Chapter 197
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 197
Chapter Title: On Purpose! (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Heard the news about that guy?"
"What now?"
"They say the Fortune Fist punished a black usurer who squeezed the common folk dry."
"So he's bragging about it again?"
"Oh, you heard?"
"Of course. The Fortune Fist isn't the type to let that slide."
"Aw, you're no fun."
"I can see it without looking. He's probably itching to spread the word."
As the rumors spread through the Beggars' Sect, most reactions were much the same. People could predict it, so they knew exactly what he'd do next. It was so obvious it bordered on ridiculous. Few were as transparently scheming as him. His efforts to make himself look good were downright pathetic.
"They say he pocketed more than what was in the ledgers."
"Right on the mark, as always."
"Money's a wonderful thing."
"Seeing something fine stirs the heart, they say. Does he get flak even for good deeds, that bastard?"
"Word is, when the officials questioned him, he tried to bribe them with cash."
"A slut's a slut, no matter how much you wash her."
"Gotta give him credit for his consistency."
"At this point, I don't even want to hear more."
Interest in the Fortune Fist's relentless rumor-mongering was starting to wane. It had been stimulating enough at first, but the constant overstimulation made the public crave even bigger shocks.
This was the so-called Fortune Fist effect.
Now, whenever the name Fortune Fist came up with any news, suspicion was the first reaction. Mujin genuinely worried about this cynical era where no one trusted anyone anymore... or so the rumors went.
Once he obtained Yong Mugil, Mujin headed straight for Cheongyang County without delay.
On the way to the family estate, he reviewed his own actions and those of the Demonic Cult of the Demon God. It was time to check how things were unfolding. Like ripples from a pebble tossed into a lake, the chain reactions were altering the future.
He needed a progress check.
For instance, the scramble for the Mujagi Newspaper should have erupted around now, but it was eerily quiet.
'Looks like history's changed, just as you said.'
-Even they'd find invading the Central Plains right now too burdensome.
'So what do you think next?'
-Why ask me?
'Because you were the cult's leader. You really have no idea how they'll move? If not, you're no better than a straw-mat cult leader.'
-Hmph. If it were me, I'd turn my eyes to the outer regions.
'Same here.'
-Then why ask?
Mujin slyly stirred the pot, but the Demon King took it in stride. After all these times, it barely annoyed him anymore. Mujin always cleverly scratched at his nerves to get what he wanted.
'So, which outer region do you think?'
-Do you ever think for yourself?
'Of course not.'
-How impressive.
'Cut the sarcasm. Where?'
-Handing me the answer on a platter!
'Dodging like that means you don't know.'
Mujin's brazen thick-skinnedness and overt provocation were enough to rattle the Demon King. At least if he hid his intent, it might be understandable, but Mujin never failed to betray the Demon King's expectations.
-Can't be certain, but after stirring chaos in the Central Plains, we incorporated the North Sea Ice Palace into the cult.
'Ah, the North Sea demon path. How'd you incorporate them?'
With the future where they stirred Central Plains chaos and turned outward altered, they might have shifted plans.
-No idea.
'How forthright.'
-I am the Demon King. No need to know such trivial details.
The Demon King had a point. He wouldn't have led operations or commanded directly, so he'd only know the broad strokes. In any case, Mujin had no desire to trek to the distant North Sea on a hunch.
'I'll think it over calmly once I'm home.'
-You're not planning to do it at all, are you?
'That way, I can mull over finding your body later.'
-You damned bastard! So you weren't going to search at all?'
'Obviously. We were enemies.'
-You creepy fuck, you won't die easy.
Mujin left the next steps to the Demon King. He was in the dark about Central Plains politics and had no particular interest.
From now on, Yong Mugil and his daughter-in-law would handle such matters. That's why he'd brought them along.
"Anyway, how long are you going to sulk? It was no big deal."
"No big deal~! That's it! You humiliated me!"
"You wanted to know."
"Still, there's a limit!"
Namgung Yeonhwa, awakened from the sleep technique, wanted to crawl into a hole. If she couldn't remember, she could ignore it, but she'd watched her own actions unfold from beneath the surface.
Even in sleep, memories of that day surged, sending blankets flying into the air countless times. Days later, they still popped up unbidden, making her face burn.
"How was it? Impressive, right?"
