Chapter 41
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Where the Hell Did They Come From?
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Such ragtag riffraff had slipped right past them unnoticed—Yu Hyun's group must have been too focused on him.
"W-Who, who are you?"
With the sudden arrival of these uninvited guests, Mahwan had no choice but to play the part of a vagrant, shrinking back in feigned terror and letting his voice tremble.
"You fucking bastard! Who the hell are you?"
"……."
One of the beggars spat out a curse without warning and approached.
"I'm Wangdori, boss of Hefei's Guihua Gang. You heard of me?"
"……."
"What? You haven't? Ha, you're a cute little shit."
"……."
"You're a vagrant, right? Admit it."
"Y-Yes, but...?"
"See? I knew it, the little bastard."
"……."
The beggar who called himself Wangdori crossed his arms, cocked a hip, and glared. At that signal, over a dozen beggars surrounded Mahwan.
"……Why are you doing this to me?"
"Why? You can't read the room, you dumb shit? Who told you to stand there all proud like that?"
Mahwan couldn't make sense of the situation at all.
Why the hell had these worthless beggar scum popped out of nowhere to pick a fight for no reason?
But he couldn't reveal his true identity in front of Yu Hyun's group.
Gritting his teeth inwardly, Mahwan continued his vagrant act.
"You have to at least explain why you're... "
"Explain my ass, you spineless prick. You'll figure it out once we beat it into you."
"What?"
"Boys! Stomp him!"
"Yes!"
At Wangdori's command, the beggars surrounding Mahwan rushed him en masse.
Damn it, he couldn't even dodge...
But fighting in front of a master like Nangong Seong? No matter how clumsily he played it, he'd give himself away.
So he decided to take the hits.
Thud! Smack! Thump! Crash!
"Aaagh! Aaaah!"
Someone hooked his leg, and as he lost his balance and fell, the beggars went berserk, stomping him wildly.
If it were just one or two, he could've dodged a bit...
But he couldn't risk raising his qi to defend, lest Nangong Seong sense it.
"Ugh! Guh!"
It had been ages since Mahwan had taken a pure beating like this.
What a humiliating mess.
Getting thrashed like this by beggars in front of his men.
He wanted to leap up and tear them all apart, but with those two still watching, he had no choice but to take it lying down.
"Shouldn't we stop them, Uncle? It's cowardly for a bunch of guys to gang up on one..."
Nangong Seong frowned as he watched, stepping forward, but Yu Hyun shook his head to hold him back.
"No. Best not to get involved in their business."
Nangong Seong tilted his head at Yu Hyun's words.
Ignore an injustice happening right in front of them?
"Seong, you might not understand, but this is none of our business."
"Yes?"
"Hefei is Nangong Clan territory, so no evil sects can set foot here."
"……."
"Naturally, the beggar gangs and vagrant packs that rule the back alleys are at each other's throats every day."
"So those beggars are from the Beggars' Sect?"
"No way. Would the Beggars' Sect, symbols of justice, beat up poor vagrants? It'd shame the name."
"Then?"
"It's the Guihua Gang. They have a branch in the Beggars' Sect, but it's practically nonexistent. For us, it'd be like a very distant collateral relative. So this isn't a martial world squabble—it's just two street gangs fighting over Hefei turf. Leave it to the authorities. If we interfere, it could cause needless misunderstandings."
"Hmm, I see. Impressive, Uncle. How do you know even that?"
"……."
One of his masters had been a top dog in the Beggars' Sect.
"You'll inherit the Nangong Clan someday, so you need to know these things too."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Nangong Seong nodded at Yu Hyun's words.
He was only handling internal clan affairs as acting clan head for now, but he'd become the real head eventually.
Of course he needed to know the outside world.
"Boring."
"……Pardon?"
"Isn't it? It's no fun to watch unless the lone guy beats the mob. What a letdown."
"Yeah."
Nangong Seong nodded in agreement with Yu Hyun.
"Let's go. Too noisy for a riverside breeze now."
"Yes, Uncle."
As the two lost interest and headed off the riverbank toward the main road, Mahwan was still getting relentlessly stomped by the beggar horde.
And quite some time later.
"Huh?"
Wangdori peered into the reeds with puzzled eyes.
What the hell were those?
In his sight were suspicious figures cloaked in black veils over their faces and wearing fluttering black robes.
Who...?
And there weren't just one or two.
Two? Three... Huh? Ten?
Ten figures emerged from all directions and suddenly closed in on them.
"Halt!"
"……?"
The voice boomed out.
Wangdori whipped his head around, searching for the source.
Thud!
One of his gang suddenly flew through the air and slammed into the ground.
"Gaepyeong!"
Wangdori shouted, but Gaepyeong was out cold, no response.
And the vagrant they'd been beating had sprung up, glaring at him.
"W-What the?"
The Guihua Gang was stunned by the sudden turn, faces blank.
"……Nobody... nobody move."
"……."
