Chapter 151
Chapter 151
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 151
Chapter Title: Jealous Brothers
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The Falling Dragon Society had joined forces with the Danri Clan.
After that, the Danri Clan achieved a comprehensive victory over the Gusa Sect.
The tide of battle had turned overnight, leaving the residents of Dankyeong baffled and unable to hide their confusion.
What on earth had happened to cause such a drastic change?
As questions swirled among them, a rumor began to spread.
—The Danri Clan's long-lost youngest young master had returned, saving the reconnaissance captain's life and taking command of the battlefield.
The people of Dankyeong couldn't conceal their astonishment at the rumor, and the reputations of the Falling Dragon Society and Danri Hyang soared rapidly.
But for every light, there is shadow.
While some welcomed and praised them, others couldn't hide their envy and jealousy.
"We can head back in today."
Ignoring such attention, Hyeok Mulin and Danri Hyang finished the day's battle and returned to the Danri Clan's main estate as the sun set behind them.
On their way to their quarters, several men appeared in the distance.
Clad in rather luxurious attire, each one wore a sullen expression on his face.
Upon recognizing their faces, Danri Hyang's gaze turned icy.
'They've come.'
Though he had cut ties with them in his youth, these were faces he could never forget.
They were the Danri Clan's young masters, born of fine bloodlines, who chose to drag others down rather than fill their own shortcomings through effort.
Spotting Danri Hyang, they smirked with one corner of their mouths.
They had heard rumors of his recent exploits, but the memories of tormenting him underfoot as a child remained, so they still viewed him with contempt.
Hiding their sneers, they approached with smiles.
"It's been a while, little brother."
"Have you been well?"
"No injuries from the fighting?"
Danri Hyang felt nauseous at their hypocritical tones.
Since he stood silent without responding, they soon turned to Hyeok Mulin.
"Are you the famous leader of the Falling Dragon Society?"
"Our incompetent little brother must be causing you trouble."
"We appreciate your help."
They spoke as if they represented Danri Hyang.
But when Hyeok Mulin also gave no reply, they cleared their throats awkwardly and addressed Danri Hyang again.
"Ahem, little brother. We have something to ask."
"How long do you plan to stay at the main house?"
They subtly pressured him to leave the clan.
The reason was simple.
To eliminate a rival emerging as a candidate for the vacant young clan head position.
Until now, these worthless young masters, who had failed to win the hearts of the servants or locals, had vied for the seat.
But now, the recently returned Danri Hyang was overwhelmingly gaining support, ringing alarm bells among the fiercely competing brothers.
Thus, the Danri Clan's young masters set aside their infighting and temporarily allied to push Danri Hyang out.
They had come as a group to intimidate him.
But then—
Rumble...
"Eek!"
As Danri Hyang unleashed his sharp aura, the young masters flinched and stumbled back in panic.
Danri Hyang stared at them with piercing eyes and spoke.
"I decide where I belong."
The young masters flinched at his words, then bristled with wounded pride at their own cowering. They drew their ornate swords and advanced aggressively.
"You bastard! How dare you bare your savage aura at your elders!"
"Do you want to be expelled from the clan?!"
In response to their shouts, Danri Hyang simply took slow steps forward.
Step by step.
As he approached, they brandished their swords in threat, but Danri Hyang ignored them and closed the distance.
Once near, he leaned in and whispered coldly into their ears.
"If the clan patriarch had to cast someone out between me and you lot right now, who do you think it would be?"
"...!"
Their faces flushed red.
"You... you...!"
The young masters knew the answer but couldn't voice it.
Danri Hyang pulled back and turned away, issuing a final warning.
"Don't let me see your faces again."
"Ugh...!"
The young masters trembled with rage.
But they were powerless.
Having wasted their time, they had no strength, public support, or backers.
All they could do was retreat, hurling curses.
"Just you wait!"
"You'll regret this!"
Once the brothers vanished like an ebbing tide, Hyeok Mulin placed a hand on Danri Hyang's shoulder.
Knowing the feelings he had harbored since before heading to the Central Plains, he added briefly.
"Well done."
Some things can only be understood by facing them directly.
What Danri Hyang needed was merely the courage to confront his dark past.
"The fear from back then... was more distorted than I thought."
Reuniting with the brothers after over a decade, Danri Hyang felt a strange emptiness.
Even as the clan teetered on collapse, they squabbled over that small bowl of rice before them.
It made all the suffering under their shadow feel meaningless.
And with that, Danri Hyang fully shed the memories of his past.
'All of this is thanks to...'
Danri Hyang's gaze fell on Hyeok Mulin's back, striding ahead indifferently.
He finally realized.
Upon entering Dankyeong, the Cult Leader had kept him close to give him the chance to overcome his past.
"What are you doing?"
As Danri Hyang stood frozen, Hyeok Mulin glanced back.
