Chapter 36
In the depths of the mountains, a merchant guild of considerable size was slowly advancing, cutting through the rough mountain path of the Kunlun Mountains.
Although they could not easily advance due to the rough path and the dense forest, they were hurrying their steps with conviction.
"Is this really the way to the Hermit's Valley?"
Xi Xichang, who was moving behind the Seo Won Escort Agency at the very rear, seemed to be tired of the rough mountain terrain and was brushing off the branches and insects that were touching her clothes.
"Hmm... although it's covered with grass and twigs, if you look closely, it seems we are moving along the spot where a carriage road used to be."
Xi Xichang could instinctively feel that the Hermit's Valley was not far away from the faint smell of sulfur that was gradually blowing on the mountain wind.
And as the Hermit's Valley approached, she felt a stuffiness in her chest and tapped her chest for a moment.
"Are you uncomfortable somewhere?"
"It's just... now that I think we're about to arrive at the Hermit's Valley, I feel anxious."
Xi Xichang held the wooden box in her arms tightly.
This was the only hope for the survival of the Qingcheng Sect and the Sichuan martial world.
"Everything will be fine. Didn't the heavens not turn their backs on us and give us so much help?"
"It should be so."
Xi Xichang looked at the back of the Lion Escort King, Huang Feihu, who was guiding the party at the front.
The fact that a person who had lived as an escort for half his life and had protected his honor had gotten involved with her and had quit being an escort was a sin that could by no means be called light.
The escort mission of the Seo Won Escort Agency was now almost in its final stages.
Except for Jin Tianxiang, all the escorts who had participated in the escort mission were experienced people who had been to and from the Hermit's Valley at least once or twice. They knew that they had reached the entrance of the Hermit's Valley by the fog that was soon spreading before their eyes.
Without anyone telling them, they each took their weapons and were wary of their surroundings to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances.
"From here on is the area that enters the Hermit's Valley. From now on, you will have to command the escort mission, so you must remember this path."
"I don't know."
Jin Tianxiang retorted indifferently to the words of Huang Feihu, who was leading the Seo Won Escort Agency.
"How can a person who will be responsible for the lives of the escorts in the future speak so lightly?"
"Then can you, Head Escort Huang, just quit being an escort out of the blue?"
Jin Tianxiang, whose mouth was sticking out, seemed to be dissatisfied with the fact that Huang Feihu had said he would quit being an escort.
"This is the only way to protect the escort agency from the Black Contemplation Fortress."
"So why did you step forward, unlike yourself, Head Escort Huang?"
It was right for Jin Tianxiang to step forward in such a matter and for Huang Feihu to clean it up.
Who would have expected that Huang Feihu, who had insisted on principles until now, would make such a deviation?
"Well... perhaps I also had the heart of a martial artist like you, without knowing it."
"Do you call that a...?"
"Now, stop."
Huang Feihu took out a small mirror from his pocket.
As the mirror slowly absorbed the light, the fog that was thickly covering the front of the merchant guild began to slowly scatter.
Jin Tianxiang, without a word, tensed his nerves, feeling the hostility that was lingering in the fog.
"Don't let your guard down. If you step into the fog, you might die without anyone knowing."
"What on earth are those things?"
"The beasts of the Hermit's Valley."
"Are you saying that the things that are exuding such killing intent around me right now are beasts?"
"Do you think this place is a forbidden zone for no reason? Now, we're here. Let's unpack our luggage there."
The place where the merchant guild had arrived was a forest around a lakeside where the fog was relatively thin.
The lakeside was larger than expected, and a thin fog was spread wide around the lake.
Although the strangely grown trees and the cries of the beasts heard in the surroundings were unnerving, if they did not leave this place, they would not have to enter the thick fog, where they could not see an inch ahead, defenselessly.
The merchant guild unpacked their luggage with familiarity and set up tents and the like in the surroundings.
"I wonder what kind of trade they do in a place like this..."
Jin Tianxiang looked around slowly, as if it were absurd.
"The smell of food can attract beasts, so let's have a simple meal."
The escorts who had unpacked their luggage each took out the simple food they had prepared.
