U Gyeong-ah! (2)
"...Hmph. So you're the one who got screwed over by your senior and junior brothers."
"You're getting in the way of my training, so don't even think about acting like you know me. Just read this basic martial arts manual."
"...Don't act familiar with me. I have to set this worthless Qingcheng Sect straight again. I don't have time to waste chatting with you."
"So take these refreshments and get lost. If you're short on money, just grab some from my room."
"Don't hang around with idiots like Jeong Jin. That guy's just playing at being a hero."
"Kh... Are you okay...?"
"I think I've got it all wrong... Please... take care of Grandfather and... that damn Qingcheng Sect..."
Why does a bastard like Jeong Jin get to live while U Gyeong dies protecting the protagonist T_T
"U Gyeong-ah!!"
What the hell is this, for real?
U Gyeong could only stand there in utter confusion as Do Gwang called his name with all the aching tenderness of a man reunited with long-lost family.
The two elders of Qingcheng and Emei were just as lost.
"What on earth...?"
"Elder I, surely Qingfeng Parang and the Mad Young Master already know each other?"
"No, Elder Su, I have no idea either!"
And the confusion did not stop there.
A murmur swept through the crowd.
"I can't believe it! Qingfeng Parang and the Mad Young Master know each other?"
"The Mad Young Master is shedding tears! They must be truly close!"
The onlookers were all talking at once, every last one of them.
I Ja-un's face went deathly pale as he shouted in desperation.
"U Gyeong! Do you know that lunatic?!"
U Gyeong. The hope and future of Qingcheng. The greatest rising star in all of Sichuan, known as Qingfeng Parang — and he was acquainted with the Mad Young Master?
What kind of absurdity was this?
I Ja-un had deliberately brought U Gyeong along for one purpose: to simultaneously restore the sect's honor after its disciples had been slaughtered by a single man, and to ensure their revenge was absolute.
And yet—
"U Gyeong-ah—!!!"
Why was that madman calling out the hope and future of Qingcheng with such heartbreaking affection, tears streaming down his face?!
"Elder, I don't know him! I swear I don't! I've never seen that Mad Young Master before today!"
U Gyeong shouted until the veins stood out on his neck.
"What the hell are you?! Why do you keep calling me like that?!"
"U Gyeong-ah! How can you do this to us?!"
"What 'us'?! I told you, I've never seen you before in my life, you lunatic!!!"
"A lunatic, am I?! Fine — since it's our U Gyeong saying it, I'll let it slide!!!"
"AAAAAGH!!!"
Faced with a madman with whom no conversation was possible, U Gyeong clawed at his own hair.
Meanwhile, Do Hwa and Dang Soryeong, who had been watching the chaos unfold, stopped trying to stab each other and turned resentful glares on U Gyeong.
"Hey, Bluey! Why are you pretending you don't know Dad?!"
"How shameless. How can you turn your back on Young Master when he's calling for you so sorrowfully?"
"I'm not pretending I don't know him — I genuinely don't! And I couldn't ignore him even if I wanted to! More importantly, why are you two making me out to be the villain here?!"
With the Mad Girls piling on, U Gyeong felt his sanity starting to slip.
To any normal observer, his reaction looked like the perfectly reasonable flailing of a man confronted with pure absurdity. But there was someone ready to exploit the situation.
Oh-ho...
It was Jin Hak, the second-generation disciple who had been posturing with his sword drawn just moments ago.
Hmph. Serves that annoying bastard right.
The greatest rising star in Sichuan. The new wind that would lead Qingcheng into the future. Or so they said.
Jin Hak had always found U Gyeong's arrogant, disrespectful attitude toward his seniors utterly repulsive. The boy had only grown so easily because he was the grandson of Cheon-un Jinin, the retired Supreme Elder — and yet he strutted around like he owned the place.
And now that same U Gyeong, who always acted so superior, was squirming in pure mortification. How could Jin Hak not enjoy the show?
This is a perfect opportunity.
Jin Hak hatched a sly little plan. Whether they actually knew each other or not, he would tie U Gyeong to the Mad Young Master and heap even more humiliation on him. Then he would finish off the Mad Young Master with his own blade.
That way, the title of Qingfeng Parang would fall to Jin Hak himself, and U Gyeong would plummet straight into the abyss.
A truly perfect plan.
Congratulating himself inwardly, Jin Hak opened his mouth with confidence.
"I can't believe it, U Gyeong! This senior brother is truly shocked! To think you were acquainted with the Mad Young Master who slaughtered Hoon and our junior brothers!"
"What? What on earth are you talking about all of a sudden, Senior Brother?"
"What do you mean, what am I talking about?! The Mad Young Master is calling for you so desperately, isn't he?! Don't tell me, U Gyeong — you put him up to this?!"
