Chapter 692: Yeon-woo’s Tears Are Worth More Than Ten Thousand Gold
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 692: Yeon-woo’s Tears Are Worth More Than Ten Thousand Gold
'She’s strong.'
A thick smile spread across Eon Jung-gi’s lips.
The moment he faced Bukgung Yeon, he could feel it instinctively—that she was a powerhouse who far exceeded his expectations.
He had assumed she was at the Transcendent Realm at best, but it seemed his assessment had been wrong.
She was powerful. So powerful that even he, who had reached the Profound Realm, could not guarantee a victory.
Desire surged within him. A primal urge to swing his fists and strike her with the absolute essence of the Eon Family’s boxing style.
That desire naturally transformed into Fighting Spirit, beginning to saturate the room. It was a massive, uncontrollable aura of combat.
"Uwaaaaaaaaah!"
Suddenly, a thunderous wail pierced his ears.
"Huh?"
Startled by the sudden crying, Eon Jung-gi turned his head with a bewildered expression.
There, he saw it. A cute baby, sobbing piteously.
'Ah!'
The moment he saw the child, Eon Jung-gi realized his mistake. He had been so caught up in his own excitement that he’d released his Fighting Spirit without realizing a baby was present.
"Hey."
A voice as cold as a frost-covered blade sliced through the air toward Eon Jung-gi’s ear.
Twitch.
Eon Jung-gi flinched involuntarily. A bone-chilling sensation washed over his entire body.
"Do you want to die?"
Bukgung Yeon glared at Eon Jung-gi with murderous intent. Though she didn't let her killing aura flare out, her resolve to kill him was clearly conveyed.
Zing.
At the same time, several other sharp gazes pinned him down. The two other women besides Bukgung Yeon were also glaring at him.
'That stings.'
Eon Jung-gi frowned slightly. He felt a psychological weight from the sheer pressure being directed at him.
Snap.
Eon Jung-gi immediately cut off his Fighting Spirit.
"Huaaaaaaaang!"
Despite that, Yeon-woo’s crying showed no signs of stopping. It seemed the shock from the Fighting Spirit had been too much for the little one to settle down easily.
As Yeon-woo’s cries grew louder, Bukgung Yeon’s eyes grew even more ferocious. Extreme rage filled her at the fact that he had made the most precious being in the world cry.
Rather than comforting Yeon-woo herself, she focused entirely on Eon Jung-gi. She was like a lioness protecting her cub. Now that she identified him as an enemy, she couldn't take her eyes off him.
A tense battle of wills between two absolute masters began.
*
"Hwaaaaaaah!"
"It’s okay, it’s okay... Mommy Yorang will protect you!"
Yorang tried her best to soothe the sobbing Yeon-woo. Seeing the baby cry made her feel as if her own heart were being torn apart.
"Huaaaang! Huaaaang!"
Whether he knew how Yorang felt or not, Yeon-woo continued to wail. The sight broke Yorang’s heart.
"I can't take this."
Yorang spoke, her expression hardening.
"Jeok-hwa, hold Yeon-woo for a second."
Yorang handed the baby over to Geum Jeok-hwa.
"...What are you going to do?" Geum Jeok-hwa asked as she took the child.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Ignoring the question, Yorang began walking toward Eon Jung-gi. She stopped right in front of his nose.
"What is it?"
Eon Jung-gi, who had been locked in a staring contest with Bukgung Yeon, looked at the woman who had suddenly blocked his path. He looked utterly perplexed.
"Yeon-woo, watch closely what Mommy Yorang does!"
Yorang looked back at the crying Yeon-woo as she spoke.
Whoosh!
Her hand shot out with the speed of a lightning bolt, her right hand clamping onto Eon Jung-gi’s face.
Grip!
"W-What!?"
Eon Jung-gi gasped in shock as his face was seized. He hadn't even been able to react.
Creeeeeak!
"Kugh!"
Enormous pressure began to emanate from the hand gripping his face—a force so great it felt like his facial structure was about to collapse.
'D-Damn it!'
