Chapter 109
'Who dares...'
He had been hit on the back of the head without even feeling an approaching presence.
It was an impossible thing.
He turned around to see the shriveled old woman from the noodle shop frowning and dusting off her hands.
"Ouch. My hand hurts. This brat's head is a stone, a stone! Why is a young brat sighing so much?"
"Has this old woman gone mad?"
When Baekji glared at her, the old woman hit his head again.
"The way a young brat speaks... Aigoo, it's the end of the world, the end of the world."
The old woman from the noodle shop, put down the bowl of noodles.
"Hurry up and eat. Aigoo, you brat..."
The old woman from the noodle shop turned around and then looked at Baekji.
"..."
Then, she walked out of the alley with small steps.
Just then, a Martial Alliance warrior was passing by, and the old woman from the noodle shop grabbed him and whispered, pointing this way.
Of course, Baekji heard everything.
"Warriors. Isn't that brat over there the criminal the warriors were looking for yesterday morning?"
The old woman reported in a clear and distinct tone.
Baekji was dumbfounded.
He saw the warriors look this way and then, be surprised.
"The Young Alliance Leader is here!"
"Young Alliance Leader!"
In an instant, Baekji's figure disappeared.
* * *
"They say the Alliance Leader passed on his internal energy to his disciple."
"Isn't he over ninety... It seems he has counted his remaining days. He is truly a noble person."
"Then will the Young Alliance Leader inherit the position of Alliance Leader as it is?"
"They say the 'Nine Great Sects' and the 'Five Great Families' are against it. No matter how much he is the Alliance Leader's disciple, it will be difficult if they rise up."
"Well, they say he's still young. He's only in his teens."
Everywhere, it was all about Baekji.
The Blood Fiend had invaded...
The Alliance Leader was seriously injured, and the Grand Elder was dead.
The Alliance Leader's disciple, who had only been rumored, appeared and defeated the Blood Fiend, but...
The repercussions were great.
It was as if the Martial Alliance had been toyed with by the Blood Sect.
No one other than Baekji knew that the Alliance Leader had shot the energy of lightning into the night sky and had broken the Blood Cult Leader's consciousness.
So it was as if the Alliance Leader had been defeated by the Blood Fiend, and his disciple had defeated the Blood Fiend.
Baekji heard clearly with his own two ears how rumors were created and spread.
For example, like now...
"The Blood Fiend was actually the legendary 'Blood Demon'. They say one fist flew a hundred zhang and killed dozens of people. At that time, the Young Alliance Leader resolutely flew and subdued the 'Blood Demon'. Coincidentally, the cliff collapsed, and the 'Blood Demon' was buried forever."
Ahem, it was roughly like that.
But.
"When on earth did the Alliance Leader raise such a disciple?"
"This is not a confirmed fact, but... you know Mado, right? The second in the ranking of the top ten masters, Mado... they say Mado was a woman."
"Why Mado all of a sudden?"
"There's a rumor that he is the child born between the Alliance Leader and Mado..."
"Ah, so that's how such a talent came to be... but the Alliance Leader's age..."
"Martial artists are... quite virile. They say they can have children even at the age of a hundred."
"Hehehe... is Mado a beauty?"
"They say she is the 'Ice Flower Fairy'."
Why did the conversation lead to such an absurd topic?
Baekji almost spat out the food in his mouth.
He was eating breakfast and lunch in a corner of a tavern.
Boom!
Baekji hit the table and stood up.
People's gazes turned to Baekji.
"Who said that? I... I..."
He couldn't even bring himself to say it.
Just then...
"It's the Young Alliance Leader!"
"Oh!"
When someone recognized him, a cheer that seemed to shake the tavern erupted.
Baekji raised both hands and quieted them down.
"Now, now... listen carefully. I am Yang Baekji... my parents passed away early, so I don't have any. Mado is just an acquaintance, and the Alliance Leader is also..."
Ha. How do I explain this?
