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Chapter 74: A Display of Sincerity
Around noon, Namgung Jin, the leader of the Blue Sky Division, went to find Namgung Cheon.
“I heard you’ve already met with the head of the Chamber of Commerce. Is it true that the caravan will depart soon?”
Namgung Jin, being Namgung Cheon’s elder cousin, used to speak informally to him in private.
“Yes, it will depart in three days.”
“And you?”
“It’s a family matter, so I was thinking of participating as well. Is that alright with you?”
Despite being the elder cousin, Namgung Jin respected Namgung Cheon’s position and always sought his opinion.
“Alright. By the way, what do you think we should do if we encounter Nokrim during the journey?”
Namgung Jin looked at Namgung Cheon with an ambiguous expression.
For the people of the Five Great Families, it was natural to exterminate Nokrim on sight. Even though they were escorting a caravan, they couldn’t avoid addressing the issue given that they were from the Namgung Family.
“As members of the Blue Sky Division of the Namgung Family, we have no reason to negotiate with Nokrim. However, while escorting the Chamber of Commerce, it would be prudent to maintain good relations with them. We don’t want the Chamber of Commerce to suffer reprisals in the future.”
“Yes, I think the same. I will convey your thoughts to the Blue Sky Division.”
Namgung Jin treated Namgung Cheon with the due respect as if he were the family head (Gaju).
“Thank you, brother.”
“You’re welcome. By the way, will you bring Yeon with us?”
“No, I plan to leave her at the Chamber of Commerce. We might receive news from our father.”
“That’s a good idea. I’m sure we’ll find uncle.”
Namgung Cheon nodded silently.
To the Namgung Family, Namgung Byeok was more than just the family head. He was the very core of the Namgung Family, having been the pinnacle of their strength and skills.
May.
Mount Pyeongjeong, Henan Province.
Around noon, a group of about seventy people cautiously entered the entrance of Mount Pyeongjeong. It was the caravan of the Chamber of Commerce, traveling from Luoyang to Nanjing.
Son Hak, the caravan’s manager, approached Namgung Jin and spoke to him.
“Great warrior, this is the area of the Jukpungchae bandits.”
“I know.”
Upon Namgung Jin’s response, Son Hak said nothing more.
It was trivial information for the experts of the Namgung Family, who were well aware of the Nokrim bandits.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Son Hak diverted his gaze to the flags on the carts.
The flags of the Chamber of Commerce and the Namgung Family fluttered side by side.
Suddenly, he felt curious.
Would the Nokrim bandits dare to show themselves before those flags?
The caravan had twenty-one guards.
Considering the fifty-odd merchants and workers, it wasn’t much. Normally, there would be only about twenty to thirty people, but the Namgung Family’s escort had increased the number.
Time passed in tension.
As the caravan advanced through more than half of Mount Pyeongjeong, the Jukpungchae bandits did not appear.
Sometimes there was movement in the forest, but that was all.
Finally, the caravan exited Mount Pyeongjeong.
Son Hak, who had been nervous all the time, timidly spoke to Namgung Jin.
“As expected of the Namgung Family. The Boss of Jukpungchae, known for his greed, hasn’t even shown his nose.”
“…”
Namgung Jin continued to look ahead with an impassive expression.
Although he found Son Hak’s enthusiasm over something so trivial amusing, he didn’t show it.
After that, some older merchants came to thank him with deep bows.
Thus, a day passed without incident.
The following night.
The caravan arrived at Haga Village just in time.
Namgung Jin and Namgung Cheon settled into the inn that Son Hak had reserved and then went to the dining hall.
Since it was dinner time, the inn’s dining hall was crowded.
Fortunately, the two managed to find an empty spot by the window.
As soon as they sat down, dishes of carp soup, stir-fried vegetables, and pork arrived. Since it was an inn dining hall, there was no need to place specific orders.
Namgung Jin and Namgung Cheon began to eat in silence.
