Chapter 73: Chapter 73

Chapter 73: Listen to What Must Be Heard, Say What Must Be Said

I caught a familiar stench at the meal where all the participants had gathered.

It was not the musty smell of a beggar.

When I provoked Jang Gangcheon by calling him a Demonic Cult follower, a very faint scent of demonic arts had flowed out.

That nauseatingly sweet scent was recognizable no matter when or where I smelled it.

Moreover, the Eight Trigram Unity Technique was the best in the world at detecting demonic arts.

“Exterminate the Demonic Cult!”

I thrust my sword toward Yi Haksang, the winner of the previous match.

The one who exuded a faint scent of demonic arts.

“Keuk! You White Path bastard.”

Yi Haksang did not back down and thrust out his sword.

Sword clashed against sword, creating a sharp, piercing sound.

And at the same time.

Yi Haksang's clothes were torn in an instant.

“Beast Meridian again? Right, this time what kind of beast—, oh?”

So this one showed up? ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel✦fire.net

There can't be many of these even in the Beast Meridian.

The pangolin, called an ‘armadillo’ in the local language, was a beast that had hard scales covering its entire body like armor, except for its belly which was close to the ground.

Yi Haksang was the same.

His bulk had grown larger, which was to be expected.

When he spun his sword once, I saw that scales had risen all over his body, except for the front.

“What? You recognize this form?”

Among the followers of the Beast Meridian Demonic Cult, there are those who take the power of rare and unusual beasts.

I had fought against a pangolin a few times during the great war.

It’s not something to brag about, but.

I was probably the person who had slain the most types of beasts from the Beast Meridian.

At that time, we created a booklet called the Beast Meridian Demonic Beast Illustrated Guide and recorded the demonic beasts we had fought and won against.

The original intention was to share methods to deal with them, but it also became a small source of joy during the grueling war.

- Ahh! I don't have a pangolin! Why? Why don't I have one?

- Zhuge Sheng, you can't help it. You're often busy planning strategies.

- Jeheon, then why don't you have one?

- ……That's what I'm saying. Among us, only Yeomyeong has collected them. Is it because he's the Demon-Subjugating Vanguard?

- Jeheon, Sheng. Why do you two care about such things?

“Come out, all of you! I'll exterminate you all!”

I thrust forward rapidly with Mukheun.

Chaeng, chaeng, chaeng, tak.

Yi Haksang blocked the successive thrusts, but at some point, it became too much for him, and he deflected Mukheun with the scales on his body.

It was the exact same fighting style as the pangolin Demonic Cult follower from my memories.

“How's that! Even your Ink Sword cannot pierce these scales.”

When I encountered these guys, the level of my Li Trigram Technique, which handled fire energy, was high.

So I just roasted them whole in fire.

Scales and all were useless.

But now, the achievement of my Li Trigram Technique isn't at that level.

“Then I'll just deal with you using the Xun Trigram Technique.”

After reaching enlightenment in the Eight Trigram Unity Technique, I had been honing my old skills.

Each Trigram Technique utilizes the energy of nature. Depending on the growth of the Trigram Technique, one can create simple natural phenomena.

The old skill was to incorporate natural phenomena into combat.

First, I thrust in with Mukheun.

“Such a foolish trick—, huh?”

I moved the natural energy to create wind.

A gust of wind swirled around Mukheun and deflected Yi Haksang's sword.

It was a technique of wrapping wind around Mukheun to deflect or strike away the opponent's weapon.

Mukheun dug into the part of his shoulder that had no scales.

A scream burst from Yi Haksang's mouth.

The man quickly pulled his body back to minimize the damage.

So winning the selection tournament without revealing his demonic arts was due to his original skill.

“You bastard! Don't think you've won with a single attack!”

A demonic energy, a mixture of purple and black, began to rise from Yi Haksang’s sword.

There is a price to pay for defecting to the Demonic Cult and for learning demonic arts. Most of the time, it is the lives of others.

The demonic energy created by harming countless lives was before me.

Yi Haksang’s sword, imbued with demonic energy, flew toward me like an arrow.

My response was simple.

I held up Mukheun, which was infused with the Eight Trigram Unity Technique.

Then, I gathered as much wind as I could, and at the moment our swords touched.

I released it all at once.

With a powerful explosion, Yi Haksang’s sword shook violently.

“That amount of demonic energy is not enough.”

While Yi Haksang was steadying his shaken sword with his inner energy.

Mukheun entered and exited the Demonic Cult follower’s body several times.

“Keuk! Keu, keueuk. Keuak! Kuaaak!”

Each time Mukheun pierced his body, blood spurted, and his body lost its movement.

In the end, he fell to his knees and prostrated on the ground.

Perfectly positioned to have his head chopped off.

I stood there, looking down at the groaning Yi Haksang.

The Virtuous Mothers' Association was behind me. I could feel their gazes.

“Do you see? He is a Demonic Cult follower.”

