Chapter 22 – Admirable Mettle

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Translated by Frog in the Well

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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The market of Red Yang Market.

The moment Jin So-myeong chose and entered a certain shop.

The husky voice of the owner, who had a thick beard, was heard.

“Hmm? What did a kid come here for?”

“Isn’t this a place that buys and sells demonic beast meat? Should I leave?”

“Hahat! What a cheeky young fellow. Go ahead and unpack the bundle on your back. I will give you a fair price according to my conscience.”

Thud!

The moment Jin So-myeong unpacked the heavy bundle.

A fishy smell of blood wafted strongly through the shop. It was to the extent that the gazes of about five customers were instantly drawn to him.

“…That looks like a Rank 1 demonic beast?”

“Hey, no way. That kid?”

Unlike the customers who were half-believing and half-doubting, the shop owner’s discernment was different.

Narrowing his eyes, he spoke in a slightly polite manner.

“The young Daoist friend’s skill is great. How did you obtain this demonic beast meat? Did you perhaps use a whole bunch of talismans?”

“Is that important?”

To Jin So-myeong, who frowned, the shop owner shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s just a waste because the meat is a mess. If it’s like this, the price has no choice but to be low. If you plan to keep hunting demonic beasts, it would be better to learn butchering properly.”

“Hmm… I will think about it.”

“Alright. I will give you three spirit stones.”

It was a better price than expected. Surprisingly, the words that he would give a fair price according to his conscience were true.

Since there was no particular reason to refuse, he sold it all.

After responding to the owner who told him to come again next time, he wandered around the market all day long, diligently showing his face.

While luring Beom Chang.

He occasionally wore a mask to disguise himself and handle actual business.

He stopped by the Library Pavilion, which sold various cultivation methods, purchased a few books including the Cloud and Rain Summoning Art, and then spoke.

“Shopkeeper. Is there also a spell that can seal or suppress an opponent’s spiritual Qi?”

“For that, there is no need to even learn a spell. It is possible even if you just master a simple Acupoint Sealing Method, but it is difficult to actually perform. Rather, killing would be easier.”

“Is it that difficult?”

“Yes. One must suppress the dantian, which is the most important vital point for a cultivator, but who on earth would give up their dantian? It is a method useful only against an opponent one can completely overwhelm.”

“…I understand. Please give me one book with the Acupoint Sealing Method written on it as well.”

“Yes!”

Toward the owner who was delighted to meet a big spender, he asked just in case.

“Shopkeeper. Do you perhaps sell things like martial arts that mortals learn as well?”

“Martial arts?”

As if finding it hard to understand, the owner, who was frowning, tilted his head and answered.

“Our Library Pavilion is a place that only handles immortal arts… but if the customer wishes, I will try to obtain them.”

“Good. I request martial arts that are unique or have strong power.”

Jin So-myeong, who came out of the Library Pavilion, entered an alleyway.

Returning to his true appearance again, he went around all kinds of shops.

How much time had passed?

Before he knew it, the sky was dyed with the sunset. Having wandered around without rest, it was already time for the sun to set.

‘Should I stop here for today?’

Most of the actions he had taken so far were movements to catch Beom Chang, who had forced the slave contract on him.

However, the reaction was slower than expected.

‘Do I have to go to the Spirit Elixir Pavilion?’

There was a very high probability that Bang Il, the owner of the Spirit Elixir Pavilion, had sold his information in the past.

Since it meant there was a contact network between Bang Il and Beom Chang, it was certain that if he went to the Spirit Elixir Pavilion, the news would reach Beom Chang.

However, Bang Il, being a merchant, was quite quick-witted.

If he did not visit for over half a year and then suddenly approached, Bang Il might sense something suspicious.

‘I want to draw him in as naturally as possible… Hm?’

His expression brightened minutely. Someone’s gaze was captured by his sensitive senses.

‘Finally.’

The target took the bait.

Jin So-myeong, who turned his steps straight away, headed toward a remote place.

This was to specify the opponent hiding in the crowd. As he went toward the sparsely populated outskirts, he consumed the Supreme Great Ability.

He found the opponent with his even sharper senses, but because they used a stealth technique and wore a hood-shaped dharma treasure, it was difficult to know their identity.

‘He’s alone. I wish it were Beom Chang himself…’

If the stalker was Beom Chang, it meant things were progressing well according to plan.

Hoping that the opponent was Beom Chang, he went straight out to the Outer City and headed toward the shantytown.

