Chapter 109: Comrade

“This is what we prepared.”

Maeng Ye-ju took out all the items she had brought from the Inner Robe.

From metal ingots to pills stored in wooden boxes, and even unknown body parts of mysterious creatures. The variety was wide, and the quantity was considerable.

“This is Frost Origin Iron.”

The first item she explained was a silvery ingot placed to the left of Jang Woo-hyun.

“It contains Yin Cold Qi. You know Cold Iron, right? This is considered superior. And this one is Black Darkness Iron.”

This time, it was a jet-black ingot.

“It doesn’t have any specific attributes, but its hardness is exceptional. If you were to rank it by strength alone, it would be among the top three metals obtainable in the Central Heavens Realm.”

Next to it was a stone radiating a faint heat.

“This is an unrefined ore. It’s called Heat Fire Stone, and unfortunately, this was the only one I could get right away.”

Maeng Ye-ju continued explaining the items she had brought.

There was Void Crystal, mainly used in crafting armor.

A blue stone that emitted cold air—Ice Dew Stone.

And Rainbow Stone, which changed color depending on the angle from which it was viewed. She continued to introduce many unfamiliar metals and ores.

“This side is done.”

Pushing the ingots and ores aside, Maeng Ye-ju pointed to the next group of items.

“These are mainly the inner cores or body parts of monsters or spiritual beasts. First off, this is a dragon scale.”

“A dragon? You mean the one I know? Snake-like but with horns and whiskers?”

“Yeah, that dragon. You’ve never seen one?”

“Well… it’s not exactly something you can see every day, right?”

“Not easily, but occasionally, yes. There are dragon tribes living in the Central Heavens Martial Realm.”

Even though a mythical creature had been mentioned, Maeng Ye-ju continued explaining as if it were no big deal.

“This is the heart of Sanhwi. This one was made with Hara language or something… what was it again? Ah, I forget. Anyway, it’s made using Hara language. And this… Yong-a, what was this again?”

“That one? Wasn’t it powdered horn of Toru?”

“Powdered horn of Toru? Ah, right. I heard it enhances a weapon’s strength. Toru is a massive, aggressive monster. It charges with its horns, and they’re so sturdy that even the Absolute Realm’s Qi Projection can’t cut through them.”

After putting down the strange powder, Maeng Ye-ju picked up another set of items.

“These seem to be flame-type materials. This is the tongue of Biyu. Is this useful? Anyway, there’s Biyu’s tongue. Oh, there’s also the inner core of Ijeuk. That might be useful.”

There were also elixirs made with the blood of Iseora, poison from Jimjo, feathers from Nanjo… The Inner Robe kept producing a bewildering quantity of unknown objects that even Jin Ha-un, who had extensively studied the Central Heavens Realm, couldn’t identify. The explanation only ended after quite some time.

“All of this… you’re giving it to us?”

“Huh? Of course. We owe you.”

Astonished by the extravagant gifts, Jin Ha-un leaned toward Jang Woo-hyun and whispered.

“Hyung-nim, by any chance…”

“By any chance what?”

“Is this… like a wedding gift? Is Maeng Ye-ju-nim going to be my sister-in-law…?”

“What? Puhahahaha!”

Naturally, Maeng Ye-ju overheard the whisper and burst out laughing as she patted Jin Ha-un’s back.

“Wahahaha! Woo-hyun, your brother is hilarious.”

“Ugh! Ack!”

Though it was meant in jest, Maeng Ye-ju’s larger build and strength made Jin Ha-un groan with each slap.

“Woo-hyun’s little brother… Ha-un, was it?”

“Yes, that’s right, Maeng sunbae.”

“Just call me noona. Also…”

Maeng Ye-ju’s gaze shifted to Jang Woo-hyun.

Her lips curled as if she thought of something amusing.

“Your brother doesn’t like me. He likes someone else.”

“Huh? Who?”

Jin Ha-un asked, eyes wide in shock.

“The Young Palace Master of the Ice Palace—Seol Ha-rin.”

“Whoa! Really? Hyung-nim, is that true? Well, if you’re aiming that high… ouch!”

Jang Woo-hyun smacked Jin Ha-un’s throat mid-nonsense and shook his head.

