Chapter 67
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: What Happened at Xiaoho Lake House (2)
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A boisterous group.
Every one of them was dressed in lavish attire, with handsome features to match.
It was a gathering of those attending the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly.
“Ooh…!”
“The stars of this year’s Dragon and Phoenix Assembly!”
Praise from the onlookers followed.
Accepting the praise as their due, they sat in the very center of the Xiaoho Lake House.
At the heart of it all was Namgung Sang-hyeok.
Namgung Sang-hyeok, swaggering to his heart's content.
Around him, sycophants were busy flattering him.
*‘There aren't as many of them as I thought.’*
This group, composed entirely of people fawning over Namgung Sang-hyeok, didn't seem like they had all received golden invitations.
A few among them appeared to be on equal footing with Namgung Sang-hyeok, but most were not.
*‘Aside from those three... there's nothing worth seeing.’*
Unfortunately, there was no one who seemed to belong to places like the Shaolin Temple, the Wudang Sect, or Mount Hua.
The ones mingling with Namgung Sang-hyeok were likely the direct descendants of the Ten Great Families who were on friendly terms with the Namgung Family.
*‘Birds of a feather flock together, as they say.’*
It was disappointing.
Their presence was certainly extraordinary.
But that was all.
*‘How disappointing.’*
Yet, watching them strut about as if they were the center of the world made me chuckle for no reason.
*‘So that's their limit.’*
There was nothing more to see.
Cheon Muryang averted his gaze.
Just then, a waiter brought the food.
“Here is your food.”
“Ah, thank you.”
“It's gotten a bit noisy all of a sudden, hasn't it? Those gentlemen are participants in the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly. You're quite lucky to see them up close like this, sir.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course. We get quite a few customers who come just to see them.”
“But there aren't many of them?”
“Ah, it seems their group has split up.”
“I see.”
The waiter skillfully set down the feast and bowed his head slightly.
“Please call me if you need anything.”
“I will.”
Cheon Muryang nodded and looked at the appetizing spread of food.
The story of his heroic deed, which Namgung Sang-hyeok was proudly recounting, echoed in Cheon Muryang's ears.
“It's amazing how you caught that vicious fiend.”
“I suffered severe internal injuries, but it was merely what had to be done.”
“Oh, as expected of Young Lord Namgung, a true hero.”
Cheon Muryang nearly spat out the food in his mouth.
Although he wanted nothing to do with them, he felt an urge to shout it out loud.
*‘Those injuries... I'm the one who gave them to you, aren't I?’*
He wondered if the people beside him would still be fawning over him if they knew the full story.
Looking at Namgung Sang-hyeok's arrogant expression, the memory of that day flashed through his mind.
“Pfft.”
In the end, Cheon Muryang couldn't help but laugh.
The image of Namgung Sang-hyeok curling up in pain from his punches came to mind.
“Ahem.”
Fortunately, no one heard him.
Quickly composing himself, Cheon Muryang forced himself to ignore them.
*‘Well, it's none of my business. Let them brag all they want.’*
He felt he would burst into laughter if he kept looking at Namgung Sang-hyeok, so he turned his head to focus solely on Xiaoho Lake.
“Hurry up and bring out the wine and food!”
Thankfully, their noisy banquet no longer bothered Cheon Muryang.
“Hoo. How refreshing.”
Just as he was enjoying the clear breeze.
Cheon Muryang spotted another group striding toward the establishment.
*‘He said the group was split. Could it have been factions?’*
Just as that thought crossed his mind.
The main door of the Xiaoho Lake House opened.
“Ah…!”
For a moment, a hush fell over the room.
It was because of the newly arrived group.
*‘Oh?’*
The man leading them had something that caught Cheon Muryang's eye.
He was a large man who exuded the raw essence of an untamed, wild beast.
“So you were here, Young Lord Namgung?”
His voice boomed like a general's.
Striding in, he spotted Namgung Sang-hyeok and walked toward him.
Flinch!
The man next to Namgung Sang-hyeok felt an intangible pressure.
It was a clear signal to move.
“Ugh!”
The large man gently gripped the shoulder of the man who was hesitating and pushed him aside with nonchalant ease.
Thump!
