Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Mount Mao Sect's Jeong Bo-ra - [3]
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It was such a sweet deal that I couldn't help feeling wary despite myself. Heo Pung-gae spoke up.
"I feel like I shouldn't hide this, so I'll just say it upfront: I've mastered the Virgin Boy Skill."
Park Ae-jin tilted her head and translated his words to the Ming Chinese man standing beside her.
Upon hearing the translation, the Ming Chinese man's expression hardened. Heo Pung-gae braced himself mentally.
Then the Ming Chinese man spoke, and Park Ae-jin translated for him.
"He says, as one man to another, he offers his deepest regrets."
Heo Pung-gae struggled to keep his face straight as he replied.
"That's not what I meant. What I'm saying is, it's a huge drawback when advertising my martial arts."
"A drawback?"
"If someone comes to learn from a peerless master and finds out you're practicing the Virgin Boy Skill, what do you think they'd feel? They'd wonder if they have to learn that too to reach your level, killing their motivation. And if they don't, they'd think they'll never measure up."
Why else couldn't a peerless master like me land a job teaching martial arts at some chaebol family? Their heirs freak out at the mere mention of the Virgin Boy Skill.
After he explained it in exhaustive detail, the two Mount Mao Sect Taoists conferred briefly.
Then Park Ae-jin spoke.
"They say it's no problem. I agree."
"How so?"
"As you know, the main target in the martial arts market these days is the elderly, right? For business with seniors, the Virgin Boy Skill could actually be a strength."
"A strength?"
"It gives those old folks—who have no outlet for their desires and have to hold back—a perfect excuse, they say. Apparently, it's even popular among seniors lately."
Heo Pung-gae was stunned. They were steering the conversation straight toward sealing the deal.
Even for a peerless master, was there any reason to pull this hard? Considering the Ming Chinese's extreme nationalism, it made no sense for them to come all the way to a foreign country for this.
Even Yi Pung thought the situation felt a bit off. After a moment's thought, something occurred to him, and he asked.
"Has that video spread in the Ming Kingdom too, by any chance?"
Park Ae-jin nodded.
"If you mean the one sparring with the White Lotus Sect girl, yes. It spread, and that's what brought them rushing over."
"Ugh, our Heavenly Demon is just too lovable. Now I see she's a real benefactor..."
As Yi Pung muttered, Park Ae-jin elaborated.
"Plus what we just saw. That alone should cover any drawbacks."
"You mean the sword floating around?"
"Yes, the sword control technique. I knew it was real from Korean dramas, but I never thought I'd see it in person..."
Yi Pung and Park Ae-jin continued chatting.
Heo Pung-gae listened to their lively conversation in a daze, half-enchanted. All the while, he thought.
An invitation from the Mount Mao Sect.
No matter how small the Mount Mao Sect was, it was a famed orthodox sect. In wuxia novels, it held real weight as a pillar of the righteous factions.
And Heo Pung-gae had always admired the orthodox sects.
He'd felt ashamed of being a martial world thug—a rogue faction martial artist.
Why couldn't he proudly declare himself the Moon Girl's master? He feared her reputation would suffer if word got out that a thug like him was her teacher.
In his biographies, he might appear as a freedom fighter, but he knew better than anyone that wasn't the truth.
Then or now, Heo Pung-gae knew he was just a rogue faction martial artist. And that it was shameful. He'd even sent middle and high school kids to Siberia recently. By his own reckoning, he couldn't deny he was a wild rogue.
But if he could now hang an orthodox sect banner—and earn a solid income to boot...
It was so tempting he could barely imagine it.
He wouldn't even mind suddenly leaving Korea. If it was profitable, he'd do it. The fact that he'd lived here for 120 years wouldn't matter much.
His wife's and child's graves were here, but relocating them was no big deal. For his wife, he'd only buried a sword—no bones—so he'd just dig it up. His child's urn could be moved easily too.
And Ha Ah-rin...
