Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Sinful Man
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The Golden Sword Sect was a faction based in the capital county of Dosung, a newly risen power with a history of barely thirty years.
Yet they possessed enough strength to proudly claim they were one of the pillars of Sichuan's martial world.
The founding sect leader, Golden Sword Hyeok Sanseong, had amassed a fortune great enough to be called Sichuan's wealthiest man by running a trading company that dealt with the Western Regions. Using that wealth as a foundation, he recruited numerous experts and ronin, establishing the Golden Sword Sect as it stood today.
Wealth, martial prowess, influence. With all these in abundance, there was only one thing the Golden Sword Sect lacked.
Honor.
"Keep this in mind, my son. Of the two guests arriving this time, you must win over at least one—no, either one will do. The fate of whether the Golden Sword Sect blooms in your generation hangs on it."
Honor could never be built in a day or two.
It required history and tradition.
Thus, the current Golden Sword Sect Leader, Hyeok Sinwol, sought to compensate for their lack of history through his son's marriage.
The targets were Emei Sect's Pure Moon Mysterious Lady, Yu Sumin, and Azure Flower Mountain Manor's White Sword Magnolia, Sima Seonui.
Yu Sumin was the youngest disciple of the Emei Sect's head, one of the sect's premier rising stars today. Sima Seonui was the late-born daughter of the Sword Emperor, the foremost among the Ten Great Masters of the world.
The two had been best friends since childhood, so they traveled together for this Dark Venerable visit event.
However, as both were making their debuts in the jianghu, they lacked knowledge of the world and had been assigned a guide. That role fell to Hyeok Sinwol's son, Hyeok Ugi.
Hyeok Sinwol's wife was a lay disciple of the Emei Sect, so it was natural for the Golden Sword Sect to take responsibility for escorting the two to Guryong County.
Hyeok Ugi, who was as greedy as his father or grandfather, knew full well this was an opportunity not to be missed.
Yu Sumin and Sima Seonui were phoenixes among women, coveted by any man of the jianghu.
Talent, beauty, status—what more could one ask for in a bride?
Yu Sumin had a bright demeanor and laughed often.
Her giggling at his every word was as charming and lovely as a lark, enough to captivate the heart.
In contrast, Sima Seonui was quiet.
Not coldly icy, but simply the silent type, following along like a wooden statue.
No matter the question, she'd just nod.
Yet in Hyeok Ugi's eyes, even that reticence held its own allure.
'Heh heh heh. She's just shy and frozen up. Women like that are always the most passionate with their lovers.'
Hyeok Ugi was already drinking deep from the bowl of delusions.
Whether backed by the Emei Sect or the Sword Saint, marriage to even one would send the Golden Sword Sect soaring to the heavens.
Into the skies of the jianghu dominated solely by the Nine Great Sects and Six Great Clans.
'Which one to take as wife? Already agonizing over it. I hope they don't fight over me. Or... take both? Heh heh!'
For Hyeok Ugi, who frequented brothels shamelessly and led a dissolute private life, it already felt like he'd conquered the world.
But as the day neared its end, Yu Sumin and Sima Seonui's impression of Hyeok Ugi was nearing rock bottom.
Not only had he ogled them like merchandise throughout the escort, but his arrogant boasting of his own superiority and his rude treatment of inferiors was utterly repulsive.
Yu Sumin had played along, laughing and chattering to keep the mood light, but inwardly she was thoroughly disgusted.
She felt especially sorry for Sima Seonui, who had come all the way from Hubei to Sichuan trusting only her.
Instead of a pleasant experience, it was all discomfort.
Sima Seonui didn't show her emotions openly, so it wasn't obvious, but Yu Sumin, who had watched her friend for so long, had already noticed her irritation.
'Well, once we have this tea, it's over.'
The rich aroma of Many Hills Tea House was famous even outside Sichuan.
Yu Sumin wanted to at least let Sima Seonui experience this.
But perhaps due to the crowd, there were no seats available at the tea house.
She pondered what to do, feeling regretful, when suddenly Hyeok Ugi struck up a conversation with a man sitting alone.
The man had such striking looks that the word "handsome" slipped out naturally.
Even steadfast Yu Sumin and Sima Seonui felt a brief flutter.
It was Unhwi.
'These bitches? What's so great about this ragtag nobody?'
Hyeok Ugi, educated early by his merchant grandfather, was quick to read others' moods.
Thus, fury boiled within him. It felt like the two women he'd slaved over all day had been snatched away in an instant.
The Unhwi that Hyeok Ugi knew was a coward.
Even in unfavorable situations, he couldn't voice a single complaint properly.
When Hyeok Ugi was very young, he had visited the Nine Dragons Branch Family holding his father Hyeok Sinwol's hand.
It was a gathering of southern Sichuan factions centered around the Nine Dragons Branch Family.
There were many children around the same age as Unhwi and Hyeok Ugi, so they quickly made friends.
Unhwi was the most popular among his peers.
Bearing the Tang surname, Sichuan's greatest clan name, and with exceptional looks, he monopolized the girls' attention.
Hyeok Ugi hated Unhwi, who was treated like a young master just for having the Tang name despite being a bastard son. Especially when the girl he fancied fell head over heels for Unhwi, jealousy surged.
