Chapter 193 – Looking Cool

===================

Translated by Heavenly Cat
Edited by Celestial Knight

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

===================

Ju-seong stepped out of the self-proclaimed Sect Master’s office and surveyed the grounds.

In truth, calling them “grounds” was embarrassing given how amateurish everything was, but they had nonetheless achieved the appearance of a Taoist temple.

A grand stronghold had a grandness to it, while a humble temple had its own humble charm.

“Setting up this much must have cost a pretty penny.”

When Ju-seong asked, April nodded.

“I did some work in Yunnan.”

“Oh?”

“The Penitence Journey in Yunnan was longer than in Sichuan.”

“Let’s hear it.”

The Sword Saint, Immortal Hyeon-su, had taken April around to visit the bereaved families of those he had killed.

During that process, those in difficult circumstances were rescued by April himself, while for the rest, Immortal Hyeon-su stepped forward and generously donated substantial wealth.

After that was finished, they returned to Yunnan.

April traveled all over Yunnan, rescuing the weak and fighting against dark path practitioners.

“Yunnan’s dark path was unexpectedly flourishing. With Sichuan’s martial world in disarray, there was no capacity to suppress Yunnan, and it’s a region lacking a force to hold the center.”

April was at the peak level and a powerful fighter, and had received considerable teachings from Immortal Hyeon-su.

“Of course, I didn’t learn Kunlun’s martial arts… but regarding martial arts itself, you see.”

Thus April’s name quickly spread through Yunnan’s martial world.

“Embarrassingly, they call me the Blue-Robed Immortal.”

The Immortal in Blue Clothes. It was a rather grandiose name to attach to a man like April.

Ju-seong, overcome with indignation, grabbed April by the collar.

“You bastard, I’m still just a ‘Mad Dragon’…”

“Ah, I heard that news. You’ve become quite famous in jianghu.”

Ju-seong nodded and sighed.

“Right, what’s the use of being famous, I wonder.”

Ju-seong suddenly scratched his head in irritation. Did his master know that he had won the Ascending Dragon Assembly before he passed?

He had wanted to at least give him that much pride.

Now the opportunity to even ask was gone forever.

Feeling unexpectedly melancholic, Ju-seong scratched the back of his head before bumping April’s shoulder.

“Master has passed away. The person you once targeted for assassination… so I suppose your mission is finally accomplished.”

“…”

April stared at Ju-seong with an aghast expression, then shadows fell over his eyes.

“…I had intended to express my gratitude someday, but I was too late.”

“What’s there to be grateful for? To a person who made you swallow a Qi-Scattering Pill and then chased you away?”

For a martial artist, that was essentially being driven out to die.

Martial artists who lost their power often died unforeseen deaths… moving about carelessly, unable to accept they had lost their strength.

April shook his head.

“It’s thanks to that person I was able to meet Immortal Hyeon-su and live like a human being.”

He let out a long lament.

“This fake Taoist of a former assassin has forever lost his chance to repay that grace.”

Ju-seong shot him a sidelong glance and replied.

“Live properly. Get close with the Five Poisons Valley too. Master had quite a connection with them as well.”

“…Well, the Five Poisons Valley is an incomparably large sect compared to us…”

The current Diancang Sect… no, Saeil Temple… was just an ordinary hillside stronghold if you excluded April, the peak-level master.

But Ju-seong saw potential in the crudely copied scriptures he had found on the bandits.

They possessed, however small and clumsy, a Taoist heart.

Ju-seong looked at the children running about in the distance and the women chasing after them.

“…So the bandits’ families live together too.”

“That’s right. They say Taoists should be without family to cultivate, but we’re not some deeply traditional temple, and there’s really no need to insist on that.”

“Is that so?”

Ju-seong hesitated, then pulled out another booklet from his robe and handed it over.

“What’s this now?”

“Bedchamber arts.”

“Excuse me?!”

