Chapter 19

19. The Man of Rain and Steel (2)

I can't obtain the main weapon I used to use right now. So, I'm in a situation where I need to find a substitute main weapon until then. The key is whether Uncle Jincheolyong can make it.

Actually, it's fine even if he can't make it.

I just hope that Jincheolyong, instead of disappearing while making weapons with only good handles, becomes a craftsman who challenges more valuable work.

...

As Jincheolyong watched the rain, he said to me,

"It's not an easy task."

"That's true."

"Most importantly, it's not easy to find such hard iron. If we could find eternal steel as you said, everything would be solved. But finding eternal steel is as difficult as Jianghu people obtaining Qingzheng oil."

"That's true."

"However, if it's also heavy, it might be worth checking the black market."

The black market is a general term for the places where Jianghu experts obtain weapons. There are places that hold auctions and places that sell custom-made weapons. When Jincheolyong says he will check the black market, it sounds like he intends to find iron, not to buy a finished sword or knife.

I remained silent here.

Making weapons is entirely the responsibility of Jincheolyong, who has run an iron shop for a long time. It's not my place to interfere.

However, if Jincheolyong really makes a weapon that satisfies me, it will be my good fortune and his destiny.

It seems that Jianghu experts didn't make excellent weapons at will because they were afraid. I intend to break this taboo.

Anyway, if something happens at the Dragon Head Iron Shop, I plan to protect it.

Jincheolyong asked me,

"Do you have a name in mind?"

I immediately answered with the name of the weapon.

"The name of the weapon is Kuangren (狂刃)."

Madness (狂) and blade (刃).

Jincheolyong murmured the meaning of the weapon.

"Does it mean a mad blade? If so, when you said the shape of the weapon doesn't matter, does it mean the blade is intended to tear the opponent to death?"

"Something like that."

"Can I make it a straight sword? If I don't want to use any tricks, a straight sword is the most appropriate."

A straight sword is a sword with a completely straight blade.

"A straight sword (直刀) would be even better. Men are straightforward, after all."

At my unexpected joke, Jincheolyong glared at me for a moment and then said,

"Alright, I'll make it a straight sword. Its name will be Kuangren, and it will embody my unbreakable belief."

I smiled slightly.

"Alright."

Zhang Desheng, who had been listening quietly, added,

"Kuangren... What a terrifying name."

Jincheolyong, imagining the weapon he had to make, asked,

"What's the deadline?"

"The deadline is set by the craftsman, not the client. Will a craftsman be satisfied with the result just because the client demands it? Anytime is fine."

In fact, Jincheolyong has never been a craftsman, but I intend to treat him as one.

Jincheolyong stroked his chin.

"That's true. It's also impossible to predict the time it takes to obtain materials. I'll call you one day and give you the Kuangren as a gift. That's what I mean."

"Understood."

Jincheolyong pointed to the empty bowl and said,

"The noodles are on you today. I got a good meal today."

"Can a poor waiter get a free meal?"

Jincheolyong looked at me with a disapproving expression.

"You're not a waiter. I don't know when it started, but you're not. Today, we'll get a free meal from the head of Haomen."

Zhang Desheng, who was wiping the bowls, asked curiously,

"Haomen? What's Haomen? Did Zha create it?"

I answered him.

"Brother Desheng."

"What?"

"You're also part of Haomen."

Zhang Desheng replied with a surprised look.

"Huh? Me? When did I join?"

"Everyone I know is already a member."

"Ah."

"In that sense, the head of Haomen can always provide free noodles. Got it?"

Zhang Desheng glared at me with tiger-like eyes and said sternly,

"Sir, why are you doing this?"

"..."

Anyway, it doesn't work well with the men of Riliang County.

I had no choice but to take out money from my bag and put it on the table.

Suddenly, my gaze turned to the outside of Chunyang Restaurant. Jincheolyong and Zhang Desheng followed my gaze and looked outside.

Men were standing in the rain.

Jincheolyong said with concern,

"Hmm, uninvited guests in the rain. Of course, they must be your enemies. I've never committed a sin, so I haven't. I haven't even been near a brothel."

Zhang Desheng's eyes immediately softened.

"I can't help even if I want to. I can't do business if I get hurt."

Still, Zhang Desheng checked the position of the sharpest kitchen knife. If they stormed into Chunyang Restaurant, he was prepared to use a knife.

I shook my head and said,

"Is there any sign that these guys are looking for me?"

At that moment, the guys outside said to Chunyang Restaurant,

"Zha... We know you're there. Come outside."

Zhang Desheng nodded.

"Head, they want you to come out."

As I, who had been promoted from a customer to the head, looked at Zhang Desheng, he said solemnly,

"Be careful."

Jincheolyong was genuinely worried about me.

"Head, be careful. My back hurts when it rains... It's a chronic condition."

I stood up and took out a whip from my waist.

"Leave it to me. These guys, bothering me in the rain."

As I left the shop, Jincheolyong said to Zhang Desheng,

"The term 'these guys' sounds like he's talking about us."

Zhang Desheng shook his head.

"No, he's not."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I'm his brother. Zha isn't that kind of guy."

"In Jianghu, the stronger martial artist is the brother."

"Then you're also Zha's younger brother?"

"Zhang, do you want to compare martial arts with someone over ten years older? Let's just let it go."

"Understood."

* * *

I went outside and looked at the rats in the rain.

Only one of them had the aura of a high-level expert. A bald man wrapped in a raincoat, only exposing his eyes.

Sure enough, the bald man in the raincoat spoke.

"Is this the weakling?"

The other men answered.

"Yes."

The eyes of the man in the raincoat, looking at me, were truly murderous.

