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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Growth (2)
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Chaos erupted in Seongdo.
And for good reason. The head of the Gihwan Escort Agency had died in a gruesome state.
"Heard the news? The Gihwan Escort Agency head got killed in the most pitiful way."
"Covered in blood and pus, right?"
"Even someone with strong poison resistance wouldn't end up like that..."
"He was getting too cocky lately anyway."
"The Tang Clan isn't called the Tang Clan for nothing."
In their memories, the Tang Clan were ruthless to their enemies.
Yet few among the common folk feared them.
"The Sacheon Tang Clan has always been good to us ordinary people."
"They used to treat folks for free back in the day."
"Not anymore. Even the medical halls have sided with the Sacheon Merchant Alliance and can't ignore treatment fees."
"Those Merchant Alliance bastards too. They all received favors from the Tang Clan when they were strong, but now that things are tough, they've completely turned their backs."
"Fucking dogs. They should all go bankrupt."
"But was it Clan Head Dang Seong-u who stepped in personally?"
"Probably. How many escorts were there? Even a mild-mannered man like him must have reached his limit."
"Yeah, they say a good person's anger is the scariest."
Listening to the people's chatter, Gu Hwan-gae couldn't hide his bewilderment.
'Dang Seong-u isn't the type. Besides, I was drinking with him until dawn yesterday.'
Then who could it be?
'As expected, Dang Yu-wol. That guy's the one.'
He recalled the man he'd seen yesterday.
After the ambush, he went straight on the counterattack?
He shook his head in disbelief, having expected at least some preparation.
'But how the hell did he do it?'
The issue was the method.
Dang Yu-wol's martial prowess yesterday hadn't even reached first-rate.
And yet he killed Gi Yeong-gyu?
'Gi Yeong-gyu had that precious treasure, the Blood Antidote Pearl, didn't he? Has the Tang Clan's poison recovered enough to surpass it?'
"Is this going to be okay?"
One of the Sacheon Merchant Alliance's pillars had crumbled.
They might even go to full-scale war with the Tang Clan.
When a nearby beggar asked, Gu Hwan-gae smirked.
"The Merchant Alliance guys? They won't make a move."
"Pardon?"
"Even Gi Yeong-gyu, who was so confident with his Blood Antidote Pearl, died from poisoning."
"Yes."
"They wouldn't want to mess around and get killed by some poison master who's lost it."
"Ah... Still, it's a bit..."
"They'll probably be thrilled. It's like we took out their annoying pest for them. And hey, you don't poke a cornered rat."
'Though if Dang Yu-wol keeps growing, he won't be some rat.'
If they had to crush him, now was the only chance.
But did the Merchant Alliance know that?
Gu Hwan-gae chuckled slyly.
"Still, just in case, let's go check it out."
Gu Hwan-gae sauntered leisurely toward the center of Seongdo.
Upon entering the Sacheon Merchant Alliance's grand hall, those who recognized him parted ways.
"Perfect timing, Elder Thousand-Li Flying Swallow."
"Mm. I heard the rumors. What will the Merchant Alliance do?"
'If the Beggars' Sect's Thousand-Li Flying Swallow Gu Hwan-gae wanted to, he could obtain all the Merchant Alliance's intel in no time.'
'Better to just be honest then.'
The Merchant Alliance leadership exchanged quick glances and made their decision.
"The Alliance has decided not to intervene in this matter."
"Why? Doesn't it hurt your pride?"
"Our investigation showed Gi Yeong-gyu acted on his own against Dang Yu-wol."
"Oh?"
"Yes. If it's a personal grudge between individuals... what can we say? They're both murim folk."
"Oho. But you investigated awfully fast. Someone might think you're from the Beggars' Sect."
You already knew and just planned to play dumb.
He merely smiled awkwardly at Gu Hwan-gae's pointed words.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
-One caught easily. Handle the rest the same way?
'That would be ideal if possible... but the remaining leaders are either transcendent realm experts themselves or have them as escorts.'
Once one reaches the transcendent realm, they can protect their body with inner energy.
Poisoning such people isn't easy.
Especially not at Dang Yu-wol's current level.
-You'd need at least peak realm to create poisons that work on transcendent experts.
It was regrettable, but unavoidable.
Even so, there was no problem.
He had already planned for everything.
-More importantly, your father's expression looks pretty intimidating.
Only then did Dang Yu-wol look up.
Dang Seong-u and the elders, who had arrived some time ago, stared at him silently before finally speaking.
"Your doing?"
A blunt question.
But Dang Yu-wol knew it was about Gi Yeong-gyu.
"Yes."
"You brat!! Doing something like that without a word...!!"
"You would have stopped me if I told you."
Dang Seong-u sighed deeply at his son's calm demeanor.
"Why did you do it?"
"Someone had to."
"You?!"
"Father. Uncles."
Dang Yu-wol met their gazes firmly and spoke resolutely.
"What's there to fear?"
"Who's afraid!! We're just worried you'd get hurt...!!"
"I've heard the Tang Clan of the past wasn't like this."
"..."
"Repay favors twofold, grudges fivefold. But the Tang Clan now doesn't seem that way."
"...Haa."
"And... you seem worried about the Merchant Alliance's revenge, but they won't be able to do anything right now."
