Invincible with Twin Swords

Chapter 32 : What Are You Going to Bet?

"So, are we leaving for the Black Market or whatever now?"

Deoksam asked, gripping his axe.

Deoksam! We're not going to take over the Black Market right now.

We left the Forest of Swords with Dam Sook's guidance.

I looked back and saw only a dense forest.

I have to quickly find what I need and return here.

After coming down the mountain path and walking for a while, a well-organized road leading to the main road appeared.

"We'll see an inn soon. We should at least have a bite to eat before we go, right?"

After leaving the forest, Parip hyungnim was guiding the way.

The First Market where we will participate in the auction is held in Lanzhou, Gansu. To get there, we must first pass through Xining in Qinghai. Xining is a transportation hub, so if we pass through there, we can get to Gansu relatively comfortably.

"Miss Dam, is there anything you want to eat? Though the food at an inn in a quiet place like this won't be anything special."

"I really wanted to eat somen at an inn. A martial artist has to eat somen at an inn, right? And then get into a fight with the people sitting next to you and have a sword fight."

Who on earth has planted this image of the martial world of the Central Plains in this small woman's head?

Of course, seven out of ten fights between martial artists happen in inns.

But that's a story among third-rate underworld figures.

"Haha. That won't happen to us. You don't have to worry about getting into a fight."

But no one knows the future.

Even if the Soul-Taking Divine Woman, not Na Yeryeong, had been here, she would not have expected us to get swept up in such a useless quarrel at an inn.

In the end, it was a good thing.

As soon as we entered the main road to Xining, a rather large inn appeared.

Parip hyungnim said he had to look for a carriage in advance and we parted ways in front of the inn.

"We can't call that coachman again, can we?"

"The coachman with the dot next to his left ear?"

As expected, Parip hyungnim has a great eye for detail.

"His skills were good. He wasn't flustered even after going through that situation."

Of course, that coachman would have dropped us off and gone back.

"Just in case, take Deoksam with you. Just having him stand next to you will probably reduce the cost of renting a carriage quite a bit."

As we were about to part ways for a moment, I saw a fancy and large carriage in front of the inn. There were six horses tied to it, and it was a pretty well-made carriage.

"Hyungnim! Rent something like this. If the five of us are going to ride, it has to be at least this big. Because that fellow Deoksam takes up two seats."

"I'll look for one, but we also have to think about the situation where we can't rent a carriage. It's hard to find a carriage at this time of year."

* * *

Na Yeryeong, the excited Dam Sook, and I entered the inn first.

Seeing that the welcome gate at the entrance was lavishly decorated with five-colored silk, it seemed we could expect some decent food.

When we entered, the inside was even more spacious.

On the first floor, tables for meals were closely packed, and it was already noisy with many people seated.

As we entered, people's gazes gathered.

I want to believe that the feeling of a master exuding from me stimulated their curiosity, but in fact, it's because of Na Yeryeong and Dam Sook.

Originally, men can't help but look when a pretty woman comes in, even while they are eating.

This is instinct.

I'm the same.

"How many are you?"

One of the three waiters, who looked the oldest, approached and asked.

"Three, but two more will be coming soon. It would be nice if there was a quiet room to eat in."

I said, looking at the second floor.

There are levels among waiters too.

When a guest who looks rich or powerful comes, a senior waiter takes charge.

It is also his job to guide them to a seat befitting their level and recommend food that suits their level.

Na Yeryeong and Dam Sook have a noble feeling, like the daughters of a noble family.

I don't have a noble feeling, but I am a precious child.

"A private room just became available. I will guide you there."

As I was about to move my feet to the stairs, someone from a corner on the first floor stood up and shouted.

"No, you crazy bastard waiter! Didn't you say the private rooms on the second floor were full earlier?"

A guy who was bigger than Deoksam just by his build was pointing at us. Seeing that he had a large saber on his waist, he seemed to be a martial artist.

Three more people were sitting at the same table, and their momentum was fierce, as if they were guys who did rough work.

