Chapter 81: Blessing in Disguise (1)

I had seen many martial artists and many martial families, but I had never seen people who valued chivalry as much as these ones did.

A heartless Jianghu.

An emotionless Jianghu.

That was how the world appeared to me as I wandered through it as someone from a martial family that practiced divination techniques.

I hadn’t even glimpsed where chivalry or righteousness might exist.

No, occasionally I did spot it — but it was as rare and precious as a jewel, something one might see once in a lifetime if lucky.

That was why I had turned my back on the martial world entirely and lived as a fortune-teller, even preparing to die that way.

But after meeting Yong Hwarin and falling for the purity of someone newly stepping into the martial world, I came this far — and now I truly felt I had done well to meet these people.

If my abilities could be used for righteousness, there could be nothing better.

‘Wasn’t it said, Virtue is not solitary; it is bound to have companions? That saying must be true.’

The phrase “Virtue is not solitary; it is bound to have companions” was said by Confucius — meaning that a person of virtue is never alone, for others will gather around them.

In history, it was Liu Bei who proved this, leading countless heroes through the power of virtue.

‘Maybe that’s why I follow Young Master Yong as well.’

Nan Myeonggwak smiled warmly at the feeling blooming in his chest.

In the room, only Jong Seok and Jong Munhye remained.

Yong Hwarin had plucked a few leaves of the Demonic Poison Stoneflower and laid them out in front of him.

“If we use this to complete your martial art, it’s said we can neutralize the backlash of your self-created technique — that is a blessing in disguise. Honestly, I was unsure where to use it when I obtained it.”

“If I can just complete eight stages of the Black Death God Light Poison Technique, I can neutralize the backlash. I know time is of the essence, but please, I wish to absorb the Demonic Poison Stoneflower here and now.”

“There’s not much distance left to the main house. How about holding off for a few days and circulating your qi in the closed training chamber there?”

“Brother, there’s a chance the ones chasing us might attack again on our way. To prepare for that, it’s best I do my cultivation here. If I reach the eighth stage of the Black Death God Light Poison Technique, I can handle whoever comes.”

The Black Death God Light Poison Technique wasn’t well known, but among poison-based martial arts, it was one of the top five advanced techniques.

“That’s exactly why returning to the main house quickly is important. And truthfully, can you be certain how long it’ll take to absorb the Demonic Poison Stoneflower? Didn’t you say it could take a day, three days, maybe even a month? If enemies strike while you’re cultivating, we’ll be sitting ducks.”

Only a few within Blood Demon Castle knew that the Self-Revolving Blood Demon was targeting Jong Munhye. But since they didn’t know that, Jong Seok realized he was simply being impatient.

“Brother, you may also suffer from the backlash at any time. We don’t know when it will strike again, and since symptoms are due soon, even a single day sooner would be…”

“I understand, Brother Jong. I know you want to resolve the backlash from your and Sister Hye’s technique as soon as possible. But I believe this is the most critical moment. Let’s not rush — in haste, we often miss something important, so we must be cautious.”

One reason I accepted and followed Yong Hwarin as an elder brother was that he reminded me of a father.

Even though he was only a year older, he gave off the feeling of a much older brother — or even a father figure.

That made it easier to follow him, and even made me want to rely on him.

“Understood. I’ll do as you say, Brother.”

“Good. Wise choice. We’ll stop by the county office today, then depart tomorrow, so be prepared.”

“Brother, it would be better to rest today. We don’t know when the backlash might strike.”

“No, we must wrap up matters at the county office today to depart tomorrow. Besides, I’m not having trouble moving.”

Yong Hwarin could feel the energy of the backlash gathering in his abdomen, but since it wasn’t actively harming him at the moment, he chose to continue moving.

“Master Yong, you need to rest. You’ve just fought — is it really okay to be moving again so soon?”

Mo Biyoung looked at Yong Hwarin with worried eyes.

“I’m fine. Let’s finish up the matter with the Self-Revolving Blood Demon at the county office. There’s no benefit to lingering here any longer.”

As Yong Hwarin insisted, the group had no choice but to head to the county office.

Since they had all fought the Self-Revolving Blood Demon, they had to move together to report and explain the situation.

Because of their arrival at the county office, the local constables were thrown into a commotion. Rumors had spread that they were the ones who killed the infamous Self-Revolving Blood Demon, drawing all the officials out to watch.

The county magistrate appeared in person to conduct the interrogation.

“Which of you is the Heavenly Sword Hero?”

Yong Hwarin was surprised that even his nickname had reached the county office.

He stepped forward and offered a respectful bow.

“I am, sir.”

“I heard you’re the one who killed the wicked and vile Great Demon. Is that true?”

“Yes, sir. It is.”

“And you are aware that the bounty on the Great Demon is quite substantial?”

“Yes, sir. I heard it was thirty gold taels.”

That was a sizable amount.

The bounty had grown so high not just because of the government but also due to private merchants and trading unions offering their own bounties.

