Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: An Unlikely Escort
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Bu Eun-seol's brow furrowed as he looked at the man standing in the center of the reed field.
The man was none other than Dang Gon.
‘A family feud, is it?’
Just as Bu Eun-seol, his interest instantly waning, was about to turn away,
*Flick. Thud.*
Heuk-pyo, landing beside him on the massive tree, widened his eyes.
"Huh? Poison caltrops?"
Though he had whispered it under his breath, it couldn't deceive the sharp ears of the Dang clan's masters.
"Who's there!"
*Fwoosh-fwoosh-fwoosh-fwoosh!*
One of the Dang clan masters, having pinpointed Heuk-pyo's location, swiftly unleashed eighty-six poison caltrops.
"Hmph!"
Bu Eun-seol scoffed lowly and placed a hand on the Muk-geom slung across his back.
*Shing!*
As the sword was drawn, a chilling aura poured out in all directions.
*Clang-clang-clang-clang!*
With a series of metallic clashes, the volley of poison caltrops swerved sharply and shot back in the opposite direction.
He had employed the second form of the Mu-sang-cheon-ryu, Hwan-gwi-bon-ju, which returned hidden weapons.
—What is this!
The flustered Dang clan masters scattered in all directions at the sight of the returning projectiles.
*Thwack-thwack-thwack.*
As the returned poison caltrops embedded themselves in the ground, Dang Gon stood alone in the center of the reed field, gasping for breath.
"Hah, hah."
Black blood seeped from his clothes where the projectiles had grazed him, and the sword in his hand was almost completely chipped.
His injuries couldn't be called critical, but seeing him on the defensive, it was clear he wouldn't last much longer.
*Thud.*
As Bu Eun-seol descended from the massive tree, the Dang clan masters' eyes glinted.
"Who are you!"
"Mind your own business."
Bu Eun-seol said coldly, looking down at the Dang clan masters, who glared at him.
"We're just passing through."
At that moment, the expressions of those around the reed field turned peculiar.
Chongqing might be some distance from Sichuan, but it was still within the Dang clan's sphere of influence. Yet this man was treating them, clad in Dang clan attire and holding their signature weapons, like a swarm of flies?
"Gentlemen. Please don't misunderstand."
As the atmosphere grew hostile, Heuk-pyo, who had been hiding in the tree, came down and clasped his hands together.
"We are truly just passing by. We have absolutely no intention of meddling in the Dang clan's affairs."
"Get rid of them, too."
The middle-aged man who appeared to be the leader spoke, looking back and forth between Bu Eun-seol and Heuk-pyo.
"They've seen what they shouldn't have, anyway."
Heuk-pyo's face paled instantly.
Judging by their eyes and expressions, they truly intended to bury him along with the other man.
"G-Great warriors. Please, don't..."
Just as a flustered Heuk-pyo was waving his hands,
"Stop."
Dang Gon, covered in blood and panting, lifted his head and smiled.
"If you touch him, you'll be the ones to die."
"..."
"Just let him go. And let's start again, you and I."
The middle-aged man chuckled at Dang Gon's words and said,
"If we were inside the main family's estate, I would naturally follow the Third Young Master's command. But..."
"Let's keep the family's business within the family. Isn't it my head you're after, anyway?"
"Hmm."
The middle-aged man hummed, then sighed as he approached Bu Eun-seol from behind and spoke coldly.
"Forget what you saw today. Understand?"
Instead of answering, Bu Eun-seol turned his head and smiled, revealing his white teeth.
The middle-aged man's eyebrows shot up, his pride clearly wounded. And then...
*Fwoosh!*
Suddenly, the middle-aged man unleashed a jet-black energy from both hands toward Bu Eun-seol's back.
It was the Fire Poison Divine Palm, the pride of the Sichuan Dang clan.
"Watch out...!"
Dang Gon sensed the movement and shouted, but it was too late.
The middle-aged man's attack was too sudden, and the distance was too short.
"Aaargh!"
A piercing scream echoed as blood splattered in all directions.
Astonishingly, with his back still turned, Bu Eun-seol had drawn his sword and precisely severed the middle-aged man's wrist.
"How..."
Dang Gon's mouth fell open in disbelief.
The Gui-mae-mu-yeong the man had used was a technique specialized for ambushes, boasting a hundred percent success rate within ten feet.
Moreover, even if one anticipated the surprise attack, severing the wrist of a Dang clan master without even turning around was an impossible feat.
"It's quite useful."
Bu Eun-seol nodded, glancing down at the Muk-geom in his hand.
The reason he could display such a divine skill was thanks to the ability of the Neung-hyeong-eo-geom, an otherworldly technique that instinctively defended against attacks upon sensing killing intent.
"Ughhh... Attack!"
The wrist-severed man roared, and the masters surrounding them unleashed hidden weapons from their leather pouches.
"Agh!"
But before the projectiles could fly, another scream erupted.
Bu Eun-seol had used the Geuk-sok-mu-yeong to instantly close the distance and was now unleashing his swordsmanship among the Dang clan masters.
*Flash!*
Every time the gleaming black light of his sword reflected, a man fell without fail.
Bu Eun-seol had already faced the entirety of the Hellblood Fortress's Blood Demon Hall, who could be called experts in hidden weapons and poison arts.
Therefore, he could easily handle the Dang clan masters who used similar tactics.
"U-Ughh..."
Realizing they couldn't defeat Bu Eun-seol, the middle-aged man shouted loudly.
"R-Retreat!"
As if they had been waiting for the command, the Dang clan masters began to retreat in perfect order.
Bu Eun-seol didn't pursue them. He sheathed his sword and nodded.
"So this is what it means to be one of the Eight Great Families."
