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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: You Shouldn't Insult Someone's Looks
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Thanks to the Young Dragon Ascension Tournament, many martial artists from the surrounding areas had gathered in Xichang.
Lately, stories of Hwa Mujin of the Yeomhwa Family, the rising master known as the Hidden Dragon of Xichang, were endless throughout Sichuan.
The eldest son of a fallen martial family, who had suffered from madness for seventeen years due to the Seven Injuries Fist inflicted by his cousin, had regained his sanity and revealed his hidden martial talent, emerging as a new master.
It was the perfect kind of story for people to gossip about.
Especially since it was about the central figure in the Yeomhwa Family's revival after their sudden collapse, which had sent shockwaves through Sichuan—what better tale to embellish?
Countless rumors began to surround the fall of the Yeomhwa Family, and naturally, there was much talk about the fortuitous encounter of Hwa Mujin, who carried a great iron sword instead of the Flame Emperor's secret techniques.
And amidst all this, the Young Dragon Ascension Tournament was held.
Naturally, public interest grew over whether the Yeomhwa Family would participate, and that interest fueled the tournament's success.
But now that the Young Dragon Ascension Tournament was over, not a single word was spoken about the winner in the Xichang area.
-Where on earth did the Yeomhwa Family's swordsmanship come from?
All discussion centered on the appearance of Hwang Jo-san's lost sword techniques and Hwa Mujin's martial arts.
In particular, a rumor spread by the martial artists who had watched the duel ignited a fire in the hearts of Xichang's young men.
-If you join the Yeomhwa Family, you will be taught Hwang Jo-san's secret arts.
The reality was that one had to pay a large sum of money just to learn basic introductory arts at a martial hall.
If you couldn't pay properly, you would have to serve as an official and warrior of the hall for ten or fifteen years as a matter of course.
But the fact that one could be initiated into high-level martial arts while receiving a monthly salary was inspiring not only to the young men but to countless other martial artists as well.
Into this bustling Xichang area walked the master of the Grass Blade Sect and the young elder of the Moon-Slaying Sword Sect, making their way toward the much-talked-about Yeomhwa Family.
"So much talk over a martial family that was on the verge of collapse."
At the Grass Blade Sect master's words, the martial artist in his early thirties, who had secured the position of the youngest elder in the Moon-Slaying Sword Sect, smiled.
"Isn't it what they call a final burst of radiance? A flame always burns brightest just before it goes out. After today, the name of the Yeomhwa Family will never be heard in the martial world again."
A family with nothing more than a dozen third-rate warriors and two first-rate elderly masters.
What was so special about adding one rising young martial artist, the so-called Hidden Dragon of Xichang, to a fallen family so pathetic that the term 'family' was an embarrassment?
What kind of family has not a single peak master?
The Grass Blade Sect alone was a school with three first-rate masters and over a hundred second-rate disciples.
And what about the Moon-Slaying Sword Sect?
Including their sect leader, they had five peak masters.
Besides, wasn't there Su Ju-gang, the rising new master of the Unorthodox Faction, who was on the verge of reaching the peak?
The rising star of the Unorthodox Faction, nearing the peak in his early thirties.
The man with the fearsome moniker, 'One Step, One Kill'.
His name was already quite well-known not only in Guizhou but also in the Guangxi and Hunan regions.
Thus, the trio advanced toward the Yeomhwa Family with fearless steps.
Naturally, many of the people gathered in Xichang recognized Su Ju-gang, One Step, One Kill.
-Why has One Step, One Kill appeared in Xichang?
-Isn't that the direction of the Yeomhwa Family?
-Does the Moon-Slaying Sword Sect have some grudge against the Yeomhwa Family?
-Could it be because Young Master Hwa disbanded the Bangho Gang?
-What does the Bangho Gang have to do with the Moon-Slaying Sword Sect?
-Didn't you know? The Bangho Gang was under the protection of the Grass Blade Sect.
-And the Grass Blade Sect and the Moon-Slaying Sword Sect have a similar relationship.
