Chapter 73
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Respect for the Elderly? (3)
Ma Du-gwang approached Yu-hwa with a face full of irritation after being bitten three times on the hand while feeding Mongrang.
"Miss Won."
"Yes?"
"Isn't there any way to make that damned beast obey? Why does it only bite me, acting all temperamental?"
"Hmm. It's because of Leader Ma's aura."
"My aura?"
"Spirit beasts hate foul energy. And..."
"And?"
"Nothing."
Yu-hwa couldn't bring herself to say, 'It hates ugly things,' and averted her eyes.
She didn't want to hurt him further when he was already so self-conscious about his looks.
"Ugh. Well, can't be helped then. Looks like I'll have to fight that damned beast and show it who's boss!"
"Just so you know, Mongrang held its own against Hero Do-ryang of the Iron Fist Division."
Do-ryang, the leader of the Iron Fist Division, was a master who had surpassed the Peak Realm.
Even against such an expert, the spirit beast Mongrang hadn't been pushed back easily.
"Oh, really?"
Ma Du-gwang halted in his tracks.
"Guess I'll just have to let it bite me quietly then."
"...?"
Yu-hwa's lips parted slightly at his surprisingly quick surrender.
"By the way, what the hell is Brother thinking? I heard the sect leaders of Mount Zhongnan and Mount Hua are coming here with a bunch of disciples."
"Beats me. I have no idea."
Yu-hwa's gaze turned to Kang Moo-jin.
The astonishing situation where the sect leaders of Mount Zhongnan and Mount Hua had descended the mountain to see one warrior.
And Kang Moo-jin, who had orchestrated it all, was calmly slicing chicken breast from the Regulatory Realm and popping it into his mouth.
"I know Brother has a plan, but I can't even guess what it is."
"Even Miss Won doesn't know? Man, you're killing me here. I'll go ask him myself."
His already slow-witted brain felt even more clogged from all the thinking, so Ma Du-gwang strode over to Moo-jin.
"Brother. Let's be straight. You planning to raid Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan? Should I get the kids ready? Give me an hour, and I'll scatter poison and hidden weapons all around..."
"Get outta here, you lunatic."
Thwack-!
Ma Du-gwang's nose sprayed twin streams of blood after Moo-jin smacked the top of his head with his palm.
A procession of dignified Daoists clad in scarlet robes embroidered with plum blossom patterns marched neatly through the streets of Xi'an.
"Whoa... That's Mount Hua Sect?!"
"Damn, they look cool. So cool! There's something different about Mount Hua's Daoists."
"Are those the Plum Blossom Swordsmen!? Their auras are no joke!"
Over fifty Mount Hua Daoists with neatly tied long hair and white swords at their waists exuded elegant poise even in their steps.
Uniform strides without disorder, unwavering gazes. And the clear metallic clink of their swords bumping against their waists with each step.
It was a spectacle so grand that it stopped passersby and merchants in their tracks, drawing every eye.
No one in Xi'an had ever witnessed the Mount Hua Sect Leader leading thirty Plum Blossom Swordsmen like this.
"Over there! Mount Zhongnan's here too!"
Mount Zhongnan's Daoists, who had left slightly earlier but arrived later, strode boldly through the streets in their blue robes.
Where Mount Hua's Daoists radiated refined elegance, Mount Zhongnan's emanated a heavy momentum, as if one with the mountains.
"No way! That's Mount Zhongnan's Sect Leader, Wind Grass Daoist!"
"Blue Crane Swordsmen are there too!"
"Mount Zhongnan came out swinging hard!"
"And they all came down the mountain... for just one guy?!"
The crowd marveled at the majestic figures of Mount Zhongnan and Mount Hua Sect, while also praising Kang Moo-jin for drawing them together.
"What the hell's gonna happen today? No clue."
"It all depends on Hero Kang."
"Wonder what choice he'll make."
Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan Sects, like water and oil, could never mix.
As tales of Kang Moo-jin—who had summoned their sect leaders and signature Plum Blossom Swordsmen and Blue Crane Swordsmen to Xi'an—grew louder...
Creak-
Kang Moo-jin stepped out of the inn and greeted them.
"Oh... That's Golden Ghost Indestructible?"
"He holds up even compared to Mount Hua's Sect Leader!"
Unlike his usual self, Moo-jin wore a solemn expression. Though he restrained his aura well, a faint energy still emanated from him.
Like a tiger unable to fully hide its ferocity, Moo-jin couldn't erase his presence as a powerhouse even when reining in his energy.