Eon Jung-gi quickly grabbed Yorang’s right hand with both of his own. He intended to pry it off by any means necessary.
"Nngh...!"
But no matter how much strength he exerted, Yorang’s arm didn't budge. It was just one arm, yet he was powerless against it.
'This is... insane...'
Eon Jung-gi cursed inwardly. He realized he was being completely overpowered in a contest of raw strength.
'I have to do something!'
In his desperation, Eon Jung-gi poured even more strength into his arms.
"Aaaagh!"
But the more he resisted, the tighter the grip on his face became.
"You see, Yeon-woo is cute," the woman in front of him said slowly. "The cutest thing in the whole world."
Then, she slowly began to lift her arm.
Voom.
Eon Jung-gi’s massive frame was hoisted into the air along with her arm.
"And he’s most beautiful when he smiles."
Yorang continued in a voice that was chillingly calm.
'My feet... aren't touching the ground...'
Eon Jung-gi felt his feet dangle. He, a man seven feet tall, had been completely lifted off the ground by a girl who barely reached his chest.
"And yet, you made him cry?"
Crunch!
"Aaaaaaaagh!"
Yorang tightened her grip even further. She pulled her arm back and then hurled him forward with everything she had.
Fwooooosh!
Eon Jung-gi’s massive body went flying through the air.
Crash!
The door he had entered through was pulverized.
Boom!
The wall behind the door shattered with a deafening roar.
Rumble!
Debris from the wall rained down on Eon Jung-gi, burying his form completely. He was pinned under the wreckage.
"You rotten bastard."
Yorang spat the words out as she watched the scene with a cold, sharp gaze. Her anger clearly hadn't subsided yet.
"Kyahahahaha!"
Suddenly, a bright, clear laugh rang out.
Yorang quickly turned her head. She saw Yeon-woo laughing hysterically, clapping his hands.
"Hehe... Yeon-woo, did you see what Mommy Yorang did?"
Facing that innocent laughter, Yorang’s anger melted away, and she broke into a silly grin. Seeing Yeon-woo happy made the rage that had filled her heart vanish instantly.
"Dabu-dada! Dabu!"
Clap, clap, clap.
Yeon-woo began to babble while clapping his hands.
"Did you like that so much, our Yeon-woo?"
Yorang spoke with a bright smile. Seeing her audience react so well put her in high spirits.
Thud.
Rumble.
A heavy, dull sound echoed. Yorang quickly looked back.
A giant of a man stood there, covered in stone dust but looking remarkably composed. It was the Head of the Jinju Eon Clan, Eon Jung-gi.
Slap, slap.
Eon Jung-gi began to brush the dust off his clothes.
"You are truly strong," he said, his expression calm as he spoke his honest thoughts. "It has been a very long time since I felt my life was in danger."
A thick smile returned to his lips.
"You're sturdy, aren't you?"
Yorang frowned slightly. She had used enough strength to crush his skull. She had thrown him with the intent to shatter his body. Yet, he was more intact than she expected.
There were red finger marks where she had grabbed him, but his face hadn't collapsed. And despite being thrown with full force, he seemed fine other than being covered in dust.
"If I weren't sturdy, my face would have been crushed by that first move."
Eon Jung-gi spoke in a level tone.
"What a shame. I really wanted to crush it..." Yorang said, looking genuinely disappointed.
"How cruel," Eon Jung-gi replied with a bitter smile. He knew he was in the wrong, but the relentless hostility was a bit much.
"You made Yeon-woo cry!" Yorang shouted.
"I am sorry."
Upon hearing her words, Eon Jung-gi apologized immediately.
"My competitive spirit got the better of me, and I failed to realize there was a child present. I offer my sincere apologies."
"Is 'sorry' all it takes after you've practically killed someone? If everything could be solved with an apology, why would we need guards or judges?"
Despite his apology, Yorang continued to snarl with hostility. Her anger over Yeon-woo’s tears was far from over.
"Who exactly has been killed?" Eon Jung-gi asked, looking bewildered.
Someone had almost died, yes, but no one was actually dead. Who was she talking about?
"It’s a figure of speech!"
