***
A furrow like the character (川) was engraved on Hong Sa-ryeon's brow once again, despite her being in a fairly good mood recently.
Gye Cheol-yeong, who had been quiet after Gye Yeon-seung was kicked out and a new Hall Master entered Bu-saeng-dang, had returned to his original state and started bluffing again.
“What is the Seol-mae-dan [Snow Plum Pill]? It is a spirit pill that is far more effective for increasing internal energy than even the So-hwan-dan [Small Return Pill] of Shaolin, especially in terms of its utility in laying the foundation of the body, which is second only to the Ja-so-dan [Purple Prime Pill] even within Hwa-san. It is a precious spirit pill that one could barely obtain even after becoming a true disciple within Hwa-san.”
‘The words, “That precious spirit pill was obtained for me by my father and my uncle, who is a disciple of the Hwa-san Sect,” would follow, wouldn’t they?’
Hong Sa-ryeon could predict the next words without even hearing them.
Because he had been saying the same thing in the same way for several days already, it felt as if a martial arts chant she hadn't even memorized was floating around in her head.
“......Yes. That is truly amazing.”
“Right? So, you see.......”
In her heart, she wanted to scream, “What do you want me to do, you idiot!”, but the opponent was the son of a precious family that provided sponsorship money.
It was not that Hong Sa-ryeon was not envious of Gye Cheol-yeong.
Since she was a martial artist by nature, her longing for spirit pills was no less than anyone else's.
However, she carried too much responsibility as the only daughter of the Sect Leader to fall into depression while feeling a sense of relative deprivation.
“Sa-jeo [Senior Sister]! Sa-jeo! Then what happens to Jin Sa-hyeong [Senior Brother]?”
“Sa-jeo! Surely Jin Sa-hyeong isn’t leaving the sect, is he?”
“Sa-jeo! If I eat only two meals...... will Sa-hyeong come back?”
The young Sa-je [Junior Disciples], who were like chicks, were only waiting for the Sa-hyeong who had left home to return, and even when she asked the Outer Hall Master what Jin Sa-hyeong, who was like a younger brother, was doing, there was no news at all.
‘Damn guy.’
Sa-ryeon was also reaching the limit of her patience with the tyranny of Gye Cheol-yeong and Gye Yeon-seung.
It was something she would have stepped up to do anyway if Jin Sa-hyeong had not.
No, originally, it was something she should have done, not Sa-hyeong.
In the end, she was the one who had to shoulder the future of the Tae-eul Sect.
Gye Cheol-yeong was merely an opportunist who had entered solely for the purpose of the Martial Arts Academy, and half of the young Sa-je would likely end up succeeding their family business or, if they were lucky, find a job as an escort warrior and do well for themselves.
Although Jin So-un Sa-hyeong was there, Sa-ryeon was not shameless enough to pass this burden onto him, knowing the bleak future of the Tae-eul Sect.
Sa-ryeon had carried such a heavy heart since she was very young.
That was why she had been blaming herself for not stepping up sooner, fearing Gye Yeon-seung’s martial arts and Gye Yeon-seok’s retaliation.
‘How on earth did he win?’
Putting aside the question of how he defeated the Hwa-san Sect's Mae-hwa-geom-beop [Plum Blossom Sword Technique], the fact that he left the Tae-eul Sect after the incident that day so as not to be seen by Gye Yeon-seok, who fluttered his trouser hems at the Tae-eul Sect every day, was probably Sa-hyeong’s consideration.
Everyone knew well how petty and persistent Gye Yeon-seok was.
Jin So-un had gone outside the sect gates on purpose for that reason.
“Sa-jeo! Sa-jeo! Please try eating this!”
“Sa-jeo! This meat is really delicious!”
At the sight of the young Sa-je, who looked like puppies holding rice cakes and meat and thrusting them in front of her, Hong Sa-ryeon forgot that she had been deep in thought and stroked their heads.
