The Lazy Young Master of the Jin Clan

The day after Jin Sohyun arrived at the Guizhou branch.

The rest of the officials also arrived at the Martial Arts Alliance's Guizhou branch one after another.

The officials, who had left the Daoist temple in a relatively neat state, appeared in a mess.

"Hah... we've finally arrived!"

"I might die at this rate."

"I want to wash up quickly!"

The officials, who had to run like they were escaping day and night due to the attack of the dung bags, washed their tired bodies and changed their clothes.

The branch head, Hong'a, had prepared a warm place to rest, bathwater, and food for them.

On the second day, the last group finally arrived.

"Heok... heok...!"

Jong Ryeo'ak, who had appeared carrying Siu, was drenched in sweat, and Siu was in a state of fainting with her hair in a mess.

"Finally... arrived... I did."

Jong Ryeo'ak put down Siu, whom he had been carrying, as if he were throwing down a piece of luggage.

"Kyak!"

Siu, who had come to her senses, glared at Jong Ryeo'ak while rubbing her sore bottom.

"What?"

"We've been through life and death together for a few days, and you treat me like this?"

"Life and death together?"

Jong Ryeo'ak could not hold back any longer and vented his frustration.

"All you did for five days was tear my hair and scream that dung was flying!"

"If it weren't for me, you would have been covered in dung, mister!"

"Mister!? This damn wench!"

"My name is Siu! Siu!"

For the past few days, Siu had realized firsthand that Jong Ryeo'ak could not do anything to her.

Was it because of that?

Siu had gained the courage to brazenly confront the martial artist of the Jongnam Sect.

"This...!" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

As Jong Ryeo'ak glared, Siu also glared back with her two eyes.

While the two were glaring at each other, Yu Useon, who had become noticeably pale, said, gasping for breath.

"For now... let's go inside... and rest a bit."

In fact, the two, who did not even have the strength to fight, went inside without a word.

Siu, who had bathed and changed her clothes after five days, ran to her Young Master, whom she had met after a long time, crying.

"Young Master!"

"Oh, it's Siu."

"Your one and only loyal and beautiful maidservant has come here after overcoming a near-death experience! Is that all your reaction?"

"Don't be so loud."

"You're so mean!"

Although his words were cold, Jin Sohyun gently stroked the head of Siu, who was in his arms.

In the meantime, Jong Ryeo'ak, who had also washed his body and had changed into new clothes, appeared, grinding his teeth.

"Do you know how much I suffered because of that damn wench!?"

"How would I know?"

At Jin Sohyun's confident attitude, Jong Ryeo'ak's anger shot up to the top of his head.

But no matter how much of a Jong Ryeo'ak he was, it was a very arduous task to run without rest for five days while carrying Siu.

He could not question any further and crawled into the tent where the bed was and fell asleep as if he had fainted.

"Young Lady Si."

"Ah! Young Lady Moyong!"

"You've returned safely."

"Hehe..."

Siu, who had greeted Moyong Susu, whom she had met after a long time, warmly, then discovered Cheon Yerang and was about to wave her hand happily.

But upon discovering Cheon Gaseong next to her, she had to bow her head deeply.

At that sight, Cheon Yerang, who had been about to raise her hand, had no choice but to put her hand down.

Finally, as all the officials had gathered in one place, the branch head, Hong'a, called them all together.

Jong Ryeo'ak, Siu, and Yu Useon, who had arrived last, had half-dead faces.

"As I said before, now that all the proud officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple have gathered, it is time to start the task again."

"Yes."

The officials, who had rested as much as they had, answered vigorously, but Jong Ryeo'ak was not.

He looked at Hong'a with a blank face.

"D-Do we depart tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Th-Our group arrived today."

"I know."

"Can't we rest a little more?"

"You can rest."

"Ah."

As soon as Jong Ryeo'ak let out a sigh of relief, Hong'a continued.

"But the time that had stopped will start flowing again from tomorrow. It seems it took you five days to get here... so you only have two days left. Don't you think so?"

At Hong'a's continued words, Jong Ryeo'ak was in despair.

It was practically impossible to cross Chongqing in two days and reach the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple in Seokcheon.

"Damn it! If it weren't for that damn wench..."

As Jong Ryeo'ak glared fiercely at Siu, Jin Sohyun and Moyong Susu, who were sitting next to her, glared at him at the same time.

At that, Siu also joined in, and as the three shot gazes at him, even the great Jong Ryeo'ak could not glare at them any longer.

"Hell!"

Spitting out a curse was the only thing Jong Ryeo'ak could do.

'Why does the sky only give me such trials?'

An unexpected salvation came to Jong Ryeo'ak, who was resenting the sky.

It was because one of the branch members had brought a wooden box with a small hole that a hand could be put into, at Hong'a's instruction.

"Now, everyone, put your hand in here."

Those who had put their hands into the wooden box in a daze took out a wooden plaque the size of two fingers put together.

