Chapter 91: Vibration
Pang Su-bin had been completely caught off guard by Jao's dirty, underhanded tricks and fainted on the spot.
Jao asked Jeong Gwang with a face mixed with guilt.
"Young Master Hyeokryeon. She's still just a child. Did we really have to go that far?"
Jeong Gwang was dumbfounded.
"You pulled it off pretty well yourself. How can a person be so sneaky and vicious?"
"...Well, you ordered me to..."
"Still, that was too much."
"...But I didn't hurt her..."
"She must be emotionally scarred now. Wow. Never pegged you for it."
Jao's jaw dropped, but Jeong Gwang ignored him.
Instead, he went to his precious disciple and pressed her interrogation acupoint.
This time, Baek Seung-mu looked utterly baffled.
"Senior Brother. Didn't you say that pressing the interrogation point only feels good in the moment, but long-term it hampers recovery and is harmful?"
"It's fine for kids."
"...Were you just saying that because it was a hassle?"
"Want me to do it to you? With the Marrow-Cleansing Bone-Shattering Technique?"
"No, thank you!"
At that moment, Pang Su-bin opened her eyes.
Jeong Gwang peered straight into them.
Soon, tears welled up in her eyes.
"Does it hurt?"
"..."
"It doesn't hurt me."
"...!"
Everyone watching gasped in shock.
Even Paeng Gang-hwi was seething with rage from head to toe!
He owed Jeong Gwang a huge debt, but Pang Su-bin was his precious little sister!
Then, Pang Man-so grabbed his shoulder and shook his head.
"...Grandfather?"
Pang Man-so silently gestured toward Jeong Gwang with his eyes.
Paeng Gang-hwi swallowed his fury and watched.
Just then, Jeong Gwang spoke up.
"You're pissed because you lost without landing a single hit, right? Even with the age gap."
"...Yes, Master."
"You can't let that happen."
"...Huh?"
Jeong Gwang helped Pang Su-bin to her feet.
With a casual wave of his hand, the dirt on her clothes flew away.
He ruffled her hair roughly and offered some advice.
"Getting angry about a loss won't change anything. Using rage as fuel for training? With that mindset, how much real progress do you think you'll make?"
"...Then...?"
Jeong Gwang met her gaze and nodded.
"Be happy. You've found an enemy worth killing. Imagine how satisfying it'll be to crush them, and your motivation will burn bright..."
"Senior Brother! Seniooorr! Seniooor Brooo!"
Thwack!
"Ack!"
Baek Seung-mu, who had rushed in yelling nonstop, clutched the back of his head and collapsed.
Jeong Gwang shook out his fist and scolded him.
"Junior Brother. How can you just start screaming like that? You scared my disciple."
Pang Su-bin had indeed been so startled that her tears stopped.
"Urk... S-Senior Brother. You're saying she got scared because of me?"
"Obviously!"
"No way! Absolutely not!"
Jeong Gwang clicked his tongue at the indignant Baek Seung-mu.
"Tsk tsk. How can you be this pathetic."
She was a precious disciple he'd finally acquired.
What if she got too startled and suffered a qi shock? Why pull a stunt like that!
Jeong Gwang plastered on his most benevolent expression.
His face shifted from handsome young Taoist to something sinister and eerie.
"Disciple, are you alright?"
Pang Su-bin widened her eyes and backed away.
"Hey? Where you going?"
She had already hidden behind Baek Seung-mu.
Clinging to his waist with both arms.
Baek Seung-mu panicked.
"H-Hey, Little Miss Pang. Why..."
"S-Sorry, Uncle Master."
"...!"
Those two short words shook Baek Seung-mu to his core.
'W-What? Un-Uncle Master?'
He never thought he'd hear that!
Originally, Baek Seung-mu had been set to inherit the Baek Merchant Group in place of his older brother, who had entered government service.
He'd dreamed of joining a prestigious orthodox sect and becoming a great hero, but it was just a pipe dream. He'd given up when he met Jeong Gwang, who changed his fate.
He became a disciple of Kunlun, one of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang.
And today, Pang Su-bin had altered his destiny once more.
'I have a little niece-disciple now...'
And such a cute one at that!
Something welled up inside Baek Seung-mu.
