Chapter 72
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: Elder Respect? (2)
“No. I did it for the money….”
“Tsk tsk. No need to say it like that. I already understand your heart completely.”
Uncheon, the Sword Demon of Mount Hua, nodded as if he truly grasped every bit of it.
“True fellowship isn't forged by words on the tongue, but by the convictions buried deep in the chest. But in my presence, there's no need to attach any reasons. I understand it all.”
A satisfied smile crept across Uncheon's lips.
“Heh heh. To think there's a martial artist among the younger generation with such profound fellowship in his heart. It seems a blessing has come to our righteous factions' martial world.”
Poonghyeon of Mount Zhongnan spared no praise for Moo-jin either.
“Choosing money as compensation yet prioritizing our Mount Zhongnan's honor over his own—that depth of heart is something the kids these days just don't have.”
“...?”
What the hell? I love money more than anything.
Moo-jin felt a twinge of injustice.
He'd worked this hard for the cash, only to be misunderstood as doing it for honor instead.
“Exactly. If the Martial Alliance existed, I'd nominate him for alliance leader.”
“I'd appoint him as an honorary elder of Mount Zhongnan.”
“Mount Hua can offer an honorary elder position too. And if he wants, even a full elder role.”
“Elder? Giving him an elder spot without even learning Mount Hua's sword arts? Isn't that a bit too much exaggeration?”
“He can learn them. With his skills, he'd master it all in a month.”
“Hah! By that logic, Mount Zhongnan could offer an elder position too.”
“You think he'd accept? He'd pick Mount Hua over the likes of Zhongnan any day.”
“What? You old coot?!”
“Oh? Wanna go a round?!”
Moo-jin sighed at the sight of the two supreme swordsmen grabbing each other's collars again, then casually pried them apart.
They were the type who wouldn't yield to brute force anywhere else, but before Moo-jin's strength, they parted as softly as tofu.
It looked just like an adult forcibly breaking up a fight between three-year-olds, they yielded so easily.
“Elders, that's enough for now. We'll talk tomorrow. I'm beat today.”
“Wait!? Hold on. Can't you at least say when you'll come to Mount Zhongnan?”
“You're coming to Mount Hua, right? Not Zhongnan! Mount Hua!”
“We'll discuss it later. Later.”
Moo-jin shoved the backs of Poonghyeon and Uncheon—who were still trying to hold their ground with inner energy—out of the inn by force.
“Golden Ghost Indestructible! Hey! Golden Ghost!”
“Great hero Kang! Hero Kang?!”
Bam!
Moo-jin didn't just close the door—he locked it—then scratched his head with a troubled look before flopping into a chair.
“You alright, brother?”
“This is a tricky spot, big brother.”
“...? What's tricky? Did I miss something?”
Ma Du-gwang tilted his head, unable to follow the situation everyone else seemed to grasp.
“Mount Hua Sect and Mount Zhongnan Sect both invited big brother to their main sects.”
“Y... yeah?”
“Tch. You brute. Still don't get it?”
Ma Du-gwang pouted.
“Only a fool from the unorthodox paths would act like that. Anyone smart would have passed the imperial exams.”
“Fair point.”
Moo-jin nodded, agreeing with the logic.
“Inviting big brother to their headquarters isn't just to repay a debt of gratitude—it's about influence too.”
“Influence?”
“To show who's the bigger client. Who got to you first.”
In truth, for massive sects like Mount Zhongnan or Mount Hua to invite a single person was exceedingly rare.
Especially when that person was a rising star who hadn't even made a name across the entire Central Plains yet—it had never happened in the history of the martial world.
Invitations from the Nine Great Sects and One Gang were usually reserved for elders or sect leaders of equal stature from the same league.
“If you go to Mount Hua, people will think Mount Hua was the true client and praise them for it.”
“Aha! So that's why those old-timers are making faces like love-struck maidens before a confession.”
Ma Du-gwang's eyes lit up as the pieces finally clicked.
To make even the renowned elders of such colossal sects desperate like that...
Brother really is the best.
There was no greater joy for a subordinate than seeing their superior shine.
Kang Moo-jin's feats were Ma Du-gwang's pride.
“Heh heh. Thanks to you, brother, I got to see those stiff-necked folks bowing and scraping.”
Watching the lofty Daoists of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang act that way brought a strange thrill.
“But it's not all good. Picking one means the other will hold a grudge.”
Mount Zhongnan had handed over piles of ready cash, while Mount Hua promised steady income from regular escorts.
Choosing one inevitably meant crossing the other.
And refusing to choose wasn't an option, so the dilemma deepened.
“I'd pick Mount Hua, big brother. We'll see them more often for escorts anyway.”
“I'd go Zhongnan, brother. They're offering more than just money. We should squeeze them dry.”
Moo-jin stroked his chin, glancing between Yoo-hwa and Ma Du-gwang's opposing views.
“Hmm... How about we just summon them both here instead?”
“...?!”
The two pairs of eyes widened in shock at Moo-jin's incomprehensible suggestion.
“Mount Zhongnan or Mount Hua? That is the question.”
Anyone else would have agonized for days without sleep over the choice.
But Moo-jin reached a conclusion in mere half a shichen.
A rather shocking one, at that.
“H-Hiiik!”
Cha Moo-seok, head of the Hao Clan Xi'an branch, scanned his surroundings with a face drained of color from fear.
But aside from the door straight ahead, all he saw were sturdy stone walls.
No hidden escapes, and the walls were too thick to break through.
D-Damn it. Should've made an escape route!
Xi'an, home to Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang, boasted excellent security with hardly any unorthodox thugs causing trouble.