The three guys, including the one who stood up and was pointing, were big and rough-looking, as if I were seeing the Deoksam of the Dubang Mountain days, and the other one had his eyes slit, and was sitting with quite a bit of weight.

That slit-eyed guy over there looks familiar.

"Ah! It's true that there were no seats earlier. A seat became available while you were eating, sir. I'm sorry for not being able to guide you first."

The waiter was at a loss and was flustered.

"If a room became available, you should have told us first, you bastard."

He probably forgot their request.

Since they came first, it's right for them to go up first.

I didn't like his foul mouth, but there's no need to get involved in a trivial quarrel before an important event.

As I was about to give up the private room on the second floor, I heard a word that was grating to the ear.

"A guy with a face that's nothing to look at is going around with two pretty girls, so he can't see anything! Trying to cut in line."

Nothing to look at? My face is nothing to look at?

How dare a guy who looks like a frog that has been rolling in this muddy water evaluate the appearance of this Jade-Faced Divine Dragon?

As I was about to say a word, Dam Sook stepped forward.

"Apologize for what you just said!"

That's right! Dam Sook was offended by the words that my face was nothing to look at.

The evaluation of men's appearance by women is accurate.

What would a guy like you, who has probably never received a woman's attention in your life, know?

He must be dumbfounded that a young woman who only comes up to his waist is telling him to apologize. The frog in the muddy water said with a hollow laugh.

"Hehe. What? The words that that guy's face is nothing to look at?"

"No! The words about the pretty girls!"

...Ah! So you were angry about that? The words before that were okay?

"This young thing is making a fuss even when I'm complimenting her for being pretty. Haha."

"We are martial artists. To a martial artist, being told you're pretty is a disgrace."

The frog was chuckling.

His companions were also hitting the table and laughing along.

Dam Sook's face was flushed red with anger.

These bastards! How dare they laugh at my companion?

The moment I was about to say a word, the sword of one of the guys who was sitting and laughing caught my eye.

A red snake on the hilt!

I remembered. Who that bastard with the slit eyes, smiling slyly, was.

Red Snake Asura, Ak Jonggi.

The reason that guy was called the Red Snake Asura was not because of the red snake engraved on his sword hilt.

He was quite well-known among ronin, and he used a strange sword with a red blade, and the name was given because the swordsmanship he unfolded was as stealthy as a snake slithering through a grassy field.

His personality was also like a snake, and he was a guy who would betray anyone for his own benefit.

Apart from his notoriety, he was a master with outstanding skills, and I had heard that other ronin who had taken on commissions with him had often been put in danger due to his betrayal.

Perhaps the reason I have a prejudice against slit-eyed people is because of that guy.

"So you're a martial artist too, holding that finger-sized sword? Come here and put this pork in my mouth with that sword like chopsticks, my dear. Haha."

The red-faced Dam Sook gripped her sword hilt.

It's our Miss Dam's first visit to an inn, so I can't let the blood of such trashy guys be the first to be shed.

I stepped forward.

"Where are the frogs that follow a red snake bastard croaking?"

At the words 'snake bastard', the face of the Red Snake Asura, Ak Jonggi, stiffened.

The frogs next to him were the same.

If they are the three guys who follow the Red Snake Asura, they are definitely the Three Frogs of the Yellow River. Because I had heard rumors that they went around together.

They were three notorious brothers who were active around the Yellow River, and all three were called the Three Frogs of the Yellow River because their eyes bulged out like frogs. Of course, they themselves wanted to be called the Three Ghosts of the Yellow River.

Their martial arts were usable, but they were famous for their quick temper and ferocity.

Although the name of a river is in their nickname, those guys were afraid of water.

To be afraid of water when you look like a frog.

So they never took a boat.

Unusually, those guys didn't ride horses either, but rode in a large carriage...

Ah! The carriage outside must be theirs.

"You've got a lot of nerve, haven't you? I'll cut open your belly, take out your organs, and chew them to pieces!"

