Murim Troubleshooter Dan Mujin

Chapter 61: Blood-Sucking Fiend

The culture of tea drinking had developed in the Central Plains due to the thick, chalky water.

People referred to it as "the art of tea", considering it a basic etiquette for a cultured person.

Perhaps because of this, even the most short-tempered martial artists tended to become rather docile when sipping tea after a meal.

"So, what are you doing here?"

A sharp look, with her eyes slightly slanted upwards.

At first glance, one might mistake her expression for anger, but I now knew. That was simply her default face.

"I was heading to the Murim Alliance, but the client wanted to visit the Shaolin Temple, so I stopped by on the way."

"Hehe, looks like you're doing an escort job?"

Tang Yeo-hye giggled, finding amusement in seeing me at work.

"Yes, he's a rich merchant from Beijing, and he wanted to take his family to see the Longbong Gathering."

He'd probably join us after sightseeing for a few days. Looking at him, it seemed like he lived quite a carefree life.

Some people were so busy building up good karma, with stars in their minds, that they didn't have time for relaxation.

"By the way, the guy who's escorting is quite lucky, huh? He's got flowers blooming on both hands."

She looked at Ilhong and Jo Hah-rang, who had followed me, alternating between them with a dissatisfied twitch of her lips.

"...It's Ilhong, nice to see you again."

"This is my fellow wandering companion, Jo Hah-rang. It is an honor to meet the famous Black Diagnosis Bird of the Tang Clan."

Ilhong gave a slight bow from behind, and Jo Hah-rang, ever the seasoned martial artist, immediately offered a clasped hands greeting.

"Ah, right, nice to meet you."

Tang Yeo-hye waved her hand as if signaling acknowledgment, but her response was oddly indifferent, unlike when I first met her. She certainly had strong likes and dislikes.

"As you heard, this handsome but 'male' gentleman is Buho, and this is a close escort colleague. No flowers here."

The former was a stock I was currently investing in, and the latter was a potential assassin who might slice my neck off.

I was unintentionally following someone's advice to keep friends close and enemies even closer.

"But is that person, watching you from afar, part of your group too?"

"Oh, that's probably a Beggars’ Union spy. Don't worry about him."

Must be a top-tier expert. I figured he must have sensed that faint presence.

I wouldn't have known if it weren't for Salseong mentioning it to me just now.

"...What have you been doing that you’re being watched by a Beggars' Union spy?"

"Well, recently, I beat up some bandits and human traffickers."

For now, I wasn’t sensing any ill intent from the gaze, so I decided to wait and watch.

No, there was no malice, but rather an inexplicable sense of anticipation in his eyes that felt oddly burdensome.

I’d been swinging the Dog-Beating Staff a lot recently, so it seemed that someone had picked up on it, likely a spy from the Beggars’ Union.

He seemed to still be at the suspicion stage, attaching someone to keep watch on me.

"So, what brings you to this city?"

Tang Yeo-hye’s psychological analyst, Neung-sam, seemed to have gone to the marketplace to buy tea and food.

I crunched on the teapot next to my teacup and asked.

"Hey, what do you mean by ‘that side’? Your title sounds, well, a bit strange?"

"Hmm, so Tang Yeo-hye, Young Mistress?"

"No, not that, you idiot..."

Tang Yeo-hye, hesitating to mention it herself, seemed to avoid it, which was always how she acted.

Without the usual Neung-sam around, communication felt a bit frustrating.

"Don't you remember what we promised? You don't recall?"

Her eyes glinted with something expectant.

Actually, I had already remembered a long time ago, but I had just been avoiding bringing it up.

"Ugh."

Although she was in her early twenties, Tang Yeo-hye had never grown much due to a poisoning incident in her youth. On the other hand, even though I was a teenager, I had grown quite tall. If I called her by this title on the street, everyone would look at me strangely.

"...Yeo-hye Nuna."

"Ah, yes, Nuna. Hehe."

Seemingly satisfied with my addressing her as an elder, Tang Yeo-hye even stood on her tiptoes to pat my head.

I already had two older sisters in this world, one of whom was Eun Hwaran, my sworn sibling, but it felt strangely nostalgic, considering my previous life's age was close to thirty.

"...Mujin, you seem close to that woman?"

After Tang Yeo-hye walked off with a satisfied smile, Jo Hah-rang quietly approached and whispered in my ear.

"Heh, I’ve crossed life and death with her several times. Of course, we’re close."

It seemed he had overheard that.

