Chapter 106 :

Chapter 106. The Grand Journey of Pandemonium (5)

“Damn it! He has only gained a little fame, yet look at him swaggering around!”

Nam Hwaseong of the Samwon Sect fumed.

His opponent had clearly made a foolish and idiotic choice, yet for some reason, his anger would not subside.

The others felt much the same.

Their resentment was particularly strong because they had been unable to take their eyes off the radiant beauty of Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran, who looked as though they had just woken up.

Ha Yeongyeong, who had appeared in extravagant attire intending to seduce the Bloodflame Dragon with her beauty, had been completely overshadowed.

“Brother Cheol, seeing him flounder over beautiful women makes me think the rumors about his intelligence were all false.”

Cheol Sunjik did not answer Nam Hwaseong’s question.

“……”

“Brother Cheol?”

“Hmm?”

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“It is nothing.”

Cheol Sunjik reflected on what had just happened.

He had made his proposal, and Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran had sent Jin Sowoon voice transmissions as though they had already given up.

Anyone watching would have assumed they were telling him to choose the Twelve Peaks Fortress over them.

Under those circumstances, it would have been only natural for him to reluctantly accept the Twelve Peaks Fortress’s offer while pretending he had no choice.

‘But he did not.’

He had not even hesitated.

He refused as though it were the most obvious decision in the world.

Perhaps his sense of righteousness was so strong that he could not abandon those who had traveled with him.

However, the Taeul Sect possessed far too many entrance plaques for that explanation to make sense.

Four people were expected to enter the academy.

Among the lower-ranked sects of the Hundred and Eight Peaks, many could not send as many disciples into the academy as the Taeul Sect.

He would abandon such an opportunity and choose loyalty instead?

Even the abbot of Shaolin would laugh at such a claim.

‘Could he have noticed?’

That thought naturally led to an absurd suspicion.

Perhaps Jin Sowoon had realized what Cheol Sunjik intended to do after bringing the Taeul Sect into their alliance.

It was all meant to strengthen their alliance and preserve the balance within the Hundred and Eight Peaks.

If four members of the Taeul Sect entered the Martial Academy at once, it would cause a major upheaval throughout the Hundred and Eight Peaks.

That would create confusion, and confusion would weaken the unity of the Hundred and Eight Peaks.

Reducing the number of entrants in exchange for suitable compensation would ultimately be better for the unity of the Hundred and Eight Peaks.

In return, they would elevate the Bloodflame Dragon as a hero of the Hundred and Eight Peaks.

That would raise the Taeul Sect’s status while creating the impression that the Hundred and Eight Peaks were the true leaders of the murim world.

Naturally, it would also fulfill their obligation to distribute entrance plaques to the Bifung Sect and Ghost Bow Sect.

It was killing two birds with one stone.

No, three birds with one stone.

Yet Jin Sowoon had shattered all those plans with a single sentence.

“This is a problem.”

“What is?”

“The Taeul Sect.”

“I agree. Are they not unbearably arrogant?”

“That is not what I mean. I am worried that the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families may steal the opportunity the Hundred and Eight Peaks finally obtained.”

Whether Jin Sowoon remained with them was not particularly important.

If they lacked a hero, they could simply create another.

However, for the first time, the Twelve Peaks Fortress had an opportunity to surpass the Nine Great Sects and achieve the highest-ranking admission.

If Jin Sowoon and his precarious group somehow lost their entrance plaques to the Nine Great Sects, they would have to wait through another long and tedious period.

“But what can we do? He rejected his own good fortune.”

“Even so, can we abandon our duty? As one of the peaks of the Hundred and Eight Peaks, we must make him accept his responsibility.”

“How?”

“Send messages to the Bifung Sect and Ghost Bow Sect. Tell them there is no need to come all the way to Zhengzhou.”

“Why… did you do that?”

For some reason, Seong Moran’s cheeks were flushed red as they left the reception room.

Had I done something wrong?

I thought I had merely remained loyal to my companions.