'At the very least, I can't leave her moral education to Senior Brother!'
With his resolve set, his body straightened.
Baek Seung-mu stood tall, chest puffed out.
"Senior Brother. My niece is still young. That kind of education is too harsh."
Jeong Gwang was so baffled he laughed.
'That kind of education? Too harsh?'
To reach a level worthy of being his disciple, she needed that much intensity.
It was already a tall order, so why was this meddlesome guy butting in?
As Jeong Gwang clenched his fist, the suddenly bold Baek Seung-mu quickly pleaded.
"Senior Brother. Even if my niece is talented, she's no match for you. Please have mercy."
"...Hmm. True enough."
Jeong Gwang stroked his chin and muttered, prompting Baek Seung-mu to launch into a tirade.
"Tailor it to her age. She lost? Imagine happily thrashing them while you train! She'll grow fast! Isn't that reasonable?"
"...Hm. Makes sense."
Baek Seung-mu sighed in relief.
From his experience, Jeong Gwang was practically convinced.
He glanced back; Pang Su-bin's complexion had improved.
"Niece. Got it?"
"..."
Pang Su-bin silently hugged his waist tighter.
'Oh no. What now?'
He pondered how to comfort the frightened girl when...
Fortunately, Pang Man-so stepped in.
"Su-bin. Your master's words aren't wrong."
"...Huh?"
Pang Su-bin was surprised, and so was Baek Seung-mu.
He never imagined Pang Man-so would side with Jeong Gwang.
'No way this old man's got a unique brain like Senior Brother...?'
Thankfully, Pang Man-so was sane.
"A martial artist who lives on the edge of a blade must always stake their life. Your master was just explaining that mindset. But do you know why he said it so harshly to a child like you?"
"...No."
"It's to tell you: if you can't muster that resolve later, give up now."
"...Ah!"
Pang Man-so turned to Jeong Gwang.
"What do you think? My take?"
Dreams are inferior to interpretations, they say.
As Jeong Gwang pondered his response, Pang Man-so clasped his hands politely.
"Sorry for meddling in how you teach your disciple."
"Huh? Yeah, exactly."
Even family doesn't interfere in sect matters. It's a grave rudeness.
"Su-bin is young and seemed to misunderstand you, so I stepped in. I promise it won't happen again."
It was a misunderstanding, but close enough.
Jeong Gwang decided to end it there.
"Yes. Please keep that promise."
Pang Man-so nodded and looked at his granddaughter.
"Su-bin. Tell your master your resolve."
"Yes!"
Pang Su-bin stepped forward from behind Baek Seung-mu.
Her bright eyes sparkled as she declared each word firmly.
"I will live up to Master's expectations."
Somehow, things had worked out.
Jeong Gwang grinned.
"I'll be waiting."
* * *
Pang Su-bin didn't disappoint Jeong Gwang's expectations.
Over the past three days, she hadn't kept up perfectly, but she'd gotten the gist.
"You understand what I mean?"
"Yes, Master."
"Good. You're pretty smart—totally different from my junior brother."
Not just her head; her body was different too.
"Ho. You're switching stances properly."
"All thanks to you, Master."
"Yeah, exactly. So why can't my junior brother?"
Pang Su-bin sheathed her sword and cautiously said,
"Um... Master. Uncle Master is right there."
"So?"
"...Never mind."
"Keep going."
"Yes!"
Jeong Gwang watched her sword forms, then shifted his gaze.
There was Baek Seung-mu, crouched with his face buried in his knees.
"What's wrong?"
"...Nothing."
"Comparing yourself to Su-bin?"
"..."
Jeong Gwang sighed.
'Why is this guy so fragile-hearted? If I provoke him, he should rise up.'
In his past life, he'd have beaten him already.
But now he was reborn.
As a Taoist of the prestigious Kunlun Sect.
"Junior Brother."
"...Yes."
"Wanna spar for old times' sake?"
Baek Seung-mu shot up faster than Phantom Shift.
"No!"
"Don't you know I'm doing this for you?"
"I do... I know!"
"It's true you're behind Su-bin."
"..."
"But moping about it? I said that on purpose to fire you up. Don't you get it? Channel that fighting spirit and come at me."
Flames flickered in Baek Seung-mu's eyes, then died.
