Chapter 223 – Spreading The Name (1)

“Look there!”

“No. That side!”

Chachachang!

The sound of clashing metal filled the sky. Blue sparks flew across the darkness from where the sailors were looking.

They were faintly visible, but it only made the watchers guess how fierce the fight was.

Looking at this sight, the escort warriors yelled.

“Woahhhh!!”

“Warrior So Wonhwi is fighting the Blood Demon!”

They were all, of course, rejoicing.

“I-It looks like he defeated the pirates too!”

They believed that this fight caused the pirates to retreat. Actually, there was no clear reason why they would believe it, but it was likely because they had no choice but to have faith and excitement at So Wonwhi.

He was a hero-like figure.

“Ah! Look up!”

At that moment, something fell through the sky by the ship’s mast in a flash of silver. It wasn’t just falling, more so rushing to the ship.

“Woah!”

“Move!”

The sailors moved quickly to avoid being touched by the unknown silver flash, but something else came in to block it.

Chang!

Two swords clashed at a distance from the ship. It was the Blood Demon Sword and the Iron Sword.

One of the more skilled warriors managed to recognize them and shouted.

“It is the South Heavenly Iron Sword!”

“Did it stop the Blood Demon Sword?!”

Anyone could see that Iron Sword was protecting the ship from Blood Demon Sword. Perhaps due to this sight, the sailors looked excited.

“Warrior So Wonhwi is protecting us!”

“Come on! You are doing great!”

“So Wonhwi! So Wonhwi!”

Before they even realized it, the sailors and escort warriors were all cheering for Wonwhi. They believed that they would only be able to escape when the Blood Demon was defeated.

They thought this even though the Blood Demon didn’t damage their ship in the slightest. It was just their prejudice against the Evil Faction.

Chachachachang!

The Blood Demon Sword and Iron Sword fought over the ship and then flew back into the sky. The watchers could not take their eyes off the two swords.

And then, a faint scream.

“Kuak! Blood Demon, you bastard.”

And then a smaller voice.

“So Wonhwi. You are no match for me. Get lost.”

Even though the sailors were unsure of who was speaking, the escort warriors with some martial arts knowledge could hear the conversation. Their faces became dark.

From what they could hear, it was apparent that So Wonwhi was being pushed back.

At that moment, one of the warriors shouted.

“Ah! Look over there!”

A person was falling towards where the man pointed. As the figure came closer…

“Warrior So!”

It was So Wonhwi!

The falling So Wonwhi hit the sail that had been slightly spread out, lessening any potential fall damage he may have taken.

Many of the escort warriors went to where he fell.

They saw So Wonwhi’s pale and bloody face and asked.

“I-is Warrior So alright?”

“The injuries seem a bit serious?”

So Wonhwi coughed.

“Cough… Cough… is everyone alright?”

He was injured, but the man was worrying about them? This amazed all the warriors.

“We are all safe!”

“All thanks to Warrior So.”

Of course, not everyone was immediately elated. A few of the escort warriors asked anxiously,

“What happened to the Blood Demon?”

“Were you wounded by him?”

It seemed that they were concerned that Wonwhi was attacked by the Blood Demon and that they would be next. Wonwhi then replied.

“Cough cough… he really is someone with amazing martial arts. There is no way I can do anything with my current skills. He wounded me internally and then vanished.”

“He vanished?”

“I don’t know. When I got hit by his attack, I was lucky enough to touch his chest. Maybe he, too, was injured.”

Hearing this from So Wonhwi, the faces of the escort warriors brightened.

If that was true, the Blood Demon vanished because he received an injury. The people around Wonwhi cheered.

Ho Jin-gak, head of the merchant union, pushed himself through the warriors and bowed.

“Warrior So! Thanks to you, everyone was able to escape. Thank you.”

“I was just doing my job as a guest to an assigned escort service group.”

“No way. If you hadn’t defeated those pirates and fought off the Blood Demon, who among us would even be alive.”

“The young master’s words are correct. This is all thanks to Warrior So.”

“Right! All thanks to you!”

“Woahhhh!!”

Seeing them all cheering, So Wonhwi waved his hand and said,

“You seem to have misunderstood. It wasn’t I who defeated the pirates.”

“What do you mean?”

“When I arrived, the pirates were hastily sailing away already.”

This confused everyone as Ho Jin-gak asked,

“What do you mean?”

“When I arrived on the ship, I found that all of them, including the leader of the Beggars Union, had collapsed. At that moment, the Blood Demon was also there, so I thought that he must have fought off the pirates. However, he told me not to misunderstand his actions. So how should I even consider his words?”

At So Wonhwi’s words, everyone had a strange expression.

As if they all had their own guesses.

“Why, though?”

