novelraw Chapter 103 : Chapter 103
Chapter 103 : Chapter 103
Chapter 103 - Before the poverty of the sect
“Tsk tsk tsk…….”
The sound of clicking tongue, unbefitting her age, draws people's attention.
A beautiful girl looking pretty like a doll opened her eyes narrowly as if displeased.
“Those thick calves are a waste! Will you cross over (die) at that rate?!”
When the beautiful girl shouted, the man with thick legs made a crying face as if aggrieved.
“M……Miss. As you can see, on my back…….”
“Hmph! You boasted in the morning, and now excuses? You’d better not make this lady wait too long!”
“I……I understand.”
A bitter smile rose on the lips of the group who heard the conversation.
As expected of Hyeokri Chong’s granddaughter, contrary to her cute appearance, her mouth was sharp and her personality was eccentric beyond measure.
The way to Mount Diancang.
At Solbo’s plea to rest for a while, the group took a break for a moment.
“Phew…….”
Solbo, who received the beautiful girl’s rebuke, sighed lowly and caught his breath.
When he took the Cradle-to-Grave Pill, he was confident.
Internal energy boiled vigorously in his body, and he was getting used to the body movement using his forefeet.
However, Solbo had no choice but to collapse under the load that was much heavier and larger than his body.
‘What kind of luggage is this heavy?’
Solbo had to sweat profusely at the pain rising stiffly.
Unlike peddling or traveling, this is moving house luggage.
He expected the luggage wouldn't be small, but the tools for manufacturing spirit pills were too large and heavy.
Solbo wiped the sweat on his forehead and tried hard to calm his breathing.
If he delayed any longer, who knew what vitriol would fly from that cheeky mouth.
“Unni.”
Hyeokri Hong, who was growling at Solbo, sat next to Jeong-i as if she had never done so and asked with a coy face.
“Unni, from what age were you so pretty?”
“Oh my?”
It was a question where vigilance could be glimpsed while seemingly admiring.
A smile bloomed on Jeong-i’s lips.
“Well. Since I haven't really thought that I was pretty…….”
“Che. Unni must have lived without looking in a mirror.”
Perhaps displeased with the answer, Hyeokri Hong pouted her lips.
Then this time, she moved her lips like a sparrow’s beak with sparkling eyes.
“The Gigolo brother leaked somewhere else. Do you know where he went?”
Gigolo brother.
Even without asking, one could know who that was.
“I heard he would go to the Brown Kerchief Gang’s headquarters and come back.”
At Jeong-i’s answer, Hyeokri Hong asked back with an appalled face.
“The Brown Kerchief Gang? Then you mean he invaded the Xizang (Tibetan) area? Alone?”
“There will probably be no major clash.”
“Why?”
“Masters who can catch up with Junior Brother Biyoung’s movement technique are rare. Furthermore, since Dokta became crippled, the combat power of the Brown Kerchief Gang has weakened significantly. Junior Brother Biyoung proposed a deal to Jadan, who was Dokta’s subordinate.”
It was when the battle with Dokta had just ended.
Jadan, whose clothes were torn to shreds, becoming practically half-naked.
Biyoung had asked Jeong-i to convey his words.
“A deal?”
“Yes. He said if they hand over the Brown Kerchief Gang’s funds, he would spare their lives.”
“Oh my god! Isn't that purely a gangster's action?”
Hyeokri Hong was surprised by Biyoung’s mindset, and once more surprised by Jeong-i agreeing to that method.
To think threats would flow smoothly from the mouth of such a lovely and beautiful woman.
A tremendous disparity was felt between her appearance and actions.
However, Jeong-i had a face saying there was absolutely no problem.
“Discussing dignity in matters related to the survival of the sect is something only the well-fed can do. Especially regarding finances, it is even more so. Regrettably, the Diancang Sect’s finances are still in an incomplete situation.”
“That is…… true, but…….”
Looking at the confused Hyeokri Hong, Jeong-i smiled brightly.
“Later, when Miss also has people to look after, you will understand my meaning.”
“………….”
When they fled to Simao, the most fearful thing was not the pursuit of the Black Daoists.
The immediate cold and hunger felt much scarier than their identity being exposed.
To avoid starvation, she came to work at a Gisaeng house, and other colleagues also did not refuse rough work in the marketplace.
