Heaven-Defying Hero - Chapter 67

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#067

The late summer Gyeonam Port was still busy and lively.

With fireworks added to the mix, the already bustling port became even more chaotic.

“Lord. Please come in.”

“You said it was a tea house. Why is it so noisy? Anyone would think you’re opening a brothel.”

“Have you ever been to a brothel?”

“I have. Remember when my sister sent someone to watch me and I went to warn them?”

When he mentioned the time he met Cheon Byeong-il, Yeon-hee smiled brightly and gave a polite greeting.

“I joyfully welcome the precious visit of Deungmyeong Jangju.”

At her shameless change, Ja-gang-cheon glanced at Miho standing beside him.

“See? Learn something like that.”

“I’m trying.”

Ja-gang-cheon looked surprised. Normally she would have turned away, but now she was making eye contact and trying to raise the corners of her mouth.

Of course, her trembling lips were very awkward.

“Lord. Stop tormenting Miho and come this way.”

Yeon-hee guided them to the most spacious seat.

Tea houses usually don’t have spacious seats, but this place named Hae-yeon Tea House had a different structure.

Not only did it have spacious seating, but it also had two rooms prepared for secret conversations.

“The secret inn at Jisanpo has also finished construction and will be put to use soon.”

“It became an inn instead of a secret brothel?”

“I hope to be able to serve you there someday, Lord.”

“Just get permission from Cheon-gu. Then I’ll go right away.”

Yeon-hee glanced at Cheon-gu beside her and shook her head.

“I don’t think a secret inn suits you, Lord.”

“That’s disappointing.”

“Instead, I’ll serve you our tea house’s finest tea today. Don’t expect too much since it won’t be as good as Gok-eun-cha.”

“Got it. I’ll think of it as coming to drink water.”

“It’s not quite that bad.”

Yeon-hee brought out the finest Longjing tea from Jinan with her pride on the line.

She personally brewed the tea and filled the cups made by craftsmen, but she knew it couldn’t satisfy the people from Deungmyeong Manor.

No matter how premium the Longjing tea was, compared to Gok-eun-cha, it was just grass-flavored water.

“But are you done talking with the Beggar’s Sect?”

The final negotiation with the Hwangbo Clan involved concessions from Hao-mun. Instead, they took various businesses including the large brothel in Jinan. The Beggar’s Sect strangely left Hao-mun’s profits alone, but made just one declaration at the last moment.

“If they had shame, they wouldn’t be beggars.”

There was a reason why just hearing the Beggar’s Sect’s name made her expression sharp.

“Spare a coin!”

A booming voice was heard in front of the tea house.

“What beggar has a voice like thunder.”

That admiration wasn’t a lie.

“That stupid beggar!”

Finally, Yeon-hee couldn’t stand it and went outside.

She rarely lost her composure, but recently she had been tormented too much.

“Let’s go watch.”

Ja-gang-cheon went outside with Cheon-gu.

“Wow. He really looks similar to Pan Seok-i.”

“Right. There’s another person like that.”

Standing there was Geumgang-gae, the most famous beggar in the Beggar’s Sect.

He had too dignified a build for a beggar, and seeing Yeon-hee, he shouted once more.

“Spare a coin!”

At those words, ten beggars standing behind him shouted the same thing.

“Spare a coin!”

“I’ll give you not one coin but two, so stop shouting. Are you trying to cause a ruckus in a quiet tea house?”

Yeon-hee stood before Geumgang-gae with a venomous expression.

He was too big for a woman to face, but she didn’t back down at all.

However, it seemed hard to bear the smell as she covered her nose with her right sleeve.

“We’ve driven away evil spirits with fireworks, so give alms to beggars and take good fortune with you.”

Clang.

Yeon-hee threw a silver tael from her sleeve into the bowl.

“Take it.”

“Oh my. I greet you again, great one! But is this something to eat? It’s pretty and shiny, but it doesn’t look edible.”

At the absurd complaint, Yeon-hee gritted her teeth and answered.

“Buy food with that.”

“Oh my! If you buy food to eat, are you still a beggar?”

When Geumgang-gae turned around, the group of beggars all waved their hands in unison.

