Chapter 571
Chapter 571
Chapter 571. Let’s Hit the Jackpot (6)
The first attack came from Taoist Cheongjin.
Taat!
He shot forward as if launched and swung his sword.
Sword qi resembling red plum blossoms wrapped around Warrior Myeongjong.
Plum Blossom Flow.
Sword qi flowing from Warrior Myeongjong’s sword formed a barrier.
Is that Plum Blossom Wall?
The plum-colored sword barrier perfectly blocked Taoist Cheongjin’s attack, and his eyes trembled.
“If you thought I would remain at my old level just because I descended from Mount Hua, you were mistaken. So do not test the waters and unleash your best attack!” (Myeongjong)
At Warrior Myeongjong’s words, Taoist Cheongjin furrowed his brow and shouted.
“You act high and mighty to the very end!” (Cheongjin)
Then he continued attacking again, but each attack was blocked by Warrior Myeongjong’s sword.
The collision of plum blossoms against plum blossoms was, in itself, a sight worth seeing.
It was splendid, of course, but the hidden principles within it made one realize that this was why Mount Hua’s sword could never be looked down upon.
If one lost oneself in that splendor, that meant death.
Perhaps that was why they said that even within the Mount Hua Sect, they devoted themselves to mental cultivation in order to prevent themselves from being bewitched by their own swords.
However, in my eyes, Taoist Cheongjin’s mental cultivation was lacking.
Clang!
Clang clang!
As the number of times their swords clashed increased, the outcome began to reveal itself.
And finally.
Kaaang!
Taoist Cheongjin’s sword flew away, and Warrior Myeongjong’s blade touched his neck.
“……Surrender. This is your defeat.” (Myeongjong)
“I haven’t lost yet!” (Cheongjin)
Saying so, Taoist Cheongjin rolled away and tried to hook Warrior Myeongjong’s leg.
Tak!
But Warrior Myeongjong did not fall. He planted his arm on the ground, flipped through the air, and regained his balance.
Then he swung his fist toward Taoist Cheongjin.
Thud!
His fist sank heavily into Taoist Cheongjin’s stomach.
Thump.
Sitting collapsed on the ground, he coughed again and again.
“Cough! Cough!” (Cheongjin)
It was Taoist Cheongjin’s complete defeat.
“Damn it! Damn it! Aaaaargh! Daaamn it!” (Cheongjin)
His expression showed he could not believe his own defeat.
The other Mount Hua disciples watching the duel were the same.
“Impossible! There is no way you could defeat me this easily! Just what evil arts did you use?” (Cheongjin)
“What evil arts? If you have eyes, you should have seen it. From beginning to end, it was Mount Hua’s sword and fist arts.” (Myeongjong)
Warrior Myeongjong’s voice as he said that was filled with pride in Mount Hua’s martial arts.
“What decided victory and defeat between you and me was your arrogance.” (Myeongjong)
After saying that, Warrior Myeongjong withdrew his sword.
Shhk.
“In truth, I was arrogant too. I admit, as you said, that I alone acted as if I were lofty. But the current me is not.” (Myeongjong)
According to Palgap, Warrior Myeongjong never neglected training even during his rest time.
Of course, the same was true of all my escort warriors.
But among them, the ones whose skill had risen the most steeply were Warrior Myeongjong and Warrior Changwoon.
When they first became my escort warriors, they had only been first-rate warriors, but Master said that now, if they only had the right opportunity, they could reach the peak level.
“Part of the reason is that they train hard themselves, but in my view, the greatest reason is probably you, Young Company Head.” (Palgap)
“Yes? I have not done anything.” (Eun Seoho)
“Why would you say you have not? You drag your escort warriors all over the entire empire in every direction, do you not?” (Palgap)
“…….” (Eun Seoho)
“What matters is experience. The more one sees, hears, and experiences, the broader one’s perspective becomes, and only when one’s perspective broadens can one’s thoughts become broad and deep. The thoughts of someone with a narrow perspective can never be broad or deep.” (Palgap)
Come to think of it, we really had gone everywhere.
