A field where the bluish color had faded considerably.
At a ti when the heat of the sun, which had blazed as if to burn the whole world, had subsided considerably, a group of martial artists was moving along a murmuring stream.
They were a group that had started from Kunming, Yunnan Province, and was heading to Guiyang, Guizhou Province, and Cho Myung had joined them in the middle.
From Cho Myung's point of view, he was returning to Guiyang after leaving for three months, so he thought of the people of Yifeng Hall. So he was not in a good mood and could not help but be silent.
"This is why you shouldn't work with newcors. They think they're so great until they get a taste of the sword. Hmph!"
"Leave him be. He's from a great place, so he probably doesn't want to talk to wanderers like us."
The people who were moving at the front grumbled, looking at Cho Myung, who was walking alone, separated from them, with a crooked gaze.
Although it was not like that for Cho Myung, he did not want to explain his gloomy mood, so he pretended not to know.
"Newcors always show their colors like that."
Bai Hualan said from behind in a pathetic tone.
The woman who had hired Cho Myung at the inn was none other than Bai Hualan.
"He's a newcor because he's clumsy. Do you think you weren't like that?"
"Still, I wasn't unable to get along with people like that."
"It was the opposite. You made it obvious that you were a newcor by trying to get to know everyone here and there."
"Isn't that better?"
"Who said anything?"
The middle-aged man who was talking with Bai Hualan was Bai Hualan's father and the head of the Baihua rchant Guild in Guiyang, Bai Shangjing.
He had been away for a long ti because of the business he had started in Kunming, Yunnan Province, but he was returning to the Baihua rchant Guild because sothing had happened in the land of Guiyang.
"But how did it happen?"
"Are you talking about Yifeng Hall?"
"Yes."
"If you think about it, it's not surprising."
"Is that so?"
"They were just lucky until now."
"Lucky?"
"Yes. Think about it. When the war between the Orthodox and Demonic Factions ended, the weak places should have been eaten up or disappeared. But the power distribution in the land of Guiyang was so exquisite that those who had joined the Orthodox or Demonic Factions could not overwhelm each other, so most of them survived. Besides, from their point of view, there was also us, who could be called a third force that they did not know whether would beco an enemy or an ally. They were all lucky."
"So they couldn't attack rashly because they couldn't overwhelm their opponents?"
"Yes."
"Then does the disappearance of Yifeng Hall an that the balance has been broken?"
"Yes. The balance was broken when Tianlian and the Heaven of Killing Emperors intervened. As they say, when whales fight, the shrimp's back breaks, and as they intervened, Yifeng Hall and others were crushed."
"Hmm... I understand that much. Then what is the reason why the Green Forest suddenly intervened?"
"Do you know that too?"
"I'm sorry. I saw the letter that my uncle sent while cleaning your office. It said that the Green Forest had completely surrounded Guiyang, but what could be the reason?"
It was a matter to be reprimanded for seeing a letter that had co to him without permission. But since it was a matter that would be known anyway, it was not a big problem.
Bai Shangjing turned his head and stared at the mountain range in the far front and said.
"How can I guess all their dark intentions? But if you think about what they always do, wouldn't it be money in the end?"
"If it's money... don't tell ?"
Bai Hualan, who was startled and widened her eyes.
She looked at her father, hoping that her thoughts were not true.
"I hope not, but I wonder if they are not aiming for the entire Guiyang rchant Union."
"That's really serious."
Bai Hualan's face hardened.
In fact, she had not felt any sense of crisis until she ca here.
Because the Baihua rchant Guild she had seen while growing up was a great place.
In addition, the Guizhou rchant Union, to which the Baihua rchant Guild belonged, was even more huge.
Even if the Green Forest surrounded Guiyang, she thought that it could be solved quickly if they spent a little money and used their power.
Isn't what the Green Forest is aiming for just so money?
She had been thinking like that.
But to aim for the entire Guiyang rchant Union!
Doesn't that an that they could lose everything!
A trace of fear spread across Bai Hualan's hardened face.
"You don't have to worry. And the Guiyang rchant Union has a last card."
"A last card?"
"Yes. We always have a last card. This side or that side, if the Green Forest pushes to the end, we just have to join hands with Tianlian. We will lose a lot, but it will be better than losing everything."
At Bai Shangjing's words, Bai Hualan nodded her head.
It was a story she had heard until her ears hurt since she started learning the work of the rchant guild. That the rchant guild was safest when it kept to the middle of the Orthodox and Demonic Factions. If one side gained power and was in danger of losing everything, they had to join hands with the other side.
