Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Miscellaneous Skills and Secrets
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"We're already busy enough as it is. Did we really have to do this?"
Yi Da-ryeon grumbled, her face full of dissatisfaction.
Cha Du-haeng burst into laughter.
"No, no. They say even brushing sleeves creates a bond, so how could I not help such a fine little brother I've met?"
Yi Da-ryeon shot back.
"That guy's no kid..."
Cha Du-haeng shook his head.
"'That guy'? What kind of way is that to talk about your big brother?"
"Hmph. They decide things among themselves and think it's hilarious."
That was exactly what had happened.
Cha Du-haeng had bought liquor to repay Han Ibi's kindness, and the three of them had gotten thoroughly drunk, toasting endlessly and growing close.
In the process, they had naturally sworn brotherhood.
The Qingcheng Sect was located in Sichuan Province, adjacent to Shaanxi.
But it was by no means a short trip.
They had promised to escort the directionally challenged Han Ibi all the way to the border of Sichuan.
And now, they were keeping that promise.
Yi Da-ryeon was unhappy about the whole situation.
At that moment, Cha Du-haeng spoke up.
"Little sister, we're not exactly pressed for time or headed anywhere specific. What's the harm in lending a hand? Why keep picking fights?"
Yi Da-ryeon glared at him.
"Picking fights? Who said I'm picking fights?"
"If that's not picking a fight, then what is it?"
"What did you say? Are you itching for a real fight?"
Yi Da-ryeon, shooting daggers with her eyes and speaking curtly, was utterly adorable.
Han Ibi suddenly felt a warm swell in his chest.
This comfortable feeling. Like friends, like brothers—this affectionate atmosphere...
How long had it been since he'd felt this, whether in the real world or here?
Han Ibi wished the road to Sichuan were just a bit longer.
But he soon regretted that thought.
There wasn't a single inn in sight along the way, despite how many there had been before.
That damn endless camping...
But Han Ibi's group had no choice but to find a spot to camp.
As night fell, the air grew chilly.
Yi Gye-taek used a fire starter on the dry firewood Han Ibi had gathered.
The thin trail of smoke soon roared with crackling flames, radiating cozy heat.
Yi Da-ryeon finished dinner early and retreated into the carriage to sleep.
The other three, unable to resist the allure of camping, ended up having another round.
There was plenty of liquor—they were tea peddlers, after all.
The carriage still held a good stock of Ki Yeom-ju.
The side dish was squirrel roast, caught by Han Ibi channeling his old waiter skills.
The ingredients were poor, but he'd possessed Chef Jo Jin-suk's body to wring out maximum flavor.
Yi Gye-taek said,
"Excellent. Truly excellent. Though there's barely a mouthful of meat."
Coming unconsciously from the stoic Yi Gye-taek, it had to be genuinely delicious.
Cha Du-haeng chuckled as if amused.
"Indeed. If even Gye-taek approves, your cooking skills are top-notch, little brother. With proper ingredients..."
"Aigoo, brothers. Please stop hyping me up. This humble brother's face is wearing thin from embarrassment. I mean, I was just a lowly waiter..."
Han Ibi realized in that moment he'd changed professions.
"...who picked up some cooking from the folks there. Back in the day. Ahaha."
"Oh ho, a young man of many talents."
But Cha Du-haeng, who had been laughing heartily, suddenly turned serious and called out to Han Ibi.
"Han, little brother."
"Yes, big brother."
"Truth be told... we're not ordinary tea peddlers."
"I had a feeling."
"Hahaha. How so?"
"Isn't it obvious? Look at yourselves. How could men like you be ordinary..."
"Enough joking. That's not what I mean."
Han Ibi dropped his smile as well.
"You brothers... you're martial artists, aren't you?"
Cha Du-haeng replied,
"That's right. We're from Hawon."
Yi Gye-taek chimed in from the side.
"To be precise, the Bird-Rat Society branch of Hawon."
Cha Du-haeng added,
"We handle intelligence gathering. This trip was for collecting information. And Da-ryeon..."
Cha Du-haeng glanced toward the carriage before continuing.
"...holds a key strategist position in Hawon."
"Oh ho. That young lady?"
"Hahaha. Underestimate her youth, and you'll regret it. She's sharper than she looks."
"Hahaha. I can tell without being told. But... why tell all this to a stranger like me?"
"Stranger? What kind of talk is that? We've already forged a bond of sworn brotherhood."
"Of course, you're right. Still..."
Cha Du-haeng shook his head helplessly.
"Fine. You're as sharp as they come, so I'll be direct."
"Please do."
Cha Du-haeng's expression grew grave.
"You're no ordinary person yourself."
I'd love to be super ordinary...
"And you're not from Hawon. Perhaps..."
As Cha Du-haeng trailed off, Han Ibi urged him on.
"Speak freely."
Yi Gye-taek cut in impatiently.
"Hey, kid. You with the Weimin Group?"
Weimin Group? Never heard of 'em, and I'm not with anyone.
Han Ibi said,
"Those trash we met mumbling to themselves? First time hearing 'Weimin Group' was then."
Cha Du-haeng nodded.
"Good. I figured as much, but had to ask. If there's even a hint of falsehood here, I won't forgive you even in hell..."
