Chapter 976
Chapter 976
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 976
Chapter Title: Radiant Ascension Path
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I'd taken control of the Iron Five Brigade. Everyone in the brigade was watching both me and Seong Ji-gon, but they paid extra close attention to him.
Seong Ji-gon had tormented the brigade members as much as his pent-up resentment demanded. Beating them for no reason other than boredom had become routine. And it was pretty brutal. He'd probably changed after being betrayed by Woo Young-tae twice. You could say he'd grown in a different direction.
"Woo Young-tae. You're on watch from start to finish."
Seong Ji-gon said with a sneer. Woo Young-tae nodded, his face pale as death.
"Yes, Seong Ji-gon-nim."
After that day, Woo Young-tae was isolated. No one helped him or even talked to him. They didn't want to get on Seong Ji-gon's bad side too.
"Woo Young-tae. What's with the crap dinner tonight? You messing around?"
"S-Sorry. We didn't have ingredients today..."
"Who asked for excuses? If there's no ingredients, go get some. No common sense. Seriously."
Slap, slap, slap!
A barrage of slaps rained down on Woo Young-tae's cheeks. Seong Ji-gon was relentless. Half of it was my fault, too. I'd been the one to teach him how to put people in their place.
I pulled aside a few brigade members separately and assigned them to Woo Young-tae.
"Keep an eye on Woo Young-tae."
"...Yes. We'll watch him closely so he can't escape."
"Woo Young-tae won't start a rebellion."
"That's not it. Make sure he doesn't kill himself."
They nodded with surprised looks. Well, Woo Young-tae probably wouldn't suicide anyway. Despite appearances, he was a seasoned ronin who'd handled rough work and reached the 7th dan of internal arts. Still, better safe than sorry.
'Seong Ji-gon's trembling with betrayal. Woo Young-tae's burning with rage. Might as well let Seong Ji-gon get even more vicious.'
Seong Ji-gon wasn't dumb, just inexperienced. I wasn't planning to carry him forever, and in this harsh world, he needed some ruthlessness to avoid getting used.
My gaze followed Seong Ji-gon. He was talking to one of the brigade members. I channeled internal energy into my ears to sharpen my hearing. Their conversation came through clearly.
"Hey, where'd you say your hometown was?"
"A small village near An-hui Province."
"A village near An-hui? How am I supposed to know that? Give me the exact location and village name."
"......It's about ten li east of An-hui Province. The village is called Jae-kyung Village... There's a small lake nearby."
"Your family's there? Who's in the family? Is your mom alive?"
"M-My mother's old. She doesn't know anything. Please don't touch her. I beg you! I'll give you money! Please, Seong Ji-gon-nim!"
"Old? Even better. Tell me your mom's name. Hurry!"
So, he really meant it when he said he'd fuck the brigade members' moms. It wasn't just anger talking. I didn't interfere with Seong Ji-gon. He wouldn't want me to, either.
But I did intervene in something else.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Seong Ji-gon shouted and charged at Iron Five Brigade leader Jin Gu-eon. Jin Gu-eon calmly met his sword with his own.
Combat.
Seong Ji-gon lacked real combat experience for his skill level. Even spars with me involved an opponent. So I'd had the brigade members fight him, including Jin Gu-eon. Regular members went 2- or 3-on-1 against him, while Jin Gu-eon had an 11-3 record in 1-on-1s.
'Seong Ji-gon's improving every day.'
???
I walked on.
Destination: Manmu City, home of the Manmu Tower.
I'd seized the Iron Five Brigade, but my goal hadn't changed.
"Yu-jin-ah. There's an inn over there?"
Seong Ji-gon pointed straight ahead. An old inn sat in the middle of the road. Not surprising, since we'd passed a village earlier. Inns like this targeted travelers, not locals.
"Yeah. Wanna rest up?"
"...May I say something?"
Jin Gu-eon spoke up from behind. I nodded.
"We ronin don't enter roadside inns lightly. Especially unknown ones, and empty ones even more so."
"Why? Isn't finding an inn on the road a good thing?"
"Do you know about black shops?"
"Heard of 'em. Shady merchants selling drugs and stuff."
"Not just drugs. They sell human flesh, too. And procure it from customers. Stories of black shops grabbing ronin who wander in and selling them are famous among us."
"So this is a black shop?"
"Not sure. But we ronin avoid suspicious places. Essential for survival."
"Eh, doesn't look special. Let's pass."
Sunset was hours away. Camping was routine, food came from the modern world or [Hundred Ghosts], no need for an inn.
"Yes. We need to hurry to reach Manmu City a day sooner."
Jin Gu-eon looked pleased.
We were about to pass when Seong Ji-gon grabbed my shoulder. I stopped, and the Iron Five ronin stopped too.
"Seong Ji-gon, what?"
"Yu-jin-ah. Don't get mad, check that out."
He pointed at the inn. Through the wide-open window, I saw a staff member inside. A middle-aged man in a chair, an old woman dozing at the entrance.