"Tsk tsk. We meet again like this. I trust you've been well?"
"Thanks to Elder Un-cheon's efforts."
Moo-jin glanced sideways at Mount Hua's Sword Demon, Un-cheon, as he spoke.
"...That punk? No way. He's lucky if he doesn't cause trouble."
"Ahem. Sect Leader, there are many eyes watching."
"You think Xi'an's residents don't know you only bring disaster? Drop the act now."
Un-geom Daoist, who chided Un-cheon the moment he saw him, turned to Moo-jin with a warm smile.
Un-cheon felt a twinge of jealousy at the blatant favoritism.
"I have much to discuss, but I'm not alone right now, so I'll yield for the moment."
As Un-geom Daoist stepped aside, Mount Hua's disciples followed suit.
Mount Zhongnan's Sect Leader, Wind Grass Daoist, and his disciples naturally filled the vacated space.
"Pleased to meet you, Hero Kang. I am Wind Grass Daoist, Sect Leader of Mount Zhongnan."
"I've heard of your fame, Sect Leader. Kang Moo-jin."
Kang Moo-jin and Wind Grass Daoist exchanged bows with clasped fists.
Swoosh-
Wind Grass Daoist subtly extended his energy toward Kang Moo-jin.
To gauge the man's level with his energy sense.
"...!"
Wind Grass Daoist's eyebrows twitched in shock.
The ironclad aura enveloping Moo-jin's body had instantly erased his probe.
'What the hell is that? I've never seen such profound martial arts.'
An intangible energy wrapping Moo-jin's entire body like a living thing.
Even with his vast knowledge from studying and developing countless martial arts, Wind Grass Daoist couldn't fathom it.
'What an incredible man.'
Wind Grass Daoist swallowed dryly without realizing.
'Unknown martial arts... and his level is no joke.'
Moo-jin's presence rivaled—no, surpassed—Mount Zhongnan's entire force.
If they fought here and now, Mount Zhongnan's odds wouldn't even reach fifty percent.
'Beyond the rumors.'
A glint flashed in Wind Grass Daoist's eyes.
A master this exceptional should indeed be recruited to their side, as Phong-hyeon suggested.
Make him an enemy by mistake, and...
'We might face sect annihilation.'
Wind Grass Daoist quickly signaled his disciples.
"Hero Kang Moo-jin, who slew Mount Tai Baek's monster while downplaying his own feats for Mount Zhongnan's honor. We sincerely thank you. Mount Zhongnan offers you this Gratitude Token as repayment to our benefactor. Please accept it."
Wind Grass Daoist bowed again with clasped fists.
Click-!
Over fifty Blue Crane Swordsmen followed, bowing to Moo-jin with clasped fists.
"Mount Hua also offers Hero Kang this Gratitude Token to repay the favor. Please accept."
Un-geom Daoist and over fifty Plum Blossom Swordsmen bowed their heads as well.
"Whoa..."
"Incredible..."
Mount Zhongnan's and Mount Hua's forces. Sect leaders who bowed to no one lightly.
All of them clasped fists and bowed before Kang Moo-jin.
The greatest expression of gratitude they could show a benefactor.
The sight of a hundred Daoists bowing left onlookers speechless and entranced.
A spectacle never seen before, too grand to fully take in.
"G-Gratitude Token!?"
Yu-hwa's eyes widened like saucers.
"Miss Won, what's that?"
Ma Du-gwang, awestruck by the scene, asked.
"A Gratitude Token means... the sect promises to grant one request, no matter what."
"Oh... That's pretty good, huh?"
"It's way more than that. The issuing sect stakes its honor and full power on fulfilling the token holder's request—even if it goes against their principles."
"...Huh!?"
Only then grasping its weight, Ma Du-gwang's eyes bulged and his jaw dropped.
"S-So, even if you ask them to kill someone?"
"Any request."
"N-No way, they actually do that?"
Yu-hwa nodded at the flustered Ma Du-gwang.
"To warriors, favors and grudges are more important than anything."
Among the countless rules and unspoken promises in the martial world, the most sacred was repaying favors and grudges.
Grudges with grudges, favors with favors.
This principle bound all warriors, righteous or evil.
"Gratitude Tokens risk abuse, so they're rarely given—even by mid-sized sects. For major sects like these..."
Yu-hwa gazed at Moo-jin with awe.
To spread rumors via the Hao Clan after painting this picture.
His schemes were profoundly deep, beyond her imagination.
