episode_0031

Yo Gyeong.

This place, the border region of Yeom Kingdom and geographically adjacent to the neighboring country of Jo, is an area ruled by a family called the Moryong Clan.

Perhaps due to this influence, their martial arts specialize in dual swordsmanship, a combination of Yeom Kingdom’s swords and Jo’s curved blades, and their swords are known to be so swift that they can even cut through the wind.

However, it is also a clan located on the extreme outskirts of the Yeom Kingdom, so its influence on the central government is relatively weak.

Leon and his party arrived in such a place after a journey of about a month from Sichuan.

“So, young master. What brings you here? Are you thinking of going to Jo?”

“No, not that. I have something to do.”

Answering Baek-ryeon’s words, he recalled what happened a month ago after receiving the Solar Ring.

* *

The place that Il-ryeon pointed to on the map was the border of the Yeom Kingdom.

It was an area bordering Jo. It meant that those Beast Union bastards had a base there for smuggling Giant Root Pills into Jo.

“Does that mean we can just sweep this whole area?”

“To put it simply, yes, but… this area is where the Moryong Clan is based.”

“Moryong Clan?”

I was thinking about how they neatly divided up this vast land of Yeom Kingdom when Dang Seol-pung added an additional explanation to Il-ryeon’s story.

“They are not a clan composed of beasts like our Sichuan Tang Clan. Therefore, if beasts were committing such illegal acts there, the Moryong Clan would have been the first to find them and subdue them. But the fact that they haven’t means….”

“Either they’re moving so secretly that even the Moryong Clan can’t figure it out, or the Moryong Clan is turning a blind eye?”

Dang Seol-pung nodded at my words.

“Even though the Moryong Clan is a clan located at the edge of the Yeom Kingdom, and even if they are weaker than our Sichuan Tang Clan or the Namgung Clan, they are not a clan whose power can be ignored. If they avoided such a clan’s eyes, they wouldn’t be able to be found by ordinary methods, and if the Moryong Clan had joined hands with them….”

“It sounds like a lot of annoying things are going to happen.”

“It doesn’t seem like it’ll end with just annoying things….”

Il-ryeon said that while looking at me, but seeing that I didn’t seem to care at all, he chuckled and closed his mouth.

“It’s not that I don’t know your strength, but you should approach this cautiously.”

“I know. I know that if I don’t catch all these guys at once, they’ll all scatter and it’ll be troublesome.”

“If you understand that, then that’s good. But when are you planning to depart for Yo Gyeong?”

“I’m going right now. I’ve already taken the Solar Ring, so there’s no reason to stay here any longer. There’s no need to drag out the time.”

Then, Dang Seol-pung took out a detailed jade pendant shining with a green light from his chest and handed it to me as if throwing it.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a Tang Clan’s silver pendant. If you show this to anyone belonging to the Tang Clan, any warrior will have to help you. That’s what it is.”

“Oh….”

That’s good, isn’t it?

However, given the current situation, I can’t use it as I please right now, but just having it is beneficial enough.

“It’s valid until I take it back directly, or until you return it to me. Keep that in mind.”

“It’s not a one-time use, so I like that a lot.”

“Then this is all I have to give you.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

I put the jade pendant in my inventory.

Il-ryeon, who confirmed that, asked in surprise.

“Is that a treasure?”

“It’s annoying to explain, so let’s just say it is.”

“Anyway…, once you arrive in the Yo Gyeong area, please head to Dan Dong as soon as possible. Look for a boatman named Jong-eui in Dan Dong.”

“Is that guy in charge of that area?”

“Yes. If you tell him your name along with the wooden pendant that informs him that you’re an important guest of the Hao Moon, just like you did for me, he will help you.”

When I nodded as if I understood, Il-ryeon put away the unfolded map.

“But, what are you guys going to do?”

“First, I’m going to inform the Emperor of this fact.”

“We’ll have to secretly talk to the Emperor through these guys. At the same time…, we’ll find out who dared to betray the Tang Clan and leak information… and make them pay the price.”

“You’re reliable.”

And so, as soon as I returned to the Tang Clan, I woke up Baek-ryeon, packed my bags, and left Sichuan.

* * *

“…So, why did you come all the way here?”

“Is there a law that says I can’t come here?”

Dang Seol-rin, a beauty with dark green hair, said very confidently.

Yeah…, of course there’s no such law that says you can’t come here.

“…Hmph, then let me ask the question again. Why are you following us?”

“Is there a reason why I shouldn’t follow you?”

There’s no reason why you shouldn’t follow me, but there’s no reason why you should, either?

She asked back so confidently that I was momentarily taken aback and thought, ‘Is that so?’ for about 3 seconds. It’s amazing how confident she is.

Think about it. Do you know how much I have to keep wearing a mask and wig because of you?

No, more than that….

“The Tang Clan Lord wouldn’t just let you follow us. How did you get out?”

