Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Companions (2)
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"...Ha. So, what you're saying is, you've been acting that way on purpose all this time just to get me to join your journey. Is that it?"
Dang Yu-wol grinned instead of answering.
"Hold on. Then why did you refuse my offer back then... Hah. Were you thinking about appearances?"
Right now, Dang Yu-wol was the temporary clan head of the Tang Clan, even if only provisionally.
What would it mean for someone like him to invite a Beggars' Sect elder to travel together?
-It would look like the Tang Clan is bowing its head to the Beggars' Sect.
'Even if neither I nor the elder intended it that way. That's how the world would see it.'
But what if they happened to run into each other like this and ended up traveling together?
Then it would simply become Gu Hwan-gae's own business.
-Well, the murim is a place where appearances matter greatly.
This was different from the time with the Hongwol Sect.
The Hongwol Sect was the vanguard of the Black Alliance.
Stopping them was the duty of the Beggars' Sect, which belonged to the Murim Alliance.
Gu Hwan-gae chuckled.
"And asking you to station nearby to protect the Tang Clan last time was no issue either."
'No one would complain about settling down for some begging.'
But having him, the Sichuan Branch Chief of the Beggars' Sect, travel to another region was a different story.
It was something that warranted a formal request to the Beggars' Sect.
'I just got my hands on a fine sword with no hassle.'
Gu Hwan-gae's lips twitched as he met Dang Yu-wol's smile.
"Hahaha!"
'This kid's got some real guts. Yeah, he's got what it takes to pique the interest of this Gu Hwan-gae.'
This might even be another provocation.
He felt like he was dancing in the palm of a boy three times his junior, but it wasn't a bad feeling.
"Then at least cover the cost of the meal. If you plan to use me as your sword, that is."
"Understood. Order whatever you'd like."
It was just as he flashed a broad grin and was about to order.
"Um... Elder, aren't you the Thousand-Li Flying Swallow Gu Hwan-gae?"
A man, a boy, and a girl who had been in the corner until moments ago approached.
Most who approached like this to greet him were nuisances, so Gu Hwan-gae shook his head.
"No... you've got the wrong person. Heh heh. There's no way an old beggar like me could be someone as great as that..."
Dang Yu-wol cut in sharply at his words.
"It's him. This elder is indeed the Thousand-Li Flying Swallow Gu Hwan-gae."
"Hey, you!!"
Gu Hwan-gae scowled fiercely.
If he kept denying it here, it could harm his dignity as an elder of the orthodox murim.
In the end, he sighed and nodded.
"Fine. I'm Gu Hwan-gae, the Thousand-Li Flying Swallow. And who might you be?"
"Ah, just as I thought. It's been a while, Elder."
"A while? Hm..."
Gu Hwan-gae snapped his fingers after a moment's thought.
He had thought their faces looked familiar, and now he remembered.
"You wouldn't happen to be Ju-yeong's disciple, would you?"
"Yes, Elder. We met about five years ago."
The oldest-looking of the three, a man in his early forties, bowed with a bright smile.
Gu Hwan-gae glanced at him for a moment before shifting his gaze.
"This fellow is a disciple of Jeomchang Sect Elder Ju-yeong. His name was..."
"It's Hwan-gyu. And these two are my disciples. Kids, come say hello."
"Pleased to meet you, Elder. Jeomchang Sect disciple Yi Kyung bows."
"Pleased to meet you, Elder. Jeomchang Sect disciple Yi Yul bows."
Judging by their shared surname, the two were siblings.
Gu Hwan-gae lightly acknowledged their greetings, cleared his throat lowly, and spoke leisurely.
"I am Gu Hwan-gae, Sichuan Branch Chief of the Beggars' Sect, the Thousand-Li Flying Swallow."
"We've heard so many stories about you, Elder!"
"The tale of how you took down a wicked demon of the Demonic Cult alongside our grandmaster is incredible!"
"Heh heh. Is that so?"
They would only know of it as the heroic exploits of a murim legend.
They wouldn't know the horrific events that occurred in the process.
Being young children still, they seemed full of admiration for the murim.
'But no need to shatter that illusion.'
Gu Hwan-gae erased the smile from his lips and nodded quietly.
"Yes, yes. It wasn't easy. Anyway, what brings you here? Do you have business at the Emei Sect, by any chance?"
"No, not that."
"Then?"
"We're transporting an item to Henan on orders from our sect."
"Oh?"
"Yes. We came here on the way, partly to let these two see a bit of the murim."
"Henan, huh..."
Gu Hwan-gae's expression wasn't great.
But Dang Yu-wol's gaze wasn't on him.
His eyes were on the future of Hwan-gyu that he had seen before his regression.
-Blood Heaven Radiant Sword Hwan-gyu. He lost his disciples and master to the Blood Cult, went half-mad, and fought Blood Cultists until his death.
'Hm. Didn't expect to run into him myself. And...'
Dang Yu-wol's gaze turned to his two disciples.
'On their first murim excursion, they got entangled with the Blood Cult and were killed.'
Dang Yu-wol recalled what he had said earlier.
He mentioned going to Henan to deliver an item on sect orders.
-That item is likely related.
'Probably. Otherwise, there's no reason for the Blood Cult to kill them...'
