He had thought the young man would be a considerable master.
Unexpectedly, the reaction force transmitted to his fingertips from Bu Eunseol’s pulse was so faint it could hardly be felt.
That’s a shame. The atmosphere was plausible.
Bu Eunseol’s eyes were sunken very low, and a calm atmosphere flowed around his entire body. It was a posture shown by martial artists with outstanding spirit, but observing him now, it seemed he just had a dry personality.
Whether his martial arts are high or low is none of my business. I just need to get free drinks and run. Hehe.
Turns out, the young man intended to distract Bu Eunseol, get free drinks, and flee.
“Hahaha.”
As the awkward air flowed, the young man laughed easygoingly.
“In fact, I entered this world at a young age. Thanks to that, I suffered enough to shit death.”
He made a joke, but there was no particular reaction. The young man scratched his head with an embarrassed expression.
“You are a man of few words, brother. Was my suddenly joining you very uncomfortable?”
Bu Eunseol, who had been staring at the young man for a while, shook his head silently.
“Aha, that is truly fortunate.”
The young man swept his chest as if relieved.
“Actually, I’ve been nervous since earlier wondering when you would kick me out. Hahaha!”
The young man’s attitude was on the rude side, but surprisingly not hateful.
To be more honest, Bu Eunseol did not dislike the brazen young man.
Not only was he the first person of his age he had seen since coming out to the Gangho, but he possessed a clear and bright energy.
Is it because I chose the Demonic Path?
Seeing the young man as bright as sunshine, Bu Eunseol felt as if his own surroundings were dyed black.
Or because I chose revenge?
He didn’t know the reason.
Frustration choked Bu Eunseol’s throat, but he picked up his glass again. His drinking style was peculiar. Strong spirits like Yellow Wine are usually consumed in one go. However, Bu Eunseol sipped it slowly, almost like drinking tea, letting it flow down his throat gradually.
“Brother, you…”
The young man, watching entranced as Bu Eunseol drank, spoke.
“It seems you have suffered much in the meantime.”
“…?”
“Because you drink strong liquor sweetly.”
The young man spoke with a shy expression.
“My master said that people who drink strong liquor sweetly do so because they have already tasted all the bitterness of life.”
The young man seemed to be spouting nonsense, but listening to it, there was humor contained within.
“Huhu.”
Bu Eunseol smiled without realizing it. That smile was elegant and clean, like a plum blossom blooming in the midwinter snow.
To think a man’s smile could be this beautiful.
The young man, staring entranced at Bu Eunseol’s smile, regained his senses and shook his head.
“Ah right, come to think of it, we haven’t even introduced ourselves. I am…”
“Myeong Woon, you rascal!”
At that moment, with a loud clatter, nine martial artists wearing indigo martial robes came up the stairs to the second floor.
“T-This guy…”
Among the nine, the largest martial artist with thick eyebrows discovered the young man and shouted thunderously.
“You rascal! Did you sneak out again to guzzle alcohol at a brothel?”
“Eldest Senior Brother.”
“Eldest Senior Brother my foot! You enemy-like brat!”
The large martial artist strode over and grabbed the young man’s ear.
“You dissolute rascal! I will absolutely not forgive you today!”
“Ah? Wait. Aah! It hurts! Let go of this…”
Whether the young man screamed or not, the martial artist gripped the young man’s scruff with a hand like a pot lid and dragged him downstairs.
“Brother! It was fun!”
Even while being dragged away like a puppy caught by the scruff, the young man waved his hand toward Bu Eunseol.
“Let’s have another drink next time if there’s a chance!”
As the young man left, among the remaining eight martial artists, one with small eyes and a very gaunt frame gathered his hands toward Bu Eunseol.
“I apologize for causing a disturbance.”
Clearing his throat, he spoke again, ”It’s obvious that rascal ordered alcohol while spouting nonsense blindly. Correct?”
When Bu Eunseol nodded, the martial artist frowned.
“If we hadn’t come, that rascal would have drunk his fill and run.”
And taking out a large piece of silver from his bosom, he placed it on the table.
“Since our youngest junior brother made a mistake, we will pay for the alcohol.”
“It is fine.”
“Do not feel burdened. Then…”
Just as the martial artist was about to turn away, the waiter who had been watching from afar ran over quickly.
“Great Hero, this amount cannot cover the bill.”
“What do you mean?”
“This Yellow Wine is ten nyang per bottle.”
“Ten nyang? Why is a bottle of Yellow Wine so expensive?”
“This is not just Yellow Wine, but our restaurant’s special Yellow Wine aged for thirty years.”
“What!” The martial artist jumped. There were at least ten wine kettles on the table. The alcohol cost alone exceeded a hundred nyang.
“Myeong Woon… this crazy rascal!”
As the gaunt martial artist trembled, Bu Eunseol placed two hundred-nyang bank notes from his bosom onto the table.
“I drank well.”
And rising from his seat, he lightly patted the waiter’s head.
“The rest is your tip.”
“R-Really? Thank you!”
As the waiter jumped for joy, the gaunt martial artist approached Bu Eunseol and held out a money pouch.
“We will pay at least half.”
Then, a man with buck teeth among the group spoke, ”Senior Brother. That is our travel expense to return…”
“Quiet.”
But Bu Eunseol calmly passed the gaunt martial artist offering the money pouch and headed for the stairs.
“Wait!”
Perhaps thinking he was being ignored, the gaunt martial artist quickly blocked Bu Eunseol’s path.
“Take it.”
“It is fine.”