We had even gone to the Northern Sea Ice Palace and the Raging Flame Palace in the Outer Regions…….
Those varied experiences must have broadened my escort warriors’ perspectives.
Of course, the same applied to me.
Traveling all across the empire had been exhausting, but thinking of it this way, I did feel somewhat proud.
Meanwhile, Warrior Myeongjong continued speaking.
“Looking at you now, I think there is no better frog in a well. Are you resentful that you lost to me? Then leave Mount Hua and travel the martial world.” (Myeongjong)
“You bastard! Are you resentful that you left Mount Hua, so now you intend to make even me leave Mount Hua?” (Cheongjin)
“If you think so, then that is the extent of your vessel. And as you said, even if you travel the martial world and return, you will still be a true mountain disciple, so what is the problem?” (Myeongjong)
“…….” (Cheongjin)
“Even though I have told you exactly how I became stronger, if you cannot put it into practice, you will never surpass me for the rest of your life. Or are you afraid of going outside Mount Hua?” (Myeongjong)
Warrior Myeongjong chuckled.
“Now that I see it, the only worthy rival I acknowledged was a coward! A coward who shuts himself inside Mount Hua, afraid of the world, and only recites Taoist scriptures.” (Myeongjong)
Wow, Warrior Myeongjong could make provocations like that too!
“I am not such a coward!” (Cheongjin)
“Prove that with your actions! If you remain holed up in Mount Hua after hearing even these words from me, then you truly are hopeless and a coward.” (Myeongjong)
Warrior Myeongjong hardened his expression and asked.
“You dislike me, do you not?” (Myeongjong)
“You ask the obvious.” (Cheongjin)
“Why?” (Myeongjong)
“……I disliked you from the beginning.” (Cheongjin)
“Then, do you dislike Mount Hua too?” (Myeongjong)
“What kind of nonsense are you spouting!” (Cheongjin)
Taoist Cheongjin flared up.
“Mount Hua is my spirit and my foundation! Asking a swordsman of Mount Hua whether he dislikes Mount Hua! Just how far do you intend to insult me?” (Cheongjin)
“I see. That is a relief.” (Myeongjong)
“…….” (Cheongjin)
Toward him, who had gone blank for an instant, Warrior Myeongjong whispered in a low voice.
The others could not hear it, but I could.
“Then hurry and grow stronger. And protect Mount Hua. Since I can no longer protect Mount Hua, you must protect it.” (Myeongjong)
By traveling the entire empire with me, he had come to know it too.
That the murim was turning complicated and dangerous.
And that someday Mount Hua too could fall into danger.
That must be why he left those words.
I felt as though I understood the true meaning of this duel.
It was to entrust Mount Hua to his bitter enemy, but also to the worthy rival he acknowledged.
Seeing him give such advice to his bitter enemy for Mount Hua’s sake made me think he truly was magnanimous.
Warrior Myeongjong turned around as he was and approached me, then clasped his hands.
“Thank you for permitting the duel. As you commanded, I have brought victory.” (Myeongjong)
“You worked hard. Then shall we go and finish your meal?” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes?” (Myeongjong)
“You came out without finishing your meal, did you not? That will not do. Would regular meals not also be part of training?” (Eun Seoho)
“Understood.” (Myeongjong)
I took him and went toward the restaurant, glancing back at Taoist Cheongjin.
Still sitting collapsed on the ground, he was staring into empty space with a dazed expression.
Had he realized something? Or was it because Warrior Myeongjong’s advice had been something he never expected?
We would find out later.
.
.
.
Day broke.
Since we had to go to Luoyang early this morning, we moved diligently.
When we went down to the first floor of the inn to eat breakfast, a familiar Taoist was standing there.
It was Taoist Muhyeon.
“I greet you, Young Company Head. I am Muhyeon, a disciple of Mount Hua.” (Muhyeon)
“Good morning. I believe Warrior Myeongjong is upstairs. Shall I call him for you?” (Eun Seoho)
“No.” (Muhyeon)
Taoist Muhyeon shook his head and said,
“I came to see you, Young Company Head.” (Muhyeon)
“Me?” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes.” (Muhyeon)
He clasped his hands and bowed his head to me.
