Chapter 16
Chapter 16
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Surely It's Arrogance?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
-16- Surely It's Arrogance?
Tyrant Emperor Sect!
It was one of the twin pillars leading the unorthodox factions alongside the Sun Heaven Sect.
The sect leader of the Tyrant Emperor Sect, Heaven-Rending Legion Kang Yi-wi, was a supreme master whose martial prowess rivaled the greatest in the unorthodox world. Four Divine Dragons Ha Gun-pyo, his disciple, had mastered the Eight Emperors Fist and the Eight Emperors Heaven-Shattering Art.
True to its name, the art focused on overwhelming power that could crush opponents in a single blow. Now well past twenty years old, Ha Gun-pyo had never faced foes who required his full strength. The world seemed increasingly trivial, and each day grew more boring. Rather than smashing enemies with brute force, he preferred flicking hidden projectiles to toy with them.
"This is fun! So much fun!"
Ha Gun-pyo cackled, his eyes gleaming wildly.
As he prepared to flick another hidden projectile, his lips curled with uncontrollable killing intent, Do Cheon suddenly thrust out his hand.
Do Cheon was fast enough. But Ha Gun-pyo was fast enough too.
The flicked projectile struck Do Cheon's palm. Yet Do Cheon ignored it and seized Ha Gun-pyo's finger—the one that had launched it.
Crack!
The sound of breaking finger bones.
Do Cheon had snapped it in an instant.
"......!"
Ha Gun-pyo's face twisted in pain and shock. If anything, the shock seemed so great that he barely registered the pain.
Silent Finger!
It wasn't on the level of Shaolin's Diamond Finger, which could pierce rock. But it was a finger technique Ha Gun-pyo favored for its soundless, formless strikes—powerful enough to bore holes through thick tree trunks.
Yet that Silent Finger hadn't pierced the palm of some no-name from a third-rate sect. Worse, his finger had been caught.
Was something like this even possible?
"You bastard!"
Of the Black-White Twin Killers who'd come with Ha Gun-pyo, the Black Killer exploded in rage and kicked back his chair. The White Killer was poised to strike and kill in one blow, while Ha Gun-pyo stared blankly at his broken finger, his expression bizarre.
Byeon Ryeo-gun and Ga Gyeom-chang watched only Do Cheon.
They were trying to gauge whether he'd escalated things out of pride or foolishness.
"Interesting."
Ha Gun-pyo muttered.
He tore his gaze from his broken finger and looked at Do Cheon. Do Cheon stared right back, still gripping his finger.
"Do you even know what you've done?"
Ha Gun-pyo asked, his face chillingly cold.
Do Cheon said nothing, as if daring him to continue.
"For daring to break my finger, every last bastard in this Iron Lion Sect will have their necks snapped."
As Ha Gun-pyo unleashed ferocious killing intent and circulated the Eight Emperors Heaven-Shattering Art to its limits—
A spurt of blood sprayed out.
It came from Ha Gun-pyo's hand.
Do Cheon had yanked off the finger he'd broken. Then, as the charging Black Killer lunged with a fierce palm strike, Do Cheon drove the severed finger into it.
"Gah!"
The Black Killer groaned and staggered back. At that moment, the White Killer erupted with murderous intent and unleashed a hidden projectile. But right then, a teacup flew straight at his face. The startled White Killer jerked his head aside to dodge, only for a fist to whistle through the air.
Thwack!
A heavy impact rang out, and the White Killer collapsed on the spot.
And then... silence.
The tense standoff with Ha Gun-pyo ended in an instant, like a sudden gale.
Do Cheon returned to his seat. Ha Gun-pyo stared vacantly at his mangled hand, one finger missing.
He who possessed everything but the world itself seemed utterly shocked by the loss of a single finger. He couldn't seem to pull himself together.
"It was the same in the past, and it's the same now. The Iron Lion Sect is the Iron Lion Sect."
Do Cheon's voice flowed calmly. But his display of skill was so astonishing that no one could speak.
"If you want to keep going, then do it. But next time, it's your life on the line."
Do Cheon's gaze remained fixed on Ha Gun-pyo.
To Byeon Ryeo-gun, he looked like a grim reaper urging him to offer up his life, and she couldn't hide her amazement.
"The outcome may have been excessive, but Ha Gongzi started it, so let's settle right and wrong later."
Ga Gyeom-chang said to the Black Killer. It meant they should end it here. The Black Killer burned with humiliation and wanted to finish it, but his warrior's instincts screamed otherwise. A real warning that he'd die.
"Young sect leader."
The Black Killer swallowed his killing intent and approached Ha Gun-pyo.
"......!"
Ha Gun-pyo turned to him. He stared blankly for a moment, then raised his mangled hand to show it.
"Is this... okay?"
The shock and panic had vanished from Ha Gun-pyo's face. Even his rage had faded. Instead, it was filled with absurdity and disbelief. The Black Killer counted it a small mercy and spoke softly.
"The mission from the sect leader wasn't about killing. If we botch it with someone's death, he'll fly into a rage."
Meaning, if they gave in to anger here and killed Do Cheon—a prime suspect—it would incur Heaven-Rending Legion's wrath.
"Don't forget. The former young sect leader was dethroned for less."
Ha Gun-pyo had become young sect leader of the Tyrant Emperor Sect because his senior brother, the previous one, had fallen from Heaven-Rending Legion's favor and been ousted. Even though he was a disciple trusted like a son, one mistake had been enough for ruthless expulsion.
That was when he'd truly learned. His master, Heaven-Rending Legion, despised failure to carry out orders perfectly—and if it impacted major affairs, he wouldn't let it slide.
Ha Gun-pyo nodded. He glanced at Do Cheon and raised his hand.
