Kang Sogun

Kang Sogun went down to the valley and then climbed a mountain straight away.

From the top of the mountain, he could see low mountains, fields, and a lake below, and at the end, a long river that curved like a snake.

A large city was visible at the left end of the river's flow.

Kang Sogun went straight down the mountain without hesitation.

It was a reckless mountain climb where he would just jump off if he came across a cliff.

No Ichil and Jo Unryong, who were following him, felt like they were going to die.

"What, what kind of bastard is that?"

No Ichil grumbled continuously.

No matter how much of a master he was, there was a limit to his internal energy.

With a powerful enemy following behind, he could not use lightness skill recklessly without limit.

When No Ichil and Jo Unryong had barely escaped the mountain, Kang Sogun had already crossed the field and was climbing the low mountain on the opposite side.

"Is that person really injured?"

Jo Unryong also said a word, dumbfounded.

He had clearly seen him exhausted in the fight with the Heavenly Martial Faction yesterday. But to be able to go like that after sleeping for one night.

Although they did not know, Kang Sogun was using all his strength, operating his Golden Elixir True Art.

His internal energy was intermittently cut off, and pain pierced his entire body, but he did not stop.

Seeing the movements of the Heavenly Martial Faction's killing demons, he had judged that there would be no attack for the time being.

If so, it was better to go to his destination as soon as possible and perform qi circulation and injury healing.

According to the map in his head, the city by the river was Anqing.

Since it was a big city, he would be able to get medicinal herbs.

Kang Sogun hurried to arrive before the sun set.

***

On the old sign that was barely hanging, it was written "Pyeong'an Inn."

It was a shabby inn on the outskirts of Anqing.

After passing the outer building attached to the gate with the sign, a wide courtyard appeared, and on the left and right, buildings with three guest rooms each faced each other.

Jungrang came out of the middle guest room on the left and entered the outer building.

The outer building consisted of the owner's residence, the kitchen, and a living room, and in the living room, there was one long table and two tables that could seat four people.

At the long table, the Three Tigers of Shandong had already taken their seats and were eating and drinking.

The party, which had arrived at dawn, had been resting all day and waiting for the sun to set.

"I've got horses. Let's leave when night falls."

Jang Mugang said and handed him a wine cup.

They had discussed using the night road to avoid the enemy's pursuit.

Jungrang took the wine cup, drank it down, and then looked around the kitchen.

"It seems we are the only guests. He said he has prepared food, so we can just take it and eat. This is the first time I've seen an inn like this."

Jang Mugang, who was a former inn chef, laughed as if he were dumbfounded.

Jungrang packed the food on a tray and went to Yeon Hwasim's room.

"Miss."

"Come in."

Yeon Hwasim's voice was calm. Jungrang tilted his head.

There was no way Yeon Hwasim would not know his voice, but for her to use honorifics.

Jungrang, just in case, brought his right hand to the hilt of his sword and held the food tray with his left hand.

Jungrang pushed the door and entered.

Yeon Hwasim was sitting in front of the guest room table.

Jungrang quickly looked around, and when there was nothing unusual, he placed the tray on the table.

'I must have heard wrong.'

Jungrang, who was extremely tense, thought that he had heard wrong.

"Have dinner. We have to leave when it gets dark."

Yeon Hwasim gently pushed the tray and said to Jungrang.

"Please sit for a moment."

Jungrang knew that he had not heard wrong.

"Hurry."

At Yeon Hwasim's urging, Jungrang sat down at the table.

Yeon Hwasim stood up from her seat and then bowed deeply and politely to Jungrang.

"Miss, why are you doing this?"

Jungrang tried to stop Yeon Hwasim, but she bowed to the end.

Then she sat down and opened her mouth.

"If it weren't for you, older brother Jungrang, I would have already died."

As she called him older brother, Jungrang just felt awkward.

"What on earth are you talking about? Miss? Are you alright?"

Jungrang was worried that Yeon Hwasim might have lost her mind due to the successive hardships.

