Chapter 65
The Unorthodox Faction did not have an Alliance like the Murim Alliance, but there were many Unorthodox Faction martial artists in the world.
There were many individuals, from petty Green Forest bandits, to street hoodlum Demonic Path gangs, and even to assassins who made a living out of killing.
From the time he first stepped into the Jianghu until he ascended to the position of Family Head, Yu Haseong would occasionally set out on chivalrous journeys to kill.
He felt many things as he cut down Unorthodox Faction martial artists.
They did not hesitate to swing their swords to steal the wealth of others; they did not keep their promises and frequently stabbed people in the back; and they knew nothing of chivalry and righteousness.
Impurities.
Yes, impurities.
Yu Haseong merely saw the Unorthodox Faction as an impurity that could not blend into society, as a social evil.
But…
“What, you were the owner of the Mountain Path? Weren’t you an Attendant?”
“Haha… No wonder your skill at slashing prices was so extraordinary…”
“More importantly, when on earth is the path opening again? The people waiting right now are lined up all the way to Luoyang!”
…What is the meaning of the sights before him right now?
As soon as he opened the door, what Yu Haseong saw was a swarming crowd of Merchants.
Seeing them gathered so suddenly, he naturally couldn’t help but be flustered, but…
“Haha, the path will open again soon.”
…He couldn’t help but be even more surprised to see them approach Muyeon like puppies looking for their mother.
“Soon when? I have to get to Yunnan quickly, so…”
“Have you finished repairing the pavilions? Do you need any help by chance?”
To all Common People, Unorthodox Faction martial artists were beings of terror, but to Merchants, the terror of the Green Forest went without saying.
The Green Forest directly affected the Merchants' livelihoods.
And yet, the Merchants' current appearance was…
Weren’t they as affectionate as if they were meeting neighbors, relatives, or family?
Of course, he knew through the spy’s information that the Merchants were extremely satisfied with using the Mountain Path… but seeing it in person was even more striking.
At this, Yu Haseong couldn’t help but fall deep into thought.
* * *
It had been quite a while since we closed the Mountain Path following the recent Dokgoyeong Tragedy, and the Merchants who used the path every day inevitably suffered inconvenience.
If we didn’t open the path, they would have to take the old, rugged, and winding road, but they couldn’t possibly do that, having grown accustomed to the comfortable path.
In the end, the Merchants had no choice but to stay nearby and wait until the path opened.
Upon hearing this fact, I made a plan to gather them. They would serve as witnesses to how well our Green Forest had operated.
“I want to eat your Wild Boar Meat for the first time in a while.”
“Haha, I live for the taste of spending money at your pavilions, so I’ve been sad that I haven’t been able to do that lately.”
Chatter, chatter.
I had entrusted the task of calling the Merchants to the Youngest, but it seemed the Youngest had done it far too well. Even I was flustered by the number of Merchants who had flocked to the inn serving as the Meeting Place.
Of course…
‘He’s completely lost his mind.’
…The one who seemed the most surprised at this sight was Yu Haseong, though.
He didn’t know how to close his gaping mouth after seeing the harmonious, family-like appearance of the Merchants and me.
Honestly, I didn’t know the Merchants would welcome me this much either.
If I had known these people were this loyal, I would have ripped them off a little less…
“Haha, everyone, quiet down a bit. They haven’t even said exactly when the path will open yet.”
“Yeah, let’s listen. When on earth is the path opening again? Tell us the date!”
The Merchants were anxious, and Yu Haseong’s Aura was dampened by his flustered state.
Yes, now was the chance, the chance I wanted.
“Haha, the path will open again now. The maintenance is complete, and the pavilions have finished their repairs. However, there is a slight problem…”
“A problem? What problem?”
At the Merchants' urging, I pointed at the blankly standing Yu Haseong and continued speaking.
“We just need to open it, but that side keeps blocking us from opening it.”
He! He did it!