He wasn't sure who he was talking to, but the chill in that voice was anything but ordinary.
What the hell? How was this vagrant scum suddenly giving off such a terrifying vibe?
"W-What are you waiting for? Stomp him! Stomp the bastard!"
Despite Wangdori's frantic orders, the beggars—already spooked—hesitated and backed away.
"Do you even know what you've done?"
"……."
"I can tolerate getting beat. But because you interfered, I might've lost a chance that won't come again."
Was it an illusion?
A flash of red in the vagrant's eyes made Wangdori collapse to the ground.
What kind of gaze...
His legs went numb; he couldn't stand.
The closer he stepped, the more suffocated Wangdori felt.
"S-Spare... "
Terrified out of his mind, Wangdori pissed himself on the spot and begged, trembling.
The killing intent in those eyes overlooking him choked him; it felt like his body was being torn apart.
"Make up for it with your death."
"……!"
He tried to scream as the savage hand shot out, but no voice came.
Crack!
Mahwan's grip snapped his neck.
Thud.
By the time Wangdori crumpled with a twisted neck, not a single Guihua beggar remained alive.
"Clean it up thoroughly. Any traces left could cause trouble."
"Yes!"
At Mahwan's order, the black-veiled men dragged the corpses away, tied stones to their feet, and dumped them in the river.
"Let's go!"
Whoosh.
In the place they vanished from, wind blew through the reed beds, leaving no blood, no bodies.
Rustle. Thud.
From a spot quite a ways off, the sound of someone collapsing came.
"Whoa, Boss Wangdori..."
The boy, who looked about fifteen, was Beom, a beggar who'd come with Wangdori.
Wangdori had stationed him far off as lookout, in case the local guards showed up and caused hassle.
But as he finished his business, pulled up his pants, he witnessed Wangdori and the gang massacred.
He hadn't seen the rest, but he'd clearly spotted one man.
The guy who'd flashed his dick without permission in front of the Nangong Clan manor.
"I gotta tell. Tell the Beggars' Sect branch. They're no ordinary vagrants!"
Trembling, Beom forced his shaky legs to run toward the Beggars' Sect branch.
* * *
"What? Why's a weakling like you so late?"
Yu Hyun shot a glance at the belatedly arriving Nangong Seong and asked irritably.
"Sorry, Uncle. Had some urgent business to handle..."
"Urgent business?"
"Yes. Seems there was trouble at the Beggars' Sect last night."
"What kind?"
"Not sure on details, but some martial artist from the Hefei branch came to the clan asking for help—said something tragic happened."
"Yeah? What was it?"
"No idea. Internal matter, they're handling it quietly. Said not to make a fuss. Anyway, they asked to report any suspicious folks, so I passed it to the patrol guards handling city security—that's why I'm late."
"I see."
"Yeah."
Yu Hyun nodded, convinced.
Even he, master complainer, couldn't fault the acting clan head for handling clan duties.
"Whatever. Let's start training."
"Yes. What about the books?"
"Books?"
"Yeah. I finished all the ones I borrowed last time..."
"Review the ones you read before, duh?"
Yu Hyun rebuked him halfheartedly, as if annoyed by the triviality.
"It's just that..."
"You're so unemotional. You already finished infusing anger."
"Sorry. At this rate, I won't balance the two emotions you mentioned."
Yu Hyun frowned at Nangong Seong's words.
Everyone feels emotions differently; he couldn't just blame him for being lacking.
With the basics of anger infusion done, he couldn't push harder...
Sigh, and you're supposed to be the future Seven Emotions Sword King?
How the hell did a screw-up like you become Sword King, you damn master?
"Argh, fine, fine. Recall yesterday's opera and train infusing joy. The key is composure."
"Pardon? Then what about you, Uncle?"
"Going to borrow books."
"……Sorry."
"No need. You need to control three emotions for swordplay before advancing anyway. So focus and train hard."
"Yes."
After roughly consoling Nangong Seong, Yu Hyun left the clan manor straight for the book lender.
Someone was watching him.
Mahwan and his crew, who had targeted Yu Hyun last night, failed miserably, and had been scouting the Nangong Clan ever since for another chance.
[What now, boss?]
[…….]
One subordinate cautiously sent a transmission.
Was it because of last night?
They'd spotted a beggar with a knotted sash at his waist entering the Nangong Clan early that morning while waiting nearby.
Of course, they couldn't be sure it was related, but caution never hurt. Better safe than sorry.
But... Yu Hyun was alone now.
Almost like he was teasing his pursuers.
Mahwan hesitated briefly but soon decided.
Miss this chance, and who knew when another would come.
He had to confirm Yu Hyun's connection to that Jin Wi-gang character.
[Follow him.]
[……Understood.]
[The moment he reaches a deserted spot, capture him and bolt from Hefei.]
[Yes!]
At his grim command, a few "passersby" lurking near the Nangong Clan discreetly trailed Yu Hyun.