Chapter 42 Reward

Chapter 42: Reward

After all, social life requires a certain amount of action.

For example, even if your boss cracks a trashy joke like, “Grandpa’s favorite money is grandma,” you should clutch your belly, roll around 720 degrees, and laugh hysterically.

And in my past life, I mastered that kind of action, earning the nickname “Great Laughingstock” at the company.

Despite that, I didn’t particularly show deference to Yi Jeok-sang, the Crown Prince of Muwangseong.

Instead, I consistently maintained a slightly cocky attitude.

The reason was simple.

He was the Crown Prince of the Muheung Dynasty, not the Guryong Dynasty.

Even if I tried to build connections with him, it would only be winning favor from someone ten thousand miles away.

If relations between the Guryong and Muheung Dynasties ever soured, I could be branded a traitor.

Above all.

‘He’s not someone you can get through to.’

Based on his experience with Lee Jeok-ha, he knew there was absolutely nothing to gain by fawning over those brothers.

It was more likely to earn their resentment.

Sure enough.

“What spirit.”

Lee Jeok-sang’s eyes gleamed as the corners of his mouth lifted.

It was like watching a scene straight out of a drama, the kind where someone says, ‘You’re the first to hit me.’

“I nearly died trying to save the Crown Prince’s younger brother.”

“I’ve heard. You risked your life fighting the Black Blooded Death God, didn’t you?”

“Who is that?”

“The nickname of the man who attacked Jeokha.”

So that old man’s nickname was the Black Blooded Death God.

No wonder his palm strike was so vicious.

“A demon master belonging to the Ten Demon Alliance, approaching the pinnacle of power.”

Well, the Ten Demon Alliance is probably the only place such a demon master could survive.

If he trained in poison arts elsewhere, not only the surrounding righteous sects but even environmental groups would come swarming.

“I see. But why did he target the Third Young Master?”

“That I cannot tell you.”

“Understood. I won’t ask further.”

Truthfully, I wasn’t even that curious; I just asked.

Somehow, if I didn’t ask this too, the Prince would probably think I was an idiot.

As I nodded, the Prince spoke towards the door.

“Let them in.”

The door opened, and three warriors with the bearing of tigers and dragons entered. One placed a wooden crate before me.

“This is our repayment for risking your life to aid Wuhuang City.”

The Grand Prince’s words made my heart pound and my nose tingle.

Truthfully, I’d harbored some expectations since the Grand Prince appeared.

After all, I had saved the life of the son of the ruler of the Great Wu Huang City, the most powerful figure in the martial world. It wouldn’t just pass without a reward.

Still, seeing it actually happen was undeniably thrilling.

‘Damn it! I believed in you.’

A quest reward from the Great Wu Huang City itself.

It was clearly incomparable to the Blue-Red Twin Swords that Zhi Hua Lan had personally given me earlier.

But I couldn’t very well show my excitement.

After all, I was a respectable member of the martial world’s middle class.

“Ahem, it’s fine. I didn’t do it for the reward.”

“……”

A subtle hint of refusal.

My plan was to appear reluctant if I accepted immediately, so when he offered again, I could pretend to have no choice but to take it.

Think of it like playfully pushing away an older relative offering pocket money.

But the young master reacted in a way completely at odds with my expectations.

He just stood there, staring blankly at me.

‘Huh? What is this?’

At this point, shouldn’t I offer again?

‘Surely not?’

Was he trying to brush it off after one refusal?

The peerless Muheungseong?

As I looked up at him in puzzlement, the Crown Prince said with an exasperated expression.

“…Aren’t your words and actions a bit too out of sync?”

“Gasp!”

Because the chest was suddenly in my arms.

Seems he moved instinctively at the word ‘reward’.

“Ahem, martial arts have become second nature to me…”

I cleared my throat awkwardly, and the Crown Prince twisted the corners of his mouth in response.

“Well then, I should be going. I need to reward the Blue Dragon Sword too.”

“He’s rich, he doesn’t need it…”

I’d rather give one more to me.

“…”

Watching the Crown Prince’s departing back, he thought.

‘Gotcha!’

A moment later.

