Chapter 1357: They're Coming (Part 2)

"Supply, you say?"

Yoon Jong, who had just gulped down a piece of meat, grinned.

"Do we really need supplies? In a place where there are convenient folks who hunt for meat whenever it's needed. Just continue hunting sporadically like we are now, and it should be sufficient, shouldn't it?"

Yoon Jong glanced at Chung Myung, who was tearing into deer meat next to him.

Chung Myung was the best hunter he knew. With him alone, there was no need to worry about a hundred or so people going hungry.

However, Baek Cheon didn't agree with that statement.

"If things in the world just went on so easily, there wouldn't be anything to worry about."

Baek Cheon sighed deeply and began to explain.

"No matter how quickly you catch it, hunting takes time. Until you find and capture the game, it can't be helped."

"Well..."

Yoon Jong nodded, finding it difficult to argue with that point.

Even if Chung Myung hunted quickly, it still took time.

Moreover, there was no guarantee that he could hunt as quickly again next time, was there?

"Even now, if the enemy approaches, we'll eventually have to hurry along the road without a break. Will we hunt at that time?"

"You're right."

There was no telling how many opportunities they would have to distance themselves from the enemy and rest.

"The disciples of Southern Island are already tired. On top of that, with the injured, the burden is doubled, isn't it?"

"Yes, Sasuk."

"Furthermore, if they can't eat proper food, the outcome is obvious."

Yoon Jong's gaze became a bit more serious.

"Even while running, we need food. But in that case, wouldn't it be better to prepare dried meat in advance?"

"It's not feasible. Drying the meat takes time, and... Moreover, do you intend to feed dried meat to unconscious patients?"

A groan escaped from Yoon Jong's mouth.

Among the injured in Southern Island now, some were almost unconscious.

Such individuals couldn't possibly chew on tough jerky.

Wasn't the situation such that even the meat Chung Myung grilled right now couldn't go into the mouths of the injured?

"In the end, we need grain."

"My thoughts exactly."

If it's grain, you can roughly chew it while running, and if you grind it and mix it with water, you can use it as a makeshift porridge in emergencies, making it possible for the injured to eat.

"But where in these mountains can we get grain?"

The first idea that came to mind was to find a nearby village, but Yoon Jong's head soon sank.

Finding people living in these deep mountains is not an easy task, and such people were usually those who made a living by hunting.

It was unlikely that they would have as much grain as needed.

Even if they did, there was a good chance it was precious grain that couldn't be sold even for money.

Unless they intended to loot, which was not an option, it was an impossible task.

'But then, what do we do?'

Where in these mountains could they get grain?

"What do you think we should do?"

"We have to choose. Either endure the danger and go down to the village to get grain or... endure the fact that all these people will starve to death."

"If we try to get enough grain for all of them, it won't go unnoticed. The bastards from the Evil Tyrant Alliance might rush in like locusts, won't they?"

"We have to endure."

"..."

A sigh escaped from Yoon Jong's mouth.

Solving one problem would lead to another, and when you solved that one, another problem would arise.

Waging war against the strong was like trying to carry water in a bucket full of holes.

"If we could get grain that way, I might consider taking the risk, but I don't think there will be anyone who will sell grain to us."

"Why not?"

"Isn't this place not Gangnam? It's under the control of the Evil Sect, so they'll be cautious in everything. They probably won't readily hand over grain to strangers who suddenly appear. They'll be wary of what might happen later."

Baek Cheon tilted his head as if he couldn't understand. Yoon Jong's mouth curled into a bitter smile.

Baek Cheon, who had never lacked anything and was never afraid of the strong, probably couldn't understand the feelings.

This was how sheep who had to live in the same place as starving wolves felt about the world.

"Anyway, buying grain all at once won't be easy. Then we have to divide the people and collect a little bit each..."

"Hmm..."

A deep frown settled on Baek Cheon's face.

Being in enemy territory turned even minor issues into serious problems.

It seemed he could understand, even if just a little, why numerous sects were striving to expand their area of influence.

"So, what should we do?"

Baek Cheon was about to frown.

"What are you so worried about?"

"Huh?"

Chung Myung suddenly appeared, tossing a freshly cleaned deer bone in front of them.

"If the issue is with people not selling the grain, you can go to the people who will sell it, right?"

Yoon Jong furrowed his brow.

"Did you not hear what I said? There aren't many people in Gangnam willing to sell a lot of grain to strangers, right? They'll hesitate even to approach."

"No, I mean, it'd be okay if you ask people who are not strangers, right?"

"...Where in Gangnam can we find people who are not strangers to us?"

Yoon Jong stopped speaking, looking at Chung Myung.

"Wait, you're not talking about the Myriad Man Manor, are you?"

Everyone who heard those words turned to Yoon Jong. Yoon Jong flinched under the piercing gazes and hurriedly waved his hand.

"W-well, I didn't mean that—"

"Sahyung, have you lost your mind?"

"...No, it's just that, damn it! Why do you always say crazy things at times like this!"

"Crazy talk should have its limits. Saying we should go to Myriad Man Manor to buy grain? Are you out of your mind? Did you get a knife in the head on your way here?"

"..."

Chung Myung's irritated gaze was bearable for Yoon Jong. What he found hard to endure were the glances from others, filled with sentiments like "That guy has really lost it."

