Chapter 14
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Dragon Pearl Assembly Begins
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The Dragon Pearl Assembly had begun.
However, the atmosphere was incredibly heavy.
Everyone felt a chill at Bok Jung-ho's voice, which carried an ominous edge.
His aura was as cold and sharp as shattered ice—different from the soft grace of Mae Hyang or Sima Hwa-yeong.
As soon as Bok Jung-ho finished speaking, two figures shot out from Crimson South Pavilion in the south and landed in the central training ground.
It was Hong Beom-ung, captain of Squad 1, and Chun Seom, captain of Squad 2.
After lightly bowing to the gang leader, they caught Deputy Leader Mo Gun-hyeong's signal and turned their backs toward White West Pavilion and Azure East Pavilion, respectively.
Then Hong Beom-ung spoke first.
"We will now confirm attendance for Squad Leaders 1 through 6. Raise your hand when your name is called!"
His booming voice carried far without even using internal energy.
Soon, the first name was called.
"Mu Cheol-gae!"
At Hong Beom-ung's call, a burly man raised his hand with commanding presence.
"Dam Hu! So Man-geuk!"
As before, the two men raised their hands in sequence.
Once everyone from Azure East Pavilion had been called, Chun Seom spoke up.
"Seol Ye!"
At Chun Seom's call, she raised her hand.
But she seemed overwhelmed by the atmosphere—her expression and posture rigid.
It was only natural.
No matter her position as squad leader, Seol Ye was just fourteen years old.
She was still young enough to stiffen at Bok Jung-ho's voice.
And Jun Hyo was the same.
Unlike Yi Ho-chang, who understood them, Mo Gun-hyeong wasn't pleased with the young squad leaders' hesitation.
He wasn't the type to make allowances for their age.
Soon, Yi Ho-chang's name was called.
"Yi Ho-chang!"
Yi Ho-chang raised his hand without a second thought.
He wasn't tense or hesitant.
It was just roll call, after all.
But seeing the two before him so rigid, Mo Gun-hyeong and Bok Jung-ho both eyed Yi Ho-chang with interest by comparison.
"That concludes the roll call!"
As Hong Beom-ung and Chun Seom finished and returned to Crimson South Pavilion, Bok Jung-ho scanned the group and spoke.
"...Indeed, the Dragon Pearl Gang's forces have weakened considerably."
It was said deliberately for all to hear.
Compared to their bandit days, it was undeniably true.
So he infused his voice with internal energy to make it sting—and while everyone flinched, only two remained unfazed: Mu Cheol-gae and Yi Ho-chang.
'Hoo...'
Bok Jung-ho stared at Yi Ho-chang with amused eyes.
Mu Cheol-gae was one thing.
He was Mu Cheol-gae, after all.
But not Yi Ho-chang.
Yi Ho-chang had heard the squad leader had changed, but since it was Squad 6, he hadn't paid much attention.
Seeing him in person, though, there were more than a few intriguing aspects.
'Interesting.'
Then Mo Gun-hyeong stepped forward and said,
"You all know why we're gathered here, right?"
"Yes!"
"Good. Then we'll now select the members to represent us at the Famous Name Assembly in Zhejiang Province."
As Mo Gun-hyeong finished, Bok Jung-ho suddenly appeared carrying massive boulders from somewhere.
He handled boulders taller than a grown man like mere Go stones—it felt like watching a circus or feat of strength show.
'Now that's what I call deputy leader material.'
There were six such boulders in total.
Impressive strength.
Bok Jung-ho continued unfazed, without a hint of fatigue.
"We're selecting two this time. The method: we'll evaluate how each of you destroys one of these boulders."
It seemed crude, but it was the simplest and most reliable way.
"Order: Squads 1 through 6. Mu Cheol-gae, Squad Leader 1?"
"Yes!"
At Mo Gun-hyeong's words, Mu Cheol-gae responded briskly and leaped to the center of the training ground.
Before smashing the boulder, he clasped his hands in salute to Bok Jung-ho and said,
"It's been a while, Gang Leader."
"Yes, it has. You've been busy lately, it seems."
They seemed to know each other well; after a brief exchange, Mu Cheol-gae stood before the largest boulder Mo Gun-hyeong had carried.
"This one's the biggest."
Mu Cheol-gae caressed the boulder once, then assumed a stance and extended his right arm behind his back.
He bent his knees slightly and drew a deep breath.
"Hoo...!"
Demonic Vertical Fist (Level 1: One Fist Strike)
[Massive blunt force impact]
His posture resembled a boxer throwing a hook, but more precisely, it was like swinging a hammer down.
And the moment Mu Cheol-gae's fist met the boulder—
[Boulder Shattered]
[Rock fragments explode outward]
A thunderous boom echoed, like a hammer striking stone, and shards flew in all directions.
Plink, plink...
Debris rained down from the shattered boulder.
A perfect destruction.
Mu Cheol-gae dusted off his hand, nodded in satisfaction, and Mo Gun-hyeong nodded as well.
"As expected of Squad 1's leader."
"Ha! Thank you!"
Mu Cheol-gae shrugged it off casually as he descended, shaking out his shoulders.