“No way. If you can afford to buy food, you should throw away the bowl.”

“To buy food, you’d have to bathe first. They won’t even accept money from someone looking like this.”

“I hate bathing so I can’t buy food!”

Yeon-hee was dumbfounded.

“Miho. Go get some expensive and delicious rice cakes.”

“Yes.”

Miho quickly went inside and brought rice cakes on a plate.

“You’ll be blessed!”

“Who gave them to you?”

Crunch.

Yeon-hee slowly chewed and ate the rice cake in front of Geumgang-gae as if to show off.

“How cruel. How can you tease a beggar with food?”

“If you want to eat, buy some with the silver I gave you. If you don’t like it, give that back and go away.”

Crunch.

After chewing the last bite with her prettily pursed lips, she asked Geumgang-gae.

“You’re determined to open a Beggar’s Sect branch in Gyeonam?”

This was the reason they were clashing with the Beggar’s Sect.

Although Hao-mun and the Beggar’s Sect kept each other in check, establishing branches in outlying areas like this was rare.

The reason was clear.

‘They don’t want to lose Deungmyeong Jangju.’

Ja-gang-cheon himself didn’t know, but he was considered a demonic sect figure.

But when Jinmyeong from the Wudang Sect appeared, the atmosphere changed.

As a result, positioned between the righteous and demonic sects, the Beggar’s Sect became actively involved.

‘There’s an atmosphere where a great war between righteous and demonic sects might break out. Which side’s future Deungmyeong Jangju will become is an important matter.’

Especially for groups like Hao-mun that desperately thirsted for masters, this was a connection they didn’t want to miss.

‘Damn beggars.’

The worst case would be Geumgang-gae coming as branch leader, but no matter how important Ja-gang-cheon was, it didn’t seem they’d go that far.

However, just holding their position until the branch opened like this was enough to give them significant leverage.

Comparing their positions in Hao-mun and the Beggar’s Sect right now showed too stark a difference. Geumgang-gae was famous enough to be counted among the top five in the entire Beggar’s Sect.

Crunch!

In the end, all Yeon-hee could do was eat expensive rice cakes loudly in front of him.

But Geumgang-gae looked past her to Ja-gang-cheon watching from behind.

“Spare a coin!”

Geumgang-gae begged majestically from above Yeon-hee’s head.

“Me?”

“Yes! Young master! You seem to have some leisure! Please give some charity to hungry beggars!”

“Sure. Then go to Hangagaekjan over there and ask for whatever food you want to eat. I’ll pay for it later.”

“How could a beggar eat proper prepared food? Just fill this bowl here appropriately and that will do.”

At those words, Ja-gang-cheon frowned.

“Hah. Gae-bang beggars are troublesome to give charity to.”

“What?”

“There seem to be too many conditions for begging. Is it originally like that? Or are you trying to mock me?”

The person who answered the question thrown with an innocent expression was not Geumgang-gae but Cheon-gu.

“He’s picking a fight to figure out your nature.”

“Why does Gae-bang pick fights with me every time we meet?”

“They probably think you’re a bad guy. I guarantee there’s no basis for thinking that way. Don’t worry about it.”

“Got it. I don’t want to talk anymore either.”

When Ja-gang-cheon lost interest and entered the tea house, Geumgang-gae was flustered.

“Pfft.”

When he heard a mocking sound from below his chin, Geumgang-gae lowered his gaze.

“You underestimated Deungmyeong Manor. With that temperament, forget about begging, you’ll only get your bowl broken.”

Yeon-hee naturally recalled the past time when she became close with Ja-gang-cheon.

“Ugh. I can’t do it again either.”

Yeon-hee glanced at Geumgang-gae and raised her hand.

“Since you refused this, I’ll take it.”

She moved only her thumb and index finger to grab the silver coin in the bowl.

“Wash it and bring it back.”

Clang.

She threw the silver coin onto the plate and also followed Ja-gang-cheon into the tea house.

“Great Protector, what should we do? It seems we only hurt feelings by bothering them for nothing.”

Among the five protectors designated by the sect leader, that person in charge was the Great Protector.

Though called a protector, it didn’t mean protecting the sect leader but rather protecting the entire Central Plains in a broader sense.

