Chapter 13: Staff Ghost (1)
Meanwhile,
Chui was sitting at the lowest seat, quietly eating rice and drinking alcohol.
“…”
Even while eating, his mind was entirely focused on the internal energy boiling within his mental world.
[It’s cold…]
[It’s hot…]
[Get me out of here…]
[Please release me…]
[I was wrong please forgive me I was wrong please forgive me I was wrong please forgive me I was wrong please forgive me I was wrong please forgive me I was wrong please forgive me I was wrong please forgive me I was wrong please forgive me…]
The spear ghost newly obtained in the process of destroying the Cao Family Manor.
They swarmed in the middle of the abyss inside his dantian, crying, pleading, and laughing.
Among them, the spear ghost of Cao Yangzi sat at the deepest place.
‘As expected of a first-class master.’
He was glaring at Chui while shedding tears of blood, not losing his rebellious attitude even while having his internal energy drained.
Indeed, he was worthy of being the strongest existence among the spear ghost captured so far.
But Chui did not feel impatient at all.
‘Even so, he won’t be able to hold out for even a few days.’
The abyss of internal energy created by the Spear Ghost Calling was a very cold and lonely place.
Although the current Cao Yangzi would be burning with hatred toward Chui and grinding his teeth… he would probably soon cry out to be favored, to be taken out and utilized, and to please be let out of this cold and dark place even for a short while.
‘That is not what is important right now.’
Chui checked his body’s condition once more.
A full circulation.
Once he circulated the bright red internal energy flowing in his body one full round from the top of his head to the tips of his toes, his entire body finally came completely under Chui’s control.
Bowed Pavilion 10th level.
With this, he had climbed all ten steps of the Bowed Pavilion.
Now, a big and huge gate appeared in front of Chui.
A terrifying gate made entirely of skulls and blood vessels.
Towering Vessel.
Only by opening this gate leading to the upper level and stepping onto the next step overflowing with nothing but pain and hatred could he finally be called an adept of the Spear Ghost Calling.
‘…However, to move on to this stage, external help is needed.’
That was precisely the reason why Chui attended this banquet.
To advance to the Towering Vessel stage, the Governor and Conception Vessels must be cleared.
For that, he had to clear the acupoints in specific locations, drain half of the existing blood flowing in his body, and replace that space with the energy of an elixir.
Naturally, it was a process that could not be achieved without the help of an outsider.
However, Chui, who had gone through countless life-and-death situations, was confident that he could achieve this process alone.
But in order to obtain the elixirs and such needed for that process in time, it was necessary to borrow someone else’s hands.
‘Was it Escort Leader Ju Ye-hwa?’
Chui gazed blankly at Escort Leader Ju Ye-hwa at the head table.
She was coughing repeatedly while spitting out the alcohol she was drinking.
Apparently, she had noticed his presence.
Chui quietly raised a finger and placed it on his lips.
At that,
“Gasp!”
Escort Leader Ju Ye-hwa hurriedly shut her mouth.
She was racking her brains hard.
‘Why? Why is the benefactor in such a place?’
In a situation she couldn’t understand at all, Escort Leader Ju Ye-hwa agonized over how she should behave.
However,
…Thwack!
Chui’s head suddenly snapped forward.
Woo Dong-won had struck the back of Chui’s head with his hand.
“Hey punk, where are you looking when your elder brother is speaking!”
“This youngest punk is slacking off already!”
“Get it together! My cup is empty!”
The stable boys, who had a bit of alcohol in them, bullied Chui.
Woo Dong-won, whose face was flushed with alcohol, kept pressing down on Chui’s head with his fist.
“Even if you’re a transient who will leave in a bit. Huh? Act nicely at least during that time. Got it? If you don’t want to get beaten, stay sharp.”
Naturally, Escort Leader Ju Ye-hwa, who was watching this, was on pins and needles.
“T-Those, those, those crazy bastards!”
“Yes? What is it?”
“Ah, it is nothing, Miss!”
“…?”
Following the gaze of Escort Leader Ju Ye-hwa, who had cried out without realizing it, Ho Ye-yang turned her head.