Their mere appearance set off a flurry of rumors throughout Xichang about the Moon-Slaying Sword Sect and the Yeomhwa Family.
Some were worried, while others were enraged that a member of the Unorthodox Faction had come all the way to Xichang to harm the Yeomhwa Family, a member of Sichuan's Orthodox Faction.
Of course, there were also those who watched from the sidelines, enjoying the spectacle as if it were an entertaining show.
But regardless of what people chattered about, the three martial artists finally arrived at the Yeomhwa Family estate.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. It's harder to find an intact spot from the stairs to the main gate."
At the words of Hong Jo-hang, master of the Grass Blade Sect, Su Ju-gang, One Step, One Kill, nodded.
"As they say, see one thing and you know ten, right? Seeing this sorry state, I get the picture."
"Not a single warrior guarding the gate. Tsk, tsk, tsk."
In the eyes of the Grass Blade Sect's master, this place lacked the very basics.
For a martial family, the warriors guarding the main gate were the face of the household.
But what other martial family in the world couldn't even afford to station a single gatekeeper?
Without hesitation, they climbed the cracked and broken stone steps.
-*Craaaash!*
The moment Su Ju-gang, One Step, One Kill, touched the main gate of the Yeomhwa Family estate, it shattered with a thunderous roar and went flying.
Perhaps it was fortunate that the warriors training with the Four Demons of Mount Jung were not guarding the main gate.
The first to rush over at the deafening sound were the warriors who had just finished their morning training and were resting in a nearby patch of shade.
Seeing them run over bare-handed, shirtless, and covered in dirt, the three martial artists sneered.
"Did you just come from some construction site?"
"I can't tell if those are the warriors of a martial family or tenant farmers."
At those words, the warriors were about to charge forward in a rage, but Cheol Bo-in, the captain of the Heavenly Blood Sword Unit, raised a hand to stop them.
"Stop! They are not our opponents!"
As the only one among the warriors to have reached the second-rate realm, he could sense that the trio's presence was far beyond their league, and his expression was tense.
Just then, the Four Demons who had been training them appeared.
It was the hundredth day since they had taken charge of the warriors.
The Four Demons, already in a foul mood because the warriors weren't progressing as much as Mujin had initially hoped, appeared with scowls plastered on their faces.
They had already pushed the warriors to their breaking point, and the slow pace of their growth, with no more room to squeeze out improvement, was frustrating them.
At the appearance of the four men, their already fierce expressions contorted, the three intruders who had barged into the estate flinched, their faces stiffening for a moment.
They had been momentarily tense upon seeing their extraordinary faces, but when they sensed that the aura emanating from the Four Demons wasn't particularly formidable, they quickly relaxed.
"What are these bandits doing popping out of nowhere? Has the Yeomhwa Family joined hands with the Green Forest bandits?"
At the Grass Blade Sect master's words, the Four Demons, who were already in a bad mood, saw their faces darken even further.
"Did that bastard just say we look like bandits?"
At Cheol-muk's question, No-sak nodded.
"That's right, brother. Should I break his back?"
"Not his back, his tongue, brother."
"Let's not just cut it, let's rip it out entirely."
Watching them, whose words and actions were just like those of bandits, the three martial artists wore expressions of contempt.
Everywhere you go, the weak fail to recognize the strong and act so arrogantly. How could one not bloody their hands?
"If a weakling wants to live a long life, he needs to be well-informed. If not that, he should at least have the eye to recognize a master."
As Hong Jo-hang, the Grass Blade Sect master, drew his sword, the warriors felt the air around them turn cold.
A sudden sensation of a cold wind was accompanied by a chill.
Watching Hong Jo-hang draw his sword, radiating a powerful aura, Cheol-muk scratched the back of his head.
"You remember the Young Master told us to live while concealing our auras, right?"
At his question, his three brothers nodded.
-Yes!
"And the Young Master also told us to discard our names."
-That's right. Because we are the instructors of the Yeomhwa Family!
"But tell me, did the Young Master ever say we shouldn't beat the shit out of bastards who act up?"
