Chapter 138
The day after the White Wolf Unit decided to head to Hunan in response to the Demonic Alliance's invitation.
Yeo Un-hwi quickly summoned Jin So-baek.
As there was still some time left until their scheduled regular meeting, Jin So-baek couldn't help but wonder about Yeo Un-hwi's sudden call.
What urgent matter could it be?
Judging by his expression, it seemed he hadn't yet heard about what had happened at the Peng Family.
Looking at Jin So-baek, Yeo Un-hwi clicked his tongue.
*My goodness, I rushed here because he called urgently, and he clicks his tongue right to my face!*
*If he weren't such a precious, irreplaceable client, I would...!*
*Ah, no.*
*What am I thinking about someone who has beaten down the renowned masters in the world!*
"So, what's the matter?" Jin So-baek asked.
After clicking his tongue once more, Yeo Un-hwi finally spoke.
Jin So-baek's head tilted sharply to the side.
"What? You're going to the Demonic Alliance? Suddenly?"
"Well, that's how it turned out."
There's a limit to how out of the blue something can be. And of all places, the Demonic Alliance.
He wondered if perhaps Yeo Un-hwi had misspoken and meant the Murim Alliance.
Yeo Un-hwi could fully understand Jin So-baek's reaction.
So without further ado, he told him everything that had happened recently.
Jin So-baek's mouth fell open.
"Whaaat?"
"You lose your hearing?"
"Ah, no. So you're saying that out of nowhere, the Soul Annihilation Unit, the Demonic Alliance's elite force, came and delivered an invitation? And it was an invitation from the Black Emperor, the leader of the Demonic Alliance?"
"That's what I'm saying."
"And they brought the Black Killing Sword, the Black Emperor's Divine Weapon, as a token of trust?"
Yeo Un-hwi wondered why he was repeating every detail of what he'd just been told.
He briefly wondered if this was a characteristic of information organizations, or if it was just his personality.
But Jin So-baek still looked utterly disbelieving.
"You expect me to believe that?"
"Why would I bother lying about something like that?"
"That's true. Hah, well."
If that was the case, then everything Yeo Un-hwi had just said must be true.
Honestly, Jin So-baek had reached a point where he would believe Yeo Un-hwi even if he said he could make tofu out of red beans.
But even so, his reaction was like this because the story that had flowed from Yeo Un-hwi's mouth was that shocking.
He was simply amazed at what kind of fate this man must have been born with for such unbelievable things to keep happening around him.
Looking at Jin So-baek, Yeo Un-hwi let out a hollow laugh.
"Sometimes you seem incredibly capable, but at times like this..."
Seeing Yeo Un-hwi trail off as if worried he was saying too much, Jin So-baek bristled and demanded,
"At times like this, what?"
"Ahem. Nothing."
"No, you might as well just curse at me outright. Why leave me hanging like this?"
"It's really nothing."
"That can't be true. Your expression was clearly conveying some insult."
"It was just a fleeting thought, try to understand. I felt bad saying those harsh words to you directly."
"That's what we usually call honesty. You're going to insult me after all."
As Jin So-baek narrowed his eyes, Yeo Un-hwi cleared his throat and tried to change the subject.
"Ahem... Anyway."
Strangely, whenever Yeo Un-hwi talked with Jin So-baek, he found himself becoming mischievous without realizing it.
It was the same with the White Wolf Unit.
Yeo Un-hwi was starting to realize for the first time that he had a habit of wanting to tease people he liked.
After finishing the banter, Yeo Un-hwi quickly asked him to look into a few things.
Jin So-baek nodded.
Although Yeo Un-hwi said he was heading to the Demonic Alliance tomorrow, finding out and relaying the information he requested wasn't actually that difficult.
The Hao Sect existed throughout the Central Plains, after all.
That was the true terror and power of the Hao Sect.
And finally,
"It's unlikely, but if anything happens to the Peng Family, let me know faster than anyone else."
Jin So-baek nodded at Yeo Un-hwi's request.
"Then please return safely without any trouble, dear client."
It was truly a farewell befitting him.
"Everyone, have a safe trip."
The day had finally come for the White Wolf Unit to head to the Demonic Alliance along with the Soul Annihilation Unit.
Peng Mugang spoke calmly among those who had come to see them off.
The entire White Wolf Unit responded with a resounding "Yes!"
But for some reason, Peng Mugang kept glancing nervously at Dan Hee-young.
He had been constantly nagged by Dan Hee-young, who complained that after all her protests against making their son-in-law the commander of the White Wolf Unit, now he was being put through all sorts of hardships.
Next to Dan Hee-young stood Peng Seo-yeon, her face also showing signs of unease.
Her lips were especially pursed whenever she glanced at Peng Mugang.
Ahem.
Of course, Peng Mugang couldn't help but notice that gaze, but he had done something wrong, so he couldn't say anything back.
"Daddy. When will you come back?"
"Well, Daddy will be back soon if Yul-i studies hard at Sowol Academy and listens well to Mommy."
For some reason, Yeo Un-hwi found it difficult to say that it would take a long time.
If he were going alone, it would be a different story, but there were too many people going with him.
"Mmm. I'll miss you."
"Daddy will miss you too."
Yeo Un-hwi found Yul-i's words strangely both heartwarming and painful.
"Then, Daddy will be going now, okay?"
"Okay! Have a safe trip!"
Everyone couldn't help but smile at the sight of Yul-i bowing politely and waving her small hand.
Then Peng Seo-jin and Elder Gu Wang-pyo as well.
And so, after saying their goodbyes, Yeo Un-hwi and the White Wolf Unit set off towards the Demonic Alliance along with the Soul Annihilation Unit, accompanied by the Peng Family's send-off.
Even at that moment, the members of the White Wolf Unit were still in a daze.
They hadn't expected such a sudden turn of events.
No, who could have predicted this?
Two days had passed since their departure, and Gi-su and Gi-sang among the White Wolf Unit members began sighing heavily and grumbling as much as they could.
The more they thought about it, the more absurd it seemed.
"I mean, if they're grateful for us killing the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon, they could have just sent a gift or come themselves. Why make us go all the way there?"
"Yeah, such a long distance too."
"Hey, hey. Can't you keep quiet?"
"Tch. Why does Sister Do-gyeong always scold us?"
"Because you should grumble while considering the time and place, you idiots."
But the Soul Annihilation Unit had already heard those words as well.
As one of them approached, Gi-su and Gi-sang suddenly tensed up.
It seemed a conflict could break out at any moment.
But then,
"I understand completely."
"Huh?"
Unexpectedly, those words flowed from his mouth.
"It's understandable to be annoyed when you're suddenly forced to make such a long journey. But please try to understand our position as well."
"Ah, yes."
Even Gi-su and Gi-sang nodded politely at his excessively courteous words.
At this point, it was hard to tell who was from the Demonic Faction and who was from the Orthodox Faction.
Seeing the twins scratching their heads with blank expressions, Do-gyeong burst out laughing.
But not everyone disliked this journey.
Among them, Peng Do-hwan was quite excited.
He was the only one among them who hadn't been present when they killed the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon.
But after seeing part of Yeo Un-hwi's true identity later on, he had decided to follow him and joined the White Wolf Unit.
For someone like him, this journey was, well...
It made him feel that his choice had not been wrong.
Of course, he wasn't childishly caught up in the excitement of simply traveling.
He wanted to live an uncommon life that made his heart race as a martial artist, rather than a predictable and boring one.
O Chae-mu and Gu Tae-san wore similar expressions.
Certainly, this journey was a unique one that no one had experienced before.
But still, they were heading to the Demonic Alliance, which was essentially enemy territory.
Although the Black Emperor had shown his sincerity by offering his Divine Weapon, the Black Killing Sword, it was natural to feel tense.
But they showed no such tension at all.
Why was that?
As always, their gazes were fixed on the back of one man, Yeo Un-hwi.
They trusted the White Wolf Unit's commander, Yeo Un-hwi, more than anyone else.
They had an almost childlike belief that with him, they need not fear anyone.
Could Yeo Un-hwi handle the Twelve Venerables?
They had long since stopped making such comparisons.
The only thing clear was that with Yeo Un-hwi, they feared nothing in the world.
That was enough.
“How fascinating.”
The Soul Annihilation Unit, especially their commander Jo Il-ha, couldn't help but notice the White Wolf Unit's demeanor.
Although the White Wolf Unit had recently made a name for themselves by killing the Extreme Evil Laughing Demon, the Soul Annihilation Unit had long been renowned throughout the entire martial world as a top-tier combat force.
Yet even to the eyes of Jo Il-ha, the commander of the Soul Annihilation Unit, the level of each member of the White Wolf Unit was extraordinary.
'They're strong, these guys.'
He could sense it.
The feeling that even if the Soul Annihilation Unit were to seriously fight them, they couldn't easily guarantee victory.
Anyone who heard this would think it nonsense.
According to public opinion, the White Wolf Unit was far below the Soul Annihilation Unit.
There was clearly a huge gap between the two combat units that made comparison embarrassing.
Jo Il-ha had also believed that assessment wasn't wrong.
But his thoughts had changed.
He felt that assessment might need to be reevaluated.
And above all, what was most intriguing was,
“That guy, what exactly is he?”
Jo Il-ha's gaze turned to Yeo Un-hwi.
After spending several days together, he had come to know for certain.
That this man was the center of the White Wolf Unit and the one everyone relied on.
Yet he couldn't read anything from this man.
As he had learned beforehand, it was clear that he had never trained in martial arts at all.
It was said he had just started learning martial arts, and it was the same to Jo Il-ha's eyes.
It was fascinating how the current White Wolf Unit so sincerely followed and relied on such a person.
“Is there something more that I don”t know?'
But for now, there was nothing he could discern.
The journey from Hebei to Hunan was long and arduous.
Surprisingly, nothing of note happened during that time.
Astonishingly so.
They didn't even see the usual(?) bandits or people picking fights for no reason.
"That's strange. I thought there were always bandits around here, but why don't we see any?"
In response to Gi-su and Gi-sang's puzzled muttering, one of the Soul Annihilation Unit members passing by said,
"Ah, we took care of all that on our way to the Peng Family."
"What?"
The usually stoic Soul Annihilation Unit members smiled and said,
"We dealt with them a bit cruelly so that even other groups wouldn't think of coming here again."
Just how merciless must they have been for even other groups to not consider entering?
Well, if that's fortunate, then it's fortunate?
Anyway, after quite a long time, the White Wolf Unit finally arrived at their destination along with the Soul Annihilation Unit.
"Wow."
A city so beautiful at first glance that it naturally drew exclamations.
Yueyang, Hunan.
This was where the Demonic Alliance was located.