Chapter 311
Chapter 311
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 311
Chapter Title: Ties and Grudges (4)
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As I stepped into the restaurant, I could feel the eyes of everyone inside turning toward me.
"G-Ghost Dragon."
"Eon Yong-un?"
I ignored them.
I shifted my gaze toward the source of the voice.
'Shaolin, Zhongnan, Qingcheng, Kunlun... Over there is the young master of the Shandong Yue Clan, and next to him are...'
In that section, disciples from the Nine Great Sects and the heirs of influential families one rank below the Five Great Clans, represented by the Shandong Yue Clan, were gathered.
Someone had slammed his seat back and was shouting at them.
"Nephew Gaekpil, Yue lay practitioner, Bi lay practitioner! I've stayed silent until now, thinking it was a healthy debate, but I can no longer listen!"
It was none other than Yuan Cheol.
"Amitabha! How can you say such things?! It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that we could focus on our training without worry thanks to the later-generation disciples of the Righteous Martial Academy roaming the land in concern for the world. And yet, to disparage them like that?!"
Yuan Cheol spoke with veins bulging on his forehead.
"That is neither the way of a gentleman nor the way of a Buddhist disciple!"
While I was listening to him for a moment.
Yin Ha-seong suddenly grabbed my left arm.
"Y-Yong-un bro. This is the Murim Alliance, you know? Little So-reung, what are you doing?! Hurry and hug Yong-un bro's waist! If bro loses it, those bastards are getting forcibly Peach Garden Oath-ed today!"
"Peach Garden Oath? Oh! You mean die together on the same day?!"
"Yeah!"
"Gasp! Got it!"
"Jeong Hyeon Taoist too, grab him!"
Then Nangong Yun opened his mouth.
"But how can we tolerate such insults? They even slandered the Alliance Leader. They implied he was using trivial matters to bolster his own power, didn't they? I heard it clearly... "
Immediately, Tang Ok-gi and Nangong Young's sharp glares shot toward him.
"Ack! Nangong Yun! You're being a total Gong Yun today!"
"Yes. Watch your little brother, big bro."
"......"
Having silenced Nangong Yun, Tang Ok-gi turned to me.
"There are always assholes like that wherever you go. Are you dodging because you're scared of shit? Avoiding because it's dirty? I know your temper well. I'm pissed too, but this is the Murim Alliance?"
Then my master spoke up.
- Your clan siblings don't know you're the successor of the Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect, so that's why they're saying this...
If they knew my true sect was the Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect, the clan siblings would have been the first to flip out.
They were just angry at the slander against our past achievements and suggesting restraint because of the location at the Murim Alliance.
- But their words are right. Didn't I tell you before? No need to get heated over some dusty old history and bring shame to your forefathers.
I could feel my master's concern for me in his words.
Who was Sword Demon Wi Cheol-jin?
A man who lived exactly as he pleased in life.
The one who turned the entire world against him to avenge his grandmaster.
And that Kunlun Sword Debate ended in mutual destruction.
'Over a hundred years have passed since then.'
- Yes. It's that old a grudge. Those who made grandmaster that way have long since rotted away. Yong-un, you just walk your own path.
But for my master, who had been trapped in that formation until meeting me, it must feel as vivid as yesterday.
There was no way it was fine.
He just cared for me more than his anger toward Shaolin.
Sensing my master's feelings, I grinned and sent my thoughts back.
'If you care for me that much, stop clicking your tongue all the time. And stop chiming in when the clan siblings slander your disciple.'
- ...Ahem. What nonsense is that out of nowhere? Care? What are you talking about? I have no idea!
'Anyway, I'm not heated.'
I was cooler-headed than ever right now.
'The path you just mentioned for me. Guys with that mindset are no help on it. And why would it shame my forefathers? Do you think your disciple is that sloppy?'
Having replied, I also spoke to the clan siblings.
"Let go."
At my words, the clan siblings holding me gripped even tighter.
And Tang Ok-gi spoke again.
"Or we do it the Tang Clan way. How about laxatives? Or you have your specialties. Butter up the elders above and get them thrown into the flower room?"
"That's a good idea I heard, but those thunderbolt baldies need some proper schooling first. Gotta set the stage for them to get punished, right?"
Replying like that, I smirked and said,
"I get you're worried because this is the Murim Alliance and the White Core Meeting. But it's me, Eon Yong-un. I'm not doing this out of heat. You think I didn't consider your worries? I'll handle it."
