Chapter 39: First-Rate Martial Artist Peng Hyeon-hwi (2)
Chapter 39: First-Rate Martial Artist Peng Hyeon-hwi (2)
The Hao Clan Leader departed as fleetingly as a ghost. She left with the word that she would head to Shuntian Prefecture first and send a formal visiting card.
"There’s no need to go through such trouble. Why not just go together?"
"…Are you telling me to walk into the Peng Family estate, where the Blade Emperor resides, all by myself?"
"Pardon…?"
"No, I suppose it wouldn't hurt for you to learn this."
The Elder continued, her brow furrowed.
"Regardless of whether they are Orthodox or Demonic, masters who have reached the Harmony Realm never set foot across the gates of another sect lightly. Do you know why?"
"Uh… I’m not sure?"
"Because the act itself signifies a war between sects. How should I explain this…"
The Elder seemed lost in thought for a moment.
Only after a long pause did she speak again.
"If the Blade Emperor were to enter the inner sanctum of my sect alone, I would undoubtedly attempt to kill him."
"What? Do you have some kind of grudge against my grandfather…?"
"No, it’s not like that. It’s a simple matter. If the Blade Emperor dies, the Peng Family cannot maintain its current prosperity. And a reduction in the number of warriors on his level is always a gain. The same applies from his perspective. If I enter the Peng Family estate, he will surely try to plot my demise. It has nothing to do with grudges."
The power of the Hao Clan was not concentrated solely in its leader.
Unlike other sects with fixed bases, the Hao Clan and the Beggars' Sect operated as extreme point-to-point organizations, with each branch possessing a vast amount of autonomy.
Therefore, even if the Hao Clan Leader were to die in a foreign land, the prestige of the Hao Clan as a sect would not be significantly damaged.
Their true strength did not lie in raw martial power. The Hao Clan Leader was merely a means to handle crises and a symbol to rally the clan's members across the world.
However, other martial sects were generally different.
If the leader of a sect was defeated or the foundation of the sect was swept away, in most cases, there was no way to avoid total ruin.
And no matter how friendly a sect might be, they couldn't help but eye the interests that would scatter from the collapse of a Great Clan.
Masters of the Harmony Realm would always attempt to eliminate one another the moment an opening appeared.
Is this the Serengeti or something?
What a crazy, wild-life-esque martial world.
Perhaps seeing my expression, the Hao Clan Leader’s face softened significantly.
She let out a short laugh, patted my shoulder, and turned to leave.
"Don't worry too much; the Peng Family won't collapse immediately even if the Blade Emperor falls. The Six-Armed Rakshasa is still alive, isn't he? Anyway, I’ll send a visiting card from Shuntian Prefecture, so get your affairs in order at home."
"Yes, Sister. Please take care."
"You as well."
She vanished before the Peng Family warriors could even arrive.
It was a profound movement technique, almost impossible to track with the eyes.
Since a master's senses are extraordinary, I made sure to keep my head bowed for a long time so she wouldn't get upset later.
By the way, who is the Six-Armed Rakshasa?
Did we have someone like that in our house?
"Six-Armed Rakshasa?"
"Yes, was there a master who used such a title?"
"How could you stay cooped up in the Sanwol Pavilion for years and not even know the Old Master's title?"
"You mean Elder Peng Ik-cheon…?"
"Exactly, kid."
On the way back to the Peng Family estate, Seong-an laughed heartily while holding the reins.
"Back when the Young Family Head was a bit younger than you, the Family Head and the Old Master were known as the Peng Family Twin Devils. That was at least forty years ago. I’ve only heard stories myself."
"What on earth did they do to earn a title like that?"
"What else? They did what Peng Family warriors do best. Killing."
And they supposedly did it very often, in great numbers, across many regions.
It was to punish the various Black Path gangs that were swarming to seize the interests of the Hebei Peng Family, which had been declining due to the loss in the Righteous-Demonic War and the death of the previous Family Head.
The names of the two direct lineage brothers—Bloodhound Asura Peng Ik-jin and Six-Armed Rakshasa Peng Ik-cheon—rang out across Huabei back then, earning them the name 'Peng Family Twin Devils.'
