Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: A Persistent Woman
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Bu Eun-seol intuited from this phenomenon that he had reached the initial stage of the fourth level of the Ban-geuk-sim-beop.
—Upon reaching the fourth level, one can generate a Protective True Ki that can shield the entire body, similar to the Profound Gate's Protective Aura.
Recalling what Hyeol-geum-gang had told him, Bu Eun-seol gazed at the distant sky.
“It means I can cloak my body in armor made from the powerful true ki flowing within me. But it's not omnipotent.”
The Protective True Ki could only block attacks from fist and palm techniques imbued with internal energy.
It couldn't defend against sharp weapons like swords or blades.
“To block weapon attacks, I'd probably need to reach the fifth level and be able to materialize my internal energy...”
Since entering the Murim, the only time he had fought a master of fist and palm techniques was against Myeong-in, the disciple of the unidentified masked man he'd encountered at the Pae-do-mun.
Other than that, he hadn't faced any enemies who attacked with their palms, so he hadn't felt the need for Protective True Ki yet.
“Now, shall I practice the sword?”
Bu Eun-seol closed his eyes again.
He no longer practiced the Mu-sang-cheon-ryu or his sword techniques with a blade in hand.
He had determined it was necessary to integrate the insights gained from real combat into his martial arts or to further solidify his spirit.
“Yeo Hwan-jin. His true swordsmanship surpassed my own.”
Yeo Hwan-jin's Flowing Cloud Sword Style, which even the Geuk-sok-mu-yeong could not completely evade.
It was the pinnacle of the Flowing Sword, capable of passing through anything, and could be called the essence of Taoist swordsmanship, specialized in defense and counterattack.
“But even a master with such high martial skill ultimately failed to control his own spirit.”
What Bu Eun-seol had discerned with his sword were only some of the habits and quirks Yeo Hwan-jin left behind when he used the Flowing Cloud Sword.
Therefore, while he could block the Flowing Cloud Sword, he hadn't reached a level where he could seize victory.
However, flustered that his habits had been seen through, Yeo Hwan-jin felt fear and a sense of crisis from Bu Eun-seol.
And that led to impatience, causing him to recklessly use the Hundred-Breaks Chain Form without seizing the right opportunity.
“If he hadn't felt impatient... he likely wouldn't have had any chance of losing to me in the first place.”
Bu Eun-seol replayed the fierce battle with Yeo Hwan-jin in his mind.
After a long period of deep thought, he nodded his head as if he had realized something.
“In the end, what decides victory or defeat is not which sword style is used, but whose spirit is more steadfast.”
Bu Eun-seol's practice of the sword in his mind was a form of sword debate.
And a sword debate requires an excellent master, as one must unravel the things imagined in one's mind according to the principles of martial arts.
But Bu Eun-seol could refine his swordsmanship simply by organizing the insights gained in the heat of battle.
Contemplation and meditation.
It was a secret method of sword debate practiced only by the grandmasters of martial arts who had experienced tens of thousands of real battles.
But Bu Eun-seol had simply mastered the secret of advancing his martial arts by thinking deeply about the sword and discerning its principles.
“Has it already been this long?”
When Bu Eun-seol came to his senses, another day had passed.
He thought he had only circulated his energy for a moment and meditated for a bit, but two days had passed while he sat there.
“Hmm.”
His throat was a little dry, and hunger was setting in.
Bu Eun-seol considered calling for the servant stationed outside, but soon shook his head.
“I've been inside for too long. I should go out for a change.”
The Jinyang area had many splendid and large taverns, rivaling the bustling streets of Hwangju Prefecture.
Bu Eun-seol left the rear garden where the annexes were located and entered the Unrae Inn.
Perhaps because it was around lunchtime, the more than one hundred tables on each floor were filled with customers.
“Welcome, young master.”
A servant spotted Bu Eun-seol and ran over happily, bowing his head.
He had rented all five annexes, usually reserved for high-ranking officials, all by himself, and he always gave generous tips.
Because of this, all the servants at Unrae Inn treated Bu Eun-seol with the utmost reverence.
“Shall I show you to your usual seat on the third floor?”
Bu Eun-seol looked at the bustling interior of the inn and clicked his tongue.
Seeing the scene, packed so tightly there were no empty seats, it just felt chaotic.
“No, I'll just eat in the annex.”
As he said this, he took out a silver coin from his robes and gave it as a tip.
“Oh, I haven't even served you, young master... It's alright.”
As the young servant waved his hands, Bu Eun-seol found himself smiling.
He was reminded of Heuk-pyo, who was training his martial arts alone at the Dong-pyo-seo-rang.
“Take it. I'm giving it to you because I want to.”
When Bu Eun-seol offered the silver coin again, the servant bowed his head so low it nearly touched the ground.
“Th-thank you, sir!”
Leaving the bowing servant behind, Bu Eun-seol returned to the path leading to the annexes.
But at the entrance to the annexes, a woman's sharp voice rang out.
“Why on earth not?”
As Bu Eun-seol, walking with his hands clasped behind his back, arrived at the entrance, he saw the manager of Unrae Inn and a young woman raising their voices.
“Look. I said I'll pay extra, didn't I?”
Had she just turned twenty?
She was a beauty with clear skin and bright eyes.
Judging by her posture and stern gaze, she seemed like the only daughter of a noble family, accustomed to ordering people around.
