Chapter 49
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Four New Dragons
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The Shandong Ak Clan, based in Shandong Province, was one of the top five martial families in the current martial world.
Just a hundred years ago, people referred to the Sichuan Tang Clan, Namgung Clan, Hebei Peng Clan, Hyeokryeon Clan, and Moyong Clan as the Five Great Clans of the martial world. But now, the Hyeokryeon and Moyong Clans had fallen, replaced by two new families.
The Shandong Ak Clan and the Jinju Eon Clan.
As the young master of that Shandong Ak Clan, it was only natural for him to look down on a mere merchant caravan.
But he had picked the wrong opponents.
"Hey, are you from the Ak Clan? I'm from the Bang Clan. Bang Clan, get it? Heh heh heh..."
Bang Chung started things off with an absurd pun, bursting into laughter.
Do Gwang didn't miss a beat and chimed in.
"Nice to meet you, Brother Ak. Name's Do Gwang. Surname's Do as in gambling, first name Gwang as in madman. I'm the coachman here. Heh heh..."
With the two of them trading jokes, Ak Ji-gwang's face turned beet red.
But Jin Seolhwa couldn't just stand by.
Even though Shandong was at the eastern edge of the Central Plains, it wasn't all that far from Xi'an, and it was a region with plenty of trade.
"Please, both of you, show some restraint."
At Jin Seolhwa's earnest plea, Bang Chung and Do Gwang finally shut their mouths.
"As expected of the Shandong Ak Clan's second young master. A pleasure. Those two are guests of our caravan, so please overlook it. We'll certainly send that one sheep you mentioned. I'm truly sorry to have made you come all this way over something as trivial as a single sheep."
But Ak Ji-gwang's face was already flushed with rage, his voice trembling with fury.
"To subject me, Ak Ji-gwang, to such humiliation. You think a single sheep makes this right?"
"I'm truly sorry. But as I said, those two aren't members of our Shenzhou Merchant Group. I'm in no position to reprimand them or force them to do anything. Please, I beg your understanding."
Just then, another member of their group approached from their side.
She was clearly a noble young lady from a prestigious family, a stunning beauty at first glance.
The jade hairpin holding up her hair was a rare gem from the Western Regions, and the light outfit she wore was made from the finest silk, crafted with masterful skill.
But her already narrow eyes slanted upward, giving her a cold, selfish air.
"Young Master Ak. What on earth are you talking about for so long? Just skip that one sheep."
"Miss Hyeokryeon, go back. At this point, it's not about the roasted sheep anymore. It's about teaching these people some manners."
The beauty called Miss Hyeokryeon glanced at Ak Ji-gwang, who was trembling with anger from head to toe, and added her piece.
"Have these mere merchants dared to insult the Shandong Ak Clan and its second young master?"
She meant it as flattery to soothe him, but it only crushed Ak Ji-gwang's pride further.
"Bring me my sword. It seems I must personally demonstrate the Ak Clan's signature techniques on these fools."
With a beauty of his age standing by his side, Ak Ji-gwang couldn't back down now.
Miss Hyeokryeon said nothing, turned, and fetched his longsword.
It was a longsword with a white hilt adorned with flashy yellow silk tassels.
"Please, stay your hand. I, Jin Seolhwa of the Shenzhou Merchant Guild, will apologize on their behalf."
Jin Seolhwa did everything she could to defuse the situation.
But the two culprits thought differently.
"Hey, Do Gwang. Wonder what that fancy sword's ever cut? Heh heh..."
"Human necks or something? Nah, no way. Probably just sliced up a few hundred straw dummies. Or maybe pig legs. Looked like they practice on pigs, the rookies. Heh heh heh..."
As the two resumed their banter, Ak Ji-gwang finally drew his sword.
"Both of you, get up and come over here. With this White Cloud Sword, I'll sever one of your limbs to punish your insolence."
The moment Ak Ji-gwang drew his sword, everyone in the inn stopped eating, drinking, and talking.
Most of them were Shenzhou Merchant Group workers, so their shock was even greater.
They didn't know the full story of what happened at Absolute Light Mountain, nor did they know Do Gwang or Bang Chung's true identities.
To them, a scruffy coachman and a shabby old man had mocked the heir of the famed Shandong Ak Clan until he drew his blade...
"Whoa. I really hate swordfights in inns. You handle it, pal."
Bang Chung shoved it off onto Do Gwang with a grin.
"Come on, old timer. I hate it too. With all this delicious food and fine liquor, why would I lift a finger? You haven't done much lately anyway, so you take care of it. I'm out."
Even seeing this, Seonwoyong remained utterly calm.
His expression, neither smiling nor frowning, resembled that of an enlightened old monk.
Old Man Jang, of course, stayed out of it, as did Han Sojung, whom Old Man Jang had strictly instructed not to get involved or even acknowledge anyone.
