NOVEL NEXT Chapter 74
Chapter 74: The Classic Dance of Push and Pull
The contents of the martial arts competition document were nearly identical to the previous Orthodox Faction Competition.
The date was set for two months later. The venue was the martial arts arena prepared by the Seomun Family in Lanzhou.
A one-on-one duel would take place under the presence of a notary.
The terms stated that the loser would become the winner’s servant.
Naturally, the opponent would be Geombong Seomun Cheong-ha.
I accepted the martial arts document.
“Have you informed the Master?”
“Yep.”
At my words, my disciple nodded.
Finally, we arrived.
“I see. Got it. Then I should start my training from now.”
To win against Geombong Seomun Cheong-ha without the push of abilities, I needed to reach the same level as her.
I already had the insights.
Now, all that remained was to elevate my skills through training.
Two months should be plenty.
“Disciple. I’ve modified the Primordial Unity Technique a bit, would you like to hear it?”
I nodded at my disciple’s words.
He quietly started singing the modified technique.
His clear voice pierced my ears.
The Primordial Unity Technique had become much easier and more effective.
It felt considerably closer to completion.
Such remarkable progress in such a short time? As expected of the future Geomseong, the Heavenly Body!
“How is it?”
“Thank you for passing on such a remarkable technique to Wooje.”
I wasn’t joking; I meant it sincerely.
With this, perhaps, the issue of not being able to use abilities could be resolved.
Though I would have to test it first to be sure.
“Really? I’m glad to hear that. I made this martial art for you… I hope you can use it to win again in this duel. That arrogant lady from the Seomun Family.”
Yujinhwi smiled shyly.
But wait, “arrogant lady from the Seomun Family”?
Why had my usually honorable disciple’s words turned so rough?
Kindness is good, but it’s a bit frightening.
No way… or is it?
“Disciple, what’s wrong?”
Well, it was just a slight harshness.
He probably got that way from early encounters with the scummy faction, unlike in his past life.
I decided not to think deeply about it.
“No, it’s nothing. Thank you. Well then, I have some matters to take care of at the foot of the mountain… I’ll meet the Master and then head out.”
“Okay! Take care!”
As I received my disciple’s send-off, I stopped by the Hyeoncheon Palace to meet Jeonyeong, received the Master’s handwritten reply to the Seomun Family, and jumped down the mountain.
Whoosh, whoosh.
Arriving at Hwajeong County, instead of heading to the usual Gonhwa Pavilion, I went in a different direction.
I had been warned by the Master to not associate too much with the Samawi group, and I was a bit annoyed by Jeoksawol, who spread rumors without my instruction.
It was time to push her away in this little game of push and pull.
For the time being, it would be better not to meet her until the second martial arts tournament.
There must be an abandoned Gwanje Shrine around here somewhere.
Thus, I chose the Beggar Sect.
Given the last Orthodox Faction Competition victory, the power of the Gongdong Sect had risen considerably, so a branch to keep an eye on us would have been established in Hwajeong County.
Of course, just like Hao Mun, it would be at the level of a small office, but it was better than having nothing.
And it was clear where a Beggar Sect branch could be.
Either an abandoned shack under a bridge or a forsaken Gwanje Shrine—those were the only options.
I arrived at what appeared to be a dilapidated Gwanje Shrine on the outskirts of the village, which nobody seemed to visit.
There, a bunch of beggars huddled around a campfire.
Among them, I could see a few with signs of having trained in martial arts.
It was my first visit. The Gaebang Hwajeong-hyeon Branch.
As I stepped into the courtyard in front of the shrine, one of the beggars rose to their feet.
“Isn’t that the famous hero of the Gongdong Sect? The Flower Prince who steals the hearts of two ladies in the martial world. What brings such an esteemed person to our humble gathering?”
The tone was blatantly mocking.
He looked filthy, with grime dripping all over him. His hair looked like a bird’s nest, and he had a stench that seemed like it hadn’t been washed in 20 years. It was quite the sight watching him casually pop a pimple with his fingers.
But I couldn’t ignore him.
The three knots on his waist. A practitioner of the Three Teachings from the Gaebang.
