Chapter 105

Bu Eunseol wore an intrigued expression.

“Wandering vagrants registration?”

“That is correct. If we give jobs to just anyone, information might leak or the job might be botched.”

“Don’t wandering vagrant hide their identities anyway?”

“They do. In truth, registration is nothing special. You just need to demonstrate your skill. Based on that, you can take on jobs of four grades: Low, Middle, High, and Special.”

“Registration and a test, is it.”

Bu Eunseol nodded in understanding.

If they assessed a wandering vagrant’s skill and assigned jobs accordingly, the failure rate would certainly decrease. If many wandering vagrant failed, the credibility of Silent Heaven, Desolate Earth would also fall.

“They do things properly.”

“Instead, every time you take a job, they take a commission fee under the name of information fee. Starting from three-tenths for Low grade, to about one-tenth for High or Special grade wandering vagrant.”

“I see.”

“I will ask about the registration method first.”

As Black Leopard approached one of the counters lined up in Hall of Receiving Scriptures, a woman with a very neat appearance welcomed him with a smile.

“Welcome.”

“I would like to register as a wandering vagrant.”

“Ah, it must be your first time coming to us.”

When Black Leopard nodded, the woman handed him a sheet of paper.

“Could you fill out the guest book first?”

“Young Master.”

When Black Leopard held out the guest book, Bu Eunseol pondered for a moment.

Then he wrote ‘Seol So’—Snow Melting.

It meant to disappear like snow, but the woman nodded without comment.

“So you are Young Hero Seol. And you?”

At her question, Black Leopard shook his head.

“I am Seol… Young Master’s servant.”

“Ah, I see. Still, if you intend to travel together, you must register as well.”

Black Leopard looked at the guest book, then wrote ‘Baek Ho’—White Tiger—in small letters next to Seol So.

“Here it is.”

When Black Leopard handed over the guest book, the woman pointed to a pavilion opposite Hall of Receiving Scriptures.

“Please go to the Transverse Sky Hall on the opposite side. You can determine your grade there.”

The woman offered a gentle smile.

“Once your grade is decided, you can take jobs from the Free Contract board according to your grade, or come here to receive jobs suited to your aptitude.”

“Understood. Thank you.”

Black Leopard took Bu Eunseol out of Hall of Receiving Scriptures and entered the entrance of Transverse Sky Hall on the opposite side.

Passing through the main gate and entering inside, they saw a small armory with eighteen types of weapons and a spacious training ground.

“Did you come to determine your grade?”

A bald man standing in front of the armory looked Bu Eunseol and Black Leopard up and down.

“The one to be tested is my Young Master.”

“Young Master? Pfft.”

The bald man smirked as he looked at Bu Eunseol’s appearance, changed to an ordinary face.

“Sometimes descendants of ruined families do wandering vagrant work with their servants.”

The bald man seemed to think Bu Eunseol was a descendant of a ruined family trying to live as a wandering vagrant with his servant.

“Let’s proceed quickly.”

As Bu Eunseol spoke as if bored, the bald man laughed and pointed a finger.

“The test is simple. Just imprint your footprints over there.”

Where the man pointed, blue flagstones were laid out. Silent Heaven, Desolate Earth determined grades by judging the level of internal energy based on the depth of footprints imprinted on the flagstones.

“Does the test only judge the level of internal energy?”

When Bu Eunseol furrowed his brow, the man chuckled.

“Of course, if your internal energy is judged to be over one sixty-year cycle, you can take the High-grade wandering vagrant test. But that doesn’t happen for rookie wandering vagrant.”

“Then I suppose I should take the High-grade wandering vagrant test.”

At Bu Eunseol’s words, the bald man frowned.

“Did you not hear what I just said?”

Frowning, he pointed to the flagstones.

“Only after you first imprint your footprints on the flagstones and your internal energy is judged to be over one sixty-year cycle can you…”

He could not continue his sentence. Because before he knew it, two footprints were vividly stamped on the flat flagstones.

“When did you…”

The man swallowed hard.

The footprints were even imprinted all the way to the end of the flagstone floor. Bu Eunseol had used the Shadowless Supreme Speed to imprint his footprints like lightning.

‘He’s a master far exceeding one sixty-year cycle of internal energy?’

Only then realizing that Bu Eunseol was a master beyond his ability to handle, the man cleared his throat.

“Ahem, follow me.”

Following the bald man past the training ground, a winding passage appeared. Walking along the path for a while, a wide flower garden unfolded, and a small stone-walled house appeared there.

