Episode 238:
The Hongwon family.
It was one of the martial arts families representing Guangxi.
It was a family so powerful that it was said that if there was a Jin family in Guangdong, there was a Hongyuan family in Guangxi.
‘is it.’
As I watched the man fidgeting with embarrassment, I was able to understand the situation.
It seems that the Hongwon family used me and my group as bait.
To lure the magic bandits.
‘I thought something was strange.’
The Hongwon family’s warriors were waiting, hiding in the camp, until the distance from the magic bandits got closer.
So how on earth did they know that the magic bandits woulde here?
Jinbeop was basically a money-eating monster.
Not only does it require specialized manpower and precious castings, but it also takes a considerable amount of time to produce.
Although it was useful for defending bases, it was inevitably difficult to use against highly mobile enemies such as magic enemies.
‘In other words, King Hongwon’s side was confident that a group of magic bandits would show up here.’
I looked back at the cart full of precious items and smiled.
My guess is that the person who leaked information about me and my party to the magic bandits was an official of the Hongwon family.
‘I feel quite bad.’
Of course, if you look at the conclusion, the horde of magic enemies was sessfully subdued, and my party and I did not suffer any significant damage.
But even so, I couldn’t help but feel ufortable.
At the very least, it would have been better if I had given notice in advance and asked for understanding.
There was no way that a group of people who arbitrarily put others in danger would look kind.
“Musa.”
“……yes.”
“I would like to have a word with the representative leading the punitive force. Could you please go and tell him what I have to say?”
“Oh, I understand.”
The warrior swallowed his saliva and left his seat with an awkward movement.
Soon, a middle-aged man with a long physique came and stood in front of me.
It was the man who was leading the punitive force.
The man introduced himself with a polite bow.
“Hong Won-se is Jeok Gyun-ho, who leads Hongnyeongdae.”
“This is Yeon So-un. “This is how I get to meet Lord Hongnyeong, who is famous throughout the central ins.”
“Fortunately, the. You almost got attacked by evil magic bandits. Well, even if a conflict had urred, he would have defeated it without any trouble…” “
…….”
I narrowed my eyes and stared at the Hongryeongdaeju quietly.
Judging by his attitude, it seemed like he had no intention of making an apology or excuse.
‘I thought so, though.’
In some ways, it could be said to be a wise decision.
There was sufficient circumstantial evidence, but no clear physical evidence.
If Hong Won-se’s side decided to grab him, they couldn’t push him hard.
As a member of an alliance, isn’t it possible to punish an affiliated family without justification?
‘but.’
That’s just a story from when I was an ordinary Murim leader.
Now, I am a person with a reputation that even the head of the Hongwon family cannot treat me carelessly.
‘If that side continues to remain ignorant, we have no choice but to mobilize hard-line measures as well.’
I took a step forward with a smile on my face.
Did he instinctively feel wary?
Lord Hongnyeong narrowed his eyes and took a step back.
“It was fate that brought us together like this, but it’s a shame we just parted ways.”
“……?”
“Actually, the group is exhausted due to the long journey. So, I would like to stay at Hongwon House for a while and rest. Could you please wee me as a guest?”
I told lies without even putting saliva in my mouth.
Only two days have passed since I left the headquarters of the Murim Alliance and embarked on a journey to find a sacred object.
The group was not so exhausted that they had to seek help from a nearby Sega.
Of course, even if he recognized that, the Lord Hongryeong would not be able to refuse my request.
“……”
A suffocating silence fell.
As I watched Hongnyeongdaeju’s muttering expression, unable toe up with a straight answer, I felt cheerful.
If he wasn’t an idiot, he would have realized the true meaning of what I said.
I was now saying this to Lord Hongnyeong.
< I don''t think conversation with you will work, so I''ll ask the head of the Hongryeong family directly. >
I think you’ll be punished for taking me to the family obediently.
However, there is no justification for refusing the request.
A quandary and a quandary are the words used to describe this situation.
“……sorry.”
Lord Hongnyeong, who had been waiting for a long time, finally opened his mouth.
“I would like toply with the request of the branch manager, but the Hongwon family does not currently have time to wee guests. “Sangsalmun (祥殺門) is constantly threatening us.”
“Sangsalmun?”
Come to think of it, the Guangxi branch had previously sent a request for support.
Like Guizhou, the Wulin forces in Guangxi are also suffering from the rise of the Sadomun faction.
‘Do you want toe out like that?’
It was truly a poor excuse.
Did you think you could get rid of me with just this little justification?
“it’s okay.”
“yes?”
“Even if something unpleasant happens, we won’t me the Hongwon family.”
“But…”
“Don’t worry. “Everyone here is skilled enough to protect themselves.”
After a bit of a scuffle, Grand Master Hongnyeong could not stand it and dered surrender.
My party and I drove the carriage following Hongnyeongdae, who was returning to his family with the captured demons in tow.
‘It just worked out. I was thinking of setting up a base before starting the search in earnest.’
A hum naturally came out.
I get revenge for being used as bait and get free amodation for a while.