At my words, Ye Hae-su spoke up.
"...You'll handle it? Junior. You don't mean you're going out alone, do you?"
I nodded.
Then Jeong Hyeon and Paeng So-jin spoke.
"We can't allow that. If you're truly going to administer proper schooling, we'll join you."
"Yeah. Honestly, none of us here haven't been pissed off? For me, it's about my master."
The others nodded in agreement.
I immediately spoke.
"Then it becomes a free-for-all brawl. I'm going to turn what happens from now into an incident where outdated later-generation disciples cowardly ganged up."
At my words, Paeng So-jin furrowed her brow.
"They'll have their own plans too, and this is the Murim Alliance... Ah, you're just born to flip people's insides out."
"...? Anyway, Senior Ye, you just record it. Sister So-jin and the rest, step back another ten paces."
Jeong Hyeon tried to say something more, but I cut him off.
"Young Master Eon, but..."
"This isn't a request. It's an order. Don't butt in and complicate things. If I really look in danger, then step in. Though that won't happen."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Leaving the clan siblings behind, I walked toward the table where Yuan Cheol was persuading those around him.
"It's Eon Yong-un."
After a curt greeting, I scanned the faces seated there and continued.
"Seeing Monk Yuan Cheol so heated, it seems some nonsense came from this side. Who was it?"
Yuan Cheol alternated glances between sides, as if trying to mediate between me and the other later-generation disciples.
"...Ghost Dragon. A poor monk secluded in a mountain temple might not know the ways of the world as well as lay practitioners living in it. But the lives of sentient beings are full of trials, aren't they? And how we overcome those trials is the task."
"That's philosophical, but I just came to talk to whoever spouted the nonsense."
"What I wanted to say is... Why do they say you grow close through fighting, or the ground hardens after rain?"
"And?"
"I meant to apologize and ask for your magnanimity. My nephew was foolish and spoke rashly. As a disciple of Shaolin, this Yuan Cheol apologizes too. Nephew, what are you doing? Apologize. And the rest of you too."
At Yuan Cheol's words, I crossed my arms, as if saying, "Go ahead, apologize."
'Let's see you try.'
All eyes in the hall were now on us.
'Can these guys actually offer a sincere apology?'
I didn't think so.
Spouting off rashly in the first place was their way of cutting me down to prop themselves up.
There was no way they'd apologize in this situation.
"......"
And sure enough.
After a moment of lip-smacking, Gaekpil suddenly scowled and spoke.
"Uncle Yuan Cheol! Uncle, you've been holed up in the temple training, so you don't understand the world. I have to say what needs saying!"
The others chimed in one after another.
"I agree with Monk Gaekpil. This Eon Yong-un is, after all, the young master of the Shandong Yue Clan. I haven't said anything wrong, so how can I apologize? That would shame my clan."
"Exactly! We haven't seen the Ghost Dragon's merits with our own eyes, and there are rumors that the Murim Alliance announced things differently from the truth... Can't we at least speculate?"
I snorted.
"You think I came here over the talk about my merits? Your thinking... and your lack of guts to apologize... What a spectacle."
Then the one who called himself Eon Yong-un—no, the one who introduced himself as the young master of the Yue Clan—ground his teeth and spoke.
"Spectacle... Fine, say we spouted nonsense first. So what did you come to talk about?"
"Why, you were babbling about the Demonic Cult or whatever. I came because it pissed me off."
At my words, Gaekpil and the others tilted their heads for a moment.
Then a guy in Zhongnan Sect uniform quietly spoke.
"...Sounds like that talk. Didn't Monk Gaekpil mention the origins of the Demonic Cult? He said if you trace it, they're followers of that Sword Demon."
Only then did Gaekpil feign realization.
"Ah! You mean when I said descendants of the guy who tried to steal Shaolin martial arts and ended up crippled?"
"......"
"What's wrong with that? It's pointing out the true nature of the Demonic Cult handed down through generations! Isn't it spot on? They say you're the later-generation disciple who knows the Demonic Cult best. If we're the light, those guys are pitch-black shadows, right?!"
"What's a shadow? More like moldy bastards."
"You sympathizing with them or something?"
"They say you're the head of the Demonic Cult Research Institute. Did studying demonic arts too deeply rot your brain?"
I clicked my tongue at the snickering bunch.
"Tsk. You just mentioned light and shadow. Calling the Orthodox path pure light is ridiculous enough, but let's say."
