The Youngest Daughter of the Hebei Peng Clan Is a Truly a Very Famous Little Heavenly Demon - Chapter 28
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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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28.
‘Do I really look like I’m from the Geobang?’
Of course, the Geobang is by no means a force to be ignored.
They proudly hold their place among the Gupaibang of the Orthodox Faction, and the countless beggars spread across the vast Zhongyuan are mostly under the Geobang’s protection. Because of this, they possess information networks that are faster and more accurate than even the underworld sects.
…But still!
No matter what!
They’re beggars!
“How do I look like a Geobang senior?! Anyone can see I’m a refined young master from a prominent family!”
“Huh? Haha, what a joke. What kind of young lady from a prominent family goes around looking like she hasn’t washed in three months?”
“No! That’s!”
I was about to retort but closed my mouth after seeing my reflection in the water.
It was true that I had been going around like a street beggar, both to hide my identity and save time on washing.
‘Maybe this is actually good…’
If a real beggar treats me like a comrade, then my disguise must have been successful. But why do I feel so bad about it?
I irritably started to scratch my greasy hair but stopped. Looking like this, I’d obviously appear to be a Geobang beggar picking lice from my head.
“Sigh.”
I let out a sigh and cupped my fists in the proper etiquette Ju Sohui had taught me.
“Though the situation is like this, I am from the Peng Family. I’m in this state because something happened during my journey and I’m rushing back to the main house.”
“The Peng Family of Hebei? Then!”
The four-knot Geobang member jumped up.
“Could it be the Sword Emperor…! Oh my!”
“Yes?”
“This is perfect! We were actually looking for you because of the request you made to our Hubei Branch Tower recently!”
Noegae’s expression, which had been full of worry, suddenly brightened. He smiled broadly and made a request.
“Then could you accompany us to the Hubei Branch Tower? The branch leader and I are sworn brothers, so the compensation for this will be very generous.”
“Huh? No, wait a minute. Accompanying you is one thing… but how are we going to get to Hubei? We’re basically shipwrecked in the Yangtze River right now?”
“Can’t the Sword Emperor step on air with the lightness skill of walking on emptiness? If you could just carry us…”
“Ah, that’s my mother.”
“…Hm?”
Noegae blinked.
I drove the point home.
“I’m actually wandering around looking for my mother too… Anyway, I can’t do things like walking on emptiness.”
“But didn’t you just pierce through my blood channels to expel the poison? That’s a technique that can only be achieved through divine skill…?”
“Since I was going to die either way, I threw some desperate moves. I’m still only at peak level. Hehe.”
I called it desperate moves, but if I had made even a slight mistake, Noegae would have died or had his dantian destroyed. At my brazen smile, he was momentarily stunned.
“What, no, how could you…”
But since he couldn’t really argue with his life’s savior, he let out hollow laughter and sighs for a long while.
Thanks to this, we who were trapped in the middle of the Yangtze River could sit on the wooden plank and have a heart-to-heart conversation.
“Indeed, so the Sword Emperor has been in seclusion recently to search for Lady Peng.”
“I guess the news hasn’t reached the Hunan Branch Tower yet?”
“Even with a hundred thousand Geobang members, there’s distance involved. This Noegae has been in the south of the Yangtze River on business.”
Knowing my identity, Noegae dropped the formal speech.
‘This is more comfortable.’
Though his martial level was one stage below mine, he was still an elder of the Orthodox Faction. Since it had been uncomfortable to keep receiving formal speech, this was actually better.
I took this opportunity to ask various things I was curious about regarding the Geobang.
“By the way, what level is a four-knot member?”
I knew that unlike other sects, the Geobang distinguished ranks by the knots worn at the waist.
“Usually deputy branch leaders are four-knot, branch leaders are five-knot, and the sect leader wears six knots. Of course, most Geobang members are no-knot members.”
“Oho.”
I gained one interesting piece of knowledge.
‘So they’re called no-knot members.’
I had wondered about the kids I’d seen wandering around claiming to be Geobang members without any knots, thinking they were just playing, but apparently they really had connections. I was organizing this information in my head when…
“Mmm. Wh-where is this?”
“Kyaak! What is this!”
The martial artists I had tied up in case they rolled off while tossing and turning began waking up one by one. Awakening on a piece of wood in what seemed like the vast open sea, they all either jumped up or showed signs of panic.
“Now, now, everyone. Please calm down.”
I explained the situation to them.
“You’re saying the merchant group tried to kidnap martial artists?”
“But why would they do such a thing…”
Most seemed half-believing even as they listened, but they had no choice but to believe.
“Why would I need to lie? If I hadn’t saved you in the first place, you’d already be fish food.”
When I shrugged, the four young men all made eye contact and nodded in unison.
I hadn’t paid much attention during the dinner, but it seemed the four excluding me and Noegae all knew each other.
The young man who appeared to be their leader cupped his fists and bowed to us.
“Thanks to you, we saved our lives. I, Gwon Junghyeok, swear on my family’s honor that I will repay the grace of saving me and my brothers.”
