Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Indestructible Diamond (1)
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I reconsidered the effect of that ring. Maybe it was the type of item that messed with your brain or something.
"Righteous sect items shouldn't have anything like that..."
He was a cheerful yet peculiar young man.
To be fair, he hadn't exactly been normal since our first meeting.
"...Anyway, there's a spy from inside the Namgung Family here."
"I half-expected as much."
Still, once we returned to the serious topic, that glint in his eyes settled down again. Though deep within, something still seemed to be bubbling up.
I thought for a moment about the spy who had infiltrated the Namgung Family.
I couldn't predict it perfectly, either.
In the game, I'd cut down their petty schemes with a single stroke, so I never had a chance to gather intel.
Did players ever show mercy with their blades? One click of the mouse, and it swung right away. We just had to follow the set story—no need to think about such things.
But.
"The guy's from the Demonic Cult. He'll probably have one or two hidden cards up his sleeve."
Things were different now. The Island Flower Division Leader was dead, and the plan had failed.
Once he realized that, he'd make his move right away.
Whether to sow chaos in the Namgung Family on the cult's orders or bolt from the family as fast as he could.
So we needed to act quickly on our end, too.
I handed Namgung Haejin a vial filled with white powder. He looked at me as if asking what it was.
"Just powder. No effects whatsoever."
"...Why give this to me?"
"The item I gave you will cause a huge stir the moment it's known to the world. Best to keep it hidden. So use that ring to catch the rat, but make it look like this powder did the trick on the surface. There's a rare herb called Demonic Flower Grass that reacts to demonic energy."
"But no one's going to buy it if we just claim this powder is from Demonic Flower Grass out of nowhere."
I pondered for a moment before answering.
Come to think of it, this was a method I hadn't considered.
"I hear the Sichuan Tang Clan came all the way to Anhui for the Namgung Martial Tournament. No one would doubt their endorsement."
Namgung Haejin looked startled and asked,
"Fairness is a sect's pride. Why would they entertain a proposal from us after we already soured relations by canceling the tournament?"
"They will."
It was highly likely. Before he could ask why, my mouth opened again.
We'd agreed to settle the debt next time we met. I didn't know how much she'd valued her own life, but she'd lie for me at least once. In my vivid memory, those emerald eyes sparkled.
"Among the Sichuan Tang Clan group, find Poison Phoenix Dang Ha-eun and tell her: 'The owner of the prayer beads has come to collect the payment.'"
*
Namgung Haejin stepped outside and gathered his thoughts.
Sichuan Tang Clan. The distance from Sichuan to Anhui meant they hadn't forged deep ties with us like other sects.
Even if he marched up and laid out the plan, the odds of their willing cooperation were slim.
The current situation wasn't great, either.
Standing guarantee under their sect's name and lying? For a massive clan like that, it was a huge risk.
But Namgung Haejin had no choice but to seek them out.
If that man had first shown trust in him, it was only natural to trust him in return... No, his senior.
"Ahem. Ahem."
He checked his reflection in the lake.
He'd always carried an inferiority complex about his martial talent compared to his younger sister.
Now, it didn't bother him at all.
Who was he?
A member of a great secret organization lurking across the entire martial world... Still just a lowly grunt, but with continued effort, his name would one day echo deeply through the jianghu. That's what Namgung Haejin believed.
Flutter.
He shook out his robes confidently and strode toward the Sichuan Tang Clan group with bold steps.
They were staying in the family's guesthouse as honored guests. He could hear one of the Tang Clan elders berating the Namgung Family Lord: "Canceling the tournament out of the blue—what kind of stunt is this?"
They'd probably vent their complaints for a while before negotiations began.
Canceling the tournament meant they'd prepared for this. They'd have to compensate generously to avoid staining the family's reputation.
Thud thud. He knocked on the guesthouse door.
"This is Sword Dragon Namgung Haejin. I have urgent business to discuss."
"...Come in."
A refined voice flowed from inside. It was the kind that made you anticipate the speaker's beauty just from the sound. Of course, Namgung Haejin wasn't so soft as to harbor such thoughts toward his sister's friend.
Was romance important right now? The fate of the jianghu hung on his every action!
Creak.
As he opened the door and entered, a faint chill hung in the air despite the warm atmosphere.
The masters of poison and hidden weapons, no doubt. Death felt much closer than usual.
Namgung Haejin unconsciously fiddled with the ring on his finger.
"What is it?"
No Tang Clan elder in sight.
A sharp-featured woman seated at the head spoke in a low tone, demanding the reason. Her voice carried a hint of irritation at the intrusion.
Having spent years at the pinnacle as a direct descendant of the Tang Clan, perhaps? Her presence pressed down heavily, making it hard for ordinary folk to even meet her eyes.
"I have a favor to ask."
But Namgung Haejin was the son of the Namgung Family Lord. He naturally parried her aura and spoke his piece.
Her eyebrow twitched at the word "favor." She unconsciously scratched her neck.
"I'm having a hard time understanding this. The Namgung Tournament was a promise between Sichuan and Namgung. You broke it unilaterally and even refused to let me see Serin-unnie."
"I truly regret that."
"And yet, in this situation, you come asking us for a favor. I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Namgung Haejin and Dang Ha-eun's gazes met in the air. Eyes like they were forged in poison—emerald green.
As the tension held, she scratched her neck again.
As if it felt strangely empty there.
"Do you know these words: 'The owner of the prayer beads has come to collect the payment'?"
But the moment "prayer beads" left Namgung Haejin's mouth.
"...What?"
Her hand stopped. Her low, shadowed eyes flashed with shock and surprise.
*
Namgung Haejin was trustworthy.
And there was still plenty of time before the Emei Sect storyline kicked off.
What did that mean?
"Heh heh... How should I express my gratitude for guiding me onto the path of the waiter reincarnation..."
"What nonsense is that? Hurry up and go!"
I had nothing better to do.
Thanks to that, I successfully checked off one of my wuxia bucket list items: experiencing life as an errand boy.
Man, it really wasn't fit for humans. Bosses exploited you from above, and customers nagged from the side. Good thing I had some strength; pure errand boys would've dropped dead left and right if they got unlucky.
Still, this grueling job had one perk.
"Heard the news?"
"What news?"
"At the friendly tournament they just held, some no-name beat Huashan's Plum Blossom Sword User."
"What! Is that really true?"
"It's true! Should've gone to see that instead of the Namgung Tournament. What a waste of time."
I could eavesdrop on drunk passersby's unfiltered info.
"That no-name must be the one from chapter 5."
The game fed you only the core story beats as you progressed.
Why things unfolded that way.
The minor details that must exist in the background were deliberately cut for pacing.
That wasn't bad.
But as a long-time player, I enjoyed diving deeper into this world than before. Of course, once I got back to Earth, I'd delete it without a second thought.
Anyway, on the last day of my brief errand boy stint.
I overheard some good news from a gang of five or six ronin who rolled in together.
"Listen up, everyone. Couple days ago, I went near the Namgung Family for a big score."
"Bold as ever, old Huang. You lost two front teeth trying that in the Jeonchang Sect."
"Why bring that up now? Anyway, I was dozing off right by the Namgung Family gate when I heard loud voices. Sounded like one of their sons pulled off something amazing. Even Sword King was laughing his head off, heaping on the praise."
"Really?"
"That stone-faced guy?"
"Yeah, really."
The listening ronin all widened their eyes in shock. The Namgung Family Lord's moniker was Sword King, famed for his stern and taciturn nature.
I nodded inwardly. Namgung Haejin had executed the plan brilliantly. What else could make Sword King laugh besides rooting out a Demonic Cult spy?
I'd trusted him, but it was still welcome news amid my lingering anxiety.
But the story didn't end there.
"Not sure if I heard right, but it seems Sword Phoenix Namgung Serin left home."