Who will help? (4)

Clack! Clack!

The wild boar, roasting over the blazing bonfire, spun round and round.

Watching it in a daze, Tang Pae couldn’t help but have a truly obvious yet utterly useless thought.

‘Is this really okay?’

Avoiding human eyes…. well, of course, it didn’t matter since they were in the middle of this steep cliff, far from any cave where people might come to see the fire. But still…

“Ugh. If I had known, I would’ve brought some liquor.”

“Did this guy die unable to drink in his past life? This is Gangnam, damn it!”

“But there’s not a soul around to see us.”

“…Well, that’s true.”

Hearing Chung Myung mutter, ‘I wouldn’t have been nervous if I knew we’d just be walking around cliffs and mountains like this,’ Tang Pae gave up on thinking any further.

What made it even more torturous for him was that, despite the lack of apparent tension, they were moving at least twice as fast as he had originally anticipated.

‘If you think about it, it’s actually quite impressive…’

“It’s cooked!”

“Wait! It’s not fully cooked yet!”

“Then just eat the outside first, can’t you?”

“…Really?”

“Let’s eat!”

Watching Hwasan’s folks rush towards the roasted boar, any remaining shreds of respect flew out the window.

Crazy bastards, using plum blossom sword technique to cook a damn pig!

As Ogeom were turning Tang Pae’s insides upside down, Baek Cheon, who had been standing back as Vice Sect Leader, turned to Im Sobyeong.

“How’s it going? Are we moving according to the plan?”

“Hmm.”

Im Sobyeong poked his cheek with the fan as he replied,

“It’s a bit early to say whether it’s going according to the plan. Of course, we’ve taken some variables into account, but…”

He turned his sullen face to look at Namgung Dowi, his expression now openly showing disdain as he lay there whimpering.

“To anticipate even those kinds of variables…”

“…”

Clearly, this wasn’t Im Sobyeong’s fault.

Even if he was a remarkable person who could foresee heaven’s will to some extent, it’s not like he could predict Namgung Dowi having a fear of hight. After all, does it even make sense for someone who wields a sword to have such a fear?

“Well… even considering that, we are moving within the expected range. At this rate, we should reach the coast near Hainan island within four days.”

“Oh, really…”

Baek Cheon pondered slightly. To penetrate Gangnam in just four days was an enormous feat. Even under normal circumstances, it would be questionable if it were possible.

But with only the top-notch experts in the party, it was something worth attempting. Although it was a bit burdensome for Seol Sobaek, he was somehow being dragged along by Chung Myung.

So, it was definitely good news, but…

“What about increasing the speed a bit?”

Baek Cheon wanted to reach Haenam as soon as possible. Not only was the situation dire with Haenam sect, but they also didn’t know what might happen in Gangnam. It was best to minimize the time spent in Gangnam.

However, Im Sobyeong shook his head firmly.

“We’re already at our limit in terms of speed.”

“We could reduce the time for rest or sleep. We don’t necessarily have to waste time like this…”

“It’s not possible.”

Im Sobyeong cut in decisively. Then he shrugged and continued.

“Of course, I understand that Vice Sect Leader is anxious, but everyone has their limits. No matter how remarkable someone is, it’s impossible to maintain concentration for three days straight.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“Right now, what’s more important than speed for us is caution. Even the most extraordinary individuals can miss human movements if their senses dull even slightly. If that happens, we could find ourselves in a situation worse than simply arriving late.”

Baek Cheon nodded slowly. It wasn’t just about finding a cave to rest – Im Sobyeong was also taking care of the party’s stamina in his own way.

“It’s not just about being discovered, it’s about the aftermath being a bigger issue. If I were alone, well… I could probably bury any witness, whether it’s a civilian or whatever…”

“Aye!”

“What are you blabbering?”

As Ogeom stopped chewing on the meat with their eyes bulging, Im Sobyeong sighed deeply as he turned to look.

“…What are you saying?”

“This Sapa wants to die!”

“…Thank you for the interpretation. So, it’s not something I can handle as I please, and we have to proceed without drawing attention as much as possible. For that, we also need some adequate rest.”

“Understood.”

Baek Cheon nodded in agreement.

‘It’s not wrong.’

He glanced briefly at Namgung Dowi and Tang Pae.

Ogeom might be accustomed to harsh marches to some extent, but for Tang Pae, Namgung Dowi, and even Seol Sobaek, this experience is likely new. They may be trying to appear composed on the outside, but…

‘It must be tough.’

Traveling for a whole day atop a sheer cliff is something unimaginable for most people. And not just hanging onto the cliff, but moving even faster than a horse?

In the midst of this, they can’t afford to let their guard down, so their energy is rapidly depleting.

‘They’re eating more aggressively than usual. They must be nervous, especially in this situation…’

“Darn it! I should have asked the Lord of the Beast Palace for just one more bottle!”

There it is… A human who has thrown away the word “nervousness” from Hwasan’s cliff…

Baek Cheon sighed deeply.

