Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: 48. Guard Duty
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The Jin Family Manor of Honam is a small martial clan.
Honam, treated as a frontier even in the jianghu. In that place, the head of the Jin Family Manor, which isn't even a major sect, could be called the head of a small snake.
In contrast, anyone leading even a small armed group in the Murim Alliance is at least the body of a dragon.
Even if their position on the body is close to the tail.
Jin Yeongho is the designated heir of the Jin Family Manor, destined to be the head of that snake.
He doesn't need to agonize over choosing between the body of a dragon and the head of a snake.
He can have both.
His goal is to first become a Murim Alliance warrior, aim for a high position, and then inherit the Jin Family Manor when his father grows old.
That way, with the prestige of having been a Murim Alliance warrior—and a fairly decent one at that—he can live large in Honam.
Among the later-generation students of the Murim Academy who aren't particularly outstanding, the way for him to secure a good position in the Murim Alliance is, after all, just one.
"Brother Paeng, I looked into that rumor about Baek Yuseong saving Deputy Strategist Tae Jeongheon this time."
"The truth?"
As Paeng Jisan showed interest, Jin Yeongho smiled with satisfaction.
The solution he found was, as expected, to stick close to someone who would rise to a high position in the future.
It's the one area where he has confidence he can outperform the other later-generation students.
Then Paeng Jisan would lead him along.
"At first, Deputy Strategist Tae Jeongheon's throat was half-severed and he was dying, but he had already passed the crisis thanks to some mysterious medicine the Chief Strategist had. Baek Yuseong just came late, stitched up a minor wound, and got all that fame."
"Hmph, I figured as much. It must've been thanks to that medicine, whatever it was. But why's there a rumor that the guy fully healed him?"
"Well, that guy manages his reputation well, so people misunderstood on their own, didn't they?"
After talking with Jegal Yeongyeong, Yuseong had decided to keep the identity of the exceptionally potent medicine secret for a while.
From Jegal Yeongyeong's perspective, unaware of the Healing skill's existence, the value of a medicine that outperformed Yuseong's medical arts was incalculable, and she advised using it strategically.
Yuseong agreed.
He didn't need fame anyway; he just needed a means to gain Divine Power.
He decided to stockpile the holy water for use only in truly necessary situations.
For that reason.
The warriors who were with Tae Jeongheon at first didn't know exactly about the holy water, so the vague rumors were something Jin Yeongho had picked up.
"That guy's reputation. Just wait—mine will soar much higher soon!"
"Of course, Brother Paeng. It's a chaotic time with the Black Dao running wild. The perfect era for a hero to emerge, right?"
Paeng Jisan smiled with satisfaction.
"True. The Alliance Leader came from an ordinary martial clan, and the former Demon Subduing Division Leader was from the butcher caste. And I've reached the Peak Realm much faster than them, so I lack nothing. Right?"
Jin Yeongho flinched and glanced around.
The Alliance Leader aside, bringing up the former Demon Subduing Division Leader's background like that.
What if someone overheard?
It wouldn't end well for someone aiming to join the Murim Alliance to fall out with the Demon Subduing Division.
Even backed by the prestige of the Paeng Family of Northern Hebei, the guy really had no sense.
And.
'He himself gobbled all sorts of elixirs and learned supreme martial arts. Comparing that to the Alliance Leader, who became a Transformation Realm master without a single decent elixir, or the Demon Subduing Division Leader, who started proper martial arts training much later... is a bit much.'
Of course, Jin Yeongho had enough wisdom not to voice all his inner thoughts.
"Of course. Brother Paeng lacks nothing at all."
Paeng Jisan nurtured his delusions.
The delusions had already progressed to him beheading the Heavenly Demon to become the world's greatest, with about five women clinging to his side.
One woman's face was his unrequited crush.
'Our relationship cooled a bit after that incident, but by then, Yurin will be the one clinging to me.'
In a good mood, Paeng Jisan went to find Nangong Yurin.
With intense interest, he knew exactly where she would be.
'She's definitely in the clearing deep in the forest, right? She often spends time alone there.'
Imagining one day spending time together there, Paeng Jisan headed that way.
"———!"
An unidentified sound rang out.
Soon, Paeng Jisan learned the source of the sound.
Nangong Yurin was sitting on a flat rock, gazing up at the sky while blowing on a blade of grass.
The sound from her lips didn't last long, fading into the air as if pressed down, but even to Paeng Jisan, who knew nothing of music, it seemed quite plausible.
Clap, clap, clap.
As he clapped, Nangong Yurin startled and turned around.
"Beautiful performance, Yurin."
"What brings you all the way here?"
"I'm going to become the world's greatest. Once I reach the Peak Realm soon, you'll see me differently. Haha!"
"..."
He's crazy.
That was Nangong Yurin's impression of Paeng Jisan, who had suddenly intruded on her solitude to spout nonsense without context.
Unaware of her thoughts, Paeng Jisan left one parting remark and vanished.
