Chapter 177: Chapter 177
“Pant, pant! G-Grand Supreme Elder. Can’t we just ride a carriage?”
Heavenly Ear Beggar looked down at Junior Beggar and furrowed his brows.
“To think a Future Beggar is this frail. Tsk, tsk.”
Heavenly Ear Beggar clicked his tongue.
Although martial arts were of lower importance in the Beggars’ Sect compared to the other Nine Great Sects and One Gang, it was not as if they paid no attention to it at all.
This was because gathering information inevitably led to clashes in Jianghu, and ultimately, martial arts prowess was important to overcome them.
Heavenly Ear Beggar spoke while furrowing his brows.
“I know from hearing it from the Sect Leader that your information gathering ability is the best among the Future Beggars. However, with that level of skill, let alone becoming the Sect Leader, you would be fortunate not to die on the streets.”
“Isn’t that too harsh of a thing to say?”
Junior Beggar pouted his lips.
He knew well that his martial arts were lacking.
Even though he was one of the Future Beggars, his martial arts fell far behind his other martial brothers.
Still, wasn’t dying on the streets too harsh?
Junior Beggar expressed his dissatisfaction, but.
“Harsh, my foot. Jianghu is not such an easy place.”
Heavenly Ear Beggar had no intention of taking back his words.
Rather, he spoke even more sharply.
“If you have eyes, look carefully. Are we not wasting this much time because your footwork is lacking? If it is like this now, how would you be able to preempt important information later?”
“T-That is…”
“No matter how much it is an information sect, the Beggars’ Sect is a sect of Jianghu. Do you think you can become the Sect Leader with your skills?”
At Heavenly Ear Beggar’s subsequent words, Junior Beggar could only bow his head deeply.
They were words that were right and right again.
“I had expected a little because the Sect Leader said he was keeping an eye on you… Eying!”
Heavenly Ear Beggar grumbled.
However, even in the midst of that, he continued to move forward while moving his feet.
It was because every moment was precious.
How long did they walk like that?
Heavenly Ear Beggar and Junior Beggar arrived at Mount Hua.
“We have finally arrived… Huh? T-That person is…!”
Seeing someone, Heavenly Ear Beggar’s eyes went wide, and he grabbed the back of Junior Beggar’s neck.
“Kegh! W-Why are you doing this?”
“Shh! Shut your mouth.”
“Yes? Sudd… Mmph!”
Heavenly Ear Beggar covered the mouth of the chattering Junior Beggar, and swallowed his breath as he carefully watched the old man walking along the mountain path.
‘M-Mad Blood Demon?’
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
Although his wrinkles had increased and his beard and hair had turned white, that fierce light in his eyes and his physique almost matched his appearance back when he shook Jianghu in the past.
A short while later, the old man presumed to be the Mad Blood Demon entered a guest house on the mountain path.
‘That place is…?’
Heavenly Ear Beggar released the hand covering Junior Beggar’s mouth and walked toward the guest house.
“Follow me.”
The moment the two stood in front of the guest house.
“Uwaaagh!”
A martial artist flew out the door, rolled on the ground, and collapsed in front of the two.
“This is?”
“Heok!”
As the two looked at the martial artist who fainted with his eyes rolled back with flustered expressions.
“Do not think it will end with just a kick if you enter the guest house again.”
The old man came out the door.
Speaking to the fainted martial artist, he frowned when he made eye contact with Heavenly Ear Beggar.
To be exact, it was because he saw the knot hanging from Heavenly Ear Beggar’s waist.
“Knot? Beggars’ Sect?”
“…That is correct.”
The moment Heavenly Ear Beggar carefully tried to prepare to attack.
“I will kick you out whether you are from the Beggars’ Sect or whatever if you pick a fight, so keep quiet if you are going to eat.”
The old man warned and went inside.
Doing nothing else other than that.
‘…He is just retreating?’
Heavenly Ear Beggar widened his eyes.
The Mad Blood Demon was a person like a fighting cock who would fight without caring whether they were the Nine Great Sects and One Gang or the Murim Alliance once he saw red.
He was not a figure who would back down like this.
‘Is he not… the Mad Blood Demon?’
Staring blankly at the door the old man entered, Heavenly Ear Beggar shook his head.
