Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: The Notorious Lecher
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Truth be told, even Han Ibi felt a lingering regret.
These people felt more like real family than anyone.
'Should I really join the Hao Clan and just go with them?'
Then, out of nowhere, he thought of his mother.
The poor woman who must be sleepless with worry over her missing son...
Han Ibi shook his head vigorously and reined in his thoughts.
Like something out of a wuxia film, he cupped his fists in a formal salute.
"Brothers. And sister."
"Hmph. Sister? Who decided to call me sister?"
Han Ibi let out a hearty laugh.
"Got it. Little sister."
Only then did Yi Da-ryeon turn her gaze to look at Han Ibi.
For all her words, her expression seemed tinged with deep reluctance.
'Nah... must be my imagination.'
Han Ibi spoke up.
"Thank you all so much. This brother will never forget the kindness you and my brothers have shown me."
Cha Du-haeng smiled as he replied.
"The jianghu is infinitely vast, yet paradoxically narrow. If you stay in the martial world, brother, we'll meet again someday. Let's pledge that day and part on good terms today."
Han Ibi smiled back.
"Sounds good. Brothers. I'll bid you farewell today, dreaming of the day we meet again."
With that, he turned and strode down the path.
At last... his solitary journey into the jianghu had begun. All alone.
Oh?
Looking closely, the Fierce Tiger Palm Technique he'd learned from the epic quest was listed there.
Anyway, more skills were always a good thing.
Still... sigh.
It all felt incredibly complicated.
He'd picked up a bunch of miscellaneous skills, but nothing standout yet.
'Where the hell do I even start?'
Like a student lost on which subject to study first for the college entrance exams.
Or a newbie staring at an RPG skill tree for the first time...
Despite the dizzying array, Han Ibi decided to diligently practice them all in his spare time.
'You never know when they might come in handy.'
Besides, the fortune teller's odd skills were genuinely fun to practice.
The Dark Ghost Art was one thing, but the Dart Technique was a real thrill.
Like shooting at the range in the army...
Though reusing that one practice dart he'd been gifted got annoying fast.
And so, Han Ibi pressed on with his journey, training alone.
Then one day.
"Granny, what's the name of that mountain over there?"
The old woman, wrinkled and soaked in years, eyed him like he'd asked the stupidest question, her face sour as if she'd seen it all.
"You don't even know where you are? It's Qingcheng Mountain, what else?"
Joy flashed in Han Ibi's eyes.
Finally... he'd made it.
He'd navigated this vast Central Plains without getting lost.
He wanted to pat himself on the back.
He said,
"It's getting dark already, though. Granny, any decent place to stay nearby?"
She pointed off in one direction.
"Head that way, there's a mountain lodge. But with all the traffic, not sure if they've got room."
Heart pounding, he arrived at the lodge.
Anything... anything but camping again.
He'd had his fill at Demon Valley Mountain.
Didn't even need it warm—just something to lean his back against.
Did his prayers work?
This nameless lodge without even a signboard had exactly one spot left.
But it wasn't like regular inns with private rooms.
A massive hall crammed with beds, packed with men, women, young, and old from all walks.
'Ugh... reminds me of the barracks. Horrifying. But beggars can't be choosers.'
Han Ibi shoved aside idle thoughts and crammed himself onto a bed.
His weary, travel-worn body dragged him swiftly into sleep.
The murmurs of other guests faded as his mind slipped into oblivion.
Deep in the night, the lodge filled only with the sound of breathing.
Han Ibi snapped awake at a commotion. His hand instinctively went to his chest.
The short Mysterious Frost Blade would do this time.
"Everyone up! Everyone, please wake up!"
Mysterious figures poured into the communal room.
Their lanterns lit the space brightly.
Startled sleepers roused one by one, some irritable enough to spit curses.
A neat-looking young man spoke up, his face apologetic.
"Sorry to disturb your rest. Truly."
A burly, rough-looking man bellowed,
"What the hell is this?!"
The young man smiled amiably.
"Apologies again. But this is urgent..."
