Chapter 57
Chapter 57
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Sparks Fly in the Wrong Place
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sa Sa Un and the siblings served up centipede fritters for lunch.
With the workers gone, he'd ordered a simple meal, but centipedes were the last thing he'd expected.
Se Yeong and his subordinates just stared down at the fritters in silence.
"Where'd you catch these?"
At Se Yeong's question, Il Hwa answered with an embarrassed flush.
"We had some leftover chicken bones from the roast the other day, so we buried them in a sack. Back when I was a runner at the inn, I'd catch them like that sometimes and grill 'em up. They're pretty tasty."
I Gu chimed in.
"The elders say they're great for the back."
No sooner had he spoken than Young Gak snatched up a centipede first.
"If it's good for the back, then I gotta eat it."
Crunch... crunch...
His subordinates shot him deeply displeased glares.
"A monk with a strong back—what's he even gonna use it for?"
Dang Ok threw the question out bluntly.
"Ahem... A monk's still human. Might come in handy if I ever break my vows someday."
Sigh.
"To think that's a Shaolin disciple. Poor Shaolin."
Se Yeong picked up a centipede and popped it in his mouth too.
Crunch... crunch...
Unlike the looks, it had a decent nutty flavor.
"From now on, whenever you have time, learn swordsmanship and lightness skills from Sa Sa Un. If you have questions, ask the instructor or me."
Sa Sa Un pouted, voicing his discontent.
"Young Hero Han, I barely have time to train my own martial arts."
Ever since he'd realized his family's arts came from Se Yeong's own, he'd thrown himself into training with fanatical zeal.
Se Yeong knew this, so he didn't chide the complaint.
"Just teach the basics. The rest, the instructor and I will handle."
Only then did the frustration ease from his face.
"Understood, Young Hero Han."
After lunch, Se Yeong faced off against Dang Ok.
She showed up with her waist and sleeves packed full of hidden weapons.
"Begin."
Ping...
The moment Se Yeong spoke, a hidden weapon shot toward him like lightning.
Thud...!
As his iron rod flicked away the dagger, another was already diving for his throat.
Se Yeong twisted his body just enough to evade it.
Ping...
This time, five weapons flew at him in rapid succession.
Clang clang clang...!
Se Yeong swung his rod, batting all five aside at once.
In that instant, another weapon pierced toward his throat.
Ping...
The weapon sliced through his afterimage and flew harmlessly behind him.
In the end, despite unleashing everything, not one even grazed Se Yeong's collar.
"No matter how hard I train, it feels like I can't win against you, Young Hero Han."
Dang Ok was utterly dejected.
Se Yeong, who'd said nothing until now, finally spoke.
"The Infinite Sword Immortal once named the toughest Demonic Cult expert he faced as a hidden weapon specialist. He said their daggers were so fast and heavy that every block shook his sword."
In truth, it was his grandfather's tale, not the Infinite Sword Immortal's.
But Dang Ok had no idea.
To them, the War God and hero was the Infinite Sword Immortal, not Grandfather.
"Did the Sword Immortal really say that?"
Her eyes sparkled as she asked.
"Yeah. Grandfather's word, so it's accurate. And you're a late bloomer."
Thud!
Se Yeong slammed his rod into the ground.
Hummm...
Two scattered hidden weapons on the ground floated up into the air.
Ping...
The two hovering weapons circled a distant tree before looping back.
His subordinates watched, entranced.
"Imperial Sword..."
Another weapon rose, making three.
Ping...
The trio whistled through the air, circling the tree once more.
Returning to position, the three hovered at eye level with Dang Ok, lined up neatly.
"Once you reach this realm, who could block these weapons? You won't need to carry so many then."
Plop... plop...
The three dropped to the ground, but Dang Ok was too moved to budge.
Se Yeong added more for her sake.
"I've never seen the Tang Family's Ten Thousand Flowers Rain, but the principle's probably similar."
"Thank you... Young Hero Han."
Yi Dae-in was growing suspicious of Se Yeong's true identity.
Geumcheon wasn't some huge town, but it wasn't tiny either.
He kept up with the Jianghu rumors.
Yet he'd never heard of this Hwang Moo-young.
A master of that caliber should've been famous by now.
'Han Se Yeong fled the Murim Alliance with his subordinates, so he might've come here.'
If Hwang Moo-young was Han Se Yeong, he could reclaim his land and manor—not to mention get revenge.
A simple report, and Jianghu masters would swarm, turning them into mincemeat.
But if he wasn't... he'd face the wrath of those masters, and might suffer heavy losses.
"We're back, family head."
Just then, the family retainers returned from the big town.
"Come in."
At Yi Dae-in's permission, they entered the room.
"What'd you find?"
He skipped greetings, firing off the question.
"Yes. Rumors say Han Se Yeong and his crew are fleeing through Sichuan."
Yi Dae-in could hardly believe the report.
"You sure?"
"Yes. The Heaven Dominating Blade King of the Paeng Family—one of the Five Absolutes—and Emei's Six Net Sword Empress are pursuing him there."
