Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Who Seems Like They'll Get Serious?
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Clear Dawn Escort Agency.
Upon hearing the report that a delegation from the Wudang Sect had arrived at the main gate, Escort Leader Yeo Mun-rak and Yeo Song-hae rushed out with startled expressions.
"Welcome. If you'd sent word ahead, we would have come out to greet you properly. Forgive our rudeness."
"Rudeness? We're just grateful for this warm reception."
"Please, come inside."
"Our thanks."
The two exchanged greetings as they entered. But then, from behind, came Yeo Song-hae's flustered voice.
"What brings the leader of the Sky-Spanning Gang here?"
"Didn't you hear? I was dragged here."
Man Gwa-hae spoke coldly.
In that instant, one of the Wudang disciples flanking him snapped sternly.
"Watch your tongue."
"The ones who need to watch it aren't me—it's you lot."
"Hey! Even so, this man...!"
"I said it clearly. The Sky-Spanning Gang and I serve under the Iron Lion Sect, as trusted retainers of Great Disciple Do Cheon."
Man Gwa-hae declared boldly.
"We know that. That's why we brought you. To find out what schemes you're cooking up."
The Wudang disciple replied sharply once more. At the sight, Yeo Song-hae turned to Escort Leader Yeo Mun-rak with a face full of panic.
But Yeo Mun-rak was just as flustered.
They had pulled in the Wudang Sect themselves when the agency's future looked so bleak it barely clung to existence in the merchant world. Yet ever since Do Cheon had visited a few days ago, they'd felt a chilling threat—like they'd poked something they shouldn't have. And now this happened, sending chills down their spines. But on second thought, it could be seen another way.
'No matter how fierce that guy is, could he really take on the Wudang Sect?'
It was the Wudang Sect, after all, which spanned half the righteous factions of the world. Of course, this Jangsa region was in Hunan Province, separated from Mount Wudang by the Yangtze River and quite distant geographically. Still, it had always been a land under heavy righteous faction influence. Wudang was one of the great sects called the twin pillars of the righteous world, alongside Mount Tai.
But then again, Wudang was far away, while that guy was nearby and could rush over at any moment.
'But Wudang is here right now!'
As Yeo Mun-rak wavered, unsure what to do...
"Hah! It seems Wudang can't escape being cold rice even in Hunan."
Master Yunyang remarked meaningfully.
In Hubei Province, where the Wudang Sect was based, their name alone made anything possible. Sure, this was Hunan, across the Yangtze from Mount Wudang and far away. But it was a region where righteous factions had always held strong sway, generation after generation. And Wudang was a major sect hailed as the north star of the righteous world.
At Master Yunyang's words, Yeo Mun-rak snapped back to his senses.
"Ah, my apologies. With all these unfortunate incidents lately, I must have gotten overly cautious without realizing it."
Yeo Mun-rak apologized sincerely. Master Yunyang chuckled at his demeanor.
"You called me here to look into those very incidents, didn't you? Let's resolve them together."
"Thank you."
As Yeo Mun-rak bowed with a brighter expression at Master Yunyang's words...
"Tsk tsk! Not content with kicking away a great alliance that could have been, now you're trying to make proper enemies?"
Man Gwa-hae shook his head. In that moment, as if unable to endure it any longer, a Wudang disciple reached out and seized Man Gwa-hae's arm.
Crack!
The sound of bones shattering.
"Guh!"
Man Gwa-hae let out a pained groan.
"Dare not spout nonsense. Wudang's mercy doesn't extend to black path scum."
To demonstrate Wudang's dignity to Yeo Mun-rak, he deliberately snapped Man Gwa-hae's arm. Master Yunyang knew his disciple's intent and let it be.
But Man Gwa-hae, enduring it with just a groan instead of a scream, fixed his gaze not on the disciple or Master Yunyang—but on Yeo Mun-rak.
"Escort Leader Yeo must know it too. Great Disciple Do will come running."
"...!"
Yeo Mun-rak's face showed clear panic.
"Let's wait and see. How this situation changes when he arrives."
"You still haven't come to your senses!"
As the Wudang disciple bellowed and reached out again, Man Gwa-hae whipped his head around to glare at him.
"What's your dharma name?"
"Cheongjin. Now that you know it, planning revenge?"
"I'll make a special request. That you break Cheongjin's arm too."
"...!"
As Cheongjin stood dumbfounded, unable to hide his absurdity...
A loud whooshing sound echoed from afar.
Sensing something amiss, Master Yunyang turned first. What had been a mere speck rapidly took human form, and soon two figures landed before them all.
Do Cheon and Celestial Insight Maiden Byeon Ryeo-gun.
"Great Disciple Do!"
