CLS-Chapter 149

Chapter 149

Gong Mu-jin opened his mouth with a devastated heart.

“Can you see the secret manual in this situation?”

Wei Yan-ho tilted his head and answered.

“Sometimes when I look at it, you seem to say strange things, but isn’t it natural that the secret manual catches your eye in a situation like this? Aren’t you curious about what this thing is that all these people are chasing after, risking their lives?”

“……”

Gong Mu-jin almost nodded his head.

‘Ah, no, if I acknowledge it here.’

He must not get caught up in that lazy bastard’s tricks.

“Even so, you don’t usually read it right there on the spot! Your head might get cut off.”

“Don’t worry, it’s still intact.”

Wei Yan-ho said while patting his neck.

“It’s gotten surprisingly tough from being trained through beatings.”

“Ugh.”

Gong Mu-jin seemed to think that further conversation would only irritate him, so he turned his gaze away from Wei Yan-ho.

As people gathered, several stepped forward.

“I am Jeong Rip, the Nine Swift Blades from Henan.”

The crowd’s attention turned to Jeong Rip.

“So that’s Jeong Rip.”

“I never thought that Jeong Rip, who uses his sword like a ghost, would be here.”

The crowd began to murmur.

Jeong Rip confirmed that attention was focused on him and slowly led the conversation.

“If all these people rush for the secret manual, there will be great sacrifice. So how about we decide on a method?”

Sam-bul Jeok Yi-geon, who had found Wei Yan-ho first, frowned and answered his words.

“A method? What kind of method are you talking about?”

Nine Swift Blades Jeong Rip looked at Jeok Yi-geon and smiled.

“Senior Jeok is here too. If I had known Senior Jeok was here, I wouldn’t have presumed to step forward.”

“Don’t babble useless words, just get to the point.”

Seeing Jeong Rip speak evasively when he clearly knew he was there, Jeok Yi-geon also seemed to have difficulty maintaining his composure.

“The method is simple, isn’t it? The martial world is a place where the law of the strong survives.”

“The strongest takes the secret manual?”

“That’s right.”

Jeok Yi-geon asked with an incredulous expression.

“How do you prove who is the strongest? Are you suggesting we all fight here as a group?”

“How could that work? Having the strongest fight each other would be one method, but then there’s the risk of losing one’s life to others’ blades while exhausted. That’s why I’m proposing this. Senior Jeok, it’s natural for the strong to possess this secret manual. So how about the strong first share the secret manual among themselves?”

For a moment, interest flickered in Jeok Yi-geon’s eyes.

“Hmm, are you saying we should form an alliance?”

“You could say that.”

“You have quite a talent for beating around the bush. But it’s not a bad idea.”

Jeok Yi-geon slowly nodded his head.

No matter what, extracting the secret manual from among all these people was not an easy task. To be honest, he couldn’t even guarantee victory against Nine Swift Blades Jeong Rip.

In such circumstances, having a path to secure the secret manual safely was certainly beneficial.

“There’s no benefit in dragging this out. I agree. So you’re saying just the two of us?”

“That’s not it.”

Jeong Rip shook his head and answered.

“Actually, if we two decide to do this, there are quite a few people here who would object. Among them, there are some who would frankly be burdensome. For example, Brother Seok over there.”

“Keke, you know well.”

At Jeong Rip’s words, a bald giant stepped out from among the crowd and slammed his axe into the ground with a thud.

“…That butcher bastard was here too.”

“Keke. Old man, you’d better watch your words. Your bones aren’t even intact, so unless you want to be chopped up.”

Jeok Yi-geon turned his head away as if he didn’t want to deal with him.

“And I’ll include you, so please lower that bow aimed at my back. Who would dare proceed without including the Killing Bow? I don’t have the courage for that.”

“Hmm.”

As there was movement from the tree, everyone’s heads turned in that direction. Then, from between the branches, someone in typical hunter’s attire showed their head.

“Then I’ll join too.”

Jeong Rip smiled gently.

“This should be enough to easily handle the remaining people. So let’s secure the secret manual first.”

Jeong Rip looked at Wei Yan-ho and said.

“Little brother, since the situation has come to this, how about handing over that secret manual to us?”

Wei Yan-ho sighed.

“Mister.”

Twitch.

Jeong Rip’s face slightly trembled at being called ‘mister.’

“You must have heard everything already, so why do you keep making me repeat what I’ve already said? I told you this is mine now, so I won’t give it to you.”

Jeong Rip looked at Wei Yan-ho with a strange expression.

‘He looks normal enough.’

Does he have some mental problems?

Even a seven-year-old would grasp how the situation was unfolding, but this guy seemed completely oblivious.

Jeong Rip was quick to judge.

‘There’s no point talking to that guy.’

Given his original nature, he would have already killed Wei Yan-ho and taken the secret manual, but the person who had been restlessly fidgeting like a dog needing to pee beside Wei Yan-ho bothered him.

“You seem to be traveling companions. Won’t you speak to him nicely? I don’t want to drag this out any longer. It would be much better if we could resolve this easily before I have to take it by force.”

Gong Mu-jin stared at Jeong Rip and said with a half-resigned face.

“Try taking it then.”

“What did you say?”

Jeong Rip thought he had misheard.

But Gong Mu-jin’s temper had already been twisted beyond repair.

“Are you deaf? I said try taking it if you want to! Do you know what kind of person he is? He’s the type who won’t spit out what’s in his mouth until a blade comes to his throat!”

