Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Five Glories Forge
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Han Ibi nearly jumped out of his seat.
"He definitely... he definitely acted like a blind man."
The young beggar boy said,
"That's just the public facade. But it's all a ploy for begging. Everyone in the branch knows the truth."
Han Ibi tilted his head and said,
"Then why would he deceive even his own allies?"
The young beggar's expression sharpened a bit.
"The Protector would never deceive his Beggar Clan brothers."
"That's an odd thing to say. We saw him waltz in reeking to high heaven, yet he still drew everyone's attention with his presence..."
"Hold on."
"What?"
"You said the Protector was giving off a foul stench?"
"Yeah, that's right. It was like he'd never bathed a day in his life... a stench so overpowering it could numb your sense of smell. Like..."
The smell of rotting flesh.
The beggar boy shook his head.
"The Protector smears himself with filth for begging sometimes, but he's got a cleanliness obsession—he can't go a day without bathing. All us brothers in the Anpyeong branch know it."
That was when it hit.
A heavy thud echoed in Han Ibi's mind.
Han Ibi said, a hint of excitement creeping into his voice,
"What does this Law Protector Hanoeun look like?"
As the boy began describing his appearance in detail...
"Damn it!"
"Huh?"
"Something's off."
"What's off?"
"Bad vibes. We need to head to that smithy right now."
The young beggar's eyes widened.
They were so huge it looked like they might pop out and spill onto the floor.
"Right now?"
"Yes, right now. Lead the way."
The boy's pupils trembled.
"How can I trust you...?"
Han Ibi let out a big laugh and said,
"Looks like you're misunderstanding something. I'm the outsider here, not you. I'm offering to help your Beggar Clan out of the goodness of my heart. Fine, if you're not interested, forget it. Why would I beg to help the Beggar Clan anyway?"
Aside from the system's command...
With that, Han Ibi moved to close the door and head back inside.
That's when the boy called out to him.
"Wait."
Han Ibi glanced back with an expression of utter disinterest.
The boy bit his lower lip hard, as if steeling himself, and said,
"Follow me."
The night streets after sunset.
A few people wandered about, but it was mostly quiet.
Only the lively footsteps of two people echoed through the silence.
The young beggar's lightness skill was far from amateur.
Despite his scrawny frame that looked ready to topple over, each step carried substantial inner power.
Suddenly curious, Han Ibi activated the circulation method for his Eagle's Eye Technique to sharpen his vision.
'Huh?'
Han Ibi doubted his own eyes.
Incredibly, this young beggar matched the level of some of those Little Arrogant Dragons.
'He looks so young... Is he some kind of martial arts prodigy?'
If so, he'd be a bit of help if things went south.
They'd been running for about an hour when...
The boy suddenly stopped, raising a finger to his lips.
Han Ibi nodded in understanding, slowed down, and stuck close behind the beggar boy.
That's when Han Ibi flared his nostrils and whispered,
"Hey, kid. Smell that? Something nice wafting around."
The young beggar looked flustered for a moment before snapping back,
"Is this the time for that?"
But Han Ibi cocked his head, thinking,
'Definitely... there's a scent. Like perfume or something...'
Then the boy pointed and said,
"Over there."
Han Ibi looked in the direction the beggar boy indicated.
"That's..."
Seeing the sight, Han Ibi hesitated before saying,
"...a rich man's estate. You sure we got the right place?"
The beggar boy replied,
"Yep. This is the residence of the Hyeong Clan Manor, the local magnates."
"Huh? Then why are we here?"
The boy grinned and said,
"The Five Glories Forge is run by the Hyeong Clan."
"What? Why would rich folks run a smithy...?"
"It's the other way around."
"The other way?"
"Yeah. Their forge is famous across the Central Plains. You've really never heard of it? They're the pinnacle of martial smiths."
"Ah, got it. So they've built that wealth generation after generation through the forge?"
"Exactly. And they're damn proud of it."
"Hmm. Blacksmiths usually get looked down on..."
"Not these blacksmiths. Even the big-name martial artists are dying for a weapon from the Five Glories Forge."
"Oh ho. That impressive?"
"Of course. It's Anpyeong's pride and joy—on par with the North Sea Ice Palace's famed metallurgy."
'Huh? North Sea Ice Palace... Isn't that where Yeom Byeong, the master smith who made my Mysterious Frost Blade, hailed from?'
Han Ibi said, as if it just occurred to him,
"Aren't we in a hurry right now?"
"Oh right!"
The boy slapped his forehead and said,
"Not the time for chit-chat."
With that, he scurried ahead.
Han Ibi found the sight oddly endearing.
Then the boy looked up and said,
"Whoa... That wall's as high as a palace battlement. Huh? Iron spikes on top too... Probably poisoned. Even top-tier lightness skills might not cut it."