“It's... not a matter of money.”
Manager Jin avoided the woman's gaze and spoke with a troubled expression.
“Our humble establishment's annexes are all full, you see.”
“All full? Are you kidding me? They're completely empty!”
“They are not empty, the guest has simply stepped out for a moment.”
“Don't lie to me.”
The woman pointed around her and furrowed her brows.
“Are you saying the guests staying in all five annexes left at the same time? Does that make any sense?”
“No, that is... actually, all the annexes of our inn have been rented by a single person for the past month.”
“One person?”
Just as the woman was frowning in disbelief,
“Young Master Bu.”
Manager Jin spotted Bu Eun-seol striding over and bowed deeply.
“It seems you've returned from your outing.”
“I just took a brief look around. Carry on.”
As Bu Eun-seol calmly walked past the manager and headed inside, the woman pointed a finger.
“Then, is that person perhaps...”
“That is correct.”
At Manager Jin's reply, the woman rushed toward Bu Eun-seol like a spooked foal.
“Wait!”
“...?”
“Are you the one who rented this entire villa compound?”
“I am.”
As Bu Eun-seol nodded and turned his head,
*What... is with this face?*
The woman's eyes widened and her mouth fell open.
The half of his face visible through strands of hair so fair the sunlight seemed to pass through them.
It possessed a breathtaking beauty, like a masterpiece crafted by an artisan with all their soul.
“Do you have something to say?”
Bu Eun-seol's question snapped the woman back to her senses, and she shook her head.
“So...”
She took a deep breath, composed herself, and hardened her gaze.
“I hear you're using all five annexes by yourself?”
“That is correct.”
“Perfect. Since you say you're alone.”
The woman actually nodded as if this were a relief.
“I'll be using the Seogang-won.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I'm saying I'll be using the Seogang-won for three days, starting today. Oh, and I'm not asking to use it for free, of course.”
She fumbled in her money pouch, then shook her head and pulled out a bank note from her robes instead.
*A martial artist?*
Bu Eun-seol narrowed his eyes as he saw the sword she wore next to her money pouch.
Most women typically wore longswords that were light and easy to carry. But her sword was wide, and it was engraved with a strange pattern.
*And a demonic one at that...*
Realizing the shape of the sword she wore was suitable for practicing demonic swordsmanship, Bu Eun-seol's eyes narrowed further.
*She carries around wads of bank notes and throws money around so freely. It must be true.*
“This should be more than enough compensation, right?”
Just then, the woman held out the bank note and said.
“Here, take it.”
Bu Eun-seol glanced down at the bank note and scoffed.
“I don't need it.”
“Is the amount too small? Then I'll give you five thousand nyang.”
When Bu Eun-seol simply walked away without answering, the woman bit her lip.
“Fine. Then ten thousand nyang!”
Ten thousand nyang was a huge sum, enough to buy a modest manor in the suburbs.
But unfortunately, her attempt to throw money around was directed at the wrong person.
The money Bu Eun-seol had earned working for the Gusaldai was roughly eight hundred thousand nyang.
Unless he bought priceless treasures or rare artifacts, it was an amount he couldn't spend even if he lived in luxury for his entire life.
“With that much, you could rent out all the villa compounds of the nearby inns.”
At Bu Eun-seol's words, the woman shook her head firmly.
“No. I have to use the Seogang-won.”
Faced with her persistence, Bu Eun-seol couldn't help but ask for a reason.
“Why?”
“I heard that Master Sam-muk, a painter of the previous generation also known as the Sage of Calligraphy, always stayed in this very annex, the Seogang-won, whenever he came to Jinyang.”
The woman said with a very serious expression.
“I came here at the end of a long journey specifically to stay in the Seogang-won, where traces of Master Sam-muk remain. Do you understand what I'm saying?”
Master Sam-muk, in gratitude to the owner of Unrae Inn who had treated him with great hospitality throughout his life, left a plaque with his own calligraphy in the Seogang-won.
There was even a joke that Unrae Inn became Jinyang's finest luxury inn because of the plaque Master Sam-muk left in this annex.
“I plan to stay for three days and appreciate Master Sam-muk's calligraphy. So I would appreciate your cooperation.”
Bu Eun-seol let out a dry laugh.
It turned out this naive young lady from a martial family was traveling alone to see famous sights.
“I refuse.”
Bu Eun-seol had rented all five annexes to rest quietly and master his martial arts and insights.
But if she were to enter this place, his peace would be shattered instantly.
“What did you say?”
“I said, I refuse.”
“You really...”
“By the way, this is strange.”
Bu Eun-seol wore a faint smile.
“Judging by the way you spend money, you seem to be the descendant of some prestigious family, yet you travel alone without a single attendant or escort.”
“What does that have to do with you?”
“If you had an attendant, they would have known that I am not a person open to negotiation.”
“Hey!”
“Look for a villa at another inn.”
Bu Eun-seol looked at Manager Jin and said coldly.
“Manager Jin. I believe I said I dislike disturbances.”
“My apologies.”
After bowing to Bu Eun-seol, Manager Jin spoke politely to the woman.
“Please leave now.”
The woman glared at Bu Eun-seol for a while before reluctantly leaving.
But in her departing gaze, there was not only resentment but also a tenacious persistence.
*This is going to be a headache.*
Bu Eun-seol could sense it.
That the peaceful daily life he had maintained would soon be shattered because of her.