I Am the Youngest Disciple of the Martial Arts World’s Mastermind
Chapter 50
Chapter 50
The Youngest Disciple of the Murim’s Hidden Mastermind
Chapter 50
“This man didn’t die either, right?”
“No.”
The man, whose face was so swollen he had lost consciousness, was the very innkeeper who had served me and Ryang an extra bowl of noodles—and the last descendant of the Unhyeol Sect.
Ryang calmly explained what he had witnessed.
“His timing was poor. A member of the Black Way who runs the inn across the street came by to collect protection money. He spotted the secret manual in this man’s hands and tried to seize it.”
“I see.”
It seemed they had realized Ryang and I were the ones who left the manual behind and had tried to pursue me after the fact.
“The man refused to hand over the manual and rejected their demands for payment, so…”
“So they set the place on fire?”
“Yes. And since they dragged him to a secluded spot to beat him, I followed and ‘intervened.’”
“Good job, Ryang!”
I knew it.
If Ryang hadn’t been watching, this man would have been beaten to death right then and there.
“Hmm… with the inn in that state, it’ll be hard for him to keep doing business there.”
“Likely so. Oh, and those thugs didn’t see my face since I struck from behind, so there’s no need to tamper with their memories.”
“Great. Then let’s do this!”
I pulled my hand away from the innkeeper’s face and drew a silk pouch from my robes.
“Do what?”
Ryang asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
I gave a broad grin and tucked a pre-prepared map into the innkeeper’s robes along with the pouch.
“We have to give him a chance to start a new life.”
In truth, the name Unhyeol Sect wasn’t unfamiliar to me.
In the game, one of the main characters who played a pivotal role in the Martial Arts Alliance was originally from the Unhyeol Sect.
The items I placed in his robes were a map leading to the Martial Arts Alliance and a bit of travel money. If he had the will, he would find his way there and join them himself.
‘Perhaps he was destined to join the Alliance even if I hadn’t stepped in.’
Thinking about it that way gave me a strange feeling.
In any case.
I stood up, dusting my hands off with a sense of pride.
“Alright. Our part ends here. The rest is up to his own luck.”
Ryang nodded in agreement and stood beside me.
“Shall we return now?”
“Yes!”
And rather than this man…
The lizard, now resting quietly in my robes again—this little fellow weighed more on my mind.
Upon returning to Cheongsanbong, I reported the entire sequence of events to Master, leaving out not a single detail.
Danhwi, who happened to be nearby, listened with his mouth agape before asking.
“An Imugi followed you, Soso? All the way outside Cheongsanbong?”
“Yes. I’m certain it’s an Imugi.”
“I mean, based on your description, it definitely sounds like one, but…”
Master, who had been listening intently, spoke softly.
“You said it is still in your robes? Bring it out.”
“Uh, I’m not sure if it’ll come out, though…”
I hesitated slightly.
The lizard hadn’t eaten anything more or moved much during the entire journey back; it was still settled firmly against my chest.
‘Will it come out now?’
I lightly shook my clothes.
“Hmm…”
As expected, the Imugi showed no intention of detaching itself from me.
Watching this closely, Master suddenly picked up a lamp from the room and spoke.
“If you do not come out this instant, I shall set your tail ablaze.”
“What?!!”
It’s inside my clothes, you know!
And would an Imugi really react to a threat like that?
It was at that moment, as Master moved the lamp toward me without hesitation.
Whoosh!
“……!”
The lizard actually scrambled out of my robes.
‘Wait, it really ran away just because of a threat of fire?’
I was dumbfounded. It had extinguished a blazing inn with a raincloud so easily, hadn’t it?
‘Ah, maybe….’
The reason it had shrunk and hidden in my robes earlier was because it hated the fire?
Seeing the lizard shudder, the thought flashed through my mind that it might actually be the case.
Scurry!
The lizard moved quickly, trying to dart out of the room. However.
“Caught you.”
It was helplessly snatched up by Master’s hand.
“Let’s see.”
Unlike the way it had stubbornly clung to me, the lizard lay perfectly still in Master’s palm.
“…….”
