Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Mad Bull
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No need to wave a red cape to provoke him.
The bull in front of him was already filled with rage from head to toe, charging straight at the bullfighter even without one.
Yuseong dodged his attack by a hair's breadth.
Perhaps not entirely clueless about martial arts, Paeng Jisan's fist now shifted horizontally, pursuing him.
He had already anticipated it.
As Yuseong unfolded his unique footwork infused with the subtleties of Shaolin Temple footwork, even that variation proved futile.
‘It would be dangerous if it landed, but compared to Monk Hyegang, he's on the level of a child.’
There was a gap between a late Peak Realm expert and someone at the early Peak Realm entrance.
Compared to Shaolin's exquisite fist techniques, which were their specialty, Paeng Jisan's fist methods lacked depth and proficiency.
Yuseong, who had hoped to learn a new martial art, felt a slight disappointment.
‘I had expectations, but it's just a fist technique that crushes with innate strength.’
It had probably been sufficient for him until now.
After all, his main weapon was the saber, and fists were just for holding out when he couldn't use saber arts.
It would be fearsome if he landed a strike on the opponent, but Yuseong could see his movements clearly.
Paeng Jisan continued unleashing his forms, but Yuseong dodged them all by a hair's breadth.
So close, so close, yet never touching.
Even pouring out every form he knew, not a single one connected.
Paeng Jisan's movements grew increasingly larger.
In contrast, Yuseong's fists struck various parts of his body.
“Urk!”
Anxiety flickered in Paeng Jisan's eyes as he took another fist to the side just moments ago.
Chest, abdomen, shoulder, arm, side.
Hidden beneath his clothes, his body was already marked with several bruises.
Throbbing pain rose from all over.
‘What kind of fist is that!’
Paeng Jisan grimaced.
To onlookers, it looked like mere glancing blows, but as the one struck, each hit from Yuseong choked the breath from his lungs.
How could someone not even as large as him hide such power? It was incomprehensible.
Lacking confidence in his kicks but needing to create a variable, he drew out his leg techniques as well.
Fortunately, they were close.
A sudden kick twisted at his waist, aimed to shatter Yuseong's thigh!
Srrrrk.
Yet once more, it grazed past Yuseong's thigh by a hair's breadth.
'What kind of footwork is that?’
A body unable to use internal energy.
With his own footwork, there was no way to catch up. The difference in level was too vast.
His heart sank.
His stance had crumbled pathetically compared to when he stood firm on both legs.
Sure enough, as Paeng Jisan barely regained his footing, a fist suddenly rose before his eyes.
Puk—!
Stars exploded in his vision.
In his daze, he flailed his arms wildly.
Any follow-up attack now meant defeat!
Paeng Jisan hurriedly retreated several steps.
But after putting some distance, he realized Yuseong hadn't moved a single step from his spot.
How ridiculous must he have looked, flailing his arms and backing away like a madman all alone?
Rage consumed him to the tips of his hair.
"You're toying with me!"
"Looks good."
"What?"
Yuseong smirked faintly, eyeing Paeng Jisan's left eye, already bruising purple.
A bull that wouldn't tire even after several spears plunged into it was fun to take down.
Now Yuseong charged first.
Determination flashed in Paeng Jisan's eyes. Ignoring Yuseong's attack, he thrust out his own fist.
A desperate measure for the weak against the strong, but with no other choice, he trusted his durability and unleashed a mutual destruction form.
But.
Puk—!
Paeng Jisan's smug strike grazed past Yuseong's face, while Yuseong's fist embedded into his right eye.
Yuseong admired his handiwork after imprinting purple bruises on both eyes.
Blood streamed from his nose, unchecked, and both eyes swelled purple.
Yet Paeng Jisan, in that state, had no thought of surrender. He roared again and charged.
It was rather grateful that he didn't give up.
Yuseong slipped back slightly and swept the leg of the charging mad bull, causing Paeng Jisan's stance to collapse momentarily.
Since he wouldn't yield, a few more kicks followed, and now one leg trembled uncontrollably.
Yuseong glanced around subtly.
The Dao King's expression, his greatest concern, surprisingly showed no displeasure.
But.
‘I want to enjoy this more, but people are starting to look uncomfortable.’
The warriors around had sour expressions.
They might think Paeng Jisan was getting beaten too badly.
For reputation's sake, Yuseong decided to end it here.
‘Well, even I can see he's in bad shape. Still, one more solid hit.’
The mad bull's lifeline needed to be severed.
Stamping down with a true step, Yuseong dove into Paeng Jisan's embrace, dodging even his final desperate swing.
His horrified face lay fully exposed.
‘This one will hurt a lot more.’
Yuseong drove his fist into Paeng Jisan's face.
Kwang—!!
With the sound of splitting flesh, Paeng Jisan collapsed, eyes rolling back.
