Chapter 91
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Done For (1)
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A young man and woman clad in blue martial robes stepped into the inn.
The waiter hurried over to guide them, but the man waved him away. He was searching for someone. There was a prior guest seated by the window.
The man approached the group, heading straight for the middle-aged man at its center, and cupped his fists in salute.
"Cheonghyeon of the Wudang Sect pays respects to the Heavenly Lord Divine Spear."
"At your age, if you're wearing the azure sash, you must be a disciple of Elder Hyeoncheon. Have you succeeded the Sword Master?"
"Yes, Great Hero Guo."
"The Wudang Sect must have invested quite a bit in you."
The Wudang Sect's Sword Master referred to Hyeoncheon Dojang, one of the top three swordsmen even among the elders. It was no small honor for Cheonghyeon.
"I'm Baek Yuhwa, Great Hero Guo."
"I'm Baek Yugyeong, Great Hero Guo."
Baek Yuhwa and Baek Yugyeong waited until Cheonghyeon had finished his introduction before presenting themselves. Though they were lay disciples, they had caught Hyeoncheon Dojang's eye and risen in seniority. It was an unprecedented decision for the Wudang Sect. There had been some internal grumbling, but they had proven their worth through their skills.
Hmm.
Guo Yunbaek's gaze shifted from Cheonghyeon to Baek Yuhwa and Baek Yugyeong. Their well-balanced figures and beautiful faces, striking without being flashy, were enough to catch any man's eye. But what stood out even more were their swords.
"Dragon-Qilin Twin Swords, eh? Have you obtained the sword manual as well?"
"We were fortunate."
"That's the kind of fortune no one would complain about. Keep at it, and you'll achieve great things. But until you've mastered it fully, don't go showing it off carelessly."
"Thank you, Great Hero Guo."
The men with Guo Yunbaek couldn't help but eye the women as well. The Dragon-Qilin Twin Swords had once been the cherished weapons of the Dragon Sage and Qilin Sage two hundred years ago. If they'd inherited their legacies, their potential was no ordinary matter.
The martial artists gathered nearby now viewed Baek Yuhwa and Baek Yugyeong in a new light. Cheonghyeon, however, disliked the attention and cut straight to the point.
"What are your plans, Great Hero?"
"Predictions are just predictions, and even narrowing the range leaves too much ground to cover. Without the incident occurring, it's hard to prepare in advance."
"I see."
"No need to be downhearted. The Beggars' Sect says they've found a way, so just wait, and we'll get the results we want."
"Understood."
Guo Yunbaek read Cheonghyeon's mood. His seniority might be high, but he lacked the composure of a true Taoist, eager to make a name for himself through feats.
He didn't blame him. The man was young; experience would temper him in time.
'What a hassle.'
Guo Yunbaek had never intended to get involved in the first place. Long ago, he'd received a favor from the Heavenly Yi Sect Leader and couldn't refuse the request. Stepping up personally to hunt sound bandits didn't sit well with him.
Tap tap!
He checked it meticulously—twice, three times, four... twenty times. He scanned for any unnatural seams, ensuring it blended seamlessly with the surroundings. The chance was slim, but he couldn't risk some coincidence letting the poison leak out. He needed to seal the spirit vein perfectly.
"This should keep the toxic qi from escaping. I can't just sit by and watch innocent people get hurt."
"I'm suffocating to death here."
The cave's massive entrance was now completely sealed, looking as if it had always been part of the rock wall. Even if someone suspected otherwise, breaking through wouldn't be easy. Only a miner, tomb raider, or martial artist could manage it.
"Phew, good thing. We can't have anyone getting poisoned."
"Is this really for other people?"
"Of course."
"Just blocking the blood flow would've been enough, though."
"Hey! Don't jinx it."
Lukchil and Nareung easily read the greedy glint in Mujin's eyes. It was obvious, leaving no room for doubt. The man had sliced through bedrock to seal the cave entirely. One wrong word, and they might end up trapped inside.