“Real bedchamber arts. Not some worthless fake. Tell them about it and have them use it with their wives.”

“…My word, how scandalous.”

“Is it scandalous to tell Taoists to practice Taoist cultivation?”

Ju-seong smirked and said.

“You said you wanted to become the Great Diancang Sect. Increase your numbers and get stronger quickly. That’s how you flip that signboard over before your life ends.”

Ju-seong had already memorized all the contents of these bedchamber arts and understood their mysteries completely.

If he sat down for a year or two and studied properly, he could even improve upon them.

‘Good things should be shared. At this rate, becoming Diancang Sect seems far too distant.’

The current signboard read Saeil Temple, but behind it, carrying April’s aspirations, was written “Great Diancang Sect.”

Ju-seong couldn’t dismiss that ambition.

“…We keep receiving too much.”

Since Ju-seong had suddenly barged in here, he’d already given away two things, and both were absolutely extraordinary treasures.

One was orthodox Taoist swordsmanship and martial methodology that allowed even the bandits to properly learn the Shooting Sun martial arts.

The second was the bedchamber arts… embarrassing though it was, if it was a genuine technique inheriting the proper Taoist lineage, it was a treasure money couldn’t buy.

“These bedchamber arts especially… even high officials and the imperial court would try to obtain them.”

“Then use them well.”

“…How can I possibly repay this?”

At his words, Ju-seong suddenly became serious and tilted his head.

“Then you do a job for me.”

“A job?”

“This is just my speculation, but before long, a big wave may strike Yunnan.”

“…What kind of wave?”

Ju-seong casually raised his hand and pointed west.

“There’s a group coming from the west. Coming down from Xinjiang…”

Since Ju-seong had to go to the Jiangnan front, he didn’t have the capacity to stay in Yunnan and block the White Lotus Cult.

Instead, he intended to make arrangements where he could before leaving.

Even as Ju-seong spoke with April, he sighed inwardly.

‘This is like I’m saving jianghu all by myself.’

Was this the fate of one born as a crane among chickens? Ju-seong inwardly muttered arrogant words while doing what he had to do.

* * *

Ju-seong left Yunnan without taking any additional measures.

Judging by April’s expression, it seemed unlikely Yunnan would be caught unprepared.

“That fellow had an attachment to Yunnan’s martial world.”

Ju-seong said to White Pig, perched on his shoulder.

“After all, Yunnan was the first place he operated openly. Having acted heroically in public, he must have received praise and cheers…”

He let out a small sigh.

“A fellow who spent his life in the shadows found sunlight, so of course he’d happily make it his home.”

When Ju-seong warned about the White Lotus Cult’s machinations, April’s expression had indeed become extremely serious.

He seemed determined to protect Yunnan with his own hands.

Of course, since the White Lotus Cult’s forces were considerable, whether he alone could stop them was uncertain.

But if April, who had some recognition in Yunnan, rolled up his sleeves and persuaded the martial artists, perhaps gathering their strength wouldn’t be too difficult.

While Ju-seong was walking along thinking such thoughts, someone suddenly popped out at a fork in the road ahead.

And then stood squarely blocking Ju-seong’s path.

Looking at him, his appearance was sorry indeed.

“…What beggar is this.”

Ju-seong tilted his head and approached the beggar. The age was young, but his lower body was sturdy and well-trained.

His shaggy hair covered half his face, giving him a gloomy appearance.

Standing in the middle of the road, he respectfully clasped both hands together and spoke.

“I greet the Black-tier Honored Guest, Elder Brother Ju-seong. I’ve brought a message from the Beggars’ Sect.”

“…Hm?”

“I’m from the Beggars’ Sect, Elder Brother. The Sect Master instructed all provincial branches that they should proactively visit honored guests and share necessary information.”

“Has the Beggars’ Sect already spread that far?”

The nameless beggar nodded.

“Yes, Elder Brother. Since we only unified the existing Beggars’ Sects in each district, the administrative burden wasn’t great.”

