Chapter 82 : Cold Demon, Ma Jeonghu
The grand procession of the Path of Chivalry passed majestically through the main road of Wuhan, receiving the cheers of the people.
But there was a group of people who were blocking the front of the Path of Chivalry, where both pedestrians and carriages were making way…
"Namgung Hwaha, the master of the Hocheon Pavilion of the Righteous Heaven Alliance, greets the heroes who have succeeded in the wondrous escort mission."
The woman standing in the center of the group introduced herself, and Jang Baekseo received her greeting.
"I am Jang Baekseo, the great disciple of the Mysterious Profound Sect. I thank you for your hospitality, Young Lady Namgung."
Although Jang Baekseo had politely received the greeting of the Hocheon Pavilion master, his inner thoughts were different.
'I knew you would come, you shameless bastards!'
Hubei was the headquarters of the Righteous Heaven Alliance. Moreover, he had not even thought that they would just let them pass through Wuhan, where the main headquarters of the Righteous Heaven Alliance was located.
Not knowing such inner thoughts of Jang Baekseo, the Hocheon Pavilion master continued.
"We, the Righteous Heaven Alliance, would also like to lend our strength to the great achievements of the young heroes. We would like to have the main forces of our Righteous Heaven Alliance, the Tiger Sword Guard and the Dragon Sword Guard, accompany you. What do you think?"
At the words of the Hocheon Pavilion master, Jang Baekseo desperately suppressed the smile that was about to leak out.
Their purpose was obvious. They were planning to have the Tiger Sword Guard and the Dragon Sword Guard accompany them and to take the opportunity to kidnap Madam Ma.
Of course, one could think, 'It's not like the Hundred River Association has swallowed the Righteous Heaven Alliance whole, so maybe the Righteous Heaven Alliance is really helping out of goodwill?' but…
'The Hocheon Pavilion master, Namgung Hwaha, is Namgung Jeongmin's sister. I would have been suspicious even if someone else had come, but I can't trust you even more!'
Jang Baekseo had already investigated the personal details of Namgung Jeongmin, who had fought with Hwa Mokyeon.
There was no way he would trust Namgung Hwaha, Namgung Jeongmin's sister.
"I appreciate the offer, but considering the situation of the Righteous Heaven Alliance, it is difficult to accept it easily."
"Y-yes? What do you mean by that…?"
Looking at the flustered Namgung Hwaha, Jang Baekseo made a sorrowful expression and said.
"I heard that the Righteous Heaven Alliance had sent the Righteous Sword Squad and the Strong Sword Squad to catch the demonic head who had been rampaging in Guizhou and Hunan. But perhaps because the demonic head who had learned the forbidden art was too strong, they are still struggling on the scene… in a situation where the main forces of the alliance are still struggling outside, wouldn't it be a burden to the Righteous Heaven Alliance if the Tiger Sword Guard and the Dragon Sword Guard also left the alliance?"
"!?"
Although he was speaking politely, the meaning was, after all, the same as saying, 'You guys are so~ bad at your job, aren't you? We don't need you, so get lost.'
As expected of a person who was in charge of a pavilion, Namgung Hwaha immediately read Jang Baekseo's inner thoughts.
"Thank you for your consideration. Then, at least for today, it would be better if you stayed at the Righteous Heaven Alliance and then departed…"
Jang Baekseo cut off the words of Namgung Hwaha, who was being clingy until the end, with a smile.
"Ah! If it were up to me, we would like to do so, but we have already prepared a boat to Henan… isn't that right? Great Hero Dongho No-hyeop!!"
At Jang Baekseo's call, the middle-aged hero, Dongho No-hyeop Bang-hyeop, who was in the procession of the Path of Chivalry, answered with a hearty laugh.
"Hahaha!! Of course! I've prepared the best boat in Dongho, so don't worry!!"
At the boast of Bang-hyeop, who was famous as the best hero and boat owner in Dongho, Namgung Hwaha could not say anything more.
"Then we will be on our way. Now, Jinseo, although it was of no help in the end, you have to say thank you to the aunt who came all this way for our Jinseo, right~?"
"Ung… awoo."
"Hahaha! Our Jinseo is a bit shy with people!"
At Jang Baekseo's action of half-openly mocking Namgung Hwaha, Namgung Hwaha's face contorted.
"No, it's okay for a child to be like that…"
"No, no, our Jinseo is very picky… actually, since the child suffered so much in her mother's womb, she has a very sharp eye for bad people."
"Yes? Young Master Jang, what do you mean by that…"
Although Namgung Hwaha had tried to say something more, Jang Baekseo was one step faster.
"Now, now! Please open the way! If we block the main road like this, wouldn't it be a great nuisance to others?"
Thus, Jang Baekseo's party forcibly pushed back the delegation of the Righteous Heaven Alliance and marched majestically on the main road of Wuhan. And Namgung Hwaha could only watch their backs, gritting her teeth.
'Damn that Jeongmin! To think that I would be humiliated like this because he couldn't even handle such a brat! I won't let him go when he comes back!'
