Chapter 307 – There’s No Tiger’s Den Like This (1)

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“Don’t you think there are more people than expected?”

“Hmm! That’s definitely true.”

Bang Jin-bo agreed with Jong Ri-yeon’s words.

Right now they were walking through the streets of Huayin County. Since several years ago, Huayin County’s economy had rapidly contracted. This was because many people who had made their living depending on Mount Hua Sect had left when Mount Hua Sect closed its gates. Because of this, the world’s perception was that the atmosphere of Huayin County was very gloomy. But the atmosphere of the streets wasn’t as bad as expected.

Though it was still quiet, it wasn’t as eerie as before. The streets showed quite a few unfamiliar faces.

Jong Ri-yeon tilted her head.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s probably because of that incident.”

“That incident?”

“When Sochung and the Eun Family merchants entered Mount Hua.”

“Ah! The incident where the Demon Cult’s pursuit team was annihilated?”

“Right! That’s when the Plum Blossom Sword Masters displayed their divine prowess. It’s probably because of that.”

“So people thought Mount Hua Sect, which had collapsed after losing its pillar, had unexpected military power, and since that power was strong enough to attract the martial world’s attention, they’re sending people to investigate the situation?”

“It might not be all of them, but I think many people came for that purpose.”

“That’s definitely reasonable.”

Jong Ri-yeon nodded.

Though it had fallen and chosen to close its gates, Mount Hua Sect was one of the Nine Great Sects. Though it was barely maintaining the name of a Great Sect by relying on the great reputation of Dam-ho, it had once commanded the world with thunderous authority.

Anyone who remembered those times couldn’t help but be wary of Mount Hua Sect.

Jong Ri-yeon let out a quiet sigh.

“Sigh! Anyway, people’s hearts in this world are really cunning.”

“That’s how it’s always been.”

“That’s true, but…”

“Why worry about the world’s eyes? We just need to be faithful to our own work.”

“…”

“What?”

When Jong Ri-yeon stopped talking and looked at him, Bang Jin-bo blinked his eyes. Then Jong Ri-yeon burst out laughing.

“You’re very much like an adult.”

“What?”

“I said you’re like an adult.”

“Come on! Sister too…”

Bang Jin-bo waved his hand with an embarrassed expression. Jong Ri-yeon’s smile deepened at this.

Among all the people she knew, Bang Jin-bo was the one who had grown the most.

She wasn’t just talking about martial arts and cooking skills.

His insight, character, and even intuition.

Jin-bo had grown tremendously compared to before.

‘Is this how children become adults and expand their domains?’

Bang Jin-bo was no longer simply a young boy.

He was both a reliable helper and a dependable colleague.

Jong Ri-yeon smiled brightly and said:

“Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

Bang Jin-bo followed her with a vigorous answer.

Whatever the reason, the fact that Huayin County was bustling made them happy.

The two went to the street on the west side of Huayin County. It used to be a place where many herb shops were lined up. But now many had closed and only a few shops were barely maintaining their existence.

The two entered a shop with a sign reading “Jang Family Medicine Shop.”

“Who is it? Oh my! Miss Divine Doctor. Please come in.”

A white-haired old man who had been cutting herbs with a chopper inside the shop quickly got up as soon as he saw Jong Ri-yeon’s face.

“Uncle Jang!”

“What brings Miss Divine Doctor here personally…”

The old man bowed his waist apologetically.

“Have you been well?”

“I’ve been well thanks to Miss Divine Doctor’s treatment.”

Old Man Jang’s face looking at Jong Ri-yeon was full of respect.

As they say, a monk can’t shave his own head. Old Man Jang, who ran the largest medicine shop in Huayin County, had suffered from a bad heart. Jong Ri-yeon was the one who had cured Old Man Jang. After that, Old Man Jang called Jong Ri-yeon his life’s benefactor and treated her with utmost care.

“But what brings you here? Ah! It’s because of this month’s herbs. I’m sorry. Because of me, Miss Divine Doctor had to come personally.”

“Not at all. Thanks to this, I can come out into the world like this.”

