Murim Troubleshooter Dan Mujin-Chapter 132 : “You’ve Got a Divine Weapon”

Chapter 132: “You’ve Got a Divine Weapon”
Eun Hwaran’s business was approved.
It was a favor for my sworn younger sister, and since I’d made a tidy sum in brokerage fees from that bizarre Beast Art last time, the decision didn’t take long.
"Just like when I introduced you the first time, but this time, you’ll draw even more amazed gazes. Ngh..."
Of course, I had my own self-conscious worries about personal dignity.
Anyway, the request had gone in a successful direction.
And when I returned to the office and delivered the news of the approval, Neung Jin-sam the painter let out a cheer of joy.
"Your connections, I say. It’s nothing new, but they’re truly impressive..."
"My connections?"
"Yes, you’re on noona-little brother terms with Trading Lord Eun Hwaran, and you can even meet the famous Juwol-a anytime, can’t you?"
Neung Jin-sam looked at me curiously, as if wondering just what kind of life one had to live to make such connections.
If I added that I had ties with that ill-tempered Uncle Eunuch and had even met the Princess once, he might actually faint from shock.
"I’ve just lived a rather tumultuous life, that’s all..."
There were far too many ups and downs in my life.
But I suppose getting close to people like them was a profit in its own way.
"Anyway, thank you. Thanks to you... I was able to pick up the brush once more."
Just a short while ago, he’d been scraping the bottom of his life. But now, he was overflowing with things he wanted to draw, his chest swelling with emotion.
It seemed he had overcome his inner demons and fully reclaimed his artistic inspiration.
"...A request like this, wanderers who only know how to swing their swords would never have pulled it off. I’m really glad I asked you."
At this point, former wanderer Jo Harang puffed out her cheeks in frustration, but I just let it slide.
Then, with a moved expression, Neung Jin-sam placed the payment he’d received as a deposit into my hand.
"Oh dear, you didn’t have to..."
And that deposit disappeared into my robe like a frog’s blink.
To be honest, this whole thing had started because someone wanted to elevate this painter’s reputation.
Still, there was no reason to refuse something willingly given. I had worked hard, after all.
"Now I understand why people look for troubleshooters. Thanks to you, I have hope again."
"Think nothing of it. If anything else comes up, please visit our office anytime."
"Of course, of course! No need to even say it!"
Neung Jin-sam nodded heartily, promising he would.
"Be sure to spread the word that we do good work, too."
"Oh, don’t worry about that! I’ll let all of Beijing know that this concept of Beastman Art was all your idea!"
He pounded his chest with his fists, telling me to leave everything to him.
"...Wait, on second thought, please don’t spread the word."
"What’s this now? Just trust me. I’ll make sure your name is immortalized in history as the originator of Beastman Art."
I flinched and stopped him in his tracks.
"Now that I think about it, you’re the one who painted it, Master Artist. It wouldn’t feel right for me to take credit. Please leave my name out of it."
Honestly, it was a bit scary. I wasn’t sure how future generations would judge this trend of Beastman Art.
"Heavens... You... To be so capable and yet so humble..."
Neung Jin-sam hadn’t expected such glory to be handed back to him, and tears welled in his eyes again, overwhelmed with emotion.
"Sniff, I’m touched. Very well... I’ll honor your wish and spread it under my name alone."
"Yes, I’m counting on you."
If it were money, that’d be one thing. But what was I supposed to do with fame as the originator of something like this?
Parting ways with Neung Jin-sam, who was overjoyed like he was flying thanks to newfound inspiration and fame(?), I wrapped up yet another request.
He had promised to get back out there and make his name known once more, so now all I had to do was go meet Chairman Gam Un and collect the payment.
"Nothing ever comes easy, huh, Captain?"
"Exactly."
That’s just how the world works.
A few weeks later, under the night sky with a full moon.
"Here, take it."
After being summoned to the Eunseong Trading Company, Hwang Geolgae casually tossed something long into my arms.
"...What’s this?"
"A new Dog-Beating Staff."
The freshly carved handle still felt rough to the touch. Crude, but perfectly shaped for beating something into submission.
The Hell-Revenge Staff that had once split in two had returned from hell, and now rested in my hands once more.
"From today onward, your name shall be Hell-Piercing Blood Staff."
Was it the Blood Cult’s Left Blood Law? I’ll kill the one who destroyed you.
That was the meaning behind the name.
"...Good grief. Why are all your names like this?"
"Right? I can never understand the Captain’s naming sense."
