Chapter 249 : Jaseung, Unwelcomed
Chapter 249: Jaseung, Unwelcomed
“The Dark Noble Clan has begun to move in earnest.”
At Dan Woobin's report, Baek Seolyoung as well as Mujin and Ma Young-gi wore tense expressions.
“Two thousand elite warriors of the Dark Legion have begun to move in earnest.”
“Two thousand is a considerable number.”
Dan Woobin swallowed and nodded at her surprise.
“That is correct. In particular, the Dark Legion is a powerful organization that can be called the main force of the Dark Noble Clan. Therefore, we are summoning all the forces of the Chongqing branch and the warriors of nearby sub-branches.”
“Will they be enough to stop them?”
“It does not look easy.”
Dan Woobin spoke while looking at Mujin.
“Therefore, it seems that for now, Captain Mu must perform the task of gathering the Orthodox Faction members flocking from all over the Central Plains into one.”
“I accept your command.”
The atmosphere was very solemn as it was a setting for issuing official missions.
Binding those gathered from all over the Central Plains into a single organization was a very important matter. It was a task originally intended for Mujin, but the movement of the Dark Noble Clan was faster than expected.
“You must move the Virtuous Heroes if necessary.”
“Understood.”
Currently, Mujin held the position of the head of the Virtuous Heroes. The plan was to deploy the Virtuous Heroes first if needed, and move the Divine Sword Regiment as late as possible.
The fact that the Black Way Alliance existed in the background.
That was also the most powerful deterrent preventing the Demonic Cult from moving recklessly.
Dan Woobin asked Ma Young-gi.
“Captain Ma must take charge of the rear support for the Chongqing branch.”
“Understood.”
“When is the Iron Cavalry Regiment scheduled to arrive?”
“Ten days from now.”
Currently, the Iron Cavalry Regiment of the Black Way Alliance was coming toward this place. Originally, the Iron Cavalry Regiment guarded the main headquarters of the Black Way Alliance.
However, when the war broke out, Lee Jaseung moved the families of the warriors at the headquarters to a secret safe house of the Black Way Alliance.
They were safe because most of them were far from the battlegrounds where the war was expected to take place. Among them was Songhwa, whom Dan Woobin loved.
Now, there was no longer a need for even the Iron Cavalry Regiment to help the existing forces guard the main headquarters.
They departed in a dispersed manner to avoid the surveillance of the Demonic Cult, and in ten days, they would join under Ma Young-gi's command.
This time, Dan Woobin spoke while looking at Baek Seolyoung.
“When are the forces of the Clan scheduled to arrive?”
“Two days from now.”
The Four Dragons of the Northern Sky Clan and the warriors of the Raging Dragons were rushing toward this place.
“I ask you to guard this command post once they arrive.”
“Yes, I shall do so.”
Once Mujin and Ma Young-gi began to move in earnest, guarding this place was also very important.
Though it was said that Mook Young and the warriors of the Guard Hall guarded him, they were closer to being personal bodyguards rather than a concept of defensive forces.
However, the Four Dragons of the Northern Sky Clan and the Raging Dragons would be able to sufficiently defend this place where the command post was set up.
Dan Woobin spoke while looking at the three people.
“The unfolding situation is unusual. Everyone, please stay alert until the Alliance Leader returns.”
* * *
Upon returning to the lodging for new students, Lee Jaseung first examined his own body. Fortunately, Jo Moongeol had stepped out to give the ailing man some space.
He tried to recover inner Qi by attempting meditation, but it was to no avail.
Well, considering the man he had fought, it was by no means an easy task.
It would have been better if he just couldn't use inner Qi. Even without using inner Qi, he could have dealt with most masters.
However, even physical functions were restricted. He possessed less than one-tenth of his original strength. With just that, he might barely manage to face someone of the First-rate level, but anything beyond that was impossible.
The situation had become one where he might lose his life if things went wrong.
There was also the option of just leaving this place. Looking at the current situation, it seemed no one would stop him if he just walked out. This was merely a training hall where one paid money to learn martial arts.
However, he did not do so.
There must be a reason why the man threw him into this situation.
Whether it was out of goodwill or malice, he had to find the answer here.
He sat cross-legged in the middle of the room again.
He changed the approach to the solution.
Instead of approaching with the intent to fix the body, he examined the body from a thorough observer's perspective.
First, the Dantian. No matter how he looked at it, no direct harm had been inflicted on the Dantian.
Just how long had he examined the Dantian like that?
He was able to discover one surprising fact. A certain thin membrane was surrounding the Dantian. It was a membrane that couldn't be discovered unless one examined very carefully. That membrane was completely sealing the Dantian.
And that membrane was a tough one that his pure inner Qi of one hundred and eighty years could not pierce.
It was the first time he experienced this since learning martial arts. No, it was something he had never even heard of from anyone.
Could it be?
He examined the body this time.
Indeed, the body was the same. A truly thin membrane was pressing on various parts of the muscles.
Just what was this membrane?
Could a human actually create such a membrane?
At least, it was something he could not create. He could create a membrane that blocked sound, and a membrane that could block rain.
But he could not create a membrane on someone's body to control that body. It must certainly be made of energy, but how on earth could one leave such energy in an opponent's body?
It was something he had never even attempted.
In an instant, his eyes flashed. He had thought of a clue to the solution.
What if I tried to do the same?
If I can do it, wouldn't I also be able to find the way to undo it?
It was a far-fetched thought. One could not master a martial art seen for the first time in just a day or two.
But this was the only way.
