Chapter 30

Ch. 30

King of Fist, Receives a Gift

While Dan Wooseong and Murong Bin conversed, the sound of rain continued. Then came thunder, followed by thick raindrops beating against the roof and eaves.

As Dan Wooseong looked outside, Murong Bin spoke.

"If you're not leaving immediately, how about we dine together?"

Having forced marches while eating only one meal a day, it wasn't a bad proposal.

Dan Wooseong said,

"I eat large portions."

At this bold statement requesting plenty of food, Murong Bin burst into laughter and replied,

"I'll prepare plenty."

After Murong Bin instructed the servants to prepare a meal, the two men looked at each other again.

Dan Wooseong said,

"By any chance, have you heard news of your father confronting the Demon Path or anything like that?"

Murong Bin replied,

"Not the Dark Path, but the Demon Path... I heard it's been well over twenty years since they fell silent. If the Demon Path had risen, I don't think it would be this quiet. It's also strange that they would specifically target only our father. There haven't been any particular cases of our family suffering damage either."

Dan Wooseong nodded.

The King of Fist had no personal grudges either. Rather than fighting due to resentment, he had gotten the impression that they were those who sought out strong opponents.

While speaking, Murong Bin tilted his head slightly and looked at Dan Wooseong with a somewhat serious expression.

"I heard that the Sword God entered closed-door cultivation half a year ago. I wondered what martial arts a senior belonging to Heaven Beyond Heaven would further refine through closed-door cultivation... In any case, there's been no news since then."

Dan Wooseong had also secluded himself at the Ahn family and Galaxy Merchant Group, focusing only on cultivation. Being able to hear about the current state of Jianghu from the mouth of the Murong Family's leader was more important than bringing Gu Yangsheng. After all, it was difficult to learn detailed information about the masters at the peak of Jianghu from near the merchant group.

Dan Wooseong asked as if wanting to hear more information.

"Please tell me about the current situations of other peak masters as well."

Murong Bin replied,

"I saw the Knife Emperor in good health not long ago."

The Knife Emperor was the head of the Namgung Family and the leader of the Emperor's Association. The Knife Emperor was called by the somewhat cringe-worthy title of "First Among Families."

"Actually, Senior Gu Yangsheng shouted asking if we had laughed, but strictly speaking, the Knife Emperor was the one who laughed loudly. The rest of us just made awkward expressions because the atmosphere was too stiff. Sect Leader Gu's feelings were probably hurt. But the Knife Emperor isn't one to care about such things. He has a tendency to thoroughly ignore those who don't please him."

Dan Wooseong nodded. The Knife Emperor was that kind of man.

Murong Bin continued,

"The Sword Emperor has no fixed residence originally. He occasionally barges into his juniors' homes, stays for three or four days, then suddenly leaves, so it's impossible to know his whereabouts from the start. When he last visited, father was already missing, so he just said he understood and disappeared without any news since."

Now Murong Bin's expression also became serious.

"The Sword King has semi-retired. He's training disciples, but he said anyone who wants to take the title of Sword King should come to him. He said there's still a match remaining to pass on the title. And the King of Fist..."

Dan Wooseong's expression hardened.

Murong Bin continued,

"He's naturally rough-tempered, and even though he's a Jianghu senior, father found him very difficult to deal with, so I have no idea about his current situation. I suspect he might be traveling the world looking for disciples. Or he might be going around smashing Dark Path factions somewhere. He's not an easy person to befriend."

Murong Bin's words were true.

The King of Fist should have been looking for disciples at that time.

Though with this unexpected reincarnation, it had become a distant story again.

As Dan Wooseong listened to his own story like this, his feelings were indescribably complex. The pouring rain and thunderbolts roaring loudly made it even more so.

Meanwhile, as the servants brought food and placed it on the table, Murong Bin said,

"I hope it suits your taste."

While eating, Dan Wooseong casually asked,

"What kind of personality does the King of Fist have that makes him so difficult to befriend?"

Was he planning to reflect after hearing about it?

Actually, he was curious since it was his own story. People often don't know their own blind spots.

At Dan Wooseong's question, Murong Bin smiled and replied,

"He often beats up junior White Path members for being insolent, Dark Path seniors get thrashed, and he kills members of Sima Weido whenever he meets them. Murim Alliance members get beaten for being arrogant, and quite a few children of great families have been slapped. Since the Great Young Master seems interested in Jianghu, it would be good to be careful."

"Hmm..."

Dan Wooseong felt as if a fishbone was stuck in his throat while eating. There weren't actually any fishbones in the side dishes. Murong Bin was definitively assuming the King of Fist was still alive. That was understandable since the fight had taken place in a remote mountain area.

Murong Bin continued,

"...On the other hand, his words and actions are clear. He kept his word, and I heard he often boldly requested matches from other Emperors and seniors like the Sword Emperor, giving the impression that he's just a born martial artist. From what I heard, he seemed to live quite a lonely life."

Dan Wooseong made a clicking sound.

'Well, it wasn't that lonely.'

Dan Wooseong collected information and organized his thoughts while having various conversations with Murong Bin.

Dan Wooseong didn't know the name of the group he had fought last, or the name of the man who had thrust a sword into his abdomen. What he remembered was only that there were many attackers who all used the same sword technique, and only the commanding man alone used a pitch-black Black Sword from blade to hilt.

