Chapter 176 Bouquet (1)
There was a certain cliché in the classic wuxia world that fit this perfectly.
Bone Shrinking Art.
It referred to a martial art that allowed free control over one's bones and muscles. In practice, you could even pop out your shoulder blades to adjust your size at will.
In stories with more extreme settings, it could produce changes so drastic that it made one's gender or age appear completely different.
However, in Return of the Murim Warrior, the Bone Shrinking Art was limited by design. Honestly, I agreed with that restriction— even if you could wield martial arts freely, completely altering your physique or appearance felt a bit too much at times.
Besides, if you really understood the mindset of martial artists, you'd realize it was utterly implausible.
Martial artists were obsessively fixated on practicing and mastering their arts.
To do that, the most crucial thing was grasping the exact state of your own body.
How far could your hand reach when extended? How much range did a certain motion allow? Knowing these details precisely was vital.
In a world where battles were decided by the slimmest margins, that made all the difference.
From their perspective, the Bone Shrinking Art was like a poisoned chalice.
Any advantage in disguise was negated by the inability to use martial arts effectively.
I was free from that drawback, at least…
But I couldn't even perform the Bone Shrinking Art properly to begin with.
To master it, you needed ultra-precise inner energy control—beyond mere finesse—and constant practice of flexible body training external arts.
In other words, it was something I couldn't use even if I wanted to.
Fortunately, this world had a treasure that produced similar effects.
Thousand Changes Face Mask.
A thin mask resembling those used by disguise experts. Wearing it let you alter your face and build to your desired form.
It was usable even by those without inner energy, so it worked for me too.
Though it only changed your build slightly.
That was enough to pass as someone else. A bit of makeup on the face made all the difference with human features.
Having the Thousand Changes Face Mask would definitely be handy.
Right now, using the same face for my alias carried the constant risk of exposure.
The issue was that even with a changed face, my abilities remained the same…
I could just lean into a concept like the Blood Burst Jade.
Well, who knew if it'd even come into my hands.
I'd covet most treasures and seriously consider acquiring them.
But this wasn't just any item.
The Thousand Changes Face Mask belonged to the Divine Envoy. That was why even the Shadowless Divine Thrower hadn't dared steal it.
For someone like me, who benefited from staying far from the Divine Envoy to avoid detection, possessing her item was out of the question.
"Sado Family Head?"
"Hm. I got lost in thought for a moment."
"Anyway. Once we leave Sichuan, you'll probably receive orders from the cult. They might task you with hunting down the Blood Cult bastards."
For me, more missions extending my time in the jianghu could be a good thing.
I could use Jin So-cheong to muddy my tracks, keeping pursuers just out of reach.
The problem was…
"What do you want in return?"
He wouldn't share this intel for free.
"I like how quick you calculate."
He'd just praised my sharp mind moments ago.
"Freedom."
"You want to act alone?"
"As you know, Sado Family Head, once we're out in this vast jianghu, no one wants to head back to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains. Ah, don't misunderstand—I've no intention of defecting. I know my place and lie down accordingly."
"The cult's eyes are everywhere, so I trust you won't entertain foolish notions. Also, keep within a day's travel."
"Then travel with me outright? One week."
"One day."
"…Come on. Let's compromise at three days to avoid annoying each other."
I nodded. In truth, I'd schemed for exactly that distance from the start.
It allowed me free movement while still summoning Dok Ma in emergencies.
A welcome outcome. My relationship with Dok Ma teetered ambiguously between ally and foe.
He'd stab me in the back for profit without hesitation.
No need to drag such a potential threat around.
"That… by the way, is the Avoid Poison Jade safe?"
I casually pulled out my necklace to show it. Dok Ma sighed in relief upon seeing it.
"It's my prized possession. I hope you return it intact."
I gave no verbal reply, just an ambiguous gesture.
Truth be told, I had no plans to return it.
Survival and safety came first.
"Ugh… Anyway. Business concluded?"
"I've located the base of the cult members sacrificed by the Tang Clan."
"Ah, right. That was a mission."
After the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament ended with some time left, I'd tracked the lab Dang Si Yul had created.
Tracking it hadn't taken long.
Secret labs always followed clichés.
The brightest lamp casts the darkest shadow.
So I'd searched the bustling heart of Seong Do—the capital—focusing on high-incident areas that wouldn't raise suspicion. Tak Horak handled the actual scouting, of course.
We found a brothel.
With so many people coming and going, hauling ingredients to feed dozens drew no eyes.
We'd uncovered it, but as a guest, I couldn't poke around myself.
"Find it however you like—send people if needed—and rescue any cult members still there."
"Tch. Rescuing idiots caught by jianghu riffraff."
Cult members viewed the captured as fools, so his reaction was typical.
"Fine. It was the mission anyway. Can I kill everyone involved? Cleaner that way."
"As long as you leave no traces."
"Isn't that my specialty? Then I'm off for real."
Dok Ma readjusted his bamboo hat and vanished.
"Let's head back."
I returned to the Tang Clan.
Now that departure loomed, there were heaps of loose ends.
I'd met too many people to just slip away.
[Why can't you just leave without a word?]
That's all networking.
[Connections are illusions. The strong naturally draw followers. These jianghu fools overthink everything.]
