Chapter 108 : Chapter 108

Chapter 108: The Mission to Rescue the Mistress of the Flower Moon Pavilion (2)

Although the life of a wanderer is one of wandering aimlessly like a duckweed, crossing two provinces in a short period of time was a new experience even for Lee Chun-baek.

Lee Chun-baek’s impression, after crossing Anhui to Hubei, and then crossing the Yangtze River again to reach Henan, was…….

“……This is tough.”

It would be right to see this as being just this much because Lee Chun-baek had a simple disposition.

This is because his internal energy, which had reached the State of Harmony, was showing its bottom, so it was a course of action that would not be an exaggeration to call crazy.

-How much time can you give me?

-It's urgent.

-So how much?

-Hmm…… as, as soon as possible?

-Heo…….

-I'm sorry, Chun-baek hyung.

-Not at all. I have to do it. You said a person's life is on the line.

He would never have done it if it weren't for the request of his dear younger brother.

In any case, it was worth the rush.

This was because Lee Chun-baek's body, which had pushed the secret lightness art of his sect to the extreme, had at some point arrived at the main headquarters of the Evil Faction Alliance.

Since he had barely arrived at the main headquarters of the Evil Faction Alliance before the sun disappeared, it would not be an exaggeration to say that he had saved another day.

It was a transcendent and divine skill that most masters of the State of Harmony would not even dare to imitate.

Step.

Lee Chun-baek's steps, which had gathered his momentum, headed towards the guard at the main gate of the Evil Faction Alliance headquarters.

Thrust.

The guard, with a restrained movement, raised his spear and blocked Chun-baek.

“Please state your business.”

Wasn't it said that you can know ten things by seeing one?

The guard's conduct, which was polite but not servile, and stern but not rude, gave a hint of the power of the Evil Faction Alliance.

“I have come to see the Alliance Leader.”

At Lee Chun-baek's calm answer, the guard's gaze swept over Lee Chun-baek's body.

“Do you have a prior appointment?”

“No.”

“Please wait a moment.”

“I will.”

Indeed, the Evil Faction Alliance was true to its name.

It seemed that even the gatekeeper guard's insight was not lacking.

The guard must have seen through the fact that Lee Chun-baek was an extraordinary master.

The fact that he did not forget his manners towards a ruffian who was suddenly looking for the Alliance Leader was proof of that.

The guard who had been away for a moment returned.

“I will escort you.”

“Can I see him right away?”

“It will take about three days. It is an order to provide our esteemed guest with the superior lodgings of the Evil Faction Alliance, as we cannot treat him poorly.”

“Hmm.”

There was no lack in the treatment of the Evil Faction Alliance, but he could not be satisfied.

It was because of the gap he felt between Dancheon Myeong's request for urgency and the three days' time.

If he had been planning to wait for three days after coming all this way, he would not have pushed himself to arrive at the Evil Faction Alliance in half a day.

“Can it be a little faster?”

At Lee Chun-baek's polite request, the guard bowed his head.

“It is beyond my capabilities, so it is difficult to promise.”

“……I see.”

“I am sorry.”

“Not at all. Thank you for your kindness.”

In truth, if you think about it, it is so.

Considering the status and dignity of the Evil Faction Alliance Leader, the three days it would take to meet him would not be that long.

But he could not be so careless with a matter where a friend's life was on the line.

However, it would be difficult to just demand that the time be shortened. This was because Lee Chun-baek was a reasonable person.

It was because he had a thought that it was not the right thing to do to trouble this reasonable and kind guard any further.

“I will come again.”

“Yes. The gates of the Evil Faction Alliance are always open.”

Lee Chun-baek turned his footsteps without any lingering feelings.

‘There seems to be no other way.’

Lee Chun-baek decided to cross the walls of the Evil Faction Alliance.

It was the way of a wanderer.

***

The lightness arts of top-tier masters are often described as elusive.

To the eyes of an ordinary person, the lightness arts of all masters would seem elusive, but if you look at it with the eyes of masters who have reached the top-tier realm, the story changes a little.

There are lightness arts that make more active use of the subtlety of 'heaviness' like the Namgung Clan, lightness arts that are faithful to the subtlety of 'lightness' like the Dancheon Clan, lightness arts that are faithful to the subtlety of 'speed' like the Beggar's Gang, and lightness arts that are faithful to the subtlety of 'change' like Kunlun.

Among them, if one were to pick the truly elusive type of lightness art, it would undoubtedly be the lightness art that actively utilizes the subtlety of 'stealth'.

For example, like the lightness art of the Mysterious Sect that Lee Chun-baek had learned.

Sssk.

