Tangmunjeon - Chapter 407



Only Krnovel

Youngbojinin

Dang Mu-jin, Hyeon-gong, and Yoo Yu-do-in deployed light-armed weapons with all their might and arrived at the nearest village.

In fact, it was a bit strange to even say that it was a nearby village. That village was more than an hour away even if three people moved at full speed.

Just like the previous village, there were clear signs of fires here and there in this village. Wooden objects were roughly torn down and used as firewood.

Dang Mu-jin spoke in an uncertain voice.

“···It wasn’t a demonic cult member, but maybe other people passed by?”

The answer came back from Yoo Yoo Do-in instead of Hyun-gong.

“The winters in Cheonghae Castle are harsh. Merchants and natives don’t travel long distances in the winter. Some people leave Cheonghae Castle around fall, but no one will come back after late fall.”

“···The world is so vast, there must be people who don’t know how cold the winters in Cheonghae are.”

Even as he spoke like that, Dang Mu-jin realized that his story was ridiculously optimistic.

The monk shook his head as he counted the number of marks left by the fire.

“There may be a few idiots, but I don’t think there will be more than a hundred idiots running around.”

Dang Mu-jin let out a deep sigh.

“There is no reason to delay any longer. Let’s persuade the people and return to the common mountain.”

*

Dang Mu-jin, Hyeon-gong, and Yu Yu-do-in returned to their original village.

As the three people appeared, warriors representing each family and sect approached and asked.

“How is it?”

The wise man answered the endless question.

“It seems that the Demonic Cult’s warriors have moved east, enduring the harsh cold of Cheonghae Castle.”

“Are the roads crossed?”

“I guess so.”

The world is vast. To make matters worse, in places like Cheonghae-seong and Sinjang, where people are sparsely populated, there are no proper roads, so it would be strange to encounter them without passing each other.

“Well, now it’s time to decide what to do.”

The person who said that was the head of the Murong family, Murong Wuhong.

Then, Seonwooja, the leader of the Hwasan faction, asked Murong Wuhong.

“Decided? Haven’t you heard that you crossed paths with the Demonic Cult’s unmanned forces?”

“We’ve diverged, and our future course of action is a separate issue. Are we really going to turn around here and head east, back to the Gonghap faction?”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

More than half of the warriors agreed with Sunwoo Ja’s opinion to return to the common faction. However, about a third of the warriors, including Murong Wuhong, showed an unfavorable reaction to Sunwoo Ja’s story.

Encouraged by such a response, Murong Wuhong continued his argument.

“If we retreat here, the battlefield of the Great Battle of Jeongma will only change to the Central Plains. The Demonic Cult bastards must have wanted that situation too, which is why they headed east. If we turn back here, we will get caught up in the Demonic Cult’s scheme.”

“···So, are you saying we shouldn’t care about what happens in the Central Plains?”

Murong Wuhong nodded calmly, as if to say, “Of course it is.”

“In order to prepare for this situation, didn’t each of them leave behind a few people in their temples? Let’s trust those who remain.”

Seonwooja glared at Murong Wuhong.

What Murong Wuhong believes in is not the strength of the people left in Murong Clan, but the remote position of Murong Clan.

The Murong family is located at the northeastern end of the entire Central Plains.

Even if the entire Central Plains were engulfed in war and flames, there was a high probability that the chaos would not reach Murong Clan.

Those who now agreed with Murong Wuhong’s argument were in a similar situation. They were based in places that were clearly far from the center of the Central Plains.

However, the situation is different for most sects. If the Gongdong faction is the first to suffer, the Jongnam faction will be next. Then the Hwasan faction and the Mudang faction will be next. If the direction of progress is changed, the Cheongseong faction, the Ami faction, and the Tang family faction in Sacheon Province could be in danger.

Seonwooja, the leader of the Hwasan faction, was known to be gentle and kind-hearted, but now he was bluntly attacking Murong Wuhong.

“You’re talking shamelessly. Don’t you know what your intentions are behind telling such stories?”

But Murong Wuhong did not back down.

“It’s unlikely that all members of the Demonic Cult moved to the central plains. They must have sent out a small number of people to disrupt the rear in order to buy time for the leader. That’s probably why the Demonic Cult left traces of their presence in the village.”

Murong Wuhong jumped up from his seat and made eye contact with the people.

“Don’t forget that we gathered here to punish the leader of the Demonic Cult. It would be right to advance to Cheonsan, cut off the leader’s head, and return to the Central Plains. Even if the Murong Clan was the first to be swept away by the flames, I would have insisted on the same thing.”

