Chapter 93 – Mosan (2)

It took quite a long time to travel from the small village in which I lived in the northern region to the island where the Mureungmaeng was located. A lot had happened during that time.

The road to Gangsosung, where Mosan was located, was similarly far, so I prepared myself mentally and set out on the journey.

“Nothing happened?”

“Nothing happened.”

“Nothing happened.”

We arrived faster, more comfortably, and more safely.

The quiet rural scenery outside the carriage…I opened my mouth as the small village at the foot of Mosan gradually came into view.

“Well, when you think about it, it’s natural.”

“Hmm. You’re right. With this flashy carriage and luxurious clothing, the mediocre ones naturally avoid us.”

“During the time when Jin Ga was training the Ho Wang Gong at his mansion, rumors about the Yongbongji Society spread everywhere.”

“…I don’t know how the rumors spread so quickly.”

I understand why the mediocre thugs would avoid us based on our appearance.

But I never expected even the sword-wielding warriors to bow down and avoid us, using our nickname, Samjae Geomryong or Maengyeon Dobong.

When did the rumors spread this far?

Paeng Soso, who heard my story, shrugged his shoulders.

“Yongbong’s nickname is special in many ways.”

“Ah.”

Originally, a nickname is something that gradually emerges through word of mouth from others.

But in the case of Yongbong’s nickname, it was created first and then spread through word of mouth.

That’s why they use the open-minded people to spread stories about the Yongbongji Society here and there.

I knew that there weren’t many entertainment options in this era, and interesting rumors were the most popular among the public, so it was quite effective. I knew that, but…

“Still, isn’t it too fast? The distance from the island to Gangso is not a few days away.”

“Do you know what martial art the open-minded people are most confident in, sir?”

“Um…Bongbeop? Or maybe Jangbeop?”

“If it’s above Ogyeol, you’re right, but usually it’s Shinbeop.”

Wasn’t the Open Mind Festival with Tagubongbeop and Hangryong 18 Jang?

Paeng Soso spoke instead of me, who seemed to have trouble understanding.

“Open-mindedness is the largest in scale and is everywhere, but that doesn’t mean that all open-minded people have learned martial arts.”

“That’s right. The essence of open-mindedness is still a gathering of beggars. In case of emergency, most of them learn only Boeob or Shinbeop to avoid getting hurt or to run away, and only a few learn to fight properly.”

It’s a reasonable statement…

Hong Yeon-hwa and Paeng Soso smiled at me as I nodded my head absent-mindedly.

Chapter 94 – Similar Worlds

Even though they had different physiques, speech patterns, and growth environments, when they looked at me and smiled, they both had surprisingly similar smiles.

It was amazing, and as I stared blankly at them, I suddenly had a question.

“Until now, I just thought it was a coincidence, but isn’t your world and this world too similar, Yeon-hwa?”

“Hmm? What do you mean? From my perspective, this place is much more peaceful and livable….”

“No, that’s not what I mean.”

I poked Hong Yeon-hwa’s small and cute nose with my fingertip and continued.

“Things like history, geography, power, martial arts, and so on. Of course, there will be differences in the details. For example, the members. Has anyone from the Mureungmaeng that you defeated come to this world?”

“…No, there are only people I’ve never seen before.”

“If my memory serves me right, their names were also different, right? When you think about it, isn’t that really strange?”

Paeng Soso, who was listening carefully, interjected.

“Is that so? I’ve never really imagined what it would be like in a different world….”

This time, I poked Paeng Soso’s nose and spoke.

“Think about it. Even if it’s just a different country, the atmosphere changes drastically. Compared to the Central Plains, the Saewae Mureungmaeng is quite different, and there are many things that are hard to understand if you go all the way to the Western Regions.”

“Come to think of it, I heard that in the Western Regions, the religious leaders reign over many kings.”

“Yes! That’s exactly what I mean. Even if it’s just a different country, there are significant changes in civilization. So imagine a world without martial arts, or a world where other skills have developed instead of martial arts. Maybe it’s a world where humans can’t even live.”

Questions that can only be asked by someone who was reincarnated into a modern world without abilities.