‘No. I still do not know for sure.’
He had to be wary and tense when there was even one-tenth, no, one-hundredth of a doubt.
Were there only one or two times he was struck in the back of the head while feeling relieved!
‘It was the same during the Divine Brush Scholar incident this time.’
At that time, Junior Beggar, whose back of the neck was still grabbed by Heavenly Ear Beggar, smiled awkwardly.
“Um, you can let go now…”
Heavenly Ear Beggar let go of the back of Junior Beggar’s neck.
“Follow me.”
Heavenly Ear Beggar, who immediately entered the guest house, lost his mind at the sight unfolding before his eyes.
“Here, here! The tassels are right here!”
“Sell one to me too!”
It was because the guest house was swarming with people trying to buy tassels drawn with cyan plum blossoms rather than those eating.
“W-What is this?”
“What in the…”
As Junior Beggar, who followed him inside, was also just looking at the guest house with his mouth hanging open like Heavenly Ear Beggar.
“Are you first-time customers?”
The waiter approached with a smile.
“Y-Yes, but what are they doing over there?”
At Heavenly Ear Beggar’s question, the waiter’s eyes sparkled, and he immediately poured out his words.
“That is the specialty of our Plum Blossom Guest House, the Cyan Plum Blossom Tassels!”
“Cyan Plum Blossom Tassels?”
“Yes!”
The waiter nodded his head vigorously.
“They are Cyan Plum Blossom Tassels recognized by the Mount Hua Sect!”
“What…?”
He let out a dumbfounded sound for a moment.
Recognized by the Mount Hua Sect?
What kind of weird… No. Wait.
Heavenly Ear Beggar cupped his chin and his eyes shone.
‘This is smart. Does it mean they are borrowing the sect’s name to sell things?’
Heavenly Ear Beggar’s brain worked extraordinarily fast. Thinking about it step by step, it was quite a decent method of business.
‘Then if our Beggars’ Sect also sells knots, we will make a lot of money…’
At that moment, his brows furrowed.
‘Damn it! It will not work for the Beggars’ Sect.’
He immediately dropped the plan.
The Mount Hua Sect might be fine, but what was the public’s perception of the Beggars’ Sect?
A sect of beggars.
Who would compete to buy like that?
‘Even I would not buy it.’
The waiter tilted his head as he looked at Heavenly Ear Beggar, who clicked his tongue with a ‘tsk’.
“Then, are you intending to have a meal?”
“Yes.”
“Then, please follow me!”
Heavenly Ear Beggar, who took a seat under the waiter’s guidance, looked around.
“Business is really booming.”
The guest house was packed with people.
Because the majority of them were people leaving after buying goods, the business was not just doing well, it was a massive success.
‘Is this a guest house made by the Mount Hua Sect?’
His thoughts naturally reached that conclusion.
Because the name Plum Blossom Guest House seemed deeply related to the Mount Hua Sect from the start, and they even sold Cyan Plum Blossom Tassels.
‘Ah right! That is not what is important right now.’
Heavenly Ear Beggar hurriedly regained his focus.
Was the reason he postponed going to the Mount Hua Sect chasing after Cheon-hwi and came to the guest house not because the Mad Blood Demon might be here?
His gaze landed on the old man presumed to be the Mad Blood Demon.
Right then.
[What is it?]
A sound transmission struck his ears.
‘A-An expert!’
The moment he broke out in a cold sweat.
To think he was an expert capable of sending a sound transmission; the possibility of him being the Mad Blood Demon became even higher.
[I apologize. I looked because you seemed similar to someone I know.]
The old man with eyes full of dissatisfaction glared at Heavenly Ear Beggar as if to warn him, before lifting his liquor bottle and gulping it down heartily.
Heavenly Ear Beggar tilted his head.
‘Is he really not the Mad Blood Demon? But his appearance is indeed him…’
Right when his mind was growing complicated by the appearance that was different from the Mad Blood Demon he knew.
“The Little Daoist has arrived!”
“What an auspicious occasion! To think the Little Immortal, who is hard to see these days, would come!”
“W-Who is it? Is it that person?”
The guest house stirred in excitement.
