Chapter 377

“They’ve left?”

The guard captain answered the plump, middle-aged Sichuan Governor’s anxious question.

“Yes. The Yangtze River Channel League fast ship carrying them departed one sikgyeong ago.¹”

“Pheeeeew.”

The Sichuan Governor let out such a deep sigh of relief that his belly wobbled, then waved a hand.

“All right, you may go. If you hear any news concerning the martial artists, report it to me immediately.”

“Understood. But what about the troops stationed near Chengdu…?”

The Sichuan Governor frowned.

“Listen, Guard Captain.”

“Yes?”

“Must I concern myself with every little detail? Handle that sort of cleanup among yourselves. Consult the Provincial Military Commissioner—that stubborn bastard—or whatever it takes. Hmm?”

“…”

The Guard Captain was inwardly dumbfounded.

Was that supposed to be an order or a fart?

The governor’s incompetence and habit of dumping work on his subordinates were nothing new, but this was too much even for him.

Even so, I don’t remember him being this bad.

Several years ago, he had taken a favorite concubine, and ever since then, he had been so consumed by women that official duties had become an afterthought.

The Guard Captain sighed inwardly and weakly performed a military salute.

“…I will carry out Your Excellency’s order.”

“Of course you will. Then get to work. I have urgent business to attend to, so I’ll be going.”

Only then did the Sichuan Governor nod with satisfaction and rise from his seat.

The Guard Captain watched his back recede as he walked away, panting from his excessive weight. Then he muttered in a voice as tiny as an ant.

“Urgent business, my ass. He’s off to embrace his favorite concubine again.”

His prediction proved correct. After leaving the main hall, the Sichuan Governor went straight to an extravagantly decorated bedchamber.

“Ae-hyang! Ae-hyang!”

A beautiful woman lying half-naked on a silk bed larger than most rooms sat up.

“My dear. Why did you take so long? Ae-hyang has been waiting for you.”

“Y-You have?”

The Sichuan Governor was dazed once by her coy eyes and twice by the dazzling white skin that peeked out from between the blankets. His mouth fell open in a foolish grin.

“I’m sorry. The Guard Captain was bothering me.”

“That man again? You’re already so busy, my dear. Why does he keep giving you such a hard time?”

“Exactly.”

“That’s the problem with incompetent underlings. They can’t do anything without you, can they?”

“As expected, you’re the only one who truly cares about me, Ae-hyang!”

The Guard Captain would have rolled his eyes if he had heard them.

The favorite concubine opened her arms to the Sichuan Governor, whose cheeks quivered with emotion.

“Come here, my dear. You’ve worked so hard. Let Ae-hyang hold you.”

“Ae-hyang…”

At his beloved concubine’s sultry, alluring smile, the Sichuan Governor’s eyes grew hazy.

“Could there truly be another woman in all the world as beautiful as you?”

The Sichuan Governor had been born into a powerful family that had produced Grand Councilors, and his path through life had always been smooth.

Backed by inexhaustible wealth, he had frequented pleasure houses and held countless beautiful women in his arms.

Whenever one caught his fancy, he took her as a concubine. He had done so several times, but after meeting so many women, he invariably lost interest before a year had passed.

But this girl is different!

He swore he had never seen a woman like her. Her voice, her eyes, even the smallest movement of her fingertips—everything about Ae-hyang was captivating and lovable in his eyes.

He had been seeing her for years, yet he had never grown tired of her. No—if anything, he was falling for her more deeply, to a frightening degree.

“I love you. I love you, Ae-hyang!”

The Sichuan Governor had just entered his fifties, but his cry was as heartfelt as that of a young man who had fallen in love.

He approached as if bewitched and nestled into his concubine’s arms. As always, he began telling her everything that had happened that day. To the Sichuan Governor, she was the only person with whom he could share even his most closely guarded secrets.

“…And so, those troublesome rogues finally left.”

“By rogues, you mean them, right? The martial artists who came here last time.”

“That’s right. The ones carrying His Highness the King of Shangshan’s token.”

“Hmm.”

“What is it?”

“Nothing. Anyway, you must have had a hard time because of this. I heard that the martial artists got into a dispute and many people were killed or injured.”

The Sichuan Governor shook his head in disgust.

“Don’t remind me. Who knows where they got them? They even dared to steal government uniforms and wear them, throwing the empire’s order into chaos.”

“Oh my, really?”

“It may be hard to believe, but it’s true. Whatever else I may overlook, I will certainly submit a memorial to the court about that…”

“How gallant of you. But, my dear…”

The concubine smiled sweetly and stroked the Sichuan Governor’s head where it rested on her lap.

“Wouldn’t matters grow serious if the imperial court found out?”

