Chapter 207: I Knew It Would Be Like This (2)
Chapter 206 – I Knew It Would Be Like This (2)
The man carrying the bundle hesitated for a moment and then moved his steps again.
“I said freeze.”
As Namgung Cheon spoke again, only then did the man carrying the wooden box halt his steps and slowly turn around.
“Are you talking to me?”
“Yes, you.”
Namgung Cheon replied with a grin.
The man quickly scanned the appearance of Namgung Cheon and his party.
Judging by their appearance, they were martial artists.
The man smiled gently and asked.
“Why are you calling me, Young Master?”
“What is that?”
Namgung Cheon pointed at the bundle with the Emerald Silk Sword.
The man replied in a calm tone without being flustered.
“They are goods to sell by opening a stall.”
“Are you a peddler?”
“Yes.”
“Can I take a look at the goods?”
“Right now?”
“Yes.”
“I am sorry, but it is difficult right now. If you come to the market street tomorrow morning, I will give you the items you need at a low price.”
“How do you know whether I have items I need or not? That is exactly what I want to see, so let’s take a look at the goods.”
As Namgung Cheon acted obstinately, the other cadets frowned.
Yun Jong-seung carefully stepped forward.
“Why do you want to see goods in the middle of the night?”
“I originally like looking at street stalls.”
“No, even so, why are you suddenly holding onto a passerby?”
“Young Hero Namgung, if you are doing this because of me, it is fine.”
Yu Hyeon also stepped in suggestively.
It was a comment made out of concern that Namgung Cheon might be angry about not receiving an apology after the shoulder bump.
But Namgung Cheon did not budge.
“It is not because of you.”
“Then why are you being so stubborn…!”
Yun Jong-seung pressed again, but this time Jin So-hong raised her hand to stop him instead.
She quietly stared at Namgung Cheon.
There was no playfulness in Namgung Cheon’s expression right now.
As far as she knew, Namgung Cheon was not a person to throw such a fit without any reason. At the very least, did he not often show himself securing practical benefits even while talking nonsense?
‘Indeed, it was the same for Demonic Pill Valley.’
A few days ago, while receiving the Great Returning Pill handed to her by Namgung Cheon, she heard the story of what had happened in Guangxi Province.
Had it not been for the Great Returning Pill that Namgung Cheon readily offered, she would never have believed those words.
At the time, Jin So-hong stared blankly at the Great Returning Pill and asked.
“Why are you telling this to me?”
“I received the Gold King’s plaque. A merchant entrusting their money means they have staked their entire destiny. If it is that level of trust, should I not show a corresponding level of belief?”
The belief that one could be trusted.
Namgung Cheon must have intended to show that.
At any rate, thanks to that, Jin So-hong consumed the Great Returning Pill, and Namgung Cheon even helped with her meditation.
As a result, her internal energy was in a greatly increased state.
That was the kind of person Namgung Cheon was.
There was a reason for all his actions in Guangxi Province, from provoking the Three Peaks Sect to dragging out time by even breaking the wagon wheels.
‘So there must be something this time too.’
Though she could not even begin to guess.
Just then, two peddlers walked out of the tavern.
Among them, a man with a bushy mustache tilted his head and asked.
“Hm? What is going on, my friend?”
“Well, this young master here suddenly says he wants to look at the street stall.”
“The stall?”
Mustache narrowed his brow slightly and glanced at Namgung Cheon.
‘He looks young, but it seems all four of them have practiced martial arts.’
Having sized up the opponent in a short time, Mustache smiled and spoke.
“Oh, Young Master. Then would you like to take a look at mine? Honestly, I have many goods that are much better than what this fellow has.”
“Hey, what are you saying…!”
The peddler who had bumped shoulders with Yu Hyeon grumbled with a feigned look of unfairness, but Mustache paid no mind and lowered the bundle from his shoulder.
Just as he was about to untie the bundle.
