Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Reconstruction and an Unexpected Lead
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In the Zhongnan region, some two hundred li from the provincial capital of Shaanxi.
Passersby stopped in their tracks, staring dumbfounded at the unusual spectacle.
“My! Look at that!”
“How can a person…?”
Their astonished gazes fell upon a muscular man carrying a massive pillar all by himself.
And that wasn't all.
*Thwack!*
When the sharp edge of his hand struck the end of a large log, a hole would invariably appear.
“There! Lift it!”
At Ju Seung’s shout, massive logs were erected at four points, and members of the Waning Moon Brigade leaped on top to secure horizontal beams.
“Good! Now, shape them!”
“Yes, sir!”
Under Ju Seung’s command, the warriors leaped into action, and a symphony of swords began.
*Swish! Swish-swish-swish!*
As sword energy coated the sharp blades, the wood was shaved away, creating a finish more beautiful than that of a master carpenter's plane.
That’s right. They were currently rebuilding the inn and pavilions they had destroyed.
It was an astonishing sight. Proud martial artists using their skills to construct buildings was not a common occurrence.
“Incredible.”
“Indeed. They laid the foundation in just a day after the materials arrived. And the sun hasn’t even set yet…”
“Did you see them move the foundation stones? He moved that huge thing all by himself.”
“They say this is all under the orders of someone called the Third Young Master of the Demonic Cult, right?”
“So I’ve heard.”
“It seems the Demonic Cult is different from what I’ve heard. I thought martial artists only knew how to break things… To think they’d take responsibility like this.”
The conversations among those watching the sweat-drenched Demonic Cult warriors were filled with praise.
But how easily could long-held prejudices be overcome?
“Don’t be fooled. Don’t they say the Demonic Cult bewitches people’s minds? They must have some ulterior motive for doing this.”
“You’re right. I heard the Demonic Cult has made a nest for itself in the Central Plains, haven’t they?”
“So they say. What is the world coming to, with those wicked fiends…”
“They’re pretending to be kind like this, but behind our backs, they’re surely kidnapping people and doing terrible things.”
“Let’s just go!”
Some were bound to misinterpret even the actions they saw with their own eyes.
Of course, Neung Un-bi heard their voices.
After his fight with Jong Ri-gang, his hearing had transcended its normal limits, so he heard them whether he wanted to or not.
But what did it matter?
It was all true.
Since when had the Demonic Cult ever done good deeds that they should expect praise?
A single glimpse was not enough to shatter the accumulated prejudice against them.
As Jong Ri-gang had said, in the end, the only one hurt by their words would be the one who cared about them.
“Third Young Master, please have some of this while you supervise.”
“What’s this?”
“It’s a chilled soup. There’s nothing better for cooling down and sating one’s hunger.”
Neung Un-bi gave an awkward smile as he looked at the bowl the innkeeper brought on a small tray.
Cooling down and sating hunger…
All he was doing was watching the construction from the shade with Hyang-i.
When he had rolled up his sleeves after breakfast, ready to help, Ju Seung and Wang Cheon had thrown a fit.
Something about it being unthinkable for their lord to step in.
But he was the one who had caused this mess.
So why couldn’t he help just because he was their lord?
Did they think some people were meant to work while others were meant to sit around?
It was only right to take direct responsibility for the trouble one caused.
When he insisted, they fell over themselves in horror, saying he’d have to take their heads first.
It was a constant thought, but they truly treated their own lives like they were nothing.
Offering up their necks at the drop of a hat—even nine lives wouldn’t be enough for them.
In the end, he was forced to accept the position of supervisor.
Though they called it supervising, Ju Seung, who had some experience building huts in the mountains, handled most of the work. Neung Un-bi was left to sit in the shade, drinking tea with Hyang-i.
And now, to his embarrassment, the innkeeper had brought him chilled soup.
Even Master Un Hak was over there, diligently swinging his sword…
“You should give this to them rather than me…”
Just as Neung Un-bi was about to politely decline, Hyang-i snatched the bowl and drank it down.
*Gulp, gulp.*
“…”
“Ahhh, that’s refreshing!”
Hyang-i beamed and gave the innkeeper a thumbs-up.
“Another bowl!”
“Huh? Yes…”
At her bold request, the innkeeper took the empty bowl and retreated.
As Neung Un-bi stared at her with a look of disbelief, Hyang-i met his gaze with an audacious, shameless expression.
“What? You said you weren’t having any.”
