Episode 31: You have to pay for the meal (2)
Jinyang Ferry.
Dozens of merchant ships pass through this place along the Yellow River every day.
Anyone who wants to launch a boat here must pay a considerable amount of money to the Cheonryong Trading Association as a labor fee.
It was under the pretense of helping with the loading and unloading of goods, but in reality, they did not even pretend to do so. It was no different from extortion through threats, even though it was a nice talk.
In addition, a certain proportion of the money collected from merchants was delivered to local government offices, so it was free from government forces.
Therefore, the ferry site was truly a honey pot for the Cheonryong Sanghoe. Until a little while ago.
“How can you watch as the Parakhos extort merchants?”
They were seven shamans wearing the uniform of the shaman sect. Around them, dozens of warriors from the Heavenly Dragon Chamber were lying down and rolling around.
And two Taoists from the Huashan Sect who had come to mediate were fighting with them.
“Still, there is an order to things, so there’s no need to push things around like this. Please calm down and leave it to us as we will take care of it.”
The Taoist of the Hwasan Sect was talking privately, but the Shaman Sect showed no sign of backing down at all.
“Since when did volcanoes act as the mouthpiece for the rebels? “Tell us what your relationship is with them.”
The two Taoists were quite taken aback by the completely different reaction than expected.
However, it was impossible to back down from here.
“The owner of the Heavenly Dragon Chamber is a lay disciple of the Huashan Sect, so he cannot be said to be a stranger. “This is our internal matter, so please leave.”
When a dispute arises between major factions, the basic rule is for each side to avoid it, and it is common to encourage higher-ups to resolve it.
But accidents can happen at any time. In a situation where the distribution between both sides is similar among energetic young martial arts warriors, the probability increases exponentially.
Moreover, as long as we had planned to do so, accidents were inevitable.
As if they had made a promise, the bandits disguised as shamans spoke without hesitation.
“It means we’re in the same company as the gangsters.”
“It’s a shame for the Murim Alliance. “I’m ashamed to be the same Taoist monks.”
“I know. “It’s trash to just promote politics in name, right?”
Even sailors, including several tops. Before I knew it, hundreds of people had gathered to watch this scene.
The murmurings of the onlookers were all in favor of the shaman faction.
The faces of the Taoists of the Volcano Sect, who had been reduced to the devil in an instant, turned red.
“What did you say just now? “Can you handle this provocation?”
Pungho didn’t care and just snorted and looked around.
“everyone! “Am I wrong?”
The crowd that had gathered was just watching. Even though I agreed with him in my heart, I was afraid that if I went forward, I might end up in trouble.
At that moment, an old man’s shout was heard from somewhere, breaking the silence.
“If there are people who look after the Wulpae, they are worse than the Wulpae! “What you’re doing is like crows eating a corpse!”
Everyone’s eyes turned to that place.
A passerby wearing deep bamboo clothing was holding a girl who looked to be about two or three years old in a gap in the crowd.
At that time, the child in his arms imitated a crow in unison.
“Crow? Wow~. “Aaaah~.”
The identities of the two were Yu Jin-san and his granddaughter.
It was a situation that could have made me laugh, but I couldn’t.
Is it because I gained courage from their appearance? The surrounding merchants simultaneously pointed their fingers at the volcanic wave.
“The Volcanic Sect was controlling the civilians from behind even though they could not protect them?”
“Where on earth has the definition of volcanic waves gone?”
“You guys are worse!”
The Taoists of the Hwasan Sect felt like they wanted to go into a rat hole. I couldn’t come to my senses.
And as soon as public opinion was formed, someone took action.
Hyunhee’s surprise attack sneaked into the gap between the unwary Taoists. Her new form, holding the sword sheath, spun like a top and hit their legs.
Wow! Kwasik-!
“Kaaak!”
“Tsk!”
Due to the sudden surprise attack, the Taoists of the Hwasan Sect fell to their knees.
And what followed was the retribution of the independent faction.
However, because it was difficult to perform the light attack without stopping for a long time, there was no case of moving at once. Unless it’s something really urgent.
And Yu Jin-san’s prediction was not wrong.
Around sunset, deadly shadows began to appear like fog on the streets of Jinyang County.
Hyunhee’s index finger pointed somewhere outside the window.
“Over there...”
As many as nine Taoists of the Volcano Sect were looking around with lights in their eyes.
Judging by the patterns engraved on their uniforms, most of them were first generation disciples.
Unlike the young and energetic disciples of Yi Dae, most of the disciples of Idae were middle-aged masters with much experience and were the core force of the sect. The fact that they moved directly meant that they were determined.
The one who seemed to have the highest distribution among them huffed and got angry.
“where are you!? “Have you found it yet?”
“It won’t take long since the agents are looking for you, Ambassador.”
“Once your location is confirmed, report it to me immediately.”
The other disciples were struggling to see him with rolled-over eyes.
He was a person whose martial arts skills seemed to be as great as his temperament.
At that time, another disciple approached him cautiously and spoke as if admonishing him.
“Just calm down first, Ambassador. You can’t just come down and fight the shaman faction without reporting to Jang Mun-in, right? How are you going to take care of it? The principle is to resolve issues through dialogue between factions through elders...”
He could not finish his sentence.
This is because the hand of the person called the Great Brother moved like a sword and grabbed his neck.
Wow-!
“Ugh....”
The other disciples took a step back at the lifeless look in his eyes.
“I will take responsibility, so keep your mouth shut. okay?”
“Yes...”
“You guys go and find it too. “I will catch all the shamans today and beat them to death.”
As an ambassador, it was natural for him to be furious.
Hwasan’s pride was trampled in front of everyone. And that too, in a place that is no different from their own front yard.
The aftercare came later. I couldn’t tolerate it, even if it was the same Murim alliance.
Meanwhile, Yu Jin-san, who was watching the scene from the third floor of the guesthouse, clicked his tongue and muttered.
“With a person called Daesa-hyung having such a foul temper, the future of the sect is clearly visible.”
“Still, his skills are great. “My reputation in Moorim is quite high.”
“However, revealed martial arts skills and reputation are not necessarily proportional to one’s reputation. “If you want to survive for a long time in the martial arts world, you must be calm and not be controlled by your emotions.”
“Your grandfather. “I will take your good words to heart.”
The Taoists of the Hwasan Sect searched everywhere, but could not find even a trace.
It had to be that way since the bandits on Heuksan Island had already returned alive.
However, they were so intoxicated that they did not know how to give up. Eventually, all the warriors of the Cheonryong Chamber of Commerce began to mobilize.
He even went in and out of the guest house where Jin-san Yu and Hyeon-hee stayed several times.
But they just looked like an ordinary family who came to have dinner with their child.
In particular, the sight of Hyunhee neatly wearing a red bandana and painting her face with powder was truly impressive.
“I guess I was really angry. “They are looking for us like lice.”
“I guess so. “Today’s incident would have been one of the greatest embarrassments in the history of the Hwasan Sect.”
“What now?”
Yu Jin-san, who was staring out the window, asked softly.
“Where did you say the monks summoned by the shaman are staying?”
“This is Gangyangchon. “From here, you can easily go to a solar eclipse view.”
After thinking for a moment, he nodded once as if he had made up his mind.
“The time is ripe, so I can call you now.”
“All right. “I’ll be back soon, Grandpa.”
“okay. Please be careful. Don’t forget to put on your Taoist attire and remove any powder before you arrive...”
Hyeonhee smiled brightly as she carefully handed the sleeping child over.
“You can do well, so don’t worry too much. Then, I’ll see you at the meeting place.”