“I’m sorry, Miss!”

Despite Jong Ri-yeon’s words, Old Man Jang kept bowing and apologizing.

“Please don’t do this. You’re someone with a bad heart.”

“This heart is fine thanks to Miss Divine Doctor’s treatment.”

Old Man Jang answered while thumping his chest. Jong Ri-yeon nodded at this. Though his hair had turned white, his complexion was very good. It was evidence that his heart was properly supplying blood.

Jong Ri-yeon finally calmed Old Man Jang down and made him sit. Then Old Man Jang explained the circumstances.

“Since this spring, obtaining herbs hasn’t been easy.”

“Why? Spring is when herbs are at their peak.”

“That’s right. Now is the season. Herbs definitely grow. But bringing them here isn’t easy.”

“What?”

Jong Ri-yeon made a puzzled expression. Then Old Man Jang made a bitter expression.

“Since some time ago, inspections by the Martial Alliance have been strengthened at the passages entering Shaanxi Province. The pretext is to root out Demon Cult martial artists, but strangely, they’re being more thorough only about goods entering Huayin County.”

“What’s that about? That doesn’t make sense! What reason would Demon Cult martial artists have to enter Shaanxi Province?”

Bang Jin-bo, who had been quietly listening on the side, raised his voice in anger. Old Man Jang smiled bitterly at this.

“Exactly. Anyway, because of that, it’s not easy to bring goods into Huayin County. Actually, many of the herbs coming to our medicine shop have been confiscated. That’s why sending herbs to Mount Hua Sect was delayed.”

“How can that be!”

“But don’t worry too much. That’s why I sent my son.”

“Your son?”

Old Man Jang’s son was a lay disciple of Mount Hua Sect. Though he couldn’t become a main mountain disciple due to lack of talent, his loyalty to Mount Hua Sect was second to none. That’s why he also had his son enter Mount Hua Sect.

Old Man Jang’s grandson was still training at Mount Hua Sect. Unlike his father, he had considerable talent, so the possibility of becoming a main mountain disciple was very high.

Old Man Jang smiled.

“I was anxious entrusting it to other people. My son learned Mount Hua Sect’s martial arts and has connections in the Martial Alliance, so he’ll definitely bring the herbs.”

“When will he arrive?”

“Probably within today or tomorrow. If you go up and wait a little, I’ll personally bring the herbs up.”

“Then we’ll wait in Huayin County and receive them directly.”

“There’s no need for that, Miss Divine Doctor. We’ll personally…”

“We came down after a long time, so we want to. We want to get what we need and enjoy the outside air.”

“Ah! I understand. If you insist.”

Only then did Old Man Jang agree and bow his head. After greeting him, Jong Ri-yeon and Bang Jin-bo left Jang Family Medicine Shop.

As soon as they came outside, Jong Ri-yeon’s expression darkened.

“The Martial Alliance is blocking the passages into Shaanxi Province and conducting inspections. I had no idea.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“Why on earth are they doing this?”

Jong Ri-yeon shook her head.

Even when Mount Hua Sect suffered a blood catastrophe three years ago, the Martial Alliance provided no support. If they had provided support, Mount Hua Sect’s revival would have been a bit faster.

Bang Jin-bo also sighed and grumbled.

“Sigh! Looking at the Martial Alliance’s recent actions, I really wonder if they have the will to protect the martial world. They receive tremendous military power and funding from each sect, but practically they do nothing. Three years ago, it was actually Mount Hua Sect and Brother Dam-ho who defeated the Demon Cult. The Martial Alliance did nothing, yet seeing them propagandize that they accomplished everything really makes me think they’re not in their right minds.”

After Mount Hua Sect’s battle three years ago, the war with the Demon Cult entered a lull.

The Martial Alliance didn’t miss this opportunity and attempted external expansion.

They drafted troops from numerous sects that had joined the Martial Alliance and forcibly increased support funds.

Many sects objected to this, but the Martial Alliance was obstinate.

They argued that they couldn’t protect sects that didn’t provide troops and support funds. Eventually, many sects had no choice but to follow their will.

