Chapter 74
‘My goodness…’
The atmosphere sank heavily.
At this moment, no one dared to step forward, and they could only cautiously observe the expressions of the two.
The Green Forest General Fortress Lord and one of the Ten Great Masters of the Unorthodox Path, Jang Beon-pal.
And Jin So-ah, the great disciple of the Moyong Family and the chief instructor of the White Martial Academy.
The moment of their ki battle was so tense that it made one break out in a cold sweat just by watching.
Just then.
“Kuhahahahaha!”
The first to speak was Jang Beon-pal.
Although he had been glaring at So-ah as if to kill him just a moment ago, for some reason, he was now bursting into a loud laugh.
But even so, So-ah was rather tense.
It was because the internal energy contained in Jang Beon-pal’s laughter had turned into a sharp ki and was piercing his whole body like an awl.
‘A person who can kill with just his voice and breath. The name of the Ten Great Masters of the Unorthodox Path is not a mere bluff.’
His firmly closed lips trembled slightly.
It was the first time he had been so agitated by someone since he had faced the Right Heavenly Demon Sword, No Yeong-myeong.
‘Don’t tell me I’m scared?’
So-ah asked himself inwardly.
Was this vague feeling he was experiencing fear?
Was it a terror caused by a strong opponent?
The unfamiliar ripple of emotion briefly confused him, but soon.
‘There’s no way I would be.’
So-ah was able to find the answer.
He was not scared.
He was not afraid either.
Terror?
In the first place, it didn’t suit him, and even if he were to face it someday.
‘I just have to overcome it.’
It was a thought worthy of So-ah.
At least until he placed the Moyong Family on a firm foundation.
‘I won’t break, and I won’t be intimidated, that’s it!’
Grin.
So-ah, who had completely erased his tense expression, looked at Jang Beon-pal and curled up the corners of his mouth slightly.
His pounding heart, the sweat that had been flowing, and even his dazed mind.
In the moment when everything stopped, his fighting spirit flared up like a volcano.
‘Senior Brother… he seems different from usual.’
‘Has he awakened or something?’
‘So-ah…’
All the students sensed So-ah’s momentum.
In the moment when the mountain bandits of the Twin Dragon Fortress also felt that the flow of the room was rapidly twisting.
“What an amazing brat. To not only receive my fighting spirit head-on, but to even show your own fighting spirit.”
A low murmur flowed from Jang Beon-pal’s mouth.
***
An indescribable emotion slowly soaked into Jang Beon-pal’s heart.
When!
When on earth had he felt this kind of tremor?
The Green Forest General Fortress Lord.
One of the Ten Great Masters of the Unorthodox Path.
Since he was called the number one eccentric in the world, the Green Forest Demon Emperor, Jang Beon-pal, he had never once felt a thrill like today.
No matter how outstanding a master was, they would tremble at the sound of his name, and in a touch-and-go situation, wasn’t it the martial artists who would beg for their lives without exception just by shooting out their fighting spirit?
But today.
Jang Beon-pal had to change his mind.
The young man in front of him, who seemed to have just reached the age of majority.
He did not show the appearance of a natural martial bone or a prodigy.
But that young man, with only a handsome face and a dignified appearance, was just staring at him with detached eyes, having nullified his own fighting spirit.
‘A courage that will one day be able to discuss the number one of the era. Keke!’
The aspiration as a martial artist, which he had forgotten in the countless years that had passed, faintly warmed his whole body.
At the fever of that hot emotion, Jang Beon-pal asked with an interested face.
“What is your name?”
“I have not yet heard an answer from you.”
“What?”
At this point, So-ah could have backed down.
Because Jang Beon-pal had shown the utmost tolerance by not acting immediately.
But even so, So-ah did not back down.
He had completely shed his reverence for his senior by using honorifics.
So-ah had no intention of proceeding with the negotiation in a state of having conceded a point.
“Brat. Your courage and schemes are so commendable that I have shown you mercy. But you should know that any further arrogance is recklessness. Do not make an irreversible mistake.”
“I am grateful for that. But I will only do what I have to do.”
“What you have to do? Are you saying that what you have to do is to go against my will?”
“You are mistaken.”
“…”
“What I have to do is to resolve the misunderstanding between the Twin Dragon Fortress and the Daemyeong Escort Agency, reach an amicable agreement, and retrieve some of the goods. And to transport those goods to the Shaolin Temple in Songshan. Also, to protect the students of our academy from external dangers that may arise in the process. That is my job.”
It was the students who were surprised by So-ah’s clear and concise words.
Although they had been so shrunken by Jang Beon-pal’s ki that they could not even breathe properly, the moment they heard So-ah’s words, they felt something hot welling up in a corner of their hearts.
‘Instructor Jin…’
‘So-ah…’
‘Senior Brother…’
The students placed their hands on their weapons.
Since they had confirmed So-ah’s firm will and belief, they had long since erased any thought of backing down.
At this moment.
They were martial artists.
Just then.
“Kuhaha! Good. I like you, brat.”
Jang Beon-pal suddenly burst into a loud laugh and opened his mouth.
“What a clever brat. Keke. Alright. I will give you what you want. The goods of the Daemyeong Escort Agency? Take as much as you want.”
“Is that true?”
“This old man has never gone back on his word.”
For a moment, a look of pleasure spread across the faces of So-ah and the students.
But.
“But! As for me, I am a person who is clear about my favors and grudges.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I will give you the goods, but before that, you must pay the price for your arrogance and recklessness.”
‘…!’
‘As expected… he’s an eccentric!’
‘I thought things were going too well.’
The students exclaimed inwardly.
In other words, Jang Beon-pal had issued a warning that he would hold So-ah accountable.