After filling their stomachs, they relaxed with a cup of tea. The customers who had filled the dining hall left, leaving the place quiet. This was typical of an inn dining hall.
Suddenly, Namgung Cheon spoke.
“Brother, have you heard the rumors about the Ten Heroes of the Five Peaks Mountain?”
“Yes. It is said that one of them has particularly outstanding skills, comparable to the Three Elders of Nokrim. But you can’t trust everything that’s said in the Murim. You know how rumors are.”
“Still, if their name is mentioned alongside the Sage of Heaven and Earth, they can’t be just rumors.”
“We won’t know until we hear it directly from the Sage of Heaven and Earth. Rumors are just that.”
Namgung Jin seemed skeptical.
“We’ll find out tomorrow. If they retreat like Jukpungchae, then we’ll know they are exaggerations…”
“There is such a thing as false bravado.”
“That’s not possible. I’ve never seen anyone from Nokrim boast in front of the Namgung Family.”
“That’s true, but you never know. Someone like that might appear.”
“Do you plan to verify the skills of the Ten Heroes of the Five Peaks Mountain?”
Though he was the elder cousin, Namgung Cheon, who was ten years younger, observed Namgung Jin’s reaction closely.
After a moment of reflection, Namgung Jin nodded slightly.
“Someone has to do it. We can’t bow to rumors alone.”
“That’s true, but…”
Namgung Cheon couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
Sometimes rumors were exaggerated, but other times they weren’t.
Namgung Jin, with a determined expression, spoke.
“The rumor that the Namgung Family is escorting a caravan will soon spread. If we act like any other escort, they will mock us behind our backs. I don’t want that to happen.”
“Don’t make it too severe. Even later, when we stop doing it, we need to keep that in mind.”
“I understand.”
Namgung Jin also had no intention of engaging in a life-or-death battle. If this were a bandit hunt or an expedition organized by the Namgung Family, it would be different. But since it was a temporary escort, he didn’t want to push things to that extent.
The next day.
At dawn, the caravan left Haga Village.
As they entered the base of the Five Peaks Mountain, the caravan leader, Son Hak, looked around and said:
“It seems we’ll pass through Five Peaks Mountain quietly. Both the Jeokpungchae Gang and the Five Peaks Mountain Gang are practically the same. If we manage to pass without incident, we’ll save over two hundred taels of silver. Let’s hope it’s that way.”
Namgung Cheon asked Son Hak:
“Have you ever seen the Ten Heroes of the Five Peaks?”
“Me? No, I’ve only heard of them. Not many people have seen them in person. Since last year, it’s rumored that the Ten Heroes have withdrawn.”
“Withdrawn?”
“Yes. Normally, the leaders of the shelters only observe from behind, but it seems the Ten Heroes do so as a group. Not many people have seen their faces. Since they are ten, it’s hard to remember all of them, and their period of activity was short.”
“So, do merchants simply pay the toll without more?”
“That’s right.”
“Wow! Just because of the rumors of the Ten Heroes?”
“That’s how rumors work. When they calm down a bit, someone always tries their luck. Recently, the Hwayang Chamber of Commerce and some warriors from Luoyang tried to challenge the Five Peaks Mountain and were completely crushed. For a few years, everyone will pay the toll without questioning it.”
“Are you sure it was the work of the Ten Heroes?”
“Of course. It just confirmed that the martial skills of the Ten Heroes are extraordinary.”
“They say one of them is particularly outstanding. Have you heard anything about that?”
“Yes, he’s young, but his martial skill is terrifying. He uses a long sword (Bakdo), and so far no one has been able to withstand a single blow from him.”
“Wow! No one has withstood a single blow?”
“Haha, you have to take those rumors with caution. Caravan escorts are not usually very strong.”
Namgung Jin smiled at Son Hak’s words.
There was something Namgung Jin wanted to say, but Son Hak had already mentioned it.
