Chapter 10 – A Treasure Worth 300 Spirit Stones

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Jin So-myeong, who was interrogating the muscular man, summarized it in disbelief.

“So. You followed me simply because you coveted my spirit stones?”

“Yes. Because rumors circulated that Grand Knight Jin had earned well over fifty spirit stones over the half a year…”

The more he heard the story, the angrier he became. Wretched robbers were always unconscionable.

The countless exploitations he had experienced back in his mortal days came to mind, and anger welled up within him.

Thwack!

He struck the back of the fellow’s head hard, partly to vent his anger.

“Damn it! What if I did earn fifty spirit stones? You were going to kill me and steal them?”

“N-No! Why say such scary words! We just followed because we were curious about how you earned so many spirit stones.”

“Ha. Believing such nonsense. The spirit stones I possess right now are only three.”

“Pardon?”

“Fifty my foot! That damn rumor you heard is fake.”

It was not a lie. Because after purchasing the Qi Condensing Pill with the twenty spirit stones he had gathered for half a year, he had become broke.

“No way! Please do not lie!”

Looking at the fellow who raged as if wronged, like a person deceived by a swindler, he found it absurd.

What was he doing displaying such an expression when he was a murderous robber? Because it was so out of the ordinary, he did not even feel angry anymore.

Jin So-myeong, who clicked his tongue, questioned again.

“Enough. From whom did you hear that rumor?”

Although his tone was indifferent as if uninterested, this question was the true purpose of capturing the fellow.

Indeed, his income was high, unlike a typical Qi Condensation stage 2nd layer cultivator.

Figuring that out was not particularly difficult. Anyone could know if they watched with interest.

However.

That was also only possible if one took the trouble to observe.

What did they care about what a beggar kid usually did? Having interest in itself was abnormal!

‘Who is it?’

A few suspicious figures came to mind. From Bang Il, the owner of the Spirit Elixir Pavilion, to the gatekeeper who held a grudge at the Red Yang Sect.

“W-Who do you mean?”

“I am asking who told you that I have many spirit stones.”

Maintaining a calm expression, he focused on the pursuer’s words.

“Uh… I just happened to hear it while drinking at a brothel. I don’t know well.”

“Tsk. Useless fellow. Then tell me who the Big Brother you mentioned earlier is.”

Gulp. The fellow’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

The answer to this question would decide life and death. Perhaps realizing that fact, the fellow spoke in a tense voice.

“Our Big Brother cherishes subordinates like life itself. So please, wisely—”

“Quiet. Keep it brief.”

“Ch-Cheong Hwa-ran! A late Qi Condensation stage expert. It is Cheong Hwa-ran!”

“…Why is it a woman’s name when you call her Big Brother? Are you still trying to deceive me?”

“It is not a lie! Our leader told us to call her Big Brother ourselves!”

Jin So-myeong frowned.

Although he could not recall who she was, he felt like he had heard it in passing.

For him, who was ill-informed, to even know the name meant she was a considerably famous person.

Cheong Hwa-ran.

Mulling it over quietly, he nodded. Dusting himself off, he stood up and looked down at the fellow.

“Good. I will remember it. Oh, by the way, what is your name?”

“I-It is Wang Shin, but why my name…?”

“I must know the name to at least make you a tombstone.”

Wang Shin, who had been staring blankly as if unable to understand, widened his eyes. He struggled with his armless body.

“Spare me! You said you would spare me if I answered well!”

“When did I? I thought about it, and it seems better to kill you after all.”

“Ugh! You son of a bitch!”

He spoke to the fellow who glared at him like a wronged victim.

“Pathetic. You came to rob and kill me, yet you are going mad with grievance when it is your turn to suffer.”

“You! If you kill me, Big Brother will surely take revenge! You will never die peacefully—”

Slice!

He severed the neck of the fellow who cursed him until the very end in a single strike.

His bloodshot eyes were filled with hatred, but he had no strength. He merely fell into a heap of dirt in vain.

Even the spurting blood could not reach him. Blocked by his spiritual Qi, it pattered down onto the ground.

“I will be waiting.”

Jin So-myeong, who answered the fellow’s last words, guarded the surroundings.

He had dragged out the time too much because of the interrogation.

