Chapter 54
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Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Grow Big and Strong (4)
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Suddenly left alone, Moo-jin didn't mind in the slightest.
'It's probably just some insignificant spirit beast.'
Spirit beasts that spewed mist or sleep-inducing scents. Ones that hid by reflecting light. Among those types, truly dangerous ones were rare.
There were no aggressive fighters eager for battle, nor blood-crazed maniacs among the ones that hid themselves.
'The real threats are the ones that emit demonic qi.'
Beasts like the Nine Infants, with a body larger than two mountains combined and nine long necks sprouting from it.
Even Kang Moo-jin had to risk his life against those.
'It'll show up soon.'
Moo-jin ignored the sleep scent that couldn't even approach his body and held his breath.
His seasoned hunter's instincts told him a spirit beast was about to appear.
'There it is.'
A massive wolf appeared beside one of the plump cows.
Mist leaked from its gaping maw, and where eyes should have been were two faintly glowing orbs like moonlight. This was the Dream Wolf, known in the Linked Qi Realm.
'Ho. Even the jianghu has Dream Wolves? Interesting.'
Dream Wolves looked like wolves at a glance, but up close, you could see the dark blue mist enveloping their bodies. They were spirit beasts.
They spread a vicious mist called Dream-Eye Fog that plunged people into sleep, so effective that sorcerers had nearly driven them to extinction in the Linked Qi Realm.
'It's been a while since I've seen one in person.'
Kwa-duk-!
Unaware of Moo-jin's gaze, the Dream Wolf snapped the neck of the largest cow among the three in one bite and dragged it off somewhere.
'...?'
If it was hungry, it could have eaten right there. Curious about why it was taking the prey away, Moo-jin quietly followed.
'That's the mine.'
The Dream Wolf entered the mine the Iron Treasury was preparing to expand, slipping into a narrow tunnel it could barely fit through by crouching.
Kyaang-!
Inside the tunnel, a pup identical to the Dream Wolf wagged its tail happily.
'Ah. Now it makes sense.'
Everything clicked: why it avoided people and spread sleep mist in the village, why it killed the miners at the mine, and why it didn't eat its kill on the spot.
It was protecting its young, driven to these desperate acts.
"Tch. Killing people doesn't make it right. And this isn't a good place for you to live anyway."
"...!"
Finally sensing Moo-jin's presence, the Dream Wolf whipped around, baring its fangs.
With wariness and killing intent pouring out, it revealed its sharp canines and charged at Moo-jin.
"This pup dares bare its teeth at a person...!"
Moo-jin raised his palm to smack its cheek but hesitated.
On second thought, a direct hit from him might kill it.
No matter how delicately he controlled his power, there were limits—like trying to stretch a thread endlessly without breaking it.
'Hmm. In that case...'
Moo-jin dodged the Dream Wolf's gleaming silver fangs and extended one finger.
Pishuk-!
The Heavenly Light Soul-Exterminating Finger manifested from his hand and pierced the Dream Wolf's belly.
Ke-eng-!
Struck by the blue beam, it slammed back into the tunnel wall and collapsed.
Moo-jin had weakened the power so it only pierced the skin without going through, delivering just enough pain to bring it to its knees.
'Kuh. As expected, these slightly weaker martial arts are great for precision.'
Words that would have made Cheong-ho, the peerless master said to shake the world with one finger, leap from his grave. But what could be done?
The use of martial arts lay in the heart of the living.
Kreung-!
"Oh?"
The Dream Wolf bared its fangs again, hackles raised.
Despite the pain, it was readying for another attack.
"Giving up quickly ends the suffering faster, you know."
Moo-jin clicked his tongue regretfully and raised his finger again.
The Dream Wolf lowered its stance and began dodging the fingertip.
"...!"
This clever spirit beast had already calculated it just needed to avoid the light from his fingertip!
A spirit beast this smart? It outdid even Ma Du-gwang in wits.
"But what can you do."
Watching it maneuver for an opening, Moo-jin grinned and splayed all ten fingers.
Wung-!
The energy of the Heavenly Light Soul-Exterminating Finger gathered at his fingertips, glowing vividly blue as if ready to fire.
"...."
The startled Dream Wolf flattened itself, exposing its belly to Moo-jin.
The clever beast knew exactly when to surrender.
"Hoo... Is it impossible after all?"
Ju Moon-jang, the deputy branch leader of the Iron Treasury, paced anxiously in front of Iron Cloud Village.
His feet had worn a deep rut in the ground from hours of repetitive pacing.
"I had a bad feeling when he came alone..."
Unlike the honeyed words he'd fed Kang Moo-jin, Ju Moon-jang hadn't truly trusted him.
Rumors needed some exaggeration to be believable, but those surrounding Moo-jin were utterly absurd.
From wielding the Demonless Sword to smashing jiangshi, even beating the Food Demon, a master long thought dead.
So many outrageous tales piled up that he suspected the Diamond Escort Agency was fabricating them.
"The higher-ups seem to trust him fully, though..."
The Iron Treasury was as renowned for shrewd money management as for forging sharp blades.
