The Youngest Member Chapter 53

Cheon Woojin looked at the group of people moving away.

Although they had gathered their energy, they could not deceive Cheon Woojin's eyes.

'The martial arts of the evil path.'

Of course, not all evil paths were similar.

The martial arts of the properly established black path were as systematic as those of the righteous path, and the martial arts of the Green Forest and the Waterway Fort were closer to being raw.

Besides, there were the martial arts of assassins, the martial arts of courtesans, the martial arts of shop assistants...

Anyway, although they were grouped together and called the evil path, the martial arts within it were diverse, and their energy was close to that of the Green Forest.

It seed they were related to the horse bandits who were said to be oppressing the village.

"Wait."

Cheon Woojin said in a low voice. The voice was not loud, but it was filled with powerful internal energy and pushed far away.

A mont later, those who were moving away stopped their steps.

A man turned around and shouted with his hands cupped around his mouth.

"What is it?"

"Are you from Xinyang County?"

"...That's right."

Cheon Woojin was certain. Xinyang County was a very small village, so there couldn't be that many martial artists.

Cheon Woojin walked without a word. Song Yiyeon followed him. The moonlight was bright, and the shadows of the two stretched long.

At that, the martial artists exchanged glances.

Soon, Cheon Woojin, who had approached, asked nonchalantly.

"Why are you lying?"

"Umm..."

The man let out a groan. For so reason, he had a feeling that things would get complicated. The man, who had been thinking for a mont, said.

"I did it because I didn't want to get involved with martial artists as much as possible."

"I see."

Cheon Woojin, who nodded his head, scratched his shoulder and asked again.

"Are you from Xinyang County?"

"No. I'm just stopping by for so business."

"Business?"

The man's eyebrows twitched. Although it was true that he didn't want to get involved as much as possible, the sight of the young brat asking as if he were interrogating him was annoying.

"Do we have to tell you that too?"

"I have an acquaintance in Xinyang County."

At that, the guys exchanged glances. For a mont, their montum beca nacing. Because they were disguised in ordinary clothes, they had no swords at their waists. They took out sickles, daggers, and clubs from their bosoms.

"Is that Taoist guy your friend?"

The man's words beca short. He had realized that he couldn't just let the situation pass.

Cheon Woojin made an 'umm' sound and thought for a mont.

"It's a little ambiguous to call him a friend. But it doesn't seem like we're strangers either."

"It's already too late. We have more comrades besides us."

The corners of the man's mouth went up in a smirk. They were not the only ones heading for Xinyang County. After hearing the story of their comrade who had run away from there, all the martial artists of the Black Horse Society had moved.

"How many are there?"

"...You crazy bastard. Do you think I'll tell you that?"

Cheon Woojin nodded his head. For so reason, he had asked because he was talking so freely about things he hadn't even asked, but it seed it was too much.

However, there was also a fact that could be inferred. Basically, horse bandits ride horses. Nevertheless, the fact that these guys were walking ant that their rank among their comrades was low.

Because horses were basically expensive, even if they were horse bandits, they had to have a high rank to be able to ride one.

'Young hero Jin Yun is also not weak.'

However, it was true that he was uneasy because he could not accurately predict the opponent's martial might.

Cheon Woojin, who had organized his thoughts, said calmly.

"I'll have to finish this quickly."

Was it because of that calm attitude? The n, whose faces were flushed red, glared nacingly.

"This arrogant bastard..."

In the hand of the man who had shouted, there was a sickle. It was a sickle that was too well-honed to just cut rice. The blade, reflected in the moonlight, was quite nacing.

Song Yiyeon, who saw this, also drew his longsword and shouted.

"Go! Young hero Cheon!"

"..."

Cheon Woojin looked at him as if he were dumbfounded. Song Yiyeon, who t that gaze, said as if embarrassed.

"Umm, it's a joke. I'll do it."

Song Yiyeon, who said so, took a stance. At the nonchalant attitude of the two, the n's energy sank low.

"These bastards!"

Five or six n rushed in at once.

Cheon Woojin's hand, which was scratching his shoulder, naturally went to the Crescent Moon Staff on his back. Although the n had attacked first, the Crescent Moon Staff, which was drawn late, moved faster than them.