A small banquet was held at the Tae-eul Sect to commemorate the visit of the Hwa-san Sect’s masters to the Gye-ryong Merchant Guild.
Of course, Gye Yeon-seok and Gye Yeon-seung did not have the time to visit the Tae-eul Sect while entertaining the Hwa-san Sect’s masters, and thanks to that, the people of the Tae-eul Sect could enjoy the food comfortably among themselves.
“But, where did Jin Sa-hyeong really go? Jin Sa-hyeong really loved these rice cakes.”
“Sa-jeo! Can we save this meat for Jin Sa-hyeong?”
The Sa-je, who had been swallowing his saliva repeatedly with bright eyes, asked in a voice that exerted the utmost patience.
It had been a while since he had seen meat, so would he really give it up?
Hong Sa-ryeon ruffled the boy’s hair with a somewhat aching heart.
“By the time he comes, the meat will probably be spoiled and he won't be able to eat it. So, eat it without saving it.”
“Then when will Jin Sa-hyeong come back?”
“He will come soon.”
Hong Sa-ryeon pretended it was nothing and snatched the meat and rice cakes from the young Sa-je one by one.
‘Where the hell are you and what are you doing? You foolish man.’
<><><>
“I’ll give you ten silver coins.”
Throughout my past life, I had only cursed this memory, but it didn't only have bad points.
For instance, it was very useful when striking back at a shameless merchant who tried to rip me off by using the changing market price as an excuse, just like now.
“Ha, what are you talking about? These days, people in Zhejiang Province are desperate to get this tiger skin. The starting price there is thirty silver coins.”
Zhejiang Province, represented by Hangzhou, influenced the market prices of surrounding provinces as much as it gathered many goods.
No matter what, it made no sense for there to be a difference of twenty silver coins just by crossing one province.
“That’s only if it’s a perfectly fine tiger skin that you get that kind of price.”
“Look at this. There isn’t a single common arrow mark on the tiger skin, is there? Saying you’ll only give me ten silver coins for an item like this is something you’d have no excuse for even if you were dragged to the government office.”
“This young fellow. Are you blind? Is this fine skin?”
The man said, spreading the tiger skin out wide.
“What on earth did you do to make the skin shrivel up like this? It’s only because it’s me that I’m giving you 10 coins. If you go anywhere else, you won’t even get half of that!”
“.......”
No matter how much I searched the memories in my head, there was no way to restore a shriveled skin.
I admitted it coolly and received 10 silver coins.
After all, getting the tiger skin wasn’t part of the plan in the first place.
After absorbing the Nae-dan [Internal Core] of the In-myeon-ji-ju [Human-faced Spider], I fell into a serious dilemma.
“If I handle this wrong, I’m undoubtedly a Ma-in [Demonic Person].”
One of the Ten Great Forbidden Arts selected by the Murim Alliance was the Heup-seong-dae-beop [Great Art of Energy Absorption].
The Heup-seong-dae-beop was a demonic art that the Murim Alliance detested so much that it was classified separately as one of the Four Great Evil Arts among the Ten Great Forbidden Arts.
Looking at the process of this Cheong-nyong-hwan [Blue Dragon Ring] absorbing the Nae-dan, it looked exactly like the Heup-seong-dae-beop, so dealing with this was a more urgent priority than anything else.
“As expected, the keepsake of that Heup-hyeol-goe-ma [Blood-Sucking Monster Demon] couldn't possibly be normal.”
Should I be thankful? It didn't just blindly absorb everything.
It couldn't absorb any energy from things like plants or rocks.
However, it absorbed energy from beasts like deer or rabbits.
It didn't just absorb it; it converted the vitality of the living creature and absorbed it as Jin-gi [True Energy].
This was at the same level as the Heup-hyeol-goe-ma, and it was undoubtedly a target for extermination by the Murim Alliance.