The bald man stood in front of the stone-walled house, bowed his head, and spoke politely.

“Hall Master. It is I, Jeung Gak.”

Then, instead of an answer, a low coughing sound came from inside the stone-walled house.

Cough, cough.

“A man with internal energy exceeding one sixty-year cycle has come and wishes to take the High-grade wandering vagrant test.”

“High-grade wandering vagrant?”

Creak.

The door of the stone-walled house opened, and a very tall man walked out slowly.

Bu Eunseol wore a surprised expression for a moment.

Since he was called Hall Master, he expected an old man. But the one who came out was a young man who looked barely thirty at most.

“Cough, cough.”

At that moment, the man coughed again.

Even with his head slightly bowed, he towered a span above Bu Eunseol, who was over six cheok tall, and every time he coughed, the longsword at his waist rippled like a wave.

“High-grade wandering vagrant, you say…”

Finally, when the coughing stopped, the man pointed at Bu Eunseol and spoke.

“Give him the plaque.”

“Pardon?”

“You may give it to him.”

The tall man coughed again and turned around.

But suddenly, Bu Eunseol nodded and spoke.

“Strong. It was worth coming here after all.”

Smiling slightly to reveal his white teeth, Bu Eunseol blocked the retreating man’s path.

“Are you the Master of this Hall?”

“I am.”

“I see.”

Bu Eunseol wore a faint smile and spoke in a cold voice.

“Then, draw your sword.”

The man wore a blank expression for a moment. For a rookie wandering vagrant who came to get a grade to suddenly demand he draw his sword? But soon grasping Bu Eunseol’s intention, the man chuckled.

“As you can see, my body is not well. I have a lung disease.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“You intend to fight a patient?”

“A patient, you say.”

As Bu Eunseol chuckled, the man wore a bitter smile.

“Does it seem like a lie?”

“Your body might be a little weak. But your hands are very strong, aren’t they?”

Weak Body but Strong Hands.

It was a strange statement that didn’t quite fit. But Bu Eunseol’s gaze remained unchanged. He had grasped that although the man’s body might certainly be sick, the aura rising from his right hand and the gathered power were at a level capable of splitting a river.

“Huhu.” Laughing low, the man stared intently at Bu Eunseol, then nodded. “So, you mean to fight me.”

“That is correct.”

“Regrettably, I cannot.”

“What do you mean?”

“I do not fight just anyone.”

The man wore a sweet and faint smile.

“Since I have given you the High-grade wandering vagrant rank, come find me again when you wear the Special-grade wandering vagrant tassel. Then I will consider it.”

Leaving those words behind, the man slipped back behind the bamboo curtain without hesitation.

As silence flowed for a moment, the bald man, Jeung Gak, standing behind him, rushed over in a fluster.

“Are you crazy?”

Approaching Bu Eunseol, he frowned deeply.

“Did you challenge him to a fight knowing who he is?”

“I do not know.”

As Bu Eunseol answered calmly, Jeung Gak gaped with an absurd expression.

“You challenged him without knowing who he is?”

“Correct.”

“Why?”

“Because he is strong.”

“Ha. You really are an unstoppable gentleman.”

Jeung Gak slapped his forehead and sighed.

“Wash your ears and listen well. That person is the third disciple of the Untamed Sword Tide, Elder Jeong Cheon.”

“Untamed Sword Tide?”

Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Untamed Sword Tide. He was a Grandmaster of martial arts belonging to the Ten Heroes of the Demonic Path, legendary martial artists of the previous generation.

But that gaunt man was the third disciple of the Untamed Sword Tide?

“So you called him Elder.”

If he was a disciple of the Untamed Sword Tide who made a name for himself sixty years ago, he would be of the same generation as the current Sect Leaders of the Nine Great Sects and One Faction.

“If you understand, don’t talk about challenging him or whatever. If you value your life, that is.”

At Jeung Gak’s words, Bu Eunseol smiled instead and patted his shoulder. “So. How does one become a Special-grade wandering vagrant?”

“What have you been listening to until now? If you value your life…” Jeung Gak’s words did not continue. He felt an irresistible dignity radiating from Bu Eunseol’s smiling form.

“Ahem.”

Jeung Gak swallowed hard, cleared his throat, and said, “You must handle more than twenty High-grade wandering vagrant jobs listed on the Free Contract board.”

“Too many.”

Handling twenty jobs would take up his entire Gangho journey.