“Thank you. I will never forget for the rest of my life that you helped my friend.” (Muhyeon)
He continued speaking.
“In truth, I should have thanked you sooner, but I am very late. Please understand.” (Muhyeon)
“That is all right.” (Eun Seoho)
“If my friend had suffered such a thing back then, given his personality, he probably would have been tormented by guilt and taken his own life.” (Muhyeon)
“…….” (Eun Seoho)
He has seen it exactly.
In my previous life, Warrior Myeongjong really had taken his own life.
“But thanks to you, Young Company Head, that fellow’s mistake did not become a great disaster. I truly thank you.” (Muhyeon)
“It was simply my whim. So you do not have to go that far.” (Eun Seoho)
“That does not become a reason not to receive thanks. Please continue to take good care of my friend.” (Muhyeon)
After that, he bowed respectfully to me and left the inn.
I smiled faintly as I watched his back.
Thinking that Warrior Myeongjong had a good friend.
After eating breakfast, we prepared to depart.
Brother Jinho spoke with Head Escort Gi, then approached me.
“What did you talk about?” (Eun Seoho)
“Well, he said thank you.” (Jinho)
“So do you feel proud?” (Eun Seoho)
“If a person does a good deed and doesn’t feel proud, doesn’t that mean their character is ruined?” (Jinho)
“Well, that is true.” (Eun Seoho)
At that moment, women’s voices could be heard.
“Master Chivalrous Pretty Boy!” (Young Lady)
“Master Eun Seoho!” (Young Lady)
At the sound of them calling me, I turned my head and saw the young ladies sticking their heads out toward the inn windows and calling me.
“Thank you for helping us.” (Young Lady)
The young ladies Brother Jinho and I escorted were there too.
When I lightly waved my hand, they screamed as if they might faint.
“Kyaaah!” (Young Lady)
“He waved at us!” (Young Lady)
“Oh my! He’s so handsome.” (Young Lady)
At their words, Palgap beside me grabbed my shoulder and quickly sent me backward.
“Let us hurry and go, sir. Your face is too well-known now, so this will not do.” (Palgap)
At that, the young ladies’ voices could be heard.
“Hng, I wanted to look a little more.” (Young Lady)
“Ugly people should go away! Can’t we even feast our eyes?” (Young Lady)
At their criticism, I let out a sigh.
It makes me a little uncomfortable when Palgap gets criticized.
“I am sorry that I am handsome.” (Eun Seoho)
“Hoot! It is fine! This much is merely ticklish to me!” (Palgap)
“Is that so?” (Eun Seoho)
“I have already lived all this time in this filthy world that only remembers handsome people, so would I be hurt by something like this?” (Palgap)
There is something sharp hidden in those words, is there not?
At that moment, one young lady said,
“But who is that person who looks like a dumpling that fell from the sky?” (Young Lady)
“Cough!” (Palgap)
Palgap…….
I comforted Palgap, who had suffered a wound to his heart, told him to get on his horse first, and then mounted my own horse too.
The answer is simply to leave this place quickly.
“Hyung! Let’s go.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yeah.” (Jinho)
Brother Jinho, who had been watching from the side, chuckled and gave the signal, and so we headed for Luoyang.
On the way, my eyes met Warrior Myeongjong’s.
He bowed his head again and said,
“Thank you for last night, Liege.” (Myeongjong)
“It was nothing. I am not that cold-hearted a person.” (Eun Seoho)
At my words, he smiled.
“Yes. I know.” (Myeongjong)
His expression looked somehow relieved.
As if he had cast off a burden from his heart.
“A dumpling that fell from the sky…… Dumpling…… Dumplings are so delicious…….” (Palgap)
Palgap, meanwhile, still had not regained his senses.
“Will he be all right? It seems Little Palgap took quite a shock.” (Seowoo)
At Warrior Seowoo’s words, I shook my head.
