Chapter 32. On a Night When Cicadas Sing

Oebong Mountain.

Early in the morning, the door of Oebong Mountain's inn opened wide.

Soon after, eleven thieves carrying bundles on their backs walked out. They were the Oebong Ten and the guide, Gumilbokgeom Shim Yang-gak.

Shim Yang-gak, who had been walking ahead, turned around and glanced at the Oebong Ten, nodding in satisfaction.

With their neat attire, they wouldn't be suspected of being thieves. The swords and knives hanging from their waists were unavoidable, though. They couldn't participate in the Green Forest Conference without weapons.

'They'll probably think we're martial arts sect members.'

That's how it should be.

If they were found out as bandits, it would cause trouble for everyone.

As Shim Yang-gak and Bong Yeon-cho were about to turn away, their eyes met by chance.

"Old Master Shim, is there something you want to say?"

"No, but if people we meet on the way ask what we're doing, what will you say?"

"Who would ask such a thing on first meeting?"

"Hehe, when so many people are traveling together, someone is bound to be curious."

"Is that so? What should we say to get around it?"

The Oebong Ten exchanged a few words as they walked.

"How about Oebong Sect?"

"Rather, Oebong Temple?"

"Why not Oebong Tower?"

"Brothers, why do you insist on including Oebong? How about Biryong Sect? We all learned Biryong Ascension, didn't we?"

Han Chae-yeon's suggestion was met with a nod from Heo Im-dal.

"Then I'll go with Ascension Sect."

"Oh, that's not bad."

"I'll go with Biryong Sect."

"Damn it."

The Oebong Ten couldn't agree on whether to be Biryong Sect or Ascension Sect.

Unable to bear it, Jang Go-myeong shouted, "Those who want to be Biryong Sect, be Biryong Sect. Those who want to be Ascension Sect, be Ascension Sect."

As they were almost done descending Oebong Mountain, Bong Yeon-cho declared, "Since the dragon's path is auspicious, let's be Biryong Sect."

Taking the opportunity, Bong Yeon-cho added,

"We are all disciples, and Yeon, you are the instructor. That's settled, right?"

"Brother, don't we need a sect leader? You should be it."

Shaking his head, Bong Yeon-cho replied to Jang Go-myeong's question.

"No, we don't need one. If a situation arises where the sect leader has to step forward, it'll be a headache. I don't want to do it."

"Ha! How about me?"

"What difference does it make between you and me? No, we don't need a sect leader. That way, there's no responsibility to bear."

Shim Yang-gak, who had been listening, chimed in.

"Master Chae is right. If there's a sect leader, people might come looking for us."

"See? Did you hear that?"

Bong Yeon-cho shrugged.

This time, Ha So-baek asked curiously,

"Brother Bong, why are we going to Namjeok City with Biryong Sect?"

"Why are we going? Well, you see..."

As Bong Yeon-cho was racking his brain for a suitable answer, Heo Im-dal interjected.

"There's Ascension Sect in Namjeok City. We're going to help them."

"Ha! Heo Im-dal, are you still pushing for Ascension Sect?"

Jang Go-myeong burst out laughing.

But Bong Yeon-cho seemed to like the idea and nodded.

"Sure, that's fine. Everyone heard that, right? If anyone asks, we're martial arts instructors heading to Namjeok City to help Ascension Sect."

The Oebong Ten chuckled in agreement.

"Understood."

"Yes, Brother."

At that moment, Lee Chul-san asked curiously,

"But, Brothers, is there really an Ascension Sect in Namjeok City?"

"What do you know?"

"Hey, don't dig too deep. What difference does it make if there is or isn't?"

"Anyway, our Chul-san is innocent."

The Oebong Ten's teasing made Lee Chul-san lower his head.

The Oebong Ten arrived at Haga Village, bought plenty of provisions, and then walked along the road to the southeast.

***

Mid-September.

Namjeok City, Buyang.

Around noon, eleven martial artists entered the town. They were the Oebong Ten, heading to Jiangnan Mansaping. Their appearance, worn from a long journey, complemented the swords and knives hanging from their waists.

"Big Brother, I'm too hot and hungry to go any further. Let's stop somewhere and eat."

Jang Go-myeong, who was covered in sweat, pleaded. His hairy constitution made the journey harder for him.

Bong Yeon-cho, also exhausted, replied in a weak voice.

"Sure, let's rest. I'm about to die too."

Gumilbokgeom Shim Yang-gak, who had been looking around, pointed to a spot.

"Brother Bong, there's a restaurant called Shinyang Banjeom. Let's go there."

Without checking, the Oebong Ten followed the direction he pointed. They were that tired from the heat and hunger.

Shinyang Banjeom was bustling with people, and it was hard to find an empty seat.

However, the waiters quickly made room for the eleven martial artists.

The Oebong Ten immediately gulped down cold water.

After ordering food from the waiter, they slumped back in their seats.

Bong Yeon-cho, who had been staring blankly at a point in the air, turned his head at a strange feeling. A middle-aged man in his fifties, sitting next to him, kept glancing over, as if he had something to say.

Bong Yeon-cho, feeling guilty for no reason, avoided the man's gaze.

'Maybe he recognized us as Green Forest bandits?'

Fortunately, the middle-aged man seemed to lose interest.

Just as the food arrived, Bong Yeon-cho started eating greedily, forgetting all his worries.

However, as the food on the table was almost gone, the middle-aged man, whom Bong Yeon-cho had forgotten about, suddenly spoke up.

"Excuse me, are you on a journey?"

Bong Yeon-cho's heart sank.

