Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Instructor Punishment (3)
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Already an hour had passed.
The Beggar Elder waited patiently.
Finally, after meticulously examining the gem for a long while, a long sigh escaped the middle-aged man's lips.
"Hoo..."
And what came back was utterly unexpected.
"I don't know."
The Beggar Elder, who had grown hopeful amid the drawn-out tension, let out a disappointed groan.
"My friend, if even the master of the Myriad Treasure Hall doesn't know, who in the world would?"
"I have no choice. It's a gem I've never seen before."
The middle-aged man, having reached a swift conclusion, went on to explain.
"I'm sorry, Elder."
Listening to the man's courteous explanation, the Beggar Elder felt utter despair.
Who was this man before him?
Seok Gang-myeong, master of the Ten Thousand Stone Merchant Guild.
The guild itself barely scraped into the bottom of the Ten Great Merchant Groups of the world, but there was one thing everyone acknowledged as the absolute best: his expertise in gems.
They dealt in all sorts of minerals, so much so that even high officials and nobles would knock on their door when receiving mysterious ores as tribute.
When it came to appraising gems, this Seok Gang-myeong was one of the foremost experts in the world.
He elaborated apologetically.
"I've handled shining things my whole life, but this is a type I've never encountered. It resembles a ruby at first glance, but the crystal structure is different. Gems with similar crystals have completely different colors. I even recalled jewels from the Western Regions just in case, but nothing matched."
"...Is that so?"
A born beggar and complete novice with shiny things, the Beggar Elder barely managed to chime in.
Seok Gang-myeong continued his explanation.
"Moreover, the pulsing crack inside, like a cat's eye..."
"Could it be a cat's-eye stone?"
Cat's-eye stone.
A stone that swallowed a vertical slit like a cat's pupil was one of the rarest treasures prized by high officials and nobles, alongside night-luminescent pearls and glowing stones.
However, Seok Gang-myeong thought otherwise.
"The cat's pupil-like crack inside a cat's-eye stone is formed by traces of iron, indium, and various rare elements. But this one..."
His finger pointed to the gem's interior.
"It's pulsing faintly from within. I've never seen anything like it."
And indeed it was.
Even watching still, the black pupil inside the gem repeatedly contracted as if staring right at him.
"The energy dwelling inside is bizarre too. The only thing I've heard of harboring such power is the Ice Crystal from the North Sea Ice Palace."
Now even the Ice Crystal was mentioned—one said to absorb chill over a millennium in the world's coldest place.
"But it's different still."
"......"
Seok Gang-myeong's conclusion was firm.
"It's a stone containing some unknown substance, yet its exterior is harder than diamond, and it harbors power comparable to the Ice Palace's mystical Ice Crystal."
"Just a stone, you say."
"The world's beauties deserve to be called gems, but for this ominous thing, I wouldn't pay a single coin. That's why I call it a stone."
"To think you'd refuse it."
Seok Gang-myeong, who would call even a small pebble a gem if it held its own beauty, said this—there was no need to check elsewhere.
"Is there any place that deals in gems even you don't know?"
"Not entirely none. Perhaps the master of the Myriad Treasure Hall or the lord of the Black Market."
The Myriad Treasure Hall referred to the emperor's secret vault. The Black Market was where shadowy merchants traded stolen goods.
In the end, it meant seeking out the emperor or the king of the underworld—dreams too lofty to even contemplate.
"I see. Nothing to be done, then."
The Beggar Elder took back the gem dejectedly and brooded.
'It's utterly ominous.'
His thoughts turned to how this unknown thing had been found at the altar of some horrific human sacrifice, and his mind grew unbearably complicated.
"I'm sorry I couldn't help."
"No matter. Knowing it's no ordinary item is enough."
"If anything comes up later... Ah."
Suddenly, Seok Gang-myeong slapped his knee.
"There is one. If it's not an ordinary mineral, they might help."
"Your instincts are sharp. It'd be trouble if it were someone unreliable."
"Heh heh. Worry not."
Whish.
Seok Gang-myeong swiftly wrote a letter of introduction and spoke with sincerity.
"I wish you the best outcome."
Leaving the Ten Thousand Stone Merchant Guild, the Beggar Elder unleashed his lightness skill without pause.
He crossed several mountains, forded rivers, and ran relentlessly.
In his urgency, he skimmed on meals and sleep.
Thus, he reached his destination in under twenty days.
It was a humble thatched hut, said to be the retreat of someone once renowned from a famous martial clan in the area.
Gulp.
The Beggar Elder swallowed dryly at the opponent's inner energy and thumped the doorsill with his staff.
Thud thud.
Soon, footsteps stirred from within.
"Who is it?"
"I've come on introduction from Guild Master Seok of the Ten Thousand Stone Guild."
"From Guild Master Seok?"
Creeeak.
The door opened, and out stepped a gaunt old man.
The Beggar Elder's gaze flicked to the man's wide sleeves and skinny wrists.
"Come in."
Inside, shelves lined with well-worn books caught the eye.
"Here. All I have are these rough tea leaves. Hope it suits your taste."
"Beggars are born to scavenge anything. Tea is a blessing."
Slurp. Gulp.
The Beggar Elder's eyebrows twitched as he drank.
'A master of the tea ceremony.'
Not even fine leaves, yet the water temperature and rinsing were impeccable.
