Chapter 277: Fierce Tiger Gon, Baek Mu-ho
Chapter 277: Fierce Tiger Gon, Baek Mu-ho
Baek Mu-ho grinned a mischievous grin and spoke to Seonwoo Jin's party.
"So... which of you will face me? They say your skill is enough to flatten every warrior in Soju, so I'm quite curious whether you're truly qualified. To be honest, my heart is even pounding."
At that, Jeung Chil—who figured it was his turn since Yeon Taejin had stepped up earlier—laughed a heh-heh-heh laugh and stepped forward.
"Kuh-huh-huh. Whether we're qualified or not, you'll soon find out. This old man here is...!"
That was when it happened.
Cutting off Jeung Chil's words, Jin So-eun hurriedly stepped forward.
"It's a pleasure to meet you! I am Jin So-eun of the Guangdong Jin Family Estate!"
As she spoke, her eyes sparkled with a gleam she hadn't shown in a long while.
And the true nature of that gleam was likely her competitive spirit.
At her unexpected appearance, Jeung Chil blinked his eyes and spoke in a flustered voice.
"N-no, wait, it's my turn this time..."
Seonwoo Jin smirked and gently caught Jeung Chil's arm.
Then he pointed with his chin at the black staff Baek Mu-ho was holding.
Only after seeing that could Jeung Chil understand why Jin So-eun had stepped forward.
"Oh-ho, so it's the same staff, then."
The Soju Baek Family was a prestigious staff clan—the only one, one could say, among the Four Kings and Thirteen Clans.
In particular, their ultimate technique, the Ruyi Staff Technique, was regarded as a peerless art even within the martial world.
So it was only natural that Jin So-eun—a member of the Jin Family Estate, a renowned staff clan, and the sole successor of the Natural Staff—would show interest.
But she was not the only one who showed interest in the other party.
Baek Mu-ho, too, began to show interest upon Jin So-eun's introduction of herself as being from the Jin Family Estate.
His eyes lit up as he spoke.
"Ho-oh! You hail from the Jin Family Estate, you say? I have heard much of the fame of the Jin Family Estate's ultimate techniques, the Mad Demon Staff and the Old Tiger Staff."
At that, Jin So-eun smiled brightly and shook her head.
"It is not those two staff techniques that I have learned."
Baek Mu-ho asked with a puzzled expression.
"Not those two staff techniques? Then...?"
Jin So-eun answered, her eyes gleaming.
"The staff I have learned is called the Natural Staff."
"The Natural Staff? What?! The Natural Staff?!"
In an instant, Baek Mu-ho's face filled with irrepressible shock and excitement.
He, too, had heard rumors of the Natural Staff.
His eyes began to blaze fiercely, as if they might spew fire at any moment.
"The Natural Staff! It seems I, Baek Mu-ho, have stumbled upon a fated encounter today. I'm on the verge of going mad with the desire to clash staffs at once. What say you, my lady? Shall we cease our words and converse with our staffs now?"
At those words, Jin So-eun grinned fiercely and nodded.
Then, as if he had been waiting, Baek Mu-ho lunged.
"Hyaaap!"
Paang!
Baek Mu-ho's form surged before Jin So-eun in a single instant.
It was a dynamic movement, more like the spring of a beast than something stealthy.
At that, Jin So-eun's wooden staff also began to spin fiercely at her fingertips.
Hwiriririk!
A dazzling movement, as if it were moving of its own accord at the tips of her fingers.
The wooden staff—moving like an independent living creature—assailed Baek Mu-ho's rushing form from all directions.
At that, Baek Mu-ho let out a cheer and sprang away.
"Yeehaw!"
Taang!
His movements bore a slight resemblance to Seol Pung's.
Dynamic movements that seemed closer to a beast than a man.
It was like watching a nimble monkey bounding about and turning somersaults in the air.
Baek Mu-ho began evading Jin So-eun's dazzling attacks, flinging his body this way and that.
It was the exact opposite of Jin So-eun's movement, where her body barely moved and the wooden staff seemed to move on its own.
In contrast to his dynamic, all-directions leaping, he swung his staff only when absolutely necessary to fend off Jin So-eun's attacks.
Teoteong! Teong! Teoteoteong!
The exchange of offense and defense between the two was exceedingly dazzling and spectacular.
Both Jin So-eun's brilliant staff shadows filling every direction and Baek Mu-ho's flamboyant movements darting between them at tremendous speed were martial feats the likes of which the people of Soju had never seen before.
The people couldn't help but burst into cheers.
"Woaaaaah!"
"Incredible! As expected of the Soju Baek Family's martial arts!"
"That young lady's staff technique is amazing too! Who on earth is she?!"
"She said she's the young lady of the Guangdong Jin Family Estate! That place is also a famous staff clan!"
"Anyway, it's incredible! The best!"
That was when it happened.
Baek Mu-ho, who had been bounding like a nimble monkey while dodging Jin So-eun's attacks, spun once in midair and then thrust his staff like a lightning strike.
Paaak!
Jin So-eun furrowed her brow slightly.
It was because the spot where Baek Mu-ho thrust his staff was beyond his range.
