Chapter 369
Chapter 369
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 378
Chapter Title: New Blades from the Iron Body Sect
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Geon Cheon-hwi gripped the new saber that had just been supplied to him.
“Oh, ooh!”
The handle fit perfectly in his hand—not too hard, not too soft.
Sharp energy flowed along the elegantly curved blade.
He lifted it lightly, and the balance was excellent.
A smile naturally crept across Geon Cheon-hwi’s lips at that moment.
“Kra-ha-ha-ha! Is this really an axe? What axe is as light as a stone? Kra-ha-ha, watch me stand on it!”
From the side, Tak Hyeok-dong burst into wild laughter as he grabbed an axe and tossed it into the air.
Whoosh! Whoooosh! Whirrr! Catch!
It shot forcefully into the sky, spinning round and round before the axe head dropped back down.
Tak Hyeok-dong caught the axe lightly and swung it vigorously through the air.
Slaaash! Slaaaash!
“Look at this! It’d split an ox head clean in two!”
He was just swinging it casually, yet the ferocious energy pouring from the axe was tremendous.
It didn’t have the dull feel of a normal axe—instead, it carried a sharpness that could slice through a skull.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Shh! Shh! Shh!
“…This is no joke. Now I get why they keep raving about the Iron Body Sect. It feels like I’m shaving wood with a butter knife.”
Jang Ung let out an exclamation as he stared in wonder at the branch slicing away with each touch of his dagger.
It cut through without resistance just from brushing against it.
“How do they even grind it to make it like this?”
The Thunder Dragon Squad members each picked up their weapons and marveled.
“Whoa, now I see why they give us the good stuff!”
“Yeah, right? Maybe skim some off the monthly stipend and get geared up?”
“Wow, what a sword…”
Sogeolgae sucked on his fingers as he watched the Thunder Dragon Squad fooling around with their Iron Body Sect weapons.
Even from the rooftop looking down, he could feel the weapons’ sharp energy.
“…Damn, they brought a whole cartload.”
Holy shit, jealous.
The Iron Body Sect supplying weapons in bulk like that?
As far as he knew, the Iron Body Sect only dealt in bulk weapons with two places.
Wudang Sect and the Righteous Heaven Alliance.
And even that wasn’t true bulk—just a modest supply of standard gear.
Sogeolgae’s mouth fell open.
Fwoooosh! Shiiiing!
Shrieeeek!
‘Damn, what are these lunatics trying to slice through in midair!’
Even casual swings looked deadly.
He almost pitied the enemies these maniacs would face next.
They’d be torn to shreds.
“Kra-ha-ha-ha! Now I’ll bisect heads with a single stroke!”
“Bisect is two halves, you illiterate brute.”
“I’ll bisect you first!”
“No! I mean the enemies are done for!”
Fwoooosh! Shiiiing!
Sogeolgae shook his head as he watched the frenzied Thunder Dragon Squad, then turned his gaze elsewhere.
“Heh, heh-heh-heh!”
Paeng Yeon-hwa was hugging her sword, rubbing her cheek against its flat.
Beside her, So Hye-yeon grinned broadly in a similar fashion while polishing her blade.
‘…They’ve lost their minds. Completely lost it.’
Jealous.
So damn jealous.
Sogeolgae glanced at Namgung Hyeok, who was chewing on jerky.
“Young master! Young master?!”
Munch munch.
Namgung Hyeok glanced at Sogeolgae, jerky still in his mouth.
“What.”
“Heh-heh-heh, welcome back safe and sound?”
“Can’t you tell?”
Ugh, that smug bastard.
Sogeolgae leaped down from the roof and rubbed his hands together.
“I heard you pulled off another massive feat. You’re the only one in the world who’s ever made a personal deal with the Iron Body Sect, young master. Heh-heh!”
“And?”
“Heh-heh, no ‘and.’ I just figured you might not realize how amazing what you did is, so I thought I’d tell you…”
“Nothing for you.”
“…”
“Nothing.”
Son of a bitch.
Sogeolgae paused mid-rub, his eyes rolling around frantically.
‘Nothing?’
Nothing?
