Chapter 588
Episode 588
Episode 588. Benevolent Hero, Handsome Gentleman (2)
Palgap’s voice was quite loud, and those who heard it burst into laughter.
I felt awkward for no reason and said to Warrior Inbong.
“Th-that, I apologize. My attendant has a somewhat excessive amount of enthusiasm.” (MC)
“Not at all. You have a good attendant.” (Inbong)
Warrior Inbong answered with a gentle expression.
Judging by appearances, he seems like a good person.
“Then....” (MC)
“Yes. Let us begin again.” (Inbong)
In an instant, we once again swung our swords at each other.
This place was meant for duels, not for pleasantly chatting.
Like that, after exchanging offense and defense several times.
I deliberately showed openings and gave up a few tags.
If I won overwhelmingly without giving up even a single tag, it would be the same as revealing all my cards.
In order to take revenge on the Martial Alliance, I must not show all of my martial prowess.
I felt sorry because it seemed like I was deceiving Warrior Inbong, but this side also had circumstances.
Well, I can take care of him a little or help him later.
I deliberately dragged out the time to make it look as though our strength was even and the match was tense.
But... why does my opponent seem tired?
He cannot be like that already.
“Hoo, hoouk.... Your stamina is considerable.” (Inbong)
“Pardon?” (MC)
“In truth, I also pride myself on not falling behind in terms of stamina, but compared to you, Master, I am a child.” (Inbong)
Huh? This is not right.
“Even without fighting more, the result is obvious. I will forfeit. Honestly... I no longer even have the strength to hold my sword.” (Inbong)
His hands were trembling, and perhaps the palm holding his sword had torn, because blood was flowing down.
He sheathed his sword and painstakingly moved his arms to clasp his hands to me.
“Thanks to you, I was able to save face. It was a good match.” (Inbong)
With that, he left the dueling stage as he was.
“No, wait, you see, giving up that easily is....” (MC)
At that moment, Captain Geum Yeonhwa climbed onto the dueling stage and declared my victory.
“The winner of the final duel of the first main round is Eun Seoho of the Eunhae Trading Company!” (Geum Yeonhwa)
“Waaaaaaaa!”
Amid the people’s cheers, I came down with an awkward expression.
“Uh, I’m back.” (MC)
“Yes, you worked hard.” (Father)
Jinho Hyung smacked my back and said.
“As expected! I knew you would win.” (Jinho)
“Hahaha. Th-that so?” (MC)
But why does it feel like I went to the outhouse and did not wipe?
I turned my head and looked at the Martial Alliance Leader.
The Alliance Leader was nodding with a somewhat satisfied expression.
According to my original calculation, I had planned to remove my opponent’s final tag when I had about two tags left, making it look like a dramatic victory.
But there was something I had overlooked.
That was my stamina.
Thanks to Master having trained me so harshly, I am now at a point where I do not lack compared to anyone in terms of stamina.
On top of that, there was the strength and speed that had improved thanks to it as well.
I definitely won, so why am I sad?
Well, not everything in the world goes the way I want.
Like that, today’s duels came to an end.
I am tired from dueling today, but I cannot abandon my main work.
Instead of returning straight to the inn, I headed to the commercial district.
“Young Company Head! Congratulations on your victory.” (Merchant)
“Thank you.” (MC)
“Your performance was truly outstanding.” (Merchant)
“Hahaha. I am embarrassed.” (MC)
Merchants who were acquainted with me approached and offered congratulations whenever I passed by.
As I exchanged greetings with them while smiling, I arrived at our Eunhae Trading Company’s temporary shop before I knew it.
Then I received reports on sales and the situation.
Very smooth.
After finishing the inspection of the two temporary shops and returning.
At that moment, there was a sound that caught my ear.
“I knew this would happen! If I had dueled instead of you, that merchant bastard would not even have lasted one blow!” (Geumbong)
“Exactly. Why someone like you represented our Qingcheng Sect in the duel....” (Qingcheng Disciple)
“Because of you, the honor of our Qingcheng Sect has been disgraced!” (Qingcheng Disciple)
“You should have asked the ghost you control. Dear ghost, please let me win. Like that. Hahaha.” (Qingcheng Disciple)
“Hey, do not tease him too much. The kid is going to cry.” (Qingcheng Disciple)
No matter how I think about it, it sounds like they are talking about me.
Perhaps my guards realized it as well, because displeasure appeared on their faces.
“I am fine. So restrain yourselves.” (MC)
“Understood.” (Guard)
Palgap asked carefully.
“So what will you do, sir?” (Palgap)
“What do you mean, what will I do? They are talking about me, so I should listen a little more. As you know, I am rather nosy.” (MC)
Of course, now that I had heard them criticizing me, it could not simply be dismissed as nosiness.
