Which side would that be? (5)

A child, whose face was smeared with dirt and grime, stumbled forward awkwardly.

Thud.

But it was only for a moment, as she tripped over a rock and fell flat on her face. Tears quickly welled up in her big eyes, and just as she was about to burst into tears, her face contorted with overwhelming emotion.

“Oops.”

A hand suddenly appeared from somewhere, slipping under the fallen child’s armpits and lifting her up effortlessly.

“You mustn’t cry.”

“Oh…”

The child, who had been on the verge of tears, looked blankly at the person in front of her. Was he a scary person? Or…?

Though he was smiling broadly, he didn’t look entirely kind.

As the child stood there, not knowing what to do, the man placed his hand firmly on the child’s head.

“Where’s your mother?”

“M-mother… Mother.”

The child’s eyes welled up with tears again. The man, a bit flustered, rubbed her face with one hand.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry! It’s my fault. Your mother is safe, so please don’t cry.”

The man quickly tucked the child under his arm.

“We need to hurry. We have to find your mother, right?”

The child looked up at the man, not understanding what was happening. The man used the hem of his robe to gently cover the child’s face.

“It’s better if you don’t see this.”

At that moment, the man’s demeanor changed abruptly.

“There!”

“That bastard!”

Emerging suddenly from dense bushes, two towering figures appeared. They had been running in excitement as if on a rabbit hunt, but upon spotting the man before them, they hesitated for a moment.

“Who’s this…”

The man’s foot struck the ground.

Thunk!

In an instant, he disappeared from where he stood, reappearing in front of the giants as if it was magic. A flash of white light cleaved through the air.

Swish!

In an instant, the leader of the two, about to let out a roar, found his head suspended in mid-air with the same expression frozen on his face.

“Hiiiik!”

As his comrade’s head was cleanly severed in one stroke, the remaining one’s face turned deathly pale.

Even in this moment of incomprehension, there was one thing he could fully understand:

The black robes adorned with plum blossom patterns on the chest.

The gleaming white sword and the long flowing hair tied high.

And above all else… those eyes devoid of any emotion.

“Maehwa Geom…”

Swish!

Before he could finish speaking, a chilling blade sliced through his throat.

“…Gwi…!”

His final words faded away from the mouth that was now distancing itself from its body.

Thunk!

Before the two severed heads could even hit the ground where they had appeared in mid-air, the man propelled forward.

“Ah…”

As the wind loosened the hem that had covered her face, the child lifted her head in curiosity.

A strange world greeted the child.

Tall trees were distorted as they passed by, and the ground seemed poised to surge upward at any moment.

Wide-eyed, the child stared in astonishment.

“Wow..”

It’s a sight that seems unreal, not of this world. Yet strangely, there’s not a hint of wind that should be sweeping across her face.

Thunk!

Suddenly, the world shifted dramatically sideways.

Flutter!

Once again, a black fabric obscured the view.

“Cough…”

A faint, stifled groan was barely audible before swiftly fading away.

And again, as the black cloth swept aside.

“Tsk!”

Thunk!

The world as seen through the child’s eyes underwent another abrupt change. Lush, towering trees swiftly sucked downwards, and before long, a vast expanse of blue sky poured down upon them.

“Ah….”

Blue sky and fluffy white clouds. It seemed as if they were suspended in the middle of the heavens.

Startled, the child lowered her head, and beneath her feet, a lush forest spread out endlessly.

It felt as if peering down from atop a lofty mountain into profound darkness.

The child’s agape mouth closed tightly.

There was no time for astonishment.

“Is that… over there?”

The man muttered.

In an instant, the distant forest surged towards them at an astounding speed.

Unknowingly, the child tightly gripped the man. As their bodies plummeted swiftly downward, they smoothly changed direction and landed softly on a tree trunk.

“Don’t pee. Seriously, I’ll curse you.”

Flutter.

Once again, the child’s vision was engulfed in darkness.

“Gulp!”

“Cough!”

After a few stifled sounds as if their throat was being squeezed, the child’s body was gently lifted upwards.

“Look. Is your mother over there?”

The child tilted her head, not knowing what was happening. Since she had lost sight of her mother quite some time ago, she must surely be much farther ahead…

“Ah!”

At that moment, the child, as if overcome with fear, spotted her mother among those staring in their direction. Sobbing, she let go of the man and ran.