Man Gwa-hae's face lit up. He was visibly moved that Do Cheon had rushed to save him. Normally, Do Cheon might have teased, "That moved you this much?"—but he spared not even a glance. That was how furious he was.
"That request about Cheongjin... I accept."
Do Cheon said it while shifting his gaze from Man Gwa-hae.
Man Gwa-hae's face turned triumphant as he looked at Cheongjin. But Cheongjin seemed not to understand what Do Cheon had said, merely staring back with wary eyes.
"So the Sky-Spanning Gang has a separate boss after all?"
Master Yunyang asked calmly, without losing his composure.
"Boss...? Old Master!"
Flames erupted from Do Cheon's eyes. To counter it, Master Yunyang began manifesting Wudang's signature soft energy, asserting his presence. But Do Cheon dismissed it coldly, as if it were beneath notice.
"They say Wudang's name is exalted, but that doesn't mean every Wudang member is on high."
"True enough. But Wudang disciples stand above the wicked, guided by our sect's solemn teachings—and we've always done so."
"So Wudang will wield its power according to its teachings. Fine. Then I'll meet power with power, per the Iron Lion Sect's ways."
Do Cheon signaled his intent to fight. At that moment, Byeon Ryeo-gun cautiously interjected.
"Great Disciple Do, talk first."
"Because they're Wudang?"
"Because they're worth talking to."
"Does this situation look like one for talk?"
"The Iron Lion Sect isn't righteous or evil. And its ancestors didn't solve everything with force, did they?"
"You offering to mediate?"
"It's part of my mission."
"Fine. I'll watch if talk works."
"Thank you."
As Do Cheon crossed his arms, Byeon Ryeo-gun stepped forward with her gratitude. Master Yunyang maintained his relaxed air, expression saying he'd hear her out.
"You knew the Sky-Spanning Gang serves Great Disciple Do, yet still had them brought here?"
Byeon Ryeo-gun asked.
"The Alliance Leader said the Iron Lion Sect is neither righteous nor evil. But it turns out you have the Sky-Spanning Gang under you. Explain that first. Why does the Alliance Leader claim an evil group isn't evil?"
"The Sky-Spanning Gang was black path, yes. But since meeting Great Disciple Do and joining the Iron Lion Sect, they've left their old ways."
"Hah! Does a demon bowing its head make it reformed? It'd be more convincing to say the Iron Lion Sect, being evil itself, overlooked and absorbed the Sky-Spanning Gang without punishment."
"You'd best watch those words. History shows demonic leaders moved to reform by Shaolin and Wudang's compassion and righteousness—not just one or two cases."
"Daring to compare the Iron Lion Sect to Wudang and Shaolin?!"
Master Yunyang bellowed.
In that instant, a blue gleam flashed from Byeon Ryeo-gun's eyes beneath her veil. Fury born of defiance. But it faded after a brief moment.
"Before Wudang and Shaolin dominated this land, it was the Iron Lion Sect holding that position. I know well how they've devoted themselves to the righteous world in their era. But the Iron Lion Sect stood against the demonic path for the world even before them. Even if they've lost that power now, it doesn't justify belittling them like that."
Her words rang true, leaving Master Yunyang momentarily speechless. But words once spoken carried weight, backed by his sect's prestige. He couldn't retract them lightly.
"Defying ancestral teachings, using lowly black path rabble to open Dongting Lake's waterways and disrupt the merchant world—how could we not rebuke that?!"
"I've confirmed and reported to the Alliance Leader that not a drop of force was used on merchants in opening those routes—everything followed merchant ethics with coin. So why heed only the words of those cast out by the merchant world and twist the Iron Lion Sect's actions?"
"You, the Alliance Leader—why do you both defend the Iron Lion Sect so?"
"The Alliance Leader seeks only to protect the righteous world—no personal motives."
"I thought as much. But the current situation raises doubts aplenty. All signs point to the Iron Lion Sect, the Alliance Leader, and even Heaven-Rending Legion Kang Yi-wi scheming something massive. No words on that?"
"I believe the Alliance Leader already explained."
"To prevent clashes between Iron Divine Dragon and the righteous factions? You think that covers it all? Absurd."
Master Yunyang realized further talk would just go in circles like a squirrel on a wheel. The Great Righteous Alliance Leader and Secret Shadow Pavilion Master clearly had no intention of revealing what they hid—and he had to uncover it.
His gaze shifted to Do Cheon. If Byeon Ryeo-gun wouldn't say, he'd get it from him.
"Speak. What schemes are you plotting?"
Do Cheon didn't know what Volcanic Divine Sword Yi Jo-yang had told Master Yunyang. And he was already furious about this mess. So he had no desire—or need—to explain.
"You learn the hard way that even the stubbornly narrow-minded are beyond talk."
