Chapter 169 : Chapter 169
Chapter 169 - There is one way
The incident occurred just after the three members of the Diancang Sect had secured their lodging.
“Xi'an's Revered Inn, was it…… It is worthy of its name.”
Eung Gajin unpacked his luggage on one side and smiled with satisfaction.
With the upcoming next-generation disciples’ martial arts tournament at Shaolin, the streets of Xi'an were bustling like a chaotic battlefield.
However, the Diancang Sect warriors had managed to book two rooms.
Uma flopped down on the floor of the room and said.
“Whew. I heard a while ago that the owner is a shrewd businessman. He said he expanded the number of rooms in advance after hearing news of the martial arts tournament.”
“Really? What will he do after the tournament is over?”
“Senior Brother, really. The remaining space can be used for rent or as a warehouse; there’s always a use for it. Well, since you’ve only worked comfortably as an escort in Simao, you probably don’t know much about how the world works.”
“You brat?”
“Yikes.”
When Eung Gajin glared with dagger-like eyes, Uma turned over while still lying down.
Solbo, who was next to them, blinked his large eyes and interjected.
“At this scale, the construction costs were likely paid in installments. With rooms being impossible to find ahead of the martial arts tournament, he would have more than covered the initial down payment.”
“Alright. You guys are the big shots.”
As Uma had said, Eung Gajin had consistently worked as an escort in Simao.
Uma and Solbo, who had lived on the streets, were naturally more knowledgeable about the ways of the world.
It was when Eung Gajin smacked his lips and relaxed his posture.
“Anyone in there? Open the door!”
A sharp voice came from outside.
In the unusual atmosphere, Eung Gajin, Uma, and Solbo exchanged glances.
“Did anyone get into a fight on the first floor?”
“No.”
“Me neither.”
Solbo tilted his head and opened the door.
“Who is it?”
Solbo’s face, which had been casually looking at the outsider, turned pale.
A white martial arts uniform and a blue turban wrapped around the head.
There was only one sect symbolized by that attire.
“There is a thief in the inn. We are looking for a stolen item, so please cooperate.”
A man with a determined gaze and a hooked nose, impressive in its own right, rolled his eyes around as if to scan the interior.
He said cooperate, but his tone was no different from a command.
Was it because they were a sect that dominated the Hunan and Jiangxi regions?
He didn't seem much older than Solbo, but his actions were high-handed from the very root.
“We…… we are……”
As the flustered Solbo was stammering, a black shadow appeared from behind.
“What did you just blabber?”
Uma asked, his face contorted.
The man in the blue turban showed a momentarily flustered expression, but he soon glared at Uma.
“Didn't I say an item was stolen? So I'm going to check.”
“So, you're suspecting us of being thieves, is that what you're saying?”
Usually, when Uma made this kind of face, it was normal for people to tuck their tails and apologize profusely.
However, the man in the blue turban instead had a bitter sneer on his lips.
“Why. Do you have something to hide?”
“This bastard wants to die……”
It was when Uma was about to land a punch on the opponent’s face.
“Uma.”
Eung Gajin stood up from his spot and restrained Uma.
“Judging by your attire, you seem to be from the Mount Heng Sect, is that correct?”
“That's right.”
The man in the blue turban answered coldly.
His gaze was still fixed on Uma.
On the other hand, Eung Gajin was looking at the knots on the man’s sword.
‘Three knots…….’
Confirming the three knots, Eung Gajin’s heart grew heavy.
In the Mount Heng Sect, one could gauge martial skill by the number of knots on their longsword.
Considering that the total number of knots given to the number one sword of Mount Heng was six, it meant that this young and provocative swordsman’s skills were quite considerable.
“It will only take a moment, so don't be too offended. If you're not the thieves, then nothing will come out, right?”
The man in the blue turban spoke casually, but this was a very insulting remark.
It meant that the Diancang Sect party was being considered as potential thief candidates.
Eung Gajin felt like he was chewing on sand, but getting into a fight with the Mount Heng Sect in a place like this would do no good at all.
“It is in itself a humiliation to have one’s belongings searched under suspicion of being a thief. How can you not know that?”
At that, the man in the blue turban gave a bitter smile.
