Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: A Chance Encounter
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I thought he would be quite the master.
But unexpectedly, the counterforce from Bu Eun-seol's pulse was so faint it was barely perceptible to his fingertips.
*'What a shame. He certainly has the right air about him.'*
Bu Eun-seol's gaze was low and subdued, and a calm atmosphere enveloped his entire being.
It was the posture of a martial artist with exceptional presence, but upon closer observation, it seemed he was simply a man of dry character.
*'Whether his martial arts are profound or not is no concern of mine. I just need to get some free drinks and bolt. Heh heh.'*
As it turned out, the young man's plan was to distract Bu Eun-seol, get some free alcohol, and then make a run for it.
"Hahaha."
As an awkward air settled between them, the young man let out a hearty laugh.
"To be honest, I got into this line of work at a young age. Thanks to that, I've gone through hell and back, suffering like you wouldn't believe."
He made a joke, but there was no particular reaction.
The young man scratched his head, looking embarrassed.
"You're a man of few words, aren't you, brother? Was I being too forward by joining you? Am I making you uncomfortable?"
Bu Eun-seol, who had been gazing blankly at the young man, silently shook his head.
"Ah, what a relief."
The young man breathed a sigh of relief.
"To tell you the truth, I've been on pins and needles this whole time, wondering when you were going to kick me out. Hahaha!"
The young man's attitude was rather impudent, but surprisingly, not unlikable.
To be more honest, Bu Eun-seol didn't dislike the affable young man.
Not only was he the first person of his age he had met since entering the martial world, but he also possessed a clear and bright energy.
*'Is it because I chose the demonic path?'*
Looking at the young man, who was as radiant as the sun, Bu Eun-seol felt as if his own surroundings were stained black.
*'Or is it because I chose revenge?'*
He couldn't tell why.
A sense of frustration tightening his throat, Bu Eun-seol picked up his cup again.
His way of drinking was unique.
Strong liquors like yellow wine were usually downed in one go.
But Bu Eun-seol was letting it flow down his throat slowly, in small sips, as if drinking tea.
"Brother..."
said the young man, who had been watching Bu Eun-seol drink, completely captivated.
"You must have suffered a great deal."
"...?"
"I say that because you drink strong liquor as if it were sweet."
The young man said with a bashful expression.
"My master used to say that those who find strong liquor sweet have already tasted all the bitterness life has to offer."
The young man seemed to be spouting nonsense, but if you listened closely, his words held a certain folk wisdom.
"Heh."
Bu Eun-seol found himself smiling without realizing it.
The smile was as elegant and pure as a plum blossom blooming in the winter snow.
*'How can a man's smile be so beautiful?'*
The young man, who had been staring blankly at Bu Eun-seol's smile, came to his senses and shook his head.
"Ah, right. We haven't even introduced ourselves yet. I am..."
"Myeong-un, you scoundrel!"
Just then, with a loud clatter, nine martial artists dressed in navy blue uniforms came up the stairs to the second floor.
"Th-this rascal..."
The largest of the five martial artists, a man with thick eyebrows, spotted the young man and roared.
"You brat! Did you sneak out again to get wasted at a tavern?"
"Eldest Brother."
"Eldest Brother, my foot! You little menace!"
The large martial artist strode over and grabbed the young man's ear.
"You scoundrel! I won't forgive you today!"
"Ah? Wait. Aah! That hurts! Let go of..."
Regardless of the young man's shouts, the martial artist grabbed the scruff of his neck with a hand as large as a pot lid and dragged him downstairs.
"Brother! It's been a pleasure!"
Even while being dragged away like a puppy by the scruff of its neck, the young man waved at Bu Eun-seol.
"Let's have another drink if we get the chance!"
After the young man left, one of the remaining eight martial artists—a very skinny man with small eyes—cupped his hands toward Bu Eun-seol.
"My apologies for the disturbance."
He cleared his throat and spoke again.
"I'm sure that brat just walked up, started spouting nonsense, and ordered drinks. Am I right?"
When Bu Eun-seol nodded, the martial artist frowned.
"If we hadn't shown up, he would have drunk his fill and then skipped out on the bill."
He then took a large silver coin from his robes and placed it on the table.
"Our youngest brother made a mistake, so we'll cover the cost of the drinks."
"That's alright."
"Don't worry about it. Well then..."
As the martial artist was about to turn away, the waiter, who had been watching from afar, scurried over.
"Great hero, this won't be enough to cover the bill."
"What do you mean?"
"This yellow wine costs ten nyang a bottle."
"Ten nyang? Why is one bottle of yellow wine so expensive?"
"This isn't just any yellow wine. It's our tavern's specialty, aged for thirty years."
"What!"
The martial artist jumped in surprise.
There were at least ten jugs on the table. The bill for the alcohol alone was over a hundred nyang.
"Myeong-un... that crazy bastard!"
As the skinny martial artist trembled with rage, Bu Eun-seol took two hundred-nyang notes from his robes and placed them on the table.
"I enjoyed the drinks."
Then he stood up and gently patted the waiter's head.
"The rest is for you."
"R-really? Thank you!"
As the waiter jumped for joy, the skinny martial artist approached Bu Eun-seol and held out a money pouch.
"Please, let me pay for at least half."
At that, a man in the group with buck teeth spoke up.
"Senior Brother. That's our travel money..."
"Quiet."
But Bu Eun-seol calmly walked past the skinny martial artist holding out the pouch and headed for the stairs.
"Wait!"
The skinny martial artist, perhaps feeling he'd been ignored, quickly blocked Bu Eun-seol's path.
"Take this."
"It's fine."