Then, he wrapped an arm around Namgung Sang-hyeok's shoulder and sat down.
“I went to the Namgung Family estate, but they said you'd already left. What a wasted trip.”
“Paeng Dohyeok, don't be rude.”
“Rude?”
The large man called Paeng Dohyeok snickered.
“Calling it rude between us? Isn't that a bit harsh?”
“…”
Paeng Dohyeok picked up the cup before him and drained it in one go.
“We've been close since we were kids. Anyone watching would think we don't get along.”
A blatant provocation.
Namgung Sang-hyeok stood up from his seat.
He faced Paeng Dohyeok, looking ready to draw his sword at any moment.
“Do you truly wish to die?”
“For all your posturing, you still have your pride.”
Snickering, Paeng Dohyeok also rose from his seat.
Crack!
The chair couldn't withstand the force and broke.
Someone standing awkwardly nearby jumped in surprise.
“Hah!”
A beastly killing intent emanated from Paeng Dohyeok.
His eyes glinted like those of a tiger.
“Can you even draw your sword?”
Grrr!
Namgung Sang-hyeok did not suppress his anger.
His pride wouldn't allow it.
His smoothly drawn sword lunged sharply toward Paeng Dohyeok.
Shing!
But Namgung Sang-hyeok's sword cut through empty air.
“Looks like your body hasn't recovered yet?”
“!”
Having lightly dodged the strike, Paeng Dohyeok closed the distance with a ferocity that belied his massive frame.
Swish!
Paeng Dohyeok's fist tore through the air.
Thud!
Just before it could smash into his face.
Paeng Dohyeok's fist stopped.
“Your movements are heavy.”
“…”
“If this is all you've got, there won't be any surprises this time. Though I don't know who will come from the Nine Sects.”
As if he had seen all he needed to, Paeng Dohyeok withdrew his fist with a sardonic smile.
“Paeng Dohyeok…!”
“See you around.”
Paeng Dohyeok turned to leave the Xiaoho Lake House with a triumphant smile.
But, being so large, he failed to see what was below him.
And so, he bumped into a waiter carrying food.
Thump!
“Ah…!”
Crash!
Overpowered by the force, the waiter fell and tumbled to the floor.
Some of the scattered food stained Paeng Dohyeok's clothes.
“Tsk.”
“I-I'm sorry!”
It wasn't the waiter's fault.
But it was the waiter's fault.
“I-I was wrong! I'm sorry!”
“I was just about to leave in a good mood…”
His eyes turned cold.
Paeng Dohyeok's killing intent flared.
The waiter looked around with pleading eyes, but no one was willing to face Paeng Dohyeok to help a mere waiter.
“…”
Even Namgung Sang-hyeok, the one who acted so high and mighty and was praised as a hero, was no different.
“It seems I'll have to see some blood after all.”
Normally, he might have let it go with a light punishment.
But the exchange with Namgung Sang-hyeok had riled him up.
For that reason, Paeng Dohyeok felt he wouldn't be satisfied until he saw someone bleed.
“Close the doors.”
“Young Lord Paeng…”
One of his retainers tried to subtly dissuade him.
“Or you can take his place.”
“!”
He immediately backed down.
Paeng Dohyeok was a beast, and no one could stop a hungry beast intent on seeing blood.
Thud!
The doors closed.
No one could leave or enter the Xiaoho Lake House.
“P-Please spare me! I was wrong! Please!”
The waiter sensed his impending death.
To survive, he had no choice but to beg for his life.
But this quick-witted waiter knew.
*‘I'm going to die. Or... I'll be crippled...’*
He knew that no waiter had ever survived such a situation, no matter how much they begged.
“Then you shouldn't have made a mistake.”
Paeng Dohyeok drew the saber he hadn't even drawn against Namgung Sang-hyeok.
“I won't kill you. I'll only take the price for soiling my clothes. I'll just take one of your arms.”
It was the greatest mercy Paeng Dohyeok could offer.
But it, too, was utterly unreasonable and unfair.
How could a food stain on his clothes be equivalent to a waiter's arm?
“Tsk.”
Cheon Muryang clicked his tongue.
He felt he'd get sick from anger if he kept watching.
Fwhoosh!
Paeng Dohyeok's saber moved.
