"Even if I wanted to go, I wouldn't be able to anyway."
After becoming an information mercenary, even with money, one does not have the leisure time to leisurely watch such a place.
Because of that, he had shown consideration so that at least Seulgae could watch it.
Since then, Soho worked hard as a waiter at the Jangan Inn and gathered information.
As well as the information Seulgae brought.
After memorizing the stories chatted about by merchants and martial artists, or the conversations of officials in the special rooms.
He refined useful information in his own way, provided it to the Death Spirit Corps, and received the price for it.
"Where on earth did this guy go."
Soho, who went outside after finishing his work, frowned.
Seulgae, who normally should have come three days ago, had not been seen for five days.
"Is he sick somewhere."
Young vagrants like Seulgae sometimes fall ill without reason.
"No, if he was so sick that he couldn't even come, he definitely would have sent word."
Soho let out a groan.
For some reason, he had a bad premonition.
"Can't be helped."
People who handle information all have good intuition.
After noon passed, Soho made an excuse to the Chief Steward of the inn that he wasn't feeling well and would go buy and eat medicine, and came outside.
White Snow Troupe.
The large tent of the wandering troupe was like a fortress in itself.
At the entrance, two robust men with glaring eyes stood firm, and around the tent, troupe members surveyed the surroundings with fierce gazes.
In particular, the dog holes that children were prone to dig were meticulously filled with stones and dirt, leaving no gap for even a field mouse to slip through.
'Why is it so heavily guarded.'
No matter how much they charged for admission.
For a troupe targeting children, they usually tolerated watching through a dog hole to some extent.
However, the White Snow Troupe was like a solid fortress with not a single gap to squeeze through, and.
Weren't the troupe members constantly patrolling the surroundings?
'It can't be helped.'
Soho was personally trained by Woo Kyung, who was outstandingly skilled even among the Death Spirit Corps members.
When it came to movement techniques, disguise arts, and the Art of Deceptive Enlightenment, his skills were quite excellent in his own right.
Around the time the sun began to set behind the western mountains,
Swish.
Soho, who was waiting with bated breath, unfolded his movement technique, leaped over the tent, and hid his body in the bushes.
And while hiding his presence, he carefully observed the interior.
'There are quite a lot of people.'
Inside the troupe, there were children carrying water, women mending costumes, and clowns clearing their throats.
Everyone moved busily along designated routes.
It was a situation where rashly wandering around the interior would quickly expose him.
'Is a troupe such an orderly place?'
But at that moment, a pile of props caught Soho's eyes.
Spears and swords to be used in the performance, boxes with peeling paint, and several empty bamboo baskets half the height of a person were stacked up.
'That will do.'
Moving from the bushes, he intentionally rolled on the dirt ground, smearing dust on his clothes and face.
He did not forget to lightly apply water to his forehead so it looked like sweat was beading up.
It was a rudimentary disguise art, but behind the chaotic troupe tent, it was sufficient.
Soho picked out one large bamboo basket among the props and lifted it up easily.
As he slung it over his shoulder, the basket plausibly covered his face and upper body.
Taking a deep breath, he followed the moving people and shifted his steps.
Intentionally dragging his feet as he walked, looking as if he was exhausted from carrying loads all day.
'I must assume the posture of carrying it by force.'
The profound principle of the Art of Deceptive Enlightenment is naturalness.
No matter who one disguises themselves as, naturalness must be the foundation, and that naturalness can be expressed through observational skills.
Soho had discovered the forced nature and annoyance in the movements of the boy laborers here, and.
He was now perfectly imitating it.
"Hmm."
A troupe member guarding the entrance of a tent briefly glanced at him, but his gaze soon shifted elsewhere.
A small child, covered in sweat and dust, struggling to carry a large bamboo basket.
Because that was a sight all too common and familiar.
"Ugh, ugh."
Soho, who was making groaning sounds, finally entered the center of the wandering troupe without being stopped by anyone.
Thump, thump.
His heart raced, but pretending to be calm on the outside, he set the bamboo basket down next to a pile of props in a corner.
'I did it.'
Until now, he had merely acquired and refined information; this was the first time he had infiltrated like this.
'I guess I have an unexpected aptitude for infiltration as well.'
Soho smiled triumphantly inwardly.
Becoming part of the scenery of the infiltrated place.
Through this task, he had newly experienced the profound principle of the Art of Deceptive Enlightenment.
'That is.'
Soho, who was looking around, discovered a gourd bowl stuck in the pile where the props were stacked.
'Seulgae.'
It was Seulgae's gourd bowl.
'He's here!'
If a warrior's life is their weapon, a beggar's life is their begging bowl.
Even if it meant taking a bone-breaking beating, they would inevitably take their begging bowl with them.
