Chapter 84
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Pacifist (3)
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‘Getting it for free! There were guys trying to snag it for thirty nyang of silver, so compared to them, I'm practically nobility.’
-You're no different from those guys.
‘Jealous much?’
-Hmph, you're gonna regret that.
People were inexplicably flocking to him without any effort, which was rubbing the Demon King the wrong way. If things kept going like this, it might become hard to prove his own necessity later on. That would be a real problem. This guy was a total slacker who never lifted a finger unless he absolutely had to.
Hwang Woo-cheol packed his things simply. To avoid wasting time, he set off right away. Mujin had anticipated this and arranged for a carriage from the Jeongun Merchant Group to wait outside.
“They really trashed the place.”
Before leaving, Hwang Woo-cheol made sure to sabotage the forge just enough so his forging techniques wouldn't be exposed. He couldn't tolerate just anyone using his stuff.
Narung couldn't understand why his master would waste time on a single forge.
“His forging skills are decent, but not outstanding enough to covet.”
“If that's all you see, then your eyes are worthless.”
Hwang Woo-cheol didn't make weapons. He'd only recently started making swords. And yet, he'd produced a sword of impressive quality and completion. If given more time for his skills to mature, he could craft divine weapons.
Mujin had been searching for Hwang Woo-cheol even before coming to Wuhuan. He'd been waiting for the man to hit rock bottom. Timing it perfectly was impossible, but he had a rough grasp of the situation.
“If you're in Wuhuan, you'd have to stop by the Yellow Crane Tower.”
“What about my gauntlets?”
“Huh?”
“What about the Mythic Demon Spirit Armor?”
“Oh!”
Mujin vaguely remembered suggesting they repair Cheol-ho's gauntlets and go look for the Mythic Demon Spirit Armor…!
He was satisfied with acquiring the Thousand Arm Sage. Things were falling into place step by step, and he felt proud.
-Quit acting like you're some master planner!
“What about those guys?”
“They're swaggering around the nearby city streets.”
The sect leader of the Heavenly Water Sect, Hong Won, wore a look of utter exasperation at his subordinate's report. It was so absurd and infuriating that he couldn't even get angry.
The whole incident was equally ridiculous.
The Wall Tiger Hall Leader had gone to recruit an experienced forger and came back with crippled arms. Far from securing the forger, he'd exposed the sect's weaknesses.
Part of him wanted to bury the idiot who pulled such a stupid stunt and ended up crippled.
Even so, the intruders' actions in disrupting the main event were enough to stoke his rage. If they'd just fled, that might've been one thing, but they were parading openly around Wuhuan's streets near the sect, as if the main event meant nothing to them.
“Did you find out who they are?”
“They're from the Pine Tiger Sect of Cheongyang.”
“That podunk sect even exists?”
“The sect itself is nothing special, but that guy beat the String Music Sword.”
Since they hadn't fled after provoking them, he'd been cautious, wondering if they had backup. If the Blood Rakshasa Sect found out, it could spell trouble. Still, he couldn't just let them walk away after insulting the main sect's honor.
“Should we request assistance from the Zhuge Clan?”
“You fool, what do you think the Zhuge Clan would call us if we made such a petty request?”
The Heavenly Water Sect was affiliated with the Zhuge Clan, similar to the subordinate sects of the Nine Great Sects. But it wasn't the same blind loyalty. It was a calculated alliance of mutual benefit, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they'd secured their position in Wuhuan by clinging to the Zhuge Clan's backing.
“Keep tracking their movements.”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
If word got out that they'd suffered an insult and let them go quietly, preserving their standing in Wuhuan would be impossible.
“Now you look human again. See? All it takes is a wash. You make things so complicated. Come on, eat up.”
“……Thank you!”
The young man sitting across from Mujin at the table looked like he couldn't accept why he had to share a meal like this. He responded obediently, but he was clearly uncomfortable, unlike his usual self.
‘How did it come to this?’
Until he'd received his orders and set out on his mission, he hadn't anticipated a situation like this. Did that mean he couldn't carry out his mission? Not exactly. In fact, the mission had become easier.
The problem was that he was now under open surveillance.
‘What the hell is this guy?’
Even during his investigation, the man's actions had been bizarre. Far from ordinary—honestly, suspicious and weird. Now, he was starting to suspect the guy might be a total lunatic.
“Hey, beggar. Why aren't you eating? Does it bother you that I'm buying? Want me to make it more comfortable for you?”
“……No, sir! I'll eat well!”
Yukchil had been sent by the hall leader's orders to monitor Kang Mujin, the eldest son of the Pine Tiger Sect. He was alone. Sending multiple Beggar Clan disciples would have been overkill for something this minor. In the end, it was the hall leader's gut feeling.
‘I didn't see this coming.’
He hadn't thought it would be a tough mission, even if the guy had beaten the String Music Sword. Few could match him in tracking, inquiring, and investigating. He'd been a bit complacent. But even if the man had spotted him, knowing he was from the Beggar Clan should have made him back off.
No such luck!
The man came straight at him.
“Is it okay for the Beggar Clan to spy on people like that?”
“Don't accuse the innocent.”
Of course, Yukchil denied it outright. Admitting it would break the Beggar Clan's unwritten rule. Deny first, reveal your affiliation, and most people back off. Admission was a weakness. They were trained to always deflect.
But deflection didn't work on this guy. Mujin listed off every spot where Yukchil had been watching, threatening him: Deny it if you want, but then your life's on the line.
