Chapter 79
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Do You Think Money Buys Everything? (4)
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Mujin's fist pressed forward, and Na Reung took the hit. Na Reung's dazzling footwork, which had earned him the nickname Heavenly Face Fox, was utterly useless. Every strike landed precisely where it was aimed.
The brilliant fist shadow of Beyond Heaven unleashed its glow.
Bam! Bam! Bam! Bam! Pow!
Turning a single person into a rag wasn't difficult. In a short time, Na Reung's face and body became unrecognizable.
Thud!
But the strange thing was how Na Reung's battered face and body quickly reverted to their original state. This was the devil's sorcery. The poison Mujin had implanted had its own regenerative power. It kept the target alive until Mujin decided to kill them himself.
"Please spare me. I'll do anything you command!"
"Why should I trust a guy who was cursing me out earlier?"
"You said that if we obtain the Heavenly Martial hidden in the Mythical Horse Spirit Armor, we could become true immortals!"
"Even that wouldn't work on me."
No matter the martial art, Mujin didn't believe anything could match him. If such a technique existed, it would have surfaced long ago. The current era of the jianghu might be peaceful, but that didn't mean ancient arts were superior. History had a way of romanticizing and distorting the past over time.
-You do know you're a relic from the past yourself, right?
'That's why I'm so impressive.'
Mujin's confidence was the real deal.
Na Reung felt it clearly too. This man's arrogance surpassed even the Heavenly Martial Master. A wave of anxiety hit him—the persuasion might be impossible.
Then why did you tell me to come find you?
Na Reung reached a conclusion that made no sense. This guy had no greed for treasure, yet he'd tormented people into tracking it down anyway.
If that's the case, just let me go!
"You said you don't need it, so why bother?"
"If I can't have it, it bugs me to see someone else enjoy it. That's just common sense, right?"
......Holy crap!
His brutal honesty left Na Reung speechless again.
"If I can't have it, better to smash it."
Mujin wasn't the type of hero to simply hope others found the treasure on their own. If he couldn't claim it, he preferred to crush it.
"I swear I'll find it! Just give me time!"
"Too much hassle."
"The treasure hidden by the Heavenly Martial Master is astronomical in value!"
With the flames licking at his feet, Na Reung pulled out all the stops to persuade him. But would Mujin cling to treasure instead of martial arts? He was odd, but utterly detached from worldly goods.
"Why didn't you say that sooner? I almost killed you!"
"......Ah!"
He really seems attached to it.
Na Reung had never met someone so blatantly materialistic.
If Mujin were a third-rate martial artist, it might make sense, but he was clearly a supreme expert. Experts were supposed to have some dignity, yet this guy had none—just pure materialism.
That's what made him so uncomfortable to deal with.
'He doesn't care about reputation!'
He was worlds apart from those who fretted over rumors. This was someone who prioritized substance over fame.
His desperate flattery to survive continued. Na Reung spared no sycophancy.
"If you wear the Mythical Horse Spirit Armor, you'll become far stronger than you are now!"
"My body's already way tougher. Why bother with that junk?"
"Then why did you have us find it?"
"Anniversary gift for my wife."
"You went through all this for just......Guhk!"
"Want another beating?"
Grabbed by the collar, Na Reung felt like he was suffocating.
The idea of gifting an ancient treasure for an anniversary left Na Reung dumbfounded. The Heavenly Martial Master would rise from his grave in fury. If word got out in the jianghu, who'd believe it? He almost wished it were a lie.
But it felt genuine.
'That's too much!'
Why was such an absurd guy so ridiculously strong? The world was cruel without mercy.
In the Pine Tiger Sect, Mujin had been treated like dust.
A nuisance when it piled up, bothersome.
Yet dust was always there. As long as it didn't get too bold, it was tolerable.
But after breaking the Mystic Zither Sword, the gazes changed. He was no longer something to brush off like dust. He wasn't in any official position either—just the sect leader's eldest son.
Nicely put, a free spirit; bluntly, a wastrel. Before, it was a relief if he didn't cause trouble, but now people said he should do something.
His reputation was improving thanks to those who'd taken bribes. Chief Steward Baek hadn't hoarded the gifts but shared them.
The Pine Tiger Sect's Three Elders.
Kang Cheon-myeong, Jeon Jang-hun, and Lee Gwak gathered. They didn't have a dedicated elder hall. They discussed in their rooms when needed. No point in rumor-mongers getting a separate sect leader's office, executive chamber, or elder hall just to complicate things.
"Who could've guessed he'd break the Mystic Zither Sword."
"We thought he was just loafing around, but he must've trained in secret."
"Even so, we can't create a position out of thin air."
None of them were confident they could defeat the Mystic Zither Sword. Sure, the Jeon family was weaker militarily than the other great families, but that was relative. No one in the Pine Tiger Sect could compare.
Flip it around, and it meant they were weaker than Mujin.
Ahem.
The Three Elders hated admitting it. They might accept it from Kang Muho, the sect's rising star. He'd trained rigorously since childhood—a hardworking genius. His title as the sect's top prodigy wasn't empty.
But Mujin's messy past didn't vanish. The more they recalled his wastrel days, the harder it was to believe his recent feats.
If he'd trained diligently, maybe, but he'd lounged like a bum all day. As the husband of the chief steward managing sect affairs, he did nothing.
At first, they were glad he stayed out of trouble, but watching him blow money idly twisted their guts.