At Cheol-muk's final question, Dong-jeok and Jang-tae drew their sword and saber, shaking their heads.
Even No-sak lifted the iron staff he had been holding loosely.
"Still, just in case, don't kill them. Beat them half to death and bring them before the Young Master."
With Cheol-muk's words, the four-on-three fight began.
The warriors didn't know what to do as the masters suddenly started fighting in the family's front yard.
They wanted to grab their swords and join the fray immediately, but there was nothing a weakling could do by interfering in a fight between masters.
Waves of energy flew in all directions, and the intensifying aura was so powerful that just standing their ground made their knees tremble.
If it had been them from a hundred days ago, they would have long since fallen back and retreated.
"Go get... the Young Master!"
At the command of Cheol Bo-in, the captain of the Heavenly Blood Sword Unit, two warriors scurried toward the inner quarters.
-*Clang! Clang!*
Su Ju-gang, One Step, One Kill, was currently in a state of extreme bewilderment.
The Yeomhwa Family, said to be a collapsing martial family.
They said it had two or three first-rate masters at most.
But those masters hadn't even shown their faces yet, so where did these experts come from?
Of course, compared to him, they were masters who were still far behind, even if they were also first-rate.
And yet, strangely, he felt a peculiar pressure from them.
The difference in numbers was only one, but they were not opponents that could be easily overcome.
He had been confident in his combat experience, yet he was being pushed back by a warrior wielding an iron staff and another with arhat gloves on both arms, fighting in a way he had never seen before.
If he showed an opening for even a moment, he couldn't guarantee his life.
Just then, Am-yeong, the cause of this incident, shouted.
-These bastards... they're the Four Demons of Mount Jung!
At his shout, the trio pushed back the Four Demons they were fighting and retreated.
"The Four Demons of Mount Jung, you say…"
As Hong Jo-hang trailed off, Am-yeong spoke up.
"The ones who messed with the Red Wolf Society!"
Hearing the unexpected moniker, Su Ju-gang furrowed his brow and said,
"Why are the Four Demons of Mount Jung at the Yeomhwa Family estate? Are you bastards the Four Demons of Mount Jung?!"
He threw a question at the Four Demons that had no easy answer.
"No."
"Who are they?"
"We don't know anyone like that."
"This is Xichang, not Mount Jung."
Watching the Four Demons play innocent, Su Ju-gang was at a loss for words.
What could he do when they themselves denied it?
Even he couldn't comprehend why the Four Demons of Mount Jung would appear at the Yeomhwa Family estate.
"Who we are is less important than the fact that you bastards dared to smash the main gate of the Yeomhwa Family."
With those words, Cheol-muk charged forward again.
As the Four Demons, who were much stronger than he had anticipated, charged again, Hong Jo-hang, the master of the Grass Blade Sect, sensed things were getting complicated and moved his sword.
If it had been a hundred days ago, the Four Demons would have been defeated by these three within a hundred seconds at best.
Their combat experience was no match for the three martial artists, and more importantly, there was a significant skill gap between the Four Demons and the trio.
However, it had been a hundred days since they started getting beaten by Mujin for an hour every morning.
Thanks to Mujin, who personally practiced his master's theory that there was nothing like a good beating to improve one's learning ability, the Four Demons' skills had improved considerably.
Above all, what had developed the most was their combat sense.
Because Mujin tormented them by moving in all sorts of unorthodox ways, they had to get used to his various footwork techniques and unpredictable attacks just to avoid taking one less blow each time.
And now, those hundred days of suffering were paying off.
Their opponents were clearly more skilled, but they were sufficiently compensating for that slight difference with their numbers and experience.
Besides, the Four Demons had one weapon they had yet to reveal.
When the fight didn't end as quickly as he'd hoped, No-sak was the first to erupt with demonic energy, unleashing his aura.
?!!!
Startled by the vicious energy that pressed down on a person's spirit, Su Ju-gang blocked No-sak's attack, and the other brothers revealed their own auras as well.
"You are the Four Demons of Mount Jung!!!"