He was a little overqualified for leading a rural branch.
“The Flower Prince, huh…?”
“Isn’t it so? The martial world is quite familiar with your name.”
“It’s true that they call me a hero.”
“…Am I right?”
The middle-aged beggar’s forehead twitched.
I smirked.
“Of course, I am Lee Cheol-soo, the hero of the Gongdong Sect. But that trashy nickname does not belong to me. Surely, the Beggar Sect wouldn’t be unaware of that…”
“…Hmm.”
The Beggar Sect is an Orthodox Faction like us, but in truth, they are more like enemies.
The current ruler of the Gansu martial world is the Seomun Family.
Naturally, all factions in Gansu are directly or indirectly influenced by the Seomun Family.
That included the Beggar Sect as well.
The leader of the Gansu Beggar Sect was firmly allied with Jincheongyeomwang, so from the Gongdong Sect’s perspective, they were less trustworthy than Hao Mun.
“Could it be that you’re trying to have a squabble with me, a junior from the distant martial world?”
Mixing a bit of respect made the beggar’s expression scrunch up.
Hah, if you want a verbal fight, you should have picked another target.
“So, I’d like to know your name, oh junior martial artist.”
“Im Dan-ryong. The Dongdo of the martial world knows me as Hong Chwi-gae.”
Seeing his face, I understood why he had such a nickname.
In broad daylight, his red face from being drunk was evident. Thank goodness he was a Beggar; otherwise, he would have been kicked out from the other factions with such behavior.
And now, Im Dan-ryong.
This name doesn’t ring a bell.
The nickname Hong Chwi-gae seemed to indicate he was a nobody.
Im Dan-ryong said, “I didn’t know the Gongdong Sect’s hero sharpened his tongue so much. So, what business do you have?”
Essentially, he meant he didn’t want to bicker anymore.
Straight to the point then.
“I’ve come to deliver a reply from the main sect of the Seomun Family. I have a personal request too.”
“A personal request?”
“Let’s step inside first.”
The tables had turned.
Hong Chwi-gae’s face scrunched. But perhaps realizing he could do nothing further to me, he surrendered the verbal battle and led me inside the Gwanje Shrine.
The inside of the shrine was no different from the reception hall of a shabby Gongdong Sect. How odd to feel familiar here.
Hong Chwi-gae and I sat down haphazardly on the floor. Naturally, no snacks could be found in a beggar’s lair.
I hadn’t expected such things anyway.
“So what is this personal request of yours?”
I mostly brushed past his grumpy tone; he was probably feeling irked.
After all, I had beaten him in the verbal bout.
What should I do… It’s still bothering me, though.
The Emperor’s return.
Nothing was confirmed yet. I only had circumstantial evidence. Perhaps I was merely lucky to have stumbled upon the Dongchang’s movements against Hao Mun.
So I needed to check.
Was it true the Emperor had returned?
And there was only one way to confirm that.
“I’d like you to find out the whereabouts of the slave merchant Wang Sam and the broker Jeonggong Jang Ihyeon from Beijing.”
Jang Ihyeon.
My only target for revenge.
One day, I must go to Beijing and deal with him—a broker who kidnaps young boys and sells them to the Imperial Palace castrated through his connection with Wang Sam.
A vicious villain.
If he had died without me doing anything…
Then the returning Emperor must have been involved.
The return of the Emperor intervened.
There was no other way to see it. I had only confided my grievances about Wang Sam and Jang Ihyeon to the Emperor.
Thinking about it, the Emperor must have begun to search for Wang Sam and Jang Ihyeon immediately after returning.
And he likely killed Jang Ihyeon to take my revenge on my behalf.
Wang Sam was the one I killed.
Conversely, if Jang Ihyeon wasn’t dead? I would just have to accept that I was fortunate to have hitched a ride on my Dongchang’s tactics.
What a ridiculous coincidence it would be.
While my suspicions pointed towards the Emperor’s return, I needed evidence.
I had to obtain that evidence now.
“Wang Sam and Jang Ihyeon? Why are you looking for them?”
