Chapter 178: Chapter 178
Cheon-hwi looked down.
The Flying Wind Merchant Guild Leader, Go Gye-yeong, who lifted the beaded curtain and entered the inn, was conversing amiably with Chief Steward Oh.
“It has been a long time. Chief Steward Oh.”
“It has been a long time. Chief Steward Go. Ah! I should call you the Flying Wind Merchant Guild Leader now.”
“Haha, being called Merchant Guild Leader by Chief Steward Oh makes me a little embarrassed.”
“How long has it been?”
“It was around the time you took the World Merchant Plaque, so it has been almost ten years.”
“Has it been that long? No, looking at the wrinkles around your eyes, it seems that much time has passed.”
As Chief Steward Oh spoke playfully, Go Gye-yeong responded as if he would not lose.
“Speaking of which, you have become half white-haired yourself, Chief Steward Oh.”
“Oh my, is that so? Oh dear. I should take care of my hair.”
Chief Steward Oh pretended to be startled and stroked his hair before bursting into laughter.
“But your complexion looks good. I remember you always had a face like death every day when you were in the merchant guild.”
“Hahaha, I still feel like dying. Trying to feed all the dependents on me is breaking my back.”
The Flying Wind Merchant Guild Leader also pretended to tap his waist and let out a chuckle.
“Speaking of which, your expression is bright and looks better than before, Chief Steward Oh.”
“Hmm, is that so?”
Chief Steward Oh glared.
“But didn’t you just call me half white-haired?”
“Are you taking that to heart?”
“Wait until you reach my age. Words like that bother me.”
“Oh dear. Growing old is scary.”
Go Gye-yeong, who was smiling and talking with him, subtly scanned the inside of the inn and parted his lips.
“By the way, why are you here? Did you leave the World Merchant Guild?”
Chief Steward Oh waved his hand.
“Would that be the case?”
Hearing the answer, Go Gye-yeong’s eyes sank deeply.
‘He is not someone who would run an inn.’
Chief Steward Oh was a man full of ambition.
To the point where he would use any means and methods to obtain the Merchant Guild Leader position.
For such a person to leave the branch and be in an inn like this, it was bound to raise questions.
“How long will I remain as a Branch Leader? A man must at least slice a radish once he draws his sword.”
Chief Steward Oh spoke calmly.
But unlike his tone of voice, his eyes were sunk deeply and pitch-black like a bottomless pit.
Meeting his gaze, Go Gye-yeong finally realized that this inn was not ordinary and quickly observed the surroundings.
The bustling people.
From the people trying to buy tassels to those eating food at the tables.
“Then the Cyan Plum Blossom Tassels that recently received recognition from the Mount Hua Sect, could they be……?”
Chief Steward Oh smiled softly.
Guessing the situation just from that smile, Go Gye-yeong let out an exclamation of admiration.
‘I didn’t know who thought of it, but I thought it was an amazing business……’
When he heard about the Cyan Plum Blossom Tassels, he burst into admiration as a merchant.
Who would have even thought of it?
To cooperate with the Nine Great Sects and One Gang and sell an item that received their recognition!
It was something even he, who had a deep connection with the Mount Hua Sect, had not thought of.
And the mastermind was Chief Steward Oh.
Around the time Go Gye-yeong clicked his tongue.
‘Were they that close?’
Cheon-hwi stared quietly down at the two talking affectionately while laughing haha hoho.
During his first meeting with Chief Steward Oh, he knew he had some acquaintance with Go Gye-yeong, but the two seemed much closer than he thought.
After all, the smiles never left the faces of the two as they conversed.
At that time, Cheon-hwi transmitted a message.
『What brought you here?』
Go Gye-yeong, who was whispering with Chief Steward Oh, was startled by the sudden voice transmission and looked around.
Then he met eyes with Cheon-hwi, who was looking down from the second floor.
“Benefactor……!”
His two eyes sparkled.
Following that, forgetting even his conversation with Chief Steward Oh, he immediately turned his body.
Go Gye-yeong, who hurriedly rushed up to the second floor, smiled brightly.
“It has been a long time. Benefactor!”
“It has been a while.”
“I was on my way to the Mount Hua Sect anyway, but I didn’t expect to see you here, Benefactor. It was hard to see you recently because you weren’t at the Mount Hua Sect……”
Go Gye-yeong met eyes with Cheon-hwi.
“So we meet like this.”
“You must have visited the Mount Hua Sect frequently.”
“I came to deliver supplies whenever the Mount Hua Sect requested them.”
‘I wondered why supplies were arriving so well recently. They borrowed the power of the Flying Wind Merchant Guild.’
Cheon-hwi stroked his chin.
“Then you must have brought requested supplies this time too?”
Go Gye-yeong shook his head.
“No. This time……”
Go Gye-yeong swallowed his words mid-sentence.
Then he quickly scanned his surroundings and whispered very cautiously.
“I heard that the Mount Hua Sect suffered a rather large blow after a mission failed, so I brought supplies to be of even a little help.”
