Chapter 42 - A First-Rate Warrior Who Gathers People

Kang Yuseong, the waiter at the Wolho guest house, had been spending his days busy for the past few weeks.

At first, he was busy because martial artists flocked there due to some spiritual elixir appearing at the Demonic Spirit Plateau, and later, he was busy because of the people who came to rescue those who had entered the Demonic Spirit Plateau.

Martial artists were much more generous than ordinary travelers.

They would sometimes leave without taking their change, and if they were in a good mood, he would receive several times the cost of their meal as a tip.

Of course, if he encountered a warrior with a foul temper, he would sometimes be placed in a situation so dangerous he had to risk his life.

Even so, he couldn't quit this job because he had to take care of his younger sisters with the money he earned, and no other job was offered to the still-young Kang Yuseong.

The last few days had been exciting ones for Kang Yuseong.

Because the person who had rescued four thousand warriors from the Demonic Spirit Plateau was staying in the annex of the Wolho guest house.

On the streets of Yueyang, wherever a drinking party took place, it was abuzz with that story.

That if it hadn't been for that warrior, all four thousand warriors would have died.

Even while carrying food in the dining hall on the first floor of the guest house, whenever a story about that warrior's exploits came up, Kang Yuseong would slow his steps or hover around the table for no reason, pretending to clean up while listening to the story without missing a single word.

When he heard that such a warrior was staying at the Wolho guest house, he had been overjoyed enough to jump.

"You are truly as peculiar as you are amazing."

While changing the water in the wooden tub, he spoke to the warrior, who had become a bit familiar to him after seeing his face continuously for the past few days.

"Me?"

"Yes."

The warrior tilted his head as if he didn't understand.

"How so?"

"Don't all the great figures of Yueyang want to see you? Yet, you only stay in the annex every day."

"Ah..."

As he poured out the water from the wooden tub, pitch-black grime floated around, and strange shed skin-like things flowed out as well.

What was strange was that this was already the third time he was changing the water.

"Because it's bothersome."

"You've received a lot of contact from Yueyang's famous courtesan houses too, right?"

Right now, the people seeking out this warrior in Yueyang weren't just warriors or high-ranking officials.

The waiter recalled the numerous missives he had delivered himself.

"Puhaha. For a young kid, you sure know a lot, don't you?"

"Making a name for yourself and building ties with beautiful women is what all warriors who train in martial arts desire, isn't it?"

When he filled the wooden tub with hot water again, the warrior got into the tub and gently scraped his skin with a quartz stone.

Truly amazingly, the clear water quickly began to turn murky.

"Are you jealous of me?"

"Of course."

"How old did you say you were?"

"Fourteen this year."

"Do you want to make a name for yourself and build ties with beautiful women?"

Kang Yuseong shook his head vigorously.

"That's not it."

"Huh? Then why are you jealous of me?"

"You have the strength to save other people, don't you? That is what I envy."

"..."

The warrior silently continued to scrape with the quartz stone.

Without knowing why he was doing it, Kang Yuseong poured out his entire story.

"I wish I had the strength to protect my younger sisters. It torments me that I am too young and too weak right now."

"... How many sisters do you have?"

"Three."

"Yuseong, you're taking care of three all by yourself?"

"... Yes."

Kang Yuseong was surprising himself even as he told the story.

He hadn't even told this story to the guest house owner.

Because whenever he told such stories, the responses that always came back were mostly sympathy, pity, or blaming him for his foolishness.

He especially hated it the most when people told him to sell his young siblings and find a way to survive on his own.

And yet.

"Kid, you're admirable."

"...!"

The warrior chuckled while scrubbing away his grime.

For some reason, Kang Yuseong began shedding streams of tears.

"How did you make such an admirable resolve?"

"... Ahem, *sniff*. I-I promised my mother."

"Right, right. A real man of this age must take care of his precious people even if his body breaks, so that no regrets remain. ... My, the water has already gotten dirty. Please change the water."

"..."

Soaked in emotion, Kang Yuseong was about to burst into wailing tears when his feelings were suddenly cut off by the warrior's words.