The world runs on money and military power. That ans that you can stand up to military power with money. Even a weakened force can quickly recover its power if a huge amount of financial power is added. Moreover, now is a world where Tianlian is superior to the Demonic Faction Alliance.
'Yes, there is a way. The key is how much we can prevent the bleeding.'
Bai Hualan looked at her father.
The person who always smiled in front of her now had a hardened face.
"I believe in my uncle. Of course, I believe in you too, Dad. You will overco it well."
"Yes, thank you."
Bai Shangjing nodded his head at his daughter's words.
But he did not smile in the end.
It was lunchti.
It was less than half a day to Guiyang. In other words, it ant that after this lunch, they would et the group of the Green Forest that was said to be surrounding Guiyang. Perhaps because of that, Bai Hualan was very sensitive.
So the sight of Cho Myung, who was separated from the others and could not get along with them, was an eyesore.
"Hey. How can you fight together if you can't get along with other people like that? The reason I hired you is to fight together when a fight breaks out."
"I will do my part."
"How? What are you going to do by yourself?"
"Isn't it enough to be a shield?"
The mont Cho Myung's words ended, the atmosphere around them beca chaotic.
The ronin looked at the people of the Baihua rchant Guild with worried faces, and on the contrary, the people of the Baihua rchant Guild avoided their gazes, pretending they did not know.
"A shield? What do you an by that?"
"Didn't you hire to use as a shield?"
"Shut up!"
"......!"
"Do you have the confidence to do well if you're used as a shield? Do you think anyone can be a shield? Don't talk nonsense and just keep your place. Don't run away because you're scared when a fight breaks out when you're separated like that. You said you'll do your part? Just try not to. I won't give you a single penny."
Bai Hualan shouted, putting her hands on her waist and panting.
At this ti, Bai Shangjing stepped forward.
"That's enough. You should also be careful with your words. When you hire a ronin, it's because you want them to fight with you when a fight breaks out, so whether it's a shield or whatever, you have to pay for it. If you don't like it, you can just pay the penalty and leave. Since we couldn't hire anyone else because of you, we've beco that much more dangerous, so you should give us five silver coins."
At Bai Shangjing's words to give him the penalty, the ronin could not even say that they would be used as a shield. It was because Bai Shangjing had brought up the story of the penalty, aiming for that, and it had worked properly.
"I keep my promises."
"You should."
The squabble that Bai Hualan had started ended with Cho Myung and Bai Shangjing saying a word each.
"Hmph!"
Bai Hualan left with a snort and went back.
Cho Myung stared at her back as she left.
His face was still expressionless.
***
"Hey! Stop right there and state your identity!"
"Hey! Shouldn't we search the woman's body first!"
"That's right. Look at that chest. I don't know what it is, but it seems she's hidden a lot."
"Body searches are my specialty! Hey, woman, co here! I'll gently massage you!"
The bandits of the Green Forest blocked their way and did not hesitate to make lewd remarks to Bai Hualan. Not only Bai Hualan herself, but also Bai Shangjing's face was filled with anger.
Regardless, the bandits of the Green Forest went one step further, as if it did not matter if a fight broke out. At their increasingly lewd behavior, Bai Shangjing took out a purse and shook it.
"Say one more word. I'll draw my sword instead of this."
Bai Shangjing shouted with wide eyes.
The lewd remarks of the bandits stopped abruptly. Since the purse had co out, they now had to follow the decision of the fortress master. But since the fortress master was not here, they had to follow the order of the vice fortress master.
"Give it to ."
The vice fortress master, who had been silent until now, said.
Bai Shangjing threw the purse he was holding. While doing so, he carefully observed the location and number of the bandits.
'Since there are about sixty, there are about twenty more than us. With that number, we should be able to break through in case of an ergency.'
The martial artists of the Baihua rchant Guild were twenty, and the number of ronin was also about that. Since the martial artists of the Baihua rchant Guild were more skilled than the bandits, it seed that they could break through without much sacrifice.
Still, negotiation was the priority. As always, he had to talk at a reasonable level, and if it broke down, he had to break through with force.
"This amount is enough, but you should at least tell us who you are. It's an order from the main fortress, so don't be offended and just tell us who you are."
The vice fortress master said, putting on airs.
Bai Shangjing rolled his eyes and got off his horse. And he slowly approached the vice fortress master.
If they found out that he was the head of the Baihua rchant Guild and the younger brother of the Baihua rchant Guild Master, he did not know how the Green Forest would react. It was possible that they would even call the nearby bandits to take him hostage. So he had to keep their identity a secret.
