Chapter 69: Chapter 69

Chapter 69: Cheers of Support

After submitting application, returned straight to inn.

Seonghwa Inn where we stay was famous even in Kaifeng—food delicious, guest rooms comfortable—nothing lacking for family's long stay.

And befitting such inn, beggars set up camp in front.

"Leftover food is also good. Seonghwa Inn food means luxury."

Some kindhearted guest threw several chicken pieces from carried container—hwiik, one beggar jumped up skillfully catching it, making guest's eyes widen.

"Hehehe, to eat and live, this much is basic."

That level of movement technique isn't just eating and living—truly fitting place with Beggar's Gang headquarters.

Unable to contain admiration, returning to our room—

"Jayeong, what are you doing?"

Jayeong was busy with hands on focus book.

"Your handiwork is better than mine?"

"Then hold this side."

Focus book had several sheets tied with string unfolding like screen—untying string separates into individual sheets.

Jayeong was now tying separated sheets to baby basket's middle handle.

"Book wasn't visible well to lying Taebok."

Intended to place where Taebok could see well.

"Done. Taebok, can you see well?"

I'm also curious—can he see this? Since opened eyes, can he recognize? Do stars, squares, circles attract baby's interest?

Heee—he smiles. Smiling seeing this, or just natural baby expression?

One thing certain—seeing Taebok, we couple also smile.

"Taebok, are you interested? Is it fun?"

"Agu, seems like he's looking."

Watching where Taebok's gaze goes, we also tilted heads sideways.

"This kind of thing exists. We really don't know much."

"Indeed. Branch Leader paid attention."

Didn't know when first receiving, but looking more, a thoughtful gift—he's the person becoming Rogues' Guild Leader. Even from gifts, capability seemed to show.

Thinking so—ppallak, tied paper fell onto Taebok.

Though just light paper so couldn't hurt—parents just get surprised.

"It's okay. Just need to remove. Not even crying—"

Paper floated into midair.

Wait—when I told him to move leaf at home, couldn't he not do it?

"Now he moves things!"

Jayeong's voice more surprised than mine.

His own body, let's say—body itself resonates with natural energy. I also operate Xun Trigram Technique that way.

But objects? Even if light, this is tremendous thing—doesn't it look like psychokinesis? Though principle differs since not using inner power, result is similar.

The floating paper trembled—bureurereu—then sank slightly downward.

Jayeong and I unknowingly clasped hands.

"Taebok, you can do it!"

"You can, just one paper you can float!"

Actually nonsense—isn't he a newborn not even one month old? Natural he can't fly.

However—bureurereu, bureurereu, paper floats again.

Floating! Floating! Our Taebok is doing it!

I made sounds never made in my life.

"Mom supports you! You can do it! Jin Taebok! Jin Taebok!"

Jayeong was absorbed in cheering.

Taebok resonating with our intentions finally succeeded flying paper beside basket.

Below that, the kid's displeased expression was revealed.

Narrowed brow, lips clenched tight—didn't cry. Just displeased from difficulty.

"Do newborns also have such expressions?"

Resonance is mutual—Taebok's mood transmitted.

"Seems quite annoyed."

"We probably got too excited."

Sorry, sorry—just because you did well. No other meaning. You know father's heart?

"Now, father will retie focus book. Will tie carefully and well."

Earlier told Jayeong to do it, but feeling sorry, I stepped up—picking up fallen paper tying well to basket handle.

This time checked many times so won't fall.

"You dis falling upward, right? Not because of mom and dad?"

Naturally, Taebok can't understand words. Just—

"Ah, seems he pooped."

"This is the answer?"

Lovable—self-expression must be clear. Mm, mm.

Thanks to Cotton Armor Master's activity, poop smell quickly disappeared.

"Baby not even one month yet, but natural energy operation is really growing fast."

"Thought maybe. But when practicing at home, didn't work."

After Jayeong thought briefly, she spoke.

"Probably should keep it secret?"

"Naturally. Nothing good from early revelation."

Already complicated—how many curious people would swarm? To avoid them all, might need to seclude in deep mountains.

"Taebok, this is secret. Understand? Only do when father says?"

We were sharing secrets with Taebok.

"Ink Sword Great Hero applied to instructor selection competition?"

In back alley of Kaifeng Great Market, one elder tilted head.

At one glance, elder of extraordinary appearance—ears easily three times normal people's size, earlobes hanging to shoulders.

Plus long white hair throughout ears—like wings attached to head. Truly overwhelming ears.

This elder was Divine Ear Great Elder who synthesized all information entering Beggar's Gang.