It was as large as the Wandering King's saber, but Paeng Dohyeok wielded it with just as much freedom.
His lightly advancing saber aimed to sever the waiter's arm.
But Paeng Dohyeok's saber did not achieve its goal.
Kwwaaang!
“…”
The waiter's arm was still intact.
The great saber's trajectory had been altered, and it had landed right beside the waiter.
Grrrind.
Paeng Dohyeok was furious.
Because the path of his saber had been changed mid-swing.
“Who is it!”
What had changed it?
At the same time, Paeng Dohyeok's and Namgung Sang-hyeok's heads turned.
There sat Cheon Muryang, his chin resting on his hand.
“That's far enough.”
“Y-You!”
Recognizing Cheon Muryang at a glance, Namgung Sang-hyeok drew his sword.
Seeing this, Cheon Muryang's eyes glinted.
“Oh? You want to try again? Are you sure about that? There are a lot of eyes here, you know.”
The corners of his mouth lifted.
Seeing this, Namgung Sang-hyeok flinched involuntarily.
“What? Do you know each other?”
“…”
Paeng Dohyeok noticed.
That Namgung Sang-hyeok was afraid of Cheon Muryang.
*‘That prideful bastard?’*
This was an opportunity.
He didn't know who this guy was, but he would use this chance to show Namgung Sang-hyeok.
*‘Who is stronger.’*
On the surface, Cheon Muryang didn't look very strong, so Paeng Dohyeok was confident.
“We know each other.”
“Even so…”
Fwoosh!
Without warning, Paeng Dohyeok's saber flew.
“You shouldn't have interfered.”
Shiiik!
A colossal force capable of splitting a mountain in a single blow could be felt.
“Tsk.”
But to Cheon Muryang, it was light.
He was about to teach this unruly brat from the Peng Family a lesson.
“Honestly, you're the real scoundrel here.”
Paeng Dohyeok was relentless.
A one-strike, one-kill saber that never retreated under any circumstances—that was the way of the Peng Family's saber.
Shiiik!
Paeng Dohyeok's straightforward saber strike was, as always, close to perfection.
And yet, Paeng Dohyeok himself felt a sense of unease.
*‘What is this?’*
He was anxious.
It was an instinct telling him he shouldn't follow through with the swing.
Fwhoosh!
The source of his anxiety came from a blind spot he hadn't been watching.
*‘Could it be?’*
Paeng Dohyeok had made a mistake.
He hadn't seen Cheon Muryang's sword.
And so, he only realized it now.
Shwik!
A single sword, ascending from below.
*‘I'll die!’*
Stunned, Paeng Dohyeok hurriedly retracted his saber and desperately twisted his body.
Whir!
Forced into the air by the centrifugal force, Paeng Dohyeok felt his clothes being sliced.
“Hah!”
But that wasn't the end.
There was no way he could regain his balance in mid-air.
Cheon Muryang promptly kicked the airborne Paeng Dohyeok straight in the abdomen.
Thuuud!
The massive Paeng Dohyeok tumbled across the floor.
He landed next to the waiter, right where the uncleared food had fallen.
“Hi-Hiiik!”
Cheon Muryang stood beside the horrified waiter.
Then, with a strange smile, Cheon Muryang slammed his Heavenly Light Sword down toward the fallen Paeng Dohyeok.
Kwoong!
The floor caved in.
Drip.
Drip, drip.
A scratch appeared on Paeng Dohyeok's cheek.
Blood trickled from it.
“Gasp!”
Everyone was shocked, but Cheon Muryang paid them no mind and sneered at Paeng Dohyeok.
“Doesn't the Hebei Peng Family teach you not to swing your saber around recklessly?”
“Y-You bastard…!”
“Right. You wouldn't get it the first time.”
Pfft.
Cheon Muryang laughed.
“Let's see how long that stubbornness of yours lasts.”
For a scoundrel like this, whose only achievement was being born with the Peng family name, a good beating was the only medicine.
“First, let's have a little beating.”
Thwack!
A crisp sound rang out.
He was more satisfying to hit than Namgung Sang-hyeok.
Shudder!
Namgung Sang-hyeok trembled for no apparent reason.
Whack!
No one could stop the scoundrel, Cheon Muryang.