Jo Gol gently patted Yoon Jong's shoulder, who lowered his head helplessly.

"I understand, Sahyung."

"...Get away from me."

Baek Cheon, looking at Yoon Jong's depressed expression, asked Chung Myung.

"So, where are you talking about? Where can we find people in Gangnam who are friendly to us?"

"Even if they're not exactly friendly, there might be people with surplus grain willing to sell it."

"So, who are they?"

"Sasuk saw them, right?"

"Huh? Who?"

Baek Cheon, seeming to think about something, opened his eyes wide.

"Ah! Them!"

"Yeah."

Chung Myung chuckled.

"There was a village we stopped by on the way to Southern Island. The grain given by those Evil Tyrant Alliance guys."

"Right..."

They had cooked rice with that grain. It hadn't been too long, so it was likely there was still plenty of it.

"While others may find us unfamiliar, there's nothing strange about those people. Roughly speaking, we have a connection."

"Not too far from here, right?"

"That's right."

"Hmm."

Baek Cheon nodded.

Chung Myung might be casually mentioning them, but the relationship between that village and the members of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance wasn't as straightforward as he portrayed it.

They didn't ask for a reward, but wasn't there some kind of relationship formed after helping each other?

It wasn't asking for grain for free, and there wasn't a problem with buying it with money.

"Oh, no. Wait a minute."

"Huh?"

Jo Gol spoke with a worried expression.

"But that village didn't exactly have surplus grain. If we buy all their grain, what will happen to the village?"

"Sahyung, are you an idiot?"

"Huh?"

"The villagers can just go down to the city to buy grain. We may not be able to buy it from them, but there's no reason for them not to sell to those villagers."

"Oh?"

Does it really work that way?

"No, no. If those people buy a large amount of grain, we'll surely attract suspicious looks..."

"Wow, did this guy left his brain in Sichuan? If they don't buy it all at once, that's enough. We're busy on the road, so we need to buy a lot, but those guys can buy a bit from various places."

"I-I see?"

Chung Myung clicked his tongue.

"The problem was that there was no grain in the market, but that bastard Jang Ilso spread grain all around, so the hidden grain will surely come out in the market. It might be a bit expensive, but if we pay a lot of money, that's our problem."

"..."

"We get enough grain for ourselves, and those guys get to make money to buy the grain again, making more money! Win-win for everyone! That's the way the cookie crumbles!"

Baek Cheon looked at Chung Myung with admiration.

Anyway, that guy was truly a shrewd thinker. Never thought he'd use that friendship...no, calling that awkward relationship a friendship was too much...they had in Gangnam in such a way.

In any case, as long as they didn't leave traces of their visit to the village, it was a plan where both sides could benefit.

"But, Chung Myung."

"Yeah? What again?"

"It's a bit embarrassing to say this, but there's fundamentally a big problem with that plan."

"What's the problem?"

Baek Cheon opened his mouth with an awkward expression.

"Well, um... I hate to say this, but if we're going to do as you say, we'll need a lot of money, and unfortunately, I don't have that much money right now."

"..."

Chung Myung looked at Baekcheon with eyes that seemed to ask, 'What is this bastard talking about now?'

"Didn't you bring money?"

"I took some with me when I left... But the money was also given to the villagers at that time…"

He didn't think he would need the money when he returned, so it would be better not to say that he gave it to the people of Southern Island in moderation.

That money ghost would surely come to haunt him. [not sure lol]

"You don't have any money?"

"Oh, it's not like there's nothing…"

It was when Baek Cheon was trying to come up with an excuse.

"What are you talking about again? Getting all worked up over nothing. It's okay. It's okay."

"Huh?"

Baek Cheon widened his eyes in surprise. There was no way a crazy guy obsessed with money could be so nonchalant after hearing that there was no money.

"It doesn't matter since we're not the ones paying anyway."

"Huh?"

Baek Cheon's gaze naturally turned to Namgung Dowi. In response, Namgung Dowi lowered his head, indicating that he also didn't bring any money, and Tang Pae shrugged his shoulders. Even Im Sobyeong turned his sleeves inside out, revealing them.

"Are you going to resort to robbing bandits at this point?"

"...Well, it doesn't seem like such a big deal now."

"So you don't think it's more of a problem now? Really?"

Anyway, it seemed that everyone lacked enough money to contribute.

"If that's the case?"

"In any case, there's nothing valuable enough to use for medicine." [not sure]

"It seems a bit twisted, doesn't it?"

"Who's going to pay?"

"So, what should we do?"

"People who can afford to eat are already there. Why should we pay? Look there. Those nobles brought all sorts of expensive and precious things when they left home."

"Huh?"

"There."

Everyone turned their heads toward Chung Myung's chin.

And they saw it.

Just as Chung Myung had said, as they left their homes, the rich gathered whatever important valuables they could find.

"They have it."

"They must have."

"Fortunately."

Kim Yang Baek, the Sect Leader from Southern Island who had just joined them, felt a shiver down his spine as he witnessed this.

"W-what?"

A satisfied smile appeared on the lips of the Heavenly Comrade Alliance members.

Their smiles resembled Chung Myung's eerie grin, who was standing behind.