Why is the Taoist of Mount Wu in the guesthouse of Yodong Province?
Inside the silent guesthouse. The assassins were bewildered, staring at the slender-looking Taoist who appeared on the second floor.
It was only natural, as they had no way of knowing that the Taoist of Mount Wu was reading a book titled Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes while passing through Yodong Province on his way to Mount Changbai.
“I answered, but who might you be, dressed in black and targeting a woman?”
None of the assassins had any reason to answer the Taoist.
The opponent was a Taoist barely past his twenties. They couldn’t let their guard down just because he was from Mount Wu, but they couldn’t forget their goal either.
After exchanging glances, three assassins leaped up to confront Cheong-un.
“It’s pointless to hesitate.”
Cheong-un raised his sword towards the assassins, signaling he had no intention of further discussion.
The black sword of Mount Wu was ready.
Anyone who rashly drew their sword would become a guest of the underworld. They needed to create space for all three of them to strike simultaneously.
The assassins carefully surrounded Cheong-un.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
Cheong-un was the first to move.
Could he be just a rookie?
He was abandoning the advantage of swordsmanship by moving against three of them first. If one of them held him off, the other two could tear him apart from behind.
Just then, all the assassins had the same thought flash through their minds.
“Kuh!”
Eight Trigrams Swordplay. A swordplay designed to build virtue in the world was more dynamic than any static sword of Mount Wu.
One assassin clutched his neck and collapsed. They couldn’t stop him? That was fine. The remaining two would take revenge.
‘What?!’
The assassin’s sword was blocked as if flowing like water. One of them bounced back like a stone skipping off the surface, but the other couldn’t do the same.
“Gack!”
From Mount Wu to Yodong Province. Cheong-un’s sword, which had been building up its strength, had grown tremendously. An assassin who failed to dodge the Eight Trigrams Swordplay fell helplessly to the ground.
‘This guy’s no ordinary opponent!’
Reinforcements were needed. By now, that girl Murong Sang-a must have been killed. The assassin stepped back from Cheong-un, glancing back.
‘Why is it so quiet?’
As soon as the assassin grasped the situation on the first floor, his eyes widened in shock.
Three of the seven assassins who had been facing Murong Sang-a had suddenly met their end and were sprawled on the ground.
“What the hell…?”
“I guess you only saw the fake Meteoric Sword Technique.”
Murong Sang-a responded with sarcasm to the assassins’ stunned words.
The living assassins found it impossible to accept the situation, and it was understandable.
The opponent was a martial artist of the Murong family who had mastered the family’s unique martial arts at a young age. A genius even recognized by her brother Murong Bi, who utterly despised her.
It was indeed Murong Sang-a.
‘Attack recklessly and then break free after killing them.’
At that moment, the similar thought flashed through the minds of the assassins as they faced Murong Sang-a’s unexpected skill.
“Isn’t it about time for a shift? No way they’re sleeping, right?”
“If the deputy commander finds out, they won’t live to see another sunrise.”
“Come on. After all the caution, there’s no way they’re… Huh? Why is it locked from the outside?”
Voices from the Changbong Band echoed from outside the guesthouse.
‘Reinforcements?!’
This was bad. The same thought crossed the minds of all the assassins.
“Ugh!”
Murong Sang-a and Cheong-un seized the moment.
Two more heads fell. Three assassins remained.
“Damn it!”
Mission continuation was impossible. Ultimately, the assassin who had been proudly blocking the guesthouse door leaped towards the window.
“What the heck?! Who are you guys?!”
“We are assassins.”
Murong Sang-a quickly opened the guesthouse door and succinctly informed the Changbong Band about the situation.
“Lord?”
“Capture them immediately.”
No one among the Changbong Band objected to their lord’s orders.
——–
“I have committed a grave sin!”
As the urgent situation passed, inside the guesthouse, Murong Jinsu, one of the deputy commanders of the Changbong Band, spoke on behalf of the kneeling members.
“Deputy Commander, lift your head.”