Dang Yu-wol and Ye-ui subtly eyed Hwan-gyu's luggage.
From its large size, they could roughly guess what was inside.
"By the way... who might this friend be?"
Hwan-gyu's gaze fell on Dang Yu-wol.
No matter what, he was the senior here, undeniable.
Dang Yu-wol stood and cupped his fists in greeting.
"Forgive the late introduction. I am Dang Yu-wol of the Sacheon Tang Clan."
"Oh, Sacheon Tang Clan. I see. Pleased to meet you, Tang... no, wait."
He flashed his characteristic affable smile.
"The Tang Clan and Jeomchang Sect were like brothers in the past... So, I may call you little brother?"
"Of course."
"Haha. Little brother, I am Hwan-gyu of Jeomchang, Blunt Nose."
"Yi Kyung here!"
"Yi Yul here!"
At Hwan-gyu's level, his seniority was comparable even to Dang Seong-u.
Yet he showed respect to Dang Yu-wol.
And since the master showed respect, so did his disciples.
-Polite fellow. By seniority, he could speak casually, but he'll play it safe.
'To think such a man would earn the fierce moniker Blood Heaven Radiant Sword.'
The Blood Cult truly had no value in being left alive.
"So, little brother, what brings you here with the elder? What's your connection?"
-If pressed, one who wants to investigate information and one who wants to be utilized.
But he couldn't say that.
"I owe him various favors from my time in Sacheon."
"Oho..."
"I have business at Shaolin this time... and we happened to meet here since the elder had his own matters."
"I see. So you're not traveling together from the start?"
"Haha. How could I make such a request of the elder? We just met by chance here and he suggested we travel together."
Gu Hwan-gae made a sour face at his demeanor.
'This punk... is he planning to invite those guys along too?'
He had heard earlier how Dang Yu-wol provoked him into joining the journey.
'More swords are always better...'
The Jeomchang Sect was one of the Nine Great Sects, with skilled experts, so he might propose they join.
'That'd be a hassle.'
Traveling with Hwan-gyu, Yi Kyung, and Yi Yul would require him to maintain his dignity as a Beggars' Sect elder.
Maintaining dignity was more bothersome than it seemed.
'Please don't invite them along.'
"Since we're here, if Elder Gu Hwan-gae permits it, how about we travel together?"
'Knew it.'
"Wow! Really?!"
"Master! Master!!"
The two children lit up before Dang Yu-wol even finished speaking.
Seeing this, he smiled gently and left the decision to Gu Hwan-gae.
"I'm fine with it... but I wonder what the elder thinks."
-Those two look like they're on their first murim outing. Traveling with a murim luminary must thrill them.
To Ye-ui, they were just cute.
But Hwan-gyu was simply troubled.
'The elder doesn't seem thrilled...'
But he couldn't ignore his disciples' gazes either.
In the end, he let out a small sigh.
"If we can escort Elder Gu Hwan-gae and little brother, it would be an honor for the Jeomchang Sect."
In the end, he couldn't resist his cute disciples' eyes.
"Elder, may we ask?"
'Ugh...'
Refusing here would be improper.
In the end, he nodded.
"Haha. Then let's get along well from now on."
Dang Yu-wol neatly ignored Gu Hwan-gae's sharp glare.
Once Hwan-gyu and his two disciples went to rest, Gu Hwan-gae dragged Dang Yu-wol downstairs.
The waiter brought simple liquor and snacks while yawning, and Gu Hwan-gae asked sharply.
"Why did you invite those guys along? Need more swords? Why do you need so many...?"
"There's one thing that's bothering me."
"What?"
"You're aware that among the events at the Shaolin Buddha Festival, there's a ritual to purify cursed items sent by those with weak hearts?"
"The stuff those timid fools send?"
Gu Hwan-gae snorted.
"Curses in this world? If they existed, why bother learning martial arts?"
"I've heard the Jeomchang Sect has a cursed item too."
"Huh? Something like that?"
"Yes. It's called the Three-Faced Mysterious Profound Armor."
"What's that?"
"I heard it was taken from a Demonic Cultist by a Taoist elder of the Jeomchang Sect in the past."
"Oho. Something like that existed? How do you know about it?"
"It appears in murim history records."
"Hm... does it?"
"Anyway, I've heard some strange rumors lately."
"What happened?"
"Rumors of a three-faced ghost appearing at the Jeomchang Sect."
"...Hold on. So you're saying the Three-Faced Mysterious Profound Armor really is cursed?"
'Not actually.'
-Three-Faced Mysterious Profound Armor. That sinister armor hiding a demonic art.
'Right. According to Blood Cult records, they tried every trick to get it but couldn't access the Jeomchang Sect's treasure vault.'
-Hm. So the ghost rumors are the Blood Cult's doing too?
'They used an internal spy to have it sent to Shaolin for purification, then stole it en route.'
The Blood Cult obtained the demonic art that way.
And that art had greatly strengthened the Blood Cult.
There was no reason to let such an opportunity to prevent the Blood Cult's growth slip away.
"The Jeomchang Sect is a Taoist sect, after all."
"True, that too..."
"A Taoist sect talking about ghosts and curses, and sending their treasure out into the world."
Dang Yu-wol lightly tossed out the bait.
"Doesn't that seem strange?"