‘It’s been a while.’

Walking through the shabby street that was not properly maintained, deep emotions welled up anew.

After walking for about thirty minutes, he arrived at a shack in a secluded place.

It was the house where Jin So-myeong had lived for three years after his reincarnation.

Returning to the house that seemed like it would collapse if one nudged it, a strange emotion arose.

This house was one of the things he had prepared while revealing Jin So-myeong’s identity, and since the rent was a mere five spirit stone fragments, he could rent it without much burden.

Creak!

Sitting astride the old bed that screamed for mercy, he closed his eyes.

To strengthen his hearing, he breathed spiritual Qi into his ears and concentrated. He paid attention to the faintly audible sounds.

‘He did follow me indeed.’

At the presence of the stalker who followed him all the way here, a bitter smile formed at the corners of his mouth.

‘If you want to torment me that much… I welcome it too.’

With his hand resting on the broadsword at his waist.

He quietly closed his eyes. He circulated the Five Elements Qi Condensation Art in an abbreviated manner, recovering the fatigue accumulated during the day.

This place was the Outer City, not the Inner City.

If the opponent went wild, they could launch a surprise attack even right now.

He had to maintain his peak condition so that he could fight at any time.

‘Hmm?’

He, who was concentrating on spreading the spiritual Qi to the muscles of his entire body, frowned.

Clatter…

It was because of the minute noise coming from next door.

At the numerous inconveniences he had not perceived in the past, a bitter smile suddenly broke out.

‘Compared to a Rank 1 mid-grade cave dwelling, this is no different from a gutter. Cultivation is also difficult this way.’

A cultivator’s senses become sharper as their realm becomes higher.

The higher the grade of the cultivator, the harder it was to live in such a place.

It was natural that they could not even sleep properly, and their meridians could even be damaged by a sudden disturbance during cultivation.

‘There is a reason why people want to live in a good cave dwelling even if they have to pay spirit stones.’

Shaking his head, he quietly closed his eyes.

He simulated the upcoming battle in his head and prepared.

*

A week passed.

Jin So-myeong purposely maintained a regular lifestyle. He commuted between Mount Red Yang, the market, and the Outer City shack, tempting the stalker.

‘Sigh. He’s being disgustingly cautious.’

He went around remote places every day and gave opportunities, but there was no surprise attack.

Whenever he climbed Mount Red Yang, which was a good place to bury someone, they stopped like ghosts and did not follow.

Whether the opponent’s suspicion was no joke. Even though dealing with just a young child, their caution was excessive.

Since they had already been hovering around and only observing for a week, irritation surged up.

‘Damn it. I don’t even have enough time to cultivate.’

In fact, a week was not a long wait either.

The concept of time in this world was disgustingly slow.

This was because it was a world of long-lived species who lived for hundreds or thousands of years as their realms grew higher.

‘Should I just launch a surprise attack first?’

Stroking the handle of the Horse-Slaying Saber out of habit, he let out a sigh.

Even so, it was convenient to have at least some justification in order to use him as a slave.

If he broke in out of nowhere and suppressed the fellow, he would not yield easily.

If he resisted while disregarding even his life, it would be tiresome for both. To use him as a slave, it was best to break his spirit.

Deciding to wait for just one more week, he headed toward the market.

“Oh… has the Daoist friend come?”

He entered the shop handling demonic beast meat of which he had become a regular, but the owner’s reaction was strange.

As if a person who had committed a crime, he could not even meet Jin So-myeong’s eyes properly.

Thud.

He handed the bundle to the awkwardly smiling owner.

“I have come to sell demonic beast meat today as well. This much should be worth three spirit stones, right?”

For some reason, the owner, who hesitated for a long time, shook his head.

“…No. I will give you thirty spirit stone fragments. Any more is impossible.”

“What?”

It was absurd.

Thirty spirit stone fragments were less than one-tenth of the price. Even a thug who deliberately ripped people off would not call such a price.

But something was strange.

Had this shop not given a fair price just a week ago?

The moment he stared blankly at the owner. The owner, who bit his lips tightly, whispered quietly.

“I cannot help it either. I cannot state the reason. I can only say I am sorry.”

“Sorry…?”

Just as he was contemplating the meaning of the owner’s words.

“Daoist friend. I do not know whose anger you have incurred, but just live smoothly. If you bow your head just a little, life will be easy.”

