Chapter 91
Chapter 91
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: An Unwelcome Interruption
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Bu Eun-seol, now traveling with Dang Gon, soon found himself near the capital of Sichuan.
If they pushed themselves, they could reach the Dang Clan's territory within a day.
In a deep forest near Ziyang.
*Clack.*
Bu Eun-seol sheathed the Muk-geom he was holding. Standing beside him, Dang Gon also reached a hand skyward.
*Whoosh. Thwack.*
A round hidden weapon circled high in the distant sky before landing in his hand. It was a Hyeol-ri-pyo, one of the Dang Clan's eight great hidden weapons.
*Drip, drip, drip.*
Something like red paint trickled down Bu Eun-seol's and Dang Gon's cheeks and foreheads.
They had just fought a bloody battle against the masters of the Dang Clan's Dok-rim-dang.
“Hooo…”
Dang Gon let out a deep sigh and spoke in a low voice.
“I’ve lost count of how many times this has happened.”
The road from Mount Jin-ding back to the capital of Sichuan. This short journey had been a path of blood.
At every turn, masters sent by Dang Bi, the second son of the Sichuan Dang Clan, lay in wait. Even assassins from the Blood Hand Sect had poured out.
They had deliberately taken the deserted outer roads, but they couldn't escape the pursuit no matter where they went.
“I am ashamed.”
Dang Gon wore an embarrassed expression as he looked at the blood-soaked Bu Eun-seol.
“If you hadn't protected me with your profound and unpredictable swordsmanship, I would have surely lost my life to the Blood Hand Sect's assassins this time.”
The Blood Hand Sect.
They were one of the most vicious assassin sects in the world, known for unhesitatingly planting explosives or hidden weapons on their own bodies.
With those vile assassins from the Blood Hand Sect hired to attack them wholesale… under normal circumstances, they couldn't have hoped for a lucky escape.
But Bu Eun-seol had not only sensed the assassins' attacks in advance, he had also used the Neung-hyeong-eo-geom to block every single attack aimed at Dang Gon.
“It was a promise. Don't worry about it.”
As Bu Eun-seol turned away nonchalantly, Dang Gon gave a bitter smile.
“By the way, I can't for the life of me figure out the origin of your swordsmanship. Could it be the technique you received at the Cheon-geom-hoe this time?
“It is.”
“A shame. If I had known I'd be giving up my position as a successor like this, I would have made the oath and learned that swordsmanship myself.”
Just as Dang Gon was grumbling in regret,
*Fwoosh.*
a sound tore through the air, and a figure soared in from the distant sky like a great roc. It was Heuk-pyo.
*Thud.*
Landing on the ground, Heuk-pyo looked at the blood-drenched Bu Eun-seol and Dang Gon and asked cautiously,
“Are you all right?”
“No need to worry.”
Bu Eun-seol said, waving his hand.
“What's the situation at the Dang Clan?”
If they used their movement techniques, they could go straight to the Dang Clan's gates.
But pursuers always set their traps more meticulously the closer one gets to the destination.
Bu Eun-seol had sent Heuk-pyo ahead to scout the situation.
“Well…”
Heuk-pyo hesitated, glancing at Dang Gon, before continuing.
“The main road is swarming with warriors in dark blue clothes. But the Dang Clan is pretending not to see them.”
“If they're in dark blue clothes, they must be the masters of the Jeoldokdae, my second brother's personal unit.”
Noticing Dang Gon's expression darken instantly, Heuk-pyo asked,
“Are they strong?”
“It's not just about strength… If the Jeoldokdae has appeared, it means my second brother is there as well.”
Only then did Heuk-pyo realize something and his mouth fell open.
The clan head's second son, Dang Bi, is guarding the main gate with his masters?
That meant to enter the Dang Clan, they would have to harm Dang Bi, a direct blood relative, who was blocking their path.
But such a thing could never happen—and should never happen—in the lands of Sichuan.
“So you're saying we can't kill or injure him.”
“Exactly.”
Dang Gon glanced at Bu Eun-seol.
Bu Eun-seol had reached a level so profound that even he couldn't gauge its depths.
But could he get past Dang Bi, who had inherited the clan's secret arts, without harming him? It seemed impossible.
“This should be fun.”
As Bu Eun-seol smiled faintly, the color drained from Heuk-pyo's face.
“Young Master. He is the second young master of the Dang Clan. The moment you harm him, you'll have to give up on entering the clan.”
“I'll handle it.”
A smile played on Bu Eun-seol's lips.
