Chapter 99
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Elder, That's Not the Way. (1)
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Hong Soon-deok must have been stirring up quite the commotion everywhere.
While I was leisurely playing fetch with my wolf pup in the reception hall, I kept sensing groups of Diancang Sect martial artists arriving one after another.
Even among them, there were powerful auras that had surpassed Absolute Peak and seemed on the verge of reaching Flower Realm.
And then.
Drag—
"Is the kid named Geum Sihyeon here?"
A grandfatherly Daoist who looked sharp-tongued and crusty barged right in and called my full name.
"Yes, that's me."
"Huh."
The grandfather Daoist scanned me up and down.
"How old are you?"
"...Around thirty."
"Hmm. Huh."
After letting out some incomprehensible grunt.
"Let me see your back."
"Pardon? No—"
He suddenly charged like lightning and subdued me.
Since there was no hostility, I yielded my body willingly.
But based on my deeper understanding of internal energy, I sank the illegal immigrant demonic qi deep into the ocean depths and hid it.
"Hmm, definitely not a Demonic Cult or Blood Cult seed. Your internal energy is very pure."
Of course, of course.
I carry a bit of demonic qi in my body, and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's young lord occasionally calls for a 1:1 direct video chat (muted), but I'm a proper orthodox martial artist.
After providing my back and earning a not-guilty verdict.
"Nice to meet you, kid. I am the sect leader of Diancang Sect, Gwang Wooja."
"This lowly martial scholar Geum Sihyeon greets the sect leader."
Usually, sect leaders drop the 'ja' and add 'True Person.'
Maybe he hasn't reached Flower Realm, so he can't claim the True Person title.
"You seem to be thinking something disrespectful."
"How could I? I've heard the esteemed name of True Person Gwang Woo even back at Hundred Flowers Academy."
"What a slick talker. Anyway, you caught the Ghost Demon Horse, right?"
"I got lucky."
"Good job."
That was it.
True Person Gwang Woo praised my contribution plainly and indifferently left the reception hall.
"To hear praise from Master—that's rare. Haha, as expected of you, Junior. You did something incredible."
Hakcheongja, who had been lounging around, sauntered over and patted my shoulder.
"Still, since you brought it, I should explain. The Spirit Soul Orb you took from the Ghost Demon Horse binds people's souls. It's the core item for jiangshi arts."
"May I ask what you plan to do with it?"
As if wondering why I'd ask something so obvious, Hakcheongja grinned.
"Exorcise it, naturally. For a jiangshi master, having their Spirit Soul Orb exorcised is the greatest humiliation. It's no different from losing all the obsession they've built up."
"I see. And the memento I mentioned earlier..."
"We'll do our utmost to ensure that reaches the bereaved family too. Rest easy."
Coming to the Daoist sect really was the right call.
With both my mental burden and physical load lightened.
Time to head out.
To meet Na-rang and little miss...!
Come to think of it, wasn't Na-rang and little miss's grade completion exam at Diancang Sect?
"By any chance, do you know a classmate of mine named Myo Narang...?"
"Ah! That sweet little miss?"
A lecherous smile crept across Hakcheongja's plump, fleshy face.
"She said she stopped by early to say hello, even though the exam mission isn't for a couple months. So polite, and absolutely beautiful. If I were just a bit younger... Sigh."
As I stared at his insolent expression reminiscing about Na-rang and little miss's figures, I briefly pondered how much of my strength it'd take to subdue him.
Eh.
A man might do that.
Mao Mao-nim hasn't descended upon this land for a few hundred more years yet, so freedom of expression must be upheld.
Swallowing a rising surge of possessiveness, I exited what now inexplicably seemed even shabbier than before—the one-star Kunming branch.
Still, she seems like a decent person.
Thinking about it, that guy Unhak drools over every woman he sees too.
I'm generous.
Leaving behind the antique-feeling three-star Kunming branch.
I checked the rough distance from here to near the Southern Barbaric Beast Palace.
The straight-line distance wasn't that long, and since Kunming is such a peaceful town, it didn't feel noticeable right now.
But originally, Southern Man meant jungle and thickets.
Where wild armadillos pop out whenever, buzzing coldly while coveting Zhuge Liang's wooden ox and flow horse, and Meng Huo trumpets from atop an elephant, right?
That's what Dad said.
Believe it or not.