"The amount in that purse alone is ten silver coins. We are not on a business trip, and this is not the territory of your fortress. Are you demanding more than that?"
"The situation is certainly different from usual. But what can we do? They told us to do so from above."
The vice fortress master, who was crossing his arms and grinning.
It was an attitude of 'so what are you going to do about it?'.
But it was at this ti that the mont the vice fortress master grinned, Bai Shangjing shortened the distance of ten feet in an instant and stretched out the hilt of his sword.
"Damn it!"
The startled vice fortress master uncrossed his arms and hurriedly stepped back.
At that mont, the hilt of the sword that had reached his chest hit the vice fortress master's hand.
With a thwack! sound, the purse shot up.
Bai Shangjing flicked the purse towards himself with the hilt of his sword and then retrieved it.
"If you don't want to be persuaded, isn't it the way of this world to force it?"
Bai Shangjing's tone, who was glaring with sharp eyes, had also changed.
At that, the vice fortress master's eyes beca fierce. But he could not easily give the order to attack because he knew Bai Shangjing's greatness from just that one move.
"I've seen such a bastard! You can't even say a word after having your purse snatched!"
Even at the sound of him being cursed, the vice fortress master turned around with a face full of joy.
Because the fortress master had returned.
Bai Shangjing also turned his gaze to where the voice was coming from.
He saw a burly old man who had appeared, leading about ten people. He had a terrifying-looking green dragon polearm, so he looked majestic.
The green dragon polearm was a weapon with a single crescent-shaped blade, the 'yueya', attached right below the spearhead of a large spear, and it was one of the most difficult weapons to face because it could be used to pull or stab, as well as to strike with great force using its long length.
'If it's a green dragon polearm... it's the fortress master of Huanggang Fortress, Ga Gyeomchang!'
Bai Shangjing's complexion hardened.
Although he was not afraid of Ga Gyeomchang's martial prowess, if he fought with him, he would be completely tied up. That ant that everyone except him would be in danger.
'This is not good! This is really not good!'
It was when Bai Shangjing was sighing heavily, not knowing what to do.
"Fortress master, you're here."
When the vice fortress master bowed his waist, Ga Gyeomchang slapped him on the back of the head. With a thwack! sound, the vice fortress master grabbed his head and writhed in pain.
"You damn bastard! When are you going to let retire with that soft-heartedness! Huh!"
"I'm sorry!"
"Shut up!"
When the vice fortress master closed his mouth and retreated, Ga Gyeomchang, who had frowned as much as he could, approached in front of Bai Shangjing.
"You're the head of the Baihua rchant Guild, Bai."
"I didn't know that the fortress master of Huanggang Fortress would recognize this body."
"You went to Yunnan, but seeing that you're coming back, you must have co knowing the situation, right?"
"It's a pity that such a thing has happened."
When Bai Shangjing said with a sigh, as if he were really sorry, Ga Gyeomchang waved his hand and gestured.
"That's enough. I don't know about complicated things. The order from the fortress master was to report carefully who cos and goes, and since I know you're the head of the Baihua rchant Guild, you can go in. But."
Bai Shangjing, who had been relieved at Ga Gyeomchang's words, made a face as if to say 'of course' at the word 'but' at the end.
"If I just let you go in this situation, wouldn't my face be ruined?"
"Who would dare to disrespect the fortress master of Huanggang Fortress? If I had known that you were from Huanggang Fortress, I would have revealed that I was Bai from the beginning."
"Ah, of course you would have. Well, anyway, since the situation is like this, how about you just give that purse?"
"Even if you had told to bow my head, I would have done so, so what's so difficult about giving you the purse? I can only admire the generosity of the fortress master."
"Don't say such empty words, if you're going to give it, give it and just go in."
"Here it is."
When Bai Shangjing approached and handed it to him directly, Ga Gyeomchang reached out and took it.
"Thank you for saving my face."
"I'm the one who should be grateful."
"I hope we can see each other again with a smiling face like this."
"That's right."
The two smiled at each other.
The Baihua rchant Guild and the ronin they had hired finally stroked their chests and were relieved.
***
"Fortress master! Fortress master! Fortress master!"
"Shut up! Let sleep! Let sleep!"
"Damn it! The sun is at its zenith, what sleep!"
"I ate lunch, so I have to take a nap! And did you just say 'damn it'!"
"It's that brat! It's that brat!"
"I said did you say 'damn it', why are you changing the subject!"
"It's that brat, the brat who you gave up fighting!"
"Ban Myung?"
The fortress master of Dongjia Fortress, Xiong Fu Fan Zhong, shot up.
(End of Chapter)
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