Light Novel: Volume 21 Episode 3
Manhwa: N/A
Chae Mu-ok spoke firmly with a straight face,
“I am a disciple of the Mind Illumination Sect. Are you suggesting that I abandon my sect and join the Black Fang clan? I am not such a disloyal person.”
“Oh, that’s not–!”
Taken aback by Chae Mu-ok’s strong stance, Lee Ju-eun was momentarily flustered, but he quickly regained his composure and continued.
“We are not asking you to abandon the Mind Illumination Sect. The Black Fang clan is a temporary alliance formed to overcome the current chaos in the martial world. Since it’s not an official sect, it wouldn’t be a big deal if you temporarily joined us. The Black Fang clan was created to support the Golden Heaven Society. By joining us, you stand a high chance of securing an important position in the Golden Heaven Society.”
“But why should I?”
“What?”
“Is there any reason for me to enter the Black Fang clan? Wouldn’t it be better to join the Golden Heaven Society directly?”
“Of course, that’s a possibility. However, joining the Golden Heaven Society is not an easy task. The admission process and qualifications are very strict. It would be much easier to gain merits in the Black Fang clan and then join the Golden Heaven Society.”
Lee Ju-eun spoke as smoothly as flowing water.
The way he spoke made it seem like this wasn’t his first time at such a persuasion.
Chae Mu-ok frowned slightly as he looked at Lee Ju-eun. Despite Chae’s intense gaze, Lee Ju-eun remained unflinching, smiling confidently.
Lee Ju-eun was convinced that Chae Mu-ok would choose the Black Fang clan. Many martial artists who passed through here had made the same choice.
The Golden Heaven Society was a collective of the greatest talents in the land.
Until the appearance of the Silver Lotus Society, the Golden Heaven Society was the dream of all such talents. Just being associated with it raised one’s status several-fold. However, joining the Golden Heaven Society was never easy, neither in the past nor now.
One had to meet strict qualifications just to apply for membership, and most would kneel at the threshold, failing to cross it.
If direct entry into the Golden Heaven Society was not possible, then gaining merits in the Black Fang clan while eyeing an opportunity seemed a good strategy.
Lee Ju-eun had convinced many talents with this logic and had successfully recruited them to the Black Fang clan. The clan had thus grown in size and formed a force to be reckoned with.
Lee Ju-eun extended his hand.
“Take my hand, and within a year, I’ll help you join the Golden Heaven Society.”
“Hmph! If you take that hand, you will surely regret it.”
Another voice interjected at that moment.
The speaker was a middle-aged man, flamboyantly dressed.
He had an aggressive demeanor, resembling a charging boar.
The newcomer’s appearance caused Lee Ju-eun’s expression to twist slightly.
“Oh Cheon-woong?”
“Didn’t we have an agreement that we would come and approach them at the same time? How dare you break your word and approach them first.”
“Haha! Did we really make such an agreement?”
“……”
“Cough!”
Seemingly embarrassed, Lee Ju-eun awkwardly cleared his throat.
Oh Cheon-woong then turned his gaze to Chae Mu-ok.
“I am Oh Cheon-woong from the Great Hero Clan. Let me be direct. Choosing our Great Hero clan will be far more beneficial for you. Our Great Hero Clan has ties with the Silver Lotus Society.”
“Ha! Now it’s the Silver Lotus Society this time?”
“Forget the proposals that scoundrel made. Even if you were to enter the Black Fang clan, you would only be used as a pawn and be discarded afterwards with no chance of entering the Golden Heaven Society. But our Great Hero clan is different. If you achieve merits in the Great Hero Clan, I guarantee you a place in the Silver Lotus Society. I, Oh Cheon-woong, have the ability to make that happen.”
Oh Cheon-woong’s words were not much different from Lee Ju-eun’s.
If Lee Ju-eun’s eyes were snake-like, Oh Cheon-woong resembled a wild boar.
He believed that Chae Mu-ok would naturally accept his offer.
“Hoo!”
Suddenly, Chae Mu-ok let out a deep sigh.
His face was deeply furrowed.
He was on his way to take part in a great battle of Jianghu, staking the fate of his sect. Regardless of which side he chose, he intended to fight to the best of his ability and make a great contribution. He believed that was the only way to revive his declining sect.
But he never expected to receive such offers even before reaching Poyang Lake.
What truly dismayed him was the greed evident in the eyes of the two men who made the offers.
It was clear they were not approaching with pure intentions but to satisfy their own desires.
Although Chae Mu-ok was not very experienced in the ways of the world, he was not naive enough to fall for such hollow offers.