Before the poverty of the sect, honor or dignity are merely hollow.
Jeong-i knew that fact too well, so she had no resistance to Biyoung’s method.
If not her, anyone in the Diancang Sect would have likely shown the same reaction.
‘If it were Junior Brother Uma, how would it have been?’
He would have shaken his sword dance grinning in front of Jadan.
Imagining that scene made a smile form naturally.
“I don’t know well. Unni’s words are too difficult.”
“It can be.”
“Will the Gigolo brother return before we arrive at Mount Diancang?”
“I think probably so. Because the Vast Sky Eagle Body Method is much faster than the Flying Eagle Steps.”
“Hmm.”
Hyeokri Hong stretched her neck long and looked over the mountain.
Jeong-i, watching that appearance, threw a meaningful question.
“Come to think of it, Miss seems to have a lot of interest in Junior Brother Biyoung?”
“In-interest! What are you saying!”
Hyeokri Hong’s flushed earlobes trembled roughly.
“I’m just annoyed that time is being delayed. Who would pay attention to such a reckless fool?”
Then, a murky laugh was heard from one side.
“Kuk-kuk-kuk. Who is calling whom a reckless fool?”
“Grandfather!”
“He is a guy who will return on his own knowing well enough. Stop the useless worrying.”
“Oh my. I told you I am not worrying.”
“Kuk-kuk-kuk.”
Hyeokri Chong laughed frivolously with a face that knew everything, then pointed at a man with his chin.
“While resting, receive martial arts transmission from that guy.”
“What? From that person?”
Hyeokri Hong’s eyelids soared to the sky.
It was understandable, as the person Hyeokri Chong pointed to was the mad dog of the Beggars' Union, Guardian Gwangyo.
“Yes. Guardian Gwang is a master of Palm Arts, so he is a perfect match for your impatient personality. Learn with sincerity.”
As soon as Hyeokri Chong’s words ended, Guardian Gwangyo brushed off his seat and stood up.
If it were the usual Guardian Gwangyo, it would be unthinkable, but since taking the spirit pill, his attitude was obedient beyond measure.
“Hehehe. Kid. Consider it an honor. You are the first person I am teaching the Mad Dog's Barking Palm to.”
At Guardian Gwangyo’s words, Hyeokri Hong snorted.
“Mad Dog's Barking Palm? The name is truly nasty. A Palm Art that barks like a crazy dog.”
“Hehe. Isn't it a name that fits you perfectly?”
“What is it?!”
Hyeokri Hong raised the whites of her eyes and lifted her fist.
At that sight, Solbo had to swallow a hollow laugh.
‘There is no troublemaker like her under the heavens. To behave as she pleases in front of Guardian Gwangyo like that…….’
On one hand, there was a part he understood.
Whatever about the crazy dog part, it was true that Palm Arts suited Hyeokri Hong.
For a personality that is impatient and where fists fly first, fist techniques or Palm Arts suit better than swordsmanship.
“Is doing this right?”
“Right. It’s that feeling.”
Although she grumbled throughout learning, Hyeokri Hong also seemed to quite like the method of the Mad Dog's Barking Palm.
Unlike other martial arts, Palm Arts depend mostly on the internal energy inside the body.
As long as one grasps the feeling of the energy well, repetitive training or understanding of moves like in swordsmanship isn't needed.
Of course, to do so, one needs an overwhelming amount of internal energy and operational sense compared to others.
In that sense, Hyeokri Hong was at a level where she could be called a natural genius of Palm Arts.
‘But…… why now?’
One puzzling thing was the timing of learning the Mad Dog's Barking Palm.
Judging by the atmosphere, Guardian Gwangyo seemed likely to teach Hyeokri Hong the Mad Dog's Barking Palm anytime.
It was something that could be done slowly after arriving at Mount Diancang, but to teach it hurriedly while resting during the move.
For Solbo, it was hard to fathom Hyeokri Chong’s deep intentions.
“You look stupid but you use energy well.”
“What is it?!”
Although Hyeokri Hong got angry abruptly, this was practically the highest praise Guardian Gwangyo could give.
A satisfied smile also spread on Hyeokri Chong’s lips watching this.
Around the time the group finished resting and tried to move again, a welcome voice was heard.
“I brought the money!”
Waist and both pockets.
