Chapter 88: The Stubborn One's Errand Leads to Opportunity
The Stubborn One's Errand Leads to Opportunity
Chapter 88: The Stubborn One's Errand Leads to Opportunity
"An opportunity from running errands? What the hell."
Cheol Myung-ho spurred his horse forward, increasing his speed.
Who could possibly guess that a man charging ahead with such ferocity was merely on his way to buy dumplings and jerky? With his rugged appearance, he looked more like a messenger from the infamous Black Path faction.
The moment he dismounted at the inn, he barked:
"Dumplings! Jerky! Ice candy! Give me everything you've got!"
Someone inside responded:
"We don't have ice candy."
"Damn it... Just prepare the dumplings and jerky for now!"
Cheol Myung-ho leaped back onto his horse and swung his iron umbrella wildly, charging off like a madman in search of ice candy.
"That damn ice candy!"
As he scanned the scattered inns ahead, galloping furiously, he spotted a low-hanging tree branch—a hazard that could easily injure riders. Without hesitation, he swung his iron umbrella mid-gallop and sliced through it.
CRACK!
The thick branch split cleanly in half with a sharp snap.
Cheol Myung-ho glanced back at the broken wood, satisfaction flooding him.
"Hah!"
He was naturally skilled at riding. The combination of speed, the iron umbrella's weight, and his Threefold Sword Technique amplified the strike's power several times over.
Suddenly, he reined in his horse and frowned.
Hmm. That felt... strange.
It was as if he had stumbled upon something that resonated with him. Galloping at full speed and swinging his weapon had left him exhilarated. He wondered if this was how the legendary generals of the Three Kingdoms fought. After all, his swordplay consisted of nothing more than thrusts and slashes—everything else was just improvisation.
The fusion of horsemanship and the Threefold Sword Technique had undeniably sharpened his combat prowess.
But he couldn't dawdle. A ghost denied its dumplings was a terrifying thing.
Cheol Myung-ho hurriedly bought dumplings, jerky, and finally, ice candy from a row of inns before rushing back to rejoin the caravan.
Even as he rode, his mind remained fixated on mounted combat.
He continued practicing the Threefold Sword Technique atop his horse.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
By now, he had swung his sword over three hundred thousand times. Maintaining balance on horseback forced him to adapt his slashes and thrusts, but Cheol Myung-ho managed surprisingly well—even while clutching a bundle of snacks in his left hand.
Then, he paused and stared at his iron umbrella.
Its short length left him unsatisfied. Suddenly, he understood why battlefield generals insisted on long spears. The iron umbrella was heavier than most weapons, giving him firsthand experience with the advantages of heavy arms. Even the skilled warriors of the Eight Dragons Sect had fallen to him precisely because of his weapon's sheer weight.
He muttered to himself:
"So that's why Guan Yu and Zhang Fei used those massive spears. Makes sense now."
Guan Yu's Green Dragon Crescent Blade supposedly weighed eighty-two geun. How much training would it take to wield such a weapon all day on the battlefield?
Cheol Myung-ho measured it in repetitions—he had already swung his sword three hundred thousand times.
If you swing it all day on the battlefield... you'd need to manage at least twelve hundred strikes without exhausting yourself. Guan Yu really was something else.
Lost in thought, he rejoined the caravan and completed his errand.
"Dumplings are here! Jerky's here! Eat the ice candy before it melts!"
The guards rushed forward to collect the snacks.
"Young Master Cheol, you've worked hard."
Cheol Myung-ho was the kind of man who injected energy into an otherwise tedious journey—constantly cursing and grumbling, yet always quick to get things done.
After a brief halt, the group settled down to eat dumplings and jerky.
Cheol Myung-go chewed his jerky aggressively before glaring at Dan Woo-sung.
Dan Woo-sung, also chewing jerky, raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Cheol Myung-ho blurted out:
"Buy me a spear."
Everyone stopped eating and stared at the two.
Dan Woo-sung replied:
"What kind of spear? There are dozens."
Cheol Myung-ho clarified:
"A heavy one. Something good for both slashing and thrusting."
Dan Woo-sung studied his expression before nodding.
"Got it."
Cheol Myung-ho blinked.
"Huh? Just like that? You'll buy it?"
"If we're buying, we might as well get a good one."
Dan Woo-sung turned to Mad God, who was eating dumplings.
"Brother, if we travel a bit further, we'll reach a city called Geumsan."
Mad God nodded.
"Let's rest there. The horses must be tired. We should stock up on dry rations too. Ah, Geumsan should have the Byeokcheon Ironworks."
"Correct."
Mad God glanced at Cheol Myung-ho casually.
"You can get your spear there."
Cheol Myung-ho nodded.
"Understood."
He had expected pushback for asking for a spear, but no one objected.
As he chewed his jerky, he studied the expressions and auras around him.
It struck him anew—there wasn't a single person weaker than him here. Even the disguised guards and coachmen were far more skilled than the disciples of the Eight Dragons Sect.
Cheol Myung-ho gnawed on his jerky irritably. He was already planning to train even harder with his new spear, pushing himself to the brink of collapse if necessary.
Unbeknownst to him, he was constantly absorbing the stimuli around him.
Dan Woo-sung watched his expression before speaking.
"Ho-ri, if a fight breaks out, assess the situation carefully. A martial duel with the Eight Dragons Sect isn't the same as real combat. Don't charge in like a madman."
Cheol Myung-ho nodded.
