Chapter 111. The New Novice's Sword
The words that True Immortal Hyeon-cheon had told Eulji Tae to pass on to the Weapon Eccentric had been conveyed in exactly the same way to Dong Bong-su as well.
It was an order to investigate whether the ghost incident that had occurred last night in Zhengzhou's bustling district was truly the work of the chosen of the Extreme Yin Heavenly Slaughter Star.
That was the core of the Martial Alliance Leader's message.
The chosen of the Extreme Yin Heavenly Slaughter Star?
When an unfamiliar term appeared, Dong Bong-su's head began to spin rapidly as he started making inferences.
And soon, he drew out a conclusion that fit.
'Is he talking about her?'
Yeon Yeong-ha.
He wasn't certain, but Dong Bong-su's intuition was telling him so.
That the chosen of the Extreme Yin Heavenly Slaughter Star was her.
If that was really the case.
Dong Bong-su had to extract as much information as possible about the Extreme Yin Heavenly Slaughter Star from the Weapon Eccentric.
For that, he would have to become the Weapon Eccentric's disciple, or at least something equivalent to it.
"I understand. I'll take on that task."
The conversation resumed in spoken words, and the Weapon Eccentric's consent was given.
"Then I will report it to the Alliance Leader like that, Elder."
"Do as you please."
At the Weapon Eccentric's indifferent dismissal, Eulji Tae lightly cupped his fists and turned his body.
Then, passing right by Dong Bong-su, he left the place.
At that moment, Eulji Tae's lips moved once more.
Since his back was turned, the Weapon Eccentric did not see it.
[We'll meet again soon.]
A short voice transmission from Eulji Tae.
He, too, though not as much as the Weapon Eccentric, had an interest in Dong Bong-su.
Enough to feel regret at letting him go so easily.
"What did Heaven-Splitting Sticky Blade say?"
The Weapon Eccentric spoke as he walked toward a corner piled high with weapons.
He had already guessed.
That Eulji Tae, being quite interested in Dong Bong-su, must have said something.
"He said we should meet again later."
Rustle, rustle.
"Was there any need to say that secretly? He's become insipid, and even sly on top of that. Tsk, tsk, tsk."
The Weapon Eccentric grumbled as he rummaged through the pile of weapons.
He was looking for something made of divine metal.
A moment later.
The Weapon Eccentric took out something shaped like a peculiar suit of armor—no, something closer to clothes than armor—and approached Dong Bong-su.
It was not the kind of item Dong Bong-su had originally ordered.
He had asked for it to be made like full-body armor, with all parts divided into pieces.
So that whenever there was an enemy's attack, he could take out only the necessary part of the armor from his inventory and use it for defense.
Also, if needed, in a form that could be used as throwing weapons instead of sword fragments.
However, the form of clothing that the Weapon Eccentric had made and brought now was completely different from that.
Here and there, chunks of iron were interwoven, but highly elastic fabric connected the major joints, creating a very unique shape...
'It's like a bulletproof vest.'
A bulletproof vest for martial artists.
That was Dong Bong-su's impression.
It was equipment that one would only expect to see in this world centuries later, yet the Weapon Eccentric had developed it.
"It's not the shape you asked for, but I thought this would be better, so I tried showing off my skills a bit."
Saying that, the Weapon Eccentric handed the clothes to Dong Bong-su.
Swoosh.
Dong Bong-su received it.
Zzzzt.
'Hm?'
Some strange sensation spread from his fingertips throughout his entire body.
It wasn't like static electricity running through him.
It was something different.
A tingling, but not unpleasant sensation.
"But why didn't you answer earlier?"
The Weapon Eccentric said, still holding onto the edge of the clothes.
It was a somewhat sudden question, but Dong Bong-su already knew what he was asking.
"There was no need to answer."
"Because of that, Heaven-Splitting Sticky Blade might have misunderstood."
"He wouldn't have."
"How can you be so sure?"
"If he had misunderstood, he wouldn't have bothered to speak to you through voice transmission."
"Hm, that's true. But still..."
Uncharacteristically, the Weapon Eccentric dragged out his words.
"You have to answer me."
"......."
The Weapon Eccentric's tone became extremely serious, and sharp light burst from his eyes, pressing down on Dong Bong-su's entire body.
It was an even greater pressure than when dozens of assassins had once pressed down on him.
"Will you become my disciple?"
As if he wouldn't give it unless Dong Bong-su agreed, he tightly gripped the clothes made from the [Novice's Sword].
He sent a gaze as intense as his words, but Dong Bong-su took it lightly.
Rather, what was stimulating his nerves right now was the strange current rushing from his fingertips through his entire body.
Unlike his dealings with the Weapon Eccentric, which had gone as calculated, this was something completely unplanned.
"I told you earlier. I already have a master."
Dong Bong-su answered while feeling the strange current freely coursing through the veins of his body.
"Kekekek. In this world?"
"......."
"Is this Eight-Skill Weapon Maniac being pushed aside even by the things of this world?"
