The Legend of Red Cloud - Chapter 76

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 76. The Bite
Ryu and Ji Chu sat across from each other at an inn near Dong Ho.
Around the table where the two of them sat, members of Jeok Sa Jo and martial artists of the Hwangha Suli Maeng were divided among themselves.
Perhaps because of the confrontation just moments before, the atmosphere among the others was not particularly pleasant.
Though Ji Chu’s expression suggested he cared nothing for such matters.
“My people can be rough around the edges. Can’t shake their water thief nature, I suppose.”
To Ji Chu’s surprisingly candid remark, Ryu replied.
“Our side didn’t handle it well either, sir.”
Ryu’s answer seemed to catch Ji Chu off guard, and his eyes brightened.
“You seem more good-natured than I heard.”
“Do I?”
“I was told you lacked flexibility.”
“I suppose I do.”
“Ha ha ha! Listen, listen—admitting it so readily, even. You’re not the kind of man who’d speak that way lightly. By the way, how’s the old Tai Chi Sword King doing?”
“You know him?”
“Your master and mine were sworn friends. He was always complaining that I wouldn’t call him uncle. Aha ha ha! That sort of thing.”
Ryu gazed at Ji Chu, who was laughing somewhat sheepishly at having spoken with such coarse language, and said.
“I know the clash with our members wasn’t coincidence.”
For a moment, Ji Chu’s expression hardened, then relaxed.
“How did you know?”
In response to Ji Chu’s question, Ryu silently raised his left arm, which bore a Yellow Band with the characters for “Maeng Ui” clearly emblazoned upon it.
“Ah!”
To the exclamation that could have been either surprise or admiration, Ryu replied.
“It’s impossible not to notice.”
“True enough. I hadn’t thought of that.”
Ji Chu nodded as if genuinely conceding the point. To him, Ryu said.
“I understand the reason, but I have no intention of leaving the Maeng Ui Dan for the time being.”
“You don’t have to. Everyone has their reasons, their circumstances. You can just keep your allegiance with us on paper.”
To Ji Chu’s offhand remark, delivered as though it were the most obvious thing in the world, Ryu smiled bitterly and shook his head.
“I don’t like water, sir.”
“It doesn’t matter. You don’t have to go near it at all. Truth is, despite our name, the Hwangha Suli Maeng spends more time on land these days anyway.”
Seeing that Ji Chu showed no signs of relenting, Ryu asked him with a serious gaze.
“Why? Why do you need me so badly?”
“Other sects want to raise their faction’s strength and stand shoulder to shoulder with the Namgung or the Muddang. But not us. We’re desperate.”
“What do you mean?”
“Haven’t you heard the rumors? That the Hwangha Suli Maeng won’t last long. It’s the talk spreading everywhere.”
At Ryu’s expression of hearing this for the first time, a Soul Transmission from Jwa Ryang reached him.
-It’s true. The rumors started after the previous Maeng Ju died, and they’ve only gotten worse lately.
-Why is that?
-A shortage of masters. The strongest expert in the Hwangha Suli Maeng is the Maeng Ju sitting before you now. He has one foot in the Enlightenment Realm, but even that’s just Peak Master level.
Noting that Ryu had closed his mouth and his gaze had shifted slightly toward his own members—indicating he was receiving a Soul Transmission from someone—Ji Chu smiled wryly and spoke.
“You didn’t know, it seems.”
“No, sir. I don’t pay much attention to worldly rumors.”
“A good attitude. I’m the same way. But most people in this world aren’t. That’s the problem. Because the rumors spread, people keep probing to test us.”
“Does that cause problems?”
“At first it didn’t, but as it repeated, the damage accumulated and started to wear on me.”
-It’s more than just wearing on him. These days there are rumors that the water thief gangs under the Hwangha Suli Maeng are suffering hardship.
-Are there many challenging forces?
-The Hwangha Suli Maeng as a whole is strong, but each individual gang isn’t. And the strongest master is only Peak Master level. Anyone with a master of the same caliber thinks they have a chance. There’s too much profit tied up in those waters.
Ryu nodded at Jwa Ryang’s Soul Transmission, and Ji Chu continued.
“It all comes down to a shortage of masters. I’m just expressing my own incompetence in a roundabout way.”
Ryu gazed steadily at Ji Chu, who spoke these words with a bitter expression of self-deprecation. Then Ji Chu asked him with concern.
“Is it perhaps because we come from water thieves that you dislike us?”
“I don’t place much weight on the past, sir. What matters is how someone lives now.”
“Music to my ears. Yes, the past doesn’t matter. The present does. Uh ha ha ha.”
Ryu watched as Ji Chu burst into hearty laughter, then spoke.
“You must receive quite a bit of reproach yourself, sir.”