A familiar number was written on the wooden plaque.

"What is this?"

At the question of Zhuge Ming, who had arrived at the branch two days ago, Hong'a smiled lightly.

"From now on, we will reorganize the groups."

"What!?"

"Reorganize the groups?"

"Why..."

Among the confused officials, two people shot up and cheered.

"Yes!"

"The heavens have not abandoned me!"

Those two were Siu and Jong Ryeo'ak.

The two glared at each other once more.

"You're shameless, to have come this far thanks to me. You damn wench."

"Hmph! You would have been covered in dung if it weren't for me."

Now that they were no longer in the same group, Siu had nothing to hold back.

"And your head stinks of dung, mister. Do you know how hard it was while I was being carried?"

"This damn wench!!"

"Stop!"

At Hong'a's mediation, the two sat back down in their seats, huffing and puffing.

In the meantime, the officials who had been newly organized into groups greeted their new colleagues.

And Jin Sohyun, who had welcomed his new group member, lightly raised his hand.

"Hello."

"Yes."

'Of all people.'

Oh Seolhwa, who had been paired with Jin Sohyun, did not bother to exchange names.

After all, they had already known each other's names and affiliations.

However, she was dissatisfied with being paired with Jin Sohyun, who had the worst evaluation at the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple.

'Can I even get to the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple in time with this incompetent lazy bum?'

Oh Seolhwa, who was grumbling, looked at the side of Jin Sohyun's face, who was standing next to her.

'Well... he is handsome. But that's all.'

Oh Seolhwa barely tore her gaze away from Jin Sohyun, who had nothing to look at but his face.

Meanwhile, somewhere, there was someone who was in despair at the unbelievable result...

"This is hell! Something must be wrong!"

"That's right!"

Jong Ryeo'ak looked at Siu, who had been assigned the same number, with a face of disbelief, and then went to Hong'a with her.

Hong'a smiled gently as she looked at the two who had walked up to her together.

"Have you become close already?"

"Branch Head! I have already been in a group with this damn... no... this incompetent brat."

"That's right! I've already been in the same group with this dung-smelling old man."

"Oh! That's great. Since you've already been in the same group, there won't be any more problems. Don't you think so?"

"That's not the problem!"

"The result cannot be changed. Think of it as fate. Above all, you two only have two days left, right?"

"Keuk!"

The heavens had abandoned Jong Ryeo'ak.

"Branch Head."

This time too, Zhuge Ming, who had raised his hand, asked the question that everyone was curious about.

"It doesn't matter if the groups change, but the remaining period is different for each of us. How do we distinguish this?"

"The remaining period is written on the token each of you has received. Through this, we will divide the success of each individual. But don't forget that if you don't return to the Daoist temple with your group members, you will fail the task regardless of your individual success."

At Hong'a's explanation, Zhuge Ming noticed the real purpose of this task.

'Even if the group is the same, the remaining period is different for each of us. Nurturing teamwork must be the real purpose of this task.'

The group members with different remaining periods had to calculate each other's remaining period and return to the Daoist temple together.

In the end, the success would be decided by how they cooperated with each other.

"I have three days left."

"Me too."

"Our group is a community of common destiny."

While there were groups that were happy because their remaining period was the same.

"I have... two days... left."

"So?"

"What? Th-Then I have to hurry..."

"Why should I?"

Yu Useon, who had been paired with Cheon Gaseong, who had a whopping four days left, was having a hard time.

"But we have to go in together..."

Cheon Gaseong did not listen to Yu Useon's mumbling words any longer.

While Yu Useon was making a sad face, the day at the branch passed quickly.

***

The next morning.

Oh Seolhwa, who had come out after getting enough rest, discovered the officials who had already finished their preparations and were leaving the branch.

'I can't be late! Especially, I can't lose to that wench!'

The figure of Moyong Susu came into Oh Seolhwa's sight.

"I'll be in your care!"

"I'll be in your care too, Young Hero Un."

At the beautiful appearance of Moyong Susu, who was smiling with a light smile, the disciple of the Kongtong Sect, Un Bang, quickly blushed.

In general, it was difficult to find women in sects with a Daoist tendency.

This was the same for the Kongtong Sect.

His heart was pounding and his face was flushed just from standing close to Moyong Susu.

"Then shall we depart?"

"Yes! I will take the lead."

"Thank you."

"N-No, it's nothing!"

Oh Seolhwa, who was displeased with Moyong Susu, who was leaving the branch, guided by Un Bang, pouted her lips.

"A vixen-like wench... by the way, why isn't this brat coming out!?"

Oh Seolhwa, who had been waiting for Jin Sohyun to come out for a long time, could not watch the officials leaving the branch any longer and went to the tent where the male officials were resting.

"Senior Brother."

"Junior Sister Oh? What brings you here?"

At Hyeok'ugun's question, Oh Seolhwa grumbled, telling him her situation.