"If word spreads later and people get poisoned, you're the ones who'll die. Okay with that?"
"...Pardon?"
"I've said it a million times: don't kill innocent people."
What about us?
It was a threat: if rumors of the Poison Horn Black Dragon in the cave spread, he wouldn't let them off. He'd come back later and sell every scrap of hide and bone.
He claimed it was for good causes, but at this point, it was outright fraud!
"We need something out of this too."
"What was that?"
Under Mujin's half-hearted threat, Nareung and Lukchil could only smack their lips.
Whoosh!
Seeing Cheolho practicing his martial arts alone made them regret it even more. They should've gone in, even if it meant dying. At least they'd have tasted the Azure Spirit Oil.
Pop!
Mujin uncorked the leather pouch he'd sealed and took a swig without hesitation.
For rinsing his mouth.
Gurgle!
Refreshing his mouth.
Way better than salt.
Gulp!
Nareung and Lukchil stared blankly as Mujin smugly savored the refreshment.
What the hell did he just do?
"Isn't that Azure Spirit Oil?"
"It's got a nice bite—perfect for a mouth rinse."
"...!"
It was so absurd they couldn't even get mad.
Nareung and Lukchil wanted to deny reality. It had to be plain water! It just had to be. Otherwise, how could anyone do that? Why rinse with Azure Spirit Oil when water was right there?
"My cultivation rises by a rat-shit amount. Too much sugar rots the teeth, so I should give it to Mijoo. Morning, noon, and night—she'll keep one of the five blessings forever."
"...Cough!"
They felt qi deviation coming on.
A brutal one!
They couldn't take it anymore. Watching this madman made their insides twist and churn wildly. Their composure shattered.
'I want to kill him!'
'Damn it, I wouldn't even think of that!'
A murderous urge to tear him apart surged up. But it was just fantasy—the man was a monster beyond reason. No one could stop him from doing as he pleased.
"Want some?"
"...Yes?"
"Forget it if you don't."
Nareung and Lukchil threw pride aside and prostrated themselves.
"No, please give us some!"
"Open your mouths."
Azure Spirit Oil incoming.
Exactly two drops each.
They said the world's most unfair thing was watching someone else take an elixir.
Gulp!
The droplets shot down like arrows, smacking their throats and sliding into their stomachs.
Nareung and Lukchil nearly yelled not to joke around but panicked and assumed the meditative posture instead.
One shichen later.
While Nareung and Lukchil circulated their qi, Cheolho swept the mountain and returned with a wild boar.
Mujin finely controlled his sword aura to skin the boar, then roasted the legs over a Samadhi flame, tearing into one.
"Your gravelly skin's smoothed out a bit, but it's nowhere near enough. You won't get a girl like that. From now on, do it at least ten more times to reach sand level. Until then, you can't even beat my son."
"Taejin isn't my match... Ack!"
"Don't get cocky. Not yet."
"I'll definitely win next time!"
Mujin chuckled inwardly.
His son and Cheolho were fated eternal rivals. Cheolho's transformation was part of this journey. It was necessary for him to become the Iron King someday. He'd finally passed the basics, even if not to a satisfying degree.
Grow big and strong, take arrows for me... become the hero who saves the murim.
If heroes grow up to be my slaves... heroes who save the murim, that'd be perfect.
My heart is purely for the greater good.
Whoosh!
Nareung and Lukchil exhaled and opened their eyes in lotus position, marveling at their enhanced inner energy.
'My inner power's grown by twenty years.'
'It really is Azure Spirit Oil!'
They'd half-doubted it. Who rinses their mouth with Azure Spirit Oil?
But it was real.
Mujin was undoubtedly insane.
'Is he generous or stingy?'
'I can't figure out his rhythm!'
He'd shared even just two drops. Nareung and Lukchil had to reevaluate him.
"We are in your debt!"
"With words?"
"Pardon?"
"Given your circumstances, I'll take cost price. Spit it up if you don't like it."
Spit it up after swallowing? Impossible!
