Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Gwiyeong and the Gale Blade (3)
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The leaders of the two forces glared sharply at each other, engaging in a war of nerves.
"Guild Master of the White Serpent, what brings you here?"
"You know better than anyone why I'm here."
Gwiyeong slowly descended the stairs, walking toward the White Serpent's Guild Master.
Once face to face, the two leaders' war of nerves grew even more intense.
"It's been a while, and you've grown even more beautiful. Your figure has improved as well. You're more alluring than most courtesans. Why don't you step down from that heavy, difficult position and come work at the brothel I run?"
The White Serpent's Guild Master hurled a brazen insult, comparing Gwiyeong, the head of an armed group, to a mere courtesan.
Due to her striking looks, Gwiyeong had heard this type of insult a few times, but she could never get used to it. The word 'courtesan', in particular, was utterly unbearable.
For a brief moment, a crack appeared in her composure, but she quickly regained her calm and retorted with a fierce threat.
"Every single man who said such things to me has crossed the river to the underworld. It seems they're all waiting for you. Care to go see them now?"
"I like your sharp tongue. I wonder if you'll be the same in the bedroom."
"Say one more thing like that, and I'll rip your mouth apart."
A deep killing intent filled Gwiyeong's eyes, and the air around them seemed to freeze.
The killing intent emitted by a Transcendent Master was enough to crush one's surroundings on its own.
Though she was only at the initial stage, a Transcendent Master was still a Transcendent Master. It was not a power that anyone less than an equal could dare to withstand.
That was why the White Serpent's Guild Master, a Peak Master in his later stages, took a step back.
"Ahem, hem. It was a joke. I apologize if I offended you."
"You won't get a second chance."
"Ahem."
The White Serpent's Guild Master cleared his throat and got to the point.
"Guild Master Gwiyeong of the Black Ghost Guild. I've come to hold you accountable for attacking one of my subordinate guilds. You didn't think I'd just let it slide, did you?"
"Accountable? How absurd."
Gwiyeong had a justification.
"They were the ones who invaded our territory and caused trouble first. They simply paid the price."
"..."
As if he hadn't heard of this, the White Serpent's Guild Master glanced at his subordinate.
The subordinate caught his gaze and whispered in his ear. A moment later, having heard the situation, the Guild Master nodded and replied.
"My, it seems there was a minor misunderstanding. Even so, is it right to crush another's subordinate organization and swallow it whole? You should have tried to resolve this through dialogue."
"Ha, what a joke. Dialogue? Hey, Guild Master of the White Serpent."
Gwiyeong tilted her head slightly, glaring coldly at the snake mask.
"Was your reeking, blood-soaked faction built on dialogue? Enough with the useless wordplay. State your purpose. What do you want? If it's a war you want, I can give it to you right now."
As Gwiyeong gripped the Gale Blade and subtly raised her energy, the Black Ghost Guild members behind her also drew their weapons and took a combat stance.
Seeing this, the members of the White Serpent Guild also drew their swords, responding fiercely.
The situation was a tinderbox.
Like a time bomb that could go off at any moment, the conflict between the two forces reached its peak.
Amidst the taut tension, the White Serpent's Guild Master spoke first.
"My master has taken an interest in this matter."
There was only one person the White Serpent's Guild Master would call master, so she knew immediately who he meant.
"The leader of the Black Dragon Society?"
The leader of the Black Dragon Society, Am-un.
True to his moniker, the Black Dragon Sword, he was a famous master of the Unorthodox Faction who specialized in dark energy and swordsmanship.
Rumor had it that his level was the later stage of a Transcendent Master, a considerable gap for Gwiyeong, who was only at the initial stage.
Furthermore, he surpassed Gwiyeong not just in level but also in experience, making him a heavyweight she couldn't handle alone, no matter how talented a genius she was.
Seeing Gwiyeong's reaction, the White Serpent's Guild Master's eyes glinted from behind his white snake mask.
They were the eyes of a snake that had spotted a weakness.
"Are you finally grasping the situation? My master's interest means my fellow disciples will be coming as well."
"..."
"It would be difficult for me to defeat you alone. But do you have the confidence to win against me, my fellow disciples, and my master all at once?"
Gwiyeong pondered his words for a moment before answering with confidence.
"You're lying."
"...Why do you think so?"
"This is just a matter of taking over a third-rate guild. Things like this are common in the underworld. The leader of the Black Dragon Society must have seen and experienced it countless times. So there's not a single reason for him to be interested."
She spoke her thoughts without hesitation.
"If a disciple at the later stages of a Peak Master fumbles with something like this and has to bring up his master's name, it would be a blow to his own reputation. If your fellow disciples found out, I doubt they'd even consider you their equal."
"Hoh, that's quite a plausible theory."
