Episode 319

Bang No-baek panted heavily as he looked at the person in front of him. He thought he had finally escaped the Murim Alliance and found a safe place, but who on earth was this person who appeared out of nowhere?

“Heh heh, that’s quite a move.”

The old man received Bang No-baek’s full-force attack, yet he didn’t even flinch, let alone counterattack.

All the qi in the attack dispersed as if kneeling and collapsing in front of the old man, failing to deliver any impact.

“Who…who are you?”

Bang No-baek asked.

The Murim Alliance.

Among those who attacked that place, it was possible to capture and kill two. In the process of subjugating the remaining ones, they were pushed back, resulting in the Abbot’s death and the loss of most of the Murim Alliance’s leadership.

Now Bang No-baek had only one option left.

To hide himself here.

Although he couldn’t do anything right now, if he borrowed the power of the Hunan Dan family, it might be possible to reclaim the Murim Alliance once again.

But his dream crumbled in vain.

The person who suddenly appeared before his eyes.

An old man who appeared in the empty air along with the mist.

He stood idly, yet his presence felt as vast as the sky.

If he had to name the strongest person he had ever met, it would undoubtedly be Dan Woo-hyun, but he wondered if this old man might be as strong or perhaps even stronger.

“I’m just an old man living with the wind and the clouds.”

“Ha…hahaha, for someone like that, you’re quite strong, aren’t you?”

“That’s the nature of martial arts. No matter how strong someone is, inevitably, someone even stronger will appear, isn’t that so?”

“……”

Bang No-baek swallowed his breath.

The one who transcended mere strength. There was a suspicion that he might have reached a level beyond those known as the Three Heavens, who made a name for themselves a thousand years ago.

“It would be troublesome if you stayed alive. I don’t think I should give you more strength.”

“What are you talking about…?”

“Hahaha, no need to know. Rather, how about stopping now?”

At the incomprehensible words, Bang No-baek furrowed his brows.

He understood it meant to die. But since he had no intention of dying easily, he stood firm.

The moment Bang No-baek smirked and began to gather his internal qi.

Gulp!

“Ugh…”

Suddenly, blood spurted from his mouth.

Then, blood started to flow from his eyes and ears.

It was as if all his organs within had burst, causing internal hemorrhaging.

Blood gushed violently from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, creating a scene unbearable to watch with open eyes.

How could such a thing happen without attacking a person directly?

Bang No-baek was at a loss for words, simply staring at the old man with a face full of doubt.

The old man noticed his gaze and smiled.

“Do you know what ‘Heart Stopping Technique’ is? Killing with the mind… But I don’t need such a method to kill someone at any time.”

The old man raised his hand slightly.

A small whirlwind spun fiercely from his hand.

If such a thing were to enter the body, no one would survive. All their organs would shatter into pieces.

The old man walked up and patted Bang No-baek on the shoulder.

“This is why the wind is frightening.”

Swoooosh-!

Soon, Bang No-baek’s body shattered into pieces and scattered.

His body, which disintegrated into fragments, poured down in a rain of blood in the air, and only the remains of his flesh indicated that someone had died here where Bang No-baek had stood.

The old man looked at that and slowly turned his back.

Before long, the mist thickened again, and his form disappeared.

Dan Somi was excited for the first time in a while.

Not only had Jang Sam-tae returned, but she was also delighted by the usual household scenery.

On one side, Zhuge Yun was talking to Namgung Chun, Sa Dohak, and Dan Woo-hyun, while on the other side, Jang Sam-tae and Jeok Mu-seong were sweeping the yard.

Those with nothing else to do were busy honing their skills in the martial arts training ground.

This kind of life was the usual household scene that this little child had always observed.

Today was the day to go to Yueyang to meet Ju Jiyak and Hong Jin-rang, so she was even more excited.

The more she thought about what to do, the more the smile wouldn’t leave her lips.

“Then, I’m off-!”

Dan Somi waved her hand vigorously.

At the same time, Baekho appeared, and the moment people saw it, exclamations erupted here and there.

Jang Sam-tae especially was even more surprised.

‘They said it was a spirit among spirits, but it’s completely a palanquin, a palanquin for her.’

Jang Sam-tae clicked his tongue and shook his head. It seemed like that Baekho was ruining the reputation of a Spiritual Beast.

“I’ll take you.”

“It’s okay. If I go with Baekho, I’ll be there in no time.”

Dan Woo-hyun spoke with a worried expression, but Dan Somi shook her head. Going with Dan Woo-hyun was nice, but sometimes riding on Baekho’s back and feeling the wind while it ran wasn’t bad either.

Dan Woo-hyun, after a moment of contemplation, nodded.

With Baekho and Baek Myo around, most issues could be resolved. Furthermore, Baek Myo was quite the clever one, and if faced with an unsolvable problem, it would rush to call Dan Woo-hyun.

Once Dan Woo-hyun granted her permission, Dan Somi did not hesitate. With a gentle pat on Baekho’s back, Baekho agilely leapt over the wall with its massive body.

In an instant, it moved such a great distance that even its presence could not be sensed, a speed that would astonish even Jang Sam-tae, known for his top-tier lightness skills in the Murim world.

“Amazing speed, that runaway palanquin.”

“R-runaway palanquin?”

Jang Sam-tae whistled.

He thought that with such a fast palanquin, it might be worth a ride at least once. However, Mae-hyang beside him had a somewhat dazed expression.

Even Namgung Sohye, who was passing by, had a bewildered expression.