"It’s said that the two elders wiped out the seeds of the Black Path so thoroughly that even the Orthodox sects didn't dare approach Huabei. That event was called the Huabei Pacification. It’s a proud part of the Peng Family's history."
I had to swallow the thought that being proud of such a history was a bit problematic.
Then again, martial artists were essentially serial killers by the standards of modern ethical sensitivity.
Anyway, I decided right then and there never to mess with my great-uncle.
The Council of Elders of the Hebei Peng Family is located in the Sanwang Pavilion.
This is because deciding the major affairs of the family cannot be the sole authority of the Young Family Head, Peng Wi-cheon.
The Elders of the Peng Family were the guardian deities who had protected the family since its weakest days.
However, the current era is far too peaceful.
Huabei is stable, the Peng Family's authority is supreme, and no martial sect—Orthodox, Demonic, or otherwise—dares to challenge the Peng Family's domain.
In such an era, the Council of Elders had naturally taken on a form similar to a harmonious senior center where old men spent their time on hobbies.
They were all lounging like friendly neighborhood grandfathers, playing Go or chatting to pass the time.
"The Flying Tiger Pavilion Lord has returned!"
"Hmm. Already?"
"Isn't Pyeongseong a three-day journey? Did he run there without rest, pacify the Divine Spear Yang Family in half a day, and come straight back?"
"That fellow was always diligent."
"No, can that even be called diligence?"
Peng Seong-an, the Head of the Council of Elders, spoke to the servant who had run in.
"Report the casualties. How much damage was sustained?"
"That is… well… according to the report, so far…"
His speech was uncharacteristically hesitant for someone serving in the Sanwang Pavilion.
As Peng Seong-an’s brow narrowed, the servant cried out in fear, trembling.
"There were no warriors who appeared to be injured…! The, the number of people is the same as when they left…!"
"They annihilated the Divine Spear Yang Family without any casualties?"
"Was the Flying Tiger Pavilion's strength that great? Who else did they take?"
"A few from the Jingming Pavilion, a few from the Byeokho Pavilion. And everyone from the Flying Tiger Pavilion, including the Pavilion Lord. I remember that was the composition."
"I heard the Yang Family Head couldn't open his Upper Dantian and his martial level had dropped significantly, leading him into semi-retirement."
"A pity at such a young age. Even so, was it possible to annihilate them overnight? They must have had quite a few subordinate sects."
The Elders slowly straightened their postures and stood up.
By the time they all walked slowly toward the inner courtyard.
Clop, clop.
A group of warriors on horseback could be seen in the distance.
They were kicking up dust on the main road that crossed the Outer Hall and entered the Inner Hall.
"Forty-seven. It’s true. Not a single person was lost."
"The Flying Tiger Pavilion Lord’s status will rise significantly. If the Shanxi martial world is that weak, it might be good to expand the Dragon Slaying Alliance's territory."
"It’s something worth mentioning to the Heavenly Thunder Alliance Leader. He’ll likely want to reclaim the old Green Forest mountain strongholds as well."
As they exchanged such talk, the lead group finally arrived in front of the wide gate of the Sanwang Pavilion.
The Flying Tiger Pavilion Lord let go of the reins, hopped down, and gave a polite cupped-fist salute.
"Everyone except the Flying Tiger Pavilion has returned."
"We’ll receive the report inside. You’ve worked hard."
"No. It wasn't me who worked hard…"
Peng Jun, the Flying Tiger Pavilion Lord, stepped aside with an awkward expression.
A young man who had been standing behind him slowly walked forward.
It was as if every member of the martial force present was acting as an escort for this young man.
The proud warriors of the force willingly made way for his steps.
The martial artist walking between them was someone quite familiar even to the old men of the Council of Elders.
"Hwi…!"
"You’re badly hurt! Why didn't you go to the Medical Hall first!"
"It’s your first mission, and you’ve suffered this much. How pitiful. You must have learned much from the battles of your seniors, so if you digest it well, you too will surely…"
Amidst the gazes filled with the elders' affection and worry, Peng Hyeon-hwi raised one hand.
A head with hair matted and hardened with blood was lifted in his grip.
"I have taken the head of Yang Jeok-yo, the Head of the Divine Spear Yang Family."
"……."
Unable to immediately process those words, they turned their gazes to the Flying Tiger Pavilion Lord.
