Chapter 2 : Chapter 2

Chapter 2. I Will Walk My Own Path (2)

After firming his resolve.

Han Cheong-un moved quickly.

The first thing he did was…….

“You want to leave?”

“Yes.”

Quitting the Murim Alliance.

Han Cheong-un, an orphan taken in by the Murim Alliance and living as an apprentice warrior.

He suddenly said he wanted to leave the Murim Alliance.

At that, the instructor in charge of the apprentice warriors frowned.

“What do you mean all of a sudden?”

“Exactly what I said. I intend to leave the Murim Alliance.”

The instructor’s brow furrowed even more. And then…….

“Do you think you can do as you please?”

“Yes.”

The reply came back so confidently.

The instructor was taken aback, and Han Cheong-un calmly asked back.

“Why not?”

At that, the instructor flared up and shouted.

“Do you think the Murim Alliance is some Unorthodox Faction den for hooligans that anyone can just come and go from?”

“…….”

“There's a limit to how lightly you can take the Alliance's regulations, you know? Where did you get the nerve to spout such nonsense!”

The instructor shouted and snapped at him.

But Han Cheong-un didn't even bat an eye and said.

The Alliance’s regulations?

‘What a joke.’

Did this man even know?

That the person standing before him had rolled around in the Murim Alliance for decades and even served as a Grand Master?

Han Cheong-un smirked inwardly before opening his mouth.

“Although I was taken in by the Murim Alliance, I am an apprentice warrior who has not officially joined.”

“Even so…….”

“And there are no regulations that allow the Alliance to forcibly control the movements of a person who is not an official member.”

“Wh-what did you say?”

The instructor was flustered.

Because Han Cheong-un had pointed out the regulations precisely.

Publicly, the Murim Alliance taking in and caring for orphans was part of its service to help pitiful children.

Of course, the reality was different.

The children raised in the Murim Alliance were graded according to their training performance and would either work as warriors for the Murim Alliance or be sold off as escort warriors for escort agencies or as soldiers for the military.

However, they couldn't publicly say that they were raising kids to use as military force. So…….

“After taking the Small Azure Pill, one has an obligation to repay the grace received from the Murim Alliance. After that, if you want to leave the Alliance, you must undergo Severing Muscles and Cutting Meridians to return the martial arts you received from the Alliance.”

“…….”

“But as I am now, I have no obligation to return anything to the Alliance.”

“…….”

The instructor’s mouth opened and closed.

‘Why is this bastard so knowledgeable about the Alliance's regulations?’

To the dumbfounded instructor, Han Cheong-un said.

“Oh, and according to the Alliance's regulations, there's a clause to provide a support fund to an apprentice warrior who becomes independent at a young age, isn't there?”

“Wh-what did you say?”

Even the instructor didn’t know about that.

To the flustered man, Han Cheong-un said with a corner of his mouth raised.

“It's Article 8, Clause 7 of the Alliance's regulations.”

“…….”

“You are welcome to check.”

“…….”

* * *

A short while later.

Han Cheong-un left the living quarters of the Murim Alliance’s apprentice warriors.

In his hand was only a small pouch.

“Ten silver nyang.”

Han Cheong-un let out a smirk.

The amount he received as a support fund was enough for a commoner to live on for about three months if they were frugal.

“It’ll be enough for travel expenses.”

In truth, the look on the instructor's face, as if he'd bitten into a bitter persimmon, was more gratifying than the money.

It was already a punishable offense for a deserter to come from the quarters he was in charge of, and now he even had money extorted from him…….

“Keuk…….”

It felt good.

“As if this is such a big deal…….”

But he couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from rising.

The fact that the very first thing he did after deciding to live a new life was to swindle the Murim Alliance was extremely satisfying.

But this was just the beginning.

To start a new life, the first thing he had to do now was, of course, to obtain power. Therefore…….

“Let’s go. To Guizhou.”

The first goal was Guizhou.

* * *

Guizhou.

It was the territory of the Blood Hand Gate, one of the Eight Gates of the Evil Way.

Normally, the Orthodox Faction wouldn’t even dare to come near here.

A boy with a spear slung over his back appeared here.

“It took longer than I thought.”

It was, of course, Han Cheong-un.

He had gone through more hardships than expected on the way here after leaving the Murim Alliance.