As Bu Eunseol frowned, Jeung Gak cleared his throat again.

“Or you can handle three Designated Contract jobs assigned by this Hall. However…” Jeung Gak continued speaking, “Honestly speaking, it would be better to reconsider.”

Staring at Bu Eunseol, Jeung Gak said, “Being a Designated Contract means it is a difficult task that cannot be resolved through Free Contract. Handling it just to become a Special-grade wandering vagrant is too much of a loss.”

Bu Eunseol wore a puzzled expression because the bald man’s advice benefited Bu Eunseol, not Silent Heaven, Desolate Earth.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“There are few wandering vagrant with good skills at a young age like you.”

Jeung Gak sighed and said, “In the wandering vagrant market, we see countless young people overestimate their skills and die prematurely. I only advise you out of pity for that.”

Jeung Gak was more honest and upright than he looked.

“I see.”

Bu Eunseol nodded as if he quite liked Jeung Gak.

“Thank you for the advice.”

“You appreciate it?”

As Jeung Gak wiped his nose, moved, Bu Eunseol shook his head firmly.

“I will just take the Designated Contract.”

***

Third floor office of Hall of Receiving Scriptures.

This was where the Hall Master of Hall of Receiving Scriptures, who distributed all jobs coming into Silent Heaven, Desolate Earth, resided.

Jeung Gak, leading the way, spoke in front of the Hall Master’s office.

“It is Jeung Gak from Transverse Sky Hall.”

“Come in.”

A young woman’s voice came from inside. At that, Jeung Gak spoke to Bu Eunseol.

“I have conveyed the situation, so you just need to speak with her.”

Nodding, Bu Eunseol opened the door without hesitation.

Amidst towering bookshelves brimming with books and tables, a woman dressed in blue sat. Was she merely twenty? Yet, she exuded an unparalleled dignity and elegance, qualities rarely seen in young women.

“I am the Hall of Receiving Scriptures Hall Master, Dam Yu-yeon.”

“Seol So.”

She glanced at Black Leopard behind Bu Eunseol, then nodded. “I heard the story. You wish to become a Special-grade wandering vagrant of this Hall.”

“Correct.”

“Why?”

“Because I want to fight the strong.”

“I do not understand. Then couldn’t you just wander the Murim and challenge strong masters?”

Bu Eunseol spoke candidly, “There’s simply not enough time to aimlessly seek martial duels. They don’t always stay in one place, and there are individuals whose skills don’t match their reputation.” He swept his gaze over the office, saying, “However, jobs that come to wandering vagrants do provide accurate information. Moreover, since they don’t belong to any sect, there must be many jobs involving formidable opponents.”

“Becoming a wandering vagrant to deal with the strong… is it.”

Dam Yu-yeon’s eyes deepened as if recalling a faint memory.

“In the past, the Untamed Sword Tide also said the reason he became a wandering vagrant was to fight with strong masters.”

She stared intently at Bu Eunseol and spoke calmly.

“Saying that if you belong to any sect or group, even a single fight becomes complicated.”

“I see.”

“I will ask one thing.” Dam Yu-yeon’s gaze fixed on Bu Eunseol’s disguised narrow eyes. “Is it true that the reason Young Hero Seol wants to become a Special-grade wandering vagrant is to compete with the Transverse Sky Hall Master?”

“Correct.”

“Is it because he is strong?”

“Correct.”

For a fleeting moment, Dam Yu-yeon’s eyes brimmed with a vibrant red and a torrent of dark emotions—anger and hostility. However, this intense emotional light swiftly dissipated, leaving behind her usual soft and gentle gaze.

“Alright.”

Dam Yu-yeon glanced at Bu Eunseol’s guest book on the table and nodded. “There’s no reason to turn down someone willing to take on Special-grade jobs that this Hall has found quite challenging in various ways.” She then retrieved a yellow envelope from one side of the table and handed it to her. “This is the first job. I think you’ll find the content interesting.”

Opening the envelope, Bu Eunseol’s eyes sparkled.

It contained instructions to eliminate a mysterious figure named Wang Jeong, who had recently taken control of the Mount Fuding area, and his subordinate forces.

“Wang Jeong…”

Looking down at the envelope, Bu Eunseol tilted his head.

“A name I hear for the first time.”

Dam Yu-yeon spoke in a low voice.

“He is a master who obtained the secret manual of the Blood Saber, a master from a hundred years ago hidden in Mount Fuding.”