Episode 101

Was it the outburst of his will to live? Hwaun Gae was divulging everything he knew, except for information about the Beggars Union.

Over the course of half an hour, Yu Jinsan extracted a wealth of information from him.

This included information on Hwa Ryeong-sae, the leader of the Emei Sect, the Murim Alliance leader, along with other key figures of the Murim Alliance.

And now, the most valuable information was being revealed.

“The Murim Alliance is setting a trap to catch us?”

“Yes. Three of the Ten Great Warriors, including Warrior Jeong Hye of the Shaolin Temple, are in Hunan.”

The situation was more dire than he had anticipated.

Three of the strongest individuals in the Central Plains had begun to make their moves.

He had never imagined the Murim Alliance pursuing them so relentlessly.

Considering his granddaughter was not yet ready to face them, caution was necessary.

‘It would be best to avoid confrontation as much as possible for now. Until Seol masters the Buddhist arts.’

Yu Jinsan took out the map of Hunan he had obtained from the Black Night Clan.

Although it wasn’t as detailed as a military map, important locations and ordinary areas were clearly marked, making it easy to read.

“Mark their location here.”

Hwaun Gae, nodding, spat on his palm and rubbed his bloody fingers together.

Yu Seol, who was observing the scene, walked away with a look of disgust.

“Ah, disgusting.”

“It is actually normal for the Beggars Union to do this.”

Hwaun Gae dropped a red needle onto several spots on the map as if it were no big deal.

Yu Jinsan’s expression darkened as he noted the locations.

“Were traps set in three places?”

“Correct. Temporary branches of the Murim Alliance have been established in these three locations. As soon as you approach any of them, a battle will ensue.”

After pondering for a moment, Yu Jinsan soon stood up. This was because he had obtained all the information he needed.

“I understand now. We can go our separate ways.”

Hwaun Gae hesitated for a moment, feeling a bit uneasy for some reason.

He couldn’t believe the notorious Yin Yang Twin Monsters were letting him go this easily. Could it be that they were planning to target him once he let his guard down? All kinds of speculations ran through his mind.

“…Can I really leave just like that?”

“Even though I’m not a good guy, I’m not a murderer who kills without reason either.”

“…?”

Now that he thought about it, it felt strange. There had been many people who encountered the Yin Yang Twin Monsters and survived.

Rather, it was because of those survivors that their fame had spread rapidly throughout Kangho.

Hwaun Gae suddenly became curious.

“Rumors are indeed exaggerations. So far, only two kinds of people have died at the hands of the Yin Yang Twin Monsters. Anyone could tell that they either committed a crime worthy of death or were trying to kill others.”

“Then why am I…?”

Yu Jinsan tilted his head.

“What? We never said we were going to kill you.”

“Didn’t you torture me?”

“If treating wounds is also considered torture, then I have nothing to say.”

“So, you’re saying you were planning on letting me go even if I didn’t cooperate?”

Yu Jinsan nodded without much thought.

From the start, he had no intention of arresting and torturing anyone in front of his granddaughter.

This man got scared and just confessed.

Hwaun Gae had this confused look, as if something had struck him.

But what could be done?

“Go ahead now. Your men must be desperately looking for you.”

“…Can you keep what happened today a secret?”

“Who am I to talk about it? Go ahead.”

Hwaun Gae had no choice but to turn around; his shoulders slumped as a sense of self-hatred flooded in.

It had to be this way since the leader of the Beggars Union was scared, begged for his life, and spilled the information.

If this rumor spread across Kangho, his life would be over.

It was when he was taking such weak steps.

“Mister, goodbye! I will definitely keep your secret! Hehe!”

Behind him, the Yin Monster was smiling and waving her hand.

For some reason, that sight made him even more anxious, but he had no choice but to remain silent.

Hwaun Gae clasped his hands together and bowed to the Yin Monster with an earnest look.

Yu Jinsan and his granddaughter had been running for half a day.

It was when they were taking a moment to catch their breath somewhere on the western side of Luoyang…

“Grandpa, where are we going?”