“Both of you should leave. I have no intention of joining either the Black Fang Clan or Great Hero Clan.”
“You’ve made a foolish decision. It would’ve been better if you just accepted my offer.”
“You are delusional. Choosing a difficult path when an easy one is available, it seems your life won’t be long.”
Lee Ju-eun and Oh Cheon-woong simultaneously spat out venomous words as if they had coordinated it. But Chae Mu-ok remained unshaken.
“No matter what you two say, my decision will not change, so please leave. Your presence is disturbing the others from enjoying their meal.”
“Just reconsider your decision. The world is not as easy as you think.”
“Are you sure you won’t regret your decision? Jianghu is not merciful enough to tolerate the bravado of the powerless.”
Despite Chae Mu-ok’s words, the two men showed no sign of backing down.
Their goal was to recruit even one more talented individual. They had no intention of giving up until their objective was achieved.
Bang!
At that moment, Chae Mu-ok slammed his fist on the table.
He was angered by their continuous disregard for his stance and their insistence on their own views.
“Let me make it clear. I will absolutely not join either the Black Fang Clan or Great Hero Clan. Now, please leave.”
“Such impatience! No wonder the Mind Illumination Sect has fallen, since they have a core disciple who can’t grasp the situation.”
“Like master, like disciple. Both completely clueless.”
At that moment, Chae Mu-ok’s thread of reason snapped.
He could tolerate insults directed at him, but he couldn’t stand by while they also insulted his master.
“Apologize.”
“For what?”
“What are you talking about, brat.”
Both men looked incredulously at Chae Mu-ok, clearly taken aback by his demand.
They had dealt with numerous individuals before, but they had never encountered someone as audacious as Chae Mu-ok.
“I can tolerate being insulted myself. But I absolutely cannot stand insults toward my master. No matter how fallen the Mind Illumination Sect may be, it doesn’t give you the right to insult my master. So apologize.”
“Really, this is what comes from pampering someone. You think you’re a great warrior.”
Lee Ju-eun’s manner of speaking, previously respectful, had completely changed.
He had no intention of apologizing to Chae Mu-ok.
For him, retracting his words was not an option.
He said to Chae Mu-ok,
“Don’t expect any apology to come out of my mouth, you ignorant brat. You’re justa little kid with a big ego with nothing to show for it— Ptsui!”
The spit of phlegm Lee Ju-eun spat landed squarely on the table in front of Chae Mu-ok.
In an instant, Chae Mu-ok’s eyes changed.
Lee Ju-eun’s action was a sign of disrespect, not only to him but also to his companions.
“Wipe up the spit you just spat.”
“What?”
“Wipe it all off with your sleeve, and don’t leave any behind.”
“This brat–!”
“If you still won’t apologize, then you leave me no choice but to extract one from you by force.”
“What? Are you saying you want to challenge me?”
“Why? Scared?”
“Ha! Ridiculous.”
“Chae Mu-ok of the Mind Illumination Sect requests guidance from Lee Ju-eun of the Black Fang Clan. Please, as a senior, teach a lesson to this junior.”
Chae Mu-ok politely assumed a fighting stance.
At this point, Lee Ju-eun was the one who appeared flustered.
Chae Mu-ok had formally requested a duel. It would be quite cowardly for him, a senior, to refuse a duel from a junior
If Lee Ju-eun refused, he would undoubtedly be ridiculed by many. Yet, accepting the duel wasn’t easy either. A defeat would significantly damage his reputation.
His eyes cunningly shifted, contemplating his next move.
“Surely you’re not afraid of a junior’s challenge?”
Chae Mu-ok taunted.
Backing down now would mean renouncing his status as a warrior.
“Very well! I accept your challenge.”
In the end, Lee Ju-eun was left with no choice but to accept.
Chae Mu-ok then turned his gaze towards Oh Cheon-woong.
“You’re next.”
“What?”
“Didn’t you also disrespect my master? So I wish to duel with you as well.”
“The audacity of this kid! Know your limits. Keep yourself in line.”
“Are you afraid?”
“What?”
“Are you avoiding my challenge because you’re afraid of a ‘brat’? Tell me honestly. Then I will withdraw my request for a duel.”
“Ha!”
Oh Cheon-woong sighed incredulously, irritation written all over his face.
“Very well! If you beat Lee Ju-eun, I’ll accept your challenge.”
“Don’t forget that promise.”
“Hmph! Don’t run away by yourself.”
Oh Cheon-woong scoffed as he pulled up a chair to sit down.
Chae Mu-ok turned away from Oh Cheon-woong and faced Lee Ju-eun.