Ho Jin-gak, who was silent, then mumbled.

“Actually, Warrior So…”

So Wonwhi’s eyes shone as he looked at Ho Jin-gak as the latter began explaining the events that happened before they passed out.

I left the ship and returned while riding on Iron Sword.

Short Sword’s voice echoed in my head.

-How did you come up with that idea?

She stuck out her tongue, though she was clearly impressed.

I simply pretended to fight a one-on-one duel, and it worked. I ended up using a lot of things to do so.

The illusions created by the Wind Shadow Eight Forms were realistic enough to make it so that two people were fighting. Extra details were provided with help from True Evil Sword.

-You even made us fight.

-That was insane. If we did it properly, Iron Sword would be broken.

-Shouldn’t we fight to know that in actuality?

For the show, I had allowed Iron Sword and Blood Demon Sword to clash on the ship. However, when I allowed them free movement, it seemed they had become competitive.

As Iron Sword was quite proud of his former owner, he showed his pride through sword techniques.

-This is why men are called children even after they live all their lives. Hehehe.

-What do you mean by that?

-Oh my. Did I say something? I don’t think so? Did I?

On top of that, True Evil Sword poured oil into their spat. It was fine, but don’t pull me into it.

Anyway, thanks to the show, I was able to secure a lot of witnesses.

A large number of sailors and escort warriors witnessed our fight. Who could even say that the Blood Demon and So Wonwhi were the same people?

-You said So Wonhwi from your own mouth. I was embarrassed for you.

‘Ahem. Let us stop talking about that.’

No matter how long I had spent time as a spy, this was the first time I had to act this way. Should I say that it felt like two different egos having a fight?

Well, it all ended fine.

With this, the Blood Demon saved an escort ship and departed suddenly. Meanwhile, I had also planted a perception that So Wonwhi was protecting the people from the Blood Demon.

-Well, no one would find out the truth behind this scam.

Scam?

This was a great plan. Of course, everyone would be properly deceived as a result.

Now, where was the ship docked?

-Look at your bottom right.

-I see lights.

Following their words, I spotted people holding small torches below me. The front part of the ship looked smashed, and the anchored ship was visible.

The inevitable result of anchoring to land.

I couldn’t see many people on the ship, and only a few torches were left. They were probably waiting for me.

It was probably Sima Young and the others.

I moved towards the ship.

“Warrior So!”

“He is back!”

“Young lord!”

As I moved closer, I could hear their shouts. I thought it would just be my people, but eight people from the Beggars Union were also there.

Judging by their clothes, they seemed to be leaders and looked like they had stayed with Cho Seong-won because they recognized the situation.

“Young lord, I am glad you are safe!”

Sima Young rushed to me.

“I don’t see everyone else?”

“There were many wounded by the enemy ambush, so everyone was moved to the southwest side first.”

Well, that was the right call, at least. Only this many stayed behind.

“Is the young lord alright?”

Sima Young asked curiously.

If it wasn’t for the fact that people from the Beggars Union were here, I would have told them everything. As it stands now, I would need to let them know later or use internal qi.

I briefly told them what had happened. After hearing this, several members of the Beggars Union fell to their knees.

“O-Our leader is gone…”

“How can this happen….”

“Leader!”

They seemed quite sad.

They must have revered their leader to an extent since their faces looked as if they had lost the world.

However, some of them simply stood in confusion, and I couldn’t understand why.

[The Beggars Union leader and Hong Geol-gae abandoned the ship and ran away, prioritizing their own life. And so, such things happened.]

Sima Young’s confusion was cleared.

Ah, that was why you were on that ship, was what her expression told me. In the end, it was all fine.

“Haa…”

An elder of the Beggars Union sighed and said,

“Call Elder Ui Gu-Saeng. Warrior So… the bodies of those two…”

“We decided to leave the collection of the bodies to the escort service there and arranged for them to be sent to a city where the Beggars Union has a presence. I sincerely express my condolences for this event.”

I spoke to him with a persuasive show of sorrow.

I said those words, but I was really the one who pushed them to their deaths. I wasn’t too sorry about it, either.

Well, the two of them died because they simply thought of their own safety. They wouldn’t have died if they didn’t choose to abandon the ship.

But…

[Cho Seong-won]

I called for him. Unlike the other beggars, he looked relieved.

That idiot.

[Maintain your expression.]

[What do you mean?]

[Even if you cannot cry, at least pretend to be sad, okay?]

Hearing my words, his expression immediately changed as he lowered his head and sighed.

Fortunately, everyone’s eyes were on me. If they had seen his face, they would have thought he had no blood or tears.

I looked as disappointed as I could. I understood Cho Seong-won’s feelings since he was abandoned once before, but he wasn’t an idiot.

