Chapter 102 :

Chapter 102. The Grand Journey of Pandemonium (1)

“See? I told you! I knew my Senior Brothers would succeed!”

Although she said that, Wang Geumsan knew the truth.

Ever since her Senior Brothers had left the Taeul Sect, Wang Soso had been setting out a bowl of pure water and praying every dawn.

The sight of her bouncing excitedly while clutching the message sent from Namak was so endearing that Wang Geumsan merely pretended not to know and nodded along.

“You were right. They really did it.”

In truth, Wang Geumsan’s feelings were not much different from Wang Soso’s.

The Hell Official Exam had begun with only four people.

He had merely assumed they would travel around the murim world and return after gaining some experience.

Yet they had not only passed the first and second stages with outstanding results, but had also claimed the third-stage plaques from Wudang during the third stage.

All four disciples of the Taeul Sect had done so.

There was no doubt that this result was due to Jin Sowoon’s abilities.

No matter who else one brought in, they would never be able to produce the same result as Jin Sowoon.

‘Had I known this would happen, should I have offered to make him my live-in son-in-law instead of hiring him as an employee?’

For a while, rumors had circulated that he intended to make Jin Sowoon his live-in son-in-law.

He had laughed them off as a misunderstanding at the time, but looking back, that had been his best opportunity.

As a merchant, he could not help deeply regretting a missed opportunity.

“Come to think of it, why did Wudang choose my Senior Brothers?”

Wang Soso’s face, which had been full of laughter, instantly turned cold.

Wang Geumsan inwardly cursed himself.

“W-well, I suppose Wudang also chose whoever seemed weakest during the third stage. From that perspective, choosing the Taeul Sect would have been the obvious decision.”

Wang Geumsan desperately hoped Wang Soso would accept that explanation and let the matter pass.

However, the thoughtful expression on her face made it clear that she would not.

“They still hold a grudge over what happened at Maling Plateau.”

She saw through it precisely.

Wudang had made no effort to conceal its displeasure over the weakening of Yong Soa’s reputation following the incident at Maling Plateau.

Moreover, the Taeul Sect was currently attracting the attention of the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families because Moyong Gang had acknowledged that they had recovered the legacy of the Taeul Sword Emperor.

Wudang had chosen the Taeul Sect both because of the matter involving Yong Soa and because they wished to examine the Taeul Sword Emperor’s sword forms.

“Father, how many businesses does our Wang Family Estate currently conduct with Wudang?”

“Soso, listen……”

Not long ago, they had already severed all transactions related to Mount Hua and the Diancang Sect.

Outraged by what the members of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering had done at the Taeul Sect, Wang Soso had informed Wang Geumsan of the entire incident and demanded that he pressure Mount Hua and Diancang.

However, Wang Geumsan possessed the cold and calculating mind of a merchant.

There was no possibility that he would allow emotional impulses to cause the family financial losses.

“I’ll create twice as much profit as we earn from Mount Hua and Diancang.”

With that firm declaration, Wang Soso had begun several new ventures.

After dismantling every business relationship associated with Mount Hua and Diancang, she began establishing new trade routes with the northern regions and the Western Regions.

She did not even suffer losses during the initial stages of those ventures.

The instant Wang Soso extended her hand, new partners reached back as though they had been waiting for her.

They brought immense profits to the Wang Family Estate while expanding its territory even further.

Naturally, it was not without side effects.

With their dealings with Mount Hua and Diancang severed, the Wang Family Estate could no longer expect their protection throughout Shaanxi Province.

As a result, the Wang Family Estate had to make enormous investments to strengthen its own military power.

‘That is not necessarily a bad thing either.’

Increasing the family’s size meant increasing the scale of the power it could wield.

The real side effect was that Wang Geumsan himself was exhausted.

Soso could devise and plan the new businesses, but Wang Geumsan ultimately had to execute them.

For Wang Geumsan, who wished to spend more time with Soso than to expand the family, it was practically torture.

“Wudang does not conduct many businesses with us. Besides, is this not simply how affairs in the murim world usually unfold? Let us overlook it.”

Wang Soso’s answer was resolute.

“No! Father, once you retreat once, you will have to retreat a second time. Had the Wang Family Estate been known as a family that relentlessly tore its enemies apart, would something like my kidnapping ever have happened?”

Blood would tell.

Wang Soso was undeniably a daughter of the Wang Family Estate.

In addition to her commercial abilities, the tens of thousands of books she had been forced to read while confined at home her entire life had broadened her perspective.

Combined with her naturally eloquent tongue, she never yielded a single step to anyone.

“Haah……”

And in the end, she always obtained what she wanted.

“If Wudang does not conduct much business with us, then we should take their businesses away from them.”