Heavenly Ear Beggar turned his head at the commotion, and upon seeing the person who appeared, widened his eyes.
“T-That kid is the Little Immortal?”
* * *
“Young Hero! It has been a long time.”
When Cheon-hwi entered the Plum Blossom Guest House, Fifth Chief Steward Oh broke into a wide smile.
“It seems business is doing well.”
“Hahaha, it is all thanks to you, Young Hero.”
Right now, he was happier than anyone else in the world. The booming business was one thing, but recently, several merchant guilds had even requested large-scale sales.
At that time, Cheon-hwi opened his mouth.
“There are things I need right now, could you procure them for me?”
“Do you mean right now?”
“Yes.”
“Then, please wait a moment.”
Fifth Chief Steward Oh’s expression became serious.
Shortly after, he looked around and spoke in a low voice to Cheon-hwi.
“Please follow me.”
Fifth Chief Steward Oh and Cheon-hwi went up to the second floor and sat at the table in the deepest corner.
“…What kind of goods are they?”
“Medicinal herbs and poisonous herbs.”
In an instant, his expression stiffened.
He could understand medicinal herbs, but seeking poisonous herbs was…
Fifth Chief Steward Oh carefully asked.
“…Even poisonous herbs?”
“Yes.”
Fifth Chief Steward Oh swallowed hard.
Procuring poisonous herbs was a tricky matter. However, he did not ask for the reason.
Because he and Cheon-hwi were already comrades on the same boat, having gone beyond simple trust.
There was only one thing for him to ask now.
“What kind do you want?”
“Everything you can get.”
Cheon-hwi’s eyes sank low.
“A-All of them?”
“Yes. It does not matter what kind. It just has to be a poisonous herb.”
Fifth Chief Steward Oh nodded his head.
“I understand. I will try to procure as many as I can in the fastest possible time.”
Cheon-hwi smirked.
“I will look forward to it, then.”
Fifth Chief Steward Oh’s eyes slightly widened.
‘He means he is looking forward to it!’
It was a phrase he had heard from Cheon-hwi for the first time in his life. As if his mood had slightly lifted, he answered in an excited voice.
“Hahaha! Leave it to me!”
Due to Fifth Chief Steward Oh bursting into laughter after whispering with Cheon-hwi, the guest house stirred once.
“Did something come up from the Mount Hua Sect?”
“Are there any new goods coming out?”
Around the time when numerous assumptions were popping up in the minds of those who were tilting their ears and eavesdropping.
“Then I will hurry and procure them.”
Fifth Chief Steward Oh stood up abruptly and went down.
“Have you finally come?”
Instead, Cheon-yang-gong strode over.
Cheon-yang-gong, who had his brows furrowed, placed a liquor bottle on the table and sat down.
“Where did you go and come back from.”
“Work.”
“Hmph, what work.”
Cheon-yang-gong snorted.
“More than that, when are you planning to teach me the next chant for the Nine Underworlds Demonic Fire Art?”
“Following the Fire Danger Earthly Decree, reaching the sacred fire…”
Cheon-hwi recited the chant of the Nine Underworlds Demonic Fire Art in an open place as if it were bothersome.
“This crazy bastard!”
Though Cheon-yang-gong panicked for a moment, the moment he hurriedly tried to keep the chant in his head.
“This much is enough, right?”
Cheon-hwi, who was reciting the chant, closed his mouth.
“What?”
Cheon-yang-gong looked at Cheon-hwi, who hadn’t even recited a few sentences, with an absurd expression, before abruptly knitting his brows.
“Only one phrase…”
“When did I ever say I would teach it all to you at once?”
“What did you say?”
At the words that seemed as if they were mocking him, Cheon-yang-gong trembled and opened his mouth.
“Even so, just one phrase is way too harsh…!”
“Hmm? So, you don’t want to learn?”
Cheon-hwi spoke with a sneer.
In an instant, Cheon-yang-gong’s dissatisfaction surged, and both corners of his lips shot downwards. Along with that, his eyes also grew fierce, but.
“…”
He could not say anything.
No, he was unable to.
Because if Cheon-hwi did not tell him, he would forever be unable to learn the Nine Underworlds Demonic Fire Art.
“For now, be satisfied with that.”