‘…Now that’s just spiteful.’
I was glaring at the lizard when Master, after studying it for a long time, spoke calmly.
“It is indeed an Imugi. One on the verge of ascending to the heavens.”
“Heh….”
It was just as Danhwi had explained.
“Why did it follow me?”
Could it be that I have the kind of constitution that attracts spirit beasts?
I hoped it was for some impressive reason.
As I asked with a fluttering heart, Master chuckled as if reading my thoughts.
“It seems it followed you because it must help a ‘virtuous person.’”
“A virtuous person?”
What did that mean?
As my eyes widened, Master gave a simple explanation.
“An ordinary Imugi can only command rainclouds, but this one is so close to its ascension that it can perform simple acts of precognition.”
“Ooh….”
I thought controlling rainclouds was impressive enough, but I never imagined it could see the future.
If it was this capable now, how much more incredible would it be once it ascended as a dragon?
“It must be trying to play it smart, knowing that accumulating merit will hasten its ascension.”
Master concluded as he released the lizard.
Once free, the lizard glanced warily at Master for a moment before flattening itself against my knee.
“…….”
It’s not going to crawl back into my clothes, is it?
I watched the lizard tensely for a moment.
Only after confirming it had no intention of burrowing under my robes did I ask Master cautiously.
“Then, could it be… it followed me because it thought there would be chances to earn merit wherever I go?”
“Exactly. If it tries to follow you in the future, there is no need to drive it away. It will be helpful for your protection.”
“…Yes!”
I swallowed hard and nodded.
Certainly, thanks to the Imugi, I had remained safe without even needing to use the skills I’d trained.
The faces of the warriors who were slammed into the wall in an instant without even being able to scream flickered before my eyes….
“…….”
As I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them again to clear the image, Master spoke gently.
“And if the Imugi clings to you, it means there is a wicked person where you are going, so do not lower your guard.”
“I see….”
“Be mindful that many people witnessing an Imugi take a life is considered an ill omen. The Imugi itself will likely be cautious of that.”
“Aha, yes!”
Come to think of it, that must be why it only appeared in that deserted alleyway.
As I nodded vigorously, Master remarked casually.
“This is the first time I have seen an Imugi take such a liking to a human.”
Beside him, Danhwi grumbled.
“And here I thought it was trying to eat me. Master, isn’t this Imugi discriminating against humans?”
“Danhwi.”
“Yes.”
“Are you and Soso the same?”
“……!!”
While Danhwi stared at Master with wide eyes, I hid a secret smile.
“Hehe.”
So all that talk about it eating people wasn’t just Danhwi trying to scare me… it really was trying to eat him?
‘Serves you right.’
Suddenly, I felt a surge of affection for the Imugi on my knee.
When I tentatively extended a finger, it even rubbed its head against it, which was actually quite cute.
‘Fine. From now on, any Elixirs I get for myself, I’m giving them all to you!’
And once it starts listening to me properly, I’ll use it to tease Danhwi.
Dreaming of such grand plans, I smirked inwardly.
Forty years ago, the Righteous Faction had seized victory in the Orthodox-Unorthodox War. However, ten years ago, the Orthodox-Demonic Great War broke out once again.
It had been only ten years since the Demonic Cult was narrowly driven back at the cost of immense sacrifice.
Though the Zhongyuan, ravaged by long years of conflict, had finally regained a semblance of peace, the scars remained deep.
The man who had stood at the vanguard of the Orthodox-Demonic Great War was the current Leader of the Martial Arts Alliance. He was a man who had reached a transcendent realm despite not hailing from the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Clans.
Because of him, the current Martial Arts Alliance wielded more influence than ever before.
Inside the office of the Alliance Leader.
The strategist, Hahou Yeon, quietly opened the door and entered.
“Alliance Leader, a letter has arrived from the Namgung Clan.”
The Leader, who had been silently flipping through documents despite his massive physique, tilted his head slightly.
“What of the messenger? Why did you bring it yourself?”
“I thought it best to report this to you directly.”
The Leader’s gaze shifted away from his paperwork.
“What are the contents?”
