Chapter 207
Chapter 207
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 207
Chapter Title: Clash with the Tang Clan
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"Is it because of this alcohol?"
Tang Zeok spoke nonchalantly, glancing at the overturned bottle of liquor before continuing.
"If you let me join you, I'll buy you as much as you want."
Tang Zeok tried to seize the opportunity to push for joining their table once more.
But...
"You're really persistent. I've refused to let you join several times now—how many times do I have to say it?"
It fell on deaf ears.
Instead, Cheonhwi fixed him with a sharp gaze and spat out cold words.
"Whatever. Clear the table properly and bring a new bottle of liquor. If you do that, I'll let it slide just this once."
"......"
In that instant, the smile vanished from Tang Zeok's face.
Had this young master of the Sichuan Tang Clan ever been treated with such disdain?
A faint anger flickered in Tang Zeok's eyes, which grew icy cold.
"I bowed my head and tried to speak nicely, as politely as possible..."
Tang Zeok's voice echoed lowly through the Dengtian Inn, dominating the entire space.
"Are you looking down on me?"
A violet energy seeped from his body, surging dramatically into the air.
It was an internal energy that didn't look ordinary at first glance.
It was poison qi.
This was the unique trait of the Sichuan Tang Clan's hereditary technique, the Return to Origin Myriad Poison Qi Art, where the inner energy itself was poison.
"You're really ruining my appetite. First you make a mess on your own, then you pick a fight, and now you're spreading poison qi?"
Cheonhwi muttered as he rose from his seat.
Tang Zeok's gaze, fixed on Cheonhwi, slowly rose upward, and before long, the momentum in their staring contest had reversed.
As he watched Cheonhwi grow larger before him, Tang Zeok's expression hardened.
He had merely stood up from his chair, yet he seemed impossibly immense.
'Such an overwhelming presence...!'
Overpowered by Cheonhwi in that moment, Tang Zeok unconsciously drew up more of his inner energy.
Thick poisonous mist spread out from him as its center.
The nearby chairs began melting away with a sizzle under the effects of that mist.
Crack...
Cheonhwi lightly cracked his knuckles.
With a crooked glare down at Tang Zeok, he extended his casually loosened hand forward.
Grip!
He roughly seized Tang Zeok by the throat.
"Th-this young master!"
"How dare this bastard...!"
The Tang Clan warriors shot to their feet.
They drew their hidden weapons and glared at Cheonhwi, who had grabbed their young master's throat, shouting as if ready to charge at any moment.
"Am I looking down on you?"
Cheonhwi locked eyes directly with Tang Zeok, who was clutching at his wrist with both hands, desperately trying to break free.
"Why ask such an obvious question?"
Tang Zeok's eyebrows twitched violently.
"Urk!"
And as he struggled with all his might...
Whoosh!
A sharp whistling sound rang out.
Cheonhwi immediately raised a finger.
'Flying dagger?'
Seeing the flying dagger caught between his index and middle fingers, Cheonhwi tilted his head.
There stood the Tang Clan expert whom Tang Zeok had called his uncle, the Silver Phantom Dart Guest.
He had risen unnoticed and was approaching with his hands behind his back.
"Won't you let him go?"
He glared straight at Cheonhwi.
His eyes blazed with murderous intent, as if he would unleash a killing blow if Cheonhwi didn't release his grip immediately.
"Otherwise, you won't get out unscathed."
"That sounds fun."
Cheonhwi smirked at the threat.
『St-stop!』
The panicked voice transmission from Cheon Yi-gae arrived.
『Th-think about it carefully. These are people you'll see again at the Zhuge household later. Won't it be troublesome if you cause a scene now?』
Cheonhwi stroked his chin.
Indeed, killing this guy would surely bring trouble from the Zhuge family.
Tsk, no helping it.
Cheonhwi hoisted Tang Zeok up and hurled him toward the Silver Phantom Dart Guest.
"......!"
Startled by the sudden toss, the Silver Phantom Dart Guest hurriedly caught him against his chest.
"Are you alright?"
"Cough, cough. Y-yes, I'm fine."
As Tang Zeok, breathing raggedly, rubbed his throat, he felt the vivid handprint left behind.
"Y-you...!"
Just as fury colored Tang Zeok's face...
Swish!
The curtain shook violently as a beggar suddenly poked his head into the Dengtian Inn.
"Innkeeper! Mind if I grab a meal? Got any leftovers?"
In an instant, all eyes turned toward him.
It was inevitable.
In Kaifeng, there was only one group that beggars could refer to.
"......The Beggars' Sect."
The Silver Phantom Dart Guest wrinkled his nose bridge.
The beggar, who appeared to be in his forties, scratched his unkempt hair, scanned the surroundings, and revealed a somewhat surprised expression.
"Well, I'll be! Never thought I'd run into the Sichuan Tang Clan here."
The Silver Phantom Dart Guest's face grew frosty.
The Beggars' Sect was unrivaled in the world when it came to gathering information.
Especially in Kaifeng, where their headquarters was located—they couldn't possibly be unaware of the Tang Clan's arrival.