Even with their lives on the line, they retreated with discipline, maintaining their formation strictly.
The reputation of the Sichuan Dang clan, which had shaken the martial world for so long, was not for nothing.
"Should I thank you?"
Dang Gon staggered to his feet, a smile on his lips as he faced Bu Eun-seol.
The smile looked utterly weary, yet at the same time, it held a certain dignity and grace.
"Don't mention it."
Bu Eun-seol said coldly.
"I only acted because they tried to ambush me. There's no need for thanks."
And as he turned to leave without a second thought, Dang Gon spoke.
"Wait! If you leave like this, you will face considerable trouble ahead."
"Trouble?"
As Bu Eun-seol turned his head, Dang Gon gave a bitter smile.
"The men you just chased away like dogs were Deung Gwang-yeong, the master of the main family's Black Hand Hall, and his subordinates."
"So."
"If you leave now, that scorpion-like Hall Master Deung will file a false report to the family head. And you will be relentlessly pursued by the main family."
"Sounds interesting."
As Bu Eun-seol turned away nonchalantly, Dang Gon bit his lip.
‘I see. Beating around the bush won't work.’
To save his own life, Dang Gon had to return to the Dang clan, no matter what.
But it was an impossible task without the help of a powerful master.
"Help me."
In the end, Dang Gon swallowed his pride and spoke frankly to Bu Eun-seol.
"I must return to the main family. But it's impossible without the help of a master like you."
*Halt.*
Only then did Bu Eun-seol stop walking.
"Did you kill your brothers or something?"
For a moment, Dang Gon's pride was wounded, and his eyes flashed.
‘Does he think I'm a pushover just because I asked for help?!’
But upon meeting Bu Eun-seol's earnest gaze, he soon understood the hidden meaning behind the words.
—Just why are your family members trying to kill you?
He clearly hated saying things that sounded like he was interested in others, so he must have phrased it this way.
‘He could have just asked... This man is truly cold and heartless.’
"If I had killed all my brothers, Hall Master Deung would have brought a flower palanquin to escort me back."
Swallowing a bitter laugh, Dang Gon shook his head.
"The main family has long tolerated infighting among the heirs. This situation is just part of that process."
"You mean they allow blood relatives to kill each other?"
Heuk-pyo, standing beside Bu Eun-seol, gaped, and Dang Gon sighed deeply.
"The main family was built on blood. The process of choosing an heir can't help but demand blood as well."
Dang Gon took a deep breath and continued.
"Even if the target is a blood brother."
In short, the Dang clan tolerated even fratricide to decide the next heir.
Just then, Bu Eun-seol, who had been listening silently, asked.
"Then the men from before were also sent by your brother?"
"That's right. It was likely my second brother. He has always been looking for an opportunity to eliminate me."
"And you came out into the martial world alone, knowing that?"
At Bu Eun-seol's point, Dang Gon spoke with a shameful expression.
"What power does a concubine's son have? I have no supporters or foundation... so I tried to find my own way."
Only then did Bu Eun-seol understand why he had suddenly been given the Pear Blossom Wine Leaf.
He had intended to make many powerful friends in the martial world to expand his own influence.
"My first brother is naturally frail, so he rarely shows himself. That's why my second brother is always targeting me."
He looked up at the distant sky with a miserable expression.
"I pride myself on my talent and martial skill, but unfortunately, I have no supporters or foundation. Even less than the youngest of the family, who is a girl."
Wiping the blood from his forehead, Dang Gon said in a low voice.
"I came to the martial world hoping to struggle and make good friends... but that's enough."
Supporters and friends weren't things you could create just by wanting them.
Only now realizing this fact, Dang Gon was about to give up on everything.
"I will go to the main family and renounce my claim to the heir's position. But..."
"You're saying they won't even let you return."
"That's right. My second brother will never stand by and watch me return."
Dang Gon shook his head.
"He is a suspicious man and will think I might change my mind at any moment."
After speaking, Dang Gon stared intently at Bu Eun-seol.
He had frankly explained his family's situation and his own shame. Now, all that remained was Bu Eun-seol's choice.
"Will you help me and accompany me to the main family?"
Though he asked confidently, the confidence had vanished from Dang Gon's eyes.
The road back to the Sichuan Dang clan from here on out would be a journey of death.
Furthermore, since he was going to renounce his claim, there would be no great reward. Who would risk their life to accompany him on such a journey?
"I heard the Dang clan has many good hidden weapons."
Bu Eun-seol suddenly said something completely unrelated.
"I have a hidden weapon I bought from a blacksmith once. I can't seem to find any projectiles that fit inside it."
He rolled up his sleeve, revealing something like a very thin bracelet.
It was the Sa-hyang's hidden weapon device he had bought along with the sword in the back alleys of Dongting Lake.
"A genuine Sa-hyang hidden weapon."
Bu Eun-seol nodded at Dang Gon's statement.
"If I go to the Dang clan, can I get projectiles that fit this device?"
Dang Gon nodded, though his expression was puzzled.
"Of course."
"Good."
Bu Eun-seol unfastened the device and tossed it to Heuk-pyo.
"A-Are you giving this to me?"
"Since ancient times, great masters of qinggong have all enjoyed using hidden weapons."
Bu Eun-seol looked at Heuk-pyo and said nonchalantly.
"I was just in need of some good projectiles... Let's go and see."
At those words, Heuk-pyo grinned sheepishly.
And Dang Gon, too, suddenly realized something about Bu Eun-seol.
‘This man isn't cold and heartless...’
Staring at Bu Eun-seol's back as he callously turned and walked away first, he gave a faint smile.
‘He's just not honest with himself.’