Chapter 863
“You filthy Evil Sect!”
A huge street with passers-by coming and going. In the middle of it all, people armed with frightening weapons fought and faced off, snarling at each other.
Chaeng! Chaeng!
Weapons clashed and blood was splattered all around in an instant.
“Aigoo! What on Earth is happening!”
“Hiik!”
Commoners panicked and fled from the clash that unfolded in broad daylight. However, the merchants who had laid out their goods were too worried to run away.
In the end, they retreated to a corner, huddling and watching the martial artists swinging their swords fiercely.
“What’s all this commotion!”
“It’s not like it’s just been a day or two!”
Just a few years ago, it was impossible to see the people of Kangho fighting in the middle of the street. But sadly, such incidents have become frequent, not just in Hanam but also in many places in Gangbuk.
“Aaargh!”
One of the martial artists screamed as he was stabbed in the chest, spraying blood as he collapsed.
Merchants clenched their eyes shut at the terrible sight.
It was very difficult for people who had lived simple lives their whole lives to watch with open eyes a person swinging a weapon at another person and the person’s warm blood splattering everywhere.
Kwadangtangtang!
The body of the fallen person hit the street vendor. In an instant, the stall shattered and the fruits that had been piled up flew all over the place.
“Aigo!”
To the merchants, it was like a bolt from the blue, but who doesn’t know that their life is more important than that piece of fruit?
“You damn bastards!”
“Let’s settle this today!”
Even at a glance, these rough-looking people had such a vicious poisonous gaze. Those who faced that ferocious momentum did not give up and rushed towards them.
But at that very moment.
“Cease!”
Kwaang!
Along with the solemn voice, there was a dull explosion as if a chunk of rock had fallen from a cliff.
Those who were fighting fiercely stopped for a moment and turned their heads.
When they saw a group of martial artists approaching, various expressions appeared on their faces.
It’s inevitable.
The sight of that particular yellow robe would unsettle anyone in Kangho. Among many monasteries and monks, only one place has the privilege to wear that yellow robe.
Shaolin.
Shaolin, the head of the Ten Great Sect and the Northern Star of Kangho, had appeared.
Thump. Thump.
Shaolin’s Hye Bang, who led the disciples of Shaolin, looked at the chaotic street with a furrowed brow.
A deep sigh escaped his lips.
According to logic, the words that should come out of his mouth at this moment would be ‘What is going on?’ But he didn’t feel the need to put those words out of his mouth.
Because he already knew clearly what was going on.
“Disciples, listen up.”
“Yes!”
“Suppress all those who have made a fuss and send them to Shaolin!”
“Yes!”
“Great Monk (??)!”
One of the people who heard it shouted. The word Chivalrous (?(義)) was clearly engraved on the left chest of the white robe tainted with dust.
“I’m Gwak Sojong of Chivalrous Blood Sect (???(義血門))! This happened because those damned Evil Sects started a fight. How can you treat us like an Evil Faction punk without even considering the right or wrong?”
Chivalrous Blood Sect is one of the small and medium-sized Righteous Factions based in Hanam. It is not a subsidiary sect of Shaolin, but it is also a place that has had a deep relationship with the subsidiary sect of Shaolin since ancient times.
When Gwak Sojong, the leader of the Chivalrous Blood Sect, objected outrightly, a look of fatigue flashed across Hye Bang’s face.
“…Munju. Did you not hear Bangjang’s message that those who cause trouble in Hanam will not be tolerated for any reason?”
“Oh my God, damn it. So, are you saying that we should suck our fingers and watch those damn Evil Sect bastards who are trying to rob commoners in the place where the Chivalrous Blood Sect is located?”
When Gwak Sojong protested with his neck veins standing out, a deep sigh leaked out of Hye Bang’s mouth.
“Didn’t we say to report such matters to Shaolin?”
“What do you mean wait for Shaolin, when no one knows when you guys will come! It’s not like it happens just once or twice.”
Hye Bang shook his head.
“Right or wrong, it is for the senior officials at the main mountain to discuss. I am just following Bangjang’s orders, I ask for your understanding, Munju.”
