In the bustling tavern, people were exchanging drinks and getting drunk. The conversation, which began with words of blessing, led to lamentation and soon turned into words about world affairs.
“Did you hear that story?”
“What story?”
“Mount Hua attack Nokrim!”
“Huh? Mount Hua and Nokrim?”
The listener’s eyes widened at the unexpected news.
“What does that mean? Are you sure you’re talking about Mount Hua Sect? Mount Hua Sect from Shaanxi that wreaked havoc in the Murim Competition?”
“Tsk tsk. Is there another sect in the world? Of course, it’s that Mount Hua Sect.”
In the past, when the word ‘Mount Hua’ came out, only a few people knew about its existence, even those who say they are just hearing the news, there is no one who does not know about Mount Hua.
“Are Mount Hua Sect fighting a war against Nokrim?”
“That’s what they said.”
“Huh?”
There was a deep suspicion in people’s eyes.
“Does that make sense? Although Mount Hua has made a name for itself, wasn’t it a spar of the rising stars?”
“That’s right.”
“It’ll need at least twenty more years for those brilliant rising stars to become equal enough to lead the sect?”
Now, no one doubts Mount Hua’s future. At least it was true for those who knew Kangho’s situation.
At the Murim Competition, Mount Hua proved that their rising stars were the best in Jungwon. The ignorant paid attention to who the winner was, but those who evaluated power paid attention to how many disciples one sect posted in the top ranks.
However, proof of the future has not been a factor that makes the current Mount Hua highly valued today.
The rising stars are only rising stars.
“I heard that there are only a handful of older generations in Mount Hua.”
“I heard so. Wasn’t it literally a ruined sect?”
“Then, using those who came to the Murim Competition as the main force, you are saying that they are leading such a force to fight against Nokrim, one of the Five Great Evil Sect?
Isn’t that too much confidence just because they’re a little too successful?”
Each person clicked their tongue. It was also a natural response.
Five Great Evil Sect is a place that stands shoulder to shoulder with the Ten Great Sect. Of course, if the Ten Great Sect and the Five Great Evil Sect face off against each other, nine out of ten will raise their hand in favor of the Ten Great Sect, but that is simply because the number of sects belonging to the Ten Great Sect is greater than that of the Five Great Evil Sect.
When considering each sect, Five Great Evil Sect is never a place that can be pushed unilaterally by the Ten Great Sect.
Any sect can be burned down against a place that claims to be the head of the Ten Great Sect, such as Shaolin or Wudang, but among them the Ten Great Sect, there are places where that are weaker than the member of the Five Great Evil Sect.
The Nokrim of Five Great Evil Sect and Mount Hua hat has finally started to make a name for itself? This was something that was obvious without even looking at the estimate.
It was then.
“The story is a little different from what I have heard.”
The man sitting at the table next to them sneaked a word.
“Hmm? You are?”
“This one is just a passerby. The rumor has already spread in the big town, but it seems that the words are not yet spread here.”
The man grinned and continued.
“I heard a rebellion in Nokrim caused this.”
“Huh? Rebellion?”
People opened their eyes wide as if they were wondering what the word meant. The man spoke in a nonchalant voice.
“I heard extremists rebelling against Nokrim King and trying to take control.”
“Huh. Are you saying that among the bandits there are more vicious ones?”
“Have you heard rumors about Daebyolchae?”
“Isn’t Daebyeolchae a Stronghold in Daebyeolsan Mountain where it is said that you can’t save your life if you go in there? The notorious…….”
“As expected, you know. It’s those Daebyeolchae who did this. I heard they’re trying to make all the other Stronghold look like Daebyeolchae…..”
“Do- Does that make sense?”
The faces of the listeners turned white.
The notoriety of Daebyeolchae was widespread.
How many mountains are there in Jungwon, and how many other bandits are there? Among the Stronghold that existed, a specific Stronghold is famous? This was proof that they were so vicious.
“No, if that were true, who would be able to enter the mountain? Even if I meet a bandit, I’ll be able to get through it if I give them a fee, though it’s expensive… I’ve heard that even the powerful local governments can’t come close to the large Stronghold.”
“That’s why, isn’t that the problem? Anyway, so the Nokrim King…….”
The man who was talking coughed awkwardly as if he was thirsty. Then he glanced at the bottle on the table.
“May I have a drink?”
“Ah, of course! What are you doing? Pour him a drink!”
“Ah, yes!”
The person in front of the bottle quickly filled the man’s cup.
“Keueuh.”
The man who emptied the cup at once smiled and continued.
“That’s why the ousted current Nokrim King went to Mount Hua and asked for help. If we continue like this, it is clear that the civilians will suffer greatly, so they ask for help.”
