Chapter 66
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: That's How I Feel (1)
"Ugh... Well done, Yu-hwa. You did amazingly."
Moo-jin stroked Yu-hwa's head with a bright smile he rarely showed.
"I just followed Brother's example."
Yu-hwa bowed her head, her cheeks flushing pink like plum blossoms atop her hair.
"To think you've already mastered such a technique. You're ready to leave the mountain now."
Moo-jin was incredibly proud of her.
Why?
Just as Moo-jin, who had secured a promise for the Mai Merchant Group's tea trade distribution and was about to descend Mount Hua to accept the commission...
...Yu-hwa had stepped forward, declaring that all commissions required partial upfront payment. She'd wrung—no, collected—the money from the sect leader and elders.
"I never even thought of that. Thanks to you, I've realized my own shortcomings."
He'd been so excited about establishing regular escort services with the Mai Merchant Group that the idea hadn't crossed his mind.
Even though the usual Moo-jin would have squeezed every last coin out of them.
"It was nothing, Brother. Here."
Yu-hwa handed Moo-jin the money pouches she'd taken from the sect leader and Elders Un-mok and Un-sang.
Whatever the old fogeys had planned to do with it, the pouches felt quite heavy.
"So that's why the sect leader looked so glum."
"I heard he loves his liquor. He must've been saving up for West Phoenix Brew."
West Phoenix Brew was Shaanxi Province's famed liquor with a history of three thousand years. Clear and rich, sweet yet smooth—a brew among brews!
To have the money for such a rare vintage—only a hundred bottles produced yearly—completely taken away... It must have burned him up inside.
"Good thing we have some extra travel funds now. No need to rush straight back home."
"Planning to go somewhere else?"
"Mm. Straight to Mount TaiBai."
"Right now? Won't you need more escorts?"
It was a subjugation mission that even Mount Hua Sect and Mount Zhongnan Sect—representatives of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang—had failed.
No matter how formidable Moo-jin's martial prowess, fighting alone without the Iron Fist escort warriors wouldn't be easy.
And it worried her, too.
"Well, it'd be nice to have them along. But the situation seems pretty urgent."
Moo-jin didn't claim to be some wandering hero.
He wasn't the type to throw his life away like a mere reed for strangers—he fought for his family.
But that didn't mean he was heartless enough to ignore the peril of defenseless commoners.
"Mount TaiBai grows all sorts of herbs and wild greens, vital to the locals. The longer that monster lurks there, the more they'll starve and suffer."
"We need to subjugate it quickly so the people can find some stability."
"Exactly. That's why I'm heading there right away to take care of it. With the Self-Recovery Pill restoring my strength, it shouldn't be a problem."
Having recovered eighty percent of his power, Moo-jin could now tap into some of the Immortal Diamond Qi Art functions he hadn't been able to use before.
With their help, a monster on Mount TaiBai would be no issue at all.
'He acts indifferent most days, but as expected...'
A glint of admiration flashed in Yu-hwa's eyes as she watched him.
He might pretend otherwise, but she knew Moo-jin wasn't just some greedy lout devoid of chivalry.
No matter how he played it off, Kang Moo-jin was the man who always fought on the front lines to protect others.
Just like during the protective escort to the capital for his grandfather, where he'd taken on the strongest foes to keep his men safe.
"Alright, let's get going then."
Moo-jin cracked his neck side to side and headed for Mount Hua's main gate.
And right at that moment—
"Wait! Golden Ghost Indestructible!"
Uncheon came running up, his withered gray hair and weasel-like sharp features as striking as ever.
"...?"
Moo-jin shielded Yu-hwa with his back, clenching his fist in case of trouble.
First strike wins, after all.
This guy rubbed him the wrong way anyway, so maybe greet him with a punch to the face...
"C-Calm down! I'm not here to fight!"
Sensing the immense energy gathered in Moo-jin's fist, Mount Hua's Sword Demon Uncheon frantically waved both hands.
"Then what do you want?"
"I heard you're off to hunt the demon beast."
"And?"
"I'm coming with you."