Escort Leader Ju Ye-hwa desperately racked her brain to turn Ho Ye-yang’s gaze back to herself.
Right then, timely, someone else caught Ho Ye-yang’s attention.
Clack, clack, clack, clack…
The sound of a wooden fish echoing clearly.
Where did he come from? A Buddhist monk was suddenly standing at the lowest seat of the banquet table.
He wore a bamboo hat with a tattered brim pulled down low, and held a dark, dirty long pole like a walking stick.
The patchwork monk’s robe he wore was so old and worn out that it was indistinguishable from rags.
Ho Ye-yang clasped her hands together and said.
“Monk. What brings you here?”
At that, the monk laughed.
“This humble one is not a monk, but just a passing traveler. It seems there is a happy event in your household; if it is not rude, may I have a bite of food before I go?”
“Of course. As much as you like.”
Ho Ye-yang was happy to give up a seat.
At that moment,
Step—step—step—
The monk headed toward the upper end of the banquet table without hesitation.
He plonked down at the head table without saying a single word.
And then, he began to greedily eat the rice cakes, rice, and alcohol in front of him.
“My, this is indeed delicious. I have already starved for several meals. Ahem—ahem—”
Seeing the monk smacking his lips over the skewered meat, the guests around him frowned.
Then, Ho Yeon-am, the Sect Leader of the Tiger Pit Sect, spoke politely.
“Monk.”
“I am not a monk. I just picked up the wooden fish on my way here.”
“Yes, is that so. In any case, the place for hosting guests is not here.”
“Is that so? Then where is it?”
“It seems you should eat over there.”
Ho Yeon-am pointed to the lowest seat of the banquet table.
At that, the monk clicked his tongue.
“Isn’t that the lowest seat where only servants sit?”
“It is not particularly divided by status. The food is the same too.”
“Haha—well. Still, people have feelings. Ah, I understand. As long as the food is the same, it’s fine.”
The monk brushed off his seat, stood up, and let out a long burp.
Then he waddled over and squeezed into the lowest seats.
Woo Dong-won was next to him.
“No, what kind of fake monk gobbles down meat like that? Whew, and why does he smell so much…”
As the monk sat next to them and ate up all the rice cakes and meat, the stable boys glared fiercely.
Woo Dong-won spoke as their representative.
“Hey, fake monk. Our Sect Leader is hosting you because he is a nice person, so be grateful. Honestly, you look more like a beggar than a monk. Man, you’re someone we should have beaten and kicked out originally. Ugh—the smell. The stench is practically killing me.”
At those words, the monk burst into hearty laughter.
“What a cheeky punk you are. Why don’t you come here for a second?”
The monk reached his hand out toward Woo Dong-won.
The moment Woo Dong-won frowned and tried to slap that hand away,
“What are you doing?”
There was a hand blocking the space between the monk and Woo Dong-won.
Chui stared at the monk with an indifferent face.
Seeing Chui looking at him while blocking Woo Dong-won, the monk burst into a broad laugh again.
“Oho? Did you notice what I was trying to do?”
“…”
“You are a child with good instincts. You show great promise. Hahaha—”
Soon, the monk lowered the hand he had raised.
And then, he said to Woo Dong-won, who was poking his head out from behind Chui.
“You should live the rest of your life feeling grateful to this kid. Because you have received the grace of saving your life.”
“What is that fucking fake monk talking about?”
Hearing the monk’s words, Woo Dong-won raised his pinky finger and picked his ear.
Right at that moment,
Springing up—
The monk stood up from his seat.
And he shouted in a loud voice.
“Now, listen everyone!”
The echoing voice was enough to attract the attention of not only the lowest seats but also those at the highest table.
A shout laced with internal energy.
The complexions of several people changed.
Regardless, the monk continued speaking.
“Well—I do not know what good thing has happened, but thank you for letting me join such a lavish table. However, there is just one regrettable thing… which is that the alcohol is cold. If the alcohol is cold, the stomach becomes cold, and if the stomach becomes cold, it is easy to get an upset stomach, so in this chilly weather, shouldn’t it be common sense to drink warm alcohol?”
