The World of Sound - Chapter 17



Only Krnovel

Following those who had raided the guest house, it didn’t take long to clear out those who had climbed over the annex’s fence.

As Margin charged forward, the masked men who had been busy checking and attacking each other momentarily united again, but it was meaningless in the face of overwhelming force.

Thanks to this, the non-responsive country was able to successfully defend its target this time as well.

“Thank you for your salvation!”

“No. Anyway, I just did what I had to do since I accompanied the delegation.”

Fortunately, there were no deaths, although the signs were quite damaged in the process.

Although about half of them were lightly or seriously injured, they were able to minimize damage despite the overwhelming difference in numbers and skill by forming a tight-knit formation and avoiding fighting as much as possible and waiting for the right moment to strike.

“But at this point, I’m really curious. What kind of cargo are they transporting that makes them rush in so recklessly?”

However, I was truly curious as to what the prize was that these experts were risking their lives to obtain.

Could it be that he has hidden something like a peerless sword, an elixir, or a treasure map?

Of course, it may seem a bit weak to look at it that way, but first-class and top-class masters are not people you can easily find in the martial arts world, and since they value their own lives so much, such a reckless attack was difficult for even Margin to understand.

“I really don’t know either… … .”

“It must be because of the elixir. Or should I say the elixir to be exact? Anyway, I heard that the martial artists are crazy about such things?”

But this time too, Pyodu just looked resentful and frustrated and cried.

But at that moment, Cheonhwa, who had been walking towards the annex belatedly, gave the answer instead.

“Youngcho?”

“What do you mean… … .”

“Huh. You really don’t know? Even though you said you kept it hidden, the smell of nature is so strong.”

“Smell? Sniff sniff.”

Is this guy a dog?

At Cheonhwa’s words, Marjin quickly sniffed around, but of course, he couldn’t smell anything.

It is not a scent that can simply be smelled with the nose, and because it is hidden like the words of Cheonhwa, even an expert cannot smell it through normal methods.

Cheonhwa also didn’t know about its existence at first, but through the performance, he realized its existence and from then on, he was able to smell the scent of the spirit.

That’s why the head of the table also had an expression on his face as if he didn’t understand English.

At least as far as I know, there was no such thing as a spirit among the signs.

Could it be that he deceived himself and ordered the act?

If it were true, it would be a sad thing.

Because it’s like someone is gambling with their life as collateral.

But it wasn’t something that could have happened at all.

This is why, when transporting a target that is beyond the capabilities of the target country, the target country sometimes carries out the transport by disguising itself in this way.

If you’re lucky enough to complete your journey without anyone noticing, that’s great, but if someone notices and tries to target you, it could be as good as death for everyone.

When looking at it that way, it could be said that this performance belongs to the latter.

Everyone knew that if it weren’t for Cheonhwa and Majin, they would have been annihilated without even being able to leave Guizhou.

“Oh my. You really only know how to use your body! In fact, you can figure it out just by thinking about it! Why did you ask them to play for a time that wasn’t recorded on the phonograph? It must be because there was someone listening. And spirits and spirit plants are quite sensitive to music.”

While Pyodu’s expression darkened, Cheonhwa took her claim as a fait accompli.

There was no need to break the seal on the object to check.

As he said, the reason why he had to play for an hour every day was proof of that.

Because good words and good performance have a positive effect on the growth of plants and animals.

It goes without saying that it was even more so for beings with spirituality, such as spirits or spirit plants.

It may vary depending on the subject, but it is certainly possible to maintain optimal condition, although it may not be able to promote growth or increase strength.

Perhaps that is exactly what the client wanted.

The phonograph device is probably just a pretext.

“That makes sense. But I don’t know what kind of spirit it is that’s causing such a fuss. I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a spirit being discovered that great.”

“If such a rumor had already spread, they wouldn’t have left it in a small place like Bi-eung-pyo-guk, right? Well… … I have my doubts about that part. In fact, I don’t think the spirit inside there is that great. It might be helpful for those who showed up on the way here, but for those above them, it would only be a medicine.”