'But why on earth?'
It was no exaggeration to say that young vagrants were scattered all over the Central Plains.
Furthermore, even if one nameless beggar disappeared, no one would care, and they had no particular value or utility.
But why did such a large wandering troupe kidnap Seulgae?
'There is something.'
Soho slung the bamboo basket again and began moving around the inside of the troupe.
'Did they learn martial arts.'
The troupe members visible everywhere had very light steps and sharply glowing eyes.
The only fortunate thing was that there were many boys and girls of his age moving goods inside the troupe, and.
Except for movement techniques, Soho had not particularly learned martial arts deeply.
What if he had learned outstanding martial arts? Experts with keen eyes would have immediately noticed the anomaly.
However, since Soho's bearing was no different from an ordinary boy, he did not receive any particular suspicion.
'I don't see anything special.'
Soho searched the inside of the troupe diligently, but there was nothing strange, and Seulgae was not seen either.
'But Seulgae is definitely here.'
Since the gourd bowl was abandoned here, Seulgae was definitely here.
'If so, there is a secret contraption.'
The education he had received from Woo Kyung so far began to shine.
Soho, who guessed there was a secret contraption inside the troupe, rather began searching for tents where the security was not strict.
What if a contraption was installed in such a complex and spacious interior? There would be no need to station people at all.
Because it would rather draw more attention.
Swoosh.
Soho soon arrived at the incinerator at the back of the troupe.
Pungent smoke was rising there, and several props were being burned.
Because of the burning smell piercing the tip of the nose, almost no one would come here.
However, the fire was dying down, but the smoke was not rising upwards, but being sucked sideways.
As if the wind was being pulled somewhere, the smoke and ash were bizarrely gathering toward one wall.
Soho stepped on the ash, approached the inside of the incinerator, and placed his hand on the wall.
'It's empty.'
The inside of that wall was empty, and it was vibrating faintly.
And among the walls, there was one area that had exceptionally little soot and was bright.
Soho unwittingly pushed that wall with his hand.
Rumble.
Then, the wall slid sideways, revealing an entrance leading to a hidden space.
A secret passage had been hidden.
Upon hastily entering inside, the interior was made like a prison, and children wearing masks were crouching inside.
"Seulgae."
Soho shouted toward a child wearing a rabbit mask among the children locked in the prison.
Because there was a child who could not sit properly and had one knee raised. The only person who would assume such a posture was Seulgae.
Bzzzt.
However, a bizarre formation was laid around the prison, so not only could they not see the outside scenery from the inside.
Even sound was perfectly blocked.
"The only thing I learned is the Five Elements Esoteric Formation to hide my body when fleeing."
No matter how much he exerted himself and racked his brain, there was no way to dismantle the formation laid on this prison.
Murmur, murmur.
To make matters worse, presences that seemed to be walking toward this place were being heard from far away.
'Not now.'
If he dragged the time like this, he would be caught as well, and this incident would be buried forever.
"Seulgae, I will definitely come back."
Muttering lowly, Soho went back outside the incinerator.
'I have to seek help from Lord Woo Kyung.'
Judging by the scale of the contraption installed inside the troupe and the terrifying martial arts level of the troupe members.
Even if he brought constables from the government, they would quickly destroy the evidence.
Moreover, there was no way they would exert effort just because a beggar child was kidnapped.
If so, only one thing remained.
He had to seek help from the Death Spirit Corps member Woo Kyung, who could be called his master.
"I am sorry."
Woo Kyung looked at Soho, who had called him using emergency contact, with pitiful eyes.
"Right now, all the members of the main corps are dedicating themselves to the mission of tracking a formidable enemy."
After the Heavenly Mechanism Star revealed himself, Bu Eunseol was focusing the information network of the Death Spirit Corps on tracking his whereabouts.
Because of that, all the members were moving around so busily they didn't even have time to open their eyes.
No matter how close he was with Soho.
He could not abandon an important mission and mobilize the precious forces of the Death Spirit Corps to rescue a beggar child.
Even so, he was a child Bu Eunseol had personally requested, and Woo Kyung had also taught him personally, so.
They were able to have a private meeting like this at least.
"Furthermore, even if our members searched the inside of that troupe right now, they would have erased all traces."
A day had already passed since Soho discovered the contraption, and in the meantime, the White Snow Troupe had dismantled all their tents and left.
Not only did the Death Spirit Corps members not have the leisure to investigate a mere wandering troupe, but.
Even if they started investigating, it was an almost impossible situation to find those traces.
"I understand."
Soho bowed his head as if it couldn't be helped.
In truth, he knew it was unreasonable.
Furthermore, the act itself of a wandering troupe making a secret contraption and kidnapping beggar children wasn't even that shocking, and.
