Namgung Cheon, riding in a Sa-du-macha (four-horse carriage), chewed on beef jerky as he watched the scenery fly by.
In the distance, he could see the foothills of the Dabie Mountains. To think the day would come when he could appreciate the early autumn scenery with such a leisurely heart. It was truly a new feeling.
This is why people need to be reincarnated.
In his past life, he was so busy being chased all day that he had no time for scenery or anything else. If he looked away for even a second, his head could be rolling on the ground. He'd had no choice but to keep his eyes wide and bloodshot, watching only for other humans.
But now, he ate when he was hungry, slept when he was sleepy, and when he woke, he enjoyed the scenery in the gentle breeze.
"This is nice."
As Namgung Cheon muttered to himself, Song Wongyo and Baek Rihyang, who were sitting across from him, exchanged uncomfortable glances.
Namgung Cheon might be feeling nice, but for the two of them, it couldn't be worse.
'That goddamn bastard!'
Song Wongyo inwardly ground his teeth. If it weren't for Namgung Cheon, he'd be spending this time alone with Baek Rihyang!
'But because that bastard forced his way in…!'
Everything was ruined.
Originally, the academy didn't transport the students as a group. Instead, they had each student find their own way to the assembly point in Lajeon-hyeon (Luozhan County). The stated reason was that moving in a large group would attract the enemy's attention, but Namgung Cheon wasn't convinced.
'They're just being cheap. The "righteous faction" bastards are never honest.'
He didn't know how much the tuition was, but to make the students pay for their own travel expenses at a time like this… Did that make any sense in this day and age of four-horse carriages?
In any case, for that reason, Namgung Cheon had ended up hitching a ride in Song Wongyo's luxury carriage. Of course, it wasn't as if Song Wongyo had offered him a ride. He had been appalled when Namgung Cheon said he'd be riding with them. But in the end, he'd had no choice but to accept the "benefit" of having his history of being beaten by the official Hogu kept quiet.
And so, Namgung Cheon had begun his comfortable journey, while Song Wongyo and Baek Rihyang were on pins and needles the entire time.
As if to break the awkward atmosphere, Baek Rihyang spoke to Song Wongyo, acting as if Namgung Cheon wasn't even there.
"Song Gongja. If it's Lajeon-hyeon, that's where Da-unsan (Mount Duoyun) is, in the Dabie Mountain range… Won't it be a difficult fight?"
"It probably will. Da-unsan (Cloud-Filled Mountain), true to its name, is always shrouded in mist, making it hard to see. The terrain is also rugged, so it's been a strategic point since ancient times. In short, it's a good place for enemies to hide or set an ambush."
"I heard the enemies are a vicious band that deals in kidnapping and human trafficking. What kind of organization are they?"
"I don't know that much, either. We'll probably hear the details when we arrive in Lajeon-hyeon. But Sojeo, don't you worry. If there's an emergency, I, Song, will definitely be your strength."
"Pfft!"
In that instant, Namgung Cheon burst out laughing, spraying bits of beef jerky.
Song Wongyo's and Baek Rihyang's faces crumpled.
"You've gone too far! What kind of rude, disgusting…!"
"Ah, sorry. I laughed without meaning to."
"What's so funny!"
"Ah… well, various things. I was just thinking of old times."
"Tsk!"
Song Wongyo was boiling inside, but he just crossed his arms and whipped his head away. He wanted to start a brawl, but he'd already been beaten so thoroughly in the spar that he couldn't muster the courage.
Baek Rihyang, too, hadn't been able to treat Namgung Cheon easily since that incident.
An awkward silence fell again. This time, Namgung Cheon was the one to break it.
"Want me to tell you who those bastards are?"
"You know?"
"I know them very well."
I may not look it, but I met all kinds of scumbags while living as a fugitive in my past life.
Song Wongyo asked with a suspicious gaze, "Who are they?"
"The Gwiwangchae (Ghost King's Fortress)."
"Gwiwang… Chae?"
Song Wongyo glanced at Baek Rihyang, and she shook her head. A sign that she didn't know.
Song Wongyo, still looking suspicious, asked again. "How do you know them?"
"Well, you don't need to know that."
Namgung Cheon replied dismissively and settled back into his seat.
In truth, he had briefly taken refuge at the Gwiwangchae in his past life. Well, "taken refuge" was the nice way to put it. To be honest, it was more like he had half-forced them into submission and ruled over them for a while. The long scar on the Ghost King's cheek was one he had personally carved.
At the time, they had been acting as Uijeok (righteous bandits), with about forty members based in Da-unsan.
'Come to think of it, I was so busy running that I didn't hear any news. Have they gotten so big that the Murim Alliance has to form a subjugation squad?'
Whether they were righteous bandits or not, in the eyes of the Murim Alliance, they were just petty thieves who needed to be eliminated. The last time he'd heard news of them was three years ago, so they must have grown rapidly.
He had asked them to look after his Anga (safe house) from time to time. He wondered what had become of it. As time flows, the world changes, and people change. They might have quit their "righteous bandit" game long ago and started doing all sorts of evil deeds, like actual kidnapping.
If they had taken good care of his safe house as promised, he was thinking of saving a few of the ones he knew, if he got the chance. If not… the Murim Alliance would take care of killing them all.
As he was dredging up old memories, Song Wongyo snorted.
"Hmph. It's obvious you must have gotten your ass kicked by them at some point. Are you bragging about it? You should be ashamed."
"I never said I got my ass kicked."
"Then what, did you teach the Gwiwangchae a lesson?"
"Something like that."
"Too much bluffing is a sickness. Don't tell me you just made up the name Gwiwangchae?"
This is how it is. The instincts of a male are, for the most part, this foolish.