On the way from Jiujiang by mountain path, he had inquired about the news of the Three Blade Sect.

As expected, Yeon Seongyeol and his sworn brothers had been defeated in the fight with Gu Yeongang and had died.

Yeon Hwasim had lost her words after hearing that news.

"Miss. You have to pull yourself together at times like this."

As Jungrang tried to soothe her with regret, Yeon Hwasim shook her head.

"No. My mind is very clear. I finally understand. That I was nothing."

"...?"

"The Three Blade Sect has been destroyed. The young lady of the Three Blade Sect is no longer in this world. There is only a person named Yeon Hwasim."

Yeon Hwasim's voice was calm.

"Actually, I've wanted to do this for a while. You've taken care of me like a real older brother since I was young. I have never once thought of you as a subordinate."

Jungrang nodded.

Yeon Hwasim had always followed and respected him.

"You were not a servant of the Three Blade Sect, but a guest. My father also thought so."

"Sect Master Yeon is my life-saver. I have not been able to repay this..."

"No! You have done enough, older brother. You saved me several times in Yueyang. My father would also be grateful."

Yeon Hwasim cut off Jungrang's words and continued.

"There is no more Three Blade Sect or Miss Yeon. You said that when you see me, you are reminded of your older sister. If you allow it, I would like to become sworn siblings."

"..."

"If you don't want to, I will call you Young Hero Jung from now on."

Yeon Hwasim, while accepting the annihilation of the Three Blade Sect, was trying to be reborn.

The reason she was trying to redefine her relationship with Jungrang was also because of that.

Jungrang let out a deep sigh.

"I don't know if this is alright, but..."

Jungrang hesitated for a moment and then decided to accept Yeon Hwasim's will.

"I have always thought of you, miss, no, you, as my real older sister. Even if we don't become sworn siblings, you are already like a sister in my heart."

At Jungrang's words, Yeon Hwasim's eyes welled up with tears, and she stood up and bowed once more.

"Older brother, please receive Hwasim's bow."

Jungrang also stood up and bowed back.

"I will protect you even if it means my death."

Jungrang thought that a second chance had come to him.

The first chance, he had been too young and weak. He could do nothing even as his sister was dying.

This time had to be different.

'No, it will definitely be different. Thank you.'

Strength entered Jungrang's two hands.

Jungrang suddenly felt something welling up from the depths of his chest.

"Hurry and eat dinner. The hour of Zi is not far, so we have to prepare to leave."

Jungrang hastily left Yeon Hwasim's guest room to control his turbulent heart.

"Is something wrong?"

Just then, Sim Mabaek came out of the outhouse and asked, seeing Jungrang.

He had seen the dew in Jungrang's eyes.

"It's nothing. It seems a mayfly got into my eye."

"Haha. You're quite silly. Are you saying that a master like you was defeated by a mayfly?"

Sim Mabaek laughed heartily and went back into the outer building.

Jungrang looked up at the night sky.

The cold winter moonlight felt strangely warm today.

He could not forget that moonlight for a long time.

He only found out much later why it had been so warm.

Because it was the night that he, who had wandered the world as an orphan, had gotten a family again. That was why the moonlight had been so warm.

***

Even though they had hurried, they had only arrived on the outskirts of Anqing in the middle of the night.

There was an inn on the side of the road leading into Anqing.

The sign, which looked as if it would fall at any moment, shone in the moonlight.

Pyeong'an Inn.

"The city gate will be closed. How about we stay here?"

No Ichil wanted to go in right away and have warm food and alcohol.

Jo Unryong looked back.

The killing demons were still following at a distance of thirty to fifty feet.

"Leave them be. They are probably waiting for orders from above. There's no need to start a fight first."

"Aren't you being too leisurely? It's clear we'll be caught in a siege at this rate."

"Kehehe. If it were Hubei, the Heavenly Martial Faction could do as they please. But it's difficult here."

No Ichil had something to believe in. The warriors of the Great Righteous Martial Hall would be coming, having received his message.

Anqing was at the northwestern end of Anhui Province, on the border of Hubei and Henan.