Dozens of masters unleashing poison arts and hidden weapons. He would have to only defend, not counterattack.
This meant it was the perfect opportunity to practice the Mu-sang-cheon-ryu's Return to the Origin and the Neung-hyeong-eo-geom to their absolute limits.
“The assassins who've attacked us so far used such predictable killing moves. It was no fun.”
Bu Eun-seol revealed his white teeth and muttered with a delighted expression,
“Now I can finally test it properly.”
Smiling faintly, Bu Eun-seol spoke to Heuk-pyo in a low voice.
“I will break through. You two follow slowly behind.”
*Thwack! Whoosh!*
Soaring into the sky, Bu Eun-seol used his movement technique and flew like the wind toward the main road where the Dang Clan was located.
“…”
Watching him go, Heuk-pyo and Dang Gon looked at each other, their faces filled with terror.
—We have to stop him!
The same thought flashed through both their minds.
*Shhh! Fwoom!*
Dang Gon and Heuk-pyo simultaneously unleashed their movement techniques and began to chase after Bu Eun-seol.
“Stop!”
“Young Master!”
The two of them used their movement techniques with all their might, but they couldn't even catch a glimpse of Bu Eun-seol's back.
‘He's about to do something reckless because of me!’
Dang Gon was gravely mistaken.
He mistakenly believed that Bu Eun-seol had gone to the battlefield alone to prevent a fight between brothers.
“Wait!”
*Fwoom!*
Dang Gon used every last drop of his internal energy to propel himself forward.
And finally, after passing the main road, the massive gates of the Sichuan Dang Clan came into view.
In front of the gates stood dozens of masters clad in clothes like the green shells of lizards—the Jeoldokdae.
And before them, Bu Eun-seol stood with a sword slung over his shoulder, slowly lowering his stance.
“Stop!”
Dang Gon let out a roar like a lion's and landed beside Bu Eun-seol.
“There's no need to worry. Let's… let's fight together!”
Seeing Dang Gon panting for breath, Bu Eun-seol frowned.
“I will do this alone.”
“Hahaha, so you finally showed up.”
Just then, the ranks of the Jeoldokdae parted, and a large man walked out with an arrogant laugh.
His thin lips and the dark circles under his eyes gave him a very gloomy and cruel impression.
It was Dang Bi, the second son of the current head of the Sichuan Dang Clan.
“But you will never set foot in the main house.”
“I must see the Clan Head!”
“Young Master!”
At that moment, Heuk-pyo also arrived and stood by Bu Eun-seol's side.
“You must not kill any of them.”
“You stay out of it.”
Bu Eun-seol frowned as Dang Gon and Heuk-pyo chaotically intervened, and he took a step forward.
He was curious to see what methods the Jeoldokdae would use against him, and just how effective his Return to the Origin and Neung-hyeong-eo-geom would be against the Dang Clan's finest elites.
“You can't go alone.”
Dang Gon hurriedly stood shoulder to shoulder with Bu Eun-seol.
“And even if I die, I will not let you be harmed!”
It was a declaration that he would die with him, but Bu Eun-seol's eyes showed great disappointment.
“Must you interfere?”
“What… what do you mean?”
“If you join in, won't their attacks be split in two?”
Hearing the absurd reply, Dang Gon stammered,
“You want to fight alone… because you don't want their attacks to be split?”
“That's right. I want to see them face me with their full power.”
Dang Gon's eyes widened as if he'd been struck on the back of the head.
He now saw that Bu Eun-seol was a battle maniac who reveled in life-or-death struggles.
“Even so, I can't possibly…”
At that moment, a deep disappointment flickered in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
Seeing this, Dang Gon couldn't help but let his shoulders slump.
“…I understand. Do as you wish.”
But then, Dang Gon spoke with conviction.
“However, if anything happens to you, I will cut down every master in the main house to save you.”
They were moving words, but Bu Eun-seol just shook his head nonchalantly.
“That won't be necessary.”
Drawing his Muk-geom, Bu Eun-seol strode forward with a calm confidence.
At last, Bu Eun-seol was about to clash with the Jeoldokdae, one of the Dang Clan's strongest martial units.
“Wait.”
Just then, a man who had been standing beside Dang Bi walked up to Bu Eun-seol and clasped his hands.
“I am the commander of the Jeoldokdae, Dang Sa-un.”
Dang Sa-un. He was the son of Dang Seong, the third of five brothers to the current Clan Head, Dang Pae.
Since Dang Seong supported Dang Bi, not the eldest son, as the successor, his son Dang Sa-un had also become the commander of the Jeoldokdae under Dang Bi.