Master Yunyang's brow furrowed at Do Cheon's words.
"Lady Byeon, step back. Since talk fails, I must honor Gang Leader Man's request and make him wait on me alone."
"Things will get serious."
Byeon Ryeo-gun stared, refusing to withdraw. Do Cheon glanced at her. Concern for him and the Iron Lion Sect filled her eyes.
"Who seems like they'll get serious?"
Do Cheon asked.
Byeon Ryeo-gun had no answer.
"I'll show mercy. If that blinds you, well, can't be helped."
Master Yunyang scowled, while Byeon Ryeo-gun panicked. Even she couldn't decide if Do Cheon should go all out or hold back with mercy.
"Step back."
Do Cheon repeated.
Byeon Ryeo-gun gazed at him before retreating. To Master Yunyang, it looked like she valued Do Cheon over him or Wudang.
"I'll uncover your schemes no matter what!"
As Master Yunyang exploded in rage, Do Cheon strode forward. Like a volcano erupting, a massive aura surged in an instant.
"Insolent whelp!"
Master Yunyang shouted, flicking his sleeve. A fierce wind rose to push back Do Cheon's energy.
But Do Cheon advanced undeterred. The intensifying pressure gripped the surroundings, paralyzing everyone with its might—everyone but one.
"Not a chance!"
Master Yunyang thrust his right hand, unleashing a vast, flowing energy.
Soft energy ultimately overcomes the rigid. Wudang's power felt yielding, but up close, it swelled enormously, becoming an unstoppable torrent.
But his foe was Do Cheon.
Do Cheon punched toward Master Yunyang's right hand.
Boom!
A thunderous roar as his Thunderclap Fist struck.
The soft energy, swelling into a massive wave, crumbled instantly. As the shocked Master Yunyang staggered, Do Cheon had already seized Cheongjin's arm. Cheongjin reacted too late—his arm was already taken.
Snap!
The arm bone shattered outright. The crushing pressure vanished in a flash.
"Arghhh!"
Cheongjin screamed in agony.
"You brat! What have you done?!"
Seeing his disciple's broken arm, Master Yunyang roared in fury. Do Cheon's hand gripped it, preventing attack—he could only seethe.
"A Wudang disciple's arm breaking is cause for such outrage, but this man snapping my subordinate's arm deserves praise?"
"Shut your mouth! You dare insult Wudang?!"
"Shut yours! You've insulted me and the Iron Lion Sect. Keep it up if you dare! Just remember—every move you make snaps an arm!"
Do Cheon's stern threat landed hard. One clash showed Master Yunyang he could fight on but not protect his disciples.
"What are you hiding?! This will go before the Great Righteous Alliance's key sects!"
Master Yunyang bellowed at Byeon Ryeo-gun.
She should have stopped him, pleading that revealing the truth would harm the world's peace, even if she couldn't disclose it. But she didn't. Nor did she want to. As Do Cheon said, the man was beyond reason. She'd done her part; Do Cheon had shown mercy enough.
Byeon Ryeo-gun spoke not to Master Yunyang, but to Do Cheon.
"Thank you."
"I'm the grateful one, always."
Byeon Ryeo-gun fell silent, standing as if absent. Do Cheon turned to Man Gwa-hae.
"Old bones taking a beating in your later years."
"I'm fine. That you rushed here out of concern for this lowly one is thanks enough."
Man Gwa-hae smiled—genuinely. Knowing his sincerity, Do Cheon smiled back.
"Want me to pay him back?"
"I'll take it as recompense for past wrongs."
Do Cheon gazed at the bowing Man Gwa-hae, then nodded.
"When you get back, spare no expense on treatment. Can't have anyone else handling what Gang Leader Man does—you need to recover fast."
"You got it. I'll spend freely on healing. Legs are fine, so work won't suffer."
"Good."
Do Cheon nodded and shifted his gaze to Yeo Mun-rak and Yeo Song-hae, who had stayed silent till now.
"We did nothing! We were just properly hosting Master Yunyang since he came!"
Yeo Song-hae yelped, startled by Do Cheon's mere look. Do Cheon pondered briefly, then asked Man Gwa-hae.
"True?"
"From what I overheard of their greetings, the Clear Dawn Escort Agency isn't involved."
At Man Gwa-hae's reply, Do Cheon ignored Yeo Mun-rak and Yeo Song-hae.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
Do Cheon led, Man Gwa-hae following. The Wudang disciples couldn't touch him. Even Master Yunyang flushed red and blue with rage.
Byeon Ryeo-gun glanced at Master Yunyang, then followed Do Cheon without even a fist salute.
"I'll pursue this—definitely!"
Master Yunyang's fury foretold a storm, but Do Cheon—having heard it all with his keen ears—didn't so much as glance back or scoff.