“……”

“Father, I’ll submit a proposal. Could you look over it and tell me whether it is acceptable?”

She asked him to determine whether it was acceptable, but Wang Geumsan knew better than anyone that there was no possibility of the proposal being inadequate.

Driven by his powerful desire to rest even a little longer, Wang Geumsan changed the subject.

“More importantly, should we not be celebrating the victory of your Senior Brothers right now?”

The instant the Taeul Sect disciples were mentioned, her face softened again.

The child who had resembled a ferocious wolf transformed into a puppy.

“I will arrange a small celebration. Why not spend some time with the people of the Taeul Sect?”

If they held a celebration for about a week, perhaps she would forget all about revenge.

“Really? But I heard that the truly important stage still remains. Would it not be premature to hold a celebration?”

Wang Geumsan’s heart began pounding faster.

“Regardless of the final examination result, the fact that disciples of the Taeul Sect defeated disciples of Wudang is a symbol that will be remembered throughout history. Is it not more important to appreciate the significance of the process itself?”

He spoke with a desperation he had never felt even while negotiating with the imperial family.

At last, Wang Soso nodded.

“I suppose… you are right?”

“Of course. Is the process not more important than anything else?”

“Thank you, Father!”

Wang Soso leaped into Wang Geumsan’s arms.

Feeling the warmth of the daughter he had not embraced in a long time, Wang Geumsan’s chest swelled with emotion.

“I can tell the Taeul Sect disciples about this, right?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

The moment he finished speaking, Wang Soso dashed away.

Without thinking, Wang Geumsan reached out and grabbed her shoulder to stop her.

“Soso, you must not run……”

He was certain that he had grabbed her shoulder, yet his hand passed straight through her figure.

“An illusion?”

When he raised his head, Wang Soso was already running far ahead of him.

Wang Geumsan could not conceal his astonishment.

Wang Soso had clearly been unable to learn anything beyond the basic Taeul Heart Method because of her constitution.

How, then, could every one of her steps and movements contain such profound principles?

“Good heavens……”

Wang Geumsan decided that he would soon have to visit the Taeul Sect and ask about it.

“Perhaps I should also bring up the matter of a live-in son-in-law.”

At Moyong Jaehwa’s words, Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa could not hide their contemptuous gazes.

“We are not all right, you idiot!”

“Ugh… How are we supposed to face Sister Seol now?”

Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa had each defeated their opponents and obtained third-stage plaques.

The Taeul Sect disciples, who had been expected to lose, had all defeated Wudang as well.

It should have been an atmosphere worthy of celebration.

However, Moyong Jaehwa, who had been considered one of the promising candidates, had lost to a Wudang disciple and poured cold water on the mood.

“S-still, is it not fortunate that Elder Brother and everyone from the Taeul Sect passed? Does this not prove that justice still stands firmly in the murim world? Ha ha.”

“Well……”

“Hmm……”

“Ahem……”

An awkward silence settled over them.

Whenever their eyes met, uncomfortable groans escaped their lips.

“I… I am fine.”

Not only Jin Sowoon but even the warriors of the Moyong Family stared at him in disbelief.

While Moyong Jaehwa maintained an awkward smile, Namgung Seonhwa looked toward Jin Sowoon.

“We should depart immediately, right?”

Jin Sowoon shook his head.

“We will rest today.”

“What?”

Namgung Seonhwa’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit.

Since they had obtained their plaques, she had naturally assumed they would depart faster than anyone else.

“The item I ordered for the final grand journey has not arrived yet. Also, I intend to depart at the same time as those who pass on the second day so that the pursuers will be divided somewhat.”

“An item you ordered?”

“It is something that will make the grand journey slightly more comfortable.”

“……”

While Namgung Seonhwa remained unable to imagine what the item might be, Moyong Jaehwa quietly approached Jin Sowoon.

“Elder Brother, could we perhaps accompany you as well?”

Jin Sowoon, Seong Moran, and Namgung Seonhwa all stared at Moyong Jaehwa with open disdain.

“You… still need to obtain a third-stage plaque, do you not?”

Moyong Jaehwa’s only remaining opportunity was to steal a third-stage plaque during the grand journey.

If he traveled with Jin Sowoon’s group, who had no choice but to flee, he might lose even that final opportunity.

“I do not believe I have much chance anyway. Besides, if I stay with you, Elder Brother, perhaps an opportunity might arise……”

Moyong Jaehwa still commanded eighty people.

If he carefully selected someone holding a third-stage plaque and challenged them at the optimal moment, he still had a chance of passing.

“Are you certain?”

“Of course.”

