Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Chapter 5: Special Abilities (4)
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"Is the Palm Altar Master here yet?"
"No, not showing up."
"Then let's kill them all and clean up. He'll come out then."
"Heh heh heh, do as you like."
The White Bone Witch laughed.
Huangpogwae stepped forward. He drew a spear from his back. It was a reddish-brown spear with a shaft shaped like a candlestick.
Retreat was no longer an option with that.
No escaping. That man was undoubtedly a master. If he was a black-clad scout, he was at least first-rate, possibly special-class. One-on-one was out of the question. It would take the full eight-man Heaven-Destroying Squad to face him properly.
"Why are you targeting them?"
Jung-gwang tried talking.
He was hesitant to start fighting right away, and honestly, he was curious now.
The situation had gone from dire to disastrous.
Analysis wasn't just for the Intelligence Squad. The Heaven-Destroying Squad might lead with force, but they knew how to use their heads too.
Seol and Hyang weren't just hapless daughters of some merchant house caught in bad luck.
For masters like these to come after them, there had to be a real story behind it.
Jung-gwang figured he had to learn the reason, even if it cost him his life.
Huangpogwae thought differently.
Killing intent was already gathering at his spear tip.
"Not your business. You're dead soon anyway."
Step by step, he approached.
He was big-framed with thick arms. His yellow robe was made of fine silk, gleaming almost golden.
Not a yokai, but like a divine general. His presence was solemn, as if bestowed by the heavens.
'I can't just roll over.'
Jung-gwang steeled himself for death. Gripping his longsword with both hands, he called to the rear.
"Jeong-hae."
"Yes."
"Can you fight?"
"My right arm's fine."
"Good. Jeong-hae, your top priority is protecting the vice leader and the girls. Once the vice leader's up, watch for an opening and escape together. Gyu-tae and Han-seo, cover me. Let's block them once."
He gave the orders openly.
No point hiding his intent.
Concealing it wouldn't change anything.
Gyu-tae and Han-seo stepped up to flank Jung-gwang.
The three longswords aimed at Huangpogwae. The Heaven-Destroying Squad's basic formation started with three. Heroic spirit blazed.
Huangpogwae spun his spear with a whoosh and advanced.
"Kids with some guts. But..."
He approached with the weight of a thousand catties, then halted abruptly.
That was when Jeong-hae was slowly retreating with Seol and Hyang. Huangpogwae glanced to the rear and boomed with inner force.
"The one's I'm waiting for doesn't show. And now some useless trash..."
Han-seo stopped retreating too.
A massive shadow emerged from the woods behind him.
Not all that surprising anymore.
Even fully focused on fighting the White Bone Witch, he hadn't expected their backs to be taken. This newcomer was another powerful master.
"I left the martial world at around thirty. I've heard every kind of tale, but 'useless trash' is a first."
Rough facial lines, natural wrinkles. Middle-aged.
Everyone in the Heaven-Destroying Squad was well-built, and Huangpogwae was big, but this man was bigger.
Not spread sideways like Dongpungneung, but thick all over. He wore simple martial robes without shoulder or chest guards—solid shoulders, taut thighs. A perfectly balanced, imposing physique.
What stood out was the wine jug in one hand. Blue letters reading "Fenqing" were etched on it. Not cheap leaf liquor, but genuine Fen Province leaf wine. Top-shelf stuff.
'This guy's...!'
Jung-gwang realized something.
His aura pressed down heavily. Just like the presence he'd sensed from those woods earlier.
Definitely the master they'd detoured around.
And now he knew the identity.
That look, those clothes, the "Fen" character on the front of the robes too. So the back of his martial robes must boldly read "Fenyang."
"The Fenyang Iron Fist? Yeah, totally useless trash."
Huangpogwae beat him to voicing the nickname Jung-gwang had recalled.
'Gyeong Nambang!'
The Fenyang Iron Fist Gyeong Nambang always carried a wine jug but never got drunk. That's what he'd heard.
One of the Five Strong of Shanxi—and the weakest.
Gyeong Nambang was the sect leader of the Fenyang Sect in Shanxi and head of the Gyeong Clan Brewery. Built on generations of Fen Province liquor wealth, the clan had developed Northern Long Fist independently for two hundred years, amassing peak martial prowess.
True to his status among the Five Strong, Gyeong Nambang was relaxed. He took a hearty swig from his jug and asked.
"Ahh! So how ugly is your mug that you hide behind a mask?"
"The likes of Fenyang Sect dare."
"Not something to hear from a guy who can't show his face under heaven."
Gyeong Nambang strode over and stood beside the Heaven-Destroying Squad.
His presence was overwhelming. His arrogance defined him as one who treated all as beneath him.
Huangpogwae readjusted his reddish-brown spear. Gyeong Nambang ignored it, looking toward Seol and Hyang instead.
"Long time no see. You've both gotten even prettier."
Jung-gwang's eyebrow twitched.
A friendly tone could mean they knew each other.