“They kept calling me the Bloodflame Dragon. It is hardly a pleasant nickname.”

“Young Master Jin……”

“Of course, it is because I wanted to continue traveling with the two of you.”

I had made a joke to dispel the solemn atmosphere.

Instead, the mood became even more awkward.

Perhaps angered by my cold joke, both women flushed all the way to their ears.

“I am not shameless enough to abandon people who ended up in this situation because of me.”

“Even so, considering the circumstances……”

“Moreover, neither of you is so insignificant that I should exchange you for admission to the Martial Academy.”

What would happen if I could quickly persuade the Namgung Family, Iron Sword Sect, and Moyong Family when the Righteous-Demonic War began?

Would that not be far better than the painfully slow response in my previous life?

From that perspective, entering the Martial Academy was important, but strengthening my relationship with these people was even more important.

“……!”

Seong Moran stared at me blankly with her mouth open.

Namgung Seonhwa’s expression was not much different.

A brief silence passed.

“I-I will never give up.”

Namgung Seonhwa suddenly clenched both fists.

“What? Is that not obvious?”

“No matter how difficult things become, I will never say that I am tired again. No, I will not even think of it as difficult.”

Had the rude behavior of those people somehow motivated her?

Seong Moran sighed softly.

“Young Master Jin truly is different. I will not complain about being tired anymore either.”

“Is that so? That is fortunate. Things are about to become even more difficult.”

“What?”

The faces of Namgung Seonhwa and Seong Moran, which had been blazing with determination, immediately tightened with anxiety.

Had they not just promised to work hard?

“Did you not hear what they said? The Bifung Sect and Ghost Bow Sect are two days away.”

“Yes, that is right. But what does that have to do with things becoming more difficult?”

“Are those two sects not infamous for stealing entrance plaques?”

“Then who would be the most tempting prey for them?”

“Hmm… the Taeul Sect?”

Namgung Seonhwa was attempting to escape reality.

“No. The Taeul Sect accompanied by the Namgung Family, Moyong Family, and Iron Sword Sect.”

Seong Moran’s mouth fell open when she heard that.

“We are doomed.”

The grand journey—

Compared to the distance traveled to pass the first and second stages, the route of the third stage was short.

Nevertheless, people called it the grand journey not because of its distance, but because of its brutality.

It was so fierce that some joked it should be called the Head-Smashing Journey, since most participants had their skulls cracked along the way.

Even leading sects such as the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families frequently became targets.

For examinees who had spent their entire lives dreaming only of the Martial Academy, this grand journey was their final opportunity to enter.

Those with no next chance clung tenaciously to the provisional qualifiers like people with no tomorrow.

“Hmm?”

A strange sight entered my vision.

Warriors from different sects had mixed together to form a single formation.

“That formation looks……”

Gang Seopyo answered my question.

“The Moyong Family warriors are not yet accustomed to the White Tiger Sword Formation, so we mixed everyone together.”

“Is that even possible?”

The Iron Sword Sect, Moyong Family, and Namgung Family all possessed immense pride in their own martial arts.

Moreover, most of them probably knew how poorly the White Tiger Sword Formation was regarded within the Martial Alliance.

Yet they had mixed together to learn it?

“They have to do it if they want to eat.”

I could only smile bitterly at the thought that the White Tiger Sword Formation, created by the genius Jegal Cheon, was being used merely to protect food bowls.

“Young Master Jin……”

Gang Seopyo spoke with an unusually serious expression.

“From now on, please issue your orders directly to us.”

“What?”

Thinking I had misheard him, I asked again.

“I mean exactly what I said. Until we reach Wuhan, you may speak directly to us without going through anyone else.”

Our command structure had worked by having me speak to Namgung Seonhwa, Seong Moran, and the recently joined Moyong Jaehwa.

They would then convey my instructions to the warriors of their respective sects.

“If orders must pass through others, our response will be delayed.”

“Are you certain that is acceptable?”

