**Chapter 15: The First Quest**
An unknown formula flowed into my mind.
More accurately, it felt as if it were being forcibly branded into my brain.
"What the hell?"
I looked up at the sky.
A single star was flickering, looking down at me.
In an instant, I realized this was the same phenomenon as when I acquired the Bedchamber Arts of Kunlun.
I lowered my gaze back to the old Taoist.
*Swish! Swish! Whoosh!*
The old Taoist was still gracefully performing his sword dance.
Those stars were the legacy and records I had left behind in this world.
One star had completely filled in a half-finished secret manual.
One star was now awakening a sword technique from a painting of unknown origin.
*Slide.*
I slowly drew the Iron Sword stuck in the sandy ground.
Reciting the formula in my mind, I followed the old Taoist’s hands and feet with my eyes.
And then, slowly.
I began to swing the sword in a path completely different from the way I had used until now.
*Swish! Swish!*
*Swish! Swish!*
The sound of the sword cutting through the air filled the vast desert.
The old man and the young man.
As time passed, the swords of the two, which had been completely different, began to align their rhythm.
'I see.'
At a certain moment, I was able to entrust myself entirely to the sword.
The state where the sword is me, and I am the sword.
If the sword had been nothing more than a tool to cut people down until now, this sword was the harmony connecting heaven and earth.
The endless cycle of Yang and Yin.
It was the Supreme Ultimate.
*Whoooooosh!*
Perhaps it was because I had realized the true nature of the sword technique.
At some point, my head cleared, and I felt a refreshing openness in my chest.
I naturally lowered my sword and looked up at the sky.
Only six of the nine stars were shining.
That must mean it holds even more value than the Bedchamber Arts of Kunlun.
I lowered my gaze.
"……."
The old Taoist was standing in place, smiling at me.
Zhang Sanfeng.
That old Taoist must have been Zhang Sanfeng, the founder of the Wudang Sect.
Just in case, I tried to speak to him.
"Excuse me…."
But before I could even open my mouth, the old Taoist began to dissolve into smoke.
"Ah…."
I watched the dissipating smoke for a long time.
It was a mysterious departure, fitting for a Taoist.
Just like that, he left the Supreme Ultimate Wisdom Sword to me.
* * *
"Ah."
How much time had passed? It felt like quite a while.
I was still standing alone on the white desert.
Wondering if it had been a dream, I swung my sword.
*Swish! Swish!*
A force as fluid as water followed the path of the blade.
It was the first divine skill I had ever obtained in this world.
"This is… the Supreme Ultimate Wisdom Sword."
I was overwhelmed with emotion.
My chest swelled with pride.
It had been five years. Five years since I was dropped into this world without knowing why, struggling like a dog just to survive.
I had grown through sheer, agonizing effort, but my internal energy simply wouldn't accumulate.
I had gained a reputation for being decent with a blade, but the path to becoming an absolute master was long and treacherous.
But finally, I had found the way to reach the next level.
"That's right. I shouldn't have settled."
My choice was not wrong.
Greater rewards await those who walk a new and difficult path.
Isn't that the truth of our lives?
"Thank you."
I bowed slightly toward the vanished old Taoist and turned around.
But changes continued to follow one after another.
"What is this now…?"
A shrine of unknown origin stood squarely on the white desert.
The changes were happening as if they had been waiting for me, and it was hard to keep my head straight.
But I stepped into the shrine without hesitation.
"Is anyone there?"
It was an old, small shrine.
There didn't seem to be any Buddha statues.
Just a single scroll hanging on an empty wall.
It was the Map of Sambong Island I had seen before.
"Hmm…."
It seemed this was a space where the divine skills I mastered were recorded.
Looking closely, it wasn't just the scroll.
There was a small altar in the center, and incense was rising from it.
"What is this?"
And in front of the incense burner, a red envelope was placed.
I picked up the envelope. Something was written on the outside.
"Fighting God… Secret Cave?"
Fighting God.
Could this be the owner of the Map of Sambong Island that the Tang Clan had obtained?
I quickly tore open the envelope.
The paper that came out also had writing on it.
[As darkness descends upon the Murim, the fated one shall make it known to the world.]
[The power of the Fighting God awaits you.]
It was a message without any context.
I searched around, feeling absurd, wondering if there was any other text.
But that was all.
"What kind of dog-shit… wait."