Lee Ju-eun said,
“Come at me. As your senior, I’ll let you strike first.”
“Don’t regret it.”
“Regret? What nonsense–”
At that moment, as Lee Ju-eun sneered—
Boom!
Chae Mu-ok’s fist shot out straight in a powerful thrust.
It was Death Fist.1
A basic technique known to all martial artists. However, the force behind Chae Mu-ok’s Death Fist was anything but simple.
Bang!
“Ugh!”
With a stifled groan, Lee Ju-eun was sent flying backward.
Even though he had crossed his arms to block the punch, the fierce impact penetrated his entire body.
Both of his forearms which got struck by Chae Mu-ok’s attack became swollen. If the impact had been a bit stronger, his bones would have been broken.
“W, What?”
Lee Ju-eun was utterly stunned by the unexpected power of the Death Fist.
He quickly drew his sword from his waist.
At that moment, Chae Mu-ok launched his full-on offensive.
Thwack!
His fists, heavy as rocks, came down in rapid succession.
Lee Ju-eun swung his sword to block Chae Mu-ok’s attacks. But despite the fierce collision between blade and fist, not a single scratch appeared.
“Huh?”
“Ha!”
Chae Mu-ok’s leg shot up in an unpredictable trajectory, then plummeted down directly towards Lee Ju-eun’s head.
“Damn it!”
Lee Ju-eun hastily raised his sword to protect his head.
Crash!
At that moment, Chae Mu-ok’s heel collided with Lee Ju-eun’s sword.
Lee Ju-eun expected Chae Mu-ok’s ankle to be cleanly severed. But the reality was different from his expectations.
Boom!
With a thunderous explosion, his sword shattered into pieces.
With no time to dodge, Chae Mu-ok’s leg blasted right into Lee Ju-eun’s collarbone.
“Keugh!”
Screaming, Lee Ju-eun tumbled to the ground.
His collarbone, struck by Chae Mu-ok’s crescent kick, was shattered into fine pieces. Writhing in pain, he struggled to rise but couldn’t muster enough strength in his arms even to lift his upper body.
“H-Huh?”
Oh Cheon-woong jumped to his feet in surprise.
Although Lee Ju-eun was just a big fish in the small pond of Zhengshui River, he was still no easy adversary.
Even Oh Cheon-woong would have to use all his strength to defeat him, yet, Chae Mu-ok had subdued him with ease.
This show of martial prowess was beyond his wildest imagination.
“Damn it!
If Chae Mu-ok had the martial prowess to subdue Lee Ju-eun so swiftly, then Oh Cheon-woong knew he would also struggle to handle him. There was little difference in the martial strength between him and Lee Ju-eun.
The fact that Lee Ju-eun was subdued instantly meant that there was a high probability that Oh Cheon-woong would be overpowered just as quickly.
‘I need to attack him now.’
He grasped the great sword at his waist.
“Die!”
Oh Cheon-woong launched a surprise attack on Chae Mu-ok.
Caught off guard with Oh Cheon-woong’s attack, Chae Mu-ok was defenseless.
As the great sword was swung with full force and became inches away from Chae Mu-ok’s neck—
“That won’t do.”
Bang!
At that moment, a fresh voice intervened, and someone stepped in to block Oh Cheon-woong.
The one who intervened was none other than Do Yeonsan.
His fist, filled with powerful energy, shattered Oh Cheon-woong’s great sword like glass.
“Argh!”
Reeling from the impact as if struck by a massive hammer, Oh Cheon-woong staggered.
Do Yeonsan dove into Oh Cheon-woong’s arms, placing his palm on his chest.
Boom!
A powerful shockwave emanated from Do Yeonsan’s palm, violently shaking Oh Cheon-woong’s insides.
“Keuh!”
Oh Cheon-woong coughed up blood and fell to his knees.
Looking down at the defeated Oh Cheon-woong, Do Yeonsan commented,
“What a shame! Contrary to your appearance, you’re quite cowardly. This just goes to show you can’t judge a person by their looks.”
“Yo, You–!”
Humiliated, Oh Cheon-woong trembled.
“What are you waiting for? Go ahead and attack that basta–!”
He tried to command his idle men to attack, but all he could see was his men sprawled on the ground. An old man was even sitting on one of them, using him as a seat cushion.
Before Lee Ju-eun and Oh Cheon-woong could realize it, their men had been subdued by the old man, who was none other than the Elder Assassin.
Smiling, the Elder Assassin asked,
“Why?”
In that moment, Oh Cheon-woong shut his eyes tightly.
‘We’ve messed with the wrong person.’
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