[TS] Became a Peach Saint – Chapter 276

“Black Hawk, please!”

Perhaps the earnest heart of the Heavenly Blood Daeju reached him. The Black Hawk, which had been flying in circles above the inn, flew toward the Daeju.

Whoosh!

“This Black Hawk, why is it always causing trouble?”

The Black Hawk, having landed gently on the Daeju’s arm, tilted its head innocently, unaware of any wrongdoing.

“Daeju, Han So-jeo has entered the inn. Shouldn’t we wait for a moment?”

The Heavenly Blood Daeju immediately understood what his subordinate meant and frowned.

“What are you talking about! Just because it’s Han So-jeo, do you think she only causes trouble?”

“No, but still…”

“Enough! Don’t say any more. If the elders hear such talk, they’ll be furious. Let’s pretend we didn’t hear it.”

Han Ga-eul—no, Shin Yi—is a figure who is doted on by the elders at the top of the Cheonma Shin Guild, a survival-of-the-fittest environment.

If they dared to touch Shin Yi, who was so cherished, even the ancestors of the Heavenly Blood Guild wouldn’t be able to save them from an immediate trip to the afterlife.

“Yes, Daeju. I’m sorry…”

“I don’t want to lose you all pointlessly, so just be careful from now on.”

Meanwhile, the Daeju, who had tied an official document to the Black Hawk’s leg, double-checked to make sure it wouldn’t fall off mid-flight.

“Alright. Black Hawk, this is urgent, so deliver it as quickly as possible. Understood?”

Though the Black Hawk clearly heard the Daeju’s words, it nonchalantly preened its feathers.

“Black Hawk! Why are you acting like this?”

Its speed was incomparable to a pigeon, and if its path overlapped with other messenger birds, they would rest in the trees until the Black Hawk was out of sight.

‘Even though it’s a hawk worthy of being called a divine creature, why is it acting like this…?’

The clever Black Hawk, which used to roam the vast skies of the Central Plains as if it were its own backyard, was now causing trouble.

Because of this, the Daeju’s patience was burning up, turning his insides black.

‘Could it be…?’

Suddenly, the image of the Black Hawk circling around Han Ga-eul popped into the Daeju’s mind.

“Hmm! Black Hawk, if you deliver this quickly, Han So-jeo will be very pleased.”

The Black Hawk, which had been sitting lazily on the Daeju’s arm, finally turned its head.

“If you deliver the document, Han So-jeo will adore you, won’t she?”

Whoosh!

“Wow, your feathers are so pretty!”

“Wow! Black Hawk, you’re so cool!”

“Black Hawk is the best messenger bird ever!”

“When I grow up, I want to live with Black Hawk!”

In the Black Hawk’s mind, memories began to fabricate themselves upon hearing the Daeju’s words.

“Go! You must reach the elders!”

Whoosh!

As the Daeju flicked his hand toward the sky, the Black Hawk took off faster than ever before.

They needed to inform the elders as soon as possible that their escort target had turned a high-ranking royal official into a bloody mess.

“Phew! It’s finally gone.”

Gurgle—

As the Daeju watched the Black Hawk disappear, a strange sound reached his ears.

When the Daeju turned around, he saw the Heavenly Blood members’ gazes fixed on the third floor of the inn.

Though they looked like beggars, laughter could be heard coming from the inn.

“I want to eat the food Han So-jeo made again.”

One of the members muttered without thinking, and all the Heavenly Blood members nodded in agreement.

“It was unbelievably delicious…”

“I’ve never tasted anything like it before.”

“Right. It was even better than the Young Master’s banquet food.”

“I tried it, and even the famous chef there wasn’t that great.”

“Hmm!”

They were on an important mission.

That’s why they had to be careful with their subordinates’ words and actions, but Daeju felt the same way.

‘Even on the day we first met, he found us right away while we were carrying out Noya’s orders…’

He wanted to deny it out of pride, but he suspected they were pretending not to know.

Just the fact that they left a generous meal in a corner of the forest showed it.

