Chapter 36. The Difference in Rank (2)
Yeon Hojeong scanned the first floor of the restaurant. As expected, there was no one there. No wonder it felt so eerily empty—this place alone had been cleared out.
Hmm.
He sensed movement from the kitchen. They had no internal energy, so they were probably just the head chef and the errand boys.
Dang Yangseon twitched his lips.
"What? Surprised?"
He was surprised. The killing intent that had pinned Dang Yangseon down in the banquet hall had been real. Even a skilled master would have felt terror from that level of pressure. Yet this guy had been waiting here for him.
At the very least, he had to acknowledge the punk's mental fortitude. It was something even the Chang-eungjo members could learn from.
"Looks like one arm wasn't enough for you."
"W-what did you say?"
Dang Yangseon's face flushed beet red in an instant.
Yeon Hojeong ignored him completely and headed to the kitchen.
"Hey there."
"Eek! Y-yes, sir!"
The head chef and errand boys were trembling in the corner of the kitchen. Yeon Hojeong pulled out ten nyang of silver from his bosom.
"Could you whip up some food for about thirty thirsty soldiers? Anything quick will do."
"……Huh?"
"Keep the change."
At that moment, a sharp shout exploded.
"Hey, you dog bastard!"
Yeon Hojeong turned to Dang Yangseon.
Crack!
Furious, he kicked over a table and stood. A terrifying poison qi surged through his entire body.
"You trash, how dare you ignore me?"
Yeon Hojeong asked calmly.
"Where'd you chase everyone off to?"
Dang Yangseon spat.
"Why do you care, you peasant?"
He'd sensed it back at the banquet too, but there was definitely something wrong with Dang Yangseon's personality. He looked down on everyone except himself. He truly believed his status made him superior.
Even for the heir of one of the world's renowned noble clans, this was excessive. It made him wonder if his parents had deliberately raised the kid to be this vicious.
Well.
It was a family that dealt in poison and hidden weapons. Ruthless hands inevitably warped the heart. And living like a crown prince in such a clan? It wasn't entirely incomprehensible.
"So? You want revenge?"
"Revenge? Don't make me laugh, trash. This isn't revenge—it's execution."
Execution?
Hummm.
Dang Yangseon's eyes turned a deep purple. He had unleashed the Samyang Gong to its peak.
"I don't know what sorcery you used last time, but it won't work now. I'll make you scream for three days and nights before you die."
Yeon Hojeong chuckled.
The heir of a family that shared the Seven Great Clans' name was talking about killing him. Not because he had the capacity to bear the consequences, but simply because he was pissed off.
Bloodshot veins burst in the whites of Dang Yangseon's eyes.
"You laugh? You dare?"
"We're the same."
"Y-you bastard!"
Yeon Hojeong glanced around the kitchen. The head chef and errand boys were still shaking.
"No one's taking my order?"
How could they dare cook? With the infamous heir of the Sichuan Dang Clan right there.
Yeon Hojeong sighed.
"Guess I need to clean up first."
Dang Yangseon, who had been trembling, suddenly smirked coldly.
"You retarded fuck."
Yeon Hojeong turned his shoulder without a word. His muscles weren't fully recovered yet, but they had settled enough.
Hummm.
An even thicker poison qi emanated from Dang Yangseon's body.
"You're already poisoned, retard."
"Poisoned?"
"I released Chang-eum Poison. Lowlifes like you won't even notice…."
Thwack!
Dang Yangseon's mouth gaped open. Yeon Hojeong had closed the distance in an instant and slammed his fist into the punk's gut.
This strike was explosive. So powerful that Yeon Hojeong's fist sank wrist-deep into Dang Yangseon's abdomen.
"Kuwaaack!"
Dang Yangseon crumpled on the spot, vomiting a mouthful of blood.
But it didn't end there. His organs were damaged from a single blow. If Yeon Hojeong hadn't pulled back at the last second, his large and small intestines would have been shredded.
He'd nearly died in true gut-wrenching agony.
Of course, it was plenty painful now.
"Kuhuk! Kraaaagh!"
Dang Yangseon rolled on the floor, clutching his stomach. Even his internal energy couldn't control the pain. It was a deliberate strike meant purely to inflict suffering, without killing intent.
Writhing in maddening torment, Dang Yangseon couldn't hide his bewilderment.
Why?!
Chang-eum Poison was colorless and odorless. On its own, it had little effect. But when combined with the poison qi of the Samyang Gong at its peak, it plunged the victim into uncontrollable chaos.
Yet his opponent was fine despite being exposed to the Samyang Poison Qi.
How the hell?!
Crack!
Dang Yangseon's eyes bulged.
"Kraaaagh!"
His splinted right arm snapped again. Yeon Hojeong had stomped it.
It was a brutal attack.
At that moment, urgent movement erupted from the third floor of the restaurant.
"St-stop!"
Thwack!
The ones descending to the first floor were Han Homyeong of the Poison Dragon Iron Whip, who had been escorting Dang Yangseon, and one squad of the Red Spider Squad.
They'd hidden on the top floor because Dang Yangseon insisted on handling it alone. Still, they'd felt some relief with the Chang-eum Poison scattered about.
But to think it'd end in one strike.
Han Homyeong shouted.
"Release the young master right now…!"
Squeeze.
Yeon Hojeong stepped on Dang Yangseon's throat. The punk's neck turned purple in an instant.
Already in agony, now he couldn't even breathe.
No, it wasn't just breathing. One more ounce of pressure, and Dang Yangseon's neck would snap, killing him instantly.
Han Homyeong and the Red Spider Squad members' faces drained of color.
Yeon Hojeong pointed at Han Homyeong.
