Tangmunjeon - Chapter 410



Only Krnovel

Sacheon

While Hyun-gong was busy acting as Yeong-bo-jin’s leg, Dang-mu-jin arrived at Han-jung, which could be called the gateway to Sacheon-seong.

There were quite a few people by Dang Mujin’s side. Not only the warriors of Cheongseongpa and Amipa, but also about half of the warriors of the Demonic Cult who were staying in Danggajang, and even the Heavenly Spirit Dog Hong Gyeon.

Dang Mu-jin thought.

‘Please, I hope nothing happened to the party…’

The party leader stopped a passerby.

“I have a question for you.”

I called him thinking he was an ordinary person, but now I see he was a low-ranking official.

Martial arts people and government officials tend to treat each other like chickens, but when one side’s power is too high, the situation changes a little.

The manager seemed a little nervous.

“Oh, yes. What’s up?”

“By any chance, did a group of martial artists pass through Hanjung about two weeks ago?”

“I saw it. There were more than a hundred swordsmen passing by. I thought it was just that, but when I heard from the officers, they all said they were great masters.”

“Is that so···.”

Dang Mu-jin’s chest felt heavy as if a rock was resting on it.

It would have been great if the Demonic Cult’s unmanned forces had avoided Sacheon, but such a miracle did not happen.

The expressions of Gongryeongja, the leader of the Cheongseongpa faction, and Hyangbaeksa-tae, the leader of the Amipa faction, also became serious.

Of the two, the prince’s worries seemed particularly deep.

Among the three axes of the Sacheonseong Jeongpa martial arts world, Cheongseongpa, Amipa, and Danggajang, the northernmost sect is Cheongseongpa.

If the Demonic Cult’s warriors entered Sacheon Castle, the first place they would attack would be the Cheongseongpaille Communist Mountain.

The prince urged the group on in an impatient voice.

“Let’s move a little faster.”

“All right.”

The group quickened their pace.

*

Two days later, Dang Mu-jin and his party arrived at Cheongseongsan Mountain.

“···.”

Fortunately, the Cheongseongpa did not burn down like the Gongdongpa. All the valuable items were lost, but that did not matter much.

The problem was that there was no sign of life at all. Instead, a faint smell of blood took its place.

“Everyone, what’s going on…?”

There was an unmistakable tremor in the prince’s voice.

Some of the Qingchengpa Taoists lost their strength in their legs and collapsed on the spot. Some clenched their teeth and shed tears.

“Ugh, ugh···!”

There were only about fifteen Taoists gathered from the Cheongseongpa for the Jeongma Daejeon. It was not a large number.

In other words, this means that most of the members of Cheongseongpa, except for about fifteen masters, were staying at Cheongseongsan Mountain.

Young or young Taoists. Taoists who were not selected because they were not outstanding in talent.

Taoists who had no interest in martial arts. At least two or three hundred Taoists have disappeared somewhere.

The masters of Cheongseongpa spoke with heavy voices.

“If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have left Cheongseongsan Mountain…”

The Jeongpa warriors always took the Jeongma War lightly.

Unlike the Jeongsa Daejeon where people fought each other to the death, it was more like a regular event for the Jeongpa warriors.

Making excuses to catch those who have committed crimes and run away, going to a faraway demonic cult, causing trouble to your heart’s content, showing off your accomplishments, and then returning. That was what the Jeongpa warriors had in mind for the Jeongma War of the past.

Even the talented and young warriors eagerly awaited the Jeongma War. There was no better opportunity to make their names and nicknames known.

Of course, I didn’t think this Jeongma War would be the same as the Jeongma War of the past.

However, the Battle of Jeongma always took place in Cheonsan. No one thought that the Battle of Jeongma would take place in the Central Plains, and furthermore, that the main mountain would suffer damage as a result of the Battle of Jeongma.

Dang Mu-jin waited until the Qingchengpa Taoists had calmed down a bit, and then asked Gong Ling-ja.

“What are you going to do now?”

The prince answered while looking at the empty buildings of Cheongseongpa.

“Of course we must take revenge. The Taoists of Cheongseongpa are not fools who do not know how to take revenge.”

Not only the Gongryungja, but also the other Taoists’ eyes were burning with cold anger. Dang Mujin looked at them and spoke.