Like a peacock showing off its flashy feathers in front of a female, despite the risk. Right now, this bastard was conscious of Baek Rihyang sitting next to him, betting his life on his last scrap of pride.
How pitiful.
But I am not a savage beast that charges at the sight of a peacock's feathers. I am, through and through, a magnanimous person with a positive mind.
He thought about correcting the bastard's way of speaking, but because he was so magnanimous, he decided against it.
Just then, the carriage entered Lajeon-hyeon and slowly decelerated. From here, they had to walk to the Murim Alliance branch.
When the door opened, Yun Jongseung was standing there, drenched in sweat and panting. Pitifully, Yun Jongseung had followed them all the way here using his Gyeonggong. He had certainly taken over the position of Yongcheongwan's official Hogu.
Now that Song Wongyo and Baek Rihyang couldn't treat Namgung Cheon carelessly, they seemed to have become even more vicious toward Yun Jongseung.
Song Wongyo snapped at the panting Yun Jongseung. "What are you doing?"
Yun Jongseung grit his teeth and knelt on the ground. Song Wongyo sneered coldly, stepped on Yun Jongseung's back, and disembarked. Only after Baek Rihyang had also gotten down did Yun Jongseung slowly push himself up. His clenched jaw and his expression... it was more than just determination; it was venomous.
Namgung Cheon clicked his tongue as he watched him.
'Tsk, tsk. Ingwa-eungbo.'
When Namgung Cheon got down, Yun Jongseung rushed over and grabbed his arm tightly. Namgung Cheon looked at him, as if to ask 'What?'
Yun Jongseung squeezed out a voice thick with resentment. "It's true, right?"
"What is?"
"What you said! That I'll definitely get stronger if I go through hell! It's true, right? No, it has to be true. If it's not…"
Look at this guy. Did his mind check out from experiencing hell?
"If it's not?"
"I will never… endure it. Never! At that time, I'll definitely…!"
"Look. You, who used to grovel after getting hit by me a few times, are now daring to grab my arm, on the verge of unleashing Salgi (killing intent)."
"…"
"That's already amazing progress, isn't it? The very fact that you can harbor such Dokgi (venom/malice) in front of someone stronger than you is proof that you've already gotten stronger. Remember that feeling."
"...!"
"Not 'giving up,' but 'maintaining your Dokgi.' If you do, that can become the source of your strength. Haa, I should have taught this to Cheon-ie."
"What?"
Yun Jongseung frowned at the unconscious mumble.
Ttaak!
Namgung Cheon gave Yun Jongseung a solid smack on the back of the head.
"Keuk! You sshyang, what!"
"Talking back? You're not going to fix those eyes? If you're not careful, Dokgi can turn into 'giving up.' Know the difference."
"Aish, sshyang! What the hell do you want me to do?"
Ttaak!
"Keuk!"
"Hey, you bastard. If it were that easy, would it be called life? Everything is a hair's breadth. In the end, it's all about being quick-witted. Got it?"
"What the hell is this gaesori...!"
Ttaak!
"Euk!"
"If you are sincere in all things, you can hear philosophy even in gaesori."
"...Tsk!"
Finally, Yun Jongseung stopped talking back and just clicked his tongue. It seemed he was starting to get the hint.
Anyway, "philosophy in gaesori"... that sounds like nonsense, but it also sounds kind of profound, doesn't it? I'm just that good with words.
'By the way, that Song bastard is going to be shocked when he confirms the subjugation target really is the Gwiwangchae.'
"The subjugation target is an organization called 'Hyeorurim' (Blood Rain Forest)."
Huh?
Namgung Cheon's eyes went wide.
Hyeorurim? What's that?
He'd never heard of it. He was sure that three years ago, Da-unsan in the Dabie range was the Gwiwangchae.
Did they change their name? Well, Gwiwangchae was a bit of a tacky name.
He glanced back. Song Wongyo was twisting his lips, as if to say, "I knew it." He was probably convinced he had been bluffing.
Haa, look at that detestable expression. I ought to just...
No, endure for now. Just diligently save it up. Accumulate it.
As Namgung Cheon reminded himself of his forgotten diligence, Gyepllyang continued his explanation.
"At dawn tomorrow, the Murim Alliance's elite team will launch a pre-emptive strike from Geumchae-hyeon (Jinchai County), on the opposite side of the mountain. Your side will be relatively safe, so don't be too nervous and follow orders."
In other words, the main base of Hyeorurim was easier to approach from the other side of the mountain.
That's not right. The Gwiwangchae was closer from here. Don't tell me they moved their fortress, too?
Something was strange.
But, well, who cares?
His purpose in coming here was, first and last, to stop by his Anga, get his Yeongdan (elixirs), and sell his artifacts to secure ample funds.
Whether it was the Gwiwangchae or Hyeorurim, he just had to take what was his.
Now that my life has some breathing room, I'm even worrying about others. I'm just that magnanimous, when you get down to it. But isn't this a world where magnanimous people lose out? I should hurry up and narrow my heart.
The next morning, at the foot of Da-unsan.
The Yongcheongwan students gathered under the command of their instructors. A quiet tension flowed across their faces. Some were full of fighting spirit, brimming with the duty to punish evil. Some gripped their weapons tightly, trying to overcome their fear. There were those who wanted to perform a great deed and get noticed by the Murim Alliance. And there were those who wanted to use this chance to completely bury the Yongcheongwan Hogu and regain their prestige.
And…
"Ehehehe. Yeongdan. Yeongdan. Wait for me, my babies."
There was also Namgung Cheon, whose mind was in the clouds.
Among the gazes fixed intently on him were those of the genius rising star, Jo Gangmin, and his guard, Gwak Cheolju.
The instructors scanned the students and spoke in one voice.
"Move out!"
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