The Price of Insult (1)
A faint smile of delight bloomed on Muk Bi's face.
"Young Master Yeon."
"Whew, what a pain."
Thud! The resounding crash of the Gwang Yong Bu slamming into the floor shook the entire top level. It was an ominous entrance. And with that massive axe embedding itself in the ground, the atmosphere turned murderous in an instant.
Yeon Hojeong smacked his lips.
"Haven't had a proper meal since dawn yesterday. My stomach's practically glued to my backbone."
"Did everything go well?"
"Does it look like it? I'm dead tired."
Yeon Hojeong glanced at Moyong Yeonhwa and the dozen or so young men and women with her. Moyong Yeonhwa's face hardened coldly. The young ones flinched for a moment but managed to keep a fairly composed demeanor.
Yeon Hojeong asked nonchalantly, as if nothing was amiss.
"So, what's all this about? Apologize? Lick their feet? What kinda bullshit is that?"
Muk Bi bit her lip. Just as she opened her mouth to speak quickly—
"We meet again. It seems you'll be staying here a few days."
Yeon Hojeong turned his head. Moyong Yeonhwa had stood up.
"Come to think of it, that young lady is part of your group, isn't she, Young Master Yeon?"
Yeon Hojeong smirked wordlessly. It was almost a sneer. The ten young men and women's faces flushed red at the sight. But Moyong Yeonhwa remained calm, utterly unshaken.
"That young lady made a bit of a mistake with our group. But she seems so naive about the ways of the world..."
"Are you Muk Bi?"
"...?!"
"I didn't ask you. And right now, I'm not in the mood to chat with you, so don't butt in."
Moyong Yeonhwa's expression shifted. Though they weren't close, he'd always maintained a certain decorum until now. But not this time. He was speaking to her casually, like an equal—or worse.
"Are you saying that to me?"
Yeon Hojeong's eyes turned icy. Moyong Yeonhwa flinched involuntarily. She was no weakling. She didn't cower under his chilling gaze. But her mouth wouldn't open easily. She didn't want to provoke him needlessly.
She'd been insulted, but she wouldn't act rashly anymore. Impressive restraint.
Yeon Hojeong asked Muk Bi,
"What happened?"
Muk Bi hesitated to speak. Yeon Hojeong grinned bitterly.
"Looks like you're pretty hurt."
"...Yes."
Honest as always. Yeon Hojeong liked that about her.
"I get the gist. You messed up with those folks over there?"
Muk Bi's face flushed again. She was angry.
"I... I did make a mistake, but I think they started it."
At that moment, Ha-seok spoke up.
"That lowly bitch still..."
Bam!
"Gah!"
Everyone on the top floor jumped in shock. The Gwang Yong Bu was suddenly embedded in the wall right next to Ha-seok. Unable to bear its own weight, it slowly slipped out and crashed to the floor.
Thud!Crackle!
The floor trembled. Even held in hand, it was intimidating, but seeing it like this revealed its insane heft. The inner wall's durability was miraculous—it hadn't shattered despite the axe blade burying into it. Of course, that was thanks to Yeon Hojeong's precise control of his internal energy. If he'd swung it seriously, a third of the top floor's inner walls would be rubble by now.
"Lowly?"
Thump! Three or four of the young men and women collapsed in terror. Ha-seok swallowed dryly. He'd seen the axe's afterimage pass right by his nose. A slight tilt, and his body would've been cleaved in two.
Yeon Hojeong spoke in a calm tone.
"Muk Bi is from the Yeon family. Even my father treats her as an honored guest. Who dares call her lowly? Are you saying the Yeon family of Bi-san is lowly too?"
Moyong Yeonhwa and the merchant alliance heirs' eyes widened.
Yeon Hojeong sneered coldly.
"Pigs only see other pigs. With eyes like yours, you're lucky if you don't drop dead on the roadside before enjoying any glory."
The insults hit like thunderclaps in their ears. But no one dared speak. They didn't want that axe swinging at them.
"Go on with your story. They messed up first?"
Muk Bi stammered,
"I... I didn't want to sit with them."
"But they kept insisting?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
Muk Bi's gaze instinctively went to Dong So-bang. Yeon Hojeong's followed. Dong So-bang's face drained of color. A teenage girl with barely any martial skill couldn't handle the subtle pressure radiating from him.
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
"One loudmouth who can't watch his mouth, one annoying bitch who won't leave people alone. We'll start by grabbing those two and beating some sense into them."
Chill! The atmosphere grew even more savage. Beat them? Words fit for third-rate thugs, but the terrifying intent behind them was palpable to all.
Dong So-bang collapsed bonelessly. Ha-seok struggled to keep a straight face, but his fingertips trembled faintly.
Yeon Hojeong of Bi-san Lake Manor. The Yeon family's eldest son, a peak expert who'd faced a prestigious clan alone. He hadn't toppled the Myeong family himself, but he'd played a decisive role in their downfall—a hot-blooded warrior. Hot-blooded? More like he'd charge ahead without a second thought if provoked. Why else would he challenge the Nine Provinces' Myeong family single-handedly?
The eerie fog of killing intent overwhelmed the room. Moyong Yeonhwa stepped forward.
