Chapter 74 : Chapter 74

Chapter 74. It is Total War (3)

“Here is water.”

A disciple of Qingcheng who approached Han Cheong-un politely held out a water skin.

“Thanks.”

Han Cheong-un received the water skin from him and drank naturally.

This man is Jeong Cheon.

He was the head disciple decided as the next Sect Leader among the first-class disciples of Qingcheng.

If one mentions Azure Cloud Sword Jeong Cheon in the Jianghu, he is quite a famous figure.

Considering age or seniority, normally he would be evaluated as someone much senior to Han Cheong-un.

Such a person is currently using honorifics politely to Han Cheong-un and serving him.

Without any complaint, as if it were natural.

No, far from complaints, he even shows faint respect.

When Han Cheong-un gazed at Jeong Cheon…….

“Is there something on my face?”

“No, just wondering if there is anything uncomfortable.”

“There isn’t. What could be uncomfortable being with Sect Leader Han?”

“Ah……. Right.”

“Is there perhaps anything else you want to order?”

“Uh, it’s fine.”

“Please do not hesitate and give any order. If it is Sect Leader Han’s order, I am prepared to face death.”

“…….”

What should I call this?

‘Burden itself.’

A gentleman who is nominally the head disciple of the Qingcheng Sect is looking at him with sparkling eyes.

It is like a loyal dog hoping for its master’s praise. Of course, it wasn't like this from the beginning.

* * *

When the guerrilla squad was first created.

They decided to organize a guerrilla squad and gather ten disciples from each sect.

And Jeong Cheon volunteered for the guerrilla squad before anyone else.

It was a determination to restore Qingcheng’s fallen honor by joining the guerrilla squad and establishing great merit.

For that, he did not fear death.

Jeong Cheon gathered ten disciples with outstanding skills among the juniors following him and volunteered for the guerrilla squad.

And what he saw there was…….

“Welcome. I am Han Cheong-un, who will lead this guerrilla squad.”

Han Cheong-un came out saying he would lead the guerrilla squad himself.

At that moment, Jeong Cheon flinched.

After forming the guerrilla squad, Qingcheng paid more attention to skill than any other sect when sending volunteers.

Looking at volunteers from Emei or Sichuan, most were young men twenty years younger than him.

Most were in the second-class disciple generation.

Only Qingcheng matched all members with first-class disciples and sent them. It was because they were that desperate, but anyway, it was so.

Actually, it wasn't bad.

Given the situation, it was inevitable that he would lead this guerrilla squad.

‘But to think that person would come out.’

Although Han Cheong-un is younger than the second-class disciples of other sects, he is the Sect Leader of a sect.

And probably, no, to speak certainly, he would be the strongest among these people.

Didn't he see it himself?

The sight of Han Cheong-un not retreating a single step against the Sect Leaders of the Eight Gates of the Evil Way, but rather overwhelming them.

‘This can’t be helped.’

Unless Jeong Cheon was a fool on the level of Namgung Sang, he couldn't deny this part.

Then just as he was thinking that Han Cheong-un would lead this guerrilla squad and he would assist him…….

“And this is Dang Jin, my aide who will lead this guerrilla squad.”

“I am Dang Jin. It won't be a long time, but I look forward to working with you.”

Jeong Cheon gritted his teeth and clenched his fists.

Even so, this was not easy to accept.

Han Cheong-un was one thing, but Dang Jin here?

“Senior Brother?”

“Are you alright?”

Did his dissatisfaction show on his face?

The surrounding juniors asked Jeong Cheon cautiously, worried about him.

Then Jeong Cheon let out a deep sigh and said.

“Don’t worry. I am fine, so…….”

Inwardly he was not fine at all, but he had to be fine. Right now, Qingcheng had made a huge losing move from the start of this war.

By attacking first and losing, they lost many disciples and gave the justification for war to the Evil Way.

He couldn't lose his temper when he came here with the mindset of serving as a common soldier to restore Qingcheng’s honor that had fallen to the ground.

“Let’s watch for now. It won’t be bad to step up when the situation gets difficult.”

“Yes. Senior Brother.”

“Understood.”

At this time, Jeong Cheon thought.

I acknowledge Sect Leader Han’s martial prowess, but he is young and his experience in the Jianghu is shallow.

The same goes for Dang Jin.

Above all, isn’t he the blockhead who was once called the profligate of the Sichuan Tang Clan?

The image of him staggering drunk on the streets of Chengdu is still vivid in his eyes.

There is no way those two won't make mistakes in leading the guerrilla squad. Then…….

‘Let’s wait until then. Since now is the time to endure…….’

Thinking so, Jeong Cheon’s guerrilla squad activity began. And he saw.

What kind of human Han Cheong-un was.

When Han Cheong-un suggested creating a guerrilla squad and decided to act himself.