“No. I am asking whether you will be all right when Sword Breaker discovers that you accompanied us. I doubt he will overlook it.”

“Ah! I-I will probably be fine.”

Moyong Jaehwa quietly muttered, “I’ll probably be beaten to death either way……”

Jin Sowoon sighed softly and addressed the captain of the Moyong Family warriors.

Conversation with Moyong Jaehwa, who appeared to have already lost his reason, seemed impossible.

“Would it not be better for you to pursue a third-stage plaque?”

Baek Wongak, the captain commanding the Moyong Family warriors, sighed.

“The Young Master already told us last night that he wished to accompany you.”

“But he failed to obtain a third-stage plaque……”

“Our Young Master is every bit as stubborn as Sword Breaker. We are also worried about Young Lady Namgung and Young Lady Seong. Moreover, does our family not owe you a debt, Lord Sowoon?”

Baek Wongak did not state it directly, but he was referring to the incident involving Moyong Sangwon.

Only then did they realize that Moyong Jaehwa had abandoned the remainder of the examination for their sake.

They could not undertake the grand journey with fewer than forty people once the injured were excluded.

For their sake, Moyong Jaehwa had given up on his own examination and chosen to accompany them.

“Very well. Let us do that.”

Unable to reject Moyong Jaehwa’s consideration, Jin Sowoon sighed softly.

Moyong Jaehwa, who had been tearing at his hair, immediately brightened and began bouncing excitedly.

The following day, two oddly shaped carriages stood in front of the inn.

Their undecorated, rough exteriors were reinforced with iron plates in several places.

Moyong Jaehwa stared at the carriages with fascination.

“Elder Brother, what exactly are these for?”

“I intend to use them for sleeping during the grand journey.”

“Ah, did you order them separately because of the ladies?”

“No. Everyone will take turns sleeping inside.”

“Will we take turns sleeping for one day each?”

“No. We will take turns sleeping while marching.”

“What?”

“We will keep moving except when we stop to eat. To do that, will we not need a secure place where everyone can sleep, even briefly?”

Moyong Jaehwa stared at me in disbelief, his mouth hanging open.

I took the newly ordered shields from the carriage and distributed them among the Geum, Eun, and Dong brothers.

“Haah……”

Geumpyo and Eunho accepted them while still heaving long sighs.

“What? Do you dislike them?”

“Of course not. Imagine how heartbroken our parents would be.”

“You do not have to wear them if you dislike them.”

“What?”

“Really?”

Geumpyo and Eunho immediately brightened at my words.

“Oh? It looks like you ordered new ones. We ordered several extras as well.”

Namgung Seonhwa approached from the side.

A small shield identical to the ones we had worn was strapped to her left arm.

“They looked so useful on the Fuyang Plains.”

Not only Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran, but also every warrior of the Azure Dome Corps and Iron Sword Sect wore a small shield.

Moyong Jaehwa and the Moyong Family warriors could only stare at them in bewilderment.

“You made the right decision. These will be essential during the coming grand journey.”

“What? Geumpyo and Eunho, are you not going to wear yours?”

Namgung Seonhwa asked in surprise.

The two responded with awkward smiles.

“What are you talking about? I was just putting mine on.”

“I cannot use martial arts without this.”

I smiled bitterly and turned toward Moyong Jaehwa.

“We brought spare shields, so distribute them among any Moyong Family warriors who want one.”

“Ah… Yes.”

And so, the grand journey began.

The instant we left Namak, people began following us one after another.

As before, some maintained their distance while others steadily closed the gap.

“As expected, there are many pursuers.”

There were only this many because it was still the second day and many people were continuing to take the examination.

On the third day, once the third-stage examination ended and the failures were confirmed, the pursuit would become even fiercer.

“We will increase our speed as much as possible.”

“Would it not be exhausting to move so quickly from the beginning?”

“There is a valley beyond Fuyang. We will reach it as early as possible, then rest briefly.”

“Rest? Did you not prepare those steel carriages so that we would not have to rest?”

“I intend to attack Wudang there.”

“What?”

Namgung Seonhwa’s eyes widened.

I pointed behind us.

“Among those following us, Wudang is the opponent we must guard against most carefully. Unless we deal with them, the entire grand journey will become far more difficult.”

“Even so, launching an ambush in the middle of all this is……”

Dongryong suddenly interrupted.

“Sister Seonhwa, I was told that when people chase you for no reason, you should give them one.”

“What?”

Namgung Seonhwa’s brows furrowed deeply.

“Who taught you something so ridiculous?”

Dongryong proudly pointed at me.

“……”

“No, that was not what I meant……”

An awkward silence settled between Namgung Seonhwa and me.

It was unfair.

That was not the kind of situation I had told him to use it in.