Martial Arts Ain't Anything Special-Chapter 76: The Dao (2)

Seojun and Hwan Baeho first headed to the scene of the crime.

Along the way, Seojun learned that Hwan Baeho’s light body arts was quite impressive. He was remarkably fast for someone between the First Rate and Peak Realm.

With nothing else to do during the journey, Seojun asked about it, and Hwan Baeho replied.

“I’m mainly called upon when tracking is needed, and in such situations, the light body art is crucial. It would be troublesome if the pursuit is slowed down because of me.”

“Ah, I see. So you focused on learning light body arts?”

“That is correct. My combat ability is rather poor as a result.”

“Well, you are part of the Namgung Clan. It doesn’t matter since others can cover for your lack of combat ability.”

This seemed to be the advantage of being part of a group.

If one were to wander murim alone being weak is asking for trouble. Isn’t murim a place where a simple misstep could lead to swords being drawn?

But in Hwan Baeho’s case, he didn’t need to worry about fighting and could focus solely on improving in his area of expertise since others could fill in for his lack of strength.

I’ll have to be careful when fighting large organizations later.

They reached the Yangtze River after traveling for several days, and looking at the vast river, Hwan Baeho said.

“Young Master, I’ll quickly find us a boat.”

“There’s no need for that.”

“Pardon?”

Seojun grabbed Hwan Baeho by the scruff of his neck and grinned.

“Close your mouth tight. It’ll hurt if you bite your tongue.”

“What?”

Boom!

Seojun kicked off the ground and soared into the sky. Hwan Baeho panicked as he looked down at the Yangtze River spread out beneath their feet.

“Y-Young Master! We’ll fall!”

“No, we won’t.”

His body shot forth through the air using Yellow Dragon Crossing the Rosy Clouds. Hwan Baeho’s jaw dropped at the sight like riding a yellow dragon through the sky.

“Th-This is the Transcendent Realm...”

“Hmm, it’s probably a bit different from what you typically think of as Transcendent Realm?”

It’s like I specced my skill tree a bit differently from other martial artists.

Seojun chuckled as he landed on the other side of the Yangtze River. Hwan Baeho bowed his head blankly.

“Thank you...”

“No problem.”

Hwan Baeho became even more respectful after that, which also meant it became harder to get close to him.

It had been days since Seojun had seen Chunbong, and all he had now was this somewhat awkward guy next to him.

Though his essence, qi, and mind were balanced enough to keep his madness in check, he couldn’t help feeling a bit depressed.

“Is it here?”

“Yes, Young Master. We’ll need to stop at two places for tracking, if that’s alright with you?”

“Of course. I should follow the expert’s advice.”

After arriving at the small town where the incident occurred, Seojun followed behind Hwan Baeho.

The first place they headed was where the initial crime took place.

Hwan Baeho examined the partially cleaned scene and nodded at something he observed closely.

“It’s certain that all five were traveling together. It will be easier to track them now that I have identified their characteristics.”

“What? What did you figure out from this?”

“Ah. If you look here, you see...”

Hwan Baeho explained various things, but honestly, Seojun couldn’t understand a word of it.

His tracking skill was literally an acquired skill, not a martial art, so Seojun couldn’t replicate it even with his mastery of qi.

Giving up completely on finding footprints, Seojun stood up.

“Shall we move on to the next location?”

“Yes.”

The next place they headed was the minor sect that had been wiped out.

There were tilted signboards and burn marks along with the stench of decaying corpses, not yet cleaned up.

Seojun frowned and Hwan Baeho quickened his pace.

“Young Master, I can enter alone if you’d like.”

“No no, it’s fine. I’m a bit curious too so.”

Hwan Baeho entered the sect grounds and quickly examined the traces of battle and footprints left throughout.

Afterwards, he immediately left the sect and began closely studying the ground.

About five or so minutes had passed.

“This way.”

“Oh...”

it seemed Hwan Baeho had figured out their route though Seojun himself had no idea how he did it.

And so another boring journey began.

The only things to do along the way were various pointless conversations. As Seojun moved his feet robotically, he suddenly remembered something he wanted to ask.

“By the way, those guys...”

“Are you speaking of the Anhui Five Heroes?”

“Anhui Five Heroes? Is that what they call themselves?”

“Apparently that’s what they’ve been going around calling themselves or so I’ve heard.”

“Damn, what shameless bastards.”

Seojun could only laugh bitterly as Hwan Baeho continued explaining a bit more about the Anhui Five Heroes.

“Among them is the eldest. The Anhui Five Heroes are his sworn brothers whom he met during his time in the martial world. It seems they weren’t of good character to begin with... but seeing that they have committed such atrocities, it looks like they’re planning to leave for good.”