“No, there is no need for that. I want to see this person’s goods.”
Freeze.
Instantly, the movements of the three peddlers flinched.
By this point, Yu Hyeon also sensed something unusual and narrowed his eyes.
Only the tactless Yun Jong-seung poked Namgung Cheon’s side and said.
“Hey, what is wrong with you? Let’s just let it slide. Daoist Yu said it was fine.”
Was it because he heard Yun Jong-seung’s words?
The peddler bowed deeply and said.
“Bumping shoulders earlier was due to my carelessness. Please appease your anger and let it slide.”
“Good grief, you really cannot understand words. I said I want to see the goods in there right now.”
“……!”
At Namgung Cheon’s words, the expressions of the peddlers stiffened once more.
Mustache glanced over the cadets.
Were they just around twenty years of age?
‘Does this fellow know something to act like this?’
Mustache’s mind spun complexly.
In fact, they were martial artists of the Black Mist Valley.
Known as the Three Shadowless Sabers, they were heading to the Martial Alliance with the head of the Hebei Branch Leader under the Valley Leader’s command.
The mission they were charged with was simple.
Exhibiting the head of the Hebei Branch Leader in the Wuhan market street for everyone to see.
But of all things, what was contained in the bundle of the peddler Namgung Cheon pointed to right now was none other than the Hebei Branch Leader’s head.
The others truly possessed miscellaneous items like peddlers.
‘Was it bad luck? Of all people, to Samdo…’
No matter how much they thought about it, a young fellow who seemed barely twenty did not seem to know anything to be doing this.
Is there not a joke that a three-month novice from a martial academy is the scariest?
Young cadets newly entering the Jianghu had nothing to fear in the world.
They would pick fights with passersby for no reason and intimidate innocent people.
‘Indeed, ignoring it is the best policy.’
“I am sorry, Young Master. We are busy right now and have a place to go. The goods next time…”
“Where is it?”
“Yes?”
“I asked where. The place you must go in a hurry.”
“Um… that is, we are going to the next village…”
“But you told me to come to the market street tomorrow morning?”
“Ah…?”
Ido (Wait, raw says, which is Ildo) unconsciously turned to look at Samdo and quickly added to his words.(Wait, let’s keep Ildo as Ildo to match raw: “Ildo unconsciously turned to look at Samdo and quickly added to his words.”)
“Yes, we will return after going to the next village. Right now we have an urgent scheduled visit.”
At that, Samdo nodded repeatedly.
Even in the midst of this, only Ido, who came out of the tavern last, stood with his arms crossed, wearing a thoroughly dissatisfied expression.
When Namgung Cheon was about to speak again, Ido abruptly stepped forward and grabbed Namgung Cheon’s shoulder.
Grab.
“Hey.”
“Huh?”
As Namgung Cheon looked back, Ido growled, twitching the bridge of his nose.
“We said we are busy. If you want to buy goods, come tomorrow morning. Are you, a young kid, the one who cannot understand words?”
At that, Ildo quickly stepped forward and stopped him.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
“Brother, guys like this never let it go with nice words. We must make him understand clearly.”
In an instant, the atmosphere became murderous.
Yu Hyeon and Jin So-hong narrowed their eyes to prepare for an emergency, while Yun Jong-seung swallowed his dry saliva and shrank back.
Namgung Cheon chuckled.
“Do you know who I am?”
“Who are you? Since you do not speak, how can I know?”
Ido raised his chin and did not back down.
Namgung Cheon slowly raised his hand and grabbed the wrist of Ido, who held his shoulder.
“I am none other than… the Jianghu Divine Dragon, Namgung Cheon.”
“……!”
Perhaps thinking this was unexpected, the three of them flinched this time.
Namgung Cheon’s words did not end there.
“I detect the smell of blood like a ghost. I wonder if I spent my past life roaming only blood-splattered battlefields, because whenever I catch this metallic stench, my mind goes a bit wild.”
