Episode 219

“What?”

Suddenly, Ho Hyeon-gae, the leader of the Beggars Union Xi’an branch, who had been on guard duty for days around the Southern Edge mountain, perked up at the sound of the wind being cut.

Swish!

Something shot out, slicing through the air.

With great force, too.

“Oh my! It’s the enemy! Be ready….”

Before the warriors around could even finish their shouts, the dark figure landed far ahead and charged towards them.

“Damn it!”

Ho Hyeon-gae bit his lip.

This does not bode well.

There was no time to seek help from the others. What if this fast-approaching man, whose face and qi were superior, was a spy who had escaped from the Southern Edge?

Their feeble defenses would crumble easily.

They had to halt him.

But how?

Was he a warrior even Jinmu and Yang So-bang couldn’t stop?

In a matter of moments, Ho Hyeon-gae summoned all the internal qi he could muster.

He had resolved to confront the opponent at the risk of his life.

“Ahh!”

Just as he was about to swiftly draw the baton from his waist and execute the technique of Batting a Dog, known to strike like a dog.

Tak, shh.

Before he could retrieve the stick, the opponent’s hand gripped his wrist.

“Oh my!”

Ho Hyeon-gae was bewildered and unable to react.

“Ho Hyeon-gae!”

“…?”

A familiar voice reached his ears, and now the face was visible.

“Taoist… Jinmu?”

“It’s been a while.”

“Yes!”

Ho Hyeon-gae’s face lit up at the sight of Jinmu.

A Wudang swordsman who trod the challenging path, a hero at heart. How pleasant it was to see him again?

Furthermore, he had already heard of Jinmu’s accomplishments.

Rescuing the Courageous Valor Troops, exposing corruption in Xi’an city, and the spy from the Southern Edge.

Did age matter? He simply admired this man.

“But Sword of Wudang, what about the Elder?”

“To explain fully would take time. We lack time now, so Ho Hyeon-gae, sir, you must assist me.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

Ho Hyeon-gae beamed at those words.

“What is it? I will do my utmost to assist!”

“……”

What is this burdensome reaction?

After meeting Jinmu in Xi’an, Ho Hyeon-gae would boast to his subordinates whenever he had the chance.

I know that remarkable person. They are amiable.

Could it be that this remarkable individual not only recognizes him but also requests his help?

And all this while his subordinates are watching.

Jinmu thought it best to witness Ho Hyeon-gae’s excessively shocked reaction.

I was contemplating initiating a cooperative effort if he did not comply.

“By any chance, have people descended from the Southern Edge?”

“Uh? From this direction, it is the Sword of Wudang who arrived first…?”

“What about other locations?”

“Well, well. There is no report of an enemy being sighted…”

“Then, please survey the entire perimeter. There may be individuals who have fled from there.”

“Now?”

“Yes.”

He wondered why, but what could he do when a hero requested it?

‘We will strive to furnish you with a prompt response?’

“Very well. Kindly wait. We will ascertain it shortly.”

Ho Hyeon-gae promptly replied and instructed his subordinates to investigate.

In the midst of that.

“At present, the entire perimeter near Southern Edge mountain is occupied by 100 swordsmen, 200 members of the Beggars Union, and 200 warriors from various small and medium sects forming a dual blockade. And….”

Feeling compelled to say something until the report arrived, Ho Hyeon-gae began to elaborate.

The total number of assembled individuals was 500.

He claimed it was done swiftly, but this was quite a substantial force.

Yet, he could not relax.

These are individuals who carry out three tasks. Given that the individual named Oh Kyung is known as the leader in Xi’an city, the person hiding at the Southern Edge must hold a higher rank. If that’s the case, he must possess exceptional hiding skills.

However, the total number of people who accompanied Mok Chun to the Southern Edge was five.

Since not everyone in Murim possesses strong skills, escaping wouldn’t be simple, and it would surely leave traces behind.

“A-and…”

Ho Hyeon-gae excitedly and hesitantly explains until an interruption occurs.

Ah, why drag on with such irrelevant details?

Stop. Cease the rambling.

And why the nonchalant shrug and scanning of the surroundings?

Around this time, the explanations started to become tedious.

“Branch Leader!”

A beggar returns with news.

“A person has been spotted entering the area from the north of Southern Edge. His name is Mok Chun, and he is a chef in the Southern Edge Sect…”

I’ve found you, you little rascal!

“When did he arrive?”

When Jinmu inquired, Ho Hyeon-gae appeared flustered.

“… Uh?”

What’s the matter with you? Can’t you speak?

Jinmu glared at them fiercely.

“So, a little over…”

“You meant north, right?”

“… Yes. But why?”

That should be sufficient. He couldn’t have gone far.

Mok Chun likely wandered around, taking note of the defensive perimeter.

Yang So-bang must have given instructions, so he wouldn’t risk sneaking out.

A faint smile appeared on Jinmu’s lips.

“Ho Hyeon-gae!”

