The Reincarnated Hunter Sweeps Up All Fortunes - Chapter 38

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 38
38
Gi Hyeong.
When one reached First-class Advanced Stage and gained freedom in wielding Nae Gong, compressing it into a shaped form, it was called Geomgi when using a sword, and Gwongi when using a fist.
Im Gang watched with his mouth slightly open as Baek Do Gwang’s blade swept through the air. In the next instant, a straight and elongated Gi Hyeong split Salsu’s body cleanly in two.
‘Hah.’
A hollow laugh escaped him.
When they’d met at Somyeon Pojangmacha, he’d dimly sensed that Baek was First-class.
Once he’d advanced to First-class himself, his perception had widened, and the truth became clear.
But Gi Hyeong was another matter entirely.
‘Why is he living as a Ronin?’
If someone of First-class Advanced Stage joined one of Hangju’s Heterodox Sects, a Sub-master position was practically guaranteed. Even switching to an Orthodox Sect would secure him a respectable post. If he honed his martial skills, he could even rise to become a major figure.
Yet he was rejecting all those opportunities to wander as a Ronin?
‘Had he caused some major trouble?’
He ruled out the premise that it had anything to do with his master. Frankly, what decent thing could the man have done to deserve having a First-class Ronin follow him around?
Throwing in with a Heterodox Sect would be the better choice.
Regardless.
His mind had grown somewhat complicated.
If Baek were setting an example as a senior brother, he ought to feel gratitude.
But this entire situation felt deeply strange.
Look at his master alone—the man had never actually played the role of a teacher. He’d borrow a coin and demand repayment with interest upon interest; he was callous through and through.
Even Yeom Wang Chae would shake his head.
‘What exactly is my master’s true identity?’
The man constantly claimed to be Third-class, yet his disciple was a First-class Ronin. It was fair to say he lived wearing a mask, consciously avoiding anyone’s gaze.
Setting aside his master’s true nature for now.
Witnessing Gi Hyeong was undoubtedly a great gain.
Ding!
[Gi Hyeong skill has been registered.]
“……?”
Not Gi Hyeong alone, nor Geomgi alone—what was this Gi Hyeong?
…Well, regardless.
It seemed to be an umbrella term encompassing Gi Hyeong and Geomgi alike.
He didn’t understand what was happening.
‘Fortune, if you will.’
Where would a Ronin ever receive such instruction? He should count himself lucky.
Im Gang bowed slightly to Baek Do Gwang.
“Thank you, brother. Truly.”
Baek Do Gwang smiled faintly at Im Gang’s gratitude.
“I’m the youngest disciple—surely I should play the role of senior brother from time to time.”
“If you’re going to do it anyway, do it often, not just sometimes.”
“That depends on the discipline of the youngest.”
“Fair enough.”
Im Gang shrugged and resumed his watch.
Salsu’s corpse, bisected by Gi Hyeong.
A dining table where food had risen halfway before stopping.
Yet through all this, O So Wei sat peacefully at his place.
As if he had known all along that something like this would occur.
“Wh-what is the meaning of this……! Hah!”
Jeom So Yi, who arrived belatedly, drew in a breath that was nearly a scream.
Having worked as a server at Wolhyang-ru before, she understood how the system operated. After standing silently in attendance, Jeom So Yi hurried away, and shortly thereafter the door opened again to admit a tall man.
He was one of Wolhyang-ru’s inner courtyard supervisors.
“I am Yang Sang, one of the supervisors of the inner courtyard.”
His dress was neat and his bearing clean. A well-crafted Jang Geom hung at his waist, yet he gave the impression of a scholar rather than a martial artist.
Yang Sang clasped his hands respectfully in greeting and spoke while gauging O So Wei’s expression.
“I must apologize for this terrible incident. Might I examine Salsu’s corpse briefly for our post-incident investigation?”
“You may.”
With O So Wei’s permission, Yang Sang began to inspect Salsu’s body.
The examination did not take long. The fact that the body had been split in half and the scattered belongings were enough to confirm that it was indeed Salsu.
Yang Sang exhaled slowly.
“There is poison in the food as well.”
When Baek Do Gwang showed Yang Sang the silver needle, its tip stained dark with poison, the man’s face twisted. Enough that an assassin like Salsu had slipped into Wolhyang-ru undetected, but now poison in the food as well.
The inner sanctum had been compromised.
“…I am deeply ashamed that such a thing has occurred.”
Yang Sang exhaled slowly, bowing with formal contrition.
“I shall instruct the servants to bring fresh wine and food at once. Wolhyang-ru will bear the cost.”
“Such things can happen anywhere, you understand. Pay it no mind—I’m not troubled by it.”
O So Wei’s response to Yang Sang’s measures was remarkably gracious.
Im Gang’s expression grew peculiar.
‘He seems to have drawn Salsu in deliberately.’
That’s what troubled him most.
Several leaders and sub-masters of the Heterodox Sects had been assassinated in recent days.
Yet amid such threats, O So Wei moved about with such casual indifference—that alone was strange.
When one senses danger to one’s life, the natural response is to avoid going out or to barricade oneself inside. Even with three guards, one is never truly safe. Assassination finds its opportunities everywhere. Paradoxically, the most vulnerable moment is often the most mundane—a visit to the privy.
Everyone knows this, yet it remains nearly impossible to defend against.
The body is simply too exposed.
One’s guards cannot follow within.
What man would willingly watch another at such a moment?
And there lay the puzzle.
If Salsu had been drawn in deliberately, was this the work of the Ubo Sect alone?
Even if the Ubo Sect was second only to the Hangju Three Patriarchs in Hangju’s hierarchy, the scale of this affair was staggering.
