Chapter 10 : Chapter 10
Chapter 10 - Moyong Family (3)
Although the Sado Alliance originally did not acknowledge the generational ranks of the Orthodox Sect, the problem was that the investigator dispatched from the Murim Alliance happened to be the Mad Beggar, called the Crazy Beggar or Mad Dog.
‘This guy is rumored to be an immoral wretch of the world who spouts informal speech even to his master…… What on earth was the Murim Alliance thinking dispatching this guy as an investigator?’
Nam Chung, sighing deeply, cleared his throat and shouted loudly.
“Please, both of you calm down your temper a bit! Listen to my story for a moment. I was just trying to talk nicely, but must you test my patience like this!”
As Nam Chung shouted while drawing up his internal energy, the reception hall shook with a rattle, and dust fell from the ceiling with a thud-thud.
The woman, pushing away the falling dust with internal energy as if displeased, glared at Nam Chung and the Mad Beggar once, then sat on the chair and closed her eyes.
“Ha. Damn it. A bitch whose blood hasn't even dried on her head, really. Won't open your eyes? Saying you hate to even see my face or what?”
Seeing the Mad Beggar shouting at the woman once again, Nam Chung shouted sharply.
“You!”
The Mad Beggar, hearing Nam Chung's shout, shrank his neck, bowed his head, and awkwardly sat down on the floor.
As the two barely became quiet, Nam Chung sighed and continued speaking slowly.
“Phew……. Let’s organize the situation for now. This gathering today is to clarify the unintended clash between the Moyong Family and the Green Forest that happened a while ago.”
Nam Chung continued speaking while calming his rising anger.
“The Green Forest attacked the Moyong Merchant Group using poison, and the poisoned Moyong Merchant Group overcame the crisis with the help of a reclusive expert. However, the problem is that the bandits were annihilated in the process.”
Nam Chung looked alternately at the two people and opened his mouth again.
“The Moyong Merchant Group conveyed to the Sado Alliance the position that the reclusive expert has absolutely no relation to the Moyong Family, and they don't even know who it is, but the Sado Alliance's reply was that they absolutely cannot believe it.”
The woman with closed eyes nodded slightly.
“I also agree that it is a situation where the Sado Alliance could sufficiently raise such suspicion. Therefore, the investigators of the Moyong Family, the Sado Alliance, and the Murim Alliance have gathered here to review this case together and confirm the clear facts. So please, don't fight and focus on the given task. Understood?”
At Nam Chung's long speech, the two nodded reluctantly.
“And lastly, I hope you two will use honorifics with each other from now on. In an atmosphere like this, far from cooperation, it seems only fights will break out.”
Nam Chung, already exhausted even before starting the investigation, looked back at the two with sunken eyes.
Watching the two people nodding reluctantly while sitting with their backs to each other, Nam Chung, barely suppressing his boiling insides, opened his mouth again.
“This side is Miss Pan Bing-yeong, the Ice Rakshasa from the Sado Alliance, and this side is Hero Gong Il-geon, the Mad Beggar from the Beggars' Sect. Please greet each other…….”
Nam Chung, looking at the two who still sat turned away without turning their heads even once, clenched his teeth.
“……Forget it. If you want, let’s skip all useless procedures. Let’s consider greetings done and go straight to the site.”
Nam Chung, springing up from his seat, started walking out with an uncomfortable expression.
“……I should finish it quickly and send both of them out or something. If things go wrong, I might die of anger before my time.”
Only after hearing Nam Chung's muttering as he left the reception hall with clenched teeth, the two people who slowly rose glared at each other for a moment and then followed Nam Chung out the door.
***
“So we intend to depart right now, so we ask for your company as well.”
Nam Chung, with a flushed face, explained the situation to Jaun and bearded man who came out in front of the guest hall.
“Yes. It doesn't matter if we move right now.”
Jaun, answering Nam Chung, glanced at the Mad Beggar and the Ice Rakshasa walking leisurely from behind.
A filthy beggar covered in sweat and dirt, and a beautiful woman dressed in white clothes.
At the completely mismatched combination, Jaun smiled inwardly.
‘This will be interesting. Are these people the investigators?’
Their martial arts were at a not bad level. No, a level more outstanding than thought.
The beggar was a beggar, but the energy felt from the woman was unusual.
The Ice Rakshasa, sensing Jaun's gaze, turned her head and made eye contact with Jaun.
‘Huh……?’
The Ice Rakshasa, discovering Jaun belatedly, opened her eyes roundly.
‘What luck is this?’