Even Manager Kim said it: first impressions matter as much as farewell ones.
[Oh, if he said it, then it's wise.]
Pa Cheon seemed to fancy that infamous line from the vicious boss, "Smile, Section Chief Park."
Comedy gold, considering it came when our team's eternal middle-manager got axed.
Maybe Pa Cheon had a knack for sleazy corporate ruthlessness.
"Woooong."
Whether sensing my tangled thoughts or not, Ungjin rolled on the floor, munching bamboo.
He seemed done with the bamboo leaf tea too. Time to send him home.
He'd even asked earlier when we'd leave.
"Ungjin."
"Ung? Why, Kim Dong Yun?"
"Ready to go home?"
"Yesss!"
Ungjin spat out his bamboo and toddled over, nodding eagerly.
"Right. No need to teach you that martial art anymore?"
"Nope. I already saw it."
"Good."
Of course, I'd skipped whatever I could.
What Ungjin learned was a technique left by the First Heavenly Demon.
Figuring it might prove useful, I'd had Pa Cheon memorize and teach it.
Not swordsmanship, but a fist-and-leg style adapted for Ungjin's stubby limbs—tricky for me, but exploitable later.
"Then off you go. Sa Wol."
"Yes."
"Where's Tak Horak?"
"Resting after a shift change."
"Tell him to take Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa, drop Ungjin off, and return."
"Understood."
At my order, Sa Wol led Ungjin out. Her gentle hand-holding, with a hint of reluctance, showed her true age peeking through.
[Calling me sleazy while dragging resting Tak Horak into it?]
"He doesn't deserve rest. Cause trouble, clean it up."
Repay kindness tenfold, grudge a hundredfold.
Dang Mugi had said that.
I wouldn't forget the grudge of the Blue-Red Pill.
"First up, then…"
The top priority was, naturally…
"Brother! You're here!"
Dang Si Hyeok.
But he was packing luggage.
"What're you doing?"
"Heard you're heading to Shaolin. So I'm packing. Haha."
"For real?"
"…No good, huh?"
Dang Si Hyeok set his bags down with a pout.
"Being young master isn't all fun. Thought tournaments ending meant ease, but duties pile up."
"Time for proper young master training."
"Touring for matches was freer."
"You're Sichuan's future now. Expected."
"Heavy burden."
"If it's tough, think like this."
I continued.
"When decisions stump you, recall what I said fighting the cult at Taeryeong County. Even as a great clan like Tang, side with the weak and reconsider."
"…Got it, brother."
"But don't let Tang suffer losses, of course."
With that, I handed over a small bundle.
"This is…?"
"Take it."
Unwrapping revealed a cactus.
"A cactus?"
"Not just any. Infuse it with energy, and it shoots spines."
"Ooh! Neat treasure."
"Like Tang's symbol, Ten Thousand Flowers Rain, right?"
"Thank you, brother. Such a rarity."
Actually, one of the relics Paeng So So looted from the ruins with her spear cloth.
I'd brought it thinking of gifting elsewhere, but no one fit better than Dang Si Hyeok.
"Brother…"
He looked ready to cry already.
"Truly grateful. Visit Shaolin, then return. Even eastbound, come back and write."
"Yeah. Got it."
Thus, I began bidding farewells one by one.
Grasping Ungjin's hand, Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa perched on her shoulder, Sa Wol ran into Tak Horak.
"Tak Guard."
"Ah, Guard Leader Sa Wol."
Outwardly his bodyguards for Dong Yun, they used formal titles outside.
But Tak Horak held a bouquet.
"What's that?"
"Oh. Bought it to give to Young Master."
"…?"
As Sa Wol's face twisted in disdain, Tak Horak rushed to explain.
"N-not weird! It's all because of the Blue-Red Pill…"
Sa Wol's expression soured further.
"This Blue-Red Pill detects danger, right?"
"And?"
"But it always activates around Young Master and Lady Jin So-cheong."
"Hm."
Indeed, just days ago there'd been a fuss. She'd scolded him, leaving him moping.
"So?"
"What else when a young man and woman meet and it senses 'danger'? Heart-pounding romance!"
"…."
"Word is she's joining the Shaolin trip too. A bouquet would warm things up, right? Young Master needs an heir."
"But. Grind. She's. Grind. Not ours."
Sa Wol ground her teeth inexplicably.
"That's for Young Master to decide. Not impossible if he wants."
"…Maybe."
"Was en route to deliver it. Something up?"
"Young Master says take Ungjin home."
"Ah, sure. I'll drop the flowers then."
"No. Give them to me. I'll deliver."
"Perfect, thanks. Ungjin, let's go."
Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa grew from Sa Wol's shoulder.
Tak Horak handed over the bouquet and mounted. Ungjin waddled up and whoosh—leapt aboard.
Turning to Sa Wol, Ungjin said,
"Throw it away!"
"Hey, that's expensive. Why?"
"Tak Horak dummy!"
"You beast?"
"Dummy fits the beast!"
"Argh. Can't hit a spirit beast."
The pair—or man and spirit—departed in raucous chatter.
Sa Wol stared at the flowers in her hand, forgetting even to send off the bamboo leaf tea.
Pretending to Be the Heavenly Demon