Chapter 28: Cousin (Fake)

Kwak Su-ran came outside with six girls again tonight.

The streets were still bustling with people even though it was the middle of the night. Walking down the lamp-lit street, she shared the news

she had heard today.

“So, you’re saying your third uncle’s son is sick and will be staying at our house from today?”

“Third uncle, you mean the one who passed the Jinsa exam?”

A girl with a round face asked.

“That’s right! Baek uncle. He’s the only one in our family who became a Jinsa.”

“Hehe, I need to make a good impression. If I do well, I might be able to turn my life around.”

One of the girls said, chuckling.

“Oh my, are you thinking of getting married already?”

Another girl teased.

“He’s the son of a Jinsa, after all. How is he with his studies? Is he likely to pass the civil service exam like his father?”

“Well, I heard from the servants that he’s reading books written during the Warring States period, so he’s probably not a slouch.”

“Introduce him to me quickly.”

“Look in the mirror before you say that.”

Su-ran smiled, but sighed inwardly.

Even her friends were only interested in marriage and social climbing.

Unlike her two older sisters, who had married into families of similar status, she had different dreams.

Being confined to the women’s quarters, bowing to her husband’s words, taking care of her in-laws, and raising children was no different

from a prison for her.

Since she was young, she had wanted to live freely like the female heroes of the Jianghu.

She wanted to see the world, experience it, and even take risks if necessary, so she could walk a path she had chosen with her own feet.

She thought she had found comrades who shared these thoughts, but it seemed that wasn’t the case.

‘Well, I can’t help it. It’s not easy to find even these kinds of friends.’

As they were talking, they reached a narrow alleyway and encountered another group of girls.

They outnumbered Su-ran’s group. There seemed to be about ten of them, and judging by the subtle aura they exuded, their martial arts level was, on average, around Second-Rate. It was similar to Su-ran’s group.

A narrow path. One of them had to yield.

Since Nanjeong-hyeon, Hanjung County, was practically their front yard, they couldn’t possibly yield to a group of similar age.

“Excuse me, would you mind making way?”

Su-ran said in a soft but clearly demanding tone.

One of the girls facing them raised her chin and replied.

“Why should we move? Wouldn’t it be better for you to move?”

“Don’t you know we’re the Nanjeong Seven Fairies?”

“Never heard of that name. So what?”

Su-ran sensed that they were in a clearly disadvantageous situation.

They were all fully armed with swords and even long spears.

Moreover, there were more than ten of them. On the other hand, half of the Nanjeong Seven Fairies had left their weapons behind.

“Su-ran, let’s just move. They’re all armed.”

One of Su-ran’s friends said with a worried voice.

Late at night, a larger and better-armed opponent, a narrow alleyway.

It was the perfect situation to kill someone and hide the body.

But Kwak Su-ran, the precious daughter of the Kwak family, who had gotten almost everything she wanted since she was young, had no

intention of doing so.

“B, but…”

“Ha! Look at their clothes. They must be escorts for some merchant. Do you know who I am? I am Kwak Su-ran, the third daughter of the

Kwak family!”

In the end, Su-ran had no choice but to invoke the name of her family.

At that moment, a young man emerged from the group of girls.

The two people’s eyes met in the air. Kwak Su-ran paused her breath for a moment. The cousin from Beijing, the son of Kwak Baek, who was

said to be ill, was this person.

“He’s so pretty! Third uncle Kwak Baek’s son. Isn’t he handsome?”

Su-ran said lightly to her friends with a bright smile.

Before we knew it, we were sitting at a nearby inn.

“If it weren’t for Ki-a unnie, we would have been dead. To have a First-Rate expert as an escort, how amazing is that? To be a First-Rate

expert at that age, his future must be bright.”

One of the girls who called themselves the Nanjeong Seven Fairies said, looking at Yuha noona.

She was so close to me that I hadn’t noticed her presence earlier.

Noona just smiled. If they knew her true level was not First-Rate but Supreme, they would faint.

I took a sip of tea and looked at these Nanjeong Seven Fairies.

All seven girls were around the same age and were clearly martial artists.

However, they felt more free-spirited than disciples of a formal sect.

Kwak Su-ran treated me quite affably.

For me, interacting with the real Kwak family members was unexpected.

The adults knew my true identity as someone from Cheonsalgok, so they didn’t even try to approach me properly, but this young lady, who

seemed to be around my age, seemed to think differently.

She knew me as a real cousin.

“Jun, young brother! I think you said you were sixteen this year? I’m seventeen, so it’s okay if I call you brother, right?”

“Please do as you are comfortable, noona.”

“Kyaa, I like how straightforward you are!”

Su-ran clapped her hands. Her face was filled with pure joy.

“I’ve heard a lot about Jun, who went to Beijing with uncle. I thought it would be difficult to meet country bumpkin relatives like us since he

was raised so preciously, but he even came down to Sichuan!”

“I only came down for treatment because I am weak.”

