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Chapter 117: The Ones Who Depart
At dawn, the three young members of the Justice Alliance headed early to Zhengzhou First Pavilion.
They were carrying large packs on their backs. If it weren’t for the swords at their waists, they could have been mistaken for traveling merchants.
Yoo Geunsik from the Golden Sword Sect looked at Jin Seolha from the Changin Sect and smiled.
"Brother Yoo, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Last night, you were incredible. You handled that terrifying Yeon Sohyeop just as you wanted."
"Oh, don’t say such nonsense so early in the morning! What do you mean by handling him?"
Jin Seolha jumped, and Seol Chasu added a comment.
"It’s not a lie. I was quite worried while watching you. After all, he is the Grand Inspector of Nokrim, but you treated him as if he were a neighbor. I guess you’re consistent since you treated the branch leader the same way when he first came. Seeing it that way, Yeon Sohyeop seems to have a good character. Brother Yoo, don’t you think?"
"Yes, when I saw him endure Sister Jin’s teasing, I thought he didn’t seem like a man of Nokrim. He seemed like a monk from Shaolin."
"Oh, Brother Seol, you too! But thanks to me, didn’t we all become friends? At first, they didn’t even look Senior Shim in the eye."
Seol Chasu spoke seriously.
"It’s true. That was thanks to you, but next time, please be a bit more formal. You know that in Nokrim, they prefer swords over words."
"Yes, I know. I’ll keep that in mind."
Jin Seolha pouted, and Yoo Geunsik commented.
"Sister Jin, don’t be discouraged. Yeon Sohyeop doesn’t seem completely uninterested in you. Who knows? You might get along with the Grand Inspector of Nokrim. As you said, when a young man and a young woman travel together, anything can happen."
"Brother Yoo, do you really think so? Did Yeon Sohyeop really seem interested?"
"Why? Are you really interested?"
"It’s impressive to be the Grand Inspector of Nokrim at such a young age. Even the Demons obey his orders."
Seol Chasu, who had been listening, clicked his tongue.
"Naive fools. Right now, the Justice Alliance and Nokrim are cooperating because of the Yoomyung Cult, but how long do you think that will last? Once the common enemy is gone, Nokrim will be the next target. What sense does it make for a disciple of the Justice Alliance to get involved with the Grand Inspector of Nokrim? Does it make any sense?"
"Brother Seol, stop being so prejudiced. Why couldn’t it happen? Right, Brother Yoo?"
"Yes, I believe love knows no distinction between righteous and evil factions. But first of all, both parties must agree. But I’m curious, Sister Jin. Are you really interested in Yeon Sohyeop?"
"I’ve already said it several times! He is impressive!"
"Alright. I’ll support you. You’re the only woman here, so you’ll succeed."
With dreams in their hearts, the three young members entered Zhengzhou First Pavilion.
When they reached the seventh floor, they froze.
A man and a woman they had never seen before were cheerfully conversing with Yeon Jeokha and Old Shim.
From a distance, the atmosphere seemed very friendly.
Jin Seolha murmured with a worried expression.
"It can’t be, right?"
Seol Chasu, Yoo Geunsik, and Jin Seolha slowly approached.
Old Shim saw them and laughed.
"Introduce yourselves. This is young master Namgung Cheon and lady Namgung Yeon."
Old Shim only treated two people with respect, besides Yeon Jeokha and Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord: Namgung Cheon and Namgung Yeon.
Old Shim’s different attitude surprised the three young members.
Seol Chasu cautiously spoke.
"I am Seol Chasu from the Cheondo Sect, also known as the Heavenly Sword Sect. Could you be the Blue Cloud Sword and the Heart-Reading Solitary Flower?"
Namgung Cheon was thirty-two years old, a bit young to be called a great hero. Seol Chasu, at twenty-three, felt intimidated and decided to address him with respect.
Namgung Cheon smiled and nodded.
"That’s right. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m encouraged to know you belong to the Justice Alliance."
The Namgung Family also belonged to the Justice Alliance, so they were like family.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Yoo Geunsik from the Golden Sword Sect. I’ve heard much about you. It’s an honor."
"I am Jin Seolha from the Changin Sect."
"Namgung Cheon."
Namgung Cheon looked back at them and introduced himself.
Namgung Yeon, who was next to him, only nodded without saying anything.
After the introductions, Seol Chasu, Yoo Geunsik, and Jin Seolha stood there, unsure of what to do. Due to the difference in age and rank, they couldn’t behave casually in front of Namgung Cheon.
After exchanging a few words with Old Shim, Namgung Cheon addressed the three young members.
"You already know the situation. I’ll briefly explain the itinerary. We’re going to visit three Nokrim camps. We’ve arranged the route to minimize travel. First, we’ll go to the Guangfeng Camp on Mount Tai in Shandong, then to the Sandosan Camp on Mount Jiuhua in Hebei, after that to the river camp in the Jiangxi region, followed by the river camp on Dongting Lake in Hunan, and finally to the Daebyeol Camp on Mount Daebyeol in Henan. From Zhengzhou, we’ll make a right turn."
Jin Seolha, who was listening with her mouth open, murmured to herself.
"It’s a very long journey."
"That’s why we’ll use a carriage for the mountain camps. For the river camps, we’ll travel by boat. Although the distance is long, it won’t be too exhausting."
"Oh. A carriage and a boat..."
As she murmured, Jin Seolha imagined a boat ride.
