Chapter 40: I Shouldn’t Have Said Anything

The swordsman with the knife-like ears couldn’t answer my question. Instead, one of the martial artists of the Jinmu Academy let out my moniker like a groan.

“Demonic Hero.”

Although it wasn’t a loud voice, a commotion immediately arose in the crowd. The old man and the boy who had been prostrated also raised their heads and looked back. But after seeing me, they became like turtles again. However, a sense of anticipation twinkled like a star in the boy’s eyes.

The swordsman with the knife-like ears, without looking at me, met the Eccentric Immortal’s gaze.

“Jung-ho of the Baek family of Jucheon greets the Eccentric Immortal.”

The crowd, who had been half in doubt about the Eccentric Immortal’s identity, let out a cry of admiration in unison. Although he roamed the continent and meddled in all sorts of things, the Eccentric Immortal was not a person who could be seen anytime.

“I see it’s the Flower Shadow Sword. It’s already been ten years since I last saw you at the Baek family head’s seventieth birthday party. No, was it nine years? Anyway, you haven’t aged a bit. If you have a secret, please tell this old man.”

As the Eccentric Immortal acknowledged him, the swordsman with the knife-like ears looked clearly relieved.

“You remember. It’s an honor, Eccentric Immortal.”

“By the way, what brings you here? As for me, since I wander all over the world, everyone just assumes it’s natural wherever I appear, but I know you rarely leave Jucheon.”

“I came here to discuss a matter of the main family with my friends from the Jinmu Academy here.”

“Hmm, is it a matter that needs to be discussed outdoors?”

The swordsman with the knife-like ears, glancing at me, hesitated.

“No, sir. I just came out for a while to get some fresh air while having a meeting at the nearby Suogak. I was just about to go back in, as a matter of fact.”

The Eccentric Immortal clicked his tongue.

“Tsk, tsk, that big bird that lives in the west, which is as big as a donkey, thinks that if it sticks its head in the sand and can’t see the enemy, the enemy can’t see it either. You’re just like that. Hey, Flower Shadow Sword. Do you think I just happened to see you while passing by and ran here?”

A twitch appeared in the corner of the swordsman with the knife-like ears’ eye. But he could not object to the Eccentric Immortal’s insulting metaphor.

“Be careful with your words, man. Don’t they say that birds hear the words spoken during the day and bears hear the words spoken at night? Now that this bear has overheard your words…”

I cut the Eccentric Immortal’s words short.

“Why am I a bear? And who was eavesdropping…”

“Then are you a rat, not a bear?”

Since there was nothing to be gained by arguing with the Eccentric Immortal, I glared at him and then dealt with the swordsman with the knife-like ears.

“Hey, let me ask you something. Did the Taegeuk Sword Sect’s wart really say that to you? That he had no choice but to… because of this old man’s pressure.”

Suddenly, the Eccentric Immortal became excited.

“That’s right! I had completely forgotten. Answer this brat’s question quickly, Flower Shadow Sword. Did the Heaven-Severing Sword really say that he had to give up his arm to this brat because I had forced him to yield?”

“Th-that’s, well…”

“Don’t stutter and just answer. I wasn’t even there that day. But to think such a ridiculous story came out. It means that either you or the Heaven-Severing Sword is lying, and if it’s not you, I’m going to fly to the Taegeuk Sword Sect right now and give that liar a piece of my mind. I’ll have to crush his mouth and break his legs.”

“C-calm down, Eccentric Immortal. I didn’t hear it directly from Brother Song. It’s just that several acquaintances who have been to the Seongju martial world told me…”

Without waiting for the swordsman with the knife-like ears to drone on with his messy excuses, I barked at him.

“Shut up! Not only did you deceive the people here by pretending to have heard it directly when you hadn’t, but you also deluded people and disturbed the world by spreading false information, so your sin is truly grave. You said with your own mouth that it’s a sin for which you can be beheaded…”

Before my threat, which quoted his words, could end, the swordsman with the knife-like ears pleaded. Not to me, but to the Eccentric Immortal.

“Help me, Eccentric Immortal. I have made a big mistake. Please mediate, for the sake of our relationship with the main family. I will not forget your grace.”

The Eccentric Immortal beamed. It was the situation he enjoyed the most. Finding that sight annoying, I took out my iron staff. The swordsman with the knife-like ears turned pale. Then, he suddenly knelt down. The hundred-strong crowd, who had been watching with bated breath, began to murmur loudly.