“Take it. Disciples of the Hengshan Sect do not owe debts to others.”
Hengshan Sect?
Recalling the booklet Iron Master Wang Geol had given him, Bu Eunseol blinked.
Hengshan Sect.
In the past, it proudly occupied a seat in the Nine Sects and One Faction, but two hundred years ago, Neung Ryeong, the Sect Leader of Hengshan, suddenly disappeared from the sect. Because of that, the Pipa Sword and the internal cultivation secret of Drawing Line Secret Art, called the Twin Absolutes of Hengshan, were lost, and since then, they had walked a downhill path.
Thud.
The gaunt martial artist placed the sword from his bosom onto the table.
“It is a Dragon Spring Sword made of genuine wrought iron from Longquan in Zhejiang. Even if pawned, you can receive fully five hundred nyang.”
Longquan in Zhejiang is famous for producing high-quality iron. Especially swords named Dragon Spring Sword could easily cut iron, so they were treated as treasures. Yet he intended to pawn it for alcohol money?
“Second Senior Brother!”
As the other three martial artists shouted loudly, the gaunt man waved his hand.
“Don’t worry. We just need to find it again. Until then…”
Hmm.
Bu Eunseol groaned inwardly.
These disciples of the Hengshan Sect had pure and clean natures befitting disciples of a famous sect. But because it was a fallen sect now, their sense of inferiority was also very great.
Can’t be helped.
Sighing inwardly, Bu Eunseol moved his facial muscles little by little.
He had thought of a way to leave this place a little faster.
“So you came from the Hengshan Sect.”
Approaching the gaunt martial artist, Bu Eunseol spoke with a slightly surprised expression.
“Why didn’t you say so earlier?”
“What do you mean?”
“If I had known you came from the Hengshan Sect, I would have rather requested to treat you to alcohol.”
When the gaunt martial artist’s surprised expression faded, Bu Eunseol spoke calmly. “Growing up in a remote mountain village, I’ve always yearned to witness the heroes of the esteemed Orthodox sects. So, I embarked on a tour of this Yueyang, but regrettably, fate didn’t bring us together. Yet, seeing the heroes of the Hengshan Sect in person, my regret feels somewhat alleviated.” Turning his gaze outside the window, he added, “I came here to tour, but I’m grateful for this unexpected encounter.”
As Bu Eunseol, who had seemed stiff all along, praised them, a smile rippled on the gaunt martial artist’s lips.
“Heroes, that is an undeserved word.”
“Not at all. If it’s alright, I will treat you, so how about having a drink together?”
It was a glibness he couldn’t have managed in the past. But after learning the Art of Crowing Like a Rooster and Stealing Like a Dog, Bu Eunseol could change his atmosphere and tone anytime.
“No! We will be leaving Yueyang soon. You do not need to worry.”
“That is a shame.”
Bu Eunseol feigned regret and gathered his hands.
“Then I will take my leave first.”
“Ah, yes. Then…”
As the gaunt martial artist gathered his hands, the junior brothers behind him also bowed to Bu Eunseol together. With a few words, he planted a good impression on the figures of the Hengshan Sect and left immediately.
Inferiority complex… that is like holding poison in the heart.
Inferiority complex.
Viscous feelings of inferiority not only make oneself base but eventually act like poison harming both body and mind.
A few days later.
Bu Eunseol, having rested fully at his hideout, visited the Teaching Mystery Old Bookstore again.
“Welcome.”
Sang Ryang made a welcoming expression seeing Bu Eunseol opening the door and entering.
“What brings you here today?”
“I intend to buy a book I didn’t see last time.”
“I see. It seems the Young Master is also slowly becoming a regular of our bookstore. Hahaha.” Laughing heartily, Sang Ryang tilted his head looking at Bu Eunseol wearing white robes. But it’s strange. His impression looks slightly different every time I see him.
When Bu Eunseol first came, he looked like a tourist with a very ordinary appearance. But now, he looked like a down-and-out scholar wandering through study rooms for a long time.
Is it because he dressed a little differently?
It was because Bu Eunseol was using the Art of Crowing Like a Rooster and Stealing Like a Dog and the Face Changing Bone Altering Art freely, but he didn’t even guess.
“You came again. Young Master.”
At that moment, Ma Woon, who was organizing bookshelves, discovered Bu Eunseol and bowed his head.
Then Sang Ryang regained his senses and waved his hand. “Ma Woon. This gentleman says he is buying books again, so guide him to the inner bookshelf.”
“Understood.”
Bu Eunseol, entering the inner secret bookshelf, made a puzzled expression.
Last time there were only five or six, but now aren’t there dozens of books stuck there?
“There are many books.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Ma Woon spoke calmly, ”Because you solved the Ninth Assignment, the work has increased a little.”
Half was a lie.
Sang Ryang, intuiting that Bu Eunseol possessed outstanding ability, had scraped together all sorts of difficult jobs available in Yueyang.
“The jobs here are all Code Bing missions of Fifth Assignment or higher. Well, since you are a skilled gentleman, you’ll figure it out…”
Ignoring Ma Woon’s sarcastic remark, Bu Eunseol began to look into the books.
Hmm.
Though they were Fifth Assignment or higher, there were quite a few jobs infiltrating sects to steal information or objects.
Rummaging through the bookshelf for a while, he picked up a book called Baopuzi.
Flip. Tap.
Bu Eunseol’s hand movement opening the book stopped.
—Code Bing, First Assignment. Seven hundred nyang of silver.
“Dispose of all assassins of the Blue Sand Valley active in Yueyang.”