Chapter 282: Ha Cheolryeong in Danger

“Cheolryeong-ah, let’s try to move.”

Ha Deokgong stopped in his tracks as a sharp pain shot through his chest.

He had hastily bound the wound on his chest with cloth, but the bleeding hadn’t fully stopped, and blood still trickled out.

Ha Deokgong endured the pain and pressed on.

And about fifteen minutes after the two of them vanished, a group of martial artists arrived at the Guan Di Shrine.

One of the martial artists crouched down and touched the blood on the ground with his finger.

“They haven’t been gone long. If we chase them now, we can catch them before they reach the main road. Let’s go!”

Around ten martial artists disappeared without a sound.

Even from their movement arts, their level could be estimated.

As Ha Deokgong’s steps grew heavier, he realized the time had come to make a decision.

While running through the forest using movement arts with Ha Cheolryeong tucked under his arm, Ha Deokgong stopped and gently put him down.

“Cheolryeong-ah, listen to me.”

Ha Cheolryeong looked at his grandfather with anxious eyes.

“This old man no longer has any strength. If I continue running with you, we’ll both get caught and die. So I will lure them away—meanwhile, you go to the Sky Ocean Merchant Union.”

Ha Cheolryeong shook his head.

“No, Grandpa.”

“You have to listen.”

“No. If we die, we die together.”

Hearing his grandson speak so resolutely, far beyond his years, made Ha Deokgong sigh.

“What am I supposed to do with you…”

While he sighed for a moment, he suddenly let out a gasp upon seeing a group entering the forest.

“Ah, perhaps fortune is on our side after all.”

Ha Deokgong saw that those entering the forest were none other than an escort agency convoy and felt a surge of hope.

“Cheolryeong-ah, we’ll hide inside the haystack at the end of that convoy.”

Normally, escort agencies preparing for long trips brought along their own feed for the horses.

There were over thirty wagons, and the number of escorts was in the dozens—a large-scale escort procession.

These goods were food supplies and grains sent by the Namung Alliance to Shaolin Temple for the Shaolin Temple Gathering, under the order of Sam Jeongcheon.

Since hay wasn’t part of the protected cargo, there were no guards around it, and the wagon was being pulled by a mule at the rear.

The two quickly burrowed into the haystack.

“Following this road will lead us into Jeongju’s city. Let’s observe the situation and get off somewhere close to the Sky Ocean Merchant Union. They’ll never expect us to be hiding here.”

Ha Cheolryeong smiled, happy that he didn’t have to part with his grandfather.

The pursuers trailing the Ha Deokgong and grandson duo began to thoroughly scour the surroundings when their tracks suddenly disappeared.

“The trail suddenly ends.”

“That makes no sense. With an injury like that, they couldn’t have gotten far. They must be hiding nearby. Search every single blade of grass.”

As the leader shouted, the nine martial artists scattered in all directions.

But after about fifteen minutes, they regrouped with troubled expressions, looking at one another.

There were no signs of anyone hiding.

“Are we going to report to the Young Lord that we lost them?! If we say that, we’re as good as dead!”

“Leader!”

Just then, one of the later-joining martial artists spoke to the one who had been yelling at the subordinates.

“What is it?”

“I believe they might have hidden in the escort convoy that passed through here. There are traces of dozens of wagon wheels that passed recently—less than half an hour ago.”

In the subordinate’s hand was fresh horse dung, still soft, proving that the convoy had just passed.

“If the trail ends here so suddenly, we should suspect the escort procession.”

The leader nodded.

“That’s what I think too. We’ll pursue them immediately!”

With a stomp, the leader dashed forward, and the others followed in his wake.

After running for about two li using movement arts, they spotted the escort procession.

But the pursuers could only observe for a moment.

There were dozens of escorts. They couldn’t attack rashly. Moreover, they had no idea where the Ha Deokgong duo might be hiding.

“What do we do? If we wait too long, they’ll enter the main road into the busy district. If we’re going to strike, it has to be now.”

“Alright. Stop them and search the cargo.”

At that command, nine martial artists blocked the road.

“Stop right there!”

