Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: The Tenacious Pursuit
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Jingle.
"Here."
Jinmu, not wanting to bicker endlessly with Dang Yeopyeong, pulled out four nyang of silver—precious as his own blood—and held them out.
"Huh?"
"Here's four nyang, so take it."
"Oh, alright."
He took it without hesitation.
White Deer? Bullshit.
"That settles it, right? Let's not meet again."
"......"
"Cheongsang, Cheongu. Let's go."
As Jinmu shook his head and walked away,
thud, thud.
The sound of Dang Yeopyeong stubbornly following grated on his nerves.
"Ugh, why are you following us?"
"Huh? Following? I'm just going my own way."
"......"
"Come on, innkeeper."
"You go first."
"I'm taking a break."
Was this old man truly insane?
As a Wudang Taoist, he couldn't exactly bury him in the back hills without anyone noticing.
Jinmu quickened his pace, eager to shake him off.
But Dang Yeopyeong maintained a steady distance and matched his speed perfectly.
Bam!
Irritation boiling over, Jinmu unleashed his Cloud-Stepping Technique, bounding onto the wall and soaring up.
Dang Yeopyeong followed suit with his lightness skill, chasing like it was a pursuit.
'Damn it, this is driving me crazy. Can't push harder with Cheongsang and Cheongu here.'
What kind of relentless bastard was this?
He zigzagged every which way toward the docks, but Dang Yeopyeong refused to fall behind.
Wearing that innocent expression like he was just minding his own business.
In truth, Dang Yeopyeong hadn't planned to follow this far.
He'd just happened to spot Jinmu's group leaving the inn.
After yesterday's tavern scene, and seeing them suddenly dressed in plain martial robes, curiosity got the better of him.
He never imagined the kid would dodge his grasp.
At first, it was sheer novelty.
A rough-edged Wudang Taoist? Unthinkable.
Not just picking fights, but brazenly chowing down on booze and meat.
Second, pure curiosity.
How did he evade it? Clearly no older than his early twenties.
Dang Yeopyeong wasn't one for the Jianghu's power struggles, but he couldn't ignore an itch of curiosity.
A young Taoist in his twenties with skill enough to slip his hold, far from austere purity.
'What an intriguing fellow.'
Novel and entertaining.
He'd been in Yichang for a month and was about to move on when he stumbled upon this gem.
'This is fun. If gatherings like the Young Heroes' Conference draw types like him, it might be worth watching. Shall I head to Wuhuan while I'm at it?'
Lost in such thoughts, he trailed them until Jinmu seemed to give up shaking him off and stopped at the docks.
Dang Yeopyeong watched from a distance.
Jinmu eyed the ships moored at the docks.
Four in total.
The relay ship Cheongsang mentioned was already loaded with passengers and departing.
Another brimmed with warriors in Zhuge family attire, while the rest were a merchant vessel and an official boat laden with cargo, preparing to leave.
"They must be taking the Zhuge family's ship,"
he thought.
"Any seats available?"
But Jinmu approached the merchant ship and began haggling with the shipmaster.
'Huh?'
The guy got stranger by the minute.
Merchant ships prioritized speed over comfort, sure, but they were cramped.
Normally, anyone in that situation would board the Zhuge ship or the official vessel.
The Zhuge family surely chartered the whole thing—they had the money.
Even if chartered, there'd be plenty of room for three Wudang Taoists.
If not, the official boat was the fallback.
Government boats didn't discriminate against martial artists; mutual aid was the norm, and no captain would refuse Wudang upon hearing the name.
Especially free passage—perfect for poor Taoists.
Dang Yeopyeong had hitched rides that way himself.
Yet...
"Haha! Thanks! I'll guarantee your safety!"
"......"
Jinmu laughed with the shipmaster like old pals, arm in arm.
After just a few words.
Were Wudang Taoists always this sociable?
The guy was fueling his curiosity more and more.
Chuckling, Dang Yeopyeong approached the merchant ship, tempted to join the fun.
Spending time with Wudang Taoists seemed entertaining.
"Hey, friend."
"Yes?"
"Any chance I could snag a spot?"
The shipmaster flatly refused.
"None available."
What?
Then what about those guys?
Dang Yeopyeong glanced back at Jinmu.
There it was—a sly, wicked smirk on Jinmu's lips.
'That little punk...'
He'd pulled some trick, no doubt.
But curiosity burned too hot to back off now.
"Come on, there's clearly space left."
"Ah, that space was all bought up by him."
"Huh?"
"Every bit."
"......"
"Even paid extra."
The shipmaster beamed, flashing a pouch of silver.
Haggled with cash?
Bought the seats outright?
Jinmu boarded with a triumphant grin, eyeing Dang Yeopyeong.
'Damn, what a guy.'
His pride ignited.