“Yes!”

“Please relay a message. We must capture them at all costs.”

“…The perimeter?”

“……”

The perimeter?

I’m explaining all this; please pay attention at least.

“He is the leader of the Palace troops that infiltrated the Southern Edge!”

“…!”

As soon as he finished, Ho Hyeon-gae’s dazed eyes widened as Jinmu sprinted towards the North.

“Send the message! Hurry!”

Ho Hyeon-gae quickly summoned his subordinates and followed Jinmu, but in the brief time that passed, he lost sight of him.

“Huh, that was quick… how can we catch up with him?”

Upon reaching the northern peak of the mountain, Jinmu noticed a shift in the formation to the north, likely due to the message from Ho Hyeon-gae.

Upon receiving the message, the pursuers from the Beggars Union set off to chase Mok Chun.

Jinmu easily located the pursuers and approached Shin Haeng-gae from the Beggars Union.

“What’s going on?”

“Well, people emerged from the Southern Edge with the formation expanded, so the Beggars Union was deployed on all sides. They claimed to be gathering ingredients and we guided them to Xi’an.”

Good. That would suggest they didn’t openly use martial arts.

Moreover, if he was on foot, even with some distance gained, he could still be caught…

Wait, Xi’an? The city of Xi’an?

Why? Oh Kyung from Xi’an is already deceased, right? He must be aware of that.

Jinmu furrowed his brow.

If they enter Xi’an, or anywhere nearby, the situation would escalate.

Most fools believe it’s harder to find someone hiding in a city than in the mountains.

Damn it, I wasted so much time because of those people from the Southern Edge.

If I had acted a bit faster, I would have had the spy in my grasp.

“Beggar Shin Haeng.”

“……”

At Jinmu’s call, the man turned to him with a puzzled expression.

“What is it?”

“Please just call me Shin Haeng.”

“……”

“That sounds a…”

I don’t see what the issue is.

I even added the title “Beggar” to it.

“Is it feasible to encircle the entire city of Xi’an if we deploy our forces?”

“The whole city?”

“Yes.”

Beggar Shin Haeng looked skeptical at Jinmu’s proposal.

Xi’an is not small…

“I don’t have the power and we don’t have numbers. I don’t know if we can get help from the officials.”

“Officials?”

“Yes. The cooperation with the officials has been established due to the corruption at the Dongrim Money Hall.”

“Then that’s it. Please call the officials for help.”

“That…”

What now?

“It has to be approved by the Murim Alliance.”

That isn’t possible now.

No matter how fast a pigeon is, it will take a day for it to reach and then for the Murim Alliance to inform the officials and for them to move.

Right now, not a second could be wasted.

If they changed their appearance and disappeared while they were still contacting each other, then they would escape.

There is a faster way….

“What if we get help from the military?”

“Military?”

“Yes.”

“Then it’s enough. The number of troops in Xi’an alone would be close to 5,000.”

“Right. First of all, Shin Haeng… Please tell them to send all the military personnel who are around to Xi’an city. We need to surround them tightly so they don’t escape from there. Also, please keep a close watch to see if there are any pigeons moving from Xi’an.”

“……”

Pigeon? In Xi’an?

Such insane talk.

He wanted to shout asking how they could monitor all that, but he couldn’t meet Jinmu’s eyes.

“…Ah, right. I get it. Then, as the Sword of Wudang said….”

Before Shin Haeng even had time to ask, Jinmu left the place.

His back was turned in an instant….

“Is that the direction where the man is? Is it possible that the Wudang warrior has a means to move the military? The officials and military are different….”

As Shin Haeng tilted his head, Ho Hyeon-gae came running hard.

“Branch Leader.”

“Euk, huff, Sword of Wudang? Huff….”

“He left?”

“I-is that so? W-well, he is fast. What did he say?”

“Lift the defense, surround Xi’an, and monitor the entire Xi’an….”

“Okay?”

“Yes.”

“…What are you doing?”

“…Uh?”

“The order has been issued.”

“……”

“Won’t you run now?”

Ho Hyeon-gae was acting strangely, glaring at Shin Haeng.

As the troops began moving to Xi’an, under the pressure of Ho Hyeon-gae and the swift efforts of Shin Haeng, Jinmu visited the Guards’ Garrison near Xi’an.

Wheik.

Wearing a mask, the merchant of justice returned to Bang Man-pyung.

To collect the remaining money he hadn’t received before.

Even though the purpose is to request a favor in exchange for the money.

An alcohol street in Xi’an.

This old tavern situated at the street’s end.

It has been around for over a hundred years, operating in Xi’an for three generations.

However, the current owner, Wang Jeong-rak, neglected it after becoming addicted to gambling, causing it to deteriorate to the point where customers now avoid it.

The door of the establishment had fallen off, the upper hinges were down, causing it to hang precariously, and the tables inside were wobbling as if they could collapse at any moment.

Nod, nod.