There are blades on the cart, blades in the crates underneath, and mine’s nothing?
Mine?
“…For real?”
“Beggars don’t need weapons.”
“No! Is there a law saying beggars can’t carry weapons?”
“Beggars stick to staffs. Hey, bamboo over there. Snap one off and use that.”
“…Ah, bamboo, huh.”
“Beggars come empty-handed and leave empty-handed. You guys are pros at that.”
“…That’s for Taoists.”
“Ah, screw it. Playing semantics now?”
Namgung Hyeok chuckled and teased Sogeolgae.
Sogeolgae’s shoulders trembled with rage.
But what good did that do?
His opponent was Namgung Hyeok, the Mad Dragon.
“…B-but why are you carrying two swords?”
“This?”
“Yes.”
“Convenience.”
Sogeolgae shook his head at the sound of Namgung Hyeok shrugging.
Convenience my ass.
‘Let’s stick to empty hands, my foot. Damn it, one guy gets two swords, and I get bamboo!’
Greed gleamed in Sogeolgae’s eyes.
“Hey, is this that demonic sword? The Iron Body Sect’s craftsmen really are something else.”
The demonic sword, once oozing demonic energy, now radiated a holy aura.
“How does a demonic sword end up shining like this?”
“Shining? It’s berserk.”
“Huh? What’s berserk?”
“Something like that.”
A beggar would freak out seeing it.
Sogeolgae tilted his head.
‘Does he mean the performance is berserk? So damn jealous. Just where does the Mad Dragon find these treasures to snag like that?’
Best case, he’s crazy lucky. Worst case, he’s actually insane.
Everywhere he went, nothing stood in his way.
‘…Still better than that guy, though.’
The moment he glanced at the ten divine swords arrayed behind Namgung Ryong’s back, he truly understood the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
‘His vibe’s changed a bit too. No wonder they call him the Jade Dragon.’
Little brother’s the Mad Dragon, big brother’s the Jade Dragon.
Damn, one letter’s difference, but worlds apart.
“Cursed, filthy world.”
“You’re the filthy one, punk.”
“…Beggars are supposed to be filthy.”
“Wash up, kid. How do you turn pitch black after just a few days?”
Sogeolgae made a sad face at Namgung Hyeok’s tsk-tsking.
To a beggar, that was a compliment, damn it.
Namgung Hyeok eyed Sogeolgae for a moment before asking.
“Sogeolgae.”
“…Why the sudden sweet talk?”
“Be honest.”
“W-what about?”
“You gave up on the Millennium Flower Carp, right?”
“…N-no way!”
“Then why no news yet? It’s been well over a year.”
“Well…”
“Maybe it doesn’t exist.”
That’s what I wanted to say.
The Beggars’ Sect was throwing everything at it, but forget the Millennium Flower Carp—not even a thousand-year one had surfaced.
No clue if the damn fish got caught by someone in the last year and a half, or if it went extinct ages ago and they were chasing a ghost.
“…Heh, heh-heh. W-we’re searching hard.”
“Frustrating.”
“You think it’s any better for me?”
“Why for you?”
“Heh, heh-heh.”
Stuck between the Mad Dragon and my master the sect leader, unable to laugh or cry—think you get that?
Namgung Hyeok rubbed his chin.
“Should prepare a backup.”
“Huh?”
“People always need a plan B.”
“Doesn’t suit you saying that, young master.”
“True, I’m perfect at everything.”
Heh-heh, spouting that nonsense so seriously?
Sogeolgae smiled slyly.
“So this backup is…?”
“Never mind. See why I don’t bother drugging my drinks?”
“Huh?”
“The world’s rough—you can’t rely on beggars alone.”
“The Yeorae Merchant Group?”
“Exactly.”
“What do they have?”
“How would a sparrow know a phoenix’s mind?”
Damn, keeps going on about phoenixes lately.
“Wait a bit.”
“They got no news either, right? Isn’t it a bust?”
“Bust my ass!”
“No, but really…”
“Wait. Big fish don’t bite easy.”
“Yeah, I get you’re confident, but why’s your hand shaking all of a sudden?”
