Crossing The River Of Years (2)

At first, Neung Je-gang drove the carriage. The two, who had assumed they would take turns, went inside and sat.

It was quiet. Majil fidgeted, unsure where to look at the thought of being alone with Go So-jeong in such a tight space, while Go So-jeong had been unable to speak ever since her heart started pounding again the moment she saw Neung Je-gang appear driving the carriage.

Perhaps stifled by the mood, Majil began regulated breathing. He resumed training the Metal True Energy that he had neglected. Go So-jeong also sat like Majil and entered cultivation to steady her racing heart.

“Heh-heh…!”

Leisurely guiding the carriage, Neung Je-gang read everything happening inside. When the two entered cultivation, he gave a satisfied smile. He had insisted on driving precisely to create this situation.

They stopped at suitable times to eat, then continued the journey. Neung Je-gang seemed to enjoy driving and never yielded the seat. Thanks to that, even as darkness crept in and the night deepened, Majil and Go So-jeong were not tired at all and were brimming with vigor.

Near the end of Haeshi (around 9–11 p.m.), the carriage finally stopped. It entered a small village. It was shabby, but there was an inn.

While they were securing a room, for some reason Neung Je-gang went to the innkeeper to speak with him. Then he received something, and the two parted with satisfied looks.

Back in the room, Neung Je-gang called to Majil and Go So-jeong, who had washed up.

“Are you tired? Majil, are you tired?”

“No.”

“I’m not. Why do you ask?”

“If you’re not tired, let’s set out.”

“…Pardon?”

Majil was the type to go if the chief said go, but Go So-jeong was startled by the sudden proposal.

“W-why?”

“Didn’t Miss Go say it herself? Light-foot movement will be faster. So from now on we’ll travel by lightness-skill.”

“S-so that’s why you drove alone? So the two of us wouldn’t get tired?”

Neung Je-gang smiled again. Seeing it, Go So-jeong realized the smile he’d shown in the morning had been a triumphant grin in anticipation of this very moment. That ridiculous smile had set her heart racing.

“Chief, then the carriage…?”

“I already sold it to the innkeeper. We can buy another in a village we reach around dawn. If we travel by carriage in the day and by lightness-skill at night, we’ll arrive far sooner than expected.”

“Ruthless.”

“Heh-heh-heh! We’ve always known the chief is ruthless.”

At Majil’s comment, Go So-jeong resolved to ask him about Neung Je-gang’s past.

At any rate, they were about to run in the middle of the night.

Quanzhou, Guangxi Province.

Arriving in sweltering Quanzhou, the party decided to rest for a bit because the horses were panting from the heat.

They pulled the carriage up before a place called the Quanzhou Inn.

“Welcome!”

Before the carriage even reached the entrance, someone ran up and took the reins.

Go So-jeong and Majil stepped down as the carriage door opened.

The man who had taken the reins glanced at Neung Je-gang’s and Majil’s faces and tilted his head, as if wondering whether master and driver had switched places. Then his eyes went wide when he saw Go So-jeong.

“We’ll rest a bit—give the horses plenty of feed.”

Majil took a few coins from his breast and tossed them over—feed and a tip.

Bowing deeply, the man hurried off with the horses and carriage.

The party entered the Quanzhou Inn. As soon as they sat, a waiter came running.

“What would you like to order?”

“Do you serve Bingtang Xianglian?”

Go So-jeong ordered Bingtang Xianglian. She had tried it once when they passed Dongting Lake, and since then, smitten by its sweetness and coolness, she ordered it whenever they went to an inn.

“Yes.”

“Then bring us that.”

Thanks to Go So-jeong, they once again enjoyed cool Bingtang Xianglian.

After paying, the party stepped outside toward the stable area. But neither the carriage nor the man who had promised to take care of it was anywhere to be found.

“You there, boy!”

They hurried back into the inn and called for the waiter.

“What is it?”

“Where are our horses and carriage?”

“What…? Did you leave your horses and carriage with our inn?”

The boy asked as if baffled.

“We certainly did!”

“I’ll ask around and return.”

He went inside, spoke with several staff, and returned.

“They say no horses or carriages were received today.”

“We told you we left them!”

Majil barked, glaring.

The boy shrank back but still replied,

“Even so, we never received them. Perhaps you left them at another inn and then came here instead?”

Despite his fear, the boy had the nerve to speak plainly.

Thinking it possible, they searched the nearby inns. But the horses, carriage, and the man who had taken the reins were nowhere.

“Unbelievable!”

“Indeed! Who would dare steal from the Secret Shadow himself? Ho-ho-ho!”

Go So-jeong seemed more delighted at Neung Je-gang being tricked than upset about the loss.

“No choice. We’ll have to buy another.”

Though he wanted to catch the thief, there was no time.

They headed to the horse market in Quanzhou. And to their shock—their stolen horses and carriage were right there waiting for a new owner.

“Where did you get this?”

Neung Je-gang asked a merchant.

“I bought it not long ago. Why?”

“This was stolen from us. Do you know who sold it to you?”

“Oh, I know him. He sells horses often. But best pretend you don’t—it’s safer for you.”