“Huh, my god. Even though yangban is not an ordinary person.”
But some didn’t understand the word.
“But why is it Mount Hua? There’s Wudang, and there’s Shaolin. If he will give up his pride and ask for help from the Righteous Factions, there are plenty of stronger places.”
“But isn’t that Ten Great Sect?”
“…… Hm?”
The man explained with a shrug.
“Will the Ten Great Sect interfere in the affairs of the Five Great Evil Sect? Mount Hua is a Righteous Sect, but they’re not of Ten Great Sect or part of any power in the world.”
“That, that is true.”
“So Nokrim King asked them for help. After receiving the request, Mount Hua’s Sect Leader decided to organize the Nokrim after much consideration. For the good of common people.”
“Huh, that’s what happened.”
“Things are going crazy.”
Everyone exchanged glances with each other. It was a strange feeling.
‘It seems to make sense.’
‘It sounds odd.’
It sounds strange to help bandits for the sake of common people, but it wasn’t so wrong when they looked at the situation.
In particular, those who were aware of the evil deeds of Daebyolchae had to nod their heads.
“But even so, aren’t they helping the bandit?”
“Of course, but Mount Hua it’s not such a green place, is it?”
“What? What does that mean?”
“Mount Hua’s Sect Leader told Nokrim King to reduce the toll on those who travel to and from the mountains and not kill them in the future.”
“Huh…….”
“As expected, they’re a Taoist Sect. That makes sense!”
People know. It’s impossible to get rid of mountain bandits.
No matter how hard they try to punish and organize them by mobilizing government soldiers, a mountain bandit is established again when they turn their heads away.
It is because those who are tired of the officials sucking the blood of the common people and those who are unable to live with people due to their sins eventually climb up the mountain and create a new Stronghold.
Rather than clumsily getting rid of them and letting more heinous guys take their place, it was clear that taking proper care of the existing Nokchae would be less dangerous in the end.
“So you’re saying that Mount Hua is not going to sweep Nokwim, but to punish the people who revolted in it?”
“That’s what they say.”
Everyone nodded with admiration.
“But…… is it possible? Those who are strong enough to rebel and defeat Nokrim King, will Mount Hua be able to handle them…….”
The man grinned at someone’s remark.
“If you can only do what you can afford, how can you call it Righteousness? Wouldn’t it be Righteousness and Justice to handle a matter even though it’s beyond our control?”
“That’s right! Yes!”
“When I heard it, that’s true. Have you ever heard that Wudang and Shaolin did the right thing these days? This is what strong sects are supposed to do!”
“It’s fascinating. A place completely ruined and never heard of has shaken the world in just a few years!”
Each person was excited and said a word, and the place quickly became noisy again. Then the man poured all the alcohol left in the cup into his mouth and quietly got up from his seat.
After leaving the tavern, he secretly looked left and right and went into the back alley.
In the back alley, beggars lay on mats. The man took a short breath and shouted.
“Wake up, you bastards!”
“Oh, you’re here, Sahyung?”
“Ugh.”
The man who saw the mat distorted his face. He wanted to sit right away, but he couldn’t because he was afraid his clothes would get dirty.
“How was it?”
“How was it? I’ve been begging for food all my life, this isn’t a big deal at all!”
“Kekekek. It must be nice to be good at talking. You’ve even tried on Jangsam we would never ever have.”
“Noisy.”
The man sighed as stroked the hem of his long Jangsam.
“Keueu. Today alone, I have to go around five more inns. Buntaju said he would check every single one of them.”
“Aren’t you eating and drinking something good instead?”
“If I didn’t have that, I would have already run away! Come on, here it is.”
“Hey! You brought it with you again, huh? This is why I can’t abandon Sahyunh.”
When the man took out the food he had been sneaking into his sleeves, the beggars jumped in joyfully.
“Is it worth it?”
“How difficult would it be to tell only the truth in a place where even phrases are made up and sold? It’s just that my mouth hurts.”
“Mount Hua has become such a great place in the meantime.”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
The huddled beggars munched on their food and expressed their appreciation for Mount Hua.
Although it was not in the intentions of Beggar Union and Hong Dae-gwang, those who carried the rumors were slowly building up their affinity for Mount Hua.
“Should this be considered an act of Justice?”
“I suppose so.”
“Mount Hua didn’t move without gain, did they?”
“What kind of dream is this guy talking about? There’s no place in the world that moves without gain. Since it is a Righteous act, they must have their own interests.”
“…….”
“The important thing is whether you can take a big risk. In that sense, Mount Hua is conducting Righteousness.”
“But…… If it was Beggar Union, they wouldn’t have moved even if they knew.”
“You can say that again.”