Even so, hoping against hope, I went deep into the mountain where the Great Tiger was found and risked my life to test the Cheong-nyong-hwan, but the result, as you can see, was the birth of the Heup-seong-gong-ja [Young Master of Energy Absorption], Jin So-un.
‘Good job, Jin So-un. To think that all you got after regressing was a demonic art.’
In particular, the absorption ability of this Cheong-nyong-hwan completely exceeded my imagination.
Because the Great Tiger was attacking fiercely, when I couldn't control my strength and activated the Cheong-nyong-hwan, it blew away all the moisture in the Great Tiger and turned it into a crispy, dried state.
“Good job! Jin So-un. To think that all you got after regressing was a demonic art. Good job, really.”
The immediate concern wasn't just my life. The moment this fact reached the Murim Alliance.
Not only me, but everyone in the Tae-eul Sect, including my father, the Sect Leader, and the Hall Masters, would be dragged to the Murim Alliance and subjected to brutal torture.
The basement of the Murim Alliance was a place that inflicted such cruel torture that they would even fabricate crimes you hadn't committed and force a confession.
The young Sa-je would not be able to endure for three days and would confess that they had learned the Heup-seong-dae-gong [Great Art of Energy Absorption] from me.
“If I die this time, will there be another opportunity?”
Instead of pinning my hopes on vague things, I began to study the Cheong-nyong-hwan.
First of all, the Cheong-nyong-hwan followed my will quite well.
Because I absolutely could not let it shine suddenly out of nowhere like last time and arouse people's suspicion.
Not trusting even that, as soon as I entered the village, I went into a fabric store and wrapped my wrist tightly with a dark cloth.
And decisively, the reason I didn't cut off my perfectly fine left hand was that instead of absorbing vitality or internal energy and making it into internal energy, the energy itself was the same as the Tae-eul-sim-beop [Tae-eul Heart Method] I possessed.
To be precise, it was absorbed in a purer form and quickly merged with the Tae-eul-sim-beop.
Considering that the separation phenomenon of absorbed internal energy, which was one of the characteristics of the Heup-seong-dae-beop, did not occur.
Unless I was caught in the act of absorbing an opponent’s energy in front of their eyes, just examining the Dan-jeon [Dantian] would not leave any traces that I had learned the Heup-seong-dae-beop.
Anyway, if I could just avoid being caught, this was no different from having a tremendous hidden trump card.
No, in fact, I just decided to think of it that way.
Because the future of being dragged to the basement of the Murim Alliance was too terrible to even imagine.
“Do you happen to deal with traps too?”
“Hmm? Didn’t you come here knowing that already? Aren’t we the best hunting supply store in Hap-bi?”
“Then please give me some tiger traps and bear traps.”
“Eh? You’re going to hunt with traps? Then the skin will be damaged a lot, so you won’t get a proper price. It’s better to have it shriveled up like this.”
“I’m not trying to skin them.”
“Hmm. Well, I suppose bear gallbladders fetch a good price these days. How many shall I give you?”
“Give me... about thirty.”
“Eh?”
“Because the guys I have to hunt aren’t exactly clever.”
<><><>
The Gye-ryong Merchant Guild held a banquet that was more bustling than ever before.
For whatever reason, the visit of the Hwa-san Sect’s masters was a good opportunity to spread rumors about the relationship between the Gye-ryong Merchant Guild and the Hwa-san Sect.
They even put up posters within a radius of ten li [approx. 4km], and provided drinks and snacks to everyone without discriminating against guests.
Those who usually traded with him did not attend, feeling offended that someone who was so stingy with them was hosting a banquet on such a grand scale, but the drinkers in the vicinity took care of each other and attended the banquet, and the lights in the Gye-ryong Merchant Guild did not go out and the music did not stop until the night was over.
The highlight of the banquet was the song and dance of Wol-hyang, the best Gi-nyeo [courtesan] in Hap-bi.
Even the drinkers who had tried to stay in their seats as much as possible to avoid losing them began to gather in the center of the Gye-ryong Merchant Guild to see the face of Wol-hyang, which was said to be difficult to see.