"Where'd all that money even come from?"
"Good luck, I guess."
"At least he didn't dip into the sect's funds."
If he'd wasted sect money, they'd have grounds to chew him out, but it was his own cash—no real leverage.
"Still, that's too much."
"Yeah, not pocket change."
"With that much, he could've refitted all our weapons or bought premium elixirs."
When the sect needed contributions, he was splashing cash like water. The problem? Complaining just made them look petty. Past words tying their hands made scolding him tough.
Worse, he used to ignore them because his skills were weak—now he was stronger.
All this trouble stemmed from breaking the Mystic Zither Sword.
Before, disciples treated him like air. Now that they acknowledged him, handling Mujin became a headache.
Easy to bell a cat, but who bells a tiger?
"Was he really strong enough to beat the Mystic Zither Sword?"
"Guess we'd have to spar to find out."
"Then perhaps Elder Kang could......"
"Hey now! You gotta believe a man when he speaks—instead of doubting first."
It was hard to buy the Mystic Zither Sword claim. To verify, they'd need a fight. If false, fine; if true, total humiliation.
Ugh.
Whether then or now, he had a knack for making people uncomfortable.
Unable to agree, the Three Elders reluctantly summoned Mujin. No choice but to ask his opinion directly.
"You called for me?"
"Sit."
Mujin sat and sipped the tea on the table. Compared to his usual top-grade teas, it fell short. Asking if he knew the difference would just embarrass everyone.
"Your recent efforts are commendable. But you stepped down as Vice Sect Leader. Returning now could cause issues."
"No plans to become sect leader, so don't worry about that."
"Even so, you can't just idle as the great young master with all eyes on you."
"Then make me a Dharma Protector."
Mentioning Dharma Protector drew odd looks from the Three Elders. In major sects, it held real power. But in a small one like Pine Tiger, it was unnecessary—an honorary title for when no better rank fit.
In other words, permission to keep loafing and blowing cash without contributing.
Yet it wasn't a bad choice. Involving him in sect matters now would complicate things.
Still, a young guy doing nothing like a wastrel irked them. They worked tirelessly themselves.
"Dharma Protector ranks below the sect leader. Neglect duties, and gossip will spread."
"I'll rely on the elders' help."
Mujin subtly pulled a bill from his sleeve.
A 500-nyang bill.
Suk Jo-bu hardened his expression and snapped.
"Do you think money buys everything?!"
"Not what I meant."
Mujin pulled out another bill.
This one 1,000 nyang.
"Hey, you......"
"Must be tough, huh."
Mujin drew two more.
Each 1,000 nyang.
And added,
"Well, money isn't everything."
"......Probably not always."
As Mujin reached to take them back, the elders' resolve melted like snow.
-Toying with them.
'Money makes the world go round.'
Pretending otherwise was hypocrisy. And this was when money shone best. Show the fool-turned-substantial side occasionally.
Even after Mujin finished his tea and left, the elders couldn't peel their eyes from the bills. Life felt empty now. Some slacked off and got cash bundles plus stronger—unfair.
'What karma did that kid rack up in a past life?'
'We're the materialists.'
'Should've scolded him sternly, but now we're too ashamed.'
With official Dharma Protector status, Mujin's life stayed leisurely. He watched over Taejin and Mijoo until his wife returned from work, occasionally pricking Cheol-ho's pride.
Stoking Cheol-ho's competitive fire made the boy train hard on his own.
When his wife clocked out on time, he'd set the table himself for wedded bliss. Even if the world ended tomorrow, Mujin savored the moment.
'Qi circulation's a bit off.'
-No conscience, huh.
'Not just living well for me.'
-I'll make you regret it.
'Never seen a proper revenge from trash-talkers.'
-Watch me.
Bickering with the Demon King spiced daily life. Scratch him right, and he hustled.
Weekly training built father-son bonds. As the unfilial son who'd ignored his father, he was making up for it.
"......Son! That sword block's too much!"
"Fancy sword block? Nah, just swung it fast."
Kang U-gyeong, who'd landed a proud blow, crumbled when his secret move was blocked. Mujin's casual blocks forced life-or-death tension.
He hated these brute spars.
Why keep getting stronger?!
"Another fulfilling spar today. You'll do better next time."
"Not comforting at all!"
After humbly tending his father's frustration, he neatly crushed his smug little brother's arrogance after reaching the Harmony Realm.
"Don't get cocky just 'cause you can use qi."
"Still, Hundred-Step Divine Fist is overkill."
"Hundred-Step what? Just an intangible fist from a hundred paces."
"......Same difference!"
All for family.
Though Mujin didn't meddle in sect affairs, Pine Tiger was strengthening bit by bit. Only family knew, of course.
Meanwhile, Mujin honed his arts through mental imagery. Battles with the Demon King helped immensely.
"Hey."
"Yeah? What?"
Na Reung, who'd sweated blood preparing and waiting, couldn't hold back as time dragged.
"When's the Mythical Horse Spirit Armor?"
"Ah~~!"
'Ah~~!' He forgot!
The dead Heavenly Martial Master would wail.
His prophecy of rushing daily fearing theft was shattered.
What face would he make knowing his arts were so scorned?
"Guess I should find it."
"Of course!"
Tsk.
Regrettable, but time to move. The Demonic Cult of the Demon God was stirring for their Central Plains invasion.
Good chance to multitask.