When the martial artists released their killing intent and blocked the way, the lead escort captain raised his hand to halt the procession.

“Who are you to block our way?!”

The escort captain shouted.

But when the martial artists remained silent, the captain shouted again.

“I am of the Gwangwon Escort Agency—”

“I don’t care to hear your name, scum! We’ll be inspecting your cargo from now on. Resist, and you’ll be cut down where you stand!”

One of the escorts stepped forward and shouted,

“Who the hell are you lowly bandits to threaten us like this?!”

At those words, one of the martial artists stepped forward and swung his sword.

Slish!

With a chilling sound of bones snapping, the escort’s head twisted at an unnatural angle and fell.

The escorts began to draw their swords to retaliate for their comrade’s death, but the Head Escort stopped them.

“Everyone, stand down!”

The Head Escort realized that these men were no ordinary bandits and restrained his men.

He could sense that he wouldn’t last ten seconds against them if he engaged.

Still, he did not cower in the slightest.

The Head Escort turned around.

His gaze landed on a wagon positioned in the middle of the procession.

Inside were experts who could turn the tide in their favor.

Sure enough, the wagon opened and three men stepped out.

The pursuers’ leader scowled as he examined their robes.

“Mount Wudang Sect?”

“What are Taoists of the Mount Wudang Sect doing here?”

When the subordinates grew agitated, the leader raised his hand to silence them.

He understood their concern.

These were Taoists of the Mount Wudang Sect, one of the strongest forces in the Sam Jeongcheon area.

Moreover, there were two middle-aged men and one young man.

That meant the two older men held high ranks, and high rank in the Mount Wudang Sect usually came with equally formidable martial skill.

The leader grew wary.

“Damn it, nothing ever comes free.”

To go up against them, he had to be prepared to lose at least half of his men.

The Mount Wudang Sect Taoists spoke calmly.

“We are Taoists cultivating the Dao at Mount Wudang. What is the reason for your lawless conduct here?”

The three Taoists from the Mount Wudang Sect were Nosim, Nomuk, and Hajin—members of the Wudang Eighteen Swords beneath the Wudang Seven Sons, with Nosim and Nomuk being senior swords and Hajin the youngest.

Nosim and Nomuk led the Wudang Eighteen Swords, and Hajin, the youthful Taoist, was their youngest member.

They had been dispatched to escort the Namung Alliance’s goods safely to Shaolin Temple.

The leader looked at the three Taoists and said,

“We’re looking for someone.”

“Looking for someone among the escort guards? Not goods, but a person?”

“The ones we’re pursuing are hiding within this procession.”

The leader couldn’t afford to offend the Mount Wudang Sect members.

But failure to complete their mission meant death, so retreat wasn’t an option either.

A hint of killing intent flickered in the leader’s eyes.

“You’re forcing us onto the path of the demonic.”

The leader gave an order to the men behind him.

“Seize them.”

At his command, five martial artists sprinted to the far side of the escort procession.

The escort guards and Mount Wudang Sect Taoists watched the movement in confusion.

Nosim thought to himself,

‘Strange lot. They’re not attacking us, nor are they running. Why head to the other side of the convoy? Either way, if they don’t retreat, I’ll show them the might of Mount Wudang today.’

Nosim was already prepared.

He transmitted his thoughts through telepathy to Nomuk and Hajin.

Nosim had reached the highest level among the Wudang Eighteen Swords, and his virtue and Daoist cultivation commanded deep respect from his disciples.

At his signal, the two slowly moved to stand to either side of him.

The three of them were confident they could easily subdue ten demonic martial artists.

The escorts, trusting the Mount Wudang Sect Taoists, showed no signs of fear.

But after about two hours passed, Nosim’s face filled with fury.

He realized what the five missing martial artists had gone to do when they returned.

“P-please spare us!”

They had dragged in about ten merchants traveling along the official road and forced them to their knees.

“You’re the ones making us turn ruthless.”

As the leader spoke, Nosim burst out in a furious shout.

“You wicked bastards!”

At a flick of the leader’s wrist, one of the subordinates beheaded a merchant on the spot.

“Kraak!”

The sudden act left Nosim momentarily stunned.

