Chapter 127
Chapter 127
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Mysterious True Sect (1)
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People had left.
In a nameless border village abandoned long ago, there was a dilapidated shrine in one corner.
A shrine dedicated to Guan Yu. The Guanmiao.
This place, which must have once bustled with frequent visitors, was now crumbling away with the passage of time.
The wooden door, shrouded in the darkness of night, was half rotted and detached, rattling creakily in the wind.
Hiiiiii—.
At some point, eerie wails began to emanate from there.
It had started after one person secretly visited the ruined village.
Hiiiiii—.
Like the harsh winter winds scraping against the walls, the ghostly cries swirled in all directions, continuing for days on end.
Hiiiiii—.
And when those wails finally subsided.
Wuuuuuuu.
A massive roar followed.
Kwaduduk.
The old doors of the Guanmiao were blown off next.
Whiiiii—.
The wooden walls of the Guanmiao shattered, pillars snapped, and decayed roof tiles came crashing down in a heap.
Beyond the debris stood a single person.
A man floating in the air in a cross-legged position, lost in deep meditation.
Wuuuuuuung.
At some point, an ominous red aura began to flow from the man's body.
At the same time, his frost-covered gray hair regained its black sheen.
Wuuuuuuung.
As the red aura surged more menacingly, his sagging muscles swelled with renewed vigor.
Wooduk. Wooduk.
Bone-jointing sounds continuously echoed from various parts of the man's body.
When all these changes finally concluded.
Flash.
The man opened his eyes.
"Uhahat! Hahaha!"
The first sound from the man's mouth was mad laughter.
"Is this the feeling of breaking through the wall?"
Wuuuuuuung.
His voice resonated like an ancient temple bell.
"A realm I couldn't reach despite decades of training!"
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Ecstatic one moment, trembling with rage the next, the man seemed utterly insane.
But one thing remained unchanged.
"Heh heh heh. Now is the time for vengeance."
His eyes, which had lost their reason, leaving only pitch-black pupils.
Eyes gleaming with murderous intent.
"Kill the righteous faction scum."
Muttering to himself, the man staggered to his feet and walked as if entranced toward one direction.
"I'll destroy them. Destroy everything."
The heavens themselves if necessary.
The man's name was Gon Yapyong.
Once known as the Silver Moon Flying Thief.
And in the Guanmiao he left behind.
"We must report this to the 'Heretic Lord.'"
The dark entities breathing in the shadows melted into the gloom.
"We've arrived."
At the coachman's words, Chu Un-hwi opened his eyes.
Lifting his head, he saw an imposing stone tablet inscribed with "Hong'an Fortress."
"Whew. Finally here."
Hopping down from the driver's seat, he patted the attached cart. A groan of "Heeeek—" came from inside.
Soon, a small figure tumbled out from the pile of hay stacked on the cart.
"Ugh. I'm dying."
Moyong So-hye whimpered, her head covered in straw.
"My back's done for."
Well, a donkey-pulled cart wasn't exactly comfortable.
Baek Ri-seol, looking pale and queasy, crawled out next.
"Somehow... a baggage cart... doesn't seem right."
"Agreed. Walking might have been more comfortable."
Even Nangong Yun-ho, whose expression rarely changed, showed clear signs of fatigue.
Baek Ri-seol brushed the straw from her clothes and whined.
"My butt hurts."
"I smell like hay all over."
"I smell like grandma, ueng."
From their reactions, it had been quite the ordeal.
But there was no helping it.
"No money, what can we do?"
Moyong So-hye made a pouty face.
"Sacrificing the future instructor, and all we get is a donkey cart?"
"A proper carriage is too much with bounty money from catching petty criminals."
"The future's value is so cheap."
Shaking his head at the group brushing off straw, Chu Un-hwi shrugged.
"Stop whining."
Let's get up and go. Time's short.
Nangong Yun-ho tilted his head.
"Instructor, you're rushing us. Do you have an appointment?"
"Yeah. Someone to meet."
Moyong So-hye, overhearing, bounced in place.
"Instructor has..."
"Someone to meet?"
Baek Ri-seol jumped up too.
Crack.
"Ow!"
Leaving the two clutching their heads and crouching, Chu Un-hwi spoke.
"I have people I meet occasionally too."
Even if they're hastily made contacts.
Passing through the gates and looking around, a rather ornate gatehouse appeared.
- South Gate Relay Station.
As he loitered in front of the flashy, hastily built gatehouse, a group approached.
"Pardon, are you Instructor Chu Un-hwi?"
The one who approached was a middle-aged man in a spacious scholar's robe.
"Yes, that's me."
"We've received word. Please follow me."
He ignored the whispers behind like 'That scholarly-looking guy is his acquaintance.'
Right now, confirming Jegal Yang-so's promised 'conveniences' came first.
The middle-aged man led them to a place called Hakrim Academy, calling it his residence.
Inside, servants bustled about, and beyond them was a luxurious annex.
- Comfortable Lodgings.
As promised.
Entering the annex, a feast of delicacies awaited.
"We haven't prepared much, but please eat your fill."
He said nothing much was prepared, but the table legs already groaned under the weight of the dishes.
- Unlimited Alcohol and Meat.
This too, as promised.
'One thing's missing.'
As he thought that, the scholar Jeong approached slyly.
"Heh heh. Leading students on a tour of the jianghu must be hard work."
Even slipping a heavy pouch into his pocket.
Perfectly as promised.
