Chapter 214
Chapter 214
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 214
Chapter Title: Hit a Terribly Bad Spot (1)
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Black Tiger drew his sword and led his subordinates into swift action.
The one who issued the command had done so lightly, as if merely pulling an item from his pocket, but every person present was a master.
'Namgung Hye... and Eon So-young...'
The order was to kidnap Namgung Hye and injure Eon So-young just enough not to kill her.
Namgung Hye aside, the reason for targeting her mother Eon So-young was unclear, but since his own subordinates were more than capable, he paid it no mind.
"Th-these bastards!"
Everyone gathered here was unarmed. Those attending the wedding wouldn't carry swords at their waists.
Following the will of his master and lord, Tiger Command, Black Tiger wielded his sword with deft precision, cutting down his foes.
There were those versed in fist techniques or those improvising sword arts or saber arts by channeling inner energy through their bare hands, but none could match him.
"D-demonic qi! Are they Demonic Cult fiends?!"
"No need to know!"
Occasionally, those who mentioned the Demonic Cult received shallow slashes in return—a delicate touch for the free publicity—and Black Tiger confirmed his subordinates' positions.
Seeing them advance toward Namgung Hye, he ignored the few spots where they struggled and pressed forward.
'Oh, not bad...'
True to form as the beautiful bride's mother, her looks had faded slightly with age, but she was still a striking middle-aged woman. She clenched her fists to bar his path.
"Mother, step back! I'll handle..."
"You step back, family head! I'll deal with this one. Sorting out the situation is your duty!"
Eon So-young's bold advance surpassed Black Tiger's expectations.
'Almost my equal...?'
She was undoubtedly a peak expert, but her martial prowess, as known in the Jianghu, wasn't supposed to be this formidable.
He felt considerable pressure from inner energy at the upper tiers of peak mastery, near the top.
While Black Tiger paused in admiration, Eon So-young unleashed a thunderbolt fist strike.
He deflected the space-sweeping fist wind with his sword. She stomped the floor to pieces and charged like a ferocious tiger.
"Even as a woman, you're a true Eon Family Fist master. My respects for your achievements, madam."
"Who are you?!"
Her thrusting fist sent inner energy rippling outward, shaking heaven and earth with pressure, but Black Tiger didn't meet it head-on. He deflected it bit by bit, slowly pushing upstream like a salmon.
Though she realized the opponent's technique was more threatening than expected, retreating here would only worsen her position.
"Ah, sorry for showing up uninvited without a guest list. We have our business to attend to."
"You'd overturn the Namgung household for your business? Do you think the Namgung name is that easy to trample?!"
"We've the strength to do it, so no need to worry!"
The distance closed gradually, yet Eon So-young felt mounting anxiety.
Fist experts typically shone closer in, but the opponent's bizarre swordplay slithered like a serpent, its power undiminished even up close.
As the encroaching blade accelerated, Eon So-young struggled to respond. At one point, sensing the sword thrusting down from above her head, she squeezed her eyes shut.
Clang!
"Urk!"
When Eon So-young opened her eyes, Black Tiger was groaning from pain like his arm might snap.
"Taking that hit without a broken arm—impressive."
"You... who are you?!"
"Someone who doesn't like you ruining other people's banquets."
Black Tiger clumsily unleashed palm force with his left hand, forcing distance from Eon So-young and the man targeting his back.
The interloper in their duel was none other than Kang Yun.
He didn't know what was going on, but one thing was certain.
These guys wielded sword techniques eerily similar to those the time Mong-a and I killed on the snowy mountain.
'What grudge do I have with them?'
In the heat of the moment, I ambushed the braggarts, snatched their swords, and handed them to the unarmed. Then I checked on Eon So-young's safety.
The instant I saw her fighting the enemy, I wanted to crack his skull from behind, but I couldn't.
'Namgung Hye's in danger!'
With three masters bearing down, only swordless Huangbo Jun was protecting her.
Confirming Eon So-young was holding her own decently, I rushed to save Namgung Hye first.
I kicked one in the back of the head to knock him out, stole his sword and tossed it to Huangbo Jun, then tried to join the fight—but there was no time.
Seeing Eon So-young getting cornered, I hurled myself forward without a second thought.
I channeled inner energy into my billowing sleeve hem to momentarily ensnare the sword attacking her, then slammed a heavy kick into his forearm.
"You dare interfere with our cult's event and expect to walk away alive?!"
Unfortunately, the bastard's arm didn't break.
"You know getting your plans disrupted pisses you off, but it never occurred to you that crashing someone else's wedding would piss them off too?"
I'd landed a ambush hit, but he wasn't someone I could match normally.
Still, glancing sideways, I saw Namgung Hak—who'd somehow gotten a sword—joining Huangbo Jun. Namgung Hye's side improved in a flash. Relieved, I kept needling him.
