Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: Blood Mad Demon?
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“Huff, huff! Su-Supreme Elder... Can’t we just take a carriage?”
Cheon Ig-ae looked down at Jin-gae and furrowed his brow.
“To think the Fox of Hubei is this frail. Tsk tsk.”
Cheon Ig-ae clicked his tongue.
Compared to the other Nine Great Sects, the Beggar Clan placed less emphasis on martial arts, but they didn’t completely ignore it.
After all, gathering information often led to clashes in the jianghu, and overcoming them required martial prowess in the end.
Cheon Ig-ae furrowed his brow and spoke.
“I know from the Clan Leader that you’re the best among the Foxes when it comes to information gathering. But with that level of skill, you’d be fortunate not to die as a guest at an inn, let alone become Clan Leader.”
“Isn’t that a bit too harsh?”
Jin-gae pouted his lips.
He knew his martial arts were lacking.
He was one of the Foxes, but far behind his senior brothers.
Still, dying at an inn? That was too much.
Jin-gae voiced his complaint, but...
“Harsh? The jianghu isn’t that lenient.”
Cheon Ig-ae had no intention of taking it back.
On the contrary, he spoke even more sharply.
“If you have eyes, look closely. Your lightness skill is so poor that we’re wasting this much time. If it’s like this now, how will you seize important information later?”
“Th-That’s...”
“Even if we’re an information sect, the Beggar Clan is still a jianghu faction. Do you think you can become Clan Leader with that skill?”
Jin-gae could only hang his head at Cheon Ig-ae’s continued words.
They were undeniably correct.
“I had some expectations since the Clan Leader had his eye on you... Tch!”
Cheon Ig-ae grumbled.
But even as he did, he kept moving forward swiftly.
Time was of the essence.
How long had they walked?
Cheon Ig-ae and Jin-gae finally arrived at Mount Hua.
“Finally here... Huh? Th-That man...!”
Spotting someone, Cheon Ig-ae’s eyes widened, and he grabbed Jin-gae by the scruff of the neck.
“Gah! Wh-What’s wrong?”
“Shh! Shut your mouth.”
“Huh? Su-Sud... Mmph!”
Cheon Ig-ae clamped his hand over Jin-gae’s mouth as he started babbling, then swallowed hard while watching an old man cautiously walking up the mountain path.
‘Bl-Blood Mad Demon?’
Sweat beaded on his forehead.
Though more wrinkled, with whiter beard and hair, those fierce eyes and imposing build matched the man who once shook the jianghu.
Moments later, the old man presumed to be the Blood Mad Demon entered an inn on the mountain path.
‘That place...?’
Cheon Ig-ae released Jin-gae’s mouth and headed toward the inn.
“Follow me.”
The moment the two stood before the inn...
“Uwaaak!”
A warrior flew out the door, tumbling across the ground and collapsing right in front of them.
“What’s this?”
“Hup!”
As the two stared in shock at the man who had passed out with eyes rolled back...
“Don’t think you’ll get off with just a kick if you barge into the inn again.”
The old man stepped out.
He had been speaking to the fainted warrior when his eyes met Cheon Ig-ae’s, causing him to grimace.
More precisely, because of the knot at Cheon Ig-ae’s waist.
“A knot? Beggar Clan?”
“...That’s right.”
As Cheon Ig-ae cautiously prepared to act...
“If you start fights, Beggar Clan or not, I’ll kick you out. Eat quietly if you’re here to eat.”
The old man warned and went back inside.
Nothing more.
‘...He just backed off?’
Cheon Ig-ae’s eyes widened.
The Blood Mad Demon was like a fighting cock—once riled, he fought without regard for Nine Great Sects or Murim Alliance.
This wasn’t a man who would back down like this.
‘Not the Blood Mad Demon...?’
Cheon Ig-ae stared blankly at the door the old man had entered, then shook his head.
‘No. Still, better safe than sorry.’
When even a penny’s worth of doubt arose in his line of work—no, even less—he had to stay alert and tense.
How many times had he been caught off guard and struck from behind?
‘Even during the last Secret Letter Incident...’
At that moment, Jin-gae, still gripped by the scruff, gave an awkward laugh.
“Su-Supreme Elder, you can let go now...”
Cheon Ig-ae released Jin-gae’s scruff.
“Follow behind.”
Entering the inn immediately, Cheon Ig-ae was stunned by the sight before him.
“He-Here’s your room sachet!”
“One for me too!”
The inn was packed not with diners, but people clamoring to buy handkerchiefs emblazoned with azure plum blossoms.
“Wh-What is this?”
“What the...”
