Chapter 374

Chapter 374 – In the Storm, It's Not Just a Small Boat That Sways (3)

"By the way, little sister, where are you going? From your attire, it looks like you're going far."

"I'm going to Shaanxi Province."

"That's quite far. Do you have someone you know there?"

"My older brother is there."

Hwang Hye-ryeong answered lightly to Yo Sa-ran's question.

"Older brother? You two must be quite close. You look happy."

"We haven't met for a long time. It's been three years since we last met, so I'm a bit excited."

"Really?"

An interested light appeared in Yo Sa-ran's dreamy pupils.

Though it was just a one-night acquaintance, she found Hwang Hye-ryeong very likable. That's why she was more interested.

"What kind of person is your older brother, little sister?"

"He's a strong person."

"Strong?"

"Yes! Not simply that he fights well and has high martial arts skills, but he's just strong as a person. So I always feel secure when I'm with him."

"How enviable. Having someone by your side you can depend on is truly a great blessing."

"Sister, do you have someone like that too?"

"I had one! But he's dead now."

"I'm sorry."

"What does little sister have to be sorry about? Is it your fault that person died? I'm fine with it, so you don't need to feel sorry."

Yo Sa-ran smiled as if it was nothing and moved forward.

They were currently coming down from the mountain where they had spent the night outdoors. In front, Muk Il-gwang was leading the way.

Hwang Hye-ryeong turned her head slightly to look at Yo Sa-ran.

Despite the quite rough mountain path, she was walking lightly without her breathing becoming rough at all. Only then could Hwang Hye-ryeong be certain. That she was a master who had learned martial arts.

Come to think of it, a woman wandering alone in the mountains without a single light couldn't be an ordinary person. She had just failed to realize this fact, swept up in Yo Sa-ran's mysterious atmosphere.

'What sect is sister a master from?'

Curiosity flooded in like a tide, but Hwang Hye-ryeong didn't bother to ask. To ask about Yo Sa-ran's identity would inevitably require revealing her own identity as well.

Hwang Hye-ryeong didn't particularly want to do that. She didn't know what trouble would arise if she revealed that her father was Hwang Gyeong-mun, head of the Overlord Stronghold and general leader of the Forest of Bandits, and that her older brother was Dam Ho, currently the most destructive martial artist in the martial world.

Most sects in the martial world looked down on or despised the Forest of Bandits, considering them targets for suppression. It was only because Hwang Gyeong-mun held firm and unified the Forest of Bandits as one that they weren't already suppressed by martial world sects.

Therefore, Hwang Hye-ryeong never revealed her identity unless the person was trustworthy. The same applied to Yo Sa-ran.

Though it was true she felt favorable toward her, she couldn't know if she was trustworthy. Most of all, the fact that Muk Il-gwang was wary of her bothered her.

Therefore, Hwang Hye-ryeong maintained an appropriate distance from Yo Sa-ran and didn't engage in deep conversations.

Following Muk Il-gwang, they soon left the mountains and came upon a main road.

"Hmm! It's an official road."

"Yes! If we follow this road, we should be able to reach the next village without difficulty."

"To find the road so easily."

Yo Sa-ran muttered with a dejected expression. Hwang Hye-ryeong comforted her.

"It happens. Let's go to the next village together with us."

"Thank you!"

"Don't mention it!"

Hwang Hye-ryeong smiled and moved forward.

After briefly shaking her head, Yo Sa-ran soon followed beside Hwang Hye-ryeong.

Walking straight along the official road, a village appeared before half a day had passed. It seemed to be quite a large village, with inns and taverns lined up at the entrance. But a strange sight appeared.

About ten martial artists were gathered at the village entrance. Instantly, tension appeared in Muk Il-gwang's eyes. The energy felt from the martial artists was extraordinary.

'Who are they?'

There were about ten martial artists with such prominent presence that they made Muk Il-gwang tense. It meant even the renowned Muk Il-gwang couldn't guarantee victory.