This time too, pitch-black grime and shed skin-like things poured out. It was truly a fascinating body. Just how many times did he have to wash for such grime to keep coming out?

"Do you want to learn martial arts?"

"... Pardon?"

"Didn't you say you wanted to become stronger? Earning money and studying are also ways to become stronger, but aren't you telling me this story because you ultimately want to learn martial arts?"

"..."

Kang Yuseong's face flushed red with embarrassment.

Still, he decided to be shameless just this once.

"Yes! My dream is to definitely become a warrior like you."

"A warrior like me..."

Lost in thought for a moment, the warrior tilted his head and spoke.

"Do you know that I am from the Taiyi Sect?"

"Of course. That story is circulating all over Yueyang."

"You're well aware that the Taiyi Sect's martial arts are nothing special, right?"

He was very well aware.

Because that was also what people were surprised about these days.

"If you ever have the chance to join the Taiyi Sect, would you want to join?"

"Yes!"

"... I became like this through my own effort and luck, unable to borrow the power of my martial arts. This means that even if you actually learn the Taiyi Sect's martial arts, the path for you to become an expert might be distant."

"... Then can I become like you?"

"What?"

"I don't want to become an expert, I want to become like you."

SPLASH!

The warrior dropped the quartz stone and fumbled around in the water.

"Kid, you sure know how to say embarrassing things."

The warrior spoke no more.

Noticing that the warrior didn't want to converse anymore, Kang Yuseong just diligently changed the hot water.

Then, amazingly, the amount of grime and shed skin gradually began to decrease.

And when the warrior finished his bath and stepped out of the wooden tub, Kang Yuseong became dazed upon seeing the warrior's body.

He had a large frame, tall height, and a manly, massive build, but not a single ounce of flab could be seen.

In particular, his skin didn't show a single blemish, as if it belonged to a woman.

"Where are my clothes?"

"... Ah, h-here they are."

Kang Yuseong handed over the newly prepared black martial robes.

He put on some sort of silver garment inside his martial robes and then fully dressed in the black martial robes.

On his left arm, he wore a wrist guard adorned with a falcon claw decoration, and he equipped a black sword.

If his appearance when he first entered the Wolho guest house was like a ronin with a rough aura, right now he looked like a flawless, perfect young noble.

"Take this."

With that, he held out one tael of gold.

It was an immense amount that defied imagination for a tip, but for some reason, Kang Yuseong wasn't greatly pleased.

"... Is it not enough?"

"That's not it. It's just a shame thinking that I won't be able to see you anymore."

"What's there to be a shame about? We can just see each other at the Taiyi Sect."

"Pardon?"

"Didn't you say you wanted to join the Taiyi Sect? If you've made up your mind, use that to hire escorts and come to the Taiyi Sect with your sisters. If not, use the money to take good care of your sisters."

"... W-Warrior."

"Ah, of course, the Sect Leader will have to permit it, but... he will probably permit it."

The last remark wasn't very reassuring, but there was no time to care about such things.

Kang Yuseong broke the vow he had made to never cry again after his mother passed away and wept loudly for a long time.

* * *

I never dreamed I would meet Kang Yuseong at the Wolho guest house.

Sword Fanatic Kang Yuseong, the man who started as a waiter, grabbed a single sword, entered the deep mountains and remote valleys, and took the last seat among the Ten Swords of the World with the unique sword technique he created.

Since he looked similar and had the exact same name, I had my suspicions, but the moment I heard he had three younger sisters, I could be certain.

'You're mine.'

I wondered if I had completely altered the future of too incredible a talent, but still, he would probably do even better if he had a foundation.

"... If you move to the Taiyi Sect, you won't have to lose your sisters. And since you'll now inherit the true transmission known as the Taiyi True Scripture, it's not a bad choice for you either."

I hypnotized myself like that.

After experiencing the shedding of my mortal body through the Amitabha Holy Water, my entire body felt light enough to fly.

All the impurities that had accumulated inside my body throughout my life were expelled, and my insides became as clean as those of a newborn child.

