Episode 172. Just leave the mountain. How easy is that?
After finishing his meal, Yeonjeok called the innkeeper and asked, ‘Please find someone who can show me the way to Hwangsan.’
It was around 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM when Yeonjeok-ha left the Muhakaekjan with one of the villagers at the forefront.
Deokjin, who was giving directions, started humming on his own.
It costs one silver coin to guide me to Mt. Hwangsan, which is only half a sijin (one hour) away! And they only ask me to accompany them to the point where Mt. Hwangsan is visible.
Feeling good about his unexpected windfall, he kept talking to Yeon-jeok-ha.
“So-hyeop, by the way, why are you going to Hwangsan?”
“I have someone to take care of it.”
“… … .”
Deokjin was silent for a moment at the unexpected answer.
Hwangsan is a place dominated by a fearsome green forest called Daebyeolsanchae.
‘You’re not going to fight the Green Forest, are you?’
Daebyeolsanchae is famous as a place that even the country gave up on suppressing.
He also volunteered, saying, ‘I just need to go to where I can see sulfuric acid.’
Because in Shinhyeon, the name Daebyeolsanchae was the very definition of fear.
The reason Seoha Village was able to develop to some extent was because there was a Baekhoso (a local military base for 100 people) in the village next door. If it weren’t for that, Seoha Village would have been plundered by Daebyeolsanchae.
Deokjin, who had been walking silently for a while, spoke.
“If you are going to Daebyeolsanchae, it would be better not to go.”
“why?”
At that moment, Deokjin looked at Yeonjeokha with astonished eyes.
Why?
Are you asking because you don’t know?
It is a Daebyeol Mountain Village that even the world’s thieves tremble at just hearing its name, and that even the thieves have given up on.
“Isn’t Daebyeolsanchae the place that your majesty has given up on subjugating? For some reason, it has become more ferocious these days, so it would be best not to go near Hwangsan.”
“I’m going to chase out the culprit who made me so angry.”
“Oh, yes… … .”
Deokjin responded dryly and kept his mouth shut.
‘He looks fine, but he’s a braggart.’
I don’t know why he went to Hwangsan, but I only care about receiving money. Even if he were to be stabbed to death in Hwangsan, it wouldn’t be my concern.
From then on, Deokjin walked diligently without resting.
After about 30 minutes (about 1 meal)?
Finally, Hwangsan Mountain appeared in the distance.
Deokjin stopped at a place where Hwangsan Mountain was clearly visible.
At this distance, it is impossible for anyone other than a blind person to not find it.
“So-hyeop, the mountain you see ahead is Hwangsan. My heart is pounding and I can’t go any further.”
She nodded with a smile, responding to the man’s words.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Yes, yes. Take care. I’m going back now. I don’t know where I’m going, but if possible, it would be best to go back to Hwangsan.”
“I told you I have business in Hwangsan.”
“Oh, yes, then I’ll take my leave.”
Deokjin turned around and went back without looking back, afraid that he might say something else.
The lonely man looked at Hwangsan with deeply moved eyes.
“Hello, Hwangsan. You’re here.”
I don’t know why I wandered for days on end on such a close and easy road.
First, he memorized the surrounding terrain diligently in preparation for his return.
And when I felt a little more confident, I started walking slowly.
Although Goocheonnodo was worried about Simtong, strangely enough, he was not afraid of Sidu Ma-byeong.
Even thinking about the Pacheonma Army and the Uicheon Sword Lord is still a little scary.
However, the twelve horsemen and monsters are not particularly dangerous, but rather a hassle to deal with.
I don’t quite understand that part myself.
The monsters’ abilities are almost at the level of a teenage expert, so why don’t I feel nervous?
Maybe it’s because there’s a surefire way to deal with it, called the Nine Heavens and Nine Swords.
As I was walking, thinking about this and that, I suddenly found myself in the mountains.
‘Hmm! If we come in like this, bandits will show up and start making a fuss?’
The plan to enter the mountain village under the guidance of bandits ran into a hitch.
Eventually, I decided to slowly climb up until I reached the mountain vegetable that I was looking for.
***
Sulfuric acid.
Daebyeolsanchae.
Even the debtor and confidant of Imoojin, Gwiyeongsaldo, crossed the yard in a hurry.
Imoojin, who had been dozing off in front of the pavilion like a sick chicken, opened his eyes with a start.
“My lord! That bastard! That bastard is coming up alive!”
“The Yeonjeokha is coming?”
Life force poured out of Imoojin’s eyes.
It makes sense, since he made me wait for three days and nights.
The scattered ten-headed soldiers gathered around Imoojin.
They also heard what Yeonpa River said.
Even though they had the numerical advantage, the faces of the ten horsemen were all unpleasant.
It’s not just because of the fatigue of the past three days.
The person they had been waiting for so long, their rival, has finally arrived, and everyone looks anxious.
The poisonous ghost, Yang Soran, blood sword, and jade fire were especially bad.
The three who experienced Yeonjeokha’s inaction felt their hearts pounding.
Fear is contagious.
The ominous aura emitted by Yang So-ran, Hyeol-geom, and Jade Buddha also affected Imoo-jin and the Three Great Guardians.
The person who felt that something was wrong was Imoojin.
“Guirang, aren’t we being too tense? Even so, he’s alone.”
A bitter smile appeared on Yang So-ran’s face.
It was a moment when I needed to say something hopeful, but nothing came to mind.
The thought of meeting Yeonjeokha soon makes me feel like the blood is draining from my legs.
In fact, her face was noticeably haggard.
Imoojin shook his head at her appearance.
I tried to talk to him to try to cheer him up, but it just made him more bizarre.
‘Tsk! I heard Yang So-ran is very smart, but I don’t know why she looks like that.’
