35 — No Turning Back Now (1)

In front of the west gate of Chang’an City, officials wielding clubs cleared the path.

“Make way now!”

Behind them, the procession of government troops continued.

Black armor, flat helmets, and red combat uniforms. At first glance, it was the uniform of a royal inspector tasked with inspecting officials.

Onlookers constantly flocked to the left and right sides of the road, whispering.

“What’s happening?”

“It’s the officials. Haven’t you heard of the grim reapers who capture corrupt officials?”

“Over there!”

From about halfway through the procession, endless rows of prisoners appeared. Even at a glance, the hundreds of people aroused the curiosity of the onlookers.

“They’ve caught so many?”

“Are they rebels or something?”

As the gate neared, one of the prisoners at the front began to struggle.

He was a man with a bloated body, a fat physique, and eyes buried in his flesh.

“These people, how dare they handle me like this! If I have sinned, it’s because I was deceived by those guys!”

His eyes were directed at a middle-aged man with a face full of scars, who looked shocked and scared.

“It’s unfair! That man demanded payment for everything! Even the clothes we wore! We all just did as we were told!”

“What? You little… What did you just say?”

As if they had been waiting for it, the former officials and the prisoners from the Merchant Chamber glared at each other and exchanged curses.

Perhaps it was because the prisoner’s voice had grown louder, but the commander of the investigation unit at the front raised one hand.

When the procession halted, he turned around and let out an annoyed yell.

“Silence those dirty mouths so they don’t cause any more trouble!”

At that signal, the soldiers with clubs in hand began to beat the prisoners. There was no mercy in their strikes.

Puak! Puak!

“Kuak!”

“Ack!”

There were no exceptions, from the highest officials caught to the merchants, all who had committed evil acts with them and their subordinates.

One by one, they were covered in blood, and they screamed in pain.

Meanwhile, an old man watched the scene with a meaningful expression from among the residents.

It was Yu Jinsan, carrying his sleeping granddaughter on his back.

“At least those two will have a hard time.”

There was no need to continue watching. With the ledger he provided, they would have no escape.

After achieving his goal, Yu Jinsan turned and walked away.

He was covered by a bamboo hat and held a spear disguised as a staff, with a bundle tied to the end.

The sound of his granddaughter’s breathing continued softly on his back.

Was it said that children sleep a lot? She had been asleep for more than half a day, despite the noise.

‘I wonder if those bandits made it there safely. I need to quickly find a place to settle down.’

Unlike the bandits who didn’t leave Shaanxi, he left because of the ledger. It had been a month since he had wandered.

This was because the warriors of Mount Hua and Wudang were tracking them with enraged eyes, so they couldn’t move freely.

A wanted poster spread, which showed him fighting with the head of the Merchant Chamber. And he was pointed out to be the mastermind who planned the entire thing.

His heavy steps moved aimlessly, without any determination in mind.

‘Now, I have an irreversible relationship with the Murim Alliance. The forces opposing them could be on my side then.’

Since the Demonic Cult had fallen and disappeared, the forces that could confront them were limited. A world of free-spirited power and self-reliance. Wasn’t one of the Evil Sect’s sacred sites not far from here?

Going there wasn’t the first time he had thought about it.

He was worried that it might negatively impact the child’s growth because it was a place full of warlike and rough warriors.

But nothing was more important than immediate survival.

‘I guess now is not the time to be reckless.’

---

Ho County, a sacred site for both the Evil Sect and the Murim Alliance, wasn’t open to just anyone.

Every street he passed felt like a lawless zone.

It was surprising that civilians were living here without concern.

But there was a good reason for this.

The Evil Way Alliance, an association of four clans, didn’t allow anyone to harm the people of Ho County.

If the population decreased, the village’s economy would suffer, leading to the sacred place’s collapse.

Tak!

The sound of a butcher chopping off a chicken’s head echoed.

“Now it’s five coins for a chicken!”

“We are selling freshly slaughtered pork!”

Customers were everywhere. Although it was a bit messier compared to other villages, it was lively all around.

Yu Seol, riding on her grandfather’s back, was busy looking around.

“Hmm. Cokruko dead!”

Yu Jinsan responded with a happy smile.

“It looks like our Seol is sad that the chicken died.”

“Oh my…”

He couldn’t help but laugh at this; she was a child who liked chickens the most.

It was impossible to count how many chickens had entered her stomach until now.

“Haha. Do not be sad. I am sure it went to a good place.”

“Where is good place?”

That question was a bit difficult to explain.

At that time, a guesthouse came into Yu Jinsan’s field of vision, who was wondering if it was time to eat.

“There it is! If one goes there, you will meet the chicken friend who just died now.”

“Hehe.”

She was a child who would even eat ghosts. The thought of eating delicious food made her feel better.

The appearance of the guesthouse seen from the outside was no different from other places, but the atmosphere inside had changed.

Two tables were attached at the center, around which dozens of men gathered, betting on arm wrestling.

“Hahaha! I won this time.”

“Damn it!”

“Next challenger?”

The noisy Evil Sect members contrasted sharply with the gentle Justice Factions.

These men had no trace of dignity or pretense about them.

Yu Jinsan quietly moved to a corner to avoid any gazes.

After ordering some food, he scanned the interior for safety, as was his custom.