“As for Vice Officer Gwak....” (MC)
At my words, she shook her head.
“I will just stay here. I feel like I will be able to watch something amusing.” (Gwak)
What appeared on her face was a mischievous smile.
I am sure she used to seem quite cautious before, but recently, her personality seemed to have changed a little.
Slightly more proactive.
Of course, that was not a bad thing.
Compared to the way she used to struggle to endure each day with a sickly body, this was much better.
And honestly... I did not dislike that change in her.
Ahem.
When I thought of Miss Seohyang, my face reddened, and I felt somehow embarrassed, so I turned my head and said.
“Then, shall we go?” (MC)
When we approached the place the voices were coming from, five or six people were gathered in a deserted area.
They were all wearing the Taoist robes of the Qingcheng Sect and were surrounding one person.
As expected, the person in the middle was Warrior Inbong, who had dueled with me.
Putting together the words I heard as I went over, he was being unilaterally criticized because he had lost in the duel against me.
And the intensity of that criticism grew stronger the closer I approached.
“It was a mistake to let a bastard of unknown roots like this into the Qingcheng Sect in the first place.” (Qingcheng Disciple)
“That’s right. Gloomy and unlucky bastard!” (Qingcheng Disciple)
“Stop! I can tolerate you insulting me, but do not insult Master!” (Inbong)
“What is this bastard saying?” (Qingcheng Disciple)
“Well, birds of a feather, I suppose they cover for each other.” (Qingcheng Disciple)
“Puhahahaha!” (Qingcheng Disciples)
“Do not insult my master!” (Inbong)
“Where does this unlucky bastard think he is raising his voice?” (Qingcheng Disciple)
As if he did not like that sight, one disciple lifted his sword, sheath and all, and swung it.
That was when it happened.
Whoosh!
His scabbard slipped off the sword and flew toward us.
Palgap pretended to dodge, then threw his body toward the direction the scabbard was flying.
Tap!
“Aigoo! I’m dying! Aigoo!” (Palgap)
Palgap made a fuss as if he were about to die.
But it was clearly visible to my eyes.
Since the scabbard had lost its force and was falling, it should not have done much damage.
However, Palgap deliberately let himself be hit by the scabbard for my sake, and was making such a fuss.
To create a justification for me to intervene in this situation.
As expected of Palgap.
The Taoists of the Qingcheng Sect, startled by Palgap’s commotion, approached, and their expressions became flustered.
No matter who looked at it, it was a situation where they had assaulted a passerby.
“We apologize.” (Qingcheng Disciple)
“We are truly sorry.” (Qingcheng Disciple)
In a situation where everyone was apologizing, one disciple stiffened his neck and spoke bluntly.
“Then who told you to pass through here?” (Geumbong)
What is this bastard kicking a shuttlecock with his manners?
At those words, the other disciples were startled and quickly tried to stop him.
“Hey! What are you saying?” (Qingcheng Disciple)
“It is our fault, is it not! Hurry and apologize!” (Qingcheng Disciple)
“Honestly, it is not my fault, is it?” (Geumbong)
“Hey! Geumbong! It is your scabbard!” (Qingcheng Disciple)
I smiled and said.
“It is difficult to judge whether it is our fault for happening to pass through here, or the fault of the Qingcheng Sect disciples for fighting with weapons in an unauthorized place. So how about we call the Martial Alliance patrol here and determine who is at fault?” (MC)
At my words, their faces turned pale blue.
Because during the Great Murim Banquet, if one draws a weapon without permission and causes a disturbance in Luoyang, one will be dragged off to prison.
Even if it had been sheathed, since a passerby had been struck, they could not avoid charges of assault or causing a disturbance.
“Th-that is....” (Qingcheng Disciple)
“Please, anything but that....” (Qingcheng Disciple)
Since what would happen afterward was obvious if that happened, they even knelt as they apologized.
The one called Geumbong was forced to kneel by the other disciples, but his head was still stiffly raised.
Obvious.
In such cases, there is usually someone backing him.
He believes in that backing and acts so arrogant and insolent.
“Everyone, please get up. Would I report you over such a trivial fight between fellow disciples?” (MC)
At my words, the complexions of the Qingcheng Sect disciples brightened.
“A-are you truly overlooking it?” (Qingcheng Disciple)
“Yes. As it happens, there is someone I know in the patrol, so if I called them, they would come quickly, but I will let this pass this time.” (MC)
“Thank you!” (Qingcheng Disciple)
“Truly, thank you.” (Qingcheng Disciple)
“Instead, properly apologize to my attendant.” (MC)
At my words, they apologized to Palgap, and Palgap readily accepted their apology.
Well, he was not hurt in the first place.
