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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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Wi Seong-ha had just delivered the epitome of a flustered self-introduction.
Wi Ji-ryang didn’t miss the opportunity.
“Hehe, what was that? Weren’t you going to set things straight?”
“…Don’t laugh.”
Wi Seong-ha gritted her teeth, suppressing her anger as Wi Ji-ryang nudged her playfully.
But he wasn’t about to let it go. Six-year age gap or not, he had found his younger sister’s weakness and was going to exploit it.
“Come on, do your thing. Let’s see what our clever little sister can do.”
Continuing to tease the silent Wi Seong-ha, Wi Ji-ryang finally relented and returned to his usual tone.
“Seriously though, why are you so worked up? Is it because Young Master Nam is handsome?”
They had already exchanged names back at the mercenary guild.
Even though Wi Seong-ha was generally bold and straightforward, befitting a daughter of a martial arts family, she was still a woman.
Wi Ji-ryang could understand her being flustered by Namgung-Woo, whose looks had even surprised him.
“…Do you think I’m that shallow?”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Wi Ji-ryang observed Namgung-Woo and his group walking a short distance ahead.
Yang Kwai and Yang Jeong were walking somewhat awkwardly, while Namgung-Woo seemed to be giving them pointers.
They were incorporating movement techniques into their everyday walking. Even though this would naturally slow them down, they were still faster than Wi Ji-ryang and his companions, who were using basic movement skills.
It hinted at their high level of skill.
“You still haven’t figured it out? Honestly, I’m worried about what will happen when you become Sect Leader.”
“Just tell me already. Senior Brother, have you noticed anything?”
“Well… I can confirm that Yang Kwai is definitely a Peak Realm expert.”
Typical Men.
Clicking her tongue in exasperation, Wi Seong-ha muttered her observation, keeping her voice low so only her companions could hear.
Not yet at the Peak Realm herself, she couldn’t use Secret Voice Transmission and had to be careful not to let Namgung-Woo overhear.
“Those clothes… they’re made from Shadow Spider Silk.”
“What?”
Even their father, the Sect Leader of the Clear Water Sect, couldn’t acquire clothing made from Shadow Spider Silk.
It wasn’t that he lacked the ability, but rather his frugal nature. In other words, it was a luxury even a sect leader considered extravagant.
A mercenary wearing such expensive clothes? While wandering the dangerous Jianghu?
Only the three Transcendent Realm experts among the thousands of mercenaries could afford such a thing.
Or someone with powerful backing.
[…Which Transcendent Realm experts are mercenaries?]
Wi Ji-ryang clumsily attempted a Secret Voice Transmission.
Lee Gong-seo, a seasoned Peak Realm expert, replied smoothly.
[The Mercenary King, the Yellow Dragon Marquis, and the Unrivaled Wanderer. Those three.]
[Anyone with a similar description?]
[No.]
All three were known to be middle-aged, in their forties.
While they would appear younger than their actual age, thanks to their Transcendent Realm cultivation, they didn’t match Namgung-Woo’s youthful appearance, which seemed to be in his early twenties.
[Then it must be the latter.]
[If they’re from Hebei, there’s only one possibility…]
[You don’t mean…?]
‘The Peng Family?’
Wi Ji-ryang swallowed his words. The thought was so absurd he let out a hollow laugh.
Even within the Hebei Peng Family, only direct descendants or elders wore Shadow Spider Silk. And such individuals were so well-known that their identities would be easily discovered, even if they tried to hide them.
The veiled woman was a possibility, but…
‘A direct descendant of the Hebei Peng Family as a mercenary? Preposterous.’
The Seven Great Families weren’t called “great” for nothing. Their power and influence had been passed down through generations. They were different from the Four Great Families of the Black Blood Alliance, which had risen to prominence only a few decades ago.
“Seong-ha, you have sharp eyes. How did you recognize it?”
“…I’m a woman, you know?”
Too embarrassed to explain, Wi Seong-ha left it at that.
How could she admit that she had been initially captivated by Namgung-Woo’s looks, then, seeing the woman next to him, had stared at her with a competitive gaze, noticing the unusual quality of her clothes?
She had only recognized it because she had seen actual Shadow Spider Silk clothing while accompanying her father, the Clear Water Sect Leader.
The unique sheen. The way it shimmered, more beautiful than even the finest silk or brocade, had been etched into her memory.