"What kind of bullsh—"
Just as a stream of curses was about to erupt from U Gyeong's mouth at the outrageous slander—
BOOOOOM—!
A thunderous blast tore through the street as if a thunder bomb had detonated. And then—
Thud—
The sound of a chunk of flesh hitting the ground.
"......."
"......."
Silence.
No one could open their mouth. No one could understand what had just happened, even though they had seen it with their own eyes.
The silence was broken by a single word.
"Dae-gari."
It came from Do Gwang, who had just blown Jin Hak's skull clean off with his steel bat.
"Who the hell do you think you are, running your mouth at our U Gyeong? Looking to die for real. Oh wait — already dead."
Do Gwang flicked the blood off his steel bat as he muttered to himself. Then he turned back to U Gyeong with that same aching, tender gaze.
"Our U Gyeong really has it rough..."
What the actual hell is wrong with this lunatic...?
U Gyeong was drowning in confusion. First of all, he hadn't seen a thing — not the movement itself, not the instant Do Gwang obliterated Jin Hak's head. One moment the guy had been wailing at him with tears in his eyes, and the next, Jin Hak's skull was gone.
It defied all comprehension. And on top of that—
Okay, sure, I am having a hard time, but...
—the way Do Gwang looked at him, as if he truly understood everything, was somehow even worse!
And with the situation unfolding like this...
"JIN HAAAAK!!!!!"
"SENIOR BROTHER JIN HAAAAK!!!!!"
The rage of the elder and the second-generation disciples—
"Mad Young Master, I will never forgive you! And you, U Gyeong, you bastard!! Have you betrayed our Qingcheng Sect?!"
"Senior Brother Jin was right! This bastard U Gyeong was in cahoots with the Mad Young Master all along!!!"
—was directed equally and amicably at both Do Gwang and U Gyeong!
"No, wait, I didn't do anyth—!"
Just as U Gyeong was about to shout in pure injustice—
KRAAAAAANG—!!!
A roar that shook heaven and earth shattered the ground beneath them, spiderweb cracks racing outward in every direction.
"Mouth."
Do Gwang again.
"No running your mouth at our U Gyeong."
He leveled his steel bat at I Ja-un and the second-generation disciples and continued.
"I'm barely holding back right now for U Gyeong's sake, so shut your traps. Got it?"
"Wh-what did you say?!"
I Ja-un's face twisted into something grotesque. So the bastard really was in league with U Gyeong?! And this was him holding back? Jin Hak had already departed for the underworld!
He wanted to shout something — anything — in protest. But the moment he opened his mouth—
"Then you want a Dae-gari too?"
That was all it took.
I-I'm going to die...!
His own skull was about to follow his disciple's into pieces, so I Ja-un clamped his mouth shut.
I thought it was just empty rumors...! But it was all true...!
How could a brat who looked even younger than U Gyeong — who had only just come of age — possess this kind of martial prowess?! Shock and questions crashed over I Ja-un like a storm. The other second-generation disciples were no different, reduced to honey-tongued mutes with their mouths sealed shut.
The same went for the Emei Sect trailing behind Qingcheng.
Th-this is impossible...!?
Su Seo-hwa's face trembled with shock and terror. Even her eyes — the eyes of a Transcendent Peak master — had completely failed to track Do Gwang's movement!
Heo Chang-baek had said the boy had no understanding or enlightenment of martial arts. But as Do Gwang himself had put it, that didn't matter — over the past week, his traits had made him even stronger.
So even without using a single scrap of internal energy, his movements had been too fast for her eyes to follow!
I was right to push those idiot Qingcheng fools out in front...!
Just in case, she had promised to arrange a private gathering with the Emei disciples after they subdued the Mad Young Master, and had shoved Qingcheng to the front lines. Looking at this, that decision had been brilliant.
And rather than panicking at this absurd situation—
Martial prowess like that at his age... This is an opportunity...!
—she decided to use it. After all—
The Mad Young Master is a benefactor to the Emei Sect — he rooted out the Blood Sect's spies for us!
Incredible. The Emei elder's ability to flip her stance was truly lightning-fast!
"Excuse me, young hero..."
But before she could even finish the sentence, Do Gwang cut her off cold.
"Emei granny, mouth."
"G-granny...?"
"Got a problem? Want a Dae-gari?"
"....."
As if he had already read every filthy calculation in Su Seo-hwa's heart, Do Gwang turned a murderous gaze on the Emei Sect as well. The Emei disciples froze solid on the spot.
"Hic...!"
"Hngh...!"
Some even started hiccupping or were on the verge of bursting into tears.
