Chapter 171. Good to Meet You, Everyone.

I came out to the outer courtyard with Master Yukhap and called for Byeokgeom.

“Byeokgeom, let’s go.”

Byeokgeom, who had been watching the monkey do pull-ups, answered.

“Yes.”

Since I had thrown on my clothes and rushed out the moment I got up, only then did my subordinates begin gathering from here and there. I was in no mood to chat with them, so while I was vaguely waving them off, laughter rang out from the entrance of the Black Cat Gang.

“Hahaha……”

Could there be laughter more lacking in tact than that? With the Black Cat Gang having fallen silent, everyone stared toward the entrance.

“……”

Ordinarily, I would have told any visitor to get lost, but I could not drive away the man who appeared with such a broad smile on his face.

Master Geum Cheolyong of the Dragon Head Ironworks and Deputy Master Yonggae appeared and looked at me.

“We’re here.”

I welcomed Uncle Geum and the deputy master, whose faces had turned a dark reddish hue.

“Uncle Geum, Deputy Master, you’ve come.”

Geum Cheolyong grinned and looked around the inside of the Black Cat Gang.

“You’ve gained quite a few people in the meantime, and there are many faces I don’t recognize.”

There was no way I could fail to understand why Geum Cheolyong had come. I calmed myself, then said to Uncle Geum,

“It seems there’s been progress.”

Geum Cheolyong nodded.

“Need you even ask?”

When Geum Cheolyong held out his hand, Deputy Master Yonggae presented him the longsword he had been holding in his left hand.

Geum Cheolyong drew the sword with a confident motion and said,

“Now then, our Sect Leader. Shall we have a go?”

I suddenly realized I did not have the Black Cat Fang with me.

Gripping the wooden sword at my waist, I said,

“Unfortunately, I gave the Black Cat Fang I crossed blades with before to Master Moyong. Today, I’ll have to use this.”

I drew the wooden sword and extended it in a middle guard.

“Strike.”

Geum Cheolyong asked me with a flustered expression,

“Sect Leader, hasn’t your sword gotten far too thin?”

“Has it? You shouldn’t look down on it just because of its appearance. If you break this, I’ll acknowledge it as an unbreakable conviction.”

To be honest, I had no idea what would happen either. After all, this wooden sword had once been the weapon of Elder Heo, who had held the position of Chief Strategist in the Demonic Cult.

After taking his stance, Geum Cheolyong checked once more.

“If that sword breaks, it’s not my responsibility.”

“Of course.”

I turned my wrist slightly and set the sword’s edge upright. Geum Cheolyong gave a small nod.

“Here I come.”

Then Geum Cheolyong swung his right arm in a great arc and brought the longsword down on the edge of my wooden sword.

A clear sound rang out.

Clang!

In the suffocating silence, Geum Cheolyong stared blankly at the broken sword. Of course, the wooden sword in my hand was perfectly intact.

“……”

Geum Cheolyong asked me,

“Sect Leader, did you perhaps use internal energy?”

Geum Cheolyong’s complexion looked so terrible that I silently shook my head. Suddenly, Geum Cheolyong dropped to his knees and muttered as he touched the broken blade.

“No, I mixed in black iron……”

Yonggae hurriedly supported Geum Cheolyong.

“Brother, please get up. What is this, a man on his knees?”

I consoled Geum Cheolyong.

“Uncle Geum.”

Geum Cheolyong looked at me with a wretched expression.

“……”

As I put away the wooden sword, I said,

“The sword I have was once used by the greatest assassin under heaven. I mean there’s no need to be so disappointed.”

“Is that true? That shabby wooden sword?”

I nodded, then looked for Cha Seongtae.

“Seongtae.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

I beckoned Cha Seongtae over, then helped Deputy Master Yonggae raise Geum Cheolyong, whose legs had given out.

“Uncle Geum, Deputy Master, listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

“Go ahead.”

I looked at Cha Seongtae.

“Chief Cha, investigate every person in Haomun, including the Black Cat Gang, who needs a weapon.”

“Understood.”

I lightly gripped Geum Cheolyong’s shoulder and said,

“Uncle Geum.”

“Speak.”

“From now on, have the Dragon Head Ironworks make all the weapons the Haomun members will use. As for the price of the weapons, I will treat you as the finest ironworks in the Central Plains.”

I carefully examined the broken sword Geum Cheolyong had brought, then said,

“At this level, you deserve such treatment. Will you accept the commission?”

Geum Cheolyong was so flustered that he could not answer properly.

“Well, that……”

I looked at Deputy Master Yonggae.

“Deputy Master, do you understand what I’m saying?”

Deputy Master Yonggae nodded.

“Of course we should make them for you. Our skills have improved a great deal as well. They won’t be comparable to before.”

I nodded, then looked around at the subordinates of the Black Cat Gang.

“Uncle Geum, everyone here is a member of Haomun. Make them a little stronger with the weapons of the Dragon Head Ironworks. So that those weapons can each save our precarious lives at least once.”

