Episode 117. People Leaving
As soon as the sun rose, three young men and women from the Jeongju branch of the Justice League headed to Jeongju First Road early.
The three men were carrying large bundles on their backs, as if they had made a promise. If it weren’t for the swords on their waists, they would have looked like peddlers.
Geumgeommun’s Yoo Geun-sik glanced at Changinmun’s Jin Seol-ha and laughed heartily.
“Sir Yoo, why are you looking at me like that?”
“You were amazing yesterday. You were holding that scary little shackle and shaking it really hard.”
“Oh my! Don’t talk nonsense so early in the morning. What did I grab and shake?”
When Jin Seol-ha jumped up, Seol Cha-su added a word.
“It’s not like I said nothing. I was nervous the whole time I was watching. Even though he’s a Green Forest patrolman, he treats me like the bachelor next door. Well, it’s consistent because it was the same the first day the branch manager came. Looking at that, I think the Yeon So-hyeop’s personality is also good. Isn’t that right, Priest Yoo?”
“Yes. When I was receiving the injections from Jin Samae, I didn’t think he looked like a green forest person. I thought he was a high priest from Shaolin Temple.”
“Oh my, why are you even acting like that with Seol? But thanks to me, didn’t you become closer to each other? At first, the elder brothers couldn’t even make eye contact with Shim.”
Seol Cha-su said seriously.
“Yes. That’s thanks to you, but I hope you’ll be a little more formal from now on. As you know, the Nokrim are people who speak with their swords rather than their words.”
“Oh, yes. I understand.”
When Jin Seol-ha pouts, Yoo Geun-sik says something.
“Jin Samae, don’t be so discouraged. It doesn’t seem like Yeon So-hyeop is completely uninterested in you. Do you know? Will things go well with the Nokrim General Patrol? As Samae said, when young men and women travel for a long time, you never know what might happen.”
“Oh my, did you see it that way, too, Mr. Yu? Did Yeon So-hyeop really look like that?”
“Why? Are you really interested in that?”
“It’s cool to be a Green Forest Patrolman at such a young age. Even the madmen won’t be able to move if he says so.”
Seol Cha-su, who was listening to the two people talking, clicked his tongue.
“Tsk tsk! You fools. Right now, the Justice Alliance and the Green Forest are cooperating because of the famous sect, but how long do you think that will last? If the formidable enemy of the famous sect disappears, the Green Forest will be next. What will the disciples of the Justice Alliance and the Green Forest’s general patrol do? Is that even possible?”
“Oh my, Seol Hyeong-sa. Let go of your preconceptions. What’s wrong? Right? Yoo Hyeong-sa?”
“Yes, I believe that there is no such thing as a love triangle. Of course, the hearts of the two people have to match first. But I’m really curious, Jin Samae. Are you really interested in Yeon So-hyeop?”
“How many times do I have to say this? It’s awesome!”
“Okay. I’ll cheer you on. You’ll be fine, since you’re the only girl I know.”
The three entered Jeongjujeilru with big dreams.
The moment they reached the seventh floor, the three of them froze in place.
A man and a woman who were seeing each other for the first time were chatting with Yeonjeokha and Simtong.
Even from afar, the atmosphere looks friendly.
Jin Seol-ha, with a sad face, muttered.
“Surely not, right?”
Seol Cha-su, Yoo Geun-sik, and Jin Seol-ha, who had been hesitating, slowly approached.
Gucheonnodo Simtong, who discovered the three people, introduced them while giggling.
“Please greet the people who will be going with you. They are Prince Namgungcheon and Lady Namgungyeon.”
Aside from Yeonjeokha and Pacheonma-gun, there are only two people whom Simtong treats with respect: Namgungcheon and Namgungyeon.
The three men and women couldn’t help but be slightly surprised at the sight of Simtong, who was different from before.
Seolchasu opened his mouth carefully.
“I am Seol Cha-su of Cheondo-mun. Are you two by any chance the Great Swordsman of Cheongun and the Young Lady of Hwayong Doksim?”
Namgungcheon was thirty-two years old, so it was a bit early to call him a great swordsman. Seol Chasu, who was twenty-three, called him a great swordsman because he found it difficult to deal with him.