When I tattled to the Merchants that Yu Haseong had done it, their angry glares turned toward him.
“Who dares-!”
“The Mountain Path is the treasure of our Hunan Province!”
“Who is it? Let’s see that face of yours!”
The Merchants rolled up their sleeves and approached Yu Haseong, looking like older brothers trying to avenge a Younger Sibling who had come back beaten.
However…
“Do you know how hard it is for us without the Mountain Path?”
“Hey! Who do you think you are to block the Mountain Path…!”
“…Everyone, stop - ! This person is the Righteous Sword Knight-errant Great Hero of the Shanxi Yu Family - !”
“…”
“…”
…As soon as the Beggar's Sect Branch Master, who couldn’t bear to watch any longer, stepped forward and said a word, they immediately backed off.
The moment the words Shanxi Yu Family came out, they stopped their actions, bowed their heads, and became silent as if dead.
‘These quick-calculating bastards who are Strong against the weak, weak against the strong.’
Honestly, this was only natural.
What fearless Merchant would dare to attack a Martial Artist? And he was the Family Head of a Noble Family ranked within the top ten at that.
“A-Ah, how could the Family Head of the Shanxi Yu Family be in this distant place…”
“H-He must have come as the Representative of the Murim Alliance…”
“L-Let’s quickly bow our heads and leave so we don’t get on his bad side for nothing…!”
Common People feared Unorthodox Faction martial artists. But they similarly feared and avoided Righteous Faction martial artists.
Because they didn’t know what would happen if they got wrongly involved with them.
Yu Haseong, perhaps unaware of this, made a surprised expression at the sight of the Merchants fearing him more than they feared me.
But that wasn’t the end of it.
“…But why do we have to bow?”
Even minnows would raise their shoulders when gathered in large numbers. And the quick-witted Merchants knew that, unlike Unorthodox Faction members who didn’t care about the consequences, Righteous Faction members couldn’t easily lay a hand on them.
“I heard this incident was caused by the Murim Alliance Enforcement Unit? The ones who suffered damage are the Green Forest and us, so why do we have to bow like this?”
Starting as someone’s small mutter, the sound of the Merchants' voices began to grow like crashing waves.
“T-That’s right-! The Murim Alliance is the one at fault, isn’t it?”
“Do you know how much damage I suffered this time because the Mountain Path was blocked!”
“What did the Green Forest do wrong for the Murim Alliance to act like that!”
“The Murim Alliance never even had any interest in Hunan in the first place, did it?”
“They didn’t normally even pay attention, but now that the Mountain Path is making money, they’re trying to swallow it in one gulp.”
Among them, there was also this voice.
“My brother died at the hands of the Murim Alliance Extermination Squad this time! My brother wasn’t even a Martial Artist! What was the reason he had to die?! The Murim Alliance must explain!”
It wasn’t simply a complaint or grievance, but a voice genuinely engulfed in anger.
It spread like wildfire and soon became something massive, as if it would swallow Yu Haseong whole.
I carefully observed the expression of Yu Haseong, who witnessed this right in front of him.
There was no fear.
However, … an expression that couldn’t be easily described was etched on his face.
Riding this momentum, I spoke to him, who looked conflicted.
“Great Hero! The public sentiment is like this, but are your thoughts still the same?”
“…”
Yu Haseong didn’t answer my words, and after taking a brief pause, he stood up from his seat.
And… instead of approaching me, he directed his steps toward the front of the angry Merchants.
“Wait a moment… General Stronghold Master, please wait. I have something to say to these people.”
“As you wish.”
When I nodded, Yu Haseong nodded back and then turned his gaze toward the Merchants.
As he stood in front of them, the Merchants once again became dead quiet, and soon Yu Haseong’s mouth slowly opened.
* * *
“Now, everyone, please check the document one more time. And please stamp your thumbprints below.”
Press.
As soon as I heard Munseok’s words, I immediately stamped my thumbprint below. This document currently contains the statement that the Murim Alliance acknowledged the Green Forest’s territory.
