Chapter 616
In Murim, becoming a successful merchant meant surviving fierce competition.
In that sense, the maps made by the Horse Traders, who traveled back and forth between the outer regions and the Central Plains, were enough to explain how they managed to accumulate such vast wealth.
“This is the place. Faint as it is, there’s no mistaking the Horse Traders’ mark.”
“Huh, who would have thought there was a path here?”
Swift, precise, and filled with secret shortcuts hidden throughout the Central Plains.
Though time had taken its toll and some of the roads had vanished completely, and many were perilously treacherous due to their secrecy, they weren’t much of an obstacle for us.
“Captain, this slope is too steep.”
“Yeah, and the path is narrow. Still, we have to go.”
“Then we’ll have no choice but to abandon the horses.”
“Abandon? No. We’ll carry them.”
“…What?”
Correction: not ‘we’, but ‘I’.
The moment those words left my mouth, everyone stared wide-eyed at me.
“What did you just say?”
“They’re not massive warhorses, just ones we brought from the steppe. They’re not that heavy, right?”
“…Even so, they’re still horses. Can you even do that?”
Turns out, I could. And more easily than expected.
Having long since surpassed human limits in strength, I slung two over my shoulders and strode forward. Taesan, though less than me, was still a naturally gifted strongman with a massive frame—he could handle three.
“Captain, Taesan… heavy. Let’s just eat—no, leave one here.”
“…Swallow your spit and try again.”
Honestly, his gluttony was more of a problem than the weight.
And as much as the shortcut reduced time and distance, it also brought bigger obstacles.
“According to the map, there should be a path up ahead. But…”
“The road’s gone. Or rather, blocked.”
“Escort Song is right. I heard there was a landslide in the area a month or two ago. It must’ve been then.”
“Looks like we’ll have to take a detour. The map says this path saves ten li of travel, but clearing a fully buried route… that’s impossible. Captain, what are you doing?”
“Getting ready to clear it.”
“…Huh?”
“I’m not talking about digging through a whole mountain. Just clearing the dirt and rocks so we can pass. It’s only been a few months, right?”
“Well… that’s true, but still.”
“If your body’s weak, your head has to work harder.”
“…Isn’t it usually the other way around?”
“Usually, yes.”
We climbed the mountain carrying horses, cleared the blocked path, and continued on—walking and running for days.
Thanks to the insane pace, we crossed Hubei and reached Sichuan in record time.
It was all thanks to the old shortcuts known only to a handful of Horse Traders, and to Ju Hwaran, who remembered every detail from the data left by her maternal grandfather, known as the Escort King.
‘Didn’t expect to arrive this fast.’
And that without even using the waterways.
Of course, my own contributions to making the impossible possible weren’t insignificant, but Ju Hwaran had more than lived up to her earlier words before joining the Fire Dragon Pavilion.
No, this was beyond expectations.
‘Guess martial arts aren’t everything.’
Even as a supreme master, I didn’t have that kind of talent. I looked at her with genuine admiration.
“You’re amazing. There’s no one like you, Lady Ju.”
“I’ll… go feed the horses some hay.”
“…Huh? They’re not Taesan. It hasn’t been that long since they last ate hay—Lady Ju? Lady Ju?”
Seriously, what was that?
Was she not hearing me, or just pretending not to?
Watching her vanish in a flash using her movement technique, I turned my head at the sensation of eyes on me.
Ssshhk!
Fast as lightning, but she couldn’t escape my eye. I narrowed my gaze at the culprit.
“Ma—” He flinched.
“I saw that. Don’t play dumb.”
At my confident accusation, Song Ilseom, sitting by the water, glanced around awkwardly.
“…Are you talking to me?”
“Sorry, but you’re the only one here. And you do know you’re looking really awkward right now, right?”
“…I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“If you were watching, you were watching. Why hide it? And are you ‘ever’ not polishing that Willow Blade? By the time we reach the Southern Barbarian Region, it’ll be a needle.”
Splash—he rinsed the blade, polished to a mirror shine, and replied stiffly,
“Watch your mouth. This weapon holds special meaning for me.”
He wasn’t one for expressive faces, but seeing him so serious, there was clearly a story there.
‘Well, he’s had a rough life.’
It’s cruel to prod at someone’s wounds, so I stopped myself. Feeling a pang of guilt, I asked carefully,
“What, a treasured family heirloom?”
“Not a chance. I heard my family didn’t even manage to save a single martial arts manual. My grandfather never trained in martial arts—surviving the war was miracle enough.”
“Yeah, it doesn’t look like a family heirloom. Then your father’s keepsake?”
“Not that either.”
Smiling faintly at some fond memory, Song Ilseom ran a hand along the blade.
“This Willow Blade is what I got when I worked as a sword boy for a third-rate wanderer. It was with this that I took my first life. I must’ve been twelve.”