“Admit it?”
“Never happened... guk!”
He got beaten out of nowhere. No formal stance—just lunged right in.
He hadn't expected it, so he was stunned. Once they knew he was Beggar Clan, they shouldn't touch him. But this guy kept beating him until he admitted it.
He thought he'd die if it continued.
He had to admit.
“……I admit it!”
“See? Much better to admit it. You could've avoided the beating, but now my hands are dirty.”
He hadn't even used his fists—just whacked him with a stick.
And he hadn't come close because he stank. Kept his distance and pummeled him thoroughly. The guy had a knack for beating people in the most humiliating way. After the beating, a wave of resentment washed over him. Even when his parents abandoned him, it hadn't hurt this much.
Still, with beggar-like endurance, he endured it.
“Go wash up.”
“B-but I'm a beggar!”
“Want to get beaten first, then wash? Or wash without a beating?”
“Don't make me say it twice... guk!”
He got thrashed hard again for hesitating. It was like tenderizing meat—brutally effective. It hurt like hell. A nightmare he never wanted to relive.
Cleaned up spotless, hair cut, dressed in fine clothes. It was a choice between obedience or pain, and obedience won.
“Tea too.”
“Scent pouches are for women... Yes, sir!”
What the hell was this guy's deal?
The hall leader's words came to mind. He'd said something similar himself. If he'd been there, he'd have pinched the hall leader's foul-smelling pigtails.
“Didn't expect the Beggar Clan to take an interest in me. So, who's your superior?”
“That's classified!”
“Classified, huh? You could at least say who. Who does this punk think he's fooling?”
“Hong Mu-gae... Kgh... Why?”
Hong Mu-gae had lost an eye in an accident, earning the nickname One-Eyed Dog. Recalling how Hong Mu-gae's fabrications and distortions had tormented him during his War King days still made his teeth grind.
-Not like you can talk, you who sold your last eye.
‘Even with eyes, he never told the truth—what good were they?’
Still, he felt bad about taking his remaining eye. As an apology, he caught a dog the guy loved and sent it as a gift. No idea if he received it, being blind and all.
“I have no idea why you'd monitor a pacifist like me.”
Why don't you know?
You're obviously the target.
Does he not know what he did?
Just looking at what he'd done in Wuhuan was enough to warrant surveillance. Causing incidents everywhere and calling himself a pacifist! Yukchil couldn't imagine anyone more shameless than this guy.
“Is it because of the Mythic Demon Spirit Armor? Still haven't found it? Wasn't it a secret? Looks like there's a spark. This could make some money.”
Heuk!
This madman!
Someone might hear—Yukchil scanned the surroundings frantically. Some things you say, some you don't. And this was the Mythic Demon Spirit Armor, said to hold the essence of the Thousand Martial Lord, worth billions in gold. Blabbing carelessly could cost his head.
“Think the Hao Gate would pay if they knew? What's your take?”
“No! You'd be a public enemy of the martial world!”
“A bit of suspicion doesn't make me a criminal. It's just armor.”
“Keep it down! Are you trying to get me killed?”
Wasn't this guy the type to shout it from the rooftops?
Then what?
Until now, no one had cared, but now he'd stirred the pot himself. If the Mythic Demon Spirit Armor leaked out, it'd be a headache. Treasures had always been sources of strife. Warriors would come running with fire in their eyes.
“If the Beggar Clan vouches, won't the Hao Gate believe it?”
“Please stop! I'll really die!”
“Just say Hong Mu-gae ordered it. Oh, that's good too.”
“……Absolutely not!”
He bantered with the hall leader usually, but when he got truly angry, it was terrifying. When his eye rolled back, even elders didn't help. In the Beggar Clan, Hong Mu-gae was known as the Mad Dog. Mad Dog would've fit too.
“I thought those Water Lily bastards were talking nonsense back then, but it was true. Damn, I could've made a killing.”
“I heard you took the Water Lily Stronghold's wealth... guk!”
“I earned fair compensation. Keep spouting nonsense, and I'll snap your neck.”
“……This guy!”
Yukchil realized this man's greed for wealth was on another level. And he spent it boldly, uniquely.
“Maybe I should spread some fake rumors.”
Heuk!
What the hell was this lunatic doing?
Spouting off like this in front of him? Wasn't he afraid of the Beggar Clan? Talking casually about unleashing a bloodbath in the martial world. The problem was, he himself was a witness. It could lead to suspicions of collusion with the Beggar Clan.
The silver lining: the man didn't see him as Beggar Clan anymore.
‘Please! Stop throwing bombs everywhere!’
It was rare to see someone this reckless. Unless his confidence pierced the heavens, he was a complete madman.
‘Why aren't you two saying anything?’
The two quietly eating their meal were the weird ones.
‘It's nothing much.’
‘Let's just eat. This is the smart play.’
Cheol-ho had given up from the start, and Narung had caught on. To that man, the Mythic Demon Spirit Armor was just scrap metal, less valuable than a roadside pebble. Talking about it was a waste of breath.
“Anyway, I'm glad we're traveling together.”
“Pardon?”
“Why play dumb? It's way more efficient than you spying from the shadows.”
It made sense, but did a beggar need to be efficient?
Yukchil was at a loss. He couldn't figure out how to describe this man to get a straight answer—his head throbbed.
-Best not to think at all. Thinking won't get you anywhere.