“Do you happen to know what kind of spirit it is?”

“Well, roughly? I’ve also worked as a herbalist. There aren’t many things that show such a diverse and intense reaction when communicating with sound. Probably… … If my feeling is correct, it would be the Chinese juniper.”

“Gujiguyeopcho?”

Then, Cheonhwa revealed what the spirit herb hidden inside the sign was.

A nine-leafed plant with nine branches.

Each of the eighty-one leaves possesses mysterious powers, and each time you eat them, you will see a significant increase in your internal energy. However, because each leaf has a subtly different nature, it is a natural elixir that can only see its true synergistic effect when you eat them all.

“It’s definitely ambiguous. At that level, even if you’re a top-notch expert, it’ll be difficult to see any dramatic effects.”

However, only first-class experts can feel the dramatic effect.

As Margin said, even if you were a master at the peak, it would be difficult to see much progress even if you chewed and swallowed all eighty-one leaves.

“Is there an elixir that uses this as an ingredient?”

“It could be used as a remedy, but that’s a bit strange. Compared to its rarity, the effects of the Chinese chives as a remedy aren’t that great. There are quite a few substitutes. I’m just saying it’s not worth risking your life for.”

That’s why Margin thought that maybe they were trying to make some kind of magic with it as a material, and Cheonhwa also guessed that it might be used as a treatment for internal injuries.

“A cure… … If it’s an urgent case where you can’t get a replacement, then I guess it’s different. Either you’re the one getting it or you’re the one trying to stop it.”

If someone had a purpose of needing urgent treatment, or conversely, to prevent treatment, it was possible that they would do something like this.

There were a few issues with that, but those are the ones that come to mind right away.

“Don’t worry. I’m not interested in things like the first draft, right?”

“Yes. It is a rare spirit, but not enough to betray the god. There may still be remnants of them, but don’t worry about that either. As long as I am here, they will not dare to ruin this event.”

These were speculations that might have given some insight into their purpose, but some were unable to focus on them.

It was Chae Pyo-du.

As the leader of this campaign, it is certainly important to understand the intentions of the enemies, but now that you know that their purpose is the elixir that was unknowingly added to the list, you must also worry about the enemies within.

Even though Margin and Heavenly Flower were devalued, all warriors coveted any kind of elixir.

“By the way, you’re counting the hazard pay, right? You have to make sure you don’t miss it.”

Perhaps because he noticed that, Cheonhwa was the first to reassure him.

They say that they have no interest in the Gujiguyeopcho at all, so there is no need to worry about them changing their minds.

“Of course I believed it. Of course.”

Margin also noticed the meaning and joined in, and thanks to that, Chae Pyo-du’s expression brightened up a little.

So, the non-responsive country’s personnel went back to rest and recover.

Knowing that they could do business even within the village, we guarded the annex like an ironclad fortress with the remaining personnel throughout the night, and fortunately, we were able to spend the night without incident.

The next morning, as soon as the sun rose, they loaded the cargo onto the ship and began their final journey to Akyang, leaving only those with serious injuries in the inn.

***

Swaaaaaaaaaahh …

The ship heading to Akyang began to sail coolly through the waves. Only when the pier became distant and the people sending them off disappeared from sight could the flag bearers of the non-receiving country finally relax.

Now that they’re on the sea, they won’t be able to chase or attack them at will.

“The parade is finally coming to an end. It hasn’t even been twenty days, but it feels like two months have passed.”

“Didn’t you say we had to keep going like this for two more days?”

Cheonhwa slightly poked fun at Chae Pyo-du’s relief.

It’s not that I wanted to pick a fight, it’s just that I was curious.

Even though they’ve boarded the ship, if the enemies want to, they can chase them by boat or wait upstream and attack them.

Then, they would face their enemies on the water, with nowhere to run or evade.

There was also the possibility that they would be attacked by a ship other than theirs and lose their prize regardless of their actions.

“That’s right. But from now on, you don’t have to worry. This is the territory of the Jang Gangsu River. Even those who are prepared to die won’t be able to run wild in their territory.”

But Chae Pyo-du shook his head with a faint smile.