“Anyway, since I’ve done this much, I hope it works out well.”
“Even if it works out, it’s a problem.”
“What?”
The man in the long sleeves tossed the rice cake into his mouth and said.
“If they do this perfectly, the Ten Great Sect will no longer dare to boast that they are above Mount Hua. That’s what performance is like.”
“Oh, certainly…….”
“It’s fun. It’s getting very fun.”
Rumors-carrying Beggar Union members were feeling the fluctuations of the world changing and wriggling faster than anyone else.
“Maybe Jungwon will be greatly distorted because of this one thing….”
“What kind of a beggar is talking about that? Stop being presumptuous and have a drink.”
“Oh, yeah. I’ll stop talking.”
It was something that was happening somewhere in Jungwon.
* * * Rumors spread much faster than Chung Myung thought, and all the attention of the world was focused on Nokrim.
And Mount Hua Sect, at the center of the topic, was continuing to march toward the Nokrim without rest even at this moment.
“…….”
“…….”
Hyun Sang, Hyun Young, Unam, and Ungum faced each other with slightly complicated faces.
“Keuhum.”
“Keuhuhum!”
Taltaltal. Taltaltal.
The cart carrying them was speeding through the official road.
Of course, it was not unusual to be riding in a cart. There are more people who ride carts in the world than people who ride wagons.
The problem is…
“Go quickly! Hurry up! Hurry up! Did you bathe in the swamp when I didn’t see it? Why are you so slow?”
It was jaw-dropping abuse.
Baek Cheon’s eyes were bloodshot.
“Hey, you punk! Then you should drag it too!”
“Then you can’t train! If I had dragged it, we would have already arrived!”
“That snout!”
Baek Cheon, who was staring at Chung Myung with fire spewing from his eyes, turned his head. Then he shouted with his teeth clenched.
“Run faster!”
“Sa- Sasuk! We’ll lose exhausted even before we arrive!”
“Be quiet! Run!”
“Ah, damn it!”
Mount Hua Five Swords violently pulled the cart while spouting out abusive language. Then he turned his head and glared at the disciples running around the cart.
“You’re falling behind, aren’t you?”
“These bastards didn’t drag the cart and still lagging behind? Who’s that! Who’s that guy back there?”
“…… Should be hit. They have to be scolded.”
“I, the youngest, pull the cart, but the Sahyungs fall behind while running barefoot?”
“…So-so, calm down.”
“Do I look like I’m going to calm down now?”
“…….”
Even Hye Yeon was naturally brought in and pulled a cart from the lead, emitting poison. The disciples who did not pull the cart followed suit with all their might.
‘These people!’
‘Why are they so fast? I’m going to die, for real!’
A neatly dressed uniform.
Shining sword.
It is a wonderful figure moving forward in a row under the sunlight.
‘….What a dog!’
There was no such thing in Mount Hua.
As soon as they exited the gate, they ran until their feet were sweaty. As if the sky would collapse if even some of them did not arrive sooner.
“Not so martial artist-like, huh? You neglect training, huh?!”
Chung Myung, who got on the cart, gave a long speech to the point that the listener’s ears were bleeding.
“When I was young, I used to fight with chopsticks while eating!”
“That’s just rude, you bastard!”
“What are you doing at the dinner table!”
“Noisy!’
Chung Myung shouted out loud.
“The ten who arrived last today are starving! Anyway, I know it will all work out!”
“That shit-drinking bastard!”
“What the hell is the ghost doing!”
“For God’s sake!”
Hyun Sang and Hyun Young smiled awkwardly at the sight of Chung Myung, who constantly pestered the disciples.
‘You want me to stop him?’
‘Let’s just leave him alone.’
‘Is that so?’
Sitting in a sunny spot, the two coughed low and looked up at the sky.
‘I’m glad I’m old.’
‘If I had been treated like that, I would have escaped.’
It was the Elder and first-class disciples who realized that the difficult time they had spent before the arrival of Chung Myung was worth it.
“By the way….”
Hyun Sang’s gaze moved slightly backward.
“…Do those yangban keep running like that?”
“Chung Myung says don’t mind them. Why are we taking useless baggage in a cart?” Looking at Im Sobyong and his subordinate running sweatily with the disciples, Hyun Sang closed his eyes.
‘But I’m glad to hear that. Chung Myung doesn’t think we’re useless baggage.’
It’s a very grateful thing.
Right…
Thus, the disciples of Mount Hua were vomiting up their energy to cover a distance that would have taken more than 15 days in just four days.
Fast rumors, and the carts faster than rumors, quickly reached their destination.
![Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]](https://cpunovel.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/arcane-sniper.jpg "Arcane Sniper [Matan’s Shooter]")