Thwack-!

A heavy sound of tearing flesh echoed faintly under the moonlight.

* * *

Jin Yun and Seok Dobyeok, who had sorted out the village situation, were so tired that they got a room at an inn.

Jin Yun placed the hero's scarf on the head of the bed and said.

"I'm sorry for getting you involved because of ..."

"Ahem, no."

Although he said so, his expression looked uncomfortable. If the opponent hadn't been the Plum Blossom Swordsman of the Huashan sect, he would have complained endlessly.

But Seok Dobyeok's personality could not tolerate just keeping his mouth shut.

"That annoying guy, Cheon Woojin, wasn't completely wrong earlier."

"Hmm?"

Jin Yun tilted his head. Did young hero Cheon's na co up here? He knew that the group led by young hero Nangong Jin disliked young hero Cheon.

Seok Dobyeok's words continued.

"Just because you're a Taoist doesn't an you have to help with everything in the world. A Taoist is also a person, so if it's annoying and troubleso, you can pretend not to know, and if you're wronged, you can get angry."

Seok Dobyeok thought that Jin Yun was frustrating. No matter how much he was a Taoist, he never got angry or said anything unpleasant. There were tis when he looked like a person obsessed with the compulsion to be Taoist-like.

At those words, Jin Yun smiled bitterly. Because Seok Dobyeok's words were not wrong.

"You probably know that our Huashan sect's situation has not been good recently."

"Umm..."

Seok Dobyeok let out an embarrassed groan. Although it was a public secret, he wondered if it was okay for him to hear the story of another sect, and a dark story of the Huashan sect, one of the Nine Sects, at that.

However, Jin Yun continued in a calm voice.

"We were greatly damaged in the era of the Dark Heavenly Son, so our strength has weakened a lot. Because all the masters who represented Huashan at that ti died."

Seok Dobyeok nodded his head. The era of the Dark Heavenly Son that he had heard from the adults was truly terrible. Whether it was the Five Great Families or the Nine Sects One Gang, all the masters who represented the era had died.

Among them, Huashan and Zhongnan had suffered the most damage. The reason was simple. Because the Dark Heavenly Son's hotown was Shaanxi.

"Even as ti passed, the situation did not improve. In fact, although my grandmaster was said to be a genius who would raise Huashan again..."

Jin Yun trailed off. Nevertheless, Seok Dobyeok could predict the content that followed.

The genius who had appeared in the Huashan sect in a hundred years, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint. He, who had obtained the nickna of Sword Saint at the age of thirty, was not only upright in character, but it was said that there was no one among the martial artists of the sa generation who could dare to compare with him.

However, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint had t a tragedy before he could even establish a sect. The Dark Heavenly Son had suddenly disappeared, and he had stepped forward, saying he would get revenge on his disciple, the Black Master.

And so, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint had lost his right arm. The conversation that the Black Master and the Plum Blossom Sword Saint had at that ti was famous within the Huashan sect. The Black Master, who had cut off the Plum Blossom Sword Saint's arm, was said to have said with satisfaction.

- A rare martial artist in recent tis. If you want to get revenge on

again, you can co and find

at any ti, and I will treat you with sincerity.

The Black Master had spared the Plum Blossom Sword Saint because he liked his spirit. However, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint could not go and find the Black Master again. Because of fear.

Less than ten years after that, the Plum Blossom Sword Saint had taken his own life. The reason was that he was ashad of himself for not being able to go and get revenge for his master and senior brothers because of fear.

Throughout the story, Jin Yun's eyes were filled with hatred and lant. He must have grown up hearing about the anger towards the Dark Heavenly Son and the Black Master from a very young age.

Seok Dobyeok nodded his head as if it were a pity.

"I heard that if he were still alive, he would have discussed the position of the number one sword with the alliance leader and the Sword King."

"It's a pity."

After a series of disasters, Huashan had been in decline.

In recent tis, it was in a situation where it was even being pushed back by the Qingcheng sect, which was called the last of the Nine Sects.

And then, Jin Yun's talent had blossod.