“What…?”
“But that metallic stench is coming from you guys.”
“Guh…!”
Ido let out a groan, his eyebrows trembling.
Only then did Ildo quickly back away with a shocked expression.
Was Namgung Cheon not grabbing Ido’s wrist and twisting it very slowly?
The terrifying part was that the speed was constant.
In short, it meant he was pressing Ido down with sheer strength.
Even among the Three Shadowless Sabers, Ido’s physical strength was the greatest.
Yet, to handle him like a child like that…
‘Is he a master?’
Of all things, the Jianghu Divine Dragon?
He remembered hearing rumors about the winner of the Joint Conference, Namgung Cheon.
Since he would only be slightly outstanding among mediocre rising stars, he had not paid much attention to it.
But for it to be like this…
Rustle.
Ildo and Ido slowly moved their hands behind them and inserted them between the bundles. A cold hilt was felt.
It was their main weapon, the curved saber.
‘If worse comes to worst…!’
While the two raised their vigilance to the maximum, Namgung Cheon continued.
“Especially you.”
Namgung Cheon pointed at Samdo with his other hand.
“The metallic stench of blood vibrates exceptionally from your bundle. That is why I am curious about what is inside.”
“Young Master, it is late at night, so…”
“Furthermore, you guys are too awkward.”
“……?”
“Either you should fear martial artists, or talk back without knowing anything. Yet you are too calm while a wet-behind-the-ear kid like me picks a fight. Just like an adult caught doing something bad.”
“You bastard!”
Instantly, Ido put his other hand inside the bundle, drew his curved saber, and swung it.
The short blade, about one chi long, narrowly brushed past the front of Namgung Cheon’s neck.
Swiiiiing!
“Ah!”
“Namgung Cheon!”
Yun Jong-seung and Jin So-hong shouted at the same time.
Fortunately, Namgung Cheon had dodged the curved saber by a hair’s breadth.
“Tsk!”
Clicking his tongue, Samdo retreated a large step and massaged his bent wrist.
Clang!
Yu Hyeon, Yun Jong-seung, and Jin So-hong drew their respective weapons.
By this point, Ildo and Ido also drew their curved sabers and leapt back.
“Ido! What are you doing?”
“Brother, did you not see? That fellow has already realized it!”
At this point, Samdo lightly licked the blade of his curved saber with his tongue and said.
“It is actually for the best, Brother. Did he not say he is the Jianghu Divine Dragon? Taking this fellow’s neck along with us this time will make for a more definitive symbol!”
“Mmm.”
Ildo let out a low groan and glared at Namgung Cheon.
It was a reasonable point.
But would it really be that easy?
He rolled his eyes slightly to look at the red handprint left on Ido’s wrist.
Although Ido did not express it, if a handprint of that extent remained, his wrist would be throbbing by now.
‘He is not a fellow to let our guard down against.’
Meanwhile, the cadets also drew their weapons all of a sudden and wore extremely tense expressions.
In a way, was this not actual combat right now?
There was no longer even an instructor to protect them.
Yun Jong-seung clenched his trembling hands tightly and glanced at Namgung Cheon.
‘Just why does that guy only mess with things like that? Why?’
On the other hand, Jin So-hong wore a look of expectation rather than worry.
‘As expected of Namgung Cheon! I knew there would be something, but…!’
Jin So-hong felt strangely reassured as long as Namgung Cheon was beside her, no matter what happened.
Lastly, Yu Hyeon…
“It seems I should have killed him when he did not apologize after all.”
“…….”
“…….”
Everyone’s gaze turned toward him.
You are going too far lately!
Namgung Cheon slowly drew the Emerald Silk Sword.
Ssssssh.
The sword blade emitted a deep blue light under the moonlight.
“Three peddlers wielding curved sabers. I knew it would be like this. You worthless Three Shadowless Sabers.”
Namgung Cheon curled up the corners of his mouth.