Chapter 32
“Phew, I’m full. But… is it okay for us to stay here like this? Shouldn’t we be heading to Sichuan?”
Eun Sowol, patting her swollen belly while nestled in Dok Go-ryong’s arms, raised her head to ask.
“This is Sichuan, you fool.”
“No, I mean, aren’t we supposed to be going to the Sacheon Dang Clan?”
“We’re collecting information for that right now.”
“Information collection?”
Eun Sowol, confused, looked over at Go Tae-hong and Wonho, who were sitting across from Dok Go-ryong.
“The road to Longmen Mountain is so complicated that if we aren’t careful, we might end up in the wrong place.”
The mountain roads were best known by the bandits. That’s why Dok Go-ryong had come here, to ask for a shortcut from them.
“If you wanted directions, you should’ve told me earlier. Then we wouldn’t have wasted so much energy.”
“Who was the one drawing their sword before hearing my words?”
“…Would you like another drink?”
Go Tae-hong hurriedly poured more wine, and Dok Go-ryong, without refusing, drank from the cup.
Unlike when he had initially overwhelmed them with his presence, Dok Go-ryong now seemed to have let go of his venomous demeanor, causing Go Tae-hong to swallow his saliva nervously.
“Why aren’t you killing us?” Go Tae-hong asked, his voice quiet.
Dok Go-ryong slowly closed and opened his eyes before looking at Go Tae-hong.
“With your skills, you could easily handle me and the rest of them.”
“Do you think killing you will solve anything?”
“Huh?”
“Killing you won’t bring lasting peace. After a short time, the same kind of people will appear again. So instead of killing, I might as well just leave someone who understands the rules in charge.”
“And if I were someone you couldn’t communicate with?”
Instead of responding, Dok Go-ryong curled the corner of his lips.
Go Tae-hong mentally praised himself for not letting his pride take over.
“How long does it usually take to get to the Sacheon Dang Clan?”
“Usually, it takes about two or three days. But if we use our mountain roads, it can be done in a day. We’ll attach a fast guide for you.”
“Good to know that we’re communicating well.”
“Do you have a specific reason for heading to the Sacheon Dang Clan? No offense, but you don’t seem like someone from the righteous faction.”
“My uncle is Kwangryong!”
“Kwangryong?”
“Kwangryong is… a famous problem solver from Hanan Province.”
Wonho quickly recalled the nickname Kwangryong and explained it to Go Tae-hong.
“He’s a bit sick, you see. He heard about the ‘God of Sichuan’ and is heading there now.”
“The ‘God of Sichuan’… you mean Elder of the Medicine King Hall?”
“You know him?”
“Anyone from Sichuan who doesn’t know about the Sacheon Dang Clan is a spy. It’s tough to get into the clan, but it seems like you have some connections.”
“I don’t.”
“…What?”
“I said I don’t. But the kid is sick. Do you think I’d just turn him away after hearing that?”
Even though Dok Go-ryong had the letter from Lee Ji-cheol and hoped things would work out, he had no intention of turning back.
“So, by the way, do you have any medicinal herbs?”
“Herbs?”
“Yeah. If you have any, it should be at least a precious elixir level. I’m sure you’ve gathered some wild ginseng or something while climbing the mountains. Show me everything you’ve got.”
Dok Go-ryong, as if he were casually picking up a bag, started searching through their supplies.
‘They’re probably going to cry.’
Eun Sowol couldn’t help but feel a little sympathy for the bandits, even though they couldn’t argue against Dok Go-ryong’s words.
“Wow, this is pretty good!”
Of course, she wasn’t planning to stop him.
“Kid, wanna try one? They’re good for your health.”
“The quack doctor told me not to eat random stuff.”
“True, but this isn’t a strongly energizing herb. It should be fine.”
“No… Uncle will eat a lot and grow strong.”
Though uneasy, Eun Sowol still rejected Dok Go-ryong’s offer.
Seeing the change in his eyes, she figured they were some good herbs.
Wonho, who had searched all the herbs, was left in awe and muttered to Go Tae-hong.
“Chief… if he asks for all our wealth…”
“…Stay quiet. Even in a pile of shit, life is still better than death. Maybe I’ll just accept the Hongmoon Association’s offer.”
Eun Sowol overheard their conversation.
‘Hongmoon Association?’
She quickly turned to Go Tae-hong.
“Before we were thrown out of the Green Forest, we’ll starve to death first.”
“If that’s the case, I’ll accept the offer when they arrive tomorrow…”
“Uncle.”
As Go Tae-hong and Wonho continued their serious conversation, Eun Sowol, looking up at them, asked curiously.
“Who’s coming here?”
“Looks like you overheard us. Are you asking about the Hongmoon Association?”
“Yeah, that. Aren’t bandits supposed to scare people and take their money? Don’t you work with others too?”
Bandits mainly made their money through tolls and plundering, but hearing the child speak about it made Go Tae-hong feel strange.
“Well… we need to live, so when offers come, we accept them.”
“What does the Hongmoon Association do with you?”
“We’ve agreed to guide them for a night trip. They needed someone familiar with the mountain roads.”
“So you’re just guiding them? Why are you asking? Do you know something about the Hongmoon Association?”
Eun Sowol thought back to the original story. She remembered hearing about the Hongmoon Association from there.
‘It’s run by the Demonic Sect, isn’t it?’
In the prologue of the original story, it was mentioned that the Demonic Sect suddenly started to make waves in the central plains, but that was a misconception. The protagonist, upon regressing, discovered that the Demonic Sect had been preparing for years to take control. They had spread their influence secretly, hiding their identity. The Hongmoon Association was one of their seeds.
‘Though they appear to be a regular association, they’ve probably been doing shady dealings in the background.’
At first, they didn’t actively engage in malicious acts, but they were quick to accept jobs like assassination contracts, gathering information, and exploiting people’s weaknesses.
‘It’s hard to say whether the Demonic Sect or the clients who commission them are worse, but it’s clear there’s no good in getting involved with them.’
From the looks of it, it wasn’t the bandits who approached the Hongmoon Association, but the other way around.
After thinking for a moment, Eun Sowol made a decision.
“Don’t do it.”
“Huh?”
“Don’t guide them to the Hongmoon Association. It doesn’t feel right.”
She decided to help the Bashu bandits instead. No special reason, really.
‘It’s not because they gave me delicious food and rare herbs…’
“Why not?”
“Why would the Hongmoon Association ask you guys to guide them? Don’t they usually hire escorts or use other bodyguards?”
Go Tae-hong paused for a moment.
“If they didn’t know the mountain roads, they should have done their own research, not ask bandits like us for help. Do you guys even know how they’ll act?”
“…Do we really seem that bad?”
“You’re not good people. You tried to extort 100 silver coins from us.”
That was true. They weren’t exactly saints.
“My mom used to say there’s no such thing as a favor without a cost.”
Eun Sowol’s words made Go Tae-hong’s eyes widen in surprise.
“When something good happens, it’s better to be cautious.”
Having done all he could to help, Go Tae-hong now knew that if they ignored her warnings, it was their fate. If they listened and avoided trouble, that was also their fate. It was no longer his concern.
Eun Sowol ran over to Dok Go-ryong.
“…I think you said she’s five, but she talks so fluently.”
Wonho clicked his tongue, watching the scene unfold. Perhaps, being Kwangryong’s relative, she wasn’t just any ordinary child.
She was certainly exceptional.
Go Tae-hong remained lost in thought, the events from the landslide and the impending danger from being expelled from the Green Forest still weighing on him.