*Clack.*
Bu Eun-seol sheathed his Muk-geom again.
He could not ignore a master of the Dang Clan who was greeting him with due respect.
“Bu Eun-seol.”
“I know. You are the Dong-pyo-seo-rang, the winner of the martial arts tournament.”
Dang Sa-un said politely.
“However, this is an internal affair of our clan. For a third party to interfere in a succession dispute goes against the laws of the Murim, does it not?”
For a moment, Bu Eun-seol's eyebrows shot up.
He hadn't expected Dang Sa-un to try and persuade him to back down rather than use force.
“I am not a third party.”
Bu Eun-seol stared at Dang Sa-un and said with a resolute expression.
“I am Dang Gon's friend.”
“Friend?”
“That's right. No one would stand by and watch their friend be killed before their very eyes.”
At that moment, Dang Sa-un's expression changed.
“Are you saying you would die for him?”
“I will not die.”
The corners of Bu Eun-seol's lips curled into a cold smile.
“I came here to get him into the Dang Clan, not to die.”
“So your mind is made up. Very well.”
Watching Bu Eun-seol's firm resolve, Dang Sa-un raised an arm without hesitation.
“Form the array!”
The Jeoldokdae was one of the Dang Clan's strongest martial units.
Furthermore, the Five Poisons Sand Fire Formation they employed was an array that unleashed the Dang Clan's vaunted poison arts without restraint, something that could not be blocked by martial skill alone.
“Stop!”
Just then, the gates of the Dang Clan opened, and a guard in a black uniform ran out.
“An order has been issued to cease fighting and admit Dang Gon and his party into the main house!”
“What?”
Dang Bi jumped in surprise and spun around.
“Who gave such an order?”
“That is enough!”
Then, with a short cry, a gaunt man walked out from the gate.
His complexion was dreadfully pale, but his eyes were as clear as a lake, and his entire being radiated a stern yet otherworldly grace.
He was none other than Dang Ryeong, the first son of the current Clan Head, Dang Pae.
“Let them in, Sa-un.”
At Dang Ryeong's solemn command, Dang Sa-un glanced at Dang Bi and said,
“My apologies, but I cannot follow that order. This is a fair…”
“Father has ordered them to be brought into the clan.”
“The Clan Head… you say?”
Dang Ryeong nodded firmly.
“That is correct. Let them in at once.”
At that moment, Dang Bi's face hardened into a cold mask.
*Gnash.*
Gritting his teeth, he gave Dang Sa-un a slight nod.
In response, Dang Sa-un clasped his hands and bowed his head.
“I will obey the order. Disperse the formation!”
At Dang Sa-un's command, the Jeoldokdae, who had been forming their ranks, retreated with a rumble.
“Hmph!”
Dang Bi snorted and stormed inside, after which Dang Sa-un clasped his hands toward Dang Ryeong.
“I will take my leave now.”
“You may go.”
Once Dang Sa-un and the Jeoldokdae had fully withdrawn, Dang Ryeong smiled at Dang Gon.
“Welcome back.”
“Eldest Brother.”
As Dang Gon clasped his hands, Dang Ryeong patted him on the shoulder.
“You've suffered much. You look worn out.”
“Not at all.”
At the warm words, Dang Gon choked up and bowed his head.
Dang Ryeong patted his shoulder once more, then turned to Bu Eun-seol, who was standing beside him, and clasped his hands.
“You must be Bu Eun-seol, Young Master Bu.”
Dang Ryeong slightly bowed his head toward Bu Eun-seol with his clear eyes.
“I heard you risked your life to come here for my third brother. I thank you for your great kindness…”
Lifting his head, Dang Ryeong trailed off.
Because Bu Eun-seol was glaring at him with terrifying eyes that seemed to burn with fire.
*Shing!*
Bu Eun-seol irritably sheathed his Muk-geom and turned away coldly.
“There's nothing to thank me for. It was my own business.”
Not expecting such a frosty reception, Dang Ryeong stammered,
“Did I… make some kind of mistake?”
“No.”
But Heuk-pyo, who was watching, found it hard to suppress his laughter.
Dang Ryeong had stopped the Five Poisons Sand Fire Formation to save Bu Eun-seol.
From Bu Eun-seol's perspective, it was as if he had just scooped up a spoonful of a unique and delicious meal, only to have it snatched away right as he was about to put it in his mouth.
But Dang Ryeong, unaware of the situation, was at a loss as to what to do about Bu Eun-seol's murderous attitude.