Although various restrictions were attached… Hunan Province officially came under the influence of our Green Forest.
“…”
Yu Haseong, who looked a bit like his soul had left him, also skimmed the document lightly again.
Ah, for reference, the Merchants who had come here had all retreated again. When I ordered the Youngest to open the path again, the Merchants who heard that left to use the Mountain Path once more.
Press - .
Finally, Yu Haseong also stamped his thumbprint on the document. And seeing that, Munseok declared in a slightly high-pitched voice.
“With this, I declare that the agreement between the Hunan Green Forest Twenty Strongholds and the Murim Alliance has been concluded.”
It was an atmosphere where we should have clapped, but no one did so. Instead, Yu Haseong merely offered me this suggestion.
“Would you like to have a chat with me, just the two of us?”
“Sure.”
Since there seemed to be no more hostility in his eyes, I accepted his proposal. I walked along the quiet street together with him.
After we were alone, he immediately spoke to me.
“I didn’t expect to meet you like this… As you said, I had heard a lot about you from my daughter and son.”
“…I doubt they were good stories.”
They said he distinguished well between public and private matters, and indeed, as soon as the Murim Alliance’s business was over, he brought up his family’s matters.
Anyway, I wondered if this person was going to say something again about handing over the Shanxi Yu Family’s secret manuals and elixirs.
Thinking that would be troublesome, I struck first.
“I apologize for what happened before. It was something I did because I was blinded by money, so please generously forgive me. I have already delivered the locations of the Shanxi Yu Family’s secret manuals and elixirs to Young Lady Yu.”
“…”
At my words, he smiled faintly and continued speaking.
“Of course, recovering the secret manuals and elixirs is important, but that wasn’t what I was going to say.”
“Then what?”
“Thank you so much for saving the Shanxi Yu Family, Somyung, and Jinmyeong previously.”
Saying so, he bowed his head deeply. At this, I couldn’t help but be flustered.
The appearance he was showing now was distinctly different from his stubborn old man image from earlier.
“And… I apologize for showing a very ugly and narrow-minded side of myself this time.”
“…It wasn’t that ugly.”
Just a moment ago.
Yu Haseong deeply bowed his head to the Merchants, just as he is doing to me now.
And then he apologized for the incident the Murim Alliance had caused this time and promised compensation to the victims.
It was a rare occurrence for a Martial Artist, especially one with a high position, to understand one’s own faults and even bow one’s head in apology like this, so everyone couldn’t help but be flustered.
In that way, Yu Haseong appeased the Merchants' anger and then concluded the agreement with me.
“I was so foolish that it was only after seeing them that I realized that I, the Murim Alliance, was sitting in that seat with the Status of a Sinner.”
His expression looked truly bitter as he said that.
“I also learned that in reality, many Common People want the Green Forest that helps them from up close rather than the Murim Alliance that is far away.”
Hearing those words, I realized why this person’s moniker was the Righteous Sword Knight-errant.
If he had only looked at the Murim Alliance’s benefits, this person would never have agreed to this agreement. But he set aside the Murim Alliance’s benefits and considered the public sentiment and the benefits of the Common People.
Furthermore… even if it was late, he acknowledged the Murim Alliance’s faults and showed an attitude of fully apologizing.
“Won’t you get scolded by the Murim Alliance Leader?”
“Don’t worry. The Murim Alliance Leader said he would leave the choice entirely up to me, so even if he has complaints about my decision, there’s nothing he can do. And that person also knows shame, so it will be fine.”
“You are a more broad-minded person than I thought.”
“Is that so, haha.”
After we each let out a laugh, an awkward atmosphere continued again. At this, I threw out a word to lighten the mood.
“By the way, I don’t think I saw the Madam when I went to the Shanxi Yu Family before. Where did she go?”
“She died 15 years ago.”
“Ah.”
But this question was a landmine.
“How did it happen…”
“She was attacked by Unorthodox Faction martial artists while on her way to her maiden home.”