Hwang Geolgae and Ilhong, watching from the side, shook their heads.
"What? It’s cool, isn’t it?"
"Not at all, Captain."
Ilhong shook her head as if she just couldn’t agree.
I had believed that at least she’d always be on my side.
"But didn’t the Beggars’ Union say they couldn’t supply one anymore? Did you really go all the way to Kaifeng and fetch this for me?"
Swinging the staff to reacquaint myself with the forgotten Dog-Beating Staff Technique, I asked with slight hope.
If that was true, I might actually be touched.
"Nope. Just carved it out of a tree nearby."
...Was what he almost said.
Following the direction of his pointing finger, I saw a slender tree in the manor, sliced clean in half.
Judging by the cut, he must have sliced it with qi, roughly shaped it, and then hammered it into a smooth cylinder with forceful strikes.
"You really never plan to spend a penny on me, huh?"
Even if it wasn’t an authentic Beggars’ Union staff, I’d thought it at least came from a blacksmith who made weapons for martial artists.
But to hear it was just whittled from a tree nearby...
"Heh heh, what money does a beggar have? Trees are everywhere—just carve one up and use it."
The more I looked at him, the more he reminded me of the old director at the Sky Love Orphanage.
That man too would always say money was too precious and would craft whatever he needed from whatever was lying around.
"Still, this staff is practically a symbol of the Beggars’ Union, and you made it by cutting down a random tree nearby?"
When I asked if it wasn’t too shabby, Hwang Geolgae just chuckled.
"Heh heh, if anyone asks, just say it was carved by a mysterious Daoist called the Divine Wind Daoist. Doesn’t that work?"
He was still clinging to that ridiculous mystical hermit persona.
Ever since I got tangled with that old man, my road in life had been one long struggle.
Disciples of orthodox sects usually received all kinds of support from their masters, but I had to work as a warehouse assistant from day one and pay for my own meals and lodging.
"Anyway, now that you’ve got it, be on your way."
Waving me off like he was done with me, Hwang Geolgae flicked his hand.
“...You called me all the way here just to give me this? You could’ve handed it to Ilhong when she came for training.”
“You little punk, I was just wondering what you were up to these days. You hardly ever show your face anymore.”
Was this what people meant by a grandpa sulking because his grandkids don’t visit often?
“I’ve been busy with Troubleshooter work.”
“Even so, drop by more often... And for the record, this isn’t a request. I’ve come to understand that if I leave you alone, something will happen…”
In other words, I was the kind of guy who would get into accidents if left unsupervised, so I’d better in regularly.
Especially since I mentioned Purple Tenuity Star last time, Hwang Geolgae seemed to have cranked up his suspicion even more.
Hard to believe the man who had once seemed so detached from the world, drowning in drink, had come to care about reality like this.
“In a way, it’s pretty amazing, Captain.”
“I think so too.”
Ilhong chipped in from the side mid-training, as always.
I had achieved what tens of thousands of Beggars’ Union disciples couldn’t. I’d dragged him out of his alcohol barrel and back into the world.
Thwack!
“You want a medal for that, you brat?”
With a look of disbelief, Hwang Geolgae smacked the back of my head.
In that one strike, imbued with the power of the Starfall Heart Cultivation Method, something crimson and unpleasant started to smolder in the air.
“If you startle this old man one more time with another incident…”
It was honestly heartbreaking. A master looking at his disciple more with suspicion than with trust.
“Come on, how many things have I really done wrong… Ahem.”
Even as I said it, my mind was flooded with countless memories.
“Heh heh, hit a nerve, did I? At least you’ve got some conscience.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
“But I’ll take it as one.”
Hwang Geolgae’s eyes narrowed even further. As I shifted my gaze elsewhere and dodged the topic, it seemed to set off some internal alarm in him.
“If there’s something else you haven’t told me, better confess now. Don’t wait until you’re getting beaten within an inch of your life.”
The Divine Wind Daoist, when clear-headed, was quite sharp indeed.
At that moment, Salsung flickered faintly red in front of me.
As if mocking me, it radiated its presence—something I’d been keeping secret because mentioning it would definitely lead to catastrophe.
Seriously, what is that thing?
Hwang Geolgae had clearly said Heaven-Slaying Star had gone dormant, as if entering some kind of hibernation.
So what was this vivid crimson thing dancing before me now?
“There is something, isn’t there, you punk?”
“There’s nothing, though.”
As my eyes followed Salsung around, Hwang Geolgae muttered like he’d picked up on something.
