Chapter 544
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 544
Chapter Title: I'm the Pavilion Lord
"Huashan's Sword Plum Blossom, Wi Su-yeon. The young lady who came here with you."
Iron Cane Beggar repeated himself once more.
Even with her face covered by thick cotton gauze, it was clear hers had flushed crimson, on the verge of bursting.
"Well, I'll be. I had no idea. I knew she had exceptional talent with the sword, but that's all."
At the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal's words, Iron Cane Beggar shot him a look of utter disbelief.
"She wouldn't have worn that gauze back at Huashan, so are you saying that even after seeing her true face, that's all you have to say?"
As Iron Cane Beggar pressed him, the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal paused to recall her features.
Indeed.
"A pretty face is pretty, sure enough. But I never imagined it was that level."
After leaving Huashan, she'd started wearing the gauze to avoid drawing unwanted stares to her stunning beauty—but who could've guessed she was one of the five most beautiful women in the world?
"Tch. You..."
Iron Cane Beggar's gaze toward the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal was oddly inscrutable, as if frustrated or displeased.
"Jeez, people."
Under that peculiar stare, the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal lifted the wine cup in front of him to his lips.
As he drained it, a sudden question arose in his mind.
He'd told the Beggar Clan disciple he'd met in Zhengzhou that he was traveling with a female disciple—never that it was Wi Su-yeon.
He hadn't even mentioned her name, and with her face hidden behind thick gauze, how had they figured out her identity? And why was Hu-gae making such a fuss?
"But how did you know this child's true identity as the Sword Plum Blossom? I never even told you her name."
Even the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal referred to her as the Sword Plum Blossom, causing Wi Su-yeon—who already had her head bowed—to duck it even lower.
"Word came from Huiyin County. That you'd left Huashan with a disciple named Wi Su-yeon."
"Tch. Looks like some of my disciples have loose lips."
Learning the simple truth behind it all, the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal clicked his tongue.
"So, what brings you looking for me?"
As Iron Cane Beggar asked, the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal glanced at Hu-gae.
The reason for showing up here was intensely personal—bordering on impure—so his look said, does he really need to be here?
"Heh heh. Call it a young man's curiosity. Ever since he gave me a sound thrashing two years ago, I've straightened up quite a bit."
"Two years ago?"
A glint sparked in the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal's eyes at Iron Cane Beggar's words.
"How was he doing?"
"What trouble could he run into in this current martial world?"
"Fair point."
The Plum Blossom Sword Immortal nodded in agreement.
"What do you mean by 'sound thrashing'?"
"Lost all sense of time and place, thrashing about like a thunderbolt lunatic right in front of him."
At those words, Hu-gae's face turned beet red.
He then hung his head low.
He knew it had been embarrassing.
"Anyway, if you're scheming to tap into the Beggar Clan's information network, he'll find out sooner or later. And he's Hu-gae, after all."
It was a valid point, so the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal nodded and spoke up.
"I'm searching for a lost sword of Huashan."
"Oh ho?"
Interest flickered in Iron Cane Beggar's eyes.
As a deputy gang leader of the Beggar Clan, he was always fascinated by the secret histories of the jianghu that came his way.
"Huashan lost a sword?"
"More precisely, we threw it away. Embarrassing to admit."
"Hmm. Hmm."
Iron Cane Beggar nodded, his eyes urging him to continue.
"It's at a place called Flowing Cloud Martial Hall."
"Which Flowing Cloud Martial Hall?"
"No idea."
The Plum Blossom Sword Immortal's answer was brazenly confident.
"If I knew which Flowing Cloud Martial Hall, would I be here talking to you? I'd have gone straight there."
With that, he tossed back another cup of wine.
"Heh. You haven't changed a bit—still as shameless as ever. Tch."
Iron Cane Beggar downed a cup himself.
Wi Su-yeon was inwardly quite shocked by the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal's demeanor.
It was utterly unimaginable from the man back at Huashan.
"That's truly your only clue? Just the name 'Flowing Cloud Martial Hall'?"
As Iron Cane Beggar asked, the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of meat, then replied.
"The founding Pavilion Lord's surname is Yu. And it was probably founded around a hundred years ago, give or take."
"That's everything?"
The Plum Blossom Sword Immortal nodded.
"Got it. I'll look into it."
"It's urgent."
Iron Cane Beggar nodded once more at the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal's words and raised his cup.
"Then let's catch up on lost time over some drinks. Gyu-hwi."
The Plum Blossom Sword Immortal clinked cups with him.
The two drained their cups in one go and refilled each other's.
As they reached for their second round, Iron Cane Beggar paused.
He turned to Hu-gae.
"What are you doing?"
"Pardon?"
"Tch."
Iron Cane Beggar clicked his tongue at the response.
"You heard everything, right?"
"Yes."
"So what are you waiting for? Didn't you hear it's urgent?"
Under Iron Cane Beggar's scolding, Hu-gae stammered.
"Me?"
"Then why are you even here? Go look into it already."
"Ah, understood."
At the clear order, Hu-gae shot a look full of regret but forced himself to stand and head out of the tavern.
'I didn't even get a glimpse past the gauze...'
Leaving deep regret behind, he trudged off without achieving his goal, toward the headquarters.
[It's urgent, so why are you dawdling?!]
At Iron Cane Beggar's transmitted shout, Hu-gae unleashed his lightness skill and bolted away.
"Now, young lady Wi, make yourself comfortable. It'll take us old-timers quite a while to catch up."
"If you're uncomfortable here, head to an inn. He'll let you know where—this fellow will tell him."