“We are going to Shaanxi and then back to Sichuan. To decipher the unwritten martial arts that you will learn.”

“Shaanxi? So, are we going on a boat again?”

Yu Seol liked boat rides. It might be because of her memories of their luxurious stay in the VIP room in return for defeating the pirates back then.

But going to the dock was more dangerous. Moreover, it wasn’t a wise decision to escape by slow means of transportation.

“We cannot go on a boat now because it’s dangerous. There are these wolf-like men looking for us, so we need to move quietly.”

“Then how do we get there?”

Even so, it was something Yu Jinsan continued to think about.

According to the plan, they had to go through the temporary branch of the Murim Alliance set up near Hamgok Hall.

Then there was only one way.

“Can you see that big mountain there?”

“Yes. Why?”

“We need to get over it.”

It was the Geumyang Mountain located near the border of Hunan and Shaanxi.

The mountain there was so rugged and steep that it was impossible for ordinary people to climb over it.

Even for most warriors, it was treacherously dangerous to the extent that their lives would be at risk, but for the Ying Yang Twin Monsters, it posed no problem, aside from being a nuisance.

“Ehhh…”

Climbing mountains wasn’t a pleasant thing.

Yu Jinsan patted his sulking granddaughter’s back, trying to persuade her.

“Do you know what is beyond this mountain?”

“What is there?”

“They say there’s a mysterious place no one has ever visited.”

Initially indifferent, Yu Seol’s eyes widened with curiosity.

“A mysterious place?”

“Yes. Maybe there’s even treasure there…”

Having made up her mind, Yu Seol pulled on her grandfather’s hand before he could finish speaking.

“Let’s go!”

“Y-yes.”

The two held hands and began to run without another thought, towards the rough mountain range rising through the clouds.

Tattatat!!

Their agile movements, as they climbed the cliff, would make even a tiger envy.

They sprinted up the mountain, crossing dozens of ridges, running endlessly.

Everything was going according to plan, but Yu Jinsan had one concern.

‘What do I do about this mysterious place?’

What he told Yu Seol was a lie.

Obviously, what he told his granddaughter was a fabrication.

The map only showed a strangely shaped forest with a question mark on it.

Crossing the mountain to pass through that place would finally lead them into Shaanxi.

After wandering around for a while, the fateful hour arrived.

The top of the last peak.

Yu Seol asked while looking at the vast scenery below the mountain.

“Grandpa, where is the treasure?”

A village consisting of houses was visible, and in front of it was this vast forest stretching out endlessly.

Yu Jinsan, exhausted, grabbed his waist and looked away.

“This… I think we took the wrong way.”

Where they came was right. There just wasn’t any mysterious place, as promised.

Yu Seol said, staring at her grandpa with suspicion.

“Then let us go back.”

“How can we get back now? Oh, oh my waist! It has been a while since I overused my body, I am dying here.”

How could they consider returning the same way they came after coming all this way?

Yu Jinsan muttered under his breath as he took the lead.

“Let’s head down. It must be somewhere in that forest.”

“Are you sure?”

“Of course! When has Grandpa’s intuition ever been wrong?”

“No, never~”

Seeing his granddaughter’s tone soften, it seemed she was easily deceived.

Descending rapidly to the base of the mountain, they approached the forest directly.

There was no time to relax, as they needed to pass through before sunset.

Suddenly, Yu Seol stopped, having spotted something.

“Over there.”

Her index finger pointed at an old man with white hair, clutching a staff, staring intently at them.

Strange children had come to a village where no path was evident, so naturally, he was curious. He noticed signs of martial arts training in the old man but didn’t find it peculiar.

‘Kangho is vast, and many have withdrawn from the wars. It’s fine that he happens to be where we need him.’

As Yu Jinsan and his granddaughter moved hand in hand, the old man gave them a menacing look.

“Who are you people? How did you come to this village?!”

Yu Seol pointed towards the mountain range behind her.

“We came from that mountain there.”

The old man looked up at the mountain, his expression one of shock.

“How can people come from there?”