“First, let’s go to the party hall.”

“···Yes. I understand.”

Of course, there was no guarantee that the owner would be okay.

But the masters of Cheongseongpa did not bother to bring up that story.

*

As they arrived near the castle, Hong Geul-gae muttered.

“On the outside, it looks okay…”

A strange tension flowed through the church.

The atmosphere when something ominous is about to happen, or after something ominous has already happened.

The saints approached the party leader without hesitation as before, pretending not to know him and keeping their bodies hidden.

Dang Mujin’s heart pounded hard. What should he do if Dang Gajang is as empty as Cheongseongpa? What should he do if he can never see his family again?

‘No. Most of the skilled warriors of Cheongseongpa have left, but there is still Elder Wi Jinanxiang in Danggajang. If an urgent situation arose, Elder Jang Ilnam would not have just stood by and watched.’

‘···But, can just two people stop them? The unmanned people from the Demonic Cult and the elder of the Three Eyes Buddha. Except for the two of you, all the other masters have already left the Danggajang. Elder Hwa Yeon Shin Ni is also staying in Junggyeong, not the Danggajang.’

All sorts of thoughts crossed my mind.

However, Dang Mu-jin’s legs moved on their own and guided him to the front gate of the Dang family.

Dang Mu-jin stopped knocking on the door. He was afraid that no one would respond inside.

So, Dang Mu-jin drew his sword and cut the small lock that was visible through the crack in the gate.

The well-maintained gate opened silently and revealed a crowd of people.

The familiar Tang family members. The Taoists of the Cheongseong sect. And even the nuns of the Ami sect.

Likewise, the people inside the party hall also looked at Dang Mu-jin.

As Dang Mu-jin stood there in bewilderment, Dan Seol-yeong, who had been moving around near the main gate, greeted Dang Mu-jin.

“It’s good that you came quickly, but why did you cut the lock as soon as you got here?”

“No, that···”

“Oh my. I think I have a general idea. Come on in.”

Not only Dang Mu-jin, but also the people who came with him slowly entered the party hall.

The Qingchengpa Taoists were especially relieved. No matter how you looked at it, it seemed that most of the Qingchengpa Taoists had arrived at the Tang Family Hall without dying.

Dang Mu-jin and Hong Geol-gae followed Dan Seol-yeong and asked.

“What happened? Why are the Cheongseongpa and Amipa people here?”

“They fled here when the Demonic Cult appeared. There were some who died fighting, but… there were still many who escaped safely. The Cheongseongpa people arrived first, and the Amipa nuns arrived the day before yesterday.”

Dang Mu-jin looked to the side while listening to the story. His father and Jang Il-nam were sitting side by side, talking seriously.

The children were nowhere to be seen, but the atmosphere seemed to indicate that there were no problems with the family.

Dang Mu-jin muttered.

“Thank goodness. Thank goodness···”

Only then was Dang Mu-jin able to let go of his worries. However, Hong Geol-gae, who was quietly listening to the story from the side, had a strange expression on his face.

Dang Mu-jin asked Hong Geol-gae.

“Why? What’s going on?”

“No, I just think it’s a little strange. I don’t know about the Cheongseongpa, but don’t you think it’s a little strange that the Amipa nuns are here?”

“why?”

“Amipa is much further south than Danggajang. Why was Amipa attacked before Danggajang?”

It was a sharp observation, unusual for a Hong Geul-gae.

The Demonic Cult’s warriors came down from the north through Hanjung.

Naturally, they would attack the factions in the north in order, so it would be right to take damage in the order of Cheongseongpa, Danggajang, and Amipa.

However, now, not only the Taoists of the Cheongseongpa but also the nuns of the Amipa are staying in the Tang family.

The order is a bit strange, isn’t it? The Demonic Cult’s unmanned forces attacked the Cheongseongpa in the north, then attacked Amisan in the south to avoid the Tang family.

Danseolyoung said confidently.

“There are two top-class chefs at Danggajang. And there is also a recipe for the organs that I worked hard to make for years. I guess they were too scared to come in.”

But Hong Geol-gae’s attitude was twisted.

“No. It’s more likely that the Demonic Cult’s warriors don’t know the Tang family.”

