Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: Overpowering the Zhuge Heir
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After releasing Bang Gahu, Jinmu swung his hands about in a flurry, unleashing a burst of hearty pure energy.
Wudang's Supreme Purity Scatter Hands.
Papak! Papak!
The rapid crossing of their hand movements tangled their sleeves together, creating the sound of air exploding.
Jegal Geun tried to seize, while Jinmu scattered it away.
'This, this bastard!'
Even after drawing up every ounce of his internal energy, Jegal Geun couldn't grab Jinmu's wrist.
Moreover, while his own face twisted in strain, Jinmu's expression was annoyingly relaxed.
"Haap!"
Unable to endure any longer, Jegal Geun withdrew his Blood Congealing Divine Claw and thrust out a single palm strike.
Kurung!
The energy laden with ferocious power shot forth with a thunderous roar.
"Hmph!"
And Jinmu's palm strike, laced with a sneer, extended in kind.
Creeeeng!
The noise from the clashing palms reverberated through the inn, shaking the rafters.
Tadadak!
And then.
Unable to withstand the rebound force, Jegal Geun quickly stepped back to steady his falling body.
Five steps.
And then he dropped to one knee. Jegal Geun hurriedly lifted his head.
"……!"
Jinmu hadn't moved an inch from his spot.
And the sneer still lingered on his lips.
It wasn't just a slight difference.
He, who ranked among the top five successors of the entire Zhuge branch scattered across Hubei Province, hadn't merely been pushed back—he had been utterly crushed.
"Not bad. You put enough force into it to make you cough up a bowl of blood."
"……."
At Jinmu's mocking words, Jegal Geun glared at him with a fiercely contorted face.
One bastard or another. Should I just gouge out all these fuckers' eyes?
When you learn a move from a master, you ought to bow and say thanks.
Why are there so many idiots these days who can't even keep their eyes open properly?
Jinmu furrowed his brows into an inverted eight shape and twisted his lips into a menacing scowl.
"Y-Young Master."
As his escorts moved to support him, Jegal Geun sharply shook them off and glared at Jinmu.
"You... what's your name?"
"Huh?"
"Your name. If you're First Generation, it should be Jin-ja generation."
What a rude prick.
Damn righteous faction folks. Their upbringing is all wrong from the start. You introduce yourself first in front of elders.
He wanted to grab the punk by the scruff and drag him straight to the Zhuge family, but this was just the right level for now.
Escorts with killing intent were no issue, but if harm came to a Zhuge heir, the main family would step in directly.
That could turn a minor scuffle into a war between Wudang and the Zhuges.
For now, the justification lay with Wudang.
They were the many, Wudang only three.
Though Jinmu had started the provocation himself, anyone could see the Zhuges struck first.
Their crime was eating meat and drinking liquor.
Knowing that, Jegal Geun hadn't unleashed killing moves.
Damn righteous faction bastards. Must be nice having so many excuses.
"I asked your name!"
What manners.
Every word out of his mouth in that familiar tone.
Fine, if you're so curious, I'll tell you. Clean out your ears and etch it in.
The name of this body who will one day stand at the pinnacle of the Justice Alliance.
"Jinmu."
"Jin... mu..."
Jegal Geun repeated it as if savoring the taste, then stood.
"...We'll meet again."
"Bullshit. Why would I ever see a rude punk like you again?"
Jegal Geun ground his teeth so hard the muscles in his jaw clenched, glaring fiercely at the smirking Jinmu.
"Hey. Aren't you taking that mustache guy?"
"……."
Jinmu pointed at Bang Gahu, collapsed in a bloody heap.
"A defeated man... is useless."
Whoa, I thought he was just rude, but he's a thorough son of a bitch.
Even worse than me.
Still lost all the same.
And as Jegal Geun turned to leave the inn, Jinmu called out again.
"Hey!"
"What?"
"What do you mean what? Can't you see? Look around."
"……."
The inside of the inn was a total wreck.
The tables were all smashed from Bang Gahu's sword qi, and there wasn't a single intact spot on the floor or walls.
