Chapter 424

It was a procession of over twenty carts moving all at once. Moreover, the carts were piled high with goods like mountains.

Naturally, their pace of travel was bound to be slow. The Great Pearl Trading Company moved along a large lake.

The lake was named Erhai Lake.

The lake, long and narrow from north to south, was shallow and rich in fish, making it a precious source of food for the people of the area.

Pyo Wol’s gaze turned to the opposite side of Erhai Lake. A tall mountain came into view.

Even at a glance, he could feel an extraordinary Qi from it.

Pyo Wol looked around.

Just then, he saw Jin Gwan-hak.

“Hey, what’s the name of that mountain?”

“You mean Mount Diancang?”

“Is that mountain Mount Diancang?”

“That’s right! It’s the famed mountain where the Diancang Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects, used to be.”

Jin Gwan-hak answered sincerely, without showing any annoyance.

“Judging by the past tense, I suppose the Diancang Sect is no longer there?”

“You don’t know anything, do you? The Diancang Sect was annihilated a very long time ago.”

“Is that so?”

“Do you know of the Divine Demon Association?”

“I do.”

“Then it will be easier to understand. The Demonic Cult, which was originally in the Jianghu, was defeated in a great battle and fled to Yunnan Province. They established a base deep in that forest and ruled the area.”

“Then the Divine Demon Association must have annihilated the Diancang Sect. To settle in Yunnan Province, they would have had to get rid of the original powerhouse first.”

“Exactly. The Diancang Sect was crushed by the Divine Demon Association like that. Without receiving help from any other sect in the Jianghu. The pride of the Yunnan people was shattered then, too. To others, it might have been just one of the Nine Great Sects, but to the people here, the Diancang Sect was their pride and their spiritual pillar.”

Now, the name of the Nine Great Sects itself had become a mere formality, but back then, their prestige pierced the heavens.

The difference between having one of the Nine Great Sects and not was as vast as the distance between heaven and earth.

When the Diancang Sect fell, the people of Yunnan felt a shock as if the sky had fallen.

“Now that we have the Demon Sword Manor, it’s a small comfort, but I hear the generation that experienced the fall of the Diancang Sect experienced true despair.”

“So now a sect called Demon Sword Manor has settled on Mount Diancang?”

“The Demon Sword Manor is a manor founded by the Great Hero Seo Jong-myung, the Heartless Demon Sword, who was active during the Great Demonic War.”

Seo Jong-myung was the last disciple to carry on the lineage of the Diancang Sect.

He played a major role in helping Lee Gwak bring down the Divine Demon Association.

After the Divine Demon Association fell, he returned to the old site of the Diancang Sect and established a manor. That manor was the Demon Sword Manor.

The Demon Sword Manor became the new hegemon of Yunnan Province. But it was true that it fell far short of the old Diancang Sect.

This was because Seo Jong-myung, who founded the Demon Sword Manor, had little interest in expanding his power. It was thanks to his resourceful son, Seo Mun, that the manor expanded its influence to what it is today.

“So one could see the Demon Sword Manor as the successor to the Diancang Sect.”

“Everyone who lives in Yunnan Province thinks so. Did you know? The leader of the Great Pearl Trading Company also learned his martial arts at the Demon Sword Manor.”

“Is that so?”

“And is it just the Great Pearl Trading Company? You can assume that anyone who wields a bit of power in Dali and Kunming learned their martial arts at the Demon Sword Manor.”

“And you?”

“How could someone of my station dare to learn martial arts at the Demon Sword Manor? I just learned at a local martial arts academy.”

“For that, your foundation seems quite solid.”

“Hah! You can see that? Anyway, thank you for thinking so highly of me. Anything else you’re curious about?”

“No.”

“Alright. Call me again if you have any questions.”

Jin Gwan-hak returned to his spot.

“Demon Sword Manor… So one of the Three Manors was here.”

The New Moon Manor, the Righteous Sword Manor, and the Demon Sword Manor were collectively called the Three Manors.

He had already experienced the Righteous Sword Manor, and he had heard an explanation of the Demon Sword Manor from Jin Gwan-hak. All that was left was the New Moon Manor.

Unlike the other two manors, almost nothing was known about the New Moon Manor. It was only known to be one of the Three Manors; not many people knew how it came to stand shoulder to shoulder with the other two.

“I’ll probably run into the New Moon Manor someday.”

