Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Why Are You Coming Out From There? (1)
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After performing the grand bow that severed the father-son bond.
"Leave the Pearl Eon Family by the end of today."
Eon Jeong-ung left those words behind and departed from the Family Head's quarters.
And as Chief Steward Gam Cheon-su, who had been following him out, suddenly halted and turned back to call out to me.
"Young Master Eldest."
From what I'd observed, he seemed like a solid, dependable fellow. What did he want to say?
"Over the past two months, I've watched from afar as you distanced yourself from wine and women, trained your body on your own, and even took the lead in the household guards' drills."
"Is that so."
But why bring that up?
"The other elders in the family said things like, 'He caused a major scandal, so now he's licking his own wounds,' or 'It's just for show.' But I didn't see it that way."
"Is that right?"
"Yes. With your meager inner energy and heavy build, didn't you somehow complete the Non-Eon Squad's training? If only I'd seen that a bit sooner..."
Hmm.
I had indeed thrown myself into it wholeheartedly whenever I did something.
No matter the task, physical fitness is the national strength—an eternal truth.
'A family that trains fighters naturally has a solid curriculum for building basic stamina(?), so it was worth grinding my teeth through.'
The original owner's body had been ravaged by poison for so long that his stamina was utter trash, but chasing after the household guards' grueling course for two months had shed the flab that made "fat to muscle" come to mind naturally, turning it into something reasonably movable.
In any case, it seemed someone besides Mother had taken off their colored glasses to see me.
'But what does that matter?'
I'd already decided to get kicked out, and it had gone exactly as planned.
Did Chief Steward Gam Cheon-su sense my thoughts?
He gave a wry smile and spoke.
"Yes. It's too late to turn back now."
Then he drew a sword from his waist and offered it to me like a house deed.
"The Central Plains, the martial world—it's not like northern Hebei, where people give a Pearl Eon Family member some leeway. You might face situations where you'll need a blade."
Oh.
What's this rice cake...
No, sword?!
'Now this means something!'
So the two months weren't a complete waste!
Having handled and sold plenty of weapons as a hunter.
I could tell at a glance if it was junk or a fine blade.
I took the sword from Chief Steward Gam and lightly drew it—shing.
The blade had a faint gray sheen, frosted white like hoarfrost, with cloud patterns across the entire body. Clearly a top-quality sword forged by folding premium steel to death.
Let's see.
The inscribed name: Regret.
'Repent and lament?'
Uncannily similar to my situation...
"...Just make sure to think three times before drawing it."
...Don't look at me like you regret giving it, Chief Steward Gam...
This was just a check.
And I didn't even fully draw it, so it doesn't count as drawing without thought. Humanely speaking, this is at least an A-.
"...Living in the martial world as someone expelled from the family won't be easy at all. Please take care."
With that, Gam Cheon-su clasped his hands in a fist salute toward me and hurriedly chased after Eon Jeong-ung, who had left first.
Watching his retreating figure, I thought.
'The family tradition?'
Both Eon Jeong-ung and Gam Cheon-su.
'Not overly generous, but not utterly ruthless either.'
Well, it wasn't incomprehensible.
To prop up a declining household, they couldn't afford pure leniency.
And having barely escaped clan extermination, hands were precious—they couldn't be purely cruel.
'That's why both a wastrel like Eon Yong-un and a righteous young hero like Eon Yong-myeong could emerge from the same manual.'
Eon Yong-un bounced off strictness and grew spoiled relying on leniency.
Eon Yong-myeong used strictness as whetstone to temper himself and took leniency as example.
Anyway.
Now that I'd come to understand the Pearl Eon Family's tradition.
I decided to squeeze one more thing from the second son, still lingering in the Family Head's quarters, who was influenced by it.
"Yong-myeong. Ah. Since I'm struck from the family register now, should I call you Young Master?"
"Wh-what are you saying, brother!"
To do that, I preemptively planted pity in the heart of the guy who would later earn the moniker Fist of Affection for his deep affections.
"Really? Then just get me a map. Don't tell Father, Mother, or the elders."