Meanwhile, the caravan continued its journey and entered the mountain.
Son Hak pointed to a spot ahead.
“Normally, at that point, the Nokrim flag should appear…”
Before he could finish, a spear flew and struck the road.
Puh-ok.
The piece of green cloth tied to the spear shaft fluttered before settling.
Son Hak opened his mouth and alternated his gaze between Namgung Jin and Namgung Cheon.
Nokrim blocking the road even after seeing the Namgung Family flag!
No matter how much the Namgung Family had fallen, it was still not something to be underestimated by Nokrim.
If that were the case, the greedy Red Wind Shelter wouldn’t have stayed silent.
‘This means the Ten Heroes of the Five Peaks don’t consider the Namgung Family as anything important.’
If the Namgung Family did not respond adequately, the matter could get out of hand.
That thought made his heart race.
Shortly after, about twenty bandits blocked the road.
Hwang Yomyeong, the Poisonous Wanderer, who had been roaming the mountain more recently, shouted loudly:
“Stop! You don’t think you’ll cross the mountain without the permission of the Five Peaks, do you?”
Son Hak quietly stepped back, not wanting to speak and risk being misunderstood by either the Namgung Family or Nokrim.
Namgung Jin slowly advanced.
“I am Namgung Jin, leader of the Blue Sky Division of the Namgung Family. Who are you?”
Hwang Yomyeong looked surprised at Namgung Jin and the warriors lined up behind him.
Being just a mid-level warrior, Hwang Yomyeong didn’t have much contact with the Namgung Family and didn’t recognize their insignia.
His heart sank, but he did not retreat.
With so many powerful warriors in the Five Peaks, he couldn’t show weakness here.
“I am known in the world as the Poisonous Wanderer. Are you really from the Namgung Family?”
Namgung Jin responded with an ironic smile.
“That’s right. Unless someone has a death wish, who would dare to impersonate the Namgung Family? What is your relationship with the Ten Heroes of the Five Peaks?”
“I was fortunate enough to serve the Ten Heroes. If you have no intention of belittling the Five Peaks in the name of the Namgung Family, you should show some sincerity.”
Hwang Yomyeong couldn’t hide his nervousness before the opponent.
Namgung Jin, observing his opponent closely, asked:
“I have no intention of belittling the Five Peaks. But personally, I would like to see the skills of the Ten Heroes. Are any of them here?”
“The Ten Heroes are training at the camp. If you want to see them, you’ll have to come up with us. The caravan will have to wait here. Is that alright with you?”
Namgung Jin looked back.
When Son Hak made eye contact, he shook his head.
Going up to the shelter and coming back would make them lose an entire day, which was obvious. Moreover, if Namgung Jin got injured, it would negatively affect the rest of the journey.
With a worried expression, Namgung Jin hesitated, and Namgung Cheon suggested an alternative.
“Brother, what do you think about leaving it for today and making a return visit to Luoyang?”
Son Hak nodded.
“That’s a good idea. We can’t afford to spend our strength here, as the road is long.”
Convinced by the others, Namgung Jin responded reluctantly.
“Did you say your name was Poisonous Wanderer? Tell the Ten Heroes that Namgung Jin will visit them on the way back.”
“Understood. By the way, what about the rest?”
By the rest, he meant the toll.
Namgung Jin murmured with a grim face.
“What else? We still have to pay as always.”
Namgung Cheon, quick to grasp the situation, intervened with a smile.
“I heard the toll is one tael of silver per merchant, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“Then, with twenty merchants, it would be twenty taels of silver, right?”
“That’s correct.”
Hwang Yomyeong didn’t bother to count the merchants this time.
He didn’t want to cause trouble by confronting the Namgung Family.
Shortly after, Son Hak paid the twenty taels, and the bandits quietly withdrew into the forest.
Namgung Jin looked at the forest with a stunned expression.
Seeing the bandits collecting a toll from the Great Namgung Family seemed unreal.