“Watch your words. Otherwise, we’ll kill every one of these hostages.”

This was the difference between the demonic path and the orthodox martial world.

Martial artists of the demonic path or underworld often took innocent lives without hesitation.

In contrast, orthodox martial artists considered the use of martial arts against civilians strictly taboo.

Nosim shouted,

“What is it that you want?!”

“I already told you! The ones we’re after are hiding in this procession, and we will find them.”

“We will search for them ourselves! You will stay out of it!”

The leader was pleased with how easily he had forced the Mount Wudang Sect Taoists to surrender.

‘Dealing with orthodox fools is always simple.’

Watching this scene unfold, Ha Deokgong and Ha Cheolryeong felt hopeless.

In truth, witnessing the pursuers harm innocent people had made them abandon any thought of fleeing.

“Cheolryeong-ah, we can’t save ourselves by letting others die. Your father would not have wanted that either. At this rate, we’re better off fighting to the death and taking down at least one more of them.”

Young Ha Cheolryeong showed no sign of fear.

“Yes, Grandfather.”

Ha Deokgong looked at Ha Cheolryeong with a pained gaze and gently patted his head.

Then, he pushed aside the haystack and stepped out of the wagon.

“We’re here! Release the hostages!”

The Mount Wudang Sect Taoists were shocked to see them actually emerge from hiding. They had believed the pursuers were making false accusations to provoke conflict.

Since they had remained in the wagon, they hadn’t noticed their infiltration.

“Wahahahaha!”

The leader laughed heartily, pleased to finally see the Ha Deokgong grandfather and grandson who had given him such a hard time.

Nosim didn’t fully understand the situation, but his pride wouldn’t allow him to simply hand them over.

“Elder, please wait a moment.”

As Ha Deokgong approached the martial artists, Nosim spoke up.

Knowing Nosim’s intentions, Ha Deokgong responded.

“You should leave this place as soon as possible.”

He cupped his fist in a martial salute, then turned away.

“We’ve come out, so release the hostages.”

“No, no. That’s not how negotiations work. If you come with us quietly, then we’ll release them.”

Ha Deokgong gritted his teeth.

But since he had already come out to save the hostages, he had no reason not to comply.

“Fine. I’ll go with you.”

The leader added,

“And I’d like the Mount Wudang Sect Taoists and the escort group to back off.”

Clearly, the Mount Wudang Sect Taoists were making him uneasy.

“This is a matter between me and them, so the rest of you should leave.”

At Ha Deokgong’s words, Nosim gave some instructions to the Head Escort.

The Head Escort nodded and led the escorts away from the scene.

But the three Mount Wudang Sect Taoists remained.

The leader frowned and asked,

“What is the meaning of this?”

“How can we be sure you’ll release the hostages? Once they’re released unharmed, we’ll leave.”

The leader spoke with a mocking tone.

“So, you intend to keep acting like noble Taoists until the end. But that won’t do. If you had left, I might have released them. But since you stayed, I can’t let them go.”

“What nonsense is that!”

“Seems you’ve forgotten who’s holding the blade.”

As the leader raised his hand, the martial artists placed their swords against the hostages’ necks.

“Hmm.”

Though fury rose in him, Nosim stepped back, knowing innocent lives might be lost if he acted rashly.

“If we leave, you’ll release them?”

“We may take lives easily, but we do honor our promises.”

Nomuk and Hajin, reaching the limits of their patience, spoke to Nosim.

“Elder Brother, why don’t we just fight them head-on and subdue them?”

Frustrated by the direction things were going, they proposed a direct confrontation.

They were used to being respected just by virtue of being Mount Wudang Sect Taoists.

But when things didn’t go their way, anger swelled inside them.

Nosim rebuked them.

“Did you think the martial world would be so easy? It’s a place where even great masters lose their lives. Speak and think with caution.”

Having much more experience in the murim, Nosim knew that acting carelessly in this situation could disgrace the Mount Wudang Sect.

The leader, also at the end of his patience, shouted,

“We don’t have time. Decide quickly. If you’re not gone by the count of ten, we’ll slaughter all the hostages!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep