Chapter 293: Where Is the Great Hero?
Jin Seong-un tilted his head in confusion.
Just what kind of person was this for the Vice Leader of Deathshroud to react like that?
“When you say he explodes if provoked, is he famous for having a fiery temper?”
“That’s not a taphor. I an the words literally. He truly explodes.”
“Pardon?”
Ghost of Divine Slaughter continued his explanation.
“Thunderclap. As the na implies, lightning itself. They’re a bizarre bunch who combine lightning-attributed internal arts with explosives to perform martial arts. Which is why sothing like this is possible.”
Ghost of Divine Slaughter pointed toward the cratered section of the cliff.
Most martial artists of the Thunderclap Sect could hardly be called supre experts, but the destructive power contained in their attacks could not be ignored.
Among them, the Sect Leader of the Thunderclap Sect and a few others were masters who would not lose in the slightest even when compared to the experts of great sects and clans.
“I’ve never even heard of such a thing. Combining explosives and martial arts…….”
“They rarely participate in Murim affairs. Since they deal with explosives, they can’t avoid being wary of the governnt authorities either. They only move when other Murim forces provoke them.”
As he said that, Ghost of Divine Slaughter repeatedly clenched his fist and spread his fingers wide with an extrely serious expression.
It roughly ant they exploded constantly like this.
“It’s a sect founded by lunatics obsessed with explosions. They say the Sect Leader even sheds tears while watching flas.”
“…….”
The more the explanation continued, the more convinced Jin Seong-un beca that they were complete madn.
Getting involved with such people would surely make life exhausting.
Around the ti Jin Seong-un let out a quiet sigh—
Far below the dizzying cliff, he suddenly spotted a familiar face.
“It’s the Master of Daepyeong Trading Company.”
Having stepped down from his carriage, the man stood with his hands on his waist, staring at the rubble with a complicated expression.
“Let’s go.”
As soon as he said that, Jin Seong-un threw himself off the towering cliff without hesitation.
Most people would have viewed that as the act of a lunatic, but Ghost of Divine Slaughter was also highly confident in his Movent Arts, so he followed suit and leapt down as well.
The two n descended from the sky, releasing sharp sounds of air tearing apart.
The Master of Daepyeong Trading Company looked up with confusion before his eyes widened.
Sothing was sparkling and exploding madly in midair.
Kwarururung—!
Heavy reverberations continuously echoed between the vast and hollow cliffs.
Just as the horrified Master of Daepyeong Trading Company covered his head and rushed toward his carriage—
Jin Seong-un and Ghost of Divine Slaughter simultaneously unleashed palm force into the air, sharply reducing their speed before landing softly.
Only then did the Master of Daepyeong Trading Company recognize them.
With a dumbfounded expression, he pointed back and forth between Jin Seong-un and the cliff.
“Y-You jumped from up there?”
“Yes.”
‘How?’
The question rose to his throat, but he swallowed it.
If he learned too much detail, he felt he would unconsciously beco intimidated whenever dealing with Jin Seong-un in the future.
The Master of Daepyeong Trading Company was secretly a very rational man.
“I see. But what brings you here?”
“We heard soone may have deliberately collapsed the cliff, so we ca to take a look. What about you, Trading Company Master?”
The Master of Daepyeong Trading Company gave an awkward smile.
“I ca to figure out how to clear this rubble as quickly as possible so I can squeeze more money out of you.”
For stone delivered by February, the price had been set at three silver taels. After that, until April, it would be two taels.
The Master of Daepyeong Trading Company wanted to restore the Heavenly Pillar Quarry as quickly as possible and extract more stone in a short period.
Jin Seong-un nodded.
It was good news when a contracted rchant acted this proactively.
“But who is the person beside you?”
The voice of the Master of Daepyeong Trading Company beca extrely cautious.
Even while silent, Ghost of Divine Slaughter gave off an extraordinary atmosphere. More importantly, he had jumped down the cliff side by side with Jin Seong-un.
Jin Seong-un hesitated briefly.
No matter what, he could hardly introduce him as Ghost of Divine Slaughter, Vice Leader of Deathshroud.
“He’s our new inn waiter.”
Ghost of Divine Slaughter glared at Jin Seong-un.
The Master of Daepyeong Trading Company also felt the introduction was strange, but wisely chose not to question it further.
“……I see. Ah, there’s good news. I heard the man who collapsed the cliff turned himself in to the Luoyang governnt office.”
“Really? Was it perhaps the Fist Demon?”
“W-What kind of insane nonsense is that?!”
The Master of Daepyeong Trading Company nearly jumped in shock.
The Fist Demon—the alias of an elder of the Demonic Cult—was not sothing to ntion carelessly in a place like this.
The Master of Daepyeong Trading Company nervously glanced around before continuing cautiously.
“It was just an ordinary man. A fellow who farms in the countryside and occasionally works as a porter when escort agencies get busy.”
“How could a man like that collapse a cliff? He’s not the Fist Demon.”
“I-I told you to stop talking about the Fist Demon.”
The Master of Daepyeong Trading Company coughed awkwardly.