An attack thrust at a distance where the length couldn't possibly reach.
It appeared to be a feint that didn't even need to be blocked.
But just as Jin So-eun thought that and was about to move her body,
Baek Mu-ho's staff suddenly extended outward and thrust all the way to where Jin So-eun stood.
It was like watching Sun Wukong's Ruyi Jingu Bang extending its length.
"Ugh?!"
Jin So-eun let out a groan and hurriedly thrust her hand forward.
Then, the wooden staff spinning before her hand barely managed to strike Baek Mu-ho's staff aside.
Teong!
From that moment on, the situation between Baek Mu-ho and Jin So-eun reversed.
Baek Mu-ho, like an enraged monkey, began bounding about and unleashing a fierce assault on Jin So-eun.
"Kiya-ho!"
Shushushushushuk!
Against Baek Mu-ho's offensive—attacking from outside his range as his staff extended moment to moment—Jin So-eun had no choice but to focus on defense for a time.
The wooden staff, whirling around her body as if possessed of life, continued deflecting Baek Mu-ho's staff away.
Teoteoteoteoteong!
It was a wondrous spectacle.
Both Baek Mu-ho's staff technique—attacking his opponent with a staff that extended as if casting a spell—and Jin So-eun's wooden staff—whirling on its own to defend against the opponent's attacks—overflowed with tension, like a battle between monsters out of a story.
At their splendid display, the people once again could not help but burst into cheers.
"Woaaaaah! Young Master Baek, you're the best!"
"Now that's a fight between true masters! Truly magnificent!"
"Young lady of the Jin Family Estate! Starting today, I'm rooting for you!"
Watching the crowd's atmosphere, Seonwoo Jin smiled faintly.
The mood of the spectators was good, and the mood between the two dueling was even better.
The exhilaration the two were feeling was plainly visible even from the side.
Both of them seemed utterly overjoyed at the fight between staff masters—the kind one rarely encountered.
Seonwoo Jin smiled a contented smile and thought of the plans ahead.
'Good. Now, if only the fight can end in this fine atmosphere and we can go together to the Soju Baek Family and build ties with them...'
Seonwoo Jin was just thinking such thoughts
when Baek Mu-ho shouted out with an utterly exhilarated expression.
"Excellent! Now, try receiving this one too, my lady! Hyaaap! Ruyi Wind Cloud!"
So exhilarated that he even shouted the name of his technique, Baek Mu-ho's staff extended outward in all directions in a single instant.
Shwishwishwishwishwishwishik!
It was a technique that even seemed similar to the Illusion Sword Realm of the Seonwoo Thirteen Swords.
A dazzling technique that sprayed staff shadows in all directions like the sun.
At the familiar sight, Seonwoo Jin was so shocked that he involuntarily let out an exclamation.
"Huh?!"
But that moment was the moment.
Everyone watching him could not help but be startled for a reason entirely different from before.
It was because Baek Muho, who had been unleashing his ultimate techniques with divine elegance, had suddenly vomited blood from his mouth.
"Keuheok!"
It was an incomprehensible sight.
Baek Muho, who had been charging at Jin So-eun with divine elegance, had vomited blood and collapsed right there onto the dueling stage floor.
The black blood he had thrown up scattered in all directions.
"?!"
"?"
The surroundings, which had been filled with cheers moments before, fell instantly silent as if a mouse had died.
Everyone around stared at the collapsed Baek Muho with expressions of horror.
It was the same for the commoners of Soju, as well as Seonwoo Jin's group.
That was when.
One of the warriors who had accompanied Baek Muho shouted.
"Poison! That woman struck our gongja with poison in a treacherous ambush!"
"Eeek?!"
At those words, the flustered Jin So-eun hastily waved her hands and cried out.
"N-No, that's not true! I-I would never do such a...!"
But the warriors of the Soju Baek Family did not listen to her words.
They rushed forward with furious expressions, shouting.
"Protect Yi gongja! Subdue those people!"
"N-No! I'm...!"
It all happened far too quickly.
At the same time over ten warriors rushed to surround Baek Muho, the remaining over ten warriors were falling upon Jin So-eun.
Too flustered to do anything, Jin So-eun could only stare at Seonwoo Jin's face.
In that instant, Seonwoo Jin, his mind racing at blinding speed, shouted.
"Jin Sojeo! Blow them away!"
"Y-Yes?!"
Jin So-eun stared at Seonwoo Jin with a startled expression as if she couldn't understand what he meant.
But contrary to her expression, her wooden staff seemed to have understood Seonwoo Jin's words immediately.
Her wooden staff began to swing ferociously once again.
Hwiriririririk!
Pabababababak!
"Keuaaaak!"
"Euaaaaak!"
It was indeed the Natural Staff.
The warriors of the Soju Baek Family who had been falling upon Jin So-eun were being helplessly battered and sent flying.
At the same time, Seonwoo Jin leaped toward Baek Muho, shouting.
"Hyeongnim-deul!"
Then, around Seonwoo Jin, who had appeared in front of Baek Muho as if he had used Phantom Shift, Seol Pung and Jeung Chil charged in, striking and blowing away the Soju Baek Family warriors.
