Chapter 338. The Scariest Walk of My Life.
I watched the Agricultural School’s forces at work.
For one thing, they were better at cleaning than I was.
The farming tools they had brought as if they were weapons had been set down to one side. Instead, they took all sorts of tools from the houses people had abandoned and repaired the broken shops and homes.
Some were nailing planks over collapsed walls, while others carried corpses to an empty lot and burned them.
Watching them, I found myself thinking that the Agricultural School was similar to the Chukmun led by Yeon Jaseong.
It was no strange thing that part of the scholar faction and Haomun resembled each other.
In any case, the Agricultural School handled all of this far more skillfully than I could. They were laborers who had originally made a living through such work, while I was a martial artist of the jianghu who mostly went around fighting.
I soon understood why they had brought sacks of rice as well.
The men of the Agricultural School were going from house to house, filling empty rice jars with rice.
After a while, I ate the meal Deng Liang had prepared for me with relish, then drank wine with the side dishes that had been in the inn.
After a few cups of wine, I looked out at the street again……
The Agricultural School’s forces had settled in all over the place like people who had originally lived here, continuing the restoration work.
There was nothing in particular for me to do here.
A sect leader was someone who rushed to the place where an incident had erupted and fought.
The work was done by the sect members.
There was no need to weigh which was the harder task.
Because I, and they as well, staked our lives on everything we did.
Only after staring for quite some time did I belatedly remember that they were not Haomun members, but the Agricultural School.
‘That startled me. I thought they were the Chukmun.’
When noon was well past, the Agricultural School cooked rice with what they had brought, ate, rested for a short while, and then rose again.
They looked like people who absolutely had to work until the sun went down. And so, the Agricultural School of the scholar faction had attached themselves to this place, preparing everything so that whenever the people who had lived here returned, they could resume their daily lives without any trouble.
Come to think of it, the Mohist School and the Agricultural School looked like friends.
The Mohist School supported defensive battles with the resolve to stop wars of conquest, and after an unavoidable war broke out, the Agricultural School seemed to enter and restore what had been destroyed.
Because I was confirming this with my own eyes……
I added the Agricultural School to the alliance in my heart, after the Mohist School.
I thought that if Haomun’s Chukmun, the Mohist School, and the Agricultural School formed an alliance, recovery from damage would be swift.
As I drank, a thought occurred to me.
‘I’ll have to call Yeon Jaseong first.’
I thought that if I stayed here, the return of those who needed to live ordinary lives would only be delayed further. I rested until late afternoon, recovered my strength, spent some time regulating my qi, and then spoke to the Four Great Villains.
“……Let’s leave.”
The Lecherous Demon answered.
“To where?”
Since it was better to say everything at once, I called Cha Seongtae, the head of the Agricultural School, and Deng Liang over before speaking.
“Chief Cha.”
“Yes.”
“Give it about thirty days, and if nothing else happens, call the Chukmun here.”
“Understood.”
“Yeon Jaseong doesn’t need to start taking money for the work as soon as he arrives. Tell him to bill them for the costs incurred until they settle in, and to establish a Chukmun branch by hiring the people here. From then on, the workers here hired by the Chukmun will have to make a living too, so they’ll need to charge fees. It doesn’t matter if it takes a long time. So tell Yeon Jaseong to fill the Chukmun’s labor force with the people here. He’ll understand what I mean.”
“Yes.”
I looked at the head of the Agricultural School.
“I’m thinking of calling a master builder from Haomun. You should meet him once later.”
“Very well.”
“Chief Cha, you take charge of arranging meetings between the various forces. For the time being, there’s no need to follow us around. While handling the work, keep training only in the Baekjeon Sipdan Gong. Your skill still isn’t enough to kill even a single wraith, so having you with us is burdensome.”
“Understood.”
I looked at the head of the Agricultural School and Deng Liang.
“I will now move on slowly with these people, so please convey that to the scholar faction.”
Deng Liang asked.
“Where are you going?”
I glanced at the Four Great Villains, then answered Deng Liang.
“We are heading to Manjang Cliff.”
“Hm, Manjang Cliff?”
“In any case, if I stay here, it will be harder for ordinary people to return, so it’s right that I leave. As we head to Manjang Cliff, the people who have business with me will probably follow on their own. However, whether enemy or ally, I would prefer that those without ability not come near Manjang Cliff.”
Deng Liang nodded.
“I understand what you mean. I will relay it.”
I looked at the head of the Agricultural School.
“Association Leader.”
“Speak.”
“I am grateful for the Agricultural School’s support, but there is no need to follow us all the way to Manjang Cliff. Rather than helping me, I think it would be right for you to aid this place together with Haomun’s Chukmun. What do you think?”
The head of the Agricultural School fell into thought for a moment.
“……Hm. I will do that. If a fight breaks out at Manjang Cliff, I’ll see if we can send someone more skilled than I am. When do you intend to depart?”
I rose from my chair and looked at the Four Great Villains.
“Let’s go.”
“Already?”