This damned young innkeeper had a talent for making people uncomfortable.
“Why, wasn’t there a road atop the cliff you jumped from? A road where carriages and wagons could travel.”
“Yes, there was indeed a road.”
“It’s originally used for transporting stone. Apparently, while carrying cargo on a wagon, one of the wheels broke. The wagon and its load fell entirely, and unfortunately the accident caused all this.”
The Master of Daepyeong Trading Company pointed at the collapsed cliff.
When it ca to cliffs, once a collapse properly began, it was common for the lower sections to collapse in succession as well.
The problem was that Ghost of Divine Slaughter, after examining the traces earlier, had concluded it was an extrely precise destruction caused by martial arts.
When Jin Seong-un and Ghost of Divine Slaughter fell silent, the Master of Daepyeong Trading Company clicked his tongue awkwardly and continued.
“Tsk tsk, unfortunate indeed. It was rely an accident for him as well, but the result was too severe, so he’ll never escape execution. Even so, after hearing multiple people died, he still ca to surrender himself. He must’ve been a genuinely good man.”
“I see.”
Jin Seong-un did not believe he was the culprit.
After all, this judgnt ca from Ghost of Divine Slaughter, a man who had led Deathshroud for decades.
“In any case, I should get going and find a solution. And as for the inn waiter beside you…… we’ll et again soti.”
After saying that, the Master of Daepyeong Trading Company hurriedly boarded his carriage and left, seemingly trying to avoid Ghost of Divine Slaughter’s glare.
Ghost of Divine Slaughter quietly shook his head.
“It was definitely the work of a Murim martial artist. If we capture and interrogate the one who confessed, we’ll learn who truly did it.”
---
Henan Province, Luoyang.
A city west of Eonsa Prefecture, crowded with high officials, scholars, rchants, artists, the rich, and the poor alike.
At the largest street of Luoyang stood the massive Henan Provincial Anchaesa Office.
Because dozens had died in the incident, the culprit had been imprisoned not in so tiny county jail, but in the great prison located here.
As Jin Seong-un and Ghost of Divine Slaughter approached the large gate, one of the guards lazily asked,
“What is it?”
Ghost of Divine Slaughter in particular radiated an obviously unusual aura, but this guard served at the governnt office of an entire province. There was no reason for him to fear martial artists.
Jin Seong-un spoke.
“I heard the man who collapsed the cliff recently surrendered himself. Might we et him?”
“What?”
Since it was the young man beside Ghost of Divine Slaughter making such absurd requests, the guard scoffed.
Jin Seong-un continued.
“He may not be the real culprit.”
“……Are you from the governnt?”
At Jin Seong-un’s ntion of the ‘real culprit,’ the guard wondered if he might be so young official from another branch of governnt, causing his tone to beco sowhat more cautious.
“No, I’m a rchant from Hubei Province.”
“Hah, so green little rchant dares…….”
“Guest Dragon.”
Ghost of Divine Slaughter suddenly said that without any further explanation.
At the sa ti, the guard’s complexion turned pale.
Jin Seong-un looked puzzled.
He had not expected a re guard in Luoyang—far from Yichang—to know him.
“You know ?”
“……Of course I do. How could I not know the alias of Guest Dragon? Please wait a mont. I’ll imdiately inform Lord Anchaesa.”
The guard hurriedly ran inside.
Watching his retreating figure, Ghost of Divine Slaughter spoke.
“You truly don’t understand your own standing. Ever since the Myriad Gold Manor incident, you’ve beco one of the most famous n of this era. Your price has also skyrocketed.”
“……Is that so.”
Naturally, the ‘price’ Ghost of Divine Slaughter referred to was the commission fee for assassination requests from Deathshroud, causing Jin Seong-un’s expression to beco strange.
How much ti passed like that?
A sudden commotion arose from inside, and the guard who had run in returned alongside a middle-aged man.
He was thin, with a bushy beard. His facial features themselves looked gentle enough that it seed he had grown the beard just to avoid looking easygoing.
“Guest Dragon! I’ve heard your reputation so often my ears have worn thin. Please, co inside!”
“Are you Lord Anchaesa?”
“Aha, indeed. I am the Anchaesa of this province.”
There was considerable pride in both his expression and tone.
In any case, the two followed the Anchaesa inside.
.
.
.
Thunk.
A maid carefully placed tea onto the table around which they sat before withdrawing.
After hearing Jin Seong-un’s purpose while waiting for the tea, the Anchaesa narrowed his brows awkwardly.
“He has already been sentenced to execution. Of course, execution requires approval from the central governnt, so the paperwork has already been sent.”
“……Could we not at least et him first?”
“Hoo, personally I’d like to allow it, but as I said, the docunts have already gone to the central governnt. His disposition is no longer under this office’s jurisdiction.”
In other words, even allowing a eting exceeded the Anchaesa’s authority.
Suddenly, Ghost of Divine Slaughter’s Voice Transmission entered his ears.
* Let’s return at night and secretly take him away. What could those fools possibly do?
Jin Seong-un wore a dumbfounded expression.
Once again, he was reminded that this refined old man truly was Young Hero Seo’s master.