The Sect Leaders of Qingcheng, Emei, and the Tang Clan thought.

‘Oh, truly a heroic hero.’

‘For the Sect Leader of a sect to step forward to fight on the front lines himself. Even if he is confident in his skills, it is not an easy task considering his face…….’

‘As expected of my son-in-law.’

They admired him thinking this, but actually, the reason Han Cheong-un decided to do this was simple.

‘I’ll get to loosen up my body after a long time.’

Because organizing a guerrilla squad and fighting on the front lines against the enemy is a role Han Cheong-un is more confident in than anyone else.

Han Cheong-un, who was active enough to make the presence of other Ten Swords Squads seem like decorations in that fierce Second Great War of Righteous and Evil while serving as a Captain of the Evil-Annihilating Squad.

Guerrilla warfare leading small combatants of fewer than fifty is his specialty.

And the results appeared immediately.

The moment news came that enemies appeared on the Beggar's Gang’s information network…….

“Everyone up! We run to the scene!”

Han Cheong-un ran without caring about anything else.

He didn't care if they were sleeping or eating. The moment information comes in, he runs first.

Detailed situation reports were added through the Beggar's Gang’s informants while going.

Jeong Cheon worried even while running after Han Cheong-un.

‘What does he intend to do if this is a trap?’

Since they had already fallen into the Evil Way’s trap once and suffered a great setback, his worry was natural.

But the same operation changes depending on who executes it.

Han Cheong-un knows the advantages of a guerrilla squad well.

Mobility where a selected few can hit and run quickly.

Whether there is a trap or not can be judged by gathering information while going and judging directly at the scene.

That way, Han Cheong-un could arrive at the scene faster than anyone else. And…….

“Everyone charge!”

Once the fight broke out, he fully displayed his ghost-like martial prowess and fought at the very front.

Regardless of how many enemies there were, he charged head-on without hesitation.

And rushing in a straight line, he aims for the neck of the person who appears to be the leader of the group.

“You are the captain.”

“Ha…… Han Cheong…….”

Words were unnecessary.

[ Spirit Realm Two Steps: Lightning Flash Direct Kill ]

Slash!

The opponent couldn't even realize how he died.

Han Cheong-un cutting off the neck in one exchange.

The opponent is a figure who looks to be at least a Hall Leader level in the Eight Gates of the Evil Way.

They would probably be people who made quite a name for themselves in the Evil Way Murim. But the opponent is Han Cheong-un.

After cutting the neck immediately, Han Cheong-un fiercely drove the enemies whose morale had dropped.

“Don’t let a single one go!”

If the captain performs outstandingly, the morale of the members supporting him is bound to rise.

The members supported by Emei and the Tang Clan were still young and lacked experience, but instead, they were overflowing with vigor.

“Follow Sect Leader Han!”

“Drive out the Evil Way bastards!”

With a number of barely thirty, they annihilated an attack group of the Eight Gates of the Evil Way that was over twice their number in less than the time it takes to boil a tea.

This was the victory of the first battle Han Cheong-un fought after organizing the guerrilla squad. And…….

“Sect Leader Han, the Evil Way bastards are moving troops to Yonggu County in the south.”

“Understood. Going right now!”

“Sect Leader. Those who haven't recovered their stamina yet…….”

“I will leave those lagging behind. Those who have strength, follow me!”

Han Cheong-un running immediately.

Seeing his back, the guerrilla squad members all gritted their teeth and ran.

Exhausted and tired, but no one hesitated.

We must follow that back.

We must absolutely not lose it.

Such a compulsion arose.

An overwhelming presence that attracts people.

And Han Cheong-un rang the news of victory seven times before ten days passed since the first sortie.

And those seven overwhelming victories.

Watching that from the side, the guerrilla squad members were gradually becoming fascinated by Han Cheong-un.

Different.

This person is different.

He does reckless things that other people would only do as a gamble of a lifetime as naturally as breathing.

Even after that, his calm attitude as if he just did a natural thing naturally is dazzling.

An existence that attracts people's hearts just by existing.

People call such a person a hero.

* * *

Han Cheong-un, traversing actively with the Beggar's Gang’s information network.

This combination repelled every omnidirectional attack of the Evil Way.

To the point where the Evil Way was reluctant to attack carelessly.

“As expected of my son-in-law.”

The Tang Clan Head feeling proud.

Then Dang Seoyeon next to him spoke with a shy expression.

“Father, really……. It’s not officially yet.”

“It’s fine. If you took another family’s precious daughter out arbitrarily and lived together, you must take responsibility. Would you back out now that we’ve come this far?”

“That is true, right? We should consider it already decided, right?”

“Of course.”

Looking at his daughter blushing her cheeks, the Tang Clan Head smiled proudly. However…….