“How did I get out? Of course, I sneaked out without my father knowing.”

“….”

That’s why you shouldn’t be so confident.

How can you say you ran away from home so confidently?

“…Go back.”

“Ah, why!”

Why? Because you and I shouldn’t be together.

We agreed to pretend that I’m on bad terms with the Tang Clan, but if you suddenly cling to me, it’ll be difficult to do that, you little brat.

“….You know my relationship with the Tang Clan Lord, don’t you?”

“That’s my dad’s relationship with you, not my relationship with you.”

That’s…, true…, isn’t it…?

But you’re a member of the Tang Clan, aren’t you? I’m not on good terms with your organization, so is this right?

“…Hmph.”

Well, I know that no matter what I say, this girl won’t go back.

Sensing that the story would be long, Baek-ryeon carefully grabbed my hand and said.

“Still, isn’t it okay, young master? Surely a journey is more enjoyable with two people than one, and three people than two, isn’t it?”

“If it’s an ordinary trip, that’s true. But this isn’t just a simple gourmet trip.”

That’s right. This isn’t an ordinary trip.

In a situation where we have to capture all the Beast Union bastards who are smuggling Giant Root Pills and, furthermore, may be working with Red Devil, a lackey of the Fragment of the Devil King, Cheonma, an unskilled person would only be a burden.

“Still, I’ll definitely be helpful in my own way!….”

“Really? Then let me ask. What kind of help will you be?”

Dang Seol-rin answered my question with the same confident attitude as before.

“I have a lot of money.”

“I have a lot of money too.”

“….”

Seol-rin and I exchanged glances for a moment.

And when Seol-rin’s gaze turned to Baek-ryeon, Baek-ryeon nodded, silently testifying that my words were true.

Well, she’d have to see me spending money to know.

“Is there anything else besides that?”

“I, I’m, I’m strong!…”

“I’m stronger than you.”

“….”

It seems like she has nothing else to say.

Get lost, loser.

Leaving Dang Seol-rin, who was looking at me with a blank expression, Baek-ryeon and I moved to the inn where we would be staying today.

* * *

After staying for a few days to prepare supplies for heading to the Dan Dong area from here, I unpacked my luggage in the accommodation I entered and immediately lay down on the bed.

“I thought I was going to die from the stuffiness.”

I can stand wearing the wig and mask for a short time, but wearing them continuously makes me feel like I’m going to die from the stuffiness.

Especially since the quality of the masks and wigs in this era is lower than in modern times, so the fit is terrible….

“Hehe, good work. Young master. You’ve been through a lot.”

“That’s right. I’ve been through a lot….”

“Um…, but, young master.”

“What’s wrong?”

Baek-ryeon hesitated for a moment before carefully opening his mouth.

“Should we not tell Lady Seol-rin?”

“Are you talking about that story?”

“When you were training with the Tang family, you worked together to take down the young master…, um, you became close, didn’t you?”

….Is it like building friendship with a common enemy?

I wanted to argue about why the common enemy had to be me, but I decided to let it go for now.

“Baek-ryeon, I told you before, right? That I sometimes feel things from the future.”

“You did.”

“The things I feel from the future. To be precise, I can see the future about things related to the Devil King.”

“The Devil King…, is that because you’re a warrior? Young master?”

Can you connect it like that? Let’s just say that. That’ll be easier to explain.

“That’s right. I don’t know the reason, but I’ve been seeing it every now and then since I became a warrior. And I saw it this time. The scene of the Beast Union cooperating with the Devil King…, to be exact, the Fragment of the Devil King, to destroy the Yeom Kingdom.”

“The destruction of the Yeom Kingdom…. you say? Young master?”

“Yeah. It’s real. And…, I saw someone as one of the subordinates who follow the Fragment of the Devil King. Someone with red…, bright red hair.”

“!!!”

The moment he heard my words, Baek-ryeon’s expression changed drastically.

He was looking at me with a very serious expression.

“Red Devil.”

“That’s right. No, that’s probably right? I’ve never actually seen Red Devil before. But it was a man with red hair and red eyes.”

“….That’s probably right.”

Baek-ryeon’s body trembled.

Well, that’s understandable. It’s more detailed news about his enemy.

“Do you understand? This is an important matter for both me and you. So I don’t want to create variables in this matter. So please understand.”

“….Yes, I understand what you mean, young master.”

Baek-ryeon nodded as if he understood.

“Young master, thank you.”

“?”

“You’re just someone who suddenly came to the young master, but you’re treating me so well….”

“Well, that’s….”

I looked at Baek-ryeon while lying on the bed.

Baek-ryeon turned his back and took off his clothes to change clothes on the opposite bed.

Throbbing

‘….Huh?’

Something’s wrong with my body….

I turned my gaze from Baek-ryeon to my lower body.

Throbbing throbbing

“…Huh?”

Damn it, God.

After all, it pays to live a good life.