Then the martial artists approached where Muk Il-gwang and others were. Muk Il-gwang became wary and secretly raised his internal energy.

But the martial artists passed by Muk Il-gwang and approached Yo Sa-ran. Among them, a particularly fierce-looking man in his early to mid-forties stepped forward.

The man suddenly began scolding Yo Sa-ran.

"Do you know how much we searched after you suddenly disappeared?"

"Sorry!"

"How on earth… does it make sense to get lost in such a small mountain? You just had to follow behind us. The lord suddenly disappeared and we waited here all night. We…"

"I said I'm sorry. Stop it!"

"Yes!"

The man who had been enthusiastically scolding suddenly shut his lips tight like a clam at Yo Sa-ran's word. But his face was still full of dissatisfaction.

The man's gaze turned to Hwang Hye-ryeong and others who were with Yo Sa-ran.

"But who are these people?"

"I met them in the mountains. They provided dinner and helped me find the way."

"Ah!"

An exclamation burst out before Yo Sa-ran's words were finished. The man bowed to Hwang Hye-ryeong and Muk Il-gwang.

"Thank you so much for taking care of our lord."

"Oh, not at all."

"She's not even a child, but she keeps getting lost – it's been troublesome more than once or twice. We're so grateful that you found our lord like this. I don't know how to repay this kindness."

"No repayment is necessary. We were going the same direction so it was pleasant."

"Your words are so kind, I can't express how grateful I am. I truly won't forget this kindness."

Unlike his fierce appearance, the man was quite talkative. Yo Sa-ran watched such a sight with her lips pouted.

"Stop it! If you keep talking like that, what will little sister think of me?"

"Little… sister?"

"Yes! We decided to be sisters."

For a moment the man's pupils shook. But soon he spoke with a nonchalant expression.

"Is that so?"

"Yes!"

"I understand."

"Before we part, let me at least treat you to a meal, so find a proper inn."

"I'll do that."

The man called one of the martial artists standing behind him and ordered him to find an inn with a restaurant.

At this, Hwang Hye-ryeong quickly waved her hands.

"You don't need to do that. We'll be leaving right away."

"Please give us just one chance. There aren't many people our lord treats so warmly."

When the man pleaded earnestly, Hwang Hye-ryeong looked at Muk Il-gwang with a troubled expression. Muk Il-gwang was equally troubled.

Then Yo Sa-ran stepped forward and drove the point home.

"It's just one meal. It doesn't mean much, so don't worry. Still, since we received hospitality, we should give a chance to repay it."

"Alright, sister."

Hwang Hye-ryeong answered with a resigned expression. At this, the man smiled slightly.

Soon after, the martial artist who had gone to secure an inn returned. Everyone followed behind him.

The man subtly fell back and approached Yo Sa-ran.

"My lord!"

The smooth tone from just before disappeared and a cold voice devoid of emotion flowed out.

"Speak!"

"A carrier pigeon has arrived from headquarters."

"Carrier pigeon?"

Yo Sa-ran's eyebrows twitched.

"Golden Divine Pavilion and Divine Transformation Hall have moved to Anhui Province, so we're to rendezvous with them here."

"Rendezvous with those lunatics?"

"That's correct."

"Is the strategist's order certain?"

"Yes!"

"I'll have to follow even if I don't like it. What's the target?"

"The Namgung family."

"I like that."

A thin arc formed at the corner of Yo Sa-ran's mouth. Instantly, cold energy swept in as if the surrounding temperature had dropped. But the man wasn't surprised. It was very familiar to him.

The man's gaze suddenly turned toward Muk Il-gwang who was walking ahead.

"He's no ordinary person."

"I know."

"He might be connected to the Namgung family. Rather, secretly eliminating him would be…"

"Ju-cheon! Since when did you become so talkative?"

Instantly, cold energy condensed in Yo Sa-ran's voice. The moment he heard her voice, the man called Ju-cheon felt all the hair on his body stand on end.

"Hah! I'm sorry."