The White Serpent's Guild Master gave a small nod and replied nonchalantly.
However, this reaction caught Gwiyeong off guard.
People who have been hit where it hurts usually become tongue-tied and stammer.
But the White Serpent's Guild Master was calmly affirming her words.
This was proof that he wasn't flustered, meaning Gwiyeong's hypothesis was wrong.
"You're not wrong. My master isn't someone who would get involved in such a trivial matter. But his interest isn't in some third-rate guild; it's in you, Gwiyeong."
"...The leader of the Black Dragon Society is interested in me?"
"It seems he's interested in you, who reached the level of a Transcendent Master before the age of thirty and instantly rose as a new power in the Hunan province."
"..."
"He seems particularly intrigued by the fact that you're a beautiful martial artist with a fine figure. What do you think?"
As the White Serpent's Guild Master once again mocked her for her femininity, Gwiyeong threatened him in a cold voice.
"If you intend to mock me, you'd better stop there."
"Those are not my thoughts, but my master's. You can say that to him yourself when you meet him."
Gwiyeong pressed her lips together and studied the White Serpent's Guild Master's eyes.
She was trying to determine if his words were true or false.
But the mask he wore made it difficult to tell.
Judging by his voice alone, however, it didn't seem like he was lying.
"If I thought you were willing to compromise today, I would have backed down, but it seems that's not your intention."
"...What do you want?"
As Gwiyeong slowly opened her mouth, the White Serpent's Guild Master replied as if he had been waiting.
"Half of your businesses. Give me exactly half."
"Are you kidding me?"
Gwiyeong scoffed, but the White Serpent's Guild Master answered firmly.
"Does this look like a joke to you?"
"You know full well I can't accept that offer."
"Well, I expected as much. Then shall we meet again later?"
The White Serpent's Guild Master turned and said.
"Next time, I won't be alone. My master and my fellow disciples will be with me."
"..."
The members of the White Serpent Guild, sensing the mood, sneered at Gwiyeong and the members of the Black Ghost Guild.
"Kekeke. You morons."
"We'll be on our way after getting a good look at your pretty Guild Master~"
"Next time, I'd like to see her at a brothel. Kehek."
At the blatant mockery, the members of the Black Ghost Guild clenched their fists.
"Those... those bastards...!"
"How dare they insult our guild like this..."
[Kehek, you seem to be in a predicament. Are you just going to let them go like this?]
Gwiyeong wondered if others could hear the Gale Blade's voice, but that didn't seem to be the case.
[For your information, only you can hear my voice, so don't worry about it. That aside, what are you going to do now?]
"Hah..."
Gwiyeong let out a deep sigh and fell into deep thought about what to do.
Closing her eyes and weighing the situation, Gwiyeong quietly spoke to the manager beside her.
"...Close the gates."
"...Pardon?"
When the manager asked again, Gwiyeong replied with emotionless eyes.
"Close the gates so they can't get out."
Instantly understanding what that meant, the manager hurriedly shouted.
"Seal the gates! Don't let the White Serpent bastards leave!"
At his words, the Black Ghost Guild's gatekeepers immediately closed and barred the main gates.
Seeing this, the White Serpent's Guild Master and his men instantly realized the situation had taken a grave turn.
The Guild Master's alarm could not be hidden even by his mask.
"...What is the meaning of this?"
He slowly turned his head to look at Gwiyeong.
"Don't tell me you're going to..."
But his words trailed off when he met Gwiyeong's gaze.
A deep killing intent was flowing from her eyes.
"Guild Master of the White Serpent. Perhaps because you once belonged to the Orthodox Faction, you seem to have a poor sense of danger."
"Gh- Guild Master of the Black Ghost Guild! Do you really think you can get away with this?!"
"Even if I let you leave, I won't be safe. But if I kill you here, won't I have to face three people instead of four?"
The White Serpent's Guild Master drew his sharp sword and shouted.
"H-how dare you! To me...!"
"Shut up."
But Gwiyeong had no intention of listening to him.
Once a decision is made, one must act decisively.
In this underworld, indecision means obsolescence and death.
"Did you think you could provoke me like that and walk away alive?"
[I like how straightforward you are. Let's give that arrogant bastard a taste of blood. I wonder if he'll still be able to run his mouth then.]
The Gale Blade, also quite displeased with the White Serpent's Guild Master, boldly revealed its vicious intentions.
-Crackle-
As Gwiyeong raised her energy, the Gale Blade absorbed it, wrapping the blade in a mixture of black and yellow power that crackled like an electric current.
"Y-you bitch...!"
As the flustered Guild Master stepped back, Gwiyeong let out a cold laugh and replied.
"I told you before. There are more than a few idiots waiting for you on the road to the underworld. I'll let you meet them now."