"Young Master Yeon. Surely you're not going to make this a big deal..."
"Shut your mouth."
Yeon Hojeong openly grimaced.
"I'm holding back for your father's sake."
"W-what?"
"The only reason I haven't torn you apart first is your father. But test my patience one more time, and I won't give a damn about the Moyong family or whatever."
Moyong Yeonhwa's eyes turned frigid.
How dare he! To say such things in front of everyone—it was beyond infuriating; it was unbelievable.
"You..."
"So, what did that annoying bitch do?"
He completely ignored Moyong Yeonhwa. No more words for her. Her face finally flushed crimson.
Muk Bi sighed.
"It's nothing. Let's just drop it."
"Drop it? Why?"
Muk Bi looked confused.
"I don't want to make a fuss. It feels pointless."
"Pointless?"
"I was angry, but... they've all been scared shitless already. No need to drive arrows into the hearts of the terrified."
A perfect metaphor for her. But it pricked the pride of a few merchant heirs.
"How dare she look down on us!"
Not "me," but "us." Even in anger, they subtly showed solidarity.
"Think the Yeon family of Bi-san owns the world? This is Zhejang! Even the six great clans won't get away unscathed!"
Impressive confidence. The six great clans weren't just strong in martial arts. Reputation mattered as much. They knew the Yeon family of Bi-san was the weakest among them in influence.
But they overlooked one thing. Weak in power, perhaps, but the Yeon family's righteous fame rivaled the top among the six great clans. Even before Yeon Hojeong faced the Myeong family.
Rumors alone, no real-world experience. They'd mocked Muk Bi as naive, but they were the true innocents.
"See that?"
"..."
"That's what they're like. Ignorant little rats who don't know the world's vastness. Can't even tell Moyong clan's own blood is keeping her mouth shut."
It was getting worse. They roared again but glanced at Moyong Yeonhwa. They'd caught the implication in his words. Her face burned red.
"That's how the jianghu works. They forget favors but never grudges. Same with these idiots. Send 'em off without a proper lesson, and they'll come back to bite you someday."
"..."
"Still wanna end it here?"
Muk Bi nodded, looking strangely weary.
"I don't want to brawl with people who don't even know martial arts."
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"That's fine too."
"...Pardon?"
"Your soft heart will make you regret it someday. But I respect your choice. The world needs people as pure as you."
Confusion clouded Muk Bi's face. She couldn't make sense of it.
"Then I'll..."
"Don't worry too much, though. I'll have your back. Even if you regret it, I won't let it break you. I didn't bring you along without that resolve."
Muk Bi's eyes wavered. Yeon Hojeong patted her shoulder.
"They say people grow through bonds and conflicts. You held back well."
Smiling at Muk Bi, he turned. But his eyes now flickered with ghostly fire.
"Now, let's have a little chat among ourselves."
Muk Bi panicked.
"W-why?"
"Unlike you, my nature's a real bastard."
"Huh?"
"Anyone who threatens or mocks my people—I can't let that slide without slapping some sense into 'em."
Ha-seok ground his teeth.
"Hey, Yeon—"
Crack!
Ha-seok slammed into the wall without even a scream.
"Kyaaak!"
"Gasp!"
Ha-seok's eyes glazed over where he stuck to the wall. His trembling body slid down in a heap. A few white teeth spilled from his bloodied mouth.
Infusing true energy into every muscle fiber. Even without channeling his heart method, one punch could splinter a tree. A slap with that power—and he was still alive? Lucky.
But Yeon Hojeong wasn't done.
"Who said you could pass out?"
Thud, thud. He strode over, yanked Ha-seok up by the collar, and swung again.
Crack!Crack!
"Grah!"
Consciousness returned in a flash—but he'd have been better off out. Ha-seok's face became a mangled mess. More teeth shattered, cheeks tore into ugly gashes, right eye ballooned shut.
Yeon Hojeong's murderous gaze bored into Ha-seok's eyes. Pure terror filled Ha-seok's face.
"Mercy..."
Slam!
Ha-seok hit the wall again and blacked out. Even waking, the mere sight of Yeon Hojeong would make him quake.
Yeon Hojeong turned to Dong So-bang. She hiccuped in fear.
"I-I'm from the Great Heaven Gold House..."
"Great Heaven Gold House? Some Zhejang specialty dish?"
Slam!
"Gurk!"
Yeon Hojeong showed no mercy. Beating a sturdy youth to a pulp was gruesome enough, but pulverizing a young girl? It didn't seem real.
Thud!Thud!Snap!
Dong So-bang crumpled on the spot. Neither died. But the hideous scars would keep their faces hidden forever.
Ruthless brutality. Status irrelevant, he turned untrained commoners into wrecks. Unbefitting Bi-san Lake Manor's righteous fame.
Yeon Hojeong eyed the rest. Hiss... His ghostly blue gaze brimmed with black darkness killing intent.
"H-heuk!"
They dropped to their knees involuntarily, legs giving out.
After glaring long, Yeon Hojeong looked at Moyong Yeonhwa. She trembled, eyes blazing with fury.
"You made a mistake."
"Explain."
"What?"
Yeon Hojeong pointed at the kneeling merchant heirs.
"Tell me why you used these clowns to mess with Muk Bi."