“Does a sect that gave up its main house to mountain bandits still have a sense of humiliation?”
At those words, Uma reacted even before Eung Gajin.
“You son of a bitch……”
Pat!
Eung Gajin stretched out an arm and stopped Uma, who was about to charge out.
“Senior Brother!”
“Stay still.”
Although he stopped him, a flame was also lit in Eung Gajin’s pupils.
“Judging by your martial arts uniform, you seem to be from Mount Heng. Is that correct?”
“That's right.”
A thick layer of arrogance was coated on the blue-turbaned man’s voice.
“It seems your hearing is not good, so I will tell you again.”
“?”
“We did not steal your belongings. We have no interest either. If you prattle on about searching the room or anything of the sort one more time, we will consider it a provocation against our sect.”
“Provocation? Ha!”
The man in the blue turban snorted.
“The great Mount Heng Sect provoking the Diancang Sect? Do you really think that makes sense right now?”
At the harsh words of the turbaned man, Eung Gajin suddenly smiled brightly.
Then he pushed his head right up to the turbaned man’s face.
A very faint, yet distinct and articulate, word flowed from his mouth.
“Get lost.”
‘……These bastards?’
The turbaned man was dumbfounded.
It was something he had never experienced in Hunan Province.
Even if a fight broke out, they would usually tuck their tails and bow their heads upon seeing the knots on his sword.
It was not only because of the rank of three knots, but also because they did not dare to think of confronting the Mount Heng Sect.
‘It seems they’ve gotten cocky after catching some borderland riffraff recently…….’
A tense silence continued between the man with the hooked nose and Eung Gajin.
In the suffocating tension, fiery gazes were exchanged.
Just then,
“Why are you still there?”
At the sound coming from a distance, the expression of the man who had been glaring with dagger-like eyes changed drastically.
Anyone could see that he was afraid of the owner of the voice.
Who on earth could a three-knot swordsman be so afraid of?
“Senior Uncle.”
“What is taking so long to search one room?”
The voice gradually grew closer, and the Diancang Sect swordsmen came to face a new person.
“I apologize, Senior Uncle. It is because the people inside are being stubborn.”
At those words, Eung Gajin couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.
Who was calling whom stubborn?
The one who had barged in without warning and said he would search the room and belongings.
“What’s so funny?”
A slender swordsman with a scar on the bridge of his nose reached Eung Gajin.
Eung Gajin unwittingly swallowed his saliva.
It was because he had felt a similar feeling from this man somewhere before.
‘Ghost Face’s First Shadow……!!’
The feeling was similar to when he had met the first of the Ghost Face Four Shadows, Yi Cheon-yu.
Those who had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship would often reveal this kind of sharp aura even when standing still.
The number of knots on the scarred man’s longsword was four.
He was a four-knot swordsman.
‘He called him Senior Uncle, and indeed, he is on a different level.’
A clear tension appeared on Eung Gajin’s face.
When he had faced Yi Cheon-yu at that time, Eung Gajin had been pushed back one-sidedly.
Even the sword strike he had staked his life on was only enough to make Yi Cheon-yu take one step back.
Although he hadn't experienced it directly, a four-knot swordsman from the Mount Heng Sect would be no less than Yi Cheon-yu.
“I am Jun-il of the Mount Heng Sect, and this fellow next to me is Sangsam. You must have heard the explanation from Sangsam, are you really not going to cooperate?”
“That's right.”
“Why?”
“If your master’s sword was stolen and they searched your room first, how would you feel?”
For a moment, a vein popped on Jun-il’s forehead.
“……It seems this can’t be resolved with words. How about we exchange our opinions a little more in the courtyard?”
Presumably, ‘opinion’ meant the sword.
Eung Gajin nodded his head.
“Alright. I will be down shortly.”
Jun-il snorted once and turned back with Sangsam.
As the two swordsmen disappeared, Eung Gajin let out a low sigh.
It seemed the matter would not be resolved easily.
“Senior Brother. What do we do now? It seems like they’re openly asking for a fight.”
As Solbo asked anxiously, Uma burst out in anger.