“He will be fine. Palgap is not that weak.” (Eun Seoho)
“That is true.” (Seowoo)
“But I do not know why Palgap is so obsessed with appearance. He looks fine to me.” (Eun Seoho)
“Have you never considered that it might be because of you, Liege?” (Seowoo)
“Me?” (Eun Seoho)
“……Well, never mind if you do not know.” (Seowoo)
.
.
.
We moved quickly and reached Luoyang’s west gate.
Whew, I had planned to rest comfortably during the early part of the Murim Grand Banquet, so what kind of thunderbolt from a clear sky was this?
Though it was good that we were able to save those who had been in danger.
“Mm! Hah! Seoho! Can you feel it? This smell! This temperature!” (Jinho)
“Hm? What are you talking about?” (Eun Seoho)
“I’m talking about this smell and heat of martial artists’ energy colliding with one another.” (Jinho)
“I don’t really know.” (Eun Seoho)
“Tch! You boring fellow.” (Jinho)
As expected of Brother Jinho. His eyes were already sparkling as he looked around.
He really was a martial artist by nature.
To me, the martial artists roaming around looked like customers of Eunhae Trading Company.
Whew, I really am a merchant by nature too.
Soon, we arrived at Yeonpung Inn.
“Have you arrived?” (Seohyang)
Miss Seohyang, who had been in front of the inn, welcomed us.
She knew I would come.
“Yes. Has anything happened in the meantime?” (Eun Seoho)
“Nothing in particular, other than business going well.” (Seohyang)
“That is a relief. What about Father and Mother?” (Eun Seoho)
“They are inside.” (Seohyang)
We went inside, and perhaps having heard the sound of our arrival, Father and Mother came down the stairs.
“Welcome back!” (Mother)
“You went through a lot coming here.” (Father)
Brother Jinho stepped forward first and greeted them.
“Because of an unexpected matter, I have caused Father and Mother worry. I apologize.” (Jinho)
“It is all right. You merely did what you had to do. Are you the sort of person who could simply pass by a situation like that?” (Father)
“That is true.” (Jinho)
Behind him, Chief Administrator Go Ilpyeong gave a hearty laugh.
“Hoho, thanks to the Second Young Company Head, I now have more to boast about to my friends.” (Go Ilpyeong)
“Hahaha.” (Jinho)
“Hurry upstairs, wash, prepare yourself, and come out. There are many people I must introduce to you.” (Go Ilpyeong)
“Understood.” (Jinho)
As I watched Brother Jinho head toward his room, Father spoke.
“You have had a great deal of trouble.” (Father)
“Not at all. I am just glad it was not a major matter.” (Eun Seoho)
“It is good that you think positively.” (Father)
I also went to my room, washed, and came back out.
I had been away for several days, so I needed to quickly make up for it.
“Deputy Gwak.” (Eun Seoho)
“Yes.” (Gwak)
“You worked hard while I was away.” (Eun Seoho)
“Not at all. I already knew, so I was not flustered.” (Gwak)
As expected, she knew.
“Though I only found out after you departed, Young Company Head, so I could not tell you in advance.” (Gwak)
“I see.” (Eun Seoho)
Miss Seohyang’s assigned work was to keep track of sales status and inventory for each item.
“Perhaps because it is still the early part, many kinds of tea sold.” (Seohyang)
“I see.” (Eun Seoho)
As I listened to her explanation, we headed toward Eunhae Trading Company’s temporary shop.
Ah, come to think of it, I did not tell Brother Jinho.
That our Eunhae Trading Company’s temporary shops this time numbered two.
Well, there will be a chance to tell him later.
Beside the temporary shop I selected using the authority I received from the Martial Alliance Leader, there was a wide empty lot.
Wandering performance troupes would come there and show quite a few interesting sights.
“It looks like they are displaying tricks today.” (Seohyang)
They were showing all sorts of feats using fire.
Wow, amazing.
Of course, to an expert in fire arts, it might look laughable.
But even if one was used to handling fire arts, it would not be easy to create such perilous tension that made the spectators’ hearts tighten.
It was then.
“Young Master, please look over there.” (Palgap)
I looked where Palgap was pointing, and the moment I saw the man and woman watching the performance, I was at a loss for words.