The Sword Demon, the Lecherous Demon, and the Ghost Demon looked at me. Since I told them to leave at once, it seemed all their backsides had grown heavy.
I added a word to the three of them.
“I know where there are spiritual elixirs at Manjang Cliff. There’s even one I couldn’t bring back.”
The three of them stood up at the same time and straightened their clothes.
“Let’s go.”
“If I start with the main point, you get up right away.”
I said farewell to Cha Seongtae as well.
“……If you go to Ilyang County, send my regards.”
Cha Seongtae looked at me intently and answered.
“Understood. Senior Sword Demon, Master Yukhap, Young Master Mong, please take care as well.”
When he went out of his way to bid each of them farewell, the Four Great Villains all turned around. Our eldest brother spoke.
“Chief Cha, it was good to see that you seem to have grown stronger. See you again.”
“Yes.”
The Ghost Demon spoke too.
“Chief Cha, you’ve got a lot on your plate. See you again.”
The Lecherous Demon spoke with a strange expression.
“Chief, once we’re back, let’s have a drink. At Maehwaru.”
Cha Seongtae nodded, then added.
“Everyone, return safely and teach Yoran too……”
I glared at Cha Seongtae without a word. Then, for the first time in a while, Cha Seongtae spoke informally to me again.
“……Be careful.”
“Seongtae.”
“What?”
“Are you going off to die? Don’t set the mood. Not unless you want me to beat you up.”
Only then did Cha Seongtae laugh.
I looked around, then waved to the three of them.
“See you again.”
* * *
The Sword Demon asked me.
“What kind of elixir is there?”
“There was Woldanhwa beneath Manjang Cliff.”
The Lust Demon replied loudly.
“What?”
“Noisy bastard, shut up. I already ate it. That’s not the important part. Near the Woldanhwa, I caught and ate a huge fish, and the frigid energy I gained from the Woldanhwa vanished in no time. I wondered if it was a coincidence, but I don’t think it was. Just as medicine is found where poison exists, that fish was also an elixir capable of treating internal injuries of extreme yin. Beyond simply nourishing the body, you should see it as something that helps with extreme yang internal energy.”
The Ghost Demon asked.
“Are you saying there’s a lake beneath Manjang Cliff?”
“Yeah.”
“It must be an incredibly old lake. No people would have approached it, either.”
“It might be over ten thousand years old. What madman would have gone down there and caught fish to eat?”
The Lust Demon looked at me.
“You.”
“That is true. The man who shattered ten thousand years of peace—that’s me.”
After we had been walking for a while, there were people following us.
I stopped for a moment and stared at a place some distance away. An old man with a head full of white hair stopped walking and stared at us. Suddenly, the wind blew and his white hair fluttered, revealing that the place where one of his eyes should have been was gouged out.
The Lust Demon asked.
“How do we… kill him?”
I gazed at the white-haired old man standing still, then said.
“Never mind. Let’s go.”
I simply turned around and kept moving. From time to time, the Lust Demon looked back and explained the situation.
“One more skinny bastard joined him. He’s taking something out of his robe. A hidden weapon? No. He’s shooting it into the air.”
Soon, there was a sound of wind, and something shot upward before exploding in midair.
The Ghost Demon asked in a calm tone.
“There are two of them, and four of us. Wouldn’t it be better to strike now?”
I stopped, then checked again on the two people chasing us from behind. The white-haired old man and the gaunt old man stopped and stared at us.
I picked up a pebble from the ground and threw it at the white-haired old man. When the white-haired old man waved his hand, the pebble crumbled in midair and disappeared like dust.
“……”
A sigh escaped me on its own.
I said to the white-haired old man.
“…Old sir, I’m thinking of fighting at Manjang Cliff. Can we go quietly?”
When the white-haired old man nodded, the scrawny old man answered.
“Do that.”
“Good. Let’s go.”
I did not know how far I could trust the words of these wraiths, but for now, I set out again toward Manjang Cliff with the Four Great Villains. Behind us, the number of wraiths was gradually increasing. The Lust Demon, who had been glancing back several times and reporting on those following us, seemed to grow tired as well and shut his mouth.
A moment later, I asked the Lust Demon.
“What about the man in black?”
“I don’t see him yet.”
“The young one?”
“Not there. Is this right? Their numbers have increased.”
I nodded.
“I was the one who proposed it, so I have to keep my word. This is right. In any case, it won’t only be enemies who come.”
At that moment, three men in black lightly descended in front of us and blocked the path. When we stopped for a moment, the scrawny old man spoke from behind.
“Move aside. We will fight at Manjang Cliff.”
I said to the three men in black.
“That’s what he says. Move aside.”
The three of them stepped to the left and right, then glared at us as we passed. I thought we were passing without incident, but one of them opened his mouth.
“…Number Thirteen, you’ve lived a long time.”
When the Sword Demon laughed with a snort, the man in black who had called our eldest brother Number Thirteen asked from behind.
“Do you remember who I am?”
The Sword Demon answered as he walked.