The power of the Breath Concealing Talismans was almost exhausted. Soon, demonic beasts that smelled blood would flock here.

Before leaving the spot.

He packed up all the gifts left behind by Wang Shin.

He swept up everything, including the flying sword that was rolling on the ground and the pouch on the fellow’s waist.

***

The Blue Flood Dragon Gang .

It was a gang gathered around Cheong Hwa-ran, a late Qi Condensation stage rogue cultivator.

A commotion arose within the Blue Flood Dragon Gang, which had recently grown rapidly.

“Did you hear why Big Brother told us to gather?”

“No?”

A dozen people talked while looking at one another.

They were all young, and perhaps having suffered quite a bit in their youth, they were covered in scars. The majority were fierce-looking men, and only a few were women.

“When is Big Brother coming?”

“Wait quietly. She will arrive soon.”

Contrary to their fierce appearances, they were submissive.

Every single one of them stretched their necks and checked the entrance, resembling puppies waiting for their owner.

How much time passed?

“Are you here, leader!”

“Big Brother!”

A slender woman appeared in the main hall.

Everyone sprang up and bowed their heads. Not a single person was an exception. Their expressions were all filled with respect.

“Hmm.”

Answering briefly, the woman crossed the main hall. She naturally sat in the seat of honor, and she was Cheong Hwa-ran, who had established the Blue Flood Dragon Gang.

Unlike a late Qi Condensation stage cultivator, her attire was simple. A black martial robe without a single ornament contrasted with her snow-white skin.

Her upright posture implicitly revealed her personality. Perhaps because of the sword she wore at her waist, her atmosphere was very unique.

At first glance, she looked like a female Daoist who enjoyed simplicity, or a sword cultivator practicing the way of the sword.

Just as the entire hall fell silent.

Cheong Hwa-ran, who possessed blue eyes, furrowed her brow.

“Where did the fifth go? Did I not tell everyone to gather?”

At her cold voice, the atmosphere also sank.

Just as everyone was at a loss for what to do, a man at the front spoke in a cautious tone.

“Big Brother. Actually, at dawn today, I caught a glimpse of Wang Shin heading out with the newcomers. I do not know where they went, but they have not returned yet.”

Cheong Hwa-ran let out a sigh and spoke.

“Did I not clearly tell you to watch your behavior for the time being? Since I have reached the 8th layer of Qi Condensation, the Red Yang Sect’s surveillance will become even more severe. Not to mention, the movements of the Duan Clan have also been suspicious lately.”

“…8th layer? Big Brother! Did you actually break through your realm again!”

“Congratulations! As expected, Big Brother’s talent is number one under heaven! You will soon be able to become a great Foundation Establishment cultivator!”

“That is right! My sincere congratulations!”

In the hall that suddenly became very noisy, Cheong Hwa-ran waved her hand.

“Enough. How could becoming a great Foundation Establishment cultivator be easy? To break through the realm, a Foundation Establishment Pill is required, and obtaining this is no easy matter. This is because the old geezers monopolize all of them.”

“Foundation Establishment Pill…!”

“Furthermore, if it becomes known that I have reached the 8th layer of Qi Condensation, the threat of the Red Yang Sect, which had been secretly keeping us in check, will grow even larger. They might even attempt assassination without keeping up appearances. Therefore, everyone keep the fact that I have ascended to the 8th layer a secret.”

“Yes! Do not worry. Even if a blade is held to our necks, we will never speak! Haha.”

Looking at her subordinates who rejoiced as if it were their own affair, Cheong Hwa-ran shook her head.

A rare smile formed on her face, which had been only cold.

“Find Wang Shin quickly and warn him strictly. That fellow’s personality is too light. Once he drinks, there are no secrets, so make sure he doesn’t even go near brothels for the time being.”

“Yes. Big Brother, do not worry and focus on cultivation. Becoming a great Foundation Establishment cultivator is the most important. Then we won’t even need to care about the surveillance of the Red Yang Sect, will we?”

***

The entrance of Mount Red Yang.

Rustle!

From the dense thickets, a boy in shabby clothing popped out.

Hiding in a crevice between rocks, Jin So-myeong carefully guarded the surroundings.

“Whew.”