Suddenly, the information floating in my mind began to gather one by one.
The Fighting God’s Secret Cave and the power of the Fighting God.
"Does this mean… if I find the secret cave on the map, I gain the martial arts of the Fighting God?"
Once I opened that door, other interpretations followed naturally.
"If darkness is descending, it must mean there is some conspiracy involving the map… and if I’m to make it known to the world, I have to dig up the truth and spread it throughout Murim, right?"
If so, this is.
"Damn it. It's a quest."
I crumpled the paper in my hand.
I had been filled with overwhelming emotion when I obtained the Supreme Ultimate Wisdom Sword, but now, a quest?
Then, damn it, what was the last five years?
Was it some kind of tutorial?
"A quest, huh…."
Thinking about it differently, it wasn't all bad.
The fact that there is a quest means there is an end to it someday.
If so,
"I can go home?"
My head buzzed for a moment.
Actually, I had given up on the thought of going home a long time ago.
The cold beer I drank after work, the countless games I lost myself in with a click-clack, and the spicy ramen I cooked late at night.
The memories I had forgotten began to surface one by one.
Of course, I don't know if going back would be happy. Life is just as harsh there as it is here.
But still, there is a world of difference between not being able to go and choosing not to go.
"First, I have to take care of the quest."
It would undoubtedly be dangerous.
But now that I knew, how could I turn a blind eye?
I stepped out of the shrine and looked up at the sky.
Six stars were looking down at me.
"That much danger. I'll break through it all."
It seems I’ll have to work even harder to accumulate experience points.
* * *
The next day.
As soon as dawn broke, I left the Tang Clan estate and sought out the Azure Cloud Pavilion.
Perhaps because there had been prior notice, the warriors guarding the Tang Clan did not stop me.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
"Is anyone there?"
Did I come too early? The door to the Azure Cloud Pavilion was closed.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
"Owner!"
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
"No Cho-san!"
*Creeeeeak.*
Only after I called his name did No Cho-san open the door with a face still heavy with sleep.
"Why, who is it so early in the… oh? Isn't this Mr. Jang?"
No Cho-san’s half-closed eyes widened.
"It’s an urgent matter."
"Come on in!"
No Cho-san rubbed the sleep from his eyes and stepped into the Azure Cloud Pavilion.
I glanced down the alleyway.
The man who had been following me from the Tang Clan estate hurriedly hid himself.
'That's right. Go ahead and report it.'
I smiled and stepped into the Azure Cloud Pavilion.
* * *
Clack. Clack. Clack.
Since it was the dawn of late autumn, a chill permeated the interior of the Azure Cloud Pavilion.
No Cho-san was wearing a blanket over his shabby clothes, boiling a kettle of tea.
"You’re a Branch Leader, yet you don’t even have anyone to serve you?"
"What does being a Branch Leader even mean? It’s just a nuisance. You know how the Beggar Sect is."
"I suppose so."
Unlike other sects, the Beggar Sect was a loose collection of members from various walks of life.
Their discipline wasn't particularly strict, and they didn't settle scores with the thoroughness of the Tang Clan. In that sense, the iron coin Nan-sim had given was a rarity in the Beggar Sect.
No Cho-san must have been running the Azure Cloud Pavilion even before he became a member of the Beggar Sect.
"So. What brings you here at this hour?"
No Cho-san asked as he poured tea into a cup.
"I have information I urgently need—"
"Oh, right!"
Mid-pour, No Cho-san suddenly reached out to grab my hand.
I had no intention of letting the old man hold my hand, so I pulled back.
Thanks to that, No Cho-san wobbled and nearly toppled over.
"Whoa there!"
"Be careful. At your age, a bad fall could break some bones."
I grabbed his shoulder to steady him.
No Cho-san sat back down and wrapped his disheveled blanket around himself again.
Now that I looked at him, the skin under his eyes was dark, and his complexion was poor.
How could a man’s face change so much in a single day?
"Did something happen last night?"
"Martial Artist Jang! No, Mr. Jang! I will never forget your kindness, Mr. Jang!"
"Kindness? What are you… Ah!"
"That’s right! That’s right! I did exactly as you taught me, and finally, Aeng-wol has fallen for me! From now on, I shall treat you as my lifelong benefactor! Hahahaha!"
"……."
The old geezer. He’s got skills.
