Volcanic Age - Chapter 23

The gang was able to reach Kaiyang after a few days.

A major village, Kaiyang.

Guizhou was a region divided into north and south. The Righteous Faction controlled the north, while the Death Faction controlled the south. A settlement close by was called Guiyang. Since it was near the front lines, the Righteous Faction’s martial artists were concentrated there.

“Oh my, you two look like grand figures of the Righteous Faction, with faces suited for a king. I couldn’t contain my excitement when I observed these enormous individuals walking respectfully from a distance.

 

When they arrived at Guiyang, they could notice several barkers. And among them, the one identifying himself as a tin trader made the initial move toward them.

 

“What is it?”

 

Jang Hong looked at the merchant as if it was dumbfounding.

 

Excessive praise was considered to be flattery. The merchant’s remarks were no longer considered a compliment

 

“Haha.”

 

Gu Pung chuckled aloud while glancing at the merchant as though it were amusing. He then removed a coin from his bosom and threw it in the direction of the merchant.

 

“We don’t need to unpack the luggage at the inn, so stop with the useless guiding and lead us to the Murim’s Association here in Guiyang. If you think of pulling anything funny I won’t let it pass easily, so keep that in mind.”

 

“Of course, great master!”

 

The merchant quickly grabbed the coin and bowed. His head was almost touching the floor because of how low he had bowed.

 

The other close barkers then clicked their tongues and retreated. They appeared to be lamenting missing a customer.

 

Jang Hong only then became aware of what was happening and nodded.

 

“If you arrive in another province, it will be full of barkers like them. So you just have to give them a few coins and tell them to lead you to where you want.”

 

Gu Pung walked slowly and explained kindly.

 

“Also, if your destination is a province in the Murim Association there is no need for you to go to an inn. They will get you lodging except for special occasions.”

 

Even though this information was small, it was still enough to be of help on a trip to Kang Ho.

 

If it wasn’t something Ju Seo Cheon knew, he would have listened attentively and engraved it into his head.

 

“Huk, to say that they will provide lodging in the provinces!”

 

The merchant dropped his mouth and was surprised.

 

All the provinces of the Murim Association weren’t small at all. Every place was capable of easily accommodating a hundred people.

 

But it didn’t mean that it was possible for anyone. You would need to have some matters to attend to and also receive permission beforehand.

 

In other words, it meant that third or second-rate martial artists or even non-affiliated martial artists were chased out of these places.

 

Being able to receive lodging in the provinces meant that they weren’t third-rate.

 

But there was no need to exaggerate like this. It seemed like the reaction of the merchant was flattery itself, the exaggeration behind his actions was too excessive.

 

“If it’s not rude, may I be able to hear your name?”

 

The merchant wore a steel plate in his face and cringed.

 

His actions were so bold anyone could realize his intent.

 

“I am Gu Pung of Mount Hua.”

“Huk! The Fourteenth Gallant 

Sword! You didn’t seem to be normal ever since I saw you before, but you were a disciple of the great Mount Hua!”

 

The merchant opened his eyes widely and raised his voice.

 

‘A great figure!’

 

The Fourteenth Gallant Sword was a well-known expert even in Murim. He did seem to be like an expert because he was escorting these kids but he didn’t know he was such a great figure.

 

Connections for a merchant were especially important and there was nothing more to speak about 

if that connection was one of the great figures.

 

The merchant waved his invisible tail and poured out compliments to Gu Pung.

 

“Be quiet.”

 

Jang Hong wasn’t able to endure it and said a word. His eyes were showing clear scorn.

 

“Do you have no pride?”

 

Jang Hong looked at the merchant as if it was pathetic.

 

And then, the merchant let out a soft laughter as if he was feeling sorry. It seemed like he wasn’t that unaware of his surroundings that he stopped speaking.

 

“Jang Hong, what’s with that way of speaking? You should be careful with your words if you belong to the Righteous Faction. It’s not that 

 

I don’t understand how you feel but speak softly.”

 

Gu Pung rebuked Jang Hong.

“I’m a sorry senior uncle.”

 

Gu Pung didn’t scold Jang Hong anymore as he bowed down. 

 

Even if that was the case he was also starting to feel uncomfortable with the merchant.

 

“Oh my, it seems like I ruined the atmosphere. I will make up for it later. Here, come over here. We will arrive at the branch office in a while.”

 

Jang Seo Eun was about to say something but she stopped.

 

Their relationship would end after they arrived at the branch office anyways.

 

“Over here. If you need me to lead you somewhere I’ll be near….

 

“This is enough. Thank you/”

 

Gu Pung smiled bitterly and cut off his words.

 

He had taken a roundabout way to tell him not to bother him.

 

“Oh my, there has no one been anyone this kind to this barker. Anyways, I will certainly pay you back so just call me! Hehehe!”

 

The merchant laughed treacherously and left.

 

They arrived at the branch office and wrote their names in the visitor’s book. When the one in charge of the register saw the names, they led them kindly to their rooms.

 

“Tch, and he told me to keep waiting.”

 

One visitor that had been waiting nearby mumbled.

 

“Oh, this person. You should be careful of your words. It seems like he is an expert on Mount Hua.”

“Hup, Mount Hua Sect? Oh my, I almost made a big mistake. Thank you.”

 

The visitor lowered his head and hid his face in case someone recognized him.

 

“I doubt he knew we heard him as we seem like ordinary children, right?”

 

Jang Seo Eun mumbled with a strange expression.