Namgungcheon smiled and nodded.
“That’s right. It’s nice to meet you. I feel reassured when I hear that you are members of the Justice Alliance.”
Since Namgung Se-ga was also a warrior who belonged to the Justice Alliance, they were like one family.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Yu Geun-sik of Geumgeommun. I have heard a lot about the two of you. It is an honor.”
“I am a creative person.”
“I’m Namgungcheon.”
Namgungcheon looked into the eyes of the two people and greeted them.
Namgung Yeon only nodded his head next to Namgung Cheon without opening his mouth.
After Seolchasu and Yugeunsik finished greeting Jinseolha, they stood there blankly. It was because they could not show off in front of Namgungcheon due to their age and the distribution of martial arts.
After exchanging a few words with Simtong, Namgungcheon spoke to the three men and women.
“You all probably know the content. I’ll briefly explain the schedule. We’ll go to three mountain villages and two water villages. I’ve decided on the order based on the route. First is Taishan Guangpungchae in Shandong Province, second is Guhwasan Samdosanchae in Nanjili Province, third is Janggangsuchae in Hogwang Province, fourth is Donghosuchae in Hogwang Province, and lastly, fifth is Daebyeolsanchae in Daebyeol Mountain in Henan Province. You can think of it as starting from Jeongju and going around to the right.”
Jin Seol-ha, who had been listening blankly, muttered without realizing it.
“It’s a very long way.”
“So, I plan to use a four-horse carriage for the mountain vegetables. Since the water vegetables are all in the Yangtze River, I plan to go by boat. It’s a long distance, but it won’t be as hard as you think.”
“Ah. The carriage and the boat… … .”
Jin Seol-ha, who had been mumbling, inadvertently recalled the boat ride.
Then he turned his gaze to Yeonjeokha.
He stood back and listened to the story as if it was someone else’s business. If someone saw it, they might mistake Namgungcheon for the person in charge of this matter.
But I also liked that kind of indifference and strange leisure in presenting it.
Then, I glanced at Namgung Yeon, who was setting up the event.
Even though I tried not to be conscious of it, I strangely kept thinking about her.
It’s called ‘Hwayongdoksim’ (reading the mind while looking at flowers).
I don’t know about Doksim yet, but I can’t help but admit that Hwayong is a person of virtue.
Can a person be more beautiful than a flower?
there is.
When I look at Namgung Yeon sitting on the chair with a fresh expression on his face, I get that kind of thought.
She was as beautiful as if she had just emerged from a beauty pageant.
Facial features that are balanced on a small face.
From her white skin to her plump cherry lips and her shiny black hair.
None of them are ordinary.
Although he himself possessed beauty that was among the best in the country, he could not compare to her.
‘I’m sure I have my strengths too!’
With that thought in mind, Jin Seol’s fighting spirit suddenly flared up.
A horse-drawn carriage arrived in front of Jeongju Jeilru.
Then, Jang Bo-ok, the owner of the cart, came out in person and loaded the roof of the cart with jerky and dried goods.
Looking at the face that looks both relieved and relieved despite all the hardships, it seems like he has developed some affection for it. Or maybe he is grateful that he was spared and not killed.
It was around 10 AM when Yeonjeokha and his party came down.
Although it was a four-horse carriage, the interior of the carriage seemed a little cramped for seven people.
Eventually, due to their age, Seol Cha-su and Yoo Geun-sik decided to take turns sitting next to the coachman.
Yoo Geun-sik went up to the seat next to the coachman first.
As the six men got into the carriage one by one, the coachman lightly swung his long whip.
“Come here!”
Clunk clunk.
The four-horse carriage slowly moved along the road to the city gate.
The fight between Nokrim and Yumingyo began quietly like that.
***
Early February.
Settlement.
The three generals (Baekgajang, Yanggajang, and Waryongjang) had to endure a harsher winter than ever before.
The Samjangbullip that emerged from the head of the Nokrim General, Pacheonma-gun, pushed the Samjang into the abyss of despair.
The monk’s disciples lost their jobs, and the monk lost all the business rights he had controlled.
But that wasn’t the end of it.
