Chapter 67: Chapter 67

Chapter 67: Kaifeng Rogues' Guild

Jayeong and I headed toward where the shouts were heard.

"Look there. Merchants are slammed on the ground."

"Right. Seems like that group's doing."

Several merchants rolled on the ground, with one fruit vendor surrounded by some group before his stall.

Just recently Luoyang's appearance.

Thought Kaifeng would be different?

The group's shouts were heard.

"Didn't I say to prepare top-quality watermelon!"

"Madam Jeong wants it!"

The group seemed to be servants of someone called Madam Jeong.

Murmuring sounds from surroundings were heard.

"No, what watermelon in this season?"

"All a scheme. A scheme."

"Making impossible demands like that, then later using it as pretext to beat down prices."

"Damn. Great houses are worse."

"Anyway, if only it weren't Madam Jeong's household, could do business with peace of mind."

Fortunately, different from Luoyang.

Kaifeng market street's trouble was one person—Madam Jeong.

The fruit vendor waved hands protesting.

"Even importing from south of Yangtze River, top quality is difficult. Would spoil on the way—how to prepare top quality?"

"That's what makes you a merchant!"

Kkumteul—it was Jayeong.

I felt it. This is right before explosion.

A heroine who spent days protecting common people as Rogues' Guild member—her steel abacus was about to fly.

"Wait. Jayeong, wait."

"They're not even martial artists. Can't hit them."

"No. Just hit appropriately."

Following logic, that's so—but doesn't seem like she'll stop at appropriate hitting.

The feeling of body itching unable to endure.

Left , might cause big accident.

"First let's curse. Isn't tongue faster than fist?"

"That cursing, can I try once?"

"What? You can curse?"

New life has new learning—opportunity to refine cursing.

At Master Dongpae's estate, got scolded for unnecessarily cursing parents.

Will make up for that.

"If it seems strange, please guide and correct."

Leaving still-doubting Jayeong behind, I stepped forward.

Madam Jeong's subordinates looked my way.

"You say there's no watermelon. The season is old pumpkin, so tell her to eat that!"

Watermelon and pumpkin—hard outside, soft inside. Aren't they similar?

Looking at Jayeong, she pursed lips in circle raising thumb.

I recalled several next curses choosing one among them.

"What on earth is Madam Jeong's mouth? Top-quality watermelon in this season—saying nonsensical things, trying to eat nonsensical things, so not a mouth but anus, isn't it?"

Then looking at Jayeong again—

"This also isn't it?"

"Isn't it bit vulgar for you? Words are too long too."

"Didn't cursing need to be vulgar?"

"Also differs depending on who does it."

Ah—curses one can use differ by user?

"Whew, cursing's world is too difficult. Will strive, strive more." Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on novèlfire.net

"No need to strive that far..."

However, contrary to Jayeong's reaction, the vulgar curse's effect was tremendous.

"A-anus? Did he just say anus to Madam Jeong?"

"There's such a crazy bastard!"

"Where's Samcheomdao? Show that fellow a lesson!"

The group intimidating the fruit vendor all turned toward me.

Seeing Mukheun at my waist, they searched for someone called Samcheomdao.

Right—swords are easier for me than cursing too.

"Where's Samcheomdao? Come out quickly showing me a lesson!"

The gruff fellow walking out confidently looked at me strangely.

"What the hell are you saying?"

Then Jayeong shot from beside—tok.

"What does it matter what he's saying? Between martial artists, do words matter?"

Thanks for helping, wife.

The gruff fellow had a three-pointed blade with long handle on his back—seems alias followed weapon.

He scanned us couple.

"Do you know whose mouth you spoke about? Madam Jeong. She firmly controls Kaifeng's commercial world."

Many named Jeong, yet saying Madam Jeong, everyone seems to know.

Firmly controlling Kaifeng's commercial world—makes me think she's someone Golden Cloud Trading should contact.

Ey, doesn't matter—Captain Zhu Hochong wouldn't work with owners of such people anyway.

We drove out such fellows in Luoyang.

"Right, outsider. So doesn't matter to me."

"Really? Then shall I hear your esteemed great name?"

"Called Ink Sword Hero Jin Yeomyeong. Yours?"

"Ink Sword Hero? From Luoyang?"

Samcheomdao didn't introduce himself, suddenly narrowing eyes staring at me intently.

"Hmm. So you're that fellow?"

"Heard false fame transmitted from Luoyang."

"Can't believe at all. Smashing ten-plus Black Path sects in fifteen days, rooting out Demonic Cult hidden in Alliance—how much exaggeration to transmit such rumors?"

Then pointing finger at me:

"Think Kaifeng martial artists will fall for such empty rumors? Came crawling here after making some name in dying Luoyang?"

He was now comparing Luoyang and Kaifeng speaking.

Could this be... that thing I never experienced before regression?

Holding expectations, I waited for next words.

