Chapter 103: The Dragon, the Phoenix, and the Tiger (1)
Chapter 103: The Dragon, the Phoenix, and the Tiger (1)
Ugh, that was brutal. It feels like every acupoint in my body has been shredded. You could say I’m in a state similar to an overclocked CPU. It’s the result of forcing my middle dantian to awaken and lashing out without a single thought for the durability of my energy channels.
Drip.
A single tear of blood trickled from my bloodshot, stiff eyes. My vision was instantly stained crimson. Tinnitus rang in my ears, and one of my knees hit the floor.
“A-Are you al—!”
“Stay back.”
Through my blurred vision, I saw two silhouettes running toward me. Before I could even react, one of them reached me, supporting my body and patting me gently.
“The Jiangnan Heavenly Merchant Guild has incurred a great debt of gratitude to this heroic knight today. It is only right that we treat you as our benefactor.”
Along with the strong scent of irises, a cool, soft hand wiped the corners of my eyes. With that, the consciousness I had been barely clinging to snapped.
*
Only after Peng Hyeon-hwi lost consciousness did everyone present finally exhale, as if they had forgotten to breathe until that moment. Their demeanor was like that of commoners who had just come face-to-face with a tiger.
They stared blankly at Peng Hyeon-hwi, who was now asleep in Cheon Ryeong-hwa’s arms. Even for those in the Murim, where blood and death were common, the bloody battle that had just unfolded was astonishingly intense.
The thick killing intent that had flowed naturally between every breath; the blatant murderous aura felt as he scanned his opponents' bodies.
The way he had seized the initiative without hesitation amidst the coordinated attacks of Peak Realm masters; the gauntlets that had burrowed into his enemies' chests; and the blood mist that had billowed out in the wake of those explosions.
And finally, the sheer ferocity he displayed when the mist of blood, dust, and debris cleared—having slaughtered the other two killers, he had taken a combat stance once more and stepped forward, even while looking dangerously unstable.
The Hebei Peng Family was the foremost sect of the Black Path, its name echoing loudly even among the Orthodox sects. There was no one here who did not know the prestige of the Hebei Peng Family.
However, because of that overwhelming reputation, the Peng Family had gone unchallenged for a very long time. Hebei was their domain, and martial artists belonging to the Orthodox Faction never lightly ventured into Hebei, nor did they seek to oppose the Peng Family once they were there.
Because of this, while there were those present who were wary of the Hebei Peng Family’s name, none truly feared them.
The Righteous-Demonic War had ended more than sixty years ago. Aside from a few rare surviving elders, there was no one left to teach the younger generation about the Peng Family of those days.
And when describing such an adversary to the pillars who would one day shoulder the future of a sect, one does not teach them 'fear.'
Therefore, the attitude of the elders who remembered those times—those who had fought the Peng Family and survived to teach their successors, those who had returned to their sects to maintain their lineage—was always the same.
—The martial arts of the Hebei Peng Family are powerful and fierce, but they are impulsive and lack situational awareness, leaving many openings.
They remembered ninety years ago, when the greatest figure of the Black Path at the time, the Heaven-Destroying Blade Hegemon Peng Gun-ak, and the Mountain King Pavilion took to the battlefield. They remembered the days when their masters, seniors, and elders were crushed and broken before that dark-red tidal wave.
They remembered the flags fluttering over the corpses of their sect elders. They remembered the crows cawing atop those flagpoles, known as the Peng Family Banners.
They remembered the march that stretched from Hebei to Shanxi, and from Shanxi to Shaanxi. They remembered how every plaque of the Orthodox sects along that path was shattered, and how the heads of their sect leaders swung from poles.
Finally, the Taoists of the Mount Hua and Jongnam Sects, who vied for the title of the greatest sect in Shaanxi at the time, had to step forward personally to stop them.
They remembered that the march only halted after half of them had been slaughtered.
So, they did not teach fear. An encounter with a member of the Peng Family would not occur unless one crossed into Hebei, and if one did cross into Hebei, fearing them would not help one return alive anyway.
Thus, everyone here had thought of the Peng Family in this way until now:
—They are impulsive and dull-witted. Their path is straight and simple, so it will not be difficult to dismantle.
—They are so preoccupied with guarding their own territory that you will never encounter them, and even if you do, there is no reason to fear.
—They have a few powerful moves in their initial exchanges, but that is all. Do not clash with them head-on; evade and gauge their techniques.
But.
—But.