Murong Sang-a spoke with a calm expression as she sat in a chair in the guesthouse.
“Since I’ve put my lord’s life in jeopardy, how could I lift my head!”
The members of the Changbong Band were at a loss with despair for failing to stop the assassins and for their unavoidable guilt.
Although the Changbong Band was quickly growing, it wasn’t without issues; their loyalty was genuine, nonetheless.
“I permitted you to rest, but I did not order you to let your guard down.”
Murong Sang-a, as the head of Changbong Hall, reprimanded them in a chilling tone.
“I have no excuses! Please punish me!”
“Those who fail in guarding cannot be forgiven. Deputy Commander.”
“Loyalty!”
How would she punish them? Murong Sang-a gazed at the despondent deputy commander.
They weren’t injured but faced a life-threatening situation. Although the Great Lord of Changbong had returned to the main house first, the deputy commander’s responsibility was not absolved.
Someone had to be held accountable for this incident. After a brief moment of contemplation, Murong Sang-a determined the disciplinary measures.
“Until further orders, I command you to reflect and reduce your pay. The deputy commander’s role will be temporarily entrusted to another.”
It wasn’t irretrievable damage. But it was still a significant incident. Through a type of suspension, Murong Sang-a decided on a severe yet recoverable discipline.
“I accept the order.”
The deputy commander felt the weight of the punishment but sighed in relief at Murong Sang-a’s consideration.
“How many Changbong members died today?”
Murong Sang-a’s summation of the incident did not end with the deputy commander’s punishment.
“Two from those on standby on the first floor, and two from those who were on guard inside the guesthouse.”
“All four died without a single scream.”
“…….”
At Murong Sang-a’s remark, all the members of the Changbong band, kneeling in shame, fell silent.
Those who had participated in the mission didn’t drink a drop of alcohol and had indeed been thoroughly vigilant; there was no room for excuses.
There was only one life for their lord.
Failure to guard could not be justified in any way.
After scanning the mournful faces of her men, Murong Sang-a spoke calmly.
“Please ensure the families of the deceased Changbong members are supported adequately.”
“Pardon?”
All the members of the Changbong Band looked up at their lord in surprised disbelief.
“Though you may have failed your vigilance, you died protecting me. Mistakes can be corrected, but I won’t impose burdens on those who have passed.”
“Yes, I will carry out your orders.”
“Changbong Band.”
Feeling the weight of their lord’s gaze upon them, Murong Sang-a called on her subordinates.
“Loyalty!”
“You are my hands and feet. If my hands and feet err, I will reprimand and manage them, but no one wishes for their hands and feet to be severed.”
This was the band created with the fortune blessed by the divine. Blessed by the deities with lives tied to her.
Each member was precious.
“Lord……”
They were fearful of what punishments might be laid upon them, yet their lord cared for the fallen members. A few faces among the Changbong members grew misty-eyed.
“One mistake is enough. Use this opportunity to become stronger hands and feet.”
“I will give my all in loyalty!”
The response from the Changbong Band was louder than ever.
—
“Bring in the benefactor.”
They were almost in for a massive disaster. Murong Sang-a returned to the guest room for guests and summoned the suddenly appearing Taoist of Mount Wu.
“I am Cheong-un of Mount Wu.”
Cheong-un, still bewildered that the woman he had saved was a direct descendant of the Murong family, greeted Murong Sang-a.
“I am Murong Sang-a of the Murong family. Thanks to your aid, I was able to escape from crisis.”
“Milord……!”
The leader of a group must express gratitude at a certain level. Murong Jinsu exclaimed in surprise when he saw Murong Sang-a kneel to thank Cheong-un.
“It was the right thing to do.”
Cheong-un waved his hands in a fluster at the unexpected level of gratitude.
“In a world filled with those who refuse to help when they can, I truly thank you.”
Those who hold power don’t bother helping others. They draw their swords calculating pros and cons, and mock the foolish outcasts who would risk their lives for someone unrelated.