“I didn’t save you expecting any reward though?”
I’m someone who shows kindness as long as I’m not attacked first.
Hearing my answer, Gwon Junghyeok asked with a slightly flustered face.
“Still, how could I just let this pass? I’d like to at least know our benefactor’s name.”
That damn name thing again.
‘To think I have to live as Pengdori when I have the cool name Dokgo Hyeon.’
But even if I had to live nameless, I couldn’t use the surname Dokgo.
It had been nearly two hundred years since the Dokgo family was annihilated. It was a surname that stood out too much in any sense.
I had no choice but to reveal only my family name with a sigh.
“…Just call me Peng Soxiong.”
“You mean!”
Surprise flashed in Gwon Junghyeok’s eyes.
“Indeed, your martial prowess seemed extraordinary for such a young age, so you’re a member of the renowned Peng Family of Hebei. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“Haha. Let’s save the formalities for later.”
I casually deflected his praise and pointed in all directions.
“Prominent family or whatever, if we become water ghosts here, it’s all for nothing.”
“That’s… certainly true…”
“What should we do about this?”
When I reminded them, Gwon Junghyeok and his companions seemed to finally grasp the situation.
We huddled together and took some time to think.
“Can’t we just slowly paddle our way there?”
“That would be fine, but I don’t know how long this plank will hold up. It already looks like it’s about to sink…”
Indeed, as Noegae said, the makeshift wooden piece looked like it could barely support the weight of six people.
“Eek!”
One of the young men cried out in alarm as the edge began to sink and wriggled toward the center. Gwon Junghyeok’s face turned pale.
“This won’t do. We need to get to land quickly somehow.”
“Hmm.”
I crossed my arms and tilted my head.
“I think it’ll be fine.”
“What?”
“Just a moment.”
Normally, martial artists become vulnerable on water.
But what is the Moon Sea Sword Technique?
It’s the divine skill of the Haenam Sect.
Though I couldn’t immediately recall it due to my lack of water combat experience, the principles Ju Sohui had taught me hadn’t disappeared. I wriggled my bottom and sat at the southern edge of the wooden plank.
Gwon Junghyeok asked with a puzzled look.
“What are you trying to do?”
“Something amazing.”
An application technique of sword qi that I learned while getting beaten up by Ju Sohui.
“Whoooosh.”
Taking a deep breath, I moved the energy of Beiming in my dantian. The internal energy flowing through my blood vessels flows from the dantian to my hands, which are easiest to transmit to.
Then release.
“Good heavens!”
“To release sword qi in this way…! Peng Soxiong, are you a Chojejung master?!”
The temporary raft began moving forward due to the internal energy bursting out in spurts. It was clearly faster than rowing with hands.
A so-called human motor.
A miraculous feat of strength that only masters of Chojejung level or higher could perform.
“Didn’t you say you were at the peak level?”
“If you’re a true martial artist, you should have at least one hidden technique. I’m showing you this specially.”
At my jest, Noegae let out what must have been his umpteenth sigh.
“Hah, truly. I’m looking forward to the Yongbongji Meeting this fall.”
“You flatter me.”
“Hm? Haha!”
Seeing my grinning face, Noegae burst into hearty laughter.
Anyway, thanks to the strength demonstration, we barely managed to reach land before the planks became completely unusable. The soaked men immediately stripped off their upper garments and wrung out the water.
“It would be better to light a fire and dry ourselves before going. The sun will set soon…”
Gwon Junghyeok said worriedly, looking at me who alone couldn’t take off my clothes.
“Elder and Peng Soxiong, please rest here for a moment. Boys, let’s go gather some firewood!”
“Yes! Big brother!”
Four men, a mix of first-rate and second-rate martial artists, rushed into the jungle-like forest. A chilly evening breeze blew across the deserted riverbank.
“Ugh.”
It’s cold.
Having stayed wet continuously, my body was shivering. To make matters worse, even my temporarily bandaged thigh was throbbing.
Sitting by the water without even a towel, I felt regret.
‘If I had known this would happen, I should have just taken that ferry earlier!’
It’s my eternal regret that I thought of the human motor idea too late.
Moreover, since the ship sank while we were traveling along the Yangtze River, I have no idea which direction to go from here to reach Hubei Province. I clutched my head in my hands.
That’s when it happened.
“…A ship?”
A ship that hadn’t shown even a trace earlier was approaching from the other side.
‘Perfect!’
If I paid gold to board another merchant vessel, I could easily get to the nearest city. With a delighted heart, I channeled my internal energy and leaped lightly.
I planned to first board the deck as an intruder, then ask for permission afterward. But.
“Huh.”
Somehow all the crew members looked like rough bandit types.
My puzzled gaze moved upward. Then I saw a flag I hadn’t noticed before fluttering proudly – the Yangtze River Water Bandits.
‘Ah, they weren’t bandits but water bandits.’
Having grasped the situation, I bowed my head politely.
“I apologize for the intrusion. I’ll just be going now.”
“It’s an intruder! Catch him right now!”
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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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