“I think I’ve heard your voice, but I’ve forgotten much. At least show me your face before you speak.”
“You apostate bastard. The ones who died while competing with you must feel the most wronged.”
The Sword Demon nodded.
“If they died, they ought to feel wronged. Of course.”
At our eldest brother’s words, we let out low laughter.
“He’s right.”
As we began walking again, the scrawny old man’s voice could be heard.
“…Why are you babbling such useless nonsense? Do you want to die?”
“My apologies.”
It seemed he was berating the man in black who had exchanged words with the Sword Demon. The old man continued.
“Number Thirteen at least once held the seat of Left Envoy. What are you? Hm? I’m asking what you are. What number was this bastard?”
Someone answered the old man’s words.
“Number Twenty-Seven, who survived qi deviation from the Old Night Demon Art (舊夜魔功).”
“There was qi deviation in the Old Night Demon Art? It is a martial art one can overcome as long as one’s internal energy supports it.”
At that moment, a voice tinged with a metallic rasp flowed out.
“Noisy.”
“……”
In an instant, the wraiths following behind us shut their mouths. I was curious whose voice it was, but I simply guessed it was the white-haired old man’s. For some reason, he was a wraith whose appearance resembled someone who had died once and come back to life. The missing eye was one thing, and his completely ruined throat also seemed like an aftermath of internal injuries or qi deviation. In any case, up to now, the white-haired old man looked like the greatest master among the wraiths.
I mainly walked along paths so deserted they could hardly be called paths. Since evil heretics were following me, perhaps one could say I too was walking an evil, unorthodox path.
The Ghost Demon voiced what he had been thinking all this time.
“…Are they mixed in among the men in black?”
“Seems that way. Looks like all of them originally disguised themselves as men in black to prepare for an ambush.”
The bastards following us conversed as if nothing were amiss.
“Wouldn’t it be better to just kill them all here? Must we go all the way to Manjang Cliff?”
When one of them offered that opinion with a hint of dissatisfaction, some of the wraiths laughed, and then an old man answered.
“Is that so? You want to kill them all here?”
“Yes.”
“Then you go kill them. Go on. We will watch.”
“Ah, my apologies.”
“What are you sorry for? You should keep the words you have spoken. Hao Sect Leader, stop for a moment.”
When we stopped and turned around as one, the scrawny old man pointed at one of the men in black and said,
“This fellow suddenly suggested that we kill you all here. We need to see your skills, so would you indulge us and consider it a diversion?”
I answered simply.
“Very well. Send him.”
“…….”
The scrawny old man looked at the man in black and said,
“Go challenge them. It is the life-and-death duel you wanted. If you do not go, you will die by our hands. I will wait only until I count to three. One.”
At the old man’s words, the wraiths laughed from here and there.
“Two.”
The man in black stepped forward.
“……I will challenge them.”
The man in black left the group and came forward. The moment I saw the murderous look in the white-haired old man’s eyes, I warned the man in black.
“Hey, be careful……”
Before I could even finish saying be careful, the white-haired old man swung his hand, just as he had when he turned a pebble to dust.
Pwack!
Then the entire upper body of the man in black, who had taken a few steps toward us, was torn away, and the half that remained of his torso toppled forward. The wraiths burst into laughter and mocked the dead man.
“What a pathetic fool.”
“Now there won’t be anyone running his mouth, will there?”
While the white-haired old man glared at us, the scrawny old man pointed ahead again.
“Let’s go! To Manjang Cliff.”
Still, since the scrawny old man seemed somewhat amusing, I snapped my fingers.
“Good. Let’s go. To think I’d end up traveling like this with wraiths. This is truly something new. Thrilling.”
I stood alongside the Four Great Villains and headed for Manjang Cliff once more.
The Lust Demon muttered,
“Hey, but what if no one comes? I’m starting to get a little nervous. I don’t see that bastard White-Robed Scholar either.”
Someone behind us answered the Lust Demon’s words.
“Ah, are you waiting for the White-Robed Scholar? An old man who is good at Go was looking for him, saying he wanted to play a game. I wonder if the two of them have met. Hao Sect Master, we know you have many reinforcements as well. Do not take us for fools.”
I stopped walking, then turned around and searched for the owner of the voice.
“Who was that just now?”
A middle-aged man wearing a blue long robe answered.
“It was me.”
I nodded, then answered in a solemn tone.
“Senior, when did I ever take you for fools? Since our forces are inferior, I merely said it because I was hoping for reinforcements.”
“Ah, is that so?”
I nodded, then extended my hand as if guiding them toward Manjang Cliff.
“Let us go. It will only grow darker.”
“Lead the way.”
Taking the Four Great Villains and the wraiths with me, I walked along the night road as it grew dim. Since an attack could come from behind at any moment, it was also the most frightening night road I had ever walked.
Before I knew it, a chill ran down my spine.
“Wow, this is the scariest walk I’ve ever taken in my life.”
Because the wraiths and the Four Great Villains fell silent at the same time, my words just now became a mutter to myself.
The wind was growing colder and colder.