**Boom!**

While Daeju was lost in thought, a sudden explosion made him jerk his neck back.

The thick wooden wall of the inn there was splitting as if it would burst.

“Scout team! Who among the guests at that inn could possibly pick a fight with Han So-jeo?”

Daeju wanted to believe it wasn’t true.

But contrary to what he told his subordinates, Han Ga-eul’s name naturally slipped from his lips.

Even if she was someone who didn’t know compromise, causing trouble everywhere?

‘No… It can’t be.’

“It seems the late-stage disciples are staying there to participate in the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering hosted by the Murim Alliance.”

“No, please!!”

Upon hearing the report, Daeju unknowingly grabbed his subordinate by the collar.

“Gah! D-Daeju!”

“Who! Which late-stage disciple?!”

The Dragon and Phoenix Gathering was a stage where young martial artists could chase their dreams. Even if they didn’t win, just being able to showcase themselves would elevate their names.

That’s why countless people, from nameless wanderers to others, flocked there.

Though it was a martial arts tournament open to anyone of the right age, in reality, it was also a showcase for the late-stage disciples of major sects.

“Our sect’s disciple is this amazing. Your sect’s disciple is only that good?”

A stage for boasting, camaraderie, and a hellish roasting session. That was the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering.

‘If it’s a late-stage disciple from the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering, it might not even be from a major sect.’

This place is Bozhou, located between Anhui and the Murim Alliance.

Though it served as a resting spot for those traveling across vast lands, there were no particularly famous sects or factions stationed here.

**Gulp.**

Daeju swallowed dryly and looked at his subordinate with desperate eyes.

“It’s Namgung Se-ga.”

“Ahhh!”

Upon hearing the report, Daeju grabbed his own hair, and his subordinate watched with a troubled gaze.

The always cold and composed leader of the Cheonhyeol Unit was slowly falling apart.

“Also, the Zhuge family…”

“Ahhh!”

“And the daughters of the Hebei Peng family and the Sichuan Tang family…”

The names of major sects kept hammering into Daeju’s ears.

“Damn it!!”

Daeju, who had been pulling his hair, frantically looked around.

“Black Hawk! Black Hawk!! Where are you, Black Hawk!! You need to come back!”

He should have listened to his subordinate, who said they needed to wait a bit longer to add to the official document since Han Ga-eul had entered the inn.

“Tsk tsk.”

The subordinate reporting could only watch sadly as his leader fell apart in real-time.

**Boom! Boom!**

Meanwhile, the inn’s wall was breached, and a large number of people were sent flying.

“Could it be the escort warriors of the late-stage disciples?”

“Noooooo!!”

A big guy charges in.

Whoosh—!

Crash! Bang! Boom!

I slap the guy, and he rolls toward the woman who flew earlier, foaming at the mouth.

The remaining short guy is just trembling in place, so he doesn’t seem like much of a threat.

“Namgung.”

I grab the back of his head and lift it, revealing his face.

His teeth are shattered, his cheeks sunken, and he’s a bloody mess.

“If you don’t want to die, don’t let me see you again.”

Just as I’m about to lower my hand after slapping him—

Thud.

Something grabs my wrist.

I see wrinkled hands.

“Your hands are too fierce, patron.”

“Who are you?”

“Just an old man passing by.”

Following the aged hand, I see a monk’s robe with a faint scent of incense.

Above it, long white beard and a shiny bald head.

“Monk?”

“Amitabha Buddha.”

The old man, who looks at least eighty, chants the Buddha’s name and nods slightly.

Even in his simple movements, it feels like seeing a living Buddha.

“Ah, yes. Hello, Monk Grandpa.”

“Hehe. Nice to meet you, patron.”

I nod in response to the old monk’s greeting, and the hand holding my wrist slowly lets go.

“Your hands are too full of killing intent. What do you plan to do with those teeth?”

“Killing is a bit much, right?”

The old monk, who seemed startled, quickly puts on a kind expression.

“Then I’ll just break their limbs so they can’t cause trouble.”

“Wait, wait!”

The old monk’s hand grabs my wrist again.

