Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: The Lengthy Procedure
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Jin-un clicked his tongue as he looked at the points Soo-hyuk had gathered.
"The streamer profession really is something. You've collected quite a haul."
On the wide porch overlooking the expansive garden.
Soo-hyuk nodded as he sipped the tea Jin-un had given him.
"I've earned a good amount."
"Why didn't you fill it up all the way? You're just 300,000 points short."
Soo-hyuk had prepaid 200,000 points.
The remaining amount was 800,000. And Jin-un had agreed to proceed with the procedure in stages based on the payments.
That left 300,000 points ahead.
There would be no need to travel back and forth or undergo multiple sessions if he simply gathered the remaining points first.
"I'm in a hurry."
But Soo-hyuk couldn't do that.
He had to spend the points he'd gathered right away, even if it was a bit inconvenient.
"The next trial is right around the corner."
And Greg might contact him at any moment.
Swallowing those words inwardly, Soo-hyuk pressed Jin-un again.
"Is it difficult?"
"It's a hassle, but a troublesome guest is still a guest. Follow me."
He said it was possible in the most mischievous way. Soo-hyuk let out a sigh of relief.
If he'd been told to come back after gathering the rest, he planned to invest 320,000 points into 'Selfish Sacrifice'.
It wouldn't have been a bad option, but it would have pushed back the completion of the procedure by one step.
'A three-stage procedure...'
It was a 1 million-point procedure, but splitting it up like this had to be quite annoying.
Jin-un's agreement without any compensation was purely out of goodwill.
'Thanks, old man.'
Following behind Jin-un, Soo-hyuk had a gut feeling that this session would be particularly long and arduous.
But no matter how many points it took, he couldn't give up on the procedure.
Beyond the Lightning skill, the Heart of Thunder he'd obtained this time was clearly not something easy to handle. Even Thor, one of the higher gods, hadn't been able to wield a complete Heart of Thunder.
Upon arriving at the workshop, Jin-un issued his first warning.
"This session will be longer than the last."
Swoosh-.
As Jin-un picked up a sharp procedure tool, Soo-hyuk removed his upper clothing and set it aside.
"Don't fall asleep. No screaming no matter how much it hurts. The medicinal energy will all dissipate."
"Understood."
"Talk is cheap."
Tsk. Jin-un shook his head briefly.
"Don't come crying to stop later because it hurts."
"Absolutely not."
50,000 points weren't the name of some stray dog.
He would endure no matter how painful. He was confident in his endurance.
"Let's begin."
Soo-hyuk gritted his teeth.
The procedure began.
Three days had passed since Soo-hyuk's updates had gone silent.
Unhyang waited for his return. With nothing pressing to do, she treated it like a vacation.
Her occasional tasks were just checking the community forums and peeking at view counts on new videos.
"I'm suffocating."
Cheongryang was the first to stand from her seat.
"Why are you so quiet?"
"Me?"
"Yeah, you. Who else is here besides you and me?"
Unhyang nodded as Cheongryang pressed her.
"That's true."
"Don't just nod—say something. What are you thinking about to be this silent for days?"
"Thinking what."
Unhyang gazed at the thin, long sword placed beside her.
"Just sharpening it."
"Sharpening...?"
Cheongryang tilted her head, puzzled by the words.
Muhwi had visited three days ago. It wasn't the first time, so she didn't think much of it.
She figured he'd come to persuade Unhyang again.
But apparently not.
'Is she preparing for a fight?'
From that moment, Unhyang had been readying herself for battle.
She had lived as a manager in the streaming world for a long time without acting as a Player.
An unused sword would rust. Unhyang kept silent, inwardly honing and sharpening her edge.
Probably soon.
She would have need for it.
"...I see?"
Cheongryang stood, trying her best to act nonchalant.
"Then keep sharpening well. I'm heading in to sleep first."
"No intention to talk?"
"Huh?"
"About what he said there."
"Looks like you haven't told her yet."
"If he doesn't return—."
Muhwi's interrupted words.
Unhyang had been mulling over what they meant.
If he doesn't return.
There had surely been a threat after that.
"It was nothing much."
"Nothing much, and you make such a fuss?"
"Yeah, well. You know that old man's personality. He threatens just to scare people unnecessarily. No need to take it to heart. It'll just ruin your mood."
As if she had no intention of saying more, Cheongryang waved her hand dismissively.
"Anyway, I'm off to bed. You sleep soon too, not too late."
Cheongryang entered her room at the end of the porch.
Confirming the door close, she looked up at the sky.
The moon shone brightly, blotting out the stars.
And between them, Unhyang turned her gaze back to the lodge door.
'Who might come in.'
If Soo-hyuk returned, it would be a relief. Then she could just head straight upstairs.
It wasn't perfectly safe there either, but it would be far better than being in the heart of the Murim world.
On the other hand, if that door opened and Muhwi entered again...
Creeeak-.
The door began to open slowly right then.
The door she hadn't locked, hoping Soo-hyuk would return.