Usually, the disciples of Huashan would only be able to make plum blossoms bloom from their swords when they were thirty. However, Jin Yun had made a clear plum blossom bloom at the age of fifteen. By the ti he was twenty, he had received the title of Plum Blossom Swordsman.

He had followed the path of the Plum Blossom Sword Saint exactly.

Also, in the current era, there was no Dark Heavenly Son or Black Master.

Within the Huashan sect, they said that a genius who would revive Huashan once again had been born.

Jin Yun's shoulders were always heavy. The expectations that the sect leader, as well as the elders, masters, and senior uncles, had for Jin Yun were very high.

Jin Yun was required his whole life. To be stronger than anyone else, to be benevolent, to care for the common people, to protect justice, to punish evil, and to follow good.

In short, he had to beco a Taoist-like Taoist, as is commonly said.

Although it was a quality that all Taoists should have, the burden was much greater for Jin Yun, who was a ray of light for the desperate Huashan sect.

It was close to a compulsion, beyond a simple request.

Jin Yun looked at the hero's scarf that he had placed on the head of the bed. It was so scorched by the fire that the plum blossom pattern was not even clearly visible.

Jin Yun's sigh filled the room.

"And so, I forged and forged my sword in Huashan and ca to the Martial Alliance. However, from the very beginning, I only got fourth place. Although you tried to hide it, it was very difficult to face my master's disappointed eyes."

"..."

The atmosphere beca solemn. In fact, Seok Dobyeok had forgotten what his rank was. Just by the fact that he had passed, the Seok family had gathered all the villagers and held a banquet.

"Cheer up. Young hero."

That was all Seok Dobyeok could say. The weight of the burden on his shoulders and the determination to live were completely different from his.

In the gloomy atmosphere, Jin Yun suddenly let out a smirk.

"Thank you for listening. Anyway, that's why I have to be a more Taoist-like Taoist than anyone else. I'm sorry again. For getting you involved in this."

"...Ahem, no."

After hearing all of Jin Yun's circumstances, he couldn't complain.

By the ti the two had finished talking and were preparing to sleep.

"Are you sleeping?"

A cautious voice was heard from outside.

Jin Yun got up and opened the door.

The inn's shop assistant was smiling with embarrassnt, holding a teapot in one hand and two teacups in the other.

"You're not sleeping. That's a relief."

"Ah, I was just about to sleep."

The shop assistant let out an embarrassed laugh and continued.

"Still, you were trying to help our village, but I was worried that you might have heard so harsh words. Haha... people are like that."

At that sight, Jin Yun gave a gentle smile.

"No. How can I not understand their feelings? I would have been angry too."

"You're a Taoist..."

The shop assistant, who looked at Jin Yun with admiration, stealthily entered the room and filled the teacups. At that, a deep and soft flower scent instantly filled the room.

"Actually, I wanted to offer you a drink as a token of my gratitude, but I can't offer a Taoist a drink, right? So I brought so tea instead. Although it looks a little like this, it's a precious tea that is equivalent to my half-month's salary."

"No, how can I accept such a precious thing..."

Jin Yun had an embarrassed expression. However, Seok Dobyeok sat down calmly as if he were a person who had duly paid the price and picked up a teacup.

"Oh, the aroma is really good. Is it Qinghua tea?"

"Yes, your knowledge is amazing."

"This isn't a tea that can be handled in a small inn in a rural village like this..."

"Ahem, young hero Seok."

As Jin Yun gave him a look, Seok Dobyeok clicked his tongue and then, after savoring the aroma of the tea, said.

"Young hero, it's not polite to just refuse. If by any chance you're not going to drink it, I'll have it instead..."

"I'll drink it."

As Seok Dobyeok reached out his hand, Jin Yun hurriedly lifted the teacup. It was also true that it was not polite to just refuse.

'I'll have to co back later and pay the price.'

No matter how much it was a token of gratitude, he couldn't just accept the shop assistant's half-month's salary.

Thinking so, Jin Yun brought the teacup to his lips. Seok Dobyeok had already drunk it down and had refilled the teacup.

