Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Strange Object (2)

As the saying goes a word without feet travels a thousand li, the rumors about me spread in an instant.

“Wow! Is that person the Jade-Faced Asura? Really handsome!”

“Did he really receive the sword technique from an immortal like the rumor?”

Felt in the hometown too but the rumors of this era are entertainment and at the same time a measure of a person’s value.

“They say he writes text on walls with a sword?”

“How amazing must the sword technique be for such a skill!”

Credit is immediately specs, and everyone is an interviewer so they flocked one after another to confirm.

“Hyung! Hyung! Show us swordsmanship!”

“Young hero, can you really control a dragon?”

“They say your sword moves in one stroke is it true?”

On the first day it was to the extent of watching from afar, but now they approach closely and request this and that.

“Aren’t you scared of me?”

『According to this seat’s experience if a martial artist’s age is young and fame is middling people often treat them without reserve.』

“Even though Asura is in the alias?”

『The boss’s appearance is peerless under heaven, the rumor is known as a righteous figure who catches bandits, and the insides that are black to the point of rotting have not been revealed, so it is natural for people to release their wariness.』

I want to hit them but there are many watching eyes so I will accumulate it and hit later.

『If fame is high humans rather cannot approach. If the current situation is burdensome accumulate more fame.』

Avoiding people’s interest I headed to the outskirts of the capital. Wherever it is there are bound to be lagging regions, and usually the outskirts are like that and here was the same.

“Now I can live a bit.”

People are scarce and people have no interest in me. I also do not pay much interest and try to pass, but the children playing in the alley caught my eye.

“It’s an ant. They say ant butt tastes like honey.”

“What is honey?”

“It’s really delicious water, sticky.”

Remembering the hometown kids, returning to the bustling area and suffering for a bit, I bought a lot of snacks.

“You guys, eat this instead of ants.”

“Who are you?”

“A kind-hearted hyung passing by.”

“Ah! I know this hyung! It’s the Jade-Faced Asura right? Right!”

I didn’t know the rumor would reach here too, but thanks to that the children released their wariness so it helped for the first time.

“Delicious!”

“Hyung, give more of this!”

“Eat slowly, there is still a lot.”

Looking contentedly at the children at that time, feeling a gaze and turning my head a middle-aged man heavily drunk was glaring at me.

“Do you have any business?”

A liquor bottle in one hand.

Dark eye area and messy hair.

Looking at the body that smells bad from not washing and clothes no different from rags, he looks like a neighborhood beggar or drunkard.

“Is it good staying like that?”

“Why are you suddenly picking a fight?”

“Taking care of pitiful kids makes you feel like you became something? Doing a good thing and feeling a petty sense of superiority like becoming a hero? A lame act that only kids would do.”

Wow, I have really grown a lot too.

This is the first time the fist did not go out first.

“I’ll give you just one chance. Shut up and get lost.”

“Uahahaha! A kid who doesn’t even seem to have hair in the crotch has seen a lot from somewhere!”

“Waaah! Hyung! Run!”

“It’s a crazy uncle! He just hits people and stuff!”

From the children’s reaction I could tell what kind of human he is so I lightly beat him.

‘If beating moderately and handing over to the government office they will lock him in prison for a few days and release him.’

If a habitual criminal with notorious notoriety he will be properly punished, so I beat him as always.

“Keuhat, keuhahaha!”

But the opponent is not ordinary.

Even bandits if beaten to this extent faint or beg, but he was not scared at all and showed no sign of tiring.

“Looking like a girl the fist is no different from a girl! Did you grow up without drinking mother’s milk after being born? Why is there no strength!”

I hit a bit stronger.

Now he staggers as if about to collapse or not.

“The pretty one is no different from a gigolo. They say rich people enjoy sodomy, so you would know well so tell me! Is that true!?”

I hit one level stronger.

Blood splatters in all directions and now he sits down on the floor.

“Is that at the waist a decoration? Looking at it you seem a martial world greenhorn, seeing that you came out without the resolve to kill people one can see how much of a cripple the teacher is even without looking!”

“...”

I barely suppress the killing intent that boils up on its own.

‘I won’t kill. Instead, I’ll break the jaw so you can never play with that dirty mouth again.’

At that time, a little kid ran from afar and blocked in front of me.

“I’m sorry! I’ll apologize instead! Don’t bully our benefactor!”

“Uselessly interfering...”

The drunkard fainted.

“Do you know each other?”

“Yes, he is the benefactor who saved me and my parents before! He is also staying at our house!”

Taking the man I headed to the child’s house. Arriving at a small house with two side rooms attached I threw the man on the floor.

“Where are your parents?”

“They went to work.”

“Then I have to ask you. Is this person a benefactor?”

“Yes, he is a benefactor.”

Slightly surprised at the story heard from the boy who looked one or two years younger than me.

“This person is the One Day One Good Jin Sobae great hero.”