Feeling guilty, he snapped back,

"Why do you ask?"

"Ah, sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Jang Han-yeong, the chief clerk of Suwol Trading Company in Buyang. And this is my daughter."

Jang Han-yeong pointed to a young woman in her early twenties sitting next to him.

The young woman, taken aback, bowed.

Seeing her flustered face, it seemed Jang Han-yeong had acted on impulse.

After a quick introduction, Jang Han-yeong continued,

"I suddenly have to go on a business trip, but unfortunately, there aren't enough guards from our trading company."

"You can't be asking for help from strangers, can you...?"

"Hehe, not exactly..."

Jang Han-yeong laughed awkwardly but scrutinized the martial artists closely.

Only one old man had a dull gaze, while the rest were clear and composed. The aura they exuded was similar to that of disciples from prestigious sects.

This was due to the Oebong Ten reciting the Baekja Gyeol, taught by Yeon Jikha, day and night.

What was the Baekja Gyeol?

It was the essence of Daoist cultivation taught by Guchunxian, where one's Dao power increased with every breath. Although they were thieves, the refined aura they exuded was on par with that of disciples from the Seven Great Sects.

Moreover, their long journey had stripped away the filth of the secular world, making them appear even more refined. Jang Han-yeong was almost fooled.

Feeling confident, Jang Han-yeong pressed on.

"Ha! Even a hundred-year marriage starts with a first meeting. Could you tell me which sect you belong to?"

"We are disciples of Biryong Sect."

Bong Yeon-cho didn't hesitate.

He had a prepared answer, so his response was quick.

"Ah! Biryong Sect. Where is it located...?"

"South of the river?"

Faced with an unexpected question, Bong Yeon-cho's confidence wavered.

Although the answer was in the form of a question, Jang Han-yeong, already blinded by his own assumptions, didn't notice.

"South of the river, you say. If our destinations are the same, could you travel with us? We need to go to Hefei via Huainan. Of course, we'll provide ample compensation."

Bong Yeon-cho, taken aback, blinked.

He wanted to refuse, but coincidentally, their destinations were the same.

As Bong Yeon-cho was preparing to decline, Lee Chul-san, who had been listening, muttered,

"Hey, we also need to go through Hefei..."

'Oh no! This clueless kid.'

Bong Yeon-cho glared at Lee Chul-san, but it was too late.

Jang Han-yeong, the chief clerk of Suwol Trading Company, looked at Bong Yeon-cho with a caught-off-guard expression.

***

Late at night, outside Buyang, at the government cemetery.

On the stone-paved courtyard, a dozen people sat around a bonfire. Nine men and two women, the Oebong Ten. The summer night was cold and damp, so they had a fire to keep warm.

The fire served many purposes, one of which was to pass the time. Once the sun set, there was nothing to do. With a fire, two hours felt like nothing.

The Oebong Ten, without being told, stared blankly at the fire. There was no idle chatter, only a sense of regret in their eyes.

Though they were bandits now, they had once been poor farmers. The disappearing flames, leaving only white ashes, reminded them of their own lives, making them feel bitter.

People change slightly with their environment. When they were bandits on Oebong Mountain, they only thought about having fun. But after a long journey, forgotten memories started to resurface.

Ha So-baek, poking the fire with a long stick, glanced at Bong Yeon-cho.

"Brother Bong, why did you reject the chief clerk's offer earlier? We were going the same way. Wouldn't it have been good to earn some money?"

"Hmph. Have you forgotten who we are? If we get involved with them, we might get entangled with the Green Forest. Ugh."

Bong Yeon-cho shuddered as if the thought was unbearable.

"Big Brother is right. We should avoid traveling with a trading company."

Jang Go-myeong nodded in agreement.

"Ah, I see."

Ha So-baek's face was filled with a sense of loss.

In fact, she had dreamed of a life like a typical martial artist, the romanticized version known to the public.

Han Chae-yeon, who understood Ha So-baek's thoughts, smiled.

"You wanted to pretend to be a female hero, didn't you?"

"Maybe a little? Did you never feel that way, Sister?"

"Hehe, I can't say I never did."

The two of them chatted about the life they had dreamed of in the martial world.

Bong Yeon-cho looked at them with a somewhat complicated expression.

'Female hero...'

Everyone had dreams when they were young. Of course, reality was different. His poor parents had given him to a wandering medicine seller to reduce the number of mouths to feed. Since then, he had been a bandit.

But after learning the Baekja Gyeol from Yeon Jikha, every day felt new. Sometimes, after deep breathing, he felt as if he was wearing clothes that didn't fit him.

"Ha!"

A long sigh escaped Bong Yeon-cho's lips.

"What's with the sigh all of a sudden?"

Jang Go-myeong, who had been tossing a stick into the fire, asked indifferently.

"Did I ever mention having a wife and children?"

"First time I'm hearing it."

"They should be in Kaebong, but I don't know if they're alive or dead. I haven't visited in ten years."

He had forgotten about them after hiding in the mountains to avoid the Green Forest.

"Wow! You're heartless."

"Recently, I've been thinking about them. They say sudden changes can be fatal. Is it time for me to go?"

"Ha! Brother, it's not that it's time to go, but that you've become a person. Wanting to see your family is natural, isn't it?"

Jang Go-myeong, who had grown up in a temple, seemed a bit envious.

He had never had a family, and now he was in his forties, so it was understandable.

The Oebong Ten, chatting quietly, one by one fell asleep.

The bonfire's light gradually dimmed.

In the quiet night, the sound of cicadas was the only noise.