As long as he did not leave the Jianghu, he was bound to meet them eventually.

He felt there was no need to worry about it already when they hadn’t even formally met.

Pyo Wol closed his eyes and entrusted his body to the swaying of the cart.

When he opened his eyes again, nearly half a day had passed.

“We’ll rest here for the night. Everyone, prepare to camp.”

The voice of the Head Escort, Ji Mu-hyung, rang out thunderously.

Pyo Wol and Do Yeon-san got off the cart and prepared to camp.

“Check the waterproof tarps again, and light the bonfires first.”

“Yes!”

The workers began to move in perfect order.

While they prepared to camp, the escorts and temporary escorts inspected the carts and luggage.

Pyo Wol also double-checked that the cart he was in charge of had no issues.

Dinner was a simple meal of dry rations.

The merchants and escorts sat in their respective spots and ate their rations.

Just then, Jin Gwan-hak shook a liquor bottle at Pyo Wol and said.

“Care for a drink?”

“I’m fine.”

“Why? One sip will warm your whole body. It’ll be nice.”

“I don’t drink.”

“What a pity, to be unable to feel one of life’s greatest pleasures.”

At Pyo Wol’s refusal, Jin Gwan-hak wore a genuinely regretful expression.

A man next to Jin Gwan-hak snatched the liquor bottle and said,

“Don’t offer it to someone who says he won’t drink. Just give it to me.”

“Savor it. I don’t want to spend the long night without any liquor.”

“I know, I know.”

The man who took the bottle drank exactly one mouthful before returning it.

Jin Gwan-hak peeked into the bottle with one eye, checking the remaining amount. The man who had drunk the liquor clicked his tongue at him.

“You stingy bastard…”

“If I’m stingy, then don’t drink it.”

“Hey! No, I didn’t mean it. Stingy, my ass… This damn mouth of mine just runs on its own.”

The man playfully slapped his own mouth.

At his comical gesture, Jin Gwan-hak burst out laughing.

It would take at least another fortnight to reach Chengdu in Sichuan Province.

The journey was already arduous; traveling with people one didn’t get along with would only make it harder. It was a relief that there seemed to be no difficult people among the temporary escorts.

The one he had been most worried about was Pyo Wol.

Because his face was so pretty and he was so taciturn, he had been concerned that Pyo Wol might have a prickly personality.

Fortunately, though he was quiet, his personality didn’t seem peculiar.

His lack of words was a little concerning, but it was tolerable.

It was then.

Dududu!

Suddenly, a strong vibration was felt from beneath their feet.

It was a vibration so strong that even the workers who had not learned martial arts could feel it.

Head Escort Ji Mu-hyung shot to his feet and shouted.

“The sound of horse hooves. Everyone, on your guard.”

“Yes!”

The escorts drew their weapons, and the merchants and workers hid behind them.

A moment later, people on horseback emerged through the darkness. There were five of them in total, and the aura each of them exuded was anything but ordinary.

Ji Mu-hyung shouted.

“The Great Pearl Trading Company is camped here for the night. Halt and identify yourselves.”

“Did you just say the Great Pearl Trading Company?”

One of the riders asked, his face lighting up.

“We did, but…”

“We are martial artists from the Demon Sword Manor.”

“Demon Sword Manor?”

Ji Mu-hyung’s eyes widened.

If they were truly martial artists from the Demon Sword Manor, then they were not strangers.

Since the leader of the Great Pearl Trading Company had trained at the Demon Sword Manor, they could be considered fellow disciples.

Just then, a young martial artist from among the Demon Sword Manor group came forward.

He offered a respectful fist-palm salute and introduced himself.

“I am Seo Gun-hwi, the Young Master of the Demon Sword Manor.”

“Young Master? I am Ji Mu-hyung, the Head Escort of the Great Pearl Trading Company.”

“Ah, so you are Great Hero Ji. It is a pleasure to meet you like this.”

“But what brings the Young Master here in the middle of the night?”

“It is embarrassing, but could we impose on you for one night? We left the Demon Sword Manor on urgent business but failed to prepare for camping…”

“You are more than welcome to stay. It’s a matter concerning the Demon Sword Manor, of all places. Of course, we must help.”

“Thank you!”

“Everyone, please come this way.”

Ji Mu-hyung led Seo Gun-hwi and his party toward the bonfire where he had been sitting.

Seo Gun-hwi and his party tied their horses to a nearby tree and gathered around the bonfire.

The firelight cast a red glow on their faces.

Seo Gun-hwi, the Young Master of the Demon Sword Manor, was a handsome man in his mid-to-late twenties.

However, his sharp gaze and tightly pressed lips made him look incredibly stubborn.

Next to Seo Gun-hwi sat a girl with a similar impression. It was his younger sister, Seo Yul-hee.

Ji Mu-hyung asked cautiously.

“Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.”

“Oh dear. Would you like some dry rations?”

“Thank you. I will not forget this kindness.”

“Goodness! Kindness? Don’t mention it.”

Ji Mu-hyung waved his hands dismissively.

It was humbling for him to even mention kindness for something so trivial.

He ordered his subordinates to bring some dry rations.

Seo Gun-hwi’s party chewed thoroughly on the rations Ji Mu-hyung handed them.

While the others all ate well, only the girl, Seo Yul-hee, frowned and picked at her food.

“I can’t eat this.”

In the end, Seo Yul-hee couldn’t finish her rations and put them down.

At that, Seo Gun-hwi frowned and said,

“This is precious food. You should finish it, if only out of respect for Great Hero Ji’s sincerity.”

“But what can I do if I can’t get it down?”

“Yul-hee!”

“I’m sorry. I really can’t eat it.”

“Do as you please. But just remember this. This is all the food we have to eat today. If you don’t eat this, you will have to spend the whole night starving.”

Seo Gun-hwi did not indulge Seo Yul-hee’s whining.

At that, Seo Yul-hee’s lips jutted out in a pout.

It would be nice if he could show some flexibility at times like this, but her rigid oppa applied his principles even to his own flesh and blood.

She felt a surge of sorrow for no reason.

“I just won’t eat, then.”

“Fine.”

Seo Gun-hwi took the rations away from Seo Yul-hee altogether.

His trusted subordinate, Cha Yun-pyeong, who had been watching from the side, said cautiously,

“Young Master! Isn’t it too strict a standard to apply to Miss, who is still young?”

“It has nothing to do with age. It is a matter of principle.”

“Still, Young Master…”

“That’s enough, Captain Cha!”

“Yes!”

Cha Yun-pyeong fell silent.

Once Seo Gun-hwi made a decision, he was a man who never went back on his word.

He was more righteous than anyone, and his principles were firm.

He did not tolerate any act that deviated from his principles. Not even from his own flesh and blood.

Seo Gun-hwi said to Seo Yul-hee,

“This is why I told you not to follow me. That it would be arduous. That it would be no joke. And yet, you insisted on coming along. Boasting that you wouldn’t be a nuisance, that you wouldn’t be a burden. But what is this state you’re in now? You should be grateful for even dry rations, yet you’re complaining about the food? And you can still call yourself a daughter of a martial family?”

As if stabbing her heart with a flying dagger, Seo Gun-hwi’s words were relentlessly sharp. Under Seo Gun-hwi’s merciless attack, teardrops welled up in Seo Yul-hee’s eyes.

“Sob!”

In the end, Seo Yul-hee shed tears and left her spot.

“Young Master!”

“Stay put. And do not comfort her.”

“But…”

“That is an order.”

“Understood.”

Cha Yun-pyeong, who had been about to follow Seo Yul-hee, sat back down.

Caught in the middle, Ji Mu-hyung cautiously tried to read Seo Gun-hwi’s expression. But looking at Seo Gun-hwi’s tightly shut face, he didn’t dare to open his mouth.

Seo Gun-hwi brought a handful of rations to his mouth and said,

“Yul-hee needs to learn more about the ways of the world. Protecting her and coddling her is not for her own good. So do not, under any circumstances, look after her.”

“Yes!”

“Understood.”

Cha Yun-pyeong and Ji Mu-hyung answered at the same time.

Ji Mu-hyung answered even though he was not Seo Gun-hwi’s subordinate. He had been swept up by Seo Gun-hwi’s atmosphere and presence.

‘The Young Master of the Demon Sword Manor, he’s truly incredible.’

While Ji Mu-hyung was impressed by Seo Gun-hwi, he couldn’t shake his worry for Seo Yul-hee.

His gaze followed Seo Yul-hee’s retreating back.

Fortunately, Seo Yul-hee did not leave the campsite but sat down at a distant bonfire.

It was where the temporarily hired escorts were gathered.