CHAPTER: Entering Chengdu
The torrential rain had ceased before I knew it.
Clouds clung to the mountain ridges where the rain had stopped, making the scene look like a fine ink-wash painting.
*Splash. Splash. Splash.*
I had finished preparing to leave after retrieving my horse from the stable.
I had shed blood unnecessarily, but that was the nature of the Murim world.
A cycle of grudges and favors that turned like a millstone.
I had built up a grudge with the Tang Clan, but since Nan-sim and Chun-bok, who owed me a debt of gratitude, would cover for me, there was no need to worry too much.
*Neigh!*
"You horse-bastard. Your master is suffering, you know."
Nan-sim had packed plenty of food for the road, but the horse was grumbling again as if it were too heavy.
"That’s a smart horse."
"Smart? It’s just a cunning little beast."
"Hahaha!"
Nan-sim stroked the horse’s neck.
The beast was grinning, clearly enjoying a woman’s touch just because it was a male.
It was time to leave.
I swung onto the horse’s back.
"I’ll see you again."
"Yes, Great Hero. Thank you once again. I will surely repay this kindness someday."
"Thanks. I’ll definitely pay you back."
Kind Nan-sim and blunt Chun-bok.
The two, who made a good pair, bowed politely to see me off.
Just as I was about to kick the horse’s flanks, Chun-bok spoke up.
"The fact that you killed those Tang Clan bastards will be known to neither heaven nor earth."
I turned my head to look at Chun-bok.
His mouth was set in a straight line, and his eyes were calm and steady.
Beyond the simple meaning of disposing of the bodies cleanly, I could feel his resolve that he would not speak of today’s events even if a blade were held to his throat.
I gave a slight nod and kicked the horse’s flanks.
"Giddy up!"
*Neigh!*
A lazy afternoon.
The horse galloped vigorously, watching the sun sink toward the west.
* * *
The next day.
Around early lunchtime.
I was able to arrive in Chengdu.
"Hmm?"
People were standing in a long line at the city gate. Even in a world where people usually didn't pay much attention to those coming and going, the atmosphere in Sichuan lately was clearly unusual.
"Hup."
I also dismounted and stood at the very end of the line.
"Hey! Don't cut in line!"
"Who said I cut in line? I just went to the latrine for a moment!"
"Cut the crap and get to the back! Before I slash you!"
"Damn it."
Because the line was so long, commotion broke out here and there.
The guards protecting the gate moved busily to maintain order, but a force of only a dozen men was insufficient.
*Thud, thud, thud, thud!*
Even amidst that, processions of expensive carriages entered and exited the gate without any special inspection.
In any world, money and power are supreme.
"Damn it. It’s miserable to live without money."
"Come on! Hurry it up! We need to get these goods in before the sun sets!"
Peddlers who had traveled long distances, martial artists hiding their internal energy, and even beggars lurking about to see if there was anything to scavenge.
The area in front of the gate was truly a dog’s breakfast of all sorts of people mixed together.
"Hey. You there."
While I was watching the people for a moment.
A voice came from behind me.
"Are you not listening to me?"
The man raised his hand, trying to grab my arm.
I naturally turned my body to avoid his touch.
With those filthy hands.
"What?"
"Looking at your appearance, it seems you’ve come to Chengdu to find work..."
The man twirled his pathetic goatee with his fingers and scanned me up and down as if appraising me.
His internal energy was murky, so he didn't seem to be a martial artist, and seeing his eyes darting around, he looked like a swindler who made a living through fraud.
I watched quietly, wondering what this was about.
"Judging by your attire, you look like a third-rate martial artist. Did you come here because you heard the Tang Clan is hiring mercenaries?"
"And if I did?"
"You won't need a horse once you enter the Tang Clan anyway. Sell that horse to me. I’ll give you a fair price."
Greed was visible in the man’s eyes as he glanced at the horse.
I swallowed a laugh and played the part of a naive wandering warrior.
"How much will you give me?"
"One gold piece. I’m giving you a generous price out of consideration for you."
"One gold piece? Are you joking? It would be insufficient even if I received five gold pieces. You’re a total highwayman."
"Ha! A highwayman? Do you think you’ll even get one piece once you get inside the city? I offered you more out of kindness, so how dare you spout such nonsense!"
The man spat as he pointed his finger at me.
I would have let it slide if he had stopped there, but he seemed to have worked himself into a rage and started spewing insults.
"Damn it! I’m already pissed off waiting in this line, and some beggar-like bastard is acting up without knowing his place! Don't regret this, you brat! I know plenty of people in the Tang Clan! Do you think you’ll be able to even beg for a meal in Chengdu after getting on my bad side?"
"Oh. Is that so?"