I was disappointed. To think that a famous master of the five great families was so weak-willed.

According to the list of names that Jin So-wol had compiled, the Flower Shadow Sword, Baek Jung-ho, was a strong man who was ranked seventh in the martial power of the Baek family of Jucheon. His martial prowess was known to be at the beginning of the supreme realm. I understood that he was not confident that he could handle me, who had defeated the Heaven-Severing Sword, who was stronger than him, but it was still too humiliating a behavior. Even if he couldn’t pretend to resist, kneeling down in front of a crowd was too much.

The Eccentric Immortal, who was startled by the swordsman with the knife-like ears’ action, quickly went to him and grabbed his arm.

“What are you doing? There are so many people watching. I’ll appease that brat, so get up quickly.”

The swordsman with the knife-like ears stood up as if he couldn’t help it. I felt a strange anger.

“Get out of the way, old man. I’m not going to behead him, I’m going to smash his head.”

The swordsman with the knife-like ears trembled all over as if he had been struck by a stroke. The Eccentric Immortal stood in front of him and blocked me.

“Stop it, you brat. With a major event ahead…”

“Major event or not, I have to hold him accountable for his sin.”

“I told you to bear with it, you brat.”

“Would you, old man, show mercy to someone who, without even knowing properly, pours out insults at you, calling you a vile piece of trash and a heinous murderer?”

The Eccentric Immortal turned his head to the swordsman with the knife-like ears.

“Hurry up and beg that brat. If that brat gets really angry, even I can’t stop him.”

This time, the swordsman with the knife-like ears prostrated himself completely. The swordsman with the knife-like ears, who had slammed his forehead on the ground, pleaded.

“Please forgive me, Young Master Jeon. I was wrong. I sincerely apologize. I will never wag my tongue carelessly again. I swear.”

The Eccentric Immortal helped the swordsman with the knife-like ears.

“Yes, let’s end it here. Everyone makes mistakes. Although the Flower Shadow Sword’s words were excessive, it’s not to the point of smashing his head, is it? So put away that hideous thing and…”

“That’s enough. I’ll take care of it myself, so you stay out of it, old man.”

“You brat, I told you to bear with it. Don’t they say that if you endure three times, you can even avoid murder? You’ve already killed dozens of people today, haven’t you? How are you going to handle that sin?”

“Guys like the Skull-Faced Lecher and the Fierce Fang Saber deserve to die. Not to mention the demons of the Iron Demon School.”

The martial artists of the Jinmu Academy, who had been listening to my and the Eccentric Immortal’s conversation, shared a look of astonishment as if their eyeballs would pop out. The swordsman with the knife-like ears, who was prostrated, trembled so much that it was embarrassing for the onlookers. The crowd behind me also let out cries of astonishment.

The Eccentric Immortal defended the swordsman with the knife-like ears.

“Those villains and the Flower Shadow Sword are incomparable. I can’t guarantee that he’s a righteous gentleman, but this person is a good man who has accumulated not a few virtuous deeds. Five or six years ago, when a severe famine struck the Seoju area and numerous poor people were starving to death, he advocated for relief, and at the beginning of last year…”

“Did such a person try to cut off this elder’s limbs and pull out his tongue just because he said something that was displeasing to his ears? While spouting nonsense that it was a lenient measure. Fine. If that’s the case, then I will also show him a lenient measure. I’ll spare his head. Instead, I’ll tear off his arms, legs, and tongue.”

As I raised my momentum and strode forward, the swordsman with the knife-like ears screamed.

The Eccentric Immortal opened an escape route for me and the swordsman with the knife-like ears.

“You naive brat. Did you really think the Flower Shadow Sword would have given that old man such a punishment?”

“What do you mean?”

“What do I mean, you brat? This person was just trying to teach that old man a lesson that he could die a violent death if he wagged his tongue carelessly. It’s fine to drone on about the heroic deeds of the martial arts heroes of the past, but when you’re talking about the people of the present, you have to be careful and careful. To put it bluntly, if someone related to the Taegeuk Sword Sect heard that old man’s story and told them, who knows what kind of harm he would suffer later? In fact, such things are common in this martial world. That old man must have been talking freely, believing that this was the territory of the Jinmu Academy, but it was a rash act. The Flower Shadow Sword was trying to make him realize that, you brat.”

The swordsman with the knife-like ears trembled in a different sense than before. He must have been impressed by the Eccentric Immortal, who was doing his best to save him. So I felt a little mischievous.