"Anyway, if anyone spreads false rumors..."
Baekji raised his bamboo staff.
"Oh! The 'Ruyi Bamboo Staff'!"
"They say that can stretch a hundred zhang in an instant."
The people in the tavern did not even listen to Baekji's words.
"Aigoo, I shouldn't have said anything."
Baekji left the tavern.
'Let's pack up and go.'
He felt like he would be devoured by rumors if he stayed.
Baekji returned to the Tianlong Inn.
Warriors sent from the inner and outer halls and the Elder's Hall were guarding the front of the guest room.
"What is it?"
The warriors rushed over and held out red invitations.
"Young Alliance Leader, this is an invitation from the head of the inner hall."
"I have one too."
"Here..."
Everyone was holding out invitations.
Among them was also the general manager of the 'Chuga Manor', Hong Jeoksan.
"Ahem. At that time, I did not recognize the Young Alliance Leader... the Elder said he would like to see you..."
Baekji sighed.
"Alright, I get it. I've received them all, so you can all go."
Baekji took the invitations and sent them all away.
As he was about to open the door, Mado stood next to him without a sound.
"Where have you been?"
A low, cold voice.
"Yes. To eat."
"...!"
Mado looked at Baekji with a pale face, as if she had heard something she shouldn't have.
"What's wrong? What's with that expression?"
"Then... are we... going to starve?"
"What? It's past lunchtime, and you haven't eaten yet?"
"I haven't eaten breakfast either."
"Why? I gave you money."
"You weren't here. It's your money..."
"Aigoo..."
Baekji's eyes fell on Cho-hye.
Cho-hye's eyes, who had eaten her fill of delicious food and then had starved for two meals, breakfast and lunch, could not have looked more pitiful.
'This is why they say relationships are a sea of suffering...'
Baekji took the Mado master and disciple to the Tianlong Tavern and ordered food.
"Eat up. I'll go and get a horse."
"A horse?"
"I said we're leaving today."
"Alright."
While the Mado master and disciple were eating, Baekji went and bought a horse.
As he was packing his things and leaving the Tianlong Inn, the waiter handed him a bundle.
"What is this?"
"Young Alliance Leader... for you to eat with your mother on your way... I specially ordered it. Is that person your younger sister? You look a lot alike."
The waiter said in a whisper.
As if he were the only one who knew...
Baekji thought he knew where the rumor had come from.
"Ugh... you, wait a moment."
* * *
Nangong Zhao, with his aching body, found the Tianlong Inn again.
Tang Yunseol, who had a deep internal injury, also accompanied him.
But Baekji was gone.
The waiter returned the invitation that had been sent from the military affairs department.
"Until he catches the 'Blood Demon' who harmed the Alliance Leader, he cannot return..."
"Grind..."
A strange sound came from Nangong Zhao's molars, and Tang Yunseol looked at him in surprise.
"Does it hurt a lot?"
"No, it's not that it hurts..."
"He said he would search the world to catch the 'Blood Demon'..."
The waiter diligently relayed what Baekji had told him.
He had been hit once... and had received one tael of silver...
He had diligently paid the price for spreading the rumor.
"That's enough. That's enough... stop."
Fortunately, he knew where Baekji was going.
* * *
"I should have told you I can't ride a horse."
"You didn't ask."
Cho-hye said.
The Mado master and disciple were walking, holding the reins of the horse.
"A horse is for riding. Get on."
"I don't want to. The horse is pitiful."
Cho-hye, who had ridden a horse for a short time and whose crotch had hurt a lot, shook her head.
Then she stroked the horse's head.
"How can I sit on you when you have such pretty eyes? Right, Baeka..."
"Ugh..."
Cho-hye even gave her horse the name 'Baeka' and adored it.
Baekji was burning with impatience.
Cho-hye didn't care.
"Master, your horse's fur is black, so how about we call it 'Heuka'?"
"Alright."
"What's that horse's name?"
