Chapter 119: Gaining a Guest (2)
As I left the Seopyeong Prefecture Office, I felt neither entirely satisfied nor entirely regretful—having gained one thing while losing another.
It was the same feeling I always had after a deal as a merchant that didn’t result in profit.
‘Still, I gained the authority to command the hidden experts of the royal residence. That alone is equivalent to receiving military support from a martial sect. In the grand scheme of things, it’s a win for me.’
Princess Gyeongseon looked truly regretful to part ways with me.
She had never met someone so knowledgeable about female poets’ verses.
If she could have had her way, she would’ve clung to me to discuss and recite poetry together all day. But since I wasn’t a member of the royal residence and only the rumored sect master of a mere martial sect, she couldn’t keep me for long.
She was relieved, however, when she learned from her father, King Namcheon, that I could be assigned as her secret bodyguard.
The truth was that King Namcheon had deliberately arranged for a martial expert of his daughter’s age to become her secret escort, hoping to nurture her interest in martial arts and warriors.
Even more so, since I was knowledgeable about poetry and able to converse easily with her, it was the icing on the cake.
I stepped out of the government office with Yong Biyang, the Three Chivalrous Sisters, and the later generation disciples of Mount Hua Sect.
“Sect Leader, please board the carriage.”
The Twin Dragons of Fury Sword duo had been waiting outside.
Yong Biyang bowed toward the Three Chivalrous Sisters and the Mount Hua juniors before stepping into the carriage.
However, I wasn’t ready to leave just yet. I wanted to converse a little more with them.
Especially with the Three Chivalrous Sisters—there was something I needed to address.
“I’ll return this to you.”
Until now, I had been holding onto the Black Silk Celestial Silkworm.
For some reason, the Three Chivalrous Sisters had never asked for it back, so I had continued to keep it in my possession.
But now, I voluntarily offered it up.
Truthfully, it was a very tempting item for me.
With the Black Silk Celestial Silkworm, I could freely link the Azure Bamboo Sword and the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword techniques.
As long as I had it, it was no longer difficult to perform the two martial arts in succession.
It was an item necessary for further study, but since it ultimately belonged to the Jeong family, I restrained my greed.
Jeong Minji gazed down at the Black Silk Celestial Silkworm, deep in thought.
Then, as if an idea struck her, she spoke up.
“I think it would be safer if Young Master Yong kept it for the time being. Since the enemy hasn’t been fully eliminated yet, carrying it around ourselves could lead to it being stolen.”
Her reasoning was sound, and I nodded.
“In that case, just let me know when you’re departing. I’ll return it then.”
Jeong Suji and Jeong Daji clearly weren’t happy with their sister’s decision.
“Sis, are you acknowledging him as the owner of the Black Silk Celestial Silkworm? Without even getting Mother’s permission?”
“Mother told me to make the decision when it came to important matters like this. Besides, if we keep holding onto it, it might really be taken from us. The one who fought Young Master Yong is beyond our abilities. He recognized the Black Silk Celestial Silkworm. If we hold onto it, he’ll definitely come for us. But if Young Master Yong has it, we’ll be safe. And we can get it back anytime.”
There was no argument against that.
“We’ll return to the main household, inform Mother of the situation, and wait for her decision,” Jeong Daji said.
“But what about the Black Saber?”
“That guy won’t be able to function as a man anymore. Even if we don’t do anything, Young Master Yong will take care of it.”
“Sis, I think you’re trusting Young Master Yong too much.”
“He’s someone worth trusting.”
“Is he really?”
As Jeong Daji voiced her doubts, I approached the entrance of the government office.
There, a man—easily seven feet tall with a body three times the size of an average person—was in a heated argument with the government guards.
“I must see His Highness King Namcheon.”
“Come on now, move along. His Highness doesn’t meet with just anyone. Even someone like me can only catch a glimpse of him from afar. You, a mere commoner, think you can meet him just by asking?”
“I’m not a commoner. I’m a martial artist. Since His Highness respects martial artists, I’ve come to show him my martial arts.”
The guards burst into laughter at that.
“Hahaha! Say something believable. I’ve never seen anyone as fat as you in my life, and now you’re claiming you know martial arts?”
“A martial artist that fat would make even a passing dog laugh.”
The guards had no intention of believing the man.
In fact, even the later generation disciples of Mount Hua and the Three Chivalrous Sisters couldn’t believe him either.
Any martial artist who trained properly would shed all fat and be left with only muscle, resulting in a firm physique.
“Stop spouting nonsense and get going!”
When a guard pointed his spear at him, the fat man looked about to cry.
“I’m telling the truth! I am a martial artist! It’s just that my martial arts require a fat body.”
“What’s the name of your martial art, then? Is it perhaps ‘White Pig Technique’? Or ‘Invincible Boar Technique’?”
All of their guesses were pig-themed.
“No. My martial art is called the Muheo Void Technique. It has absolutely nothing to do with pigs.”
“Hehehe, what kind of martial art name is that? You should’ve at least come up with something more plausible.”
The guards were now convinced he was lying and mocked him loudly.
“You should just go.”
Ho Cheongun had thought there might be a deeper story behind the fat man's circumstances and had been listening quietly, but eventually turned away in frustration.
He felt a wave of anger rise within him. Though he wanted to immediately scold the guards for their disdainful treatment of a fellow martial artist, he knew better than to get entangled with the bureaucracy—nothing good ever came from that.