At which point—
"Kyahaha~~"
"Heh heh..."
—a bright, sunny giggle and a dark, creepy chuckle rang out at the same time.
"Dad! Can I kill them?"
"The way these women are looking at Young Master is far too filthy. May I dig out their eyes?"
The Mad Girls were already gearing up for work. Do Gwang shook his head.
"Calm down, kids."
As if the murderous expression had never been there, he turned that tender gaze back on U Gyeong and went on.
"You're making U Gyeong uncomfortable."
No, you lunatic! I'm already fucking uncomfortable because of YOU!!!
U Gyeong felt his mind coming apart at the seams.
Grandfather, why the hell didn't you take me with you when you retired... fuck...
Curses for the grandfather he respected more than anyone in the world were rising unbidden to his lips. He had absolutely no idea why this madman was doing this to him.
Whether Do Gwang knew what was going through his head or not—
"All of you should be thanking our U Gyeong."
—the lunatic pressed on with his nonsense.
"If it weren't for U Gyeong, all of you would have ended up like this."
He gave what remained of Jin Hak's lower half a few casual taps with the steel bat.
"Because you drew your swords on someone who hadn't done a damn thing wrong."
"........"
"........"
Not just the Qingcheng and Emei Sects — even the crowd was struck speechless. Even if you set aside the claim that he had done nothing wrong as something only the two sects would dispute, the person who had drawn a sword no longer had a head or an upper body.
"Aigoo... Our U Gyeong really has it so hard..."
Because of you, my road of suffering just got infinitely longer...?
"U Gyeong-ah, no need to get so emotional."
"Wh-what kind of bullshit is that, you lunatic?!"
U Gyeong finally snapped and roared.
"I don't know a crazy bastard like you!"
"Yeah, sure. You wouldn't."
"Wh... what? Then why are you acting like you know me—"
"Because I know you."
"What...?"
"I said I know you. Better than anyone."
"No, you crazy son of a bitch! What the hell does that even mean?!"
Shiiing—!
U Gyeong could take no more. He drew his sword and charged, driven by a single resolve: even if he died, he would shut this lunatic's mouth for good!
CRACKLE-CRACKLE-CRACKLE—!!!
Blue lightning writhed violently along U Gyeong's blade. Even in his rage, he coldly assessed the situation. The gap in their realms was clearly so vast it defied measurement.
But if I want to land even one hit on this lunatic...!
This was the only option he had!
"Just die, you bastard!!!"
Blue Thunder Sword Art!
A bolt of blue lightning tore toward Do Gwang with ferocious force.
KRAAAAAANG—!!!
A roar like a genuine thunderbolt crashing down echoed through the street. The power was overwhelming enough to make the title of Sichuan's greatest rising star feel entirely justified.
And yet the lunatic casually tapped that ultimate technique aside with the steel bat in his hand.
"Whoa, that's our U Gyeong for you!"
He even looked at him with something like proud affection.
"That'd put you at Peak Realm level, right? Excellent!"
"D-don't praise me, you lunatic!"
"Aww~ no need to get all shy!"
"Does this look like shyness to you?!"
"Yep, our U Gyeong is such a tsundere."
"Tsundere?"
"Yep. Our U Gyeong is a tsundere!"
"AAAAAGH! I don't even know what a tsundere is, just shut up already!!!"
U Gyeong felt like his insides were about to explode. He wanted to swing his sword more, but he already knew full well he was no match for the bastard — and after clashing once, he understood it even more clearly. All he could do was scream in pure frustration.
Looking at that pitiful U Gyeong—
"Aigoo... Our poor U Gyeong..."
—Do Gwang gazed at him once more with eyes full of genuine, aching concern.
"No, you lunatic... Ah... ah..."
U Gyeong clutched the back of his neck and staggered.
"Yeah, it must be hard. Suffering all alone in that dumpster fire of a Qingcheng Sect... Cheon-un Jinin really went too far. When he retired, why didn't he take U Gyeong with him...?"
"...Hoo...! Hoo...!"
U Gyeong squeezed his eyes shut and started taking deep breaths. The thought that he might slip into Qi Deviation if he wasn't careful rose unbidden. The real reason he was suffering most right now was the lunatic standing in front of him — and yet every single thing that lunatic said was correct. That contradiction sent heart demons surging through him, and his vision began to flicker.
"U Gyeong-ah, just quit the Qingcheng Sect and join the Murim Alliance. Your grandfather would understand."
"Khhhk...!"
U Gyeong gritted his teeth and tried to hold on. But—
"Yeah, I get it. It's hard. Restoring the Qingcheng Sect to its former glory is Cheon-un Jinin's dream, after all. But isn't it hilarious? The Sect Leader is such a useless bastard that he stepped down himself — so why leave only his grandson behind? Making our U Gyeong suffer like this..."