"Thanks for the gift. Next time we meet, I'll return the favor."
"A true warrior who knows pride has no 'next time.'"
Do Cheon provoked.
He regretted it might end too tamely.
Wouldn't the world buzz if the Iron Lion Sect's great disciple humiliated the Tyrant Emperor Sect's young leader? Now he wondered if he should've ended it with one decisive blow. He'd planned to enrage the prideful fool into a frenzy, but the orthodox and unorthodox elders had ruined it.
"My pride comes second to the Tyrant Emperor Sect's discipline."
Ha Gun-pyo grinned.
Even as his savage killing intent raged uncontrollably, he held back with a smile.
'Well, it takes more than guts to be the Tyrant Emperor Sect's young leader.'
Do Cheon felt regret but had no choice.
"Go. Next time you want to fight, issue a formal challenge. And skip the tricks—show your real skills from the start."
Do Cheon said calmly.
He hadn't broken the bastard's legs, so he gave his pride a slight boost to deter future nonsense. Of course, those who would do it anyway would, and those who wouldn't, wouldn't.
Ha Gun-pyo ignored him and turned to Byeon Ryeo-gun.
"We're done here. Let's head back."
"I still have questions."
Byeon Ryeo-gun replied without looking at him.
Ha Gun-pyo ground his teeth. It stung more than losing a finger to what he'd treated as a game—that she wouldn't even glance his way.
'You think I'm trash for slipping up once?'
Humiliation turned to fury. But Ha Gun-pyo endured. He could settle the humiliation anytime, but losing his position meant everything ended.
"We'll go first."
Ha Gun-pyo turned and left. The Black Killer hoisted the White Killer and followed. Once the three were gone, a heavy silence fell.
Byeon Ryeo-gun stared intently at Do Cheon, and Do Cheon looked back at her.
"Was that really necessary?"
Ga Gyeom-chang asked.
True to his cunning nature, he phrased it without provoking pride.
Do Cheon answered immediately. For such questions, a firm response was best for the future.
"If someone punched you in the face, what would you do? Laugh it off as unnecessary?"
"It's different. With your skills, you could've countered lightly."
"If my skills were weak, I'd have a hole in my gut and be dead."
"Don't take it the wrong way. This is for you and the Iron Lion Sect. The Tyrant Emperor Sect won't stay quiet, and even if you weather this, your attitude will spark clashes anywhere, anytime."
Do Cheon just smiled at Ga Gyeom-chang's words.
Was he truly worried for them? A passing dog would laugh. It was just sweet talk to butter them up before asking what they really wanted.
Do Cheon turned from Ga Gyeom-chang to Byeon Ryeo-gun.
"If you have questions, ask now."
He said directly. But Byeon Ryeo-gun just watched him a moment longer. She needed to know what kind of man he was before asking.
His lack of surprise at visits from the Great Righteous Alliance and Tyrant Emperor Sect had marked him as no pushover. Now, she upgraded that several levels.
'Whether it's the Iron Lion King's techniques or the Generation's Heavenly Demon's, he's mastered them to a considerable degree!'
Ha Gun-pyo might've been careless, but not the Black-White Twin Killers. Despite their opportunistic ambush, they'd been crushed in a breath.
Iron Lion Sect's great disciple, Do Cheon.
Byeon Ryeo-gun gazed at him with complex thoughts.
If she asked, would he reveal the truth?
No. No one in the world would.
Even the Iron Lions' techniques alone would shake the world. The Iron Lion King's or Generation's Heavenly Demon's? Unthinkable.
If word spread that the Generation's Heavenly Demon's techniques were here, the entire world would swarm. The distant demonic path might come first. The realm would descend into chaos around the Iron Lion Sect. Regardless of what happened to him, not a single sect member would survive. Greedy wolves would tear in from all sides.
'Does he even realize that could happen?'
Byeon Ryeo-gun was convinced Do Cheon was the freak who'd vanished from the Generation's Heavenly Demon's secret chamber. But only she knew. Others didn't know about the elegy he'd left.
'It's irreversible now. If he hadn't mangled Ha Gongzi's finger like that, there might've been a way.'
The Tyrant Emperor Sect and Ha Gun-pyo wouldn't let it go. As unorthodox folk, they'd settle it with force. They'd return, fights would erupt, and his true arts would be exposed.
Then more battles born of greed.
Even the Iron Lions' arts were treasures anyone would covet.
'He revealed himself too soon. He should've cultivated quietly until mastering what he gained from the secret chamber. In ten or five years, he could've revived the Iron Lion Sect. Too hasty.'
Byeon Ryeo-gun looked at Do Cheon with regret.
Do Cheon sat utterly composed, as if ripping off Ha Gun-pyo's finger was already forgotten.
'Arrogant by nature? Or... I need to find out!'
Byeon Ryeo-gun blinked slightly and asked.
"Is the Iron Lion Sect heartless?"
"You don't mean that literally. What are you really asking?"
"I need to investigate the White Sword Sect matter. Let me stay here for a while."
"Why not stay at the White Sword Sect?"
"Then I couldn't investigate them properly."
"That doesn't seem reason enough to let you stay."
"It could be a chance for you to prove your innocence."
"Does the Iron Lion Sect need the Great Righteous Alliance's approval?"
"That was a slip of the tongue. I apologize. Let me rephrase: you could lodge a formal protest of innocence."
"Your head says no, but your heart asks anyway."
"So you'll let me stay?"
"Fine. But this is the Iron Lion Sect. I don't know about other sects, but don't act out here. I stake my pride on everything I have."
Do Cheon grinned. His confidence brimmed over into nonchalance.
"Understood."
Byeon Ryeo-gun replied. But her mind was elsewhere.
'Surely It's Arrogance?'