Both the Virtuous Mothers' Association's side and the spectators' side became noisy.

At least the Virtuous Mothers' Association whispered amongst themselves, but the spectators outright shouted.

“The Demonic Cult trying to infiltrate a noble family's complex?”

“How did the Ink Sword Great Hero find out!”

“If it weren't for me, this Demonic Cult follower would have entered the complex. As an instructor, no less.”

I didn't miss the opportunity to ‘advertise’ myself.

I had no intention of signing a contract on this spot.

Nevertheless, I was letting the Virtuous Mothers' Association know the value of the Ink Sword Hero so they would make a contract with me.

“The Ink Sword Hero. The man who executed Demonic Cult followers in Luoyang. Specialized in exterminating the Demonic Cult, he guarantees your safety. Are you perhaps afraid there might be a Demonic Cult follower around you? If so, the Ink Sword Hero!”

Is this too much? Or not enough?

I'm not sure about the right amount.

“To think I lost to such a bizarre guy……”

Yi Haksang said as if it was unfair.

“You bastard……. You will soon die a miserable death by the hands of the Demon King….”

A pangolin Demonic Cult follower calling me bizarre.

The bizarre part bothers me more than the meaningless curse. As for the curse, well, to me, it's just a lullaby that brings me sound sleep.

“I've heard that curse too many times.”

I cut off his head in a single blow.

“Waaaah! The Ink Sword Great Hero has exterminated a Demonic Cult follower!”

“The stories from Luoyang weren't exaggerated at all!”

“His dueling skills and his slaughter of Demonic Cult followers! At that level, he seems real, right? No, he's more than real!”

What was the Virtuous Mothers' Association thinking now?

Wouldn't they have no choice but to seek out the Ink Sword Hero?

My prediction was correct. As if instructed by the Virtuous Mothers' Association, the clerk ran toward me with the contract.

But I leaped down from the sparring stage.

“Send the contract to the Seonghwa Inn where I am staying.”

A contract in front of a crowd, who does such a thing.

And after coming down.

I scrambled back up again.

“Huh? It seems the Ink Sword Hero has something to say.”

“He's looking this way seriously.”

“Everyone, be quiet!”

I am grateful that everyone understood my intention.

I almost left without saying what I needed to say.

“Refreshing teeth, refreshing martial arts. Geumun Toothbrush, together with the Ink Sword Hero.”

The silence was maintained for a while.

I wore my bamboo hat pulled down low and walked, observing the streets.

I had waited for the surroundings to quiet down after the selection tournament ended before setting out.

Not long after, a dumpling vendor appeared before me.

“Are there any dumplings left?”

“You're in luck. There's exactly one left.”

The dumpling vendor with a deep-pulled headscarf, Elder Pao of the Pao clan, Pao Zhangliang, handed me a dumpling.

The three elders of the Rogues’ Guild had been continuing their own investigations after scattering outside Kaifeng City.

“You've even used a disguise.”

“The ones who attacked the Guild Leader might know our faces.”

I took a bite of the dumpling and swallowed.

“You mean the Demonic Cult follower? I saw.”

We said nothing more until I finished the rest of the dumpling.

Who attacked the Rogues’ Guild Leader?

Branch Leader Han Sanha did his best to find the culprit, separate from tracking the Guild Leader's whereabouts.

He had also requested information from the Beggar's Gang.

Of course, he hid the Guild Leader's disappearance and requested what the beggars had seen and heard during that time.

There was no particular information, he said.

In a large city like Kaifeng.

To attack the Rogues’ Guild Leader while avoiding the eyes of the Rogues’ Guild and the Beggar's Gang.

Who could accomplish such a thing?

Given my experience in Luoyang, it was only natural that the Demonic Cult would be on the list of suspects.

And a Demonic Cult follower appeared at the duel.

“The problem is that the dead Demonic Cult follower had the appearance of a pangolin.”

“Why is that a problem?”

Where would one see a pangolin?

I had never seen the beast myself. In the first place, if I hadn't fought Demonic Cult followers during the Righteous-Demonic War, I would have lived without knowing of such a beast.

“To send someone who has borrowed the power of a rare beast as a spy, the person behind it must be of a considerably high rank even within the Beast Meridian.”

The one who attacked the Guild Leader would not be an easy opponent.

How high of a rank could it be?

An elder of the Beast Meridian?

“Sword Hero, in that case, it seems we must also search for the Demonic Cult.”

“Please do not do anything dangerous. Seeing as they tried to infiltrate a spy today, it means the Demonic Cult members haven't found Brother either.”

If they had already extended their reach into the noble family's complex, they could have just dealt with the Rogues’ Guild Leader and left Kaifeng.

They wouldn't have appeared at the selection tournament if there was a risk of being discovered.

“I understand. Sword Hero, then I'll be counting on you.”

“Please do not worry.”

For now, I was the one getting closest to the Rogues’ Guild Leader.

“Customer, are the dumplings to your liking?”