Huang Feihu and Jin Tianxiang also spread out the food they had brought, and Liu Yezhi, who was running in a hurry from a distance, came into their eyes.
"Old Master Chu, what's wrong?"
"Is Miss Xichang here by any chance?"
"No... weren't you with her?"
"She was with me until just a moment ago, and she left for a moment, but she hasn't come back for half a shichen already. Where on earth did she go..."
Liu Yezhi could not hide his bewilderment, as he was worried about the disappeared Xi Xichang.
Jin Tianxiang and Huang Feihu, who had sensed that the situation was unusual, also put down their food and stood up from their seats.
The Hermit's Valley was a place where safety could not be guaranteed if one got lost, no matter how much of a master one was, and if she had been attacked by the pursuers of the Black Contemplation Fortress, like Tu Xingsun, it would be a big deal.
"For now, I will divide the escorts into groups and search the surroundings. Since the fog is thick, she won't be too far away."
"Please."
Liu Yezhi flew his body with a tense expression, and Huang Feihu hurriedly organized a search party to find Xi Xichang.
* * *
Several days had passed since Agong had escaped the prison.
Agong, who had returned to the tavern, had been exhausted and had slept for almost three days and nights, and only after that could he return to a normal life.
Agong, who had come to his senses, worked at the tavern again and spent his time practicing martial arts from time to time.
The fortunate thing was that he had caught a lot of beast hides in the prison, so he didn't have to go hunting separately.
And one day, Old Ancestor Hongjun called Agong, who was working at the tavern.
"Today?"
"Yes, today. Since they are guests who are coming from a long way, it would be good for you to go out and meet them in advance."
Agong, who had heard that the merchant guild that Old Ancestor Hongjun had mentioned was coming to the Hermit's Valley to exchange goods today, had a feeling of 'what was to come has come'. Since it was something he had been preparing his heart for for a long time, he took out the hides he had prepared in advance with the feeling of doing his homework.
"So... I just need to go to the place you mentioned and exchange what you gave me, right?"
"Why, are my words difficult?"
"That's not it..."
Agong trailed off for a moment.
If he made up his mind, he could leave the Hermit's Valley with the people of the merchant guild.
'Not yet...'
Even if he left the Hermit's Valley right away, he had nowhere else to go.
To go to the Black Contemplation Fortress to find the Slender Moon Squad who had deceived him was a journey without a promise, and he did not have the strength to go and argue.
Even if he went back to his hometown, there was no one waiting for him, and his life would surely be more difficult than now.
Perhaps this life here, where he could eat three meals a day, even if he wasn't full, and learn martial arts, was the best place for Agong.
'If only I'm not threatened with my life...'
As he gained a little confidence in hunting, Cook Li and Master Gongsun each left Agong with a warning about his excessive confidence.
It was also a warning that if he underestimated the beasts or monsters of the Hermit's Valley, even an outstanding master could meet his end.
"And try not to bring back a lump."
"A lump?"
"There is such a thing."
Old Ancestor Hongjun sometimes said things that were out of the blue.
Of course, there were times when he understood the meaning after the future had passed, and seeing that, he seemed like an old man with a bit of a divine spirit.
"Then I'll be on my way."
"You must go by the path I told you so you don't get lost."
"Yes."
Agong slung a large bundle over his shoulder, took Tonglin and a basket, and set out on his way.
Since he didn't know when the merchant guild would arrive, he was planning to spend his time enjoying fishing at the lake, which was the meeting place.
As soon as he left the tavern, a thick fog covered Agong's vision.
As Agong held up the small stone he had received from Hongjun in advance, a light emanated from it, and the small pebbles on the ground glowed blue, as if reacting to the light.
'I just need to follow this, right?'
From the moment he left the tavern, Agong was in a state where he had raised his internal energy.
The most important thing that Agong had learned while staying in the Hermit's Valley was that no place other than the tavern was ever safe.
"By the way, did the Scholar get back safely..."
After returning from the prison, Agong, who had not heard any news of him, had asked the Tongtian Cult Master about the Butterfly Scholar's news, but he had only heard that he had gone to the place where he was supposed to go back.
