Chapter 59: As You Can See, Taciturn
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 59: As You Can See, Taciturn
"Since both of you have agreed to join, I'll explain the plan now."
At Ki Mu-hyeok's words, Kim Bok-ja and Shin Kang-heon nodded with serious expressions.
Choi Geon subtly stepped back.
He, too, planned to participate in his disciple's scheme, but for now, he intended to let the three of them take the lead in the discussion.
It brings back old memories.
Back when he was a hot-blooded young hero.
Choi Geon had also embarked on various missions with his comrades from the Martial Alliance, spending sleepless nights putting their heads together, pondering, and debating how to achieve justice.
This entire process will help you grow even more.
So, now was the time to quietly observe.
They might make wrong decisions or mess things up in their youthful fervor, but such experiences were essential for young Rising Stars.
And even if they make a mistake, I'll be right here to advise them...
As Choi Geon watched the three with a pleased smile, he suddenly recalled losing a Betting Duel to Ki Mu-hyeok not long ago, and his expression turned sour.
Isn't he a disciple who judges situations more coolly than I, who's been through thick and thin, and even managed to obtain crucial information?
"...Tsk. He's just a kid with absolutely no cute side, is he?"
The Master, unable to imagine his disciple making a mistake, frowned slightly and grumbled, displeased.
"Master. Is there something you wanted to say?"
"Never mind. Just finish what you were saying."
At his Master's gruff expression and dismissive wave of the hand, Ki Mu-hyeok, who had been momentarily bewildered, quickly turned back to his friends and said,
"We'll disguise ourselves as Sun Moon Sect experts and stir up trouble at the Great Heaven Sect's businesses."
Mid-Sized Sects in the Orthodox Martial World were bound to operate various businesses.
Among them were legitimate establishments, but there were also illegal ones that teetered on the edge of the law or couldn't be revealed to the public.
One corner of Ki Mu-hyeok's mouth curled up, forming a cold smile.
"The real big money is always made through illegal businesses. That's what we'll target."
Shin Kang-heon, listening, tilted his head with a puzzled expression.
"The Great Heaven Sect is one of the biggest among the Mid-Sized Sects, right? And they're involved in illegal businesses?"
"Our youngest doesn't know how the world works, does he? Those who have a lot are always the most ruthless."
Kim Bok-ja patted Shin Kang-heon's back, wondering what to do with this innocent child, and Shin Kang-heon glared at her with a disgruntled face.
"I've always wondered. How do you two know so much about this stuff?"
"Can you handle it? It's too dangerous a secret to tell a young master who grew up like a hothouse flower..."
"Aargh, damn it!"
Ki Mu-hyeok chuckled, looking at Bok-ja, who was cackling, and Shin Kang-heon, who was fuming with annoyance, then said in a slightly firmer tone,
"I have a reliable informant. I can't tell you who it is, but the information has been confirmed by them."
He felt Choi Geon's interest, but Ki Mu-hyeok didn't say anything more.
The source of the information was his past life, after all.
I don't know exactly how far the Great Heaven Sect's reach extends, but...
He knew from rumors he heard during his vagrant days that they were involved in dangerous businesses.
And with just that much information, he was confident he could uncover the rest.
I have connections I made precisely for times like this.
Ki Mu-hyeok, a meaningful smile playing on his lips, continued,
"If we disguise ourselves as Sun Moon Sect martial artists and provoke the Great Heaven Sect, the Sun Moon Sect won't stand idly by. They'll investigate the incident, and their attention will be drawn to us."
Ki Mu-hyeok turned his head to look at Choi Geon.
"In the ensuing chaos, Master, please infiltrate the Sun Moon Sect and secure crucial evidence. That's the broad outline of the plan; we'll fill in the details as we go."
Choi Geon nodded and looked around at the three of them.
"This is an extremely dangerous mission. If your identities are exposed or you're captured, you'll suffer greatly. No, your lives could even be at risk. It's not too late; you can pretend you didn't hear any of this and go home."
"No thanks. We've already received the down payment."
Kim Bok-ja replied indifferently, as if asking why he kept asking, and Shin Kang-heon confidently thumped his thick pectorals.
"If we run away scared, we're no heroes. I'm more than ready to stain my blade with blood!"
"These rascals..."
Choi Geon looked at the two—especially Shin Kang-heon—with a pleased expression, then met his disciple's eyes.
Nod, nod.
Ki Mu-hyeok nodded, let out a low sigh, and set the mood.
"There's one important issue. You know the Sun Moon Sect is divided into two factions: the Ice Arts Faction and the Yang-Dominant Faction, right? I can imitate Ice Arts. But if we only have one side, the balance will be off, won't it?"
