Chapter 98
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Deal (2)
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Does that mean he only lost? Not quite. He managed half-hearted victories too, making it ambiguous whether to cut him loose. And in crucial moments, his choices always backfired, inflicting damage. That damage had always come back to bite Mujin.
'That bastard made me go through unnecessary hardship.'
-That's why I let him live.
'...What?'
-I spared him on purpose. Gave him some petty wins too.
'You son of a bitch, you were screwing with me!'
-Idiot. If you'd thought about it even a little, you'd have seen it was suspicious. You think a guy like that could survive the traps I set? It's your fault for being too battle-crazed to read the flow.
'...You're right.'
-That said, he's no spy. No need for that with him. He acts on his own ego, so he's easy to predict.
Not one of ours, but not an enemy plant either. Greedy as he was, in peacetime, he could've earned fame. But in war, he's a perfect chicken rib. Better if he were a straight enemy—at least you could kill him cleanly.
'You should've told me sooner.'
-If I'd killed him there, it'd look suspicious to anyone.
Mujin felt killing intent. He hadn't sinned yet, but incompetence was a sin. He had all the makings to create frustrating situations later by wielding his incompetence as a weapon.
'Should I kill him on the sly?'
-The future's changed. Need to now? The poison I gave him is Blood Dew Powder. It dries up your internal energy over time. The longer the antidote takes, the greater the loss. By the time Wudang sends people, he'll have lost more than half.
'Good news.'
-The more desperate they are to run, the harder the sense of loss hits.
'Guys like that always cause trouble.'
-We'll kill him when the time's right.
He could kill him right now. It'd be clean. But thinking of the hardship this damn guy caused, Mujin didn't want him to go easy.
"Brother-in-law!"
"Yeah? What?"
"What were you thinking so deeply about?"
"Nothing."
"No way! You looked totally evil just now!"
"Impossible. I can face the heavens without shame. Don't slander a good man."
Mujin decided to show mercy and spare Cheonghyeon for now. Killing him immediately would bring a Wudang investigation. That'd be a hassle. Let him screw up later and die miserably then. Mujin hoped he'd mess up. Once restrictions lifted, he could kill with a light heart.
"Hero Guo will escort you, so head home quietly."
"Got it."
Baek Yuhwa and Baek Yugyeong didn't beg more. Objectively, it was an unreasonable request for a stranger. Besides, if their brother-in-law hadn't arrived on time, they wouldn't be alive chatting now.
"Brother-in-law, next time I'll show you a changed me!"
"Looking forward to it."
At his lukewarm response, Baek Yuhwa and Baek Yugyeong bristled. His face showed he expected nothing.
'I'll show you, for sure!'
They vowed inwardly.
Mujin had little expectation. He'd never seen their exploits in the future, and their talent was below Cheolho's. Best case, peak level. Hoping for more was unrealistic. Half-baked strength would just increase risks.
'If you're gonna be mediocre, find a good man and get married.'
It was late even now, but martial artists didn't fuss over age. Marrying a good match was wise.
-Cold-blooded.
'No choice.'
Can't seat family without ability.
Mujin didn't discriminate by gender on the battlefield. Only skill mattered. Moving with incompetents burst his veins. Especially in battle where one slip meant dismemberment—incompetence was a grave sin.
Listening to Honggu recount events, Hong Mugae frowned at the sudden intruder. Familiar yet too clean for a beggar's den.
"Hold on! You Yukchil?"
"Yes."
"How'd you end up like that?"
"That's not important now. Get up!"
Yukchil had no time to survey. He grabbed the division chief Hong Mugae's arm and yanked.
"...What the hell!"
"I'll explain on the way—follow!"
"This punk climbs everywhere after I praised him!"
"When did you praise me? You ragged on me daily."
"Fair enough."
At Yukchil's urgency, Hong Mugae stood. Stubborn, but not one for empty tricks.
"You two organize the intel."
"Yes, sir!"
Honggu and Ohchil prayed for Yukchil's luck. Whatever it was, angering the chief meant exile to the border or North Sea at best.
'Choke on sandstorms.'
'A taste of cold'll sober him.'
They wished him well.
Huh?
Tailing to grab Yukchil, Hong Mugae was puzzled. He'd infused solid energy into his lightness skill. Until recently, he'd catch up easy—now, no.
'Let's see.'
He added peak to superior energy. Top-tier lightness speed. Still no catch. Pride kicked in. More energy.
Screeeeech!
Finally catching up, Hong Mugae gawked at the running Yukchil.
Was this guy always this fast?
Suspicion deepened.
Odd since he showed up dressed like noble spawn. Now lightness skill leaped bounds beyond old level.
"Got some fateful encounter?"
"A few drops of Public Clarity Oil."
"You punk! A few drops—you should've saved one! No manners!"
"I drank it by accident—how to save?"
"Still too fast."
Energy boost was a martialist's dream, but elixir alone didn't instant-speed you. Needed insight and adaptation.
