Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: From Now On, Your Name is Tang Chunsik (1)
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While savoring the rough texture of the clothes handed over by Chicken-Butt Master.
"No, but why such shabby rags..."
I whined a little, letting a hint of resentment slip out over the fact that he'd just watched as holes formed all over my body without lifting a finger.
Is it because he's from the Green Forest and poor?
But his own clothes are decked out so flashily for someone like that.
"Is your nose blocked? Hurry up and put them on, then go wash at the nearest inn. You reek to high heaven."
Aha.
Master had his reasons after all.
I quickly changed and stopped by the nearest inn with hardly any people to wash up.
"Right this way... Urk!"
There was a minor incident where the waiter scrubbing the fly-covered table dry-heaved.
"...I'll show you straight to the bathhouse!"
But after I cheerfully tossed him a whole silver tael, his friendliness shot up fivefold.
Money really is the best.
It numbs noses and upgrades service levels.
Hot steaming water and fluffy towels to boot.
The waiter's got a knack for business.
I stripped off the clothes again, soaked in the hot water, and scrubbed myself clean with the scented soap until I was squeaky fresh.
Master mentioned something about shedding my mortal shell earlier.
But aside from all the wounds vanishing, nothing seemed particularly different.
Shouldn't it bulk up the muscles, make me even more handsome, that sort of thing?
"...You think a mere Peak realm breakthrough brings dramatic changes?"
I voiced the doubt that hit me while washing, and Master gave me a look like you don't even know this?
He was still wearing the same clothes from when he saved me earlier.
With a table between us like we were social distancing, Master's live lecture on shedding the mortal shell began.
"Strictly speaking, the shedding in Peak, Transcendent Peak, and Flower realm stages each differ in harmony and function. But since distinguishing them is a hassle, people usually lump them together under one term."
I let all the jargon about qi and blood and flesh flow in one ear and out the other, while my super-AI-grade brain summarized Chicken-Butt Master's words.
Peak is the warrior's first step toward connecting with nature, so it clears the blockages in the meridians—the links.
Transcendent Peak is when the warrior comprehends nature's will, refining not just meridians but the flesh itself—that's the usual shedding of the mortal shell.
Once you reach Flower realm, the warrior can fully impose their will on nature, so the body is remade into the optimal form for it, like Master here returning to youth.
I decided to take it as him basically defragging and restoring my meridians to peak condition.
More practically, like swapping out a water purifier filter.
No wonder it didn't feel that special.
"By the way, what about that assassin bastard? You kill him?"
"...You're asking that now? Why would I kill him? Gotta interrogate him till he spills something. I crippled his dantian and left him barely breathing in a cell."
"Aha."
A brutal idea worthy of the Green Forest big shot.
Better off dying clean by my sword.
Unlucky bastard.
"But why are you dawdling? Don't we need to respond somehow?"
"Ah, hold on. It's about time he shows up—"
No sooner had I said it.
"Aigoo, Young Master!"
Jang Palli, my human Bigsby I'd called ahead, arrived arms full of bundles.
"Oh, Jang Palli, come on in."
I flashed a big grin at my loyal subordinate's dopey face, whom I hadn't seen in a while.
"Urk, what the hell is that sm—Kyaak!"
But he started complaining about the faint stink from my shabby clothes the second he walked in, so I smacked the back of his head good and hard.
Aha.
So that's why Master smacks my head.
I set aside the sudden enlightenment for a moment and unpacked the bundle Jang Palli handed me.
"What's with all this? I just said bring one decent set."
I'd told him to grab some clothes, but he'd hauled enough for an impromptu fashion show—ooh, that's a new style I haven't seen, not bad—making it hard to pick anyway.
"Hmm..."
Nothing here quite matched the dignity befitting the youngest Peak genius (presumed) under the heavens.
"Which one's better?"
I left the choice to Master, who was squinting at me with an odd look.
"Put on anything."
Hmph.
Guess being old means no trendy fashion sense.
I was listlessly rummaging, about to just grab anything.
"Ooo...!"
When Jang Palli started making a fuss, looking back and forth between me and Chicken-Butt Master.
A cosmic sense of dread hit me, and I hurriedly tried to shut him up.
"Liege! Finally, our baby Young Master's got himself a fiancée! Why didn't you say so sooner? Aigoo, I gotta tell Madam right—"
"Krahak, no!"
"What nonsense! That's not it!"
Our voices burst out in unison.
The mood felt a bit awkward.
Hmm...
Me denying Chicken-Butt Master? Sure, I'm young.
But honestly... he's not past the age to catch a man's eye...
"You little shit... Mocking your master with that loose mouth?!"
Swaeek!
A chopstick whizzed past my ear with a fierce whoosh.
Whoops, let my inner thoughts slip out.
I offered up Jang Palli as sacrifice, grabbed some clothes, and bolted to the room.
Thankfully, when I came down after changing, Chicken-Butt Master's old maid hysterics had simmered down a bit.
Or maybe it was the pork spine stew the waiter swiftly brought out. She'd already polished off two bowls solo.
I politely sat across from her, doing my best to ignore the eyes still faintly gleaming with killing intent.
"Aigoo, we're out of pork spine stew... How about some noodle soup?"
The waiter dashed to the kitchen and plunked a bowl of noodles in front of me.
It tasted awful.
...Making noodles taste bad is a talent too.
"So, what's the plan? As is, it'll probably get brushed off as Tang Mok's personal deviation. The assassin didn't know much either."
True enough.
From the start, the circumstances pointed to the assassin being hired not by Tang Mok himself, but by someone higher up, with a one-sided notice sent.
They'd cut off the tail right away.
Even with my top-tier super-memory brain, I'm a bit weak on the scheming side.
People grow by admitting their shortcomings first.
"For that, let's consult the scheming expert. He's involved anyway."
"Hm? Who's this scheming expert?"
"That smug bastard who acts all high and mighty from coming out of Hanlim Academy."
"Ah. Instructor Geum."
Chicken-Butt Master nodded.
"But where'd you sell your respect for elders?"
Paak!
"Kyaak!"
The old maid's lingering grudge cracked into my skull.
"Here, have a drink."
Chorrr—
Geum Sirang filled Tang Mok's cup with Western Phoenix Wine and raised his own with a bright smile.
Tang Mok still felt a bit uneasy,
but he clinked glasses, masking it with the buzz.
Cling—the clear sound rang out.
It probably wasn't poisoned, and if it was, he'd have noticed right away.
Even so, Tang Mok waited for Geum Sirang to drink first before swallowing the liquor he'd held in his mouth.
True to its fame, it burned down his throat like fire, but a sweet aroma spread through his body, making even that sensation pleasant.
Worth the First Emperor's craving, indeed.
Since the family's support had dwindled, this was his first taste of such fine liquor, and Tang Mok simply felt pleased.
Even if the guy might not live much longer.
No reason to refuse when he was being so friendly.
"Here, Instructor Geum, have one too."
"Aigoo! Such an honor. I must accept even from the depths of hell if it's from a senior like you from the heavens, and an instructor of the prestigious Sichuan Tang Clan no less."
At least he's got an eye for people, having studied a bit.
Tang Mok smiled warmly.
He even had taste in picking spots.
Long ago,
the Tang Clan founder supposedly left carvings on the wall instead of paying for drinks—a famous tale.
Though credibility dipped since it claimed some dream oracle from a legendary strategist, Gu Ya or Do Wa or whatever.
Still, it boasted history and tradition in Xi'an.
Made the booze taste even better.
Though no courtesans was a big minus.
As a few rounds passed and the mood softened,
Geum Sirang cautiously broached the topic.
"Truth be told, the reason I invited the esteemed Instructor Tang here is..."
True to surviving the Hanlim Academy pit of scholars,
Tang Mok melted under Geum Sirang's silver tongue and smiled gently.
"Haha, speak freely. I'll do whatever I can."
Not like I can't follow through.
Ignoring—or perhaps knowing—Tang Mok's thoughts,
Geum Sirang bowed repeatedly with a deeply moved expression.
"Well, there's someone I'd like to introduce..."
Geum Sihyeon, huh.
Taking herbology and toxicology, already wheedling for grades?
Tang Mok felt a bit deflated.
But he readily agreed without showing it.
Moments later.
The door slid open.
"Oh, Instructor Tang. Good to see you."
As expected, Geum Sihyeon appeared.
But he wasn't the end of it.
"Hyah, money's great. Reserved the whole place?"
"Ah, no, why is Instructor Seo here..."
Green Forest Bandit King.
This crazy old maid who holes up in the western warehouse slacking off—why the hell is she here?
A foreboding chill ran down Tang Mok's spine.
And that premonition soon
"Mmph, mmph...!"
materialized as a black-clad man with one arm and one hand severed, gagged, was tossed onto the floor like a log.
"What in the..."
Watching Tang Mok's face twist from bewilderment to rot,
"Well, Instructor Tang. Shall we get to the real talk now?"
Geum Sirang beamed.