“Why?”

Go So-jeong asked.

“Because that fellow’s with the Black Alliance.”

“The Black Alliance! Why would one of them stoop to horse-thieving?”

“That’s his trade. Anyway, if you want to find him, go to Dongpa Ridge. That’s his den.”

“Where is Dongpa Ridge?”

“Follow the main road until the second fork, then take the left. The pass you’ll find there—that’s it. The path is very narrow, so beware.”

“I’ll buy back the horses and carriage.”

He repurchased them at a higher price than before and drove out of Quanzhou.

Once the party had left, the thief himself appeared behind the merchant.

“Well done.”

“Enough of these pranks. Aren’t you ashamed, being a member of the Black Alliance?”

The merchant scolded.

Surprisingly, they seemed well acquainted.

“Ha! It’s fun. You earned money, too, didn’t you? And that woman—wasn’t she beautiful? You know how rare it is to see such a woman.”

“So that’s why?”

“Of course. I’ve already arranged with Brother Yuk to take her. He has no interest in women—perfect for this.”

“If it’s Yuk Cheon-u, then he can be trusted. Still don’t know why he never joined the Black Alliance.”

“Some men just refuse to serve under others. Anyway, until next time.”

Waving, he followed after Neung Je-gang’s party. The townsfolk greeted him warmly, even the inn’s waiters—clearly they all knew him. Neung Je-gang’s group had been made fools of in Quanzhou.

“Is this the place? Are we just leaving it be?”

“We don’t have time.”

“Even so, aren’t you angry after what they did?”

Just as the merchant had said, they reached the second fork. The left road led to Dongpa Ridge.

Go So-jeong pressed to go vent her anger there, but Neung Je-gang didn’t want the commotion.

“We’re almost at the Black Alliance’s base. Even the Necromancer Cult wouldn’t dare appear here. How long will it take just to catch a thief?”

At her insistence, Neung Je-gang finally raised a hand.

“No need. Someone’s already come to meet us.”

Majil and Go So-jeong peered out the carriage window. Figures had surrounded them, wielding fearsome slaughter-sabers.

“The Black Alliance must be lax—allowing such men to run rampant so close by.”

Go So-jeong sighed. At least the Martial Alliance kept the roads clear near its base.

“They’re no mere bandits. Do you see those blades?”

“So? They’re just big knives.”

“They’re Chamryuk-do—sabers made for severing horse necks, used by cavalry. These days they’re for butchering cattle.”

“And?”

“That means they’re Ubaekjeong—professional horse butchers. And they’ve come for us.”

“Then they’re with the Necromancer Cult?”

“We’ll see once we fight. If they throw away their lives and charge blindly, then yes.”

“Chief, let me handle this.”

“You? Confident?”

“Heh-heh! I should try the hidden weapons technique you taught me.”

“Then go ahead. But be careful—these men have lived by the blade all their lives.”

“Yes, sir. Heh-heh!”

Majil stepped out of the carriage. At last, a chance to show Go So-jeong the true face of the Blazing Flame Master.

A ball of fire formed in Majil’s palm—small, just enough to fit in his hand. He grinned, holding the blazing heat as if it were nothing.

The slaughter-saber men muttered uneasily, startled by such an unexpected art.

“Take this!”

Majil flung the flame.

One swung his saber to swat it aside, but the fire twisted mid-air and struck another instead. Clothes ignited instantly, sparks leaping to others. Chaos erupted—screams, flailing, men rolling to douse flames, only to set themselves alight trying to help.

In moments, the entire rear force was shattered by a single flame.

“Heh-heh!”

Majil laughed, satisfied. The fire bent to his will, bypassing defenses to strike where he aimed. He felt unstoppable.

〔Use your Metal True Energy and Earth True Energy as well.〕

Neung Je-gang’s voice whispered into his mind.

True Fire Energy was already strong. If he combined hidden weapons with Metal and Earth, he might even challenge experts.

〔First, stomp with Earth True Energy to raise dust, then block with Metal, then attack with True Fire. Have you tried shaping weapons with True Fire?〕

“No.”

“Forget it. Just throw flames!”

“Yes, sir.”

Neung Je-gang turned back to his front. For all his worry, Majil was still the Human-Faced Leech—once feared by all. He could fend for himself.

Still, to be safe, Neung Je-gang added.

〔Miss Go, watch over Majil. He’s still clumsy at fighting.〕

The attackers had expected to snatch a woman and cut down two men. Instead, one hurled fire and another’s hand flashed like lightning, leaving a headless corpse.

Confusion broke. When Majil had nearly finished those at the rear, the survivors panicked.

“Run!”

Those still able bolted and left, scattering. Only seven charred corpses remained. Six had fallen to Majil.

“Let’s pursue.”

Neung Je-gang said. Once begun, it had to end with the leader’s head.

“Now they flee just as I was getting used to it.”

Majil grumbled, climbing back on the carriage.

“At Dongpa Ridge, I’ll leave it to you again—let yourself loose.”

“Heh-heh, I’ll save a few for you if I get bored.”

At that, Neung Je-gang gave a wry smile.