"Don't boast. It's deeply unpleasant."
"I could erase the memory if you want."
"Won't that erase other memories too?"
"Hard to cut out just that part precisely."
Memories flowed like a river, endlessly connected. Precisely excising one segment was nearly impossible. Even roughly approximating it was a feat.
-Not entirely impossible.
'I know.'
-Then why?'
'Nothing more embarrassing will happen in my life.'
Namgung Yeonhwa seemed rough on the outside, but raised like a jewel in the prestigious Namgung family, she unconsciously upheld dignity and grace.
A martial artist bound by pretense stiffens. Now, no matter what, she'd gained unshakable thick skin.
"Never speak of it again."
"Depends on what you do."
Eek!
Though fury rose, Namgung Yeonhwa held back. At least no one had seen then; the fear of the sleep technique striking on a crowded street was overwhelming.
Underestimating it as "not that far" was dangerous.
'This is too unfair.'
Overwhelmed by martial arts alone, now he wielded sleep techniques too. Even she, a master, had been reduced to a madwoman in an instant. Adaptation might come with experience, but first encounters left one defenseless.
'Just how much is he hiding?'
His hidden divine skills aside, it fueled suspicions he might practice demonic arts.
Namgung Yeonhwa shook her head.
No traces of demonic arts even when sparring her grandfather. He'd have noticed.
'Does this even make sense?'
Reaching mastery in martial arts took a lifetime of effort. Mastering even one was arduous. Ascending to grandmaster level in multiple fields was impossible.
"Looks like you're finally realizing this body's greatness."
"Shut your mouth."
That mouth was the problem.
Bearable when quiet, but its incessant chatter eroded his dignity. The raucous Fortune Fist moniker wasn't entirely false.
'What does this guy even think with?'
Overwhelming force aside, his talents spanned fields. A hero sweeping away the Central Plains' undercurrents to establish righteous chivalry... hardly.
"We shouldn't go out now."
The Pine Tiger Sect came into view.
Namgung Yeonhwa and Yukchil felt relief that Mujin had no desire to roam the world, yet unease lingered.
Back at the Pine Tiger Sect, Mujin introduced Hwangbo Se-ryeong, his son's fiancée, and the new deputy chief steward, Yong Mugil.
His parents warmly welcomed Hwangbo Se-ryeong, who had been betrothed to their grandson. She charmed them with her innocent facade, oblivious to all. Pure fox tactics, but better than bear-like dullness.
His wife saw through the future daughter-in-law's vulpine wiles but found them endearing. Women knew women, it seemed.
The family definitely needed a sharp woman. Picking the wrong one could turn the house upside down.
Mujin left Hwangbo Se-ryeong and Yong Mugil with his wife and met privately with his father. Reporting to the family elder after a long absence was basic courtesy.
Kang U-gyeong disliked his son's courtesy but what could he do? If the son insisted, he couldn't stop him.
"How was the Hwangbo family?"
"I barely talked them out of holding the wedding immediately. As you know, I'm just that great."
Kang U-gyeong shook his head at the probe about the Hwangbo intentions. Even as his son, that self-praise was hard to stomach. Denying it would invite retaliation.
"How's the Fist King?"
"Very healthy. His martial arts were stagnating, so I helped a bit."
The "help" wasn't pure. From when his son promised aid before leaving.
"...You beat him?"
"No martial artist admits defeat easily. He's even stronger now."
Kang U-gyeong realized his son's strength far exceeded expectations. At this level, claiming supremacy was no stretch. His son had surpassed his father to shake the world.
'Why am I not happy at all?'
Anxiety flooded him—he'd never escape his son's clutches. The boy who punched the Fist King—what couldn't he do? No use in "surely not."
Beating your in-laws wasn't sane to begin with.
"Congratulations, Father. Pine Tiger Sect's the top in Cheongyang now."
"Thank you."
It had finally come.
He hadn't hoped it'd be skipped. He'd aligned with the second son and gotten his daughter-in-law's cooperation. A father-in-law minding his daughter-in-law's mood—the world had changed. To adapt, he must change too.
"Step aside, Father."
"What?"
"You're not the adventurous type."
"True. That's not me."
"Muho, the boy's gotten cocky and lost his senses."
"Sadly so."
Kang U-gyeong broke his promise with the second son without hesitation. He snatched the escape route and wished Muho luck.