Before regression, belonging to Alliance and active, so never directly experienced it—but appeared frequently in other martial artists' stories!

This time Jayeong looked at me strangely.

"Local hostility! Regional hostility! Regional martial artists firmly maintaining relationships excluding martial artists from outside—that hostility!"

"That's not it—why are you happy about that?"

"I'm happy. New life has new experiences! Once is fine, isn't it?"

"So? Since it's new experience, how is it?"

"Experiencing directly, indeed trashy and petty."

"Eee... I told you lately strange."

Even when coming to Luoyang—Alliance sent me, and I lost duels beforehand bowing entering, so no big hostility.

"What! Trashy and petty?!"

"Exactly that. Very grateful, Samcheomdao."

"Hostility?! As Kaifeng martial artist, I'm just filtering out outside trash!"

"We decided to call that hostility."

"Kwaak! This bastard from earlier! Only spouting strange words!"

Samcheomdao rushed in—his imposing skill was—

Or did I get too strong too fast?

Every single punch he threw was too slow—footwork too.

I didn't drag time—the moment his slow fist approached again:

Ppeobeobeobeobeobeok—total six punch strikes exploded at head, shoulders, waist, ear, nose, ear.

Samcheomdao staggered dazed from ear strikes then lay on ground as is.

"U-ugh? What just now...?"

Unable to grasp what happened, he painfully raised head.

"I admit my words are strange. There are circumstances."

"But your action doing Madam Jeong's cleanup as martial artist is fine?"

Samcheomdao tried protesting but—ppaak—Jayeong struck down with steel abacus burying his head in ground again.

"Uh... Wife, I hit softly. Put mercy in my hands."

Didn't something shattering sound occur? Here limbs are twitching now.

Feeling my gaze, Jayeong stuck out tongue smiling.

"This person is martial artist, right? Don't need to hit appropriately."

"Your words are right but..."

"To hostility, greet ."

Learn, learn—new life has new learning.

Stored well the knowledge Jayeong taught.

"Samcheomdao Jeon Jayang got one-sidedly beaten!"

Madam Jeong's subordinates started fleeing hurriedly—since not martial artists, didn't particularly chase.

"Amazing! Samcheomdao in just few moves!"

"What's that person's alias and name?"

"Ink Sword Hero from Luoyang!"

Merchants gathered around us two.

"Um, Hero Couple! At least take these fruits!"

Plums suddenly entered from beside.

Pancakes and dumplings also entered.

"These clothes, wouldn't they suit the Hero Couple?"

Huh? Even clothes coming in.

"Our bookstore has baby books. Look and take anything you like freely."

First decline everything else.

"We're traveling, so we can't take things. Will only visit the bookstore, so other folks please keep them."

Then asked just in case:

"Didn't we cause trouble making things big needlessly?"

"No. Whether you intervene or not, nothing changes. Rather, feels refreshing!"

After waving hands at clinging merchants, we headed to bookstore.

"This way. Please enter."

Ears hurt from merchants' cheers—but everyone stepped back entering bookstore.

"Whew. Became quiet."

Ancient books were tightly stuck in lined bookshelves—fragrance from books calmed even the heart.

"Baby books. What's that?"

Jayeong immediately showed interest in baby books the bookstore owner mentioned.

Opening the booklet he offered showed black-white patterns of stars, squares, circles regularly arranged.

Newborns gradually develop eyesight—looking at these patterns helps development while focusing and is also fun.

"Let's get this. How much?"

"Ayu. It's fine. So exhilarating seeing you beat Jeon Jayang earlier, hehehe."

The aged owner smiled warmly wrinkling his face fully.

We also responded to his smile with smiles.

All three erased smiles.

There are people whose impression greatly differs when smiling versus not—the owner was so.

Thick deep wrinkles seemed like scars obtained breaking through years.

Deeply shining two eyes seemed like war veterans surveying battlefields.

Jayeong opened mouth first.

"You're Kaifeng Branch Leader."

Right—this elder was precisely Rogues' Guild's Kaifeng Branch Leader.

"Right. Called Kaifeng Branch Leader Han Sanha."

He looked at steel abacus in Jayeong's hand and Mukheun at my waist.

"Iron Bead, the Guild Leader's sister? This side is husband."

"Ink Sword Hero Jin Yeomyeong."

We clasped hands greeting.

"Did you know from the start I'm Branch Leader?"

"Though you didn't mention baby existing, you told us to buy baby books. You gave signal, so couldn't not know."

"As expected, Iron Bead."

"Heard you refused support from Guild members outside Kaifeng. But I'm the Guild Leader's younger sister. You can trust me, right?"

I left conversation to Jayeong examining Branch Leader.

Han Sanha—thought he'd be younger.

Though only I know now—this elder, before regression, was the Rogues' Guild Leader after Jayeong's brother died.

From him flowed stories about Rogues' Guild Leader's disappearance.