Noh Shik was not someone who easily respected others.

True to his nature as an outstanding beggar, he neither boasted nor looked down on others.

However, that did not mean he was easily impressed by others.

Noh Shik valued himself and trusted in his own abilities.

Seeing a clever person didn’t make him respect them, nor did encountering someone famous or skilled in martial arts make him admire them.

The same applied to the renowned Immortal Divine Dragon, Baek Yi-gang.

What was the point of being skilled in martial arts, handsome, wealthy, or intelligent… Well, there might be plenty, but what did that have to do with Noh Shik?

The first time he was impressed by him was during their meeting at Shaolin.

Losing both arms could, in a way, be considered a stroke of luck for a beggar. It made him appear pitiable and thus favorable for begging.

But for a swordsman, it was as good as the end of life.

However, Yi-gang ultimately overcame even that.

It was an event that inspired pure respect in Noh Shik—something he hadn’t felt even for the Beggars’ Gang Leader.

And now, this moment was the second.

Assigned as the leader of Tranquil Manor, Yi-gang had shown a side Noh Shik couldn’t have imagined.

He subdued five successors of proud orthodox sects.

While there were hints of resistance, his skill was beyond belief for someone of the same age.

And wasn’t he now freely handling that giant, the son of the Green Forest Tyrant?

It was about analyzing a person named Gal Dong-tak and acting based on that information.

That was the most basic principle of intelligence gathering.

‘Cunning.’

And for the Beggars’ Gang, being called cunning was the highest form of praise.

“So, you think you’re the second strongest?”

“In my opinion, yes. But who knows? If I get poisoned, I might lose. They say that Green-Faced Willow Demon’s pale face is due to the poison reaching its advanced stage. I’d be in danger if I got poisoned too.”

Yi-gang continued to offer more food to Gal Dong-tak whenever he hesitated.

Each time, Gal Dong-tak’s eyes grew hazy with appetite.

Noh Shik observed this and was convinced.

‘That must be trained persuasive speech. What a terrifying person…!’

It was clear that Yi-gang’s mind was constantly calculating.

And at that moment, Yi-gang was thinking.

‘This guy…’

Gal Dong-tak was definitely a man of loyalty.

Despite his abnormal appetite, he refused to divulge any information, which was uncharacteristic for someone of the unorthodox sects.

But there was another problem.

‘…He has an incredibly loose tongue.’

Yi-gang wasn’t as cunning as Noh Shik thought.

He had merely given him food and casually probed for information.

Yet, Gal Dong-tak continued to spill far more information than Yi-gang had anticipated.

It was almost hard to believe.

“I see.”

The large roasted chicken Yi-gang had prepared was big enough to satisfy a family of four.

Gal Dong-tak devoured it completely, including the sticky rice and baby potatoes steamed alongside it.

Even after that, he licked his plump fingers, as if he still found it hard to let go.

“This makes me feel bad, eating without giving anything in return.”

“No, I should be the one feeling sorry.” Yi-gang said with genuine sincerity.

He quietly observed Gal Dong-tak, who blinked at him with a blank expression.

His eyes appeared yellow.

Looking at Gal Dong-tak’s fingernails, the base was tinged with purple.

That massive body and abnormally excessive appetite.

It reminded Yi-gang of the Gluttonous King, but there seemed to be something slightly different about him.

Yi-gang couldn’t pinpoint the exact cause, but it was clear that something was wrong.

“Have you ever seen a doctor?”

“A doctor? Why?”

“About eating too much. Like not being able to control your appetite.”

“You’re an idiot, aren’t you…?”

“…”

Being called stupid by Gal Dong-tak was truly a shock.

“If you’re a true mountain hero, eating a lot is natural. You need to eat at least a whole pig on your own to be a real hero.”

But soon, Yi-gang understood.

Even if Gal Dong-tak’s father was the king of all bandit leaders, a bandit was still a bandit.

Given the times they lived in, a doctor was someone you only sought out when you were cut or had a broken bone.

Even then, it would probably be a wandering doctor, a kangho langjung, whom they’d occasionally meet and ask, “Our kid eats way too much—is that okay?” 𝘙ÄɴΟꞖĚş

The frightened doctor’s answer would have been predictable.

“Your son has undoubtedly inherited the blood of a conqueror! He will grow up to be a great hero.”

“Alright, I get it.”

Yi-gang simply nodded.

Though he had received something, Yi-gang couldn’t offer much help in return.

“Then I’ll be on my way.”

“Wait.”

Yi-gang stopped Gal Dong-tak as he tried to get up.

“Could you do a simple task to pay for the meal?”

“Hm? Just say it.”