***
“No way... The Medical Pavilion Leader was such an expert?”
“My money!”
“How did it end up like this?”
The warriors who had emptied their pockets betting on an easy mark were left dazed.
Some clutched their heads in despair everywhere.
No one worried about Paeng Jisan's condition—money was the real issue.
They had suddenly lost a considerable sum.
Among them were warriors who carried most of their funds on them.
Jong Hakjin was thrilled.
The pot had grown unexpectedly large, earning him hefty commissions, and his bet on Yuseong had paid off too.
Victory in a wager was always exhilarating.
‘Medical Pavilion Leader, loyalty!’
And Nangong Yurin, who had watched gripping her hands in suspense, cheering for Yuseong.
She nearly screamed when he dodged by a hair's breadth, and clenched her fists when he landed a hit on Paeng Jisan.
It had been ages since she truly cheered for someone while watching a duel.
As Paeng Jisan finally fell, she jumped up and down, cheering wildly.
‘Now I won't have to see that tiresome Paeng Jisan anymore!’
Ever since her brother was injured and forced into training, her days had been grueling.
The pressure from the family elders.
Guilt toward her maid, whom she treated like a friend.
Doubts about the martial arts she was forced to train.
In this moment, none of it surfaced. She felt pure joy.
Her favor toward Yuseong rose.
***
Jegal Yeongyeong ran toward the Medical Pavilion, her mind racing with all sorts of thoughts.
Had Yuseong progressed so far with Nangong Yurin that he'd quarrel with Paeng Jisan over her?
At first, jealousy surged, making her reckless, but reason gradually returned.
‘Maybe the message got twisted in transmission.’
She monitored Yuseong's surroundings daily but had never sensed such signs.
She already knew about Jang Chil, the loose-lipped servant.
This could be verified easily.
Still, Jegal Yeongyeong hurried.
Worried Yuseong might get hurt.
However.
By the time Jegal Yeongyeong arrived, Yuseong's final blow had just smashed into Paeng Jisan's face.
Paeng Jisan crumpled in a bloody mess, yet Yuseong bore not a single scratch.
Her first emotion was relief.
‘Good. He doesn't seem badly hurt.’
As her mind eased, snippets of the surrounding warriors' chatter reached Jegal Yeongyeong's ears.
“So Paeng Jisan's heading back to the Paeng Family now?”
“He should apologize first.”
“Right. But was Nangong Yurin really involved with the Medical Pavilion Leader?”
“Wasn't that just Paeng Jisan claiming it?”
“Then why's Nangong Yurin so happy?”
“She won money.”
“Money?”
“You didn't join the bet? Nangong Yurin bet on the Medical Pavilion Leader winning. She must've made a killing.”
“Ah...”
Sure enough, looking at Nangong Yurin inside the Medical Pavilion, she was cheering.
She had seemed quiet yet bold usually, but who knew she'd rejoice like this.
A fresh side of her.
“The Chief Strategist is here?”
As Jegal Yeongyeong exchanged greetings with the Alliance Leader, whose eyes met hers.
The Dao King approached Yuseong.
“I didn't know the Medical Pavilion Leader had trained in martial arts.”
Unaware of Yuseong's past, the Dao King assumed he was a Peak Realm expert.
Unable to gauge his internal energy, but heart methods existed in the jianghu to conceal it.
Yuseong came clean.
Twisting only the dantian shattering into qi deviation for an unknown reason.
Qi deviation was a more convenient excuse than an incomprehensible one.
“I had no idea such a thing happened. That's unfortunate.”
“It's fine. Sorry about this, though.”
Yuseong's gaze lingered on Paeng Jisan, sprawled like a frog.
“No need. He met a proper opponent. The rascal needed it. I told him to learn, yet he's like this—my worries grow. When he wakes, I'll make him apologize and take him back to the Paeng Family myself.”
“I apologize. He seemed to harbor ill will toward me, so I had no choice but to set that condition.”
“It's fine. Regardless of the duel, I planned to take him back. It suits him.”
Yuseong slightly revised his view of the Dao King.
His appearance still irked, and his personality aggressive, but he was a true adult who discerned right from wrong.
“By the way, sorry to ask, but now that the duel's over, could you treat my son? He looks a bit...”
The dried double nosebleed caked on his nose and philtrum, paired with purple eyes, looked visually unappealing.
Having had his fun, Yuseong agreed to that much.
Especially with the Dao King asking.
“Understood.”
He stopped the nosebleed and reduced the bruising around the eyes somewhat.
This time, Yuseong placed a hand on Paeng Jisan's head.
Precise use of Healing on the brain could lift the unconscious state.
Yuseong channeled Divine Power.
But.
A gray misty energy lingered in Paeng Jisan's brain.
A symptom he had encountered often before.
‘This bastard was suffering from mental illness?’