Geum Cheolyong looked at my subordinates in the Black Cat Gang.

“Of course I’ll make them well for you.”

I met Geum Cheolyong’s eyes.

“With the single-minded resolve that you are making an unbreakable conviction, one blade for each of my subordinates.”

Geum Cheolyong nodded with an expression that showed he felt the burden of it.

I jerked my chin at Cha Seongtae.

“I’m busy with work, so Chief Cha, serve them tea or something.”

“Understood.”

I first bid farewell to Uncle Geum.

“I’m going to beat someone up. Have a cup of tea before you leave. Discuss the weapons with Chief Cha as well.”

Only then did I say to Master Yukhap and Byeokgeom, who had been watching from the side,

“Let’s go.”

Farewells from my subordinates poured out behind me, but I had no particular desire to respond.

* * *

In the end, I found a general store that sold hats and picked out a bamboo rain hat. Master Yukhap asked in a bewildered tone,

“What on earth are you doing?”

“Master Yukgap, if you’re going to move with Byeokgeom, a bamboo hat is essential. Pick one.”

Master Yukhap let out a sigh.

“What kind of bullshit is this?”

In the end, I bought three bamboo hats, paid for them, and left the general store. Wearing my bamboo hat, I held the wooden sword in my left hand and looked at Byeokgeom and Master Yukhap.

“See? A bamboo hat and a wooden sword. If this isn’t a peerless master, what is?”

“…….”

A sigh came out of me on its own.

Because Byeokgeom and Master Yukhap were bastards who didn’t know how to take a joke. All they did was look at me like I was pathetic.

Byeokgeom lifted his bamboo hat slightly and asked with eyes that were nothing short of murderous.

“Are you going to kill everyone in Uhyanggok?”

“Why do you keep trying to kill everyone, you crazy bastard! Stop killing everyone already. We should talk first. If words don’t get through, think about it then. Please, decide whether to kill them or not after having a conversation. Byeokgeom.”

“Understood. Why are you getting angry?”

Master Yukhap asked the same question.

“Were we not going to kill them all?”

“…….”

“Listen, Yukgap. We’re going to strike at the Demon Cult’s Third Young Master—specifically, the forces of his maternal family. Those bastards are feeding poison to experts of the martial world and using them as slaves.”

Master Yukhap asked in a tone full of lingering resentment.

“Ah, like me?”

“Yeah, exactly. Like you. Like an idiot. Anyway, the Master of Uhyanggok is also a man who, like Byeokgeom, was forcibly fed poison and turned into a slave. We’ll go there and capture White-Faced Young Master, the executive who distributes the antidote. He’s probably an expert from the Third Young Master’s maternal family. You roughly understand what we’re doing, right?”

Master Yukhap asked Byeokgeom.

“Where is Uhyanggok?”

“Follow me.”

As Byeokgeom walked quickly, he said,

“Now I see. Wearing bamboo hats was part of that strategy.”

Thinking Byeokgeom was a bit of an idiot, I answered briefly.

“Yeah.”

I headed for Uhyanggok with an idiot and an ugly bastard in tow.

It was a journey with not a single bit of fun. Before we even reached Uhyanggok, I wanted to beat up the two people accompanying me first, but they were on my side for now, so I couldn’t.

Byeokgeom, who had been walking at a brisk pace, spoke as if making a suggestion.

“May we run?”

“Do whatever you want. I’m faster anyway.”

Byeokgeom asked Master Yukhap.

“Will you be all right?”

Master Yukhap nodded.

“I’m faster than you, so do as you like.”

Byeokgeom snorted and began running while deploying his lightness skill. Master Yukhap also snorted and followed after Byeokgeom.

I sighed, then chased after the two of them.

‘Useless bastards.’

Since I had caught up on sleep for two whole days, I was full of energy. Before that, I had devoted myself to circulating qi and regulating my breath, so my level in the Wolyeong Mujeonggong had deepened to a certain extent as well. For now, I planned to focus on the Wolyeong Mujeonggong and raise it to the realm of the Fighting Rooster in the Geumgu Soyogong as I envisioned it. Only then would the harmony of yin and yang be balanced to some degree.

* * *

After arriving at Mount Pyeongjung, where Uhyanggok was located, we climbed the mountain on foot. The heat in my body from using lightness skill quickly subsided thanks to the wind coming down from the valley.

“What kind of person is the Master of Uhyanggok?”

Byeokgeom answered my question.

“His martial arts are strong, and his pride is tremendous as well… but because of that, he ended up in a difficult situation.”

“Why?”

“White-Faced Young Master didn’t exactly coerce him. He made a wager on a martial duel with White-Faced Young Master, lost, and ended up taking the medicine as White-Faced Young Master ordered. Even so, whenever White-Faced Young Master gives an order, he is the one who resists the most. How should I put it… He has some backbone. He will either get along extremely well with you, Sect Master, or not at all.”