“Strictly speaking, it is the Clan Head’s daughter who came out arbitrarily and is living off him, isn't it?”

Not everyone was looking at this happily.

The person tackling with a reluctant expression was Baek Sua.

“Hohoho. What does it matter? The important thing is the hearts of the two, isn't it?”

“That also seems like one-way traffic from one side.”

“Still, the fact that a marriageable young lady and a man lived under one roof is important.”

“That applies to me too.”

“Aren’t you a Taoist of Mount Hua? Are you saying you, who came down for training from a clean sanctuary, harbored other thoughts?”

“Yes. I did.”

Why is she so confident?

The Tang Clan Head, who flinched, spoke sternly.

“Ehem, what if Mount Hua finds out about this? Aren’t you ashamed to look at your master?”

“I bet the wrist of the Clan Head’s son that my master would praise me saying I did well.”

“Why someone else’s son’s wrist…….”

“If you are scared, don’t take it.”

Her eyes looked very serious for a joke.

While they were bickering like that…….

“Sect Leader Han Cheong-un has returned.”

“Master?”

“Sect Leader?”

Dang Seoyeon and Baek Sua stood up with glad expressions. Then they ran in the direction Han Cheong-un came from as if competing with each other.

The Tang Clan Head remaining behind sighed deeply and shook his head.

They say heroes love beauties, but if his own daughter is involved in that, it is not very pleasant.

* * *

Han Cheong-un returned to the Tang Clan Manor.

“You came, Master?”

“Good work. Sect Leader.”

To Dang Seoyeon and Baek Sua welcoming him, he smiled and said.

“Nothing special happened for everyone?”

“Nothing. Ah, my father said he had something to tell you if he saw you, Master…….”

Dang Seoyeon’s appearance, twisting her white hair round and round and speaking shyly, was truly beautiful.

Probably, there is no man in the world whose heart wouldn't pound seeing her appearance like this.

“I see. Then I will go later.”

Except for this human.

And this time Baek Sua spoke.

“I have something to report. Unlike Seoyeon here.”

Then Dang Seoyeon narrowed her eyes, glared at Baek Sua, and said.

“Do you really have something to report? It’s not some other scheme?”

“Yeah. I really do.”

“…….”

Dang Seoyeon made a sullen expression, but Baek Sua responded confidently with an expression asking 'I really do, so what?'.

“What is it?”

While Han Cheong-un led the guerrilla squad and fought enemies, Dang Seoyeon and Baek Sua were inside the Sichuan Tang Clan.

They were left as a defensive force prepared for attacks. But there were two reasons for leaving them here beyond that.

Baek Sua approached Han Cheong-un cautiously, hugged his arm, and began to write a written conversation on his palm with her finger.

To others looking, it seemed like a very affectionate couple hugging each other.

Naturally, Dang Seoyeon was displeased.

“Do you really have to do it like that?”

“Because it’s a matter where security is important.”

“Ah seriously…….”

Dang Seoyeon stomped her feet next to them, but Baek Sua meticulously wrote each character on Han Cheong-un’s palm. And…….

“Really?”

When Han Cheong-un spoke with a serious expression, Baek Sua also nodded.

“There is no mistake.”

“Right. So that’s how it is.”

As expected, it was effective.

There was a reason for keeping strong forces like Dang Seoyeon and Baek Sua waiting without deploying them to battle.

“Any signs of noticing?”

“None……. Probably?”

“You aren’t certain?”

“Considering who the opponent is.”

“That is true.”

Han Cheong-un frowned.

It seems the opponent took the bait, but he wasn't sure if he could pull the fishing rod right now.

‘Probably there will be only one chance, right?’

There will absolutely be no second time.

Because the opponent would be the most wary person under the heavens as far as Han Cheong-un knows.

“Wait a little longer for now. And if possible, Sua, you shouldn't fight the enemy if possible.”

“Yes. I know.”

Baek Sua agreed, and Han Cheong-un entered his room. It was a special room made for the guest (son-in-law) by the Tang Clan, a luxurious place prepared with a bathtub inside the room.

Han Cheong-un, who took off his clothes there and soaked his body in the hot wooden bathtub, thought deeply.

‘I can trust Baek Sua. But can she do it alone? She failed before in the end as well.’

Han Cheong-un, whose agony deepened.

He spoke toward the ceiling without giving a glance.

“Yeonhwa. Are you there?”

Then a black shadow descended from the ceiling.

A figure with the whole body wrapped in black night clothing.

But just looking at the revealed outline of the body, one could know she was a slender woman, and just looking at the eyes revealed through the mask, one could know she was a considerable beauty.

Han Cheong-un looked at that woman and spoke reluctantly.

“You really were there. You were there while I was bathing.”

“I judged that I must always guard by your side for Master’s safety.”

“Uh. Okay. Uh……. You are very thorough.”