Chapter 182
Chapter 182: Ten Thousand Things Known (2)
The Ten Thousand Things Known proprietor stroked his chin, organizing his thoughts for a moment before continuing.
"Seems you don't know, so I'll explain step by step. There's no such name in Gangdo."
"What?"
"But looking at the entire Martial World, there's one person."
"I knew it!"
The Ten Thousand Things Known proprietor tilted his head and stared intently at Jeon Ra-hwa as he spoke.
"Now this is strange. You really don't know Kim Rae-won?"
"No."
"Well, I suppose you wouldn't be here asking if you knew."
"......?"
The Ten Thousand Things Known proprietor took out a teacup and poured tea. Though the tea itself had a subtle, pleasant fragrance, the stench from his hands made it hard to call it good tea. Not that it mattered since the customer wouldn't be drinking it anyway.
"Kim Rae-won, you see."
He lightly touched his lips to the teacup before pulling away and continuing.
"Is a High School Student."
"......High School Student!?"
Only then did Jeon Ra-hwa hear a name she'd heard before.
More precisely, an 'epithet.'
***
A short while later.
Thud.
Leaving Ten Thousand Things Known, Jeon Ra-hwa tilted her head.
'High School Student......'
A birth name is given to a person as soon as they're born, so it can't clearly contain their characteristics and attributes.
On the other hand, an epithet naturally emerges as one's character and martial arts become known or accumulate through activities in the Martial World, condensing one symbolic characteristic into birth.
That's why the saying goes in the Martial World: 'Birth names end when you die, but epithets remain forever.'
High School Student.
He suddenly appeared about 20 years ago.
No one knew where he came from, and he used martial arts of unknown origin.
According to one theory, the original him couldn't even speak the local language, so whenever someone asked his identity, he would always answer 'High School Student,' which became solidified as his epithet.
The established theory was that his epithet originated from when he defined himself after being recognized as a master worthy of becoming one of the Three Eccentrics at the Righteous Assembly.
― Jeongil High School. I was a high school student there.
School.
A massive and cruel cult from an unknown continent.
According to his description, ordinary warriors there were called high school students. He was just one of them.
The general assessment in the Martial World was that this was just him being humble, and in reality, he might have been one of the top fighters of Jeongil High School.
He.
That is, High School Student actively operated in the Martial World for about 10 years before suddenly disappearing. According to rumors, some said he'd given up on his Martial World dreams and fully entered the path of cultivation, others said he'd returned home to become a cult leader.
What was certain was that he hadn't shown himself in the Martial World for over 10 years.
And that High School Student's name was.......
'Kim Rae-won?'
Though High School Student had been a Renowned Master in the Martial World, his name was hardly known, so Jeon Ra-hwa hadn't known this fact.
'No way, that can't be it.'
First of all, the age doesn't match, right?
He was active in the Martial World for nearly 10 years, and it's been another 10 years since he disappeared.
Even if he'd made his debut in the Martial World around the age of twenty, he should be close to forty now.
But.......
On the other hand, something felt suspicious.
A master capable of eliminating the Iron God Society alone.
The very rare surname 'Kim.'
Though subtle, his appearance seemed slightly different too.
'I've placed the request, so I'll wait and see.'
She'd barely scraped together the fee by emptying out all the Martial Goods she'd picked up (?) at Plum Blossom Stronghold.
No matter how much she insisted that this High School Student and this Kim Rae-won were different people, it was useless.
They stubbornly insisted they'd investigate, and if it turned out later they were different people, they'd immediately return double the fee, and take it as a Special Type request fee.
"Damn money-grubbing beggars!"
Just as Jeon Ra-hwa, filled with rage, was cursing near Ten Thousand Things Known.
"W-we didn't steal anything...... P-please spare us."
Jeon Ra-hwa stopped walking.
Looking toward the alley corner where the voice came from, she saw children huddled together. Multiple children wrapped in rags. The kids were completely terrified by her voice just now, clinging to each other.
'Strange.'
There were no beggars in Gangdo.
More precisely, except for fake beggars like those at Ten Thousand Things Known run by the Great Beggar Sect, they couldn't exist.
Because the Iron God Society and Seven Star Immortal Assembly or other various sects 'collected' all the beggars. The talented ones as disciples, those without talent but sturdy as slaves, and those who couldn't even manage that...... were utilized for various other purposes.
If new beggars appeared? It was certain they'd be collected within a day.
Yet these kids were here?
'Ah!'
Jeon Ra-hwa quickly realized.
They must have been released when the Iron God Society was exterminated.
"We, we're...... not beggars. We d-don't even t-taste good."
The youngest-looking child looked up at her. About six years old? A terribly thin little girl.
"Hungry......"
A boy who looked about ten years old was lying down on the ground, groaning weakly.
The other children all seemed to be in similar condition.
"Haah-."
A sigh naturally flowed out.
Since she'd been in a similar situation until just recently, even more pitiful feelings washed over her.
"You kids, how many are you?"
"T-ten. Why?"
The oldest child answered. A girl who looked about thirteen years old.
"Where are the rest?"
"Over there."
The girl pointed to the rubble of a collapsed building. The remaining children were hiding there.
Jeon Ra-hwa took out silver coins from her pocket.
"Use this to buy some food. Hurry and buy some clothes to wear too."
The girl's eyes widened.
"Really?"
"Yes. But......"
Jeon Ra-hwa looked around.
