Chapter 344

Episode 344

“Whoa!”

“Aaaah!”

The screams of the bandits echoed throughout the area.

As we got closer to Hebei, the number of times we were attacked by bandits increased.

It was not like this even when Cheonan Gambu led the main force and crossed the border between Anhui and Shandong.

It may have been because the number of people was reduced and they were looked down on, but there was a different fundamental reason.

‘This is a cross-section that reveals how poor public order is in the area bordering the front line.’

Of course, there were only so many of them, but thieves could not be a threat to the party.

Except for the bandits who left their mark in Nokrim (綠林), all were organized along the lines of Dokgo-seong and Lee Su-yeon.

“What are they doing! “No matter how many people we have, we’re having a hard time with kids who haven’t even had blood on their heads!”

“Chaeju! “Those guys are not normal!”

“If we continue like this, we will be wiped out!”

Cheon Ga-ryeong and I watched the two from behind, and if a dangerous situation arose, we provided support with cancer technology.

It took barely a moment for the bandits blocking the road to be wiped out.

Dokgo-seong and Lee Soo-yeon sat against a nearby rock and took a deep breath.

‘As expected, the burden of continuous warfare is great.’

No matter how skilled an expert was, he had physical limitations.

So far, I’ve used two people to make up for the lack of practical experience, but from now on, I feel like I’ll have to do it myself.

“receive.”

“......?”

“Even if you just change your clothes, you still have to wipe the blood off your face.”

Dok Go-seong wets the cloth he took out of his arms with water and hands it to Lee Soo-yeon.

Suyeon Lee expressed her gratitude with a glance.

Dok-go-seong woke up with a groan and came over to me and spoke.

“I will help.”

“It’s going to be hard, but I’m just resting. “I’ll at least clean up after myself.”

“Don’t worry, you’re still fine.”

“Then, can I leave it to you to deal with the thieves we encounter next?”

“......Please take a look.”

Unlike before, he did not seem to care at all about Lee Soo-yeon’s cold attitude.

It seemed like they decided that it would be better for both of them to maintain a reasonable distance rather than forcefully approach each other.

A conversation I had with Dok Go-seong at the camp some time ago flashed through my mind.

[If it’s so inconvenient, why don’t you just treat me like someone who doesn’t exist?]

[Really?]

[Why is there any reason to force someone to please me? You can just stay in a faceless relationship like everyone else.]

[.......]

[It’s just that there is no progress in your friendship, but she hasn’t done anything wrong to you, right?] [

Yes.]

[It’s a moral problem. You can’t forcefully change something when you haven’t done anything worth it. Isn’t it?]

[That’s true.]

[Is there still a reason to complain? All you have to do is not hang out with her except when carrying out official duties. We’re both comfortable and good.]

[That’s...]

[Why don’t you want to do that?]

[Yes.]

[Are you really interested in Soo-yeon?]

[If you’re interested, you are. I’m not sure if it’s interest in a rational sense.]

[If it’s not rational interest?]

[Hyung, have you never thought about that? This small person resembles someone.]

[......?]

[From the first time I saw this small person, this small person looked similar to someone I knew well.]

When I remembered that incident at the time, a bitter smile came out.

I had thought about it before, but Dok Go-seong was more clever than he seemed.

Would you say that you have a knack for confusing people?

It took me a while to understand what he meant.

[...Sooyeon looks like me?]

[To be exact, he resembles my older brother.]

[Was I that bad?]

[In the grand scheme of things, they were similar. Do you push it away openly or subtly? It’s just that little difference.]

[I don’t know what to say.]

I felt regretful, but there was no point in regretting what had already happened.

After getting my fill of it, I swung my sword and mercilessly cut down the surrendered bandits.

“Oops!”

“You devil! “How can you deal with someone who doesn’t even resist?”

It may not be a good thing for the bandits, but I wasn’t the type of person to be compassionate enough to take the trouble of saving them and leading them to the government office.

“If you feel wronged, don’t commit mountaineering in the next life.”

The blood flowing from the bandits’ bodies dyed the ground red.

* * *

We finally arrived at Hebei Paengjia.

As soon as he could see my face as I got off the carriage, the warrior guarding the main gate bowed his head politely.

“It’s called Pengguun. “It is an honor to meet the Dragon King, who is renowned throughout the entire central plain.”

“This is Yeon-Woon, the head of the Cheonan Inspectorate. “Could you please put a message inside?”

“Please wait a moment.”

The gatekeeper runs into the front door.

After some time, a group of people appeared in front of me and my group.

Dobong, the woman at the front, greeted me with a happy expression.

“It’s been a while, Sohyeop.”

“Long time no see.”

Pengyeonji.

A direct blood relative of the Hebei Peng family.

It had been years since I last spoke to her.

‘Is it when I visited the Murim Alliance with Sega’s later exponents?’

It occurred to me that time flies so quickly.

After gauging her level based on the energy she was emitting, I internally exclaimed in admiration.

‘Talent is talent.’

A great achievement was achieved without anyone seeing him.

Although he was at the same peak, his capabilities were so high that they could not even be compared to Hwang Bo-jin.

Since he was working on the front line, he must have gone through a more difficult path than others.

“Follow me. “The head of the family is waiting for you.”

“All right.”

As I crossed the front gate and entered Seganae, I was met with eyes from all directions.

Everyone wore swords on their waists, as if to show that they were blood relatives of the Pan family.

“Is he the Dragon King?”

“You look younger than I vaguely imagined.”

“I’m sure you said you’re turning 25 this year, right?”

“To reach absolute heights in your mid-twenties. “I just can’t believe it.”

“If Taesangaju and the Dragon King fight, who will win?”

“Of course Taesanggaju will win. Even so, does the Dragon King, who only recently ascended to the prefecture, have the potential to be the opponent of Lord Taesang? “I don’t know if it will be a few years later.”

Eyes filled with envy and awe.

Is it because his reputation increased as he occupied the first seat of the Ten Heavenly Emperors?

I could clearly feel that people’s gaze towards me had changed from before.

Some people feel burdened and want to move on.

When I entered the office located on the first floor of Gajujeon, I was able to meet Paeng In-ho, the head of the Paeng family.

“Welcome.”

“See you, matriarch.”

Paeng In-ho, who had taken a bite of Paeng Yeonji with a wave of his hand, offered me a seat.

The maid waiting in the corner immediately brought out teaware.

“I heard you came after receiving the order of the lord.”

“yes. “I have come to see God’s elders.”

“Shin-ui is staying in his main room. “My daughter will show you the location of the medical room when you leave the office.”

“Thank you for your kindness.”

“It’s hard to believe it even when I see it in person. I can’t even estimate my capabilities. “Are you really a young man in his twenties?”

Paeng In-ho was a master of Hwagyeong and ranked high among the 100 great masters.

I trembled humbly with a faint smile on my face.

“We’ve just gotten over the wall. “It’s still not enough.”

“I was a little tired of trying to stop my father who was so excited.”

“yes?”

“He made such a fuss when he heard you were visiting.”

“......?”

I wondered if I had heard wrong.

A person who is the head of the Paeng family, one of the five great families, is very excited at the thought of meeting me?