"Urgent enough to wake people in the dead of night?!"
The young man drew something from his robes.
"Regrettable, yes. But this concerns a critical Murim Alliance mission. We ask for your cooperation."
The burly man's eyes locked on it.
He jolted in shock.
Indeed.
Emblazoned there was the Alliance's emblem: a dragon and tiger entwined in relief.
The man's face paled to dirt.
"You... you're really from the Murim Alliance?"
"Yes."
The young man smiled warmly.
Now people took stock of the intruders.
Surprisingly, all were youthful, barely past boyhood.
Five men, one woman. Six in total.
The young man cupped his fists suddenly.
"I'm Yun Bangmun of the Jeomchang Sect."
Murmurs rippled.
Someone in the crowd knew him.
"The rising star of Jeomchang Sect, Young Hero Yun?"
Yun blushed modestly.
"Overpraise. Just an empty title."
"Young Hero Yun! No time for humility! Find that lecher quick!"
A woman snapped sharply.
Yun fumbled,
"R-right, of course. Little sister Tang."
A chill swept the room.
Those in the know understood.
This was Sichuan Province.
And that woman from the rare Tang Clan, affiliated with the Alliance...
She was almost certainly from the dreaded Sichuan Tang Clan.
Even famed jianghu heroes tread carefully around the Tang Clan.
Not out of fear, but disgust.
Poison was their specialty.
And poison was vicious.
A thick-browed, sharp-featured youth stepped forward, cupping fists.
"Little sister Tang is right. I'm Ok Geuntak of the Qingcheng Sect."
Gasp!
Han Ibi nearly choked.
He was heading to Qingcheng Sect, but meeting one like this?
The burly man, now all smiles, laughed.
"Hahaha. What an honor! The young heroes of Sichuan's three great sects, all at once."
Yun Bangmun said,
"We're pursuing Gu Cheonse, who escaped en route to the Alliance. Intel says he passed this way about two hours ago."
He seemed the senior among them, shy as he looked.
The burly man replied,
"Gu Cheonse? The lecher stirring up the Central Plains lately?!"
Yes.
The expert Gu Cheonse, once exiled from the borderlands for his crimes, had returned to the Central Plains two years prior.
True to form, he'd become a public enemy with his depravities.
"Indeed. The Alliance captured him in a joint operation."
The burly man gaped.
"You already caught him?"
Maeng Yushin of Jeomchang Sect scoffed.
"That pervert dared touch Elder Mun Pil-yong of Mount Hua Sect's only daughter..."
Tang A-yeon cut in sharply.
"Young Hero Maeng! Watch your words."
Maeng realized his slip and trailed off.
Obviously, the story of raping the elder's precious daughter...
"...Anyway, the Alliance was in uproar. That bastard's luck finally ran out."
Yun intervened to smooth things.
"Outraged sects sent aid for his crimes against innocent women. Without it, we couldn't have nabbed him so easily."
True.
Even the enigmatic neutral women's sect, Plum Mountain Sect, had helped.
"But... ridiculously, he escaped here in Sichuan during a lapse. So, humbly, we ask your cooperation and request guests reveal your identities to our Alliance members."
The vast room erupted in chaos.
People checked each other amid the din.
Han Ibi couldn't dodge it either.
Inspecting him was the sole woman: Tang A-yeon of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
"Your name?"
Better use his real one.
"Han Ibi."
"From where?"
"Shaanxi Province."
"Oh?"
She scanned him head to toe.
Suspicious, maybe.
"What do you do?"
"Uh, well... I'm... sort of a fortune teller."
Tang A-yeon raised an eyebrow.
"A fortune teller?"
"Yes."
"From Shaanxi?"
"That's right."
"Why's a Shaanxi fortune teller in Sichuan?"
"Well..."
It's a long story, miss! Even fortune tellers travel for business!
"...looking for someone."
"Oh?"
Her face soured with deeper suspicion.
Then, spotting something, she pointed.
"What's that?"
The Mysterious Frost Blade he'd briefly drawn and hidden.
(To be continued...)