novelraw Chapter 131 : Chapter 131
Chapter 131 : Chapter 131
Chapter 131 - Because That’s What Friends Are For
The modest banquet held on Diancang Mountain continued late into the night.
Clang!
A tribute to the masters of the previous generation who had tragically passed away.
Clang!
Praise for the disciples of the Diancang Sect who had finally achieved their long-cherished wish.
Clang!
And a song of hope for the future that would be newly written.
And…….
Crash!
“Solbo collapsed!”
“Why did he drink so much when he can’t even handle it!”
“Let’s clean this up first!”
The banquet only ended after Solbo collapsed with his face planted in a bowl of soup.
As the survivors in the kitchen were clearing the empty dishes, someone called out to Biyoung.
“Sect Leader?”
“Holhol. Follow me.”
Biyoung followed Jeokseo toward the deserted training ground.
“This is quite strange.”
“What is?”
“The Sect Leader clearly drank more, but my steps are more unsteady.”
“Holholhol. You have a long way to go before you reach this level. If it’s that hard, why don’t you just expel the alcohol poison?”
“Then why drink in the first place? Alcohol is best enjoyed when one is thoroughly drunk.”
“Holhol. You have a point.”
Although he said that, Jeokseo had come to this training ground to sober up.
He intended to straighten his mind in the cold wind.
“I heard the details of what happened in Changsha from Gajin. You went through a lot of trouble.”
“Of course. It was tough. I told my foolish senior brothers to just buy time, but they were engaged in a life-or-death battle.”
“Holhol. How can one’s blood not boil when crossing swords with an enemy?”
“Well, I understand. But it was dangerous, that’s a fact. So……”
Biyoung’s eyes sparkled above his cheeks, flushed red from the alcohol.
“If the Sect Leader permits, I’d like to move on to the next stage.”
“When did you ever proceed after getting my permission?”
“I have nothing to say when you put it like that.”
“Holhol. What do you mean by the next stage?”
“The Flying Eagle Steps and the Eagle Talon Twelve Swords are now perfectly established. Their bodies react before their minds can even think. I plan to cultivate new martial arts tailored to the talents of my senior brothers.”
“The sounds of wailing will grow even louder.”
“If they don’t like it, they can just get stronger faster.”
“Holholhol. I feel so reassured with you here.”
Jeokseo’s wrinkled hand patted Biyoung’s back.
“This is a truly shameless thing to say on the day you’ve returned from your hardships, but… we’ve come full circle and are back to square one.”
“Well… I suppose so.”
All the heretics who attacked the Diancang Sect had been wiped out.
However, the ones who instigated them still remained a mystery.
Now, they had to find those who ordered the attack on the Diancang Sect.
That was the meaning behind Jeokseo’s words, ‘come full circle and are back to square one.’
“I didn’t expect to find out who they were. From the beginning, they would have chosen and commissioned those who wouldn’t leak information.”
“Was there not even a single clue?”
“No. Those with eyes like Dancheong would rather die than surrender.”
“It will be a difficult task. More so than finding the Ghost Face Gang.”
“Hmm.”
Biyoung crossed his arms and let out a quizzical sound.
“You don’t particularly agree?”
“I think it could be difficult, as the Sect Leader said, but it could also be easy.”
“It could be easy?”
“We don’t know their identity, but we can guess how they feel, can’t we?”
“How they feel…”
Jeokseo’s heavily drooping eyelids fluttered once.
“Right. Perhaps we won’t have to go looking for them.”
I didn’t know who the enemy was.
But it was as clear as day that they would be feeling uncomfortable.
How could they be at ease when we had boldly declared our revival to those who wished for the sect’s annihilation?
“That’s right. Whether they invade directly or approach us wearing masks, there’s a high probability they’ll come looking for us.”
“If their wish for our sect to fall remains unchanged, that is.”
“Hehe. It’s great talking to the Sect Leader because we communicate so well. These blockheads of mine just don’t listen when you tell them once… Aigoo!”
Jeokseo seemed to know who Biyoung was referring to as blockheads, but he deliberately ignored it.
Admiration came first.
Wasn’t this boy still yet to completely shed his boyishness?
Yet, his mind was deeper than his own, which had become worn out from experiencing all sorts of hardships.