Then slyly get to the point.
"A map?"
"Yeah. No need for a full chart. Just from here in Jinju to Nanzhi Yi."
"...Not heading to your maternal family in Shanxi, but south?"
Of course, if his affection crossed the line?
"If you still see me as your brother, just that much would be a huge help. Strictly speaking, I'm no longer part of the Pearl Eon Family, so don't strain yourself further. Being the family heir is busy enough looking after the household."
Slyly touching the line of ruthlessness drawn in his heart.
"...Understood."
See? Easy.
I offered one final grand bow toward the grand gate bearing the Pearl Eon Family's plaque in bold, heroic script.
And set off on my journey.
"...This feels less like getting kicked out and more like embarking on a martial world adventure with encouragement."
No one waved goodbye, as the Family Head Eon Jeong-ung's command was absolute.
But at my right waist hung jerky given by that rascal Wang Sam.
At my left, the sword from Chief Steward Gam.
In the bundle on my back, silver notes and coins slipped in by Mother.
And tucked in my bosom, the map procured by Yong-myeong.
"Unless it's a major sect's promising disciple, no one starts their martial journey this loaded, right?"
No.
Major sects wouldn't at all.
By my wuxia experience, Daoists send disciples on wanderings empty-handed as "Drifting Zhou," Buddhists as mendicant pilgrimages.
Anyway.
Thus, I—acquiring the title "Struck from the Clan Registry"—first pulled out the map from Yong-myeong and unfurled it.
"That punk Yong-myeong said wait a sec, then did something impressive."
Given the era, maps lacked modern scales or contour lines for terrain at a glance—just jagged ^ for mountains, wavy ~ for rivers.
But on the faded ink map, fresh fine-script annotations stood out.
Marking confirmed bandit lairs in mountains, water bandit dens along rivers, with sizes noted.
"...Family isn't so bad."
Freshly struck from the register, but still.
Anyway, off I go.
Toward the grand tomb of the inaugural Heavenly Demon, flowing with milk and honey!
Someone once said it.
The path to find something always begins with a beginner's luck.
Even I, who'd been called Necromancer King back in the day, apparently counted as a beginner in this used soul.
From Jinju in Hebei where the Pearl Eon Family was, crossing the Yellow River, passing the Yangtze, to the northern edge of Shangzhou Division as aimed.
"Nothing happened."
Not even the usual hassle.
No rip-offs either.
'Hmm. Too much to chalk up purely to luck?'
Yong-myeong's map was a huge help first off, and Mother's silver too.
Above all, my street smarts shone.
'Orphanage and hunter life honed that.'
Anyone knowing my past might say orphanage aside, what street smarts for an SSS-rank hunter?
'I wasn't SSS-rank from the start.'
Not some novel's extreme F-rank, but my initial awakening was C-rank.
'Climbed grinding double dungeons and last hits, eyes peeled on B and A-ranks.'
So everyday squabbles with normals were child's play.
When boating or lodging, I'd step back, watch others bicker—voila, 'Ah, prices around here, got it.'
'Plus black magic came in handy.'
Dark Veil, that is.
An emission spell infusing darkness into the body—perfect for solo night mountain crossings.
Like most emission black magic, mana-hungry and fools no sharp senses.
But bandits don't post elite talent on trash watch, so I slipped past forests like cake...
Yet nearing the inaugural Heavenly Demon's tomb.
I hit a real headache.
"Thinking back, that beginner's luck line ends with 'and ends in harsh trials.' Yep, that's me..."
"What do you mean, Eon escort?"
"Ah, just something like that."
"Anyway, the situation looks dicey. Sorry for recruiting you just to fill numbers, but prepare for the worst."
"Got it. Don't worry about me, handle business."
"Yes. Then."
"Yep."
"Porters, what are you doing?! Turn the carts sideways to form a wall! The advance scout to the bandit lair is late—things are off! Everyone, stay sharp, porters too—grab weapons!!"
Watching the receding Silver Escort Leader, I recalled how I ended up in the Silver Radiance Merchant Group's caravan.