Going to the Ming Kingdom would make it hard to see her face, but hadn't he been keeping his distance anyway? It would probably be better for her if he left for good.
At their age—both over 120—they now shared a unique bond beyond master and disciple, the only ones with the same era and memories. But he'd have to ignore that.
As Heo Pung-gae sank deep into thought, Yi Pung and Park Ae-jin's conversation had delved into some pretty advanced territory.
"Advertising a peerless master joining will bring more investment to Mount Mao Sect. Right?"
"Sure. You want to gather more investors before signing?"
"Exactly. Since we're hyping a peerless master, let's advertise that sword control technique too! Nothing gets investors drooling like a sword floating around. To prove it's not cheap CG, we'll need a crowd to verify it..."
"That'll take time. You okay with that?"
"No problem! I've got my own work to do anyway."
"Work?"
"I think I can round up some Korean investors."
"Oh, really?"
"Of course. How long have I been in this game? Plus, I have President Park's number. If I drag in the chaebol elders interested in martial arts along with him..."
Yi Pung looked more excited than anyone else there.
His main job as Heo Pung-gae's manager was negotiating pay to squeeze out every bit extra, and the opponents seemed to have zero connections in Korea. It was a chance to leverage his advantage for the best deal ever.
Once their talk wrapped up, Yi Pung asked in an eager voice.
"Bro, we doing this?"
Heo Pung-gae thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Yeah."
As he did, he pictured his wife.
Jeong Bo-ra. She'd spoken fondly of her days at Mount Mao.
If he took her sword there and buried it, wouldn't her spirit be pleased?
No Taoist could say for sure if her spirit lingered, but still...
After that, things proceeded with astonishing smoothness.
Less than a week later, people gathered. Heo Pung-gae demonstrated the sword control technique before them.
As cameras captured one sword's flight in vivid detail, the onlookers erupted in applause.
"Bravo!"
Heo Pung-gae looked awkward, Yi Pung grinned nonstop through the shoot, and they pushed forward with contracts relentlessly.
Yi Pung gathered domestic and international sponsors for Mount Mao Sect and handled talks with their sect leader.
Heo Pung-gae knew nothing about such matters, so Yi Pung took full charge.
About two months later, Yi Pung reported the contract progress with unprecedented excitement.
"They're talking 120 billion over four years, including the signing bonus!"
Heo Pung-gae wondered if he'd misheard.
"Isn't that signing bonus level for Major League stars?"
"A Nine Great Factions master is better than any Major League team! I think we can get even more."
"Mount Mao Sect doesn't seem that hot. They got the cash?"
"No worries! Mount Mao Sect's broke, but the sect leader's loaded."
"The sect leader richer than the sect?"
"Yeah, he's CEO of a game company. Top global mobile game sales or something—I don't know the details..."
"Anyway, he's the moneybags."
"Right. He bought the sect to boost his social status, not to run it for profit. He rarely shows up and barely funds it, which is why it's poor. But now investors are flocking, so he's finally clocking in at Mount Mao—and opening his wallet too..."
Yi Pung was chattering happily when his phone rang.
He answered, and his smile vanished instantly.
"What? A shootout at a karaoke bar?"
「Yes. We'll sell the house and land if we have to—just please come, I beg you...」
It was an old, raspy voice—the head of O Family Manor.
They'd been close for ages, fellow Incheon martial artists and neighborly comrades.
Yi Pung always smiled and showed respect around him, but not this time.
He snapped back with fury that startled even Heo Pung-gae.
"Help? Are you insane?"
「Please... Haven't you worked with our Eun-rim lately? For old times' sake—」
"No, damn it. Talk sense!"
The O head seemed ready to plead more, but Yi Pung hung up without hesitation.
"What was that?"
Heo Pung-gae asked, and Yi Pung replied uneasily.
"Nothing to worry about."
Heo Pung-gae's eyebrow twitched. Hiding it meant it was serious.
Then the door burst open. Yi Do-hyeok rushed in, shouting.
"You see this?"