“Hmm?”
“My disregard for the past comes from not wanting to remember those who should have died by my hand.”
“Ah……!”
“The past being unimportant does not mean it holds no significance whatsoever.”
“Ah, yes. You’re right.”
Ryu posed the question to Ji Chu, who looked flustered.
“Namgung and Muddang said they would take me as their sect’s support. What are you asking of me, Maeng Ju?”
“I’ll give you the position of Deputy Maeng Ju. If you wish it, I’ll even arrange beautiful women for you, whatever you desire.”
“Can you truly trust a man won through position and promises of women, Maeng Ju?”
“Well, naturally—”
“I’m asking whether you could trust him in battle. Whether you could place your back in his hands on the battlefield.”
Ji Chu could not answer quickly when Ryu cut off his words and posed his question.
“Hmm…”
Ryu observed Ji Chu’s silence for a moment, then rose to his feet.
“It was a pleasure to meet you.”
Ji Chu could not stop Ryu as he stood.
Soon after, the members of Jeok Sa Jo left the inn following him. Jwa Ryang departed last, offering Ji Chu a light Fist Salute as a gesture of minimal courtesy between those of the same origins.
It was the least respect one could show.
As Jeok Sa Jo departed, Hwang Gu—the one who had clashed with Dong Pil earlier—approached, rubbing his bruised jaw.
“You’re just going to let them go?”
“Hwang Gu.”
“Yes, brother.”
“Can you trust a man who came to you for position and promises of women?”
“Well, brother—”
“What is it?”
“I came to you under the same circumstances, didn’t I? You offered me a position and a beautiful woman.”
Ji Chu was taken aback at Hwang Gu’s expression, which seemed somehow aggrieved.
“Did I? You really did?”
“Yes. Do you… not trust me, brother?”
At Hwang Gu’s question, Ji Chu stammered something about of course he trusted him, stuttering nervously.
In any case, Ji Chu’s recruitment campaign for Jeok Sa Jo had fallen through.
Jwa Ryang approached Ryu as he walked slowly ahead.
“It was a decent offer. Why refuse? Was it really because of his origins?”
Unlike his initial thought that they should remain uninvolved, Jwa Ryang, having observed Ji Chu’s words and conduct, found himself thinking that blood runs thicker than water—if Ryu was bound for somewhere anyway, it wouldn’t be amiss to strengthen the Hwangha Suli Maeng’s position.
Ryu answered Jwa Ryang’s question.
“You know that’s not it better than anyone, Jwa.”
“Then what is it?”
“Just as I said. I need people I can trust. Not those who need me as an accessory to be furnished according to their own necessities.”
Jwa Ryang nodded at Ryu’s answer and stepped back. He understood the importance of trust to Ryu.
The footsteps of Jeok Sa Jo, which had resumed, came to a stop once more.
This time, it was because of women whose beauty made Dong Pil’s eyes widen in astonishment.
They were adorned in gaudy palace attire with heavy cosmetics, yet they were not common women—they were likely Gisaeng.
“My! Won’t you warriors spend some pleasurable time with us?”
Ryu stepped back from the women who approached with coquettish charm and subtle allure.
It was Dong Pil whose spirits soared.
“Well, should we? Where should we go play? What about taking a boat on the Lake?”
At Dong Pil’s enthusiasm, bright laughter burst from the women’s lips.
Yi Song grabbed Dong Pil by the collar as he grinned foolishly and made a spectacle of himself.
“Come to your senses!”
“Why, brother? They’re the ones asking to play.”
“There’s no free lunch in this world. They wouldn’t have come out if there wasn’t a reason.”
“Could it not be that I’m simply handsome?”
“You know that’s not true, don’t you?”
Dong Pil, growing sullen at the counter-question, reluctantly backed away, and Yi Song stepped forward.
“We are warriors of the Maeng Ui Dan. We have not come to play, so please clear the way.”
“Please don’t be like that. Won’t you rest a while with us?”
“Yes. If you just leave, we’ll feel neglected.”
At the sight of the women showing no sign of stepping aside, Jwa Ryang’s expression darkened menacingly.
“I’m warning you nicely—get out of the way!”
Perhaps frightened by his sharp features and rough speech, the women startled and retreated.
Then, men emerged from somewhere.
“Then won’t you join us for a drink?”
At the appearance of these men—dressed neatly and wearing refined Jade-Colored Crowns—Yi Song’s Soul Transmission flew out.
—The Jegal Family. They’re known for hiding blades within gentle smiles, so be cautious.
Ryu nodded slightly at Yi Song’s Soul Transmission and stepped forward.
“I’m attending to official business.”
“Until departure, this is your free time, as I understand it.”
“Who… are you?”