His face was so deadly serious it sent chills down the spine.
Han Ibi replied,
"Naturally. As a man of honor, how could I swear brotherhood and lie? If it's proven false, strike off my head with a single stroke, brother!"
Cha Du-haeng's face relaxed with relief.
"That's what I thought. Han, little brother—join Hawon."
Han Ibi was startled.
"Pardon?"
"Join Hawon. Anyone who's somebody in the jianghu is in Hawon."
Anybody in the 'jianghu'... meaning wandering ronin without affiliations...
"Ah, yes... of course. But..."
Han Ibi hesitated briefly.
I've never considered making enemies in the jianghu... but choosing an affiliation requires caution. I carelessly blabbed before and ended up a waiter class. Joining Hawon now might limit my options later.
"This little brother has some family matters to resolve first."
"Family matters?"
"Yes."
"Hard to discuss?"
"A bit... yes."
Cha Du-haeng looked a touch disappointed.
Yi Gye-taek remained impassive as ever.
"Fine. I won't push then."
"Thank you. Once these complications are sorted, I'll seek you brothers out and decide properly."
Cha Du-haeng laughed heartily.
"Good, straightforward as always. We'll reach Sichuan in about three or four days. Then we'll part ways."
"Truly regrettable."
"We feel the same. So..."
Cha Du-haeng paused thoughtfully before continuing.
"...as a parting gift, I'd like to teach you a few tea peddler tricks."
"Tricks?"
"Heh heh heh. Call it an investment in your future."
Han Ibi recalled Yi Gye-taek swallowing fire and shuddered.
"Aigoo, brothers. If it's fire tricks like that, this little brother politely declines."
Cha Du-haeng roared with laughter.
"Hahaha, not that. Useful for self-defense and health—like our miscellaneous skills."
"Miscellaneous skills?"
"Yes. You hate fire tricks, so no choice there. But I'll teach you Flying Knife Technique and Rock Fiend Skill."
Flying knives sound like tossing blades at a guy's head to slice an apple above it... What's Rock Fiend Skill?
Cha Du-haeng continued as if reading his mind.
"Rock Fiend Skill is like the indestructible diamond body."
Han Ibi thought,
Diamond body my ass... What diamond body for tea peddlers? It's Iron Shirt training—hardening the body like armored iron. The stunt where they beat each other to show off...
Han Ibi said,
"But brother... Isn't teaching martial arts to an outsider from another sect taboo in the jianghu?"
"For regular sects, yes. Hawon doesn't follow such rules. Besides, these aren't real martial arts."
True, Hawon's a ragtag alliance of all sorts.
"What do you say, little brother? Interested?"
Yeah, no harm in learning. My profession's already tea peddler anyway.
"Yes, brother. Of course. I'd be deeply grateful for your teachings."
Cha Du-haeng grinned with satisfaction.
"Excellent. Get up now."
"R... right now?"
Cha Du-haeng had already pulled several oddly shaped daggers from his belt.
The journey to Sichuan took another four days.
Every evening, Han Ibi learned Flying Knife Technique from Cha Du-haeng and Rock Fiend Skill from Yi Gye-taek.
Was it the lingering effect of the Hongmong Great Law? He absorbed the tea peddler skills in no time.
Cha Du-haeng, oblivious to the reason, called him a 'tea peddler to the bone' and nagged endlessly about joining Hawon later.
In spare time, Han Ibi quizzed Yi Da-ryeon about the Qingcheng Sect.
A faction strategist would know the jianghu inside out, he figured.
And he was right.
Yi Da-ryeon, initially stiff, soon spilled everything under Han Ibi's nods and flattery.
"The Qingcheng Sect's position in the current jianghu is utterly insignificant. They were once among the Nine Great Sects, renowned across the land... but they've been declining for ages. Maintaining their lineage this long is sheer luck. Their fall rivals the Zhongli Clan's decline after losing their Five Great Clan seat to the Hanbei Pang Family..."
Oof, this bold girl would faint if she knew I'm from the Zhongli family.
Her long explanation boiled down to one line:
Second-rate. Teetering between second- and third-rate.
They scraped by on past glory to keep the sect afloat.
True to countless wuxia clichés, among the Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Clans, Qingcheng was always a borderline sect or villain fodder, unlike Shaolin, Wudang, or Huashan.
Qingcheng's former glory had shifted to the Jeomchang Sect.
But what twist of fate?
Jeomchang's base was Yunnan Province, just south of Sichuan.
Yet Yunnan was remote, lacking prestigious sects.
Thus, they vied for dominance in Sichuan for ages.
Excluding the otherworldly Sichuan Tang Clan and Emei Sect, of course.
Like a soccer derby.
Losing turf to such hated regional rivals was a bitter pill.
The current Qingcheng Sect Leader was Hong Gu-geum, whose martial prowess was middling but whose political savvy kept things running.
Ever the same, past or present...
It reminded him of failing companies ramping up 'ceremonial pomp.'
Her eloquence flowed like clear spring water— a joy to hear.
Days passed like that.
And finally...
"Han, little brother. It's time we part."
Cha Du-haeng said, winking sadly with one eye.
(To be continued)