However, Elder Ghost of Divine Slaughter was no longer rely the Vice Leader of Deathshroud.
He could no longer solve every matter in that fashion.
“Surely there must be so way. If that man isn’t the true culprit, we can’t simply conclude the matter like this.”
“Hahaha, are you doubting the investigation of our Anchaesa Office? Though this is our first eting, I’ve held quite favorable feelings toward you until now, so this disappoints .”
Though he spoke that way, the Anchaesa did not actually sound offended.
Luoyang was a region with relatively few incidents.
As a result, life here was terribly dull, and news about Guest Dragon had been refreshing and entertaining enough that the Anchaesa had enjoyed hearing the stories.
* I told you we should co at night.
Jin Seong-un ignored Ghost of Divine Slaughter’s Voice Transmission with effort.
After thinking for a while, the Anchaesa suddenly spoke in a hearty tone.
“You shouldn’t have co here in the first place. You should’ve asked the Hunan Provincial Inspector for help instead. I hear the two of you are quite close.”
“Pardon?”
“Ah, I an the man who served as Hunan Anchaesa until recently. That fellow Wi Gyeong-heon. He and I passed the state examinations together. We’re old friends.”
The Provincial Inspector was a position above the three major provincial offices—the Anchaesa, Provincial Administration Commissioner, and Military Commander—and governed an entire province.
“He beca Provincial Inspector?”
“Indeed. The achievents he made during the Myriad Gold Manor incident were enormous. I heard His Majesty the Emperor greatly admired his spirit.”
Wi Gyeong-heon had once personally gone to the Emperor to obtain permission for the subjugation of Myriad Gold Manor.
At the ti, he had been practically forced into it against his will, yet now that very act had earned him the Emperor’s trust.
Life truly was unpredictable.
The Anchaesa continued.
“I heard he was even granted the authority of an Imperial Inspector, allowing him to intervene in affairs of other provinces under imperial command. Nowadays, there isn’t a local official alive who doesn’t watch his mood carefully.”
“Oh…….”
“If you wish, I’ll imdiately send a letter to the Hunan Provincial Inspector’s Office. If he agrees to assist you, then wouldn’t that also provide with justification to reluctantly hand over the prisoner?”
“I would appreciate that.”
The Anchaesa laughed heartily and nodded.
In truth, he expected Wi Gyeong-heon to either reject the request outright or handle it extrely leisurely.
Even at the fastest, it would probably take half a month. By then, the central governnt’s approval for execution would surely arrive.
Though they were supposedly close, Wi Gyeong-heon had beco the Provincial Inspector of an entire province—a man who, excluding high-ranking central officials, was practically among the most powerful figures alive.
There was no way such a man would sincerely prioritize the request of a young martial artist.
Even if he treated the matter as his highest priority, it would still take at least seven days and nights.
The Anchaesa rely intended to use Wi Gyeong-heon as an excuse to escape this awkward situation.
While waiting, he could lazily pass the ti building rapport with Guest Dragon and hearing entertaining Murim stories.
Then, once the central governnt’s approval arrived first, he could simply execute the prisoner while acting helpless, neatly concluding the matter.
However, while he knew Wi Gyeong-heon and Jin Seong-un were close, he did not know exactly what kind of relationship they shared.
It happened after only half the ti the Anchaesa had expected.
Exactly four days later.
“Move! Move aside, you bastard!”
A commotion erupted outside.
The Anchaesa frowned and rose from his seat.
The next mont, the doors of the Henan Anchaesa Office burst open as though the newcor owned the place.
It was none other than Hunan Provincial Inspector Wi Gyeong-heon.
Whatever hardships he had endured, his hair was disheveled, his clothes were covered in dirt, and his legs trembled violently.
The Anchaesa was shocked.
He had never imagined Wi Gyeong-heon would personally co.
And certainly not this quickly.
Four days was barely enough ti even if one rode horses day and night without rest.
“Y-You! What is the aning of this? Ah, no. Why has the Provincial Inspector co all the way here……?”
“Great Hero Guest Dragon! Where is the Great Hero?”
“Huh?”
A Provincial Inspector—soone comparable even to high-ranking central officials—was calling a young martial artist ‘Great Hero.’
The Anchaesa’s expression beca strange.
anwhile, Wi Gyeong-heon rummaged through his pocket and pulled out the golden plaque of an Imperial Inspector, the token granting authority to govern local officials under the Emperor’s command.
“Do whatever that person asks.”
Wi Gyeong-heon knew very well what stood behind his rise and rapid success.
He knew exactly how soone like him—who had colluded with corrupt trading companies—had escaped punishnt and even beco a Provincial Inspector trusted by the Imperial Household.
Would soone like the Emperor truly grant such extraordinary authority simply because he admired soone’s spirit?
His Majesty viewed him as a connection.
A connection linking Guest Dragon to the Imperial Palace.
Jin Seong-un had already been his benefactor from the beginning.
Now he was also a benefactor connected to the Emperor himself.
Compared to that, riding horses day and night until his thighs nearly tore apart was nothing at all.
User Comments
0 comments from readers