Not usually like this, but now obsessed with traveling with Jinmu, Dang Yeopyeong openly resorted to begging.
"I don't know what he paid for one spot, but I'll give you one nyang of silver!"
Even proffering a nyang, the shipmaster shook his head.
"No can do."
"What?"
These cheats. Top-grade passenger ships to Wuhuan cost less than half a nyang!
"Two nyang then?"
"Sorry, still no."
"What? How much did that punk pay?!"
"It's not about the money. This young lord offered to guard us and help load cargo too."
"What?"
"Our escorts have been exhausted lately. Perfect timing."
"......"
Behind the grinning shipmaster, Cheongsang and Cheongu hefted loads that would take four men each, carrying them effortlessly one-handed.
And ahead, Jinmu flashed a devilish grin at Dang Yeopyeong.
'That, that little bastard!'
Pure provocation.
"Hmph! Then I'll guard you too! Better than those kids."
Flustered, Dang Yeopyeong shouted, drawing a puzzled look from the shipmaster.
"And who might you be...?"
"Me? Well..."
He puffed his chest, ready to proclaim his name proudly, then clamped his mouth shut.
Not that he was hiding his identity, but saying it felt awkward.
His well-known name in the Jianghu would make the Wudang Taoists bow and apologize formally.
He had that much renown.
And that would ruin any fun times(?) with them.
"Who is this old sir, offering to escort us?"
The oblivious shipmaster pressed.
"Ah, well."
But he couldn't just walk away.
"What's the commotion?"
A slight, green-robed man, about to board under his clan escorts' guidance, turned his head.
"Looks like some old guy haggling on that merchant ship."
"Haggling?"
"Yes. Shall I check?"
"No need. Minor fuss, hardly worth it."
The green-robed man glanced at the merchant ship and shook his head.
But as he turned away, his head froze stiffly.
"Eh? That person?"
His head whipped back.
His gaze fixed on the old man arguing with the shipmaster.
"What's wrong? Know him?"
"No, his face looks familiar... Ah!"
After a moment's thought, the green-robed man—Zhuge Seon—widened his eyes and leaped from the gangplank without answering, his subordinates hurrying after.
"Hey! Cut me some slack!"
"No!"
"Come on, just one spot. So stingy."
"We already got paid."
"I'll pay double! Escort service included!"
"An old man like you, escorting?"
The shipmaster blocked the desperate old man.
And then.
"Jianghu lesser scholar, Seon of the Zhuge family, greets Lord White Deer Dang Yeopyeong."
Zhuge Seon approached from behind and bowed deeply.
The Zhuge warriors with him gasped and bowed hastily.
"Eh?"
Dang Yeopyeong, mid-argument, looked flustered up at the deck.
Thankfully, Jinmu's group hadn't overheard yet.
[Rise from your bow.]
[......]
Zhuge Seon blinked at the urgent transmission.
But as a promising Zhuge talent, he was quick on the uptake.
Reading Dang Yeopyeong's intent from expression and transmission alone, he signaled his men to straighten and addressed him carefully as 'elder' without naming him.
"Elder, do you need passage?"
"Huh? No, pay it no mind."
"......"
Dang Yeopyeong's sullen look was odd.
From the shipmaster's talk, he clearly wanted aboard.
His status meant the Zhuge-chartered ship would yield a cabin gladly—traveling with him was an honor.
So why insist on this uncomfortable, refused merchant ship?
Zhuge Seon's gaze shifted to the ship.
'Because of them.'
He spotted three black-robed men who stood out from the crew.
Two hauled cargo with the sailors; one lounged lazily at the front.
'Who are they?'
His eyes locked on one porter—a sharply handsome man with a fierce aura that could disarm any woman, a sword strapped to his back.
With a taiji pattern on the hilt.
'Wudang?'
And Dang Yeopyeong trying to board their ship.
'Why the interest in Wudang disciples?'
A strange curiosity stirred.
Especially knowing Wudang, long rivals with his Zhuge family over Hubei.
'A Wudang Taoist worth White Deer's attention.'
Mulling it over, Zhuge Seon smiled and approached Dang Yeopyeong.
"Elder."
"Yes?"
"Board our ship."
"I'm fine. Don't trouble yourself."
As Dang Yeopyeong refused again, Zhuge Seon's smile deepened.
"What if you join those Wudang disciples?"
"What?"
Zhuge Seon whispered, and Dang Yeopyeong eyed him with mild surprise.
Sharp eyes, spotting Wudang despite their shed robes and hidden status.
Even intuiting his goal instantly.
'Ho? They call Zhuge Seon a genius for a reason.'
Dang Yeopyeong inwardly admired him.
And sensing approval from expression alone, Zhuge Seon acted swiftly.
Thoroughly unnecessary from Jinmu's perspective.