Chapter 134
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: 38. Topsy-Turvy (2)
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It was an unexpected drinking party.
Sama Gulgi had shown up at Flying Tiger's quarters, where he was resting, and suggested they have a drink together. When Flying Tiger hesitated, the Sandong Elder and Lady Bongyeon chimed in that they would join as well.
Flying Tiger stared silently at Sama Gulgi. The man wore a friendly but somewhat awkward smile.
This guy's in a bad spot. Maybe he's been pushed into this against his will. But does he even realize what such indecisiveness means in the jianghu?
Regardless of his thoughts, Flying Tiger replied that he understood and draped his long robe over his shoulders, gathering up his sword and blade.
It was the Overgold Dao and the Soul Spirit Sword.
Perhaps finding the sight odd, Sama Gulgi asked,
"Why bring all that to a casual drink?"
"Just in case it might come in handy."
"Haha, what a joke... Wait, you're serious?"
"Always and everywhere. It's just my mindset."
"......"
And so the gathering was set. The venue was a pavilion on the back mountain.
A generous platter of stir-fried vegetables dominated the center of the table. In front of each seat were empty plates, a pair of chopsticks, and a bottle of liquor with cups for everyone to help themselves.
"Come over here."
As Flying Tiger and Sama Gulgi climbed into the pavilion, the Sandong Elder beckoned to the seat beside him. It seemed he had arranged for the rectangular table to have the Elder and Flying Tiger side by side, with Sama Gulgi and the already-seated Lady Bongyeon across from them.
But Flying Tiger deliberately took the seat next to Lady Bongyeon—in other words, directly across from the Sandong Elder—leaving the old man awkwardly hanging. He then offered an excuse.
"Elder, I find conversations flow better when I can look someone in the eye like this."
"What if you sat beside me?"
"That might build affection more than conversation."
Lady Bongyeon burst into laughter at Flying Tiger's cheeky response.
Of course, Flying Tiger hadn't switched seats to smooth-talk or build rapport. Despite the awkwardness that could have arisen, everyone acted as if nothing was amiss, tilting their cups and chatting casually.
......
It was a cloudy night.
The moon flickered faintly through the clouds, and the stars hid, dimmed of their light. Though murky, there was a cozy intimacy to the gathering as they quenched their throats with drinks and conversed idly.
"How's Ilgwang doing?"
"Fortunately, he survived. With about half a year of recuperation, he'll manage to function as a person again."
"Even after being beaten that badly? He's got sturdy bones."
"Must be thanks to Lady Dang's miraculous medical skills, no?"
"Heh, Young Master Sama flatters me. I'm not sure he'll ever truly function properly, though. He wasn't much to begin with."
Flying Tiger chuckled softly, bringing his cup to his lips. He savored a drop on his tongue before setting it down and thinking,
This is decent.
Flying Tiger joined the conversation.
"By the way, what's the condition of the captured Yosan Sword? Is he still alive?"
"He's locked up in the warehouse."
Go Dan-o had taken a blow from Ilgwang and been dumped into the stream (a scene Flying Tiger had witnessed). In truth, the fight had ended there. Even if he had wanted to unleash his fighting spirit, Lady Bongyeon's paralyzing poison had left his body unresponsive.
Go Dan-o had been captured that way, and in exchange for treating the paralysis poison, they had fed him a qi-sealing poison to block his internal energy. Apparently, they had also beaten him in a fit of rage, breaking several bones—left as is, he might be crippled for life.
In that state, Go Dan-o was currently bound hand and foot and shut away in the warehouse.
Flying Tiger clicked his tongue softly, prompting Sama Gulgi to ask,
"Why? Do you pity him that much?"
"It's a shame they're mishandling a hard-won prisoner. He might have valuable information, after all."
"He probably won't talk. Some tried torturing him, but he didn't flinch. Even as an enemy, he's a tough one. They've half-given up on breaking him."
Flying Tiger shrugged it off, but Lady Bongyeon tossed in a casual remark.
"Oh? Then why don't you take a turn at it, Sir Flying Tiger? I hear you're quite skilled in that area."
"Who said that?"
Flying Tiger glanced indifferently at the Sandong Elder across from him. The old man averted his eyes, mouthing that it wasn't him.
The mood's turning icy. What's going on?
Flying Tiger toyed with his cup.
He had sensed something off the moment Sama Gulgi arrived, but now it was blatant—no need to show their cards. They had seated him in the middle and were putting on a performance.
Why? What was the problem?
Such petty games no longer held Flying Tiger's interest. Whatever it was, it was a busted flush. So the only question that mattered was one.
What now?
They had beaten him to the punch by a step. Somehow, they had swayed the Elder he had so carefully won over. So... should he flip the table now and bolt to the enemy side? If the Elder hesitated just a moment, it might work.
But it's a waste. The board I've built would crumble halfway. Hmm, if I can just navigate this hurdle... But is it even possible?
Flying Tiger slowly tilted his cup, savoring the sharp burn sliding down his throat. It warmed him, sharpening his mind.
Thud.
