Chapter 157
Around the Hour of the Dog (7-9 PM)...
As usual, So-ah took a couple of bottles of bamboo leaf green liquor and visited Baek In-hwa's quarters.
Although So-ah was like that, Baek In-hwa and Jeon Woo-chi, despite being Taoists, seemed to like liquor, and they greeted So-ah with a brightened face.
"Hoho! So-ah. You have now been reborn as a hero of the Orthodox Path."
When a round of drinks had been served.
Baek In-hwa said, bursting into a hollow laugh.
"Aww! What do you mean, a hero of the Orthodox Path?"
"I'm not just saying it. Didn't I tell you from before? That you are a person born with the face of a hero who will save the world."
That's right.
From the moment they first met, Baek In-hwa had said that So-ah was a person born with the face of a hero.
At that time, he had just let it pass, thinking it was just that.
'Hmm... the face of a hero... is there really such a thing?'
Recently, it was true that he had suddenly thought that it might be so.
It was not unreasonable for So-ah to have such thoughts.
Even just recently, So-ah had experienced countless strange things that could not be understood with common sense.
As he accumulated such experiences, a hunch had implicitly surged that there might be a destiny in the world, and that he might have been born with the destiny of a hero.
"If what you say is true, Elder. If I was really born as a hero to save the world. Hmm... well. I don't think it's a very welcome thing."
"Hoho. Why do you think so?"
"Honestly, I'm like this. The reason I'm active in the martial world is solely for the reign of my family. The thought of saving the world and being revered as a hero of all under heaven? I don't have such thoughts. I'm just interested in me and my family members eating and living well."
Currently, So-ah's status in the Orthodox Path was literally piercing the sky.
Therefore, the expectation for the person Jin So-ah himself was at its peak, and if someone were to hear So-ah's plain feelings, they would be quite disappointed.
But Baek In-hwa and Jeon Woo-chi were beings who were close to So-ah and were people who would always be 'on my side', so So-ah could frankly confide his honest feelings.
"So-ah... I understand your heart. And you have the right to live your life for your dream. But to achieve your will, the peace and prosperity of the martial world must first be guaranteed. In any case, isn't the Moyong family a martial family that belongs to the martial world? If the Orthodox Path is cut down by the hands of the White Lotus Cult, how can the Moyong family be safe?"
"Phew... that's true too."
"Also. Since ancient times, the lives of all heroes have not been able to avoid hardship in their early years. You are also just entering a transitional period. Just as the ground becomes harder after it rains, on the day the dark curtain of the White Lotus Cult is lifted, the sunny spring day will also shine on your destiny."
A deep gentleness was in Baek In-hwa's voice.
Furthermore, since there was a manifestation and power that moved the listener's heart, So-ah's mood also became much lighter.
"Haha. Elder. It's as if you're interpreting my fortune. But it's strangely pleasant to hear. I really hope it turns out that way."
"It will. Believe my words. Although you were left alone in the world as an orphan, you are a child whom the heavens are looking after, so you will surely be able to lead a blessed life in the future."
"Now! Then, dreaming of that day. I will offer you a drink!"
"Hoho. Alright."
"Brother Woo-chi, you too. Hahaha."
"Yes. Hahaha."
So-ah filled the cups of Baek In-hwa and Jeon Woo-chi with liquor.
"Cheers!"
Thus, the three people cheerfully drank their respective cups...
"Ah! Brother Woo-chi. I'm thinking of stopping by the family estate tomorrow, do you want to go together?"
"To the family estate? In the middle of being so busy?"
"It will take at least a month to summon the branch leaders and alliance members who are scattered all over the Central Plains, right? In the meantime, I'll return to the family estate to sort out various things, and the main family also has to prepare for a fight."
"Hmm... that's true. But why me? Is there a reason I have to go with you?"
"Aww! You know."
"???"
"Do I really have to say it with my own mouth?"
"Surely... you?"
"Hehe."