“Pay your respects. These are the best warriors of the Hwa-san Sect.”
As Gye Yeon-seok puffed himself up and touted the two Hwa-san Sect masters, Wol-hyang lowered her veil and smiled slightly.
“I am called Wol-hyang.”
Not only Gye Cheol-yeong, who was sitting next to Gye Yeon-seok, but even the Hwa-san Sect masters. There were few people who could maintain their facial muscles.
Especially every time her white skin was briefly seen through her skirt as she danced, a strange groan spread thickly throughout the hall.
And the moment people’s attention was entirely focused on Wol-hyang, the Chu-hon-gaek [Soul-Chasing Guest] hid his body between the lanterns and jumped over the wall of the Gye-ryong Merchant Guild without anyone noticing.
‘Success!’
The Chu-hon-gaek thought.
With this, my tiresome life of thievery is over.
I was thrown into the Kang-ho [Murim world] at the age of twenty and rolled around here and there without receiving proper teachings, learning a few talents on the side.
Among them, my throwing technique was the most excellent, so I ended up stealing, but this was never the life that the Chu-hon-gaek wanted.
Then, I accidentally got my hands on the secret manual of the Gwang-cheon-sin-jang [Heavenly Palm of Vast Heaven].
It was the final technique of the Gwang-cheon-sin-gun [Divine Lord of Vast Heaven], who was known to have disappeared without leaving any successors.
I obtained the secret manual of the Gwang-cheon-sin-jang like that, but the secret manual did not contain the important internal energy heart method, and only the palm technique existed.
However, since this palm technique called Gwang-cheon-sin-jang required a tremendous amount of internal energy as befitting its legendary destructive power, it was nothing but a horse shoe for a cow to the Chu-hon-gaek.
‘But now it’s different! The Kang-ho will now witness the return of the Gwang-cheon-sin-gun.’
The Seol-mae-dan in my arms, and the Gwang-cheon-sin-jang.
With just these two things, I don't need to fear anyone anymore.
“Hehehe.”
The moment he let out a laugh without realizing it.
“See. I told you he would come here.”
“Haha. He really did steal it.”
At the sudden voice, the Chu-hon-gaek felt as if his heart had dropped with a thud.
“.......”
The Chu-hon-gaek quickly tried to unfold his body movement technique to run away, but the range of killing intent the two people were spreading was too wide, so he couldn't figure out where to run.
“Usually, in times like this, don't people say, ‘Who are you?’”
“That’s true, he seems like a guy with a heavy mouth. It would be nice if he worked for our Murim Alliance.”
The two people appeared, exchanging words without any tension at all.
A sword and the cloud pattern drawn on their robes.
The Chu-hon-gaek quickly realized that he could not handle them.
‘Jeom-chang Sect.’
The Chu-hon-gaek rolled his brain in an instant.
Should I suggest sharing the spirit pill?
Since they talked about the Murim Alliance or whatever, they wouldn't kill me.
Should I eat it quickly and bolt?
“Look at that guy rolling his brain.”
“Hey, know that I will cut your throat the moment you twitch a finger.”
The moment he heard that, the Chu-hon-gaek immediately gave up on everything.
‘Yes, rather than dying a dog’s death here, it is better to aim for the next opportunity.’
The Chu-hon-gaek quickly knelt down.
“This lowly one was blinded by wealth and did a foolish thing. Please, just spare my life.”
The Chu-hon-gaek took out a small wooden box from his arms and prostrated himself flat.
If they recovered the Seol-mae-dan, he would be imprisoned in the Murim Alliance, but it was because of the hope that if these two people were greedy for the Seol-mae-dan, he might not have to serve prison time in the Murim Alliance.
“Is this that Seol-mae-dan?”
“Check the contents. You can never trust a thief.”
“Let’s see.”
The man who had taken the Seol-mae-dan opened the wooden box.
