Kang Sogun

The boat flowed down the indifferent river.

Yeon Hwasim sat on the side of the boat and stared blankly at the river.

The sparkling waves, reflecting the sunlight, shone like jewels.

But in Yeon Hwasim's eyes, everything in the world looked dim.

Jang Mugang approached.

"Miss Yeon. You'll hurt your body at this rate. If you think of the Sect Master's will, you should take care of yourself."

Yeon Hwasim nodded.

"I will. I will! I will destroy the Heavenly Martial Faction with my own hands."

Yeon Hwasim's face was full of venom. It was as if she had become a different person.

'They say that when a woman holds a grudge, frost falls even in the fifth and sixth months.'

Jang Mugang sighed inwardly.

He understood Yeon Hwasim's heart, but to say she would destroy the Heavenly Martial Faction.

It was no different from saying she would cut her own lifeline.

Jang Mugang wondered if he could really protect Yeon Hwasim's life to the end.

On the other hand, seeing her set up her venom without floundering in despair even after losing her father, he also felt proud.

'Sect Master Yeon. Your daughter is not a weak child. Don't worry too much and rest in peace.'

Although Jang Mugang had not heard of Yeon Seongyeol's life or death, he was certain that he was already dead.

Jungrang approached.

"Can we talk for a moment?"

Jang Mugang took Jungrang to the back of the boat.

"The Heavenly Fire Brigade has lured the enemy, but there will be a pursuit on the Yangtze River side as well."

For a faction of the Heavenly Martial Faction's level, it was quite possible.

It was only a matter of time before the enemies who had followed the Heavenly Fire Brigade realized that Yeon Hwasim was not there.

"I think it would be best to take a land route at a suitable place."

Jungrang had the same thought.

The boat they were on now was far too small to stop the enemy.

It was difficult for him or the Three Tigers of Shandong to exert their full strength on the river.

"The sooner the better. That ahead is Jiujiang. It's a big county, so how about we enter tonight?"

"Let's do that."

Jang Mugang also told Sim Mabaek and Wi Eunghwan to prepare.

Jiujiang County was located at the crossroads where the Yangtze River and Poyang Lake met, and it was a place where commerce was developed.

Since there were many people, it was also easy to erase their tracks. As such, it was clear that the enemy would also be watching.

Jungrang brought a map, spread it out, and revealed his thoughts to the Three Tigers of Shandong.

"They will know that we are heading south."

"That's right. In any case, they will think we will join the Heavenly Fire Brigade."

"How about we go down to the north of the river, follow the Yangtze River using the land route, and then go around Huangshan and down?"

"Wouldn't that be too far of a detour?"

"But wouldn't it be that much safer?"

To Jungrang, Yeon Hwasim's safety was more important than anything.

In fact, there was no law that said the enemy would not chase them all the way to Fujian. He had no intention of going quickly either.

"Let's do that."

Jang Mugang nodded in agreement.

That night.

The party that had landed on the north side of the Yangtze River, opposite Jiujiang County, headed for Anqing using the mountain path.

***

"What! Commander Go! Is it really true that Commander Go was defeated!"

Jo Gaeryang was greatly surprised, jumped up, and shouted.

"How did that happen? I told you to just block him!"

"The bastard pushed his way in."

The prostrating messenger reported without raising his head.

"What!"

Jo Gaeryang was at a loss.

Following the Eungcheon Brigade Commander, Wu Wonsong, the Heavenly Star Brigade Commander, Go Gyeongyeom, had also died.

In a few days, they had lost two commanders of their military brigades.

Jo Gaeryang asked his confidant.

"What happened to the killing demons?"

"They have been released on the Lu'an side."

Jo Gaeryang walked back and forth over the map spread out on the table and was lost in thought.

'Why did this man choose the mountain path? He crossed the mountain to come to Xinyang and then crossed the mountain again?'

Of course, the mountain was advantageous for shaking off a pursuit. But it seemed that this man had another reason.

The Yangtze River was visible below the winding mountains.

'Is there a reason he must go to the Yangtze River?'

There must be a reason. But he had no time to think for long now.

His head throbbed at the thought of reporting the death of the Heavenly Star Brigade Commander to the Faction Master.

"Attach the killing demons. For now, just tell them to follow behind!"

He could not suffer any more loss of strength. At this rate, the vitality of the Heavenly Martial Faction could be harmed.

***

Thump, thump.

The green branches burned, making a loud noise.

The winter mountain was desolate. Kang Sogun had built a fire with his back to a thirty-foot cliff. Since it was a single path anyway, he could not avoid the enemy's pursuit.

It was better to recover his body first.

Grrr.

A low animal growl was heard from above the cliff behind him.

Looking up, a blue fire flashed in the darkness. A tiger had come, smelling the scent of blood.

The bonfire that Kang Sogun had built only illuminated the area for about ten feet. The tiger was waiting for an opportunity from above the cliff.

Tigers do not necessarily harm people.

If it had come smelling Kang Sogun's blood, it meant that it had eaten human flesh before.

It might have been difficult to find food in the winter mountain.

Kang Sogun untied the spear on his back.

If his body were normal, there would be no reason to even hold a weapon to block a tiger. But now, he was in a situation where he had to rely on the sharpness of the spear.

The tiger was smart and knew how to wait. It did not rush in recklessly, as if it had experience hunting people.

Kang Sogun stuck his spear next to him and entered into qi circulation.

The tiger was not the problem. He had to treat his internal injuries even a little.

-Thump, thump.

The sound of someone coming up the mountain path was heard.

Even though it was a mountain path, the steps were steady.

Kang Sogun slowly opened his eyes.

A person turned from the mountain path and entered the clearing where Kang Sogun had built a bonfire.