That’s not wrong, but at least in this waterway, that’s not the case.

This is because this is a place where neither the right nor the wrong can dare to cause a disturbance.

Jang River Waterway.

To be exact, it is the territory of a group of watermen called the Jang Gang Su Ro Si Ppal Chae.

There are green forests on the mountains and water channels on the rivers.

In the martial arts world, at least those two are powerful enough to have their own solid territory beyond the logic of right and wrong, so when the power of the martial arts world was united under the banner of the past martial arts alliance, instead of trying to antagonize them or subdue them, they tried to maintain a moderate cooperative relationship.

It may not be impossible to subdue them, but fighting on their territory would have resulted in enormous casualties.

Especially in the case of the Jang River Waterway, they were specialized in a craft that was rare in the Central Plains, so even those who were one level higher than them were said to have difficulty following them in water.

So, no one dared to go against the will of the water spirits who controlled the waterways of the Yangtze River, and in a sense, they collected tolls more easily than the green forests and made money easily.

Because of its nature, it was not easy to gain influence, which was also the reason why the martial arts factions tolerated it.

“Wow, these envious… no, these guys are like robbers! They’re just sitting there making money by controlling just one waterway? If they’re using the sea route, they either have a lot of money or they’re transporting a lot of goods, so the fees for using it must be huge.”

“Yes, but in some ways it’s beneficial because they keep the waterways safe… … .”

“But it’s not like they’re actively stepping in to protect us. They’re just all scared and won’t do anything. If something happens, will they do anything?”

“We will take revenge to some extent. It will be difficult if they hide deep inland, but doing things as they please in their territory means that they are enemies of the Jang Gangsu River. Of course, if they are discovered on the spot, they will be punished immediately.”

“Even so, in the end, it’s just to protect their own rice bowls. Wow. These guys are really bad, I’m sick of them!”

“Shhh! Be careful. You never know where their ears might be. At least once you’re in their territory, you shouldn’t make them angry. It’s customary to let them pass without a hitch if you pay the toll, but it’s not absolute.”

Because of this, it became an unspoken custom in the martial arts world for the Nokrim and Janggangsu to collect revenue in the form of tolls, but Cheonhwa didn’t seem to like it very much.

To be exact, it was painful for them to reap the unearned income.

Because I wasn’t the kind of person who could just sit back and watch these worthless guys make a lot of money.

Chae Pyo-du was startled by Cheon-hwa’s outburst and demanded that he lower his voice, but of course Cheon-hwa turned a deaf ear.

Even if my guys get angry, they won’t be able to do anything about me.

“Wait a minute, then their warehouse must be full of all kinds of treasures? If they just raid this one water well… …?”

That’s why I even had a cheeky thought.

If they’re the kind of guys who rake in money like that, wouldn’t their warehouses be full of treasures?

If you could just sweep that away, wouldn’t you be able to get a huge sum of money in one fell swoop?

“Stop it. All the profits from each waterway, except for the operating funds, are sent to the main office. And while it may be possible to do something about one waterway, there are many of them. If you touch them, it will be quite troublesome. Even if you are okay with it, it will only cause trouble for the poor merchants and the people.”

“Oh, you can even think about that?”

It was Margin who woke up Cheonhwa, who was slightly losing consciousness.

He too was confident that he could handle a single water channel if it wasn’t on the water, and there were many people who could do the same thing, but the reason the Jang River Water Channel has lasted so long is because they were useful.

Although they are close to the Sapa faction, they were able to survive even when the Sapa faction was in power not only because of their strength, but also because if they disappeared or caused chaos, great chaos would occur in the Central Plains.

When Cheonhwa was told to stop him by pointing that out, Cheonhwa was unable to be greedy any longer, whether because he had no wealth or because he was worried about the confusion of the people.

As if it had become boring, he clicked his tongue and sat down on the deck of the passenger ship.

Although it was probably his first time on a boat since he had only ever been in the mountains, he walked around the swaying deck as if it were flat ground with an amazing sense of balance, not feeling any seasickness.