Murong Wuhong’s story was somewhat convincing.

However, Dang Mu-jin pointed out a flaw in Murong Wu-hong’s story. In some ways, it was the most important issue.

“Can you be sure that the leader is in Cheonsan?”

“Of course he’ll be in Cheonsan. Even if the leader isn’t in Cheonsan, we have to go to the base of the demonic cult. If they want to stab our hearts, we have to show them that we can stab their hearts too.”

“haha!”

While they were having a serious conversation, one person burst into loud laughter and caught everyone’s attention. It was Yoo Jin-kwang.

“You want to stab the heart? That’s great! I like that too. Our Jeomchang faction will lead the way to the Demonic Cult.”

“The Jewish people!”

A remark that clearly adds strength to Murong Wuhong’s story. Dang Wujin tried to stop Yu Jinguang, but Yu Jinguang lightly waved his hand away.

“Moyong Gaju. Would you like to go to Cheonsan with our Jeomchangpa?”

Murong Muhong nodded readily to Yu Jin-kwang’s suggestion.

“Of course.”

“Are you sure you won’t come back until you’ve completely wiped out the Demonic Cult’s headquarters?”

“of course.”

“The important thing is to swing your sword appropriately and not back down. Even if the number of enemies is too great, even if the cult leader is glaring at you from the mountains, I believe you will never back down.”

Yoo Jin-kwang’s story was closer to a warning to the Murong family than a declaration of war against the Demonic Cult. It was a warning that once they got involved, they would not be allowed to back down.

It may be okay in front of an ordinary person, but it is not easy to push your opinion in front of a madman. The situation becomes even more serious when that madman is one of the best martial artists in the Jungpa martial arts world.

“That’s basically it, but… shouldn’t we decide the exact situation based on the situation?”

It felt like some of the power in Murong Wuhong’s voice had drained away.

Then Yoo Jin-kwang snorted.

“I clearly said to stab the heart. Our Jeomchangpa is ready to become a sword and stab the heart of the Demonic Cult.”

Yoo Jin-kwang looked at Murong Mu-hong quietly and asked.

“If a sword is aimed at the opponent’s heart, but one of the limbs is too scared to listen, what do you think you should do?”

“···I guess I should step back and wait for the next opportunity.”

“No. It’s right to cut them off. If you retreat once and avoid death, you’ll try to retreat again next time. Only by uniting with that kind of mindset can you pierce the heart of your opponent.”

Murong Wuhong unconsciously took a half step back. However, Yu Jinguang strode towards Murong Wuhong.

“Anyway, I’m glad to have found a helper I can communicate with after a long time. Whether we burn down the Demonic Cult and return with dignity, or whether we all bury our bones in Cheonsan, Jeomchangpa and Moyongse are on the same path.”

“···that.”

This is a proposal that no rational person, or even a person who values ​​life, can ever accept. If another person had said this, they might have thought it was a boast.

However, the Yoo Jin-kwang that Murong Mu-hong remembers is an author who will keep his word.

While Murong Wuhong hesitated, Yu Jinguang put his arm around Murong Wuhong’s shoulder, who was at least twenty years older than him.

“Okay. Mo Yong-se is on the same boat as us. Is there anyone else on the same boat?”

Even those who agreed with Murong Wuhong’s proposal avoided Yu Jinguang’s eyes.

Rather than holding hands with a crazy person and running to the afterlife, it would be better to return to the Central Plains.

While the idea of ​​advancing to the Demonic Cult was losing ground, Dang Mu-jin began to speak again.

“If it had simply been a misunderstanding, it might not have been a big deal. But the situation is not so easy, so it would be better to turn east now.”

Since the opposing choice happened to be Yoo Jin-kwang, people listened to Dang Mu-jin’s story with a very open mind.

“Is there any more reason to go back?”

“The important thing is that we didn’t hear any news of the Demonic Cult’s appearance until we left the joint faction five days ago. Rather than thinking that our paths crossed by chance in the span of five days, it would be wiser to assume that the Demonic Cult’s warriors were lurking somewhere, waiting for us to leave. It may not be a simple disturbance.”

“I see! That’s great insight!”

The head of the Habuk Peng family, Peng Mu-gyeom, quickly agreed with Dang Mu-jin’s story.

Rather than being caught by Yoo Jin-kwang and taken to Cheonsan to die after being foolishly scheming, it would have been much better to return to the Central Plains while agreeing with Dang Mu-jin’s story.

