felt his chest tightening.
“I didn’t call you, you punk. I told you to send someone, and you came.”
“Oops! That’s right.”
Yongchu clapped his hands as if he had realized something, but Jinmurip felt like hitting him on the head.
Jinmu-rip suppressed his anger by clenching his fist.
“The bastard Jokchil will appear soon, and for the time being, we shouldn’t use the martial arts there.”
“I know that arrangement.”
At that moment, Judae’s voice was heard from outside.
“Your Majesty, someone has come from the wire room.”
Jinmu-rip, his eyes shining, got up with a grin.
“You react quickly.”
***
Cheonggyeongru (Blue Mirror Pavilion) on Seobuk-ro.
The leaders of the northwestern road gathered one after another in the magnificent pavilion that high-ranking officials often visited.
The man guarding the entrance gulped as he watched the leaders of each faction entering with stern faces.
‘What on earth is going on?’
——————
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Even though the cycle had not yet returned, the fact that the Northwest Conference was held meant that something big had happened.
In the top-floor private room of Cheonggyeongru, the leaders of the six factions all sat at a round table, finishing off the last wire ark that had arrived.
Yuk Mu-bong’s heart was pounding hard as he sat down.
‘The Northwest Conference is really opening.’
Because Jinmu-rip’s words that something special would happen came true.
At that time, the Master of the Muhwabangju, Chugwangdo, glanced at Yukmu Bong and said.
“Why are you here?”
“Have I come to a place I shouldn’t be?”
Chugwangdo said with a snort.
“Huh! Rumors are spreading all over Chongqing that you’re attached to Madorim, but you’re so thick-skinned.”
“You started that rumor! Do you really want to die?”
“A guy like you, me?”
As the two men’s momentum grew fierce, the oldest of them, Seokgajangju Seokgeumjong, raised his hand.
“If you want to fight, go out and fight. I can’t stand seeing my shield broken.”
The two suppressed their discontent at the words of Seok Geum-jong, who led the Northwest Association.
Seok Geum Jong opened his mouth again while looking at Yuk Mu Bong.
“Before we begin the meeting, I need to confirm one thing. Many people saw you drinking with the young prince of Madorim at the Qingha Guesthouse. Are you really joining hands with Madorim as the banisher says?”
Yuk Mu-bong tried to suppress his pounding heart and answered indifferently.
“I just went there because they wanted to buy me a drink in return for handing over the guest cup. Anyway, since my subordinate caused the accident, I have no choice but to take care of it as the captain of the ship, right?”
Seok Geum-jong, with his eyes narrowed, did not seem to completely believe Yuk Mu-bong’s words.
But there was an important issue that needed to be discussed urgently rather than digging into it now.
“I’ll just watch for the time being. Then let’s start the northwest tour.”
Jo Sam-bang, a middle-aged man with very narrow space between his eyes, asked,
“What on earth is going on that hastily summoned the Northwest Council?”
Seokgeumjong said.
“This morning, the Muhwabangdo witnessed the Grand Inspectorate’s unmanned personnel rushing somewhere on the street. After hearing the news through the exiled master, I immediately went to the Grand Inspectorate to see what was going on.”
Seok Geum-jong paused for a moment while everyone’s eyes and ears were focused on him and spoke softly.
“Five branch chiefs of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office have gone missing.”
“Huh!”
It was Yuk Mu-bong who covered his mouth and gasped for air.
As everyone’s attention turned to him, Yuk Mu-bong lowered his hand as if nothing had happened and said.
“Wow, this is such surprising news······.”
As the eyes that had gathered returned to Seokgeumjong’s mouth, Yuk Mu-bong unconsciously thought of Jinmu-rip.
‘Something special is going to happen.’
When I recalled those words, my heart pounded so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of my mouth.
‘What the hell are you doing?’
If this was really Jinmu-rip’s doing, his words about erasing the iron wire fence were not just a threat.
As Yuk Mu-bong was wiping away the cold sweat, Do Yeong-sang, the head of the Childomunju with an impressive beak, asked.
“Are you Madorim?”
Seokgeumjong shook his head.
“That doesn’t seem to be the case. The Grand Inspectorate has been keeping a close eye on Madorim due to the recent appearance of the Little Prince. They haven’t made any moves.”
