Traveling With The Enemy (4)

Neung Je-gang’s group crossed Daebyeol Mountain. Daebyeol Mountain ran long across southern Henan Province, and once they crossed here, Hubei Province would be in sight.

If they had come by carriage, the distance would have taken ten days, but they covered it in two—no need to spell out how hard that was.

Fortunately, they did not have to cross Cheondangchae, the main peak of Daebyeol Mountain, so they could move a bit faster.

“Here—let’s rest here.”

Go So-jeong plopped down again. Since leaving Pyeongjeong Mountain, they had been running nonstop; this was already the sixth time.

Even as she sat there panting, she slipped into circulation. She didn’t worry about danger—Neung Je-gang would handle the guarding.

Neung Je-gang lowered Majil from his back. Pampered as he was, Majil had found being carried so comfortable that he had fallen asleep.

“Not a child—what kind of nonsense is this…”

Feeling sorry for himself, Neung Je-gang gave Majil a light cuff and looked over the surrounding ridgelines.

Daebyeol Mountain was a major military chokepoint. In a time like now, with the realm unified, people didn’t think much of it, but when the realm was divided, countless wars were fought to seize it.

Thus, at the Depot Martial Academy that trained Eastern Depot officers, they taught the military history of chokepoints like Daebyeol Mountain. Of course, Neung Je-gang had received that training and knew a fair bit about it.

Go So-jeong emerged from circulation. By the time she finished and stood, night was already pressing close again.

She forced herself upright. Circulation had eased her fatigue and restored her vigor, but strain on the muscles was unavoidable. If not for her recent cultivation in the Ice Vault, she would not have endured even this much.

“A little farther and we’ll reach Dangha. We’ll spend the night there, then take a boat to Yiseong in Hubei.”

Neung Je-gang spoke with a look of pity. He would have preferred to run like this to the end, but then Go So-jeong might die before he could treat Je So-yeon.

“Up! Let’s go.”

Neung Je-gang woke Majil. Dangha was just ahead. There was no need to use lightness skills.

“Aren’t we going by lightness, Boss?”

Finding it odd that they were simply walking, Majil asked.

“I’m sick of seeing you sleep on my back, so from now on we walk.”

“Eh? When did I sleep… Hehehe!”

Majil hopped as if falsely accused, then, catching Go So-jeong’s steady gaze, quickly let out a grin.

‘That bastard will betray me for a woman someday.’

Neung Je-gang only shook his head.

The next day, they boarded a boat bound for the Jam River. Yiseong was a place to disembark before reaching the Jam River’s end.

“Why get off at Yiseong instead of going all the way to the Jam River?”

“If we go to the Jam River’s end, we veer off the straight line to the Black Alliance in Guangxi. Getting off at Yiseong and taking the official road is the fastest way to cross the Yangtze.”

“Fine, as you say. Figures…”

Go So-jeong, looking defeated, said no more. In any case, a day on a boat was something.

The boat traveled a little over half a day and reached Yangyang. Many people got off and on. In the brief time of half a shichen, they found a nearby inn, ate, and reboarded.

“Did it have to be those tasteless thin noodles?”

“Name a dish that comes out faster.”

“You’re so impressive. Huh? Wudang disciples?”

Chiding Neung Je-gang, Go So-jeong spotted a dozen or so warriors and prepared to greet them.

“Let’s at least say hello. They’re from Wudang…”

She started toward them to make acquaintances. The Martial Alliance and Wudang were like one family—opening faces as fellow orthodox allies strengthened bonds.

But Neung Je-gang caught her by the arm.

“Don’t. Do you mean to broadcast that we’re here?”

They were racing toward the Black Alliance. If their position was known, the Necromancer Cult’s relentless pursuit would begin.

“Ah—sorry.”

Understanding, Go So-jeong turned away at once. Even if she said nothing, someone from Wudang might recognize her.

“Why, if it isn’t Lady Go?”

Sure enough, among the Wudang men, one recognized her face and approached.

With an embarrassed look, Go So-jeong greeted him. Feeling guilty, she glanced toward Neung Je-gang—he had dragged Majil a little way off. Then he turned his back and looked elsewhere, meaning to conceal they were together.