Although they had shared life and death for a short time, Agong felt a little sad that he had left without a final farewell like this.
"Ah!"
Agong, who had been following the light, found a wide lakeside that he had never seen before and let out a short exclamation.
It was a large lake that seemed to be several times the size of the lake he had often visited to fish with Tongtian, and if seen from a distance, it would not be an exaggeration to consider it a river.
The lake was emitting a cold blue light, and around it, the fog was thin, so it did not greatly obstruct the view.
"There was a place like this."
Since the meeting place was said to be around the lake, Agong, who thought that he could find the merchant guild if he waited here, unpacked his luggage, extended Tonglin, and cast his fishing rod into the lake.
Plop!
Agong, who had not been able to fish because he had not had the leisure, was excited to fish after a long time, took his posture, and looked at the lake.
The lake, which reflected the sky and the clouds, was emitting a beautiful light and left a gentle afterglow.
Agong, feeling a peace of mind, naturally felt the energy of the Nine Gates True Scripture invigorating his whole body.
Perhaps thanks to receiving the secret of the Crouching Frog Art from the Butterfly Scholar in the prison, when he circulated his energy, he could accumulate much more internal energy than before, and he had become more accustomed to handling his internal energy, so he could use his martial arts without any discomfort in any posture.
Wondering if he had reached some great state, Agong hurriedly explained the feeling he was feeling to Cook Li, but Cook Li, who had been listening silently, discouraged Agong, saying not to make a fuss over such a trivial thing.
Splash!
Agong caught a fish in an instant and started fishing again.
The fishing using the Heavenly Demon Hand was also being displayed much more naturally than in the past.
"Huh?"
Agong, who had been fishing for more than a shichen, narrowed his eyes when he found something that looked like a person at the corner of the lake.
Although he couldn't see clearly because of the distance and the fog in the middle, it was a person who seemed to be Agong's age or a little older.
"Could it be a person from the merchant guild?"
No matter what, it was a dangerous thing to be alone, away from the merchant guild, in such a rough place.
It also seemed that he was lost, as he was looking around.
Agong reeled in his fishing rod and stood up from his seat.
"I should go for now. If he's a person from the merchant guild, there will be people nearby."
Agong packed his luggage and hurried his steps towards the place where he had found the person.
Since the fog was not that thick, there was not much difficulty in getting his bearings, and the figure also did not go to another place and was in that spot, so he could find him easily.
"Excuse me."
Agong called the person who was awkwardly adjusting his pants.
He, as if startled by Agong's voice, hurriedly tied his belt and immediately drew his sword.
"Who are you! Since when!"
"Ah, no, that's not it, ah!"
The figure, who he had thought was a man, was a girl of outstanding beauty when seen up close.
She, with a flushed red face, showed hostility towards Agong without even listening to his story.
Agong could not hide his bewilderment at the hostility of unknown origin.
But a bigger problem was falling from above her head.
"Danger!"
Agong swung Tonglin greatly and flew at him.
"You lecherous bastard!"
She, who thought that a sturdy boy wearing worn-out clothes and beast hides was trying to pounce on her, scattered a sword strike in the air with a dazzling movement in an instant.
Swoosh!
But as Agong too easily avoided the sword and lightly jumped over, she was startled and took the next posture.
But Agong, who had jumped over the young lady's head, swung Tonglin at the spider the size of a person's torso that was falling on her head.
Crack!
"Kyaaak!"
The young lady, who had found the terrible spider that she had never seen before in her life, let out a scream of terror, and Agong, after killing the spider in one go, composed his breathing.
"What are you doing, swinging your sword so recklessly in a dangerous situation?"
There was no part of this huge insect that was worth taking.
Although he had heard that there were people from the Sea Isle Sect who sometimes cooked this and enjoyed it as a delicacy, Agong had no desire to eat such a strange food.
"My name is Agong. I'm from the Mountain Sea Tavern."
She, who had heard Agong's introduction, could not move her mouth and feet and looked back and forth between Agong and the monster that Agong had killed.
(End of Chapter)