“Darn it!”
Gwak Sojong’s face was horribly distorted.
The Shaolin disciples quickly engaged and ended the fight, so the damage was not extensive. However, that didn’t mean there was no damage at all. He clearly saw a few disciples bleeding.
Under such circumstances, it was not easy to sheathe their swords and retreat. Especially in a situation where they believe they’re in the right.
But at least in this Hanam, Shaolin’s will is the absolute law.
“Put away your weapons and step back. We will cooperate with Shaolin for now.”
“…Yes.”
The disciples, who heard the order, glanced at Hye Bang with eyes full of dissatisfaction and turned their heads away.
Hye Bang felt as if a dark cloud filled his chest for a moment.
Just a few years ago, would Shaolin have received such gazes in Hanam?
He chanted briefly. Anyway, now was not the time to be consumed by such emotions. He had no idea what might be happening elsewhere at this moment.
“You all should accompany us to the main mountain as well.”
Hye Bang’s gaze shifted to one side.
Contrary to the Chivalrous Blood Sect, who, despite their dissatisfaction, could be said to be cooperative, the eyes staring at Hye Bang from the opposing group were nothing but brutal.
“Damn monk chirping so well. Why should we cooperate with what you say?”
Hye Bang sighs deeply.
‘I can’t possibly fathom Bangjang’s intentions with my limited discipline. Why would Bangjang let them be?’
The ones showing their teeth were obviously from the Evil Sects.
Of course, for Hye Bang, Evil Sects were not so unfamiliar. Even in Hanam, where the influence of Shaolin was strong, Evil Sects clearly existed.
However, they were more fittingly called dark paths rather than Evil Sects. Every society has its dark corners, and those who leech off those corners inevitably form groups.
However, they were different from the Evil Sects that Hye Bang knew. Those who moved to Gangbuk to escape the Evil Tyrant Alliance were rough and showed no minimum respect for Shaolin and Ten Great Sect.
“What will you do then?”
The words were polite but rough. This was not only because of fatigue from the situation but also from the irritation and hostility that Hye Bang felt towards them.
“Huh, quite the temper for a monk. I heard that people with thick faces don’t get angry very often.”
“Thick face?”
“Yeah, shy! You monk bastard! If you think about it, the reason we are struggling here is because of you Shaolin bastards! If you hadn’t let loose the reins on the Evil Tyrant Alliance, we wouldn’t have come all the way here to avoid those bastards!”
“….”
“Isn’t it natural to find a way to survive when you come to a foreign land? Are you saying we should starve to death without doing anything? Don’t talk nonsense! If that were the case, I wouldn’t have risked my life to run all the way to Gangbuk. I would rather die fighting than suck my fingers and starve to death!”
It sounds reasonable, but it’s not worth thinking about.
Becoming a bandit to avoid starvation doesn’t make it any less of a crime. No, a decent human being wouldn’t think of stealing from others to survive in the first place.
Such words could not have been an excuse for Hye Bang, who had been strictly disciplined by Shaolin.
“So, you won’t comply?”
“Huhu. They say Shaolin monks can’t be pierced by blades, huh?”
Hye Bang’s expression turned cold.
“Gong Mu.”
“Yes, Sasuk!”
“Subdue them all and arrest them!”
“Yes!”
As soon as the words were over, Shaolin’s disciples rushed to the Evil Sects, who brandish their weapons. Their faces were stern, unfitting for those who was supposed to preach mercy.
“You damn bastards!”
“I’ll peel off your skin!”
“Subdue them at once!”
In the end, seeing the fight that broke out again, Hye Bang briefly recited a chant.
“Amitabha….”
Although he and Shaolin’s disciples were running around sweating, the chaos in Hanam continued to escalate.
At first, only the Evil Sects that came to Gangbuk were going wild, but now not only the Evil Sects who had been in Hanam from the beginning but also the Righteous Sects who became extremely nervous, violated Shaolin’s will and made a mess.