Tang Yeo-hye, puffing her nose, proudly boasted about our close relationship.

"A mere wandering companion like you doesn’t get to interfere. Got it, Cho-whats-his-name?"

"...It's Jo Hah-rang."

"Yeah, Cho-whatever."

It seemed like there was a subtle tension in the air. It was our first meeting, but I had a feeling this was all in my head.

"But Yeo-hye Nuna, why are you in this Deungbong area...?"

"Hey, speak casually. What’s with all the formalities between us?"

What were we even to each other?

She glanced at Jo Hah-rang before telling me to speak casually.

"So, what brings you to Deungbong, Nuna?"

This was the third time she had asked.

Tang Yeo-hye, letting out a sigh, found it funny as she shook her head at my bluntness.

"Hey, you were told to speak casually, but... you’re doing it a bit too easily."

Jo Hah-rang, having clearly been through this before, shrugged his shoulders next to me.

The truth was, they were all younger than me, so there was no real need to hold back.

"Well, I was on my way to the Murim Alliance, but I ended up having to deal with someone here."

Tang Yeo-hye spoke while hiding her dark green nails within her loose sleeves.

Her sleeves were like magic, with poison pellets and hidden weapons always tucked inside.

"What kind of person?"

"Have you heard of him? The Blood-Sucking Fiend who drains people’s blood?"

It sounded familiar. I think I had seen his name on a wanted poster at the magistrate's office.

Was he the one whose bounty had recently doubled after making a mess with a high-ranking official?

"I’ve been wondering, does the Tang Clan not pay you? Why would the second daughter of such a wealthy clan be out hunting bounties like a wanderer?"

Last time, she had mentioned that she had tagged along on an escort trip without money.

We wanderers were always tight on cash, so chasing after wanted criminals was part of our life.

Tang Yeo-hye, however, was the second daughter of the Tang Clan, one of the wealthiest families in Sichuan.

"They don't. And even if they did, I couldn’t bow to my older brother just for travel expenses."

"...Hmm."

Come to think of it, she had mentioned running away from home to avoid being controlled by her brother.

It seemed her family situation was more complicated than it appeared.

"So, I’m trying to join the Murim Alliance’s Demon-Slaying Unit. They provide lodging, a salary, and even let me experiment with poisons on ruffians."

The Demon-Slaying Unit, which had that Evil-Slaying Demoness as a key member.

It seemed Tang Yeo-hye had more plans for this trip than just attending the Longbong Gathering.

"But the entry conditions are stricter than I thought. They want me to catch and kill a famous murderer?"

If it’s the Blood-Sucking Fiend, he was definitely a high-priority wanted criminal, with a bounty of fifty silver coins from the magistrate.

He’d be a perfect candidate to bring back to the Demon-Slaying Unit as a trophy.

"So, do you know the last known location of that Blood-Sucking Fiend?"

If he were a criminal wanted for several years, it would be one thing. But this guy recently killed a high-ranking official and changed his escape route, so even Ilhong didn't know where he was.

"According to the information bought from the Beggars' Union... he’s definitely hiding in this inn."

Tang Yeo-hye casually glanced around the inn as if she were just sipping her tea.

From the wanted poster, I remember that he had lips like a catfish and a large mole on his right cheek.

I couldn’t recall the rest of the features, but with Ilhong's exceptional memory, it should be fine.

"The problem is, there's a high chance he’s changed his appearance. So the description on the wanted poster is basically useless."

This was turning into a pain. We knew his location but couldn't find him, so we were just wasting time drinking tea here.

"Isn’t he weaker than you, Nuna? You could just mess up the place and catch him."

According to the wanted poster, the Blood-Sucking Fiend was at the entry level of peak mastery. I knew that the Black Diagnosis Bird was already at the end of peak mastery.

Moreover, even if martial artists were at the same level, dealing with someone from the Tang Clan was no small task.

"This guy’s movement skills are incredibly fast. Do you know why he’s survived this long? If you don’t grab him in one go, there’s no second chance."

If he started running away after realizing he’d been noticed, even she wouldn't be able to catch him.

Thus, we needed to target this infamous murderer who had ruthlessly killed commoners without mercy.

‘Now that I think about it, this is totally my area of expertise, isn’t it?’

Who am I? I’m the Heaven-Violating Yin Fiend, able to see through the murderous intent in a person’s heart and instantly recognize malicious killing intent.

"I think I know who the Blood-Sucking Fiend hiding here is."

I activated my Pre-Cognition Sight, which usually made my mind feel like it was being eaten away, but this time, it brought an overwhelming killing intent into focus.