“Huh?”

“Think about it. One day, you will rise to the position of Grand Councilor, command all the civil and military officials, and assist His Majesty… I’m worried that those jealous of you might use this incident against you.”

“Ha ha. As expected, you’re the only one who cares about me this much.”

The Sichuan Governor gazed at his concubine with overflowing affection.

But he was not a complete fool.

Though the government and the Murim treated each other as they would a cow and a chicken, maintaining mutually inviolable spheres, well over a thousand people had died throughout Sichuan over the past seven days and nights.

He could dump the minor cleanup on his subordinates, but he needed to handle at least this much himself.

“Your concern is touching, but with a matter this serious, trying to hide it would only create a greater problem.”

“Oh, my dear. Do you think I don’t know that?”

“Hmm? Then what do you suggest?”

“Hide what must be hidden and exaggerate your achievements.”

Her coquettish voice tickled the Sichuan Governor’s ear.

“There was a major conflict among the martial artists, and you mobilized the government troops under your command to bring the situation under control.”

“Hmm…”

“You’ll become a wise governor who restored the empire’s order after it was thrown into chaos by a group of rogues and cared for the common people. Of course, it would be best to leave out anything about the government weapons and uniforms, don’t you think? They might cause a misunderstanding.”

“It would be nice if everything went as you said, Ae-hyang. But even so, submitting a false memorial feels a little…”

“My dear, look at me.”

The hesitating Sichuan Governor let out a short exclamation when he saw her eyes glittering beautifully like obsidian.

“Ah.”

“Don’t you understand Ae-hyang’s feelings? Don’t you know how deeply I adore you?”

“I… That is…”

The Sichuan Governor could not continue.

The moment their eyes met, his mind had already gone blank.

His heart trembled at her bewitching figure, and the floral scent of her body made him dizzy.

Boundless trust and affection that had surged up from somewhere, along with unbearable desire, seized control of him.

“Ae-hyang, Ae-hyang!”

His voice was desperate, but his concubine caught the hand roaming over her body.

“My dear, what is your answer?”

“O-Of course I’ll do as you wish. I would do anything for you!”

The smile at the corner of her mouth deepened.

“Good. Just keep doing that, as you have until now. Understood?”

“Yes, yes!”

The Sichuan Governor, consumed by fierce desire, failed to notice.

A bewitching red light seeped into the eyes of the concubine he loved so dearly, an ominous sight.

“Oh, what a good boy. Our governor listens so well.”

The concubine burst into peals of laughter.

Everything was unfolding exactly as she—or rather, the one above her—desired.

“Hmm?”

“What’s wrong?”

“I thought I just heard some crazy bitch laughing.”

“A crazy bitch? Here?”

“Yeah. It gave me the creeps.”

Hyuk Mujin and I looked around. Three fast ships flying the flag of the Water Dragon Stronghold were gliding unimpeded along a broad tributary of the Yangtze, and naturally, there wasn’t a woman aboard any of them.

“Did I hear wrong? That’s strange.”

After everything I’ve been through lately, am I hearing things now?

As I pondered the matter, Hyuk Mujin spoke with a serious expression.

“Could it be that…”

“That what?”

“Perhaps you still cannot forget the young lady standing fourth from the right in the front row?”

Gung Gibang shook his head.

“Nonsense. It was the third from the left. Anyone would have trouble forgetting a beauty like that.”

“Oh, that’s what this was about?”

I smiled benevolently at the two of them.

“I think today is going to be an unforgettable day for you two.”

I beckoned with a bright smile, and several burly river bandits came running over, bowing repeatedly.

“Did you call for us, Great Hero Jin?”

“Is there something you want us humble men to do?”

“Grab those bastards and give them the dipping treatment in the Yangtze.”

The river bandits looked bewildered.

“Uh, did you say ‘dipping’?”

“We’re ignorant men, you see. What exactly is this dipping treatment?”

“Dipping is the proper cultural practice—no, forget that. Just keep dunking their heads in and pulling them out until I tell you to stop.”

“Oh, yes.”

“Easy enough.”

“W-Wait!”

“Squad Leader!”

Gung Gibang and Hyuk Mujin tried to resist, but they didn’t stand a chance.

One had only one good leg, and the other was wrapped in bandages from head to toe.

As the hulking martial artists swarmed them, seized their limbs, and began the dunking show, I looked at the System window I had already left floating in the air.

System

You have an unnamed bound item. Would you like to inspect it?

Obviously, yes.

A cheerful chime rang out.

System

Item Window

???

Type: Armor
Grade: Divine Weapon
Restriction: Jin Taekyung
Description: Armor imbued with the spirit of an unknown ancient blacksmith. It possesses truly formidable defensive power. Upon the death of its previous owner, its ownership became bound to a new owner. Once given a name, it can be used freely anywhere.