A pang of sadness struck Go So-jeong. She had thought them on the same side, yet felt singled out. After two days of all-out running, it felt unfair—she felt abandoned.

“Ah, Taoist Jinmyeong! Long time no see.”

Whatever she felt, courtesy had to be given, so she cupped her fist.

“Is Elder Whip-Sword well?”

A stock phrase. When had she ever met him to call him Elder? She was of too low a rank to even raise her face before him.

“Yes, thanks for your concern…”

Go So-jeong answered with a stock phrase of her own. Who in Wudang truly worried about her father? In this world, people had enough trouble with their own lives.

“Looks like those fellows were pestering you. Shall I give them a sharp lesson?”

Jinmyeong had seen Neung Je-gang grab her wrist, so he hurried to greet her.

Once he did, the two men pulled away. However one looked, it seemed some thugs had been harassing her.

“No, it’s fine. Thank you. By the way, is something going on with Wudang? Where are you all headed at once…?”

“You haven’t heard? The Eastern Depot in Jiangxi requested support. Seems they found another Necromancer Cult branch. It’s a nuisance—keeps stealing time from cultivation.”

Wudang was the pinnacle of Taoist orthodoxy recognized even by the imperial house. It was no exaggeration that the emperor and many imperial kinsmen were enthralled by Wudang’s Dao.

The emperor even dispatched eunuchs to Wudang so that the palace could manage its finances and administration. Hence the saying in the martial world:

-“If you want to be a Taoist who makes money, go to Wudang; if you want to be a Taoist who fights, go to Mount Hua.”

No wonder Wudang’s sword adepts were annoyed—it felt like they were summoned for every little thing.

Wudang had turned from a place of cultivation into a lackey of the authorities.

“And you, Lady Go…?”

“Oh, I’m on an errand for my father… It’s secret, so I can’t say.”

“I see. Where will you disembark?”

“Yiseong.”

“Then you get off soon. We’ll go to the Jam River’s end and take a boat to Wuhan. It’s a shame we can’t chat longer after so long. I’ll take my leave—I need to assign cabins for the youngsters.”

“Youngsters?”

“Ah, these lads are all first-timers to the martial world. I must mind them from one to ten. Then, if you’ll excuse me…”

“Ah—yes! Please go ahead.”

Hurriedly, Go So-jeong returned the bow.

‘Now that I look, they all do seem young. Hehe!’

Smiling lightly at the Wudang swordsmen, she glanced toward Neung Je-gang.

But where had he gone?

“Oh my—where did he go?”

〔Let’s not acknowledge each other until we disembark.〕

As she looked around, his sound transmission reached her.

Even so, she searched for him—and found him. As per the transmission, she didn’t acknowledge him, but she wanted to air the brief sadness she’d felt.

〔After two days of hardship together, you can just abandon me like that? Weren’t we on the same side?〕

〔There are no “same sides” in the martial world—only those whose aims align for a while.〕

〔How can you think like that… Are you saying we could become enemies?〕

She felt wronged. She thought of the Martial Alliance and herself as family, but he seemed to think they might be foes.

〔Have you already forgotten you were trying to kill me not long ago? In the martial world, depending on circumstances, one becomes enemy or ally. You say this after experiencing it yourself?〕

〔Fine—say that’s true. But for now, we are on the same side, right?〕

〔…We are.〕

〔Then why avoid them? He’s also going to strike the Necromancer Cult.〕

All who opposed the Necromancer Cult were comrades now.

〔I am Secret Shadow.〕

〔Who doesn’t know that?〕

〔If every passing person knows my face, what’s the point of being Secret Shadow?〕

〔Hohoho! It isn’t even your real face anyway. And are you calling Wudang “passing persons” right now?〕

〔Because it’s Wudang that I say it. Do you know what they’re called these days in the martial world?〕

〔…The Eastern Depot’s dogs!〕

Go So-jeong recalled what she had heard before.

〔Exactly. I’ve no wish to be linked with the Eastern Depot—or its dogs. If you understand, let’s meet after we get off at Yiseong.〕

The sound transmission cut—one-sided as always. From the start, Neung Je-gang had never treated her as a woman.

‘I hope we run into river bandits on the way.’

Then that infuriating Secret Shadow would be forced to reveal his hand.