So Cha Moo-seok had skimped on building an escape when setting up the branch.
Who knew he'd regret it like this...
“R-Run. I have to run. Or I'm dead...!”
Cha Moo-seok rolled his eyes frantically before clenching his fist in resolve and kicking open his office door.
He planned a straight dash for freedom.
“...Trying to go somewhere?”
“Kyaaack!”
His face went ghostly white at the massive shadow looming before him.
“G-G-G-Golden Ghost Indestructible!?”
The man who instilled terror in Cha Moo-seok's pupils was none other than Kang Moo-jin.
“...Why do all you Hao Clan guys try to run the second you see me?”
Moo-jin sighed and effortlessly lifted Cha Moo-seok to his feet.
He couldn't fathom what was wrong with these Hao Clan folks.
He'd never even hit them.
If he had laid a hand on them once, at least it wouldn't feel so unfair.
But they all cowered in fear without a single bruise—what the hell?
“G-Great hero Kang. Th-That is...”
“Never mind. I'm here for a commission, so let's talk business first.”
“Huh? A commission? From you?!”
“...Then why else would I come to the Hao Clan?”
“...To purge the unorthodox?”
“...”
Kang Moo-jin gave Cha Moo-seok an incredulous look.
“Even you guys leave Mount Hua and Zhongnan alone. And I'd do it right in front of their homes?”
“...Now that you mention it, yeah.”
Seeing the logic, Cha Moo-seok's complexion brightened a bit.
“So what commission do you have for us?”
“Spread some rumors for me. About Mount Hua Sect and Mount Zhongnan Sect.”
Mount Hua Sect and Mount Zhongnan Sect commissioned Kang Moo-jin to subdue the auspicious beast! Kang Moo-jin subdued Taibai Mountain's beast thanks to Mount Zhongnan and Mount Hua!
That's exactly what Moo-jin wanted—those rumors blanketing all of Shaanxi Province.
“...? Why? Why share your achievements like that?!”
Groups like the Hao Clan or Beggar Clan knew, but most common folk didn't realize Moo-jin had been commissioned; they just thought a hero named Kang Moo-jin had slain the beast for the people.
“W-Wouldn't that diminish your own merits a little?”
If word spread that it was a commission, Mount Hua and Zhongnan would share in Moo-jin's glory.
No normal martial artist would bother sharing, so it made no sense.
“Doesn't matter.”
“Pardon?”
“Rumors or fame—what's the point?”
“Ah...”
Admiration flashed in Cha Moo-seok's eyes.
He was stunned by this man who valued Mount Hua and Zhongnan over his own fame.
Even among those who called themselves righteous, few heroes could sacrifice so boldly.
Fame and rumors? Nah, it's all about the money.
Of course, Moo-jin's reasons were entirely different from what Cha Moo-seok imagined.
His plan was to flood Shaanxi with these rumors until Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan's sect leaders had no choice but to haul their heavy asses off their mountains.
“Spread it so no one in Shaanxi misses it.”
“Yes, sir! Right away, great hero Kang.”
Cha Moo-seok now looked at Moo-jin with eyes utterly transformed from moments ago.
Even those in the shadowy paths respected true righteous heroes.
“How much for the fee?”
“No charge.”
“...?”
Moo-jin tilted his head.
The Hao Clan turning down money? Never heard of it.
“How could we charge a great hero who diminishes his own glory to exalt fellowship? Besides, I'm a Xi'an resident too. To repay even a little the one who slew Taibai's monster, this commission is on the house.”
“Oh, thanks. Mind if I ask one more favor while we're at it?”
“Of course.”
Moo-jin set down the massive sack slung over his shoulder.
Thud!
Its heavy contents made the ground tremble on impact.
“...What's this?”
“The auspicious beast's corpse. I'm swamped, so could you ship it to the Diamond Escort Agency for me?”
“...? Not selling it?”
Spirit beast corpses were goldmines for merchants, packed with valuables.
From the inner core to bones and hide—everything was a priceless treasure.
“Got personal use for it.”
Moo-jin flashed a cryptic smile, like someone guarding a secret.
In Mount Hua Sect's grand hall, crimson wooden pillars rose to support the ceiling.
Beneath a screen painted in bold ink strokes depicting Mount Hua's majestic scenery amid swirling sword winds, Sect Leader Ungeom the Immortal sat in solemn poise.
“Hmm. So the rumors have spread that far?”
“Yes, Sect Leader. Indeed.”
“The Beggar Clan?”
“Hao Clan. Seems they took a commission from Great Hero Kang himself.”
“Hmm...”
Ungeom stroked his beard, his expression inscrutable.
“Looks like we put Great Hero Kang in a tough spot. Diminishing his own feats to elevate our Mount Hua and Zhongnan...”
“Rather than choose between Mount Hua and Zhongnan—humiliating one—he chose to sacrifice himself.”
“Tch. Our oversight. We got too greedy.”
Ungeom and the elders felt shame for the first time in ages.
Thinking their petty greed to one-up Zhongnan had forced an innocent young man to sacrifice himself filled them with regret.
“Our fault as elders, Sect Leader. Forgive us.”
“No use regretting the past. But what a righteous hero. Isn't he?”
“Indeed. A rare prodigy in the Central Plains.”
“A pillar of the righteous factions' future.”
“Sigh. What about those Zhongnan fools?”
“They felt the shame too, apparently. Word is they're descending the mountain to seek Great Hero Kang.”
“Mm.”
Ungeom smoothed his chin without a hint of hesitation.
“Once is enough to show shame. Prepare the Plum Blossom Swordsmen. I'm heading to Xi'an right now.”