“Shut up.”
Namgung Hyeok tsked.
‘Taking longer than expected?’
A twinge of unease, but Namgung Hyeok wasn’t worried.
“Anyway, young master.”
“What now.”
“You sure about Wudang Sect?”
“What about them.”
Namgung Hyeok replied indifferently, and Sogeolgae whispered.
“Those Wudang bastards are petty as hell.”
“Huh? You know too?”
“Aigoo, don’t get me started. How those petty pricks tormented our Beggars’ Sect beggars! They foam at the mouth over the tiniest loss. And those old fogeys don’t even treat beggars like people.”
“Oh?”
“Ungrateful bastards—suck up all our intel when they need it.”
“Yeah, they’re like that. Beggars might be dirty, but the intel isn’t.”
“Right. Beggars might be dirty, but the intel…”
Is this praise or an insult?
The agreement felt off.
Namgung Hyeok shrugged.
“But they’ve been that way for years.”
“Anyway, they’re pros at nitpicking. Our sect caught it too.”
“Hmm.”
Wudang bastards were indeed masters at grabbing any excuse.
Namgung Hyeok chuckled and tossed an iron rod from his bundle.
“Here, play with this.”
Sogeolgae blinked at the iron rod.
“Oh, oooooh! Is this Iron Body Sect stuff?”
Bamboo or iron bar?
Why so light?
Hollow? No, solid.
“Truly, a luxury item for a reason! This is what luxury means! Kyaa, that’s why you carry luxury gear!”
“That what a beggar says?”
“I’m not a Taoist.”
“Greedy punk.”
“Aigoo, young master! This Sogeolgae lives and dies by loyalty and righteousness—a Beggars’ Sect man through and through! Let’s stick together for life! My name means loyalty and righteousness.”
“Sogeolgae does?”
“It’s the meaning that counts! It’s how I live!”
Damn, this beggar’s got a silver tongue.
Namgung Hyeok stretched as Sogeolgae beamed happily behind him.
“Aigoo, time to rest. Getting old? Everything aches.”
“Heh-heh, even you deserve a little pain, young master.”
“Hand it over, punk.”
“No, I mean if you’re hurting, we’ll take care of everything. Heh, heh-heh.”
Sogeolgae clutched the iron rod and scampered back to the roof.
Namgung Hyeok snorted, then rubbed his chin.
Geum Cheom-sang brought tea to Namgung Hyeok.
Namgung Hyeok sipped the tea and gazed quietly at the people gathered in the courtyard.
“Aigoo, gonna rest now?”
“Just catch some sleep.”
“Sleep?”
“Yeah, sleep.”
Sleep, huh.
Come to think of it, when was the last time he’d properly slept?
Young, he couldn’t sleep chased by enemies; old, he didn’t need it.
His body hadn’t needed food either— one breath chased away fatigue without sleep.
‘Rushing won’t solve it.’
And besides…
Namgung Hyeok swept his gaze over the courtyard with a strange expression, then shrugged.
“Whatever, time for booze.”
“…”
“What? Huh? What’s with the look?”
“That’s your rest?”
“Rest is when your mind’s at ease. Might as well check the perimeter.”
Namgung Hyeok strolled off with hands behind his back.
Geum Cheom-sang sighed lightly behind him and followed.
‘Aigoo, just rest already!’
Let me rest too.
Another round of Seven Colors Chaos Brew incoming.
‘…Maybe try a vortex mix this time.’
At this point, Geum Cheom-sang even envied the tavern errand boy.
Then, Namgung Hyeok suddenly veered direction.
“Huh? Why that way?”
“Gotta see Paeng Jung-hyeok!”
“Oh, drinking together?”
“Haven’t bought booze in Hefei yet. Bastard’s holing up to dodge buying.”
“Ah, but his face looked kinda off.”
“That’s his trick! Everyone under me pulls that.”
That’s normal.
You’re the boss.
Geum Cheom-sang swallowed the words.
“Gonna mooch seven more times! Best booze is always on someone else!”
Namgung Hyeok cackled as he headed to Paeng Jung-hyeok’s quarters.