“Mom!”

“Jin-ah!”

The mother, upon seeing her child, dashed forward as if her soul had returned, embracing the child tightly.

“Thank goodness it was not too late.”

Watching this scene unfold, the man scratched his head and let out a sigh of relief.

Dumbfounded by the inexplicable events before them, the onlookers alternated their gazes between the fallen enemies and the one who had dropped from the sky.

“A-A deity…?”

“Nah, that’s too far-fetched. Just call me a Taoist monk for now.”

If there had been someone else nearby, it would have been a swift retort: ‘Yeah, as if a “Taoist” suits you!’

“Th-thank you. Thank you so much. I thought we were all going to die here without a chance…”

The elderly man stepped forward, his wrinkled eyes moistening with tears of gratitude.

“It’s nothing.”

The man glanced at the fallen, injured, or incapacitated few, letting out a soft sigh.

“I’m sorry we came late. If only we had arrived a bit sooner, those people…”

At this, some couldn’t hold back tears and bowed their heads.

Turning to the elderly man, the man said.

“For now, I’ve taken care of the riffraff around here, so you can continue on this path. If you keep going forward, you should come across a place where refugees are being temporarily accepted.”

“Is that… really true?”

“Don’t worry too much. You’ll be able to return to where you lived soon enough. I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to gather those who are scattering and fleeing right now. I have to go help other places too.”

“I-I understand. We’ll find our own way. Please don’t worry!”

The man nodded.

To save the children, they directed them in different directions while the adults moved in large groups to lure away the enemy. His wisdom allowed him to handle the situation well without needing any specific instructions.

As the man tried to turn his body and walk away, his eyes met the child who was looking his way while being held in her mother’s arms. After hesitating for a moment, he approached the child.

Pat!

He gently placed his hand on the child’s head and awkwardly stroked it.

“Don’t cry. It’s a promise.”

The child was bewildered. The man chuckled softly.

“If by chance, when you’re older and have nothing else to do, come find Hwasan at Shaanxi. Women are welcomed by Hwasan as disciples too. Of course, you’ll have to endure some hardships.”

Leaving these words for the child, who still couldn’t fully grasp their meaning, the man smiled and turned away.

Paaat!

In an instant, his body turned into a beam of light and vanished.

Those who had been staring dumbfounded muttered weakly.

“Is he really a deity…?”

“He mentioned Hwasan and Shaanxi. Seems like he belongs to some martial arts sect.”

“A sect?”

“Yeah, like those Shaolin people.”

“Oh…”

Everyone nodded with faces that hinted at their uncertainty.

The mother, holding her child, checked her over carefully.

“Jin-ah, are you hurt anywhere?”

Looking closely at her worried mother’s face, the child softly spoke.

“Flowers…”

“Huh? Flowers?”

“The flowers were beautiful.”

A bright smile bloomed on the child’s face.

❀ ❀ ❀

There are various types of battles.

While everyone in the front line was putting up a strong fight, those left behind in the rear, including Cheonumaeng’s leaders, were also engaged in fierce combat.

“Master! They say Daeryug Merchant Guild [대륙상단] can no longer accommodate refugees!”

Hwang Jong-ui’s face contorted in disbelief.

“They can’t accommodate them? How can that be? Just how massive is Daeryug Merchant Guild, to barely manage this many people!”

“But they say there’s a shortage of grain and clothing…”

“Damn it…”

Hwang Jong-ui cursed.

Traders moving back and forth through the Central Plains claiming that grain supplies are running low? It would be more credible to say the Yangtze River has run dry.

“Offer ten percent more for the grain than our original proposal!”

“What? But there’s a grain shortage…”

“Just tell them that! They’ll accept it!”

“Understood.”

“Do the same with the other merchant groups. If they say it’s difficult, just increase the money offer. That will shut them up.”

“Yes, Master.”

Hwang Jong-ui gripped the brush in his hand so tightly it seemed like it would break.

‘Damn bastards.’

On his end, he was even emptying his household assets to support the refugees. Yet, despite being merchants, how could they be so blinded by immediate profit to think of doing business in such times?

Commerce requires people. Without buyers, no matter how expensive the goods, they eventually become worthless. Why don’t they understand this?