"I thought your tone was a bit polite. You punk, you're planning to get a ride on my carpet and go comfortably, right?"
"But what can I do if it's comfortable!"
"Stop it! I have to train too. Right now, my role is so important to beat up the demonic beasts. I'm busy, so busy. When do I have time to go all the way to Liaoning?"
'Look at him playing hard to get...'
It was as Jeon Woo-chi said.
So-ah, who had recently become interested in flying (in fact, more than interest, he might just want to go comfortably), had planned to take Jeon Woo-chi with him and get a ride on his carpet on the way back to the family estate.
But looking at Jeon Woo-chi's reaction, that hope seemed distant.
"Aww! You're stingy. Alright. I'll go alone. Instead, just train properly."
"Don't worry. The demonic beast brats. I'll take care of them all with my Heavenly Will Brush."
"I'll look forward to it, Great Taoist."
"Hahahat."
"Kekekek."
Under the faint moonlight, the night of the three drunken people deepened.
***
"Hey! Han Baek!"
"Hey? Han Baek? This... this, where? What, you punk! I'm the branch leader, and you're the deputy branch leader. What's with that title, that title. Call me again."
"Do you want to die?"
"Hey! Still, be careful inside the branch. What if others see? Once discipline collapses, it's uncontrollable, you bastard!"
Martial Alliance, Luoyang Branch—
As a branch of a considerable size and with many alliance members, it could be called a strategic point.
Coincidentally, the former In-dan cadets, that is, Han Baek and Jang Byeong-il, who had rolled around like dogs under the 'hell instructor' So-ah and had now been reborn as first-class masters, had been appointed as the branch leader and deputy branch leader, respectively, and were serving as the commanders of the Luoyang branch.
"There's only you and me here now. They say a frog can't remember its tadpole days, are you acting like a superior to me too?"
"What?!"
"Han Baek-ah. I was the leader during our cadet days. At that time, do you know how many times I overlooked you slacking off behind Jin-hyeong's back? Should I confess to Jin-hyeong right now?"
"Why is Jin-hyeong coming up here?"
"Ah, forget it. Just look at this."
"What is this?"
Jang Byeong-il stopped the argument and handed a letter to Han Baek.
Han Baek scanned it in detail.
"What? Are we finally going to have a proper fight?"
"That's right! Besides, Jin-hyeong has been appointed as the commander of the vanguard!"
"Wow! Our Jin-hyeong is now just a hero, a hero. In terms of presence alone, isn't he honestly above the level of the sect leaders of the Nine Great Sects?"
"That's right. If Jin-hyeong is the commander and Elder Baek from Goryeo is the advisor, then Military Strategist Zhuge is Jin-hyeong's right-hand man for this battle."
"Crazy, so crazy. Is it okay for a person to run on the fast track to success like this?"
"It's worth it. With that man's martial arts."
"Is it just his martial arts? And how good is his cunning."
"Anyway, on this occasion?"
"We can smash the heads of those trashy cult brats with all our might, right?"
"Hahahahahat!"
"Kekekekekek!"
Han Baek and Baek In-hwa burst into a loud laugh that seemed to shake the branch leader's office.
How long had they been waiting for this day?
Just as stagnant water rots, the juniors of the martial world had been gradually stagnating in the unprecedented peace and prosperity of the martial world.
The foundation of a martial artist is in fighting.
This is a truth that transcends the era, and an unchanging value.
The martial artists, who had to live day by day in the blood-splattered forest of swords and sabers, had been cowering and stagnating, and thus had been rotting.
But.
Finally, the opportunity to fully realize the instincts and self of a martial artist, which had been dormant, was at hand.
Ahead of the decisive battle with the great evil, the young martial artists, rather than trembling in fear, intended to emit a strong fighting spirit and a will that burned like a volcano.
"Pack your bags right now! Let's go, to the main office!"
"You White Lotus Cult bastards, just you wait!"
Thus, Han Baek and Jang Byeong-il.