“In any case, they’re not ordinary people.”
“We knew that from the start. Being a Peak Realm expert at that age is already extraordinary.”
“Are you looking for a fight?!”
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Meanwhile, Namgung-Woo had overheard their hushed conversation.
“She noticed.”
Along with Peng Ha-ryeong.
“Indeed. Do people usually recognize it that easily?”
At Namgung-Woo’s question, Peng Ha-ryeong felt a pang of guilt and coughed awkwardly.
‘It’s my fault they were discovered.’
Namgung-Woo was wearing a simple cotton robe over his Shadow Spider Silk undergarments. The robe was so ordinary that no one would notice what was underneath, unless they had special vision or some sort of X-ray ability.
Peng Ha-ryeong had been similarly dressed, wearing a thin over-robe to conceal her own Shadow Spider Silk garments.
‘How dare she look at Oppa like that…!’
But the moment she saw Wi Seong-ha’s gaze on Namgung-Woo, she had removed her over-robe.
It was a warning, a subtle hint of her status, hoping they would back off.
The fact that she hadn’t removed her veil as well was a testament to her remaining restraint.
Neither Namgung-Woo nor the Yang brothers seemed interested in being mercenaries forever. Taking on this mission was partly for information gathering and partly due to Namgung-Woo’s personal preference.
Peng Ha-ryeong deemed this impulsive act acceptable.
Though she was too embarrassed to admit it openly.
Simply put, she was ashamed to admit she had engaged in a petty display of one-upmanship.
“She has a good eye. But, Oppa, did you hear everything they were saying?”
Peng Ha-ryeong smoothly changed the subject.
She wasn’t just referring to their spoken words, but also their whispered conversation using Secret Voice Transmission.
Understanding her meaning, Namgung-Woo nodded slightly.
Their attempt at Secret Voice Transmission was clumsy.
While eavesdropping on a true master like Peng Hou-sang would require some form of sorcery, listening in on the fumbling attempts of someone who had just entered the Peak Realm was child’s play for Namgung-Woo.
Peng Hou-sang or Guo Duan could also have done it. Even Han Gye-ran, the Unmatched Blade of Haedong, would have no trouble, and Peng Ja-ryeong could have managed it with a little focus.
Not considering it anything special, Namgung-Woo simply replied,
“Nothing important.”
“Really?”
Peng Ha-ryeong sensed something was amiss and was about to ask further, but the Yang brothers’ voices interrupted her.
“Ugh, Boss, give us some advice! How should we circulate our True Qi when executing this step?”
The movement technique the Yang brothers were practicing wasn’t Namgung-Woo’s signature Infinite Steps, but something else.
While the Thirteen Lightning Sword Techniques were effective on their own, they were best used with a complementary movement technique.
For the Yang brothers, whose other techniques were lacking, Namgung-Woo had taught them the Inverse Derivation Footwork, which he had used before mastering Infinite Steps.
Unlike Infinite Steps, which had its own unique abilities, Inverse Derivation Footwork served purely as a movement technique. But even so, it had significantly improved the brothers’ skills.
Yang Kwai, in particular, now a Peak Realm expert, was incredibly enthusiastic about learning. He was now actively seeking to improve.
“Focus your energy on the Great Esteem point of the Liver Meridian, while simultaneously releasing True Qi from the five Kidan points on your right foot… I’ll explain it in detail later.”
Namgung-Woo shifted his gaze.
“For now, let’s put what you’ve learned into practice.”
The moment he spoke, the atmosphere shifted.
A coppery scent of blood filled the air. It wasn’t a hallucination. The pungent odor of blood assaulted their senses.
“Hehehe, a sharp lad, aren’t you?”
-Splash, splash.
With the sound of footsteps in a puddle, an old man emerged onto the street.
Everyone realized he was the source of the bloody scent.
And they knew his name.
“Goreokgal, the Blood-Blind Elder…”
As Wi Seong-ha whispered in fear, Goreokgal’s lips twisted into a grotesque smile.
He clearly reveled in their terror.
“You’ve brought me four more snacks.”
Namgung-Woo’s eyes, tinged with blue, assessed Goreokgal’s strength.
Then, with a casual tone, he said,
“Not bad. Yang Kwai and Yang Jeong, you two should be a good match for him.”
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Ah…what fodder-like lines you have, old man.