"...Is that so."
"Yes. So please don't concern yourselves, Father, Elders."
He bowed politely to the speechless adults.
"I'll handle it."
As Dang Yu-wol left, Dang Seong-u and the elders exchanged looks.
He was right.
His actions were just like the Tang Clan of old.
"...Brother."
Dang Seong-u looked at the letter from his robes.
It had been delivered by the Merchant Alliance that morning.
[We are aware that Gi Yeong-gyu and the Tang Clan have had friction and grudges for some time. As this is a fight between murim folk, the Sacheon Merchant Alliance will take no issue with it.]
Officially, they wouldn't attack.
But unofficially?
"How terrifying the murim world is..."
"But that kid Yu-wol is vicious, with good judgment. His ability to predict situations is no joke."
"And his decisiveness too."
"This is what makes a true Tang Clan man."
"We haven't seen that spirit in the clan lately... Isn't this a good thing?"
The elders were favorable.
They all saw the old Tang Clan in Dang Yu-wol.
"He went and did what we couldn't... I knew my young clan head was destined for great things."
"It's a shame. If I weren't injured and unable to use poison arts, I could have helped him..."
"Poison Expert, don't say that. We all feel the same."
"At least we can provide the poisons and hidden weapons he wants, right?"
Most elders couldn't hide their excitement.
Listening to them, Dang Seong-u bowed his head.
"We need to raise him quickly."
His son might suit the Tang Clan better than his weak self.
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Finishing clan matters and returning to the escort agency, a beggar was waiting.
The one from yesterday.
"'Good people don't come, those who come aren't good,' they say."
"You're the first in the world to treat Thousand-Li Flying Swallow Gu Hwan-gae like this."
'Thousand-Li Flying Swallow Gu Hwan-gae.'
-Isn't that the guy? The righteous eccentric who raided the Blood Cult's supply unit with his exceptional lightness skill and dealt them a huge blow.
'Right. He was eventually caught and killed by the Blood Cult experts, but he never gave up fighting till the end—a hero of the orthodox faction.'
A memorable name.
He never thought he'd meet the man he'd only heard of.
"Agh, enough. Enough. Still just a beggar bastard."
"If you're here to beg, I'll prepare a spot outside the agency."
"I'll gratefully accept that. And... Gi Yeong-gyu. You kill him?"
"Yes."
"Ha. Damn."
"Any issues?"
"No. Just... surprising."
"What's surprising? Murim folk live with death around every corner."
"I've lived long and seen plenty."
If it was just a simple death, no big deal.
"But a poison that rots the skin like that? First time seeing it."
"Is it?"
"And from his corpse, it looked like he suffered horrific agony until the end."
"Yes."
"Feels like the Sacheon Tang Clan, who's been laying low, is rising again."
"Correct."
"Oh? R-Really? Wow, that guy's straightforward."
"Is that what you wanted to know?"
"Well... yeah. I'd like to know a few more things if possible. But what now?"
"For now, normalize the clan first."
"Aiming for the gap left by the Gihwan Escort Agency's collapse?"
"Yes."
"Plenty of folks eyeing that spot."
"Probably."
"You okay with that?"
"Not something for a beggar to worry about."
"Fair enough... but since you gave me charity yesterday, I can't just pass. Want my help?"
Dang Yu-wol's martial level was known to be second-rate.
So Gu Hwan-gae expected acceptance.
"No need."
"What!? Hey! Do you know how lucky it is to have an expert like me on your side?!"
"I do."
"When escorts meet experts on the road, why do the guards and leaders beg them to stay even a day?!"
"Then go with them."
Gu Hwan-gae's jaw dropped at his words.
'What kind of guy is this?!'
"Haven't eaten? Join me for a meal?"
"Oh? Then I'll gladly partake."
His gaping mouth snapped shut.
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Stuffed to the brim, Gu Hwan-gae set up his begging spot in front of the agency.
Dang Yu-wol ignored him and sat at the desk.
On the desk sat the Blood Antidote Pearl.
-This should boost your martial level.
'Living beings falling to poison is the natural order, the way of heaven. Life is made that way.'
-In that sense, the Blood Antidote Pearl, which blocks poisoning, is something against heaven.
'The Three Yang Return to Origin Art I cultivate defies the dao to achieve the three yangs—a heaven-defying art.'
He could use the heaven-defying power sealed in the pearl as a catalyst to elevate his art.
-The question is whether you can endure it.
Whether one cultivated heaven-defying arts or not, humans followed the natural order.
Destroying the pearl and absorbing its heaven-defying energy wouldn't be easy.
-Think wisely.
Unlike his usual leisurely tone, Ye-ui spoke gravely.
-One mistake, and your body could explode.
He knew.
He'd seen it plenty in the Blood Cult's experiments back then.
-Using artifacts infused with heaven-defying power to boost cultivation is a shortcut.
'I know.'
-You were a Martial God. Makes sense you'd be confident.
'So?'
-But even with proper methods, you can grow strong enough.
'That takes too long.'
A smile tugged at Dang Yu-wol's lips.
'I have even riskier things ahead. Am I to cower from this?'
He smashed the Blood Antidote Pearl with a palm infused with inner energy.
'No time to hesitate.'