His martial arts were one thing, but Biyoung’s profound mind felt incredibly reassuring.
“In that case, would you like to try reading my mind this time?”
“Pardon?”
“There’s too much wealth brought from Changsha. It’s at a level that our sect cannot handle.”
“Hmm… We did a pretty thorough job of cleaning them out.”
Biyoung nodded his head.
Although the sect had a separate treasury, it was just a repaired version of the old one, and the position of treasurer was vacant.
Since they were people who had only scraped together small sums of money in the Simao region, there was no way any of them had experience managing large sums of money.
It was certainly a burdensome amount of wealth to keep within the sect.
“But it would be a waste to just let the wealth rot, wouldn’t it? So, there’s a place you need to go.”
“Me?”
Jeokseo grinned, waiting for Biyoung’s answer.
So this was what he meant by reading his mind.
Biyoung was lost in thought for a moment, then struck his opposite palm with one fist.
“The Yi Family Clan!”
“Holhol. We really do communicate well.”
Having a mountain of wealth at the main headquarters would only bring disaster.
It would be good to entrust it to a reliable place for safekeeping, and even better if they could make that money grow.
However, since it was a large sum of money being entrusted, the relationship had to be built on deep trust, and the faction had to be powerful.
There was only one place that satisfied all these conditions, and that was the Yi Family Clan.
“My friend Sedong is there, so the Yi Family Clan will manage this money well. Besides…”
The test to determine the successor of the Yi Family Clan.
The Awl Selection Period was not yet over.
Merchants make money with money.
Making a profit was an achievement, but borrowing a large sum of money was also recognized as an ability.
It was an opportunity to support not only the Diancang Sect but also Sedong.
“Sect Leader. Don’t tell me you even had the Awl Selection Period in mind…?”
“Holhol. It’s like a blind cow stumbling upon a mouse.”
“I’ll head down first thing tomorrow morning.”
“So soon?”
“What’s the point of dragging it out? It’s a good thing for both of us.”
“Holhol. You look excited.”
“It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen Sedong’s face. Hehe.”
Biyoung replied with a wide grin.
To him, Sedong was a special existence.
Wasn’t he the very first connection he made after becoming his current self?
For a while, Biyoung and Sedong had not seen each other.
Sedong had to take on the Awl Selection Period, and Biyoung had been sharpening his sword of revenge.
The thought of visiting him with an armful of gifts for a change made him naturally excited.
“Tell your friend to make it grow handsomely.”
“Is there any doubt?”
***
“I will not forget this grace.”
The sect leader of a sect bowed his head deeply.
“P-Sect Leader!”
Not only the people of the sect, but even the person receiving the bow was surprised.
“Ha! Why are you giving such a grand bow for something that wasn’t even a big deal! Klkl.”
“How is it not a big deal when you helped our sect achieve its long-cherished wish?”
The person Jeokseo was bowing to was Gwangyo, the Mad and Aberrant Man of the Beggars' Union.
Now that the revenge on the Ghost Face Gang was complete, there was no reason for Gwangyo to remain in the Diancang Sect.
He was a man of the Beggars' Union, and the World's Fastest Sword was no longer here.
“I’ll visit once or twice a year.”
Still, their connection was not entirely gone.
After all, he had found a new friend who wielded the Sun-Shooting Sword Art.
“Guardian Gwangyo. You made a promise to the Union Leader, didn’t you? That you would get your act together from now on.”
Gwangyo nodded towards his new friend.
“Yes. The next time we meet, I won’t be a Guardian.”
“The path to success has opened up. Should I congratulate you?”
“You should offer your condolences.”
Gwangyo and Biyoung faced each other and smirked.
Even when the World's Fastest Sword was around, Gwangyo had no interest in success.
He was annoyed to death just by managing one branch, so what kind of success was he talking about?
But it was a promise made to none other than the Union Leader.
The Beggars' Union originally did not get deeply involved with other sects, so to intervene in the Diancang Sect’s affairs, they had to set a condition.
An unwanted path to success.
That was the meaning of the ‘condolences’ Gwangyo mentioned.
“Since you’ve decided to succeed, train hard. For some reason, the Mad Dog's Barking Palm isn’t what it used to be.”