She glanced sideways at Yeon Jeokha.
He was listening to the conversation as if it were someone else’s business. Anyone could think that Namgung Cheon was responsible for everything.
But Jin Seolha liked that carefree and calm attitude.
Then, she glanced sideways at Namgung Yeon.
Even though she tried not to, she couldn’t help but worry about her.
She was called the Heart-Reading Solitary Flower.
Although she didn’t know if she could read minds, she couldn’t deny that she was beautiful.
Could a person be more beautiful than a flower?
Yes, it was possible.
Looking at Namgung Yeon, sitting with a serene expression, she seemed like she had stepped out of a painting of a beauty.
Her perfectly balanced facial features on a small face.
White skin, cherry-red lips, and shiny black hair.
Nothing about her was ordinary.
Although Jin Seolha was one of the most beautiful women in Zhengzhou, she couldn’t compare to Namgung Yeon.
"I must have my own virtues too!"
With that thought, Jin Seolha was filled with determination.
A carriage arrived at Zhengzhou First Pavilion.
The owner of the pavilion, Jang Bo-ok, came out and loaded dried meat and provisions onto the roof of the carriage.
Despite all her worries, it seemed she had become attached to them. Or perhaps she was grateful that they hadn’t killed her.
Yeon Jeokha’s group left around 10 in the morning.
Even though it was a large carriage, it seemed a bit cramped for seven people.
Finally, due to their age, Seol Chasu and Yoo Geunsik decided to take turns sitting next to the coachman.
Yoo Geunsik was the first to sit in the coachman’s seat.
When the six of them got into the carriage, the coachman cracked his long whip.
"Let’s go!"
With a rattle, the carriage started moving toward the city gate.
And so began the silent struggle of Nokrim against the Yoomyung Cult.
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Early February.
Zhengzhou.
The three clans (Baek Clan, Yang Clan, and Waryong Manor) faced the harshest winter in their history.
The Samjangbulip policy devised by the Great Chaeju of Nokrim, Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord, plunged the three clans into despair.
The disciples of the three clans lost their jobs, and the clans lost their control over commerce.
But it didn’t end there.
Nokrim and the Evil Faction threatened merchants to cut ties with the three clans.
Unable to withstand the pressure, the disciples of the three clans scattered, just as had happened with the disciples of Waryong Manor in the past.
But Nokrim continued to pursue them.
Finally, the disciples of the three clans had to hide their past and wander as Wanderers.
The first to dissolve was Waryong Manor.
Yeon Mubaek closed Waryong Manor and returned the Baekho Corps, also known as the White Tiger Guard, to the Baek Clan.
Although his mother, Baek Miju, and his younger brother, Yeon Seungbaek, opposed him, Yeon Mubaek did not relent.
Baek Miju and the Baekho Corps had to return to the Baek Clan.
Yeon Mubaek, after closing Waryong Manor, joined the Justice Alliance in Zhengzhou.
A clan leader joining as a mere warrior was an act of humility.
The Swordmaster Seong Un, Ma Cheondeok, welcomed him with open arms, as he was recruiting high-level warriors.
Yeon Mubaek, once settled at the Zhengzhou headquarters, called his younger brother, Yeon Seungbaek.
With nowhere else to go, Yeon Seungbaek reluctantly joined the Zhengzhou headquarters.
Yeon Mubaek’s choice was the right one.
In the current world, only the Justice Alliance could accept the members of the three clans.
Unlike Waryong Manor, which dissolved early, the Baek and Yang clans resisted until the end. But the constant pressure from the Evil Faction made every day a living hell.
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Baek Clan.
Only the members of the Baek Clan remained in the clan’s residence, as all the disciples had left.
They were waiting for the clan leader, Baek Seungho, to make a decision soon.
One day, Baek Miju, known for speaking her mind, expressed the wishes of her family to Baek Seungho.
"Father, we can no longer endure in Zhengzhou. It would be better to move to another region..."
Before she could finish speaking, Baek Seungho shouted.
"Shut up! Others may not know, but you have no right to speak. Because of your actions, three clans have fallen. If you had asked for forgiveness, this wouldn’t have happened."
Baek Seungho trembled with anger as he looked at his daughter.
He had spoiled her, and now they were in this situation. He regretted not being stricter.
"Even if I had apologized, it would have been the same. Did you forget that he also demanded that you and the leader of the Yang Clan kneel?"
"We have done nothing wrong!"
"And what about me? What great sin did I commit? I took in that orphaned maid because my father told me to, and I treated her better than anyone! I treated her like a sister, and she repaid me by stealing my husband! Do you know how he looked at me after she came?"
Baek Miju looked at her father with wide eyes.
Remembering those moments made her want to die.
"Should I have taken good care of his child? Anyone would have killed the child. I didn’t do it for the honor of the clan, but if I had known this would happen, I would have killed him. Father, you were right. My mistake was not killing him then."
"..."
Baek Seungho closed his eyes and sighed.
Although he understood his daughter, as the clan leader, he couldn’t ignore her mistakes.
"I can’t face the ancestors. You must leave the Baek Clan. I don’t know how much longer the clan will survive, but there is no place for you here."
"Father..."
Baek Miju looked at her father with empty eyes.
Her husband had betrayed her, her children were gone, and now her parents were throwing her out. She felt her mind go blank.
That afternoon, Baek Miju left the Baek Clan.
After standing in front of the gate for a while, she began to walk unsteadily northward.
She was heading to Luoyang.
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