“Noh Shik.”

Noh Shik, who was cleaning up the dishes, lifted his head.

“How about a sparring match?”

“What?”

“For some light exercise after the meal. Just a simple one.”

Noh Shik had never shown his full abilities before.

Yi-gang wanted to see Gal Dong-tak and Noh Shik face off.

Gal Dong-tak scratched his head.

“I didn’t bring my axe.”

“You can do it barehanded.”

“Alright, but I might not be able to hold back.”

Gal Dong-tak’s fist was as big as Noh Shik’s face.

“If it gets dangerous, I’ll step in.”

“Then that’s fine.”

Gal Dong-tak nodded.

Noh Shik stood up in a fluster.

“Uh…”

His opinion had not been considered in this agreement at all.

Meanwhile, at the right wing of the Tranquil Manor.

Just because they were unorthodox martial artists didn’t mean the people gathered there were all cruel and evil.

Life at the right wing wasn’t all that different from the left wing.

The five successors spent their days training, preparing for the martial contest that would take place in a month.

However, the atmosphere was clearly somewhat different.

Perhaps it was due to the difference in the composition of the members.

Wandering Crescent Blade Byeok Gi and Baek Yi-gang, who were tasked with supervising the five successors, were entirely different individuals.

“Cough, cough!”

The Wandering Crescent Blade was someone who made such noises whenever he had phlegm in his throat.

For some reason, he had been awake since the crack of dawn today.

After tossing and turning for a long time trying to sleep, the Wandering Crescent Blade eventually gave up and got up since he couldn’t fall back asleep.

The outside was still dim, and the dawn chill wrapped around him, making him shiver.

The Wandering Crescent Blade exhaled white steam and spat out a thick wad of phlegm.

Then, he casually washed his face using the water in a basin.

“Ah-choo!”

He loudly washed his face, rinsed his mouth, and even blew his nose to officially start his morning.

As he dried his face with a towel, the Wandering Crescent Blade was momentarily so startled that he almost screamed.

“Gah!”

Right in front of him was Seomun Cheong’s burned, disfigured face.

The Wandering Crescent Blade quickly hid his surprise and asked nonchalantly.

“Wow, you sure move quietly…”

“It’s morning, and everyone else is sleeping,” Seomun Cheong replied curtly.

The Wandering Crescent Blade gritted his teeth internally.

‘What a ghost-like bastard. Sneaking around without making a sound.’

Deep down, he wanted to beat him up while yelling, “Why the hell do you go around scaring people like this?!”

Of course, he couldn’t actually do that.

“Why are you up so early?”

“To increase my training time.”

The speaker was the Wandering Crescent Blade, both the instructor and supervisor.

Despite his superior martial arts and experience, he couldn’t speak informally.

After all, he was merely a hired hand under the Unorthodox Union Leader.

As a former wandering martial artist without any solid backing, he couldn’t casually call the employer’s son “this brat” or “that brat” as he might have liked.

The others were also the children or disciples of the Ten Grandmasters, so the Wandering Crescent Blade couldn’t assert himself.

“Daytime training alone isn’t enough.”

“I see. Keep working hard.”

Seomun Cheong nodded and walked away.

The Wandering Crescent Blade’s face twisted with irritation.

‘Dammit, these kids don’t even know how to respect their seniors despite my years of experience in the martial world.’

Among the five, there wasn’t a single one he liked.

Even so, the Wandering Crescent Blade couldn’t just give up and let things go however they might.

He absolutely had to lead the successors to victory this time.

‘Only then will this wretched business finally end.’

For now, he was still under the control of the Unorthodox Union Leader.

However, the Unorthodox Union Leader promised him a reward if they won.

The promise was to support Wandering Crescent Blade in establishing his own martial sect under his name.

On top of that, the rest of the Ten Grandmasters also promised him substantial rewards.

He strolled through the quiet estate in the early dawn, deeply contemplating.

Although the successors were a bit arrogant, they weren’t foolish enough to ignore the Wandering Crescent Blade’s advice.

The issue was that their martial arts styles were so different that giving appropriate advice was challenging.

‘They wouldn’t have entrusted me with this task for no reason.’

As a former wanderer, the Wandering Crescent Blade became a master without undergoing systematic training.

While this might suggest he lacked teaching skills, the opposite was true.

Relying on his practical instincts and techniques, he had significantly improved the skills of his fellow wanderers.

There was no one better than the Wandering Crescent Blade to teach and guide successors with diverse martial arts backgrounds within a month.

“It would be great if I could see what those other guys are like…”

‘Know your enemy, know yourself, and you’ll never be defeated.’ Having fought in countless martial contests, the Wandering Crescent Blade knew this truth well.