Lee Chun-baek landed on the roof of the largest pavilion in the Evil Faction Alliance like a ghost.

Thanks to the elusive lightness art, which could be called a stealth art, and the night travel clothes that blended into the darkness of the night, no one noticed his existence.

Although Lee Chun-baek moved his steps on the roof of the pavilion while expanding his Qi sense, no sound or presence was felt.

In response, the roof of the old pavilion also remained silent.

This was because, despite the weight of his body, the weight applied to the roof was no different from that of a small bird.

It was a natural result of a top-tier master, for whom the Art of Walking on Snow Without a Trace was not difficult, doing his best.

‘Around here.’

In truth, there was a certain calculation in Lee Chun-baek's bold move.

This was because he knew the fact that when the Dancheon Clan was in turmoil, the Evil Faction Alliance Leader had personally appeared on the scene.

-You are a martial artist with a bright future.

-Thank you.

He had even had a short conversation with him.

Although it would be difficult to call him a friend due to the large age gap, Lee Chun-baek knew that the Evil Faction Alliance Leader also had a deep connection with Dancheon Myeong.

The footsteps of a giant like the Evil Faction Alliance Leader were bound to shake the world.

It meant that even someone like Lee Chun-baek, who did not pay much attention to worldly affairs, would hear about him through rumors and come to know him.

Lee Chun-baek had heard that the Evil Faction Alliance Leader, the Peerless Power Emperor Wiji Han, was a martial artist who knew righteousness.

Therefore, he decided to believe that he would tolerate some rudeness.

This was because if he were to exclude even that belief, there would be no way to meet the supreme ruler of the Evil Faction, the Peerless Power Emperor, urgently.

Anyway…….

Since he had come this far safely, success was at hand.

Lee Chun-baek was planning to release a subtle momentum that he himself could hardly feel.

It was out of his belief that even if it was a momentum that he himself could hardly feel, the Evil Faction Alliance Leader, who looked down on the world from the sublime realm of the State of Harmony, would be able to capture it.

It would be a much better method than just wandering around the vast main headquarters of the Evil Faction Alliance.

It was when Lee Chun-baek was about to release his momentum.

“I thought a stray bird had flown in, but it was a rat.”

A voice was heard from Lee Chun-baek's blind spot.

There was a being who had seen through his existence even before he could release his momentum.

Lee Chun-baek, who turned his head and confirmed the opponent, had no choice but to admit it.

“I greet the Evil Faction Alliance Leader.”

Lee Chun-baek's lightness art, which was not lacking to be described as elusive, could not escape the Qi sense of an absolute master.

The Peerless Power Emperor Wiji Han.

It was indeed the imposing presence of a peerless master who looked down on the world.

“Hmm? You are……”

Wiji Han also seemed to recognize Lee Chun-baek and trailed off.

“Alliance Leader, I have committed a rudeness because I have a request.”

A smile appeared on Lee Chun-baek's face.

It was because the matter had been resolved easily.

***

“Hey, younger brother Myeong.”

“Please speak, Brother Gangpae.”

When Gangpae called me in a serious voice, I couldn't help but be tense.

This was because there were points in my behavior that had been revealed in the process of searching for Yeo-wol's whereabouts that were contrary to plausibility, so I was concerned that Gangpae might point out those points.

“Can you give me some time?”

“Time?”

“That's right.”

“How much?”

“I think two hours will be enough.”

Two hours.

It was indeed a subtle period of time.

In the current situation where Yeo-wol has been kidnapped, it could be a long time.

However, compared to the time that was saved by Gangpae joining, it was not that long of a time.

“……May I know the reason?”

I admit that I questioned him as if I were interrogating him.

To be honest, the biggest reason was that I could not understand Gangpae, who was requesting time in the current situation.

I cannot shake off the suspicion that perhaps his actions were caused by his suspicion of me.

“Oh dear, it seems I have caused a misunderstanding.”

Was it because he had read my thoughts? Brother Gangpae met my gaze fully.

“Hey, younger brother Myeong.”

“Please speak, Brother Gangpae.”

“I have made you my younger brother.”

“You did.”

“An older sworn brother does not doubt his younger brother. If by any chance the younger brother stabs the older brother in the back, it is because the older brother's virtue was lacking, not because the younger brother was base. To declare oneself a sworn older brother means that.”

Deducing from his words, it is clear that he has noticed the discrepancy in my current behavior. However, he did not seem to have any intention of interrogating or questioning it.

However, if there is a point of doubt.

“Wasn't that just decided by age?”

“It was not.”

“Then?”

“It was because I genuinely wanted to become brothers with you, who stepped forward for Ma Sok's sake.”