"It'd be best to quickly go somewhere else. Bad people will come to catch you soon."
"Huh?"
"The Iron God Society disappeared, but there are other bastards. Like Single Eye Gate or Black Wind Hall."
The girl's face turned pale.
"......We have nowhere to go."
Jeon Ra-hwa felt stuck too. Where would be safe in this Gangdo? No matter where they settled with just kids, there wouldn't be a single inch where they could safely plant their bottoms.
While contemplating what to do for a while, Dong Bong-soo's words came to mind.
― I'll also ask just one thing. Chivalry. Don't hesitate in practicing chivalry.
Don't hesitate.......
Even so, something felt blocked, but Jeon Ra-hwa ultimately extended her hand to the oldest girl.
"Then come with me."
The girl looked up at her, contemplating. But soon shook her head.
"I don't want to go."
"Why?"
The girl looked at the other kids one by one before returning her gaze to Jeon Ra-hwa's face where it fixed.
"I can't go alone."
Jeon Ra-hwa stroked the girl's head and smiled.
"I can't go alone either, you know?"
"Huh?"
"There's an uncle who'd scold me if I came alone in this situation."
Just as Jeon Ra-hwa was about to practice 'chivalry' as she'd learned from Dong Bong-soo.
"Oh, you were here?"
Along with a thick voice, a group appeared.
Men wearing red headbands.
On the front of the headbands, three characters in an even darker crimson red than the headbands were embroidered.
Fire Bell Society.
The fourth-ranked power on Western Road after Single Eye Gate and Black Wind Hall.
Though calling them third-ranked would be more accurate now.
A full five men.
All middle-aged, and just by walking, heat radiated from their bodies. True to their name, Fire Bell Society was a sect that primarily trained in Fire Arts. Those who handled flames.
"We worked hard looking for the brats, but they were all gathered here."
The man at the front grinned wickedly. His face was covered in burn scars.
"We claimed them first......"
He raised his lips as he stared at Jeon Ra-hwa.
"What was Young Lady doing just now?"
Jeon Ra-hwa couldn't answer.
No matter if she was a descendant of a great sect, when was that? She'd spent over a decade just living as a slave. Learning martial arts had only been for one day so far.
Her whole body trembled.
Yet...... she instinctively hid the children behind her.
"I asked what you were doing. Miss."
Fire Bell Society's vanguard warrior, Bo Geon-hwi, took another step closer while examining Jeon Ra-hwa carefully.
Her Sun Point was plain, and she wasn't wearing clothing with an affiliated sect's emblem. She wasn't a government official either, and she seemed to show fearful signs here and there.
Heh heh, Bo Geon-hwi growled lowly before making a decision.
The conclusion is that it didn't matter if he just pushed Jeon Ra-hwa aside.
"If you back off even now, I'll preserve at least your pretty face. Miss. Bitch."
Then.
「I told you to quietly train martial arts, and you're causing trouble?」
A familiar voice striking Jeon Ra-hwa's mind. A sound only she could hear.
A smile unconsciously formed on Jeon Ra-hwa's lips.
Then she bit her lips tightly and hardened her face with an even more resolute expression. Following that, Jeon Ra-hwa fixed her gaze on Bo Geon-hwi's eyes and moved the children back.
"Back off."
"Haha. Refusing the wine of courtesy and drinking the wine of punishment."
"If you back off now, you might be able to preserve your life."
"Heh heh heh. Miss. A pretty face is useless in a fight. Ah, of course after the fight ends, it becomes very useful. It's good to look at, and above all—."
"......"
"There are several holes, right? Flying like a butterfly, I can stick it in deep like a bee cock several times. Heh heh."
As he finished speaking, Bo Geon-hwi roughly grabbed Jeon Ra-hwa's arm.
Though Jeon Ra-hwa, who'd been preparing, hastily pulled back, she couldn't completely avoid it.
Riiip-.
The sleeve on her forearm tore, revealing Jeon Ra-hwa's shoulder completely.
"Oho? Look at this?"
The 'Money' character brand came into everyone's view.
"A bitch with a Slave Mark wandering around alone without a leash holder?"
Bo Geon-hwi flashed his eyes roughly.
"A runaway slave."
"Heh heh, how did she know our Fire Bell Society also does slave hunting and rolls in here on her own?"
"One slave's worth should cover drinking money."
The Fire Bell Society warriors surrounded Jeon Ra-hwa in a semicircle all at once. When they hadn't identified who Jeon Ra-hwa was yet, they couldn't be sure, but in the current situation where everything was revealed, there was nothing to worry about. Now that the huge obstacle called the Iron God Society was gone, even more so.
"Haven't done slave hunting work in a while."
"Let's have some fun first."
"Since it's a free body, we can handle it a bit roughly, right?"
Even so, Jeon Ra-hwa didn't step back.
No, rather, a smile with grounded confidence was spreading across her face. She glanced at the terrified children here and there, then moved her gaze forward again while comforting the kids.
"Don't cry. It's okay."
Though her hands were clearly trembling violently, at least her face was more stable than at first.
"I definitely warned you."
"Hahaha. Warned? What warning?"
"To back off. I said if you back off now, you might be able to preserve your lives."
"And if we don't back off?"
"Your bodies will be riddled with holes like a beehive. Ah, and bees don't shoot cocks, they shoot stingers. After stabbing everywhere—."
Jeon Ra-hwa smiled as if resembling someone. Revealing her white teeth.
"You'll die."