"...?"
Moo-jin and Yu-hwa both stared in stunned silence at the sudden request for companionship.
Why this guy?
"Hmph. Want another round?"
"N-No, I said! I want to tag along. Who said anything about fighting?"
As Moo-jin raised his fist to chest level, Uncheon hastily backpedaled.
Mount Hua's top sword or whatever be damned—ever since that thorough thrashing, all his pride had vanished.
"Planning to ambush me while I'm fighting the beast?"
Moo-jin eyed him suspiciously, refusing to drop his guard.
"No! Absolutely not!"
"Then what's the reason?"
"Hoo... You're the first one to smash me this badly. A defeat like this is a first in my life."
"So you're gonna ambush me?"
"Urgh..."
Uncheon ground his teeth.
"I can't just accept this defeat lying down."
"Meaning you're ambushing me, right."
"..."
Uncheon sighed deeply in frustration.
Honestly, he'd been the one beaten black and blue, while this guy hadn't a scratch. Why all the suspicion?
Anyone would think he'd won.
"I'm going to kill the demon beast and restore my honor. If I take it down, that means I beat you in our duel!"
"...?"
Moo-jin cocked his head, not getting it.
Why not just rematch then?
"Don't give me that look—I'm not up for another bout. I know I can't match you."
"Quick on the uptake, I see."
"Plus, the sect leader nagged me to go with you. Said if a Mount Hua warrior doesn't accompany the commission, the world will point fingers."
From Uncheon's perspective, traveling with the guy who'd slammed him into the training ground floor—and given him more than a few rough kisses—was hardly appealing.
But what could he do?
From using lethal moves to getting wrecked on the duel stage—the faults were all his. This time, he'd have to obey orders.
"So bear with me, even if you hate it. It's the sect leader's request."
"Hmph... Fine."
Unlike Uncheon's expectations, Moo-jin readily agreed to let him tag along.
'As expected. He acknowledges my skills too. Heh heh.'
Mount Hua's Sword Demon Uncheon smiled in satisfaction.
Recognition from a fellow powerhouse always felt good.
But Moo-jin was thinking something entirely different.
'Having a guide along won't hurt.'
Moo-jin kept it simple.
A Mount Hua disciple should know Shaanxi Province like the back of his hand.
'He'll know the best value inns.'
"Huff... huff..."
Mount Hua's Sword Demon Uncheon tasted blood in his mouth for the first time in ages.
He couldn't even remember the last time his heart had pounded like it might burst after sprinting this hard.
It had to be over twenty years, at least.
"Is... is there any reason to go this fast?!"
Uncheon's face had gone pale.
Not content with crossing the notoriously rugged Mount Hua in a mere two hours, they were now sprinting full-tilt toward Mount TaiBai. His stamina was finally hitting its limit.
"Mount Hua's top swordsman, winded already?"
"Y-You punk! It's because of the injuries you gave me—they haven't healed yet. If my body were whole, this would be nothing!"
No matter how mighty a warrior's arts, their body was still human flesh and blood. Even the strongest were made the same way.
And that body had been smashed dozens of times into a diamond-hard training ground floor. Of course it wasn't fine.
Right now, Uncheon was nursing not just external bruises big and small, but substantial internal injuries too.
"Tch. If it hurts that bad, you should've stayed back and rested. What's some scavenger doing out here? Planning an ambush?"
"The sect leader ordered me!"
A vein bulged in Uncheon's neck.
Every conversation with this damned punk made his blood boil—he felt on the verge of qi deviation.
If only he could fight, he'd smash that head in. But the punk outdid him there too. Maddening.
"Yu-hwa, how much farther?"
"Mi-hyeon County's coming up soon, Brother. We can rest there."
Mi-hyeon was a small village near Mount TaiBai in western Shaanxi Province.
Moo-jin's plan was to pass through in a day, overnight there, then climb the mountain the next.
"Tch. Thought this old coot knew the roads, but you're doing all the work, Yu-hwa."
"...That's not my fault—it's your prejudice that's off!"