"Then I'll go train to become a Peak Realm master."
Humming the sound she had just made with the grass in an awkward nasal tone.
She shook her head and resumed her interrupted performance.
'Martial arts don't suit me. I just want to live leisurely like this...'
She couldn't right now.
Because her brother Nangong Yuhyeon was holed up in his room, not stepping out even a single step.
The family elders didn't want to lose their seat among the Five Great Families.
They were trying to burden Nangong Yurin with too much.
She did have something to lean on.
The news that Baek Yuseong had saved someone on the brink of death.
'My choice was right after all. The only one who can treat my brother is the White-Clothed Physician. But how much longer do I have to wait?'
Every day was burdensome.
From what she heard, the family elders were discussing passing down the Emperor Sword Form, which the young heir of the Nangong Family was learning, to her.
Even though she had no interest in martial arts.
Naturally, she had no desire to join the Murim Alliance either.
***
An official notice came down to the later-generation students of the Murim Academy.
-Those who volunteer can be assigned to Murim Alliance missions!
It would be reflected in records for those hoping to join the Murim Alliance in the future.
Many later-generation students' eyes sparkled.
Unlike Nangong Yurin, they were very interested in joining.
At the same time, a subtle rumor circulated among the later-generation students.
-The relationship between Medical Pavilion Leader Baek Yuseong and Paeng Jisan isn't good. If you don't want to make an enemy of Paeng Jisan, better not volunteer for the Medical Pavilion guard duty!
In the jianghu, those superior in martial arts or background reign supreme.
There were hardly any among the later-generation students who wanted to sour relations with Paeng Jisan—the scion of one of the Five Great Families, the Paeng Family of Northern Hebei, and the greatest of his generation—unnecessarily.
"Next is the Medical Pavilion. Those volunteering for guard duty, raise your hands."
The Murim Academy instructor shouted while preparing to note them down on paper.
Later-generation students aiming for high positions upon joining actively volunteered even for somewhat risky missions, and the much safer guard duty was popular too.
They naturally assumed the Medical Pavilion guard duty would be the same.
"No one?"
Only the Medical Pavilion had no volunteers.
As the instructor asked once more, Jin Yeongho gave Paeng Jisan a faint smile.
Paeng Jisan nodded subtly.
'Jin Yeongho, you're useful. It's nothing major, but if Baek Yuseong's pride takes even a little hit, that's enough.'
At that moment.
A slender hand rose gently into the air.
'Who dares disobey me?'
Whipping his head around, he saw his unrequited crush with her hand raised.
'Yurin, why...! I even said I'd become the world's greatest and propose to you, yet you do something I hate!'
He had never said it quite like that, but Paeng Jisan felt quite aggrieved since he had implied as much.
"Alright, Nangong Yurin—one. So the Medical Pavilion has only Nangong Yurin volunteering—"
"I, I volunteer for the Medical Pavilion too!"
Paeng Jisan urgently cut off the instructor.
"Why's she volunteering for the Medical Pavilion? I heard she doesn't get along with the Medical Pavilion Leader."
The surrounding later-generation students whispered, but he stood firm.
To win love, this much thick-skinnedness was nothing.
The rumor had come from Jin Yeongho anyway.
However.
"Impossible. As I said first, Murim Alliance missions aren't something you flip like the back of your hand—decide carefully, didn't I say? Paeng Jisan, you've already been assigned an external mission, so you can't change it."
"Then after the external mission ends, will assignments be reassigned?"
"Of course."
"Understood."
And so, Nangong Yurin became the sole volunteer for the Medical Pavilion guard duty.
***
"Young Lady Nangong, long time no see."
Yuseong was inwardly pleased to see her.
Her desperate wish to treat her brother—how much Divine Power growth it would bring later was exciting,
A beauty who pleased the eyes just by looking had joined the internal guard team, brightening the drab work environment full of sullen men—that was good too.
As a promising heir of the Nangong Family and granddaughter of the Sword King, she couldn't be a spy either.
"Ah, yes. First time since the bookstore. I heard the news. You performed a miracle this time, saving Deputy Strategist Tae Jeongheon."
Her voice was still soft, but the praise for his medical arts carried weight.
Yuseong gave her the words she was waiting for.
"It's my job. And someday, I'll keep my promise."
He referenced the promise to grow his skills and treat Nangong Yuhyeon's eyes.
It wasn't false hope.
It was to instill belief that he could ultimately heal Nangong Yuhyeon, earning bits of gratitude—and thus Divine Power—along the way.
A form of Divine Power farming, so to speak.
"Yes, I'm waiting."
With her mind eased knowing Yuseong hadn't forgotten the promise, a voice came from behind Nangong Yurin.
"What are you talking about? Is it something I can hear?"
Nangong Yurin turned around and replied.
"Ah, Chief Strategist. Sorry, it's a secret."
Yuseong shivered lightly under Jegal Yeongyeong's cool gaze for the first time in a while.
'Everything else is fine, but this non-immunity trait feels like a defect.'