“…Ah. I see.”
So much for sympathy.
The guilt I’d been feeling vanished like snow in spring.
Born into Murim, and cherishing his first kill as a memory—Song Ilseom was… yeah, a lunatic.
‘Yep. Definitely not sane.’
Murim had all kinds of people, but mostly lunatics.
Maybe that’s because you have to be crazy to survive here.
People died while eating, died in duels, or succumbed to wounds after barely surviving.
Even after reaching the level of master, you could die from qi deviation during training.
‘I remember a wuxia novel where the hero peacefully retired after “washing hands in a golden basin.”’
Coming to Murim taught me—it’s just fiction.
Even Jeok Cheon-Gang, when I asked him about the golden basin handwashing, said:
‘Golden basin handwashing? Simple.’
‘Oh, easy?’
‘Yeah. First, buy a golden basin. Invite a ton of friends.’
‘This already reeks of clout-chasing and capitalism, but okay… and then?’
‘Wash your hands in peace. Of course, the moment you put down your weapon, an assassin hiding among your friends will throw a hidden weapon at you.’
‘…Ah.’
‘And one more thing. That “friend” you trusted might ‘be’ the assassin. Easy, right?’
As my dear grumpy old man once said, Murim’s like this.
Forget golden basins—most people in Murim should be grateful just to wake up and wash their face in cold water.
Because the next day, they might be doing their ablutions in the waters of the River of Three Crossings instead.
Granted, that’s similar to retirement—only the difference is whether you’re still breathing.
‘Feels like a Murim version of ‘Escape No.1’.’
That old TV show may be long gone, but here, it’d be a hit.
Assuming TV even existed here, the ratings would probably hit 107%, like a Russian election.
Some high-ranking expert from the Black Dragon Demon Sect would smile warmly as they demonstrated the “experiment.”
‘Now, Murim friends, what happens if you dodge like this in this technique?’ ‘Thunk’
‘See? Dead. Haha.’
The stuntmen wouldn’t last long…
It’s all just fantasy, but here in Murim, if TV arrived, it could become reality overnight.
And here I was, in this insane world, leading lunatics, fighting other lunatics—
“…Haa.”
Feeling oddly sorry for myself, I stared at the river, when Song Ilseom suddenly spoke.
“I was watching, you know.”
“…Watching what?”
“That thing from earlier. I don’t think I answered you.”
So that’s what this was about. I shrugged.
“You didn’t need to say anything. Why’d you look, though?”
“Just heard a sound, so I glanced over.”
“More honestly.”
“Because your words and actions were so stupid, I couldn’t help myself.”
“…Wow. Brutally honest.”
“But true. Keep talking like that and maybe that’s why Lady Ju keeps walking away.”
I felt wronged.
“Hey, I was just honestly praising her.”
“Not even a stray dog would believe that.”
“It’s true.”
“Enough. Boring.”
“I’ve been bored since earlier.”
“Fine, if you say so.”
He gave a faint smile, then studied my expression before asking,
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Not a shred of a lie? You seriously don’t know what your words and actions mean? Or why Lady Ju leaves every time?”
“I swear on my balls.”
“Huh. If you’re staking your own and not Hyuk Mu-jin’s, it must be true.”
The logic was questionable, but whatever—at least he believed me now.
He looked at me like he’d spotted a unicorn.
“How can a man be like this?”
“What?”
“Didn’t you say your old nickname was Night King? Then you should at least know the basics.”
How long must I keep cleaning up after my predecessor’s mess? Night King, my ass—if it were “Porn King,” I’d accept it, but Night King?
“…It’s a long story.”
He nodded knowingly.
“Of course. Every night must’ve been long.”
“You bastard. Draw your sword. You’re dead.”
“Unfortunately, that’ll have to wait. Thanks to you, I have to find our employer, who’s still missing after an hour.”
“Forgot? I’m the Fire Dragon Pavilion Master. Your direct superior.”
“But the one paying me is the employer. My job is to guard them.”
Sliding the polished Willow Blade back into his belt, Song Ilseom stood from the riverbank.
Crunch, crunch. Without a word, he walked off, but then stopped.
“If you really don’t know why she does that, think about it with what little sense you have. Find the answer yourself.”
“What?”
“She’s a strong woman, but one who’s been through a lot. I hope she won’t face any more pain or die in vain.”
That was the last thing he said.
I watched him walk away as if nothing had happened, wondering—was he still by Ju Hwaran’s side for the silver, or was it something else?
Before I could find an answer, the roar of the Yangtze River in Sichuan filled the air.
The pounding of drums, the sharp prow cutting through the current—
Through the mist appeared over a dozen swift ships, flying the banners of the Water Dragon Stronghold.
“Our taxi’s here.”