“When did you ever see the Mad Dog's Barking Palm to be talking about the old days?”
“Take my word for it. You can’t fool my eyes.”
“Eat shit.”
After saying that, Gwangyo turned his back without any lingering attachment.
Unless a war broke out with the Demonic Cult, he would likely never fight alongside the Diancang Sect.
It was a regretful matter, but since their sects were different, it couldn’t be helped.
Gwangyo, the Mad and Aberrant Man.
Until his large, tiger-like body completely disappeared down the mountain, everyone from the Diancang Sect kept their fists clasped.
“Aish. Would it kill him to help carry some of the luggage on his way down?”
Only one person.
Except for Biyoung.
“You ungrateful bastard. You should be thankful for all the help he’s given us so far, including the Heavenly Vision Network.”
“Senior Brother Eung Gajin. What’s with all this talk of gratitude between friends? It’s good to help a little more while you’re at it.”
Biyoung’s gaze had already shifted to the wealth brought from Changsha.
“There’s no reason to be sad about parting with a friend. Because you can meet again, that’s what makes you friends.”
“……You certainly have a silver tongue.”
Eung Gajin chuckled, then continued with a deliberately serious face.
“In any case, our Diancang Sect received help from the Beggars' Union. Lord Gwangyo’s assistance also started with the Union Leader’s permission. If the Beggars' Union requests our help in the future, the Diancang Sect must respond, putting everything else aside.”
“I was going to do that anyway.”
Just as Gwangyo had, Biyoung would do the same.
Because that’s what friends are for.
“Alright. Then. Shall we go meet another friend?”
Before long, the elders of the Diancang Sect had gathered, each carrying a full load of luggage.
Normally, such tasks were for the junior disciples, but they had just returned from a fierce battle in Changsha.
The elders rolled up their sleeves, saying, ‘We want to be helpful even with things like this,’ which touched the hearts of the junior disciples.
“Lead the way, Biyoung. Thanks to you, we’ll get to be treated well at the Yi Family Clan. Haha.”
Mujin, who carried a bundle with his one remaining arm, smiled his good-natured smile.
“Aigoo. You don’t need to carry that much. Won’t it be heavy?”
“When I think that this weight is all money, it doesn’t feel heavy at all.”
“Kilkil. That’s the power of money.”
Biyoung’s party descended the Diancang Mountain in one go.
It was a completely different speed from when the Ghost Face Gang ascended the mountain.
It was natural for it to be different since it was an ascent versus a descent, but the mindset of the person carrying the luggage also made a big difference.
“How may I help you?”
The servant of the Yi Family Clan standing at the main gate asked politely, as if addressing a distinguished guest.
Their attitude would not have changed even if beggars from the Beggars' Union had come.
This was because the jingling sound of money could be heard from the luggage on their backs.
“My name is Biyoung. I have something to discuss with my friend Sedong.”
“So you are Young Master Yi’s closest friend. Please wait a moment.”
The servant bowed once and then headed inside with brisk steps.
“Young Hero Biyoung! It’s been a long time!”
Steward Yi So Hyeon, who had always guided him whenever he came to the Yi Family Clan, greeted him with a pleased face.
“Have you been well, Steward?”
“What difference would there be in my day-to-day life? And the people behind you are…?”
“Ah. They are the elders of my sect. Is it okay to enter?”
“Is there any doubt?”
This was why being acquainted was a good thing.
Steward Yi So Hyeon guided the people of the Diancang Sect inside without any particular suspicion.
“The Awl Selection Period is not far from ending, is it?”
Biyoung asked as they walked, and the steward nodded.
“That is correct. It will end in about a month.”
“Who do you think will win?”
The steward lowered his voice and answered cautiously.
“It is difficult to say in detail because of the rules… but I understand it is a close match.”
“Oh…!”
Biyoung’s eyes widened.
When it first started, it was like hitting a rock with an egg, but if it was a close match, it meant he was putting up a pretty good fight.
“Haha. I can just picture how much Sedong will brag.”
Biyoung’s steps became a little lighter.
As he entered the Yi Family Clan, Sedong’s face flickered in his mind.
But unfortunately.
The Sedong he met after a long time had changed in quite a few ways.