The one who is spouting that foul language is probably the eldest of the Three Frogs of the Yellow River.

At the words of cutting open the belly and chewing the organs, the faces of Na Yeryeong and Dam Sook turned pale.

To say such hideous words in front of beautiful women.

"You were raised with love and grew up well, didn't you? Seeing how you speak so beautifully. Hurry up and finish the dumplings you were eating and leave in the carriage outside."

"What? What did you say? You-you've lost your nerve!"

"You don't understand a thing, do you? I'll pull out two of your ribs and make chopsticks, so you can quietly eat the somen noodles that are full in your head and go."

"What... what did you say?"

"Or should I crush your brain and make mapo tofu? The smell of your feet from your mouth is vibrating all the way here. Should I break your back and make you lick your heels with your tongue?"

"Th-this bastard!"

The faces of the red poisonous snake and the three frog brothers turned red with anger.

I won.

This is the so-called Oral Eloquence Art, which subdues the opponent with a three-inch tongue without even drawing a sword.

In a swearing match, the moment you get excited and stutter, you've lost.

I've been rolling in the mud as a ronin for decades!

Where are you threatening me with half-baked curses?

Go and practice some more.

I looked to the side and saw that the faces of Na Yeryeong and Dam Sook were not just white, but pale blue.

"You have a way with words."

Na Yeryeong said with an unreadable expression.

"Ah! Don't misunderstand. I'm not originally like this. It's because I made the wrong friends during my ronin days."

The Three Frogs of the Yellow River got excited and drew their large swords.

Dam Sook also gripped her sword.

"Ahem. Let's go outside for now. Isn't it too narrow here?"

The situation has become like this somehow, but I can't cause trouble for the people here for no reason.

"I can't stand to see you acting up anymore. Come outside right now. I'll cut off your head and hang it outside the inn!"

The Red Snake Asura, Ak Jonggi, said, drawing his red sword.

I heard that that strange sword with a red blade has to be stained with blood once it's drawn before it can go back into its scabbard.

"What are you going to bet?"

Na Yeryeong, who had been quiet, stepped forward and said.

"What am I going to bet? What's that supposed to mean?"

Ak Jonggi asked, squinting his small eyes even smaller.

"Since the situation has come to this, we'll have to cross swords once anyway. We will bet this person's neck, so we are asking what you will bet."

No, why are you betting my neck?

Without even consulting me?

"Haha! Your neck will be cut off anyway, so tell me what you want. I'll kill you two slowly, so don't worry."

The Three Frogs of the Yellow River laughed along with a lewd look.

"Bet the carriage outside."

And she whispered to me.

"You're going to win anyway. If you just take it, it's stealing, so isn't it better to get it legitimately?"

"What if I lose?"

In fact, there's no way I'll lose.

"Don't worry. It's not your time to die yet."

Not yet? Not yet? Then when do I die?

Why do you stop talking in the middle?

Tell me when I'm going to die!

For some reason, Na Yeryeong in front of me became scarier than the three frog brothers and the red poisonous snake.

"Hehe. You guys who are about to have your necks cut off are greedy. Alright, fine. We'll bet the carriage, and you guys bet your necks."

"Instead, since there are four of you, we'll also fight with four."

At Na Yeryeong's words, Ak Jonggi asked.

"If you exclude yourself, there are only two."

"There are four. Our companions are just coming in now."

Just in time, Parip hyungnim and Deoksam were coming in, opening the inn door.

The atmosphere of the inn changed when Deoksam, holding a large axe, and Parip hyungnim, whose whole body was like a sharp blade, entered.

I could feel the faces of the Red Snake Asura and the Three Frogs of the Yellow River stiffening.

"It's a big problem. I couldn't get a carriage!"

Parip hyungnim said with a worried face.

"But why is the atmosphere in this inn so serious?"

Because in the inn right now, a red snake and three frog brothers were holding their swords drawn.

"Don't worry! I just got a carriage!"

(End of Chapter)