The green forest and Sapa threatened the merchants and even stopped doing business with the monks.
The disciples of the tripartite monk, who could not endure it, scattered, just like the disciples of Waryongjang in the past.
However, Nokrim clung to the Samjang clan until the end.
Inevitably, those of the Samjang clan had to hide their past and wander as ronin.
The first to be dismantled was Waryongjang.
Yeonmu Baek closed the gate of Waryongjang and sent Baekhodae back to Baekgajang.
Although his mother Baek Mi-ju and his younger brother Yeon Seung-baek opposed it, Yeon Mu-baek did not change his mind.
Baek Mi-ju had no choice but to return to Baekgajang with Baekho-dae.
Yeonmu Baek, who had decided to close his own doors, entered the Jeongju branch of the Justice League for some reason.
Since the head of a well-known martial arts family became an ordinary warrior, it could be said that he was a common soldier.
The swordsman Ma Cheon-deok, who was recruiting skilled players, welcomed them with open arms.
When Yeonmu Baek settled down in the Jeongju branch, he called his younger brother Yeonseung Baek.
Yeon Seung-baek, who had nowhere to go, reluctantly joined the Jeongju branch.
In fact, Yeonmu Baek’s choice was right.
Because in today’s world, the only place that would accept someone from the Samjang clan was Jeonguimaeng.
Unlike Waryongjang, who gave up early, Baekgajang and Yanggajang foolishly held on until the end. However, under the constant pressure of Sapa, each day was like hell.
Baekgajang.
After all the disciples left, only the Baek family remained in Baekgajang.
They just hoped that the current head of the household, Mu Cheon-geom Baek Seung-ho, would make some kind of decision.
One day.
Baek Mi-ju, who is good at talking straight, conveyed the family’s wishes to Baek Seung-ho.
“Dad, it’s too hard to stay here anyway. It would be better to go to another region… … .”
Before she could finish speaking, Baek Seung-ho shouted.
“Shut up! I don’t know about others, but you should have nothing to say even if you had ten mouths! Three families were ruined because of your one mistake! If only you had just asked that bastard for forgiveness! This wouldn’t have happened!”
Baek Seung-ho trembled as he looked at Baek Mi-ju.
I raised her as an only daughter, and she ended up causing trouble like this. I sometimes wish I had been stricter, but it’s just too late to regret.
“It would have been the same even if I had bowed my head. Have you forgotten? He not only ordered me, but also my father and the two heads of the household to kneel.”
“I and my husband are not guilty of any crime!”
“Then what about me? What great sin did I commit? I treated the orphaned servant that my father brought in for me better than others! But when I treated her like my own sister, she stole my husband in return! Do you know what kind of eyes that person has had on me since she brought that bitch in?”
Baek Mi-ju opened her eyes wide and glared at Baek Seung-ho.
When I recall that miserable memory, I feel like biting a knife and falling to my death.
“Should I have taken good care of that bastard? If it were someone else, I would have killed him! But I couldn’t kill him because of the honor of the prestigious family and kept him locked up! If I had known this would happen, I would have strangled him and killed him! Father is right. It was my fault. I should have killed him then!”
“… … .”
Baek Seung-ho closed his eyes with a sigh.
They say that arms bend inward, but after listening to my daughter, it was difficult to blame her.
I feel sorry for both the ‘Yeonjeokha’ who sets out for revenge and the daughter who says ‘I should have killed her then’.
But as the head of the household, I can’t just sit by and watch my daughter’s mistakes.
Baek Seung-ho opened his eyes and spoke softly.
“I can no longer face the ancestral tablets. Get out of Baekgajang. I don’t know how long Baekgajang will last, but there is no place for you here.”
“dad…….”
Baek Mi-ju looked at her father with blank eyes.
Her husband betrayed her, and the children she raised with great care all left her, saying they were grown. And now, even her parents, whom she relied on for the last time, have kicked her out, leaving her feeling like her head is empty.
That afternoon, the door to Baekgajang opened and a woman came out.
It was Baekmiju.
She stood in front of the door for a long time, then walked away, her back being pushed by the north wind.
The direction she was going was Luoyang.
Wuxia,