May he take only a light beating, as a father prays.
"You're on my side, right, Father?"
"Naturally."
Mujin presented his father a gift and unwrapped it.
"What's this?"
"Millennium Spirit Root. Best shared with Mother."
"Only you think of me. Muho just trains—zero flexibility."
"I'll work on that this time."
"Make it substantial."
"Of course. He's a future hero."
A son becoming a hero should gladden parents, yet Kang U-gyeong worried for his second son's future.
How much he'd be exploited.
After returning, he spent time with his wife. The outing had stretched longer than planned. Not enough to sate their pent-up longing.
No words needed. Passion of flesh sufficed. Even his once-gentle wife was wild today.
His wife's Yin-Yang Divine Art surpassed the fleshly realm. With Yin-Yang Union and spirit medicines, her inner power rivaled first-rate experts.
Mujin reviewed his wife's martial arts. Though not training professionally as deputy steward, her talent shone.
Her figure was unrivaled.
Her beauty vouched by her live-in husband. With growing inner power, she'd shed aging. Younger than before. Her skin's elasticity entranced. Every day felt like meeting a new wife.
Rustle!
Mujin, waking as the bedsheets slipped, grabbed his wife's waist in the early dawn bustle.
Where do you think you're going?
"I'll make breakfast."
"No need."
"Don't. You tormented me till dawn."
"Let's rest today."
"One day off means more work piles up."
"Aah, come on!"
"Out and back, and now you're all clingy."
The Demon King, trapped in Mujin's abyss within the Solitary Eagle Fortress, raged. Mujin ignored him, pulling his wife close with lingering desire. Skipping one day wouldn't doom the sect.
If it would, it'd have collapsed long ago.
"How's the deputy steward?"
"Where'd you find him?"
"Not to your liking?"
"I can't handle him. Not just knowledgeable—his ability to apply it is unreal. Seems like he envisions the whole plan at a glance."
"Perfect. Hand it all over."
"I don't want to be a freeloader."
"Hey, insulting me?"
"You've done enough. Time to rest easy."
Rumors were meaningless. Yujin trusted her husband. She knew his devotion to the sect and world. Pine Tiger Sect's top spot in Cheongyang stemmed from it.
If such a husband wanted rest, she had a duty to let him.
"Even if people curse you, I believe in you."
"No need to say it. I believe in you too."
Worst villain or not, Mujin didn't care. Public opinion and infamy paled against his wife's words. If she believed, he could conquer any adversity.
Though he lacked confidence in winning.
Anyway, Mujin didn't lose sight of his goal.
"Rest today?"
"Fine."
"Thanks."
"Thank you too."
Mujin stayed in bed with his wife. He desperately wished this eternity. To make it so, he had to crush the Demonic Cult of the Demon God swiftly.
-You know that and still laze with your wife!
'Gotta sleep sometime!'
-It's daytime! The next day!
'They say three days' sleep keeps you healthy.'
The Demon King, pondering the cult's next move alone in the abyss while Mujin feigned concern, ground his nonexistent teeth at the sloth.
'Bored? Play with the Mythic Demon Spirit Armor.'
-Go to hell.
Under the Demon King's curse, sleep came sweetly to Mujin.
-Come up the mountain.
Muho, unfolding Taejin's note, sensed the inevitable. He felt utterly alone. Cowardly, his father had fallen for his eldest brother's appeasement. The once unflinching father's indifference chilled him.
'That's why it felt too quiet.'
The sect's peace contrasted his turmoil. But it was a rite of passage to endure. Avoidance only prolonged anxiety.
"Uncle, steel yourself."
"Taejin, is that encouragement?"
"You won't die. You're the vice sect leader to lead the sect. And Father hates inefficiency."
"Out once, and you've turned into a sly fox."
"You should go out with Father sometime."
Muho quelled his rising ire. Come to think, the nephew was his brother's son. Longer time together etched the family traits indelibly.
Blood was thicker than water.
"You've gotten better at provocation."
"Too bad."
Taejin hadn't expected much. Just easing his uncle's rigid heart. It irked him that his innocent sister, feigning ignorance with a bright smile, was the crisis's culprit.
"If you'd allowed it, it wouldn't have happened."
"How nice that would be."
"True."
"Just someone else's problem, huh?"
"I'd have run away."