In the end, Imoojin put strength into his shoulders and walked forward.
It is a silent protest to respond actively rather than just wagging our tails like scared dogs.
Just as Imoojin arrived at the center of the yard.
A young man came walking through the main gate of the mountain village as if he was coming to my house.
At first, Imoojin thought he was a subordinate who was watching the net.
It is hard to believe that the young man’s face is calm and composed, as if he is about to engage in a big fight.
Imoojin, who was half in doubt, asked absentmindedly.
“Who are you?”
“Me? Yeon-jeok-ha. Who are you to do that?”
“… … .”
At that moment, a curse burst out of Imoojin’s mouth.
“You are the son of a bitch who is called Yeon-eok! I am Lee Mu-jin, the owner of Daebyeolsanchae. What have you been doing for the past three days that you only show up now!”
“Hey. I’m glad you’re here, but did we have a date to meet? Why are you making such a fuss?”
While the two men were arguing, the other ten horsemen surrounded Yeonjeokha.
Yeonjeokha looked around and muttered.
“Hey! What are you doing, moving around silently like a maggot? Do you want to die by my hand today?”
Then Imoojin sneered.
“Huh! The young man is quite courageous. I will praise him for that. However, since the Ten Horsemen have come forward, he will be buried here today.”
“Hey, hey. Let’s just wait and see whose bones will be buried. By the way, Chaeju, do you know why I came to Daebyeolsanchae?”
“If you are persecuting the followers of the famous religion by order of the Pacheonma Army, then I know.”
“I knew it. It’s not like there’s no way out. This Chaeju just needs to leave the mountain village. How easy is that?”
“There’s a simpler way, would you like to hear it?”
“What?”
“You should die here.”
Along with the horse, Imoojin pulled out his sword.
The six cavalrymen, who were very angry, each took out their weapons.
Yeonjeokha shrugged his shoulders as if he had no choice.
It’s been a while since I tried to put it into words, but I think I was wrong.
Soon, the seven horsemen and the Yeonjeokha began to move.
The ten-headed horsemen had the rank of elder or chief of the Seven-Pay Clan.
When the attacks of these seven masters were poured on one person, the power was truly astounding.
Chaechaechaechaeng. Kwakwang.
An explosion would occasionally ring out once or twice amidst the ear-piercing, sharp crackling noise.
It was the sound of the black spirit and the strong wind meeting.
As soon as Imoojin’s sword fell, Yang Soran and the Blood Sword followed suit.
Musanggwi and Muyeonggwi also used swords as if they were one body.
The recommended masters, Okbul and Eumsangui, circled around Yeonjeokha like shadows and blew strong winds.
The ten horsemen seemed to have practiced their combined attack and their hands and feet worked well together.
They fought and helped each other as if they were a family.
They tried to protect each other somehow out of fear that they would become monsters if they died.
That’s why I was forced into a defensive position little by little.
Papat.
In an instant, Yang Soran and Hyeolgeom’s swords passed by Yeonjeokha’s shoulders.
‘omg!’
I swallowed a groan as I was being loved.
Judging by the burning sensation on both shoulders, it looks like he got lightly cut.
The individual abilities of the ten horsemen were nothing special, but when gathered together, they were quite threatening.
But even in all this, I still wasn’t afraid.
That’s also strange.
As soon as Yang Soran and Hyeolgeom retreated, Okbul and Eumsangui rushed in.
This is already the second repeated form of attack.
As if he had been waiting for a moment, Yeonjeokha swung his sword left and right once each.
Chirit. Chirit.
The sharp black energy wrapped around the bodies of Jade Buddha and Yin Shan Gui like a whip.
The jade Buddha, who was shocked, turned both of his palms outward.
Then a strong wind struck the sword.
Phew.
In the gap between the strong wind and the black energy, the jade Buddha pulled its body back.
However, in the case of the dark ghost, the response was inadequate.
He also instinctively put his energy into his hand and struck the sword energy, but the sword energy did not disperse.
Crunch.
The sword cut off the evil spirit’s wrist and then pierced through his chest.
It happened in an instant, without anyone being able to help or say anything.
“Ugh!”
The evil spirit clutched his chest and took slow steps back.
The moment the six cavalrymen were startled, this time Yeonjeokha attacked the jade Buddha.
The sword raised toward the sky fell to the ground like lightning.
As the Nine Heavenly Laws of the Heavenly Dragon were cast, a whirlpool of black energy rushed towards the Jade Buddha.
Shh …
In fact, the moment Eumsangui was fatally wounded, Okbul let his guard down a little.
This is because I have seen Yeonjeokha deal with the ten horse soldiers one by one.
Of course, I thought it would be the same this time too.
But the bastard was targeting himself, not the dying ghoul.
‘This is crazy!’
Jade Buddha swung his sword madly to block the sword energy.
Kwaarrung.
When the sword and the wind met, there was a roar of thunder.
The eyes of the Jade Buddha, who had just released his dark energy, widened.
Because the Yeonjeokha that had been rushing towards him until just a moment ago was no longer visible.
Ok-bul decided to get out of the way for the time being.
Just as he was about to back away.
“no!”
A scream burst out of Yang So-ran’s mouth.
‘why?’
A sword fell down on the head of the Jade Buddha, who was looking at her.
The head of the jade Buddha split in two like a ripe watermelon.
However, Yeonjeokha was not safe either.
The moment he fell from the air and cut off the head of the jade Buddha, the sword of Muyeonggwi, who approached like a ghost, passed through Yeonjeokha’s waist.
It was a bloody, literal bloodbath.
But surprisingly, Yeonjeokha’s expression looked calm.
He was bleeding from both shoulders and his back, but his face did not look like it was in danger.
Even though monsters were about to burst out, his eyes were following the other twelve horsemen.
Wuxia,