“There are only a few phonographs left that are not yet finished recording. Can I do it here?”

Then, he took out the phonograph he had taken out before even asking for permission.

If he played in such an open space, the sound might not be picked up properly and the performance might not be recorded properly, but no one could point that out to him.

It was because he knew that such mere environmental factors could not tarnish his performance.

“Let’s see. What should we do today?”

Kkkkkkkkkkkkk

Cheonhwa drank the entire bottle of alcohol he had prepared to get excited, and then started playing without waiting for an answer.

It was also to fill today’s performance time, but as a musician, I couldn’t just pass up the beautiful scenery of Dongjeongho Lake.

Pee-

The sound of jade spread throughout the ship.

There were other ordinary passengers and other dignitaries on the ship they were on, so it could have been rude, but no one showed any discomfort the moment they heard the sound.

No, not only was I not dissatisfied, I was so absorbed in the sound that I couldn’t even breathe properly.

A passenger ship moving forward, creating ripples on a calm lake, and people and scenery moving far away.

Some people were so moved by the sad sound of the flute that it made them feel sad.

“My angry hair is about to pierce through a coffin, but as I lean against the railing and look out, the rain that had been falling sadly has stopped.”

At that moment, someone added a melody to the sound of the heavenly flower that had been playing only.

“I raised my eyes to the sky and shouted for a long time, and my heart was filled with emotion.”

As soon as I added some pretty plausible lyrics, the sound instantly turned into a story.

“The resonance of thirty years is but a speck of dust, and the path that has run eight thousand li is but like clouds and moonlight, without a trace.”

“ah……!”

People who used to think of different things when hearing the same sound were now all looking at the same place and thinking of the same thing.

Exclamations erupted from all over the place as those who were completely absorbed in the song and lost in deep thought.

“I was so excited that I ended up interfering with the conversation without warning. I wonder if you were offended.”

“Oh, bro?”

The one who arbitrarily added lyrics to Cheonhwa’s performance was none other than Akso Myeong.

He also said that he had stayed in Sangdeok-hyeon for a while to board a ship, and there was more than one ship heading to Akyang, but he happened to be on the same ship.

“See you both again!”

“You said you were interested in music, but you’re quite interested?”

“I felt it yesterday too, but your performance is truly top-notch. No, that’s not even an exaggeration. It’s the best I’ve ever heard. I feel like I messed up the performance by clumsily interfering with it, so I feel like I should apologize again.”

He greeted the two people again and apologized to Cheonhwa.

It was obviously rude to interrupt the performance without permission.

Even an ordinary musician would have great pride and philosophy in his or her own sound, so if someone like Cheonhwa handles an outstanding sound, he or she would have nothing to say even if he or she was criticized.

“Why would I ruin it? I just played around once. It’s fate that we met again like this, so should we continue hanging out together?”

But Cheonhwa didn’t really care.

So what if the melody of life is not interrupted?

Although Cheonhwa is a true believer in music, he gladly accepted it.

There is nothing more enjoyable than hanging out with someone who is compatible with you and knows how to enjoy music.

“Wow!!!”

“It’s the best!”

“Please tell me the name and even the place where you are performing! I will definitely make time to visit!”

Thanks to this, there were a series of untimely performances on board.

Even when he first got involved, he seemed to be quite interested in the lyrics and the music, and from then on, Aksomyeong added some pretty good melodies to Cheonhwa’s performance.

Compared to the performance, it was clearly lacking, but even that was overshadowed by Cheonhwa’s overwhelming performance skills.

Everyone on board was just absorbed in their song.

“Ahem. My throat is a little sore… … And I feel a little hungry?”

As the performance continued, the audience spontaneously offered drinks and food as they added words here and there.

When Cheonhwa opened the empty box he had received from the non-receiving country, it began to fill up with silver.

Since they were quite well off, enough to take a boat to Akyang, they were not stingy with such great performances.

Thanks to this, Cheonhwa became more excited and was able to continue playing.

But even then, Cheonhwa still didn’t know.

The fact that his performance had moved someone who had been crouching deep in the depths of Dongjeongho.