"You think the young master of the great Zhuge family can just cause damage to a powerless commoner's inn and walk away? The owner might report it to the magistrate, you know."
"……."
Jegal Geun's face twisted even further.
Report to the magistrate?
No one in Dankang District would dare hold the Zhuge family accountable.
But.
He didn't want to tangle with Jinmu anymore.
"That's not for you to worry about. The Zhuge family will compensate the inn directly."
As he stepped forward again, Jinmu called out once more.
"Well, aside from that."
"……."
"You gonna pretend we weren't quietly eating until you lot picked a fight? Meat bill, liquor bill, and a fee for your gracious fight— that should cover it, right? You've got plenty of money."
This bastard...
Clearly provoking him.
Tuk.
Jegal Geun's face flushed red and purple as he pulled a heavy money pouch from his bosom and tossed it to the floor.
"Whoa, heavy, real heavy."
Jinmu scooped up the pouch with an un-Taoist vulgarity and quickly opened it.
"What the hell, all silver ingots? No loose change?"
"...You!"
Rage boiled over, but Jegal Geun couldn't extend his clenched fist.
"We're leaving!"
With a face like a blizzard blowing through, Jegal Geun stormed out of the inn with his scholars.
"Damn, what a temper."
Anyway, free money. Heh heh heh.
"Sasuk! Incredible!"
And as a bonus, Cheongsang and Cheongu's loyalty ticked up a notch.
"Cheongu."
Jinmu called to Cheongu.
"Yes, Sasuk!"
"Pick up that guy and take him to a physician."
For now, Jinmu remained true to his duty as a Taoist who refrained from needless killing.
Only after walking far from the inn with furious strides did Jegal Geun finally stop.
Stagger.
Before his escort scholars could support him, he dropped to one knee.
"Y-Young Master!"
"Urk!"
Jegal Geun vomited up dark red clotted blood.
Internal injuries.
He'd sustained them the moment his palm clashed with Jinmu's.
That was part of why he hadn't acted after his pride was wounded.
Vomiting blood in front of the man who'd defeated him—his pride wouldn't allow it.
Swipe.
Jegal Geun wiped the blood from his mouth with his sleeve and stood.
Then he shot a venomous glare back at the inn.
"Gil-pyeong!"
"Yes, Young Master."
His guard warrior, Chu Gil-pyeong, answered immediately.
"Tail them discreetly."
"……."
"Men of that caliber descending Wudang Mountain must have some purpose."
"Yes!"
"Find out exactly where they're staying, who they're meeting—report everything."
"Understood."
Chu Gil-pyeong bowed respectfully and withdrew.
I thought he was just a wolf cub, but he's a proper tiger cub.
One with sharpened claws at that.
Dankang District.
In the past, its interests had been split between Wudang and the Zhuge family.
No—Wudang held slightly more.
Unlike profit-driven clans, the Taoist sect of Wudang needed little money, allowing merchant groups to save costs by aligning with them.
But after the great upheaval caused by the Lord of Evil Hegemony Heaven a dozen years ago, Wudang had weakened.
The Zhuge branch seized the opportunity, swallowing most of Dankang's commerce.
That was why Wudang had been poor all this time—all thanks to the Zhuge branch in Dankang.
Of course, some back-alley interests were held by ruffian groups tied to unorthodox sects.
If Wudang moved again and commerce shifted back, the blow to the Zhuge branch would be unimaginable.
'Wudang... so now you seek to stir trouble in Dankang? It won't go as you wish.'
Jegal Geun wiped the blood from his mouth once more.
"Patrol's over. Time to return to the branch."
"Yes, Young Master."
The next morning.
Jinmu's group left Bangcheon and headed toward the heart of Dankang District, where the Qingyang Merchant Group was located.
Perhaps due to the rare sight of Taoists, all eyes on the official road focused on them.
And what drew even more attention was.
"Wow!"
Cheongu, gawking around like a country bumpkin fresh in town.
Cheongsang and Jinmu, their only two sets of robes soaked in blood.
Of course, the blood on Jinmu's robes was Bang Gahu's.
Sigh, first things first, we need new clothes.
Jinmu asked around and headed to the fabric street.