And Biyoung, even carrying a bundle, approached the group with a satisfied face.
“Those Brown Kerchief Gang guys. I found they had a lot of money? We should have done explosive business too.”
“Wh, what?”
A reckless remark unbelievable for a sect rooted in Taoism.
Biyoung, not caring about Solbo’s reaction, asked Hyeokri Chong.
“Grandpa. Do you know how to make bombs?”
“Would I know such a thing? Surely, you aren't asking me to make bombs to sell at the market, are you?”
“Why not. I’m telling you it’s really lucrative? Isn't making spirit pills or bombs by mixing things much the same?”
“Okay! I will make them diligently and shove the bombs directly into your maw!”
“Giggle.”
While radical greetings were exchanged, Jeong-i approached Biyoung’s side.
“Did Jadan cooperate meekly?”
“Yeah. For Jadan, maintaining the organization would have been the top priority. Since they probably bought grudges here and there.”
Countless people died from their bombs.
Speaking conversely, it means there are many people grinding their teeth.
If Biyoung had decided to collapse the Brown Kerchief Gang, Jadan would have suffered a terrible fate at the hands of those holding grudges, not his hands.
Biyoung’s proposal to spare the remnants of the Brown Kerchief Gang if given silver nyang was therefore hard to refuse.
“It is a good thing but…… I’m a little worried about the explosives remaining in the headquarters. What kind of bad deeds they might commit with that again…….”
“Ah. That?”
Biyoung grinned and snapped his fingers.
“I was afraid of that so I blew them all up and came.”
“What?”
This time, even Jeong-i had no choice but to open her eyes round.
If he detonated all the bombs piled in the headquarters, the surrounding area would have shook.
It was a dangerous act where masters of Xizang might come looking.
“I didn't lie, did I? I said I would spare the remnants, not that I would leave the bombs.”
As Biyoung chatted idly, Hyeokri Hong retorted coldly.
“This scammer. The Brown Kerchief Gang without bombs is no different from a steamed bun without red bean paste. Could that force possibly be maintained?”
“Ah, I don’t know, I don’t know. I didn't lie about anything.”
Biyoung and Hyeokri Hong bickered occasionally as they walked the mountain path.
Behind them, Solbo, carrying a massive load, moved his steps sweating profusely.
‘How admirable…….’
Jeong-i, watching Solbo from behind, smiled a bittersweet smile.
Because even while staggering from exhaustion, he was trying very hard not to let his heels touch the ground.
It was a part where one could glimpse Solbo’s will to learn the Vast Sky Eagle Body Method.
Just as the vision in front of the exhausted Solbo was about to blur, someone’s sweet voice was heard.
“It’s the main mountain……!”
***
“An old sinner who ran away greets the Sect Leader.”
“Please do not do this. Lord Hyeokri. Please treat me comfortably like before.”
At Hyeokri Chong’s greeting, which was too extremely polite, Jeokseo was rather restless.
It was understandable, as judging by age or past position, Hyeokri Chong’s status used to be much higher in the past.
Even, in the past, he occasionally heard scolding from Hyeokri Chong asking if he wasn't a scholar rather than a martial artist.
So for Jeokseo, Hyeokri Chong’s attitude couldn't help but be very difficult and burdensome.
However, Hyeokri Chong’s stance was firm.
“Aren't you the person recognized as the Sect Leader by everyone in the Diancang Sect? Do not command me to commit rudeness.”
“Hoho…… this is truly.”
If it were usual, he would have laughed it off saying ‘Holholhol’, but this time even Jeokseo seemed to find it difficult to do so.
“Sect Leader!”
At that time, the little miss skilled in rudeness called Jeokseo.
“Did you say Hyeokri Hong? You truly look bright and intelligent.”
“I prefer the word pretty over bright and intelligent!”
‘Th, that……!’
At the bold yet rude words, the eyes of several martial artists narrowed.
“Holholhol. Right. Pretty is also correct. But what is the reason you suddenly called me?”
A strange arc is drawn on Hyeokri Hong’s red lips.
Soon, a bombshell declaration more powerful than the Brown Kerchief Gang’s explosives burst from her mouth.
“This lady wishes to enter the Diancang Sect!”
“???”
“!!!”
It was the moment when the narrowed eyes of the martial artists grew as large as lanterns.