It was so full of malice that I almost spat out my tea, which had been squeaking in my hand.

"...Are you sure?"

"Yes, I swear on my grandfather's honor."

I pounded my chest a couple of times, signaling my certainty.

"Captain, you don’t have a grandfather."

"Shh, quiet."

It was like a detective story cliché. I was that confident.

"If you know, then tell me."

"Just with your mouth?"

"Hey, we’re between friends here."

"I heard that the closer you are, the clearer the calculations should be."

That's how you maintain a long-lasting relationship. Even with close friends, avoiding discussions like these can create unspeakable rifts.

And aside from that, money is essentially a "more is better" thing.

It allows you to live without being humble and stay dignified in the face of injustice. Sometimes, it lets you be generous, like a noble, building good karma.

"I'll point him out like a fortune-teller, and we’ll split the bounty fifty-fifty."

"Hey, you’re like a highway robber. I’m the one doing the catching, so why are you taking half the money?"

Tang Yeo-hye immediately frowned in resistance.

It was a bit excessive, true. But that's how negotiations work—start big and then compromise.

"Then, 30%."

"No way. 15%."

"Come on, we're friends. That’s too stingy."

I repeated her own words back to her.

"Hey, there are lines. Saying 30% just because you said something isn’t right."

She called it "talking," but I was using my rare Heaven-Violating Yin Fiend abilities.

"20%. Without me, you might end up catching the wrong person and not make a penny, 'Nuna.'"

When I emphasized 'Nuna' at the end, her expression softened slightly.

Was she really that desperate for proper elder respect? I almost felt sorry for her.

"Hmph, fine. If I catch him properly, I’ll let you have that much as a younger sibling."

It felt like a win to have her, the older one, agree, albeit with conditions.

"So, who exactly is this Blood-Sucking Fiend?"

She narrowed her eyes, clearly eager for an answer.

"He's the waiter standing right in front of you, Nuna."

"......"

Tang Yeo-hye froze in place, suddenly going stiff as she put down her tea with an odd expression.

A moment of silence settled over the table.

Without saying anything, Tang Yeo-hye began circulating her qi, eyeing the waiter with sharp focus.

"...Is this true?"

The strangely-looking waiter answered for himself.

"Shit!"

Bang! Bang!

Having received a crucial task from the Beggars' Union Elder, Ma Jungcheon began observing the young man named Dan Mujin.

Or rather, he was observing his disciple, Park Chil.

He was currently watching a fight and writing a letter.

Because of its importance, the letter from the Beggars’ Union faction would bear a "special" seal.

It was an intermediary report on a person’s progress.

"Intermediate in martial arts. But his talent is outstanding. He seems to have reached first-rate recently."

When he joined, he was just a second-rate martial artist. Seeing him split a tree with a single strike last night, it was truly shocking.

The heavy force and destructive power were clearly the result of his internal energy.

"Upper-level of human nature. Does not enjoy killing and performs good deeds."

His speech was rough, but his actions ultimately leaned towards good, and he seemed to be quite reluctant to kill.

Overall, one could say that he possessed the qualities of a righteous hero.

‘However, his personality... his personality... Hmm.’

This was the part where my hand holding the brush didn’t move easily.

"Die, you bastard!"

"Kraak!"

Tang Yeo-hye was fiercely battling the Blood-Sucking Fiend with her long nails.

"Well done! That’s our Nuna!"

"Shit, Mujin! Don’t just cheer me on—get in here and help! Cho-hah, you too!"

Jo Hah-rang swung his great sword fiercely, joining the battle.

"I told you, it’s Jo Hah-rang!"

Sparks flew as weapons clashed and were tossed aside.

"Good job, Jo Hah-rang! Hang in there!"

"Hey! Stop screaming and get in the fight!"

"I can’t swing my staff properly because someone’s watching me!"

The group began to turn the inn upside down as a fierce battle ensued. The surroundings had already turned into chaos.

Still, he could potentially become the next Dragon Head Sect Leader, so I wanted to write something nice about him, but how should I phrase it?

‘Ah, that’s right.’

A perfect description suddenly flashed through my mind, brushing past Park Chil's head.

"Currently resembles the Dragon Head Sect Leader very much."

It was a statement full of implied meaning. A personality that could go in any direction, a person capable of pulling off any eccentric behavior at any moment.

And that report, which would turn the guts of the Beggars’ Union's high-ranking officials upside down, was completed in an alley of Deungbong.