episode_0365

*** ***

On the way back to Jungwon after leaving Black Dragon Castle.

“Kuhehe….! These guys are shit! How dare you pass this road without paying the toll… Wow!”

I kept encountering people who I didn’t know were bandits or thieves.

“Hahaha! If I leave the girl there, she will take care of me… 100 million!”

To prepare for an unexpected situation, I hid my spirit and camouflaged normally, but the flies kept attracting me.

This is Xinjiang.

In fact, although Xinjiang Province is an imperial territory, the distance from the capital Luoyang is closer to Seojang.

From very long distances to difficult mountains and barren terrain.

In reality, Xinjiang was like a lawless zone.

“I can understand why Demonology is treated well in Xinjiang.”

After excitedly beating up the guys who didn’t know if they were bandits or thieves, the black cat shook his head.

“Well, that’s right.”

In Xinjiang, where all those who have mastered martial arts do is to betray others, the demonic cult warriors who strictly follow the rules and do not touch those who have not mastered martial arts are truly of a different class.

In fact, there is a real reason why the Demonic Cult became the ruler of Xinjiang…

Now, it’s like a myth with no reality, and it’s different from the reason why the Demonic Cult currently reigns as the absolute ruler of Xinjiang, so there’s no need to mention it.

“Anyway, I have to go to Gansu to get in touch with Wolbokdang.”

We are currently engaged in an invisible battle with Jeongcheol.

Neither I nor Heukmyo nor Xinjiang have any foundation. On the other hand, Jeong Cheol spent a long time as a collaborator of this Demonic Cult, so it was highly likely that he had various connections in Xinjiang.

However, realistically speaking, even if one had connections in Xinjiang, it would not be enough to monitor the entire vast area of Xinjiang.

If he had that much power, he wouldn’t have had to go down to Sacheon to build up his power in the first place, but would have just taken over part of Xinjiang and ruled it.

Going straight down to Sacheon through Cheonghae is the fastest way to return to Sacheon.

If Jeong-cheol can exert his power in Xinjiang, he would be keeping an eye on that route.

If we were unlucky, we might run into Jeong Cheol right away, so we planned to go to Shaanxi via Xi’an and join the group.

“Umm.”

The black cat let out a groan as if it didn’t like the slow journey. This was what the black cat had been doing for the past few days, so I pretended not to notice and looked ahead.

The reason why the black cat was dissatisfied was simple.

A minor spiritual skill received from Wei Seo-ryeon.

This was because the situation in which it was impossible to practice the minor skills continued.

The two of us are just playing passers-by.

It was impossible to practice martial arts.

But is it possible to properly read even non-level books written by minor students?

That wasn’t it either.

Have you ever seen a passerby walking down the street while reading a book?

He had to move diligently when the sun was shining, and he could only read the secret books after the sun had set, relying on a bonfire to read them. Heukmyo had not even read all the secret books yet, so naturally he would become dissatisfied.

The black cat is also unmanned.

It seemed like he was quite nervous about not being able to learn the New Gongjeolhak.

“Calm down, calm down.”

I placed my hand on the shoulder of a black cat that was walking so fast that it could not be considered an ordinary person’s pace.

“Let’s do it like this. Since neither of us would get hurt by launching a light attack at night anyway, we decided to act like ordinary passers-by until the day and then launch a light attack at night and run fast. How about it?”

The black cat gave me an expression that seemed like it was going to miss my suggestion.

“I’m sorry. I guess my senior was in a hurry.”

“No. I also lacked consideration. I know how you feel.”

“Senior…did you understand my feelings?”

“Then.”

When I nodded, the black cat looked at me with bright eyes.

“That promise…”

The black cat tried to say something, but I spoke faster.

“How frustrating must it be to just walk slowly without being able to learn it while the new Gongjeol crane, called Sosoosingong, is sleeping in your arms!”

“…to?”

“We are gradually moving away from the Black Dragon Castle, so there is a high possibility that there will be no watchful eyes! Let’s shake it off tonight!”

The black cat’s gaze became slightly cold.

It seemed like they thought the measures were a bit inadequate.

“Da, should I at least get a carriage in the next village? Then, you can comfortably read the secret from within…”

“Anyway.”

The voice of a black cat that somehow sends chills down my spine even though I didn’t use the mouthpiece. When I was shocked, the black cat looked at me with its eyes as if it didn’t like it and muttered something.

“Not really paying attention.”

…What did I do wrong?

I rolled my eyes, but couldn’t find anything in particular.

“Ugh, that’s it! Just walk fast!”

“Uh, uhh…”

“Anyway, you are a senior! It’s like this all the time! At times like this, where does all that extraordinary insight disappear? Are you doing this on purpose?”

“No, what did I…”

“Again! It’s happening again!”

While receiving inexplicable abuse from the black cat, the black cat and I continued to walk along the road.

*** ***

We walked during the day and launched a light attack at night until we left Xinjiang.

After entering Xi’an, they launched a light attack day and night.

It’s been 15 days since I ran so hard.

“Phew…”

We finally arrived at our destination.

Xian of Shaanxi.

Daeryong Guest Cup!

It was the agreed upon place to gather with the group.

“Welcome.”

Is it because he has been covered in all kinds of dirt and looks shabby thanks to the light attack he took day and night with only minimal rest?

Jeomsoy’s attitude towards me was rough, but I knew a magic item that would change his attitude by 180 degrees.

It was a silver coin.

“Two rooms and a bath, please.”

“Yes! Great cooperation! I’ll prepare hot water that will melt away your long travel fatigue at once!”