Contrary to Moo-jin's (optimistic) expectations, Uncheon knew zilch about geography beyond Mount Hua.
He'd spent most of his life holed up there training—never roaming or sightseeing.
"I'm fine, Brother."
Good thing Yu-hwa knew Shaanxi's layout inside out. Otherwise, they'd have wasted days lost.
"We can slow down now!"
At Yu-hwa's call from the lead, Moo-jin and Uncheon eased their lightness skills simultaneously.
'Her I get, but... what the hell's with that girl?'
A spark of surprise lit Uncheon's eyes as he glanced at Yu-hwa.
Even with his internal injuries, for a girl just past her early twenties to outpace him in lightness skill...
Uncheon, infamous for harsh judgments, couldn't help but be impressed this time.
"Perfect—there's an inn right here."
"Day's getting late. We'll stay there tonight."
Scanning near the village entrance, Moo-jin and his group entered the Mi-hyeon Inn.
Unlike the rundown village exterior, the inn looked newly built—clean and tidy.
"Welcome, guests!"
With a warm greeting from the waiter sporting a prominent mole on his nose bridge, Moo-jin and company took seats at a round table against the left wall.
"What can I get you?"
"What meats you got?"
Moo-jin skipped veggie dishes entirely.
Moo-jin was a smart young man who didn't count vegetables as food.
"Our head chef's mountain deer stir-fry and sweet-and-sour pork are to die for!"
"Mm. Sweet-and-sour pork? That's fried, right?"
"Yes! Deep-fried pork with the chef's special sauce!"
"Hm. Fried stuff's no good for muscle growth. Got any sweet-and-sour pork without the frying?"
"...?"
The waiter, Yu-hwa, and Uncheon all gawked at Moo-jin like he'd lost his mind.
"What kinda crazy... I mean, that's just grilled meat tossed in sauce?"
"Make it that way."
"Uh... y-yes, sir. Ten iron taels upfront."
Moo-jin caught the glint in the waiter's eye.
Clear as day: price-gouging the out-of-towners.
"Mm. Got it."
Of course, Moo-jin didn't care. He wasn't paying anyway.
"Old man. Pay up."
"...Me?"
Moo-jin nodded firmly at Uncheon's bewildered look.
"I'm on Mount Hua Sect commission. Expenses are on them, naturally."
"I-I don't have money from the sect leader!"
"Bill him later. Pay now."
"..."
Unable to argue, Uncheon grudgingly pulled iron taels from his pouch and handed them over.
"Tch. Shouldn't have come. Waste of time."
Mount Hua's Sword Demon grumbled into his green tea.
Despite the complaints, his expression softened pleasantly.
Because he'd been waiting for this exact moment: sharing an inn with Kang Moo-jin.
'Heh heh. Finally, I'll hear the secret to his strength.'
Mount Hua's Sword Demon Uncheon recognized only the strong as true people—and adored them.
To him, the young Kang Moo-jin who bested him was a warrior worthy of awe.
Hearing such a man's tale? He'd pay in silver, not just iron taels.
"So, let's hear your story. What do you eat to get that strong?"
"Outta nowhere?"
"Curious, y'know. Least you can do when this old man's buying dinner."
"Mm. No big deal."
As Moo-jin nodded agreeably and opened his mouth—
"Ho ho. Who's this? Golden Ghost Indestructible, the great hero Kang Moo-jin?"
Taoists in robes blending blue and white strode over arrogantly.
Their refined features and pure qi aura marked them as Mount Zhongnan Sect disciples.
"What an honor to meet the Golden Ghost Indestructible in the flesh, whose feats are shrouded in exaggerated rumors."
A rugged Taoist, face like wind-carved rock, stepped forward.
Exuding the strongest presence among them, he was Jin-gyeol, Divine Wind Sword—the top among Mount Zhongnan's Azure Crane Sword Hands.
"I am Jin-gyeol, known as Divine Wind Sword. Since it's men among men, I'll be direct."
Jin-gyeol's hand drifted to his sword hilt as he tilted his chin up.
"Care to cross swords with this Divine Wind Sword?"