Watching him, Yi Ho-chang felt faint admiration.
'Different charm from Dragon Claw Palm.'
Mae Hyang's Dragon Claw Palm had been astonishing, but Mu Cheol-gae's was no less so.
The Red Tiger Gang's Wave Tiger Fist from before felt like child's play by comparison.
"Next!"
As Mu Cheol-gae stepped down, Squad 2 Leader Dam Hu entered the training ground.
Dam Hu's weapon was a朴刀 (朴刀—a cleaver-like saber).
Mo Gun-hyeong asked as Dam Hu drew it.
"How is it? Have you improved since last time?"
"Yes. Allow me to show you my recent progress."
Dam Hu channeled his internal energy into the saber.
It wasn't sword aura yet—just a faint blue glow.
Still, at his age, that level rivaled the heirs of prestigious clans.
Dam Hu took a deep breath, eyes widening.
He was searching for the rock's weakest point.
Finding it, he gripped the handle tight and drew forth all his power.
The faint aura sharpened slightly, and at the perfect moment, he swung horizontally.
Krrrng!
The blade carved a deep gash, like drawing a line with a brush.
But it didn't cleave through in one go.
Dam Hu followed with a flurry of swings.
Krack! Krack! Paak! Krraaang!
Eight more strikes, and finally, he split the boulder in two.
Only then did Dam Hu sheathe his saber. Mo Gun-hyeong nodded approvingly.
"Much improved from before."
"Hoo... Thank you."
A smile crossed Dam Hu's face amid his heavy breathing at the praise from the stern deputy leader.
He felt he'd done his duty.
"Next!"
Next was Squad 3 Leader So Man-geuk.
But for someone who stuck with Dam Hu, his result was disappointingly weak.
He used an iron mace, striking with gusto, but its destructive power fell short of even the saber.
Not only that—excited, he swung a dozen more times but failed to crack it, eventually giving up from exhaustion.
Mo Gun-hyeong clicked his tongue.
'Tsk tsk. The gang leader was right—our forces have truly weakened.'
Only three squad leaders in, and the third couldn't even break his boulder.
The rest were obvious.
'Even until recently, this wouldn't have happened...'
Mo Gun-hyeong furrowed his brow and said to Bok Jung-ho,
"Gang Leader, do we need to see more? At this rate, just bringing Mu Cheol-gae and Dam Hu might save us from total embarrassment."
It wasn't wrong.
He nearly agreed, but remembered Yi Ho-chang and narrowed his eyes.
"We should give them all a chance."
"...Understood."
What more could he say when the gang leader had spoken?
Further argument would overstep.
Next came Seol Ye and Jun Hyo.
Their results were even worse than So Man-geuk's, deepening Mo Gun-hyeong's frown.
And finally, Yi Ho-chang's turn.
"Yi Ho-chang!"
As his name was called, Baek Hwi beside him looked worried.
"Brother, you okay?"
"What's there to worry about?"
Yi Ho-chang rose nonchalantly and stepped onto the training ground.
He stood before the sturdiest remaining boulder.
Chun Seom and others who knew him watched anxiously.
But Yi Ho-chang greeted Bok Jung-ho casually, just as he had Baek Hwi.
"Yi Ho-chang here. Let's begin."
A plain greeting.
He turned to the boulder, exhaled deeply, and began circulating Primordial Return to One Divine Art.
The moment Yi Ho-chang started channeling—
"Hm?"
Bok Jung-ho's eyes widened involuntarily at the vast internal energy gathering around him.
'Well, now...'
It was unbelievable for a mere child.
Mo Gun-hyeong was stunned too, as were the others.
Hong Beom-ung, Chun Seom, Mu Cheol-gae, Dam Hu, and the rest gaped at Yi Ho-chang's immense power.
"Hoo...!"
Finishing his circulation, Yi Ho-chang gathered his energy and compressed it neatly into his right hand.
Such refined control stunned those who knew better.
With preparations complete, Yi Ho-chang extended his right hand toward the boulder and shouted inwardly,
Dragon Claw Palm
[Penetrating claw strike / Delayed explosion]
Tap!
His extended hand touched the boulder.
But nothing happened.
So Man-geuk snorted involuntarily, then covered his mouth.
'What the— all that buildup, and it's just bluff?'
Truth be told, So Man-geuk had been the most anxious here.
Dam Hu was always superior, fine—but inferiors outshining him? Unbearable.
Then—
[Boulder Imploded]
[Cracks propagate / Total pulverization]
A massive roar erupted, the boulder trembled violently, and fissures spiderwebbed from top to bottom.
So Man-geuk's eyes widened more than ever.
But the transformation didn't stop.
[Boulder Reduced to Dust]
[Dust cloud billows outward]
Another boom—and the fissured boulder exploded into powder, collapsing utterly.
Dust swirled in the air.
Just like the pine tree pulverized by Mae Hyang's Dragon Claw Palm, Yi Ho-chang's boulder met the same fate.
"Whoa...?"
"Insane!"
"Wow..."
"Hahaha!"
Exclamations erupted from all sides.
As the thick dust settled, Yi Ho-chang's quite satisfied face emerged.