Of course, Namgung Hwaha, who was thinking that, did not know. The fact that her brother's head had already been cut off and was sleeping in a wild mountain…
Thus, the steps of the Path of Chivalry, which had lightly shaken off the dirty tricks of the Righteous Heaven Alliance, were without delay, and they were soon able to enter Henan.
And finally, the end of the long journey was approaching.
***
The capital of Henan, Zhengzhou!
And the huge headquarters buildings of the Chivalrous Alliance, which were looking down on the city of Zhengzhou with dignity!
Now, on the main road leading to the Chivalrous Alliance, a group of martial artists was lined up on both sides.
And such a countless number of martial artists cupped their fists at the same time at the appearance of a party.
The ones who were lined up were the martial artists of the Chivalrous Alliance, and the party that had appeared was the Path of Chivalry, which was famous throughout the world.
At the end of the long line of the martial artists of the Chivalrous Alliance, a middle-aged man with a dignified and intellectual atmosphere and a monk with a benevolent smile were standing.
Jang Baekseo stopped in front of them and cupped his fists.
"The nameless and insignificant Jang Baekseo greets the leader and vice-leader of the Chivalrous Alliance, who protect the justice of the Central Plains."
As if in response.
"That's an overpraise. I am the one who is honored to meet the heroes of the Path of Chivalry, the hottest topic in the current martial world."
The one who spoke first was the man with an intellectual atmosphere, the leader of the Chivalrous Alliance and the one who was called the 'Startling Heavenly Brain' in the martial world, Zhuge Juho.
"Hahaha! A nameless and insignificant person? To say that, your achievement is too outstanding, isn't it? Even in Shaolin, there would be no one who could compare to you!"
The one who answered next was the person whom the Flame Star, no, the Chivalrous Guest Gang Mujeong had introduced, and at the same time, the Divine Monk Hyeon-gong, who had sent the Heavenly Dao Han Baekho to Jang Baekseo's party.
'I guess I can't hide my level from an Unrestrained Realm master, can I?'
The Divine Monk Hyeon-gong, who was called the best master of Shaolin, was a master of the Unrestrained Realm who would not be lacking even when compared to the Chivalrous Guest Gang Mujeong, let alone the Dao Star Han Baekho.
Considering what those two were called in the future, it was not difficult to guess his skill.
'It was a great fortune for the Demonic Cult that he did not participate in the Righteous-Demonic War.'
While thinking that, Jang Baekseo did not forget to be humble.
"You're too kind. I'm just a common, nameless, and insignificant person in the martial world."
-If you are just a common, nameless, and insignificant person in the martial world, then the Shaolin Temple would be a back mountain temple where you learn health exercises. To a person who recognizes you, excessive humility is rather rude.
To Hyeon-gong, who had answered with a telepathic message, Jang Baekseo just nodded his head without a word.
At this time, Madam Ma stepped forward.
Madam Ma, who had entrusted Jinseo to Jang Yuran for a moment, cupped her fists to the Startling Heavenly Brain Zhuge Juho and the Divine Monk Hyeon-gong.
"It is an honor to meet the renowned leader and vice-leader of the Chivalrous Alliance. I am…"
Saying that, Madam Ma, whose throat was choked up, stopped for a moment. Jang Baekseo placed his hand on her shoulder.
Jang Baekseo nodded at the looking back Madam Ma, and then Jang Yuran and Hwa Mokyeon, who were holding Jinseo, also nodded their heads.
Behind them, several heroes, including Han Baekho, supported Madam Ma's back with warm eyes.
Madam Ma, who had gained courage from them, continued.
"I am… Ma Juhwa, the wife of Hwa Unhyeong, a member of the Seventh Team of the Silver Sword, who was dispatched to the Demonic Cult and was doing spy work."
And from her bosom, she took out the book containing the coded message that Ma Juhwa's husband had left at the end and handed it over.
"My husband… this is the information that that person obtained by risking his life. And…"
Madam Ma looked back once again and said.
"This is information that has been delivered with the help and chivalry of many people… please, please do not let the hearts of all of them, their chivalry, be in vain."
Madam Ma bowed her head deeply to Zhuge Juho and Hyeon-gong and asked. Zhuge Juho, who had received the coded message, made such a Madam Ma stand up and, on the contrary, he bowed his head deeply.
"On behalf of the Chivalrous Alliance, I express my gratitude to Hwa Unhyeong of the Seventh Team of the Silver Sword, who risked his life to obtain this information, and to Madam Ma, who risked her life to deliver it, and to all those who helped her to come here."
It was the moment the five-month-long Path of Chivalry came to an end.
***
The first thing that Jang Baekseo, who had arrived at the Chivalrous Alliance in that way, did was to send news to his sect.
Jang Baekseo had not been able to send a single message for five months for the sake of secret action.
'The sect must be in an uproar by now, right?'
Jang Baekseo did not know that an unimaginable thing, the alliance of Emei and Qingcheng, was happening, going beyond an uproar.