It was a mistake to have set off empty-handed in a hurry to get on his way.

Not long after he set off, he immediately ran into bandits.

* * *

“Uahahaha, hand over everything you have, and I’ll spare your life!”

It was absurd.

For a small group of bandits of only four or five to target him.

“If you don't want to die, run away. Then I’ll spare your life.”

The bandits were rather taken aback by Han Cheong-un's calm provocation.

What was this young-looking brat relying on to act so cocky?

Among them, a sturdy-looking man stepped forward and shouted.

“I’ll show you a lesson!”

With a body about a head taller than an average person and holding a large saw-toothed blade, the man looked as if being a mountain bandit was his calling.

He judged that he could deal with a brat not even half his size in a single stroke.

“Die!”

But this judgment was a mistake.

The moment his sword came down, Han Cheong-un moved.

No, to be more precise, only Han Cheong-un himself moved.

Domain.

It was a supernatural power that Han Cheong-un had obtained as a price for surviving a living hell in the past.

When this power was used, Han Cheong-un's time moved slowly.

The world changed as if it were trapped in deep water, and within this, only Han Cheong-un could move, albeit with difficulty.

In the past, Han Cheong-un had trained and trained to be able to move three steps within the domain.

Having an advantage of three steps in a real fight was an enormous advantage.

He had even killed warriors of realms two or more stages higher with this ability.

So, for bandits of this level…….

“Huh?”

Han Cheong-un was shocked.

It's not moving.

No, it's not that it wasn't moving at all, but it moved too slowly compared to his prime.

Where had the self who could freely take three steps within the domain gone? Now, it was difficult to even take a half step. Eventually…….

“Keuk…….”

The domain shattered.

At the same time, the attack that had been coming down towards the top of his head grazed his forehead and passed by.

“Hehehe. You dodged well. But it’s not over yet.”

The attack continued again.

Han Cheong-un gritted his teeth.

Using the domain consecutively was a burden, but this was not the time to be picky.

Once again, the world slowed as if submerged in water.

The opponent was stationary, but he…….

‘Damn it, why is it so slow?’

He could only make a very slight movement.

Judging that he had to make the most of even this, he placed his hands in the best possible fighting stance. As a result…….

Thud!

“Aaaack!”

The bandit who was swinging the sword screamed.

Han Cheong-un's palm strike had struck his elbow from below.

A palm technique that precisely struck the joint.

Normally, the arm should have been broken.

But unfortunately, Han Cheong-un lacked the power right now.

“Damn it, you’ve got a trick or two up your sleeve, huh?”

The bandit had a vexed expression.

And Han Cheong-un…….

“This is crazy.”

There was really nothing else to say.

He was currently struggling against a nobody who couldn't even be called a third-rate fighter.

He couldn't believe this reality. And even…….

“Boys. This one’s pretty good. Get him all at once!”

The situation worsened.

One was already a handful, but the guys behind him started to join in.

Even for the great hero of the Orthodox Faction who had made a name for himself under the heavens, this was undoubtedly a crisis.

* * *

“Hah……. Hah…….”

Han Cheong-un gasped for breath.

He looked back, and there was no one there.

It seemed he had escaped successfully.

Relieved by that fact, Han Cheong-un muttered.

“It's a good thing I quit the Murim Alliance.”

There was no need to be criticized by the Alliance for being cowardly or weak for running away from bandits.

So if things got disadvantageous, he could just run away.

This was good. It was good, but…….

“Damn it, to think I’ve become so powerless.”

It was frustrating.

To think he had to make a wretched escape from such nobodies.

He had the experience and understanding from his past life.

And he still had his supernatural ability. But his own power to use it was too insufficient.

His internal energy was practically non-existent, and the muscular strength of his body, which had not yet finished growing, was also lacking.

The only reason he could survive was because of the little bit of supernatural power he had left.

But even that, he couldn't use satisfactorily. As a result…….

“I almost died.”

Even when he deployed the domain, he could barely manage half a step, let alone three.

And the expenditure of energy from using the domain had also increased.

After using it about three times, his heart felt like it was going to explode.

In the past, he could have used it more than thirty times a day.

“Hoo……. ”

In any case, he had survived.

And he realized what he needed to reflect on.

The image of his past self in his memory was so dazzlingly bright that he had been ignoring reality, but…….

“Right now, I am weak.”