“Ah.”
It was a truly devastating blow.
When I became flustered at this, he patted my shoulder as if to say it was okay.
“It’s fine. Thanks to you, I was able to open my eyes to a new perspective through this incident. Not all Unorthodox Factions are the same, after all…”
His eyes were quite wistful as he looked into the empty air while saying so. I thought that perhaps he might be thinking of his dead wife.
“…I was too narrow-minded because I was tied to the past. I apologize once again.”
“…That can happen.”
It wasn’t an atmosphere to strike up any more conversation, so we just walked a lap around the neighborhood in silence. Eventually, only after we returned to the first inn did I ask him.
“Are you heading back now?”
“My work is all done, so I should head back now.”
Yu Haseong.
He was a person who thought of the Common People’s benefits before his own or the Murim Alliance’s benefits. At first, he seemed like a stubborn old man, but we were able to communicate to some extent. It wasn’t a bad meeting…
“Before that, I’d like to see my daughter’s face once.”
“Pardon?”
…Or so it almost was.
“Somyung-i sent a letter before, saying she came to Hunan Province to meet you. Isn’t she with you?”
“…”
That was true, but…
The day that seemed like it would end safely and well suddenly became an emergency.
I panicked and immediately resorted to Improvisation, but…
“Ah, but the thing is, Young Lady Yu went back again, so…”
“Hmm? The Shanxi Yu Family’s Cultivation Method is unique, so its energy can be felt well. I can feel my daughter’s energy nearby right now… Am I wrong?”
Fuck.
I immediately recalled what state Yoo Somyung was in. No matter how I thought about it, she wasn’t in a good state.
“My daughter is over there. Let’s go.”
“…”
In the meantime, Yu Haseong noticed his daughter’s energy and walked, pointing with his hand.
‘No, fuck. It’s not like he has a GPS, so how on earth does he know?’
It didn’t make sense with my common sense about Martial Arts, but he said he could notice his daughter’s energy.
In reality, Yu Haseong was seeking out Yoo Somyung through a fairly accurate route.
“I was worried at first, but seeing you, I think Somyung-i must have learned a lot too. I’m really curious how much my daughter has grown since I last saw her, but why are we going to such a secluded place?”
Passing through winding back alleys to meet Yoo Somyung, Yu Haseong expressed his doubts.
“Young Lady Yu set up her Quarters in a secluded corner, so…”
“Somyung-i did…?”
Step - .
“…”
“…”
In the meantime, Yu Haseong’s footsteps stopped. The place where his footsteps stopped was an Abandoned Warehouse that looked like it was no longer in use.
“…It’s here?”
“…”
I’m fucked.
Now, the only way was for Somyung-i to persuade her father well.
“Great Hero. From now on, you must not misunderstand and must believe my words. The truth is…”
“…Step aside.”
Thud.
I tried to block him, but because Yu Haseong pushed me away, even putting internal energy into his shoulder, there was nothing I could do.
Soon after the door opened, he saw what was inside.
“Somyung!”
…Yoo Somyung was lying on the floor, her entire body bound, with a gag in her mouth.
Yu Haseong was greatly surprised and removed Yoo Somyung’s gag first. Yoo Somyung, who had been lying powerlessly, opened her eyes at the commotion and…
“Daaaaad…”
…burst into tears.
“W-Who dared to put you in this state… Tell me right now, who is it!”
“…”
“Don’t look behind you, look into your father’s eyes and speak. Who is it? This father will tear that person to death for you. Oh my, stop looking behind you and spea -, huh?”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“Young Lady Yu, why are you looking at me? You’re making your Esteemed Father misunderstand. Haha.”
I tried to slyly gloss over it, but…
Swoosh - .
…It seemed it was already too late.
…Yu Haseong’s empty eyes gradually began to fill with an unbearable Killing Intent.
‘…Should I run away?’
I intended to do so, but it seemed that was already too late as well.