Only Jin Seolhwa fretted anxiously.
In the end, she turned to Seonwoyong for help.
"Leader Seonwoyong. Are you just going to sit there and watch? Please, stop them."
After hesitating for a long moment at Jin Seolhwa's plea, Seonwoyong finally stood.
"You two. That's enough joking around. We're merchants traveling for trade. Protected under the Shenzhou Merchant Group's wing, no less. You can't put our host in this much trouble."
At Seonwoyong's intervention, Do Gwang and Bang Chung both fell silent.
Seonwoyong then politely greeted Ak Ji-gwang.
"I lead the Great Cloud Merchant Group, traveling alongside the Shenzhou Merchant Group's caravan to the Western Regions. The madman over there is indeed our coachman, and the old man is just following our caravan with no real ties. Their jokes went too far, so I apologize on their behalf. Please, let go of your anger and enjoy the feast."
Ak Ji-gwang had already drawn his sword.
He accepted the apology, but sheathing it now would be a loss of face.
His opponent appeared to be in his early thirties, with no trace of martial prowess.
In his white hands, he held only a folding fan, and his attire was plain.
"Are you their master? Fine, then. Since a mere coachman insulted me, it's only right that his master takes responsibility. So, what now? You think a few glib words can cover it all? Don't you think their crime is too grave for that?"
Ak Ji-gwang's tone was utterly arrogant.
Seonwoyong's face hardened as he listened, but Ak Ji-gwang paid no mind.
Do Gwang and Bang Chung, watching Seonwoyong's expression, began to smirk instead.
'Wonder how this inscrutable young fogey will handle this. Maybe his true skills and identity will come out...'
A big reason Bang Chung was tagging along on this caravan was his curiosity about Seonwoyong.
Do Gwang, on the other hand, was in it for pure curiosity and amusement.
'How's he gonna deal with these idiots? Hope he smashes them flat. He wouldn't just swallow it, right? Heh heh...'
For some reason, Jin Seolhwa no longer intervened.
Seonwoyong forced a wry smile and replied.
"We're just merchants, so all I have is money. I'll cover the cost of all the food and drink your group has today. Please, forgive us with that."
Ak Ji-gwang fell into thought.
Though he was out in the martial world, he'd never actually cut down a man with his sword.
With his anger subsiding, he wasn't keen on staining his blade over this.
"Hmph. Fine. I won't let it end like this, but..."
Then an unexpected voice came from behind Ak Ji-gwang.
"Hmph. A man who knows nothing of a warrior's honor. Trying to wash away his crimes with a bit of coin."
A burly man from Ak Ji-gwang's group had stood up.
"What, Brother Eon? You planning to butt in?"
"That's right, Brother Ak. Their rudeness wasn't just against you. It was against all of us Four New Dragons. We can't just let it end like this."
A man in green robes, who had been quietly draining his cup, refilled his empty glass and tossed in his two cents.
"I agree."
He immediately downed it. He wasn't one for many words.
Now Ak Ji-gwang was the flustered one.
"Then what should we do? Come on, Brother Eon, share your wisdom."
In response to Ak Ji-gwang, the man surnamed Eon addressed Seonwoyong.
"Hand over that coachman. We'll each slap him once, and call it even. Otherwise, you'll take a slap from each of us instead."
"Sounds good."
The green-robed man backed up the Eon fellow.
Ak Ji-gwang nodded and notified Seonwoyong.
"That's a perfect, fitting solution. Let's end it that way. Hear that? You take the slaps, or hand him over. Decide now."
Seonwoyong was smiling now.
Words wouldn't resolve this anymore.
Simple enough.
"Hey, coachman. You're on your own. I'm done."
He tossed that at Do Gwang and promptly sat back down.
At Seonwoyong's crisp decision, Bang Chung roared with laughter, while Do Gwang scowled and rose from his seat.
With Seonwoyong outright ignoring them and sitting down, Ak Ji-gwang's group hardened their expressions too.
"Guess they won't cry till they see the coffin."
The Eon man clenched his fists, and Ak Ji-gwang raised his sword again.
Do Gwang approached them slowly, muttering to himself before sneering at them.
"Cheaters. Was hoping to watch the show and grab some rice cakes. But hey, Ak-boy, Eon-boy. So you two each get one hit on me, right? You got the chops for it?"
"I'll twist that neck of yours. Filthy coachman scum."
The Eon man stepped forward in extreme rage.
The two closed in slowly, the tension thick enough to cut.
At that moment.
"Enough, all of you. This is as far as I allow it."
A middle-aged man whose arrival no one had noticed stood at the stairs leading from the inn hall to the private rooms and bellowed.
His voice boomed with internal energy, making the whole room hum.
He wore a white uniform under a black overcoat, a dignified and handsome middle-aged man.
"Who the hell are you?"
Ak Ji-gwang bellowed back.