I had taught him a few techniques that women might find appealing, but I hadn't expected him to succeed in the field so quickly.
Curious, I asked him back.
"Is this woman, Aeng-wol, a courtesan? There’s quite an age gap, so did it really work?"
"Hey! I have some shame, you know! At my age, why would I be chasing after a young woman? She’s not that much younger than me. She stopped being a courtesan a long time ago."
"Ho. That’s impressive. They say the student surpasses the master, but it seems the Pavilion Owner’s talent is far superior to mine."
"Hehehehe! Is that so? Hehehehe! I’m still quite spry, you know!"
Even while exchanging useless banter at the crack of dawn, No Cho-san seemed genuinely happy.
Still, old man.
You really should be taking some tonics to replenish your health if you’re going to be doing that.
If you’re not careful, you might not live to see next year.
"Anyway, congratulations. Let’s talk business. It’s urgent."
"Ah, right! Business! Yes, what do you need? If it’s a request from you, Mr. Jang, I’ll grant it."
"Select a few people from the merchant guilds and escort agencies within Chengdu for me."
"Hm? What’s this all of a sudden?"
I described the physical characteristics I had discussed with Dang Hwa-rin the previous night to No Cho-san.
However, I did not explain why I needed them.
To do so would require revealing that Dang Hwa-rin was the Thousand-Faced Fox, and that was information I needed to keep to myself.
Information is more valuable the fewer people know it, and above all, I had to keep things secret to ensure the matter in Chengdu was resolved properly.
"Let’s see. A few names come to mind. Wait a moment. I’ll have it sorted for you in no time."
Having lived in Chengdu for so long, No Cho-san seemed able to narrow down the right people just by hearing a description.
He brought over a ledger and, comparing it with something, began to write down names and affiliations on a blank sheet of paper.
"Is there any place on the outskirts of Chengdu that is rarely visited by people?"
"Hmm… a place rarely visited? Would a cave work?"
"I’d prefer an open area if possible. Like a cliff."
"Ah! If that’s what you need, I know just the place."
I made a few additional requests regarding this.
No Cho-san nodded readily, as if it were no trouble at all.
"Here is the list. But what does this have to do with catching the Thousand-Faced Fox?"
"Don’t try to dig too deep. It won’t do you any good."
"Right, right. Ignorance is bliss. Hehe. I momentarily forgot my place."
No Cho-san slapped his own ugly mouth and laughed playfully.
I chuckled and stood up.
"How much should I pay you for your services?"
"Hey. Don’t worry about it. It wasn’t a difficult task; why would I take money from you, Mr. Jang?"
"Business is business, and personal matters are personal."
"Oh, fine. Then just give me five silver taels."
"Isn't that too cheap?"
"I asked for exactly what I need. If you really feel bad, just pass on a few more techniques to me."
No Cho-san gave me a lecherous grin and nudged my arm.
"You’re going to die of exhaustion if you keep this up. Take care of your body while you enjoy yourself."
"Oh, my. Now that you mention it, my body does feel a bit sluggish today. I think I need to catch a chicken or something to stew."
"Then I’ll leave it to you, Pavilion Owner. Make sure the job is done properly."
"You know how we operate, don't you? Trust me."
After handing over the silver, I stepped out of the Azure Cloud Pavilion.
No Cho-san followed me to the door and waved.
For some reason, it was a warmer send-off than the one I got from Nan-sim, whose life I had saved.
"Is it really that good?"
I shook my head and walked down the alleyway.
Time had passed, and the sun was already brightening the surroundings.
When I finally emerged from the alley onto the main street, a woman was looking at me with a faint smile.
"Did you finish your business?"
It was Dang Hwa-rin.
I deliberately stammered, feigning embarrassment.
"Oh… that… Ah! I remembered a painting I couldn't see yesterday—"
"It’s fine. We know that the Azure Cloud Pavilion is part of the Beggar Sect."
"Ah. You knew?"
"At the very least, there is nothing in Chengdu that my family doesn't know."
"That’s true. You’re absolutely right."
Dang Hwa-rin placed her hands on her hips and looked at me.
"Now then, shall we begin the investigation in earnest?"
*Gurgle.*
Right on cue, my stomach let out a loud growl.
Dang Hwa-rin’s eyes went adorably round.
I scratched my head and said,
"Could we perhaps get something to eat first?"
Dang Hwa-rin burst into laughter.
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