Surviving as a Rival in a Martial Arts Novel

Chapter 18 – That’s the protagonist (01)

aaah!

As I rode up the mountain path leading to the direction of the spear clan, I gradually felt the unpleasant smell getting closer.

“Hurry, hurry! The road is long!”

“If we’re even a minute late, we’ll be heavily punished by the esteemed elder of the Jumchang faction!”

“I found it.”

Among the few warriors holding spears and the porters struggling to carry their loads, and the unpleasant smell emanating from their cargo, I was certain that I had found the incense burner I was looking for.

Our group consisted of three porters carrying wooden crates on their backs, and about five guards escorting them. After confirming the guards’ presence, it turned out they were just strong young men, and only one of them had some basic knowledge of external martial arts.

No matter how skilled they were in martial arts, these people hired by the Pearl Guild and the Wulin Alliance were not particularly important. Although these items were not particularly valuable, as they were meant to be a meaningful gift that Jegal Hongju deliberately wanted the skilled individuals to notice any flaws, there were no guards or escorts with high martial arts skills.

“First, explain the situation… but they probably won’t listen.”

The one who made the request to them was Jegal Hongju, and even if it was Jegal Yeonji, the young lady of the Jegal family, she did not have the authority to cancel the delivery of the gift sent by the elder of the Jumchang faction.

However, even though I was suspected of going to the Sachendangga today and I didn’t bother to wear a disguise or change clothes, there was a simple way to steal this cargo.

“Hurry, hurry, climb up!”

To determine which of the wooden crates they had carried was the incense burner, I tried to use my inner energy to sense from a distance, but once again confirmed that I couldn’t sense the tools of the Heukwoldang group.

“I don’t know.”

For now, I selected the boxes that were closest in size among them and used my martial arts skill to break through.

Got it!

Since I took it out while everyone was looking away, none of the eight people who were there realized that I had stolen the item using my martial arts skill.

After all, what kind of peak master who can use martial arts skills to steal such goods would bother with those kinds of cargo? Unless it’s a special situation like now.

“Suddenly, a feeling of lightness came over the burden on my shoulders…”

“Don’t dawdle, hurry up! We need to reach Jeomchangpa before the sun sets, don’t we?”

Among the laborers, one of them, feeling the lightness of the load on his back, looked around hesitantly, touched the wooden box he had been dragged to, and checked it while I was scolded by the guard.

‘No way.’

What was inside felt silky, so I casually threw it aside and pulled out a similar box with determination.

‘Darn it. Not this one either.’

As two items disappeared from the burden on my back, I began to notice a subtle change. Just as I was about to reach out again to extract the last item that raised suspicion, a thought occurred to me.

‘No… Jegal Hongju is cunning, calculating every plan ruthlessly. He might have sent a furnace-shaped gift to Sacheondangmun and a different one for Amipawa and Jeomchangpa…’

I knew the cargo entering Sacheondangmun was furnace-shaped, but it wasn’t described whether the gifts for Amipawa and Jeomchangpa were also furnaces in the novel.

“Sigh… Geez. I don’t know.”

In the end, I reached out and pulled the entire wooden box carried by the laborers towards me with determination.

“Hey, what’s this!”

“The mountain god has spoken!”

The laborers, seeing their loads sucked into the air, panicked, banging their heads on the ground. The guards who were protecting them also sat down in shock. Only one middle-aged man who seemed like a third-rate swordsman tried to block the flying cargo with a raised spear.

“Who, who is it!”

Unable to cover my face, I revealed myself and, swinging my left arm, created a wind with my sleeve, shattering all the wooden boxes in the air. Among them, I could discern the pungent smell emanating from the glass bottle containing the medicinal liquor.

“He really disguised the gifts in different shapes!”

If I had searched based on the furnace, I might have missed this situation even after confirming the cargo.

Now that things had turned out this way, telling Samae to retrieve the furnace made me uneasy. However, Samae was clever in her own way, so for now, there was no choice but to run towards Sacheon.

Thud!

‘The content… is it some kind of centennial sewage?’

Even if the smell of chemical substances wafted through, it seemed like I would dismiss it, thinking that it was just a strange smell resulting from the meeting of alcohol and elixirs.

Upon careful consideration, there was a description in the novel about some experts of the Dagger Sect, among whom a few had their stomachs torn open and their internal organs eaten by real ghosts. If I had drunk without knowing this, I would have likely been attacked until my stomach literally split open, just as described.

“Hoooo!”

With rare human presence and a downhill path without obstacles, I could leap through the air, covering about ten to twelve steps with each leap as I raced downhill.

“Oh… Woohoo!! Yoo-hoo!”

After breaking through the Imduk Yangmai, without proper time for my body to adapt, chaos ensued as I fought against the Black Demons and had my inner energy sealed. Amidst this turmoil, there was no time to enjoy this body, and now, looking at the inner energy boiling throughout my entire body and being consumed much more efficiently than before, I could truly feel the importance of reincarnation and the mastery of the Imduk Yangmai.

‘Those martial artists in the martial world were enjoying such a good thing among themselves.’