The Three Chivalrous Sisters also showed some curiosity, but they couldn’t help letting out chuckles at the man’s claim.
A martial art that made you gain weight and was called the Muheo Void Technique? It just sounded absurd.
Jeong Daji spoke up.
“It’s likely that with a body like that, he eats so much no one else would take him in. So, hearing that King Namcheon cherishes martial artists, he probably came here hoping to find a place to stay. But with that kind of obesity, who would possibly want to use him? How pitiful.”
She clicked her tongue with a hint of pity.
Others seemed to agree, nodding their heads.
“Even if he really does know martial arts, who would accept someone that size?”
Truth be told, just as they said, the man couldn’t find work even as a mercenary.
It was because he ate three to four times more than an average person in a single meal.
People didn’t even bother to check whether he had learned martial arts. They rejected him outright because of his size.
In the end, the man had rushed over upon hearing that King Namcheon was at Seopyeong Prefecture Office, thinking that if he became part of the royal residence, at least he wouldn’t have to suffer hunger anymore.
But he couldn’t even step into the office, much less meet King Namcheon.
He could have knocked these guards down and forced his way in, but then he would only be seen as an assassin trying to harm the king.
He had experienced something similar a year ago, so he was acting with caution.
But I, and I alone, widened my eyes and stared at the fat man.
His situation was far too similar to what I had gone through long ago.
Back then, I was the leader of a merchant union, so people didn’t mock me to my face.
Still, they often called me a “pig bastard” behind my back.
From him, I felt a sense of shared suffering.
And when I heard the name of the martial art he mentioned, I remembered a martial artist from my past life.
A man who had mastered the Muheo Void Technique.
He had been one of the legendary figures known as the Ten Absolutes of the Martial World.
His name was Deungae, and his epithet was the Hidden Sky Duke—a supreme master like no other.
He was called that because his body was so massive, it was said that the sky vanished when he stood before you.
The Muheo Void Technique he possessed was known across the martial world for its strangeness and uniqueness.
In my past life, it was said that if Deungae had ever revealed the full extent of his power, he could have surpassed even the Nine Stars of the Martial World.
Given that he had never been defeated in his life, it was a believable claim.
But since he never participated in the Martial Star Assemblies, he was always underrated despite his true abilities.
I had paid attention to him back then precisely because he, like me, had a fat body.
And now that man, or perhaps someone who would become like him, was being mocked and ridiculed by lowly guards.
Feeling both angry and emotionally connected to his plight, I stepped toward the office entrance.
“That’s enough.”
When I spoke firmly, the laughing guards all turned to look at me.
“What do you mean?”
One of them raised his chin with a look of challenge.
Then another guard behind him suddenly bowed his head in surprise.
“Ah, it’s the Heavenly Central Sword Hero!”
The gathered guards flinched in surprise.
They had all heard the stories—how I had saved King Namcheon and Princess Gyeongseon, and had now become favored by the king.
They couldn’t afford to treat someone like me rudely.
“So it was the Heavenly Central Sword Hero Yong. Did we make a mistake, sir?”
Their tone immediately became respectful.
“This man made a heartfelt request to you. How could you treat a fellow person with such disdain? He’s human just like you. He’s not someone you can mock so thoughtlessly.”
Because I was angry, my voice naturally rose. The guards began to bow deeper, as if they truly had erred.
“It could be that he’s in this state due to an illness, or from taking the wrong medicine. How can you laugh at someone just based on appearance without even knowing their situation?”
Maybe it was because of the humiliation I once suffered myself.
But I found myself scolding the guards more than I intended.
“Also, he clearly said he had learned martial arts and even named his technique. And yet you mock him for it? You should be grateful you’re not martial artists yourselves. Otherwise, he might have severely punished you for your insults. Never again laugh at a martial artist. For martial artists, their pride is more important than life itself.”
The guards were quick to read the mood.
“We mocked the man without knowing anything. Please forgive us.”
When the guards even offered apologies, Deungae waved it off.
“It’s all right. I’m fine.”
“Shall we guide you to King Namcheon?”
One guard asked, but Deungae shook his head.
“No, that won’t be necessary.”
The guard sneered internally. Though he didn’t say it out loud because of me, he cursed inwardly.
‘Just as I thought. If you were truly a skilled martial artist, why would you refuse my offer?’
I said to Deungae,
“In that case, I’ll personally inform King Namcheon. Come with me.”
But Deungae shook his head.
As he did, the flesh of his cheeks jiggled.
“Since arriving in Henan, the name I’ve heard the most is Yong Hwarin, and your title, Heavenly Central Sword Hero. Are you really that man?”
“I am.”
“Then I want to follow you. I’ll try to eat as little as possible. Please let me stay with your household.”
He had never met anyone who understood him so well and treated him with such empathy.
That’s why he wanted to follow me.
Inside, I rejoiced.
The Twin Dragons of Fury Swords, having overheard our conversation, came closer and said,
“Sect Leader, there’s no need to listen to the words of a madman. Let’s go.”
Namwook feared that I, out of misplaced sympathy, might actually take this man in as a guest.
“Escort Nam, haven’t I told you before? Never judge a person lightly.”
When I spoke sternly, Namwook stepped back.
He knew that when I got angry, my eyes narrowed sharply.
This all felt too much like an insult to my past self, and I wasn’t happy about it.
If even Namwook said such things, it was easy to guess how others would treat Deungae.