The Flying Wind Merchant Guild Leader subtly signaled with his eyes.
At the end of his gaze, beyond the beaded curtain, was a large carriage that he seemed to have ridden in.
“Food and some money.”
“Oh ho, is that so?”
Cheon-hwi smiled broadly.
Although Go Gye-yeong said it was ‘some’, Cheon-hwi vaguely felt that it was actually not the case.
“That worked out well. Senior Martial Aunt Hyeon-ryeo was having a headache over money issues anyway.”
Cheon-hwi recalled Hyeon-ryeo, who had been worried because three martial factions were suddenly established.
‘This resolves the money issue too.’
A satisfied smile formed on his lips.
The problems that were hindering the creation of the martial factions were disappearing one by one.
‘Now there is only one thing left.’
While thinking, Cheon-hwi spoke to Go Gye-yeong.
“I want to make thirty-geun iron balls each and solid iron swords up to fifty geun, is there any good place?”
Go Gye-yeong tilted his head.
Because he couldn’t understand what intention he had in making them.
However, he swallowed that question and spat out an answer to the question.
“Normally, a blacksmith would find it hard to make such items. If you need someone skilled, it would be best to entrust it to the Iron Foundation Workshop.”
“Hmm, Iron Foundation Workshop?”
Cheon-hwi stroked his chin.
Even he, who only remembered major things, had heard of the Iron Foundation Workshop.
‘A place in Shandong, where famous blacksmiths absolutely receive training at least once? It’s definitely reliable in terms of skill, but it’s quite far.’
At that time, as if he knew Cheon-hwi’s worry, Go Gye-yeong immediately parted his lips.
“If it is an urgent matter, I will separately send a carrier pigeon to the Iron Foundation Workshop.”
“That would be good.”
Just as Cheon-hwi was nodding his head.
“Are you ignoring my words?!”
Heavenly Ear Beggar approached while shouting.
Go Gye-yeong was flustered by the suddenly appearing old beggar but soon widened his eyes.
“Great Hero Heavenly Ear Beggar……?”
“Huh? You know me?”
As Heavenly Ear Beggar furrowed his brow, Go Gye-yeong hurriedly cupped his fists and said.
“I greet Great Hero Heavenly Ear Beggar. I once saw you from a distance when you were chasing the Lust Demon in Yunnan.”
“Lust Demon? Ah! You mean that terrible evil spirit who only targeted Buddhist nuns.”
Go Gye-yeong nodded his head.
“Hmm, hmm. I exerted some strength back then. If it wasn’t for this body, that Lust Demon bastard would still be running rampant.”
Heavenly Ear Beggar, whose nose had gone up, glanced at Cheon-hwi.
‘This damn bastard!’
Cheon-hwi seemed to have no interest at all.
Confirming that sight, Heavenly Ear Beggar frowned deeply and opened his mouth.
“By the way, who are you?”
“Ah!”
Go Gye-yeong bowed his head, realizing his mistake.
“This lowly one is called Go Gye-yeong, the Guild Leader of the Flying Wind Merchant Guild.”
“If it’s the Flying Wind Merchant Guild, it’s the merchant guild that was previously attacked by the White Ghost Castle. I heard you also opened connections with the Outer Realms recently.”
Heavenly Ear Beggar spoke fluently.
“You must have come to repay the favor to the Mount Hua Sect that helped you.”
Go Gye-yeong’s eyes widened slightly and then quickly returned to normal.
“Haha, that is correct.”
Heavenly Ear Beggar’s eyes deepened.
He asked Go Gye-yeong his identity pretending not to know, but in fact, he had been eavesdropping on all the conversations the two had earlier.
Even the fact that the owner of this Plum Blossom Inn was Chief Steward Oh of the World Merchant Guild.
He glanced at Cheon-hwi.
‘To think he is involved with the Flying Wind Merchant Guild, which is recently raising its name, and even Chief Steward Oh of the World Merchant Guild. As expected, I did well to chase this guy.’
A smile formed around his mouth.
Believing only in his intuition, he put aside everything else and chased Cheon-hwi.
A choice like a gamble.
But that choice was right.
‘Now I have to draw that guy over to our side……’
Suddenly his head hurt.
‘Will that guy quietly listen?’
Persuading that stubborn bastard was clearly going to be the most difficult.
‘Then rather……’
Heavenly Ear Beggar’s eyes half-closed.
Following that, he quickly stuck close to Cheon-hwi, who was talking with Go Gye-yeong.
“Hold on. Let’s talk for a bit.”
“I have nothing to say.”
At Cheon-hwi’s answer, spoken without even looking, Heavenly Ear Beggar’s brow furrowed, but he forced a smile and added words.
“Don’t you need information about the Jianghu?”
Only then did Cheon-hwi look at Heavenly Ear Beggar.
As Cheon-hwi showed interest, Heavenly Ear Beggar parted his lips with a smile.