The Ice Rakshasa hurriedly smoothed her hair and examined Jaun piercingly.
The Ice Rakshasa, who watched Jaun for a long while, walked forward with a bright smile.
“Oh my. To think such a sturdy and cute Young Hero is a companion, you should have told me in advance.”
The Ice Rakshasa, letting down her tied hair with a chwa-reuk, walked to Jaun's side.
The Ice Rakshasa, carefully examining Jaun's slightly swollen arm, opened her mouth quietly.
“Just a moment.”
The Ice Rakshasa raised her hand and reached for Jaun's body. Then, checking something by touching here and there on Jaun's body, she linked arms with Jaun with a satisfied face.
“……Excuse me.”
Jaun, who had entrusted his body in tension thinking she was trying to investigate something, tried to pull his arm out with a flustered face.
Then, the Ice Rakshasa looked up at Jaun, grinned broadly, and held Jaun's arm stronger.
“How old is our Young Hero? Do you have a girlfriend?”
The Mad Beggar, watching the Ice Rakshasa's behavior blankly, sighed and opened his mouth.
“Tsk tsk. Anyway, you have to hand it to those without roots. They can't judge the situation. Can't judge. Does a man catch your eye in this situation?”
“Beggar over there? Did you forget the Moyong elder told us to use honorifics with each other? I don't know if a person who lets the words of a senior of the same Orthodox Sect flow in one ear and out the other has the qualification to say anything to me.”
At those words, the Mad Beggar glanced at Nam Chung's reaction.
“Besides, since a bastard…… no, a person who lives by begging discusses roots, I have nothing more to say.”
At the Ice Rakshasa's words, the Mad Beggar, flaring up again, tried to take a step forward but flinched and stopped on the spot.
Before he knew it, bearded man, standing with his two hands gathered politely, was blocking his way.
“What is this again…….”
The Mad Beggar tilted his head looking at bearded man.
bearded man, who was grinning while looking at such a Mad Beggar, bowed his head deeply.
“I am called Black Dragon Twin Axes, Jang Sam-sik, from the Black Dragon River. To meet the next Sect Leader of the Beggars' Sect whom I usually respected, it is truly a great honor of three lifetimes.”
The Mad Beggar, looking down at bearded man offering greetings with his waist bent deeply, scratched his head.
“Ahem! Hem-hem. I am called Gong Il-geon. What is so glorious about meeting a mere beggar bastard…….”
“A mere beggar!”
bearded man's shout rang through the surroundings.
“If it is Hero Mad Beggar, who will become the next Sect Leader of the Beggars' Sect, the best in the world, and whose martial arts make the heavens tremble, receiving attention early as the future of the Beggars' Sect despite his middle age! receiving such treatment is only proper.”
At bearded man's praise flowing out smoothly, the corners of the Mad Beggar's mouth twitched slightly.
“Oho. It is all exaggeration. Exaggeration. By the way, did you say Black Dragon Twin Axes? I didn't realize there was a person with such high discernment. Nice to meet you.”
The Mad Beggar, wearing a generous and benevolent smile unsuited to him, extended his hand toward bearded man.
“Oh my. That is correct. Although neighborhood people called me Black Dragon Twin Axes, the next Sect Leader can comfortably call me bearded man. Please speak comfortably as well.”
bearded man, grasping and shaking the Mad Beggar's hand greatly, continued talking excitedly.
‘Fortunately.’
Nam Chung, watching the group chattering harmoniously in pairs for a while, sighed in relief secretly.
Although unintentional, the stiff atmosphere was softening with the joining of Jaun and bearded man.
Nam Chung, who was lost in thought quietly giving the group time to talk for a moment, looked up at the sky once and opened his mouth toward the group.
“Now, now. Let’s stop the greetings there and move now. We must return before sunset.”
At Nam Chung's words, the group began to move their steps toward Mount Gillim.
***
The investigation team, having crossed Mount Gillim quickly using lightness skills, was able to arrive at the location in question three hours after departure.
‘Let’s see.’
Jaun glanced back once at the Ice Rakshasa sticking closely to his side.
Although she seemed to act recklessly, the energy felt from this woman was extraordinary.
‘I have to pass it over as naturally as possible.’
There was no other way but to pass it over pretending not to remember.
If his traces were exposed here for nothing, he might turn the entire Sado Alliance against him.
Jaun, looking around quietly, stopped in his tracks and opened his mouth.
“Here. It is here.”
Jaun pointed with his hand to the mountain path where traces of the ground being deeply dug remained.