He placed the wooden box in the center of the bed and stroked it carefully.

The reward given by the Martial Emperor, the wealthiest tycoon in the martial world.

Judging by its considerable weight, it undoubtedly contained something extraordinary.

‘Gold bars?’

He felt a flicker of excitement, but that couldn’t be right.

With a single gold ingot now worth 100 million won in modern times.

Considering the weight of the wooden box, if it were all gold ingots, the contents would easily exceed 100 billion won.

‘If it were that much money, they would have brought it via bank transfer.’

Ultimately, it was a reward whose contents remained unknown until opened.

He prayed silently as he opened the wooden box.

‘God, Buddha, Allah, Confucius, Guan Yu, Zhuge Liang, Lord Mu Huang.’

Jewelry, or gold, or if nothing else, silver would do.

If possible, please grant me something expensive.

Squeak.

I carefully opened the box, peering inside with narrowed eyes, like peeling a card in a game of Go-Stop.

Flash.

A silver glow filled the room.

“Damn it!”

I kicked the box.

It toppled over, spilling its contents.

A silver vest.

I didn’t know what it was made of, but it had a decent sheen. Maybe it was a treasure after all.

“Sigh, calm down, Mujeon. We can just sell it at the castle.”

Calming my excitement, I picked up the silver vest, gave it a good shake, and examined it front and back.

Even though it wasn’t made of leather, it had remarkable elasticity, and the small scales covering its surface gave off a shimmering glow.

Looking inside, I saw a large engraved swastika (卍) character was engraved, and beneath it, a name was inscribed in small letters.

‘Yongrin-gap?’

* * *

Another fortnight passed, and Danun and Yi Jeokha’s bodies were fully healed.

That meant the time had come to return to Guryongseong.

“I will never forget this life-saving favor.”

Lee Jeok-ha bowed deeply to me and Dan-un. The hundred or so escort warriors behind him stared at us in surprise.

“It was only natural. Wouldn’t you have done the same?”

Dan-un received the greeting like the protagonist of a martial arts novel.

“······.”

Meanwhile, I stood leaning on my crutch, merely nodding my head.

The reward hadn’t been to my liking at all, and I couldn’t hide my discomfort.

But despite my sullen attitude, Yi Jeokha merely smiled brightly and patted my shoulder.

“I owe you a great debt, especially. We’ve only known each other a few days, yet you risked your life to save me.”

What could I do when he acted like this?

“······It’s nothing. Be careful on your way back. And don’t get caught by another tough guy.”

I had to send him off with good wishes.

“Hah, heh heh heh! Of course! I’ll train until I bleed on my way back and become even stronger.”

No, why did he have to take it like that?

With a hint of lingering regret, they turned to head their separate ways when Lee Jeok-ha’s telepathic voice reached him.

[Next time we meet, I’d like to share a brotherly cup with you.]

Living ten thousand miles apart, what kind of sworn brotherhood is that?

Besides, if I become sworn brothers with you, won’t that bring me closer to that Dan-un bastard?

‘What a useless telepathic message.’

* * *

The journey back after leaving Hyeongcheon Fortress was calmer than expected.

While the sun was up, we rode our horses diligently forward.

When the sun set, we stayed at inns, or if we couldn’t find a village, we built a campfire and slept outdoors.

After traveling five hundred li that way, Danun and I faced a large mountain.

It was Sopasan, the same mountain we had passed on the way here.

“Hmm, the timing is awkward to cross now.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Isn’t it obvious? In a couple of hours, the sun will set, and then we’ll have to spend the night in the mountains.”

“Darkness is no object of fear to a warrior.”

“Are you mad? Crossing the mountain when there’s an inn right in front of us?”

“Weak-minded. How then could you ever become a master contending for the title of the world’s greatest?”

“That’s something you should be saying, Dan-hyung. Today, we rest at the inn. If you don’t like it, go ahead and leave first.”

“······Since we received the mission together, returning together is the principle. For today, I’ll follow your lead.”

He didn’t want to sleep outdoors, yet he pretended to be such a tough guy. What kind of know-it-all is he?

After a bit of a struggle, I managed to get Dan-un into the Sopha Inn in the village below the mountain.