To achieve the same thing.
He closed his eyes and fell into deep meditation.
* * *
Even when the next day arrived, he still had not found the answer.
The way to restore the Dantian.
Nor the reason why he was thrown into this place.
It wouldn't be just to punish that ruffian in front of him.
“Now, I will conduct the welcoming ceremony from this moment.”
Gwangdu, standing across from him on the dueling platform, was revealing a powerful hostility that made one think it was a miracle he had endured for a single day.
One could tell just by that single attitude. How he had treated his juniors normally.
“The rules are simple. You just have to withstand my attacks for fifteen minutes. And if you cannot withstand them?”
Even though it was a moment where he should have worn a smirk of satisfaction, Gwangdu's expression was distorted. Lee Jaseung's indifferent attitude toward him was extremely bothersome.
In such a situation, one should suspect that the opponent might have a trick up their sleeve, but Gwangdu could not do so because he had lived for quite a long time with an arrogant attitude.
Instead, only unnecessary hostility increased.
“You better be prepared.”
The corners of his mouth curled up.
At any rate, he was not in a situation to stay here for long. That was also a bad situation for Gwangdu.
Because he could sufficiently handle such a loafer even if his body was not normal.
Shweeeek!
Gwangdu threw his body forward roughly.
He ducked and dodged the fist that came flying fiercely.
It was naturally dodgable, but his heart grew frustrated at the stifling movement.
He felt anew what it was like for the body to be slow.
Whish! Whish! Whish!
Gwangdu's fists flew in succession.
His fist, while twisting his body to dodge here and there, dug into a weak point.
Thud!
The fist was buried mercilessly in Gwangdu's lower abdomen.
“Ugh!”
Gwangdu tried to fall to his knees just like that.
Of course, he had no intention of ending it in one blow.
Thud! Thud!
Fists were buried in Gwangdu's chest in succession.
Gwangdu staggered and retreated.
“Stop!”
Gwangdu's comrades jumped up onto the dueling platform.
Pow!
Lee Jaseung’s final blow struck Gwangdu's face.
With a thud, Gwangdu fell flat on his back. He had gone easy on him to this extent because he had no intention of killing him or dragging the situation into something serious. Gwangdu would be able to get up after being ill and groaning for a few days.
Jo Moongeol, who was below the dueling platform, turned pale. Since he had beaten up that foul-tempered Gwangdu, it was a total uproar.
“You bastard!”
One of the men who had stepped onto the platform rushed toward Lee Jaseung.
But the man soon stopped. He had taken a stance to fight back instead of avoiding him.
The man who attacked was weaker than Gwangdu.
He could not rush at the person who had smashed Gwangdu.
“Are you rebelling against a senior?”
The man showed a weak side and looked back. The other men swarmed out, acting like comrades.
“Break his neck!”
“I will show you what happens when you look down on a senior!”
“Beat him to death!”
No one dared to step forward first to attack, and only the words were abundant.
Lee Jaseung glared at them and said coldly.
“Is the welcoming ceremony of the Number One Training Hall in the Central Plains merely this much?”
At those words, the men could not say anything. In fact, this welcoming ceremony was not something official. It was a kind of bad custom that the teachers of the training hall turned a blind eye to, even though they knew it was something seniors did to establish discipline over juniors.
At that time, a word was heard from behind.
“No, it is not. Of course it is not.”
Lee Jaseung turned around.
An old man stood behind. Dressed in clean robes, he could tell at a glance that the man was no ordinary master.
Voices were heard in unison from behind.
“We greet the Grand Master.”
The students bowed in unison.
He was none other than Ha Baek, the master of the Number One Training Hall in the Central Plains. Three or four teachers were lined up behind him.
Ha Baek asked.
“Are you a new student?”
“Yes, I am.”
“Your movements were fast. Have you mastered martial arts?”
“No. I've just been in all sorts of fights while growing up in the back alleys.”
One of the teachers said lowly.
“Bow quickly!”
But he did not listen to those words.
“I will bow later. Because I don't know yet if you will become my teacher.”
At his bold words, the teacher's expression hardened instantly.
“Hahahaha.”
Ha Baek laughed loudly.
“You have spirit. Yes, one must have spirit while young.”
With that, Ha Baek turned away.
Lee Jaseung could tell. The master's expression upon turning away would be hardened. The old man was probably trying to show the other teachers that his mood had become uncomfortable because of such an impudent brat.
If he were truly a proper hall master, he would have settled this situation properly before turning away. For example, by saying let's see each other later. At the very least, he would have asked for his name. Even if he were to give a punishment, he would have given it directly.
It was truly a useless sense of authority.
Old man! Relax those shoulders!
Do you even know how much the strength in those shoulders drains the energy of the person below you!
Truly, why has it become so hard to find a decent old man in this Jianghu?
At the same time, Lee Jaseung thought. He must take this as a negative example.
Indeed, even after Ha Baek and the others left, one teacher remained. The one who had shouted to bow earlier was So Chuyang, who taught swordsmanship.
So Chuyang glared at him with a terrifying gaze.
“Impudent brat! Lock this bastard in the Hall of Heart-Clearing!”
Then the students who were with Gwangdu stepped forward.
He did not like the situation, but since he could not defy those words in this situation, he was quietly led by the hands of the students.
After walking about a hundred steps around the building, the building of the Hall of Heart-Clearing was visible far off. A gloomy atmosphere that was completely different from its name. Looking at the worn and old building, Lee Jaseung actually felt expectant.
Could the reason he woke up here be related to that place?