Today, Wang Jeong-rak, who had lost a lot in gambling, was drunk and dozing off.

Shhh.

“You in?”

Someone opened the door and entered.

“Uh? Chef Mok Chun?”

Wang Jeong-rak, accustomed to guests stopping by for ingredients, recognized this customer with a sour expression.

“Aren’t you doing business?”

“I am, but… would you like a drink?”

“Just one.”

“It’s nothing. You drink well.”

It had been a while since there were any customers.

Meanwhile, Wang Jeong-rak’s mood brightened upon hearing that Mok Chun, a friend of his, was bringing people over for drinks.

He intended to head straight to the gambling den once he settled the tab for the drinks.

“It’s settled. Drinks and snacks are also available at a dozen coins. It’s a festive time. I can’t lower it any further.”

“……”

Observing Wang Jeong-rak’s expression, he realized bargaining wouldn’t be effective.

Clank.

Wang Jeong-rak’s face brightened as the coins were placed on the table.

“This man cut the prices of things like a thin cloth.”

Wang Jeong-rak, who swept in the coins, smiled brightly, showing his yellow teeth.

“You have a room?”

“Room?”

Odd.

It is strange that Mok Chun, who was from Southern Edge, wanted a room.

But wasn’t he a valuable source of information for his gambling?

“How many days will you stay?”

“For a day or two.”

“It is ten per person.”

“……”

“…Come on…”

Clank.

“Oh my, thank you so much!”

Wang Jeong-rak opened his mouth as wide as a pumpkin and took the coins.

“Yah, there’s a room if you go back there. It might be shabby but still worth it.”

“Thank you.”

Mok Chun smiled brightly at Wang Jeong-rak, whose eyes were filled with greed, and took a small sword from his sleeve.

“Uh? Why the knife?”

“……”

Mok Chun’s expression turned evil instead of answering the question.

“Uh, look now. Why?”

Wang Jeong-rak felt anxious as he stepped back.

Shhh.

Mok Chun’s sword cut through the air with a short sound.

Kuak!

Wang Jeong-rak’s body collapsed to the ground, blood gushing out, eyes wide with shock.

“60 coins? It will be enough to pay for your life.”

Mok Chun wiped the blood off his sword and looked down at the body.

“Will this be alright?”

Mok Chun nodded at the subordinate’s question.

Wang Jeong-rak, a bar owner known to pick fights.

On top of that, he turns mischievous when he drinks, so his wife ran away early, and now he wasn’t much cared for.

Even if he vanished, no one would search for him.

But it wasn’t a good idea to keep a talkative man alive. He can drink and always talk about them.

“Clean this up.”

“Yes.”

At Mok Chun’s command, the body was instantly disposed of, and the bloodstains cleaned.

Drip.

In the quiet atmosphere where the murder took place a moment ago, slow voices came and went along with alcohol.

“Soldiers from the nearby Guards’ Garrison are surrounding the outskirts of Xi’an.”

“……”

“It seems like the Justice Faction surrounding Southern Edge mountain has also stepped into Xi’an.”

Mok Chun’s expression, sitting at the head of the table, turned cold at those words.

He was a leader and in charge of the Seomseo branch of Hidden Troops, and his name was Mok Yeong.

Seven warriors including the leader of the troops.

Cheong-hae, Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hubei, Hunan, Anhui, and Hebei.

A position which sees the information of the seven where the Justice Faction and Murim Alliance are concentrated.

Due to the failure in Qingcheng, a subordinate was killed to protect the secret, and Jeok Ying, who was handling Hubei, was turned into the prisoner of the Murim Alliance by the Sword of Wudang.

There are five left now.

The Sword of Wudang and Yang So-bang came to visit Southern Edge after he was ordered to go into hiding because of the incident at the White Horse Temple.

And the investigation began right away.

Until all the Southern Edge disciples gathered at the training hall, he was wondering what could happen.

But the moment the sleeves were rolled up and checked, he realized it all.

Something had gone wrong. The blue pattern on the arm has been exposed.

If he knew that, then it meant either of the two attacked Oh Kyung.

When the Gu worm connected to Oh Kyung died, he should have run.

Mok Chun, or Mok Yeong, immediately made the excuse and escaped from Southern Edge with his subordinates, but they were intercepted by the defense circle which they were unaware of and were eventually able to escape from there and came to Xi’an after revealing they work for Southern Edge.

But time was delayed because too many beggars had followed them, claiming to guide them.

Just as he was ready to disguise and leave, the soldiers from the military and the Alliance began searching Xi’an city, and soldiers from the Guards’ Garrison began to control the entry and exit from Xi’an.

There was no time to send the pigeon.

Beggars were camped all over the rooftops of the city.

If a pigeon was used, their location would be exposed. And the pigeon could be brought down with an arrow, and the message figured out.

Suicide?

They were trained like that at the start, but not anymore.

Now he had to hurry out and report it.

“First, wait till this all calms down. Everyone pay attention to the exposure.”

“Yes.”