“Ah, my apologies for the late introduction. I am Gong Han, Mu Sang of the Jegal Family.”
Jegal Gong Han.
If one were to name the five greatest martial artists in Jegal Family history, he would invariably be mentioned among them.
His current realm is Peak Master.
Though he does not appear on the Fifteen Martial Legends of Gangho, which denotes the Enlightenment Realm, his place among the five greatest martial artists in Jegal history stems from his mastery of Formation Technique.
He was a master of the Formation Technique so profound that five pebbles scattered by a roadside could imprison the world itself.
It was said that his combat prowess, born from the fusion of this Formation Technique with the Secret Sword Technique of the Jegal Family’s hidden arts, approached the level of Hwa Gyeong.
“The Gi Mun So Ri!”
Jwa Ryang’s eyes widened.
As one who wielded the Secret Sword Technique himself, he had heard of this man’s reputation often enough.
—One who possesses a Secret Sword Technique superior to mine. They say when combined with Formation Technique, he can even capture those at the Hwa Gyeong level.
Despite Jwa Ryang’s warning, Ryu’s expression remained unmoved.
Jegal Gong Han regarded him quietly for a moment, then spoke.
“You do not seem to know who I am.”
“No. I don’t. So might you step aside?”
At Ryu’s words, Jegal Gong Han’s brow twitched.
He was offended.
The members of Jeok Sa Jo tensed at his reaction.
As the Mu Sang of the Jegal Family, he was the highest-ranking martial artist affiliated with them.
There was nothing good to come from openly confronting such a man.
Yet despite this, Yi Song stepped forward with restraint, gently checking Ryu’s aggressive stance.
“Various people keep approaching us. We’ve been quite troubled by the disturbances. If you could find it in your heart to understand, we would be grateful.”
“And who might you be?”
Jegal Gong Han’s voice was warm as he asked, his smile radiant.
Yet Ryu caught the cold killing intent flickering beneath his gaze.
Unaware of this, Yi Song answered the man’s gentle inquiry with courtesy.
“I am Yi Song, a member of Jeok Sa Jo.”
Having received a Soul Transmission about Yi Song from one of the Jegal Family warriors standing behind him, Jegal Gong Han acknowledged him with familiarity.
“Ah! The Scholar.”
“Yes. My colleagues are kind enough to call me that.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet such an excellent person. I’m delighted.”
“The pleasure is mine. Though I’m grateful for such warm hospitality, would it be possible for us to return to the inn and rest comfortably?”
At Yi Song’s request, cold killing intent flickered once more across Jegal Gong Han’s eyes.
‘Murderous intent!’
Ryu’s gaze turned icy as he sensed the shift, yet it seemed only he had perceived it.
Yi Song, standing before them, and all the others watching their exchange, simply smiled pleasantly.
“My, my. Anyone overhearing this would think this Han a rogue and a scoundrel.”
His words were delivered with a friendly laugh, yet their content was cutting, and Yi Song found himself at a loss.
It was as though he had cast a good-natured visitor in the role of a brigand.
As the situation shifted, those standing behind finally stepped forward.
“It’s been a long time, Gi Mun So Ri.”
At Hwangbo Jang Seong’s approach, Jegal Gong Han’s eyes widened slightly before settling again.
The others were of little consequence, but Hwangbo Jang Seong was different.
He was a true martial artist who had proven his worth by inscribing his name upon the Yeongha Baekwi.
Not a child relying only on his master’s backing and presuming to show off.
Thus, Jegal Gong Han greeted him with a broad smile.
“Ah! I’ve heard that the Crimson Flame Divine Fist has come to the Maeng Ui Dan.”
“It’s kind of you to welcome us so warmly, even bringing beautiful companions, but there has been considerable commotion. Would you be willing to allow us to rest quietly?”
Before Hwangbo Jang Seong’s words could finish, Peng Gyeong and Cheol Ja Ryong stepped forward as well.
“We too must ask this of you.”
“We ask for your consideration.”
As mentioned before, those two young men relying only on their master’s backing were of no consequence.
But…
Regarding Hwangbo Jang Seong once more, Jegal Gong Han stepped back.
“Very well. There is still much time, and opportunities abound. We shall meet again.”
As Jegal Gong Han stepped back after offering a final bow to Ryu, the women who had been flirting with him followed in his wake.
Jwa Ryang poked Dong Pil, who was watching them depart with a smacking of his lips, and glared at him.
Dong Pil grumbled at Jwa Ryang’s reaction.
“I know, I know. Women laced with poison.”
His words said one thing, but his eyes remained fixed on the departing women, so Jwa Ryang dragged him along.
At the very back of the Jeok Sa Jo procession heading toward the guest quarters assigned to them, Dong Pil kept turning to look back.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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