Ignorance was bliss, but now? If they backtracked, he'd shave their cultivation for sure.
Damn it—even at cost, Azure Spirit Oil was priceless. Beggars had no money. Only one way to pay: what beggars did best.
"If you've eaten, time to digest."
"...Wait!"
Mujin was already airborne.
First come, first served.
Last place gets beaten. Sure enough, the experienced Cheolho and Nareung sprinted for their lives.
"...Damn it all!"
To catch the sound bandits, they'd narrowed the search area as much as possible. The culprits were sharp; if they caught wind, they'd vanish. Beggars' Sect members were stationed within signaling distance, ready to relay news swiftly.
The sect had shared intel and proposed plans, even taking necessary precautions for success. Now, they waited for the bait to lure them out.
"If they've operated in secret this long, it's a group, not individuals. No ordinary thugs, right, Senior Brother?"
"Don't worry about it. Those scum will all fall to my sword."
Baek Yuhwa and Baek Yugyeong wanted to warn their senior brother against overconfidence, but he had been their martial uncle until recently, making it awkward.
'He advanced thanks to brother-in-law.'
'Feels like more work now.'
Separate from their dreams of heroic fame, it was their first real mission, and tension gnawed at them. They circulated the Supreme Pure Divine Art their master had recently taught to calm their minds.
"Let's wrap this up quick and tour the city."
"Yes, Senior Brother."
To Cheonghyeon, this was a minor affair. Kidnappers were beneath Wudang swords. Just a chance to show his blade to the world.
'I'll show them.'
To the world—and his junior sisters too.
Baek Yuhwa and Baek Yugyeong sensed their senior brother's ambition but didn't judge. Instead, they focused on a circulating rumor.
'I knew brother-in-law was strong, but beating the String Music Sword?'
'What did he get up to while we were at headquarters?'
The sword insights from their brother-in-law had advanced their Flowing Cloud Sword beyond a single step. They'd planned to visit their sister's home to express thanks, but his skill exceeded expectations.
'Of course sister wouldn't marry just anyone.'
'Don't bully sister, brother-in-law, or you're dead!'
As dusk fell, a Beggars' Sect member entered the inn, his face urgent.
"We've found traces of the sound bandits."
"Got it. We'll follow shortly."
Cheonghyeon and the Baek sisters girded their swords and trailed the beggar.
"Tsk tsk, too slow for any use. Don't Beggars' Sect folks have lightfoot skill? You'll thank me later."
Lukchil had endured a nonstop lecture from descent to village entry.
'He flew here himself.'
Mujin had pinned coordinates and flown straight.
Lukchil, unable to fly, had pushed Flying Shadowless Divine Technique until blisters burst repeatedly on his soles.
"No skill? At least have some street smarts. Tsk tsk."
Nareung and Cheolho snickered at Mujin's jab.
Last place meant a beating; Lukchil glared at them but futilely. As a branch leader, he inflicted no damage here. Even the sect leader would be just another beggar.
'Every last one!'
No loyalty at all. Yet Lukchil dared not blame Mujin. The man was crude enough to rinse with Azure Spirit Oil, but he shared. A Beggars' Sect disciple with enemies in the orthodox sects had to repay favors.
"Oh, right—tell Hong Muge to stay out of my sight. If I see him, he won't get away."
"Do you have a grudge against the Deputy Leader? An enmity to the death?"
"No grudge. But one might form."
"...?"
Was that a fart of a statement?
No grudge yet, but avoid him to prevent one!
I warned you—this it?
Mujin figured he was doing Hong Muge a favor. Recalling the future fool's antics, one eye wasn't enough payback. He'd wanted to kill him then but spared him for his courage in risking life to save the murim.
Still, dragging people into "greater good" nonsense without consent? Deserved what came.
No fresh grudge now, but old feelings might linger. A sudden bamboo spear would be trouble.
"What do you mean, one might form?"
"Hong Muge and I don't mesh. Total opposites."
"Ever met him?"
"Nope, but his name rubs me wrong."
Is it okay to say this without even meeting?