"I've been paired with that lazy bum. I have to return to the Daoist temple within three days, what should I do?"

"I heard that Jin Sohyun and Young Lady Cheon arrived on the fourth day. It seems he knows some movement techniques, so don't worry too much."

"Yes... but is Jin Sohyun inside?"

"He seemed to be sleeping."

"What!?"

The surprised Oh Seolhwa ran to the tent where Jin Sohyun was sleeping and called his name.

"Young Hero Jin! Are you inside, Young Hero Jin!"

At Oh Seolhwa's call, Jin Sohyun appeared, hesitating.

Jin Sohyun, who had appeared wrapped in a blanket, faced Oh Seolhwa with a face that was in a daze.

"Young Lady Oh? What's wrong?"

"What do you mean, what's wrong! We have to depart without being late!"

"Haaam—!"

Oh Seolhwa wanted to punch Jin Sohyun's chin, who was yawning without even knowing her feelings.

"Hurry up!"

"Yes..."

Even after that, Jin Sohyun appeared with sluggish movements.

At the sight of him not even being able to open his eyes properly, Oh Seolhwa's insides were boiling.

'This brat... can he really even use movement techniques?'

As her heart became anxious, Oh Seolhwa grabbed Jin Sohyun's sleeve and led him.

"Let's go!"

Oh Seolhwa, who had barely managed to drag Jin Sohyun out of the branch, opened a map and calculated the shortest distance back to the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple.

'If we cross just three mountains on this road, it's Chongqing. If we run without resting, we can reach Chongqing even tonight.'

Oh Seolhwa, who had finished her calculations, ran with all her might.

'I can't lose to Moyong Susu!'

"Let's go!"

Following the motivated Oh Seolhwa, Jin Sohyun walked with a plod.

"I haven't slept enough yet."

***

"Grand Commander! The officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple have left the branch and have begun to return to the Daoist temple."

The middle-aged man, who was sitting in a chair and drinking tea, raised his head.

He was a man wearing a white robe, with a well-groomed beard and an impression that felt solid.

A white sword was also stuck in the man's waistband.

"What about the movements of the Heretic's Path Alliance?"

"According to the report of the Beggars' Sect, a large number of unorthodox faction martial artists are moving. Their number... is said to reach seven hundred."

"Quite a lot. What about the number of martial artists sent by the Martial Arts Alliance?"

"Two hundred. Although the number is small, it is said that they are all first-rate masters."

"Is that so?"

The man wet his throat with tea.

"Shall we move soon?"

"No. We will not move."

"What? But..."

"Vice Commander."

"Yes, Grand Commander."

The White Sword Unit, an elite group belonging to the White Moon Palace.

The White Sword Unit Commander, So Wigyeon, put down his teacup and said.

"It is the order of the Palace Lord. The White Sword Unit will not move."

"Yes."

The order of the Palace Lord was absolute.

The White Sword Unit, which had been dispatched to protect the officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple who had been used as bait, put down their swords and held their breath.

The beggars of the Beggars' Sect were running around the mountain, drenched in sweat.

"It has already increased to eight hundred! It seems the Heretic's Path Alliance has made up its mind!"

"What about the masters dispatched from the Martial Arts Alliance?"

"They are waiting at their positions."

"What about the White Sword Unit?"

A beggar of the Beggars' Sect, who was in charge of the White Sword Unit, ran over with a pale face.

At his ominous panting, Pal'ungae, a beggar of the Beggars' Sect and the one in charge of coordinating the Martial Arts Alliance, the Beggars' Sect, and the White Moon Palace in this task, asked urgently.

"What's wrong!"

"Th-There's a problem."

"What problem!"

"The White Sword Unit... has disappeared."

"What!? This is hell! What do you mean, the White Sword Unit has disappeared?"

"It's just as I said! The White Sword Unit did not appear at the promised place."

Pal'ungae bit his lower lip and tore at his hair with both hands.

'The White Sword Unit is gone?'

In a situation where a whopping eight hundred unorthodox faction martial artists were moving to kill the officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple, the White Sword Unit of the White Moon Palace, which had led this task and had promised cooperation, had disappeared.

'A betrayal? But why the White Moon Palace!?'

Pal'ungae's head was dizzy.

But now was not the time to be questioning this.

"For now, I will contact the Nine Sects and Five Great Families in Sichuan!"

"No... there's not enough time. Call all the beggars! We have to send all the officials who are returning to the Daoist temple back to Guizhou! What are you doing! Run like your feet are on fire!"

Pal'ungae and the beggars of the Beggars' Sect, who had realized that the plan had gone wrong, scattered in all directions.

In the meantime, the unorthodox faction martial artists, who had heard the news that the prey had left the Martial Arts Alliance's Guizhou branch, took out the weapons they had hidden.

"Let's go, you brats. It's time to hunt."

(End of Chapter)