Chapter 361
We decided to take a short break at the Martial Alliance and then return to the Wudang Sect.
The nominal reason was that we had caught Ma Cheon-deuk and had an unexpected battle on the way here, so we needed to rest our tired bodies and minds, but in fact, there was another real reason.
-Let's talk for a while tonight.
Because the Alliance Leader had stealthily sent me a telepathic message.
When I glanced at him, it seemed that not only my senior brothers but also old man Maeng Gwang-gae didn't know that we had decided to talk at night, so I pretended not to know and just nodded my head very slightly.
"Will you use the lodgings inside the Martial Alliance? Or will you stay at the inn you stayed at last time?"
"Would it be alright to go out of the Martial Alliance and rest?"
"Yes. That's your freedom. But wouldn't it be better to stay inside the Alliance to prepare for any unknown dangers?"
"No matter how crazy the Demonic Cult bastards are, they wouldn't appear in the middle of Kaifeng and cause trouble, would they? Besides, it's my senior brothers' first time in Kaifeng, so it's more convenient to be outside if they want to eat delicious food here and there."
The Alliance Leader chuckled at my words.
If someone else had said it, they might have thought I was being childish, not knowing how serious the current situation was.
But the Alliance Leader seemed to just laugh and pass it off because he knew well that I didn't mean it that way, but that I was saying this because I trusted the power of the Martial Alliance and the Beggars' Sect.
"If it's that place from last time, I know it well. Alright. I won't go far, so go well."
"Yes, Alliance Leader. The gifts you gave us... we will receive them with great gratitude."
"Thank you, Alliance Leader!"
"Thank you!"
"We have received a great favor!"
As soon as I greeted him, my senior brothers, as if they had been waiting, bowed their heads and greeted the Alliance Leader.
The Alliance Leader smiled and answered.
"It's just that you all did well, so I gave you a corresponding reward. The Martial Alliance is originally this kind of place. Of course, a certain amount of service or sacrifice is basically required, but we try to give a reward that matches the achievement as much as possible. If you do the same thing for the Martial Alliance and the martial world in the future, I am ready to give you something even better. So in the future, become a stronger martial artist and work for the martial world."
"Yes. I understand, Alliance Leader!"
"I will become a stronger martial artist."
"I will be a force for the martial world!"
At the Alliance Leader's words, my senior brothers' eyes blazed.
To think that he could light such a fire in the hearts of my senior brothers, who were usually like herbivores, in an instant... As expected, not just anyone can be the Martial Alliance Leader.
"Then we will be on our way."
"Yes. Let's see each other again before you leave."
The Alliance Leader turned his back and returned to his quarters.
I also said goodbye to Gwak Seok-san, saying I would see him next time.
Then he, with a broad smile, said, "Unhwi. Will we see each other again next time?"
"Of course. Won't we keep running into each other in the future?"
"Keep running into each other?"
"Yes. I think there will be many cases where we will have to solve things together if something happens in the martial world in the future."
"What does that mean?"
I, swallowing the thought 'What do you mean, what does it mean? Since the White Tiger Squad is the busiest place in the Martial Alliance, we'll run into each other anywhere in the martial world!', smiled and said, "It's just my intuition."
"Really. How bland. Then see you next time. As your intuition says."
"Yes. See you next time."
On the way out of the Martial Alliance.
Although I insisted that it was fine, Maeng Gwang-gae said he would take us to the inn.
"Unhwi-ya."
"Yes, Elder."
"You... have something with the Alliance Leader, don't you?"
"Yes?"
"I'm a quick-witted person. I'm sure there's something between you and the Alliance Leader... but I don't know what it is."
Maeng Gwang-gae, walking next to me on the way to the inn, said.
Although I was a little surprised by his sharp senses, I, pretending to be nonchalant, said to him, "What could there be? It's just that since I came with my master last time, I felt that he was fond of me. This time, since I have achieved the feat of catching Ma Cheon-deuk, isn't that why he sees me that way?"
"Hmm... is that so?"
"But Elder. Is it okay if you don't go to Ma Cheon-deuk? He might have woken up by now."
"That's right. Look at my mind!"
He stopped walking abruptly.
"I shouldn't be doing this right now. I have to go to that Ma Cheon-deuk guy."
"Since I know the way out from here, you should go quickly."
"Yes. Alright. See you next time, Unhwi-ya."
When he was about to turn around and perform a movement technique, I called out to him.
"Elder!"
"Hmm?"
"The promise I made with Ma Cheon-deuk... please remember it. Please lock him up where he can see the Green Snake, and try not to torture the Green Snake as much as possible."
Maeng Gwang-gae chuckled and opened his mouth.
"Unhwi-ya. Actually, shall I tell you a secret?"
"What secret?"
"Actually... I have never once tortured that girl, the Green Snake."
"Yes? Really?"
"Yes. I didn't even torture her, but she spilled everything on her own. Saying she wanted to live. So there's no reason I can't keep that promise from now on. Then I'm going!"
He, leaving only his words, deployed his movement technique and quickly disappeared from sight.
I, looking at his disappearing back for a moment, left the Martial Alliance and headed to the inn.
***
After entering the inn, my senior brothers immediately fell asleep.