“I don’t believe you, brat.”
Then why ask in the first place?
It seemed he’d already made up his mind.
“Well, fine. Historically, there’s always been one solution for disciples who defy their masters.”
With that, Hwang Geolgae smoothly drew the Dog-Beating Staff used by the Dragon Head Sect Leader from his waist.
His hand gently caressed the blunted end—perfect for beating dogs into submission—with visible delight.
“Now that it’s been reforged, let’s have a good ol’ Dog-Beating Staff Technique spar, just you and me.”
He showed no hesitation in revealing his murderous aura even against his disciple.
“Sure thing. My body’s been itching anyway.”
As if I’d be scared. Even if I got smacked like a dog, I’d hold my ground to the bitter end.
That’s who I am—Dan Mujin, through and through.
“Damn, your spirit’s getting tougher and tougher, like steel wire.”
“Wonder whose fault that is?”
“Heh heh, fine then. This time, I’ll beat the truth about Purple Tenuity Star right out of you.”
“Give it a shot. I won’t say a word.”
To be generous, Hwang Geolgae’s methods had the effect of tempering both body and spirit into something diamond-hard.
The real question was whether that was ever his actual intention.
Clack.
Two weapons—shabby in appearance, but solidly made. Two nearly identical Dog-Beating Staves aimed at each other by a youth and an old man standing face-to-face in the training ground.
“Here we go again...”
With a sigh of familiarity, Ilhong stepped out of the way.
And once again, under the moonlit sky, two staves soared into the air as the fierce clash erupted across the training ground.
“Evil Dog Blocks the Road!”
“...Strike the Twin Dogs!”
The next day, early morning.
I was summoned by the Trading Lord of Eunseong Trading Company and escorted into a luxurious reception room.
Unlike the simple and tidy Trading Lord’s Office, this place had a lavish atmosphere, clearly designed for hosting.
Eun Hwaran greeted me with a slightly weary expression.
“It wasn’t me.”
“What... are you talking about?”
She tilted her head in confusion at my sudden declaration.
I’d assumed it was about that matter since she called so early in the morning.
“The training ground.”
“Don’t tell me you two fought again?”
I scratched my head and nodded at her question.
“Well, more like training than fighting…”
“What kind of training is so brutal? I told you to restrain yourselves.”
Right, last time they’d ditched all formalities and gone at each other, turning the place into a warzone.
“What was I supposed to do when the old man charged at me like he was out for blood?”
Even if I tried to run, he was faster—there was no escape.
Both I and Eun Hwaran knew there was nothing we could do about that man, Hwang Noya.
She groaned and rubbed her temple at my complaint.
“In any case, if this isn’t about the training ground, why did you call me?”
I plopped down naturally in the upper seat of the reception room, casually nibbling on the fancy treats prepared for VIPs.
“Remember what you asked me before? About promoting the paintings at a gathering of famous people and wealthy clans in Hebei.”
“Yes, of course. Thanks to that, everything worked out smoothly.”
“Well, you may think so. But I was so embarrassed... The way they all stared at me...”
If it hadn’t been her only little brother asking, she would’ve declined, brokerage fee or not.
Those who seek to break through and gain enlightenment are always viewed with awe and suspicion by the masses.
“I’m really grateful.”
“...Anyway, during that gathering, I ended up meeting someone from a prestigious clan in Hebei.”
A prestigious clan in Hebei, huh? There are quite a few—like the Hebei Peng Clan, for instance.
“And?”
“They seem to be dealing with some kind of problem, but can’t find anyone to help. That’s when your name came to mind.”
How thoughtful. She’d brought a potential client straight to our office again.
“Thank you, noona.”
“What’s family for? Anyway, come in. This is the capable little brother I was telling you about.”
With that, the reception room doors opened, and a very tall woman walked in with deliberate steps.
Her frame looked like flesh had barely managed to cling to her bones, and her face was so pale it resembled white parchment—at night, she’d look like she was floating.
She had a ghostly air about her—enough to be slightly frightening.
“Noona, who is this?”
“Have you heard of the Jinju Eon Clan? Go ahead and introduce yourself.”
The Jinju Eon Clan? Aren’t they the gloomy folks known for handling martial world funerals?
I bowed my head deeply, assuming she was a new client—only for her to suddenly grab my wrist and say:
“You... can see strange things, can’t you?”
“......”
Both I and Salsung flinched at the same time from her cryptic remark.
Just who is this woman?
I narrowed my eyes and stared straight at her.