Chapter 33
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: From Now On, Your Name Is Tang Chunsik (2)
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Just as I thought, bringing in my second brother was the right call.
Was our family's intelligence network more impressive than I'd imagined?
We quickly grasped Tang Mok's usual behavior and personality.
To sum it up.
A vulgar man who loved self-preservation, dreamed of luxury and glory, and wielded power recklessly.
Our trio's opinions on how to handle Tang Mok clashed sharply.
True to form as the bandit leader, Master Chicken Butt insisted on channeling a barbaric warrior and splitting his skull with an axe.
I argued for a peaceful, cutting-edge interrogation technique: dunking him in water a few times to extract info.
- Hmm. Do we really need to resort to violence with a guy like that?
True to his Hanlin Academy scholar roots, he frowned at violent methods and immediately laid out a brilliantly woven plan on the spot.
And now.
"Wh-what the hell is this...?"
"Instructor Tang. Don't you find the Azure Heaven Society's recent moves a bit lacking?"
"?!"
My second brother's proposal was simple: recruitment.
The Chicken Master and I held firm to the belief that "people can't be fixed."
But his argument that a double agent would benefit us long-term had some merit.
Geum Sirang's serpentine tongue began to subtly ensnare Tang Mok's psyche.
That eloquence of his was, if I may humbly say, unmatched in the jianghu.
Even I—a Korean genius, possessor of the greatest mind across the ages—had fallen for that tongue-wagging skill multiple times.
If there were a Martial Arts Olympics, it would be a gold medal lock for me, the frontrunner, and that tongue tip was nothing short of an intangible deadly poison.
Of course, the most crucial element in persuasion.
Raw intimidation was handled by our master.
He kept shooting piercing, murderous glares.
Whenever Tang Mok slouched, he'd ignite his axe with qi to amp up the terror.
How perfect was this division of roles?
This was party play.
Me?
How could a good, smart model student like me ever join in tormenting our sky-like instructor?
"...You guys don't know anything! I could never betray the Society—"
"Ah, you mean the Solitary Gu Poison?"
Geum Sirang smiled softly.
"You know who we have in our family, right?"
"The Life and Death Divine Doctor..."
Tang Mok groaned.
I cautiously asked Master Chicken Butt, who was still gleaming qi onto his axe, what exactly Solitary Gu was.
: : Solitary Gu is a method of control by implanting insects into a person's body. No matter the distance, a signal via the male-female pair connection can inflict pain so unbearable they'd prefer death. The Azure Heaven Society... far more insidious than I imagined. : :
As expected from someone of his age—he knew everything.
Thanks to Master Chicken Butt, I updated my mental jianghu-common-sense dictionary.
"...Can the Life and Death Divine Doctor really remove the Solitary Gu?"
Tang Mok's voice trembled at the end.
"Of course. And here's living proof right here."
Geum Sirang pointed at me.
Tang Mok's eyes, fixed on me, shook violently—anyone could see the turmoil.
Hmm.
Something felt off.
"...If I cooperate, can you overlook everything I've done so far?"
For some reason, it felt like he was talking to me, not second brother.
Master Chicken Butt clicked his tongue uncomfortably beside me, but I nodded readily.
"Naturally. We're in the same boat now, right? Haha."
Of course, I didn't entertain savage thoughts like stuffing him in a drum and beating him later if his crimes piled up.
And then.
"Once the Azure Heaven Society's influence fades, the Tang Family will improve too. And you, Instructor Tang, leading the charge—couldn't you aim for the family head position?"
Geum Sirang delivered the finishing blow to Tang Mok's wavering heart.
So that's what it was.
The "You wanna control the family head seat, don'tcha?" vibe?
Moments later, Geum Sirang's relentless tongue fully melted Tang Mok down.
"...Y-you have to guarantee my treatment...!"
Wearing an expression like "Too much money to turn down," Tang Mok pledged full cooperation.
His gaze soon shifted to me, where I lounged idly, fanning myself with the fan he'd stolen from second brother earlier.
"Uh..."
"Just treat me casually."
"...Got it. You still have that ointment I gave you last time?"
I pulled out the box with the ointment and showed it. Avoiding my eyes, Tang Mok continued.
"...It's poisoned."
"I knew the moment I received it."
His pupils quivered at my calm reply.
Of course, the moment "poison" was mentioned, Master Chicken Butt's axe qi flared brighter.
No need to shake like that.
I'm 100% satisfied with the ointment.
Hearing it was poisoned explained the slight menthol-like tingle—refreshing and crisp, felt great.
"Don't worry. Everyone slips up sometimes—mix poison into ointment by accident, complain about the gallery smelling like bird shit, even send coded messages via carrier pigeon to the main house in this day and age."
"H-how did you...?"
"Just do better from now on."
I cheered on his kyaru behavior with sincere encouragement.
Did my sincerity not get through?
Tang Mok's ugly face twisted into something indescribably pathetic.
Already not handsome.
Total mess now.
Anyway, things seemed wrapped up.
"I'll head back first because of curfew. You instructors chat intimately."