"No. You, too, are of this world."
"That's an interesting answer. Then, does that mean I'm also one of your masters?"
At the Weapon Eccentric's words, the mask of Dong Bong-su's expressionless face secretly smiled.
"Fine, fine. That's good enough. Doesn't that mean you'll learn if I teach you?"
He had obtained what he wanted.
If he had immediately acknowledged himself as a disciple to Eulji Tae earlier, he might have ended up with a worse result.
Because the Weapon Eccentric was that kind of person.
In the worst case, he might have become only a half-disciple, or not become a disciple at all.
A short one-act play came to an end, and as a result, Dong Bong-su gained a master who was not quite a master.
"But you don't even know Heaven-Splitting Sticky Blade and Eight-Skill Weapon Maniac?"
"I know them."
"Then how can you be so indifferent?"
"You are merely one of the myriad things under heaven. There is no reason anywhere in this world to be surprised by things."
"Kek, kek, hahahaahahahaha!"
The Weapon Eccentric laughed like a madman at Dong Bong-su's answer.
"Yes, yes. That's it, that's it. That's why I like you. Heh, hehahahahahaha!"
Who could receive the attention of the absolute Ten Supremes and the Ten Great Figures Under Heaven and still remain so calm?
Surely, only Dong Bong-su in the Central Plains could.
Even more important was the fact that there was not a single lie in those words.
However, the Weapon Eccentric did not know that the true reason lay elsewhere, beyond what he thought.
He probably would never know, even until death, or even after death.
The Weapon Eccentric laughed heartily, then stopped and patted Dong Bong-su's shoulder a couple of times before walking toward the door.
"Hey. Let's talk about the rest after we take care of the old man's errand first. Dong Gwang-cheon... disciple."
"......."
"Ugh. Gives me goosebumps. To think this Eight-Skill Weapon Maniac would get a disciple."
With those words, the Weapon Eccentric left the place and went up the stairs.
Dong Bong-su waited until the Weapon Eccentric had completely disappeared from sight, then closed the door.
Bang.
Now, only Dong Bong-su was left there.
He examined the clothes the Weapon Eccentric had made, touching them here and there.
Through the clothes, a tingling yet refreshing current was still flowing in.
He was only thinking of it as a current for convenience.
This was absolutely not electricity.
If this energy were electricity, there would be no way he could be holding it while feeling good.
To confirm it, he would have to wear it.
Testing it on someone else would be useless.
Judging from the Weapon Eccentric's expression and reaction earlier, he clearly could not feel this current at all.
Which meant that these clothes were still being treated as an item, just like the [Novice's Sword].
Why the New Murim Online system still regarded something that had been broken and recreated in a completely different form as an item was not important.
What mattered was the effect.
And.
What was certain was that the effect would be clearly different from the original [Novice's Sword].
This strange current.
The [Novice's Sword] had never possessed such a thing.
Moreover, he had felt something like this current once before.
"......"
Dong Bong-su stood there holding the clothes for quite a long time, then finally put them on.
If his memory was correct, then this current would never...
[Critical ERROR occurred! Critical ERROR occurred! Critical ERROR occurred! The item currently worn by the player is an illegal item without a serial number! The player must immediately remove the item ..... or else .... zzzzt! zzzt! Forced logout …..….. ]
A hologram message that was broken and torn in places.
He had experienced many fatal errors so far, but this was the first time for something like this.
"Kgh—!"
The current that had felt refreshing just moments ago now stormed through his entire body, and the program's error messages also began to ravage his mind.
As if tearing his soul apart.
Like that.
***
At the moment when Dong Bong-su's soul seemed about to be torn to pieces.
The Weapon Eccentric, in a good mood, left his own quarters within the Martial Alliance, the Weapon Record Pavilion, and was exiting the Muhwa Gate.
Whether people were watching or not, he used movement technique and headed toward Zhengzhou's bustling district.
People didn't pay him much mind.
After all, in present-day Zhengzhou, martial artists were not such a rare sight.
A short while later.
The Weapon Eccentric arrived in front of Nangnang Tavern.
Before conducting a full-scale investigation into yesterday's incident, he intended to first search the scene and examine the bodies.
Because such basic steps were the starting point of solving any case.
"How did you come here?"
One of the Martial World Protection Unit members who was guarding the scene approached and asked.
The Martial World Protection Unit members were spread all around this area by Eulji Tae's order.
It was to conduct the basic investigation into yesterday's incident.
Preserving the scene as it was and blocking indiscriminate access by unrelated people was also part of that basic investigation.
So he was checking whether the Weapon Eccentric was a related party or not.
The Weapon Eccentric glanced at him and said.
"I am Bukgung."
"Ah, so you are the Great Swordsman Bukgung! We've been waiting for you."
As if he had received prior word from Eulji Tae, the Martial World Protection Unit member welcomed the Weapon Eccentric's arrival.
"Please come this way."
He lightly cupped his fists and led the Weapon Eccentric into Nangnang Tavern.
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