In the Death Spirit Corps, one of the most outstanding information organizations in the world, it would rather be strange to care about a beggar dragged away by a wandering troupe.
"Thank you so much for accepting my call even when you are so busy."
Soho hid his agonized expression and offered a polite greeting.
"No. Our main corps considers not only the members but also you who provide information as our family."
Woo Kyung spoke with an apologetic expression.
"If something went wrong with you, I would have prioritized it above any other mission. However..."
Unable to bring himself to say, 'We cannot use the troops of the Death Spirit Corps to save a beggar you are close to,' he shut his mouth.
"It is fine."
Soho understood the meaning and forced a smile.
"It's just that I don't think I can work at the Jangan Inn anymore. Because I definitely have to save my friend."
Woo Kyung let out a sigh.
He realized that Soho was giving up his position as an information mercenary contracted with the Death Spirit Corps and going to find his friend.
"The most precious things in the martial world are chivalry and loyalty."
Woo Kyung took out a bamboo tube from his bosom and handed it to him.
"This is an emergency bamboo tube that only we Death Spirit Corps members can use."
"My Lord."
"If you truly find that child, or if a dangerous situation arises, if you use this, someone will definitely come to save you."
Soho received the bamboo tube with trembling hands.
This bamboo tube was something only genuine Death Spirit Corps members managing various parts of the Central Plains could receive.
But to give this to him?
"Thank you."
Soho prostrated and bowed.
If heaven protected him and he succeeded in finding Seulgae?
He could receive help from the Death Spirit Corps members in the branches of each region or allied forces.
"Please take care of yourself."
With those words, Woo Kyung disappeared like mist.
A burning heat seeped from Soho's pupils as he looked down at the bamboo tube in his hand.
He intended to definitely find Seulgae somehow and uncover the mastermind behind that troupe.
* * *
The basics of pursuit art is finding traces and obtaining information from them.
―They said the wandering troupe is heading to Fujian.
Soho unfolded his movement technique and tracked the moving White Snow Troupe.
Fortunately, it had only been a day since the wandering troupe withdrew, so he could easily find the traces of their movement.
'They're not here.'
However, Soho, who closely checked the moving troupe, soon fell into despair.
As if they had sneaked the kidnapped children away to another place, they were not inside the troupe.
'If so.'
Soho returned to the place where the tent of the White Snow Troupe had been set up again and began to search it thoroughly.
And he discovered that the dirt and dust around the incinerator where Seulgae had been held was not natural, but arranged in a specific direction.
'After dismantling the contraption, they moved somewhere else.'
They must have randomly swept away the dust to hide the traces of the contraption.
However, because of that swept-away dust, they rather ended up having the direction they advanced exposed.
Because some of it would have stuck to their bodies.
'No one would have thought to search the incinerator used by a wandering troupe.'
Soho realized that those who kidnapped the children had moved north, and endlessly ran while unfolding his movement technique.
'To move children who don't even know martial arts in large numbers, the only way is a carriage.'
Soho began to thoroughly sweep all the roads heading north while unfolding his movement technique.
'They're not an ordinary organization.'
Even though they rode carriages, they did not move on the roads, and in several places, traces of the carriage wheel marks being erased were seen.
They even had a rear guard erasing the carriage marks.
'The rear guard wouldn't have been able to erase the traces perfectly until the end.'
Soho intensively searched the side roads and bushes where a carriage could barely pass.
Then, the traces of wheel marks were seen there.
'A wagon loaded with dozens of children is naturally bound to be heavy.'
After searching for a long time, he discovered horseshoe marks that were pressed exceptionally deep compared to other places on the dirt road.
Following those marks, he could find traces of grass at the edge of the road being recently bent or swept, and traces of branches broken matching the height of the carriage.
'To travel a long distance with dozens of children who don't know martial arts, they must rest, and they must have needed to replenish a large amount of water.'
Moving north, Soho looked for secluded spring waters or valleys they might have stopped at.
"Damn it."
Then, in a crevice of a rock in a quiet valley, he discovered a beggar boy panting as if falling asleep.
He was gasping for breath with pale lips, and his physical condition looked extremely poor.
Perhaps because he seemed to be on the verge of breathing his last, the kidnappers seemed to have abandoned him here and left.
"Are you okay?"
At Soho's question, the boy struggled to open his eyes.
However, as if he didn't even have the energy to speak, he blinked his large eyes.
"Were you kidnapped by the White Snow Troupe too? Right?"
Soho spoke with a desperate voice.
"I am looking for a kidnapped friend. Do you know where they went?"
The boy struggled to blink his eyes, and pointed to the west with his finger.
"That way."
Spitting out those words, the child collapsed as if hugging the rock again.