If an expert of Yang-Dominant Martial Arts appeared alongside an Ice Art practitioner to attack the Great Heaven Sect, the Great Heaven Sect's suspicions would only grow stronger.
Furthermore, the Sun Moon Sect would blame each other, claiming it was a conspiracy by the opposing faction, leading to internal conflict.
Could there be a better way to create such chaos?
"In other words, we need someone to play the role of a Yang-Dominant Martial Arts expert. It won't be easy, but... I believe you can do it."
Ki Mu-hyeok looked directly at Shin Kang-heon and said.
"...Me?"
Shin Kang-heon, who had been lost in fantasies of acting as a dark hero, felt an inexplicable unease under Ki Mu-hyeok's gaze, which seemed to pierce his skin.
He instinctively recoiled, but Ki Mu-hyeok's steps grew faster.
"You just said you were ready to burn yourself for justice, didn't you? Don't tell me you weren't serious?"
Shin Kang-heon flinched for a moment, then, driven by his pride at not being able to retract his words and his unwillingness to lose to Ki Mu-hyeok, he stopped and shouted,
"Of course I was serious! Do you think I'd flinch just because you're staring at me like that? I'll do whatever it takes!"
"You clearly said you'd do it."
Thump.
Ki Mu-hyeok's smile deepened as he placed a hand on Shin Kang-heon's shoulder.
Shin Kang-heon, with his Fire Affinity. He had a constitution with an overwhelmingly high Fire Affinity.
While he couldn't immediately master and display Yang-Dominant sword techniques, imitating them would be entirely possible.
With the help of a skilled Spellcaster, that is.
"Bok-ja. Use a spell to set Shin Kang-heon on fire."
"...What?"
"Exactly what I said. Let's set his body on fire. See how well he endures it."
Kim Bok-ja's eyes widened for a moment, but like a Freelance Vagrant who lived by her wits, she immediately understood and nodded.
Whoosh!
A ghostly blue flame flickered to life above Kim Bok-ja's hand.
Shin Kang-heon, who had been foolishly listening to their conversation, finally snapped out of it and tried to resist.
"Wait a minute. What are you talking about? Why are you setting my body on fire?"
"You were so proud, boasting to the reporters that your Fire Affinity was high, weren't you? Let's use this chance to test how far you can go."
Zap!
With lightning-fast Pressure Point Sealing, Shin Kang-heon's body stiffened.
Unable to move, he saw the blue flame drawing closer in his eyes.
"No, you crazy bastards! You're going to set a person on fire! Are you out of your minds?!"
Ki Mu-hyeok calmly spoke as he stripped off Shin Kang-heon's upper garment, who was screaming at the top of his lungs.
"You said you could burn yourself for the justice of the Martial, didn't you?"
"How is that the same as this, you lunatic—! Teacher, don't just watch, stop them!"
"Indeed, justice often comes with hardship."
Choi Geon pulled Shin Kang-heon's pants down to his calves.
This was to prevent his clothes from burning.
"Bok-ja. I don't want to see anything unsightly, so be careful not to let the fire touch below his abdomen."
"So, just crisp up the top half, right?"
Confirming the request, Kim Bok-ja applied the ghostly flame to Shin Kang-heon's body.
Whoosh!
"Aargh! I'm going to sue all of you—!"
After a period filled with shouts, curses, and screams, Shin Kang-heon's Fire Affinity test concluded.
Just as I expected.
Surprisingly, Shin Kang-heon easily endured the flames created by Kim Bok-ja's spell.
It ended with only slightly singed skin and a bit of burnt hair.
Kim Bok-ja, the Spellcaster, also looked flustered.
"...He endured it? Is his skin made of some kind of fire-retardant material?"
"It seems less like enduring and more like absorbing the energy."
Choi Geon also looked surprised by Shin Kang-heon's Constitution, which far exceeded his expectations.
Only Ki Mu-hyeok nodded with a satisfied expression.
Because he's the guy who would be called Korea's Greatest Swordsman with Yang-Dominant sword techniques.
Shin Kang-heon possessed a far superior affinity for the Fire (火) element among the Five Elements than even Ki Mu-hyeok.
It was an incredible talent, enough to make even the Sun Moon Sect covet him, but he himself seemed bewildered, as if he hadn't known it was this potent.
"I'm kinda... awesome, aren't I?"
Ki Mu-hyeok shook his head at Shin Kang-heon, who was already grinning happily, then had a deep conversation with his Master.
"This should be enough to disguise him as a Yang-Dominant expert, right?"