Through the tattered bamboo hat, the monk’s eyes shone blue.
“This one surnamed Gu will offer a warm cup of alcohol to the heroes and outstanding figures gathered here.”
Soon, the monk’s finger went onto the table.
At the same time,
Rumble, rumble, rumble…
The entire long table began to vibrate faintly.
And soon, hot steam rose in wisps from all the cups placed on the table.
Bubble, bubble, bubble…
As if the cups were heating up, the alcohol inside them all began to boil vigorously and soon evaporated in an instant.
All the other food on the table remained intact, and only the alcohol in the cups completely disappeared.
While everyone’s expressions stiffened, only the monk wore a broad laugh.
“Oops. It seems we have truly toasted. What should I do for drying up all the good alcohol?”
Silence.
Facing the art of a peak-stage martial arts master right before their eyes, everyone was speechless.
It was natural.
What was a peak master?
Warriors capable of making a city drown in blood and disappear in a single night if just three of them gathered.
Absolute powerhouses who had stepped into the supreme realm.
Since such an existence was openly displaying his presence, the lives of everyone gathered here were as good as held in his hands.
Soon, Ho Yeon-am, the Sect Leader of the Tiger Pit Sect, opened his mouth.
“Are you by any chance the one carrying Escort Leader Ju’s gold plaque?”
“No, Sect Leader. He is… not the person I met. It is my first time seeing him too.”
Ju Ye-hwa, who was next to him, barely squeezed out her voice.
At that moment, the monk took off the bamboo hat covering his face.
Gray hair swept back, and the wrinkled face of an old man.
His small eyes, which showed nothing but the whites, and a scar stretching long across the bridge of his nose were impressive.
The monk introduced himself.
“I am the Debt Collecting Ghost who belongs to the Heterodox Alliance. Though I was once called by the moniker of ‘Staff Ghost.’ Haha.”
The moment they heard those words, the expressions of everyone gathered around the banquet tables were stained with shock.
Staff Ghost Gu Gang-ryong.
He had once risen to fame as one of the Double Ghosts who dominated the Jianghu.
However, it was said that due to a certain incident one day, he ran afoul of the Heterodox Alliance, and after losing a duel with the Heterodox Alliance Leader, he began working in the Heterodox Alliance.
He was mainly tasked with visiting organizations that did not pay their tributes, interest, or principal on time to urge debt payment or collect the money.
Sip—
Staff Ghost poured the warm alcohol from the bottle into his cup and drank it.
“The Black Path Gang fell.”
No one among the audience could open their mouths.
Staff Ghost continued sipping his drink.
“And they say the Cao Family Manor, which was in league with them, also fell?”
Staff Ghost’s razor-sharp gaze swept across the banquet tables.
“Then where is the place that benefits the most? Who are the bastards rejoicing in this situation to the point of holding a banquet? I was curious about that, you see.”
Staff Ghost’s gaze, which had been licking over the abundant dishes on the banquet table, stopped at the face of Ho Yeon-am, the Sect Leader of the Tiger Pit Sect.
“So I visited a few places on my way here today. The Tiger Pit Sect here is the last.”
“…We have no connection with the Black Path Gang.”
“If those words are true, nothing will happen tonight, so pick up your spoons comfortably.”
Staff Ghost turned his head with a broad laugh.
His gaze shifted toward Ho Ye-yang, who was next to Ho Yeon-am.
“…Hmm, by the way. Indeed, it makes sense.”
“?”
Ho Ye-yang forced a smile at Staff Ghost’s gaze staring intently at her.
“What do you mean, Senior?”
“I heard that the Cao Family Manor met disaster while coveting Lady Ho’s beauty, and indeed, it makes sense. It is an appearance that could easily cause one or two sects to fall. Hahaha—very pretty.”
A commentary on her appearance done openly in front of her face.
The moment Ho Ye-yang was worrying for a moment, not knowing how to reply, an incident occurred.
Staff Ghost suddenly poked his head toward Ho Ye-yang.
And then,
Ptooey!
he spat thick phlegm onto her face.
Unrivaled Spear Ghost