"Got it. Do I look like a kid?"
"Didn't you?"
The guards burst into laughter before covering their mouths. Cheol Myung-ho smirked and glanced at Baek Yak's subordinates.
"Next time, laugh properly. Brothers... it's fine."
One of Baek Yak's men grinned.
"Understood."
Cheol Myung-ho and Dan Woo-sung entered the Byeokcheon Ironworks—more precisely, its Geumsan branch. A renowned forge with branches across the Central Plains, they received impeccable service as esteemed guests.
A man approached them eagerly.
"Please, take your time looking around. Would you like to place a custom order, or are you here to purchase something directly?"
Cheol Myung-ho replied:
"Direct purchase."
"Understood. If you could specify the type of weapon, I'll guide you accordingly. The storage areas differ."
Cheol Myung-ho glanced around like a country bumpkin.
"I want a spear."
"You've come to the right place. Spears are Byeokcheon Ironworks' specialty."
Cheol Myung-ho asked:
"Why is that?"
"Our founder was a retired martial artist who started with just one spear. Regardless, we carry all varieties—halberds, ji, dagger-axes, and spears. We even produce famous replicas."
"Replicas?"
"You'll understand when you see them."
The guide led them to a display that left both men awestruck. Rows upon rows of spears and polearms filled the space.
The guide gestured proudly.
"They're replicas in the sense that they're modeled after historical designs—not cheap imitations. Every piece is quality-guaranteed."
Cheol Myung-ho was spellbound.
Had spears always been this beautiful? Or had swinging his sword three hundred thousand times opened his eyes to their elegance? Each one was a masterpiece.
With visible excitement, he pointed.
"A replica... Wait, is this Lü Bu's Sky Piercer?"
"Correct."
Multiple Sky Piercers lined the display, each differing in length and weight based on materials used.
Cheol Myung-ho turned to Dan Woo-sung.
"I'm confused—what exactly is a ji?"
"Look at the blade. Essentially, a ji is a spearhead combined with a dagger-axe. It's lethal for both thrusting and slashing. Ho-ri, since you've trained in the Threefold Sword Technique, a ji or halberd would suit you better than a pure thrusting weapon."
Dan Woo-sung drew the Green Dragon Crescent Blade and flicked its edge with his finger.
Clang—!
The resonance was impressive. He nodded approvingly.
"The blade's attachment is excellent. Overall craftsmanship is top-tier."
The guide stiffened at the extraordinary sound. The blade continued vibrating with a faint hum.
Cheol Myung-ho scanned the surroundings before declaring:
"I want the heaviest, sharpest, and most expensive one you have. Even if the shaft is entirely metal."
Dan Woo-sung shook his head.
"A spear isn't just for you—your horse has to bear its weight too. Heavier doesn't always mean better. And hardness is different from weight. A lighter yet sturdier weapon is ideal. Choose something you can actually fight with—something that'll save your life."
Cheol Myung-ho listened silently before nodding.
"You're right."
Dan Woo-sung told the guide:
"Show us weapons as he described."
The guide bowed.
"Understood."
Cheol Myung-ho swung his new weapon like a child overjoyed with a gift.
Whoosh!
He had chosen the highest-quality Sky Piercer replica—perfect for both thrusting and slashing, with just the right weight. Though he hadn't studied the Three Kingdoms in depth, he knew Lü Bu was the mightiest warrior.
Hence, the Sky Piercer.
While the caravan rested—cooling their feet, bathing, or eating—Cheol Myung-ho practiced relentlessly in an open area.
He cared little for the journey.
Only training mattered.
Just then, Mad God emerged from his bath, holding a piece of jerky. He called out to Cheol Myung-ho mid-swing.
"Ho-ri."
"Yes, Brother."
Mad God flicked the jerky with his finger, sending it flying like a hidden weapon.
Whizz—!
Cheol Myung-ho startled, raising his Sky Piercer to block.
Thunk!
How could jerky make such a sound?
Even though he had merely deflected a casually tossed piece, his arm throbbed.
Mad God spoke:
"Assassins will target your horse first. Can you stop them? It won't be easy against martial artists."
Cheol Myung-ho nodded.
"I'll keep that in mind."
Mad God extended his hand.
"Give me the Sky Piercer."
Cheol Myung-ho handed it over, wide-eyed. Even now, he had no inkling that Dan Woo-sung's sworn brother stood at the pinnacle of the orthodox factions.
Mad God gestured for him to step back before gripping the spear and locking eyes with him.
"Since you ran errands, I'll teach you how to use this."
Cheol Myung-ho stiffened.
"Brother... what's your title in the martial world?"
Mad God smirked.
"No need to know. You'll find out when the time comes."
Cheol Myung-ho wasn't entirely oblivious. The moment Mad God gripped the spear, the atmosphere turned lethally oppressive. Unconsciously, he knelt and placed his hands respectfully on his knees, watching intently.
Mad God deliberately let his killing intent surge as he spoke:
"There are two ways to learn martial arts. Half-heartedly... or as if your life depends on it. The half-hearted die at the hands of the relentless. Memorize every movement—breathing, stance, grip, sequence. Forget it all in battle if you must, but your reflexes must be faster than thought. How?"
Cheol Myung-ho answered:
"There's no choice but to train."
Mad God began demonstrating spear techniques.
"For martial artists, that's all there is."
And so, the opportunity Dan Woo-sung had spoken of began to unfold.