Soho took out first-aid medicine from his bosom to save the child somehow.
However, the child panted, and pointed to his own stomach.
"Stomach?"
As Soho carefully lifted the hem of his clothes, there was a distinct palm print, and that place was deeply sunken.
Perhaps while resisting them, he was hit by palm force, and his internal organs seemed to have burst because of it.
"It's fine."
The injured child spoke while moving his pale lips.
"Because I knew it would end up like this someday."
There is no one born as a vagrant who lives out their innate lifespan.
Beaten to death, starving to death, dying of illness, or falling from a tree and dying.
Because they don't even expect to live long in the first place, they don't have any particular regrets even if they die.
If they can just eat their fill for a day and sleep soundly, that place is paradise.
And the days they are beaten and starve all day are just hell.
Thud.
Eventually, the boy's hand fell powerlessly to the ground.
Bow.
Soho looked at the dead boy, bowed his head, and prayed for his soul.
Right now, when he had to save Seulgae quickly, this was the only thing he could do for him.
Tap.
Once again unfolding his movement technique with full power and running westward.
This time, long continuous carriage tracks were seen.
Running much further, he could eventually see the wagons resting in a wide clearing.
'They are martial artists.'
The coachmen driving the carriages were ordinary commoners, but the warriors escorting the wagons looked like martial artists who had learned martial arts.
If he approached clumsily, he would be exposed.
"...That could be true."
At that time, the warriors escorting the carriages discussed something in low voices, and stood up from their seats.
"It's their territory anyway, so it's better to be careful."
The warriors, who discussed something for a long time, left the coachmen and carriages behind, and moved somewhere using movement techniques.
'It's my chance.'
The hidden Soho did not miss the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and,
Smack.
He grabbed a large stone, carefully approached, struck the coachman's head, and smashed the tightly closed door of the wagon.
Then, children sprawled like luggage were seen there.
And Seulgae was also crouching there.
"Seulgae!"
Soho called, but Seulgae only blinked his eyes weakly.
Not having properly received even a sip of water all this time, he seemed to have collapsed from exhaustion from being locked in the carriage.
"Let's hide for now."
There was no energy to save all these children.
Also, it was unknown when the experts who left would return.
Soho slung Seulgae over his back and began to run back the way he came, unfolding his movement technique as if flying.
'No, this isn't it.'
Then he soon realized.
What if he fled back the way he came?
The experts would quickly discover his traces and rapidly pursue him.
Swish―
But from somewhere, a sound resembling air-tearing resounded.
It was an extremely small sound, but Soho could intuit it.
'There's no other way.'
Soho hoisted Seulgae up.
"Just endure it a little."
And he quickly unfolded his movement technique and instead entered the deep forest.
However, running while carrying Seulgae, grass leaves and tree leaves were all broken, leaving those traces.
'This will rather be a method to buy more time.'
Since he couldn't unfold a movement technique like Grass-Treading Flight anyway, traces would be left.
He intentionally put strength into his legs and left even clearer traces.
"Find him!"
How long had he run?
A shout that shook the mountain echoed.
The martial artists must have returned and discovered the broken carriage.
'At this rate, I'll be discovered in no time.'
Soho, whose mind was becoming hazy, ran like crazy without thinking ahead or behind.
How long had he run? A dizzyingly high cliff was seen, and there was nowhere else to climb.
Swish.
In the meantime, along with sharp air-tearing sounds, black shadows began to follow.
They had found the traces of Soho clearly left all over the mountain and caught up.
'Did I come this far because my scheme at least worked?'
In fact, with their skills, they could have caught up in a single breath.
However, because Soho carrying Seulgae had left traces that were far too clear.
The pursuers were rather flustered, and.
Thinking this was a trap, they cautiously followed those traces.
Swish. Swish.
Along with the endless air-tearing sounds, before long, the distance to the pursuers was only about a hundred zhang away.
Soho, who was running through the dense forest, saw the cliff far away and made a despairing expression.
There was no longer an escape route.
'No?'
But at that moment, a young man was seen crouching in a corner of the cliff.
His skin was very white and he looked very noble, but he was crouching and looking down at the ground as if pondering something.
Moreover, having rolled around in the mountains for days, his face was full of dirt and his clothes were full of grime.
'He's a person who hasn't learned martial arts.'
Not only was the young man not wearing a weapon, but Soho felt no vibration of true qi at all, so he shouted loudly.
"Flee. Wicked people are coming this way!"
However, the young man, as if he hadn't heard Soho's shout, was now looking down at the ground with his arms crossed.
Namgung Un.
Once called the troublemaker of the family, or a wastrel, but now the young master recognized as the next Palace Master of the Southern Palace.
Such a person was sitting crouched like a beggar in the deep mountains and valleys.
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