'Those well-thumbed books suggest deep scholarly insight too. I've come to the right place.'
Looking closer, the white-haired elder had gracefully aged.
His ever-smiling face suggested a life of constant contentment.
Clutching a sliver of hope, the Beggar Elder explained the situation.
How much time passed?
The old man glanced at the gem the Beggar Elder produced and stated flatly,
"It's a Blood Tear Stone."
"Blood Tear Stone?"
The elder picked up the red stone, holding it to the oil lamp.
"A thing made by feeding it human blood and souls."
The old man's narrow eyes clouded with sorrow.
"It was long ago. I once visited Qinghai Province on my master's orders."
Qinghai Province, the western frontier.
Home to the now-legendary Kunlun Sect.
"As you might guess, the martial arts I practice trace back to Kunlun. No one remembers Kunlun now, but our sect still sends disciples now and then to trace its remnants."
The Kunlun Sect, destroyed with the rise of the Demonic Cult long ago.
And so the voice of an aged disciple who still remembered Kunlun's name continued faintly.
"I once crossed paths with a cultist group there by chance."
"A cultist group..."
"I don't know their name. But they called themselves those who shatter the heavens."
Heaven-shatterers.
And the Heavenfall Society.
'This bodes ill.'
The tale ended with obtaining a strange stone after a fierce battle.
"The stone was taken by a Western monk who joined us by chance. He was the one chasing it to seize it in the first place."
"Did you hear where he was headed?"
"Hmm. Something about sealing it in an ancient shrine. Western tongue, so I don't recall the exact name."
How regrettable.
As he sighed inwardly, hopeful news came.
"But the monk left a strange prophecy. Someday, the ominous stone would return, resurrect the dead, and awaken the myth of the evil god."
The elder mumbled it several times, insisting he remembered clearly.
The Beggar Elder asked again.
"Any other prophecies?"
"Hmm. The stone might be one, or many. Can't recall well."
He didn't remember everything, but the hard-won memory meant one thing.
"Those aiming for the heavens treasure Blood Tear Stones above their lives."
The beginning and end of Heavenfall.
Wherever they were, Blood Tear Stones existed. The Beggar Elder now had certainty.
'This stone is undoubtedly dangerous.'
To resurrect the dead and awaken an evil god.
'Evil god? Hard to believe.'
Truth aside, it was clear the Heavenfall Society plotted something sinister with these stones.
"Those prattling about the heavens."
"Later inquiries revealed they were apostles of the Eight Heavens."
"Apostles of the Eight Heavens."
"No idea beyond that. I'd even forgotten their existence until now."
The elder apologized for knowing so little, but for the Beggar Elder, it was a great boon.
'Learning their goal is harvest enough.'
Relieved, the Beggar Elder bowed deeply in gratitude.
"N-No, please don't."
A Beggars' Sect elder bowing left the old man flustered, trying to raise him.
Seeing this earnestness strengthened the Beggar Elder's resolve.
"Honored predecessor. Please aid this old beggar."
"I'm just a retired nothing, drifting through life. How could I help?"
"That's not true."
Shaking his head fiercely, the Beggar Elder fixed the elder with intense eyes.
"There's something I must beg of you."
Resolved, the Beggar Elder began cautiously.
"Actually..."
The temporary training ground of the Divine Martial Academy.
Having heard Un Ho-seung's full confession, Chu Un-hwi crossed his arms.
"I see."
"...I've told you everything I know."
Dang Gan-do, peering nervously from the side, added,
"Same here. We were just told to check on Instructor 임시's recent activities."
"Yeah, makes sense. Probably wants dirt on my weaknesses."
Whatever.
Muttering to himself, Chu Un-hwi stared blankly at the sky before brushing off his rear and standing.
"We'll put adult matters aside. First, your stories."
"...Our stories?"
"Guiding you lot to pass the mock exam is my job. No choice. My record's shaky. Even as temps, I don't like teaching kids who go around picking fights. Better they end up like her."
Moyong So-hye stood where his finger pointed.
"What did I do! You're the one ruining my reputation!"
Once her fist flew, she couldn't stop; now it was whatever.
Finally, wildly flailing both arms with a waaah—truly impressive.
Summing up, Chu Un-hwi turned to Un Ho-seung.
"But not today. Talked too much; throat's hoarse."
He'd barely spoken.
And seemed half-listening at that.
Yet he griped like an instructor who'd pulled an all-nighter.
"Go on. See you tomorrow. Or later if you hate it."
Was this okay? Still, withdrawing now was best.
As they shuffled up, Im So-jeong, who had silently watched, spoke.
"What about Instructor Gwak?"
"Oh. The bit about investigating me?"
"Yes. With Instructor Gwak's pride, if he's stooping to ask us, he won't let it go easily."
"Probably."
Chu Un-hwi nodded perfunctorily.
"Just spill everything."
"For real?"
"Yeah. Secrets, weaknesses—tell him all. He looks petty; won't quit easy."
Feed the beast moderately.
Im So-jeong furrowed her brow at the flippant reply.
"Not something to take lightly. He'll pounce on any tiny weakness."
His direct superior was grinding his teeth.
Resorting to using students showed he was dead serious. Could they really be this casual?
Chu Un-hwi's assessment was simple.
"Weaknesses? As if I'd have any."