Killing two birds with one stone is probably an expression used in times like these.
‘I’ll let you experience what it’s like to dry up and die.’
After traveling for about an hour, we reached our destination.
A site surrounded by a high wall.
Therge signboard above the front door caught my eye.
Hongwon family.
The warriors guarding the entrance looked puzzled and nced at the carriage we were riding in.
It seemed like he was wary of the unscheduled visit of a guest.
Hongryeongdaeju, who was leading the procession from the front row, exined the situation and entered the house first.
Some time passes.
“wee.”
“The head of the family told me to bring the distinguished guests.”
A young man and woman ran out to greet me and my group.
After hearing the introduction, I found out that both of them were the family head’s biological rtives.
It was a part that revealed how much burden the Hongwon family felt about the current situation.
“This way.”
We arrived in Daejeon guided by a very nervous brother and sister.
I entered the room with the utmost arrogance.
Bangcheoksam, who was walking next to me and ncing in this direction,ughed.
“Wee.”
“I meet you, Lord Hongwon.”
“I heard it from Lord Hongryeong. “You said you wanted to stay at your home for a while, right?”
“yes. “I know it’s a shameless request, but I hope you can help me and my group get some rest.”
“I wish they had at least contacted me in advance. “Currently, the Hongwon family is not ready to receive a distinguished guest.”
“it’s okay. All you need is food to fill your stomach and a bed to lie down on. That is all you need.”
“…Well, it’s not that difficult.”
Hong Won Se-ju nods his head with a nervous expression.
It was clearly visible on his face that he was reluctantly agreeing.
The children of the head of the family came forward and offered to guide us to the lodgings.
After leaving Daejeon with the two people, I burst intoughter.
Damun followed behind and spoke to me in full voice.
– In times like these, the branch manager is also very evil.
-Shouldn’t you repay what was done to you?
-As the head of the family, it must feel like being struck by lightning out of a dry sky.
-During your stay at Hongwon House, eat and drink as much as you like. So much so that the family’s finances were in jeopardy.
-It’s a bit scary that the branch manager, and not just anyone else, would say something like that.
-What does it mean.
-If the branch manager has the kind of mentality, I think he could really drain Sega’s finances.
As we moved around, exchanging silly jokes, we soon reached the guest amodation.
After unpacking my belongings in the room I was assigned and washing myself in the bathroom, I left Masil with a refreshed expression.
The Hongwon family’s warriors who were standing guard saluted me with awkward expressions.
‘by the way.’
They said they had no time to spare because Sangsalmun (祥殺門) was constantly threatening them.
It seemed like it wasn’t something he just made up.
The tension unique to wartime was evident on the faces of the warriors.
‘Well, it has nothing to do with me.’
It was a time when the family was walking around with light steps and looking around.
Shortly after entering the well-maintained garden, a skinny man appeared across from me.
A man who flinched and shrugged his shoulders as if he had discovered this direction passed by at a fast pace.
It looked like it was running away from me.
“……?”
I was staring at the man’s back with a puzzled expression, scratching the back of my head and getting lost in thought.
The man’s appearance looked familiar.
‘Is it an illusion? It’s a face I feel like I’ve seen before…’ After
thinking for a while, I opened my eyes wide.
I was reunited with an unexpected person in an unexpected ce.
‘Why is that person here?’
The skinny man had already left the garden and disappeared.
I immediately opened my guard and chased after the man.
“Are you okay?”
“…It’s no big deal. “There’s nothing to worry about.”
It wasn’t long before I was able to spot the man.
A young woman was supporting him with a worried expression.
‘Hong Won’s wife’s wife.’
It was the woman who guided me and my group to our lodgings a little while ago.
A man and a woman disappear inside a simple pce.
I immediately approached the warrior guarding the entrance to the pce and spoke to him.
“Can Ie in?”
“yes? What happened all of a sudden…”
“It seems like someone I know is staying here. “I came here to talk to you for a moment.”
“I’m sorry, but this is not a ce where guests are allowed to set foot. “You must first get permission from the head of the family.”
There was no time to go through such cumbersome procedures.
Wouldn’t it be a disaster if the opponent runs away in the meantime?
I used the method of Lee Hyeong-hwanwi (以形換位) to point out the warrior’s back and point out the hoonhyeol (暈穴).
After quietly sitting the warrior, who was tearing down the new model without even screaming, on the stairs.
Sigh!
I opened the door to the pce and stepped inside.
As I passed through the long hallway and entered the room inside, the sight of a thin man ring at me with a very nervous expression came into view.
The daughter of the Hongwon family, who had drawn a sword from her waist, stepped forward as if to protect him and shouted.
“What are you doing? “A foreigner would carelessly set foot in a forbidden area!”
Instead of answering her question, I took a close look at the man’s face.
It was certain.
Although it looked a lot different than before, I couldn’t recognize that face.
-What are you doing here?
“…….”
-It’s something to see if you live a long time. I never thought I would see the world’s Iron Blood Demon army hiding behind a woman.