The Jianghu is a world where the strong survive.

The weak can do nothing. It's hard enough for them to preserve their own lives, let alone carry out their will.

With what kind of guts had he set out on a journey alone so nonchalantly?

Arrogance and carelessness.

Today's disgrace was a fitting price he had to pay.

“Han Cheong-un, you idiot…….”

After that.

Han Cheong-un stopped by a village and first bought a weapon.

It was an extremely ordinary spear, but this was enough.

From experience, just holding a weapon could deter a good number of miscellaneous riffraff in advance.

And if he saw a merchant caravan on the way, he would join them and carry some luggage to ensure his safety.

He acknowledged that he was weak and did his best to ensure his safety.

Was it because of that?

Indeed, after that, he was able to reach Guizhou Fortress without any major friction.

* * *

“Anyway, I’ve made it this far.”

Han Cheong-un let out a sigh of relief.

He had achieved his primary goal of arriving safely at Guizhou Fortress.

He had decided to abandon the righteous path.

But to live this life without regrets, he still needed power.

Unless he left the Jianghu altogether.

If he had no intention of doing so, he needed power. And what the warrior named Han Cheong-un most desperately needed right now was…….

“Internal energy.”

External arts had to be built up through more bodily growth and repeated training.

That meant it required time.

Internal energy was also fundamentally the same.

However, in the case of internal energy, there was a shortcut to improve it at once without diligent training.

“That’s why I came all the way to Guizhou.”

He had to rest for today and start moving in earnest from tomorrow.

Han Cheong-un entered a rundown inn, washed his body with cold well water, and collapsed onto the bed to sleep.

As he lay on the bed, the smell of sweat wafted up.

What could you expect from a lodging that cost five copper coins? But…….

‘It's okay.’

For now, he just needed to relieve his body's fatigue.

And if his plan went smoothly, today would probably be the last.

The last time he closed his eyes as a weakling.

The next day.

Han Cheong-un went to a nearby market and bought several days' worth of dry rations, beef jerky, and a long rope.

With this, the support money he had received from the Murim Alliance was all gone.

From this moment on, Han Cheong-un was penniless.

But Han Cheong-un left Guizhou Fortress just like that. And then, without hesitation, he entered the deserted mountains and fields.

‘From here on is what’s important.’

* * *

Two years from now.

Here in Guizhou, countless warriors, regardless of whether they were from the Orthodox or Unorthodox Factions, would gather and cause a bloody incident.

It was an event that came to be called the Guizhou Bloodshed Incident.

The cause was an elixir discovered by a certain wild ginseng digger.

That ginseng digger was someone who dug for medicinal herbs in the mountains, and one day he discovered something astonishing.

A Human-shaped Heavenly Ginseng.

A precious item so rare it was counted among the top elixirs, a treasure said to grant at least one sixty-year cycle of internal energy immediately upon consumption.

It was only natural that the people of Jianghu would go crazy over it.

The initial discoverer, the ginseng digger, and his family were found dead early on.

After that, a great deal of blood was shed due to the warriors who were blinded by the elixir.

The Murim Alliance, in order not to stand by and watch this situation, also dispatched an investigation team.

“An investigation team, my ass…….”

Climbing the mountain path, Han Cheong-un smiled bitterly.

He knew the situation at that time well.

Because he was one of the low-ranking warriors in the investigation team dispatched by the Murim Alliance back then.

It was his first mission after officially becoming a Murim Alliance warrior, so he couldn't forget it.

Han Cheong-un had investigated the case diligently.

How did the old ginseng digger first discover the elixir, to whom did he reveal this fact, and who brutally murdered the old man and his family?

He investigated it meticulously and reported it, and the leader of the investigation team said.

[That is not important.]

[Pardon? Then what is…….]

[What is most important right now is who has the Human-shaped Heavenly Ginseng. Find that out!]

Is what he said.

In reality, the investigation was just a fine-sounding excuse.

From the beginning, the Murim Alliance's goal was also to secure the Human-shaped Heavenly Ginseng.

Han Cheong-un, who had investigated in good faith without knowing that, was treated as a clueless idiot.

“What a shitty memory.”

It really was.

But thanks to that…….

“I know the exact location of the elixir.”

The corner of Han Cheong-un’s mouth curled up.

Tip: Tap/click the left or right side of the screen to go to previous/next chapter.