This was Kaifeng, after all.
With beggars on every street, no matter which inn she chose, Iron Cane Beggar would pass the word to the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal.
"No, I'm fine."
Her complexion had now mostly returned to normal.
"It'll just be boring talk between us."
Iron Cane Beggar eyed her with concern, then sent a transmission somewhere.
Moments later, a beggar brought tea and snacks suitable for Wi Su-yeon and vanished.
"Iron Cane. You're still the same as ever. Tch."
"That's my line."
The two chuckled softly and passed the wine back and forth.
"W-We made it!"
Gwan Ha-gyeong cried out joyfully at the city gates visible in the distance.
At the end of the official road loomed the massive gates of Shangnan in Shaanxi Province.
The sun had already set.
Even so, they'd hurried and arrived sooner than expected.
He'd thought they'd arrive late at night after dark no matter what, but they'd shaved off more than two hours.
Of course, they were exhausted for it.
The horses could barely manage a step at a time.
The gates were in sight, tempting a final sprint, but knowing the horses were at their limit, he couldn't whip them on.
That might really kill them the moment they reached Shangnan.
"Calm down. We've got plenty of time before the gates close."
Pung Geon tried to soothe Gwan Ha-gyeong up ahead, though his own voice carried a hint of excitement.
He was just as glad to see Shangnan before them.
As the two neared Shangnan.
The mood inside was far from ordinary.
Yu Gwi-gwang stood alone before the main gate of Flowing Cloud Martial Hall.
He'd been there since yesterday.
At his side lay the shield he'd used in the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
The hall's people had already emptied the outer buildings and gathered in the central inner quarters.
Children and women deep inside.
Fighting-age adults armed with shields on the outer perimeter.
Ready for whenever the Black Face Hall bastards might charge in.
They'd maintained this vigilant stance for a full day already.
One might expect grumbling after the Pavilion Lord—who'd returned after seven years—suddenly ordered this.
But no face showed discontent.
They too had sensed the ominous tension with Black Face Hall over the past two days.
Yu Hyeon-gwang's eyes burned fiercest.
In the sunset glow of evening.
A hush fell over the eastern street where Flowing Cloud Martial Hall stood.
The townsfolk sensed something dire brewing and stayed indoors.
Shops shuttered early.
The street was deserted, not even a rat stirring.
Black Face Hall Leader Seon Gyu strode down the main road without a care.
Forty-odd Black Face Hall disciples followed behind.
They halted before Flowing Cloud Martial Hall's main gate.
Yu Gwi-gwang faced the hostile group alone, unflinching.
"Who the hell are you?"
Seon Gyu glared at him.
The face seemed familiar.
"Hey? That guy..."
Then Jang Un, among the group behind Seon Gyu, recognized Yu Gwi-gwang.
Wasn't he that greenhorn customer reeking of money who'd visited Flower Red Tower before?
"What, you know him, Jang Un?"
"Yeah, back with Nak-hwa..."
As Jang Un started, Seon Gyu remembered.
"Oh, right. That virgin punk who couldn't even touch a courtesan."
Seon Gyu sneered mockingly at Yu Gwi-gwang.
"What's a greenhorn like you blocking the way for? You a hall disciple or something? Go fetch your Pavilion Lord. Hand over the bastard who insulted our Black Face Hall disciple, or one of his limbs. Or bring one of your Pavilion Lord's limbs. I'll let it slide. Kahahahaha."
"Cowardly bastards! Hehehe."
"All you know is running and hiding, you spineless curs! Calling yourselves righteous sect? Keeheehee."
Mockery and jeers erupted from behind the moment Seon Gyu finished.
In an instant, a murderous aura exploded from Yu Gwi-gwang.
His blazing eyes pierced Seon Gyu.
"I'm the Pavilion Lord. Take me if you can."
"Huh? This country bumpkin virgin's the Pavilion Lord? What a joke this hall's become. Kahahaha. Listen up. Out of my vast magnanimity, if you lot clear out this hall completely and scram from Shangnan, I'll generously forgive your disciple's insult to a great Black Face Hall disciple."
Pfft.
Yu Gwi-gwang let out a chuckle.
He picked up the shield at his side.
Drew his sword.
The blade tip pointed straight at Seon Gyu.
"No parley."
At Yu Gwi-gwang's low words.
Seon Gyu grinned with killing intent.
"Heh heh. Yeah, no need for talk. Let's see just how great you are."
Seon Gyu drew the hand axes from his belt with both hands.
He stepped forward.
Without orders from their leader, no other Black Face Hall disciple advanced.
Instead, they encircled Flowing Cloud Martial Hall.
A formation to ensure no one escaped.
"I'll graciously yield the first move. Come at me. Kekeke."
Seon Gyu waggled his hand axes.
Yu Gwi-gwang's eyes darkened deeply.
'Idiot.'
A few days prior.
After encountering Seon Gyu at Flower Red Tower, Yu Gwi-gwang had gauged his skill: second-rate at best.
Far from first-rate, no matter how generous.
And this fool, looking down on him, stepped up himself.
Even yielding the initiative.
The leader of a group, no less.
Utterly unworthy of being a hall leader.
'One strike to the neck.'
In a way, it was an opportunity.
If he exploited the fool's carelessness and severed his head in one blow.
These rootless black path scum might scatter in chaos.
Yu Gwi-gwang didn't refuse Seon Gyu's concession.
As he stepped forward, he thrust his sword with full power.
The very thrust he'd honed against countless jiangshi in the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest.
Flash!