"According to these guys, you dared to kill Nengzhishi of Heixianbao. Is that true?"

I tilted my head.

"I've heard the name Nengzhishi before."

Of course, I knew it was the guy who died by my hands near Zha's guesthouse.

Looking at the rats around me, I recognized quite a few faces. They were the martial artists from Shihuaru. That means they are other subordinates of Zhaosanping.

I asked the man in the raincoat,

"Are you Nengzhishi's senior brother, standing in the rain?"

"I am Weixianwu of Heixianbao."

As soon as I heard the name Weixianwu, a nickname came to mind.

'If it's Weixianwu, he must be one of the Ring Knife Twin Demons (环刀双鬼).'

What kind of fate is this?

During my time as the head of Haomen, the Ring Knife Twin Demons were the ones who attacked me and died.

Weixianwu and Ouyangshou, senior brothers, are known as the Ring Knife Twin Demons. I just learned that they are from Heixianbao. Perhaps Heixianbao is a loosely-knit force, and they left it later.

One day, during a major dispute over Zhangbaodao, the Ring Knife Twin Demons, who killed fifty to sixty high-level experts from the black and white paths in one night, were the Ring Knife Twin Demons.

Of course, the Ring Knife Twin Demons died by my hands, and the treasure at the location indicated by Zhangbaodao also became mine.

As Weixianwu took off his raincoat, his face was fully revealed.

The guy who died by my hands was looking at me with a young face.

Of course, I didn't rule out the possibility that Ouyangshou was hiding nearby.

Holding the whip, I said,

"Shihuaru guys, go inside. If you don't want to get involved and die."

Weixianwu, obsessed with killing me, didn't even glance at the lackeys. The lackeys of Shihuaru quietly retreated and took positions at a distance, curious about the outcome of the fight.

Weixianwu asked,

"Kid, why did you kill Nengzhishi?"

I replied briefly,

"For burning down my house."

Weixianwu grinned.

"That was a good reason to kill. Thanks to you, you'll die too."

"Does everything go as you wish? There are few things that go as smoothly as your hair."

A vein bulged on Weixianwu's forehead.

"I'll tear your mouth first."

At that moment, the sky flashed.

Weixianwu and I, clearly seeing each other's faces, both grinned.

Weixianwu took a stance, gripping two ring knives. He is stronger when he fights with Ouyangshou, his senior brother, in a coordinated attack.

Unfortunately for the Ring Knife Twin Demons, I know their sword techniques well.

Not only the Ring Knife Twin Demons, but I have also had several disputes with the Wulin Alliance, so the more skilled the expert, the higher the chance I know them.

Now, I have the power of the Golden Cage Leisure Technique created in the Heavenly Prison and the experience from my previous life.

Because of this, all of this is just a game on a rainy day.

"Weixianwu, you're shortening your life unnecessarily. You have the physiognomy to live a long life if you don't meet me. What a pity."

Although I mentioned his fate from my previous life, Weixianwu, who couldn't understand it, sneered.

"Crazy bastard."

"Sharp."

Meanwhile, the rain became heavier.

Sssssssssss...

Weixianwu, splashing the puddles, charged fiercely. As my whip flew, Weixianwu, sliding to avoid it, closed the distance quickly, swinging his two ring knives. His movements showed that he knew how to kill an opponent with a whip.

He didn't intend to keep his distance.

On the contrary, I moved horizontally, securing the distance where I could strike with my whip.

For a while, Weixianwu and I moved in a circle, maintaining a tense standoff while trying to gain the upper hand. We were drenched in the rain.

While moving, I splashed the puddles, intentionally spraying water in Weixianwu's path, and Weixianwu diligently swung his ring knives to deflect the rain with the broad sides of the blades.

My strategy in the preliminary battle was to maintain a tense standoff with Weixianwu.

This way, Ouyangshou, who was likely waiting nearby, would reveal himself with a high probability.

For this reason, I focused on defense.

Meanwhile, the sky flashed three times in a row, and thunder rumbled in the distance.

Suddenly, the sound of splashing water was heard, and Chachengtai arrived, holding a straight sword.

As soon as Chachengtai arrived, I warned him,

"Stay on guard. He's a high-level expert."

"Understood."

Chachengtai briefly replied and took off his blindfold. The heavy rain made it hard to see.

While blocking Weixianwu's attack, I had to tell Chachengtai,

"There's another one nearby. Be careful."

Chachengtai was startled and looked around through the heavy rain, gripping his straight sword tightly.

"Understood."

A moment later, Chachengtai said,

"There are only the lackeys of Shihuaru."

Before Chachengtai finished speaking, a black object spun through the rain and flew over.

"Huh?"

Then, two blades unfolded to the left and right, and Ouyangshou, with a dark complexion, appeared and joined Weixianwu.

Chachengtai, shocked, cursed,

"Damn, he was really here."

Seeing Ouyangshou's face after a long time, I couldn't help but laugh.

"Hehe."

Since both of the Ring Knife Twin Demons were here, there was no need to hold back. I immediately wrapped my whip with the Flame Technique.

The whip, moving like a nasty snake in the rain, was surrounded by a red glow.

Ouyangshou, warning Weixianwu, said briefly,

"Junior brother, he's a high-level expert hiding his strength. Be careful."

"Understood."

Weixianwu and Ouyangshou split to the left and right, surrounding me from both sides, each swinging their ring knives. They chose this formation to prolong the fight, having assessed my strength.

Since a whip takes longer to retract than other weapons, the Ring Knife Twin Demons' response was appropriate.

Now, one of them would likely entangle my whip with their two ring knives, while the other would attack from behind.

Reading the Ring Knife Twin Demons' thoughts, I engaged in a water battle.