"That’s right! You son of a—"
*Slap!*
"Ugh!"
I lightly slapped his cheek.
The man who had been chattering excitedly went crashing to the ground, spitting out yellow teeth and blood.
"Argh! Arghhh!"
"Gasp! What’s going on!"
"Here! There’s a fight here!"
The line broke, and people started shouting.
I sat down in front of the man who had fallen and was bleeding, and met his eyes.
"Continue what you were saying. After 'son of a', what?"
"Y-you...!"
Even so, the man must have had something to rely on, as he glared at me without losing his nerve.
I lifted my hand slightly.
"Arghhh! I’m dying! Help me! Someone save me!"
The man screamed at the top of his lungs.
Then, two guards came running over in a hurry, spears in hand.
"Stop! What is this commotion!"
"Oh, heavens! I’m dying! He’s hitting a man in broad daylight! Officer! Please catch that damn bastard! Just looking at his actions, he’s a scoundrel! He might even be a spy for the Evil Faction!"
"What?"
The guard, unaware of the situation, frowned and became wary of me.
"Let me see your identification tag."
"Here it is."
I handed over the nameplate from my pocket that could prove my identity.
I didn't repeat the mistake I made at the inn.
As expected, the guard who saw the emblem engraved on the nameplate widened his eyes and began to stutter.
"W-White Dragon?"
A sect permitted to use the dragon as its emblem.
To be precise, it was not a sect, but the Murim Alliance, a coalition of various righteous sects.
"Are you from the Murim Alliance?"
"That is correct."
I looked at the guard with an expression that asked, "Why?"
It was a nameplate made with three gold pieces. A mere guard wouldn't be able to determine its authenticity.
"W-wait a moment!"
The guard, perhaps unable to judge for himself, ran toward the city gate.
The remaining guard took a step back and straightened his posture.
A world divided by the government and the Murim.
If the Imperial Palace ruled the realm of the government, the ruler of the current Murim was, in any case, the righteous Murim Alliance.
Because of this, the Murim Alliance nameplate worked everywhere, but the guard’s reaction was excessive even considering that.
'Suspicious.'
I stood with my hands behind my back and stared blankly in the direction the guard had disappeared.
Even without expanding my senses, whispers from here and there reached my ears clearly.
-So the Murim Alliance has finally moved.
-What do you mean "finally"! They’re late, way too late!
-But why did he come alone?
-He must be an investigator. The Murim Alliance always sends investigators first when a dispute arises.
The Murim Alliance, composed mainly of the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families.
Since they were all sects or families with some influence, small and large disputes occasionally broke out among them.
In such cases, the Murim Alliance would send an investigator to judge whose side to take, and naturally, the sect in that region would treat the investigator with the utmost hospitality.
It was only natural that all sorts of corruption would occur in the process.
"Oh! I didn't know you were such an esteemed person, there seems to have been a small misunderstanding!"
I had forgotten for a moment, but the swindler I had slapped was bowing politely and forcing a smile. Since his front teeth were broken, it was the finishing touch to his ugly face.
I looked at him and said.
"Did you say you know many people in the Tang Clan? I happen to be on my way to the Tang Clan, so I will be sure to speak well of you."
"N-no! Great Hero! I have committed a sin worthy of death!"
"A sin worthy of death? What sin have you committed? You have to swindle naive people to make money, don't you? I will certainly tell the Tang Clan of your excellent attitude."
"Oh! Great Hero! If you do that, I won't be able to set foot in Chengdu ever again. Yes! Compensation! If I give you some compensation—"
"Silence! What do you take me for, trying to pull such tricks! Do you think I would accept such bribes! Is this the will of the Tang Clan!"
"T-the will of the Tang Clan? Oh! Great Hero! I have committed a sin worthy of death! If you do this, I’m a dead man! Great Hero!"
The man threw himself flat on the ground and began to wail. His tears and snot mixed with the dirt, making his face a mess.
And rightly so; if the Tang Clan found out he had been selling their name for such things, the man would be as good as dead.
"Ahem! What is this commotion!"
"Oh! General!"
"Why is this damn bastard crying here again! There is an esteemed guest present, so clear him away at once!"
"Yes!"
The man who appeared leading several guards cleared the swindler away.
The swindler kept shouting for his life even as he was dragged off.
But no one paid him any mind.
I examined the faces of those who had newly appeared.
The one called General looked more like a gatekeeper than an actual general, and I was more drawn to the man who had come out with him.
"You said you are from the Murim Alliance?"
A man in green martial attire with eyes as eerie as a snake and a subtle, poisonous aura flowing from him.
"That is correct."
"Nice to meet you. I am Tang Gi-hyeok of the Sichuan Tang Clan."
He was a man of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
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