“Don’t worry. We can just go back to Deungmyeong Manor to give charity later.”

“Will that really work? If the sect leader comes too, we’ll really be in trouble.”

“Don’t you trust me?”

“Would you trust yourself if you were like the Great Protector?”

“These bastards…”

Only after Geumgang-gae clenched his fist did the Gae-bang disciples quietly step back.

That evening.

Pansuk carelessly opened the door and dropped the bowl he was holding.

The same happened to the beggar who was singing begging songs with melody.

Geumgang-gae and Pansuk.

The two giants felt kinship toward each other regardless of age.

“Your body is truly magnificent.”

“You too, sir. I feel like I’ve finally seen the body of a real man. Now I know how I should grow.”

“You will become a much more magnificent man than me. I guarantee it.”

They forgot their purpose and took a step toward each other.

That’s when it happened.

“Hyeong. Stop it. Step back.”

“Huh? Hyeongnim!”

“That uncle may have a similar body to yours, but his personality is completely different. Didn’t I tell you not to make bad friends?”

“Ah! Yes! I understand, Hyeongnim.”

When Pansuk was about to turn around, Geumgang-gae asked.

“Look here. Have you ever seen a bad person with our kind of build?”

“No!”

“Hyeong. This is the first time you’ve seen someone with the same build. You felt he was kind because you’ve only seen yourself until now. That beggar uncle is different.”

“Ah! Hyeongnim is right!”

Eventually Pansuk turned around and Geumgang-gae made a disappointed sound.

When Ja-gang-cheon came directly to close the door, Geumgang-gae cupped his fists.

“Gae-bang Great Protector Geumgang-gae apologizes for today’s incident. I was rude to the Lord while trying to maintain face in front of Hao-mun.”

Considering his age and position, it was a very polite apology. At his sincere apology, Ja-gang-cheon also softened his uncomfortable feelings a little.

“I’ll accept the apology. So please stop testing and probing me from now on. Honestly, I’ve been through it too much and it’s unpleasant.”

“I will do so.”

“Then come in and have a meal before you go.”

“No. Since I came to apologize today, I’ll return.”

“I won’t force you, but Pan Seok-i will be disappointed.”

Geumgang-gae looked at Pansuk standing behind Ja-gang-cheon again.

Though he was clearly standing behind one person, his entire body was visible as if he were standing alone.

“Then I’ll shamelessly accept the meal.”

Geumgang-gae crossed the threshold of Deungmyeong Manor for an unexpected reason.

The sparring match between Geumgang-gae and Pansuk was in some ways a natural progression.

Though Song Ja-in had arranged this gathering using today’s rudeness as an excuse, Geumgang-gae also secretly wanted to see Pansuk’s skills.

It was closer to curiosity than competitive spirit.

The sparring that began this way provided tremendous excitement despite Geumgang-gae’s one-sided advantage.

“Wow. So this is a fight between external martial arts masters.”

It was like a fight between two bears competing over a bud they had protected for a hundred years.

Every time their bodies collided, a landslide-like rumbling spread, and each weighty step left clear marks on the ground.

“Geumgang-gae is passing on his experience. Though he’s an ill-mannered beggar, he doesn’t seem like a bad guy.”

Because it was Song Ja-in, she could evaluate Geumgang-gae so candidly.

“External martial arts has its charm too. I hope Pan Seok-i becomes as strong as the beggar uncle quickly.”

“Seeing what Geumgang-gae is doing, it’s not impossible. Since there’s potential, he’s teaching so earnestly.”

“Is that so?”

Pansuk was doing his best while sweating profusely. His body was covered in bruises from today’s sparring, but for some reason he was smiling.

“Pan Seok-i seems to be receiving comfort.”

“His sorrow must have been deep.”

“Sorrow?”

“The sorrow of not being ordinary. While people avoid me after I show my hands and they realize it’s poison martial arts, Pansuk has probably always been shunned since his build grew large. The only person who truly understands that is probably Geumgang-gae.”

Geumgang-gae was also smiling like Pansuk.

“There’s still much to learn about the world.”

Ja-gang-cheon watched over their time.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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