It feels like pouring water into a bottomless pot. They’re trying their best to stabilize Hanam, but the situation is only getting worse.
Hye Bang, who was immersed in worry, soon shook his head violently.
‘Don’t think about it.’
He forcefully shrugged off the idea that maybe all of this was happening because Shaolin was no longer as esteemed as it used to be. And he took a deep sigh and moved on.
No matter how long ago it was, things eventually came to an end. So, he had no choice but to keep trying until then.
* * *
Creak!
The door opened violently.
“Daehyung!” (Daehyung = Big brother)
The man who opened the door crumpled his face. The terrible smell of alcohol ached his head for a moment.
“Daehyung! Please wake up, Daehyung!”
In the grandest building in the old city (??(古都)), on the top floor of Hua Hua Pavilion (???(花花樓)).
The man who occupied the most expensive room was lying on a large luxurious bed.
“Ah, Daehyung! Please wake up!”
The man who had been sleeping like a dead man twitched his eyelids and slowly opened them.
“…Darn it.”
He grabbed his aching head and asked in a raspy voice.
“What is it? This early in the morning?”
“Daehyung. The Red Horse Manor (???(赤馬房)), who had gone to sort out things with Chivalrous Blood Something or something, was taken away by the Shaolin bastards.”
“….”
“What should we do?”
“Ha….”
The man reached for the bottle on the bed. However, no matter how much he shook it, not a single drop of alcohol remained.
Annoyed, he threw the bottle and looked at the person who had come to report.
“Aso. (??(兒疎))”
“Yes?”
“Do you have any money?”
“Where would I get money? Didn’t you spend all my emergency funds while you were playing here?”
“…Right.”
“If only those incompetent Red Horse Manor had done their jobs properly, we would’ve already collected a hefty sum as tribute, but they’ve messed it all up. Now there’s nowhere to make money, even if you look with your eyes wide open! That’s why I told you not to go to Hanam in the first place!”
“Tsk.”
The man clicked his tongue.
“Stop talking nonsense, you idiot. Is there any easy target left in Gangbuk? Shall we go to Hobuk, where all those punks are running wild? Or shall we go to Habuk where the Emperor is? Or maybe Sichuan, the Dragon’s Pond and Tiger’s Den (????” (龙潭虎穴))?”
“….”
“It’s the same everywhere, the same.”
The man who came to report sighed deeply and asked.
“…So what do we do now? We can’t secure a foothold in Hanam like this.”
“It’s obvious.”
The man chuckled.
“It worked out better. If we can’t secure a foothold, just give it up.”
“Yes?”
“Since we’ve roughly assessed the situation, let’s go for one big bite.”
“One big bite?”
The man’s eyes sparkled.
“It’s time for me to retire anyway. My back still hurts when it rains, ever since I got beaten up by Jang Ilso…”
“So, you’re planning to resort to banditry?”
“Yes. Banditry it is. Gather everyone you can.”
“How many?”
“All of them!”
The man who heard it frowned.
“…No. If Daehyung says so, the guys will gather like clouds with their eyes glared red, but where are you going to lead them? I don’t think it’ll be worthwhile even if we hit most places.”
“It’s a big place, a really big place.”
The man’s eyes turned to the west.
“One of the world’s top ten merchants should be enough to make a living for a lifetime, right?”
“T- Top ten merchants?”
“Yes. I have a plan. Gather everyone interested under my name.”
“Ah, understood. Daehyung!”
It wouldn’t be easy to gather people without a proper plan. However, the man who heard these words didn’t ask any more questions and just nodded before running out.
It’s a matter of course.
The one who spoke was none other than Gal Cheonrip (???(葛千立)), the First Murderer (??(一殺)) of the ‘Seven Murderer of Gangseo’ and famously known as ‘The Ruthless Ghost Dao’ (????(鬼刀無情).
If it’s the words of Gal Cheonrip, who is famous for having argued with Jang Ilso in the past, a flock of hungry wolves will gather around with hungry bellies.
Gudu of Nakyang.
Dark clouds were gathering in the sky of Nakyang.