"You."
"……?!"
"Come forward."
Han Homyeong trembled.
A blue glow gathered in Yeon Hojeong's pupils.
Squeeze.
"Grrrk."
Dang Yangseon's eyes rolled back. He was moments from suffocating.
"Stop! I'm coming! Just stop!"
Yeon Hojeong eased off his foot. Dang Yangseon gasped raggedly.
Han Homyeong approached Yeon Hojeong, tense as a bowstring. For a moment, temptation seized him. At this range—one zhang away—a surprise attack might pull him off the young master.
Yeon Hojeong extended his hand.
"No funny ideas. Just hand over that thick iron whip on your belt."
"……?!"
Yeon Hojeong gave no time to think.
Thud! Crack!
"Kuhk!"
Dang Yangseon's right leg snapped.
Han Homyeong's face turned ashen.
"I'll give it! Here!"
He hurriedly handed over the whip. It was an iron whip embedded with sharp segments for elasticity.
Yeon Hojeong took it and unleashed a single fist strike.
Boom!
"Guhk!"
Han Homyeong flew toward the Red Spider Squad. A swift punch, a perfect ambush.
No matter how skilled Han Homyeong was, blocking in this situation was impossible.
The Red Spider Squad awkwardly caught their flying comrade.
And in that instant, Yeon Hojeong moved.
Chiririring!
The whip in his hand uncoiled with a chilling screech.
"Wh-what the?!"
"Watch out!"
Except for the three who caught Han Homyeong, the rest reached into their bosoms for hidden weapons.
Killing intent flared in Yeon Hojeong's eyes.
Thwack-thwack-thwack!
Blood splattered across the floor and walls. No screams.
The iron whip came alive like a venomous serpent, mercilessly wrapping and felling the Red Spider Squad members.
Gasp!
Han Homyeong's eyes widened like saucers.
Whirl! Thud! Crack!
The whip's movements defied imagination. He couldn't even guess how it was wielded. Was it a technique? He couldn't tell. It just felt like dozens of iron segments writhing in the air.
Splatter!
The entire Red Spider Squad collapsed, spurting blood. The cramped space left nowhere to dodge.
But that made it all the more impressive. Wielding a tricky weapon like an iron whip in such tight quarters, adjusting perfectly to slaughter foes—something even Han Homyeong couldn't do.
What am I even seeing?!
Yeon Hojeong's whip arts had reached a terrifying realm.
No, this wasn't mere whip arts. It resembled them but was far more savage.
Impossible!
Whatever the technique, its overwhelming power left him stunned. To wipe out the squad before they could even draw their hidden weapons?
Divine skill in weapon mastery.
Yet Yeon Hojeong frowned, unsatisfied.
If it had been an iron chain, it would've been better.
His most confident weapons were the axe and chains. He'd pierced enemy lines by linking axe to chain or annihilated entire units with a single chain.
Guess I need to get an iron cable later.
In the blink of an eye, he'd rendered nearly twenty foes combat-invalid. Yeon Hojeong tossed the iron whip aside carelessly.
Killing intent filled Han Homyeong's eyes. His own weapon had felled allies. And now, tossed away like trash?
"You bastard!"
Bam!
Han Homyeong swung his palm toward Yeon Hojeong's back. The Yeon family heir didn't matter anymore.
At that moment, Yeon Hojeong grabbed Dang Yangseon's ankle.
Thwack!
Dang Yangseon's eyes widened. Han Homyeong's face turned deathly pale.
His palm had struck Dang Yangseon's lumbar region.
Crack.
"Kraaaagh!"
Dang Yangseon collapsed. A fracture in his lumbar vertebrae. Lucky it hadn't shattered outright. But without prompt treatment, he'd be crippled for life.
Yeon Hojeong clicked his tongue.
"Not content with knocking out your allies, now you try to cripple your own master? Well, working under a prick like him must've built up some resentment."
"……!!"
"Hope the Dang Clan head still values you after seeing these wounds. You've suffered enough."
Han Homyeong's face went blank.
Dang Yangseon muttered in a half-dazed state.
"Wh-why would you… for me…?!"
Thud!
Yeon Hojeong's kick knocked him out cold.
Han Homyeong was much the same. No need to knock him out—he was already broken.
Yeon Hojeong squatted in front of him.
"Want to live?"
"……!"
"I'll tell you how. Answer my questions first."
Han Homyeong stared at him with hollow eyes.
"Y'know, it's weird when you think about it. Neither you nor your master have wandered the Central Plains your whole lives, so how'd you know we'd take this road? Hapbi's pretty far, after all."
"……?!"
"What, you snag a good informant? Not easy, right? Sure, with determination nothing's impossible, but as your empty-headed master said, it's only been two days?"
"Th-that's…!"
"Let's not make this harder than it needs to be."
Killing intent rose in Yeon Hojeong's eyes.
"Who told you we were coming this way?"
* * *
"Gasp! Young master?"
"What?"
"Y-your clothes are covered in blood…?"
"Oh, this? No big deal. Don't worry about it—take this. Plenty of lamb. Whoa, looks like our second young master conked out already."
Impossible not to worry.
Sin Mo's eyes hardened.
"Don't tell me… Namgung?"
He'd heard late about why the eldest young master had blown up the incident yesterday. If he'd sent men to do something like that, Namgung Hyeon was the prime suspect again.
Yeon Hojeong chuckled.
"You can stop worrying now."
Sin Mo felt a chill.
"No way…."
"C'mon, you think I'd actually kill the guy? I'd rather cripple him."
Isn't that worse?
Yeon Hojeong glanced toward the restaurant.
"Sometimes the tongue cuts deeper than any blade."