Through the battle three years ago, they learned the terror of the Demon Cult and realized that the only thing they could rely on was the Martial Alliance.

While other sects became impoverished from fighting the Demon Cult, the Martial Alliance actually expanded its power. And with the strength they accumulated, they were exercising tremendous authority.

Now even the Nine Great Sects had to watch the Martial Alliance’s reactions. The downfall of Mount Hua Sect and Zhongnan Sect had given great shock to the Nine Great Sects as well.

The Martial Alliance had thus gained the world’s greatest power in three years, and all sects came to watch the Martial Alliance’s reactions.

The Martial Alliance also propagandized that the war three years ago had reached a lull because they had dealt a great blow to the Demon Cult. People with connections in the martial world knew this wasn’t true, but most people believed it.

“Sigh!”

Jong Ri-yeon let out a slight sigh.

When she heard this story while at Mount Hua Sect, she couldn’t feel it personally, but now that it became her own affair, she seemed to understand how tremendous the Martial Alliance’s influence was.

She forced herself to smile.

“Let’s go. Since we came out anyway, we can’t waste time.”

“Right. Let’s go to the market. Let’s eat something delicious there and see if there are any useful ingredients.”

“Alright!”

The two headed together to where the stalls were gathered.

People living in Huayin County mainly bought meat, vegetables, and various ingredients here.

Bang Jin-bo took the lead and rummaged through the stalls.

“Wow! What’s this?”

“This is already available?”

His face was overflowing with vitality as he raised his voice.

Mount Hua Sect also had many ingredients. Because the Eun Family provided them adequately. But they didn’t supply everything.

Especially ingredients that could only be obtained in season were best obtained locally. Only then could freshness be maintained and taste be at its best.

Bang Jin-bo didn’t spare money when there were ingredients he liked. As he bought like this, before he knew it, his back was full of baggage. He moved the ingredients he obtained to a nearby inn and wandered the market again. After repeating this several times, the quantity became too much for one person to carry.

Still, Bang Jin-bo wasn’t worried. If he contacted Mount Hua, there were plenty of people who would come to carry the baggage.

“Hehe!”

A bright smile appeared on Bang Jin-bo’s face.

Even at this moment, his mind was filled only with thoughts of wanting to cook for Mount Hua Sect disciples with the ingredients he obtained from the market.

When he saw people happy eating the food he made, he became happy too. His hands itched wanting to cook as soon as possible.

Jong Ri-yeon smiled watching such Bang Jin-bo. Because she could easily guess Bang Jin-bo’s feelings.

“Let’s go up the mountain as soon as Uncle Jang gets the herbs.”

“We don’t need to hurry that much. Sister.”

“Why? Don’t you want to cook?”

“Of course I want to cook. But looking around like this is also nice.”

“If that’s the case.”

Jong Ri-yeon nodded. She too felt it would be regrettable to go up the mountain like this. If they went up to Mount Hua now, there was no telling when they could come down to Huayin County again.

The two joined forces and rummaged through every corner of Huayin County for quite a while. As they did this, they became hungry.

“Wow! I’m tired. But I feel good.”

“Right!”

“Let’s eat something delicious. I’ll treat you.”

“Really?”

“Of course!”

“Then we should eat something expensive and delicious.”

“As much as you want. Hehe!”

Bang Jin-bo showed his characteristic bright smile.

That’s when it happened.

“Miss Divine Doctor! Jin-bo!”

Suddenly someone’s voice was heard. When they turned their heads, they saw a man with a large load on his back breathing roughly.

“Brother Gyu-ho!”

Bang Jin-bo was the first to greet him.

Jong Ri-yeon also recognized him at a glance. He was Old Man Jang’s son from Jang Family Medicine Shop.

His name was Jang Gyu-ho, a lay disciple of Mount Hua Sect.

It was when Jong Ri-yeon and Bang Jin-bo were about to approach with joy.

“You bastard! To think you’d run away.”

“Stop right there!”

Suddenly a group of martial artists came running and surrounded Jang Gyu-ho.