I got his angle. He was eyeing the old woman. She looked about 80, hunched back, wrinkled face and hands, white hair pinned with a worn wooden comb.
"That old lady... she's no ordinary granny."
"No ordinary? She's just your typical old hag."
"No...! My instincts are screaming. She's not a normal old woman. And Yu-jin-ah... I can't hold back. I'm already hard..."
Seong Ji-gon said shyly. I clicked my tongue at his bulging crotch. Smaller than mine, of course.
Jin Gu-eon and the brigade members freaked out and backed away from him.
I checked Seong Ji-gon's face. Breathing ragged, eyes bloodshot.
'He got some action in that village earlier, and he's like this? He's hooked bad on that granny.'
From his view, it was like stumbling on a stunning beauty mid-journey. Made sense if you thought of it that way. Though his tastes were beyond me.
"Yu-jin-ah. Give me half a shichen. I'll seduce that granny."
An hour to seduce her? I chuckled.
"We're resting here!"
I told the Iron Five. No complaints.
We piled in, filling the inn. The middle-aged man vanished into the kitchen, and the dozing granny perked up and approached.
"Welcome! Odong Inn serves thin noodles and bamboo leaf liquor!"
"Granny. That's all? Nothing else?"
She stared at me. My tone was rude. She eyed me a moment, then said,
"...Afraid not."
"Bamboo leaf liquor and thin noodles. Enough for everyone."
"Got it. And... we take payment upfront."
I scowled and shot up from my chair. The ronin followed suit.
"You crazy old bat. Think we're gonna dine and dash? Daring to treat the Iron Five like this?"
The flustered granny waved her hands.
"No! Not like that! We charge everyone upfront. P-Please believe me!"
"Sung Yu-jin, it's the inn's rule. Not dissing us."
Seong Ji-gon smoothly intervened. He stood firm in front of the granny, resolute.
"Ugh... Fine, since you say so, Seong Ji-gon."
I sat back down, and the others followed.
"Sorry. My friends are rough. You okay?"
"Fine... more than fine..."
The granny looked touched. The plan was working.
"I'm Seong Ji-gon. May I have your name?"
"Call me Mayo. Thanks for stepping in, young hero Seong!"
"Haha. Helping a beautiful lady is only natural."
"B-Beautiful lady...? Me?"
"Of course, Lady Mayo."
"H-Hearing that... it's been nearly 50 years...!"
The granny blushed. Seong Ji-gon chatted her up, respecting her while praising her looks. Genuine compliments were enough to excite her. A woman was a woman, even old.
I whipped my head away. Watching was mentally taxing.
Soon, food came from the kitchen. Seong Ji-gon blocked the granny and served himself. Quick-witted members jumped up to help.
The brigade started eating. Noodle-haters went for the liquor instead. Not a single one disliked booze.
I spat out the thin noodles. They tasted awful the moment they hit my tongue—musty and salty. Weird seeing guys eat them like they were gourmet.
"Kya! This bamboo leaf liquor is killer!"
"Noodles are trash, but the liquor hits."
"Kyaah!"
Raves for the liquor everywhere. I sipped mine while watching Seong Ji-gon. First time seeing him seduce a granny—surprisingly smooth talker. I even saw shades of myself in him.
'He wasn't kidding about learning from me.'
Then drowsiness hit hard.
Strange. My body wasn't normal human. Strong liquor didn't induce sleepiness. I didn't get drunk.
'Not the booze. Something else.'
Not mental arts. With Absolute Mind, no one could touch my psyche.
'...Drug. Sleeping pills. This a black shop after all?'
Thud. Thud. Thump. Thud.
Sounds of heads hitting tables everywhere. Everyone dosed. Even Jin Gu-eon, chugging liquor.
'This idiot lectures on black shops then downs drinks?'
Maybe he trusted me, stronger than him. Figured an Ogi realm master like me could handle anything. But this sedative was no joke. Even I was struggling.
Seong Ji-gon passed out too, collapsing into the granny's arms mid-chat. I inwardly admired as he groped her chest in the process.
'...Heavenly Heart.'
Drowsiness vanished. But I let my head thud onto the table. Wanted to hear their plans.
Once everyone was out, the middle-aged man emerged from the kitchen, grinning ear to ear.
"Mom! Jackpot! Huge score today! Over 30 came in! Looks like a ronin band—sell 'em all... heh. Enough cash to lounge 15 years! Can't believe our luck! Heh heh... just keeps making me laugh."
"Kill the weak-looking ones first. Store hearts and brains separately, toss the rest. Got it?"
"No need to nag... You think this is my first rodeo? Lots of fresh warriors—demons'll pay top coin. Oh, this rude punk okay to kill?"
He pointed at me. Probably mad from earlier rudeness.
"He's the ronin leader. Most valuable. Keep him alive. Dose more if he stirs."
"Mom. What about him?"
He pointed at Seong Ji-gon in her arms.
"This one... tie him up. Gotta chat."
"Huh?"
"He's smitten with my charms. Might join the family."
The granny smirked oddly. The man panicked.
"Mom?"
"Could be your new dad."
"......"