“Considering that there are people who travel between the two worlds, like you and the Sangdan Lord, it’s strange how similar they are.”

If people are different, their actions change. If that accumulates, history should be different.

But even though Hong Yeon-hwa’s world and this one had diverged significantly after the collapse of the royal family, on the other hand, the history before that was all quite similar.

“…Hmm. I’ve never thought about it before, but it’s definitely strange.”

Hong Yeon-hwa stood with her thin arm straight in front of her, pinching her elbow. Then she slowly scanned upward.

“A world so similar that it can be tied together like this.”

And when her fingers touched the back of her hand. Suddenly, she clenched her fist tightly, then spread her index and middle fingers into a V shape and looked up, her head tilted.

“It’s strange how it suddenly diverges like this.”

“I was just saying that it’s strange that we look so similar in the first place…yeah, it’s definitely weird,” I said to Hong Yeon-hwa.

There must be a reason why her world and this one are so similar. But does that mean that something that has been going on for thousands of years has been broken this time?

As I was nodding my head inwardly, Hong Yeon-hwa came into view, still holding up one hand with her fingers in a V shape and a serious expression on her face.

“Oh, Yeon-hwa.”

“Hmm?”

“I just thought of something, can you do the same thing with your other hand?”

“Like this?”

“Yeah. Now stick your tongue out straight.”

“???”

I wasn’t sure, but I felt like I had found a clue, so I followed Hong Yeon-hwa’s instructions.

“Good job. Now don’t move your head and look up at the ceiling.”

“Huh?”

“Hehe…yeah, that’s it.”

I observed Hong Yeon-hwa’s face carefully without showing any signs of it.

With her arms spread shoulder-width apart, fingers in a V shape, tongue sticking out slightly, and her eyes turned upside down like the ones I saw on the bed.

It was a perfect Ahageo double peace.

But it felt a little different from when she was on the bed. Maybe she wasn’t aware of what expression she was making.

The imbalance between the atmosphere of not knowing anything and the vulgar expression was enough to make me lose my mind.

Come to think of it, as my cultivation level increased, not only my physical strength but also my cognitive abilities improved significantly. The brain must be part of the body.

If I wanted to, I could store this expression in my head like a photo forever!

As I concentrated on staring at Hong Yeon-hwa’s face, my perfect plan ended before it even began.

“Oh! Jin is making Hong Unni do something dirty!”

“What?! No, no, that’s not it. How could I play a prank on you at a time like this, my lady?”

“It’s true! Hong Unni had that expression just now! Ahage-“

“No…!”

Hong Yeon-hwa, who saw Paeng Soso’s Ahageo, trembled with betrayal.

“You did something suddenly, and it was just to make fun of me! Didn’t you think that I would remember how amazing you are?”

Pat, pat.

Hong Yeon-hwa patted my shoulder full of disappointment.

It didn’t hurt at all, and it was just the right amount of pressure to loosen up my tense muscles.

I awkwardly smiled while receiving the patting that was almost like a massage.

“I brought it up for no reason…but after thinking about it, it seems like it’s an irrelevant issue.”

“Huh?”

In the end, our goal is to go back to Hong Yeon-hwa’s world if possible.

And all the answers to everything might soon be revealed, perhaps even regarding the connection between the two worlds we were pondering just a moment ago.

If the Mosan faction doesn’t know anything either, then the only ones left are the royal family. We’ll think about that when we get there.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped. We must have arrived. I pointed to the scenery outside the window and asked, “Should we go up to Mosan right away, or have lunch first?”

“We’ve come a long way. I don’t want to delay any longer. It’s better to finish up quickly and come down for a meal. I want to eat beef soup and dumplings since it’s been a while, but what about you, Soso?”

“Well, I’ve been eating expensive food lately since I have a lot of money. As long as you’re not trying to eat my head, I’ll follow Hong Unni’s opinion.”

Paeng Soso chuckled and swayed her dumpling head.

***

How long had it been since we started climbing Mosan? The sky had turned purple, and the sun was halfway down.

“Wait, someone’s coming to meet us from over there!!”

…And we were still wandering around the mountain.