Chapter 386
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## C386 – Why Are You Helping Me?
Yeon Jeokha ignored Shim Tong’s words, the Old Dao of the Nine Heavens, and looked out the window.
The streets at dusk seemed desolate.
In reality, the person who had tried to kill him was Baek Miju, his aunt.
Yeon Mubaek, Yeon Seungbaek, and Yeon Seolju were only her children; he didn’t feel direct resentment towards them.
Of course, in a broad sense, it could also be considered revenge to have ruined their lives.
Because he had destroyed what Baek Miju cherished.
But Yang Yihwa?
Her “Yang Family” had been struck by lightning while she was beside a cruel man.
Three powers destroyed. The Great Chaeju, the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord, was the one who said, “I will destroy Waryong Manor, the Baek Family, and the Yang Family.”
At that moment, he thought it was natural.
Looking at it now, it wasn’t the time to take revenge on the Yeons.
But due to his resentment towards Baek Miju, he bit the hook thrown by the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord.
And as a result, he traveled the world fighting against the Demon Warriors of the Yoomyung Cult.
The Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord, as promised, destroyed the three powers.
Believing that his revenge was over, he didn’t want to remember it.
The fact that he had taught his half-brothers the supreme techniques might have been out of compassion.
His mixed feelings towards Yang Yi-hwa were also an extension of that.
We could say that her kindness made him realize his excessive revenge.
Seeing Yeon Jeokha lost in his thoughts, Shim Tong said,
“That’s because you have a good heart. If it were me, I would have killed them all. I don’t understand why you are compassionate and feel guilty.”
“You wouldn’t understand. Because it’s barely February.”
“Is that a joke?”
“Why? Is it too difficult to understand for you not to laugh?”
At Yeon Jeokha’s serious question, Shim Tong shook his head.
“Do you want to hear a really funny joke?”
“If you’re sure, go ahead.”
At Yeon Jeokha’s provocation, Shim Tong began to tell the stories he had heard.
The two began a competition of jokes that left them hoarse.
As everything has a beginning and an end, at some point, the two simply dedicated themselves to drinking.
When it got dark, the tavern was so crowded that it was difficult to find an empty seat.
Shim Tong, looking out the window, casually asked,
“Are you going to stay in Gosung village tonight?”
“Why?”
“Because you seem to have no intention of leaving.”
“Ah!”
Yeon Jeokha let out a surprised cry.
It seemed he had forgotten something important while talking non-stop.
“I’ve decided to stay at the Yeon Military Academy for a while.”
“What? Why?”
“I heard that before the inauguration ceremony, some uninvited guests came and fought.”
“Uninvited guests?”
“Yes, the Iron Blood Sect came to ask them to change the location of the military academy, and it ended in a fight.”
“So the Yeon Academy fought against the Iron Blood Sect?”
“It seems so.”
“Are you going to help the Yeon brothers?”
Shim Tong looked at Yeon Jeokha with an expression of disapproval.
After saying he cared about the situation of his enemy, in the end, he decided to help them.
“They don’t have disciples, or anyone to help them. I can’t let them fail right after their inauguration, can I?”
“They stole the sword you used, and they took away his supreme techniques little by little, and then they washed their hands. Why do you help them instead of letting them fail?”
“Yang Yihwa is a good person.”
“Yang Yihwa?”
“Yeon Mubaek’s wife. She is from the Yang Family.”
“So, you want to help them because she is a good person?”
Yeon Jeokha told Shim Tong, who was amazed, what had happened at the party.
“…The women who work there didn’t even approach me. But Yang Yihwa came personally, cleaned my dirty place, and brought me new food. And she apologized for being busy. I was very touched. She’s a really good woman.”
“…”
Shim Tong nodded at Yeon Jeokha’s words.
Definitely, it’s not easy to treat someone well even after seeing their face.
“Yeon Mubaek was lucky.”
No, this can’t be explained with just luck. It’s destiny.
“It seems that Yeon Mubaek was lucky in marriage.”
“I thought so too. I felt very bad because Yang Yihwa treated me so well.”
“Because of the Yang Family?”
“Yes. I ruined them.”
“That’s karma. The Yang Family chose the wrong side.”
“I learned today that my second brother lost an arm.”
Yeon Jeokha, after venting, said “brother” naturally.
“Yeon Seungbaek? You mean that rude second brother? I thought he would get into trouble sooner or later.”
“The Waryong Manor they built in the Dragon Palace was destroyed, so they joined the Justice Alliance. And there he lost an arm.”
“Do the Yeon brothers blame you?”
“I don’t think Mubaek does. Seungbaek has always been like that.”
Shim Tong finally understood what Yeon Jeokha had said.
-No. I’m the same as them. I only care about my own suffering and don’t care about others.
It seems that the fall of the Yeon Family and the fact that Yeon Seungbaek lost an arm worry him a lot.
He knew it, but he didn’t know what to say.
It’s awkward for a third party to get involved in family matters.
So Shim Tong changed the subject.
“How long will you stay as a guest?”
“I can’t stay long. I have a lot to do.”
Yeon Jeokha wanted things to be resolved quickly.
He had to finish learning at the Wudang Sect and hunt down the Demon Grand General.
“Should I eliminate the Iron Blood Sect for you?”
Shim Tong stared intently at Yeon Jeokha.
If he wanted to, he really would.
If they only killed the sub-leaders and branch leaders, the Iron Blood Sect would be destroyed by other evil sects.
“I’ve learned a lot while doing my pious pilgrimage. Doing evil is easy, but doing good is difficult.”
“The Iron Blood Sect are bad.”
“Yes, I know. But don’t forget that you, Old Shim, were also an evil man in the past.”
“Well, I only said that because you won’t be staying for long.”