"It should be fine. No one would ever expect him to be walking around with his body set on fire by a spell."
"Can we fool the eyes of Peak Masters?"
"A Peak Master of my caliber would recognize it immediately, but... there are no such experts in the Great Heaven Sect, so as long as he's not exposed for too long, it should be fine."
Just then, Shin Kang-heon interjected into their conversation.
"But seriously. What were you going to do if I couldn't endure the fire?"
"Hahahaha..."
"Hohoho..."
"Don't just brush me off with laughter!"
Afterward, once the detailed disguise plan was set, Choi Geon asked Ki Mu-hyeok,
"Are you going to hit the Great Heaven Sect's illegal businesses right away?"
Ki Mu-hyeok shook his head.
He only knew the fragmented information that the Great Heaven Sect operated illegal businesses; he didn't know their exact locations.
However, he knew one person who might know the locations.
"I have an acquaintance with extensive connections in that area. I plan to visit them and ask for their cooperation."
"...It's not good to have more people aware of the plan."
"You don't need to worry. He's someone who owes me his life."
Ki Mu-hyeok said with a confident smile.
"Well, look who it is! You hadn't visited in so long, I thought you'd died somewhere!"
Hwang Suk-su greeted Ki Mu-hyeok with an exaggerated fuss.
He also smiled and greeted Kim Bok-ja, who followed behind.
"Rerae, long time no see. I hear you haven't been sticking around the shop lately?"
"You know that too?"
"When you're in the liquor business, you hear all the rumors in this area, whether you want to or not."
Hwang Suk-su chuckled good-naturedly and personally led the two inside.
He then briefly glanced at the unfamiliar figure following behind them.
That guy. Isn't he the Azure Wolf's Goggle Murderer?
Red Rabbit came too. What's going on?
Who's the guy following them?
Thanks to his senses becoming sharper and his cultivation deepening, the whispers of the people were clearly audible.
Even though he was wearing goggles and a mask, just like last time, he could now barely feel the difference.
"Noisy, isn't it? Come on, let's go inside."
Hwang Suk-su immediately led the three to one of the few rooms in the Hidden Tower.
A room that guaranteed perfect soundproofing and privacy.
The fact that he brought them here without a reservation or payment showed a definite change in his attitude compared to last time.
Thud.
As soon as the room door closed, Hwang Suk-su winked at Ki Mu-hyeok and said,
"Thanks to you, I found that snake. He was someone I'd known for over ten years, and he was plotting to steal all my assets."
"So, you had a good strawberry harvest?"
"Hahaha! The taste wasn't great since it wasn't in season, though!"
A few years later, Hwang Suk-su was destined to be found dead on the street from a severe allergic reaction.
But last time, Ki Mu-hyeok, who had visited the Hidden Tower, had subtly given him a hint, allowing him to find the traitor and successfully eliminate the future threat.
Hwang Suk-su said with a very pleased expression,
"I've been waiting to give you a proper welcome when you visited again. Should I whip up some Dongpo Pork? We just got some good liquor in, too."
At the mention of good liquor, Kim Bok-ja swallowed hard, but she managed her expression and looked at Ki Mu-hyeok.
Ki Mu-hyeok waved his hand.
"No thanks. We're here for information today. We'll just take care of business and leave right away."
Hwang Suk-su was a man of clear calculations.
His ironclad rule was to return as much as he received and work according to the compensation.
It was a common trait among those who survived long as Vagrants.
In other words, the debt of a life owed could be put to quite useful service.
"Then, unfortunately, I'll have to treat you another time. What could my benefactor be curious about that brought you to me? Ah, before that..."
But it was also true that he was very cautious.
Hwang Suk-su narrowed his eyes and looked at the unfamiliar figure standing silently behind Ki Mu-hyeok.
"One of them is a new face, isn't he? Is he someone who should be in here?"
"..."
The person was remarkably tall, carried a large greatsword on his back, and was wrapped head to toe in bandages.
Even his face, except for his eyes, was completely covered in bandages, making it impossible to discern his features.
Sniff.
He also smells a bit like something burned.
Curiosity arose, but Hwang Suk-su didn't rashly ask about it.
He merely stared at the bandaged swordsman with a wary gaze.
Just then, Ki Mu-hyeok replied in a leisurely voice,
"He's the Azure Wolf's youngest. As you can see, he's taciturn and serious."
"..."
His mouth was covered by bandages, so it looked like he couldn't speak even if he wanted to.
And he had this subtly pretentious air about him...
Hwang Suk-su had various thoughts, but he didn't voice them.