The young ronin with a saber at his waist sat down by the bonfire without a word. Then he took something out of the bundle he was carrying on his back.

What was in the ronin's hand was dried meat.

The ronin tore the dried meat and roasted it over the bonfire.

Grrr.

As the smell of burning meat spread, the tiger's growling grew louder, and it finally let out a roar.

Roar!

But neither the young ronin nor Kang Sogun flinched.

The tiger, intimidated by the presence that the ronin was emitting, did not rush in and only threatened.

The ronin threw the roasted meat to Kang Sogun. The meat landed exactly on Kang Sogun's knee.

"To not even pack dry rations while on the run. You must have grown up preciously."

The young ronin muttered as if to himself.

Kang Sogun smirked.

He had been reminded of someone from the way he was pretending to be calm while being nervous.

The young ronin was in his early twenties. He looked to be three or four years younger than him.

***

The expression that the blade-like wind of the northeastern frontier cut the flesh was just right.

The battle dragged on, and the casualties increased day by day.

In the seemingly endless fight, both the enemy and the allies were getting tired.

As they repeated advances and retreats, only the soldiers died in vain.

The reinforcements who came to replace the dead soldiers were, from some point on, old or young.

Ma Unsan was sixteen.

Although he was quite big, there was still a hint of childishness somewhere. Perhaps because of that, he was a guy who deliberately acted tough and fierce.

As soon as he came, he got into a scuffle with a veteran soldier who was almost forty.

The reason was absurd.

He said he didn't like the way he looked at him.

***

'If Ma Unsan were alive, he would be that age.'

Kang Sogun picked up the meat and chewed.

He was fine even if he didn't eat for a few days.

Rather, the dry rations that put a strain on his stomach might not be good for him now that he had to treat his internal injuries.

Nevertheless, he slowly chewed the dry rations.

It was purely because the young ronin had reminded him of Ma Unsan.

As Kang Sogun chewed the dry rations, the awkward tension that had been in the young ronin's entire body gradually eased.

He had relaxed his mind after seeing him eat what he had given him without suspicion.

The young ronin suddenly asked.

"Why did you laugh?"

"I was reminded of someone."

Kang Sogun said as he looked at the bonfire. It had been a long time since he had taken someone's words.

Was it because the ronin had reminded him of Ma Unsan?

The young ronin broke a branch next to him and threw it into the bonfire.

"To make you laugh... he must have been a good person."

Was Ma Unsan a good guy?

Kang Sogun searched his memory, but it was difficult to answer.

He was a guy who was always getting into fights and causing trouble.

On the battlefield, he was the first to run and the last to stay behind. When he had asked him why he did that, the answer was unexpected.

'There can't be anyone left behind me.'

He had said it so naturally that he couldn't ask why not.

That's why in Ma Unsan's team, there were dead people, but no one was taken prisoner.

"Why did you follow me?"

"You were just in front of me."

The way he said something that was so obviously a lie so calmly was also similar to Ma Unsan.

"The killing demons are coming."

"Killing demons?"

"They are the dogs of the Heavenly Martial Faction."

Hatred was in the young ronin's voice.

Kang Sogun also felt the presence crouching about thirty feet around.

The killing demons in the darkness did not hide their presence. No, rather, they let out their killing intent as if they wanted him to know of their existence.

-Thump, thump.

A person came up the mountain path, cutting through the killing intent that the killing demons were emitting.

The merchant with a bundle on his back was No Ichil.

No Ichil saw the bonfire and approached.

"Hehehe. To see a fire in this cold mountain. It's more welcome than meeting a lover."

No Ichil said with a playful remark and sat down on one side of the bonfire.

The three naturally sat in a "品" shape.

The young ronin closed his mouth when No Ichil appeared.

"We have a deep connection. For the guests of the Huayang Inn to gather in one place in the mountains. Where else would you find such a connection? Shouldn't we at least introduce ourselves?"

No Ichil looked back and forth between the two and continued.

"My name is No Ichil."

Even though No Ichil had revealed his name, it seemed that neither Kang Sogun nor the young ronin had any intention of opening their mouths.

"Young people are unnecessarily tight-lipped."

"Shouldn't you reveal your identity, not your name?"

The young ronin said bluntly.

"Identity? What kind of identity would a merchant who just buys and sells tea have to show off?"

"Hmph!"

As the ronin snorted, No Ichil smiled meaningfully and continued.

"If it's an identity worth revealing, shouldn't it be at least the Fire Dragon Saber of the Dragon Slaying Society? Since you are the third disciple of the Dragon Slaying Society Master of the Four Great Powers of the world."

A red killing intent rose in the young ronin's eyes.

"Haven't you heard the saying that the mouth brings disaster?"

The tone was as cold as the surrounding cold.

The Fire Dragon Saber, Jo Unryong. It was the young ronin's name.

As the third disciple of the Dragon Slaying Society Master, the nickname was given because a red flame was said to rise every time he swung his saber.

"The young pup has quite a temper."

No Ichil did not care.

From that one word, it could be seen once again that No Ichil was also not an ordinary person.

"Are all of the Great Righteous Martial Hall as rude as you?"

Jo Unryong's voice sank even lower.

No Ichil smiled meaningfully.

"So you knew."

Kang Sogun, who had been staring at the bonfire, raised his gaze and looked back and forth between No Ichil and Jo Unryong.

The Great Righteous Martial Hall and the Dragon Slaying Society!

The two forces were fighting over territory in Henan and Jiangsu.

Although they were not engaged in an all-out war because of the other two hegemons, the Heavenly Martial Faction and the Yocheon Pavilion, the underwater nerve war was fierce.

Although Kang Sogun did not know the detailed story, he could tell that the two were in a hostile relationship.

"You two came to find me."

(End of Chapter)