If there was one lie they ultimately could not tell:
—Never set foot in Hebei, and if you must arrive in Hebei, never be the first to strike one wearing the Peng Family uniform.
They collect their blood debts. Long ago, a few 'heroic knights' who did not know this dared to take the head of a Peng Family matriarch, and as a result, half of the Central Plains burned.
Therefore, to put it another way, they were like tigers trapped in a cage. As long as one did not provoke them, they would not act. It was enough to dispel fear by mocking them from a distance.
“What was all that about, Master?”
Jeong Wol-seon, the lead disciple of the Mount Tai Sect, couldn't help but let out a hollow laugh.
They weren't impulsive and dull-witted; they were so powerful that they had no need for other means.
They weren't preoccupied with guarding their territory; they already ruled every inch of land they cared to possess.
Their moves weren't simple and full of openings; they were cunning enough to reveal those openings just to lure their opponents in.
He wondered if he could have fought like that if he had been in that position, even if he had reached the Peak Realm.
And with the realization that he now owed his life to such a man, he let out a sigh.
“Let us return.”
Namgung Jeong-ha stepped forward. He spoke to Cheon Ryeong-hwa, who was still cradling Peng Hyeon-hwi.
“Everyone here today owes him a debt, Lady Cheon. If you wish, I will send the physician and the apothecary traveling with my family to the Cheon Merchant Guild.”
“There is no need for that. I have already sent a maid, so our family physician should be prepared by now.”
“I see. Very well. I must certainly pay my respects to Young Hero Peng at a later date.”
Namgung Jeong-ha raised his clasped hands in a polite gesture and departed. Others also began to stand up one by one and leave the gruesome scene.
The winter wind of Wuchang blew coldly. The scent of blood that filled the air was beginning to dissipate. The corpses of those whose chests had burst, those who had been cut in two, and those whose upper bodies had completely vanished, leaving only their lower halves, lay scattered about.
Even when everyone else had left, one person remained.
“Does Lady Murong still have business here?”
“...Hwi is a guest of my family.”
“...Hwi...?”
“Yes, 'Hwi' is a guest of my family, and now that my family's fleet has arrived, there is no reason for him to stay at the Cheon Merchant Guild. Is that not so?”
“Haha, Lady Murong, you are making things... very difficult for me.”
Murong Cheong felt as if she had sensed a sudden surge of killing intent. A foul, sticky killing intent. But by the time she snapped out of it, the sensation had vanished, so she assumed she had imagined it because the area was so thick with blood.
Very fluent Han Chinese flowed from her lips.
“There must be proper boundaries between a man and a woman. For you to be tending to Hwi right now can hardly be considered the proper conduct of a refined young lady.”
“Lady Murong speaks as if she is any different.”
“Yes, I am different. Hwi and I... have promised each other a 'future.'”
“A future... you say?”
If Peng Hyeon-hwi had been awake, he would have immediately covered Murong Cheong’s mouth and thrown her out of the tavern. This was because an aura was slowly beginning to emanate from Cheon Ryeong-hwa—no, Im Hwa-yeong.
Murong Cheong felt as if the interior of the tavern had grown slightly darker.
“Haha... Lady Murong. Have you... perhaps sullied your chastity?”
“...!! What—what—what outrageous nonsense! How—how can you say something so scandalous and shameless!”
“Aha. If that is the case, how can the Murong Family claim to have promised a future with Young Master Peng?”
“Th-that... well... if our hearts are aligned...?”
“Haha, ahahaha!!”
Im Hwa-yeong burst into clear laughter and shook her head. This could hardly be blamed on her husband. How could it be the fault of a flower if a butterfly lands on it, or the fault of a delicacy if flies swarm it?
The girl's words were presumptuous, but not unpleasant. Just the fact that she recognized her husband's value made her a wench worth keeping alive among the trash of the Orthodox Faction.
Besides, her husband was currently building a foundation by cultivating a friendship with the Murong Family... so she could not cut down this overstepping girl.
And.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“A-Abba!?”
It was also because of the aura of the peerless master who had landed silently behind them. Im Hwa-yeong had already withdrawn all her energy and offered a refined greeting.
“The 'Twin Blades of Central China' of the Murong Family has graced us with his presence. Had the Family Head not lent his strength, this humble one would surely have died today. Ryeong-hwa of the Cheon Merchant Guild offers her greetings.”