The problem was finding a way to gather information about the orthodox successors.

Just then, the Wandering Crescent Blade sharply raised his head.

Earlier, he hadn’t noticed Seomun Cheong’s approach, but this time was different.

“Who’s there?”

Soon, someone emerged from the darkness, wobbling as they walked.

It was Gal Dong-tak, wearing an awkward expression.

“…Did you sneak out for a late-night snack?”

“Yes, hehe.”

The Wandering Crescent Blade’s chuckling face slightly hardened.

There was a faint smell of blood, and more than anything, a bit of blood was smeared on Gal Dong-tak’s fist.

“What’s that about…?”

“Well, I… I’ll head inside first!”

Gal Dong-tak hurriedly ran past the Wandering Crescent Blade and disappeared.

Watching Gal Dong-tak’s retreating figure, the Wandering Crescent Blade let out a sigh.

“At least he didn’t kill anyone.”

It was obvious he had been caught stealing food by a servant and had beaten them up.

Feeling pitiful about his situation, he continued to sigh.

“Puhahaha!”

Na Hee-yeon burst into loud laughter.

In front of her, Noh Shik sat with a sour expression.

“Please don’t laugh, young miss.”

“How could I not? Here, take your egg.”

A few days ago, Na Hee-yeon had sparred with Yi-gang and ended up with a swollen black eye.

At that time, Noh Shik had handed her an egg while laughing.

Now, it was Noh Shik who had a swollen black eye.

Moreover, he had stuffed pieces of cloth into both nostrils to stop a double nosebleed.

Na Hee-yeon kept laughing.

“What happened for Baek So-hyeop—or rather, the leader—to beat you up like that?”

“It’s… complicated.”

“That’s excessive. Clearly, you were beaten up badly.”

Since Yi-gang had ordered him not to tell anyone about what had happened with Gal Dong-tak, Noh Shik kept his mouth shut.

He barely managed to hold back tears of frustration.

Na Hee-yeon chuckled softly and pulled out her guqin.

“I’ll play a cheerful tune that fits the mood.”

She plucked the strings a few times experimentally, but then her fingers started trembling.

“…I can’t play.”

“…”

“My hands are shaking, and I can’t apply any strength.”

Na Hee-yeon chuckled softly again.

For some reason, her laughter felt ominous.

Seeing her darkened face with only her mouth grinning, Noh Shik felt chills run down his spine.

“Everyone’s gathered.”

And then Yi-gang appeared.

The daily routine for the successors was grueling and strictly organized, as expected under Yi-gang’s orders.

First, they had to gather at the beginning of the hour of the Rabbit.

In the dim light of dawn, they ran 12 laps around the left wing.

During this time, they were forbidden from slowing down their pace or stopping to catch their breath.

Even the most skilled martial artists would be gasping for air after running 12 laps like that.

Afterward, they stretched their bodies, focusing on flexibility and relaxation.

Only then could they finally eat breakfast, which was the part everyone looked forward to the most.

It was the one reprieve where they could enjoy delicious food and take a break.

Na Hee-yeon muttered with a faint smile.

“For breakfast today, I want to dip fried bread in clear rice porridge. That would give me some energy. I also asked for some tangy hawthorn berries.”

“Ah…”

Noh Shik looked at her with pity in his eyes.

Just as Na Hee-yeon began sensing something ominous, Yi-gang made an announcement, “From today onward, the meals will be prepared more healthily. Make sure to finish everything.”

And then, breakfast was served.

Na Hee-yeon froze in place.

The porridge was mixed with slices of xiangchang—sausage made by stuffing pork intestines with meat and spicy seasonings. There was no fragrant, crispy fried bread or dessert in sight.

“Eat a lot. You’ll need strength.”

Four boiled egg whites, with the yolks conspicuously missing.

Mixed-grain rice with beans.

Raw bamboo shoots tossed in soy sauce.

Na Hee-yeon began trembling violently.

Noh Shik, flustered, lightly tapped her shoulder.

“A-are you alright, young lady?”

“…Ah.”

“What did you say?”

“I can’t take it anymore!”

How much more could she endure as a disciple of the Sword Pavilion Master, Putuo’s Priestess?

The fact that she had endured until now was impressive.

“Enough is enough!”

Na Hee-yeon shoved aside the bowl containing her breakfast.

The boiled eggs and bamboo shoots scattered through the air.

Yi-gang glared at Na Hee-yeon.

Na Hee-yeon glared right back, refusing to back down.

“I-I think it’s fine…”

Beside them, Noh Shik hurriedly sat down and began shoveling food into his mouth.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep