Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: Shaanxi Sword Cloud Assembly
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One of Shaanxi Province's greatest tycoons, the Shanyang Wall Clan, toyed with mountain goats at will.
Proving their wealth, the clan's estate was more than twice the size of the Danri Clan's.
And the Shanyang Wall Clan opened this massive estate every time to host the Shaanxi Sword Cloud Assembly.
Ku-gu-gung!
The estate's grand gates swung open, and Hyeok Mulin's group stepped inside.
The front courtyard was already teeming with countless martial artists.
But the Danri Clan's arrival barely caught their attention.
Some even recognized them and shot cold sneers, dismissing them like pesky nuisances.
The Danri Clan's young masters had worn timid expressions from the moment they entered the grounds.
'I can tell without needing to see more how they've been treated all this time.'
The blatantly stratified atmosphere inside revealed their standing all too clearly.
And to think the Shaanxi Blood Lion was tangled up in this too...
Hyeok Mulin subtly scanned the surroundings before sending a mental transmission to Danri Hyang.
『The unorthodox sects have infiltrated this assembly. Stay sharp.』
Clumsy aid could turn into poison.
There was no need to alert anyone besides Danri Hyang.
One person aware of the unorthodox meddling was plenty.
After alerting Danri Hyang to their presence, Hyeok Mulin added one final remark.
This time, aloud.
"Danri Hyang."
"Yes, Assembly Leader."
"No need to hold back."
"Understood."
With that, Hyeok Mulin and Danri Hyang parted ways, heading left and right respectively.
"No need to hold back?"
"What're they talking about?"
Those nearby couldn't make sense of the exchange, tilting their heads at one another before trailing after them.
In the vast courtyard, the younger generation clustered with their peers, while the accompanying leaders gathered separately with theirs.
The spots weren't so distant as to be out of sight.
Though the same visible area, they were simply divided left and right.
And so Hyeok Mulin boldly made his way to the left.
"I heard about the form of the Ink Palace Nine Swords unearthed in Guangxi this time—completely opposite to standard sword postures..."
"We won the decisive battle, but the responsibility for the main force's defeat weighs heavily..."
"I'm granting my disciple a new sword; could you recommend a suitable smithy..."
"This cohort has shown truly exceptional skill, drawing all the main force's expectations..."
Fewer in number than the younger group, this was where each clan's representatives had gathered—middle-aged men radiating a heavy, seasoned air.
Most were past forty, with a few white-haired elders among them.
Hyeok Mulin took a seat in an empty spot, prompting the man seated opposite to speak up.
"Looks like you've wandered into the wrong area. The juniors are over there."
Judging by Hyeok Mulin's youthful appearance, he naturally assumed it was a mistake and pointed the way.
In response, Hyeok Mulin opened his mouth.
"In that case, I've come to exactly the right place. This is where the clan representatives belong, after all."
"Is that so?"
At his words, gazes turned toward Hyeok Mulin one by one.
He was the only one there as young as the juniors, impossible to overlook.
As curiosity about him bloomed on their faces, the arriving Danri Jong provided an introduction.
"This is the noble benefactor who led the charge in aiding our Danri Clan through its peril. In hopes of sharing even a fraction of his valor, I implored him to attend this assembly."
"Ho!"
Interest converged on him.
"The Danri Clan's peril—does that mean their clash with the Absolute Sword Sect?"
"I heard they had a major confrontation recently."
"They were more disadvantaged than I thought."
"When Shaanxi's premier sword sect sets its sights on invasion, repelling them is no easy feat."
"You're all behind on the news."
Then, one man among them spoke up a bit louder.
"Can't you tell, seeing the juniors arrive here? The battle with the Absolute Sword Sect is already over. And it ended in the Danri Clan's resounding victory."
"Resounding victory?!"
"The Absolute Sword Sect shouldn't have been an easy foe for the Danri Clan's forces."
"Did they call in aid from some nearby clan or sect?"
"How on earth did they pull it off?"
Aware of both sides' rough strengths, they couldn't hide their bewilderment at the Danri Clan's overwhelming triumph.
The man who had shared the news of the battle's end spoke again.
"Word is, a rogue band calling themselves the Falling Dragon Assembly joined up and provided major assistance."
"Rogues?"
"Don't tell me..."
As eyes gathered back on Hyeok Mulin, Danri Jong nodded.
"Precisely. This is none other than Hyeok Mulin, Leader of the Falling Dragon Assembly—the great hero who saved our Danri Clan."
"Oho!"
"He looks more the young hero than a great one."
"Impressive all the same. To possess such prowess at his age, enough to bring down the Absolute Sword Sect."
"We spear wielders can't let the sword folk outshine us."
"What a monumental deed."
Swords and spears were perennial subjects of comparison, so their victory over the famed sword sect of the Absolute Sword Sect drew satisfied nods all around.
Bathed in the influx of attention, Danri Jong bit his lower lip with a moved expression.
It wasn't for the Danri Clan itself, but beggars couldn't be choosers.
In all the past Shaanxi Sword Cloud Assemblies they'd attended, the Danri Clan had been nothing but a laughingstock or less than air—yet here was a day of genuine positive interest.
Danri Jong could only offer Hyeok Mulin heartfelt gratitude, again and again.
At that moment, someone posed a question to Danri Jong.
"When he eradicated the Absolute Sword Sect, what swordsmanship did he employ?"
"Swordsmanship, you say? Well..."
As a gathering of sword clans and sects, interest in blades ran high.
Thus, questions about Hyeok Mulin's swordsmanship followed as a matter of course.
Danri Jong was about to eagerly expound on it when...
...Hm?
His words caught in his throat.
'Now that I think about it, he never actually used a sword, did he?'
He'd assumed as much because the man wore one at his side, but in actual combat, he'd never once drawn it.
Racking his brain, Danri Jong couldn't recall a single instance and soon nodded with a genial smile.
"It was swordsmanship so profound my eyes couldn't track it. With my meager command of words, I fear I couldn't do it justice."
Skilled with his hands as he was, his swordplay had to be even finer.
Unaware that his improvised praise rang utterly true, Danri Jong pressed on.
"Heavens! That incredible?!"
"Now I really can't wait."
"Do you know who taught him the sword?"
"What basic stance does his swordsmanship favor?"
Danri Jong's bold claim only swelled expectations for Hyeok Mulin, centering conversation around him.
Fielding their barrage of questions with suitable replies, Hyeok Mulin briefly averted his gaze from the bustling surroundings.
His eyes drifted far off to a middle-aged man seated diagonally across.
With long hair simply tied back and a scruffy beard, the man said nothing, merely listening silently to the chatter.
Seeming lost in deep contemplation, he hadn't spared a glance at the center of attention.
Noting the peculiar demeanor, Hyeok Mulin soon looked away.
This time, his gaze flicked to Danri Hyang's back on the opposite side.
Amid the sea of young backs, Danri Hyang's was unmistakably the straightest and broadest.
'No need to worry over there.'
With Danri Hyang present, he'd handle it himself.
Whether with words...
Or by smashing everything to bits.
The atmosphere where Hyeok Mulin sat differed markedly from the juniors' gathering spot.
Lacking the seasoned restraint of their elders, the inexperienced youths wore their emotions plainly on their sleeves.
Thus, they openly scorned the Danri Clan—which had shown little promise at past assemblies—chatting among themselves with undisguised contempt.
Glancing at the Danri young masters, they hurled jeers and slights.
"Here they come again this time."
"Wasn't that one the guy who couldn't even last a single exchange last spar and dropped his sword?"
"If it were me, I'd be too ashamed to show my face."
"Probably just greedy to rub shoulders with this assembly's juniors."
"With that level of skill? Shameless fools who don't know their place."
Shrinking under the gazes, the Danri young masters couldn't even muster anger, leaving Danri Hyang to wear an incredulous look.
'I've heard they get ignored, ignored—but I didn't think it'd be this blatant.'
The juniors' disdain was far more overt and direct than expected.
Yet Danri Hyang felt less irritation at their rudeness than pity for the young masters meekly taking it without retort.
Turning a sharp glance their way, he drew their eyes in turn.
The message in the young masters' stares was clear.
'You see...?'
'You're here to help us, right?'
'Step in already!'
Meeting their eyes briefly, Danri Hyang casually dismissed them.
His promise had been to restore the Danri Clan's honor, not to coddle its dimwitted scions.
And frankly, a bit of harsh talk wouldn't faze him.
It was the clan that had cast him out, after all.
No real blow to him if they ate some dirt.
As Danri Hyang let the slander slide and rode the prevailing mood...
"Long time no see, everyone?"
A man plopped down in the seat ahead of the young masters, offering a greeting.
Though friendly on the surface, the venomous smirk beneath turned their faces ashen.
Savoring their terror with relish, the man was none other than Yi Uitae, young lord of the Absolute Sword Sect.
His eyes raking over them, he curled his lip.
"I've been waiting just for you lot."
At every assembly, whenever spars commenced, Yi Uitae was the one who always called them out.
And in those spars, he'd inflicted crushing humiliation.
Truth be told, he wasn't among the assembly's top juniors by skill.
Which was exactly why he dragged in easy marks like the Danri young masters to flaunt his prowess.
"Do your best this time too? And try not to drop your sword and flop on your ass like last time!"
"Kuhahaha!"
Yi Uitae shared laughs with those around, mocking the Danri young masters mercilessly.
Under the jeers, the fourth young master flushed crimson and hung his head.
The others did the same, staring at the ground, unable to lift their faces.
Glancing at their bowed heads, Danri Hyang let out a sigh.
'Well. I did make a deal with the Danri Clan, so I suppose I ought to earn my keep.'
He'd have to step in eventually anyway.
With his thoughts settled, Danri Hyang fired back at Yi Uitae.
"Must be nice with nothing better to do. Pathetic, using the weak to cover your own frailty."
"...What?"
Yi Uitae scowled at the sudden barb.
Spotting the unfamiliar face, he asked dubiously.
"And who the hell are you?"
"Danri Hyang. Fifth son of that Danri Clan you've been mocking."
"You too?!"
Hearing the name, Yi Uitae broke into a wide grin.
He'd thought there were four, but one was missing—replaced by a fresh toy. He couldn't contain his glee.
"You come spar me tomorrow too, then..."
"No need to wait 'til tomorrow."
Danri Hyang cut him off cold.
"Right now."
"......What?"
"Let's start the spar right now."
Those words Hyeok Mulin had passed on upon entering.
'No need to hold back.'
Danri Hyang was simply abiding by them.
His declaration rounded the watching young masters' eyes; the surrounding juniors all turned to stare.
"Sparring right now?"
"Aren't spars always on the second day?"
"Guess Yi Uitae really got under this new guy's skin."
"Another Danri sacrifice incoming."
Ignoring the peanut gallery, Yi Uitae fixed Danri Hyang with a hard stare.
Nice spirit.
But skill-wise, probably same trash level as the rest.
'Teaching this clueless punk his place before tomorrow sounds like a plan.'
Sneering, Yi Uitae opened his mouth.
"Fine. We'll prep the spar right no—"
Just as he was about to accept...
Someone shot to their feet.
"They're here!"
"......?"
Heads turned toward the voice.
There, at the estate's entrance, stood two groups radiating an aura utterly distinct from the rest.
Gulp.
The once-noisy area plunged into instant silence.
The banners of the realm's preeminent sword factions.
Shaanxi's pillars, alongside the Murim Alliance's might: Huashan Sect. And Zhongnan Sect.
With the arrival of two heads of the Nine Great Righteous Sects at the Shaanxi Sword Cloud Assembly, an immense pressure crushed down on the hall.