“It is true, Grandfather. But is there treasure in that forest?”

Upon hearing the word ‘forest,’ the old man’s eyes began to tremble with fear.

“You must never go into that forest again!”

“Why?”

The old man shook his head, as if recalling something unpleasant. His gaze couldn’t stay fixed. It was clearly not the demeanor of a normal person.

“If you enter the Ghost Forest, you will all die. Do not ever go in!”

Yu Jinsan stepped forward and asked.

“Ghost Forest? Can you elaborate?”

“Everyone who went in there died… everyone… If you enter the Ghost Forest, the White Bone Witch will kill you.”

The old man mumbled to himself as he walked away.

Yu Jinsan felt a chill, but that was all.

He didn’t believe in ghosts. Moreover, what was there to fear when they were warriors?

Moreover, to enter Shanxi, one had to pass through it.

Without hesitation, they stepped into the Ghost Forest.

A dense forest, with trees shrouded in fog, stretched out endlessly.

“…”

Strangely enough, Yu Seol had remained silent.

Was she feeling down after the old man left? Perhaps getting out of the forest quickly and having some delicious food would cheer her up.

“Hurry up. In the forest, you can lose your mind at night. It’s better to get out before the sun sets.”

“…”

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

“I’m scared.”

“You’re scared?”

When he turned, her face looked odd. This was his granddaughter, who didn’t blink even with a thousand warriors in front of her.

“What if a ghost comes…?”

Yu Seol shook her arms and legs as if shivering.

Even though she wasn’t scared of people, ghosts frightened her.

“There are no ghosts in the world, only those who pretend to be.”

“Really…?”

“Yes.”

As they ventured deeper, he felt the air change.

Even this eerie feeling, which cause was unknown.

At that moment, Yu Seol, who had been looking around, mumbled in a trembling voice.

“Grandpa, why aren’t there any animals here?”

They had gone quite deep but couldn’t find even traces of footprints, let alone hear an animal howl.

He was just about to shake off the strange feeling that there were only the two of them in this vast land.

“It looks like the sun is already setting. I guess we need to camp.”

In the deep forest, even warriors have no choice but to be stranded. During the day, they could move by looking at the sun and shadows, but at night, directions couldn’t be found.

As Yu Jinsan squatted near a tree, his granddaughter snuggled up next to him and crossed her arms.

“…Give me some beef jerky.”

After handing the beef jerky he had brought with him to the child, Yu Jinsan leaned back against the tree.

“Eat and take a nap. We will leave the moment the sun rises.”

“…Yes.”

As the day grew darker, the hazy fog became thicker and thicker.

Yu Jinsa closed his eyes for a moment, waiting for morning to arrive.

How much time has passed? He could feel the child pressing herself close to him.

“Grandpa, Grandpa, wake up.”

“…Why?”

“There’s a ghost there.”

It seemed like something white was gradually appearing where Yu Seol’s index finger pointed.

Immediately, he concentrated his qi on his eyes and looked into the wind.

“…?!”

About 50 feet away.

A woman dressed in torn white clothes was seated on a tree branch, her long hair touching her legs.

And more than anything, those bright red eyes were so odd. Normally, humans were supposed to have black and white parts in their eyes, but he couldn’t see anything like that.

The most creepy thing was her skinny face.

She had a very angry look on her face, but strangely enough, her mouth was smiling.

“D-don’t worry. Grandpa will protect you.”

Yu Seol had already hidden behind her grandpa’s back.

Even though Yu Jinsan had faced many hardships, his heart couldn’t help but pound at this moment.

Gripping the Dragon Slayer Spear, he slowly walked towards her, step by step.

At that moment, a cool breeze appeared from somewhere and swept through the forest.

Whoosh!

At that moment, he heard his granddaughter’s trembling tone.

“…Be careful, Grandpa. Her clothes didn’t move when the wind blew just now.”

Even in this situation, she had such insight.

If her clothes didn’t move in the wind, it could only mean one of two things—a martial artist with enough internal qi to prevent the wind from reaching her body, or, indeed, a ghost without a physical form.