 

“What does senior brother think?”

 

“About what?”

 

Ju Seo Cheon replied as she called out to him.

 

“The treatment of the one in charge of the register.”

 

Ju Seo Cheon shut his mouth at her words for a moment and then answered honestly.

 

“Life is not equal in the first place. Treatment changes just with your birth. No, it may also change depending on your abilities. Isn’t that reality.”

 

Ju Seo Cheon had received unfair treatment in his past life. No, it was the same even after he returned in time.

 

In his past life, he received great treatment because of his background as someone part of the Mount Hua Sect but at times he did receive discrimination because he was a plain martial artist.

 

Right now, he was being discriminated against and laughed at with his nickname.

 

“You can see discrimination everywhere. You can already see that with the Lotus Peak in Mount Hua and…”

 

Ju Seo Cheon was about to continue speaking but stopped. It was because of his surroundings. 

 

He had spoken out loud too much.

Those words didn’t belong to a twelve-year-old kid at all. Ju Seo Cheon rolled his eyes and sweated.

 

“Haha, you are called the flashy but frail one and yet your head is certainly flashy. It seems like you have heard those words from somewhere!”

 

Jang Hong didn’t think about Ju Seo Cheon’s words too deeply.

 

For him, Ju Seo Cheon was the flashy and frail one. He was an incompetent being that managed to enter Lotus Peak with a certain coincidence and luck.

 

Jang Seo Eun just marvelously looked at him, it seemed like she wasn’t thinking too deeply about it.

 

“Hm.”

 

But it was different for Gu Pung. He was looking at Ju Seo Cheon as if it was really interesting and fell into thought.

 

‘He also proved it in Yangtze River. The wisdom of this kid Ju Seo Cheon is more outstanding than other kids. If his quality was also good he could have aimed to become a Plum Blossom Sword Examiner, it’s a real regret.’

 

But that was only increasing the evaluation of him. He didn’t see Ju Seo Cheon as being particularly great.

 

“Whew, let’s be careful.’

Ju Seo Cheon let out a sigh of relief.

 

Maybe it was because of the unfair treatment he received in his past life of not being able to speak what he wanted to but now, his thoughts came out in words right away.

 

Of course, he was planning to live that way from now on but there were still times when he had to hold back.

 

“I am called Shin Do Gyun, the branch manager of Guiyang. It’s an honor being able to meet the Fourteenth Gallant Sword.”

 

Shin Do Gyun showed his white teeth and greeted him.

 

“It is an honor for me to be able to meet the branch manager that is at the front lines of Guizhou.”

 

Gu Pung replied to Shin Do Gyun’s greeting with a smiling face.

Shin Do Gyun smiled as someone at the level of the Fourteenth Gallant Sword paid him a compliment.

 

“I have already prepared a room and dinner for you so you will be escorted to it when you get out of this room.”

 

“I’m thankful to you, branch manager of Guiyang, for your great consideration.”

 

“I just did what I had to. Moreover, are those young members of the Lotus Peak? Is that correct?”

 

The three people nodded.

 

The Lotus Peak of Mount Hua was known in Murim as much as the War Dragon’s Hall of the Shamans Faction and boasted of its long history.

 

Because of that, it became the talk of the town when disciples came out to Kang Ho with a guardian before they became adults.

 

Kids that weren’t even twenty years old and belonged to the Mount Hua sect. On top of that, they had a pinnacle expert guarding them so the answer was obvious.

 

“For me to be able to see the future experts that will shoulder the fate of Mount Hua one day, it isn’t so bad to be a branch manager of a province at all.”

 

Moreover, this wasn’t the first time members of the Lotus Peak visited Guiyang. Countless members had already visited this place.

 

Guizhou being on the front lines meant that even though there were many enemies, there were also many experts of the Murim Association in it.

 

That also meant that they would be able to accumulate experience while being protected by an expert.

 

Besides Lotus Peak, a place where geniuses gathered, low leveled institutions also visited this place to accumulate experience and merits.

 

In the case of the guardian of Lotus Peak, they changed every year so it was the first time the branch manager met with Gu Pung.

 

The visit of the martial artists from the Lotus Peak was something Shim Do Gyun received annually.

 

“No matter what mission you request us to do, we will fulfill it in the name of Mount Hua.”

 

And the tasks to get real experience were tasked down to the branch manager.

 

He was one of the people that knew the situation around this place better than anyone.

 

“Hahaha, your chivalrous spirit is different indeed. As expected of the Fourteenth Gallant Sword. I will give you your mission soon.”

Shin Do Gyun smiled softly.

 

“Oh, and the Zhuge Sega is right here in Guiyang province. It wouldn’t hurt to practice your collaboration in advance as you will probably be given the same assignment.”

 

Gu Pung nodded, perhaps anticipating it.

 

Guizhou served as a location to gain expertise or accolades. In addition to the Mount Hua sect, the Righteous Faction had numerous other martial arts groups.

 

The majority of them only come here once a year, but some troops made an exception.

 

Zhuge Sega was one of them.

Although Zhuge Sega was in 

Hubei and their families were transported there to assess the situation, develop a plan, and get patrolling experience.

Zhuge Sega didn’t engage in much combat on the front lines, thus it didn’t really matter.

‘Zhuge Sega!’

The words caused Ju Seo Cheon to become extremely thrilled.

“I’m not sure if it’s the right moment, but…

 

 

Translated by novel multiverse

Edited by beetlesme