The one corner of the Hebei Four Dragons that people spoke of was exactly this person.

“Can you tell me what on earth happened?”

“That is...”

The boy began the story.

* * *

One day, a man came out into the Hebei martial world.

“This person is the 12th generation successor of the Returning Heaven Flying Swallow Sword, Jin Sobae! I wish to compete in martial arts with you who are renowned!”

Martial artists appearing carrying one-person transmission martial arts were countless even in one year so at first he did not receive much interest.

But his martial arts were truly profound, he toppled numerous experts of Hebei and not a few years passed and he was counted as one of the number one experts of Hebei.

“Martial arts are a tool for performing righteous deeds. So is it not natural to perform chivalrous deeds every day?”

More than strength Jin Sobae also made a name with chivalrous deeds. The people who received his help were countless and people called him One Day One Good.

“Aigoo! Thank you, great hero!”

“Thanks to you I lived!”

“Now I have become free from those vicious fellows!”

Many called him a hero and called him a benefactor and called him a great hero.

On the day the 20th year since Jin Sobae appeared arrived, the people who received his help gathered and held a banquet.

“With a heart of gratitude for the great hero’s grace we gathered money among ourselves and prepared!”

“Hoho, thank you!”

Without any suspicion he ate the food and downed the alcohol and when he suddenly vomited blood the people fled and those holding weapons rushed in.

“Finally caught! Attack!”

The banquet was a sinister scheme contrived by the remnants of the black path group he had subdued by threatening the people.

Even though hit by poison he succeeded in dealing with the evil thief group, but suffered serious internal injury.

“Did you hear the news? They say the right hand meridians of the excellent sword person One Day One Good were all severed, and he can no longer hold a sword.”

With an internal injury of a level that he could never act as a martial artist again he was disappointed and fell into the liquor jar pathetically with past fame, and the noble nature gradually distorted and he came to criticize others and resent the world.

* * *

“That is how it happened! I will apologize instead for the benefactor pouring poisonous words on hyung! Please, please forgive the benefactor just once!”

There was such a circumstance.

I came to know the reason he became Three Dragons from the Hebei Four Dragons, the reason people clicked their tongues saying he was a ruffian.

‘Even so, it does not become a free pass.’

I sympathize but it is not something that can be forgiven.

But unlike the past when I would have smashed the jaw as the heart desired I saw the teacher’s appearance in the man.

“...Enough. I will forgive just once.”

“Thank you, great hero!”

It seemed that if I hit this man now I would become no different from the people of Imcheong County who laughed at the teacher.

Returning to the center of the capital I deliberately approached people.

“Oh! Jade-Faced Asura! I wish to witness the rumored martial arts how about it?”

“There is something I want to ask and if you answer this I will do it.”

“Of course!”

“Then I will show first.”

Roughly shouting the technique names of the Cloud Dragon Aspiration Sword I demonstrated the Three Talents Sword Technique. Unfolding at a speed that is extremely fast but can be seen, I received thunderous applause.

“Indeed living up to the name!”

“I thought the rumor was exaggerated, but the real thing was more!”

“That sword just now, did you see it?”

“If it were me could I block that sword...?”

Through the people who kept the promise I heard Jin Sobae’s story.

“There is no separate loafer and ruffian. Using past grace as an excuse he sponges off the poor, truly shameless!”

“Day after day he pours malicious words on people and swings fists, what chivalrous hero!”

“Isn’t the true value of a person revealed when there is nothing? To change a person so just because losing martial arts, the chivalrous deeds were all hypocrisy and the nature was evil it seems.”

Accordingly I asked what I was curious about.

“If going around swinging violence there would be many people who suffered great bodily harm, does the government office just leave him?”

“Whether it is true that the meridians were severed strand by strand, he has also become bad at fighting. Now he is weaker than an ordinary person.”

Remembering him who did not fall even to my fist even though swung moderately, buying various foods at the market I sought the boy’s house again.

“G-great hero?”

“Where is that human?”

“H-he went out to buy alcohol.”

“Tsk.”

Handing the food bundle and money to the skinny boy.

“Tell that human. It is only overlooking once.”

“G-great hero!?”

“And eat well with this money. What is that body being so skinny? If getting sick like that you will groan and die.”

“T-thank you!”

I have also died a lot of temper.

Spending one night at the inn like that the next morning, a person in unwrinkled long robe with a silk waist belt sought me.

“Are you the Jade-Faced Asura great hero?”

“That is so but?”

“Please, receive this invitation.”

It was a silk invitation embroidered with golden embroidery.

“It is an invitation our great person sends to the experts of Hebei. Please, if it is not rude receive it.”

“Who is inviting me?”

I saw pride in the attitude of the servant introducing his master.

“It is the Myriad Gold Hands Yun Cheonseong great person the number one tycoon of Hebei.”

I do not know who that is.

I thought roughly a local influential person of this region.