Having started, I continued.
"Shadows don't just appear. Something has to block the sunlight. If the Orthodox path is light, it's because people like you are in between that shadows form. Treating your clan's and sect's history and achievements as your own... Disdaining the weak, overlooking enemies, envying allies. Truly petty villains among the world's heroes."
"W-What?!"
"I haven't finished! And by your logic, doesn't that mean Shaolin birthed the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?!"
"T-That's..."
"To even voice such idiotic nonsense that should be hushed up... Not Monk Gaekpil. You're not worth the honorific. Hey, Gaekpil."
"What?! You scoundrel?!"
"First time seeing a monk rotten from the seed like you. Founder Bodhidharma and Sage Hye-ka who established the meridian theory would love seeing you. I'll take 'scoundrel' from you as praise. Oh, and the assorted ones beside you, apply it to your own sects. Too annoying to name each."
At my words, they all flushed red and shot to their feet.
"Such insults! Do you think we're your underlings?!"
"How can the Righteous Martial Academy student council president use such language! Your words go too far!"
"They called you a total scoundrel in Hebei, but it seemed deliberate. Looks like it's not all hype!"
I dug in my ear and spoke.
"All talk from the mouth. World's heroes, my ass. Empty carts rattle loud—old sayings never fail..."
"Y-You worm!!"
It was then that Gaekpil, face beet-red, unleashed a palm strike.
Swaaaa!
Even if criticizing together, circumstances differ.
I had staked my life multiple times fighting the Demonic Cult; they lounged like flowers in comfort.
Blame would clearly fall one way.
And Yuan Cheol was here to prove who was right.
The fist extended first from their side.
I grinned, dodged Gaekpil's punch, and spoke.
"Starting first?"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Gaekpil thrust out his palm force, and Eon Yong-un kicked a table to block it, starting the fight.
Bam!!!
Young hot blood surged through emotional rifts, becoming a torrent.
The seated later-generation disciples forgot this was the Murim Alliance and unleashed fists toward Eon Yong-un.
Swa! Swaaa!
Swaaa!
Yuan Cheol had wanted to resolve the conflict before it erupted, but it was too late.
Limited worldly experience, but he knew that in such situations, you had to suppress one side entirely to end it.
'I'll aid the side I deem right.'
Thus, Yuan Cheol first stood to guard Eon Yong-un's back.
And deflected attacks from other later-generation disciples lunging from behind.
Pak! Pak! Papapapak!
Pak!!!!
Eon Yong-un glanced briefly at Yuan Cheol, then ignored his rear and focused on frontal assaults.
A situation where Yuan Cheol could strike Eon Yong-un's nape if he willed it.
'...This involves Shaolin disciples, yet the lay practitioner entrusts his back fully to me.'
For a fleeting moment, joy at Eon Yong-un's trust in him passed.
But then he saw Eon Yong-un's hands growing excessively vicious.
Specifically when facing Gaekpil and Yuan Cheol's nephews.
Kwarung!!!!!!
A pitch-black Anti-Dragon Palm shot out.
'If that hits dead-on, it's over!'
Yuan Cheol hurriedly threw himself, wrapping his fist in golden light to deflect Eon Yong-un's palm force.
Eon Yong-un furrowed his brow and spoke.
"Want to fight? Then why not strike my acupoint earlier? Why now?"
"No. Absolutely not."
"Then what?"
"I have no argument to persuade the lay practitioner. You're right. When you said shadows don't form without light, I felt truly ashamed. I'll fight alongside you."
"And?"
"But if anyone gets hurt by your hands, it'll harm not just your forefathers but the entire Orthodox Murim. Hold back on the excessive force..."
"Busy protecting me and your nephews, huh. Then block as best you can."
Finishing, Eon Yong-un cut his left hand briefly.
Suddenly, his eyes reddened, and his movements became incomparably faster than before.
Swaaa!!
Swa!! Swaaa!!!!!
This called for a change in approach.
Yuan Cheol concentrated his inner power in his legs.
And stomped the ground at tremendous speed.
Then unleashed a palm force rippling with golden light toward Gaekpil.
Swaaaaa!!!!!!
Gaekpil eyed Yuan Cheol meaningfully.
'U-Uncle?! Not content with siding with Eon Yong-un, why attack me?'
'Amitabha. A half-assed injury won't sate the Ghost Dragon's killing intent, and his hand means death for you nephews.'
Nephews.
Better from me.
This is love's whip.