Anger rose in Jeong Rip’s face.

“…This bastard!”

From Jeong Rip’s perspective, he could only think that Gong Mu-jin was picking a fight.

“To speak such words in front of me, you must not be nameless? Unless you’re a petty person who can’t reveal his name in front of others…”

Huh?

Jeong Rip’s eyes fixed on the man’s sleeve.

Isn’t that a plum blossom pattern?

“Petty person?”

Gong Mu-jin’s head tilted.

“I’ve never heard myself called a petty person in my life. You don’t think you can insult a Mount Hua swordsman and return home safely, do you? If you want to know, I’ll tell you. I am Gong Mu-jin.”

“P-Plum Blossom Sword Ghost!”

As the name Gong Mu-jin came out, the crowd stepped back several paces as if on cue.

“Whoa?”

Wei Yan-ho saw this scene and asked Lee Seol-hwa in surprise.

“Is that mister such a famous person?”

Lee Seol-hwa blushed slightly and nodded.

“He has quite a reputation.”

“Not just ‘quite,’ right? He’s incredibly weak, so I thought he was just some ordinary mister…”

Gong Mu-jin wore a stern expression and desperately prayed that Wei Yan-ho’s babbling wouldn’t reach other people’s ears.

‘Don’t! Don’t call me weak!’

He had even revealed his name as Gong Mu-jin, but if he was called weak, what would that make him?

“Ahem!”

Gong Mu-jin cleared his throat loudly to gloss over the situation.

“I didn’t know the Plum Blossom Sword Ghost was here. I apologize for my rude behavior.”

When Jeong Rip bowed respectfully, Gong Mu-jin accepted the courtesy with a somewhat arrogant expression.

“Wow, look at that expression.”

At the same time, Gong Mu-jin immediately dropped that arrogant expression.

‘I… I wasn’t this kind of person…’

‘Wasn’t I the one who, until meeting that bastard, was mentioned as Mount Hua’s greatest master and potential next sect leader, at least externally? But now I have to watch the mood of that young bastard who just throws casual remarks behind my back.’

Gong Mu-jin’s heart surged as he ground his teeth.

“Does the Plum Blossom Sword Ghost being here mean Mount Hua has entered the competition for the secret manual?”

Gong Mu-jin answered in a heavy voice.

“No.”

“…Then?”

“We simply stopped at this inn while traveling. I have no interest in that secret manual. Mount Hua might change its position later, but as of now, I will not lay a hand on that secret manual.”

“Ooh.”

Jeong Rip’s expression brightened considerably.

Considering the Plum Blossom Sword Ghost’s reputation and Mount Hua backing him, confronting Gong Mu-jin would be quite burdensome.

“Then may I speak with your companion?”

“I have no objection at all, so do as you please.”

“You really have no objection at all?”

When Jeong Rip kept probing, Gong Mu-jin sighed and answered.

“I promise in front of everyone. Even if blades are drawn right there and heads roll, I have nothing to do with it.”

Of course, it’ll be your head that rolls.

Gong Mu-jin looked at Jeong Rip with pitying eyes.

‘Don’t blame me later.’

Just in case he might come complaining about why he didn’t stop him beforehand, Gong Mu-jin was making sure to cut off all relations clearly.

“In that case.”

Jeong Rip smiled and looked at Wei Yan-ho.

“Little brother, you heard? Now there’s no one to help you.”

Wei Yan-ho responded with a blank expression.

“I never expected help from the beginning anyway. That person originally just takes what he wants and pretends not to hear when others ask for help.”

At Wei Yan-ho’s words, Jeong Rip turned to look at Gong Mu-jin.

Gong Mu-jin was already looking at distant mountains. His back showed a firm resolve never to turn around and make eye contact with them.

“It doesn’t matter. Even at this moment, wolves are gathering. My patience has reached its limit, so I’ll say it one last time…”

“No!”

Wei Yan-ho finally exploded.

“I said no! I won’t give it! Are you deaf? I said I won’t give it! No, where have you been and what have you been doing to be so unable to understand? I’m telling you! I won’t give it! I! Won’t! Give! It!”

Jeong Rip, who had covered his ears at the booming voice, looked at Wei Yan-ho with a dumbfounded expression.

It seemed like smoke would rise from his ears if he lowered the hands covering them now.

Who was he?

Nine Swift Blades Jeong Rip.

The Nine Swift Blades Jeong Rip that even that Plum Blossom Sword Ghost Gong Mu-jin was reluctant(?) to clash with. And this stupid young bastard was now yelling at him.

“Fine! You bastard! Let’s see if you can refuse!”

His signature swift blade was drawn from his waist. As the blade flew through the air like a ray of light, the crowd squeezed their eyes shut.

No matter how mentally unstable the guy was, they didn’t want to see that young man’s head get cut off and roll around.

THWACK!

A sharp striking sound rang out along with a sound like slaughtering a pig.

“GYAAAAHHH!”

The crowd opened their eyes, puzzled by the sound they heard. It was clearly a blade strike, but why was there a sound like being hit with a blunt weapon and screaming?

And those who opened their eyes couldn’t help but be shocked by the scene before them.

Nine Swift Blades Jeong Rip had fallen to the ground, rolling around holding his head.

“Hey, where do you think you’re swinging a blade, mister?”

And Wei Yan-ho spat on the ground, then began approaching Nine Swift Blades with an elongated club wrapped in white cloth in his hand.