“Maeng sunbae.”

“Call me noona already.”

“Maeng sunbae, are you really giving us all this?”

“You’re no fun. Yes, I’m giving it all. Honestly, I wanted to get Divine True Steel too, but that’s not something easily found.”

“Noona, that’s not something even hard work can get you.”

“Well, true.”

“What’s Divine True Steel?”

“It’s called the metal of the gods… though some argue it’s not really a metal. Anyway, it’s said to be the greatest material in all existence. Even those in the Upper Realm use weapons made from Divine True Steel. I wanted to give you that, but this is the best we could manage.”

“This is more than enough. Thank you.”

“No need for thanks. Compared to what you’ve done for us, this isn’t much.”

Looking at the items he had never seen before, Jin Ha-un once again leaned close to Jang Woo-hyun’s ear.

“Hyung-nim, if this isn’t a wedding gift… what’s the real deal? Did you maybe save the Sect Leader of the Beast King Sect?”

“It’s nothing like that. Woo-hyun saved the Beastkin and even helped our sect members. He gave us gifts too.”

“A gift? What kind of gift?”

Jin Ha-un asked, wondering what kind of gift could be worthy of receiving such remarkable items.

“It’s a gourd that contains a small world inside.”

“A world inside a gourd? Then, does that mean people can go inside and stuff?”

“That’s right. There are mountains and plains too. It’s a high-grade Dharma Treasure.”

“Wow, you gave something like that as a gift? It’s not even a dowry item… kegh!”

Playing around again, Jin Ha-un got struck in the throat once more.

“Quit messing around, man. Just how much time did you spend hanging around with Hwang An?”

“You’re the one who unfairly ascended first, hyung-nim! There were only two of us—who else was I supposed to stick with!”

“What? Unfair? Hey, how is that unfair? It just happened all of a sudden.”

“That’s what makes it unfair. We were always together as three, and then you suddenly left alone to face the Demon Cult. And when I finally found you after being called back, you vanished again without a word.”

Though over fifty in Lower Realm years, Jin Ha-un pouted like a child in front of his sworn elder brother he hadn’t seen in a long time.

The Martial God of Sichuan. The Azure Star Sword Emperor.

If someone from the Central Plains had witnessed such a side of him, one so deeply respected among the orthodox martial world, they would have been utterly shocked.

But this behavior wasn’t unique to when he was with Jang Woo-hyun.

From long ago, Jin Ha-un had always bickered and joked childishly with Hwang An in the same way.

And there was another person, not from the Central Plains, who was surprised to see yet another unexpected side of someone.

‘Was he always like this?’

Maeng Ye-ju’s gaze was fixed on Jang Woo-hyun.

Though he enjoyed fighting and cracked the occasional joke, he was never one to talk much. Yet, watching him converse with Jin Ha-un, he looked no more mature than Kang Yong.

“Enough of your pointless squabbling. Just pack up the stuff already.”

When Maeng Ye-ju, who had been observing, intervened, the two who had been bickering finally stopped.

“You take care of this.”

“Me? You’re giving it to me?”

“No, I’m not good at handling Artifact Tools.”

“What do you mean?”

Jang Woo-hyun explained that he wasn’t skilled at using Artifact Tools—he didn’t even use a Flying Apparatus, and he could barely manage the smallest type of Inner Robe.

“Wahahaha! Great! That’s how it should be! Even you need to have a flaw, hyung-nim. That makes the world fair. Don’t worry about these items. I’m skilled with Artifact Tools! I’ll store them safely!”

“Jin-an.”

“Sorry? What did you just call me, hyung-nim?”

“Jin-an.”

“…”

The smile that had been stretched across Jin Ha-un’s face froze.

“Hyung-nim, that’s seriously not okay. Jin-an?”

“Then how about Hwang Ha-un?”

“Hey! Come on, hyung-nim!”

Since Jin Ha-un had ended up resembling Hwang An, Jang Woo-hyun casually mashed Hwang An’s name into Jin Ha-un’s, and the latter furiously objected, flailing about. It wasn’t until he got hit in the throat by Jang Woo-hyun that he finally quieted down.

Maeng Ye-ju let out a soft sigh at the suddenly shifted mood.

“You’re leaving now?”

“Yes. There’s a place I need to visit.”

“Is it the place you mentioned before?”

“I haven’t found it exactly, but I located somewhere similar. And before I head there, there’s another stop I need to make.”

“Where are you going?”

“There are people I owe.”

As he spoke, Jang Woo-hyun gently tapped Yongwangrin.

“I see.”

Maeng Ye-ju nodded, then straightened her posture. She clasped her hands in a martial greeting. Kang Yong, who stood beside her, followed suit.

“I am Maeng Ye-ju of the Beast King Sect.”

“I am Kang Yong of the Beast King Sect.”

“Maeng sunbae?”

Taken aback by the sudden shift in tone, Jang Woo-hyun looked puzzled, but Maeng Ye-ju smiled and bowed.

“To Jang dae-hyeop, both I and the Beast King Sect owe a great debt. We shall never forget this favor. Should you ever need assistance, do not hesitate to contact us.”

“…”

It was a formal gesture.

This was not the Maeng Ye-ju and Kang Yong who had built camaraderie with him, but the heirs and martial artists of the Beast King Sect speaking.

Their journey together had never been driven by any grand ambition or expectation of reward. They had simply accompanied him to gain real combat experience in the Central Heavens Martial Realm.

Yet that simple journey had forged another bond—just like the fated encounters he once had in the Central Plains.

Jang Woo-hyun respectfully responded in kind.

“I am Jang Woo-hyun. I received much help from the Beast King Sect and the two of you. If you ever need my help, do not hesitate to reach out.”

“I am Jin Ha-un. Thank you for helping hyung-nim.”

Jin Ha-un chimed in from the side, offering his thanks. Though he had nothing to do with any of it, everyone laughed at how casually he inserted himself.

“By the authority of the Vice Sect Leader, all branches and sub-sects of the Beast King Sect shall treat you as a benefactor. Don’t hesitate to ask for help if anything comes up.”

“Thanks for saving me, Woo-hyun.”

As Kang Yong strode forward with arms open to hug him, Jang Woo-hyun subtly stepped back.

“Don’t come near. I’m not into hugging guys.”

“Then should I hug you instead?”

“Maeng sunbae, you too—please, no.”

“Well, unless it’s the Young Palace Master of the Ice Palace, I guess no one else would catch your eye.”

“Why are you suddenly taking it in that direction? I’m telling you, that’s really not it.”

“Uhuhu, sure it isn’t.”

“Hyung-nim, is it really true? Really the Young Palace Master of the Ice Palace…”

“Come on! I said it’s not!”

Jin Ha-un kept pressing with questions at his side, while Maeng Ye-ju chuckled and nudged Jang Woo-hyun with her elbow. Sandwiched between the two, Jang Woo-hyun had to endure a period of teasing.

Their farewell with the Beast King Sect ended in laughter.

“The city you mentioned, we just need to use a Teleportation Array twice from here and then fly a bit. But hyung-nim, can you even use Teleportation Arrays?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never actually used one myself. But now that I’ve got you, it’s fine. You can handle Artifact Tools and all that, right?”

After parting ways with Maeng Ye-ju, Jang Woo-hyun and Jin Ha-un immediately set out on their journey.

“Do you really think they’ll make us a weapon when we find them? The Craftsmen are pretty picky.”

Jin Ha-un, already aware of where they were headed, raised the question. As he said, those known as the Craftsmen, the people of Nation of Mechanical Marvels, were renowned artisans but rarely made weapons for just anyone.

“Is that so? They seemed like good people. I owe them a favor, and I also want to ask about my weapon, so I have to visit them anyway. So for now…”

While walking, Jang Woo-hyun suddenly stopped speaking, stepped a few paces ahead, and blocked Jin Ha-un’s path.

“Hyung-nim?”

Surprised by the sudden move, Jin Ha-un called out to Jang Woo-hyun, but received no reply.

Beneath the eaves of a building at the edge of the street—

There stood a familiar face.

‘Neung Un-bi. Or should I say Cheon Heo-jin.’

The third time seeing that handsome young man.

He was Cheon Heo-jin, the Sect Leader of the Samcheong Tai Chi Sect.

As their eyes met, the man smiled.

In that instant, the surrounding scene changed.

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