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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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Having finished my contemplation, I continued to maintain a serious demeanor as I spoke.
“Galbijong.”
“Have you made your decision?”
“I am a knight errant who pursues righteousness and camaraderie.”
“What?”
I, Kim Geun-hyeop, am a righteous knight errant. They’re trying to recruit me, someone like me, for the Heretical Path? This is something I can only be angry about.
“Are you saying you intend to invite me, someone like me, into the Heretical Path Alliance?”
Revealing my anger, I circulated the Azure Wing Heart Technique, gradually releasing my energy.
Serin had told me that my internal energy reserves were quite substantial. Therefore, even just revealing it like this, there was a high probability the other party would misjudge my level.
“C-Calm down!”
As expected, the moment I released my energy, This Clear-Eyed Maniac’s forehead became slick with sweat, as if he felt the pressure. No, wait, even while being suppressed by my energy, those sparkling eyes aren’t dimming?
“As I was saying, a faction to search for the Four Heavenly Maidens…”
“That’s not all, is it?”
You can’t fool me.
“The search for the Four Heavenly Maidens is merely a side issue. Ultimately, if the Heretical Path unites in this area, benefits will arise. What are you planning to use me for? Depending on your answer, you will hear the cries of the Screaming Demon.
Speaking with such intent”
“Y-You intend to kill me as brutally as possible! As expected of the Screaming Demon! How sharp! However, there’s no need for that. As I said… If we control this region, various benefits will arise. Wouldn’t it be better to enjoy those?”
“But you are merely a group of Heretical Path villains. I doubt there is righteousness or camaraderie there.”
“What nonsense! Compared to those despicable and vile vermin of the Righteous Path, we of the Heretical Path have righteousness and camaraderie!”
What kind of bullshit is this?
Fixing Galbijong with a questioning gaze, the guy, as if trying to recover, explained.
“Certainly, as you say, Screaming Demon, I belong to the Evil Path. Our Heretical Path Alliance is a faction under the Sado Order, after all. But listen carefully. When we collect interest, we lend the money first, and then we collect the interest!”
That’s obvious.
But Galbijong didn’t seem to think so. Clenching his fists, he gritted his teeth and spat out his words, his eyes still clear.
“But those vermin who call themselves the Righteous Path…! They barge into our Evil Path’s territory, smash everything, and just steal the money! We at least lend money and collect interest, but the Righteous Path bastards just take it!”
An indignant cry.
However, this is only natural. Isn’t the Evil Path originally a gathering of trash? Taking money out of a trash can is just too natural.
It would be stranger if they didn’t take the money. Leaving money in a trash can? That’s just a lunatic, definitely not normal.
“Hmph! Is that so!”
“T-That’s right!”
“Well… consider my proposal. I happen to be in the mood to slaughter the Heretical Path vermin to my heart’s content, to drench myself in their blood.”
“Gasp…!”
Gulp.
At my declaration, Galbijong swallowed his saliva.
He seemed extremely nervous.
Watching him, I stood up.
“S-Screaming Demon. I await your positive response.”
“…”
I left the inn just like that.
And quickly left the scene with hurried steps.
“Shit.”
For now, I tried to act like the most cruel demonic person and ran my mouth, and it seems to have worked. A Heretical Path guy from the Sado Order is trying to recruit me? Killing him to silence him seems problematic, and just leaving him alone seems like it’ll become a nuisance.
I have to make a decision.
“Screaming Demon…”
As I was running away, I heard a voice calling me from behind. Thinking he had followed me, I looked back.
“No, it’s this Jaemison bastard!”
“Keke… you’ve got a new nickname.”
“You saw everything! Hey. Let’s talk.”
I immediately moved to a secluded place with Jaemison.
“To think that you received a recruitment offer from a Heretical Path faction under the Sado Order… Keke. As expected, you’re the man I acknowledged, Kim Geun-hyeop.”
It seemed the waiter had relayed the message well, as he knew my situation. This makes things easier.
“Hey. This isn’t the time to laugh. I’m serious.”
I told Jaemison about my recent worries. I explained how eliminating him seemed problematic, and leaving him be seemed problematic as well.
“What should I do in this situation? Jaemison. I personally highly value your intelligence. Lend me your wisdom.”
“…”
Jaemison leaned against the wall, arms crossed, and listened to my story.
“Whatever it is… this too is part of the grudges and relationships of the martial world.”
Grudges and relationships, suddenly?
“Now that you’ve made a name for yourself like this, there’s no guarantee that something like this won’t happen again… Isn’t that right?”
“Ah, now that I think about it.”
He sought me out after hearing of my reputation. This meant he was just the first, and there could easily be a second, a third, and so on.
“Are you going to worry every time these guys come looking for you?”
Whoosh!
The eyes of a warrior who’d put all his stats into intelligence turned towards me.
That’s right.
Jaemison is right.
“No. I can’t. Worrying once or twice is one thing, but continuing to do so doesn’t make sense.”
“Exactly.”
Useful advice.
“There’s only one thing to do in this situation… Set your own standards and move forward.”
Standards.
