Chapter 77
Translator: penny
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: The Boy Named Hyun
There was no need for me to step in against those Red Serpent Sect bastards.
I had an excellent subordinate named Cheon Woojin.
Deal with them appropriately.
At the same moment I sent the transmission, Cheon Woojin moved as if he'd been waiting for it.
Bam! Thud! Pow!
The Red Serpent Sect thugs went flying, struck by his sheath before they could even react.
It was only natural.
How could second-rate nobodies barely scraping past third-rate even hope to respond to a peak expert like Cheon Woojin?
"Urk, what the...?"
The Red Serpent Sect goons, hit without even realizing it, collapsed with bewildered expressions.
Cheon Woojin flashed them a crooked grin.
"Who the hell do you think you're telling to move?"
He slapped the broad side of his sheath against his left palm—a familiar gesture.
'No way... Is this punk mimicking me right now?'
It was something I did whenever I was giving Cheon Woojin a mental tune-up.
He hadn't done it consciously and startled himself, glancing my way belatedly.
"Ahem, my lord. What should we do with them?"
Cheon Woojin, embarrassed, repeated my earlier words.
I waved him off lazily.
"Appropriately, I said. Appropriately."
"That's the problem—what exactly does 'appropriately' mean...?"
I gave the grumbling fool a precise benchmark.
"Think about how much I'd beat you if you kept this up."
Finally getting the idea, Cheon Woojin turned to the Red Serpent Sect thugs just starting to stagger to their feet, his voice ominous.
"I'll let you crawl out of here on your own two legs."
"Wait, you...!"
Thud! Bam! Pow!
They took it like dogs in the dog days of summer, without a single chance to fight back.
I clicked my tongue inwardly as I watched.
'Tch. Back in the day, I'd have just told him to kill them all without a second thought.'
Mok Jimyeong—you die once, and suddenly your edge dulls.
Even sparing the lives of scum who dared eye my woman.
But Moyong Hui didn't see it that way and furrowed her delicate brow slightly.
"Cheon Musa's going a bit overboard, isn't he?"
Cheon Woojin, in the middle of venting his pent-up frustration, paused at her words and glanced our way.
"Oh... You think so?"
He snuck another look at me.
Part of me wanted to tell him to beat them harder, but I had to mind Moyong Hui's gaze too.
In truth, their only crimes were inviting Moyong Hui for a drink and telling me and Cheon Woojin to get lost.
Of course, that alone was enough to warrant death...
'Not in her eyes, though.'
This is why righteous sects are such a pain.
But what could I do?
I'd decided to live as a junior righteous sect member.
"Hey, I said chase them off with words, not beat up the weaklings. What gives?"
"What?!"
Cheon Woojin stared at me, the picture of injustice.
But I replied shamelessly.
"What are we, unorthodox scum? Why jump straight to violence?"
"..."
He looked like he had plenty to say but clamped his mouth shut, swallowing it down.
A sharp one, as expected.
Then one of the fallen Red Serpent Sect mid-level guys staggered to his feet.
"Urgh... Do you even know who we are...!"
Arrogant even after we'd shown the massive skill gap.
Of course, they were acting up because they knew we'd gone easy on them.
The others, getting up late, chimed in too.
"You'll regret this!"
"You dare touch the Red Serpent Sect?!"
Threatening us with their obvious backing.
But apparently, I was the only one who knew about that.
Moyong Hui, hearing them, furrowed her brow again.
"...Red Serpent Sect?"
'Oh, right. Hui knows about the Red Serpent Sect too.'
They'd been the backbone of the Black Tiger Gang she'd crushed.
Of course, they'd bulked up a lot since then...
'Not that it matters.'
Any one of us three could wipe the sect out.
Moyong Hui alone was far stronger than when she'd dismantled the Black Tiger Gang.
"Did you just say Red Serpent Sect?"
Her voice turned icy cold—her tone just moments ago had been reining in Cheon Woojin for going too far. Sensing the shift, the thugs hesitated and started backing away.
"Damn it! You'll see!"
They spat third-rate villain lines and fled the restaurant.
A snicker escaped me at the sight.
'That's the unorthodox for you.'
Unlike righteous sect folk who keep up appearances even in retreat, unorthodox scum hurl threats as they run.