"Standing still."
Danri Hyang nodded and stepped forward.
"Yes. Coming."
A gentle light touched his lips as Danri Hyang truly began moving forward.
"They've suddenly stopped moving."
Hyeok Mulin spoke while watching the Falling Dragon Society train in the courtyard.
Normally, battles raged from dawn until dusk without respite.
Yet today, even with the sun high in the sky, no word from the Gusa Sect had come.
Thus, the Falling Dragon Society naturally stayed in the estate to train and wait.
"Have they given up?"
Hyeok Mulin shook his head at Danri Hyang's question.
"No. They won't quit after losing the high ground right before their eyes."
When people lose what they desire, regret often turns to anger rather than sorrow.
So they would return, but when...
As Hyeok Mulin pondered their next move—
Thud thud!
Urgent footsteps approached from outside.
The source burst into the courtyard, shouting.
"The Falling Dragon Society! We request your support! The Gusa Sect has appeared at the Gongdu Inn in the southwest!"
Danri Hyang nodded and stepped forward.
"It's starting again. Not even half a day...
"Wait."
Hyeok Mulin blocked him with an arm and addressed the messenger.
"We'll send four men."
"Four? Why only four instead of your full group?"
The messenger looked puzzled, but Hyeok Mulin replied flatly.
"Bad feeling."
"...?"
Though baffled, the urgency of deployment won out, and he led them away.
"Alright. Ronin, follow me."
After the messenger and four ronin departed, Danri Hyang eyed Hyeok Mulin.
Why that decision?
He shared the puzzlement.
Then.
Gazing silently beyond the wall, Hyeok Mulin spoke.
"As expected, here they come again."
Danri Hyang's gaze shifted to the entrance.
Thud thud thud!
Thump thump!
Rumble rumble!
Varied urgent footsteps rapidly closed in.
Moments later, messengers appeared at the gate, faces frantic.
"Requesting Falling Dragon Society support!"
"Battle's broken out at Biga Ironworks and Daesung Noodle Shop!"
"They've shown up at Bonghwa Alley too—it's a powder keg!"
"Falling Dragon Leader, how many can you send?"
All were Danri Clan messengers requesting aid. Danri Hyang looked at Hyeok Mulin in shock.
'Did the Cult Leader predict this...!'
Ignoring Danri Hyang's stunned gaze, Hyeok Mulin dispatched appropriate numbers.
The courtyard's numbers dwindled rapidly until few remained.
"Danri Hyang. You go."
With that final order, the courtyard emptied.
All members dispatched, leaving Hyeok Mulin alone.
But it wasn't over.
Rough breathing came from beyond the wall.
Rounding the corner, the figure appeared at the entrance and yelled.
"Battle's started! Support right—
"Lead the way."
Before he finished, Hyeok Mulin leaped past him outward, speaking curtly.
The messenger alternated glances between Hyeok Mulin and the empty courtyard, utterly bewildered.
'Wha...? Why's it so empty here too?'
He tilted his head but, urgency pressing, quickly guided the Falling Dragon Leader to the battlefield.
Clang clang clang!
In the middle of a fairly wide street.
Danri Clan warriors and Gusa Sect disciples clashed fiercely, swords and sabers colliding.
Behind the Gusa Sect forces stood a robed figure concealing his face.
He was Hudoen, the Gusa Sect's sect leader, here incognito to observe the battle.
Watching the clash between Gusa Sect and Danri Clan, he frowned uncomfortably.
"Those ronin aren't showing up?"
Hudoen had set up multiple battlefields across Dankyeong.
He planned to whittle them down methodically, but the ronin hadn't appeared here.
'Wrong spot?'
It could happen.
With so many fronts, they lacked numbers for full coverage.
Hudoen wasn't fixated on one place.
If not here, they'd be elsewhere.
'Time to move.'
As he prepared to shift to another battlefield without spotting the ronin—
"That's him! That's the Falling Dragon Society leader!"
A subordinate pointed at a distant approaching warrior.
Hudoen's eyes lit up with delight.
"Oh, finally!"
The sect leader welcomed his arrival with glee.
Only one was regrettable, but as the leader, it was even better.
A group's head held immense presence; slaying him alone would shatter their morale.
The sect leader eyed him with murderous intent.
The Falling Dragon Leader exchanged brief words with those around, then entered the fray without fanfare.
Hudoen grinned ear to ear.
"Walking right into the jaws of death!"
Satisfied, Hudoen drew his great saber and moved to intercept—
Crunch!
Splatter!
Grind!
Horrific sounds of flesh, bone, and muscle being pulverized echoed across the battlefield.
Hudoen's expression shifted as he watched.
His smirking face hardened, then paled blue.
Witnessing the Falling Dragon Leader's combat, he couldn't advance a single step.
His mouth gaped open as if possessed.
'...This is bad.'
Something... something was wrong.