“You’re probably the only person who would call a divine beast a runaway palanquin.”

“But it is a runaway palanquin. A palanquin exclusively for Somi.”

“…That’s not entirely wrong.”

Jang Sam-tae shrugged his shoulders.

No matter how one tries to explain or look around, the reality is that the divine beast named Baekho cannot escape from being Dan Somi’s exclusive palanquin. Some might call it an escort, but no matter how you look at it, it seems more like a palanquin.

Namgung Sohye couldn’t particularly refute that statement and shrugged, quickly stepping away from the place. She judged that continuing the conversation would only make her head hurt.

“By the way, what have you been looking at so intently since earlier?”

Jang Sam-tae wore a puzzled expression as he passed by Dan Woo-hyun. Dan Woo-hyun had been reading a thick book for nearly an entire hour, occasionally frowning as if displeased and sighing in discontent.

From Jang Sam-tae’s perspective, he couldn’t help but be curious.

“Is it a ledger?”

“A ledger, you say?”

Jang Sam-tae quietly observed Dan Woo-hyun and tilted his head in confusion.

Wondering what was bothering him so much, he naturally spoke up.

“Do you read such things?”

Smack-!

With a cry of “Ouch!”, Jang Sam-tae clutched his head and sank to the ground.

It hurt so much that tears blurred his vision. His eyes were filled with a sense of injustice.

“Why did you hit me?”

“I read them too, things like this.”

“If you read it, then you read it. Why hit me!”

“……”

Namgung Chun and Sa Dohak looked surprised as they watched Jang Sam-tae raise his voice. It seemed that after running away from home and returning, his courage had grown.

Jang Sam-tae looked at Dan Woo-hyun as if he were going to devour him. Of course, it wasn’t long before he turned his gaze away with a tucked tail.

“Hehehe, no, I thought Manor Lord would be reading difficult books like the Thousand Character Classic.”

“……”

Dan Woo-hyun was at a loss for words.

The same went for the others.

Just because it comes out of one’s mouth doesn’t make it true. The Thousand Character Classic is something learned by young children attending elementary school, yet Jang Sam-tae was boasting about it as if it were something significant.

Namgung Chun and Sa Dohak pinched their brows.

If he had mentioned the Four Books and Five Classics instead, it might have been somewhat better.

Dan Woo-hyun clenched his fist but soon calmed himself with a deep breath. There didn’t seem to be any malice in Jang Sam-tae’s bright, wide-eyed expression.

That only made him more frustrated.

“Hoo… Forget it now, go to Yueyang.”

“What? Yueyang, you say?”

“Yes.”

“Where should I go?”

“Bring Geum Eun-hak from the Golden Ring Merchant Union.”

“Understood-!”

Jang Sam-tae answered energetically and turned his back.

Watching him as if he were about to dash to Yueyang immediately, Dan Woo-hyun muttered.

“And go to the marketplace and buy a copy of the Thousand Character Classic.”

“I’ll go right away!”

An excited Jang Sam-tae leaped into the air.

“Kkeueu… Th-Thousand Character… Classic…”

Jang Sam-tae, with his head buried in the floor, was reading the Thousand Character Classic laid beneath him, wearing a tearful expression.

Only then did he fully understand what the Thousand Character Classic was, but the situation was so miserable that nothing could enter his mind. His head was throbbing, and trying to read further was a torment.

“Read it properly.”

“I’m doing it!”

“Watch out!”

Beside him, Ma Jang-kang was holding a large stick. Every time he failed to read correctly, he would smack him with it, and it hurt so much that Jang Sam-tae couldn’t endure it any longer. So, with tears in his eyes, he had to read the Thousand Character Classic.

In contrast, Geum Eun-hak was sitting in front of Dan Woo-hyun, sweating coldly. Especially looking at the ledger in Dan Woo-hyun’s hand, a chilly feeling crept over him, making his insides churn. It was fortunate he didn’t vomit.

“Recently, profits have decreased a lot.”

“Th-that is, you see…”

Geum Eun-hak took several deep breaths. In truth, he should have mentioned this fact earlier, but he was afraid that it would reveal his incompetence, so he refrained from speaking recklessly.

However, given the current situation, he had no choice.

Geum Eun-hak steeled his resolve and opened his mouth.

“We have a monopoly on liquor, so there’s no concern there…but we’re taking hits in other areas.”

“Other areas?”

“I mean in things like silk and goods from the Western regions.”

“Why?”

Dan Woo-hyun asked with a somewhat puzzled expression. It was no exaggeration to say that there was no longer any competitor for Geum Eun-hak.

Having taken over Hunan entirely, it was impossible for profits to decrease.

Unless a new rising merchant group has appeared.

“That…that is… T-Tons of Gold Merchant Union has made a move.”

Zhuge Yun narrowed his eyes at the mention of the Tons of Gold Merchant Union. Indeed, unless it was a guild of that magnitude, no one could currently trouble Geum Eun-hak.

“Have they finally made their move?”

Namgung Chun spoke as if he had already predicted it would happen. From the moment they swallowed up Hunan, he thought that the Tons of Gold Merchant Union, known as the world’s premier merchant guild, would not remain idle.

Until now, they had been quiet due to internal divisiveness, but once internal matters were settled, it was only natural for them to move to solidify their power again.

The first victim is Hunan.

Thus, most of those present could understand the decrease in profits.

However, not Dan Woo-hyun.

“So, what does their move have to do with the decrease in profits?”

He glared at Geum Eun-hak with a somewhat confused expression.