"And when did the Demonic Cult turn into back-alley thugs gatecrashing good folks' weddings?"
"...You won't wise up until you're in a coffin!"
The sword thrust in again. Compared to those Kunlun Mountain fools, his swordsmanship was far more refined.
Back then, smashing the snake's head worked to dodge, but this one evaded even that and bared its fangs.
If I'd been alone, I'd have bolted ages ago.
"Y-you...!"
I flicked Finger Wind at his lower body to slow him down. He hastily shook off Eon So-young's fist coming from behind and pulled back.
I focused on dulling the black-clad's movements while she slipped in the decisive blow. Our combo flowed without a word.
If it bugs you that much, bring your own wife next time.
"Leader!"
My words rang prophetic. Not a wife, but several black-masked figures moved to join us.
Each seemed at least peak-level.
I blasted palm force to block their approach. Meanwhile, the so-called leader refocused on Eon So-young, but...
These guys had dragged it out too long.
More victims were disarming attackers or fetching weapons from outside.
Black Tiger held the edge over Eon So-young, but he already sensed the operation was doomed.
As Kang Yun had thought inwardly, they'd wasted too much time.
'Why target Eon So-young...!'
He'd followed orders, but skipping her and snatching Namgung Hye quick would've achieved the goal easily.
The root of the problem was following the directive from Huang Du-myeong—the former Demonic Cult elder now called Old Teacher.
It split their elite forces, giving the enemy room to breathe.
Of course, if Eon So-young weren't stronger than rumored, and that young punk hadn't meddled, it would've been fine.
Looking around, Namgung family masters were reclaiming swords left and right. With reinforcements securing his sister, Namgung Hak was rushing this way to aid his mother.
'Now!'
Black Tiger unleashed a barrage on Eon So-young to shrink her momentarily, then withdrew swiftly.
Whooosh!
His inner-energy whistle drew a response from his subordinates.
They abandoned their foes without hesitation and pulled back. Black Tiger sent mental transmissions to those nearby and lunged at Namgung Hye.
Naturally, Eon So-young and the others rushed to block, but the subordinates screened them, creating a split-second power vacuum.
"Hye!"
The groom Huangbo Jun snatched up his sword and confronted Black Tiger in haste, but his skill couldn't even snag an ankle.
Boom!
"Argh!"
Black Tiger hesitated on mercy for a beat, then felt his spine crawl at the gruesome blasts from behind.
Realizing his men were dropping like autumn leaves, he had to rethink once more.
[If you can't deliver her to me, kill her.]
Recalling his lord Tiger Command's chilling voice, Black Tiger swiftly thrust his sword—sword qi sprouting in streams—toward Namgung Hye.
Puk!
"Damn...!"
Namgung Hye couldn't block it. But the blade meant for her throat pierced the waist of Huangbo Jun, who had leaped to shield her.
No time for another swing in this pinch, Black Tiger leaped away to evade his pursuers.
"Stop!"
Black Tiger had no intention of heeding such a futile cry. Following his pre-scouted escape route, he fled at full speed and vanished from the Namgung estate as abruptly as he'd appeared.
With the apparent enemy leader gone, the chaotic wedding hall fell quiet once more.
But cries of pain and wails from those who'd lost kin or friends soon turned it into an asura field again.
Even Namgung Hak, seasoned in family head duties, found no ready way to contain the pandemonium.
"O-oppa... the Huangbo family, sob...!"
Namgung Hak urgently ordered a nearby family disciple to summon all the household physicians at once, while directing others to scour nearby clinics for every available doctor.
Only then did he check on Huangbo Jun. Despite Namgung Hye's tearful panic, she'd handled it well—sealing acupoints to minimize bleeding.
Not a minor wound, but his life wasn't in immediate peril. Namgung Hak stroked his sister's head to reassure her.
"Doesn't look life-threatening. Your brother-in-law's not the type to die from this, so don't worry too much."
Then, gnashing his teeth, Namgung Hak spat bitterly.
"Sorry. It's my failing as your brother that your happiest day ended like this...!"
"Oppa..."
"Jun-ah!"
The Huangbo family folk belatedly gathered, fretting over him.
Unlike their composed patriarch, the Huangbo matriarch's tears were too painful to watch. Turning away, Namgung Hak spotted Kang Yun speaking with his mother.
Without him, she'd have been gravely hurt—or worse. He approached the pair.
"Young hero Kang."
Kang Yun, mid-conversation with his mother, whipped around hastily.
He seemed to be hiding something, but in the moment, Namgung Hak didn't notice.
"My deepest thanks. Mother and Hye owe their safety to you."
"...Think nothing of it. As a guest under your hospitality, repaying my host is only natural."
"Not at all. I gave one favor and received ten in return—it's not the Namgung way to take the other nine for granted."
He could've been arrogant for saving the family head's kin, yet the man remained humbly steadfast. Namgung Hak found him more likable by the moment.