He set down the cup and made his decision. Reason screamed to run, but he trusted his instincts. So he asked plainly, laying out the mat for them to speak freely.
"Torture, huh... I get Lady Dang's point. Does Sama my brother have any other requests for me? Or was it something you were asked to pass on?"
"I heard that Guest Wanderer turned out to be an ally of ours."
"A ridiculously stupid turn of events."
"So, to avoid controversy, how about lending us the Soul Spirit Sword for a bit?"
"Ho~ My sword to you?"
Sama Gulgi shook his head.
"Not to me, of course. Why would I covet Sir Flying Tiger's sword? The Superficial Blade Sect will just hold it temporarily. They'll return it once things settle well."
Return it once things settle well?
What if they don't?
Flying Tiger snorted derisively.
But no sooner had Sama Gulgi finished than two Superficial Blade Sect warriors, who had been standing guard below the pavilion, came rushing up. Seeing them so brazenly reveal their hand felt almost anticlimactic in its lack of subtlety.
So Flying Tiger chuckled and tossed out what he meant as a joke.
"Hey, since we're at it, you wouldn't want to hold onto my dao too until this 'settles well,' would you?"
"If it's Kwageumdo or something untraceable, we'd be grateful."
"......"
One of the warriors who had climbed up said, "Then, if you'll excuse me," and reached for the Overgold Dao and Soul Spirit Sword Flying Tiger had set beside the table.
It was rude.
And tactless, too.
The warrior probably figured that, given the situation, even if Flying Tiger objected, what could he do? Or maybe he was just trying to get it over with before any resistance flared.
In any case, the moment the warrior's hand grasped the Soul Spirit Sword, Flying Tiger seized his wrist.
Then, twisting and snapping the wrist upward, Flying Tiger sprang from his seat and kicked the chair back at Lady Bongyeon with his rear foot.
Crack.
Lady Bongyeon swatted the flying chair with her left hand, sending it out of the pavilion, and leaped back.
By then, her right hand held two long and short needles, their tips gleaming emerald.
At that moment, Flying Tiger wrenched the warrior's broken wrist further and, with his other hand, snatched the Soul Spirit Sword—still in its sheath—from the warrior's grip and whirled it around.
The Soul Spirit Sword flew free from its sheath in a full circle, ringing triumphantly.
Splat.
A red line slashed across the pavilion's ceiling.
And the impudent hand that had dared touch another's possession thudded to the floor, still clutching the sheath.
"Aaaagh!"
As the warrior recoiled in horror, Flying Tiger pursued in a single stride and kicked him.
Thud.
The warrior flew back, crashed into the railing, flipped over, and tumbled out of the pavilion—leaving one hand behind.
Having dispatched the approaching warrior, Flying Tiger turned just before Lady Bongyeon's right hand could move and warned her.
"The moment that hand moves, it becomes a one-on-one between you and me, Lady Dang. A pity, that."
"......!"
Lady Bongyeon froze.
Flying Tiger's threat irked her, but separately, it was a valid point. Ilgwang might have helped, but that bookish Sama Gulgi didn't seem the type for a joint assault. Nor was she confident the Sandong Elder would aid her—he was still maintaining that ambiguous stance. If she faced the young punk alone...
Poisonous venom flickered in Lady Bongyeon's eyes.
"Hmph! Think that scares me?"
"Probably not. But no need for us to sour things between allies, right? Or am I wrong?"
"......"
It was food for thought.
Then Sama Gulgi eased her dilemma, stepping forward as if naturally yielding. The woman fell back a step as the angry man advanced.
"Sir Flying Tiger! Don't you think you're going too far against an ally?"
Sama Gulgi was poised to draw his sword at any moment.
Flying Tiger glanced over; the Sandong Elder sat watching the scene unfold.
Very well, then.
Flying Tiger subtly shifted his footing, adjusting the distance to Sama Gulgi and the retreated Lady Bongyeon behind him, then spoke.
"I don't consider someone who touches my belongings without permission an ally. Is that so unusual? Normally, you'd call them a thief, not a comrade."
"You really are a constant troublemaker, as they say."
Sama Gulgi placed his hand on his sword hilt with evident exasperation, and Flying Tiger flicked the blade of the Soul Spirit Sword with his middle finger in warning.
Riiiing~
Cross that line again, and Sama Gulgi dies too!
The warning wasn't for Sama Gulgi—it reached the Sandong Elder.
"Hold it!"
"Pardon? But Elder, you saw what he—"
"Tch! Brat of the Sama Clan, you think this old man's words are a joke?"
"No, sir!"
Sama Gulgi, face flushed with anger, removed his hand from the hilt and stepped back. Flying Tiger shot him a mocking grin.
"My, my, Brother Sama is such a good boy. So obedient to others."
"Flying Tiger!"
"Yes, yes. Of course. Deep down, I'm a good young man myself."
Flying Tiger sheathed the Soul Spirit Sword with a snide remark and plopped back into his seat.
Thus, the tense standoff was barely defused—but it was merely a lull. The real storm was just beginning. In that cold, ambiguous atmosphere, the conversation resumed.
It was a night tainted with impure haze and murkiness.