At Do Gwang's continuing words—
"Glllrgh...!"
—U Gyeong foamed at the mouth and collapsed.
The lunatic was clearly spouting nonsense the entire time, and yet none of it was actually wrong. That contradiction brought the heart demons crashing down so hard that he finally lost consciousness. He might have been called Qingfeng Parang, the greatest rising star in Sichuan, a prodigy of boundless promise — but he was still a young man who had only just come of age, and this was simply too much for him to bear.
In that brief instant as poor U Gyeong slipped into unconsciousness, the last thing he saw was—
"U Gyeong-ah!!!"
—the face of the lunatic racing toward him, calling his name in desperate anguish.
"No! U Gyeong-ah! Stay with me!!!"
Do Gwang wailed. And then—
"This is all your fault!!!"
—he raged.
Our fault...?
No, anyone can see this is all YOUR fault.
You lunatic!
The Qingcheng and Emei Sects desperately wanted to point that out, but—
"All of you, mouth. Open it and it's an instant Dae-gari."
—Do Gwang gripped his steel bat and radiated killing intent, so no one could say a word. He looked ready to blow every single head present clean off at any second.
Then, out of nowhere—
"Aigoo..."
—Do Gwang gazed up at the sky with a look of hollow resignation.
"No matter how much this is for U Gyeong's sake, the real problem is that I'm just too kind... Look at me, holding back..."
"????"
"????"
Qingcheng, Emei, and the entire crowd — every last soul present — felt their spirits leave their bodies. But the lunatic paid no attention to anyone's stares and simply continued talking to himself.
"Have these idiots not even heard the rumors..."
"Everyone in Chengdu knows I wrecked the Tang Clan..."
"And they probably already had a meeting with our Branch Leader uncle, too..."
"If you're gonna come at me, shouldn't you at least bring a proper force? That's just common sense, right?"
"You idiots."
Qingcheng and Emei had no choice but to stay silent. Everything he said was true. However—
"Th-that... actually makes sense when you put it that way."
"Charging the guy who wiped out the Tang Clan's main house with that many people is basically suicide..."
—perhaps because they could feel the crowd's stares and whispers, one of Qingcheng's second-generation disciples finally snapped and reached for his sword.
"Sh-shut up! We stand for justice and revenge—!"
But once again, he couldn't finish the sentence.
BANG—!!!
Do Gwang slammed his steel bat into the ground with crushing force.
"Hey. I said open your mouth and it's a Dae-gari. You really wanna die? There's a limit to how much I'll hold back even for U Gyeong."
"Hic...!"
The second-generation disciple's legs gave out, and he crumpled to the ground in a thoroughly undignified heap.
"Aigoo... Look at me letting it slide again... Was I Buddha in a past life or what..."
The lunatic muttered as he stared up at the sky once more. At that pure, unfiltered nonsense—
".....Cough..."
".....Kh... kh..."
—even the onlookers who had never learned a scrap of martial arts were on the verge of Qi Deviation.
"Didn't the Branch Leader uncle explain it to you? You guys picked the fight first, and that's why you all got wrecked."
Do Gwang shook his head as if he had no choice.
"Aigoo... Looks like merciful me is going to have to kindly explain the whole incident, step by step, to these thick-headed orthodox bastards who refuse to listen to anyone..."
Merciful...?
What kind of absolute garbage was that?!
By now, even the desire to argue had burned itself out. And so, with no other option, everyone had no choice but to listen to the lunatic's words.
He had been out for a leisurely stroll.
Then, off in the distance, he spotted a bandit den. It wasn't as though he lived by some grand principle of roaming the martial world to purge evil for the sake of peace. But as someone with power, he simply couldn't leave bastards who preyed on the powerless alone.
So he decided to smash all their heads.
But he hadn't slept well the night before, and his eyes kept drifting shut on their own. So, in order to smash those bandits' heads in peak condition, he lay down in a field for a quick nap.
And then — what was this?!
When he opened his eyes, his body was tightly bound, and he was being hauled off to the government office! Without anyone even confirming who he was!
How could they send a man to the execution grounds without so much as asking a single question?!
And on top of that, some reeking yellow-toothed bandit right in front of him was subjecting him to psychological torture with garbage like: "If the Wudang Sect falls, it's Mud-dang. If the Mount Hua Sect burns, it's Mount Ash."
"How was I supposed to put up with that?"
The beginning might have been improvised on the spot, but from the middle onward, every word was true. Yes — it was all true, more or less.
"It was pure self-defense."
Do Gwang stood more righteous and unashamed than anyone alive!
"Agree?"