Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Making Allies Through Bargaining
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It wasn't just a simple building—it was a tavern.
The inside of the tavern was bustling with quite a crowd.
"Welcome."
A server approached and greeted the two of them.
"I've come to buy information."
Ak Muyoo said to the server.
"Ah! I see. This way, please."
The server quickly glanced over Ak Muyoo and Ara before guiding them to a private room. The private room connected to a side door next to the kitchen. Beyond that side door stood an entire building.
The place they were led to was inside that building.
—Security here is tighter than I expected.
Ara sent a transmission to Ak Muyoo.
Ak Muyoo nodded.
The two sat down and waited for the person in charge to appear. Soon, the inner door opened, and a woman stepped out.
She appeared to be in her mid-to-late thirties, with a mole on her lip and a voluptuous figure.
"I'm Yuk Nan-eum, the leader of Hidden Net."
The woman introduced herself.
"Isn't this a bit too remote for a sect leader?"
Ak Muyoo asked.
"Dunhuang is currently drawing all eyes from the Central Plains martial world. It's the most important place in the Central Plains, so of course the leader has to be here."
"I see."
"What information are you looking for?"
"I want to know about the current situation in Beiping."
"That's too broad."
"I'll get into the details now. I want to know about Joo Jang-cheol and his group. And the latest on North Forest Great Heaven Clan, Southern Harmony Confucian Forest House, Heavenly Jade Merchant House, and Northern Divine House."
"Those are all major clans."
"Does that mean it'll cost a lot?"
"Exactly. Even Black Wind the Great Hero might find it hard to afford."
"How did you know I'm Black Wind?"
"We have eyes and ears everywhere. Black Wind the Great Hero... no, assassins were dispatched targeting Ara. Do you know about that?"
"I know it was from Life-Death Society. I even know the leader there is Gong Yeol."
"How do you know that?"
Yuk Nan-eum was startled. She hadn't expected Ak Muyoo to know that.
"He died by my hand."
"Already...?"
"I'd like to pay for the information with martial arts manuals. Is that okay?"
"We only accept cash."
"Once you hear what manuals I mean, you'll change your mind."
"..."
"To me, Black Wind the Great Hero doesn't look that strong. Do you really have martial arts that would help us?"
"Don't underestimate people."
"...Alright. I'll hear it first and decide."
"The manuals I can offer you are either Chaos Net or Ice Heaven-Earth."
"Gasp!"
Yuk Nan-eum stared at Ak Muyoo with wide eyes.
"What'll it be?"
"D-Do you really know those arts?"
"Won't you answer my question?"
"F-Fine, deal."
"Which one do you want?"
"Both."
"I said one of the two."
"I want both for the information."
"Then I'll have to shop around elsewhere."
Ak Muyoo stood up.
"You can't leave."
The man beside Yuk Nan-eum said coldly.
Ak Muyoo looked at the man. Then he spoke.
"...You'll get hurt, buddy."
In an instant, the air in the room grew icy, thick with killing intent.
"Greed always leads to failure in life. If you don't want to die, don't push it."
Ak Muyoo turned to leave.
"How dare you..."
"Fine, deal."
Yuk Nan-eum accepted.
"I've changed my mind. I'll check with Beggars' Sect or the Mu Clan."
Ak Muyoo headed for the door.
"We could attack you."
"If you know I'm Black Wind, you know my situation. Even if you come at me, you'd just be adding one more enemy. Like I said, don't push it if you want to live."
Ak Muyoo left without looking back.
—Is it okay to just walk out like this?
"What can I do if they don't want the deal?"
Ak Muyoo shrugged.
They returned straight to the inn after leaving Hidden Net.
"It's different from Silver Coin Heaven, isn't it?"
Ara asked. As far as she knew, the organization that succeeded Silver Secret Heaven was Silver Coin Heaven, one of the Absolute Five Heavens.
But Yuk Nan-eum, who knew about Secret Heaven Ruyi Ink, claimed to be the leader of Hidden Net. That meant Hidden Net and Silver Coin Heaven were separate organizations.
"If that woman were the lord of Silver Coin Heaven, she wouldn't sell information."
Ak Muyoo nodded.
"But is it really okay to act so boldly?"
She asked while pouring tea.
"Now we just wait, and we'll have solid escorts."
"Escorts?"
"Trust me. Let's get some sleep. Where are you sleeping?"
"Aren't we sharing?"
"There are plenty of rooms. Sleep comfortably."
"So sleeping with me has been uncomfortable all this time?"
"You don't know you snore?"
"I snore?"
"Yeah. Loud enough to shake the ceiling."
"N-No way..."
"Anyway, good night."
Ak Muyoo went into his room.
"No way. How could I snore..."
Ara remained in a state of panic for a while. Then she suddenly remembered that Ak Muyoo always fell asleep before her.
"You bastard."
Only then did she realize she'd been had. Fuming, she stormed into Ak Muyoo's room. He was already asleep.
"Let's see how you like it, you jerk."