Although I wanted to feed them delicious food and show them the sights of Kaifeng, perhaps because they had been running for several days without rest and their tension had been released, they fell into a deep sleep and couldn't wake up even when I tried to wake them.
Since rest is as important as training, I let my senior brothers sleep as much as they wanted and stealthily left the inn.
Although the Alliance Leader had only said to see him tonight and hadn't specified when or where, I had a hunch that he would secretly come to the inn in the middle of the night.
Since it was still only evening and it was still a long way from midnight, I thought I should go to the shop I liked by myself and left the inn.
"Buy some meat. The quality of the meat is really good today."
"Young Master. Won't you get a suit of clothes? We got some really good fabric in cheaply today."
"Have a dumpling. It's really delicious!"
Kaifeng. And the area around the Martial Alliance is a considerable downtown area.
Although it may seem strange that there is such a permanent market around the Martial Alliance, if you think about it differently, it is also a natural thing.
Because in the end, the safest place in the martial world is right around the Martial Alliance.
In other places where the power of the Martial Alliance does not reach properly, there may be an evil faction sect, and it is not uncommon for ruffians to hold the interests of the alleys and oppress the merchants.
But around the Martial Alliance, it is physically difficult for an evil faction sect to establish itself, and that's why merchants who find it easy to do business flock there.
Besides, if there is only supply and no demand, a market cannot be formed, but the Martial Alliance not only has a considerable number of martial artists on its own, but if you count the number of martial artists who come and go to the Martial Alliance, that number becomes several times larger.
In addition, if it is a noble family, the martial artist does not move alone, but their attendants also move together, so it can be said that the floating population itself is quite large.
It is said that in business, the location is eighty percent of it.
It is natural that a place with a large floating population has good business.
For these reasons, a considerably large market and downtown area have been formed around the Martial Alliance.
"Auntie. One skewer, please."
"Yes. One copper coin."
"Thank you."
I, buying the skewer I had often eaten in my past life, walked around the streets of Kaifeng, eating it one bite at a time.
When I walk around here, I often get lost in my thoughts without realizing it.
Because I spent a lot of time here in my past life, and I have my own memories.
The skewer I'm eating now is a good example.
This place is still here after more than ten years, but at that time, one skewer was two copper coins.
And the owner auntie was also older than now, and her hair was graying.
Just seeing the auntie's young appearance was a new experience.
But, now, it seems that whatever I do alone is not that fun.
Although I walked around the streets of Kaifeng by myself, looked around, and ate delicious food, for some reason, I think of my senior brothers.
My Five Swords of Wudang senior brothers who are sleeping at the inn, and my room's senior brothers who are probably sweating hard in the Wudang Sect right now.
After I learned what it means to be together. After I learned how enjoyable it is to be together, I keep thinking of my senior brothers whenever I see delicious food.
I also thought that it would be a little difficult to go back to the past when I was happy even by myself.
"I should just... go back to the inn."
I had no choice but to finish the skewer I was eating and decided to go back to the inn.
Since I didn't want to pass through a place with too many people again, I headed to the inn through a back alley where there were few people and almost no merchants.
Although it wasn't far from the street I had been on until a little while ago, the surroundings had become quiet at some point.
As expected, I think I like it quiet like this rather than noisy.
"I'm really not interested anymore. Please let me go."
Just then, a voice that broke the silence was heard.
It was a woman's voice.
Although I wondered what could happen right in front of the Martial Alliance, it was night, and at night, there are many young people who have been drinking.
Alcohol has the effect of making young people mistakenly think that they are full of courage.
And that mistaken courage is mostly displayed towards those who are weaker than themselves.
"I said let me go! If you don't let me go..."
"Miss. Don't be like that, can't you just talk for a while? Why have you not been coming to any of the meetings lately? You have to at least tell us the reason so we can understand, right?"
"I told you the reason last time, didn't I? That I've started to train in martial arts seriously."
Listening quietly, it seems that fortunately, the man is not trying to do anything to the woman, but they are just bickering.
Still, I went to the place where the sound was coming from and revealed myself.
As I thought, a man was holding a woman's wrist and not letting go.
And... that woman was a face I knew well.
"Miss Jeong?"
"U-Unhwi Dojang?!"
She was the granddaughter of the Martial Alliance Leader. Jeong Ha-rin.
Although I don't know why Jeong Ha-rin is having a scuffle with such a man here, in fact, the moment I realized she was Jeong Ha-rin, I thought I had worried for nothing.
Because no matter how much he had been drinking, there would be no one so out of his mind as to try to do something to the granddaughter of the Martial Alliance Leader.
Besides, Jeong Ha-rin, as if her wrist had never been caught, used a very skillful seizing and grappling art to drop the man's arm.
"I was just passing by, but I came because I heard a loud voice. If it's nothing, you two can just continue talking."
I, seeing that, thought that Jeong Ha-rin was not being held against her will, so I said that and tried to pass by.
"W-wait a minute!"
"Yes?"
Then she came up next to me and said to the man from a little while ago, "I told you last time, right? That there is someone I want to stand next to by training in martial arts seriously. This is that person. So please leave me alone now."
The man and I could only look at her with wide eyes, surprised.
(End of Chapter)