“I will help you. Despite how I look, I am famous in the Jianghu as an information broker.”
“…….”
As Cheon-hwi stared blankly at him.
“Oh my! I will head to the Mount Hua Sect first.”
Go Gye-yeong tactfully backed away.
When he went far away, Cheon-hwi met eyes with Heavenly Ear Beggar and parted his lips.
“What do you mean?”
“Won’t you join hands with me?”
“Are you suggesting we combine forces?”
“It is a very simple cooperation.”
Heavenly Ear Beggar said briefly.
“I will deliver rumors and information of the Jianghu to you, so you only need to help exactly once if the Beggars’ Sect or I am in danger.”
It wasn’t exactly a bad proposal.
Because the current Mount Hua Sect and the Beggars’ Sect were in an allied relationship, weren’t they?
It was a relationship where they had no choice but to help each other if they were in danger.
“Hmm. Sounds good.”
The full smile on Heavenly Ear Beggar’s mouth surfaced and then slowly disappeared.
“Good. Then tell me whenever you need information. I will quickly obtain it……”
“Four Supreme Powers of Sinju.”
Cheon-hwi opened his mouth even before Heavenly Ear Beggar’s words ended.
“Please gather some information on those bastards.”
* * *
Cheon-hwi, who exited the Plum Blossom Inn, arrived at Falling Goose Peak in a single breath using footwork.
Normally he would have had to go to Samong Plaza.
But it was because there was a person he had to see before that.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
The sound of cutting through the wind could be heard.
There, Danmok Rin was swinging her sword with all her might. Because of how long she had been swinging, her uniform was soaked in sweat, and a little blood was smeared on her hands.
It would probably sting.
But she did not stop.
Rather, she put more strength into her hands, concentrated her mind, and swung the sword.
It was reverent and serious.
‘I like it.’
Around the time a smile hung on Cheon-hwi’s lips.
“Senior Martial Brother!”
Danmok Rin, who was swinging her sword, ran over while wiping the sweat flowing down her forehead with her sleeve.
“Where did you go?”
“Outside.”
“Is that so?”
Even at Cheon-hwi’s indifferent words, Danmok Rin did not lose her smile and kept talking.
“Oh right! I finally bloomed a sword flower!”
“Really? Show me.”
“Yes!”
She answered vigorously and raised her sword.
A cold light, different from usual, shone from her eyes as she took an upper stance.
Like in a real battle.
That moment.
Sssst…
Danmok Rin slowly drew her sword down.
It was the starting posture of the Three Immortals Sword, a sword art that any disciple who entered the Mount Hua Sect learned first.
A very simple and clear downward slash from top to bottom.
But the starting posture Danmok Rin unfolded was a clean and perfect stance.
‘Her talent is the most outstanding.’
Cheon-hwi nodded his head.
Having overcome the Extreme Yin Foundation Body, her comprehension was extremely outstanding, and along with that, there were few who could compare to her physical body.
In addition, she was the daughter of the Danmok Clan.
Talent, physical condition, experience, etc.
Everything smiled upon her.
And the result of all that combining started to appear before his eyes now.
Srrr… k…
A very small plum blossom bloomed.
That wasn’t all.
A faint plum blossom scent that brushed the tip of the nose flowed out from her sword.
It wasn’t distinct and clear.
It could be said to be close to transparent.
But just that was astonishing.
‘A sword flower in less than a year, if other people saw it, they would fall backward in surprise.’
A sword flower was the essence of the Mount Hua Sect.
Normally, in order to bloom a sword flower, it would take at least five years of time even if one devoted themselves solely to the Mount Hua Sect’s sword art.
But right now, Danmok Rin took just a year?
No, she achieved it in an even shorter time.
Even in the history of the Mount Hua Sect, there would probably be no such person at all.
‘Except for me, that is.’
While Cheon-hwi was staring at her.
The tip of her sword, which was gradually lowering, touched the ground.
A light ‘tap’ sound rang out.
But unlike that light sound, Danmok Rin’s breathing had become rough.
A short starting posture.
But she poured everything out.
Her little remaining handful of internal energy and mental strength.
And her willpower too.
Thanks to that, although it was still lacking, she bloomed a sword flower, the essence of the Mount Hua Sect.
“Hah, hah. How was it?”
She asked with expecting eyes.
“It was fine.”
“Really?”
Danmok Rin’s expression brightened.
Feeling her shortcomings through sparring with Cheon-hwi, she concentrated on her training.
In the way Cheon-hwi taught her.
Swinging according to the starting posture a thousand times a day.
Horse Stance for two hours.
In addition, sparring with Cheon-hwi whenever she had spare time.
All of that promoted her growth and made her talent bloom within a short time.
“But it’s still lacking.”
Cheon-hwi rested his scabbard on his shoulder.
She had to become even stronger.
Wasn’t that why he made her train separately instead of joining the martial faction?
Cheon-hwi nodded his scabbard and said.
“I will spar with you, so come at me.”
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