Yoo Jin-kwang released his arm from around Mo Yong-mu-hong’s shoulder and said.

“It will take two weeks to go back to the Gongdong faction, check what’s happening in the Central Plains, and then come back here. Those who are impatient and can’t even endure two weeks, or those who want to show off their bravery, are going to the Demonic Cult headquarters with the Jeomchang faction now.”

Eugene Kwang took a deep breath and continued his story.

“But those who are worried about the future of the Samun and whose swords are likely to waver, should return to the common faction. A sword swung a little slowly without hesitation is better than a sword swung quickly.”

As Yoo Jin-kwang spoke and stamped his feet, the Jeomchangpa’s unmanned troops stood up from their seats. They looked exhausted from not having had a proper rest, but no one expressed any complaints.

“Those who want to join the Jeomchangpa, follow me now.”

Eugene Gwang left the village and headed west.

It was clearly a hasty action.

However, Dang Mujin could easily guess why Yoo Jinkwang was leaving in such a hurry. Yoo Jinkwang wanted as many people as possible to follow Dang Mujin back to the Central Plains instead of following him, so he was deliberately leaving in a hurry.

Dang Mu-jin sent a message to Yu Jin-gwang.

– Are you okay?

– It doesn’t suit my nature to back down in a daze. If I want to return with a lot of wealth, it would be better to attack Cheonsan than to take care of the aftermath in the Central Plains.

Nature and practicality. It was too risky and foolish a choice to pass over with such excuses.

Eugene Kwang also knew how dangerous that choice was. Although Eugene Kwang was eccentric, he was not stupid.

No one followed the Jjomchangpa. Even Mo Yong-se, who had been shouting to attack the Demonic Cult headquarters, was the same.

Dang Mu-jin sent a message to Yu Jin-gwang.

– I don’t know where the leader is, but I hope we meet again alive.

Yoo Jin-kwang didn’t look back. Instead, he waved his right arm slightly and greeted Dang Mu-jin.

Soon, the unmanned ships of the Jeomchangpa disappeared into the night of Cheonghae Castle.

*

Five more days passed.

Ten days after leaving the communal camp, people arrived at the camp that was completely burned down.

“···.”

Perhaps it was the last favor of the Demonic Cult’s warriors, but the roughly collected corpses formed a small group of mounds. However, it was not clear exactly which grave belonged to whom.

The only survivors of the confederate faction were those who had left with the intention of participating in the Demonic Cult expedition and returned.

The surviving members of the community stood still in front of the tomb, looking up at the miserable sky.

The sky was blue without even a cloud.

“We will stay here.”

“···I see.”

Can the communist party rise again?

People were skeptical, but no one was rash enough to say such a thing.

The sect’s warriors came down from the mountain and asked the villagers which direction the sect’s warriors went.

And the answer that came back to Dang Mu-jin was not very pleasant.

“I don’t know for sure, but… it seemed like they were moving in a scattered manner.”

If the Demonic Cult’s unmanned forces had not dispersed here and had moved, they would have gone east and advanced to the center of the Central Plains.

But the fact that they were scattered means that they were keeping in mind the Sacheon Province in the south.

However, there were people who were even more serious than Dang Mu-jin, the Taoists of Jongnampa, located to the east of Gongdongpa. Since Gongdongsan had collapsed, Jongnampa, which was closest to Gongdongpa, had no way to avoid misfortune.

The situation was not much different for the Taoists of the Hwasanpa and the Mudangpa. If the Jongnampa collapsed, the Hwasanpa and the Mudangpa would be next.

“Where is the leader?”

There is no way to know.

The soldiers of the sect looked at each other.

People could guess each other’s thoughts without necessarily having to talk to each other.

Given the situation, it would be best to first move east and deal with the Demonic Cult’s main force.

However, the Tang family, Cheongseong faction, and Ami faction headed south. Since the situation in Sacheon Province was dangerous, they had to return to Sacheon Province for now.

Dang Mu-jin and his three friends were talking.

The first person to start talking was Namgung Myung.

“Hyungong, of course you will go to the Mudang faction. Dangmujin, you will go back to being the head of the party, right?”

“I guess so.”

“Okay. Hong Geol-gae, are you going to Gaebong?”

But Hong Geol-gae shook his head.

“No. I plan to go through Sacheon Castle first and then head east. Gaebong is far away, so it’s not in immediate danger, so it’s not too late to help Dangmujin and move. It’s not like all the Gaebong followers are gathered in Gaebong like other sects.”

“What about the open-minded people who followed you?”