“If he is the branch manager of the Supreme Prosecutor’s Office, he is by no means an easy opponent. I don’t think he would take such a risk in the current Madorim.”
The respectable old man with a scholarly demeanor who opened his mouth was Jung Wook, the head of the Chungkyung Military Academy.
The expression on the face of Jo Sam-bang, the lord of Socheonmun, darkened.
“A hidden sword is more frightening than a sword in front of you. If it weren’t for Madorim, wouldn’t that be a bigger problem?”
Seok Geum-jong nodded in agreement.
“That’s why I asked you to come see me. I think we need to help find the missing people.”
“It’s the Grand Inspectorate’s business······.”
There was a brief pause in the conversation, and then a small scuffle broke out below, followed by the general’s urgent voice.
“Now, my lord!”
“What’s going on?”
“An unknown assailant has broken in and is beating up Kiru’s unmanned personnel!”
“What? How many guys are there?”
The answer came in a scream.
“Ahh!”
Then, with a loud bang, the general burst through the door and fell to the floor.
“That’s why I don’t like stupid kids. When people talk to you, you listen politely. Why do you beat them?”
The man standing proudly in front of the wide open door was Yongchu.
The eyes of Jung Wook, the military officer sitting at the entrance, narrowed.
“Who are you?”
“Why are you looking at me so unluckily? I’ll gouge out your eyes.”
Who on the northwest road would dare to inflict such an insult on the military governor of Chongqing?
For a moment, Jeong-wook’s face turned red and a strange silence fell over the room.
“How dare you······.”
As the angry Jeong-wook stood up, someone kicked Yong-chu’s thigh.
“I can’t see you, so come out, kid.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
As Yongchu stepped out of the way, a young man with a dazzling appearance appeared.
“This is disappointing. It’s already started without the main character even showing up?”
Chu Gwang-do, who recognized the insignia on Jin Mu-rip’s uniform and Yoo Dae-ha standing next to him, suddenly stood up.
“The little prince of Madorim?”
Almost at the same time, everyone’s eyes turned to Yuk Mu-bong.
“Oh, no. That’s not it. First of all, the little prince also runs an inn on Seobuk-ro······.”
A sneer appeared at the corner of Chugwangdo’s mouth.
“I was right to join hands with this little brat Madorim.”
Jinmu Rip said as he entered the private room.
“Hey, that kid has such fierce eyes.”
Chugwangdo’s head suddenly turned.
“Did you tell me?”
Jinmu-rip looked at Yu Dae-ha without responding.
“Guard the stairs. Anyone who comes up without permission will have their head smashed.”
Instead of a real sword, a sturdy wooden sword was hanging from Judaeha’s waist.
“All right.”
Things were going strangely, but now that we’ve come this far, I have no intention of expressing any dissenting opinions.
Because now I know that Jinmu Rip is the kind of person who can do anything.
As soon as Yudaeha turned around, Jinmurip walked over with brisk strides and sat down at the only window.
“I don’t have a chair, so I guess I’ll have to sit here.”
The leaders were sitting at a round table without a distinction between the upper and lower seats, but when Jin Mu-rip sat on the windowsill, it strangely looked like the upper seat.
Eventually, the leaders, unable to bear the insult, stood up from their seats.
Childomunju Do Yeong-gwang raised his hand to Do Byeong and said.
“You took advantage of your grandfather’s fame to steal the guest’s tea. Do you think that will work here too?”
Jinmu-rip, who was beaten to a pulp by a completely unheard-of guy and then beaten to a pulp by a steel bar, couldn’t help but laugh.
Although the ominous murderous intent quickly engulfed the room, Jin Mu-rip, who was smiling, did not lose his composure.
“Yongchuya.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Anyone who stands on two feet should be beaten first. Don’t hit their face. But it doesn’t matter if one of them dies.”
“When I see that old man’s face, I think of my grandfather who passed away when I was young. He was so kind to me.”
As the eyes of Yongchu, who was holding the Sakyamuni Pearl, became hazy, Jinmu Lip swallowed a sigh and said.
“Then let’s save the inspiration······.”
Before he could finish his words, Yongchu’s eyes, clenching his fists, lit up.
“So, first, I will kill the inspiration.”
“Is he crazy?”