What was so great about that flashy face? Fury boiled within.
So he bullied him secretly from the parents.
Snatching toys he was playing with for no reason, or stripping his pants in front of the girls to embarrass him.
But Unhwi never protested to Hyeok Ugi.
He just reddened his eyes and cried.
His temperament was so weak it was suspicious for a child of a martial clan.
Thus, Hyeok Ugi looked down on him even more.
Even the kids who initially hesitated joined Hyeok Ugi's incitement, eventually shunning or bullying Unhwi.
From then on, Unhwi had no close friends.
Hyeok Ugi didn't think Unhwi had changed after over ten years.
'Rumors of change lately? Probably some exaggerated tale or false rumors spread by the Nine Dragons Branch Family.'
There were whispers in Sichuan's martial world that the talentless Unhwi had held his own against Tang Gyujin in a spar.
But think about it. Did that even make sense? Any thinking person would see through the falsehood immediately.
Tang Gyujin was one of the Qingcheng Sect's prized future hopes.
Clearly, soft-hearted Gyujin had gone easy on his pitiful half-brother, and the story got twisted.
'I'll make him look the fool again this time.'
Blinded by jealousy, Hyeok Ugi began pondering how to humiliate Unhwi in front of Yu Sumin and Sima Seonui.
He failed to consider one thing.
Why Unhwi had appeared in Dosung County instead of Guryong County.
* * *
What the hell is this hillbilly punk?
This was my mistake, if it was one.
Dosung County was one of Sichuan Province's major cities by size.
I should have anticipated someone might recognize me, but I'd been too focused on the cultists and pursuers to prepare for it.
From his speech, he seemed to know 'Dang Unhwi' well.
The problem was, from what I'd gathered, 'Dang Unhwi' had no real friends.
Sure enough.
The man's gaze looking down at me was all too familiar.
Contempt.
Seeing me as beneath him.
It had been a while since Namgung Sanyoung—long time no see for such a look.
A bit irritating?
"As you can see, I'm escorting these two young ladies, but there are no seats here at the tea house? You seem to be alone, so mind if we join you?"
His words sounded persuasive, but his attitude was prickly.
Like, what are you gonna do if I don't?
"......"
I crossed my arms and stared at him silently, offering no reply.
I didn't know his name or identity.
With zero knowledge of whether 'Dang Unhwi' feared him, considered him a friend, used honorifics or plain speech, or how he interacted—any reaction would just invite suspicion.
So I kept silent.
Silence can convey many meanings compactly at times.
"Come on, pretty please?"
Sure enough, expecting compliance, he looked flustered at my lack of response.
His speech quickened.
He glared at me like he wanted to kill me.
Normally, I'd have spun around and decked a punk picking a fight like that without looking back.
But with no time for him now, I waved him off dismissively.
I was planning to leave soon anyway.
Yet my indifference seemed to provoke him.
One eyebrow twitched, like a punk I'd treated like trash long ago acting up after gaining some years—hurt pride.
He held back from exploding, probably to keep a good image before the two women behind him.
The women possessed impressive inner energy, the kind that made you wonder why they'd hang with a guy like this.
Likely disciples or heirs of prestigious sects—rising stars known in the jianghu.
But my interest ended there.
No reason to get involved or care, so I withdrew my gaze back outside.
"You—"
The hillbilly started to snap at me even after sitting, then changed tack, curling one lip slyly.
"Yeah, yeah. You're still sore about the pranks I pulled when we were kids, huh? I was too young and thoughtless back then. Sorry. Accept my apology now."
Trying to subtly demean me with roundabout words, but now too bothersome to engage, I ignored him and stared out the window.
From the faint reflection, our hillbilly's face was beet red after repeated snubs, and the wooden statue woman was staring straight at me.
Oh dear.
This is the trouble with a face too damn good-looking.
Even when I succeeded in the Wheel of Life Divine Tribulation, 'Dang Unhwi' had remarkably handsome features.
Refined lines that wouldn't lose to most women.
Since then, relentless martial training had built his physique, and occult research added a mysterious aura.
Now, women's gazes followed him everywhere as a matter of course.
This woman seemed smitten too.
Just like in my past life... damn, me as a man. Truly, a sinful man.
「-But from what I heard from the seniors, the young cult leader, despite such striking looks, has strangely never had a proper romance.」
'What the hell, punk?'
A snickering sound from the window drew my irritated glare; Number Fifteen, who had arrived unnoticed, trembled.
「Th-the lesser demon misspoke!」
'Who said that? That I've never had a proper romance?'
「W-well—」
'Speak straight.'
「S-six, Seven, Twelve seniors—」
With each name Number Fifteen rattled off, new entries filled my mental kill list.
Those bastards are dead. Daring to gossip about my sore spot behind my back? Time to treat them to a proper blade dance.
'Enough with the list. You came because you found something?'
「Yes.」
Number Fifteen prostrated and shouted.
「We found the Divine Myth Cult's followers. As expected, there are three of them.」
My mind sharpened.
After months since awakening as Dang Unhwi.
Finally.
Finally...!