But the students’ anxiety and worry soon scattered and disappeared.
It was because of So-ah’s following words.
“I will pay that price.”
At the same time.
“Senior Brother!”
“So-ah!”
“Instructor!”
The students shouted,
—Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!
They drew their respective weapons.
In an instant, dozens of sabers, swords, and spears revealed their sharp edges, and perhaps feeling the pressure, the mountain bandits of the Twin Dragon Fortress also drew their great sabers and growled as if they would attack at any moment.
“Everyone, stop!”
“Instructor!”
“This is my business. Stay out of it.”
So-ah stopped the students.
But they did not stop.
“How is this only the instructor’s business? It is strictly a mission of the Human Division.”
“That’s right. We will fight together!”
“If we join forces, we may not be able to guarantee victory, but we can avoid certain defeat!”
“Even if we die, let’s die together, instructor!”
The students grumbled at So-ah, who was stepping forward alone.
Jang Beon-pal, who was watching the scene, was dumbfounded, but he seemed to be waiting for So-ah’s reaction, curious.
In that moment.
“You guys, you’re acting up again, not knowing your place. What? You can’t guarantee victory? Even if we die, we die together? Who’s going to die? Huh? And who said we’re going to lose?”
‘That… that person!’
Jang Beon-pal’s face was colored with astonishment at So-ah’s words.
He liked his spirited and resolute appearance.
Therefore, as a senior in the martial world, he wanted to gauge his skills.
But what on earth was that brat saying now?
“Tell me how to pay the price.”
“You… you brat…”
“It’s what I’m thinking, right?”
“Hah…”
“There’s no need for preliminaries or concessions. We don’t have a grudge, so it won’t be a life-and-death battle. Instead, since you want a price for my arrogance, I will do my best. Will this be enough of a repayment?”
“It wasn’t arrogance, but madness.”
“I sometimes hear that, Senior.”
Jang Beon-pal was more bewildered at this moment than all the bewilderment he had felt in his life combined.
So much so that he could only laugh.
“Keke. Alright. I will see your skills. But! Do not disappoint this old man. If you have shown such arrogance in front of me with insignificant skills, I will not let you live.”
So-ah did not answer those words.
Instead, he showed a ready stance.
“I, Jin So-ah, a great disciple of the Moyong Family of Liaoning, who studied under the God of War, Moyong Cheon, would like to request a duel with the master of the Twin Dragon Fortress, Senior Jang.”
***
“Ah…!”
It was a long sigh.
Jang Beon-pal’s gaze was not on So-ah’s body, but on the empty air.
‘The God of War, Moyong Cheon!’
Only then could he understand the whole story of this absurd incident.
The God of War, Moyong Cheon!
The meaning of that name was more special to the Unorthodox Path and the evil and demonic sects than to the Orthodox Martial Path.
The Blood Demon, Tae Ho-gong, the cult leader of the extremely evil Blood Cult, who had compiled all the strange and great laws scattered throughout the world and had practiced human sacrifice.
The infamous murderers, the Twin Demon Geezers, who had scattered a storm of blood in the Jianghu for decades with a single sword and a single saber.
Even the Heavenly Demon, Wi-ji Un, who was known to have achieved the strongest realm in history as the leader of the number one group in the Jianghu martial world.
All of them could not surpass the name of Moyong Cheon.
Self-proclaimed and recognized by others, unprecedented, the number one in the world of his time!
The moment the name Moyong Cheon flowed from So-ah’s mouth, Jang Beon-pal had a change of heart.
‘If he is the disciple of the God of War, he is qualified.’
That is, qualified to die at his hands!
Gooooo…!
A heavy killing intent began to rise from around Jang Beon-pal’s body.
That killing intent soon turned into an formless ki, and the earth, soil, and air around them exploded and shattered.
Tak, tatatak!
[Everyone, maximize your protective ki and avoid the aftermath! Don’t get in the way trying to help, you’ll be wiped out without a trace! Keep my words in mind!]
So-ah urgently sent a telepathic message to the students.
The students were about to say something, but they had to give up.
Because So-ah’s expression was very serious, unlike usual.
“Did you say So-ah?”
“That is correct.”
“The common people know this old man as a master of the saber, but in fact, I am a master of unarmed combat. But it was overshadowed by the Ten-Second Invincible Arts of the esteemed God of War and could not see the light.”
“…”
“Fortunately, I have recently gained enlightenment in the fist, palm, and kick, so I can give you a good lesson. You, do your best and come at me.”
Hwiiiiing…!
As soon as his words ended, a fierce whirlwind began to gather in Jang Beon-pal’s right hand.
‘What a great wind power!’
Just by seeing that, So-ah could tell how proficient Jang Beon-pal was in physical techniques.
“Alright.”
In that moment.
Clank… clank… thud, kwang!
A loud noise erupted.
‘Huh…’
‘My goodness… he was wearing those?’
‘Isn’t that black iron?!’
Everyone had a dumbfounded expression.
It was because So-ah had taken off his clothes and thrown off the black iron masses that he had been wearing on his wrists, ankles, and even his waist.
The iron masses were so heavy that when they were thrown on the ground, the ground sank.
Along with that, So-ah smirked and swung his arms.
“I don’t usually take them off. Tsk… this should be a real show of sincerity, Senior?”
“What…”
“Was it the Right Heavenly Demon Sword, No Yeong-myeong? Anyway, when I was blowing that old man’s eyeball out, I took them off just once. That’s how serious I am.”
“…”
“Be prepared!”
Papang!
So-ah’s Swift Whale Step, which had been freed from the black iron masses that were said to be the heaviest in the world, rushed forward like a flash of lightning, imbued with the principles of the Bow Body Ejection Shadow.
(End of Chapter)