Endearing, in a way.
Once the Red Serpent Sect goons were gone, a waiter approached us cautiously, face full of fear.
"Sirs, I'm sorry, but could you please leave...?"
Moyong Hui sighed, as if she'd expected it.
"Because of those guys earlier?"
"Yes... They're outsiders, but the Red Serpent Sect is awfully..."
He trailed off, unable to badmouth them in a crowded place.
But that was enough to get it.
"What? They said so?"
Moyong Hui puffed her cheeks in displeasure.
She shot Cheon Woojin a side-eye.
I shook my head at him too.
"Tch, I told you to talk them down nicely."
"But...!"
"Sigh, whatever. What's done is done. Let's find another place."
I'd wanted to switch restaurants anyway. Perfect timing.
We left Heavenly Victory Noodle Shop and strolled the street a bit before ducking into a restaurant right in front of us.
Not just any place—it was one I'd liked before.
Nothing much happened at the new spot.
A few guys stole glances at Moyong Hui's beauty, but none approached like the Red Serpent Sect idiots.
We were all wearing swords, after all.
Normally, that'd deter anyone from picking a fight. Guess the Red Serpent Sect really is something else.
'But seriously, why aren't these guys showing up?'
I figured they'd swarm in for revenge while we ate.
Not a hair in sight.
'Hmm, this is a problem.'
I didn't have enough justification to storm their sect yet.
They didn't show their faces the whole meal.
As we left, Moyong Hui looked at me.
"Gaga, can I take the lead now?"
She probably meant heading to find that kid she'd saved three years ago.
That was our purpose here anyway, so I nodded readily.
"Sure. But it's been a while—still there?"
"Mm, they were last year, so probably. If not, we can ask around."
Moyong Hui beamed and took the lead.
Watching her back sparked a sudden curiosity.
'Wonder what that kid she saved is like?'
Shadow Gate Sect's info only said she'd saved a child. Nothing else.
I didn't even know the age or gender.
'Hmm, selling wild greens in the market instead of parents—maybe around twelve? That'd make fifteen now. A bit young, but five years? I can wait.'
Naturally imagining a girl, I let my mind wander happily.
Slim chance a commoner's looks would suit me, but imagination's free.
Then it hit me—just ask.
"Huiya, what's the kid you saved like?"
"Oh, Hyun?"
'Hyun. Not a bad name. But... Hyun?'
Felt oddly familiar.
Common name, sure, but my head itched.
Oblivious to my thoughts, Moyong Hui smiled.
"You won't believe how mature and clever the kid is. First time I saw them selling wild greens for sick parents..."
"How old?"
"Probably just turned eight."
"Eight?"
Three years ago, the kid had been selling greens alone when Moyong Hui met them.
At five?
She giggled at my shock.
"I told you—Hyun's incredibly mature. But those Black Tiger Gang thugs kicked the poor kid..."
Recalling it fired her up; she cursed in front of me for the first time.
But my mind was elsewhere.
'Tch, twelve years is a long wait.'
Chatting with Moyong Hui, we soon reached Seungdeok Market.
She navigated familiarly.
"A bit further that way... Ah, there! Hyun-ah!"
She waved brightly at a kid in the corner.
My face soured.
'What? It's a boy?'
Hyun sounded like a girl's name, but nope—dark-haired little brat.
As I scowled, the kid looked up at Moyong Hui in surprise.
"Huiya noona?!"
Tch, is this punk nuts?
Calling my woman Huiya.
Jealous of a snot-nosed kid, Moyong Hui grabbed my hand and pulled me over.
"Gaga, over here."
I dragged my feet, but up close, the little punk rubbed me the wrong way.
'What is it?'
He wasn't ugly—actually cute enough to make girls swoon later.
Not jealousy either.
My looks were plenty; no need to envy a boy's face.
It just... soured my mood looking at him.
Pondering why, Moyong Hui introduced him.
"Gaga, this is the Hyun I told you about. Cute, right?"
"Hello. I'm Baek Rihyeon."
The sharp kid bowed first.
Lightning struck my mind.
'Baek Rihyeon...? No way—the Sword Emperor?!'
Sword Emperor Baek Rihyeon.
Cheon Suyeon's husband... and the one who'd ended me.
His childhood self sat right before me.