“Tell them to move on their own. Beggars don’t wander.”

The path of movement has been set.

Namgung Myung, Hyeon Gong, and most of the Jeongpa warriors headed east.

The warriors of Dangmujin, Honggeolgae, Amipa and Cheongseongpa went to Sacheonseong.

Dang Mu-jin said to Hyeon-gong and Nam-gung-myeong.

“Let’s meet again soon.”

“okay.”

After that story, the gathered drones split into two.

*

There was no time to waste. Hyun-gong and the Wudangpa Taoists did not cooperate with the other sects’ martial artists, but ran towards the east with all their might.

After about three days, Hyun-gong and the Taoists of the Mudang faction arrived at Jongnam faction.

‘Not good.’

Jongnampa did not burn like Gongdongpa, but there were graves here and there and the strong smell of blood filled the air.

There were dark blood stains here and there on the dirt, and a strong scent of blood filled the air.

The next destination for the Demonic Cult’s unmanned forces is either the Hwasan faction or the Shaman. Or both.

‘···please.’

Hyun-gong fervently hoped that the Mudang faction had not yet collapsed.

“Hurry up! We’ll move to the Mudangpa without stopping!”

*

After traveling for two more days, Hyun-gong and the Wudangpa Taoists arrived at Wudangpa.

Fortunately, there was no smell of blood on Mt. Mudang.

As soon as Hyun-gong arrived, the shamans guarding Hae-geom-ji shouted inward.

“The long-time leader has arrived!”

Fortunately, the nonpartisan faction had not yet encountered any misfortune.

Hyun-gong moved inward and looked around. He saw many Taoists from the Mudang faction, as well as those from the Jongnam faction. Fortunately, the Taoists from the Jongnam faction seemed to have held out until the end and escaped without dying.

Hyun-gong went straight to Yeong-bo Jin-in’s residence, Hyun-cheon-dang.

As always, before Hyun-gong could even begin to speak, Yeong-bo Jin-in’s voice was heard.

“Come in.”

Hyun-gong opened the door and entered Hyun-cheon-dang.

Yeongbo Jin-in sat quietly as usual, looking at Hyun-gong.

However, unlike the past when everything was easygoing and relaxed, there was a sharp atmosphere that seemed to cut through Youngbo Jinin’s flesh.

The momentum was so fierce that even Hyun-gong, who knew that there was no hostility, flinched.

“···I’m back.”

“You said you were going to your friend’s wedding. You’re late.”

Hyun-gong nodded his head without making any excuses.

At the same time, the sharp momentum surrounding Youngbo Jin-in subsided.

When Hyun-gong raised his head again, Yeong-bo-jin-in was smiling lightly as usual.

Yeongbo Jinin spoke to Hyeon Gong.

“But there will be time for one last lesson. Let’s go outside. Come and get me.”

Hyungong nodded. In the past, whenever he received teachings, Hyungong would carry Yeongbo Jinin on his back.

Hyun-gong asked as he placed Yeong-bo Jin-in on the flat rock in front of Hyun-cheon-dang.

“What are you trying to teach me?”

But unlike usual, Youngbojinin had one more instruction.

“Close your eyes.”

“yes?”

“Close your eyes and I’ll tell you.”

Hyungong closed his eyes. Up until now, Hyungong had never doubted Yeongbo Jinin.

Yeongbo Jinin was Hyeon Gong’s parent, teacher, and the light that guided Hyeon Gong’s life.

“Stretch both arms out in front of you.”

This time, Hyun-gong followed Yeong-bo Jin-in’s instructions again.

“Like this?”

“Yeah. That’s about right.”

The very next moment, Hyun-gong felt a tingling sensation on his arm.

A hot and cool sensation, like a bee stinging you. It was an unpleasant sensation, but also a familiar one.

‘What is this···!’

Hyun-gong hurriedly stepped back, opened his eyes, and checked what had happened.

Before he knew it, Yeongbo Jinin had drawn his sword, and blood was flowing from Hyeon-gong’s two arms.

The bone wasn’t damaged, but the muscle had been cut quite deeply, so Hyun-gong’s lower arm didn’t move as he wanted.

It wasn’t like before, when I was trying to push Hyun-gong to achieve enlightenment.

Because Yeongbo Jin-in cut off Hyun-gong’s arm without any warning.

Hyun-gong shouted in embarrassment.

“Master, why are you doing this?”

“You won’t be able to swing your sword for at least a month. This is the beginning of my teachings.”

Yeongbo Jin-in smiled softly as he spoke like that.