I extended a hand to the invitation that I would have originally refused.

“I will participate.”

Because I smelled a faint blood scent from the splendidly decorated invitation.

“Until when should I go?”

“The sooner the better. If you wish I will guide you right now.”

It was a faint but certain smell that for some reason made me nauseous.

“Yes, let’s go now.”

Riding the carriage and moving while listening, the person called Yun Cheonseong great person was the owner of the Myriad Gold Merchant Group the largest merchant group in Hebei.

“His legend cannot be fully spoken.”

Starting as a lowly person without a single coin he sold river water and earned money.

He bet with great merchants over the ownership of the moon’s land and absorbed their forces.

Sharply seeing through when and where what will become expensive and cornering in advance to grasp wealth, but not forgetting human principles he frequently conducts relief activities.

“The merchants of Hebei all wish to work at the Myriad Gold Merchant Group, and dream of becoming like him.”

“Why does such a person invite martial artists?”

While talking I confirmed the invitation. There are many rhetorical flourishes but it can be summarized in one line.

[I wish to share friendship with the experts of Hebei so please respond to the invitation.]

The servant who had been proudly boasting about his master wiped tears.

“The great person when young dreamed of being a martial artist. Unfortunately he had no talent and gave up. Thanks to that he became a great merchant, so the saying life is a blessing in disguise is correct.”

Listening to the story I somehow arrived at a splendid mansion. The giant mansion exceeded five stories and the garden could not be easily moved without a carriage and the number of servants almost reminded of a palace.

“Who is that?”

“Isn’t it the rumored Jade-Faced Asura?”

“Haa, that young hero also received an invitation.”

In the middle of the garden, the carriage stopped at the banquet hall. The people who arrived in advance were already enjoying the banquet, and looking at me whispered.

“This late learner of the martial world Lee Shin greets the seniors.”

“Hoho! Truly a youth with clear divine appearance and dignity!”

“Come here and receive a drink!”

I exchanged names with various people. Among them there were also names heard in the previous argument such as Fire Rain Sword Baek Unseong, Iron Fist Single Strike Baek Gwonhu, Divine Wind Sword Oh Jun.

“This person is the sect master of the Grand Heaven Gate, Dokgo Shin. It is truly an honor to meet a hidden dragon.”

“My name is Jang Munyeon. They say your sword is that fast and sharp? Let’s compete in sparring once sometime!”

“I am Chu Hwayeong. The deeds of you going around subduing bandits are to my liking so I want to do together later.”

And even the Hebei Three Dragons.

“The great person is a bit late. I will bring out the prepared main dishes in advance, so please understand.”

Along with the servant’s story splendid food came out endlessly, and everyone’s eyes widened.

‘Wow, this surprised me a bit too.’

Bear paw and sturgeon roe.

Well-roasted duck that makes the mouth water and soup made by thoroughly boiling swallow’s nest.

Noodles eaten rolled in broth boiled with shark fin and sea cucumber, abalone, and meat simmered with deer tendon, even the dish stir-fried with pheasant and pine mushroom.

‘If not hearing the explanation they are rare things to the extent of not being able to distinguish.’

Eating like that and sharing friendship with other martial artists, finally the owner of the mansion revealed his appearance.

“Nice to meet you, heroes of the jianghu! Thank you truly for responding to the invitation like this. I am the owner of the Myriad Gold Merchant Group, Yun Cheonseong.”

He looked to be in his mid-30s. Not the obesity that comes to mind when thinking of a rich person, with a sturdy physique and whether managing health well color returned to the face.

‘There is no smell of the invitation. So more suspicious.’

Not taking eyes off him for a few minutes.

The one who had been praising us with all sorts of rhetorical flourishes clapped and called a new servant.

“In this joyful place of becoming acquainted with the heroes of the jianghu I will present a very rare food that is hard to obtain!”

“The plate is giant.”

“With that much one cow would go in and still remain.”

“What on earth is the dish?”

People were already expecting but only I listening to the sound inside the plate folded the expectation.

“Open the lid!”

The lid of the giant plate opened.

Inside there was a naked person.

“W-what is this!”

“A person?”

“No, are you mocking us now!?”

Looking at the man with hands and feet bound, shedding tears and twisting his body the merchant group leader took out a dagger and stabbed wildly.

“He is a villain who was doing thievery nearby. Punishing evil people is a virtue of a hero, and I wish to see that appearance.”

The man on the plate struggles.

Being stabbed wildly in the thigh and back blood gushes, and the blood scent spread full of the garden.

“Please, is there anyone who will give this evil thief fresh and intense pain enough to regret the evil deeds even after dying? If it suits my heart I will give a thousand gold!”

Within that I smelled a faint blood scent. It was a nauseating smell flowing from a place whose location could not be known at all.

“Ha!”

The corner of the mouth twists on its own.

“This is pure bullshit season.”