“Yes. They taste like the ones I had in Luoyang!”

We exchanged words like any other dumpling vendor and customer and then parted ways.

The fact that I had eliminated Hwangbo Gak and Guyang Je in Luoyang must have been shared within the Beast Meridian, even if the entire Demonic Cult didn't know, right?

“I need to be more mindful of my reputation.”

So that, just as in Luoyang, my name could become a Demon-Subduing Seal (降魔印) that suppresses the Black Path and the Demonic Cult.

“Did you see the Ink Sword Great Hero earlier?”

“Yeah, he was so cool!”

“Exterminate the Demonic Cult!”

Passing children mentioned my name.

How gratifying. Yes, don't forget. The Demonic Cult must be exterminated.

“Wow. They say the Great Hero even got a new alias.”

“That's right! I heard it too!”

Like the Butcher that the Black Path members in Luoyang called me?

“Ashwaehyeop (牙刷俠: Toothbrush Hero)!”

“My father bought an Ashwae too. And the tooth ointment.”

“Ashwaehyeop said it. If your teeth are clean, things will go well for you!”

This is a bit worse than Butcher.

And I didn't say that much, kids.

Regardless of my feelings, the children ran off in a group.

“Ashwaehyeop exterminates the Demonic Cult members!”

“Chika, chika, chika!”

I had suddenly become the hero who protected the dental health of Kaifeng.

R-right. Let's think positively.

It's good if the growing children see me and have strong teeth.

And just as I brush teeth, I'll brush away the Demonic Cult members in Kaifeng…

“Keuuuung. No matter how much good meaning I attach to it, it's still weird.”

And it's not like I can take it back.

I had already signed a contract with Golden Cloud Trading and was set to receive a large sum of money.

“A contract is a solemn thing.”

Once you stamp your seal on a contract, you can't take it back.

I stopped in my tracks and asked.

“A contract is a scary thing. Isn't that right?”

In front of the inn I had slowly walked to.

A woman was waiting for me.

“How did you recognize me when my face was covered?”

She took off the bamboo hat she was wearing.

“I knew from the contract rolled up in your hand. I saw the clerk holding it earlier.”

The high-quality paper even had a pattern, and the string tying it was also of good quality.

“As expected of a martial artist. Your observation skills are excellent.”

“It is not an overpraise. Association Leader.”

“Overpraise, you say, how humble… wait, not an overpraise? And Association Leader?”

To raise my own value, I answered rather honestly.

“There are probably many who would recognize just the contract. There would be fewer who could recognize the Association Leader from a voice they heard briefly.”

To be precise, it would be the tone rather than the voice itself.

A dignified and confident tone.

When I received a question at the selection tournament venue, I was impressed.

Perhaps because she was the mistress of a prestigious family, I felt an aura like that of a sect leader of a major sect.

At first glance, she appeared in an ordinary guise.

Plain clothes and hair tied back tightly.

She blended perfectly into the usually bustling street in front of the inn.

But after exchanging just one word, one would know.

This person is not a person of this street.

Such a woman smiled faintly at me.

“Just like at the tournament venue earlier. I like how you reveal your skills as they are. That's right. I am Hahou Seojin, the Virtuous Mothers' Association Leader.”

The person waiting for me in front of the inn was not from the Demonic Cult, the Beggar's Gang, or the Rogues’ Guild, but from the Virtuous Mothers' Association.

And the Association Leader herself.

“I waited for the people to disperse before coming. Were you here before that?”

“What about cleaning up after the tournament?”

“Ha, that's a task for one or two of the Virtuous Mothers.”

Her tone suggested that such tasks were not for her to do.

Since she's the leader, she wouldn't do small tasks.

“Then is coming to meet me a task you do yourself?”

“Of course. I came to deliver two things on behalf of the entire Virtuous Mothers' Association.”

I quietly waited for her next words.

“One is an apology. For trying to get your agreement on the contract in front of people. I apologize.”

She surprisingly offered an apology readily.

“Occasionally, there are martial artists who try to go against the will of the Virtuous Mothers' Association, so it's a method we devised. It seems it was rude to you, Great Hero.”

“I accept your apology. What is the other one?”

“The other is thanks. For eliminating the Demonic Cult follower before we could notice.”

“Did you say you would have noticed?”

The Association Leader nodded.

“Don't misunderstand. Even if the Demonic Cult follower had entered the complex, he would have been caught by the warriors or retainers belonging to the families. We are not that easy.”

“It's just thanks for moving up that time. I'm a person who gives thanks right away.”

Does that mean she wouldn't have come right away if the only reason was an apology?

“In any case, that's good. In that case.”

“An apology and thanks.”

If she came for such good reasons.

“Please answer one question.”

A peculiar expression appeared on the Virtuous Mothers' Association Leader's face.

I had been curious from the beginning.

And the only person who could answer this question was the Virtuous Mothers' Association Leader.

“What is the ‘real’ reason for controlling the complex so thoroughly?”