So if not straight line but via somewhat open paths, about 1,600 li.
If my wolf pup runs at full speed for 10 hours, it's reachable—not too far.
No reply from Na-rang and little miss in about two days, so they must be handling something important.
Which meant rushing over might cause issues instead, so I planned to take it easy.
I'm considerate.
With that, I booked an inn, rested deeply through dinner.
Then headed to the majang to gauge the local level.
I had plenty of transport notes to use as kindling, but in this remote area, cash mattered more than notes.
Planned to withdraw ample silver taels for travel expenses.
That was the plan.
At least until.
Until I saw the legitimate gambling house proudly bearing the name of a prestigious orthodox sect.
...I vaguely recalled that even in the central regions, Diancang Sect specialized in running gambling dens.
Unable to hide my uneasy feeling, I pushed open the door and entered.
"Ron!"
"Ow, does this make any sense?"
"Hah, just two steps from Yu Guo Man Guan..."
"Our dinner's riding on this hand—Asura Pungbaekta, Asura Pungbaekta!"
The suckers' wails and the clacking of jade tiles refreshed my soul.
It's been a while.
This savage sensation...
Looking up, my eyes caught grand calligraphy engraved on the wall.
"No tile fears leaving the hand out of fear of loss."
"Composer's riichi call lasts until the score pot empties."
"..."
Was I the fake madman?
Lost for words at the slogans rippling with true madness, I stood dazed for a moment.
"Kid, gonna play?"
Hearing a familiar voice, I turned my head.
Diancang Sect's sect leader.
Gwang Wooja.
I bowed my head as politely as possible.
Then fled the majang like my life depended on it.
My gut told me that sitting at that table would lead to one of two fates.
Endlessly playing mahjong until I puked up every last coin.
Or shuffling out broke after putting down all my winnings.
I trusted my instincts.
Screw mahjong—I just crashed for the night, and while at it, outright bought a thriving-looking inn with a transport note lump sum to use as a base.
"Have a safe trip!"
"Thanks, take care."
Bid farewell by the errand boy whose salary tripled overnight, then hit the road again with my wolf pup.
Just a little ways out of Kunming.
The livable spring city vanished, replaced by humid hellish backlands.
I mentally thanked Sister Seol.
If I hadn't secretly picked up Ice Arts over her shoulder—imperfect as it was—I'd have gone mad in this heat.
"Grrr...! Kyau! Kyauung!"
Plus, bugs infested everywhere, savagely biting not just me but my wolf pup too.
Some even poisonous.
So I fitted a poison fang into one corner of my wolf pup's teeth to prevent trouble.
Also blew cold energy into its scruff to cool it down.
And whenever annoying venomous insects or snakes popped out, I handled them personally, slurping up their poison deliciously as we sped on.
During the journey.
"Hm?"
I thought we'd entered barren path where no one roams, but sensed an unfamiliar presence ahead.
Barely any internal energy, so probably a civilian.
"Wolf pup, let's dismount for a bit."
"Kyauung."
After encountering several folks who'd nearly fainted at the sight of my wolf pup so far, I realized caution was needed, hassle or not.
It was like a massive tiger bigger than a massive tiger bursting out—totally understandable.
With my wolf pup shrinking familiarly and nestling in my arms, I moved while making plenty of noise.
Soon, the source of the presence came into view.
A middle-aged man with a deeply furrowed, worried face, lugging a herb-filled sack, leaning on a staff as he trudged slowly.
Our eyes met.
"You there, you gisaeng brother lookalike."
The middle-aged geezer, looking like a terminal depression case, eyed me crookedly and gruffly asked.
"Is this the way to Xishuangbanna? Pretty sure I was heading south."
"Elder, where you came from is south. The way I came is north. You went the wrong way."
"What?"
The middle-aged geezer frowned at me briefly, then distrustfully tapped a nearby tree with his staff.
"You seem pretty skilled in martial arts. Cut it down."
"Me?"
"Should a feeble old man like me do it?"
"..."
Couldn't argue, so I swung my sword.
Staring at the cut stump, the geezer grimaced.
"Ting, it's real."
Was that the naturalist trick of reading direction from tree rings?
The geezer clicked his tongue, then gazed at me intently.
That expression.
Just like the one God-nim always made whenever assigning me some super annoying task—déjà vu hit hard.
"You sturdy-lookin' punk. Guide this elder, will ya."
For real.