-*Thwack!*
Am-yeong, who had shouted that, was sent tumbling backward as Cheol-muk instantly switched places and opponents, landing a punch squarely on his chest.
"I told you we're not! The Four Demons of Mount Jung!"
As Am-yeong fell, rolling on the ground, the balance of power began to crumble rapidly.
-*Clang! Thud!*
No-sak's iron staff finally struck Hong Jo-hang's head, and as Hong Jo-hang also fell, the lone Su Ju-gang couldn't withstand the Four Demons' combined assault for long and collapsed.
"Stomp him! The son of a bitch!"
-*Stomp! Stomp!*
"This bastard who deserves to be chewed to pieces!"
-*Stomp-stomp-stomp! Thud! Thud! Thud!*
"What was that about bandits? Alright! Let's see how much of your face is left!"
-*Thwack!*
The Four Demons relentlessly beat the trio, jabbing with the iron staff, stomping with their feet, and thrashing them with their sword and saber scabbards.
Piled in the middle and getting pummeled, they couldn't tell if their opponents were martial artists or common street thugs.
Normally, in a fight between martial artists, once victory and defeat were decided, the loser was either killed or sent away.
A prolonged beating like this was rare.
For a long while, the Four Demons vented the frustration that had built up because of Mujin on the three men.
Then, as if by magic, their beating stopped at the sound of Mujin's voice.
"Stop hitting them. You'll kill them."
"Y-Young Master, you've arrived?"
Mujin glanced around the scene for a moment before speaking.
"What's going on?"
Two warriors had run to him saying there was big trouble, but he couldn't figure out what had happened.
The Poison Emperor, who had followed out of curiosity, shook his head as he looked at the shattered main gate and the damaged walls and surroundings from the energy blasts.
"Looks like you were attacked."
"Attacked?"
At the word 'attacked,' Mujin's brow furrowed deeply.
"Young Master. These bastards, they suddenly smashed the gate, barged in, insulted our looks, and if that wasn't enough, they even drew their swords and attacked us."
No-sak quickly said this as he ran up to Mujin.
He was worried he might get blamed for revealing his demonic energy and for the damaged family property.
"...What kind of bastards... Huh? You're... that guy from before, aren't you?"
Mujin asked, recognizing Am-yeong's face amidst the settling dust.
His face was already swollen and bruised, so it wasn't certain, but he could just barely recognize him by his characteristic gloomy aura, eye patch, and pale, beardless face.
"...P-please... spare me..."
"How is it that you're begging for your life every time I see you? I told you to bring your wealth to pay for your life, and instead you brought these bastards and damaged my property? Is that right?"
As Mujin approached Am-yeong, the man trembled, barely managing to pull himself up and kneel.
It was an action born from his past experience of being defeated by Mujin.
"And who are you bastards? Are you from the Grass Blade Sect or whatever the hell it's called?"
Crouching down to meet his eyes, Mujin asked the question. Hong Jo-hang barely managed to open his eyes to look at him.
The man who had called the Four Demons bandits and whatnot already had his face smashed to the point where it was difficult to even open his eyes.
His head was split open, covered in crimson blood, and it seemed difficult to find an uninjured spot on his face.
"Oaba... yamuun..."
"What's this bastard saying?"
All his teeth were knocked out and his jaw was broken, so he couldn't speak properly.
"The... the Grass Blade Sect... Master, sir."
At the words of the relatively unharmed Am-yeong, Mujin shook his head, looking at the middle-aged man lying on the ground, only able to wave his hand.
"Then who's this one? Is he like an elder of the Grass Blade Sect?"
"I... I am... One Step, One Kill! Su Ju-gang..."
Barely pushing himself up, Su Ju-gang glared at Mujin and the Four Demons behind him, shedding tears of blood with a humiliated expression.
Seeing him cry tears of blood from the ruptured vessels in his bloodshot eyes, the Poison Emperor took a step forward.
"One Step, One Kill of the Moon-Slaying Sword Sect?"
Recognizing the shabby old man who was speaking to him and stepping forward, Su Ju-gang's pupils began to tremble.
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