“You might become further involved with the Sado Order in some way in the future. Or, having heard that this Screaming Demon fellow seems to be involved with the Sado Order, guys like knights errant dispatched by the Martial Alliance might come to see you.”
This is.
“This is the martial world.”
“That’s right… The Jianghu is like this. Grudges and reputation. Once you have those two things, you can’t help but get caught up in things, even if you don’t want to.”
Jaemison’s voice was incredibly heavy.
“So don’t ask me, Geun-hyeop. The choice is yours to make.”
“You’re right, Jaemison. Thanks to you, my inner world has broadened once again today.”
As expected, this man called Jaemison isn’t an easy one to deal with. He may not be at the level of that absolute master, Mr. Song, but he possesses sharpness and insight.
After talking with him, I felt so pathetic for having worried about such a trivial matter until just now.
An invitation from the Heretical Path? The Sado Order?
Once I’ve stepped into the martial world, it’s no surprise that something like this could happen at any time. In that case, why should I whine about being caught up in something like this every time?
Absolutely not.
I just need to set my own absolute standards and move forward.
“You are truly a man worthy of respect. Jaemison, no. Yi Sang-je-go of the Anhui Twin Warriors.”
“Keke… To realize it only now, you are truly dull-witted.”
Flash!
Jaemison’s eyes gleamed.
“Go, Kim Geun-hyeop… I’ll follow behind. At least let me witness the moment you make your decision.”
“Alright! But before that, I have to go see my lovers!”
“What?”
“I need to let them know, too.”
For a moment, Jaemison’s expression contorted.
“Jaemison?”
Then, he stood still and spread his hand like a blade, and, as if possessed by a Zealot, he charged towards me and started stabbing me like crazy!
Swish, swish, swish!
Slash, slash!
“Uwaaaaagh!”
My side!
“Get lost!”
“No! This crazy bastard, what’s wrong with you! Owowow!”
My side’s been pierced!
Having barely escaped, I arrived at the Upper Storey Pavilion and immediately knocked on both of their doors.
“Have you reflected… Hmm? Empty-handed?”
“It’s not that!”
“Something must have happened.”
“Uh, I’m sorry! Huff, huff! Let me explain!”
“What is it?”
I immediately explained what had happened today to the two women.
I was going to buy snacks as an apology, but I encountered a martial artist from the Evil Path and received a recruitment offer.
“So the Sado Order is making moves. It’s only natural. The Four Heavenly Maidens’ uprising is something that affects not only the martial world but the entire Ming Dynasty.”
It really is that terrifying.
“Of course, the Martial Alliance is also moving. Faster and more accurately than the Sado Order.
They are definitely not sitting still.”
Is it because her family is part of the Martial Alliance? She seems strangely concerned about that part.
“As expected, only the Righteous Martial Alliance is the light and hope. Anyway, that Galbijong guy is trying to recruit me.”
“Absolutely not.”
Serin replied firmly.
“Isn’t that martial artist named Galbijong a loan shark from the Sado Order? To form a faction with such a person and unite the Heretical Path in this area? And it hasn’t even been long since you talked to him.”
That’s right.
“Trust aside, it’s too dangerous. It’s not something to get involved in carelessly. Besides, if you accept the offer, your affiliation, Geun-hyeop, will naturally lean towards the Evil Path, and if that happens, it wouldn’t be strange if you were attacked by Righteous martial artists.”
Serin’s words were all correct.
“Right. Suddenly, the Evil Path? And creating a Heretical Path faction, no less. Isn’t it better to just refuse? Or why do you really want to join the Heretical Path? Are you Evil?”
“It’s not like that.”
“Then don’t do it. Why are you trying to do something so dangerous… But saying that means you’ve got something in mind, right?”
“Right.”
I need to tell them about that.
The two women’s eyes turned towards me.
“First of all, he came looking for me after hearing about my reputation. That means, even if I refuse this, something like this could happen again.”
“That’s true.”
“Because that’s what the Jianghu is, that’s what grudges and relationships are.”
When I told them what Jaemison had said, Serin nodded.
“Indeed, that is so, Geun-hyeop.”
“Right. Anyway, if I keep refusing every time those guys show up, I’ll end up making enemies. The Evil Path guys are the type to hold a grudge just for being rejected.”
“Yeah, yeah. That’s also true.”
This is inevitable since I’ve become a martial artist.
“And, Serin, Ha-yeoung. Eliminating those guys every time I meet them will also become troublesome in many ways. If they find out that I’m a murderer, I’ll become a target for assassination.”
“Please continue.”
As I continued explaining, Serin focused deeply on my words.
“More than anything, those Four Heavenly Maidens.”
I’m getting a little interested.
Not only are the Righteous and Evil Paths trembling in fear, but even the Imperial Household of the Ming Dynasty is wary of their existence.
I don’t know for sure, but I have a feeling about this. A feeling that gathering information on that sort of thing will be beneficial.
“I think it wouldn’t be bad to learn a little about them.”
“…It’s dangerous.”
“If you think of it as preparing for a bigger danger, it might be okay. Anyway, what I want to say is this. Isn’t a martial arts faction ultimately something you use to your advantage?”
If it’s an unavoidable fate, it wouldn’t be bad to make the first move.
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