My final destination, where the inaugural Heavenly Demon's tomb lay, was around Tai Lake in Shangzhou Division, one of Nanzhi Yi Province's cities.
Per Yong-myeong's map, the easiest route to Tai Lake at Nanzhi Yi's southern tip was via Nanjing, called Jin Ling locally, so that's the path I took.
But upon arriving in Jin Ling, what do I see but a sweet gig?
'Silver Radiance Merchant Group?!'
Mentioned it before?
My maternal family heads the Shanxi merchants, one of the Central Plains' two great trade blocs, as Taiyuan Group?
In this novel's setting, Silver Radiance Merchant Group leads the Hui Prefecture merchants, rivals to my maternal Shanxi bloc.
'One character from Silver Radiance appears substantially, so I know it well.'
Guarding merchant caravans is one thing to avoid in the martial world.
But inside Nanzhi Yi Province, guarding Silver Radiance? Different story.
'Even a mutt bites in its own yard.'
Who'd touch Silver Radiance, hegemon of Nanzhi Yi commerce and south-of-Yangtze trade?
'Risk near zero.'
Plus, destination matches mine.
Via Jinguang Division—vast area, but like Seoul districts:
Jin Ling Central, Jinguang Seongdong, Shangzhou Gwangjin.
'Same road.'
And pay's huge!
Mother's silver covers living for a bit, but expenditures await in Shangzhou.
Money's always better more, right?
'Can't pass this honey pot!'
Had to grab it!
Strictly, expelled from Pearl Eon, I don't qualify.
But martial world ain't QR code scan saying "Pearl Eon scum, struck off for wastrel!"
Info spreads slow, so now's safe for eat-and-run.
'Strictly, planned proper guard duty. Not total scam.'
They might check origins post-trip, but I'll be gone from Nanzhi Yi by then.
After mulling, screaming "Pick me!" inevitable.
'So I did.'
Done thinking, I stormed the Silver Radiance Jin Ling branch notice, barged in.
Accepted on spot.
"Accepted."
Expected, but too easy—I double-checked.
"Wait, you hire like this? Shouldn't you see a martial demo?"
"Haha. Who'd hit Silver Radiance in Nanzhi Yi?"
"True."
"Group rules require escort numbers, so rushed recruitment. Criteria strict, almost departure time—no takers."
"Really?"
"Yes. You fit perfectly—no need more. Want? Demo martial arts, on house."
"Heh, no need."
Made sense.
Eon Yong-un was wastrel, but.
Features like Eon Jeong-ung: strong. Rest like Plum Blossom Madam: handsome.
Looks scream "martial noble scion." Waist sword: premium sheath, no junk.
Identity plaque: Pearl Eon—once top five, declined but renowned. Fits criteria.
Anyway.
Thus joined Silver Radiance as guest escort. Caravan proceeded smoothly via Jinguang to northern Shangzhou.
Then these bandits blocked the road.
But odd ones.
Bandits seen as long-haired, saber-swinging rainbow-jumpers looting.
Actually, they stretch legs to fit bed—weak to strong, bully weak.
'Parasites extorting tolls from caravans/escorts.'
Normally skip big flags or take toll and scram.
'Silver Radiance wouldn't skimp toll.'
But Northern Deer Bandit Lair's attitude weird.
'Armed encirclement?'
Not average caravan—Silver Radiance and Silver Radiance Escort Agency flags flutter front.
Already way over line.
Yet demanding handover of Radiant Prosperity Hall Leader lady?
'These fools eat wrong, heads spun?'
Wondering why, small commotion from Silver Escort Leader's direction revealed it.
"Hall Leader! Don't exit carriage! Dangerous!!"
"They want this Yin Xia Lian, right? I'll negotiate. Any better way out?"
"...That's."
"None? Then don't stop me, Silver Escort Leader."
What?
This Yin Xia Lian...?
Silver Radiance's Yin Xia Lian?
Hey.
Why are you coming out from there...?
You were the Radiant Prosperity Hall Leader?