“…….”

To be honest, I can't fully understand his thoughts. It may be because I lack an understanding of the righteous loyalty of ruffians.

“The reason I asked for time is simply because I have something to prepare separately. I trust you. Time is not important in trust. Therefore, you should also open your heart a little and trust me.”

However, I can tell that there is not a single bit of wickedness in Gangpae's heart as he says so.

“……I understand.”

“Hahaha. Thank you.”

When my approval was given, Brother Gangpae laughed heartily.

“Still, may I know the reason? It's not to doubt you, but for preparation.”

“It is to gather my true strength.”

To be honest, Gangpae is not a handsome man.

But it cannot be denied that such a Gangpae is cooler than anyone in the Jianghu Murim.

“Strength?”

“That's right. My strength.”

The heartily laughing smile could not look any cooler.

***

A lecture on the Rogues' Guild that I had heard sometime in my Myeong-gae days came to mind.

Didn't they say that if you know yourself and your enemy, you will not be defeated in a hundred battles? Since information about the Rogues' Guild was like a required course for a member of the Beggar's Gang, it was said that anyone who joined the Beggar's Gang had to listen to the lecture.

“As you all know, the five that form the foundation of the Rogues' Guild are courtesans, ruffians, loan sharks, gamblers, and waiters. Today, let's learn about them.”

The lecturer was an old beggar who was much older than Chwipung-gae, and I remember him as being a truly eloquent person.

“Courtesans boast excellent skills in gathering information on the upper class. This would be the biggest differentiating point of the Rogues' Guild compared to the Beggar's Gang.”

“Hmm.”

“Waiters are similar to us beggars, yet different. They collect what is called 'rumors'. However, their specialty lies in gathering those 'rumors' to create what is called 'the situation'. Rumors are free, but the situation is expensive, so you all should know this fact.”

As the old beggar said, it would be right to grasp the enemy's strengths, acknowledge them, and learn what can be learned.

“Gamblers are people who focus on skills rather than information gathering. It's called the art of deception and the art of trickery. It had a great influence on the survival of the Rogues' Guild among the dregs scattered throughout the Evil Faction.”

“Heo-”

It would be right to respect them for sublimating even the art of deception and trickery into a skill for survival.

“The loan shark bastards had a lot of money. Their financial power is what laid the foundation for the current Rogues' Guild to live on.”

“As expected, money……”

The old beggar, who had given a long lecture, scanned us all.

“If so, what is the true strength of the ruffians?”

A One-Knot beggar confidently raised his hand.

“When you think of ruffians, you think of fists. Isn't it martial power?”

Because his words were so correct, my head was about to nod, when.

“Wrong.”

The old beggar denied that answer.

“Eh?”

At the unexpected answer, the gazes of all the beggars who were listening to the lecture gathered on the old beggar's lips.

The old beggar smiled confidently and opened his mouth.

“As for what the true strength of the ruffians is……”

***

“Is this Brother Gangpae’s true strength?”

“That's right.”

A subordinate rushed up to Brother Gangpae, who was answering me.

“Big brother, all the kids have been assembled.”

“How many have gathered?”

“It's a little less. I think it's a little over five thousand.”

“Good work.”

The ruffian subordinate, who had received Gangpae's praise, smiled brightly, not befitting his impression.

Now that the two hours that Brother Gangpae had requested had passed.

In that time, five thousand ruffians had gathered in Anhui.

-Ask the brothers for help.

It was a miracle caused by Gangpae's single word.

“……Amazing.”

It was said that there were a hundred thousand beggars in the Jianghu Murim.

If so, how many ruffians would there be?

It was estimated that their numbers were greater than that of the beggars.

This was because the path that men who had learned martial arts could choose was easier as a ruffian than as a beggar.

Of course, it is not a right judgment to see all ruffians as a single force.

It means that they are not formed into a group like the Beggar's Gang, nor are they connected by a master-disciple relationship like many other sects.

That is why the number one great sect in the Jianghu Murim is the Beggar's Gang.

But in certain cases, Gangpae could borrow the strength of all the ruffians in the Jianghu Murim.

Righteous loyalty.

That was because it was the fundamental spirit of the ruffians.

Just as all beggars were brothers, all ruffians were comrades.

That's right. It would be right to see that the greatest strength of the ruffians lies in their numbers, or in other words, in their ‘manpower’.

“Let's go.”

“Yes, big brother!”

Behind Gangpae's steps, a force of five thousand ruffians followed.

In the face of the crisis of his beloved sister, Yeo-wol, Gangpae had pulled out the strongest card he held.