episode_0120

120. Sichuan Tang Clan.

It wasn’t just Sima Han who was surprised. Most of the people watching Johan’s actions were surprised. Of course, Sarah was an exception.

However, Johan simply wore a carefree expression, regardless of whether they were surprised or not.

“Let’s go. Old man. You made sure you dug properly, right? Towards Sichuan?”

Sima Han answered a beat late.

“…Yes. Let’s go quickly.”

Sima Han entered first, followed by Johan and Sarah.

A scholar man, who had been stunned for a while, shouted.

“What are you doing! Bring torches and follow me!”

“”Yes!!””

The stunned members startled and entered the pit.

They felt a strange, uneasy feeling, as if they were entering the mouth of a ghost.

Anyway, as they all disappeared into the pit, the dark mouth closed with a dududu- sound.

***

“It’s dark.”

That one word was clearly heard in the darkness. It was Sima Han’s tone.

In response, Johan snapped his fingers. Ttaak, a crimson flame flared from Johan’s fingertip.

Sima Han said sullenly.

“Hey, kid. How can you see with that? With that tiny thing?”

“Old man. Just wait a bit. You have no patience.”

“Live to my age. Will you have patience then?”

Johan ignored him. Then, he slightly puffed out his cheeks and blew air on his fingertip.

Hwarrereureureuk-!

A snake of flame raced along the dark ceiling. If someone had seen this scene from afar, they would have thought that red lanterns were hung in a row.

“Oh, you could do it. You should have done this from the start.”

“Just follow me.”

“Tsk, rude brat.”

Deudeudeuk- As Johan quickened his pace, the depth of the pit deepened. Johan constantly emitted magic power through his feet as a medium.

Sarah, who was following beside him, spoke.

“Mr. Johan. Won’t you run out of magic power? Are you okay?”

Johan replied with a nonchalant attitude.

“I’m fine. I learned something called a mind technique after coming to this world, and when I combined it with my existing magic power control method, my magic power recovery speed increased. This is nothing.”

“That’s a relief then.”

Sarah nodded. Since Johan wasn’t one to make false statements, if he said he was okay, he really meant it.

Rather, it was the master who was fussing. The master poked Johan in the side and asked.

“Disciple. Are you really okay? Isn’t this going to collapse?”

“You don’t have to worry. You’re being unnecessarily fearful.”

Johan firmly dismissed his master’s words and leisurely moved his feet.

The road was long. It would be one thing on the ground, but in the underground, he couldn’t use the unique lightness techniques of a martial artist. This is because Johan’s digging speed was slower than their running speed.

From that point on, Johan shut his mouth and concentrated solely on the Dig spell. He had to reach Sichuan as quickly as possible.

Ttubeok-

Ttubeok-

For a while, the group did not talk. They simply stepped in time with Johan’s spell.

***

A region famous for its rugged mountains. Sichuan. Among them, in the capital of Sichuan, Chengdu, a total of three forces were fighting each other for their interests.

On the surface, they pursued harmony, but it was something that everyone living in Chengdu knew.

If there hadn’t been a huge enemy called the Black Faction, if the power difference between the three forces hadn’t been small, a terrible disaster would have happened long ago.

All three are similar, but the group with the largest power among them was none other than the Tang Clan (唐門).

Their military strength was similar. However, the financial power (金力) coming from the wealth they had accumulated was on a different level.

The other two places, the Qingcheng Sect and the Emei Sect, have simple routes for funding. Receiving protection money from merchants and doing courier work. There are only these two things.

However, the Tang Clan was different.

“Welcome! This is the Tang Clan Smithy!”

Chiik- Kkaang! Kkaang!

A strange noise of pouring cool water on hot steel echoes. And even the sound of muscular men vigorously hammering that steel.

The volume of the sound was faint. At least, that was the case from the perspective of the martial artist who had just entered the Tang Clan Smithy.

He saw a clerk wearing a dark green uniform. Behind the clerk, various kinds of weapons were displayed.

Perhaps the parents of those weapons are hammering steel beyond that wall. The man could easily infer that fact.

The clerk spoke in a kind but firm voice.

“Sir. Please tell me if you are looking for anything!”

Then he left. This is because the martial artist who entered the smithy just now is not the only one.

He gave the clerk’s back a brief glance, then looked around at the weapons. His eyes were shining like a child who had received candy.