Ara changed into her nightclothes and lay down beside Ak Muyoo. She undid the front of her top and placed his arm on her chest before trying to sleep.
'We're really family now.'
Ara smiled.
Any other man wouldn't sleep in this situation. But drowsiness was overwhelming her now.
"What's this now?"
Ak Muyoo looked at Ara with a baffled expression.
Her top was open, and he was gripping her breast. He couldn't make sense of it.
Just then, Ara opened her eyes.
"Why are you sleeping here?"
Ak Muyoo asked.
"Then why are you groping my chest?"
"I dreamed of some faceless mother, thought it was weird, but it was because of you."
"Not because of me—thanks to me. Did meeting Mom feel good?"
"No idea."
"Did you talk?"
"No. We just stared at each other."
"You've never seen her, so how'd you know it was Mom?"
"Just a feeling."
"If we're not getting anywhere, let's get up."
"You want to progress?"
"Well... I'd have to think about it."
"Me too."
"Then let's get up."
The two sat up.
"You're lying, right?"
Ara asked.
"About what?"
"Me snoring."
"Just teasing."
"You're really messing with your big sis here."
Ara glared at Ak Muyoo.
They washed up, changed clothes, and went to the restaurant for breakfast. The place was still crowded.
They quietly finished their meal and returned to the annex. Yuk Nan-eum arrived at the inn after lunch.
She carried a thick stack of documents.
"I want Ice Heaven-Earth."
She said, placing the documents in front of Ak Muyoo.
"How about adding Chaos Net to Ice Heaven-Earth, in exchange for ongoing information?"
"Do you really have both?"
"I'll recite the Ice Heaven-Earth manual first."
Ak Muyoo immediately recited the Ice Heaven-Earth manual. Yuk Nan-eum's expression changed with every moment as she listened.
"Urgh!"
After hearing it all, she let out a groan.
She didn't know the Ice Heaven-Earth manual at all, but she knew its power. Legend said it didn't just pierce with a small hole—it shattered. And hearing it confirmed that.
"What do you think?"
Ak Muyoo asked.
"G-Good. Very good."
Yuk Nan-eum nodded.
"Excellent. Then I'll write it down for you now."
Ak Muyoo fetched a brush and paper from the innkeeper and wrote out the manual.
"Can I see that thing?"
Yuk Nan-eum asked.
"What thing?"
"Secret Heaven... no, that weapon that looks like a six-tailed mace."
"It's not a six-tailed mace—it's called Secret Heaven Ruyi Ink. Go ahead."
Ak Muyoo nodded.
Yuk Nan-eum's hand trembled as she reached for Secret Heaven Ruyi Ink.
She picked it up.
"It's heavy."
"Weighs fifty catties."
"I-I see."
Yuk Nan-eum nodded and looked at Ak Muyoo. He wrote the manual without pause.
"Normal warriors don't share their arts with others..."
"Feels like I'm just handing them out freely, huh?"
"Ice Heaven-Earth is part of Radiant World Divine Art."
"Even with divine sword techniques, it's useless without arms."
"So you don't need it?"
"Yes. And leader, one more thing: I'm not the only one who knows Chaos Net."
"Who else?"
"This friend here knows it, and far away in Chacha Kingdom, someone else does too."
"And them...?"
"I gave it to this friend for protection, and the Chacha Kingdom folks out of goodwill for a favor. And going forward, I'll actively use the arts I know for my survival."
"You mean you could pass them to others too?"
"I'm just warning you. Done."
Ak Muyoo handed over the paper with the Ice Heaven-Earth manual. Yuk Nan-eum took it with trembling hands.
"Thanks for the information. I won't stray far."
Ak Muyoo said, picking up the thick stack of papers.
"Good deal."
Yuk Nan-eum bowed her head and left.
—Is that it?
Ara asked via transmission.
"No."
Ak Muyoo shook his head.
—Then?
"We just hired one of the Six Absolute Heavens as escorts. Not like before, but a hundred times better than just us two."
—Because of the martial arts?
"Knowing Ice Heaven-Earth and Chaos Net means I know Silver Secret Heaven's supreme art, Illusion Demon Twelve Forms. They can't just let someone like that die."
"Ah!"
Ara nodded.
"Pfft!"
She soon burst out laughing.
"Why?"
"You're really cool."
"The Wind Squad boss didn't get there for nothing, buddy."
"You said it was because you were good at running and had a loud voice."
"That's how everyone starts. But without skill, you get fired or killed quick in that world."
"So you've lasted years—you're amazing?"
"Of course."
"You're full of it. But didn't they hear our talk?"
"Of course they did."
"So they know you have Illusion Demon Twelve Forms too?"
"They'd have to be idiots not to pick up on that. I made it obvious."
"Pfft! So what'll that woman do now?"
Ara asked, laughing.
"She'll gather Hidden Net's strongest warriors."
"For our escort?"
"Yeah."
Ak Muyoo nodded.
"Shall we make some progress?"
"...We're family."