"Looks like Brother orchestrated this for the Gratitude Tokens."
"Oh... Brother's little tricks are killer, as always."
But their guesses were off.
'Gratitude Tokens, huh. Didn't see that coming.'
Kang Moo-jin hadn't expected them either.
He figured they'd just bow and nod at most.
'Do they know how I'll use them? Are they nuts?'
The tokens' power was immense. Worst case, Moo-jin could demand, 'Send all Mount Hua's money to Diamond Escort Agency!' and they'd have to comply.
'Heh heh heh.'
Moo-jin snapped out of his grinning fantasy with a start.
'Not the time.'
Dreaming of loot could wait.
Right now, he needed to stick to the plan: sweet-talk these sect leaders into his web.
"I'm so grateful for the Gratitude Tokens from Mount Zhongnan Sect and Mount Hua Sect that words fail me..."
"Hero Kang?"
Un-geom Daoist interrupted with a faint smile and a raised hand.
"Yes?"
"Mount Hua Sect and Mount Zhongnan Sect."
"Pardon?"
"Put Mount Hua first."
"Ah. Mount Hua Sect and Mount Zhongnan Sect..."
"Hold on."
Wind Grass Daoist, irked, shot Un-geom Daoist a glare.
"Why Mount Hua first?"
"Because Mount Hua came first?"
"We offered the token first."
"We made the request first."
"I'll just say both sects."
Already used to Mount Zhongnan-Hua bickering—thanks to Un-cheon and Phong-hyeon—Moo-jin smoothly mediated and continued.
"With Gratitude Tokens from both sects, my gratitude knows no bounds. So, I'd like to make a proposal."
"...?"
"You're all curious what martial art I used to take down that spirit beast, right?"
The hundred Daoists nodded, captivated by Moo-jin's fluent words.
"That's why I'm offering both sects a chance to witness it firsthand."
"W-Witness it?"
"Yes. The ultimate opportunity to experience Golden Ghost Indestructible in a spar! A once-in-a-lifetime chance, right now!"
"Brother, have you lost your mind?!"
Ma Du-gwang rushed at Moo-jin barefoot as he entered the inn.
"Why challenge them to a fight there? Do you just not like them?"
Ma Du-gwang peeked at the serious-faced Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan warriors discussing outside.
"You gonna use sparring as an excuse to take them out one by one?!"
Thwack-!
Moo-jin precisely struck the top of Ma Du-gwang's head with his palm.
"Why's everything in your head about drowning or killing people, you idiot."
"B-But that's how you've always..."
"You think I'm crazy? Drown Mount Zhongnan and Mount Hua warriors with all these people watching? If I do it, I do it in secret."
"Ah... Right. Then why?"
"Big Brother said we need escort leaders, didn't he?"
"...?"
"Tsk tsk. Du-gwang, Du-gwang. Don't use your head as a chamber pot—think for once."
Kang Moo-jin had proposed spars to lure the Plum Blossom Swordsmen and Blue Crane Swordsmen.
Show them how cool escort leaders were, make them want the job.
Recruit those elite swordsmen as escort leaders—that was his goal!
"No way those guys ditch a major sect to become escort leaders, Brother."
No matter how appealing, they wouldn't quit a major sect—and the sects wouldn't allow it.
"No need to quit."
"Huh?"
"Don't you know Nine Great Sects and One Gang disciples go on wanderings for years once they come of age?"
"...!"
Moo-jin didn't plan to keep the Plum Blossom and Blue Crane Swordsmen forever.
Just borrow them for their 3-4 year wanderings as escort leaders.
Secure a steady supply of top-tier escort leaders from Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan—that was the plan!
"But Brother, aren't Plum Blossom and Blue Crane Swordsmen mostly transcendent experts?"
"True. But plenty are at peak Peak Realm, and major sect masters like them often exceed their realms in skill. Guys who eat and sword-practice all day? Their prowess overflows for escort work."
Ma Du-gwang's jaw dropped at Moo-jin's thorough scheming.
"Brother..."
He looked at Moo-jin with admiring eyes.
To follow someone capable of such devious(?) plots.
As an evil faction member, this was glory worth boasting for generations.
"A flawless plan. You're the only villain who could conquer the Central Plains!"
"...?"
"But will they bite? With Nine Great Sects pride, not sure they'll accept the spar."
Du-gwang and Moo-jin's gazes turned outside.
Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan's camps, huddled in discussion, looked quite grave.
"Who knows. Bait's out—let's see if they bite."