Chapter 168 : The Life and Death Struggle of Experts (1)

Chapter 168: The Life and Death Struggle of Experts (1)

Namgung Bi thought that even if it wasn’t a romantic relationship, there would be much to learn by spending time with Yong Hwarin.

“I would like that as well. There is much I can learn from you too, Lady Namgung. However, the journey should be kept modest.”

Yong Hwarin had great interest in the Martial Art of Namgung Yoo’s Left Path Sect.

“Of course. Making it any bigger would only delay our schedule. I’m thinking of taking just five escorts with me.”

Yong Hwarin was convinced once again that Namgung Yoo was different from other women.

In situations like this, many women would insist on bringing along unnecessary attendants, sometimes even making a fuss to justify it.

Because of that, they would end up using nearly three carriages just for luggage, filling them with unnecessary items, naturally causing delays.

Yet, she boldly reduced the party to just five escorts. There was no way she could be like other women.

Jegal Cheongyeong had no major concerns, as she knew Yong Hwarin didn’t see Namgung Yoo as a woman, and there were other companions traveling along as well.

Including the Huashan Sect’s younger disciples who operated out of Zhengzhou’s Hajung Escort Agency, Cheong Geonmin who was also heading to Zhengzhou, the Three Chivalrous Sisters, and Seok Unjeong, their party easily exceeded ten people. So she wasn’t too worried about Namgung Yoo joining them.

‘But why am I even worrying about this?’

Whenever she had such thoughts, she felt pathetic and let out a sigh deep enough to collapse the ground.

However, it soon became something she couldn’t ignore.

Cheong Geonmin had left the Namgung Clan without a word, and the Huashan Sect’s younger disciples had hurriedly departed as well.

Since they were heading the same way, they could have traveled together. Seeing them rush off ahead made her suspect there was some reason behind it.

Yong Hwarin ended up traveling with the Three Chivalrous Sisters, Seok Unjeong, Namgung Yoo, the Ten of Heavenly Central Sect, and two escorts from the Sky Ocean Merchant Union.

Originally, three members of the Sky Ocean Merchant Union had survived, but one of them had been severely injured and remained at the Namgung Clan to receive treatment.

“How is it that all our companions are women?”

Jegal Cheongyeong accidentally let her true thoughts slip and immediately blushed after realizing what she had said.

“Huh? You’re right. Should we rent a carriage?”

Yong Hwarin replied casually while considering the idea.

It wasn’t a journey of just a day or two. Since it would take about a month, traveling by carriage would indeed be more comfortable.

The most troublesome part of using a carriage was the driver.

However, with the Ten of Heavenly Central Sect taking turns driving, that wouldn’t be a problem.

Namgung Yoo had her own escorts from the Namgung Clan, so there was no need to worry on that end either.

After spending half the day exchanging farewells, Yong Hwarin’s group finally set off from the Namgung Clan.

Jegal Cheongyeong stood there, blankly staring at the departing group.

“Unni is so foolish.”

Jegal Yohye felt both annoyed and uncomfortable watching her sister suffer like that.

“Right?”

Jegal Yohye asked back and then turned around once Yong Hwarin’s group was out of sight.

‘I’ll never live like Unni, sighing my life away after losing someone I like to someone else.’

She felt sorry for Jegal Cheongyeong, who kept staring at the now invisible Yong Hwarin.

Jegal Yohye firmly resolved never to live such a foolish life.

Yong Hwarin planned to pass through Mount Palgong and then head to Zhengzhou via Kaifeng.

That route was suitable for traveling by carriage.

They couldn’t possibly travel the entire month on horseback or by using Light Steps alone.

Doing so would only invite trouble.

However, Do Gye-gong and Oh Pyo-du wished they could cut the travel time in half by using Light Steps.

But that was only wishful thinking, as both of their bodies had minor and major injuries that prevented them from doing so.

Considering all these factors, Yong Hwarin chose to ride the carriage provided by the Namgung Clan toward Zhengzhou.

With the Ten of Heavenly Central Sect taking turns driving the carriage, they traveled with almost no rest.

“At this rate, we might even arrive faster than if we had used Light Steps.”

Jeong Minji remarked in admiration as the carriage continued without pause.

However, since the horses pulling the carriage also needed to rest, they stopped at an inn near Mount Palgong to unpack.

After securing the rooms, they called for a physician to treat the sword wounds of Do Gye-gong and Oh Pyo-du.

Do Gye-gong was genuinely grateful to Yong Hwarin for treating his wounds.

Wherever they went, Yong Hwarin always made sure to visit a medical clinic first, and to him, she felt like a savior.

Jeong Minji and Namgung Yoo had developed a particularly close bond since their time at the Namgung Clan. They spent almost all their break time together, drawing the envy of Jeong Suji and Jeong Daji.

Meanwhile, Yong Hwarin and the Ten of Heavenly Central Sect focused on Martial Art training.

Yong Hwarin was so engrossed in passing on the Dragon Scale Wisdom she had comprehended that she had no chance to converse with anyone else.

Even during their brief breaks along the journey, she gathered the Ten of Heavenly Central Sect and continued teaching them Martial Arts.

Jeong Daji approached and said,

“We’re bored too. Why don’t you teach us something as well?”

She made the suggestion casually, thinking it was just some hand technique and nothing serious.

Yong Hwarin responded with a stern face.

“Lady Jeong. You should know very well what it means to learn the Martial Art of another sect. If I teach you, you’ll no longer be a member of the Jeong Family Manor but of the Heavenly Central Sect. Are you sure you want that?”

Contrary to her expectations, Yong Hwarin’s serious response made Jeong Daji freeze and take a step back.

At that moment, Jeong Suji stepped forward.

“You’re being too harsh over something that doesn’t even seem like an important Martial Art.”