Ppeobebebebeok!
"Keuheoeo-eok!"
It was truly a state of tacit understanding.
As if there had been no question in his mind upon hearing Seonwoo Jin's words, Seol Pung expressionlessly struck and sent warriors flying, while Jeung Chil approached with an expression asking 'is this really okay?', then let out a yell and launched his kick techniques.
"Era, I don't care anymore!"
Ppeobebebebeok!
"Keuaaak!"
"Keueuk! Y-You bastards! How dare you, in Soju, against our Baek Family...!"
Then Seonwoo Jin, who had first snatched up and cradled Baek Muho, shouted.
"Let us flee!"
And immediately after, Seol Pung, Jeung Chil, and Jin So-eun fell in right behind Seonwoo Jin as he launched himself away.
Only Yeon Taejin, the sole one who hadn't been able to follow the situation, belatedly launched herself after them, bursting with frustration.
"Ah, what the hell?! Why am I the only one in the dark?!"
Behind them as they broke away from the location at incredible speed in an instant, the warriors of the Soju Baek Family who had been beaten down and lay collapsed shouted.
"D-Do not let them get away! Have the city gates closed! Issue the emergency alert!"
It was the moment Seonwoo Jin's plan to build a good relationship with the Soju Baek Family had gone completely awry from the very start.
***
Jeon Seok-gu just stared blankly at the events unfolding before his eyes.
With his simple mind, he simply could not comprehend just what in the world was happening today.
It had started when he saw the lovely beauties from out of town and picked a fight with the martial artists accompanying them.
Well, up to that point, it was something that could happen easily enough.
Challenging them to a duel was a perfectly manly thing to do, and even if he lost, there was no need to be ashamed.
'Yeah, it was definitely like that...'
But the moment he learned they were masters of a level he dared not even approach, things began to go wrong.
He truly got beaten like a dog.
Since the time he stole his parents' money as a child, secretly bought alcohol, and went home drunk, being beaten that miserably was probably a first for today.
'And to be thrashed that badly by a beauty who looks far more delicate than our mother did back then.'
From then on, it was nothing but a continuous stream of shocking events.
He had been horrified watching Gu Hang hyung, the leader of the Ho-tu Association to which the Mad Dog himself belonged, get thrashed even more miserably than himself, and when even Jo Du-seok, the leader of the White Feather Hall which was the Ho-tu Association's higher organization, was beaten, he no longer even had the mental capacity to be shocked.
And when finally even Baek Muho gongja of the Soju Baek Family appeared and staged an astonishing duel with the short-haired beauty...
He had even been purely enjoying it, watching the immense martial prowess of masters for the first time.
But suddenly, Baek Muho gongja had collapsed, spewing black blood.
And on top of that, they said the person who had ambushed him with poison was that woman.
He simply could not understand what had happened at all.
Suddenly, the image of her wearing a flustered expression came into Jeon Seok-gu's mind.
'No matter how I think about it, among all those people, that sojeo had the most flustered expression...'
In the Mad Dog's opinion, he had a feeling it absolutely was not something that sojeo had done.
Of course, maybe he just wanted to take her side because she was a beauty.
But now, whatever the truth was, it was unavoidable.
Because they had beaten up the warriors of the Soju Baek Family and run away, taking even Baek Muho gongja with them.
Now, even if they were wrongfully accused, they would surely never be able to prove their innocence.
Were the gates of Soju not completely shut right now, and were the warriors of the Soju Baek Family, visible everywhere on the streets even now, not searching for them with fire in their eyes?
All of this was because they had touched the Soju Baek Family, the rulers of Soju.
Therefore, no matter how great their martial arts were, there was no way they could possibly survive now.
No matter where they hid, it would only be a matter of time before they were discovered.
Jeon Seok-gu was thinking such thoughts as he returned to their lodging with his gang.
When he opened the door and entered, he let out a sigh and muttered.
"What an... exhausting day. I feel like I could sleep for twelve hours straight."
"You said it, hyeongnim. I feel like I could sleep for twenty-four hours."
That was when.
The door they had closed upon entering suddenly opened again and someone's voice was heard.
"Oh my, is this your place? Hmm, it's a bit shabby."
The moment they heard that voice, Jeon Seok-gu and his gang felt goosebumps erupt all over their bodies.
Because that voice was the one that had been branded into their instincts with terror earlier when they were beaten like dogs.
It was Yeon Taejin's voice.
"!"
"!"
Startled, they slowly turned their heads to look back, like broken wooden dolls.
It felt as though a creaking sound was coming from their necks.
And then they could see it immediately.
A woman as beautiful as a celestial maiden descended from heaven, but now etched into the Mad Dog gang's minds as a demoness from hell, Yeon Taejin, alluringly smiling as she waved her hand at them.
And behind her, Seonwoo Jin's group, having brought Baek Muho gongja along, were looking at them with smiles.
"Hello, we'll be imposing on you for a bit. That's okay, right? Thanks."
The answer from the Mad Dog gang did not seem to be particularly needed.