I had no objection, but I wondered whether the warriors would truly accept it.

“If anyone refuses to obey, I will crack his skull.”

“There is no need to go that far……”

“The Young Ladies, the Young Master, Captain Cho, and Captain Baek have all already agreed.”

I looked around.

Everyone who had been listening to my conversation with Gang Seopyo nodded one after another.

“Very well. I will accept responsibility for it.”

“Thank you.”

“I should be the one thanking you.”

“No. Not for that… I truly thank you.”

“What?”

Cho Mubin, who was running beside us, also spoke.

“I am grateful as well.”

I did not understand what they were thanking me for, so I looked toward Seong Moran.

She immediately changed the subject.

“M-more importantly, where are we going? Naturally, we are heading toward Shaoshi Peak, right?”

To leave Zhengzhou and enter Hubei, we had to cross Mount Song.

There were two routes: one through Taishi Peak and another through Shaoshi Peak.

Even among the Five Great Mountains, Taishi Peak of Mount Song was famous for its treacherous and exhausting terrain.

Instead of answering, I asked Moyong Jaehwa a question.

“Which route would you choose?”

“What?”

“Between Taishi Peak and Shaoshi Peak, which path would you take?”

“Uh……”

Seeing Moyong Jaehwa’s confusion, Namgung Seonhwa grinned.

“Jaehwa loved wandering around and playing from childhood, so he never studied military strategy or tactics.”

“S-Sister Seonhwa!”

Moyong Jaehwa’s face reddened.

After thinking briefly, he answered hesitantly.

“I-I would choose Taishi Peak.”

“That idiot……”

“Good grief……”

Their reactions were understandable.

After all, speed was more important than anything else for us.

“Then we will take Taishi Peak.”

“What?”

“Young Master Jin!”

“E-Elder Brother!”

Even Moyong Jaehwa, who had suggested it, turned pale and tried to stop me.

“From now on, we cannot think only about those pursuing us from behind. We must also consider those waiting ahead.”

“Ah……”

“Even so, would it not be better to take an easier path when confronting them? Taishi Peak is unfavorable terrain for us as well.”

“The ones I am concerned about among the robbers are the Ghost Bow Sect and Bifung Sect.”

Robbers—

Among the wolves hunting entrance plaques, these people had abandoned the examination entirely and waited for a long time while targeting only the grand journey.

They had preserved their strength.

If they encountered terrain suited to their martial arts, they could fight virtually any enemy.

“Why are those two sects suddenly relevant?”

“Did Cheol Sunjik not say they were supposed to join him two days later? Mount Song happens to be exactly two days from Zhengzhou. Moreover, Shaoshi Peak is terrain archers particularly favor. Is that not right?”

“What? Y-yes.”

“It looks like he knew nothing and simply answered.”

“S-Sister Moran, I knew all of that before answering.”

As Mount Song drew closer, pursuers appeared behind us.

“It is the Twelve Peaks Fortress.”

“They even came on horseback. Just as you predicted, Young Master Jin, they intend to settle this in a short battle.”

“Should we increase our speed?”

I shook my head.

“There is no need. They will not approach us until we enter Shaoshi Peak.”

Even if their numbers were small, the Five Great Families were still the Five Great Families.

The pursuers would worry that if they fought us prematurely and suffered losses, the other wolves would tear them apart.

Their best choice was to wait until we entered Shaoshi Peak.

“Let us go.”

When the road split between a wide, level route and a steep, narrow one, we entered the steep path without hesitation.

The group from the Twelve Peaks Fortress pursuing us immediately slowed.

“Young Master Jin! They stopped.”

“From this point onward, we increase our speed.”

“What? The carriages will not be able to keep up.”

“We leave the carriages here. We will cross Taishi Peak directly and strike the Bifung Sect and Ghost Bow Sect from behind.”

No matter how much I considered it, I had no idea when I would encounter Cheol Sunjik again.

Since I had met him this time, I wanted to strike him across the face at least once before leaving.