As he drank the tea, a soft flower scent lingered in his mouth, and he felt his insides warm up as it went down his throat.

"Hmm, even I, who don't know much about tea, feel that it's very..."

Jin Yun's words did not continue.

For a mont, his head was dizzy.

Jin Yun hurriedly operated his internal energy and looked at the shop assistant.

Seok Dobyeok, who was next to him, had completely collapsed to the floor.

"W-what on earth..."

The shop assistant looked at Jin Yun with a sorry expression.

"Warriors. Even I, a shop assistant, know that you shouldn't eat or drink what others give you in the martial world. I was hoping you would notice and punish ..."

Jin Yun's head was getting more and more confused. He couldn't even understand what he was saying. Soon, the shop assistant left with a word of apology and gradually moved away.

He shook his head repeatedly to clear his mind and operated his internal energy even more. However, perhaps because it was a rather deadly poison, he kept getting sleepy and his vision was shaking.

It was then.

From the darkness across the room where the shop assistant had disappeared, three or four swordsn approached with a thud.

"This is..."

It would not be easy to face the martial artists in this state. Jin Yun, who had packed the hero's scarf in his bosom, led his very heavy body and approached the collapsed Seok Dobyeok.

"Young hero Seok, wake up. Young hero Seok..."

However, Seok Dobyeok seed to have already fallen into a deep sleep and did not flinch. Jin Yun had no choice but to carry Seok Dobyeok on his back. His body was already heavy, but his legs were trembling as if he were supporting the sky.

In the anti, the martial artists continued to approach with a leisurely attitude.

Jin Yun hurriedly looked around. There was no place to run.

Suddenly, a small window ca into his view.

"If you're a Taoist bastard, you should be stuck in a corner of a mountain and offer prayers to a rock. Why did you have to be so nosy?"

"..."

Jin Yun drew his sword and glared at the man. The emblem symbolizing the Plum Blossom Swordsman was engraved on the sword hilt. However, now was not the ti to fight.

As Jin Yun drew his sword, the approaching n stopped for a mont. If they also had eyes, they would know that the opponent was a Plum Blossom Swordsman.

The Plum Blossom Swordsman was a title that could only be received by a disciple who had proven and been recognized for his abilities even within the Huashan sect.

At that sight, Jin Yun tried to act confident and said.

"You're fearless guys. How dare you of the Huashan sect..."

However, for a mont, he couldn't overco the dizziness and staggered. The martial artists let out a mocking laugh.

"A bastard who calls himself a Taoist probably drank it because it was expensive tea, right? These days, whether they're bald monks or long-nosed guys, they all pretend to be gentle, but in the end, they're all like that."

Jin Yun bit his teeth hard. He bit them so hard that his jaw was trembling. Soon, the martial artists gradually approached. The remaining distance between Jin Yun and them was seven steps.

Jin Yun aid his sword. By the ti everyone was about to burst into laughter at that sight.

Swoosh-!

The sword energy that poured out from the tip of the sword rushed forward with a faint but clear plum blossom scent. The startled martial artists rolled on the floor and flew through the air, barely managing to dodge, but...

Slice-

One man couldn't dodge in ti and his neck was cut off.

"H-hyung-nim!"

They had been careless. To think he would pour out such sword energy even after drinking poison. The martial artists, who had instantly emitted a nacing aura, glared at Jin Yun again.

However, Jin Yun had already disappeared from his spot. Only the small window in the room was shattered.

"Tsk, he's really struggling."

The man clicked his tongue. Where could he run with that body? Moreover, down there...

"Keuk...!"

As expected, a groan was heard from outside.

The man smiled broadly and approached the window from which Jin Yun had jumped and looked down.

The Taoist, who was completely surrounded by about thirty of his comrades, was bleeding profusely from his left arm.

"Hey, you bastard, you can't even catch one guy who drank poison? I almost died of shock when you suddenly popped out!"

"Did I know that a guy who was about to die would pour out sword energy? If you don't want to die like Gaesik, be careful."

"What? Gaesik is dead? Shit, I lent him money."

The comrades and the man conversed nonchalantly.

At that sight, Jin Yun bit his teeth hard.

(End of Chapter)