It meant that it was a place where the power of the Heavenly Martial Faction did not reach.

"You're the third young master of the Dragon Slaying Society, but you don't have any guards?"

No Ichil asked Jo Unryong.

Jo Unryong showed him his saber.

"This is my guard."

They had suffered so much that in one day, the two had become quite close.

Although it was mostly No Ichil talking and Jo Unryong responding, the atmosphere of wariness between them had definitely softened.

Perhaps it was thanks to Kang Sogun.

Kang Sogun did not care whether the two followed him or not.

Even though they had revealed that they were from the Dragon Slaying Society and the Great Righteous Martial Hall, he did not even show any wariness.

He treated the two not as enemies or allies, but just as fellow travelers.

The two also decided to treat each other that way.

Kang Sogun, who was approaching the Pyeong'an Inn, suddenly stopped his steps.

The side door of the inn opened, and a few people came out, leading horses, and then stopped when they saw Kang Sogun.

"Great Warrior Kang!"

Yeon Hwasim's voice was heard.

In an instant, Kang Sogun realized that he had made a big mistake.

He had been thinking of taking a boat from Anqing and following the Yangtze River to Nanjing.

He had expected that he might meet Yeon Hwasim on the way.

Why had he had such an expectation?

No Ichil had said that Yeon Hwasim and the Heavenly Fire Brigade had gone towards the Yangtze River.

Kang Sogun had naturally thought that they would have gone down the Yangtze River. He had also thought that the enemy would know this and would pursue them.

He had turned in this direction because he was worried about that.

'Why was I worried about Miss Yeon?'

Such a thought suddenly came to mind, but the situation at hand was more urgent.

Kang Sogun had unintentionally led the enemy to Yeon Hwasim.

The Heavenly Fire Brigade was not seen. There were only Yeon Hwasim, Jungrang, and the Three Tigers of Shandong.

Kang Sogun could tell at once that the Heavenly Fire Brigade was luring the enemy and that they were escaping separately.

"Phew."

Kang Sogun let out a deep sigh.

A lingering attachment that he himself could not understand had unexpectedly put Yeon Hwasim in danger again.

"How did you know to come, Great Warrior Kang?"

Jang Mugang approached, wary of No Ichil and Jo Unryong, who were standing behind Kang Sogun.

In the martial world, it was common for an ally to become an enemy overnight.

Since he was with people he did not know, he could not help but be careful.

No Ichil stood naturally, but Jo Unryong, startled by Jang Mugang's presence, became wary and grabbed the Fire Dragon Saber at his waist.

"I just came to rest. But it would be best not to go on a night road."

Kang Sogun said calmly.

"What do you mean?"

Jang Mugang said, wary of No Ichil and Jo Unryong.

"The enemy is following."

At the word "enemy," not only Jang Mugang but also Sim Mabaek, Wi Eunghwan, and Jungrang's complexions changed.

The three hastily looked around and drove their horses into the inn.

"I don't know who you are, but there's no need to be so wary. Those bastards are just following us like dogs."

No Ichil stepped forward and said with a good-natured smile.

"Who are you?"

Jang Mugang asked, subtly raising his internal energy.

"I am a traveling merchant..."

"He is a hall master of the ten halls of the Great Righteous Martial Hall!"

As No Ichil was about to make an excuse, Jo Unryong suddenly revealed his identity.

'That bastard?'

No Ichil glared, but the beans had already been spilled.

"So they say."

As No Ichil grumbled and admitted it, Jang Mugang became even more wary.

"The ten halls of the Great Righteous Martial Hall! I have met an extraordinary person."

"Extraordinary? If you look closely, I'm just a very ordinary wanderer. The truly extraordinary person is that bastard over there."

No Ichil pointed at Jo Unryong.

Seeing that he used both honorifics and condescension at the same time, it was clear that his mind was twisted, and twisted badly.

Jo Unryong glared, but he continued without caring.

"That person is the third young master of the Dragon Slaying Society."

(End of Chapter)