Pop.
With the sound of air filling it, a refreshing fragrance permeated even the nose of the Chu-hon-gaek who was prostrate.
“It’s the real one.”
“Really?”
“I would like to say one word to those great heroes.”
“Hmm?”
“How about we pretend I didn't see anything?”
“What is he saying?”
“I know the head of the Gye-ryong Merchant Guild as an arrogant human who is usually greedy and doesn't know how to be grateful. Even if you great heroes return the Seol-mae-dan to him, will that guy even reward you? It would be better if you great heroes just....”
“Haha, look at this guy.”
“Good grief. What do you take us for?”
Although their words were like that, seeing the gazes exchanged between the two, the Chu-hon-gaek was certain.
That he could escape safely from here.
“Then this humble one will take his leave......???”
The Chu-hon-gaek, who was about to rise from his seat, felt that somehow his two feet were not listening to him.
“You fellow. Did you think we would leave a witness?”
“You are quite naive for a Heuk-do [Dark Path] guy. How on earth did you make a name for yourself as Chu-hon-gaek?”
The Chu-hon-gaek collapsed to the floor with the words, “Damn it.”
“Let’s finish this quickly and go.”
“Wait. Guys like this sometimes keep their most precious treasure on their person at all times. Look at this.”
The man took out a secret manual from the Chu-hon-gaek’s arms.
“Let’s check it later. They will probably notice that the Seol-mae-dan has disappeared soon.”
Thump.
When the man fired his palm energy at the floor, a deep hole large enough for one person to barely fit into was created.
The men, who put the Chu-hon-gaek’s corpse into the hole with their feet, tried to cover the corpse roughly and leave the spot.
Rustle.
At that moment, a noise that the two people had not made rang in their ears.
“Who is it.”
“If you don’t come out, I will cut your throat.”
The person who came out of the forest in a moment was a young man who did not look like he had even reached twenty.
“Wh, who are you?”
“What are you doing here in the middle of the night?”
Did he perhaps see it?
There is a difference in time, though?
Amidst the complicated intertwining of the men’s gazes.
“I heard that you could drink free alcohol by holding a banquet at the Gye-ryong Merchant Guild, so I was on my way. But I lost my way and....”
“Did you perhaps see it?”
“What are you talking about?”
“.......”
When the man who asked looked at his colleague, the colleague shook his head slightly.
“Come here. I will show you the way to the Gye-ryong Merchant Guild.”
“......Um, I’m sorry, but it’s suspicious, so can’t you just go on your way?”
“.......”
“.......”
There was no more room for hesitation. He definitely saw it.
The moment their gazes met, without anyone saying who would go first, the two men kicked off the floor and appeared in front of the young man.
“You were not lucky. Don’t blame us.”
The moment they were about to fly their swords in a single blow.
The young man’s face, which had been wearing a flustered expression, changed like a Ya-cha [Yaksha].
“You bastards are shamelessly brazen. Did they teach you that way in Jeom-chang?”
“Hup!”
He had swung his sword without hiding the Jeom-chang sword technique to cut him down in one breath, but absurdly, the sword was blocked.
The moment the swords clashed, he felt severe pain in his joints and stepped back a couple of steps.
Click.
“Aaaargh!”
The sensation of sharp teeth as if they were about to sever his ankle.
Even knowing that stealth was life, the Jeom-chang-o-geom [Five Swords of Jeom-chang] Gu-il-mu screamed without realizing it.
“Who are you! Do you know who we are?”
He was pulling all the internal energy in his body to block the trap digging into his ankle, but he couldn't put proper force into it because of the trap’s teeth that had already started to dig in.
A fishy smile was drawn on the lips of the young man who had been emitting a naive face and voice.
“Who am I, you ask. You’re the thieves of the Jeom-chang Sect.”
“......What is your identity?”
“The new owner of the Seol-mae-dan.”
Jin So-un smiled brightly.