It was not long before Tang Ga Jang became famous that his name might not have been known even in the distant Cheonsan Mountains. Considering that the distance to Cheonsan Mountains was not that far, it was a story that made sense.

But that story touched Danseolyeong’s heart.

“Who are you to talk like that? Even the kids in the neighborhood know the owner of the restaurant…”

I felt a strange distance in Danseolyoung’s speech.

It was only then that Dang Mu-jin realized that Hong Geol-gae still had the face of ‘Hong Gyeon, the Heavenly Demon’.

Dang Mu-jin whispered to Dan Seol-yeong.

“Seolyoung-ah. Hey, it’s Honggeolgae.”

“You’re a red-faced dog?”

“I changed my face for a moment because of some circumstances. Don’t tell anyone else. And I’ll be back shortly.”

“What? Where are you going as soon as you get here?”

“I’ll tell you later.”

Hong Geol-gae’s guess that the Tang family’s reputation was low and that he had avoided trouble was quite plausible, but Dang Mu-jin came up with a much more convincing reason.

Dang Mu-jin left the party hall, leaving Dan Seol-yeong in a daze.

*

It was just starting to get dark around here.

Dang Mu-jin walked along the dark streets for a long time with his spirits upturned. Then, at some point, he realized that two faint sounds were following him.

Dang Mu-jin stopped walking and said.

“Come out.”

Then two people emerged from the darkness and grumbled.

“How many years is the age difference? What a habit you have.”

The person who said that had a neat appearance like a man of letters, and was wielding a huge sword that did not match his appearance. Kwangyeomra.

And of course, next to Gwangyeomra was the Left Guardian Yeon Sa-wook.

Although Dang Mu-jin was not on good terms with Gwangyeom-ra or Joaho-beop, he was somehow happy to see the two of them.

If you have to face any of the masters of the Demonic Cult, these are the better ones.

Kwangyeomra asked with a slightly anxious voice.

“Hey, it looks like Hyungong isn’t here right now?”

“Hyungong went to Mt. Wudang.”

After hearing Dang Mujin’s story, Gwangyeomra let out a sigh of relief. It seemed that Hyeon-gong was quite uncomfortable.

Gwangyeomra and the Left Guardian Law are clearly enemies of Dangmujin.

But Dang Mu-jin bowed and paid tribute.

“thanks.”

Then Gwangyeomra crossed his arms.

“You seem to know what I’m thankful for, don’t you?”

“You gave them some leeway by not attacking the Tang family first. That must have been your decision.”

“You’re pretty perceptive.”

Gwangyeomra laughed as he spoke like that.

The left-wing law looked at Dang Mu-jin with a pleased expression, as if it was finally time to repay the favor.

It seems that he still remembers the moment when he was almost attacked by Seon Na-seung, when Dang Mu-jin saved him.

If the Left Guardian Law protected Dang Mu-jin out of loyalty, Gwang-yeom-ra protected Dang Mu-jin out of practicality rather than loyalty.

If the Great Battle of Jeongma ends with the victory of the Jeongpa, Gwangyeomra plans to use his connection with Dangmujin to start a new life outside of the Demonic Cult. He also has an excellent precedent called Samanbul.

Gwangyeomra said to Dangmujin.

“We have certainly taken your convenience. However, we have only postponed your turn. We cannot let you pass without striking the party chief.”

“Since we’ve already changed the order, why don’t we just hold on like we are now? There’s no reason to fight.”

Gwangyeomra frowned after hearing Dangmujin’s story.

“Speak your mind. Yeon Sa-wook and I have a connection with you, so we were able to get away with it, but the situation is different for our subordinates. If Yeon Sa-wook and I become suspicious, there are a lot of them who will rush to report it to the leader.”

“Aren’t you saying that you’re going to hit the party leader in the end?”

“Of course you should! Do you think we’re your friends? You’re just a means to prepare for an emergency. Besides, I think the probability of this war ending in the Demonic Cult’s victory is much higher. I have no intention of taking your side even at the risk of falling out with the leader.”

The left-wing lawmaker, Yeon Sa-wook, thought that Gwangyeomra’s story was too much, so he poked Gwangyeomra’s side with his elbow.

Then, as if he was speechless, Gwangyeom-ra hit the back of Joahobeop’s head.

Bam!