He needed to take into account how he looked to the others. Since even his basics as a spy weren’t good, how did he even manage to make it into the Blood Sect as a spy?

-Have you ever thought that you were the odd one?

The Blood Demon Sword clicked his tongue.

You, just be quiet.

‘Ah!’

I can hand over the item now.

I took an item out of my clothes and handed it over. The elders of the Beggars Union immediately recognized it.

“The stick!”

It was the batting stick of the Beggars Union leader.

The escort service would take care of the body, but I brought the weapon back because the elders were here.

Instead of giving it to Cho Seong-won, I handed it to an elder.

“A keepsake from the union leader.”

The elder who received it mumbled in confusion.

“What kind of life would it have been if he stayed on the ship….”

He looked genuinely sorrowful. Judging by his age, he must have spent many years with the Beggars Union leader.

Ui Gu-saeng turned around and presented the stick to Cho Seong-won with both hands.

“Accept this.”

Cho Seong-won, who looked sad, pretended to be surprised.

“Elder, how can….”

How awkward.

Right.

Fortunately, no one from the Beggars Union seemed to share my thoughts. It was strange to care about such detailed minute feelings when trying to appoint a new leader.

The elder then said.

“It is natural for you to succeed in the position of leader. Take this.”

His words were echoed by the others.

“Take it!”

In response, Cho Seong-won pretended to be against it but took the stick as if he had no choice.

-You kept your promise.

I did.

After taking his revenge, Cho Seong-won was now back where he belonged.

No, he had received more than that.

Now that he had become the leader of the Beggars Union, I had control of the most information in Murim.

I wanted to smile, but I didn’t show it outright.

“Come over and gather up.”

Hearing the elder’s order, the other members of the Beggars Union gathered and crossed their hands. They put them on their chests and, one by one spat on Cho Seong-won.

“Spit!”

-Uh? Why are they spitting on him?

Ah…

I think I’ve heard of this. I was told that this was a custom of the beggars when a new leader was appointed.

I think it was a symbol to show that the head of the beggars should look the worst. Well, beggars were beggars, after all.

“Kuak!”

In the meantime, what was with that man trying to collect the spit?

I was frowning when Sima Young said,

[Young lord. Can you come over?]

In response, I looked at the Beggars Union.

After the spitting was done, they each spoke some words about defending the sect, and it seemed like they were doing other necessary things to appoint a new leader. It seemed it would take time, so I followed her.

I went down to the shore and saw Song Jwa-baek and Song Woo-hyun, who had been missing from the ship.

I had wondered idly if the twins had decided to just follow Hwang Hye-joo, but it didn’t seem like it.

‘Uh?’

But another person was lying there. I noted that half of their body was burned and tanned.

“This one is?”

Song Jwa-baek answered.

“After disembarking, I went around to look for other ambushes and found this one crawling out of the water.”

Ahh…

This one was quite amazing.

Did they make it all the way here on their own after being caught in the explosion?

Sima Young saw my surprise and said,

“But this man hasn’t died yet.”

Hearing this, I approached the corpse-like Jang Mun-ryang. The man’s condition was severe, but it seemed like he would survive.

‘Does he not have the ability to recover?’

Judging from his body, he could surely recover from this, yet oddly the burns did not heal.

‘Uh?’

No.

I moved closer to get a better look. It wasn’t that the burns were not healing, but they were healing too slowly.

Was it not noticeable due to its slowness?

“Ugh. He seems to be getting better.”

Song Jwa-baek said this as he finally noticed it. It was as if the recovery didn’t happen before this.

Pss…

The tanned skin was falling off his body. The recovery speed was getting faster, and Sima Young pulled out her sword from its sheath.

“If he is recovering, then should I cut him down?”

“No. Wait.”

If he was recovering, I could just seal his dantian and question him. With his strength, he should hold a high position in his organization.

“Woohyun, hold his arms and legs.”

“You will seal his dantian?”

“Yes.”

Hearing this, the twins moved to secure the man’s arms and legs.

Following up, I put my hand on his dantian.

Because of the swift recovery, even a broken dantian would recover, so I decided to simply seal it.

The moment that my qi was about to make contact with his dantian.

Jang Mun-ryang began to struggle.

The twins holding his limbs were even pushed back.

Puak!

“Kuak!”

The man’s eyes, nose, and mouth expressed clear pain at the blow.

Ahh… just the sight of it made me sick.

“What the hell!”

Song Jwa-baek was enraged, and his eyes turned red as he rushed forward.

There was no time to stop him.

As Song Jwa-baek rushed forward and kicked him, the man shrank down and shouted.

“D-do not hit. Mun-ryang is in pain when you hit him.”

‘…?!’