It swung wide open, revealing an unwelcome face.
"You this time?"
Unhyang's expression soured.
A man with a blue scabbard at his side, his mask pulled down.
A long scar marred one eye. He regarded Unhyang with impassive eyes.
"Referring to your sasukjo as 'you'—such insolence."
"Sasukjo, what sasukjo. That was ages ago. Just call you Uncle Unyeop."
"A teacher is eternal, just as our bond cannot be severed."
Unhyang's sasukjo.
Heavenly Thunder Sword Jaunyeop extended a hand toward her.
"Come back now, Hyang-ah. Everyone's waiting for you."
"What do you know. Whether they wait or not."
Shing-.
The keenly sharpened sword bared its edge. Unhyang's narrowed eyes flashed, chilling the surrounding air.
Some of the men who had followed Jaunyeop breathed raggedly beneath their masks.
As Unhyang fully drew up her energy, even breathing grew difficult.
But not a single one.
"Hearing you say that pains me."
Jaunyeop alone showed no disturbance, gazing at her with bitter eyes.
"In the end, I have no choice but to use force."
"Who said I'd let myself be dragged off?"
"I know you're a genius. But Hyang-ah, you must understand that no one among those towering in the Murim skies was not called a genius in their youth."
Crackle-.
As Jaunyeop's hand moved to his scabbard, blue lightning sparked.
"I was the same."
Jaunyeop.
He was the castle lord of Shinryeongseong and junior brother to Un Cheon-geuk.
A Murim master who had competed with Un Cheon-geuk in his youth to become lord of Shinryeongseong.
Now, he was a pillar upholding Shinryeongseong and a great high ranker.
'He's dead serious.'
Unhyang frowned.
She had known they would come again. She had steeled herself for battle and prepared to wield her sword after so long.
But Jaunyeop, of all people.
He was no pushover.
Still.
"No more chit-chat—"
She couldn't run from it.
"Let's get this over with quick. That's better for you too, right?"
"Wait."
Jaunyeop halted Unhyang as she rose and reached for her sword.
"It's too noisy here. Too many people around. Shall we relocate first?"
"You joking right now?"
Unhyang's voice dripped with irritation.
"Why the hell should I? Why do I have to cover for your dirty laundry?"
"You must."
"Bullshit—"
It was then.
Unhyang whipped her head around.
Amid all this commotion, Cheongryang had been too quiet. The moment that thought struck her, a faint presence emanated from inside the room.
"I was about to warn you, but it seems you noticed first."
"You bastards—!"
"My apologies. For resorting to such petty tactics."
His apology did nothing to improve her mood. Whether sincere or not didn't matter.
Whoosh-.
Thud-.
Grabbing her sword and flying toward the room, Unhyang roughly flung open the door to where Cheongryang had been sleeping.
"Cheongryang, you okay—"
Unhyang's words cut off abruptly.
A man was holding a blade to the neck of Cheongryang, whose body was rigid from acupuncture points.
Step-.
Jaunyeop walked up from behind.
"That girl had come to Shinryeongseong in your stead."
Jaunyeop's gaze passed over Unhyang's back to the acupunctured Cheongryang.
"Your closest friend, right?"
"You bastards."
Grit-.
Unhyang clenched her teeth hard.
Jaunyeop entering through the main door had been to conceal this from the start.
He had masked the intruder's presence in Cheongryang's room with his own.
The intruder's stealth was excellent, but if it had been just him targeting Cheongryang, she would have noticed sooner.
"I won't ask you to return to the castle. Just let's move to a quiet place."
"So you do feel shame?"
"Of course."
Jaunyeop nodded.
"If 'we' lose, we'll withdraw cleanly."
And with those words.
Poof, whoosh-.
The lodge garden filled with countless martial artists.
"You've really stooped low."
"I'll pay you back in spades."
"This ends today."
Swish-.
Unhyang turned her body.
Walking slowly out of the room, she glanced back at Jaunyeop.
"You—today, you die by my hand."
Meeting her eyes, Jaunyeop felt a chill run down his spine for a moment.
'A genius...'
Many had been called geniuses, but none had that title affixed before their name.
Except for one.
Unhyang—the sole person who had 'genius' as an epithet before her name.
Shinryeongseong wanted her for that very talent.
'Good thing I came myself.'
If he had sent Muhwi or the other junior disciples, they would surely have been wiped out.
Swipe-.
The surrounding martial artists parted before her steps.
Shinryeongseong's warriors.
To them, Player Unhyang was a living legend, an idol.
Even if they met like this.
She was someone to be respected and honored.
"Release her."
At Jaunyeop's command, the man gripping Cheongryang's neck let go.
Thud-.
Cheongryang's body collapsed to the floor.
At the same moment, Cheongryang's head, freed from the acupuncture, lifted with effort.
"No... don't."
Halt-.
Unhyang's footsteps paused briefly.
But she couldn't turn back now.
"Sleep for a bit."
Without looking back, Unhyang resumed walking.
"I'll be back before the next stream."