“…”
*Did that mean you had to snatch it and gulp it down?*
When he first met her, she was terrifying enough to make his skin crawl. He had no idea how she was turning into such a glutton.
“By the way…”
“Hm?”
As Neung Un-bi shook his head, Hyang-i’s expression suddenly turned serious.
*Did she sense some danger?*
“Third Young Master.”
“Yes?”
“You’ve spent all your money, haven’t you?”
“…What?”
“You promised to get me Taibai Wine before.”
“…”
“Don’t you dare tell me later that you’re broke and there’s nothing you can do. I’ll tear you to pieces for real.”
Hyang-i’s eyes flashed with killing intent as she glared at him.
*…That was the reason?*
He thought someone was coming to slit his throat.
*And you don’t have to use honorifics for a threat like that. Just speak informally like you do when we’re alone.*
*What kind of threat is so damn polite?*
Besides, she was only sixteen. Why was she so obsessed with alcohol?
Even if she was technically of age, she was just a kid who had already developed a taste for liquor…
“What’s with that look? Are you looking for a fight? Huh?”
“…”
“You got lucky and dodged one of the King of the Green Forest’s moves, and now you’ve gotten quite bold, haven’t you?”
Where on earth did she learn such an absurd way of speaking formally?
He was genuinely curious about the mental state of the people who had raised her.
“Don’t worry. I’ll keep my promise.”
“…You’d better. I’ve been looking forward to it.”
“…”
Only then did Hyang-i withdraw her killing intent and smile, revealing her dimples. Neung Un-bi let out a deep, internal sigh.
*That damn Cult Leader. If he was truly worried about me, he could have sent someone a bit more amiable.*
Today, for some reason, Neung Un-bi found himself resenting the Cult Leader.
“More importantly, Hyang-i.”
“What is it?”
“Don’t you think it’s about time you started teaching me a little?”
“Teaching you what?”
“Those things you call cheap tricks.”
“…”
Hyang-i, who had shown a flicker of interest at his subtle words, let out a smirk.
*Was that… a scoff?*
“Don’t be ridiculous. Do you think you’ve achieved some great enlightenment just because your ears have finally opened a little?”
“What?”
“Your eyes have already reached the level of Insight, so we can set that aside, but your hearing still has a long way to go. You’re barely at the entrance.”
“The entrance?”
“Of course. Do you think you dodged the King of the Green Forest’s staff with skill? That was pure luck. You probably couldn’t do it again if you tried.”
“…”
*So it was a scoff, you little brat.*
Neung Un-bi’s face contorted at Hyang-i’s scathing assessment.
“Insight. In other words, when you saw your opponent’s martial arts with the eye of perception, what was it like?”
“What was it like?”
“You could see the subsequent moves that would follow their movements, right?”
“Well, more or less.”
“Hearing is the same.”
“The same?”
“It’s called Thought-Hearing.”
“Hearing thoughts?”
“Exactly. That’s when you’ve truly transcended the sense of hearing.”
“Hmm, I see. Hearing thoughts… thoughts…”
Neung Un-bi nodded at Hyang-i’s calm explanation, then his eyes suddenly widened and he shouted.
“How does that make any sense, you brat! How can you hear thoughts! Do you think you can just say whatever you want!?”
“You’ve already accomplished something that doesn’t make sense.”
At her nonchalant reply, Neung Un-bi felt his energy drain away.
*Hah, hearing thoughts…*
But even though he knew it sounded impossible, he had to ask.
It was a path he had never walked.
“…Alright, fine. So, how do I reach that state of Thought-Hearing?”
“That…”
“…”
“You’ll have to figure it out for yourself.”
“What?”
“It’s meaningless if you don’t do it yourself.”
“…”
“Well, considering your pace, Third Young Master, I don’t think it will take you long.”
“Not long? Out of the five senses—sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch—I’ve only awakened two.”
“Come on, I don’t know when you transcended sight… but you only started training your hearing recently. Other people can’t achieve that in a lifetime.”
“…”
He had always known how to use Insight.
After becoming Neung Un-bi, he had started earnestly training from hearing.
Next were smell, taste, and touch…
Only after transcending the remaining senses could he challenge the realm of the Aura Blade.
*Sigh, at this slow pace of training, when will I ever learn Hyang-i’s cheap tricks and escape the Demonic Cult?*
“Well, once you’ve awakened your hearing, the rest should come quickly. Senses are like that; the first one is difficult, but once you break through, your body gets used to it. And since we’re in this together, I can’t be too cold… The day you buy me that Taibai Wine, I’ll give you a little help.”