But the two of us couldn’t wash ourselves right away.

“Eun Gong!”

This was because a familiar voice and a familiar name were heard from the second floor of the guesthouse. When I raised my head, I saw Yeo Il-ye leaning on the railing, looking at me and the black cat with a smile on her face.

“You’re here! I’m glad you’re safe!”

Two new figures appeared on both sides of the delighted Yeo Il-ye.

Needless to say, it was Tang Do-yeon and Tang So-yeol.

“Are you here, disciple?”

“You have improved so far.”

I finally reunited with my group.

*** ***

First, I changed out of my dirty clothes, cleaned up the dust that stuck to my body, and then faced my group.

“You must have achieved a lot.”

Yeo Il-ye looked at me and said.

“Yeoilye Sojeo must have achieved a lot.”

I said, following Yeo Il-ye’s twin swords with my eyes. Even though he was carrying two swords, he looked natural and it seemed like he had mastered the art of dual swords.

“Okay, it’s been a while.”

Nine months had passed, but Tang So-yeol, whose martial arts skills and pessimistic gaze had not changed at all, grinned.

Well, Tang So-yeol is by nature a craftsman.

You won’t be able to tell the changes in Tang Xiaoyeol until you see the things he creates.

“Haha, I can no longer measure my prayers. It’s really amazing.”

Dang Do-yeon also developed. However, like Yeo Il-ye and me, it felt like ordinary training rather than rapid progress.

“It will probably take more time for Hyuk Kirin to join the small cooperative.”

Well, since she was a princess, she couldn’t have rushed out of the palace immediately after receiving the call.

“Thank you all for answering the call.”

I greeted the three people with sincerity.

Human beings are inherently different when they enter the bathroom and when they come out.

It was possible that they would change their minds over the course of nine months, but they immediately responded to my call.

“Hehe, don’t say anything.”

“You were worrying needlessly. My disciple.”

The three people laughed as if I had said something foolish.

“Looking at the way you walked in earlier, it seemed like you came running in quite a hurry. Since you’re hungry, how about eating first?”

“Good.”

Jeomsoy soon served food.

I was eating preserved food every day just to fill my meals, but when I saw proper food, my stomach naturally churned.

Looking at such a generous meal and the faces of my companions, the built-up tension melted away.

Yeo Il-ye and Dang Do-yeon have become stronger.

Dang So-yeol also showed a confident attitude and seemed to have prepared a lot during his time away.

In a situation where my nerves have been secretly strained over the past fortnight as I have been wary of Jeong-cheol’s pursuit, I feel reassured just by joining the group.

The situation alone was reassuring, but seeing the group’s progress made me feel at ease.

The black cat must have felt the same way as me and excitedly raised its glass.

“Now! Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

After exchanging sweet drinks in an atmosphere where alcohol was readily available, we started chatting with our companions.

“So what happened there?”

The Party So-yeol used the word ‘there’ and asked if they had decided that the word ‘magyo’ could not be used in public places.

“Well, a lot of things happened.”

“Black cat. You tell me.”

“Yes, I’m curious too.”

The black cat that was stuffing food into its mouth put down its chopsticks.

“Ehyo! really! A lot happened!”

Yeo Il-ye smiled and comforted the black cat.

“Hehe, it looks like you went through a lot of trouble. We are also curious about what kind of hardship you went through.”

“Ha, so where should I start saying this…”

One by one, the Black Cats began to unravel what happened in the Demonic Cult. Cheonma Bigo was just Seogo, Cheonma was changed to Jangju, and Wi Seoryeon was changed to Sojonju, and they told various stories.

“Huh, so you were briefed on Eunkong’s every move along with the owner?”

“You’re bold!”

This is the first time that I have learned that Wei Seo-ryeon and Heukmyo were together reporting on my whereabouts.

I had a general idea of the life of a black cat, but I couldn’t know as much as I did.

That’s why I also listened to the story of the black cat.

“So, shut up that sly guy! I froze the hair growth branches.”

“You had a really exciting time in enemy territory.”

“Mmm. What can I say? It must have been a tolerant atmosphere for military personnel, no matter how much they were not members.”

Is it loyalty to Socheonma? Without mentioning what could be considered core information about the Demonic Cult, Black Cat told the story of how he and I spent time in the Demonic Cult.

The story of the black cat continued until the meeting with the Cheonma, from whom the brain essence was extracted.

When everyone was swallowing their saliva and engrossed in the story at the appearance of the Heavenly Demon, the supreme leader of the Demonic Cult.

“Hahahahahahaha!!”

Suddenly, a loud laugh was heard from somewhere. When I turned my head to the sound of boisterous laughter, I saw an unmanned person standing at the entrance.

I was able to immediately recognize his affiliation.

White magnolia embroidered on the chest.

This is because there was a mark engraved on the martial uniform that only warriors of the Moyong family could wear.

The problem was that the Moyong family’s military officer was looking at us and smiling.

When I turned my head to look at the group, I noticed that not only Tang So-yeol, but also Yeo Il-ye and Dang Do-yeon were wearing bug-bitten expressions.

“Hahahaha! Looking at the flowers gathered together, I couldn’t stop laughing!”

As I looked at the warrior of the Moryong family, who stretched out his chest and raised his face and continued to burst out in laughter, I could immediately understand why the companions were wearing bug-bitten expressions.

“Would it be possible for everyone to join us at that place?”

While I was happily chatting with my companions.

Suddenly, an atmosphere destroyer invaded.