He watched for a long time, but there was no sign of human presence. However, he did not let down his guard and continued to wait.

Since there might be other pursuers, he had to be careful.

‘It seems like there are none…’

He contemplated whether to return soon. Although public security in the market was wrecked, it was at least safer than Mount Red Yang.

‘Wait.’

Just as Jin So-myeong was about to step out from the crevice, he paused.

Unlike when he climbed Mount Red Yang at dawn today, his bundle was heavy.

This was because of the gifts that the kind Wang Shin had given him before departing for the netherworld.

‘Can I just take these?’

Cultivators had many secretive means. They were beings who employed all sorts of supernatural powers that mortals could not even imagine.

Among the rumors he had heard back in his mortal days, there was also this.

‘It is said that immortals leave invisible marks on their belongings so they can find them even if lost. Therefore, they told us not to pick up items carelessly.’

He closely inspected the items he had brought again.

From the sharp flying sword hovered by blue spiritual Qi to the pouch that somehow looked luxurious.

No matter how closely he looked, there was nothing he could figure out.

Just as he was contemplating what to do.

“Huh?”

Jin So-myeong’s mouth fell wide open.

It was not that he discovered a mark. He was merely shocked by the unexpected harvest.

“…Could this by any chance be a storage pouch?”

He had thought the flying sword was the most precious treasure among the items Wang Shin left behind. This was because the shield the fellow mainly used was already smashed.

But it was not so. There was a more precious item.

Jin So-myeong’s fingertips trembled. He inspected the fist-sized bag over and over again.

As he repeated the action, his excitement grew.

“It is real. It is a real storage pouch.”

The precious item he had only heard of through rumors! It was the famous storage pouch that was an essential item for cultivators.

To put it simply, a storage pouch was a sub-space bag. Despite being smaller than a fist, countless items could fit inside.

Since it boasted overwhelming convenience, it was naturally staggeringly expensive.

Even the cheapest storage pouch with one pyeong of space cost at least three hundred spirit stones.

Gulp.

The moment he carefully opened the bag and blew in spiritual Qi.

The method of using the storage pouch came to his mind. It was like a manual.

“Amazing.”

Indeed, a luxury brand was different. He could not help but be moved by the kindness only found in high-grade dharma treasures.

Swish!

From the flying sword he had carried with difficulty because there was not even a scabbard, to the gourd flask containing the dew, everything.

All of it fit into the fist-sized bag.

“This is huge.”

His thoughts of giving up the items out of worry about tracking vanished completely. If it was worth hundreds of spirit stones, it was worth taking the risk.

Spirit stones were not simple money.

They were precious resources that increased cultivation speed and ultimately gave the possibility of breaking through realms.

Over three hundred spirit stones was a fortune that could save at least four or five years of time.

Five years.

No matter how much he thought about it, giving it up simply because he was worried was too much of a waste.

‘…I cannot give it up. Still, I must prevent tracking.’

He took out all the items inside the storage pouch.

Fifty-seven spirit stones, miscellaneous books, the flying sword, unidentified pills, and even a suspicious mask.

Looking at them laid out, the harvest was abundant.

Although he wished to inspect them one by one in detail, there was no time. This was a dangerous outdoor area.

Looking at the items spilled on the ground, he focused his mind.

Crack!

Five Supreme Great Ability beads turned to dust. A mysterious ripple swept through the items.

Although he was panicked by the unexpectedly large consumption, he soon understood.

‘Well, after all, I don’t know anything about preventing tracking.’

It was the same as spells. If he did not know the method, the price for fulfilling the wish was high.

At any rate.

He purified all the items, including the storage pouch.

Whatever marks had been engraved, they would have been annihilated by the omnipotent power of the Supreme Great Ability.

Only now feeling truly relieved, Jin So-myeong stepped out of the crevice.

Walking toward Red Yang Market, he contemplated what to do next.

‘The outer city is too dangerous. I must find a house in the safe inner city.’

He could no longer delay it.

The abodes located in the inner city were expensive, but he could afford it. It was thanks to the legacy passed down by Wang Shin.

Since his pockets had become rich, his options widened.

‘After finding a house… let’s check what is in the storage pouch.’

Forcibly holding back the laugh that kept leaking out in anticipation.

He moved his lightened footsteps.