And beggar shacks lined in Kaifeng Great Market's back alley were precisely what the world calls Beggar's Gang headquarters.

"Brought whole family entering. Now applying to instructor selection?"

"Perhaps thinking to move to Kaifeng?"

One gang member offered opinion while catching and crushing bedbugs.

"Will you burst like that bedbug?"

"Must think before speaking. After causing that chaos in Luoyang, now made it his front yard—why move? Think making own territory is easy work?"

"Ayu, you tell me to give opinion, so I gave opinion, but getting angry..."

"That's not opinion!"

Divine Ear Great Elder corrected—with leopard-like movement, kicked gang member's bottom.

"Even hearing Luoyang Sub-branch Leader Swift Wind's report, not that kind of person. Said person changed not wanting to be bound by anything. Yet noble clan district? Doesn't make sense."

"Ayayaya... But does person change easily? Can do things briefly not done before, but doesn't ultimately return to original self?"

Was somewhat correct—people changing truly isn't easy.

The subordinate rubbing bottom continued speaking, perhaps wanting recovery.

"Overturned Luoyang, so might rather want to rest. Becoming noble clan district instructor—perfect for passing time teaching kids. Thinking so, bringing whole family also explains. That district interior is also good for raising children."

However, Great Elder didn't judge hastily—because what Jin Yeomyeong did in Luoyang was too bold.

Doing such things then resting tired? Possible but hardly believable.

"Anyway, Kaifeng is our backyard. Whatever Ink Sword Great Hero tries doing, can't do regardless of us."

"What's he doing now?"

Another gang member reported—the beggar whose movement technique was exceptional seeing in front of inn.

Even while snatching chicken, his eyes didn't miss Jin Yeomyeong. Thıs text ıs hosted at ɴovelfire.net

"Heard shouting going 'kkieee.'"

"And through window saw Jin Yeomyeong bouncing around."

Geukjeokgeukjeok*—Divine Ear Great Elder scratched his head.

What was Ink Sword Hero doing?

Next day, Kaifeng's market streets were bustling with the instructor selection.

"As expected, they're holding selection competition again."

"At times , they show off power. Always pick martial arts instructors through competition."

"Will it be worth watching? Most recently wasn't very interesting."

"Hehehe, this time the matchups are quite good!"

"What? Who's coming?"

Already excited about watching, one gambler stepped forward.

"First, there's Maksan Swordsman. If you're from Kaifeng, you've heard that name?"

"Of course! Rising swordsman, isn't he?"

"Fame and skill are outstanding. Even heard someone like Samcheomdao Jeon Jayang follows Maksan Swordsman."

One among listeners tilted his head.

"Then won't Maksan Swordsman win easily?"

At those words, the gambler showed all his teeth.

"No! A tremendous master got involved."

"Master from Luoyang—Ink Sword Great Hero."

However, contrary to the gambler's confident claims, people's reactions were lukewarm.

"Huh? Why are you all like that?"

"Ink Sword Great Hero is false fame."

The man who answered continued speaking.

"Right, rumors about that person are hard to believe."

People gathered heads toward the man claiming false fame.

"What kind of rumors to be like that? Tell us."

"First, wiped out ten-plus Black Path sects hiding in Luoyang in just fifteen days."

"Huh? How to wipe out ten-plus sects in fifteen days? Doesn't make sense?"

"That's why. But doesn't stop there. Didn't he defeat Murim Alliance Luoyang Branch Leader in a duel?"

"Murim Alliance? Isn't Alliance White Path? Why fight White Path?"

"Also doesn't make sense? But that's not the end. He rooted out Demonic Cult behind Black Path."

"Mm? Fought Black Path, then White Path, then Demonic Cult? Ey, doesn't make sense! Is that one person's doing?!"

Everyone nodded in unison—the story was simply unbelievable.

The gambler interjected again.

"No way! I know because I have a friend in Luoyang! That friend said he smashed the gambling house he attended!"

However, people's minds were already firm.

"Enough! You believe Ink Sword Great Hero all you want."

The annoyed gambler rolled his eyes.

"I'm betting everything on Ink Sword Great Hero. Will make big money this time and quit gambling."

People burst into laughter—wakjahani.

"Sure you will. No matter how I hear it, Maksan Swordsman is better."

"This friend only bets on losses, so he goes broke."

"Look here, Hong, I'll do the opposite of you!"

The gambler burst into guffaws not yielding to people—wahahahaha.

"This time I'll win! Ink Sword Great Hero! Give me strength! Give me strength!"

Hong didn't know—the tall man walking beside him with slight smile—that he was Luoyang's Ink Sword Great Hero who would shake up this selection competition.