Cheering on the brutal squeezing and reformation of (former) Tang Mok into (new) Tang Chunsik, I left.
Don't go where crows gather, white heron.
I've lived my whole life aloof from schemes and plots, like a lofty crane. Time to wash my hands of this.
Once second brother's plan solidifies, I'll possess the final approver, stamp it, yell "OK, proceed!" and call it done.
For now, set everything aside—there's something urgent I absolutely must do.
Back at the dorm.
"What, been whoring around?"
"Kyau!"
The first-rate scrub gambler addict, who hadn't even reached Peak at his age, was frolicking with the wolf pup.
"Why so late... Huh?"
The first-rate beggar scrub, cross-legged on the bed instead of the training hall, sparkled his eyes.
Still, as a martial fanatic, he had an eye for talent.
I haughtily lifted my nose.
"This body: Peak Realm."
"Bullshit, for real?"
I performed for the doubting gambler fiend, channeling qi into my fingertip and popping shots into the air.
Moyong Taek's face soured.
At the same time, awe dawned on Unhak's.
"Ooh... From what I know, no first-year at Hundred Flowers Academy has ever reached Peak."
Kuh.
This is why we grind.
More!
"Even across the entire jianghu, Peak at your age puts you in genius territory—how could it not be impressive!"
More!
"Of course, your internal energy was unusually pure compared to other first-rates, but watching you spar, you seemed kinda lame, so I wondered if it was just elixir-stacking bloat—Gack, cough!"
I throttled Unhak's neck.
Dare drift into facts mid-compliment and punch my pride?
"Kyau!"
The wolf pup joined in, gnawing his arm.
Black-furred beasts truly can't be trusted.
So this is the joy of pets.
Time to train Heavenly Beast Heart-Returning Art harder.
The next day.
Thanks to reaching Peak, the sky felt especially clear as I savored it.
I grabbed my dusty bow and the Korean Northern Bright Divine Art manual I'd cherished, heading to a private training hall.
Honestly, I thought assassins were just backstab one-tricks—block that, win easy.
Way tougher than expected.
Grilling and frying Tang Chunsik with brother to probe the Azure Heaven Society sounded fun.
But no matter how elaborate the plot, without personal strength, what can you achieve?
I need to get stronger.
As the forces targeting our family sharpen into focus, the pressure on us will intensify.
Worst case.
If the Azure Heaven Society were just a bunch of schemers doing Brazilian waxes all day, fine.
But a sizable group like them surely has Peak experts, and at the top, a Fire Transformation Realm master or two.
Using tactical nuke 'Chicken' works short-term, but if Green Forest and our family hit crises simultaneously, where's our master?
Green Forest, obviously.
Then fragile newbie Peak Geum Sihyeon gets diced by sword aura into star shapes, 'f*ck/my/sh*t' and done.
Therefore.
"Northern Bright Divine Art."
If this mod byproduct, penned in King Sejong's ultimate script from the Hall of Worthies, could turn me into a master short-term.
True, knowledge reveals more.
Compared to skimming it at the Heavenly Martial Archives, the content now slotted right in.
I sat cross-legged, eyes closed.
Savoring the formulas' depths, I cautiously circulated internal energy, drawing ambient natural qi into my body.
At first, eh, nothing much.
"...!"
Suddenly, anomalies.
My wild internal energies—third-rate basics and Blazing Shadow Heart Formula's potent stockpile—clumped toward my dantian core.
No, this shouldn't happen—hair-standing panic, but the qi escaped control, slamming and bouncing in my dantian.
"Kuh...!"
Blood trickled from my mouth down my chin.
But stopping now felt like triggering a Qi Deviation cutscene on my body.
I desperately focused my mind.
Thankfully, the clashing energies soon merged smoothly.
Setting aside "How?!" for now.
I added fuel, sucking in max natural qi to infuse my dantian.
Finally.
"Huuu..."
One worry down.
Northern Bright Divine Art's power: fusing any energy, even natural qi, into one.
Purer than before, flowing through meridians—smile crept up.
Mod cheat art supreme!
Told ya!
To test, I grabbed the bow leaning on the wall.
Drew the string, focused will.
Wooong...!
Not just my internal energy—surrounding natural qi resonated, vibrating air, coiling at the arrow tip.
Released.
Boom!
"?!"
Far stronger than predicted—formless arrow obliterated the wall, nearly piercing through.
No.
It did pierce.
"Uh..."
Didn't expect this power.
Hope no property damage issues.
Gather shards, glue 'em—salvageable? Rushed to the destruction site.
Groaned at the ~2-cheok (about 50cm) deep formless arrow gouge.
And light leaked from the other side—actual hole.
No one was there, right?
If it hit someone, not property damage—negligent injury...!
Couldn't hold back anxiety, peered through.
And.
"...!"
Superhuman restraint stifled my scream.
Beyond: a person.
Clothes neatly aside.
Nude, cross-legged, crimson-black qi swirling—a woman's back.
Etched faintly blood-red: script like shamanic incantations.
That cute bun hairstyle.
Tiny body, liftable one-handed.
Black hair flecked red.
Cheon Luri.