Chapter 72: Chapter 72

Chapter 72: A Familiar Stench

Could this grudge possibly be trivial?

The long fight against the Demonic Cult.

Battling one skirmish after another often meant we couldn't stop at villages. In those times, we had to make do with preserved rations.

I had just picked up my satchel, which I'd carelessly thrown aside before a fight.

- Hmm? Why is my jerky missing?

- Hey, Brother Jang. That jerky?

- Hmm? What are you talking about? Did you write your name on the jerky?

- My wife made my jerky, so its color and scent are different. Isn't that mine?

- Oh, your wife made it? I'm sorry, I ate it all.

- I-I’m sorry. I didn't know it was something like that. If I had known, I wouldn't have eaten it.

- Divine Fist Beggar. If you're a member of the Beggar's Gang, act like one. You could have just asked me to share.

- You didn't say anything, so how is that begging?

- I was just a bit late in saying it. Hehet.

My self-control was useless back then. As I charged at him with Mukheun, the surrounding martial artists had to stop me.

The funny thing was that other martial artists had also had their food stolen. When they charged at him, I was the one who stopped them.

The shameless beggar who created that situation was none other than Jang Gangcheon.

This guy, now standing before me on the sparring stage dressed in a white robe.

“Jang Gangcheon, the Divine Fist Beggar, youngest disciple of the Dragon Head Gang Leader.”

“What? How did you know that?”

“Some smells can't be washed away, no matter how much you scrub.”

“What? I washed so much, though.”

“No. The stench of a thief.”

“There is such a thing.”

Jang Gangcheon tilted his head.

“A moment ago you were glaring, and now you call me a thief. Ink Sword Great Hero, are you perhaps confusing me with someone else?”

I remember that shameless face that stole and ate food all too well.

After eating so well and fighting, didn't he become a vice-gang leader at a young age in ten years, and wasn't he even considered a candidate for the next gang leader?

“I didn't recognize you at first because I've only seen your dirty face. But the way you pounce on food is still the same.”

“Only seen my dirty face? Have we met before?”

“I meant I saw a poorly drawn wanted poster of you.”

It was nonsensical gibberish I spewed out randomly.

But there was indeed a huge gap between his usual dirty beggar appearance and his current form in a white robe.

The robe made him look even more ridiculous.

“A beggar hiding his identity just by washing his face.”

So the members of the Beggar's Gang can do this too.

A simple face wash had the effect of a disguise.

At my last words, Jang Gangcheon let out a groan.

He was flustered until just now, but his spirit hadn't broken.

What part of my words?

“Hiding your identity.”

“Wearing clean clothes.”

“Using utensils neatly.”

He's ashamed of his own appearance?

Most people are ashamed when their dirty appearance is exposed.

Jang Gangcheon was the complete opposite.

I'd found the point of shame for this shameless man.

“It was just for information gathering. I had no other intention.”

He waved his hands, trying to act nonchalant.

An opportunity to repay my grudge has appeared right before my eyes.

“Really? If you're so confident, I'll reveal your identity in front of everyone.”

“You said you were confident, didn't you?”

Jang Gangcheon’s eyes turned toward the crowd.

People had been concentrating intently, wondering what we were talking about on the sparring stage for so long.

“N-no! I can't reveal my clean self in front of so many people. Anything but that, please!”

The moment his identity was revealed to me, his weakness was caught.

“Then there is one other way out.”

“Your eyes look strange. What way out?”

Jang Gangcheon's face twisted strangely.

“It's fine, it's fine. Just lose the duel to me.”

“Huh? If it's something like that. Since I'm caught anyway……. I'll go down gracefully.”

“What are you talking about.”

Did you say gracefully?

That's the key point.

“What do you want me to do.”

“Just take enough of a beating to make me look good.”

“That's… are you blackmailing me with my weakness?”

“You clean Beggar's Gang member.”

But Jang Gangcheon resisted stubbornly.

“Still, what's not possible is not possible!”

No matter what, he was a martial artist.

It wouldn't be easy to accept a proposal to just stand there and get hit.

But I had another bait.

“Look, they are picking two instructors now. The winner of the previous match, and the winner between you and me.”

“If you do as I say, I will recommend you for the other instructor position, besides me.”

“What are you talking about? What about the winner of the previous match? He's the one who gets it. Didn't you just say that yourself?”

“That man has grounds for disqualification.”

“Grounds for disqualification?”

At that moment, jeers erupted from among the spectators.

“What are they doing! Why are the two of them standing so close and whispering like that!”

The official in charge of the event also came up onto the sparring stage.

“Please do not delay any longer. It's taking too much time.”

I quickly threw a punch at Jang Gangcheon.

“There's no time, so I'll skip the detailed explanation.”

He pretended to block half-heartedly, but he conspicuously revealed an opening.

With a loud crack, my fist exploded on his jaw.

The sound of an old grudge being released.

Crack, thud, thwack, smack.

Jerky, raw rice, grain pills, dried fruit.

The more I think about it, the more he stole and ate.

I planted fist after fist, with appropriately controlled power, into his face.

“Stop it! Why are you hitting me so much!”

“Because you stole and ate a lot!”

“What are you talking about?”

I moved my hands even faster.

Before my regression, I had never hit a member of the Beggar's Gang.