Dozens of Murim warriors were present, but none posed a threat to him—until now.

“If there is a next challenger, come out! Who can handle the strength of Wei Mugang!”

“…”

Wei Mugang asked again, but no one stepped forward.

“Is there no one? Then this money…”

At that moment, someone entered the guesthouse from outside and shouted.

“I will take on the challenge!”

“…?”

A well-built man with a shiny bald head and a scar running diagonally across his face entered. He looked intimidating.

A look of tension appeared on Yu Jinsan’s face as he watched from afar. At first glance, the newcomer was a skilled warrior who seemed quite strong.

He walked to the center of the guesthouse, sat down directly opposite Wei Mugang, and then stretched out his hand.

“Let’s try it again.”

Wei Mugang sighed as if he recognized him. Most of the friendly-looking people appeared to be regulars at this establishment.

“Baek Hyung, aren’t you doing too much? Why do you want to get involved in kids’ fights?”

“I just want to try once. I’ll use just one finger. If I lose, I will pay ten times.”

“What’s there to say after losing?”

“Ah, of course! What do you think, Baek Gyu?”

The onlookers thought that Wei Mugang now had the upper hand. No matter how they considered it, they found it ridiculous to try with just one finger.

And as expected, Wei Mugang gained the upper hand as soon as the confrontation began.

Baek Gyu frowned, holding on even though it seemed he was on the verge of losing.

“Baek Hyung, what will you do now? You have to see it through to the end; don’t blame me.”

“Oh my, go easy on me.”

It was at that moment that everyone thought Wei Mugang had secured the victory.

Only Yu Jinsan, who was observing with interest from a corner, shook his head from side to side as though he couldn’t believe it. He knew what Baek Gyu was capable of.

In Murim arm wrestling, internal qi was more crucial than physical strength. Baek Gyu’s rebellious qi far surpassed that of Wei Mugang.

And as expected, bit by bit, Baek Gyu’s feigned weakness became apparent, and he narrowly overpowered Wei Mugang.

“Yah! There it goes!”

Kuung!

“Euk! I lost again.”

Wei Mugang sighed as he handed over a coin and stepped back.

No one stepped forward readily. Perhaps they deduced that there was no point since even the strongest had been defeated.

Some of the surrounding warriors looked displeased.

“Who can defeat the Clan Leader? Why bother when children are just toying around…”

“Look now, Baek Hyung. Even a Clan Leader has a dignity to uphold.”

Despite their words, Baek Gyu smiled brightly, as if unconcerned.

“Hahaha! What does dignity matter to us, the Evil Sect, who live for today? Just have fun and don’t regret a thing!”

“Ugh. Who will defeat the Clan Leader?”

At that moment, Baek Gyu, who had laughed heartily, suddenly stopped, as if his laughter had been a lie. Then he placed his index finger on his lips, signaling for silence.

“…?”

Everyone regarded him with curious eyes. As attention focused on him, he whispered.

“There is someone here.”

All the warriors in the guesthouse looked puzzled.

“Uh?”

“Who?”

“Who would dare challenge the Clan Leader after he defeated the strongest?”

At that time, his index finger that had been on his lips slowly moved and pointed to someone at the farthest corner table in the guesthouse.

Someone who was quietly having their meal with a child.

Judging by his white hair beneath his bamboo hat, one could assume that he was not young.

“Do you know who he is?”

Yu Jinsan’s hand, which was trying to feed his granddaughter, stiffened in the air because he realized he was pointing at him..

Baek Gyu continued to speak, making him nervous.

“I am sure you are all familiar with the incident that happened in Jinyang County not long ago.”

How could they not know? This was a story that had been greatly talked about among the people of Shaanxi and Murim.

Kangho was in an uproar because the Taoists from the Mount Hua Sect and the men from the Wudang Sect had all perished due to someone’s trick. Because of that incident, the Murim Alliance was in a panic, trying to catch the evil beast. Maybe he guessed it from the wanted poster.

Yu Jinsan secretly grabbed the spear with his hand hidden under the table.

‘I have been avoiding it all this while, but I got caught today.’

It was the worst situation. He didn’t know how Baek Gyu knew, but the situation was odd.

And Baek Gyu’s next words were as expected.

He clenched his fists and shouted, pretending to hit someone.

“The one who defeated the Wudang and Mount Hua Sects in one strike.”

Kuak!

It was the sound of Yu Jinsan grasping the spear. Just as he was ready to act, the people in the place stood up.

At that moment, a completely different reaction than he had imagined followed.

Applause erupted.

“Woah! Is it really him?”

“Haha, it cannot be.”

“The great warrior is the hero of the Evil Sect!”

“I respect you, great warrior! I felt so happy when I heard about it!”

Even though he had troubled the Murim Alliance, he was being called a great warrior. It was the first time he had been called this in decades.

Yu Jinsan, who was dazed, couldn’t get used to this.

The tension was so extreme that he momentarily forgot about it. This place was considered sacred by the Evil Sects, which despised the Justice Sects.

Feeling embarrassed, he relaxed and released the grip on the spear in his hand.

“…”

At that moment, Bek Gyu extended his palm towards Yu Jinsan.

“Now, great warrior. Will you accept Baek Gyu’s challenge?”

Yu Jinsan let out a meaningless sigh.

‘This is totally insane. Arm wrestling at this age?’