“Ah. Is it here? Good. Let’s start right away. Let’s see……. Where exactly is the place Young Hero Jaun woke up?”
In an instant, the Ice Rakshasa's eyes changed sharply.
Jaun, scratching his head with a slightly uncomfortable expression, pointed slyly to the side of the place where he fought a fierce battle with the Fortress Master.
“Probably…… here?”
Jaun raised his eyes and looked at the reactions of the Ice Rakshasa and the Mad Beggar.
Within the line of not causing harm to the Moyong Family if possible, he had to pass the situation well pretending to know nothing. For that, every single word was important.
Jaun, clearing his throat with a ahem, scanned the surroundings quickly again.
“Where were the Yongho Fortress Master and the old man when you woke up?”
At the Ice Rakshasa's question, Jaun tilted his head and raised his hand.
“Actually, since I was so out of it, I don't remember exactly, but…… I think it was around here.”
The Ice Rakshasa, who was squatting on the floor examining something, turned her head toward where Jaun's hand was pointing.
“When did your arm become like that?”
“Well. I woke up startled by a big shock and found it like this…… I think I received an impact while I was unconscious.”
“……The Yongho Fortress Master's nickname is Black Rock Steel Fist . He was a person who made a name for himself even in the Sado Alliance. He was at a first-rate level handling fist energy freely. If the Fortress Master had launched a fist strike at the defenseless Young Hero Jaun, Young Hero Jaun wouldn't have suffered only this much damage.”
The Ice Rakshasa, roughly estimating the distance, nodded slowly.
“If so, as Young Hero Jaun said, it is presumed that during the clash with the person called the old man, the Fortress Master's fist energy bounced off and injured the Young Hero's arm, bringing you to your senses. Probably like this here, pang─”
The Ice Rakshasa, walking to where the Fortress Master had been, twisting her waist, and punching diagonally, fell into thought.
The Ice Rakshasa, biting her lip and pondering something, turned her head toward Jaun.
“Hmm……. There is a point that is a bit questionable. Young Hero Jaun clearly stated that a little while after regaining consciousness, you raised your upper body and saw the scene of the old man and the Fortress Master clashing immediately. Right?”
Jaun, flinching slightly, scratched his head again.
“Yes. To my memory, it is so.”
The Ice Rakshasa, extending her fist this way and that a few times on the spot, tilted her head.
“Strange. If Young Hero Jaun was lying over there and the sight of the old man and the Fortress Master fighting was confirmed immediately when you raised your upper body, it only means you raised your body supporting yourself using the injured arm?”
“T-that is…… It wasn't like I was hurt tremendously seriously. Come to think of it now, I think it was quite painful as I raised my body.”
At Jaun's stuttering words, the Ice Rakshasa narrowed her eyes.
“When I checked the condition earlier, Young Hero Jaun's arm would have been swollen to the point where sensation was faint at that time. It wouldn't have been in a condition to raise the body?”
The Ice Rakshasa, stopping her words, turned her body back again.
A sharp light began to be contained in the Ice Rakshasa's eyes examining the surroundings.
‘Tsk.’
Jaun clicked his tongue inwardly.
He threw the words thinking he could just pass it over roughly, but coming here like this, strange points caught his eye even when he looked.
‘What to do?’
Not only what the Ice Rakshasa pointed out, but his own footprints remaining here and there caught his eye.
He could try making an excuse that the old man had a build similar to his, but there were quite a few places that didn't match the movement path he talked about in advance.
‘No, quite some time has passed, why are the footprints so clear? Should I just bluff my way through?’
Jaun bit his lip tightly.
The sight of the Ice Rakshasa constantly tilting her head while examining the surroundings in detail was seen.
“This…….”
The Ice Rakshasa turned her body.
The Ice Rakshasa, pausing her words for a moment, examined the expressions of the people standing around.
“Everyone is quiet. Is it correct that you all spoke only the truth? Or…… Is there something you are hiding from me?”
As the Ice Rakshasa slowly drew up her energy with a cold smile, extreme Yin Energy began to spread to the surroundings.
─ Crack
The energy the Ice Rakshasa drew up began to create thin ice on the ground.
In the air that became chilly in an instant, white breath puffed out from the group's mouths.
There was a reason the Sado Alliance dispatched the Ice Rakshasa alone as the investigator for this case.
“Are you not going to answer me?”
As strong Yin Energy enough to freeze even the surrounding atmosphere spread out from the Ice Rakshasa's body, the group drew up their internal energy with tense expressions.