Yong Hwarin glared at Jeong Suji.

“Is Martial Art as worthless as coins tossed to a beggar? Every Martial Art carries the spirit and history of its sect. No matter how trivial a Martial Art may seem, how could I share it like offering food to passersby? To speak so lightly despite knowing how dangerous that is… you truly disappoint me.”

There were, at times, people who carelessly passed on Martial Arts based on shallow relationships. However, this was an extremely reckless act.

Every clan had different cultivation methods and approaches to circulating Qi, so learning an outside sect’s Martial Art could actually hinder one’s progress.

One only needed to look at how the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword showed greater power after being combined with a demonic cultivation method to understand this.

If done incorrectly, it could even lead to Qi Deviation.

“I will only pass down the Martial Art I know to those of my clan. Only they should know it.”

Yong Hwarin had seen too many clans perish because their Martial Arts leaked to outsiders.

Large sects might possess dozens of Martial Arts, so losing one or two wasn’t fatal. However, a clan like the Heavenly Central Sect, which owned only a few techniques, could suffer a crippling blow if even one leaked.

With only the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword and the Azure Bamboo Sword as their sword techniques, losing either would mean the end of the Heavenly Central Sect’s Martial Art lineage.

“Young Master Yong is right. You two were too thoughtless.”

Jeong Minji apologized to Yong Hwarin and scolded her two younger sisters.

After that, Yong Hwarin freely passed on Martial Arts without worry since no one else showed inappropriate interest.

“To perform Dragon Scale Wisdom, you must first train the tiny meridians in your fingers. There are two methods to do this: using walnut cores or practicing the Ten Finger Tapping Method.”

The walnut core method involved holding two walnut-sized objects in the palm and rolling them around to stimulate and develop the finger’s tiny meridians.

The Ten Finger Tapping Method involved tapping the fingertips against each other to stimulate the blood points at the tips and activate dormant meridians.

“Practice these two methods whenever you have time to rest, starting now.”

The Ten of Heavenly Central Sect now trusted Yong Hwarin completely and never questioned his instructions.

They followed without complaint, knowing there was always a reason behind his guidance.

Since Yong Hwarin devoted himself to training with the Ten of Heavenly Central Sect every day, Namgung Yoo often found herself unable to converse with him.

She hoped they would finally have some time to talk while staying at the inn near Mount Palgong.

Namgung Yoo didn’t like Yong Hwarin as a man, but she admired his unique insight and perspective.

Until now, she had never encountered a young martial artist who felt as free-spirited and unworldly as Yong Hwarin.

That aspect drew her in, perhaps unconsciously making her follow his example.

Since Dragon Scale Wisdom proved effective in actual combat, Yong Hwarin focused on teaching the Ten of Heavenly Central Sect the incantations and flicking techniques involved.

It took several days of explanation before he finally had a moment to look around and rest.

Having finally washed up properly, he came down to the dining hall to eat.

His companions had already gathered and ordered food.

The dining hall was crowded with guests since it was mealtime.

Spotting Seok Unjeong enthusiastically waving at him, Yong Hwarin approached her table.

Throughout the journey, Seok Unjeong had behaved like a younger sister to Yong Hwarin, always acting warmly and affectionately.

Despite suffering from Meridian Blockage Syndrome, she never showed any sign of gloom, so Yong Hwarin also treated her like a younger sister.

Seok Unjeong had such a bright personality that she got along well not only with Yong Hwarin but also with the Three Chivalrous Sisters and the Ten of Heavenly Central Sect.

She was so lively that one could easily forget she suffered from Meridian Blockage Syndrome.

Even Yong Hwarin sometimes completely forgot that she was the daughter of Demonic Master Seok Jamyung, as she never gave off the atmosphere of a child of the Demonic Martial World.

“Grandfather, there are no empty tables left. What should we do?”

A grandfather and grandson, who had come down from the second floor of the inn, stood awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

All the tables were already full.

Then the young boy’s eyes landed on Yong Hwarin’s table.

“Grandfather, that table has plenty of space. Let’s go there.”

The elderly man stroked his grandson’s head and replied.

“Let’s wait a bit longer and eat later. We don’t want to trouble others. Besides, it’s better to wait for your senior brother and eat together.”

“But Grandfather, I’m hungry. We don’t know when he’ll come back. We can’t wait forever.”

“He just went to buy a few things. He’ll be back soon.”

“But I’m hungry.”

“Be patient, little one.”

“Yes.”

Though the boy had been whining, he answered maturely to his grandfather’s words.

The boy, called ‘So-gun,’ didn’t look even ten years old.

Because of his cute face, he looked even younger.

With his plump lips and sharp nose, it was clear he would grow up to be a fine-looking young man.

Watching their conversation, Seok Unjeong, unable to bear seeing such a cute and lovely child in distress, gestured to them.

“Hey, come here! There’s plenty of room for you two.”

At her words, the boy approached and bowed politely.

“Thank you. Then we’ll join you just for this meal.”

“Oh ho ho, what a polite child.”

Seok Unjeong laughed pleasantly at how mature the boy behaved for his age.

“Hey, So-gun!”

The elderly man tried to scold the boy for sitting down without permission but stopped mid-sentence.

“Sir, if you don’t mind, why don’t you join us for the meal? We really don’t mind.”

Yong Hwarin personally invited them, and seeing that Yong Hwarin appeared to be the leader of the group and none of the others seemed to object, the old man accepted.

“Thank you.”

The elderly man gave a small bow and sat down next to the boy.

“So-gun, don’t bother these kind people.”

“I know, Grandfather. You nag too much.”

The boy pouted, making the old man smile kindly.

The boy’s behavior was so charming that everyone at the table looked at him with affection.