“Indeed… I see why those guys recommended the Tang Clan Smithy. The cheap ones are good in their own way, and the expensive ones are good in their own way.”

Divine swords, famous swords. Items that fall into that category are clearly not visible. However, there are plenty of items that seem to be of at least mid-range quality.

There was no better smithy for a mediocre martial artist like the man. He strolled around the smithy, beaming. Hoping that there would be a sword that suited his hand.

‘Huhu, he’s completely lost in it.’

The clerk smiled softly as he watched the child-like man. The clerk’s martial prowess was not very high, but his shoulders were raised with pride thanks to his belonging to the Tang Clan (smithy).

Most of the martial artists who come to this smithy make that kind of expression. Watching their foolish expressions was one of the clerk’s little pleasures.

It was then. A group of strange combinations caught the clerk’s eye.

‘A young master and a young lady. And one bodyguard protecting them?’

The man with a playful smile on his face looked like a young master, and the woman with ebony hair looked like a young lady from a wealthy family. Although their clothes looked like those of martial artists.

And next to them, a pale-faced warrior. At first glance, he looked like a young master, but a faint aura was felt. He’s probably a bodyguard.

‘Money! A money bag has rolled in!’

Unlike other smithies, the Tang Clan’s smithy had an element called ‘performance bonus’. If the sales amount exceeds a certain amount, a small amount of silver coins falls to the clerk!

The Tang Clan’s financial structure must have played a significant role in seizing the financial power of the Sichuan Province.

The clerk ran out with a full smile.

“Welcome! How can I help you?”

The bodyguard stepped forward and answered.

“Hmm? Ah… Are you the clerk here?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Then the story will be quick. Are these all the weapons displayed in the smithy?”

“Uh… Yes, that’s right. Ah, do you want better quality weapons? Unfortunately, this is all we have. We are still making them in real time, but…”

The clerk explained to the bodyguard, no, Johan, in a calm tone.

“I guess our smithy is very popular. The selling speed is faster than the making speed. I’m sorry.”

“Haha, it’s okay. It’s nothing.”

“Yes…”

Johan looked around here and there with his hands behind his back. Then he said to Sima Han, who was next to him.

“Old man. So, if a war breaks out, most martial artists will use these weapons, right?”

“Yes. That’s for sure. Since long ago, the Tang Clan’s weapons haven’t been top-notch, but they’ve been good enough to use.”

Sima Han gently stroked the blade of a dagger in front of him.

“Still, at least the dagger is worth looking at. As expected of guys who cowardly throw hidden weapons from behind.”

The clerk’s eyebrows furrowed as he quietly listened to those words. To dare to say such things inside the Tang Clan’s smithy. His liver must be outside his stomach.

“Excuse me, sir… This is the Tang Clan.”

Tang Clan. It’s just a simple two words, but the meaning of that word was not simple.

Most martial artists usually back down after hearing this much. The clerk expected it to be similar this time as well. But what, that young master furrowed his ear as if asking where a dog was barking.

“I know. You fool. Would I have come here without knowing that? The Tang Clan is right in front of this smithy.”

“…”

The clerk looked at Sima Han with an expression that said, “Are you doing that even though you know that?” As if knowing the clerk’s thoughts, Sima Han savagely tore his mouth apart.

His eyes darted around. Perhaps because he uttered words that insulted the Tang Clan, the gazes watching him increased sharply.

A low voice was heard from somewhere.

[Hey, punk. There won’t be a second time.]

The Tang Clan Smithy is a particularly cherished external institution even within the Sichuan Tang Clan. There’s no way those insidious guys would leave just one clerk like this alone.

Then Sarah, who had been silent, opened her mouth.

“We will take charge of the smithy.”

Johan replied.

“Then the old man and I will take charge of the Tang Clan.”

“What is that…”

That was the end of it. Johan felt the increasingly murderous gaze and snapped his fingers.

Kkumteul-

His feet seemed to ripple, and the foundation supporting the sturdy steel smithy shook. At the same time, martial artists wearing black clothes were shot at the group from all directions.

They had no hesitation. They seemed to be reacting quite quickly.

‘Too late.’

Johan pulled up the corners of his mouth in a long line. They should have stopped it from the beginning.

Kwaaaaaang!!!

Members of the Swordsmen rushed out from under the smithy.

The war had begun.