‘A coalition of various Heterodox sects? Or perhaps the Hangju Three Patriarchs themselves? Could it be a collaboration between them and several smaller factions?’
Im Gang leaned toward the last theory.
He dismissed the first because the bonds of such Heterodox coalitions were fragile as gossamer—snap them with barely any pressure and they shattered.
The Hangju Three Patriarchs acting alone would have risked too much.
Whatever the cause, the intent seemed clear enough.
‘They’re cleaning house in Hangju.’
The Heterodox Sects had always squabbled amongst themselves. The uproar over Pok Ryeol Ma Gun had simply poured oil on those flames. The Ubo Sect had become the target of this purge.
‘A rather distasteful commission, frankly.’
His assumptions might prove wrong. Reality often diverged from expectation. But such details mattered little to a ronin. The coin mattered. Nothing else.
Soon after, entertainers arrived and took up their instruments.
Fresh appetizers and wine were served, and the atmosphere grew festive.
O So Wei, buoyed by the mood, swayed his shoulders and hummed along.
The first day of the watch ended thus.
* * *
The second day saw them travel widely through Hangju. They remained outside from early morning until dusk, yet Salsu did not appear.
“Nothing today either.”
“Indeed.”
When the watch ended and Im Gang, Baek Do Gwang, and Baek Cheon returned to their quarters, the three gathered for a meal.
At the very least, they were provided food of excellent quality.
After eating, Im Gang practiced his breathing exercises, Baek Do Gwang lost himself in a book, and Baek Cheon tended to his blade—each attending to their own affairs.
The third and fourth days unfolded much like the second.
By the fifth day…
“You learn martial arts and take good coin—then do what you’re hired to do!”
“My apologies.”
O So Wei berated and insulted the disciples of the Ubo Sect with his usual profanities before heading out. His double nature was seamless, almost natural.
This outing differed from the others: he was leaving Hangju entirely.
Im Gang, Baek Do Gwang, and Baek Cheon exchanged glances.
‘This is dangerous.’
‘Very.’
‘Everyone stay sharp.’
The party had grown larger. Over a dozen Ubo Sect martial artists and servants accompanied them.
When asked their destination, word came back that it was one of the way stations managed by the Ubo Sect.
“Make camp.”
As the sun dipped low beyond Hangju’s borders, O So Wei gave the command. The Ubo Sect martial artists and servants set up camp with practiced efficiency. There were no separate laborers or porters among them.
Baek Cheon, witnessing such preparations for the first time, stared with slightly vacant eyes.
“…?! What in the…what are you doing?”
Im Gang poked his ribs sharply to snap him back to attention, and the boy doubled over.
“Hehehehe…”
Watching the pair, Baek Do Gwang let out a dry chuckle.
Shortly after, the camp was complete. At its center stood an open-sided tent around which four smaller tents were arranged in a circle, with a fire pit between them.
One particularly large tent stood apart—it was where O So Wei would stay.
After that, they ate dinner and took turns standing Night Watch. The three escorts didn’t strictly need to stand guard, but they decided to rotate shifts just in case.
Baek Cheon took the first watch.
Im Gang entered the tent and sought sleep.
* * *
Tap.
Im Gang’s eyes opened at the touch of a hand on his shoulder.
It felt like he’d barely closed his eyes, yet somehow the shift change had arrived.
“Anything unusual?”
“Nothing.”
“Understood. Go get some rest.”
Im Gang settled himself in front of the campfire. He waited until the Ubo Sect’s watch changed over with the others, and once the shift rotation was complete, he folded into a seated meditation posture.
As he began the Un Ki Jo Sik breathing method, his mind—still hazy from sleep—sharpened within moments. The Nae Gong flowing through his meridians became palpable and clear. It suffused his blood and flesh, bone and skin alike.
Now that he’d reached the sixth stage, the Dae Ryok Pae Gong made him feel his Nae Gong like part of his very body with each breath.
‘Intent and will.’
Pok Ryeol Ma Gun had said it: intent gives direction to Nae Gong, while will drives force along that path.
Back then, he hadn’t understood those words at all. Even now, that hadn’t changed much. The difference was only that he felt them now, however dimly.
His mind didn’t grasp it, but somehow his body knew.
He opened his eyes as the meditation ended. Not much time had passed—perhaps ten minutes at most.
He wondered how best to spend the remaining hours so people would say he’d kept a proper watch.
That was when it happened.
Im Gang’s hand, reaching toward a branch, froze. Someone was approaching the Camp Site. More than one or two. At least three. Possibly more.
‘Assassins?’
They could’ve been merchants traveling at night, though that seemed unlikely.
‘…Like hell.’
Even wishful thinking wouldn’t stretch that far.
It was winter. People didn’t travel at night unless they were starving to death or nursing a wound that needed immediate treatment.
Im Gang tapped the Ubo Sect watchman on the shoulder.
“Yes?”
“We have uninvited guests… Never mind, stay quiet.”
The startled watchman was about to cry out, so Im Gang covered his mouth with one hand.
Damn. Why was he acting like an amateur?
Once he seemed to have calmed down, Im Gang released him. The watchman asked cautiously.
“…How many are there?”
“At least three… no, four. Wake the Ronins first, then the others. …Ah. Don’t wake the Sub-master.”
Im Gang rose as the watchman nodded.
“What about the great swordsman…?”
…….
He stopped mid-thought.
A Ronin called a great swordsman. That was rich.
They said the martial world belonged to the strong, and now he understood exactly how true that was.
“I’ll move first.”
Before the words had even left his mouth, Im Gang melted into the darkness.
[Eun Sin Skill activates.]
Meet assassination with assassination.
It was the principle of the Eye for Eye Principle, laid out in the Code of Hammurabi.

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