"But..."
The beggar calmly asked while eyeing the battle-ready Silver Phantom Dart Guest and warriors.
"You're not planning to fight here in the Dengtian Inn, are you, esteemed members of the noble Sichuan Tang Clan?"
"......"
At his question, the Silver Phantom Dart Guest raised his left hand and then lowered it, his eyes flashing coldly.
The Tang Clan warriors, who had been radiating sharp killing intent, stepped back.
He then fixed his gaze on the beggar.
More precisely, on the five knots tied to the beggar's side.
"One of the Beggars' Sect Division Leaders?"
"Hahaha, as expected of the Silver Phantom Dart Guest. Sharp eyes you've got."
"......You recognized me immediately."
"How could I not recognize a hero like you?"
The Silver Phantom Dart Guest silently stared at the beggar for a moment.
"Jeok."
He called lowly to Tang Zeok.
Tang Zeok furrowed his brow.
"Are we just leaving like this?"
"This is enough."
"But Uncle, this man insulted our clan. If we let him go and leave now, it'll harm our clan's reputation..."
"This isn't Sichuan—it's Kaifeng."
The Silver Phantom Dart Guest cut him off.
He scanned the surroundings with cold, sunken eyes, showing no sign of lowering his guard, then added,
"Open your eyes wide and look around properly."
Startled by those words and that gaze, Tang Zeok belatedly surveyed the area and fell silent, his face growing grave.
Numerous beggars were plastered to the open windows of the Dengtian Inn, peering inside.
'When did they...?'
As Tang Zeok struggled to mask his bewilderment...
"We'll stay at another inn tonight."
The Silver Phantom Dart Guest turned sharply on his heel.
In truth, he was seething inside as well.
That young man's attitude and words were a blatant insult to the Sichuan Tang Clan.
He wanted nothing more than to slit his throat with a flying dagger right then and there.
But he couldn't.
As an elder of the Tang Clan, he had to weigh the gains and losses, and in the current situation with the Beggars' Sect intervening, retreat was the correct choice.
Making an enemy of the Beggars' Sect in Kaifeng was far too dangerous.
Step... step...
Having sorted his thoughts, the Silver Phantom Dart Guest headed for the door.
The Tang Clan warriors were displeased with the situation but began to follow their departing elder.
At that moment...
"Hold on."
Cheonhwi called them back.
At his call, the watching beggar panicked.
'I barely mediated...!'
He had stepped in specifically to prevent a fight and had just barely managed it, but now the young man at the center of it was stirring things up again.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
Even empty hands make a sound when they clap.
If the young man provoked them again, he had no grounds left to intervene.
'What is he going to say?'
He worried over what words might come next.
But the following remark left him not worried, but utterly bewildered.
"You're just going to leave like this?"
The Silver Phantom Dart Guest narrowed his eyes at the table Cheonhwi pointed to with his index finger.
Without a word, he drew four silver taels from his sleeve.
He flicked them toward the manager, who had been hiding behind the counter.
Ting! Ting! Ting! Ting!
The silver taels arced through the air and landed neatly stacked on the counter.
"Serve them new food and drinks."
Having instructed the manager, the Silver Phantom Dart Guest turned crisply and stared straight at Cheonhwi.
"That settle it?"
"Mm, I'll let it go this once."
"This bastard!"
"How dare he!"
The Tang Clan warriors bristled at his words, as if he were magnanimously letting them off the hook.
A chill of killing intent flickered in the Silver Phantom Dart Guest's eyes for a moment, but it soon vanished cleanly.
"I'll remember your face."
"Do whatever."
Cheonhwi waved dismissively, not even bothering to look at him, as if utterly unconcerned.
At the complete disregard, the Silver Phantom Dart Guest ground his teeth and exited the inn.
『One day, I'll kill you with my own hands.』
Even as Tang Zeok's venomous voice transmission buzzed in his ear, Cheonhwi just smirked without so much as a glance and turned his head away.
"That punk!"
Glared at and ignored to the very end, Tang Zeok ground his teeth.
Grind...
For a brief moment, he glared murderously at Cheonhwi before roughly shoving the curtain aside and storming out.
Once they had all left...
"Phew. That was tense, real tense."
The beggar wiped his chest in relief.
'Bringing all the Kuaixia Division lads was the right call.'
His name was Sa U-sang, the leader of the Kuaixia Division, one of the Beggars' Sect's Eight Divisions. Lately, he had been staying at headquarters, focusing on training the sect's white-clothed beggars with his subordinates.
But upon hearing the Sichuan Tang Clan had come to Kaifeng, he dropped everything and rushed over with his men.
While keeping tabs on the Tang Clan, he had intervened urgently when it seemed bloodshed was imminent at the Dengtian Inn...
'Ended up looking like I stuck my nose in for nothing.'
He scratched his head and looked ahead.
The young man who had been facing off against the Tang Clan moments ago had already moved to another table, followed by the old man and woman who had been spectating—they now sat together with him.
As if nothing had happened.
'To stay so calm even after making enemies of the Sichuan Tang Clan...'
He grew curious about their identities.