“When I moved to Gansu to join the Gongdong Sect, I was kidnapped by a slave merchant named Wang Sam. Luckily, I escaped under cover of darkness before he could sell me, but just before escaping, I overheard him plotting to kidnap boys and castrate them, selling them to the palace as eunuchs through a man named Jang Ihyeon. If I hadn’t escaped, I would have been sold as a eunuch.”
Bang!
Overwhelmed with emotions, I slammed the floor of the Gwanje Shrine.
The old wooden floor cracked, sending splinters flying.
“To kidnap innocent boys and castrate them to sell to the palace—what extreme wickedness! Such acts cannot be forgiven even after three lifetimes!”
Damn these bastards.
Tricking innocent children and mutilating them to sell to the palace?
Not even a hundred deaths would suffice.
Just thinking about my own precious bits being sliced off, tears rolled down my cheeks.
If only those bits hadn’t been cut!
Sniff.
I cried tears of fury and said, “I, Lee Cheol-soo, as a disciple of the Gongdong Sect who stands for justice, can never forgive such wicked individuals! Now that I have grown, I will find their location and ensure they pay for their crimes!”
I let out a performance, no, a heartfelt shout.
Yes.
Those evil scumbags who dared mutilate me and sell young children must be cleansed from this world.
If Jang Ihyeon were to be alive, I would become his grim reaper myself.
At my words, a glint appeared in Hong Chwi-gae’s eyes.
The Beggar Sect valued righteousness more than any other faction in the Nine Saints.
He must have been moved by my heartfelt shout.
“How unexpected for the Flower Prince, known in the world, to make such a statement. You seem quite sincere about it. Perhaps I misjudged you. If that’s the case, I’ll gladly assist you. Furthermore, I formally apologize for the earlier quarrel.”
Im Dan-ryong nodded slightly, showing his respect.
I accepted his apology.
“That’s fine. As fellow members of the Orthodox martial world, I hold no grudge on petty matters. So how much is your information fee?”
“Since it’s an easy matter, just half a nyang of silver will do.”
I took out a silver piece I had exchanged from the Travel Office and received my change.
“The reply will be delivered in three days. Information on Wang Sam and Jang Ihyeon might take about seven days.”
“Understood.”
After wrapping up my business in the Beggar Sect, I exited the Gwanje Shrine.
One week.
Perfect.
I’d spend the time training, and when it’s time for the martial arts tournament again, I’ll be ready.
I thought this as I left the shrine and jumped back up the mountain.
*
Arriving at Gongdong Mountain, I started my training at my personal training ground.
Despite being called a personal training ground, it was just a desolate plaza among abandoned houses.
Since the Gongdong Sect’s main base belonged to a prestigious clan among the Nine Saints, it was excessively spacious. For now, with three—no, now four—disciples living here, it was more than enough space.
Thus, I claimed one of the plazas and, as always, finished my warm-ups with Kegel exercises and squats to build my foundational strength, then sat down to check the modified Primordial Unity Technique that my disciple had revised.
Of course, my bits were standing proudly toward the sky.
As a rule, a man must not force himself to calm down; instead, he should allow it to settle naturally for better vitality.
Personal training was always done with the bits standing firm.
At that moment.
I sensed someone’s presence.
What’s going on?
I had informed my Master Jeonyeong, as well as my disciple and junior disciple Seoharin, that I was training alone.
So, under normal circumstances, I shouldn’t have any visitors. And indeed, it was usually respected in the martial world to not spy during personal training.
Then why?
My head felt cold.
“Who is it? Come out. There’s no point hiding since I’ve already sensed your presence.”
Just as I amplified my voice with my internal energy.
Peek.
A strand of mysterious silver hair fluttered near the ruined house.
Moments later, a blushing beauty in her mid-twenties timidly peeked her head out from behind the ruins.
“I’m sorry, Prince.”
That’s right.
The one who had been spying on my training was none other than Geumhu Eun Seol-ran.
Wait a minute.
Isn’t Geumhu a master of Hwakyung?
How could a top-tier master, having reached the stage of transcendence, be detected by my lowly senses?
What is this?
Did she perhaps do it on purpose…?