Over that, the Taiyi True Scripture paved new paths, transforming my body into one perfectly suited for it, just like drawing a picture on paper.

At first, I felt awkward because my height and physique had changed, but that was only for a moment.

I soon realized that my current physical condition was the most ideal state for executing the Taiyi Sect's martial arts, including the Taiyi True Scripture.

"I'm jealous."

Namgung Seonhwa, who dropped by to say her goodbyes, clearly sensed the changes in my body even though I hadn't told her I drank the Amitabha Holy Water.

Unfortunately, the Amitabha Holy Water only yielded enough for one person, so there wasn't enough to give to the junior disciples of the Taiyi Sect, let alone Namgung Seonhwa.

"So this is the rumored Martial Bone Body."

"Do you know about the Martial Bone Body?"

"Of course. I came searching for the Amitabha Holy Water to achieve that very thing."

The Martial Bone Body was one of the constitutions with special characteristics, much like Wang Soso's Extreme Yang Body. Unlike other constitutions which were innate, the Martial Bone Body was a constitution that could only be achieved by undergoing the shedding of the mortal body through ceaseless training and enlightenment, or through the Amitabha Holy Water.

"It must be a shame."

I offered words of consolation, but Namgung Seonhwa didn't seem all that disappointed.

"... Well, since you drank it, it's fine."

"Pardon?"

"It's nothing. I heard from my brother. You said you decided to drop by the Namgung Clan?"

"It turned out that way."

"By any chance, would you like to join me when taking the standard exam?"

Although the standard exam for the Murim Academy was an individual test, they did not care if one brought along their clan, brought helpers, or if the examinees cooperated together.

Instead, those who held important positions in the Murim Alliance, those with a martial prowess of first-rate or higher, or alumni of the Murim Academy were forbidden from participating.

"I will probably participate leading one or two of the Cangqiong Squads."

"...?"

Considering the power of the Namgung Clan, leading at least five squads would still be lacking.

"There are family circumstances."

"... Ah."

The internal division within the Namgung Clan that occurred in my past life must have already begun.

"But since only the most elite personnel will be joining me, I think they will definitely be of help."

I thought for a moment before shaking my head.

"I'm sorry, Lady Seonhwa. I also have plans for this exam, so I think that will be difficult."

"... I suppose so."

Namgung Seonhwa nodded as if she understood.

We had roughly finished our goodbyes and had said all we needed to say to each other, yet Namgung Seonhwa didn't leave and was needlessly kicking the empty floor.

"... Um, can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead."

"By any chance... are you and Moran unnie..."

Namgung Seonhwa trailed off with a complex and subtle expression.

"Did something happen to Lady Seong?"

"..."

Opening and closing her mouth, Namgung Seonhwa shook her head vigorously and suddenly formed a fist-and-palm salute.

"It's nothing. Young Master Jin. Thank you so much for this time. I'll make sure to repay this favor someday."

* * *

After leaving the Wolho guest house, I headed first to Mount Guryong, located near the Southern Peak, rather than Hubei Province where the Zhuge Clan was located.

Because in order to bring Zhuge Cheongi to the Taiyi Sect, I needed money first.

Moreover, thanks to unintentionally obtaining good items from this incident, there was no need to go far to search for treasure.

Reaching the entrance of Mount Guryong, I pulled out a map from the library in my mind.

It was the place where Wolhyang, the concubine of the richest man in the Yue State, was buried—the very tomb that Du Cheongang of the Minor Orthodox Unit had harbored regrets over not being able to rob before his death.

Actually, we had been quite curious as to why a former thief like Du Cheongang had gone out of his way to join the Murim Alliance, but his story was quite the masterpiece.

Du Cheongang, who mainly looted the luxury goods high-ranking officials received as bribes, one day robbed a secret vault he thought one of the officials had hidden their slush fund in, only to find out it was the ancestral tomb of the Minister of Personnel's family.

Having robbed the tomb of such a family, officials across the country set everything aside and rushed at him like jiangshi, determined to sever this Du Cheongang's neck.