The expression on the face of the left-wing lawyer, who had suddenly been hit hard, became gloomy.

Dang Mu-jin asked Jo Ho-beop.

“But, if you’re a Dharma protector, shouldn’t you be by the leader’s side?”

“You entrust me with your most trusted confidant.”

The left-wing law answered confidently.

However, Dang Mu-jin’s thoughts were a little different. Maybe he just pushed it away to a place where it couldn’t be seen because it was frustrating to look at.

Gwangyeomra intervened and spoke to Dangmujin.

“Anyway, I’ll give you one more chance to see things through.”

“You’ll give me some consideration?”

“Yes. Take Gasol and leave Sacheon. Reestablish yourself in another region. The leader will never give up Sacheon, but if the leader of the party leaves for another region, I won’t bother chasing him. After that, don’t even mention the story of the Jeongpa’s military leader, and just behave like everyone else. Understood?”

Dang Mu-jin thought carefully and then said.

“That… won’t be easy.”

“If you ever say something stupid like ‘I don’t want to leave my hometown’, you’re going to get beaten up too.”

Dang Mu-jin shook his head.

“That’s not it. The Qingchengpa and Amipa people are staying in Danggajang. Danggajang may make up his mind to leave his hometown, but the Qingchengpa and Amipa will never leave Sichuan Province.”

Cheongseongsan is a very important mountain in the Taoist sect. The only mountains that are as important as Cheongseongsan in the Taoist sect are Gongdongsan and Jongnamsan.

The situation is even worse for Mount Ami. Although Shaolin Temple is said to be the head temple of the Buddhist sect, the importance of Mount Sung, where Shaolin Temple is located, seems insignificant compared to Mount Ami.

Although I have temporarily retreated to avoid misfortune, I cannot completely give up on Cheongseongsan and Amisan and go to another place.

That would not be much different from denying the life up to now and the history of the Cheongseongpa and the Amipa.

Gwangyeomra clicked his tongue as he listened to Dangmujin’s story. Tsk.

“What are you worrying about? Just tell those writers to stay behind, and you and your family can get out. That’ll do it.”

“That’s easier said than done. How can I abandon people I’ve known since my runny nose days?”

Even if we make a concession and say that there wasn’t much interaction with the Amipa, the situation is different with the Cheongseongpa.

Weren’t the people of Cheongseongpa the ones who knew that the Tang family was not in good shape and had been secretly helping them for a long time? They couldn’t just ignore it and get away with it.

Kwangyeomra said with a pretended coldness.

“I clearly gave you a chance. From now on, no matter what happens, it’s not my fault. It’ll happen in a few days at the longest, so deal with it.”

“How many days? What’s going on?”

“Yes. At the shortest, it will be three days. At the longest, within two days, the Wooho Law or the Great Guardian Law will come to Sacheon.”

“···The Friendship Law died when I left the Demonic Cult, and the Great Guardian Law became the leader, right?”

Kwangyeomra said in an irritated voice.

“No, you idiot. Is there a law that says a position has to remain vacant just because someone died once? It was vacant for a long time, but… Of course, I had to pick a new one.”

“You just picked someone new? Is that someone I know?”

“No. They are the ones who overcame the side effects of the magic taught by the cult leader and have properly reached the highest level. Unlike other half-baked ones, they are not greatly inferior to me, so don’t underestimate them.”

Dang Mu-jin’s eyes became serious.

When a man says, “He doesn’t push me that hard,” it usually implies, “To be honest, he seems a little stronger than me.”

Even with just the Light Flame and the Left Guardian method, it’s burdensome, so would you be able to win if a master higher than Light Flame appeared?

‘···It’s not easy.’

Gwangyeomra gave a final request to Dangmujin.

“Anyway, if the Friendly Law or the Great Guardian Law appears, I can’t buy you any time, so if you want to live, take your family and get out on time. This is not a recommendation, it’s a notice. I said it clearly. Yeon Sa-wook, let’s go!”

Gwangyeomra turned around as he spoke like that.

The left-wing lawmaker, who had been listening to the story silently until now, shouted at the party leaders.

“I believe you!”

I don’t know what he was expecting me to believe, but Dang Mu-jin nodded politely.

The left-wing law looked at Dangmujin with a pleased expression and disappeared into the darkness together with Gwangyeomra.