Neung Un-bi felt the urge to rip that smile right off Hyang-i’s face.
That damn Taibai Wine. He had made the promise rashly, but he’d heard it was difficult to obtain even for a thousand gold pieces.
But what could he do? It was his fault for being powerless.
*Dammit…*
“Wang Cheon, where the hell is that punk slacking off? Even Master Un Hak is sweating away over there.”
“I thought he said he was going to report to the main cult. You gave him permission yourself.”
…That was right.
He had just said it because he had nowhere else to vent his frustration.
*To be lectured by my own maid. What a pathetic life.*
As Neung Un-bi was lamenting his fate, he stared blankly at the ongoing construction. Just then…
“Excuse me, Third Young Master?”
“…?”
The innkeeper, who had brought another bowl of chilled soup, approached him cautiously.
Of course, the soup was for Hyang-i.
But his hesitant demeanor suggested he had something to say.
“What is it?”
“Well… it’s just…”
“What’s wrong? Are you perhaps displeased with how the inn is being built?”
“No, not at all! Absolutely not! I’m very pleased with it. It’s turning out much more splendid than before.”
“…”
Neung Un-bi tilted his head at the innkeeper’s frantic denial.
*Splendid? They’ve only just laid the foundation.*
“Then please, speak your mind.”
“Actually… there is someone who wishes to meet you, Third Young Master.”
“Me? Who?”
It was strange.
Who would want to meet him?
Since this was the territory of the Orthodox Faction, any martial artist would have surely gone through Master Un Hak.
If it was someone from the Unorthodox Faction, they would have shown up unannounced like the King of the Green Forest.
How would an innkeeper know anyone connected to him?
“It’s alright. Please tell me.”
As Neung Un-bi calmly prompted the tense innkeeper, the man spoke cautiously.
“There’s a gentleman named Master Hwang, with whom I’ve done business for a long time…”
“Master Hwang?”
“Yes.”
If he did business with the innkeeper, he must be a merchant who supplied goods.
*Does he want to trade with the Demonic Cult through me?*
It made sense. Everyone had witnessed his fight with the King of the Green Forest, whose name was by no means small…
It seemed the news had already spread.
But wasn’t this the territory of the Orthodox Faction?
Even if they had been permitted to establish a branch, trying to seize interests outside the designated area would only create friction.
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”
“Pardon?”
“We have our own position to consider. We cannot rashly form ties with a merchant guild.”
“…I see. My apologies. It’s just that Master Hwang was so insistent…”
“Please convey my regrets to him.”
“Yes, Third Young Master.”
At the polite refusal, the innkeeper retreated with a disappointed expression.
What could be done?
Putting aside their official position, Neung Un-bi had no desire to go out of his way to do something beneficial for the Demonic Cult unless it was unavoidable.
He was busy enough with his own training…
But perhaps because it had piqued his curiosity, he overheard the innkeeper talking to someone in the distance.
“I’m sorry.”
“It can’t be helped. It’s not your fault.”
“Still… with the brewery destroyed, you must get it repaired quickly. What did the Blue Cloud Carpentry Guild say?”
“Don’t even mention it. Aren’t they always so arrogant? I told them it was urgent, and they said I’d have to pay three times the price to fit it into their schedule.”
“Oh dear… But they’re the only ones around here who can handle a construction project of that scale, aren’t they?”
“Sigh, you’re right. I have no choice. I’ll have to pay the extra fee. I’m sorry to have troubled you.”
It seemed that person had also sought him out because of a construction project.
But since he hadn’t been the one to destroy it, there was no reason for him to get involved.
After listening to their conversation for a moment, Neung Un-bi quickly lost interest.
But at that moment…
“By the way, have you stopped brewing Taibai Wine altogether recently?”
“…!”
A word struck his ears like a bolt of lightning.
The hair on his arms stood on end, and before the sound had even faded from his ears, the Three Nothings Footwork was unleashed at its peak.
“Ugh!”
Appearing like a gust of wind, Neung Un-bi’s eyes flashed fiercely, causing Master Hwang, who was about to turn away, to yelp in shock and fall to the ground.
“Thi-Third Young Master, what is the meaning of this?”
“…”
The innkeeper, startled, stepped in front of him, but Neung Un-bi stared intently at Master Hwang and spoke.
“Did you just say… Taibai Wine?”