.jpeg){kind=tracking}
Chapter 64: Who Are You to Fight Him?
Finally, Lee Somin understood why her father was saying those things. Despite his youth, the bandit's skills were so exceptional that "it might be true," she thought.
"How can one recognize the superhuman abilities of the Yoomyung Cult?"
"Hmmm! If his internal energy is far more advanced than the subtlety of his techniques, it might be suspicious, right?"
"In that case, there is a difference. Although he is young, it is said that he is the martial master of the Ten Heroes of the Five Peaks Mountain."
"So it's not superhuman abilities, but simply a great master?"
"I'm not sure. Ah! I heard the bandits say that the Sage of Heaven and Earth was with him for three months."
"Do you mean the Sage of Heaven and Earth from Mount Wudang?"
"Yes, I heard that the Sage of Heaven and Earth stayed with him for three months after losing to him."
"If it was the Sage of Heaven and Earth, he would definitely know. He can tell if it's due to superhuman abilities or his own prowess."
"That's true."
Yi Yeonik sighed as he thought.
"Haa! Although I want to avenge you right now, the situation is not favorable."
"It doesn't matter. But what will we do if the Swordsman of Chaos is so powerful?"
"He is too difficult an enemy for one or two sects to handle, so the Justice Alliance will probably send a notice to all of Murim."
Yi Somin was startled to hear about the notice but then maintained a calm expression.
The Virtue Swordsman Yi Yeonik looked at Yi Somin with curiosity.
If it weren't for the matter at Five Peaks Mountain, she would have insisted on participating.
The Murim notice is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young warriors. Just showing your face at that gathering of the elite orthodox sects and the seven sects of Murim is a lifetime pride.
At that moment, a deep voice was heard from outside the door.
"Is anyone inside?"
It was the Grand Master Yi Euijeong, the Supreme Elder of Uicheon Sect.
Yi Yeonik and Yi Somin quickly stood up.
The Grand Master Yi Euijeong.
As the Supreme Elder of Uicheon Sect and one of the ten great masters of the world, he rarely left his room. So much so that he was often called "the one who resides in his room."
That was partly true.
Yi Euijeong preferred to train in his own residence rather than in a cave or stone chamber. According to his theory, if you lock yourself in and train, that is isolation.
Yi Euijeong looked at his son's hanging sleeve and asked.
"How is your arm?"
"Improving little by little."
The Virtue Swordsman Yi Yeonik bowed his head, embarrassed.
"You were lucky. Escaping from an opponent who uses the flying sword technique is not easy."
"I know."
"I overheard the conversation as I passed by. I will take care of the Five Peaks Mountain."
"What?"
Yi Yeonik lifted his head and looked at his father.
He was surprised that his father was talking about punishing the Five Peaks Mountain amid this confusion.
"The young bandit caused irreparable damage to Somin. I can't forgive that bandit more than the Yoomyung Cult. Besides, although the Yoomyung Cult is a matter for the Justice Alliance, it will take at least two months to gather all the masters."
"That's true, but..."
"Before the masters gather, I will punish the bandits."
"I understand your feelings, but it's difficult to move the disciples of Uicheon Sect right now."
"Who said I would take the disciples? I alone will be enough. Taking the disciples will only attract the attention of curious people."
"But, father, going alone is a bit..."
Yi Yeonik was worried about his father and the idea of him going alone. It would have been different if he took some attendants, but he didn't like the idea of the Supreme Elder of Uicheon Sect traveling alone.
"Hah! Are you treating me like a useless old man? Do you think the bandits will kill me if I go alone?"
"No, it's not that. I just wanted you to take someone to help you."
"There's no need. I'm not an arrogant official. To travel the world, I only need a sword and a horse."
"..."
Yi Yeonik couldn't respond.
To be honest, if his arm were fine, he would have gone first. But now, with a severed arm and an internal injury, that was just a dream.
"Understood."
"...Yes."
When Yi Yeonik responded with a discouraged expression, Yi Somin couldn't hold back any longer and spoke.
"Grandfather, can I accompany you?"
Silence filled the room for a moment.
After a while, Yi Yeonik spoke cautiously.
"Father, please take Somin with you."
From Yi Yeonik's perspective, he wanted to send at least his granddaughter.
"Let's do that."
As he cherished his granddaughter, Yi Euijeong didn't reject Yi Yeonik's suggestion. He wanted his granddaughter to overcome the humiliation she suffered at Five Peaks Mountain.
---------------
Luoyang, Unsa.
Waryong Manor.
Waryong Manor, which had prospered for a time, was now in a state of desolation almost akin to a cemetery due to consecutive misfortunes.
Yeon Mubak was gravely injured, and five members of the Yeon clan died on the mission.
Two days later, Yeon Seolju returned, but the news she brought was disheartening.
Baek Miju, the hostess, quickly instructed Yeon Seungbaek and Yeon Seolju to keep their mouths shut. She was worried that if this reached the ears of the Chamber of Commerce, they might cancel the contract.
Around noon.
While eating with her family, Baek Miju, with an angry expression, asked Yeon Seolju.
"Why is that bandit so desperate to destroy Waryong Manor?"
Yeon Seolju, who had not finished chewing her food, responded hastily.
"I don't know... I have no idea."
"There must be something. We paid a thousand taels of silver. And now they even prevent us from proceeding with the Chamber of Commerce? What are those bandits? They're just thieves! They should be content with the toll. Why do they prevent Waryong Manor from doing business? Isn't that so?"