The Sichuan Tang Clan wasn't just any family.
Once you crossed them, they hunted you down relentlessly until the end.
That was why those in the martial world avoided entanglement at all costs.
Yet they—no, that young man—had been fully prepared to clash head-on.
He continued observing them to gauge their identities, but learned nothing.
'Their clothes are ordinary enough, and I can't sense any inner energy.'
As he examined the group, his gaze lingered on the old man, and he tilted his head.
'He looks kinda familiar...'
As he stared for a while, the old man, who was eating some food set aside separately, seemed to notice and turned his head. Their eyes met, and the old man hurriedly looked away.
'Why avert his gaze...? Could he be someone with a grudge against our sect?'
As his suspicions deepened...
'Bah, if I don't know, better to find out directly!'
Making up his mind, he strode over and sat at their table.
Cheonhwi frowned at him.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Ahem, since I helped you out a bit, mind if I join for a meal?"
Cheonhwi gave him a look as if asking what nonsense this was.
"Helped with what?"
Sa U-sang hadn't expected him to deny it outright and was the one taken aback.
"Didn't I make the Sichuan Tang Clan back off without a fight?"
Cheonhwi replied curtly, as if it were absurd.
"I could've handled them just fine."
Sa U-sang's jaw dropped.
Even for the Beggars' Sect, provoking the Sichuan Tang Clan required caution—yet this young man before him brimmed with confidence.
"Aren't you afraid of the Sichuan Tang Clan?"
"Not really. What's there to fear?"
Sa U-sang stared straight at Cheonhwi,
then slowly shook his head.
'Those eyes are serious.'
The gaze he met showed no hesitation, only calm certainty, as if stating the obvious.
"Got it? Then get lost."
"A-hem. Couldn't I just have a little? I got a bit worked up, and now my stomach's sticking to my back."
Cheonhwi narrowed his eyes and said,
"Man, you're one thick-skinned guy."
"Hahaha, thanks for the compliment."
Cheonhwi was dumbfounded at how he cheerfully accepted the sarcasm.
But it was only for a moment. Glancing at Cheon Yi-gae beside him, devouring the remaining food greedily, he found himself oddly agreeing.
"Guess you need thick skin to join the Beggars' Sect."
"Heh heh, you do need thick skin for begging..."
Sa U-sang's eyes sparkled mid-sentence.
"You talk like you know the sect well. Know any division leaders?"
"A few."
"Who?"
As Cheonhwi turned to Cheon Yi-gae to answer...
『W-wait, don't say it! Keep my identity hidden.』
Cheon Yi-gae's urgent voice transmission came.
『Why?』
『You want me to reveal who I am in this state? Please, just this once—let it slide quietly.』
It was a desperate plea.
But...
"Someone named Cheon Yi-gae."
Cheonhwi ignored him completely.
『You bastard!』
As Cheon Yi-gae was about to explode...
"Ah! Elder Cheon?"
Sa U-sang's attitude flipped in an instant, words pouring out.
"Oh man! You know that damn old monster? Must've been tough."
Before Cheonhwi could even confirm, Sa U-sang trashed him outright, leaving Cheonhwi smirking in amusement.
"You know him well, huh."
"Of course. That old monster put me through hell..."
Recalling Cheon Yi-gae, Sa U-sang clicked his tongue.
"Still gives me chills thinking about it. Once, he snuck into the imperial palace to sightsee, got caught in a window, and caused a mess. Another time, he went to see the Evil-Black Alliance Lord and... sigh."
Sa U-sang let out a long sigh.
"Lately, he's been hounding me for martial world info. Argh! Just thinking about it boils my blood..."
As he pounded his chest in frustration...
'This is entertaining.'
Cheonhwi turned his head aside.
"Y-you...!"
Across from Sa U-sang, Cheon Yi-gae trembled with puffed cheeks, face flushed red.
Whether he noticed or not, Sa U-sang roasted Cheon Yi-gae even more harshly.
"Most of the sect's counting the days till that old monster kicks the bucket. And yet he's still kicking strong... huh?"
"You bastard!"
Unable to endure the nonstop bashing, Cheon Yi-gae finally grabbed a chair and smashed it over Sa U-sang's head.
Thwack!
"Gah! What the hell?!"
Sa U-sang clutched the back of his head with both hands and yelled. Understandably so—an unknown old man had just whacked him out of nowhere.
As he glared at Cheon Yi-gae, a single tear glistening at the corner of his eye...
"What? Counting the days till I die?"
Cheon Yi-gae bellowed, huffing.
"N-no, that's not..."
Sa U-sang's face paled as he stared at the bewildered old man.
"N-no way... El-Elder Cheon?"
"Elder my ass! I'm that old monster you hate so much!"
"Gasp! N-no, it's not...!"
Sa U-sang waved his hands frantically, but...
"So you want me dead, huh?"
Cheon Yi-gae's eyes were already bloodshot. He raised the same chair he'd swung at Sa U-sang high once more.
And with a wild swing toward Sa U-sang's head, he shrieked like a madman.
"Today, you die—then I die!"