"Someone at our destination gave you the encounter?"
"Sent a letter."
"Right. You bastard! Sending that nonsense letter!"
"See for yourself if it makes sense!"
Each letter spiked realms, yanking Hong Mugae's nerves. Embarrassing to report. From peak to transcendent— at this rate, transcendence and ascension by now.
'Curious, though.'
Letters too absurd, so Hong Mugae wanted to see Mujin himself. Face-to-face would tell.
Heavenly Fortune Inn appeared.
Yukchil and Hong Mugae headed straight to the annex.
In the annex yard stood Operation "What the Hell" himself.
He turned with a smile.
Huh?
The moment puzzlement hit, Hong Mugae's vision blackened.
Wham!
Gurgle!
Yukchil's jaw dropped at the absurdity. Knew some grudge, but punching on sight?
Hong Mugae took it defenseless.
No time to guard anyway. The chief spun five times mid-air before sprawling big-letter on the ground.
'Dead?'
Foam bubbling, pupils shaking—he'd live.
Phew.
No—not relief time. Chief caused massive incidents; fainting barely scratched.
This mess screamed misunderstanding.
Misunderstanding?
Looked like twenty-year heartburn cured.
Totally personal.
How deep the grudge to punch first?
Questions piled.
But dude.
How to explain now! Figured he trusted something—spun positive.
"Got a fix?"
"He did it."
Whoa!
A fix, sure.
Yukchil just paled as sacrifice.
I'll take the fall alone.
Seen evil crowds, but none matched Mujin. Perfect bastard first time.
Ugh!
Hong Mugae groaned.
"Waking."
Instinctive kick.
Thud!
Split-second.
Waking now helped zilch—pure self-defense.
Damn!
Yukchil regretted instantly. Worsened crisis. Bought time, trapped in swamp.
Heh heh.
Now accomplices.
Yukchil boiled killing intent at beaming Mujin. Wanted to beat him dead.
Laugh after cornering someone!
"Beggars kick senior's face? Scary sect. Tradition?"
Pot calling kettle!
Yukchil trembled, realizing he'd lost control. Nagging Mujin futile.
Tap!
Mujin tapped Hong Mugae's vital with foot instead of helping Yukchil. Too hard kills.
Zing! Graaah!
Hong Mugae screamed skyward, tears leaking from pain. Dropped realizing state.
Snap!
Enduring agony, Hong Mugae rose glaring at Mujin. Grasped situation—rage surged.
"Think you'll get away with this?!"
"What if not?"
Mujin's indifference chilled Hong Mugae. Dismissed him utterly, yet explosive tension.
'What is this guy?'
Hong Mugae couldn't fathom.
Punched on sight secondary—no reaction. Frontal ambush, sure, but fainted from one blow. No defense.
Unbelievable.
Post-training, unbeatable confidence. Recent gains let him match elders.
'Strong.'
Yukchil's report seemed mad; experiencing, understated even.
Still.
He represented Beggar Clan as division chief, next chief candidate. Treating him lightly weighed heavy.
But first.
"Can't fathom why. Met before?"
"Nope."
Hong Mugae judged sharply.
Seemed hot-tempered, but rare true rage. Always cool analysis, best path.
To him, Mujin defied judgment.
Strength proven in one move, but status mere Pine Tiger warrior. Clan dwarfed by sun. What backed his audacity? Baffling breed.
Punched sans acquaintance.
Mad as reported?
No clan antagonized Beggar Clan.
"Why? No explanation, you'll pay dearly."
"You used me."
"Timing coincidence."
"Sure it was."
No need verbose; Hong Mugae grasped intent. Sisters' involvement coincidence. But turning chance to necessity? Couldn't deny sending Yukchil pre-kidnap tripped him.
"Still coincidence."
"If you say so. But hard to dodge blame for intel analysis and judgment error."
"No idea what you mean."
"Geuksal stronger than Hero Guo. Still clueless? Quit intel then."
"Impossible!"
"I killed Geuksal."
Pre-agreed with Guo Yunbaek. Hong Mugae knowing fine. Wouldn't admit aloud—self-admit incompetence. Beggars prideful too.
Like underdogs overcompensating.
"Dead ones, survivors. What'll they say? 'Sorry for bad intel' end it? Nice world if so."
Ahem.
Hong Mugae speechless.
Geuksal's death veiled it; Heavenly Spear acted, Clan did duty.
Leak out? Fatal stain on intel org.
Apology too light. Half warriors dead, most women too. Failed rescue, bred casualties.
Won't feud Clan, but won't ignore Wudang prospects like Cheonghyeon and lay disciples' deaths.
Hong Mugae denied first.
"Why believe?"
"I vouch."
Guo Yunbaek timely vouched. Martial artists live/die by honor. Heavenly Spear elite—words weighty.
"My word unreliable too?"
"No, Hero Guo."
All twisted.
Hong Mugae flushed distorted. Loss by force fair; out-talked, out-intelled. Painful lapse for intel chief.