Its ownership became bound because the previous owner died?

I had suspected as much, but it seemed this really was what I thought it was.

After turning my inventory upside down, I finally found the new bound item. A flat, deflated sound escaped my lips.

“…Eh?”

The object resting on my palm was nothing more than a tiny fragment. It had originally been called Black Dragon Armor.

I definitely blew it away along with that bastard, the Western Heaven Demon Lord, in the final slash. Did it automatically enter my inventory because it was a bound item?

The sight of the Black Dragon Armor shattering into pieces was still vivid before my eyes.

But what was I supposed to do with a fragment this small?

I guess I’d feel incredibly secure if I tucked it into the front of my underwear.

Ah. Maybe that was why it was classified as armor.

I was tugging at the front of my pants and inspecting a suitable position when—

“What are you doing th—”

“…Ah.”

A chilly silence descended in an instant.

The boy’s face stiffened at the sight of my loosened waistband and the hand thrust inside it.

After making sure no one else was nearby, the Slaughter Saint—no, Mungyeong—spoke.

“Why here, of all places?”

“Wait a second. I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”

Just as I hurriedly began to make excuses, Mungyeong’s gaze turned cold.

“I told you when we departed. In front of anyone other than the Fire King and Cheongpung, you are to treat me as Mungyeong.”

I answered with an aggrieved expression.

“You’re speaking casually to me right now too, you bastard.”

“…!”

“Oh. Sorry.”

A multitude of emotions crossed Mungyeong’s face. He glanced sideways at the approaching river bandits and clicked his tongue.

The terrifying Slaughter Saint transformed into the Divine Physician’s Disciple—a cheerful young physician-in-training—in an instant.

“What were you doing, sir?”

“What business is it of yours?”

“…!”

This is surprisingly fun. But I can’t do it a third time.

I quickly held out my hand toward the speechless Mungyeong.

“This got into the front of my pants.”

That was slightly at odds with the truth, of course, but Mungyeong did not care about such details. More precisely, his eyes were fixed on the fragment of the Black Dragon Armor.

“This is…”

“Do you happen to know this? No—do you know it?”

“Where did you get it?”

“From that bastard.”

Mungyeong understood that I meant the Western Heaven Demon Lord and nodded.

“You obtained a divine weapon. Though I do not know how only a fragment remained.”

“He called it Black Dragon Armor.”

“Black Dragon Armor?”

“Why? Is that different from the name you knew?”

“I once read about it in an old secret history. A mysterious suit of armor with no fixed name, said to change its form and properties according to its owner.”

“It changes its form and properties? How?”

Mungyeong answered with a look that said I was hopeless. Only then did I realize what I needed to do next.

Internal energy.

Internal energy was the very form and nature possessed by its owner.

Sssaaaaah.

Following the formula of the Blazing Flame Divine Art, which had reached its eighth stage, I poured magma-like qi into the fragment of Black Dragon Armor.

The ink-dark energy swirling over its surface vanished, and bluish-white Scorching Yang Qi filled the void.

Engraved with patterns that seemed to blaze like flames, it was no longer something that could be called Black Dragon Armor.

Flame Dragon Armor.

The name was simple, but nothing could have suited it better.

The instant I smiled in satisfaction, a bright chime rang out.

System

You have given the bound item ??? a new name!

From now on, you can freely use Flame Dragon Armor anywhere!

Flame Dragon Armor is resonating with your qi! It requires its owner’s power to repair its damaged sections by itself!

Whoooosh.

I could feel it—a massive amount of internal energy rushing out of my body and into the Flame Dragon Armor.

The fragment absorbed it like a sponge. Pretending to tuck it into my robes, I stored it in my inventory instead.

Automatic repairs? That’s incredible.

I had certainly obtained something useful.

Thank goodness the final gift of this journey was the Flame Dragon Armor.

As I turned away, Mungyeong stared at me with wide eyes.

“Where are you go—going, sir?”

“What business is it of yours?”

“…!”

This was strangely addictive.

I waved to Mungyeong, who was probably repeating the character for patience to himself.

“I’m going to get some sleep. Don’t wake me.”

“…?”

Yes. It was time to wake from a long sleep.

But…

Why do I feel so uneasy? Did I forget something?

Tilting my head, I found a place in the fast ship’s cabin and lay down. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and called out the command.

Logout.

A chime rang out.

System

Logging out in 10 seconds. Ten, nine, eight, seven…

With the final count, the sound of splashing and someone’s cries faintly pierced my ears from somewhere.

Splash! Gasp! Squad Leader, save me—gasp!