Aaah...
A despairing sigh escaped Yi Dae-in's lips.
If the Blade King and Sword Empress were in pursuit, Han Se Yeong was definitely still in Sichuan.
So where'd this Hwang Moo-young and his young crew pop up from in Geumcheon?
'Maybe a minor sect trying to expand its turf here.'
The Jianghu teemed with sects and clans.
Some had solid martial arts but kept small.
If it was a minor sect eyeing expansion, that spelled even bigger trouble.
They'd eventually claim all of Geumcheon.
"Any way to drive 'em out without breaking a sweat?"
"Family head, chasing off foxes might invite tigers."
Yi Dae-in bellowed.
"That's why I'm asking you lot! How is our house bereft of a single clever head?!"
The retainers fell silent like honey-mutes.
Then Yi Dae-in's uncle, who'd been listening quietly, spoke up.
"What if we offer wealth to the Jegal Family and seek their aid?"
Yangyang, home of the Jegal Family, was quite a trek, but their help would settle everything.
"I've considered it, Uncle. But pulling in the Jegals requires massive tribute. It might cost more than it's worth."
The Jegals wouldn't touch such a messy affair without enormous wealth.
The uncle fell quiet too, leaving the room steeped in silence.
"Just... swallow the grudge like this?"
Yi Dae-in shed tears.
The youngest retainer spoke up.
"What if... we bring in the unorthodox factions?"
Yi Dae-in, tears streaming, slammed the table in fury.
Bam...!
"You scheming to wipe out our house entirely?! You blind to how pulling in those fiends would doom us all?!"
The unorthodox would devour not just the wall factory, but the whole clan.
p>Righteous clans at least minded the Jianghu's eyes; the unorthodox cared for nothing.
The young retainer shrank but pressed on.
"Not like that... Pay the unorthodox to kill Hwang Moo-young, then immediately tip off the Murim Alliance?"
"You fool! Think they'll just take it lying down? The moment they realize they were used, our house is dust!"
"So... the clan stays out, and we just spread the rumor through proxies?"
Yi Dae-in's rage-twisted face regained its color.
"Spread whispers in secret?"
"Yes. Once the Alliance hears unorthodox thugs are stirring trouble in Geumcheon, they won't sit idle."
It was devilishly clever.
The epitome of using barbarians to control barbarians.
"Who... who'll go to the unorthodox?"
Yi Dae-in scanned the retainers.
Not one stepped forward.
Even the scheme's originator clamped his mouth shut.
"Truly... no one willing to risk their life for the house?"
As he raged again, the uncle intervened.
"Family head, I'll go. With ample wealth, what harm could come?"
Yi Dae-in knelt before him, weeping in gratitude.
"Thank you, Uncle. Truly, thank you. I'll never forget this grace, even in death."
The uncle raised him with a comforting embrace.
"Pick sharp lads and send us off at dawn tomorrow. Prepare the valuables."
Paeng Se Gi and Dang Ok came dashing back from the market, breathless.
"Brother, big trouble!"
They raced to the training ground, arms laden with meat, veggies, and fruit.
"Take that to the kitchen first."
"R-Right."
At Se Yeong's frown, Paeng Se Gi and Dang Ok wheeled around and bolted to the kitchen.
Despite dozens of warnings to curb their hot-blooded haste, it never stuck.
Paeng Se Gi soon raced back and spoke.
"The Murim Alliance is in an uproar. The inspection team dug deeper and found six Demonic Cult spies in the Demon Subduing Squad."
Se Yeong brushed it off casually.
"Spies in the unorthodox ranks too—why not the Alliance?"
"That's not it, brother. The squad captain was one too."
Even Se Yeong was fairly shocked this time.
He'd met the Demon Subduing Squad captain while transporting supplies.
A mild-mannered fellow who looked after his men well—Se Yeong had thought highly of him.
"What happened to the captain?"
"Ambushed and killed the inspection leader, then fled. Alliance warriors are in pursuit."
"Definitely a mess. But for the Alliance, it's a blessing. Caught the Demonic spies early."
Yet it wasn't glad tidings for Se Yeong.
Having left under Demonic spy suspicions, now more surfaced—he'd be forever branded one.
"Captain's fleeing north, brother. Bad luck, Alliance warriors might swing through Geumcheon."
Paeng Se Gi's concern made sense.
If Murim Alliance fighters showed up, his cover would blow in no time.
He wasn't scared of them or Jianghu masters.
Just the hassle of abandoning their hard-built home and relocating.
Worry etched the subordinates' faces.
"Have Il Hwa and I Gu handle village shopping for a while."
"Got it, brother."
An elderly man with a face black as ink, at odds with his immortal robes, entered Geumcheon.
The sword in his hand clashed even more with the garb of an otherworldly sage.
Heh heh...
A cheerful chuckle spilled from the elder's lips.
It had been twenty years since he'd last breathed the Jianghu air.
No one could know how desperately he'd craved it.
No one but one man.
The White Master.
He alone knew, and that's why he'd sent him here.