Cheon-hwi stared intently at the tooth-grinding Cheon-yang-gong, and let out a chuckle.
“If you guard the Plum Blossom Guest House well later on, I will teach you the next chant.”
When Cheon-hwi tried to stand up from his seat, Cheon-yang-gong’s eyebrows twitched.
“Where are you trying to go again?”
“Where else, to the Mount Hua Sect.”
Cheon-hwi looked at him with cold eyes.
“Your ears are open too. You know exactly what situation the Mount Hua Sect is in right now.”
“Are you talking about the Mount Hua Sect retreating in defeat?”
“What, you did know.”
“…That rumor was true?”
“Then would it be a lie?”
Wrinkles formed on Cheon-yang-gong’s forehead.
From staying in the Plum Blossom Guest House, he became bright to the rumors of the world.
Which was why he did hear the rumor that the Mount Hua Sect was defeated, but…
He did not believe it strictly.
No, it was hard to believe.
‘They retreated in defeat when that guy is there?’
With that monster wearing a human mask present, the Mount Hua Sect would be the most fearsome place.
At that time, Cheon-hwi rose from his seat.
“Then you just guard this place well.”
“…Tsk.”
Cheon-yang-gong clicked his tongue.
“Understood.”
“When I come next time, you know what happens if anyone gets hurt or there is even the slightest problem with the guest house, right?”
“Do not worry. As long as I am here, the Plum Blossom Guest House has nothing to worry about. Unless a monster like you appears.”
“If that is the case, there will be no problems.”
Cheon-hwi, who was speaking as if it were obvious, took a few steps and stopped in his tracks.
And then he stared at the table.
“What are you doing there?”
Heavenly Ear Beggar and Junior Beggar, who had secretly followed him up to the second floor and were hiding with bated breath, laughed awkwardly when they met eyes with Cheon-hwi.
“Ha, haha. It has been a long time.”
“I-It has been a long time, Young Hero Cheon-hwi.”
“It has not been that long, though.”
At Cheon-hwi’s indifferent words, Heavenly Ear Beggar let out consecutive dry coughs and moved his lips.
“A-Ahem. More than that, there is one thing I would like to ask you…”
However, Cheon-hwi did not even listen and tried to move his stopped steps.
“W-Wait just a moment. You punk! I am just trying to ask something.”
When Heavenly Ear Beggar made a show of trying to grab Cheon-hwi’s trouser leg as he tried to leave.
“What is it?”
Cheon-hwi asked in an annoyed tone.
At that, Heavenly Ear Beggar threw a glance at Cheon-yang-gong with a bright expression before whispering in a small voice into Cheon-hwi’s ear.
“Who is that person?”
“He is the person guarding the guest house.”
Heavenly Ear Beggar tilted his head.
“Guards the guest house? If that is so, does it mean he really is not the Mad Blood Demon…”
Cheon-hwi’s eyes sank down.
“Mad Blood Demon? Who is that?”
“A demon head of two generations ago. He is an awful villain who annihilated as many as three sects…”
Oho, surprisingly he had quite the infamy.
Cheon-hwi threw a glance at Cheon-yang-gong.
Having learned the half-baked Nine Underworlds Demonic Fire Art with that level of martial arts, it might have been stranger instead for him to have no infamy.
‘Hmm, still, if someone like the Grand Supreme Elder of the Beggars’ Sect barely recognizes him, he must have been forgotten a long time ago. In that case, even if he stays in the guest house, no one will be able to recognize him.’
Cheon-hwi smirked.
“If he was a demon head with such widespread infamy, he would have already run amok. Would he quietly guard the guest house like that?”
“Tsk. That is true, but.”
When Heavenly Ear Beggar looked at Cheon-yang-gong, who was chugging from his bottle, with a dubious expression.
“Chief Steward Oh?”
A familiar voice knocked on Cheon-hwi’s ears.
‘This voice is…’
When Cheon-hwi turned his body and looked down at the first floor, there was a familiar face in front of the door.
‘Flying Wind Merchant Guild Leader?’
Enjoyed the chapter?
If you like our work, consider supporting us on Ko-fi. This site solely runs on donations. Every donation helps us keep translating!
Support on Ko-fi