As a last resort to evade the eyes of the government forces, Du Cheongang had falsified his identity and joined the Murim Alliance as a low-ranking warrior.

Once he joined the Murim Alliance, Du Cheongang tried to entice those with excellent demon-subduing powers to rob Wolhyang's tomb.

But there was no way the Mount Heng Sect, the Mount Mao Sect, the Shaolin Sect, or the Wudang Sect would ever deal with a low-ranking warrior like Du Cheongang.

In the end, unable to rob Wolhyang's tomb, that bastard stayed in the Minor Orthodox Unit until he was dragged into the Great Orthodox-Demonic War, shedding tears every night while cursing his own fate.

"If Du's words are right, it should be around here."

As I examined the back of the waterfall halfway up Mount Guryong, I saw a narrow entrance through the fiercely pouring water.

It was a naturally rugged terrain with not a single foothold, as if rejecting human footsteps.

I fired the Flying Dragon Claw at a slightly higher spot, grabbed its line, and leaped in.

SWISH!

Passing through the waterfall and squeezing my body through the small hole, a large space appeared inside.

When I lit the torch I had prepared, the inside of the cave gradually began to reveal itself.

The cave, which seemed untouched by human hands, started showing artificial signs the deeper I went, and at the end of the cave, one side was carved out like a massive pavilion.

"Found it."

The inside of the pavilion was decorated as a tomb.

The only problem was that both the spot where the coffin should have been and the places for the belongings the deceased used in life were completely empty, filled only with cobwebs.

"He said there was a mechanism around here."

Because he would endlessly talk about robbing Wolhyang's tomb whenever he drank, I could find the mechanism at once even though it was my first time seeing it.

RUMBLE, RUMBLE! THUD! BANG!

As expected, the wall was pushed to one side, and a door opened halfway.

Inside the door lay a narrow passage just wide enough for two people to enter, and the passage was littered with broken arrows and thick spikes protruding from the floor.

"They said everyone could get in this far."

There were already traces of someone having come and gone along the path to the secret room.

I activated the World-Pacing Lone Divine Steps I obtained at the Demonic Spirit Plateau.

Although my achievement was still only at the first stage, that alone was enough.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

SWISH, SWISH, SWISH!

Only after I had already passed through did the mechanisms trigger, with spikes shooting up from the floor and arrows firing from all directions.

"They said none under heaven could match it, and it certainly lives up to its name."

After marveling at the divine might of the World-Pacing Lone Divine Steps for a moment, I turned my body and stepped into the space, my eyes flying wide open.

"Ho ho."

Night-luminescent pearls were densely embedded in the ceiling like stars, and inside the room, huge piles of gold, silver, and treasures shone brilliantly as they caught the light of the pearls.

I could understand why Du Cheongang was so full of regret whenever he drank.

"It was true."

While I was examining a few of the treasures like that, the skeletons piled up on one side of the room sent a chill down my spine.

"So most of them were buried here."

Skeletons that clearly belonged to humans.

And not just one or two, but a grave of skeletons formed by quite a large number.

"Judging by this, it seems quite a lot of people came here but couldn't leave."

Right then.

An ominous sound rang out.

CLANK! CLANK!

My head turned toward one side of the space.

CLANK! CLANK!

The reason why Du Cheongang had to walk out empty-handed even with hundreds of millions of gold worth of treasure right before his eyes.

CLANK! CLANK!

-Heeheeheeheeheeheeheehee!

The reason why he tempted Daoists and monks to rob the tomb with him, even while enduring all sorts of humiliation in the Murim Alliance.

"Show yourself!"

It was precisely because of the powerful ghost guarding this tomb.

-Is a thief acting like the master?!

I had heard the Demonic Cult's Radiant Heaven Roar before, but this was my first time hearing a voice thick with such intense demonic qi.

My spirit was shaken, my heart pounded, and my body began to stiffen.

CLANK! CLANK!

-To enter this place, you must have no fear.

Along with the sound of clashing metal, a woman possessing a beauty hard to believe belonged to the mortal world slowly walked out, wearing nothing on her naked body but splendid treasures of gold and silver.