"Take it. The disciples of the Hengshan Sect do not owe debts to others."
*'The Hengshan Sect?'*
Bu Eun-seol blinked, recalling the booklet Master Cheol Wang-geol had given him.
The Hengshan Sect.
In the past, it had proudly held a place among the Nine Sects and One Union, but two hundred years ago, the sect leader, Neung-ryeong, vanished without a trace from the sect's grounds.
Because of this, the secret internal energy manuals for what were known as the Twin Absolutes of Hengshan—the Pipa Sword and the Art of Painted Lines—were lost, and the sect had been in decline ever since.
*Clang.*
The skinny martial artist placed the sword from his robes onto the table.
"This is a Longquan sword, forged from genuine refined iron from Longquan in Zhejiang. You could easily get five hundred nyang for it at a pawn shop."
Longquan in Zhejiang was famous for producing high-quality steel.
The blades known as Longquan swords were treated as precious treasures, capable of easily cutting through pig iron. And he was trying to use one as collateral for a bar tab?
"Second Brother!"
The other three martial artists shouted, but the skinny man waved his hand.
"Don't worry. We can come back for it. Until then..."
*'Hmm.'*
Bu Eun-seol groaned inwardly.
These disciples of the Hengshan Sect, true to their righteous sect's reputation, were pure and clean of character. But because their sect had fallen into decline, they also carried a great deal of insecurity.
*'I have no choice.'*
Sighing to himself, Bu Eun-seol began to subtly shift the muscles in his face.
He had thought of a way to leave this place a little more quickly.
"So you are from the Hengshan Sect."
Bu Eun-seol approached the skinny martial artist and spoke with a slightly surprised expression.
"Why didn't you say so sooner?"
"What do you mean?"
"Had I known you were from the Hengshan Sect, I would have insisted on treating you to drinks myself."
As the skinny martial artist looked surprised, Bu Eun-seol said calmly.
"I grew up in a remote mountain village, so I've always hoped to see the heroes of the renowned righteous sects just once."
He then turned his gaze and gestured out the window.
"That's why I came traveling to this city of Yueyang, but I was disappointed that fate hadn't been on my side. Now, meeting the heroes of the Hengshan Sect in person, I feel that my disappointment has been somewhat eased."
As Bu Eun-seol, who had seemed so rigid, praised them, a smile spread across the skinny martial artist's lips.
"Heroes? You're too kind."
"Not at all. If you don't mind, allow me to treat you. How about we share a drink?"
In the past, he would never have been able to make such smooth talk.
But after mastering the Art of Crowing and Barking, Bu Eun-seol could change his atmosphere and tone of voice at will.
"No, no! We'll be leaving Yueyang soon. You don't need to trouble yourself."
"What a pity."
Bu Eun-seol feigned a look of regret and cupped his hands.
"Then I shall take my leave first."
"Ah, yes. Well then..."
As the skinny martial artist cupped his hands, the other martial brothers behind him also bowed to Bu Eun-seol.
With just a few words, he had left a good impression on the men from the Hengshan Sect and promptly departed.
*'Insecurity... it's like holding poison in one's heart.'*
Insecurity.
A severe inferiority complex not only debases oneself but is ultimately a poison that harms both body and mind.
A few days later.
After getting plenty of rest at his hideout, Bu Eun-seol returned to the Hoehyeon Old Bookstore.
"Welcome."
Sang-ryang greeted Bu Eun-seol with a pleased expression as he walked through the door.
"What brings you here today?"
"I was thinking of buying a book I didn't see last time."
"I see. It seems the young master is slowly becoming a regular at our old bookstore. Hahaha."
Letting out a hearty laugh, Sang-ryang tilted his head as he looked at Bu Eun-seol, who was dressed in white robes.
*'But this is strange. His impression seems to change slightly every time I see him.'*
The first time Bu Eun-seol came, he looked like a traveler with very ordinary features.
But now, he looked like a disgraced scholar who had been wandering from one study hall to another for a long time.
*'Is it because he's dressed a little differently?'*
It was because Bu Eun-seol was freely using the Art of Crowing and Barking and the Face-Altering Bone-Shifting Art, but the shopkeeper had no way of guessing.
"You've come again, young master."
Just then, Ma-un, who was organizing the bookshelves, spotted Bu Eun-seol and bowed his head deeply.
At that, Sang-ryang snapped out of his thoughts and waved his hand.
"Ma-un. This gentleman says he's here to purchase another book. Please guide him to the inner shelves."
"Understood."
Entering the secret shelves in the back, Bu Eun-seol wore a puzzled expression.
Last time, there were only five or six books, but now, weren't there several dozen volumes lining the shelves?
"There are many books."
To Bu Eun-seol's remark, Ma-un replied calmly.
"Thanks to you resolving the ninth-tier request, our workload has increased a bit."
Half of that was a lie.
Sang-ryang had sensed Bu Eun-seol's exceptional abilities and had scraped together every difficult job he could find in Yueyang.
"All the jobs here are fifth-tier or higher Byeong-ho missions. Well, a man of your skill should be able to handle them just fine, but..."
Ignoring Ma-un's sarcastic tone, Bu Eun-seol began to look at the books.
*'Hmm.'*
They were said to be fifth-tier and above, but many of them involved infiltrating sects to extract information or steal items.
After rummaging through the shelves for a while, he picked up a book titled *Baopuzi*.
*Shhhlick. Thump.*
Bu Eun-seol's hand stopped as he opened the book.
—Byeong-ho, First-Tier Request. Seven hundred nyang of silver.
Eliminate all assassins of the Blue Sand Valley operating in Yueyang.