Well, Chung Myung is naturally like that, and Im Sobyeong’s complexion is noticeably darker than usual. Despite trying to appear calm, with his inherent condition, Im Sobyeong can’t possibly have very good stamina.

“Indeed… It’s best not to rush too much.”

As Baek Cheon said that, Im Sobyeong chuckled softly.

“It seems Vice Sect Leader has a lot on his mind.”

“I guess…”

“Ah, you don’t need to worry too much. There’s no one here who can’t keep up.”

Baek Cheon smiled and nodded, but Im Sobyeong turned to Namgung Dowi with sullen eyes.

“Except for one.”

“…”

By this point, it seems to be more than just a matter of background but rather some physiological aversion…

“Anyway, I’m relieved that the road to Gangnam doesn’t seem as dangerous as I thought. I was prepared for some conflict to some extent.”

“Even so, finding a person amidst the vast Gangnam is like finding a grain of sand in the desert.”

“That’s true.”

If the roles were reversed, and Baek Cheon was asked to find the Sapa members infiltrating Gangbuk using Hwasan’s resources, he’d probably think it’s insane.

“There are only two potential risks.”

As Baek Cheon looked at him with a puzzled expression, Im Sobyeong’s expression hardened slightly.

“One is that Jang Ilso bastard, if determined enough, might be as persistent as to find a grain of sand in the desert.”

Baek Cheon felt a shiver down his spine at Im Sobyeong’s words.

Indeed, if it’s Jang Ilso… if it’s him, it might just be possible.

“However, there’s no need to worry excessively. No matter how formidable Paegun is, it’s unimaginable for them to know that we are currently on Gangnam land.”

“Well…”

“Surely you don’t imagine there are crazier ones than him?”

“…”

Is that supposed to be a compliment?

“In fact, I’m more concerned about the other side…”

“…The other side? Is there another issue?”

Im Sobyeong’s expression turned uneasy at that remark.

“It might be meaningless for me to mention it. Let’s just hope such a thing doesn’t happen.”

Baek Cheon was about to ask further when Im Sobyeong’s attention was drawn elsewhere.

“No! What will I eat if you eat all of that! You monstrous creatures!”

Im Sobyeong exclaimed in horror as he rushed towards the roasted wild boar. It was rapidly losing its form as it hung over the fire.

Baek Cheon sighed and shook his head…

***

“It’s not that side, it’s this side.”

“…How on earth do you know that?”

“Just look at it, isn’t it obvious?”

Entering the dense bushes, Cheonumaeng’s group looked around in amazement. The density of the trees made it difficult to distinguish directions. Yet, Im Sobyeong seemed to navigate effortlessly within the foliage, guiding everyone.

“Is it this way?”

“Yes, this way!”

“Why are you getting angry…”

“Just follow from behind! Stop trying to go ahead!”

“But you’re too slow…”

“What?”

Indeed, Im Sobyeong displayed remarkable versatility in this aspect. Oh, well…

“Tsk. Originally, going upward is faster.”

“…”

“Whose fault is it! Argh!”

His temperament turned out to be worse than expected.

Seeing Namgung Dowi noticeably depressed, Yoon Jong quickly changed the subject with an awkward expression.

“In any case, you’re truly remarkable. We see all these paths as the same, but you can distinguish and guide us. It’s impressive, especially since you’ve never been here before.”

“Haha, I’m not that impressive. For a forest bandit, this is just basic knowledge. How can a bandit claim to dominate the mountains if they don’t understand the mountains themselves…”

“Hey, stop boasting about wandering around like useless rats, Sapa bastard.”

When Chung Myung retorted, Im Sobyeong slumped his shoulders. Seeing this, Yoon Jong blinked in surprise.

“Hey! Why are you killing the mood! He’s helping us so much!”

“What are you talking about? It’s obvious that a Sapa bastard is helping!”

“Huh? Why are you suddenly…”

“If he wasn’t helpful, he would have been done for by now!”

Oh… Well, what he’s saying isn’t entirely wrong… But no matter how one looks at it, you seem more like a Sapa bastard, Chung Myung.

Baek Cheon silently patted Im Sobyeong’s shoulder.

“Stay strong.”

“…Thank you.”

“So, come on, let’s keep pushing forward like me.”

Im Sobyeong hesitated for a moment, as if struggling to find the words. Then, just as he was about to speak…

“Shh!”

Suddenly, Chung Myung’s expression changed completely. He gestured quietly, indicating for everyone to be silent, then cautiously moved forward, gently parting the bushes to the sides.

The others followed suit, holding their breath.

As they peered ahead, they saw a procession slowly approaching through a narrow path in the bushes. It consisted of a large carriage and a group of guards.

But what caught their attention the most was the large flag flying on the carriage. The word “Pae” was boldly embroidered on it.

“…It’s Sapaeryeon.”

Instantly, tension gripped everyone’s faces. They did their best to remain unnoticed as they watched the procession pass by.