“…”

Thanks to the owner’s hint, the situation became clear.

Beom Chang had played a dirty trick to pressure him.

‘Does he not want to force a slave contract, despite everything? It seems he wants me to kneel of my own accord and enter the Red Yang Sect.’

Just in case, he visited other shops, but the situation was the same.

They offered absurd prices or ripped him off tremendously.

If there was a sole exception, it was the Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

Since the Thousand Treasures Pavilion was run by a giant chamber of commerce connected to other regions, Beom Chang’s hands could not reach it.

However, this place was originally a place that sold high and bought low. It was not a place poor cultivators could use.

If not for the Secret Realm of the Mind, such a dirty trick would have been fatal.

“…Haha.”

To think he would act so despicably.

Because it was so annoying, laughter came out instead. Jin So-myeong, who burst into laughter for a long while, narrowed his eyes.

‘Fine. Any more is a waste of time.’

This kind of pressure is not effective if done only in the short term.

Naturally, it would not end in a day or two. It was obvious that they would torment him persistently over at least several months.

‘He will probably appear only around the time I can no longer endure it.’

He had absolutely no intention of throwing away his cultivation for several months and acting just to catch the fellow.

Concentrating on the presence of the stalker felt far behind his back, he headed toward Mount Red Yang.

The moment he lured the fellow who clung like a leech and entered the sparsely populated wasteland.

Crackle!

He cast the Breath Concealing Art, which he had formally mastered, and even activated the Supreme Great Ability.

He, who disappeared without a trace in an instant, kicked the ground.

Casting the Rising Dragon Steps combined with the Wind Control Art, he closed the distance in an instant.

“Huh?”

Even before the astonished opponent could react properly.

Crunch!

Jin So-myeong, who approached right before his nose, stomped. He brought up the repulsive force rising from the earth entirely.

The moment the flow of power amplified by joint rotation reached his fist.

Thud!

He struck the abdomen along with the sound of a drum bursting. In a single strike, he poured in half of his spiritual Qi to suppress the dantian entirely.

“Kehek!?”

The opponent, whose eyes widened as if they would pop out, foamed at the mouth.

He bent forward like a shrimp and trembled.

“Kuuu…!”

Whether he had never experienced proper pain, he could not make any response and only flailed his arms.

Jin So-myeong, who suppressed the opponent at once, hurriedly guarded the surroundings.

Although it was a battle that ended more easily than expected, he could not let his guard down. He inspected meticulously as there might be reinforcements.

‘There’s no one. To come alone with barely this level of skill.’

He focused on the opponent who was only groaning and drooling for over a minute.

Rrip!

When he tore off the mask the fellow was wearing, the identity was revealed.

He was a man at the 4th layer of Qi Condensation, and he was the messenger who had visited him, saying he had to deliver a letter to Jin So-myeong when he was using the pseudonym Yeo Dong-bin in the past.

‘Thank goodness.’

Since he was a guy who was close enough to call Beom Chang brother, the probability of him being a close aide was high.

Using this guy, he would be able to lure Beom Chang into a trap.

Tapping the messenger with the toe of his foot, he spoke.

“Hey.”

“Groan… Y-Yes?”

Whether it was still painful, all sorts of emotions swept through the expression of the fellow who was groaning.

Along with embarrassment, the fear of his spiritual Qi being sealed, and even resentment. He was a fellow whose inner thoughts were clearly revealed.

“What kind of fellow are you to follow me around for days?”

“…W-What do you mean? I was just on my way to Mount Red Yang— Argh!”

Slap!

He struck the cheek with the wide flat of the Horse-Slaying Saber.

While tapping the swollen cheek, he waved the blade flashing with a sharp light in front of his eyes.

“If the next answer is not to my liking, it will be a finger. Why did you follow me?”

When he threw the same question in a lowered voice, the fellow’s pupils shook faintly.

“I, I really…”

The fellow, who swallowed his dry saliva several times, shut his eyes tightly in the end.

He shut his mouth tightly as if having made some big decision. That attitude was as if a secret organization member was prepared for death.

‘Heh.’

The moment Jin So-myeong, who was inwardly impressed, gripped the Horse-Slaying Saber.

The fellow, who opened his eyes wide, shouted quickly.

“It was all ordered by Brother Beom Chang!”

“…”

A silence flowed for a moment.

At the shameless attitude of the awkwardly smiling opponent, even Jin So-myeong lost his words and shut his mouth.