For a few months, with my leg in a cast due to a fracture, releasing it made me feel refreshed, eager to run faster, unlike before. Feeling light and agile, as if I had the whole world in my hands, I excitedly used the Spatial Shift Technique, instantly discovering the complex buildings of the Four Cities.

Blame.

Putting aside the regret that it was already over, I reduced the inner energy used for the Spatial Shift Technique, moved cautiously to avoid making noise and destroying buildings, and slipped through the gaps opening up in the crowded streets.

‘Good… I’ve retrieved the item. Now, when the twins return, I’ll meet the real ghosts at the harbor and deal with them…’

It would be good if I could confirm where the real ghosts were, but unfortunately, the novel didn’t provide a proper description, as the focus was suddenly on real ghosts popping up and slaughtering people.

“Hmm……”

Now, all that remained was to take the lead actor away.

‘Wait a moment. This liquor… could be put to good use, right…?’

As I glanced through the centennial sewage liquor, a good idea came to mind.

A method to safely block the Four Blood Executors.

Since Ban Gyu-seong and Han So-so were lingering near the inn, Ban Gyu-seong, who happened to be buying items necessary for daily life, noticed my presence and rushed towards me, welcoming me like a dog greeting its owner.

“Ah, Yeon So-hyeop…”

“Hmm, what brings you here?”

“Look at this punk, talking back to me!”

Since he hadn’t hit puberty yet and his voice hadn’t changed, there was no need for him to put on an act to sound tough, but it seemed like he wanted to appear strong in his own way.

Furthermore, he had just seen me and had a somewhat pleased expression on his face, even throwing away the object he was holding and rushing over to greet me. It was a bit annoying how he pretended to be uninterested, but at this moment, I needed his help.

“Han Soso… No, Han Sogo, right?”

When I mentioned Han Soso’s name, Bang Gyuseong’s expression visibly soured. I hope he doesn’t start getting jealous or anything, thinking I’m trying to steal his girl.

I have a cute little sister, so why would I be fixated on Han Soso?

“She’s in our room.”

“Our room… Wait, are you two sharing a room?”

“Yes, is that a problem?”

“You’re already rooming together? This is a complete mess, isn’t it?”

“Why would you say that…! We don’t have that kind of relationship!”

Oh, right. Of course not.

Samo and I are siblings and we have a special bond. Plus, Samo is fragile and I always have to watch out for her, so it’s just practical for us to share a room. It’s different from a romantic relationship.

“But why are you asking about Han Soso’s whereabouts?”

“Because I need her.”

As I turned the object in my hand, a bottle of centuries-old sewage wine filled with the scent of a wedding ceremony, I lightly tapped Bang Gyuseong’s shoulder.

“If she’s inside, that’s great. Let’s go up and meet her together.”

Maybe it’s because we’re sharing a room with Han Soso, but it feels like there’s a hint of a woman’s scent coming from Bang Gyuseong’s body… I don’t need to worry about that.

* * *

“Where do you think this is?”

“I came here upon the host’s invitation. Moreover, I believe I’ve already scattered my presence outside.”

“If you don’t let me in, I’ll break the door and drag you out, threatening to breathe life into it. Would you like to leave it that way?”

No words were exchanged anyway. Samae was quiet, and if it were my words, she trusted them even if I said I’d write on parchment with red beans. Nevertheless, Hansoso had the same face, but her temper was incredibly dirty.

“Sigh… You’ll live caught up terribly after the Three-Three-Four ending.”

Suddenly, Bangyuseong felt pitiful, but no matter what, the Three-Three-Four is unforgivable, you bastard.

Thunk.

Because time was short, and my relationship with these couples was not that great yet, I immediately placed a hundred-year sewerage liquor on the table to get straight to the point.

“What’s this? Are you giving this as a gift, hoping to overlook the last ritual?”

Oh, right. I forgot, but Hansoso had a subtle tolerance.

If she, originally a prosecutor, learned the art of intoxication legally because she wanted to drink alcohol and even learned the right to be drunk as a hobby, there would be rumors.

Of course, it was just a rumor, and the story that she liked alcohol to the extent that rumors spread was also a story.

So, ordinary people felt the smell of courage or mixed with other smells, but Hansoso was sensitive enough to perceive it.

“You mixed something in this. It doesn’t seem poisonous, but.”

“Sit down. Let’s start the explanation.”

I calmly explained what scent was in this bottle and what would happen if you drank it.

There was nothing particularly harmful or harmful to the body in this scent, just an unpleasant aroma when swallowed… I explained that it would smell like a chemical when you drank it.

However, although this scent is not harmful to the human body, it played the role of bait, setting goals for brainwashed actual husbands until it was excreted from the body.

“This liquor itself is harmless, but if you drink it, actual husbands will chase you until it is excreted from the body, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Then if I drink this, I’ll die?”

Hansoso understood the purpose of this alcohol very well.

“If that’s the case, why hesitate? Just pour it into the Yangtze River right away.”

By now, the goods that were supposed to go to Samae Village would have arrived at the agreed meeting place, and they would have thrown the goods into the Yangtze River as I instructed.

In other words, without this item, the real couples would have no target to chase after.

“No. I’m going to drink this.”