The Beggar's Gang was a White Path sect, and I too belonged to the Alliance, so it was natural.

But now, I was gleefully beating up a disciple who was next in line for Gang Leader.

His hard face turned left and right.

The feel of my fists was considerable.

I couldn't hold back and put more strength into it, pulling my fist back.

Jang Gangcheon’s eyes widened.

“What are you doing now?”

“A past grudge with a present fist!”

“So why do you have a grudge-”

He couldn't finish his sentence.

Jang Gangcheon, who had taken a proper blow, fell off the sparring stage.

“Hoo. With this, the grudge is settled.”

Ah, I feel at ease now.

I guess revenge is something you should live to carry out. Refreshing. My insides feel so refreshed.

Wondering if he was seriously hurt, I looked down.

He was shaking his head and getting up, spitting out blood-mixed saliva.

“Damn it, that hurts like hell.”

That should be enough.

“Alright, that’s all!”

The event official came forward.

“The winners of all the matches have been decided!”

Following his declaration, the cheers of the spectators erupted.

“Wow! The Ink Sword Great Hero is truly overwhelming!”

“He defeated the Maksan Swordsman and the martial artist called Iron Fist all one-sidedly!”

“But what did he talk about with Iron Fist? Could they have rigged the match?”

“Rigged? What kind of rigging involves getting beaten up like that!”

Jang Gangcheon’s face was swollen red and blue.

Even those who had suspected rigging shook their heads after seeing his face. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novel fire.net

“Who was it? Who said Iron Fist would win? I should have bet on the Ink Sword Great Hero!”

“I did! I bet on the Ink Sword Great Hero and turned my life around!”

As fates were decided, groans and cheers erupted from all over.

The winner of the previous match was a martial artist named Yi Haksang.

And I became the winner after him.

“Ink Sword Great Hero, please come up to the sparring stage for the winner's announcement.”

The person who spoke was not the martial artist who had been officiating until now.

“Is someone else handling the winner's announcement?”

“Yes. I am a clerk who handles documents. There is something to be done right after the announcement.”

What could a clerk have to do at the winner's announcement of a duel?

Anyway, I followed him back up onto the sparring stage.

“Behold, the two winners of today's instructor selection tournament!”

The clerk shouted at the top of his lungs.

The spectators cheered in unison.

Those who had lost big money must have already left.

The remaining people had either won money thanks to the winners or were simply spectators.

“Ink Sword Great Hero Jin Yeomyeong from Luoyang!”

Compared to Yi Haksang standing next to me, the cheers for me were overwhelmingly louder.

“We have seen the esteemed skill of the Sword Hero well!”

“Now, become the Ink Sword Great Hero of Kaifeng!”

“Right! Settle down in Kaifeng altogether!”

I waved briefly to the people and turned my body toward the Virtuous Mothers' Association's seats.

“Then we will now recite the contract.”

Is this why the clerk came out?

But usually, things are drawn up separately after the tournament ends.

I understood the reason as soon as I heard the first clause.

“First, you shall not speak of anything you see or hear inside the complex. Anyone who violates this is one who has forsaken righteousness as a martial artist. Do you agree?”

The thin curtain that concealed the Virtuous Mothers' Association beyond fluttered in the wind.

To ask for agreement while mentioning ‘righteousness’.

What does maintaining the secrecy of the complex have to do with righteousness?

But what if the tournament winner agrees in front of so many people?

From that moment on, it becomes related.

A martial artist cannot break a word given with their righteousness on the line.

If they break it, the reputation they've built over a lifetime will plummet to the ground.

I was wondering how they maintained secrecy.

So this is the method they've been using for outside martial artists who become instructors.

This was a form of pressure.

Pressure to accept the rules of the Virtuous Mothers' Association in front of everyone watching.

It meant you could enter if you did, or stay outside if you didn't.

The man named Yi Haksang standing next to me even nodded as he agreed.

Now that he's inside, he will follow all the other rules of the Virtuous Mothers' Association.

After Yi Haksang finished his answer, the clerk looked at me.

I don't want to agree to those words that carelessly mention ‘righteousness’.

But to enter the complex, I have to accept those words.

“Ink Sword Great Hero? Wh-what?”

The clerk stuttered and took a step back.

Mukheun's cry grew louder.

“What are you doing! Ink Sword Great Hero!”

“Why are you drawing your sword!”

The family warriors of the Virtuous Mothers' Association also sensed something was wrong and swarmed in front of the curtain.

“Because Mukheun has always been the answer.”

People's gazes were fixed on Mukheun.

Beside me, Yi Haksang was stealthily backing away.

“There is something I must reveal in front of everyone.”

“Someone has participated in this martial arts tournament while hiding their identity.”

Below the stage, Jang Gangcheon’s mouth fell open.

“Hey. Ink Sword Great Hero?”

“It is an utterly outrageous affair. To think an unidentified person has infiltrated an event to select an instructor for a noble family's complex!”

“Ink Sword Hero, just a moment. Didn't I take quite a beating? I'm someone who's never been beaten anywhere.”

“It is a matter that must be revealed and punished in front of all people. Yes! That is what should be done!”

“Punished? Punished just for washing up?”

“Exterminate the Demonic Cult!”

With a single shout, I launched Mukheun at Yi Haksang.

Demonic Cult members must be exterminated.