“So what if we fight? What’s the problem? If Senior Brother hadn’t stopped me, I would have smashed his face in right away.”
“Both of you calm down and listen to me carefully.”
Eung Gajin looked at the two men with a serious face.
“Uma, you are not to act rashly, and you are not to draw your sword until I give you permission. Understood?”
“……Yes.”
Uma answered reluctantly with a face full of dissatisfaction.
“And Solbo, go and bring Biyoung and Junior Sister Jeong right now. It seems things are getting serious.”
“Are you saying you two will handle this place by yourselves, Senior Brothers? Will you be alright?”
“I’m telling you to bring them because we won’t be alright.”
“I understand.”
Although he felt pathetic for relying on his junior brother for such a thing, Eung Gajin made a rational and accurate judgment.
His current self was no match for the four-knot swordsman called Jun-il.
Should it be said that he was worthy of being the grandson of the Sect Leader who had led the Diancang Sect?
As the crisis approached, Eung Gajin’s leadership began to show.
***
“I don’t know why you’re taking the hard way around an easy path.”
In the courtyard in front of the inn, people formed a circle.
Inside it stood the six members of the Mount Heng Sect party, along with Eung Gajin and Uma.
With the two sects facing off in the already crowded inn, people flocked in until there was no room to stand.
Whether they wanted it or not, it meant that this incident would spread to the public.
“Haven’t you heard the saying that a thief starts at the rustle of a leaf? Do you think the people in the other rooms emptied their rooms because they had no thoughts?”
Jun-il flicked his fingers on the hilt of his sword.
‘A master.’
Even without the four knots on his sword, he could feel it on his skin.
This man had not a single doubt about his own skills.
“I’m just telling you to be out for a moment, is that so difficult that you have to clash?”
Eung Gajin answered in a calm tone.
“We simply did not comply because you suddenly suspected us of being thieves and asked us to vacate the room. Even the authorities bring either circumstantial or physical evidence when they search someone’s house.”
At Eung Gajin’s words, a small murmur arose.
“He has a point. Does it make sense for them to search all the rooms in the inn just because their stuff was stolen?”
“They only vacated because it’s the Mount Heng Sect. Normally, it would be an impossible thing!”
“If it was such an important item, they should have taken good care of it……!”
The people in the middle, who already had a sense of animosity towards the high-handed Mount Heng Sect, were strongly impressed by Eung Gajin’s confident attitude.
‘He was born with leadership. He has grit too.’
Jun-il etched the name Eung Gajin into his mind.
Leading the hearts of the common people like this was not something that could be done by being told to, nor was it something that could be learned.
Just as the Sect Leader of the Mount Heng Sect was, there were people who captivated people’s hearts from birth.
From the first moment he saw him, Eung Gajin must have felt the difference in their martial arts.
However, the man in front of him did not show any fear, but rather a more confident posture.
So, he wanted to break him even more.
“I warn you for the last time. If you do not vacate the room, I will consider you a thief from this moment on.”
“…………!”
It was a ridiculous assumption, but none of the people in the middle dared to raise their voice.
The rank of a four-knot swordsman of the Mount Heng Sect had the power to make the impossible possible.
“There is one way.”
Eung Gajin suddenly smiled brightly and approached in a friendly manner.
Was he finally tucking his tail now that it was the last chance?
It was when Jun-il was thinking that.
“Since the matter seems serious, I will go to the Sect Leader and ask for his opinion. How about you, Great Hero Jun-il, also seek the opinion of your main sect one more time?”
‘This brat…….’
His tone was serious and his attitude was friendly. But in effect, it was telling him to go screw himself.
How far were Diancang Mountain and Mount Heng from here? When would he have the time to ask for the Sect Leader’s opinion?
“If that is truly your wish, then I will have to treat you as a thief deserves.”
Jun-il drew his sword while it was still in its scabbard.
Just by drawing the sword, it felt as if his whole body was being pricked by needles.
Eung Gajin also drew his sword with a hardened face.
Sreung.
“I told you clearly.”
With his gaze fixed on Jun-il, Eung Gajin warned Uma.
“Do not draw your sword until I give you permission.”
Simultaneously with those words, Jun-il flew towards Eung Gajin like a ray of light.