“Naturally, you deal with him first. I’ll watch his personality for a bit, then open my mouth.”

“Understood. What do we do if White-Faced Young Master is already there?”

“Is he strong?”

“I doubt he has an equal.”

I looked at Master Yukhap.

“You heard him, right? He’s your opponent.”

Master Yukhap nodded.

“It would be rather funny if we all lost together, ended up swallowing poison, and became the Demon Cult’s hounds.”

“Not funny.”

It seemed we had arrived at Uhyanggok, for the once-rugged surroundings had changed into a garden and flower path maintained by human hands. As we walked along the narrow path, Byeokgeom said,

“Do not stray to the sides. There are poisonous plants, and apparently some thorns that will send you straight to the grave if they prick you.”

After we passed through the narrow flower path, the martial artists of Uhyanggok appeared and recognized Byeokgeom.

“You’ve arrived?”

Byeokgeom replied,

“Where is the Valley Master?”

“He is inside, but he also has guests.”

“Guests?”

The martial artist of Uhyanggok looked at me and Master Yukhap and said,

“Are they your newly acquired subordinates?”

Byeokgeom nodded.

“Yes.”

Like a busy man, Byeokgeom walked through the garden and headed toward a round table set up outdoors. Three people at the table had been talking, but they turned to look at us.

The man presumed to be the Master of Uhyanggok spoke to Byeokgeom.

“Byeokgeom, what is this?”

When Byeokgeom hesitated, the Master of Uhyanggok raised a finger and pointed at him.

“Stop. You fellows following behind him, stop as well.”

Only then did I lift my bamboo hat slightly, confirming the Master of Uhyanggok’s appearance and examining the middle-aged man and woman seated with him.

Of the two, the middle-aged woman’s complexion changed drastically, and she quietly rose from her seat.

The quick-witted Master of Uhyanggok noticed the middle-aged woman’s expression, then turned his head and fixed his gaze on me.

“Who are you? You do not seem to be Byeokgeom’s subordinate.”

I pushed Byeokgeom aside and slowly approached the round table. The middle-aged man sitting to the right of the Master of Uhyanggok was certainly someone I did not know, but the middle-aged woman looked familiar. I simply couldn’t be certain.

As I drew closer, the middle-aged woman made an obviously frightened expression and gave me a cupped-fist salute.

“Sect Master, have you been well?”

Only then did I break into a laugh.

“Ah, so that’s who it was….”

The middle-aged woman forced a smile and replied,

“You have been well, haven’t you?”

I nodded and answered,

“It was Lady Cheolseom.”

“Yes.”

Only then did I realize the middle-aged man’s identity.

“Then this one must be Valley Master Yuhwa.”

Now that I looked, Yuhwa Valley and Uhyang Valley seemed to get along like close neighbors. Perhaps the Yuhwa Valley Master had not recognized me at once, for he asked Lady Cheolseom.

“Madam, who is this?”

Looking at the Yuhwa Valley Master, I took the Flash Dagger from my robe.

“Do you recognize this?”

The Yuhwa Valley Master’s eyes widened.

“The Flash Dagger?”

I naturally joined them, plopped down into an empty chair, then drove the Flash Dagger into the table.

“Good to see you all.”

Feeling genuinely pleased, I smiled broadly and clapped. Turning my head, I said to Byeokgeom and Master Yukap.

“You two, stand by for a moment.”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

I held out a hand to Lady Cheolseom, who was still standing.

“Madam, sit. Sit comfortably. Why are you standing? The jianghu is vast, yet narrow. To think I’d see Lady Cheolseom here.”

“Ah, yes. I truly had no idea either.”

As Lady Cheolseom sat back down, she reached a hand downward and pressed on the Yuhwa Valley Master’s knee. It seemed to be a gesture telling him to restrain himself, but the movement was plainly visible.

The bewildered host of this place, the Uhyang Valley Master, asked Lady Cheolseom.

“Who is he?”

Lady Cheolseom answered in a respectful tone.

“Ah, this is the Hao Sect Master.”

Perhaps the Uhyang Valley Master had heard things about me, for he whipped his head around and stared at me.

I met the Uhyang Valley Master’s eyes and opened my mouth without any particular thought.

“That is me. Good to meet you.”

Informal speech and not-quite-informal speech followed one after the other, but I did not especially care. What mattered was not the tone of the words, but the feeling in one’s heart that one was glad to meet them.

I looked at the Flash Dagger stuck in the table and muttered.

“It seems you are not particularly glad to see me.”

Lady Cheolseom immediately answered.

“I am glad to see you, Sect Master.”

The Yuhwa Valley Master also spoke to me in a composed tone.

“I am glad to meet you. I have heard much about you from my wife.”

I looked at the Uhyang Valley Master. The Uhyang Valley Master said to me in an indifferent tone.

“Hao Sect Master, good to meet you.”

A man welcomed wherever he goes—that is me.