Yi Pung shot back sharply.
"What?"
"The internet's blowing up. Some gang's having a shootout at a karaoke bar..."
Yi Pung's face flushed red.
"Get out."
"Huh?"
"Scram, you punk!"
As Yi Pung yelled, Yi Do-hyeok fled the room.
Heo Pung-gae turned on the TV.
A drama was airing, but an urgent news ticker ran at the bottom.
「Incheon Angry Whale Karaoke: Gang Shootout Erupts」
Yi Pung saw it and ground his teeth.
"Those idiot bastards—are they nuts...? Trying to ruin the martial world on purpose?"
Recalling the O head's call, there was no doubt the 'gang' was O Family Manor.
"He wanted me to help with that?"
Yi Pung clicked his tongue at Heo Pung-gae's words.
"Ridiculous. Why should we? They wanna drag us down with them?"
Heo Pung-gae gauged the distance to the mentioned karaoke bar.
"Five minutes by car."
Yi Pung freaked out.
"Bro? No way. Absolutely not."
"I know."
Despite Heo Pung-gae's reply, Yi Pung still looked anxious. He started explaining what they both knew.
"Bro, remember those kids who got shot last time and came here? When I tried shaking them down, what'd you say? Stuff like this might hit the news, so drop it, right?"
"Yeah."
"This is already all over the news—way bigger. It's blown up online. Even a Martial Alliance exec or congressman couldn't bury it. If we get tangled, a few weeks in holding's lucky; if they lump us in, we're screwed."
"I know."
"And that 120 billion contract goes down the drain."
"I said I know."
Then both their phones buzzed simultaneously.
Thinking it was another plea from O head, they checked—no.
- Emergency Disaster Alert
[Incheon Police] Gang shootout at Angry Whale Karaoke in Dongincheon. One civilian shot, two detained. Stay indoors—do not approach or go out.
Heo Pung-gae stared at the message.
One civilian shot, two detained. His eyes lingered on 'shot.' The situation was dire—civilians might die.
Would the cops handle it? Or not?
No time to agonize. Heo Pung-gae said.
"Pung-ah."
"Yeah?"
"Drive."
Yi Pung's eyes widened.
"Bro, I told you!"
"We'll go, check it out, but not jump in. If the cops got it, we bounce."
"And if they don't?"
"Maybe."
"No way!"
"If you don't wanna drive, I'll get Do-hyeok."
Yi Pung's eyes shook wildly. Heo Pung-gae understood his thoughts perfectly.
A once-in-a-lifetime 120 billion deal on the line—no way to get dragged into this. Even without it, no stepping into messes like this. Heo Pung-gae thought the same.
Then Yi Pung said.
"Nah, let's go."
"Sorry."
"Why apologize for something like this?"
Yi Pung stood. As they headed out to the car, he said.
"You won't step up if it's not needed, right?"
"Right."
"Please don't. Best if we don't even get near the scene..."
Chatting, they hurriedly got in the car.
Everything had to move fast. Even driving, Yi Pung made calls about the contract.
"Park Ae-jin? Yi Pung here. Something came up. Yeah. Might delay the contract—wanted to discuss..."
"Asked if the peerless master gets indicted, do they cancel the contract?"
Park Ae-jin answered the Ming Chinese man.
"Yeah."
"He's heading off to do something that might get him indicted?"
"That's what he says."
"A peerless master, why?"
Park Ae-jin said.
"For harmony, apparently."
The Ming Chinese man narrowed his eyes.
"Harmony?"
"Doesn't make sense, right? So, what do I say? Threaten to cancel everything if he stirs up scandal?"
The Ming Chinese man thought briefly, then shook his head.
"No."
"Then?"
"Just wish him luck."
"Why?"
"I don't get it either, but it's what a peerless Taoist does."
"So?"
"He reached that level by doing things we don't understand. As a follower of the Dao, maybe we shouldn't stand in his way."
Park Ae-jin paused, then nodded.
"Yeah, makes sense."