“However, while passing through here, I heard something I could not overlook.” (MC)
I continued.
“I am quite sure someone said, ‘If I had dueled instead of you, that merchant bastard would not even have lasted one blow!’” (MC)
At my words, they avoided my gaze with embarrassed expressions.
At that moment, the one called Geumbong spoke.
“Yes, I said that.” (Geumbong)
Wow, he is bold.
“I see. However, it seems I should correct those words.” (MC)
“Pardon?” (Geumbong)
“You said your name was Geumbong, yes? If you cross swords with me, you will not last even three moves.” (MC)
At my words, his face twisted.
“How can you say such outrageous words?” (Geumbong)
“Then on what basis did Taoist Geumbong say such words?” (MC)
“I am stronger than that bastard Inbong! So is it not obvious?” (Geumbong)
“You are severely mistaken.” (MC)
I continued with a smile.
“The elders of the Qingcheng Sect sent Warrior Inbong out to the duel because he had the qualifications to do so. To criticize that is, in other words, the same as criticizing the elders who made that decision.” (MC)
“......”
At my words, they lowered their heads.
Because it was not wrong.
However, the one called Geumbong still protested with a dissatisfied expression.
“Even so, I cannot acknowledge it. If it were me, I would not have forfeited like he did earlier and would have fought to the end! And I would have seized victory and elevated the honor of the Qingcheng Sect!” (Geumbong)
At those words, I laughed dryly inwardly.
He truly knows nothing.
“Then the answer is simple. Lift that sword and attack me.” (MC)
“Pardon?” (Geumbong)
“Use the strongest attack you can.” (MC)
“You will regret it.” (Geumbong)
I smiled.
“So, if you back down like this, will you be able to sleep tonight?” (MC)
At my words, he gripped his sword hilt.
“I will not be able to sleep.” (Geumbong)
And he smiled viciously.
“You are the one who suggested it first, so even if you get hurt and cannot go out for the next duel, it will not be my fault.” (Geumbong)
“You do not need to worry about such things.” (MC)
“Heh heh. Is that so.” (Geumbong)
He lifted his sword and took his starting stance.
The killing intent contained in his sword was so prickly that it made me nervous... not at all.
The martial prowess I saw from Warrior Geumbong was about the level of someone who had just reached the peak.
And even that did not seem to have been crossed naturally through his own realization and effort, but rather as if he had been forcibly raised to the peak.
But Warrior Inbong had naturally reached the peak realm.
There is inevitably a difference between one who climbed one step, then another, steadily, and one who did not.
One of those differences is the density of sword qi.
The blurry sword qi forming on that man’s sword proved it.
“Huaaaaaaap!” (Geumbong)
Geumbong let out a shout and charged toward me.
Swaaaaaak!
It was Seryupyo.
However, to me, who had already seen Seryupyo a level above his, it did not stir any particular feeling.
I lightly extended my hand and flicked my middle finger, striking his forehead.
Tak!
“Keheok!” (Geumbong)
He swung his sword down toward me with the greatest power he could produce, but that sword did not even graze my clothes.
He had merely been struck in the forehead by my finger and flung backward.
Roll, roll.
Mm, he is quite good at rolling.
Like a puppet whose strings had been cut, he rolled across the ground like that and wore a dazed expression.
He probably could not understand what had happened to him.
I approached him.
“What a shame. I could not finish you in one blow.” (MC)
“......”
“Do not carelessly spit out groundless words. I do not know why you all treat Warrior Inbong that way, but Warrior Inbong is also a disciple of the Qingcheng Sect, just like you. And he is the strongest warrior among you.” (MC)
“......”
“In my opinion, there is no one among the people here who can fight Warrior Inbong for more than five moves.” (MC)
“......”
“Do not insult Warrior Inbong for forfeiting. Warrior Inbong forfeited as a sign of respect toward me. If you continue to insult and criticize him over that, I will regard it as an insult and criticism toward me and formally protest to the Qingcheng Sect.” (MC)
Perhaps they understood my warning, because their expressions stiffened.
I turned my head and said to Warrior Inbong.
“Simply enduring is not always the best answer. If necessary, formally request a duel and crush them underfoot. That is also one method.” (MC)
“But....” (Inbong)
I sent him telepathy.
“They are not people who will ever listen if you speak to them. Honestly, if people easily reflected on themselves, would there be so many evil people in the world? So stop wasting your strength and properly crush them.” (MC)
“......!” (Inbong)
“The Qingcheng Sect is also a murim sect, so strength is what matters most. No matter what kind of backing that man has.” (MC)
This advice was also meant as an apology for having deceived Warrior Inbong during the duel earlier.
If he were wise, he would have realized the meaning contained in my advice.