Chapter 190
Chapter 190
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: Lightened Shoulders
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Suddenly, Neung-o laughed.
Unlike the perfunctory expressions he'd shown until now, this was a genuine, radiant smile.
"Thank you, young hero."
"What's this sudden gratitude?"
"My shoulders feel lighter."
"Ah. If it's that kind of thanks, I'll gladly accept."
"You catch on quick?"
Because they'd shared the same thought.
Yang-hui merely shrugged, and Neung-o responded with cupped fists in salute.
"I couldn't afford to fail. So I devoted myself body and soul, merely waiting for a better chance. But now, it seems I don't have to anymore."
Because now he had someone to entrust his back to.
If he failed, the young hero before him would bring his master down from beyond the heavens to save Jeomchang.
It was something that hadn't happened yet, and thus only a faint difference.
But to Neung-o, it was as monumental as the height of Mount Tai.
"So now I can say it with confidence. Before borrowing others' hands, I'll save it myself."
Jeomchang was everything to Neung-o.
It had become his new family, even after he'd abandoned his own.
"You said the Ming Cult's mongrels are your enemies, young hero. Will you indulge this poor one's greed?"
Honestly speaking, from Yang-hui's position, contacting Yin-hu would have been the correct move, no matter what Neung-o thought.
It carried the fewest risks and was the most efficient.
But.
"Very well."
It wasn't a decision born of empty formalities, like prioritizing the disciple's will because it concerned his master's affairs.
He'd chosen the option that brought the greatest gain.
"I figure it's worth it for Brother Neung."
Hold out just a little, and it'll pay back big.
Neung-o was someone worth investing in.
Borrowing Jin Yeong-gil's words, a high-value commodity.
"Hearing you say that makes me grateful. I must live up to it."
"Of course you will."
"Naturally. I'm a disciple of Jeomchang. When I learned the Thousand Character Classic before the Analects, the first phrase I memorized was 'gain the Way in the morning, die content in the evening.'"
Attain the Way at dawn, and death at dusk holds no regrets.
For the sake of one's aim, even life is deemed expendable.
Neung-o was that sort of man.
An arrow loosed from the bowstring.
Even if it misses, with another arrow ready, he'd never hesitate.
"Good. In exchange, allow me to gift Brother Neung just one token."
"A token, you say?"
Arms crossed, he sank into brief thought.
'Judging by the Blood Cult bastards' reactions, handing precedence to the Ming Cult will surely send them into a frenzy.'
If he could pass that precedence to Neung-o.
And keep it hidden without a hint until the critical moment.
It would undoubtedly become the ultimate reversal stroke.
"Wait just a moment. I need to invent a martial art."
"Invent a martial art? Right now?"
"It'll only take a bit."
He delved into memories of his past life.
...Truth be told, Yang-hui knew quite a few demonic sorceries.
Having spent years battling the Three Great Demonic Cults in his previous life.
He hadn't practiced them, but the demonic secret tomes he'd seized after slaying their owners were plentiful.
'Dark Blood Hidden Poison Gu. If I tweak this just right, it should work.'
A forbidden art that implants a Dark Blood Hidden Poison Gu—nurtured through gu poison sorcery—into the body to amplify one's power.
It required a worm cultivated with blood essence and toxic qi, a sort of spirit beast or demonic creature.
'I've obtained Vital Intent Qi. With some finesse, it might serve as a substitute.'
He drew out celestial qi and ran various experiments for a time.
The results gave him firm confidence in its feasibility.
"For now, let's name it Celestial Egg Valor Transformation Art. Brother Neung. From here on, may I place a single bug inside your body?"
Neung-o was genuinely aghast.
Though his face hardly betrayed it.
"A bug?! You're using gu poison sorcery?"
"It's good for the body."
"......"
"Good for the mind too, wouldn't you say? How convenient to tuck a token away in your bosom for a gamble?"
Neung-o stared for a moment, then burst into laughter.
"Very well. I'm an arrow, and an arrow laden with explosives packs more punch. That's how I'll see it. Other motives or not, it matters not."
"There are no other motives."
"Even if there were, it wouldn't matter. We've spoken."
No, really, there weren't any.
It was truly beneficial for both body and mind.
At any rate, he'd gotten consent.
He faced Neung-o.
Qi imbued with will becomes vitality itself.
Hence, Vital Intent Qi.
'But you will become an egg, not a gu.'
The celestial qi gathered small and round.
An egg.
What it would hatch into remained unknown.
He had infused it with will, but not specific intent.
The life within this egg would simply live for Neung-o.
"Hmm!"
Neung-o gazed at Yang-hui and spoke.
"It was sincere."
"What was?"
"Truly, purely for this poor one's sake."
The instant the small, round qi seeped into his body, he knew.
No ill intent could possibly accompany this qi.
Yang-hui clicked his tongue.
"I told you. No other motives."
"Thank you."
"I'm the one who's thankful."
"Thankful for what, young hero?"
"You have to play along when someone feigns. Just like me."
"Hmm, I see. I've spent too long alone. I'll make the effort."
Neung-o laughed.
Yang-hui laughed as well.
Swordmasters converse through blades, yet people too can glimpse each other's hearts via expressions.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "No, brother. So what've you decided?"
"Asking the same thing over and over—should I take it as you begging for a flick on the forehead?"