Murong Sang-a lowered her head again, feeling a heavy weight in her heart.
“I never imagined that demonic cultists would be rampant in Yodong as well.”
“Even if you uproot them, the minions of evil will stick their heads out when the time comes. They are probably scheming some nefarious plot elsewhere.”
It would be problematic if the association of the Murong family and the demonic cult was revealed, especially to the Nine Great Sects and One Alliance and especially not to Mount Wu.
Murong Sang-a hoped that Cheong-un would not pry further and deflected the essence of the issue.
“Yes. That is certainly true.”
Cheong-un nodded knowingly at Murong Sang-a’s remark.
Under different circumstances, it might have seemed odd, but Cheong-un had already faced off against demonic cultists in Hubei Province.
“May I ask why the Taoist of Mount Wu is in Yodong?”
Murong Sang-a, unrelated to gratitude, inquired of Cheong-un while concealing her wariness.
It was not unusual to meet a master of Mount Wu in the Central Plains, but Murong Sang-a was in Yodong.
On the northern border, Yodong Province acted as a buffer zone with foreign tribes. There could be significant purposes behind the presence of a master of Mount Wu there.
For example, reporting the affairs of the Murong family to the Martial Arts Alliance, or something like that.
“I’m on my way to Mount Changbai.”
“Mount Changbai?”
Murong Sang-a tilted her head in confusion at Cheong-un’s unhesitating answer.
“I was on my way to find the lineage of the Taoist sect.”
“Mount Changbai is not considered one of the Five Sacred Mountains, but is still known as a mystical mountain.”
“I’ve just heard it was that way, thus my journey.”
Murong Sang-a nodded in agreement at Cheong-un’s seamless response.
It wasn’t unusual for a Taoist to look for the sacred mountains of Taoism. Even the Volcano Sect is located on the well-known Mount Huashan, one of the Five Sacred Mountains.
It was not uncommon for Taoists to explore all of the Sacred Mountains associated with Taoism. If one came all the way to Mount Changbai just for sightseeing, that would be a bit of an unusual Taoist.
Murong Sang-a found Cheong-un’s response reasonable.
“I plan to return to the Murong family now, and I would like to invite you, great hero Cheong-un, as my guest.”
Murong Sang-a spoke politely to Cheong-un once more.
“There’s no need for you to go through such trouble.”
“You assisted me in a moment of crisis. How could I let it end with just thanks? You certainly looked fatigued from your journey from Mount Wu to Yodong. Wouldn’t it be good to relax before you leave?”
“D-Did you hear that?”
Cheong-un realized immediately what she meant and showed an awkward expression.
“The soundproofing of the next room isn’t very good.”
He had thought it was the voice of the martial artist before him complaining about fatigue all night long. Murong Sang-a smiled gently.
“Then, I’ll accept your kind invitation.”
“If you need anything, please tell Si-bi, and I’ll instruct her to provide whatever you desire.”
Murong Sang-a had almost mentioned a reward for her thanks but quickly stopped. It was improper to directly inquire if a Taoist needed material wealth.
It was better to mention it later to Si-bi, hinting at what to provide. Murong Sang-a displayed her willingness to reciprocate while speaking in a roundabout way.
“Would it be possible to get information about the current situation or rumors in this area? There’s news I seek, but I have no connections in this region,”
Cheong-un hesitated for a moment as he processed Murong Sang-a’s request before carefully speaking.
“If you ask me, I will answer to the best of my knowledge and sincerity.”
Cheong-un paused briefly at Murong Sang-a’s words.
His reason for visiting Mount Changbai was, of course, for the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes. Yet, Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes was a secret matter of the Mount Wu sect. He could not freely mention it.
Simply showing up at Mount Changbai would not resolve the issue either.
How could he phrase it?
After pondering for a while, he decided to mention a clue he had finally understood during his long journey.
“Do you happen to know a person named Kang Mo?”
The writer mentioned in the Chronicles of the Wind and Cloud Heroes.
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