Han Ibi said,
"They must have a ton worth stealing."
After scanning around with furrowed brows for a while, the beggar boy said,
"Let's check that way."
Han Ibi looked where the beggar boy pointed.
Surprisingly, light leaked from that spot.
They hid behind the wall and watched.
Han Ibi muttered,
"Huh? Looks like a weapon shop. Still open?"
"Yeah. Word is, they display weapons and farm tools here, but it's also a small workshop. They handle big orders, so they work late."
Overtime.
This conversation feels weirdly familiar...
"Hmm. But would the real hero really be in such an open spot?"
"Of course not. They make everyday farm tools in the front workshop. The weapon forge is separate, heavily guarded."
"Smart diversification."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. Let's get in."
What a peculiar family.
Then Han Ibi said,
"Could be a trap. Stay sharp."
"Right. But..."
"What?"
"How do we sneak in?"
Han Ibi scratched his head and said,
"Do we have to sneak? Just say we're here to buy a sword."
"This late at night?"
"Hey, busy people shop late sometimes."
"Fine. Then what?"
"Then... knock 'em out? Killing's too much—we don't even know if they're bad guys."
"Figure it out yourself. Have a good trip."
Han Ibi's eyes widened.
"You're not coming?"
The beggar boy said,
"Come on. I'd stick out like a sore thumb looking like this."
Fair point.
Resigned, Han Ibi slowly approached the weapon display stand alone.
The sound of hammering echoed from inside: clang, clang.
"What do you want?"
A burly man stood there, arms crossed.
Classic guard.
Han Ibi cleared his throat and said,
"Uh... here to buy a sword."
The guard eyed him up and down, then shook his head.
"Too late. Come back tomorrow."
Han Ibi exaggerated his expression and said,
"Aw, come on! I was busy scraping by all day. It's urgent—let me just browse. It's not like looking wears them out."
The guard snapped irritably,
"You look like some rich kid. Why wander a rough place alone at night? No means no. We stick to business hours."
Suddenly, the hammering stopped.
"What's going on? Woongjeong?"
The guard replied to the voice,
"Nothing. Some guy's insisting on buying a sword this late."
A man emerged from inside.
Middle-aged, half-bald, his bare muscular torso gleaming with sweat.
But what really caught Han Ibi's eye was the ridiculously huge hammer in his hand.
It was so hot it steamed white vapor.
The muscled man stared straight at the guard Woongjeong and said,
"He's a customer. Don't be so harsh. Think of the effort to come all this way."
Their eyes met meaningfully.
The guard nodded as if realizing something and said,
"Right, my bad. I was too rough. Come on in and browse."
Something's fishy.
Han Ibi's face tightened.
This approach made him uneasy instead.
But backing out now wasn't an option.
So Han Ibi followed the muscled man into the display area.
The muscled man said,
"Who sent you?"
"Sent? Uh, no one..."
"Let me rephrase."
The muscled man suddenly stared at Han Ibi and said,
"Who are you looking for?"
"Pardon?"
At the same moment, the glowing hammer smashed toward Han Ibi's crown.
Startled, Han Ibi unleashed his Eight Trigrams Step, dodging by a hair.
"What the hell?"
But the muscled man swung the massive hammer at Han Ibi's face without a word.
Like he meant to shatter every tooth!
Han Ibi thought in shock,
'What is this? Why's he charging like a madman?'
Now Han Ibi had no choice but to draw his Single Strike Sword.
Clang!
The hammer and sword clashed with a deafening boom, sparks flying.
Han Ibi nearly lost his grip from the immense force.
Seeing the Single Strike Sword, the muscled man's eyes gleamed.
"Now that's a sword!"
He swung the hammer sideways.
Han Ibi dodged with footwork.
Boom! Part of the wooden display shattered, dust billowing.
That was when...
Whoosh!
The guard had drawn a saber from behind and joined the attack.
The blade thrust at Han Ibi's shin.
'Damn...'
Han Ibi spun a full 360-degree aerial flip, reaching for a wall display.
He snatched a dart and hurled it in a flash, shouting,
"For daring to aim at my shin."
Thud!
The dart embedded in the guard's shin.
Just as his scream was about to erupt...
Silence fell!
How?
The beggar boy's hand clamped over the guard's mouth.
"Mmph!"
As he struggled fiercely...
Thud.
The guard collapsed forward.
The young beggar smiled and said,
"Can't have you screaming."
The muscled man bellowed,
"You brat! What did you do?!"
The young beggar said,
"Don't worry. Just sealed his blood points."
"You little...!"
The muscled man toppled forward too.
Han Ibi, appearing from behind, muttered,
"It really works. This blood point thing. So handy—why'd I wait till now to try it?"
To be continued...