"In any case, hasn't this been enough of a punishment? I could have died if things had gone slightly wrong."
"You look way too fine for someone who 'almost died,'" Yorang questioned him suspiciously.
He looked perfectly healthy—so much so that his claim of nearly dying sounded like an exaggeration.
"The martial artists of the Eon Clan learn the Jiangshi Technique to harden their bodies through the generations. If not for that technique, I would not be standing here unscathed."
Eon Jung-gi spoke calmly. Through the Jiangshi Technique, he had reached the state of the Indestructible Body. If his mastery had been even slightly lower, his face would have been crumpled like wet clay. Yorang’s attack had been that fierce and threatening.
"So, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive my mistake with this."
Eon Jung-gi spoke with great politeness.
"........."
Yorang fell silent. She was momentarily lost for words at how unexpectedly respectful he was being. Generally, even a saint would react defensively if their life were threatened. Yet, Eon Jung-gi was the one asking for forgiveness and apologizing, even after being ambushed. He felt different from ordinary men.
"Fine."
Bukgung Yeon, who had been standing by, spoke up in a calm voice.
"I accept that you had no ill intent. I also believe that was a sufficient punishment. Had you been an ordinary martial artist, you would have lost your life."
"I thank the Palace Master for her mercy."
Eon Jung-gi bowed politely.
"However, there is one thing I don't understand."
"Please, speak."
"Why did you challenge me to a duel?" Bukgung Yeon asked, her expression showing her confusion.
"Publicly, it is under the pretext of seeking revenge for my only nephew."
Eon Jung-gi answered her question immediately.
"Revenge for your nephew?"
"I was told that among the people you turned into blocks of ice, my nephew was included."
Eon Jung-gi spoke with an amused smile.
"Then what is your true purpose?"
"I wish to test my strength against yours."
The smile on Eon Jung-gi’s face deepened.
"Is that not a sufficient reason for a martial artist?"
"I suppose it is."
Bukgung Yeon smiled back at him. To test one's strength—what more perfect reason could there be for a warrior?
"Let us move to a different location."
"That sounds like a fine idea."
The two of them began to walk. Neither could suppress the competitive spirit rising from deep within their hearts.
*
The Training Ground
Bukgung Yeon and Eon Jung-gi stood facing each other. Tension hung heavy in the air between them. Both had already recognized the other’s formidable strength.
'She is as strong as I expected.'
Eon Jung-gi was wary of Bukgung Yeon’s power, having heard how she subdued five hundred men without a single scratch. Generally, subduing an opponent is much harder than killing them. She was powerful, and he could feel that power radiating from her now that they were face-to-face. He couldn't help but be on guard.
'He’s like a boulder.'
Bukgung Yeon was wary of Eon Jung-gi’s durability, as he hadn't sustained a single wound even after Yorang’s lethal attack. Yorang had clearly intended to crush his face and shatter his body. Yet, Eon Jung-gi remained unscathed. This meant his physical endurance was beyond imagination. He was like a massive rock—one that stood tall and unyielding despite the harsh storms of time.
They locked eyes in a silent battle of wills for a long moment.
"Do you know something?" Bukgung Yeon spoke slowly.
"What might that be?" Eon Jung-gi asked curiously.
"I said earlier that I forgave you for making Yeon-woo cry."
"You did indeed."
"Actually, that was a lie."
Bukgung Yeon’s cold eyes flashed.
"No matter how much I think about it, I can't forgive you. To think you made my most precious child shed tears..."
Whirrrrrrr!
A massive chill began to swirl around Bukgung Yeon.
"So, you must pay the price, Eon Jung-gi."
Her voice was like ice.
"You mean to say that what I endured wasn't enough? The price of a child's tears is quite steep."
Eon Jung-gi spoke with an incredulous expression. He had only made the child cry once. How could she be so obsessed?
"Yeon-woo’s tears are worth more than ten thousand gold," Bukgung Yeon said coldly. "So, accept your punishment."
WHIRRRRRRRRR!
A massive blizzard began to surge toward Eon Jung-gi.