“This is not a matter of good and evil, but a struggle for the sustenance of the military academies. The Iron Blood Sect is not absolute evil. Do you understand? If you kill them just because they bother you, you will have to bear that karma.”
“But you didn’t become a guest just to watch.”
“It’s okay to punish them for their wrongdoings. It’s the punishment they deserve.”
“Is that how it is in the Wudang Sect?”
“No, it’s my own understanding. There’s also a saying: ‘Good will be rewarded and evil will be punished’.”
“I understand. But, you know? You’re acting like a true Daoist from the Wudang Sect.”
“Stop talking about Daoists, you’re taking away my taste for alcohol.”
“Yes, yes.”
Shim Tong nodded unenthusiastically.
He didn’t understand why he was complicating things when he could simply go and kill them.
————————-
Luoyang.
Iron Blood Sect.
Juyeonshin, the sub-leader, threw an inkwell at Lee Cheolwon, who was at the table.
Lee Cheolwon didn’t dodge the inkwell.
He knew that something worse than an inkwell would fall on him if he did.
*Thud*.
Blood dripped from Lee Cheolwon’s forehead.
“This useless fool! Are you dishonoring the name of the Iron Blood Sect? What is there in that small town that’s worth taking?! You suffered that humiliation without being ordered to!”
“Please forgive me.”
“Forgive? Ask your family for forgiveness when you go home. What makes you think you can ask for forgiveness here?! Useless! Why did we put that useless fool as the leader of the external branch? Damn it!”
Juyeonshin’s fist hit the table with a dull thud.
Cheonreodo Joyubae, the commander who was next to Lee Cheolwon, shuddered.
Juyeonshin, who was breathing heavily, turned his gaze to Joyubae.
“What is the Yeon Military Academy?”
“Sub-leader, do you remember the Waryong Manor in the Desolate Plain?”
“The Moon-Splitting Swordsman?”
“Yes, the master of the Yeon Academy is the eldest son of the Moon-Splitting Swordsman.”
“He should have stayed in the Waryong Manor… Ah, was it taken by the Lunar Fairy?”
“Correct. After that, the Waryong Manor moved to the Dragon Palace, but it was destroyed by the Heaven Destroyer Demon Lord.”
“Because of a conflict with the Grand Inspector of Nokrim? Did that guy hide in Gosung village?”
“Correct.”
“Hmm!”
A deep sound came from Juyeonshin’s mouth.
If the opponent was the leader of the Waryong Manor, it was no wonder that the Death Swordsman had been defeated.
The Waryong Manor had once been so prosperous that it could be compared to the great martial families.
Of course, it was completely ruined with the appearance of Yeon Jeokha.
“Yeon Mubaek, the master of the Yeon Academy, is such a talented warrior that he is known as the Waryong Swordsman.”
“And?”
“No, I mean… well…”
Joyubae couldn’t defend Lee Cheolwon and cowered.
It was a shame that the leader of the external branch of the Iron Blood Sect had been defeated, even if the opponent was the Waryong Swordsman.
“What is the strength of the Yeon Academy?”
“The master, the martial arts instructor, and Yeon Seolju from the Haewon Chamber of Commerce are good swordsmen. And there are seven warriors from the Jeong Family, but they are not a threat. But…”
“But?”
“I received news a while ago that there is a disciple of the Wudang Sect among the guests of the Yeon Academy…”
“Did you say there is a disciple of the Wudang Sect?”
“Yes, they say he is a secret disciple, but it’s not confirmed yet.”
“What the hell! Does he already have such guests on his inauguration day?”
“It seems they have publicly declared their intention to face us. They also say they are recruiting nangins (wanderers/ronins).”
“That madman. We don’t even know if they will accept our apologies. What? Guests and nangins? Are they planning a war? Are they sure they’re going to fight?”
“The rumor has already spread through Luoyang. They say that the Yeon Gamu-gwan Academy is recruiting ronin.”
“The nangin are useless, so I don’t care about them… But the disciple of the Wudang Sect is a problem.”
“We are investigating the identity of the Wudang Sect disciple. We will be able to know who it is in a day or two.”
“Damn it! Are you telling me to wait two more days after suffering that humiliation?”
“Sub-leader, there is a saying: ‘Strike the bridge before crossing it’. If the opponent is a disciple of the Wudang Sect, we must be even more cautious.”
Joyubae knelt before Juyeonshin’s reprimand, but said what he had to say.
The distance between Luoyang and the Wudang Sect is about seven days. It’s a far and near distance, so they couldn’t ignore it.
“Find out who the guest is tomorrow. And tell the leaders of the external branches to pressure the nangin. We will not forgive anyone who helps the Yeon Academy.”
“Yes. Should we ask for help from the Three Deaths Gate and the Gui House?”
The Three Deaths Gate and the Gui House were evil sects of Luoyang who often helped each other.
“Are you telling me to call those sects just to deal with a small military academy in Gosung village?”
“The Waryong Manor has disappeared, but it was once a great family that dominated Luoyang. They may have hidden connections, so it’s better to be prepared.”
Juyeonshin couldn’t help but hesitate at Joyubae’s words.
Seeing that they had even attracted a disciple of the Wudang Sect, it seemed they would be a formidable opponent.
“Okay. Tell him to send twenty useful men no later than the day after tomorrow.”
“Yes.”
Joyubae bowed deeply and stepped back.
Juyeonshin, looking at Lee Cheolwon, suddenly asked as if something had occurred to him.
“How strong is Yeon Mubaek?”
“He was a little stronger than our subordinates.”
“Compared to me?”
“You are one or two levels stronger than him.”
Juyeonshin sighed in relief.
One or two levels, it was a tight situation, but in the end, he would win.