The Fenyang Iron Fist Gyeong Nambang headed the brewery-famous Gyeong Clan. They could've done plenty of business with the influential Yeomok Merchant Guild from Taiyuan, even beenfriend the head or his daughters. But Seol and Hyang's expressions said otherwise. Far from pleased, both women had stiffened up the moment he appeared—faces and bodies rigid. That's why Jung-gwang's face hardened too.
"Young lady greets the head of the Gyeong Clan Brewery."
Seol bowed her head.
Stiff words. Not exactly a warm reunion, but her reaction was extreme. Hyang didn't even speak.
"The heirs of the Hebei Peng Clan come all this way—what brings you? You've worked hard protecting these lovely girls. I'll take the two with me."
His appearance was sudden, but his words were unexpected too.
Even then, Jung-gwang caught the displeasure in Seol and Hyang's eyes. That's when he recalled another rumor about Gyeong Nambang.
Heroes love women, and the Fenyang Sect's Iron Fist was overflowing with lust—three wives and four concubines weren't enough.
Looking at Gyeong Nambang now, with the tale in mind, what gleamed in his eyes wasn't chivalrous intent to save damsels, but clear, blatant greed.
Intense wariness surged in Jung-gwang's heart. He had a strong aversion to this sort of thing. And much of that aversion stemmed from Cheonwi.
"That okay with you?"
With Jung-gwang silent, Gyeong Nambang asked again.
"That's not for me to decide."
Jung-gwang replied curtly.
Now Gyeong Nambang raised both eyebrows. Surprised by the answer, it seemed. Before he could speak, the White Bone Witch cut in.
"Heh heh heh, our Peng Clan fellow spoke well for once. Not for Gang Leader Gyeong to decide on his own, right? And head Gyeong really lives up to the rumors. Lusting even in this situation."
"What kind of situation is this?"
Gyeong Nambang turned to the White Bone Witch this time.
He took another gulp of wine. True Shanxi Five Strong—everything felt beneath his feet. The White Bone Witch laughed again.
"Heh heh, right now, it's the situation where Head Gyeong has to risk his life."
"Nah. Today's my lucky day. Might even score three beauties at once. Which is why I'm curious about that mask. Whatever's underneath must be prime."
"Curious or not, can't help you. I could strip other stuff, but not the mask."
The White Bone Witch replied provocatively.
"Hahaha!"
Gyeong Nambang laughed.
Just the laugh sounded heroically bold. He tilted the jug vertical to his mouth. Barely any left, it seems—three big gulps and it was empty. He flung it aside. Crash—the fine jug shattered.
"Then I'll rip it off by force."
Gyeong Nambang said. Then he kicked off the ground powerfully.
"Heh heh heh, this isn't the time to charge at me to strip it. You'll die."
The White Bone Witch leaped back.
She leaned forward invitingly, hands gracefully directing toward Huangpogwae. Meaning: fight him, not me.
"You damn Shanxi backwater scum!!"
Huangpogwae had held back long enough.
He'd tolerated Gyeong Nambang's taunts so far for good reason. The moment Gyeong Nambang appeared, he'd sensed a new presence unlike before.
Someone who'd hidden nearby well until then, rattled by Gyeong Nambang's arrival. No one else noticed. Only Huangpogwae felt the shift.
No one else would show now. He couldn't pinpoint the location, but Huangpogwae knew who. Time to clear the obstacles.
Whiiing!
Piercing air filled the area.
Huangpogwae swung his reddish-brown spear at the boldly charging Gyeong Nambang.
Clang!
Spear shaft met fist.
Looked casual, but no. Shanxi Five Strong were the real deal. A solid clash echoed, followed by a shockwave sweeping the surroundings. Leaves rained down like a storm had hit.
"Ha! Yokai! You're strong!"
Gyeong Nambang veered aside in alarm.
Middle-aged, yet his speech was like a youthful thirty-something.
Huangpogwae stomped the ground—boom!
"They say you're the pettiest of the five Shanxi trash, and the world's right!"
The five trash meant the Shanxi Five Strong.
Huangpogwae spun his spear twice, channeling inner energy.
The whirring wind grew fierce. Gyeong Nambang poured power into both fists in kind. His massive frame filled with solid energy. Like a giant cliff face.
Huangpogwae's reddish-brown spear and Gyeong Nambang's iron fists clashed repeatedly.
Boom!
An explosion rang out.
Gyeong Nambang's iron fist grazed Huangpogwae's thigh.
Huangpogwae spun, thrusting the spear. A single strike packed immense force. Gyeong Nambang arched his massive torso back, dodging.
Kwaaaang!
The reddish-brown spear pierced a thick tree trunk.
Crackling, the tall tree toppled.
"What kinda yokai are you? Even this old man's Cyan Spear isn't this good!"
"Nothing to marvel at. You've only seen trash!"
Huangpogwae and Gyeong Nambang exchanged over a dozen bouts in moments.
Huangpogwae was truly powerful.
He treated Gyeong Nambang's iron fist and Pyo Yo-bo's Cyan Spear like child's play—not just in words, but his hands moved freely. Gyeong Nambang's renowned art held up, but Huangpogwae's nameless spear style casually shattered the Fenyang Iron Fist's killing moves.
Kwaaaang!
The shock rippled out again.
Gyeong Nambang's face paled.
Internal injuries.