"No, it's not like you, brother."
"Kid, how dare a small-minded wretch judge a magnanimous soul's grand design."
"No, magnanimous or small-minded, it's not like you!"
If words had techniques, 'no' would be the opening strike.
What that means is.
"Chui-dal, I accept."
"Accept what, all of a sudden?"
"Your challenge to spar."
He grabbed his collar and dragged him along. To properly thrash... discipline someone on a rainy day, kicking up dust no less, required a spacious field.
"Let's see, an open lot..."
"Agh! Brother! My bad! I won't goof off! Agh! Agh! It hurts!"
"I haven't hit you yet, you rascal!"
Baek Heon-so watched with a grin, but Dang Gun, standing beside him, calmly remonstrated Yang-hui.
"Young brother Hui, discipline belongs within the household for family harmony."
"Oh, you think so?"
"No, Young Clan Leader! How can you say such wounding words!"
"I get young brother Hui's intent, so how could you, his sworn brother, not? You're pulling my leg, right?"
"No! Really not!"
Yang-hui flung Chui-dal's collar aside.
He dusted off his hands and asked Dang Gun.
"So? What do you think was behind me accepting Brother Neung's choice?"
"Behind or not, you've always been that way."
"Have I?"
"Well, those who only see the surface might think a strategist like you would eliminate all variables."
"It was the most profitable choice."
But that wasn't the Yang-hui in Dang Gun's eyes.
What Yang-hui valued above all was always righteousness.
What that means is.
"One problem may have many answers, but the right one can only be the most righteous."
'Young brother Hui. You're the type who wants to pick only the right answers.'
"I'd have chosen the same. Our reasoning may differ, but we tend to arrive at the same choices."
The Dang Clan upheld a tradition of rigidly adhering to justice and camaraderie.
Among them, Young Clan Leader Dang Gun pursued virtue most stringently.
Thus, he walked the path he deemed right, even at a loss.
To Dang Gun, Yang-hui was truly remarkable.
He tread the righteous path while invariably turning a profit.
Though he himself claimed it was mere coincidence from chasing gains.
"I like you. I truly do. Seeing you lets me trust my own judgments without doubt."
"What if I make the wrong call?"
"I'll set you straight. As your elder brother, I'll beat sense into you if need be."
"You're embarrassing me at this rate, Young Clan Leader."
"Is that so, Great Young Master?"
Unable to stomach the heartwarming mood, Chui-dal quickly cut in.
"So what do we tell the Jin Clan's Young Fortress Lord? We found the culprit who sickened his father, but we're just gonna watch for now?"
"......"
"......"
Yang-hui and Dang Gun went mum like fools with mouths full of honey.
"Leave it, brother Chui-dal. Young brother Hui's got it all planned."
"This is exactly when I need your counsel, Brother Dang."
"Ahem. I'm swamped, time to go."
"Hey? You said you'd beat my thoughts straight! Step up when words can fix it!"
"Ahem."
It was amid such playful wrangling that they felt the stares of passing Orthodox faction disciples.
Chui-dal whispered low.
"Brother, that guy's glare is getting on my nerves. Eyes screaming we're slacking while they're working."
"Yeah. Irksome."
"Wanna thrash him? Just cover the fallout."
The subjugation force members were currently scouring for bandit remnants who'd fled from Chok Rang Village as their base.
Arguably the most tedious, time-draining task, so it was natural to bristle at the sight of others seemingly idle.
'Has the higher-ups' directive on handling us already lost steam? Or maybe they've set new guidelines.'
At any rate, that glare felt unjust.
Even if they looked idle, the search was underway in earnest.
'Well, Won-u's handling it, not me.'
No point in a winged spirit beast if you don't use it right, unless you're stewing it.
Won-u was airborne even now, hunting bandits.
Bored, he hadn't linked spirits, but they'd agreed Won-u would return and report any finds...
"What. Why're you there?"
Won-u perched on a tree a short distance away.
Beak working nonstop.
If the rascal had returned, he ought to report pronto instead of snacking.
"Won-u. Back to station."
-Kkiaa?
"Back to station."
-Kkiaa...
Won-u glanced warily before fluttering to his outstretched arm.
"Rascal, when your master's got work for you, do it proper... Hey."
-Kkiaa?
Qi rippled outward.
"What'd you eat?"
He pried open the beak and extracted the contents.
"This... spirit herb?"
"Spirit herb?"
"Young brother Hui, did you say spirit herb?"
"Who said spirit herb?"
Baek Heon-so, Chui-dal, Dang Gun, and Yang-hui traded blinks before launching themselves in unison, no questions asked.
"Hey! Fly! Back to where you got that!"
-Kkiaa...
"Not a scolding! More means top-grade beef, huge portions!"
-Kkiaaa!
Chasing Won-u's ecstatic flight, they ran perhaps half a shichen.
Not just Yang-hui and the others—even third-rate warriors could sense the qi pulsing strongly now.
And there, unmistakably a cluster of spirit grass: a dozen stalks... no, a hundred... no...
"Wow."
"Totally out of nowhere."
"Heaven's on our side?"
Yang-hui threw his head back and bellowed at the sky.
'Right. My past self was the odd one. Luck rotten to the core.'
"Uwaaaah! Fortuitous encounters always hit like lightning, you lot!"