The Self-Revolving Blood Demon had killed many indiscriminately, including those of wealth and influence — and their families had added to the bounty.

“However, the bounty has not yet arrived at this district, so I cannot issue payment. If you wait about a month, it should arrive. For now, I can offer ten gold taels — if you take that and leave, we’ll summon you when the rest arrives.”

Yong Hwarin instantly understood why the magistrate had come in person and chuckled inwardly.

‘Officials really are the same in every era.’

To put it simply, the magistrate was telling them to take ten and go — so he could pocket the remaining twenty.

Having once been a merchant, Yong Hwarin was well aware of how such officials behaved, so he was ready to negotiate accordingly.

However, the straightforward Namwook and the innocent Mo Biyoung tilted their heads and questioned it.

“Sir, this seems strange. Isn’t it standard procedure for the county to pay the bounty first from its funds and recoup the amount later? Why are you offering only ten?”

Namwook blinked wide-eyed as he asked, and the magistrate frowned and raised his voice.

“Because there’s no money in the county treasury! Even after scraping it together, ten is all there is. If you truly want the full amount, then wait a month — or longer, if it delays.”

The magistrate barked with irritation.

‘That one’s not a decent magistrate.’

Fighting such people always led to loss on the weaker party’s side. If the Heavenly Central Sect were a renowned noble clan, this wouldn’t be happening.

On the contrary, the magistrate would have bent over backward to appease them.

But since they were just a middling sect from Henan, he could act high and mighty.

Then it happened.

Constables brought in a group surrounded by guards and dragged them into the office.

“Let us go! We’ve done nothing wrong!”

When Yong Hwarin turned slightly, he saw three female martial artists being herded in. All wore martial garb with swords at their waists — clearly martial artists.

Their appearances were similar — they seemed to be sisters — and all of them were stunningly beautiful.

As he looked more closely, Yong Hwarin was inwardly surprised.

‘No way. Aren’t they the Three Chivalrous Sisters of the Jeong Family Village in Shaanxi?’

He was delighted to see the Three Chivalrous Killers in such an unexpected place.

In his previous life, the Jeong Family Village of Shaanxi had fought on the Heavenly Central Sect’s side during their grueling battle with the Dabie Sect.

When the Heavenly Central Sect sought help for the war, only the two families of Shaanxi — the Jeong and Kim families — answered the call.

The Jeong Family Village was famous for being run entirely by women, since the founder, patriarch, and sons all died young for unknown reasons.

Their Flowing Cloud Sword Technique was renowned, and once upon a time, Patriarch Jeong Mok had been ranked among the Ten Masters of the martial world during the Wujeong era.

Now, with only women remaining, they maintained their name — and the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique suited women so well that the current Jeong Family Village was even more famous than before.

Among them, the Three Chivalrous Killers were female swordswomen renowned as the chivalrous heroes of Shaanxi.

Seeing them brought back memories.

In his past life, only one of the three sisters had survived the war — a loss he had once deeply lamented.

Thus, while leading the merchant union, he had offered much support to the Jeong Family Village.

The magistrate shouted when he saw them.

“What is this ruckus about?”

“Sir! These women killed the village chief’s son from Moga Village!”

“What? You’re telling me they dared to commit murder in my district?!”

“It wasn’t murder! That man had slaughtered five women from Moga Village! He abused his position as the chief’s son to defile the young girls of the village. When we tried to bring him in, he fled and fell to his death.”

The tallest of the sisters — Jeong Suji, the second — spoke.

The eldest, Jeong Minji, had a gentler appearance suited for embroidery rather than swords, while the youngest, Jeong Daji, had a sharp, piercing look.

They were nicknamed the “Three Chivalrous Killers” because they would behead men who killed women, castrate those who raped them, and dismember those who trafficked them.

Some called them infamous, but the sisters didn’t care in the slightest.

Because of that, they came to represent Shaanxi’s martial world over even Mount Hua.

This incident, too, must have happened in line with their beliefs.

“No matter if you’re a martial artist, murdering civilians is unforgivable in my district! Imprison them! We will interrogate them later!”

The government usually stayed out of martial artists’ conflicts, preferring a policy of autonomy and leaving matters to the respective sects.

However, when civilians were involved, the authorities stepped in.

The Self-Revolving Blood Demon had a bounty for that very reason — he had slaughtered ordinary people.

‘This could turn ugly for the Three Chivalrous Killers. That magistrate’s clearly greedy and will demand money.’

Seeing them now gave Yong Hwarin room to negotiate.

“Sir Magistrate!”

Yong Hwarin called out gently.

“What is it?”

The magistrate’s face was full of displeasure.

“I will donate the entire bounty from the Great Demon to the district.”

“Truly?”

“In exchange!”

“Oh, so there is a condition.”

Smiling at the annoyed magistrate, he continued.

“Let’s say… you were the one who captured the Great Demon, sir.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep