Episode 98

On the roof of a three-story building, two small shadows stared into the distance with shining eyes.

“I guess they haven’t arrived yet.”

“It seems like it. Fortunately, we arrived just in time.”

About a good mile away, a splendid manor adorned with lotus lanterns stood—it was the Hong House.

The place was known for adhering to the principle of selling one’s talent but never the body.

Perhaps that’s why the courtesans, walking between the flower garden and the yard, exuded such elegance, and there was a sense of calmness all around.

One odd thing was that the structure was a bit unusual for a drinking house.

There were several pavilions at the back of the place, and their purpose was unknown. They were probably handling the affairs of the Black Night Clan.

At that time, Yu Seol stroked the blunt blade of the Dragon Slayer Spear and asked,

“Should I hide here and then attack the beggars when they come?”

“You cannot do things like that without a plan.”

His granddaughter looked at Yu Jinsan, who firmly refused, with a frustrated look.

“Why? We are here to help.”

“That is true, but if we step in without much of a plan, won’t we end up spreading the rumor that the Yin Yang Twin Monsters are in the same league with the Black Night Clan? Then even those who hate us will go after the Black Night Clan.”

“Then what do we do?”

Well, Yu Jinsan was also worried about that.

“Grandpa has a good idea. There is a way to help without letting anyone know that we are on the same side.”

“Say it~ I am curious.”

He began to explain the plan in a low voice to his granddaughter, who urged him.

Yu Seol, who had been listening for a while, tilted her head, not being able to understand.

“…can we do that?”

“We aren’t doing anything bad. Instead, we are just trying to help. We must work hard, and you need to do as told. You can act that role well, right?”

“Yes, Seol is the best at acting.”

Yu Jinsan nodded happily.

“Now, all we have to do is wait.”

“Huh. I hope the beggars come quickly.”

Yu Seol seemed to enjoy the situation, as if it were a fun activity.

On the other hand, Yu Jinsan surveyed the surroundings like a soldier in a watchtower, never letting his guard down.

“Do not ever let your guard down. Do you remember what Grandpa said about the Nine Great Sects, right?”

Yu Jinsan took every opportunity to teach his granddaughter about Kangho, a world filled with peculiarities and conflicts masquerading as agreements.

Here, knowledge was the key to survival.

“I remember that. You said that One Union is the entity that oversees all the Nine Sects under a single banner.”

Yu Jinsan flinched for a moment, surprised that she remembered this subtle joke he had told her.

“When did I say that? Anyway, you should know that each force in the Nine Great Sects boasts prominent warriors. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Right.”

He wasn’t concerned about the child’s martial arts progression at all. It was advancing at such a rapid pace that he hardly had time to notice.

However, the rules of survival, which could only be learned through experience, were another matter.

“By nature, the people of Murim are expected to keep their agreements, but they can’t always do so. Seol, what do you think justice is?”

Yu Seol clenched her fists and then spoke, her eyes twitching.

“My fist is justice.”

That was an unexpected response.

Yu Jinsan touched his forehead as if it hurt him.

“Oh my. Who taught you that now?”

“Uncle Baek Gyu.”

Baek Gyu was the leader of the Evil Way Alliance.

Baek Gyu, always looking forward and charging ahead, was the kind of man who would say such a thing.

And his granddaughter’s leanings were already far from the Justice Faction.

Having spent her childhood among such clans, she was inevitably influenced by the Evil Faction.

“Anyway, that justice of yours can’t be used recklessly at any time. I’ve seen many who acted rashly and suffered greatly. Sometimes, it’s a good strategy to take a detour.”

“…”

“Why are you not answering?”

Yu Jinsan noticed something odd. This was because there was a small dot approaching from the direction of his granddaughter’s gaze.

“They’re here!”

“My eyes are dim, so I cannot see them yet. Are you sure they are beggars with sticks, though?”

“Yes.”

“How many are there?”

“Just a moment…”

Yu Seol, who had been studying intently, spread her hand open.

“Five people?”

Yu Jinsan was shocked by the answer that came now.

“No, five hundred people.”

No matter where one went in the world, beggars would always be around. Among all the forces in Murim, theirs was the largest.

But he never would have guessed that they would come with so many people.

In the Beggars Union’s movement, he could feel their dislike for the Black Night Clan.

“What? 500?”

“Yes, around that much.”

He planned to wait until the Sun Moon Clan arrived and then step back. But with such a large number of people coming, the entire plan had to be changed.

He had to think now.

‘Those people seem determined. But maybe this is for the good.’

Within the entire Beggars Union, there surely had to be one or two people who could rival Yu Seol. If there was such a person among them, why would they approach in such a foolishly large group?

Mostly, they were just filling numbers with low-level warriors.

There was no reason to be intimidated by their number.

“For now, let us proceed according to plan. I will leave first, Grandpa.”

“Yes, okay.”

Yu Jinsan clutched the spear and flew up from the roof of the manor.

Tat!

His form was headed for the drinking house, not in the direction where the Beggars Union people were flocking.

The entrance to the manor was decorated with lotus lanterns.

Two sturdy men were controlling the entry and exit.

“Are you two the only gatekeepers?”

The elders looked down, their faces a mix of shock and disbelief. A child, barely reaching their waist, was holding a strange spear and addressing them with an informal tone.

Naturally, they felt a surge of anger.

“Who are you? Why have you come here?”

“This is insane…”

Before they could finish their sentences, Yu Jinsan made his move.

His fingers danced swiftly, aiming straight for their pressure points.

Puak! Pupuak!

The two individuals, having been touched at their pressure points, were taken aback.

They couldn’t grasp what had just happened.

“The blockage will dissipate on its own within 30 minutes, so just lie down and rest for a while.”

In a flash, the broad side of the spear sequentially smacked their abdomens.

Puak!!

It was a gentle strike, avoiding any vital areas, yet their forms staggered, and they collapsed.

“…?”

The eyes of the fallen guards were filled with questions, but there was no time for explanations. The Beggars Union would soon be arriving.

Leaving them behind, Yu Jinsan entered the drinking house.

Perhaps due to the earlier scream, the guests and courtesans in the yard all wore stiff expressions.

All this turmoil was caused by a mere child.

“I’m a bit pressed for time. I need a quick drink, so guide me to a table.”

Such words, spoken so casually by a child, were unheard of.

Yet, no one could react. The situation was too bizarre and unprecedented to comprehend.

At that moment, a middle-aged woman, seemingly a courtesan, made her appearance.

She exuded the aura of a lively and spirited lady.

“What’s with this child? Where do you think you are…?”

Wasn’t this drinking house renowned as the finest in the county? Regardless of the circumstances, such a disturbance was unacceptable.

However, before she could finish her sentence, Yu Jinsan acted with swift precision.

His palm, moving as swiftly as a sword, struck her lower abdomen.

Tsk!

A burst of energy exploded from behind her.

“Ughh…”

Everyone watching was shocked to see the woman clutching her stomach as if in pain.

But no one realized it. The attack that Yu Jinsan had executed a little while back was actually a feint.

The Yu family’s One Back Flash Attack—a technique designed to hit the person behind the opponent by directing the attack from the side.

One of the courtesans shouted with a pale look.

“Quick, someone hurry up and call for help from outside!”

In any drinking establishment, warriors would be on standby to prevent and stop any brawls from occurring.

And the prestige of this place was unmatched.

The manor boasted more than 10 large and small halls, and warriors began to emerge from one of them.

“What!?”

“Which bastard dared to interfere?”

Around 30 people rushed in.

The unexpected commotion drew even the customers inside the building to come out and look around.

At that moment, Yu Jinsan let out a cry.

“It’s me, you fools!”

He twisted the Dragon Slayer Spear and began to attack the warriors.

Most of them were second-rate warriors, with a few first-rate warriors among them.

It was impossible for them to stop a Peak Master-level warrior on their own.

Chak! Chakk! Clench!

In an instant, five warriors were down and rolling on the ground. At their center stood Yu Jinsan with his spear.

“From now on, I will cut off the heads of those who dare to confront this elder.”

The term ‘elder’ has taken on many meanings now.

The warriors, realizing they were no match for him, no longer approached the child. The one who appeared to be the leader asked.

“Why are you causing trouble here? Who are you, exactly?”

Although he was speaking respectfully to a child, it didn’t seem out of place.

“Yang Monster.”

Yu Jinsan’s words sent a shiver through the warriors.

This was because the names of the Yin Yang Twin Monsters, who had escaped from Shaolin, were spreading far and wide.

Moreover, the Murim Alliance had placed a bounty on them.

Thus, they were shocked at the mention of the Yang Monster.

“I said I wanted a drink. Why is there so much talking then? The Yin Monster will arrive in a little while. If it isn’t ready by then, you all will die.”

The warriors’ faces were filled with fear. This was because the Yin Monster was the most famous warrior in Kangho recently, and the Yin Monster was supposedly more scary than the Yang Monster.

Instead of answering, Yu Jinsan stared at the entrance of the manor, and everyone who looked there turned pale.

“Y-Yin Monster?”

A girl with rabbit ears was approaching with both hands behind her back and a spear in hand.

No one was fooled by her frail appearance. Each step she took felt like a mountain moving forward; it was such a strong force.

No one could speak.

At that moment, the silence was broken as the Yin Monster’s lips twitched.

“Where is my meat?”

Yu Seol took a glance at her grandpa and seemed relaxed. Then, she lashed out at the empty table she had selected in advance.

Swish!

The gust of wind that came out of her fist struck one of the pillars in the palace, causing it to collapse.

Kwakwang!!!

It was the Hundred Steps Divine Fist, which had been unleashed.

“Where is my meat?”

“…”

Everyone gulped at that.

This was absurd; the Yang Monster wanted alcohol, and the Yin Monster wanted meat.

No one could say a thing.

When everyone was tense, an elegant woman dressed in red silk began to step up. Judging from the way the warriors had bowed their heads to her, it seemed like she was in charge of this place.

“Forgive our rude actions. I will guide you inside.”

“I said I would eat here.”

Yu Jinsan and the woman looked at each other with a meaningful look. It was like they were familiar with each other.

“Then I will prepare it as such.”

“I will only count till 10.”

How could they prepare food when the countdown was till 10?

However, as a drinking house, they had to do their best.

At the gestures, the courtesans began to move frantically.

Who had time to prepare new food? They gathered all the food meant for other guests and rushed it over.

In the blink of an eye, a feast was prepared in the yard of the manor.

“Now, let us eat.”

The Yin Yang Twin Monsters devoured their food, oblivious to their surroundings.

All kinds of people surrounding the two watched with anxious faces. How could they know? This was all an act to protect the Black Night Clan, disguised as the drinking house.

At that moment, Yu Jinsan glanced towards the entrance. While everyone was distracted, some beggars were snooping around.

Yu Jinsan filled the alcohol bottle with internal qi and hurled it at the beggars.

Kwang!!!

“Who on earth mixed alcohol with water? Do you think us Yin Yang Twin Monsters look like fools!?”

“We apologize. I will bring a new one.”

The entrance of the Hong House.

An old beggar with five knots tied around his waist shouted, frowning.

“What is this?! Why are you not going in? We are sure the Black Night Clan is disguised as a drinking house. Destroy all of them!”

In front of him, the three disciples, who had scouted in advance, looked troubled.

“…we have a bit of a problem, Branch Leader.”

“Problem?”

“The Yin… Yang Twin Monsters are inside.”

The status of the Branch Leader is one below the Elder, and he was a person with considerable authority, too.

Yet, he forgot his position and widened his eyes in surprise.

“What? Why are they in there now?”

“I am certain. Right now, they are causing chaos and destroying everything, including the drinking house.”

Now that he thought about it, there were no guards. No, to be more precise, they were scattered to the left and right, as if they had been ambushed by someone.

The Branch Leader hesitated for a moment, his expression troubled.

“Why are those damned bastards…?”

“If we go in like this, we might have to fight the twins. If their martial arts strength is as rumored, we alone cannot guarantee victory.”

The Branch Leader pondered for a moment but soon made up their mind.

“Put everyone on alert. We wait until they finish eating and leave.”

“Yes, Branch Leader.”

“And send the fastest guys back now. We should report the appearance of the Yin Yang Twin Monsters.”