Cho-hye said, looking at the horse that Baekji was riding.
Baekji answered bluntly, "It doesn't have a name. A horse is just for riding."
"Oh, how pitiful. A horse without a name."
Cho-hye was sad.
She had lived in the back mountain of the Martial Alliance since she was young and had only been out in the world for a few days.
Everything she saw, heard, and ate was new and amazing.
Of course, there were also terrible brats like the Blood Fiend... but as long as she stuck by her master's side, there was nothing to worry about.
As they were going on an outing, they were caught up in no time.
"...!"
Baekji, feeling the pursuing ki, was wondering what to do, but Mado asked, "Shall I kill them?"
"No, please don't say that. There's a separate brat to kill."
He went on, feeling like he should just let things be.
As they were entering a village at sunset, several people rushed over.
"Please come to our inn. It is the cleanest inn in this village."
"No. Our food is the best."
Come to think of it, they were inn waiters.
"What are you guys? Are you touts?"
"No. I am an official waiter of the 'Samhyeon Inn'."
"I am from the 'Unhwa Inn'. Please come to our place. We have a separate room with a pond."
"Wait!"
Baekji raised his hand.
"Do you know who I am?"
The waiters shook their heads.
"We don't."
"Then why are you doing this?"
The waiters looked at each other, and then one of them said, "Actually, someone has reserved a guest room for a guest."
"Yes?"
"It's the same for us. They said to treat you with the utmost courtesy."
"Oh..."
Baekji thought he knew what was going on.
The brats from the Martial Alliance who needed him were trying to show him favor.
'In that case...'
Baekji was not one to refuse what was given.
Baekji looked at the main street of the village and pointed at a house.
"What inn is that?"
The waiter who had come from the 'Unhwa Inn' came out.
"That is our place. We will repay your excellent choice with our loyalty."
"Guide me."
That day, Baekji stayed at the 'Unhwa Inn' in a separate room with delicious food and a pond.
The next day, as he was leaving, the waiter saw him off and held out an envelope.
"What is it?"
"I don't know. I was just told to deliver it."
When Baekji opened it, it was written 'An' (安) for peace and 'Inner Hall'.
It was the same the next evening.
As they were entering a village at sunset, waiters rushed over.
Baekji muttered with satisfaction, "Hmm. This is also good."
The inn he chose this time was one prepared by the outer hall.
Mado, who was eating dinner, said, "Are martial artists originally this generous?"
"Of course not. Martial artists are brats who take what others have."
"Then why are they doing this?"
"Because they want something."
Mado, after thinking for a moment, said, "Is it the same as you asking me to kill someone?"
"What are you talking about? Do I look like someone who would kill people?"
"...Do I look like someone who would kill people?"
"You've killed a lot. That's why you're Mado, right?"
"..."
A cold chill rose.
Baekji laughed awkwardly.
"Ahaha, you have to kill the brats who deserve to be killed. That's right. That's helping many people... Cho-hye, try this too."
The next day, Mado walked all day, leading the horse without a word.
Since she was originally quiet, he thought it was just her.
When they arrived at the inn, she ate the food that was set out and went to her room early.
On the fourth day.
They also stopped at an inn that someone had reserved.
Mado stared at the food on the table for a moment and then put down her chopsticks.
"This is not right."
"...?"
"It's better to dig up tree roots in the mountains and eat them."
"Huh? What do you mean by that? To say that tree roots are good..."
"The things I wear, the things I eat, the things I put on... why were they given?"
"...?"
"I am not a beggar. I cannot let my disciple live in luxury with another's money. I am not an assassin either. I cannot eat delicious food with the price of blood."
"..."
Mado held out the 'Heaven-Shattering Demonic Saber'.
"You said this wasn't worth much, right? But it is a precious sword to me. I will pay for the food and lodging so far, so please keep it until then."
To offer a weapon at the drop of a hat.
Was she really a martial artist?
(End of Chapter)