I gave a polite smile.

“But for someone who is sick, your level is not behind mine?”

“I only learned martial arts hoping my health would improve.”

I said, taking a sip of tea.

“Younger brother is Mugol.”

She stared at me for a moment before relaxing her expression.

I took a brief look at her status window.

[Name: Kwak Su-ran]
[Age: 17]
[Talent Grade: D]
[Level: Second-Rate Mid-Stage (53%)]
[Condition: ]
[Stats: Strength: 22 Agility: 23 Internal Energy: 33 Combat Skill: 22 Durability: 21]

Usually, Mugol started from C grade, so it was difficult to see it as a very good quality.

“Come to think of it… Jun, you said you came from Beijing, right? It might be a bit boring here.”

Kwak Su-ran asked, holding a teacup.

“No. I came down for treatment, so I prefer it quiet.”

“Well… since you’re not feeling well.”

I pretended to cough lightly and acted a bit.

Then, Kwak Su-ran looked genuinely worried and lightly patted my shoulder.

I could feel the gazes of the girls sitting around me. They knew I was acting, so they were biting their lips to hold back their laughter.

I subtly changed the subject.

“By the way, noona, you seem to be well-versed in the affairs of this Nanjeong.”

“Of course, it’s where I’ve grown up since I was young! Ask me if you’re curious about anything. I’ll tell you everything.”

It was an opportunity.

“How are the black market forces in this area structured? I’m curious because it’s different from Beijing.”

“Oh, my cousin is curious about that kind of thing. How interesting.”

“Heo Yi, affiliated with the Red Eye Gang, manages the gambling dens here, and Mia of the White Spirit Gang runs the large brothel over

there. The taverns near the south gate of the city all belong to the Iron Thread Gang…”

After listening for a while, the structure of the black market forces in this area began to form in my head little by little. I had learned almost

everything I wanted to know.

“They’re all mediocre forces.”

“Well, yeah. The Blood Hand Clan’s influence hardly reaches this place.”

Kwak Su-ran shrugged.

I perked up at that.

“Why is that?”

I asked, my curiosity piqued.

As soon as the name of the Blood Hand Clan was mentioned, my ears pricked up.

“Don’t be surprised. Right here in Nanjeong, there is a dojang officially authorized and run by Amipa’s Sokga disciples. The Blood Hand Clan

or Cheonsalgok may flex their muscles, but they are nothing more than puppies in front of a tiger in front of the Great Amipa.”

Some of my subordinates shuddered slightly at those words, but fortunately, Kwak Su-ran didn’t seem to notice.

“Amipa… you mean that sect that only accepts female martial artists?”

“That’s right. After the world turned upside down and the Shaolin Temple was destroyed, it is the strongest sect of the Nine Great Sects in

name and reality.”

That scratched me. After learning Shaolin martial arts from my master, I thought of myself as a member of the Shaolin Temple. Of course, I

have no intention of shaving my head.

“Um, why are you suddenly shaking? Are you sick again?”

“No. I’m fine. More than that, Amipa is famous for its spear techniques, right?”

“Yeah, you’re interested in spear techniques too?”

Su-ran asked, her eyes sparkling.

“It would be a lie to say I’m not.”

I replied with a smile.

“So that’s why. That’s why you armed your escorts with spears.”

“You seem to be very interested in Amipa’s spear techniques.”

“Of course! Amipa’s spear techniques are the best in the world. Even before becoming the strongest of the Nine Sects, Amipa’s spear t

echniques were the best in the martial world along with the Yang family’s spear techniques. Other than that, I think the government’s spear

techniques were somewhat recognized?”

“What about the government’s spear techniques?”

I was genuinely curious.

“It’s not bad, but it’s not worth learning. I heard it’s more focused on group battles than individual battles.”

A smile spread across my face. That was what I wanted. The reason I had them carry spears in the first place was to use them like an army.

“Is there a dojang in this area that teaches the government’s spear techniques?”

“As far as I know, there isn’t.”

But if there was no dojang, there was no choice but to learn Amipa’s spear techniques.

“Does Amipa only accept women as Sokga disciples?”

“That’s not true. They only don’t accept men as inner disciples, but Sokga accepts men too.”

We were talking about Amipa like that.

Suddenly, one of Su-ran’s sworn sisters shouted, “Ah!”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’ve seen a kid who looks similar to this kid.”

The girl stared at my face for a long time and then tilted her head.

I could feel Nancheong and the other girls tensing up at those words. Yuha noona still had an indifferent expression, but I could see her fingers moving slightly.

“There’s another handsome guy like this? Where on earth?”

Su-ran asked, laughing as if she thought this situation was a joke.

My heart began to pound.

The girl paused for a moment, trying to remember.

“Come to think of it… um, that’s right! When was it… ah, about a year ago.”

“So where did you see him? Beijing?”

Su-ran said casually.

But the words that came out of her friend’s mouth were spot on.

“s*ave auction house.”