Chapter 3
Chapter 3
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Nine Deaths One Life (3)
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Filial piety is the root of all virtues. One who respects and reveres their parents is courteous to others and never acts arrogantly. Such a person can truly be called a model for the world.
A young lord of the Moyong Clan—one of the Five Great Clans, a prestigious family—Moyong Hyeon naturally knew the words of the Master well. But he had to apologize to the Master for this.
Father. No, the Patriarch's outrages could no longer be ignored. If rotting flesh wasn't cut away out of fear of pain, it would eventually spread to the healthy parts, beyond any hope of recovery.
At first, Moyong Hyeon had hesitated because he was family, a parent. But in the end, he steeled his resolve. One of the reasons was his younger sister, Sua.
Despite being only sixteen, Sua had already mastered the second-rate realm and was on the verge of first-rate. Her talent was truly heaven-sent.
But the problem lay elsewhere. A martial artist without competitive spirit was no better than a corpse. Sua's was extreme—nay, it wasn't mere competitiveness; it was cruelty.
"Stop! Didn't I tell you to stop?!"
"Kuhk...!"
"Your opponent has already lost consciousness! Hitting a fallen foe with techniques—are you really trying to kill him?!"
Moyong Hyeon desperately blocked Sua, who wasn't content with mocking her downed opponent and was about to unleash another technique. But Sua didn't back down; she shot back defiantly.
"Useless branches only drain the great tree's nutrients. So isn't pruning them before the tree falls actually for the good of the clan?"
Sua's arrogance bordered on hubris, her neck so stiff it seemed it might snap someday. How could her brother Moyong Hyeon not worry?
Of course, it was better than showing mercy to enemies and getting killed. The issue was she acted the same toward fellow clan members, not foes.
No one her age could match her anymore. Even Moyong Hyeon, who had stepped into first-rate, struggled against her ruthless techniques. It wasn't about skill.
No matter how genius Sua was, realm gaps were absolute. If Moyong Hyeon went all out, beating her wouldn't be hard.
The problem was he might unintentionally injure her deeply. Considering her cruel nature, a proper scolding might be best.
But he couldn't bring himself to go that far against his adorable four-years-younger sister. And above all, Sua's brutality wasn't her fault.
"You're right, Sua."
"Father!"
"Yes. Try to understand your brother. He's just too soft."
"But isn't Brother still a proud warrior of the Moyong Clan, achieving great things at such a young age?"
"..."
Children are mirrors of their parents. What child is born evil-hearted? They simply learn from the wickedness they see.
'My greater fault is failing to guide Sua onto the right path, merely watching from afar. How can I blame only her?'
He'd grown disillusioned watching Sua corrupt under the Patriarch's personal guidance. At first, he believed there must be a reason since it was the Patriarch's doing.
But faith was repaid with cold betrayal. Foolish of him to think results would eventually sway him. He'd never intended to listen from the start.
If even he, the young lord, was treated this way, what about Sua? At this rate, one word from the Patriarch could turn her into a bloodthirsty demon. That had to be stopped.
"Before the great affair, I plan to entrust Sua to Great Hero Nameless."
"If I may speak boldly, can that Nameless be trusted?"
"I understand your concern. But Great Hero Nameless is a hidden master who conceals his skill and name in seclusion. If he harbored ill intentions... I wouldn't be alive now."
"I don't understand. Why risk sending the young lady elsewhere? Wouldn't protecting her in the clan be safer?"
Naturally, some opposed Moyong Hyeon's decision. It showed how many warriors cherished Sua. But this was non-negotiable.
"Clothed in grand words like 'great cause,' it's still family slaughtering family. I don't want Sua seeing blood spilled between kin."
"I see. Understood. But aren't there other places? The Five Great Clans or even the Murim Alliance..."
"I considered that, but I doubt they'd honor requests from the Moyong Clan, who cut ties unilaterally."
Above all, he quietly hoped Great Hero Nameless could curb Sua's cruelty. With opponents convinced by his response,
they set out right away, repaying the life debt. But Sua, unaware of the clan's situation, inwardly mocked her brother's actions.
'Brother must be worried I'll take his young lord seat.'
Father promised to teach her ultimate arts when the time came. Fearing defeat to her mastered ultimate, he was resorting to this suppression.
Of course, Moyong Hyeon was no pushover. But that was because she was still young. If they were the same age—or even two years older.
Would the result be the same? Sua didn't think so. Even so, suddenly entering rugged mountains left her flustered.
"Brother, I thought we were going to a master who bows to no righteous sect. Why this remote mountain with no ties...?"
"You'll see soon. Ah, there he is."
"...Huh?"
Brother had praised him tirelessly, so she held faint expectations. But the moment she looked where he pointed, they evaporated.
Who? Surely the 'master who bows to no righteous sect' wasn't that pathetic old man tilling the dirt field?
"Great Hero Nameless!!"
Unfortunately, the girl's sliver of hope was utterly crushed.
On my usual late-night return from training, I half-forcibly saved someone under attack. Turns out, it was none other than the Moyong Clan's young lord?
One word for this encounter:
'Fortuitous connection.'
Does a fortuitous connection require meeting an old man in harsh mountains to learn martial arts? This counts too. By wuxia definitions,
it wasn't wrong at all. Thanks to the Moyong Clan ties. The situation looked messy, but I'd saved their young lord.
Meaning, I could get clan-made pills or precious herbs boosting inner power as reward. Deepen the bond further?
Ultimate arts or heart methods might be a stretch, but basic techniques? Possible. No high or low in martial arts, but having only Three Disasters Sword Art felt lacking.
'And above all, securing Moyong Clan connections. When I debut in the martial world, big and small help awaits.'
Throughout history, powerful networks are invaluable everywhere. Especially for me—talentless, reaching first-rate at thirty.
First-rate isn't low by any means. But these days, even dogs and cats start at peak. Training till thirty for first-rate? Embarrassing.
That was why I endured the brat's rudeness and sat. 'No younger sibling outshines their elder'? Compared to Young Hero Moyong Hyeon, her temper was atrocious.
"I assume Great Hero knows some clan affairs. Could you please look after our Sua until this ends?"
"No trouble, but... will the young lady be alright? Life in these mountains seems harsh for her."
'Just say no already. Please!!!'
To maintain Moyong ties, I couldn't refuse. But babysitting? A spoiled brat at that.
At my words, Moyong Sua—the girl kneeling politely beside Moyong Hyeon—lifted her head. Her jade-green eyes fixed on me.
"Why would I refuse a chance to learn from the hero Brother praised endlessly? However..."
"However?"
"If Great Hero doesn't mind, I'd like to witness your skills, even a little."
Tried shedding one worry, ended up with two.