His opponent for fighting spirit was elsewhere.
What good would charging at Jeong Gwang do?
Then Paeng Gang-hwi appeared.
"Good morning."
"Hello."
Paeng Gang-hwi watched his sister train and let out a low admiration.
"Heh. Completely different from yesterday."
"Obviously."
"...Because she's Young Master Hyeokryeon's disciple?"
"You get it."
Paeng Gang-hwi chuckled dryly and continued.
"But is it okay for me to watch Su-bin train?"
"Sure."
"You've said it's fine before, but it still feels off."
Paeng Gang-hwi had reason to feel uneasy.
No sect in the world allowed outsiders to watch martial arts training.
But Jeong Gwang truly didn't care.
Visible stance movements were just the surface. Without the true intent and qi circulation, it was merely a pretty dance.
However.
Jeong Gwang changed his mind.
"Hmm. Yeah, you're right."
"...Suddenly spouting principles?"
"Because it is a principle."
"...True, but."
"Instead of watching Su-bin's training, why don't you put in some effort too, Young Master Pang."
"...How?"
"Spar with my junior brother. Junior Brother, you cool?"
Baek Seung-mu's eyes widened slightly.
"M-Me, spar with Young Master Pang?"
"What, scared?"
"..."
Baek Seung-mu glanced sideways at Paeng Gang-hwi.
His massive frame looked even bigger.
'Can I take on the Paeryong?'
Paeng Gang-hwi was one of the top later-generation talents in the orthodox Murim.
Born to the prestigious Hebei Pang Clan, trained properly from childhood—a young expert!
Four or five years older, so his internal energy depth was surely greater.
Sparring would just mean humiliation.
But.
Strangely, fighting spirit surged.
'The Paeryong has everything I wished for in the past. Defeating him will push me further!'
Baek Seung-mu was a man who feared nothing when his spirit ignited!
Shing—
He drew Heuk-u, clasped his hands, and bowed.
"Young Master Pang. Baek Seung-mu of Kunlun requests a spar."
Killing intent rippled from his body.
Paeng Gang-hwi, squinting, broke into a broad grin.
"Great! Let's do it!"
The two clashed.
Jeong Gwang nodded as he watched.
'Should've done this ages ago.'
Baek Seung-mu had lost confidence from constant beatings by Jeong Gwang.
But pitting him against a peer like Paeng Gang-hwi had him fired up.
Well, he lost in the end.
Boom!
"Gah!"
Baek Seung-mu bravely met Paeng Gang-hwi's dominance but flew through the air from a kick.
Jeong Gwang caught the fainted man and handed him to Pang Su-bin.
"Wanna just toss him in his room?"
"...Yes, Master."
Pang Su-bin dragged Baek Seung-mu away.
Paeng Gang-hwi chuckled wryly as he watched.
"Heh. What a sight."
"How was sparring with my junior brother?"
"Hm. Honestly, unexpected. He's strong."
"Spar with him whenever you can. It'll help you too. He's growing by leaps and bounds every day."
Paeng Gang-hwi nodded silently.
He'd felt it too.
'Unyielding warrior... Interesting guy.'
It wasn't just his spirit.
He had real combat experience beyond his years.
'No wonder he's called the Golden Fist Sword Hero after all those heroic deeds...'
It was a huge stimulus.
And his temperament was gentle and straightforward—worth befriending.
"Let's do that."
He readily agreed, then asked what had been on his mind.
"But how long are you staying? I'd love if it was longer."
It was exactly what Jeong Gwang had been mulling.
'I was gonna stick around because that Sima-ryeon pig seemed to be plotting something...'
But nothing.
Couldn't stay forever.
Maybe wait a few more days and leave...
'Hm?'
A commotion echoed from afar.
It grew closer, and soon Paeng Gang-hwi noticed too.
"Ah! They're here?"
"Who?"
"Come on. Someone you know."
Jeong Gwang followed Paeng Gang-hwi.
And soon figured out who.
'That discordant energy—it's that guy.'
Sure enough.
Hebei Pang Clan's eldest young master, Paeng Gang-ung, was entering through the main gate.
And at the same time...
Vrrr.
The Reverse Heaven Mirror in his bosom began to vibrate.