Jang Baekseo, who was lying in the guest room of the Chivalrous Alliance headquarters, closed his eyes for a moment and enjoyed the long-awaited leisure. He soon opened his eyes wide and went outside again.
Thump!
Jang Baekseo, who had moved so as not to be noticed by the surrounding people, arrived at a pavilion that was currently under a special security posture.
The Path of Chivalry.
It was, of course, Jang Baekseo who had spread this rumor widely.
Starting with asking Jang Pangyo for a favor, he had also commissioned the Black Dot to spread a story that was a little different from the truth, a story that people would like, to the public.
In addition, when Han Baekho had joined and there was no longer a need to worry about external enemies, he had put this plan into action in earnest.
Jang Baekseo's purpose was simple.
To focus the public's attention and at the same time to make them feel sympathy for Madam Ma!
Thus, a symbolic meaning was given to Madam Ma and her daughter, Ma Jinseo, on whom the public's attention and sympathy were focused.
The symbol of the Path of Chivalry, where the heroes of the world had joined forces!
If that happened, the Chivalrous Alliance would not be able to treat Madam Ma carelessly. Because the martial world was focusing on their movements and those of Madam Ma and her daughter, Ma Jinseo.
The public's attention would become a rein that would restrict their actions.
"…For that reason, I apologize for carelessly selling the name of the Demonic Cult."
Jang Baekseo bowed his head to the darkness that was located in a corner, along with cupping his fists.
"Ho ho? You were aware of my existence?"
"It's not that I was aware of you, but that you revealed yourself, so I was able to know. The reason why I sold the name of the Demonic Cult was because I judged that it would be much easier to gather the public's sympathy for Madam Ma, no, for Young Lady Ma Juhwa."
"Well, what would the ignorant Orthodox Faction guys know about the laws and the judicial system of the Demonic Cult? Even if they sent an assassination squad, they would just think it was natural. At the same time, by making them perceive that Juhwa had been abandoned by the Demonic Cult, you made them sympathize with her situation even more."
"That's right."
A figure walked out from the darkness.
A beautiful woman with the typical appearance of what was called a 'colored-eyed person' in the Central Plains, with blonde hair and distinct facial features, revealed herself.
"I greet the current master of the Cold Demon Palace, the Cold Demon, Ma Jeonghu."
"Ho ho? You recognize me as the Cold Demon?"
"Although she was in a hurry to escape, I have spent nearly half a year with Young Lady Ma Juhwa. I cannot help but know the energy of the Cold Demon, who has learned the same martial arts as her."
At Jang Baekseo's words, the Cold Demon, Ma Jeonghu, nodded her head.
Looking at the appearance of Ma Jeonghu, who was so young that it was hard to believe that she was the mother of Madam Ma in her mid-twenties, Jang Baekseo felt a sense of nostalgia.
'That old hag, she was the same back then, wasn't she?'
Whether she knew such thoughts of Jang Baekseo or not, the Cold Demon, Ma Jeonghu, looked at Jang Baekseo with strange eyes.
"I thank you for saving my daughter's life."
"You're too kind."
"But I can't stand the fact that you sent that child to the Chivalrous Alliance. Before she is my daughter, she is a criminal who has communicated with a spy. Of course, she should be tried by the laws of the Demonic Cult… since she has fallen into the hands of the Chivalrous Alliance, even that has become difficult."
"Although it is an impertinent thing to say, it is true that the man whom your daughter loved and married was a spy of the Chivalrous Alliance, but…"
Not caring about the extremely cold qi wave that was emanating from the Cold Demon, Jang Baekseo said boldly.
"How can you punish someone for loving?"
At the extremely absurd argument that was asserted with extreme boldness, Ma Jeonghu laughed loudly.
"Hahahaha! Yes, that's right. How can you punish someone for love?"
Ma Jeonghu, who had been laughing heartily, soon looked at Jang Baekseo with cold eyes and said.
"But you have to take responsibility for the result of that love, right?"
It was a reasonable thing to say. But at the point when Madam Ma had entered the protection of the Chivalrous Alliance, the story was as good as over.
And.
"But since she has already fallen into the hands of the Chivalrous Alliance, there's nothing I can do. I won't hold you responsible for this matter."
"Thank you."
If it were during the escape from the pursuit of the Hundred River Association, it would be a different story. But after joining Han Baekho, Jang Baekseo's party had acted boldly, not avoiding the eyes of the public.
If she had really intended to extradite Madam Ma to the Demonic Cult as a criminal, she could have done it then. To make a fuss about it so late…
'You sly old hag!'
As Jang Baekseo was having such thoughts…
"But…"
Ma Jeonghu, who was looking at Jang Baekseo with strange eyes, continued.
"Why is a demonic person pretending to be an Orthodox Faction person?"
Although it was a question that hit him where it hurt, and he could have been flustered… Jang Baekseo answered with a smile without a single bit of fluster.
"A descendant of a nameless outer demon greets the great master of the Demon Palace."
(End of Chapter)