Come to think of it, Ipallyong collects protection money on the fabric street.
Perfect.
Kill two birds with one stone.
Drain the ditch, catch the crawfish.
Catch Ipallyong and claim the bounty too.
With the twenty taels of silver in his bosom plus the heavy pouch from Jegal Geun as "service fee," his mood suddenly lifted.
Maybe I should invest in a battlefield trade spot. Gonna make bank from now on.
Jinmu's gaze suddenly fell on Cheongu. Come to think of it, forget Cheongsang—Cheongu's clothes were quite worn too.
Poor kids. How'd they end up so broke in the wrong sect?
Their loyalty had risen lately, so time to reward them and max it out.
"Kids."
"Yes, Sasuk."
"I'll buy you new robes! Let's go!"
"Wooo!"
Taoist or whatever, nobody hates free stuff in this world.
Arriving at a decent-looking fabric shop, Jinmu called the owner.
"Hey! Shopkeep!"
"Oh, welcome... sir."
The shop owner, Wang Cheok, lit up at the customer and rushed out, only to scowl.
Especially seeing Cheongu and Cheongsang fondling the silk on the wall with dreamy expressions.
"Ah, don't touch that! It'll get dirty! Dirty! Tsk, of all things, broke Taoists."
He muttered the last part like to himself, but it was all audible, old man.
This calls for the classic.
Jingle.
"……!"
Shopkeeps' instincts are sharp.
Just from the sound, Wang Cheok realized a noble had arrived, his face turning to one ready to offer his gall bladder on a platter.
As if the man from moments ago was someone else.
"Oh my, Taoist sir! What an honor for you to grace this humble shop. Please, come in."
"Hm, got any silk for making robes?"
"I've been waiting for those words. Our shop handles only the finest silks in all Dankang District, with orders coming from every corner of the Central Plains."
"Oh? Is that so?"
"Indeed, indeed."
"Then I'll trust you with it."
"An excellent choice, Taoist sir!"
Wang Cheok rubbed his hands together and smiled obsequiously.
"Then for this gentleman's robes..."
Wang Cheok eyed Cheongsang's tattered clothes, and Cheongu shot an envious glance.
"Hey!"
"Yes?"
At the sudden shout, Jinmu thrust out three fingers vigorously before the puzzled Wang Cheok.
"Three, all of them!"
"Ack!"
"Two each!"
"Heeeek! Guueest!"
At Jinmu's words, Wang Cheok, not to mention Cheongsang and Cheongu, looked ready to kowtow on the spot.
Beat 'em hard when beating, spend big when spending!
The proper attitude for anyone in a position of power.
Money is power, money buys loyalty.
"That beggar elder from Pakchon said a noble would come from the west today, and he was right. Heh heh."
Wang Cheok muttered in awe, vowing to feed the beggar elder handsomely next time.
"By the way, do you know a guy named Ipallyong?"
"That Ipallyong from the Eight Dragon Faction?"
Wang Cheok, measuring Cheongu and Cheongsang's robes, froze with a stiff expression.
"He's been up to so much evil, I figured I'd check his face."
"Ah!"
And then.
"Lots of folks looking for that dog bastard."
"Huh?"
"Wu family manor warriors were here yesterday... Makes sense, given all the bad shit he does."
"Wu family manor?"
"Yes. But he's vanished—no sign of him. Their warriors have been combing the fabric street since last evening."
"Hm."
Jinmu's brows furrowed slightly.
He had questions for Ipallyong, after all.
'These fuckers trying to poach my marked prey? My precious twenty-tael bounty?'
Jinmu resolved to catch Ipallyong before the Wu family manor.
"All done. Where should we send the finished robes?"
"Know the Qingyang Merchant Group?"
"Of course! We even do business with them."
"Good. Send them there."
"Got it. We'll deliver as soon as they're ready."
"Thanks. See you then."
"Yes, noble sir! Safe travels, may all go well, and please catch that Ipallyong bastard!"
"Hahaha!"
Jinmu laughed heartily, heading to the Qingyang Merchant Group with Cheongu and Cheongsang beaming loyalty from their new robes on the way.