Ju-seong narrowed his eyes and looked him up and down.

He asked curiously.

“How did you know I was here?”

“The Yunnan General Branch already tracked and reported Elder Brother’s movements. Elder Brother is a Black-tier Honored Guest, so your description is widely known.”

“What’s a Black-tier Honored Guest?”

“The Beggars’ Sect’s honored guests are divided into Yellow-tier, Black-tier, and White-tier.”

“Which is the highest?”

The beggar shook his head.

“Court officials are Yellow-tier, jianghu figures are Black-tier, and others are White-tier. There’s no hierarchy between the tiers.”

Ju-seong stroked his chin and nodded.

It seemed they had established some system. Once Cheong-rang joined them in Sichuan, it would accelerate further. Ju-seong asked the beggar.

“Right, so what’s the Beggars’ Sect’s message?”

“Yes, Elder Brother. I came from the Guizhou General Branch. So I’ll share the hottest news from Guizhou. The Crimson Spider Sect is in turmoil. It seems to be a succession struggle.”

Ju-seong tilted his head.

“Really? That terrifying old lady is still alive with her eyes wide open. How surprising.”

The beggar shook his head.

“The Crimson Spider Sect Master, the Blood Flower Crone… Elder Brother, she seems to have already passed. That’s what we beggars think. We’re still gathering internal details, but the Crimson Spider Sect is quite a closed sect.”

“Why do you think that?”

“The scale of the conflict is large. If the Sect Master were alive, she would never have stood by watching such internal strife. That’s the judgment of our headquarters’ smarter beggars too.”

“…Thank you for telling me.”

Ju-seong’s face hardened as he flicked three silver coins to the beggar.

The beggar caught all three with nimble hand movements… during which time Ju-seong had already passed him.

The beggar turned his body and spoke calmly to Ju-seong’s back.

“The Guizhou General Branch advises that Elder Brother Ju-seong go up to Jingzhou and take the Yangtze south. Guizhou is currently dangerous.”

The way he had been reciting things emotionlessly from the start was irritating.

Ju-seong stopped abruptly and said.

“Hey, what’s your name?”

“I don’t have a particular name. Thugs set fire to our house. My parents burned to death, and I lost my memory.”

When the beggar slightly lifted his shaggy hair, his upper face, covered in burn scars, was visible.

Ju-seong looked at the beggar through narrowed eyes, then spoke.

“I’m friends with your Sect Master, you know? The thing is, Red Beggar wouldn’t like it that his little brothers are living without names.”

“…”

“Looking at you, your foundation is solid and you have manners, so your future is bright. Let’s go with Yeong-ro.”

He’d suddenly been given a name. The young beggar hesitated before speaking.

“…Elder Brother, Guizhou is really dangerous right now. Even the mid-sized and small sects are caught up in the fighting. The Beggars’ Sect has temporarily withdrawn. Please go to Jingzhou instead.”

Ju-seong chuckled.

“Hey, kid.”

He looked at the mountain path leading to Guizhou and said.

“That’s exactly why I have to go.”

Who was in Guizhou? People he had forged deep connections with just months ago were there.

Heuk-wol, Yang So-an, Eight-Hook Ghost, Yi Pyo-eum…

Plus many other martial artists from Guizhou’s mid-sized and small sects.

If they all died in this untimely civil war, would Ju-seong be able to sleep at night?

How could he head up to the Yangtze and board a ship pretending not to know?

“Take care of yourself, Yeong-ro.”

Ju-seong strode forward as he spoke.

“I have to go clean up the mess those bastards made.”

“Please take care, Elder Brother.”

The beggar, the boy now named Yeong-ro, bowed his head to see Ju-seong off.

He slowly raised his head and watched Ju-seong’s back disappear into the distance.

The young beggar murmured quietly.

“Damn… Looking cool.”

At an age when everything seemed cool, the fourteen-year-old Yeong-ro had found his idol.