Bustling.

Opening the door, I saw the inn packed with people.

Probably planning to cross Sopha Mountain early tomorrow morning, just like us.

I called over a waiter darting around frantically and asked about room availability and meal options.

“All the regular rooms are taken now. Only the shared dormitory rooms and the annex rooms remain.”

A shared dormitory is like a sauna room where you sleep crammed in with strangers.

‘If it were a sauna room, at least I could wash up first.’

Most people here don’t even wash their feet before lying down.

Naturally, it reeks of terrible foot odor, and all sorts of bugs swarm everywhere.

In the end, I ordered the quite pricey detached cottage and a decent meal.

Then, a man who seemed to be the owner, who had been listening inside, came out rubbing his hands together.

“Hehe, the amount is a bit large, so you’ll need to pay a deposit…”

“If that’s the rule, then so be it.”

“Oh my, thank you.”

The owner bowed his head, and I quietly looked at Danun.

“What are you doing? Not paying.”

“…”

A moment later.

After finally settling the bill, we entered the annex.

After bathing and resting briefly, we returned to the inn for dinner. Outside, a face I recognized from somewhere was lingering.

“Isn’t that Team Leader Jin?”

It was the couriers from Eunryongdang.

They usually got along well with the Oedang.

If the timing was right, they’d deliver letters that the Outer Sect warriors sent home, and when they set out on escort missions near the coast, they’d bring dried fish and such.

In return for that consideration, the Outer Sect warriors voluntarily looked out for the Silver Dragon Sect.

If an escort mission ran late and they arrived after closing time, they’d secretly open a side door to let them in.

They even turned a blind eye when prohibited items slipped through as cargo.

Simply put, it was a mutual understanding.

I, too, had once survived on the dried fish they brought during my own hunger, so I greeted him warmly, doing my best to appear delighted.

“Why, it’s you, Captain Oh! What a pleasure to meet you here!”

“Well now, this is quite a surprise. To run into someone from Guryongseong in the vast expanse of Sichuan Province. But why are you out here? Shouldn’t you be guarding the outer walls?”

“I was sent out on a brief mission. But why aren’t you going inside? Why are you staying out here?”

“They said the rooms are all full. This is terribly awkward. ”

“Oh dear! This is serious. If Chief Officer Wu has come out, it means he’s returned from an important escort mission. After all that hardship, and now he has nowhere to rest?”

“Ha, ha. Not at all. What escort mission isn’t important?”

Chief Officer Wu answered, quickly averting his eyes.

A sense that something was amiss.

Instantly, he scanned the couriers behind Oh Pyo-du.

‘Three first-class couriers.’

With the Pyo-du present, that meant this escort mission involved one peak-level master and three top-tier warriors.

Considering the Silver Dragon Sect’s missions usually involved second-class couriers, Oh Pyo-du was either currently on a dangerous mission or had just returned from one.

Or perhaps he was still in the midst of it.

In other words, tagging along could easily land him in trouble.

Moreover, this was an inn.

Wasn’t this the hotspot of the martial arts world, where everything from battles over secret manuals and elixirs to settling old grudges erupted?

‘I need to keep my distance as much as possible.’

Just as I finished organizing my thoughts and opened my mouth to excuse myself, Danun’s voice shattered my resolve.

“Danun of the Blue Dragon Sect here. We’ve secured the annex. How about joining us for a rest?”

I fired a flustered telepathic message straight into Danun’s ears.

[Why are you deciding that alone?!]

[I thought I paid for it?]

This stingy little bastard.

With barely half a tael of silver.

Just as we exchanged another round of telepathic messages, Oh Pyo-du looked at Dan-un with a sparkle in his eyes.

“The Blue Dragon Sword is here too!”

His look was clearly one of relief.

Perhaps worried he might change his mind, Oh Pyo-du quickly bowed and said.

“I gladly accept your kindness. I shall repay this favor the moment I return to the city.”

“Not at all. I simply couldn’t ignore the hardship of fellow Kuryongseong members. Please don’t give it another thought.”

No, in a little while, I won’t be able to help but give it another thought, you know?

‘Should I just say I’m busy and slip away alone?’