“What’s wrong?”

“Didn’t I say your hands are too cruel?”

“Monk Grandpa. Instead of stopping me, you should’ve stopped these dog-like guys trying to hit a child. Right?”

“Ugh… I was about to, but you were faster.”

The old monk’s hand slowly lets go again.

Whoosh!

At the same time, I slap Namgung Woon-hwi, and the dried blood clot bursts, spilling blood.

Thud!

I let go of Namgung Woon-hwi’s head, and he collapses weakly to the ground.

Crunch!

“Kyaaa!!”

As I finish by stomping on Namgung Woon-hwi’s shoulder, the old monk turns his head, unable to watch.

“Hey.”

“Huh? Me, me? You mean me?”

The short woman points at herself, startled.

“Yeah, you. You really wanna die?”

“Uh… uh…”

“What’s so good about hanging out with these guys? If you don’t wanna die, scram.”

“Eek!”

I would’ve hit her if she said anything, but it’s just a shame.

—Tsk, tsk.

“Whew— Want to come over here?”

“Yes, Great Hero!”

“Great Hero? What’s that?”

I call over the young innkeeper who’s been standing there dazed, and he quickly runs over.

Clink.

“Here. For the inn repairs.”

I hand him a coin, and his eyes widen like they’re about to tear.

“G-Great Hero. That’s too much.”

“You need that much to fix the building. And keep this for yourself.”

I hand him five silver coins.

As he handed it over, the young clerk’s eyes widened once again.

The half-year or even a full year’s salary that the young clerk receives would probably be more than enough.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yes… Thanks to you.”

When he patted the clerk’s head, the clerk shyly lowered his head.

“Jeon Ho.”

“Yes, Han So-jeo.”

“Take these brats and tie them up.”

“Ha, Han So-jeo. These are the children of prestigious families…”

“Hey.”

“Gasp…!”

When he looked at Jeon Ho, he stepped back in surprise.

“Answer.”

“Yes!!”

Whack!

“Ugh!”

Jeon Ho grabbed his kicked shin and hopped back on one foot.

“You’re supposed to be the damn inspector. What are you doing if you’re not inspecting where these trash live?”

“Sorry…”

“You still haven’t come to your senses.”

“No, no!!”

Thud!

“Are you messing with me?”

“Gasp! No, no…”

“Take them and tie them up.”

“Yes!!”

Jeon Ho, who had been holding his shin, quickly gathered the fallen ones and glanced at the old monk nearby.

Seeing his pupils trembling, it seemed like he was someone of importance.

“And make sure this inn isn’t damaged. If anything happens, report to me immediately.”

“Understood, Han So-jeo. I’ll report to the headquarters and take action.”

“Good.”

Staying here too long might give me a heart attack. There’s no normal place around here.

The only things I like are the dumplings and the fact that there’s no indoor smoking ban.

“Sigh—”

“What’s all this commotion!”

Thinking that blocking the third-floor entrance would be safe, the guards finally rushed up.

If not, they probably sent them down to have a good time among themselves.

***

Thanks to driving on rough roads, all the nuts on the motorcycle are loose.

“Jeon Ho, I’ll get a new one, so step back. You might get hurt.”

“Ah, yes.”

Jeon Ho dragged the tied-up ones and stepped back.

Seeing them step back a few paces, he pulled out a truck from the space, and Jeon Ho’s eyes widened.

“You’ve seen it a lot. It’s like magic.”

“Yes…”

What a convenient place.

Clunk.

“Leave them and come here.”

“Yes.”

Opening the truck door and gesturing, Jeon Ho stuck his head in.

“See this round thing? It’s like the ship’s wheel. Turn it left to go left, right to go right. It’s intuitive, so you won’t get confused, right?”

“Uh… Yes.”

“The right pedal below makes it go forward, and the left pedal makes it stop. Any part you don’t understand?”

“No.”

Driving is only difficult on complex roads or due to traffic laws, but stepping on it makes it go, and stepping on it makes it stop—that’s what a car is.

“Then get in.”