Instantly the man knelt down and struck his head on the ground. His head split open and blood flowed, but the man didn't care.

"Ju-cheon!"

"Yes! My lord."

"You're lacking one thing. Do you know what it is?"

"I don't know."

"It's romance. No matter how bleak a world we live in, we need to be a little more generous."

"I will keep my lord's words in mind."

"You may rise."

"Thank you."

As soon as Yo Sa-ran's order was given, Ju-cheon quickly got up. Blood was flowing from his forehead.

"Oh my?"

Seeing this, Yo Sa-ran approached Ju-cheon. She wiped the blood flowing on Ju-cheon's forehead with her white, long fingers and said:

"Blood isn't something to be seen just anytime."

"I will keep this in mind."

"Good!"

Yo Sa-ran smiled sweetly in front of him. But Ju-cheon couldn't smile. Because these were words that didn't suit Yo Sa-ran at all. At least as far as he knew.

"Let's go, I'm hungry!"

Yo Sa-ran moved toward the inn.

***

Nam Cheon-san's eyes were deeply sunken.

In front of him lay four empty wine bottles. He had emptied them all by himself in a short time.

His throat felt parched from drinking so much at once. But his mind was clearer than ever.

He wanted to surrender to intoxication but couldn't get drunk.

This was the first time this had happened.

Nam Cheon-san knew the reason.

"Dam Ho!"

His shocking martial prowess still hadn't faded from memory.

That overwhelming destructive power and intense martial prowess, and the tremendous presence that overwhelmed the heroes. Though he didn't want to admit it, he too had been overwhelmed by Dam Ho's presence. That's why he couldn't move even while watching strategist Namgung Chang die miserably.

Nam Cheon-san had been opposing Namgung Chang for years. Namgung Chang interfered in everything and tried to make him a puppet. So he had recruited people like Jeok Gyeong-cheon to build his forces in opposition.

The series of events building power while opposing Namgung Chang had been very difficult. But Nam Cheon-san had steadily built his strength and now had forces that wouldn't yield to anyone. He had acquired the dignity and majesty befitting a leader.

Nam Cheon-san hadn't rushed but tried to slowly absorb Namgung Chang and his followers using that power. By doing so, consolidating his leadership position and annexing the Demon Cult to become the world's greatest was his grand ambition.

"But that bastard ruined everything."

Nam Cheon-san ground his teeth.

In front of everyone, Dam Ho ignored him. Him, the leader of the Martial Alliance.

By killing Namgung Chang in front of Nam Cheon-san, his dignity and majesty fell to the ground. No matter how wrong Namgung Chang was, his punishment should have been left to him as the leader.

He had become a paper tiger in front of everyone.

Now who would truly follow his orders and be willing to sacrifice their lives?

Bang!

Nam Cheon-san, filled with indignation, struck the table with his fist. The solid table made of red sandalwood shattered and scattered in all directions.

That's when it happened.

"I don't know what has made the leader so angry."

At the familiar voice, Nam Cheon-san raised his head to look at the door.

He was there.

"Senior Jeok."

"I've returned, leader."

The one answering with a smile was precisely Heavenly Sword King Jeok Gyeong-cheon. He looked at the wine bottles scattered on the floor and said.

"Drinking alone harms body and mind."

"I'm sorry, Senior Jeok."

"Is it because of the Fist Demon… after all?"

"Did you hear?"

"When I returned, all I heard were stories about him."

"He killed the strategist. Because of that, my dignity as leader has hit rock bottom. Now no one will listen to my orders."

"Tsk! Your heart must be greatly hurt."

"I'm sorry. I showed you something unsightly."

"Not at all! I understand. Anyone would be like that if they suffered the same humiliation as you."

"Senior Jeok!"

"I still support you unchanged. I will be your strength. And these people will also firmly support you."

Jeok Gyeong-cheon pointed to the entrance with his hand. Then about ten martial artists who appeared to be of similar age to Jeok Gyeong-cheon entered the room one after another.

"Who are these people?"

"The martial world's last bastions."