54 - I Spent the Night with the Youngest Daughter of the Martial Arts Leader

Chapter 54: Days of Relentless Travel They had walked tirelessly for days, cutting back on rest to stay ahead of any potential pursuers. Yet, whether due to his prior warning having taken effect or for reasons unknown, there was no sign of pursuit from Hyungsan Sect. Afterward, with some luck, they managed to procure a carriage for faster travel. "No hesitation in buying a carriage, I see. Quite bold of you." "I'll charge it to the expenses." "Oh? That much leniency, is it?" "Couldn't just abandon a key witness after all the trouble to secure him. As long as I haven't wasted budget unnecessarily, they'll handle it." "So why is he looking at me?" Feeling Jegalyoung's gaze, Hwangbo Seyul turned his head from his place at the driver's seat. "Senior! Eyes on the road, please!" "Relax, junior. I've got everything under control!" "Can I trust you on this?" "I assure you, you're in safe hands, my passenger!" replied Hwangbo Seyul with a bright smile. Clip-clop, clip-clop! With the sound of hooves, the carriage advanced in peaceful serenity. It occasionally jolted over stones, but other than that, the atmosphere was tranquil, almost as if the confrontation with Hyungsan Sect was a distant memory. "Senior, if you're tired, let me know. I can take over for a while." "Trying to turn the carriage over, are you?" Hwangbo Seyul's immediate refusal echoed the sentiment of being wary. Even though it was offered out of courtesy, the reality was he shouldn't attempt it; the horses tended to go wild under his touch. "I can handle this much. No need to worry!" "You practically took down all those Hyungsan Sect guys yourself." "Heh, what Hwangbo Seyul considers tiring is hardly so. If you're curious about my secret, I'll let you in on it later." "I'll pass…" Despite not having rested properly for days, Hwangbo Seyul appeared full of energy. He probably could have taken down the Hyungsan Sect elder on his own had the situation not demanded swift action. "Any idea when he'll wake up?" "No clue. Might not be soon. He could stay asleep until we reach the alliance headquarters." "Living the easy life, I see." "Indeed." The assassin slept soundly in the carriage's storage, oblivious to being carried along. Literally unaware of being carted away. Jegalyoung's inquiry about the assassin's condition likely stemmed from curiosity about the martial art he had used to purify the man's evil energy. But it wasn't a subject that he could broach lightly, so he feigned ignorance and changed the topic. "What happens to Hyungsan Sect?" "Well, the verdict will be decided by the alliance… but I’d say their days are numbered." Jegalyoung accepted the topic with calm acknowledgment, not expecting to be answered directly. "An organization responsible for maintaining law and order colluded with bandits, exacted tributes, and directed raids on civilians and merchants. They even attacked the dispatched Baekyang members, trying to cover it all up." "Hmm." "The alliance has been working hard to reduce friction between the Nine Great Clans and the Seven Great Families. To provoke you, me, and our senior? There's no way this will slide." "Why am I included…?" "You're the esteemed son-in-law of the Namgung family." "Ah." Indeed. The Martial Alliance, Namgung, Jegal, Hwangbo—Hyungsan Sect poked a hornet's nest involving four mighty factions. "Hyungsan Sect is doomed." "They don't seem capable of withstanding the Martial Alliance's sanctions." There must have been a reason for their madness akin to leaping into flames with a bundle of straw. But that was none of his business. Murmuring, Jegalyoung watched as he fed ground beigokdan into the unconscious assassin's mouth. With some water and internal energy, it eased down his throat. "Looks like a hassle." "As you said, I can't let a valuable witness starve to death." Feeding mushy food to an unconscious man wasn't the most pleasant task. "Junior, if it's too much trouble, just tell me. I'll handle it." "Senior, this isn't feeding animals." "Sigh…" "Instead of sighing, why don't you lend a hand!" Despite all they'd been through, both remained unaffected. Professionals, through and through. This was the world of martial arts. - Don't thoughtlessly take life. A reminder from his master passed through his mind. In a world where justifications made it easy to lop off heads, it was easy for one's mind to wear down. He had no intentions of sparing those who aimed to kill him, yet the aftermath of death was always bitter. ‘Kyun-what's-his-name.’ A nameless elder of Hyungsan Sect. In your next life, be reborn as a beast to cultivate your heart. A dog would suit your character. Fittingly. And so, they offered well-wishes that were all but empty. * Their grueling efforts bore fruit. Upon their return, the Martial Alliance swiftly initiated an investigation. "I suspected those ungrounded men would cause trouble someday. If Cheongseong Sect were still around, Hyungsan would never have claimed a spot among the Nine Great Clans... I must report this thoroughly to the leader." The Baekyang leader clutched the back of his neck upon hearing their report, the absurdity of Hyungsan's actions leaving little time to praise their hard work. He had to act quickly. Thus, the investigation proceeded swiftly. ‘They were out of their minds.’ Perhaps it's laughable, but there are few places as preoccupied with justification as the martial world. To put it another way, they stress rules or mandates. Especially within the orthodox sects. There is an expectation of ‘how an orthodox sect should behave,’ a thorough adherence to a predefined standard. Failing this, one risks becoming a pariah in the martial world. From this perspective, Hyungsan Sect's deeds were erratic beyond reason. The cause of their madness? Identified through the Martial Alliance's inquiry. ‘Of all things, those bastards.’ Hyungsan Sect had nestled within Honam Province. Bordering this region was Hubei Province, the dwelling place of one of the most inflated sects in the martial world. The Wudang Sect. Previously mentioned, the renown of a sect directly correlates to its strength. The deeper its history, the more exponential its recognition grows. Consequently, Wudang boasts formidable influence. Charging headlong into a daunting opponent usually spells disaster. And so it was with Hyungsan Sect—they ventured beyond their limits, underestimating the gravity of their situation. Familiarity breeds contempt, as they say. You come to fear the unknown less when it becomes familiar. Even if there were skirmishes at the border, the right course for the orthodox sects was not to suppress an opponent they deemed weaker. Being cautious when Wudang Sect retreated from confrontation seemed, to Hyungsan, a sign of their own strength. A foolish conclusion, indeed: "We can take them." It was puzzling what those leaders were thinking. Surely they could see their own folly in the mirror. Mistaking mild reactions for weakness, Hyungsan became careless. They handed Wudang Sect the sharpest weapon—justification. A dispute among disciples, trivial as it appeared, sparked the conflict. Wudang looked to reclaim, with interest, the patience they'd shown until then. This culmination forced Hyungsan's leader and elders into battle against Wudang. Madness. People grew skeptical of Wudang Sect's reputation for integrity over the years, though none dared doubt their martial prowess. The leader himself didn't need to step in; the elders of Wudang decimated Hyungsan, incapacitating nearly all their leaders through inner demons or leaving them half-crippled. With justification, Hyungsan couldn't contest the outcome. Left with no option but to cover it up. "Pairing with bandits was your mistake." Hyungsan's misconduct was a desperate maneuver to retain their crumbling influence—a failed attempt, now bordering on demise. They faced expulsion from the Nine Great Clans, their gates barred. A polite term, barred gates. In reality, with all their elders detained, it was sheer extinction. "Why them?" Suddenly, Honam Province stood leaderless. The ongoing bandit problem fractured the control among various factions. While Jegal, Hwangbo, and Namgung, all indirectly affected, gained some ground, Wudang, being closest, ended up overseeing Honam. Ironically, they'd aided in Wudang's expansion, much to their dismay. "Hyungsan, those bastards!" Seeing the downfall of one's adversaries whom they'd once clashed swords with prompted complex emotions. Perhaps that explained the lingering bitterness. * "I should’ve committed some crimes myself. Seems to be a ticket to the easy life." In the underground prison of the Martial Alliance, the assassin received his visitor in the sunless gloom, too subdued to respond to even a light-hearted remark. "Are you here to interrogate me, grand hero?" "Grand hero, please! Just talk to me like before; it'd help you answer more comfortably." "How could I? Rest assured, I’ll answer everything you ask." His unexpected compliance left Lee Se Woong slightly taken aback. "Was the curse you were under the work of the Demonic Cult?" "Yes, correct." "Was it that woman with the scorpion tattoo?" "Yes." As suspected. And... The interrogation proceeded smoothly, the assassin answering every question with diligence. From the Demonic Cultist he encountered to the slaughter of the bandits and the reasons for his clash with Hyungsan—all details matched the Martial Alliance's findings. Having gathered everything for his report, Lee Se Woong asked, "Got any questions?" "What happened to Hyungsan Sect?" "Just as you wanted—they've been erased from the martial world." Gasp. A short breath, just that. Lee Se Woong had expected cries of anguish, but the assassin merely closed his eyes and let out a deep exhalation, possibly relieved by vengeance. Unable to discern his true feelings, Lee Se Woong silently observed the assassin's moment of reflection. "What happens to me now?" "I don't know yet. Your acts were limited to wiping out the bandits. The arrest order was more about politics than your deeds. Still..." "…" "Mixing with the Demonic Cult is a serious crime, as you know." "Yes, I’ve accepted that." The assassin remained indifferent, as if commenting on the weather. "If what you've confessed is true, the outcome remains uncertain. Being a victim of Hyungsan and providing valuable information to the Martial Alliance might mitigate your situation." "…" "I won’t let a man I saved die. I’ll make an effort, but repay the favor when your sentence is over." He added this, knowing how challenging it might be. Yet, upon hearing these words, the assassin fell to the ground. Thud! An echo reverberated through the prison. Thud! The sound of the assassin's head hitting the floor. Thud! Perhaps the purification wasn't complete. Lee Se Woong wondered if the residual effects of the curse lingered. But then, the assassin spoke softly. "Chae Tae Won." "?" "My name, my life, anything... I owe it all to you, my savior." In a haze of confusion, a beam of clarity shone for him. Without this lifesaver marking his path, he would've remained lost in a blood-drenched fog. With sincere devotion, the man who was once an assassin pledged his loyalty. "These lingering effects run deep!" From blood-curse binding to obedience imprints, the cleansing process must have irrevocably altered him! "Damn those cruel Sun and Moon Cultists." Yet, ironically, the man he resolved to serve, Lee Se Woong, was mired in such worries.