Jin-gae, who followed, gaped just like Cheon Ig-ae.
“First-time guests?”
The waiter approached with a smile.
“Y-Yes, but what’s going on with those?”
At Cheon Ig-ae’s question, the waiter’s eyes sparkled as he poured out words.
“Those are our Plum Blossom Inn’s specialty: Azure Plum Blossom Sachets!”
“Azure Plum Blossom Sachets?”
“Yes!”
The waiter nodded vigorously.
“Certified by the Mount Hua Sect themselves!”
“What...?”
He let out a dumbfounded sound for a moment.
Certified by Mount Hua Sect?
What kind of ridiculous... Wait.
Cheon Ig-ae stroked his chin, eyes gleaming.
‘Smart. Using the sect’s name to sell goods?’
Cheon Ig-ae’s mind raced. Breaking it down, it was a pretty solid business model.
‘Then if our Beggar Clan sold knots, we’d make a fortune...’
Suddenly, his brow furrowed.
‘Ugh! Won’t work for the Beggar Clan.’
He scrapped the idea immediately.
Mount Hua Sect was one thing, but the public image of the Beggar Clan?
The beggars’ faction.
Who would scramble to buy that?
‘Not even me.’
The waiter tilted his head at Cheon Ig-ae, who clicked his tongue.
“Then you’re here to eat?”
“Yes.”
“This way!”
Seated by the waiter, Cheon Ig-ae looked around.
“Business is booming.”
The inn was packed.
Most were buying goods and leaving, so it wasn’t just good—it was a goldmine.
‘Did Mount Hua Sect make this inn?’
His thoughts naturally went there.
The name Plum Blossom Inn screamed Mount Hua ties, and selling Azure Plum Blossom Sachets on top.
‘Ah, right! That’s not what’s important now.’
Cheon Ig-ae hurriedly refocused.
He’d come to Mount Hua chasing Cheonhwi, postponing even that because the Blood Mad Demon might be here.
His gaze locked on the old man presumed to be the Blood Mad Demon.
Then...
『What?』
A transmission struck his ear.
‘An expert!’
Cold sweat broke out instantly.
Someone who could send transmissions was a master, making it even more likely he was the Blood Mad Demon.
『Sorry. You looked like someone I know, so I stared.』
The old man glared warningly at Cheon Ig-ae, then lifted and guzzled from his liquor bottle heartily.
Cheon Ig-ae tilted his head.
‘Not the real Blood Mad Demon? But he looks just like him...’
As his head grew complicated by the differences from the Blood Mad Demon he knew...
“Young Hero Cheonhwi is here!”
“What a joyous occasion! The rarely seen Sword Immortal has come!”
“Wh-Who? Him?”
The inn erupted.
Cheon Ig-ae turned at the commotion, then widened his eyes at the arrival.
“Th-That kid’s the Sword Immortal?”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ “Young hero! Long time no see.”
As Cheonhwi entered the Plum Blossom Inn, Manager O beamed.
“Business looks good.”
“Hahaha, all thanks to you, young hero.”
He was happier than anyone right now. Business was booming, and recently, some merchant groups had even requested bulk orders.
Then Cheonhwi spoke.
“I need some items right now. Can you get them?”
“Right now?”
“Yes.”
“Please wait a moment.”
Manager O’s expression turned serious.
He glanced around before whispering lowly to Cheonhwi.
“Follow me.”
Manager O and Cheonhwi went up to the second floor and sat at the most secluded table.
“...What items?”
“Herbs and poisonous plants.”
His expression hardened instantly.
Herbs made sense, but poisonous plants...
Manager O asked cautiously.
“...Poisonous plants too?”
“Yes.”
Manager O swallowed hard.
Acquiring poisonous plants was tricky. But he didn’t ask why.
His trust in Cheonhwi had surpassed that—they were comrades in the same boat.
Right now, he only needed to ask one thing.
“What kinds?”
“Everything you can get.”
Cheonhwi’s eyes darkened.
“E-Everything?”
“Yes. Any kind, as long as it’s poisonous.”
Manager O nodded firmly.
“Understood. I’ll gather as much as possible, as fast as I can.”
Cheonhwi grinned.
“I’ll expect it.”
Manager O’s eyes widened slightly.
‘Expect...?’
First time he’d heard that from Cheonhwi. Feeling elated, he replied in high spirits.
“Hahaha! Leave it to me!”
The inn buzzed at Manager O’s sudden laughter amid their hushed talk.
“What’s Mount Hua Sect discussing?”
“New merchandise?”
As eavesdroppers speculated wildly...
“I’ll get them quickly then.”
Manager O stood abruptly and went downstairs.