“Phew…”

Hwang Jong-ui tried to calm his rising anger.

“And make a separate note of those merchant groups making such demands.”

“…What?”

“You can’t blame a merchant for trying to seize an opportunity, but they must face the consequences.”

At Im Sobyeong’s words, Hwang Jong-ui stared at him blankly.

“Nokrim King, what are you planning to do…?”

“Don’t worry. I won’t set the bandits on them to attack their merchant caravans.”

“Of course not. Naturally.”

“But that might actually be better. Better than having a crazy Taoist come at you ripping out his hair.”

“…”

Well…

Certainly, bandits might be the lesser evil. At least bandits won’t keep harassing you indefinitely.

“People should have a conscience. Even the bandits are opening their storehouses now. This is why merchants are so despised. Tsk tsk.”

At Im Sobyeong’s words, Hwang Jong-ui’s head drooped lower and lower. It looked like it might end up embedded in the desk.

Merchants have spent countless nights cursing bandits during their journeys. At least when it came to Nokrim, they were the ones cursing, not the ones being cursed at.

But now, he had no retort to Im Sobyeong’s words.

Im Sobyeong smiled faintly.

“Anyway, it’s fortunate that the merchant community is cooperating in some way.”

“…Thank you.”

The efforts and costs Hwang Jong-ui had endured to make that cooperation a reality were enormous. Of course, most of the support came from the sects affiliated with Cheonumaeng, especially Namgung clan.

“How is the establishment of branches in each province progressing?”

“About halfway done. In three or four days, they should be able to function, albeit roughly.”

“…That’s somewhat reassuring.”

“If those damn beggars had moved a bit faster, it would be seventy percent complete by now. They are so lazy!”

It was decided that the command posts in each province would be named Cheonumaeng branches. Though the humble mountain strongholds were too modest to be called branches, calling them command posts felt equally awkward, leading to this compromise.

“Who would’ve thought this could actually work…”

Uniting the four factions of the merchant community, Nokrim, Ghost Gate, and Beggars Sect resulted in a system capable of issuing orders across the entire Gangbuk in a single day.

‘Even the imperial palace couldn’t manage this…’

How did anyone come up with such an idea?

“Progress is faster than expected.”

“Yes, it is. Very fast. However…”

Im Sobyeong stared at the map of the Central Plains with a peculiar expression.

“…Whether this is a good thing…”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing.”

Im Sobyeong shook his head.

It was just a sense of foreboding that couldn’t be explained, so there was no need to say it out loud. But no matter how he thought about it, the smooth progress felt unsettling.

‘Jang Ilso. He must have something hidden.’

Im Sobyeong gripped the fan in his hand tightly and shook his head.

‘No.’

Though he felt uneasy, there was no need to be bound by it.

Just as they were unaware of Jang Ilso’s schemes, Jang Ilso wouldn’t know everything happening in Gangbuk either.

Cheonumaeng and Hwasan could always recall their dispersed forces, and it was unimaginable that they could command those spread across the Central Plains as if they were holding them in their hands.

So, no matter what, they could respond. Absolutely!

“First, keep an eye on Sapaeryeon’s movements…”

At that very moment.

“C-Commander! News from the Beggars Sect!”

“What is it? Speak quickly!”

Im Sobyeong shouted at the pale-faced messenger who burst in. Internally, he braced himself to not be surprised by whatever news came.

But that resolve crumbled like a decayed tree with the news that followed.

“The Yangtze River! They say a large fleet is attempting to cross the Yangtze River again.”

Im Sobyeong’s eyes widened in shock.

“The… Yangtze River…?”

A word completely dismissed from his mind struck like a sharp dagger.

“What is this…”

Who’s on those ships? No, it doesn’t matter who’s on them. As long as they aren’t empty, someone must be on board.

But… why?

Jang Ilso had dispersed Cheonumaeng’s forces and delayed the unification of Gupailbang. Now should be the time to move his main forces and exploit that gap.

So why would he further disperse his precious forces in a situation like this?

In this vast northern region?

“Why?”

Why? Are those in Zhangjiajie not his main forces?

No, that can’t be. That’s impossible.

Then why?

Why do something so incomprehensible unless he’s planning to lose?

“…What are you trying to do, Jang Ilso…”

A chilling dread flowed down Im Sobyeong’s spine.