The two blockheads, former In-dan cadets, who were still too immature to be called officials, once again set out for the Martial Alliance headquarters.
***
Ten days later, Moyong Family Estate—
Around noon.
As usual, a terrible scream was flowing from the training ground of the Moyong family.
"Ugh..."
"Eueu..."
"A-a-a-ak!"
The scream was bursting from the mouths of the figures who were engrossed in training...
'The family head is also becoming like Young Master Jin... to train them so brutally!'
The chief steward, who was watching the terrible training from a distance, clicked his tongue inwardly.
Since when had a strange phenomenon occurred in this household?
It was that the people who had been extremely gentle, almost like scholars, were becoming like a certain person, and that certain person was So-ah, and unfortunately, So-ah's disposition was far, far from words like 'gentle' or 'scholar'.
In other words.
'Now everyone in the Moyong family has become a mischievous brat.'
It meant that the entire Moyong family was becoming 'So-ah-fied'.
Besides.
"Everyone, let's cheer up! The family head is training us himself... Besides, did you forget what the master said before he left? If we train as if we're going to die, no! If we just think we're dead and train for a few years, we can be reborn as proud martial artists. Let's stop the groaning and moaning and just train!"
The young man who was encouraging the whining boys and girls and was engrossed in training.
The overflowing spirit of So-ah's top disciple, Lee Baek, was soaring day by day, to the extent that even the family head and the elders of the family were shaking their heads.
'Young Master Lee Baek is really like a crazy person. To think that there is such a person in the world. That's not something that's possible just by having a strong will... they're monsters. Why are all the external disciples who come in all monsters? Hah!'
That's right.
What on earth was the heavenly blessing that had descended on the Moyong family, that from So-ah to Lee Baek, the two external disciples were transforming the family anew.
Just then.
"Is anyone there?"
A strange voice came from beyond the main gate.
In an instant, a look of doubt, and a certain anxiety, appeared in the eyes of all the members of the family, including the family head, Moyong Baek.
'A voice with considerable internal energy!'
Moyong Baek gestured to the people and then stepped forward himself and opened the main gate.
At that.
'...!'
In front of his eyes, dozens of men in black appeared.
***
Although Moyong Baek was among the weakest in martial arts among the heads of the Five Great Families, his academic achievements were high, and his insight was outstanding.
So, he was able to identify the identity of the men in black at once.
'Those who are wearing golden breastplates under their black robes... Besides, their auras are like that of a single, well-forged famous sword. There can only be one such group in the world.'
Moyong Baek opened his mouth in a low voice.
"Are you perhaps, people of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"
At that, the man who seemed to be the leader among them.
That is, Jin Won-tak, took a step towards Moyong Baek and said coldly.
"You certainly have a broad knowledge as the head of one of the Five Great Families. That's right. We are the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and I am the head of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Jin Won-tak."
In that moment.
Moyong Baek's eyes, which were looking at Jin Won-tak, shone deeply.
'It's definitely a face I've never seen before, but it's not unfamiliar... he seems to be a person with a somewhat familiar aura.'
Besides.
The face of Jin Won-tak that Moyong Baek saw strangely resembled So-ah.
But that was not important.
Why on earth had the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the emperor's direct unit, come to the Moyong family?
Could it be a problem with the Eastern Depot?
But wasn't the Eastern Depot a sworn enemy of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, with considerable political friction?
While the questions in his head were tailing each other, Moyong Baek erased such thoughts and asked again in a polite yet dignified tone.
"Isn't the Embroidered Uniform Guard an imperial organization? Do you perhaps have business with the Moyong family?"
"That's right. We have come here to investigate a few matters."
"...Please speak so that I can understand."
"From this day, this hour, our Embroidered Uniform Guard will confiscate and search the Moyong family and will escort and interrogate the family head, the great disciple Jin So-ah, and all the elders of the family. Everything will be done on the basis of the national law.”
(End of Chapter)