Baek Miju looked at Yeon Seolju with a strange expression.
"I... really don't know."
"If you don't know, who will? You can't say that after spending ten days there."
"Mother, I was confined with the Five Heroes of Luoyang. Although it was ten days, I didn't really spend much time talking with the bandits."
Yeon Seungbaek intervened.
"Mother, Seolju is right. The Five Heroes of Luoyang didn't understand the bandit either."
"No, there is definitely something. Seolju, surely you hurt his pride. You said you constantly argued with him, why did you do that? You should have yielded."
Yeon Seolju sighed deeply in frustration.
"Mother, I responded because he spoke as if he had done something to Waryong Manor. I've told you many times. It wasn't because of fighting with me that this happened."
"Then, at those moments, you should have resolved it smartly. Who are you to fight with him?"
Yeon Seungbaek tried to calm his mother but stopped.
The mother wasn't wrong.
When he said strange things, instead of fighting, they should have handled it smartly. They could have avoided the worst outcome. Although it's all hypothetical.
Yeon Seolju felt like she was going to explode from frustration.
Clearly, that bandit had targeted her and Waryong Manor from the beginning. The Five Heroes of Luoyang also knew it.
But her family didn't seem to believe it.
They seemed to think she had provoked the bandit, causing this disaster.
'It's better not to say anything...'
Yeon Seolju felt tears welling up but repressed her anguish, aware of her guilt.
Finally, Yeon Seungbaek spoke.
"Mother, perhaps the bandit was just trying to scare us. It doesn't make sense for him to have something against Waryong Manor."
"Haa! I also think that, but there's always a 'what if'..."
"Don't worry too much. From what he said about the Henan bandits, he was clearly lying. What power could a small mountain that has barely been established for a year have?"
"In any case, Seolju, don't think about leaving the house. You'll get married this year, so keep that in mind."
"I have no intention of getting married."
"Shut up! Our family is about to be ruined because of you. I can't stand seeing you like this. As a woman, you should think about getting married, not wielding a sword. That's why these things happen."
"Mother."
"Don't say a word. If you leave, consider our relationship over."
"..."
Yeon Seungbaek shook his head seeing his dejected sister.
On one hand, he wanted to support her, but this time the problem was too severe. Just thinking about the thousand taels of silver debt kept him awake at night.
If he, as the second son, felt this way, how must his mother feel, bearing the weight of Waryong Manor?
----------------
June.
Luoyang.
The struggle between the Baekse Chamber of Commerce and the Samjin Chamber of Commerce for control of Gonghyeon-yo had reached a truce.
The sudden blow to Waryong Manor in Yeoju was the cause.
The leader of the Baekse Chamber of Commerce, Lee Sechang, lamented thinking he should have acted earlier, but it was too late.
While Waryong Manor was weakened, the Mumun Clan, which supported the Samjin Chamber of Commerce, recruited wanderers to strengthen their forces.
In response, Baekse also recruited wanderers to counter the Mumun Clan. They could no longer rely solely on Waryong Manor, as the forces of the Mumun Clan had grown too much.
Although they remained in conflict, business couldn't stop.
Baekse continued operating its trade caravans without rest, taking advantage of the favorable weather.
One day, the leader of the Baekse Chamber of Commerce, Lee Sechang, met Yoo Jisan, the leader of the Geonhwa Chamber of Commerce, and heard something strange.
"What? Are you telling me that the caravans escorted by Waryong Manor can no longer travel? What nonsense is that? We haven't heard anything like that from Waryong Manor..."
"It seems you didn't know. I assumed you were aware."
"Ah! Please speak clearly."
"One of our regular caravans to Taiyuan passed through the territory of the Suryongchae Bandits three days ago. The head escort heard the Boss of the Suryongchae Bandits say that caravans escorted by Waryong Manor could no longer pass. According to the orders of the Chief Inspector of Nokrim, they must loot any caravan escorted by Waryong Manor."
"Ah! Did they really hear that three days ago?"
"Do you think I would make something like this up? I thought you already knew... Did you really not know?"
"This is the first time I'm hearing this. We have no choice but to verify it."
Lee Sechang stood up abruptly.
Yoo Jisan, who had also stood up, spoke with concern.
"Ah! It seems you didn't know. Although it's late, it would be better to inform the caravans to take another route. It's not safe, but it's better than nothing..."
Without responding, Lee Sechang rushed out.
Seeing Lee Sechang leave hastily, Yoo Jisan clicked his tongue.
"Tsk! It seems Waryong Manor offended someone important in Nokrim. They have become too arrogant lately. They should have been more careful when things were going well."
Lee Sechang quickly returned to the Baekse Chamber of Commerce and called Lee Yeonbok, the administrator.
Upon hearing Lee Sechang, Lee Yeonbok was also surprised.
The two immediately got into a carriage from the Chamber of Commerce and headed to Waryong Manor in Unsa.
They had to confirm the facts directly with Baek Miju.
The carriage traveled the road without stopping for two hours and arrived at Waryong Manor.
Entering the courtyard, Lee Sechang saw Baek Miju hurrying to receive them and shouted.
"Hey! Today I met Yoo Jisan from the Geonhwa Chamber of Commerce and heard something alarming. You must explain it clearly!"
"What are you suddenly talking about?"
Baek Miju, with a surprised expression, looked alternately at Lee Sechang and Lee Yeonbok.