“Took you long enough.”
Instead, Cheon Yang-gong approached with heavy steps.
Frowning, he slammed his liquor bottle on the table and sat.
“Where’ve you been?”
“Work.”
“Hmph, work my ass.”
Cheon Yang-gong snorted.
“More importantly, when will you teach the next formula of the Nine Yin Demonic Flame Art?”
“Following the Fire Peril Command, I reach the Divine Flame...”
Cheonhwi recited the Nine Yin Demonic Flame Art formula openly, as if annoyed.
“You mad bastard!”
Cheon Yang-gong panicked momentarily but hurriedly memorized it.
“That enough?”
Cheonhwi stopped reciting.
“What?”
Cheon Yang-gong stared incredulously at Cheonhwi, who hadn’t even finished a full stanza, then scowled deeply.
“Just one formula...”
“When did I say I’d give it all at once?”
“What?”
Trembling at the teasing tone, Cheon Yang-gong spoke through gritted teeth.
“Even so, just one formula is too much...!”
“Huh? Don’t wanna learn it?”
Cheonhwi sneered.
Cheon Yang-gong’s dissatisfaction surged, lips curling down, eyes sharpening.
“...”
But he said nothing.
No, he couldn’t.
If Cheonhwi didn’t teach, he’d never master the Nine Yin Demonic Flame Art.
“Be satisfied with that for now.”
Cheonhwi stared at the grinding Cheon Yang-gong and chuckled softly.
“Guard the Plum Blossom Inn well, and I’ll give the next one later.”
As Cheonhwi rose, Cheon Yang-gong’s eyebrow twitched.
“Where to now?”
“Where else? Mount Hua Sect.”
Cheonhwi eyed him coldly.
“You’ve got ears. You know what’s happening there.”
“You mean Mount Hua Sect’s defeat?”
“What, you knew?”
“...The rumors were true?”
“You think they’re lies?”
Cheon Yang-gong’s forehead creased.
Staying at the inn kept him informed of worldly rumors.
He’d heard of Mount Hua Sect’s defeat, but...
He hadn’t believed it fully.
No, it was hard to.
‘With that monster in the demon mask, they’d lose?’
With that fiend around, Mount Hua should be the most fearsome place.
Then Cheonhwi stood.
“You guard here then.”
“...Tch.”
Cheon Yang-gong clicked his tongue.
“Got it.”
“If anyone messes with you or the inn’s damaged even a little next time, you know.”
“Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, the Plum Blossom Inn’s safe. Unless another monster like you shows up.”
“Then no problem.”
Cheonhwi stated matter-of-factly, took a few steps, then halted.
He stared at the table.
“What’re you doing there?”
Cheon Ig-ae and Jin-gae, who had sneaked up to the second floor and hidden breathlessly, met Cheonhwi’s eyes and smiled awkwardly.
“Ha, haha. Long time no see.”
“L-Long time no see, Hero Cheonhwi.”
“Not that long.”
At Cheonhwi’s indifferent words, Cheon Ig-ae coughed repeatedly and licked his lips.
“Ahem. Anyway, I have one question for you...”
But Cheonhwi ignored him, resuming his steps.
“W-Wait a sec, you punk! Just wanna ask something.”
As Cheon Ig-ae reached for Cheonhwi’s pant leg...
“What?”
Cheonhwi asked annoyedly.
Cheon Ig-ae beamed, glanced at Cheon Yang-gong, and whispered into Cheonhwi’s ear.
“Who’s that guy?”
“The inn’s guard.”
Cheon Ig-ae tilted his head.
“Guarding the inn? So he really isn’t the Blood Mad Demon...”
Cheonhwi’s eyes darkened.
“Blood Mad Demon? Who’s that?”
“The demonic head from two generations ago. Vicious bastard who wiped out three sects...”
Oh, quite infamous.
Cheonhwi glanced at Cheon Yang-gong.
With that level of skill plus half-baked Nine Yin Demonic Flame Art, it’d be weirder if he weren’t notorious.
‘Hmm. But if even the Beggar Clan’s Supreme Elder doesn’t know, he’s been forgotten long ago. Perfect for staying at the inn unrecognized.’
Cheonhwi grinned.
“If he were that infamous demonic head, he’d be rampaging already. Not quietly guarding an inn.”
“Well, true...”
As Cheon Ig-ae eyed the grumbling Cheon Yang-gong suspiciously...
“Manager O?”
A familiar voice tapped Cheonhwi’s ear.
‘This voice...’
Cheonhwi turned and looked down to the first floor. A familiar face stood at the door.
‘Swift Wind Merchant Group Leader?’