Estimating this group's martial power...

Fewer than ten people in Jianghu came to mind who could withstand them.

Moreover, besides this Black Sword group, there was a man in purple robes watching from a distance.

He was a man whose presence could be felt even during the fight. If the man in purple robes had joined in, Dan Wooseong thought that only the Three Divine Saints called Heaven Beyond Heaven could withstand their combined attack. These four were revered by Jianghu people as "heaven beyond heaven."

They were old masters above the Emperors and the very ones who had uprooted the Demon Path.

And they were also the reason the King of Fist never stopped training.

Because he wanted to defeat the Three Divine Saints and become the best in the world.

Dan Wooseong had this thought.

If the mysterious masterminds had no connection to the Three Divine Saints, they might target the Three Divine Saints someday.

It was a prediction combining reasoning and intuition.

In fact, if the Three Divine Saints fell, that would be tantamount to the beginning of a Demon Path world. Twenty years ago too, the Demon Path world had come to nothing because it was blocked by the Three Divine Saints.

Murong Bin, who had finished eating earlier, looked at Dan Wooseong with a surprised expression.

"Great Young Master, would you like more?"

"I'm fine."

The food on the table had been devastated, leaving only empty bowls.

Murong Bin asked somewhat wistfully,

"Great Young Master, it might be uncomfortable staying at someone else's house, but how about staying for about a day?"

Dan Wooseong looked outside and replied,

"I appreciate the kindness, but I'll be leaving. The merchant group is in turmoil, so it's inconvenient to be away. Please take care of Sect Leader Gu's matter. And those three assassins identified themselves as belonging to a group called the Gold and Silver Assassination Association, so I'd appreciate it if the Emperor's Association could investigate this assassination organization. However, if their headquarters or the identity of their leader is revealed, I'll lend my modest strength as well. Please contact the Galaxy Merchant Group."

"Hmm. With such heavy rain pouring down, I don't feel comfortable sending a guest away."

Dan Wooseong grinned.

Murong Bin was quite a likeable White Path junior. Even if they had met during his days as the King of Fist, he wouldn't have been slapped.

Dan Wooseong spoke his true feelings.

"Actually, I came prepared to have a confrontation at the Murong Family. Thanks to the sect leader wisely examining the situation, I can return with a relieved heart."

Dan Wooseong politely clasped his fists toward his junior.

"I won't forget this kindness."

While Murong Bin was pleased to receive praise, he was quite surprised by the confidence of coming prepared for a confrontation with the Murong Family. Come to think of it, Gu Yangsheng was also a formidable master, so he wondered how the merchant group's Great Young Master had dealt with him. Since he wasn't revealing his qi at all, it was difficult to gauge his exact martial arts level.

How could he further detain a guest who wanted to leave?

Murong Bin snapped his fingers once and said,

"Bring the Great Young Master an umbrella."

Murong Bin smiled as he looked at Dan Wooseong.

"It can't compare to your merchant group, but we also need self-sufficient measures, so we make various items. Though we call it a famous product, I'm embarrassed every time I mention it, so please just regard it favorably."

Dan Wooseong was also surprised. In fact, when peace continues, martial families often end up living by depleting their accumulated wealth. That's also why people like Gu Yangsheng who commit misdeeds appear. The Murong Family seemed to have various self-sufficient measures.

A servant brought out a truly sturdy-looking umbrella and handed it to Dan Wooseong.

Murong Bin said,

"The center pole and ribs were deliberately made from dark iron."

Dan Wooseong examined the umbrella and laughed. Rather than for avoiding rain, it could pass as a weapon without shame.

"Why were such expensive materials used?"

Murong Bin also burst into laughter.

"That way we can sell it for more, can't we? Since it's mainly sold to Jianghu people, we deliberately made it excessive. It's a gift."

"I'll use it gratefully."

"Travel safely. Open the doors."

As the attendants opened the main hall doors, the sound of rain grew louder. Dan Wooseong made eye contact with Murong Bin, then turned and stepped out of the main hall. When he opened the umbrella given by the Murong leader, the sound of raindrops hitting it rang out pleasantly.

Actually, Dan Wooseong had never used an umbrella.

When it rained, he just got wet.

Now he simply opened and used the umbrella in his hand. The horses he had brought were exhausted, so the Murong Family's grooms were tending to them. Since taking the carriage would be cumbersome, he said he'd send people to retrieve it later and left the Murong Family as is.

Most importantly, traveling by lightness technique was now faster.

However, Dan Wooseong didn't immediately deploy his lightness technique after leaving the Murong Family. He was simply fascinated by the umbrella he had never used before, occasionally looking up at its interior.

The rain was falling so heavily that holding it provided quite a satisfying feel.

He walked the rainy road for a long time while thinking of his past life. Previously, he had been close to a wanderer who freely roamed deep mountains and secluded valleys alone, but now there were many people he could think of.

People he hadn't known in his previous life.

Family and ragamuffin friends came to mind first, and he also often thought of the youngest Jianghu Hero on the rainy road.

When thunder roared somewhere...

Dan Wooseong looked up at the sky. The fiercely falling rain and occasional thunderbolts felt like looking into his own heart.

Dan Wooseong walked the rainy road feeling as if the rain and thunder were comforting him.

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