“Mmm. The Jiangnan Heavenly Merchant Guild is not a stranger to us. I had heard that the Cheon Family Head had a daughter like a single flower, and seeing you now, you truly deserve to be called the finest in Jiangnan.”
“You flatter me.”
“Yes, it was a pleasure to meet you. And, Cheong-er.”
The head of the Murong Family, Murong Seo-jeong, the Twin Blades of Central China, was a dignified middle-aged man. His hair was neatly tied back, and his clean attire made it hard to believe he had just sprinted through the city of Wuchang.
He slowly approached Murong Cheong, looking her up and down, and let out a sigh. Fortunately, she seemed unharmed. Like a father who loved his daughter, he prioritized her safety over the shocking words he had just heard.
So, now it was time to address those 'shocking words.'
“What on earth was that about? Promising a future?”
“Huh? Oh. That... the explanation is a bit long. I mean, uh... do I really have to say it here...?”
She looked at Peng Hyeon-hwi and Cheon Ryeong-hwa with a tearful face. She had spoken boldly about the future, but in truth, it had just been a spur-of-the-moment outburst. So far, she had achieved a record of one confession and three rejections with Peng Hyeon-hwi.
Seeing Cheon Ryeong-hwa holding Peng Hyeon-hwi had made her blood boil, and the words had just tumbled out. Forget a promise for the future—he was a man she couldn't even meet unless she secured a promise for a single meal...
“Th-that, um. Where's Dan-yi? That girl didn't come to see her sister right away.”
“Cheong-er.”
“M-more importantly! More importantly, Young Master Peng! We have to treat him. This isn't the time for this... He's really badly hurt... He got hurt trying to save me...!”
“Sigh.”
Murong Seo-jeong was a man of etiquette. Such was the family tradition of the Murong clan. He felt a twinge of regret, wondering if he had spoiled his daughter too much, but now was not the time.
He had been watching the tavern from the moment its outer wall exploded. The sight of Peng Hyeon-hwi fighting like a demon against Peak Realm martial artists was...
“He is an impressive fellow.”
Murong Seo-jeong spoke with a dissatisfied expression. Regardless, that boy had saved his daughter's life at least three times. In Wuchang, and in Cheongheon County. And according to his son, even on the way to Wuchang.
Fine, then he could spare his life three times. Though one of those three chances had just been used up.
“You may leave now. Since the Murong Family has arrived, we will take him and see to his treatment.”
“...”
Cheon Ryeong-hwa’s mind raced. She could not oppose the Murong Family here. Murong Seo-jeong was a master of the Harmony Realm who was almost certain to be named one of the next Fifteen Lords, and Peng Hyeon-hwi would not want friction with the Murong Family either.
If Eon Do-cheon of the Jinju Eon Family were expelled from the Martial Alliance, the Alliance would surely include this man among the Four Great Envoys of the Central Plains. The absolute master of the Murong Family possessed that level of martial prowess and reputation.
After a brief moment of deliberation, Cheon Ryeong-hwa carefully laid Peng Hyeon-hwi down and bowed deeply.
“In that case, this young lady shall take her leave. Please take good care of Young Master Peng.”
“Very well. Let us have tea together before long.”
“Yes. Please take care of yourself as well, Family Head.”
Only after she had gracefully withdrawn did Murong Cheong let out a deep breath.
“Isn't she a bit strange? No, really, her eyes were weird!”
“Cheong-er.”
“Look at me! Young Master Peng! Treatment! Hurry!”
“Cheong-er, you're being noisy.”
Murong Seo-jeong pressed his brow and gestured into the air. Peng Hyeon-hwi’s body rose on its own and followed behind him.
He couldn't bear to see his daughter's hands touching the boy, nor did he have any desire to carry him himself.
*
Alright.
Limbs are intact, tendons and veins are normal, and my acupoints are safe.
I survived through hard work once again. What's so hard about survival difficulty in medieval China? It's nothing.
“If you're awake, why don't you open your eyes instead of just lying there?”
At the sound of an unfamiliar voice, I opened my eyes to find a middle-aged man glaring at me. He was a stranger, but he was such a handsome, dignified man that the words 'strikingly good-looking' came to mind automatically.
Even his short, slightly graying beard was perfectly groomed, giving him an air of flawless composure.
And he was a man whose piercing blue eyes, like those of a hungry predator, stood out in stark contrast to his refined appearance.
Blue eyes...?
“Could you... perhaps be the Murong Family Head?”
“I am.”
What was that about survival difficulty in medieval China?
Why is it only hard for me!