“Wow, how do you know all that?”

“It should be written in the documents the Commander-in-chief gave you.”

“...Aha.”

So I just didn’t read it? Seojun felt embarrassed and stopped talking.

Soon after he noticed the red and yellow autumn leaves. It was already deep into autumn. Oh, how time flies.

After traveling for a few more days and sightseeing the autumn foliage as if on a journey of self-discovery, Hwan Baeho’s eyes lit up.

It was honestly unbelievable. Is he using some kind of tracking magic?

However the movement of his qi only seemed to enhance his sight and smell, Seojun had no damn clue how he was doing it.

“Young Master, we’ve caught up to them.”

“Already?”

“Yes. It seems they haven’t been moving very quickly.”

“These scumbags are too relaxed.”

Do they really think the Namgung Clan is some neighborhood convenience store?

If Seojun hadn’t been here, the pursuit might have been delayed due to lack of manpower, but even so, they lacked any sense of crisis.

Well, how many smart ones could there be among these sword-wielding brutes.

There probably are quite a few, but there are more who aren’t.

— Kyaaa...!

At that moment, a scream pierced their ears, and Seojun detected five martial artists.

After committing their crimes, are they doing whatever the fuck they want now? He bitterly laughed.

“Now follow behind me.”

Seojun’s eyes gleamed coldly.

*While the area south of the Yangtze River is quite developed, not every city can be prosperous.

In the back alleys of one such small, inevitably existing city, a terrified voice leaked out.

“W-Why are you doing this... Please spare me...”

A girl, not yet even an adult, trembled as she backed away.

Five men were grinning before her. The girl, dragged here against her will and thrown into the alley, couldn’t believe this situation.

It had just been another ordinary day, one that was brutally trampled upon without any warning.

Even an innocent young girl like her knew she couldn’t escape this situation unharmed.

The only glimmer of hope she had was a small sect based in this small city.

“T-The Scorching Wind Sect people will be here soon...! Please let me g— Kyaah...!”

Smack!

A hand as large as a pot lid struck her cheek.

On the ground, trembling, all she could see was a massive man wearing a confident smile, showing no fear of the Scorching Wind Sect. Her eyes were filled with despair.

“Uu... uuu...”

The man’s breath brushed against her skin as he approached and said.

“Stay still. There’s no one in this fucking little city who can stop us.”

“Oh really?”

The girl slowly turned her head towards the unfamiliar voice. Within her, a strand of hope she couldn’t abandon stirred.

“Who’re you?”

The five men glared at the stranger.

Said stranger, Seojun, carefully observed the scene that felt oddly familiar.

An alley. Scum. A woman. Screams.

What had changed was his own powerlessness, that of the scum, and his own situation.

She’s young.

The girl trembled, looking at him desperately. It was different from back then when he lacked power and ended up with his gut sliced open after charging in.

“You scum.”

The image of the young girl overlapped with Chunbong, and rage had already filled his mind before he knew it, his eyes blazing.

Seojun’s expression hardened as his eyes emitted a vivid golden light.

Whoosh.

He vanished instantly and reappeared in front of the girl. One of the men, startled, wrapped his hands in fist qi to block.

Crunch!

But it was useless. Seojun tore off both of the man’s hands and grabbed his neck.

“Kuh, kuhak...!”

The man’s eyes filled with terror as he waved his severed wrists frantically, spraying blood in all directions.

Seojun stared at this blankly, then bent his hand and swung downward.

Crack!

The man’s body was torn into several vertical pieces and scattered.

Seojun, now dyed red with blood, looked at the remaining four men.

“This bastard killed Third Brother...!”

“...Don’t act rashly. He’s a Master.”

“Let’s meet at the agreed place!”

The men quickly dispersed, wasting no time over their fallen comrade.

Just as Seojun was about to chase after them...

“Hic...”

Thud. Something collapsed behind him.

Turning around, he saw the girl had fainted, her eyes rolled back.

Seojun blinked and looked at the carnage he had created. It was certainly too much for an innocent child to see.

“Oh man.”

Scratching his head, Seojun loaded ten finger bullets.

Thud thud thud thud!

He fired them at the backs of those men.

“Argh...!”

One died instantly, his back pierced through.

“Ugh!”

One had his arm grazed, while the other two either blocked or dodged well.

“Mister.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Hwan Baeho, who had been standing back, quickly approached and bowed his head. Seojun gestured towards the girl.

“Please take her home.”

“Understood.”

“You can track them yourself, right?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Seojun gave a thumbs up and stomped the ground.

Thud!

His body shot into the air.

First, that guy.

Having found his target, Seojun’s eyes glowed with an eerie light.

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