“That’s ridiculous. Then what about him talking about me as trash and a murderer?”

“Well, the Flower Shadow Sword also made the same mistake as that old man. Do you think he would have guessed that a bear was eavesdropping? Even so, since he has admitted his mistake and asked for forgiveness, let’s be generous and let it go at this point.”

I called the swordsman with the knife-like ears.

“Hey, is the old man’s words true?”

As if he had some shame, the swordsman with the knife-like ears couldn’t answer right away and hesitated. I threatened him.

“Hmph, it wasn’t true. Then there’s no need to take the circumstances into consideration…”

The swordsman with the knife-like ears hurriedly cried out.

“N-no. I mean, the Eccentric Immortal’s words are not necessarily true, but to some extent…”

“Don’t talk nonsense and just say it clearly. Were you really just trying to threaten this elder?”

The swordsman with the knife-like ears shed tears.

“Actually, I don’t know either. But I wouldn’t have cut off his limbs and pulled out his tongue. I just wanted to show my authority, I had no intention of killing him.”

My impression of the swordsman with the knife-like ears changed completely. For some reason, he even looked pitiful.

I stored my iron staff in my waist. Then, I approached the old man and the boy.

“Please get up, sir.”

Instead of following my words, the old man prostrated himself even more on the ground. I grabbed him and the boy and made them stand up at once. The boy, without any fear, raised his chin high and looked at me directly, while the old man could not meet my eyes. I entrusted the disposition of the swordsman with the knife-like ears to the old man who had bowed his waist.

“What should I do with him, sir?”

The old man didn’t know what to do with himself.

“Please lower your words, young master.”

“I can’t do that. My parents told me to be polite when dealing with elders when I go out to the martial world. I can’t go against my parents’ teachings…”

As expected, the Eccentric Immortal intervened.

“Then why are you so rude to me?”

“Have you forgotten again? Don’t you know the saying that you have to speak nicely to be spoken to nicely? Would you, old man, want to be polite to someone who calls you ‘brat’ at the end of every sentence?”

“Ah, you brat. My calling you ‘brat’ is just an expression of intimacy…”

“Ah, that’s enough. And don’t interfere. I’m going to wrap this up and leave.”

Although his mouth was pouting with dissatisfaction, the Eccentric Immortal did not argue anymore and retreated. I asked the storyteller old man again.

“What do you wish to do with him, sir?”

“How could I dare…”

“You have the right, sir.”

“But…”

“Should I just smash his head?”

The old man was startled.

“No!”

“Then what? Should I cut off his limbs?”

“No, young master, please don’t do that.”

“Then what should I do?”

“I dare to ask you to forgive him.”

“Do you really wish for that?”

“Yes, young master. I’m sincere.”

I ordered the swordsman with the knife-like ears.

“Get up.”

The swordsman with the knife-like ears stood up hesitantly.

“Go.”

The swordsman with the knife-like ears’ eyes, which were long from left to right, opened wide. The bewilderment in his pupils was soon replaced by joy.

The swordsman with the knife-like ears cupped his fist to me.

“I apologize once again for my slip of the tongue. Thank you for showing me mercy.”

I did not answer the swordsman with the knife-like ears and ignored him. The swordsman with the knife-like ears also thanked the storyteller old man.

“Thank you. And I’m sorry. I was too harsh.”

The old man was flustered.

“No, sir. I am the one who is truly sorry. Because of me…”

“No. It was entirely my fault, so don’t say that.”

The swordsman with the knife-like ears finally bowed deeply to the Eccentric Immortal.

“I will never forget today’s grace, Eccentric Immortal.”

“What grace? There are days like this and days like that in life. Just think of it as stepping on shit and…”

I interrupted the Eccentric Immortal’s comfort.

“Am I shit?”

“Then are you gold?”

“That’s not what I meant, is it?”

“What do you mean, it’s not, you brat?”

“Ah, damn it. I shouldn’t have said anything.”

“You brat, who do you think you are?”

The swordsman with the knife-like ears and the martial artists of the Jinmu Academy, who had been shaking their heads as they watched us bickering, showed their respect to me and the Eccentric Immortal and then left the scene. As I turned my back and glared at them, the onlookers also hurriedly retreated. The storyteller old man and the boy also said their goodbyes. The boy looked back at me several times as he moved away.

After wrapping up the situation like that, I gave the Eccentric Immortal a signal. Then, I flew off first. Without knowing what an important connection that trivial incident of that day had conceived.

[End of Chapter]