Chapter 159:

Chapter 159:

Wise Strategist

Mu-jin, holding the sleeping child in his arms, used his qinggong to dash through the darkness.

Although he had traveled half a day by carriage, it took him quite a bit of time to return, even with his qinggong.

Mu-jin, who had departed the inn late in the evening, managed to sneak back into the inn around the hours of the Rat (11 PM to 1 AM).

“You’re back earlier than I thought.”

The group, welcoming Mu-jin who returned late, was startled to see the child in his arms.

“Isn’t that Mun-hyuk?”

“Didn’t he go somewhere else earlier today?”

“Did you kidnap him, Mu-jin!?”

Mu-jin sighed and briefly explained the situation to his companions, who were treating him like a kidnapper.

“No way... Was So-cheongmun such a place?”

However, the children, who had been captivated by the bright and beautiful appearance of So-cheongmun, found it difficult to believe Mu-jin’s words.

Fortunately, the child, whose acupoints Mu-jin had released in advance, began to wake up.

“Are you okay?”

The child, who had almost experienced something horrific, looked anxious as he opened his eyes but then saw the familiar face of Cheongsu Dojang and clung to him.

Seeing the child clinging to Cheongsu Dojang, who had regained his composure after traveling back and forth from So-cheongmun, Mu-jin’s expression hardened as he listened to Mu-jin’s story.

When Mun-hyuk suddenly clung to him, Cheongsu Dojang awkwardly patted his back, caught off guard.

Once Mun-hyuk seemed a bit more relaxed, the group carefully asked him about what had happened there.

The story Mun-hyuk shared was almost identical to what Mu-jin had explained.

“So it really was that kind of place...”

“Maybe it was just that particular inn?”

“The manager said that So-cheongmun is famous for such things.”

“He might have been lying to save his own skin, Mu-gung.”

Mu-gung and Mu-gyeong were still confused as they exchanged such words.

“No wonder! That’s why Ling-ling said those things!”

Meanwhile, Mu-yul brought up quite an odd story.

“Ling-ling? What about her?”

“Whenever she met the head of So-cheongmun, Ling-ling would hide behind me, saying he looked like he wanted to eat her.”

“What? You should have told us if something like that happened!”

Surprised, Mu-jin said, to which Mu-yul tilted his head.

“But it happened before too.”

“Before?”

“When Mu-jin and Ling-ling first met. Ling-ling hid, saying Mu-jin looked like he wanted to eat her.”

“...”

“I thought Ling-ling just had bad judgment about people.”

“...”

Mu-jin, at a loss for words, avoided Mu-yul’s innocent gaze. It seemed it was all due to his karma.

However, Mu-yul and Ling-ling’s words seemed to give credibility to the suspicion about So-cheongmun.

Especially Cheongsu Dojang, holding Mun-hyuk, had a fierce determination in his eyes.

“Wait. So why did you suddenly follow Mun-hyuk, Mu-jin? Did you know about So-cheongmun beforehand?”

At that moment, Mu-gyeong, as perceptive as ever, pointed out sharply.

“Yes, I knew.”

“Then why didn’t you say anything? You told us it was a good place at first.”

“Because if I had told the truth, you wouldn’t have been able to keep a straight face.”

It was different from pretending to be bandits. Unlike beating up bad guys while dressed as bandits, here they had to act oblivious and moved by the villains.

Could the children, who had never worked in society, manage to smile for business while cursing inside? It was something only Mu-jin, worn out by countless troublesome customers, could do.

* * *

Late at night.

Knock, knock, knock!

Someone started knocking on the gate of So-cheongmun, where everyone was already asleep.

One of the disciples, who woke up, went to check and found that it was the people who had recently been frequenting So-cheongmun.

The disciples, evidently in collusion, immediately changed their expressions upon hearing the Master’s order.

But.

“Who’s going to clean up whom?”

“Mu-jin, can we start now?”

“Let’s go, Ling-ling!”

“Ook! Ook!!”

It was actually Mu-jin’s party who had been holding back their anger.

Swish.

Swoosh!

Without a word, Cheongsu Dojang, who had been silently seething, drew his sword, and a chilling slicing sound filled the air.

Curiously, the screams came quite late.

“Kyahhh!!”

“Ahhh!”

The scream came from those witnessing the So-cheongmun disciple who had been cut down and killed.

And as if that scream was a signal flare, Cheongsu Dojang and the Muja Quartet charged at the So-cheongmun Master and his disciples.

No, Cheongsu Dojang charged at the So-cheongmun disciples.

Swish!

Mu-jin’s party rushed in to stop Cheongsu Dojang.

“That guy has lost it again!”

“Hold back!”

“The children are watching!”

“Ook! Ook!!”

The Muja Quartet managed to grab Cheongsu Dojang’s limbs, but by then, five So-cheongmun disciples had already lost their lives.

The So-cheongmun disciples had learned martial arts but couldn’t possibly match one of the top young masters from the orthodox factions.

Moreover, with Cheongsu Dojang’s eyes ablaze with rage, he continued his lethal swordsmanship.

In three swift thrusts and two slashes, he pierced the hearts of two, punctured the throat of another, beheaded one, and bisected the last disciple.

With such supernatural and absurd skills, the So-cheongmun disciples lost the will to resist and stared blankly at Cheongsu Dojang.

“If you don’t want to die, drop your weapons and kneel, you bastards!”

With Mu-jin holding back Cheongsu Dojang’s sword, his face flushed, he shouted, causing the So-cheongmun disciples and their Master to hurriedly kneel on the ground.

Of course, there was no intention to forgive those who had sold the children.

It was just that, with so many children around, they planned to send them away before finishing things to protect their emotional well-being.

‘Damn it.’

But, with Cheongsu Dojang’s rampage, the heavy scent of blood already permeated So-cheongmun.

And Cheongsu Dojang, forcibly held by the Muja Quartet, still gazed at Mu-jin with eyes burning with rage.

“...Why are you trying to protect such villains?”

“Hoo. I’m not protecting those scumbags; I’m protecting the children.”

As Mu-jin said this and looked at the children around them, Cheongsu Dojang’s gaze followed.

There, the children who had recently played with Cheongsu Dojang were standing.

“....”

Every child who made eye contact with Cheongsu Dojang averted their gaze or had a frightened expression.

The flames in Cheongsu Dojang’s eyes gradually extinguished, replaced by a complex mix of emotions.

Then.

“Hic.”

The child who last made eye contact with him.

Mun-hyuk, who had called him “big brother,” had a face filled with fear and was hiccupping.

Cheongsu Dojang’s face turned pale.

It wasn’t from fear.

Mu-jin, who was right in front of Cheongsu Dojang, didn’t miss the moment when Cheongsu Dojang’s Adam’s apple moved quickly.

‘...Cheongsu Dojang’s inner demons are more severe than I thought.’

Mu-jin judged that he was undoubtedly trying to forcibly swallow the blood that was rising up.