Patting his bulging front pocket in satisfaction, Moyong So-hye tilted her head.
"[Greed]? [Satisfaction]? [Jegal Forever]?"
What's the scheme, Instructor?
At her approach like a waryless cat, Chu Un-hwi waved her off.
"Adult matters."
So kids, shoo.
The middle-aged man who introduced himself as Scholar Jeong was generous to a fault.
Not content with providing the utmost comfortable bedding and pocket money, he even assigned servants.
"Errand boys. Call them anytime you need anything."
This much too.
'Didn't expect such devoted hospitality.'
Officially, he was just a lowly instructor at Divine Martial Academy.
Maybe that's why prestigious families scramble to handle their heirs.
Realizing anew, Chu Un-hwi said to the errand boy.
"I have a favor to ask."
"Speak, sir."
Satisfied with the polite response, Chu Un-hwi made a brief request.
"First, I want some roasted pastries."
The errand boy was quite capable.
Quick on the uptake too.
"I'll guide you to a good place."
Without another word, he led them to a shop filled with the aroma of baking sweets.
"Wow, amazing."
"The smell is killer."
Baek Ri-seol and Moyong So-hye swayed drunkenly on the pastries' scent the whole way.
No wonder.
'It was pretty famous in my past life.'
Even supplying the imperial palace in Beijing, or so they said.
He'd never been a sweets enthusiast, but remembered it because his wife mentioned it fondly multiple times.
'Couldn't come back then because this place got destroyed.'
The jianghu without Heavenly Calamity was truly different from memory.
'Want to come back with her someday.'
The errand boy navigated the shops skillfully and arrived at one.
"This is the most famous one."
Recommended by locals, he claimed.
Crunch. Crunch.
Munching a sample pastry, Moyong So-hye sneaked up like a cat eyeing a plate and reached out.
"Wow, really delicious."
"Sweet. Baek Family pastries are good, but not this good."
With the women praising it highly, Chu Un-hwi said.
"One... no, a whole sack."
"A whole sack each?"
Baek Ri-seol and Nangong Yun-ho tried to dissuade him with 'Isn't that too much?'
"Instructor, too many?"
"Didn't you say we'd buy pastries on the way?"
"That was the original plan."
But plans changed.
"This uncle's paying."
Beyond Hong'an, people awaited at the next destination too.
"Are you Instructor Chu Un-hwi?"
Some were local magnates.
Others invitations from renowned martial families nearby.
'Prestigious families have influence as much as power.'
Conveniences from sects everywhere they went.
Thanks to that, the group enjoyed luxurious days for the first time in a while.
"Sister, how about this pigeon? Made of silver, so pretty."
"I like this silver ring. Instructor, let's match."
Stingy by nature, but not one to pass up spending others' money flauntingly.
"Buy them. Buy everything."
This uncle's footing the bill.
Days sightseeing hotspots, having a blast.
Jeong Clan would repay anyway.
Splurged wildly.
Necessary? Sold Moyong or Baek names for fun.
The sudden luxury even worried Moyong So-hye.
"Instructor, is this okay? It's a jianghu tour."
"Fine. Play when you can."
Once Heavenly Society rises, no playing even if wanted.
"Fun, but skipping training for play makes my heart heavy."
"At your age, playing helps more than dust-eating training."
Today's memories as foundation for future fights.
'Dry souls without joyful memories lose will to live at crises.'
He could assert from seeing future suicides in despair.
Live like today is last.
His creed from endless despair.
Anhui Province, Qingyang County.
Qingyang Sect Leader Seo Tae-myeong received a letter.
"From Great Hero Jegal, to me?"
Jeong Clan, famed for producing Murim Alliance strategists generationally.
Decent local standing, but unreachable giant contacting him?
"Something's up."
Examining the letter, furrows creased Seo Tae-myeong's brow.
The steward asked upon seeing.
"Sect Leader, what is it?"
"Here, Steward. Read it."
Taking the letter, the steward nodded nonchalantly.
"Divine Martial Jianghu Tour. Was noisy, now resumed."
"Yes. Delaying this long was unusual."
Seo Tae-myeong knew Divine Martial Academy's seriousness about tours.
Without major incidents like injustices or traitors, no postponement.
"Resuming is worth celebrating."
"Grooming future talents."
"Right. Problem's the latter part."
Reading further, steward's eyes widened.
"Great Hero Jegal requesting a favor."
"Truly odd. Heard he abhors impropriety."
"Not just favor, latter part's mysterious."
Reading the end, steward muttered.
"'Investigate the temporary instructor.'"
What could this mean?
Soon recalling recent rumors.
"Perhaps the Hong'an news."
"Hong'an?"
"Rumors of a greedily shameless instructor."
At steward's explanation, Seo Tae-myeong was astonished.
"Thick-skinned fellow."
Wondering why leave him be, steward replied.
"Surprisingly, under Poison Bee Sword Guest Wang Wu's watch."
"Wang Master?"
"Confirmed via Murim Alliance acquaintance."
Utterly bewildered.
Recent famous tale: Poison Bee Sword Guest vowing future to youth training.
Gazing heavenward.
- Heavens! If my sincerity lacks, withhold not punishment!
His cry, legendized as 'Kunlun Pledge'.
"Seems Great Hero Jegal asks Sect Leader to rein in this wild one."
"Agreed. What to do."
Troubling, but direct request from famed Jegal Yang-so.
"First, investigate this 'temporary instructor.'"
"On it."
Seo Tae-myeong bustled into action.