Yet they'd handed over a pouch of gold for the commission and sent the deputy with another—clear proof of their confidence in Moo-jin.
Though Ju Moon-jang couldn't fathom why...
"Damn it. If this fails, it's all over, right?"
Ignoramuses might ask, 'Can't we just drive out the spirit beast eventually?' But reality was harsher.
Once rumors spread of deaths by spirit beast, no one wanted to work the mine.
No laborers would choose a cursed mine.
"Hoo... Should I go check myself?"
Ju Moon-jang stamped his feet in frustration.
But the plum-colored mist shrouding Iron Cloud Village held him back.
Stepping in meant collapsing asleep—no point.
"Ugh. Damn it all! Why did the Diamond Escort Agency send only the Golden Ghost Indestructible? They should have at least assigned a few top-grade escorts!"
As the day waned with no sign of Moo-jin, Ju Moon-jang tore at his hair.
Should he curse his foolish superiors or the Escort Agency for sending just two people? He couldn't decide.
"Golden Ghost Indestructible... Golden Ghost Indestructiblllle!"
"Why are you yelling my nickname so enthusiastically?"
"...!"
Startled by the sudden presence, Ju Moon-jang spun around.
"K-Kang Hero?!"
To his delight, the damnably welcome Kang Moo-jin stood before him.
"Y-You're alive! Haha, I believed in you. I trusted you... Aaaack!"
In his joy, he lunged for a hug but fell flat on his butt in shock.
He'd seen what rested on Moo-jin's shoulder.
"Ah, don't worry. She's not dead, just asleep."
Moo-jin smirked at Yu-hwa, slumped deeply asleep on his left shoulder.
"N-No, not her, the other..."
"Oh, this?"
Moo-jin's gaze shifted to his right shoulder, where a palm-sized Dream Wolf pup sat demurely, nuzzling his earlobe.
"A-And beside you..."
Ju Moon-jang paled at the adult Dream Wolf standing regally next to Moo-jin.
"Turns out she was protecting her pup. They're called Dream Wolves— not bad-natured by nature."
Unlike their wolfish looks, Dream Wolves were docile and friendly to humans.
They put villagers to sleep and stole livestock instead of killing—a reflection of their temperament.
"I'll take them with me. No good for them lingering near the mine."
"P-Pardon? Ah, yes. S-Sure."
Regaining his wits, Ju Moon-jang wiped sweat and nodded.
They'd requested extermination, but capture was better for the Iron Treasury.
A mine once haunted by spirit beasts beat a mine where they were killed—laborers flocked to sites with lingering auspicious qi.
'More workers mean faster progress. Higher profits.'
More laborers sped iron production, boosting Iron Treasury revenue.
Moo-jin's capture over kill netted them an extra ~120 taels of silver in gains.
Even after deducting the gold and silver pouches given to Moo-jin, it was +100 taels!
"Word spreads, laborers will flock."
"Yes. Quite a few."
"Production speeds up."
"Right. Might be fastest among our four mines."
"Branch profits soar then?"
"Yes, they will... Huh?!"
Ju Moon-jang jolted, shocked an outsider knew their business so well.
"They say the master earns the money, the slave dances."
"Uh..."
"Guess that makes me the slave and you the master, Branch Deputy. Haha!"
Moo-jin laughed heartily.
"But as Diamond Escort Agency leader, becoming your slave might look bad. What do you think? Rumors could hurt."
"...."
The quick-witted Ju Moon-jang caught the intent.
Share the profits I earned you. Don't hog it all.
"Haha! No such thing. No master or slave—just two comrades who solved this together!"
Shifting from master-slave to friends, he pulled another pouch from his bosom—50 taels of his personal gold.
"Oh, what's this?"
Moo-jin feigned refusal but slyly extended his hand.
"Friends share even half a bean. Aren't we such between us?"
Ju Moon-jang placed the pouch in Moo-jin's palm; it vanished into his bosom.
"Heh. Can't refuse when you put it that way."
With one phrase securing 50 taels, Moo-jin placed the silver pouch—received earlier—back in Ju Moon-jang's hand.
"Take this."
"...?"
"Village lost livestock too. Someone must compensate them."
"...!"
Ju Moon-jang's eyes widened.
People praised the Golden Ghost Indestructible for a reason.
Greedy for gold, yes—but with righteousness blended in, not mere selfishness!
"Use this as compensation for the villagers."
"Kang Hero... You're incredible. Helping the common folk from your own pocket..."
The Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Families' juniors only toppled evil demons—useless for aiding the people.
Their righteousness was all show.
Moo-jin, though, truly cared for the commoners from their perspective. Real chivalrous heart.
'Truly amazing.'
As Ju Moon-jang gazed in sincere admiration...
Moo-jin tilted his head, puzzled.
"What are you talking about? Me alone?"
"Pardon?"
"Didn't you say we're bean-sharing friends? You kick in half too, Branch Deputy."
"...!"
Ju Moon-jang's pupils shook violently.
N-No way... He saw through this far too!?