Peng Jun merely shrugged his shoulders.
"Squad Leader Peng Jeong-gyeon of the 4th Squad of the Flying Tiger Pavilion and the warriors under him were killed by Yang Jeok-yo. Yang Jeok-yo intended to lure and annihilate our family's martial force through this, and it is said that the Orthodox sects of the Shanxi martial world had gathered in one place for this purpose."
Peng Jun continued, struggling to suppress the corners of his mouth.
What should have been a dry official report was, at this moment, stained with uncontrollable joy and pride.
"The Fourth Young Master, having identified this fact beforehand, leaped into Pyeongseong alone. After recovering the remains of the deceased, he requested a life-and-death duel from Yang Jeok-yo and collected the blood debt."
"What… what did you just say? Alone?"
"By himself? At the Divine Spear Yang Family?"
A long silence followed from the Elders.
Their words failed them at this unbelievable news.
Their eyes were no longer those of grandfathers worrying about a young grandson; they had cooled into the sharp, icy gaze of the Peng Family's ancient Elders.
If anything, they seemed to be in a state of shock.
Peng Hyeon-hwi stepped forward before them.
He offered Yang Jeok-yo’s head and drew his broken blade, presenting them together.
"The life-and-death duel was held under the witness of the Hao Clan Leader and the Pavilion Lord of the Assassination Pavilion. I failed to cut down the Zhuge Family scum who conspired in this matter, so I ask for punishment."
It was not the voice of someone asking for punishment.
And it wasn't even something that required punishment.
It was the attitude of a young warrior who had returned after personally slaying the head of a prestigious family to settle the blood debt of a few members of a martial squad.
The Head of the Council of Elders took Peng Hyeon-hwi’s blade.
He traced the marks left on the blade with his fingertips and said, "These are indeed the marks of the Yang Family Spear, the Six Harmonies Pear Blossom Spear. The traces of Astral Energy Skill remain clearly. What has become of your cultivation?"
"I had a small realization during the life-and-death duel and achieved the stage of Sword Qi Hurt Humans."
"You killed the Yang Family Head at that level? Ha, haha… Hahahaha!!"
The Council Head’s laughter spread through the crowd.
As all the Elders began to laugh loudly, Peng Hyeon-hwi’s small murmur was naturally buried.
"I crushed it."
The youngest grandson of a medieval martial world tycoon family had once again given the grandfathers a heart attack.
Muttering that, he let out a small smile.
*
By the time I had spent a few days recovering in the Medical Hall and returned to lounge in the Purple Tiger Hall, rumors of my first mission had spread throughout the entire Peng Family estate.
"On the day I first set out, the entire Peng Family called my name…"
"This is serious, Elder Peng Jeon-gun. It seems the Young Master has suffered damage to his Baekhui acupoint as a reaction to that reckless life-and-death duel…"
"Oh dear, at such a young age."
I decided to ignore the muttering of the outsiders nearby.
I was now officially a heroic knight who had rescued three members of the Peng Family's Outer Hall force from the schemes of the wicked Orthodox faction and had resolutely beheaded the leader of a prestigious family to claim a blood debt.
"Get up and walk around a bit. How long do you plan on just lying there!"
"Impossible. This body is a patient."
"Ugh, this cheeky brat…!"
"Your name has begun to circulate in the Shanxi martial world. The Beggars' Sect members played a big part. It seems you’ve gained a title."
"Oh!"
A title. Unless you make one up yourself and push it (which is known to be a very pathetic thing to do), gaining a title that is publicly used is the same as officially debuting as a rising star in the martial world.
It’s a kind of martial world 'shout-out.'
It’s easier to understand it as the beginning of one's prestige.
It was a very important matter, as the name you receive here determines the quality of your career's start.
It was a heart-pounding, exciting thing.
Generally, the Orthodox Martial Alliance gives rising stars titles with 'Dragon' or 'Phoenix' attached. Traditionally, 'Phoenix' is for female warriors, so for me, 'Dragon' was highly likely.
Hmm… but I also have to consider that I’m the man who 'passed the civil service exam as the top scholar,' something even the Zhuge Family couldn't do, and 'defeated the Zhuge Family's greatest genius, Zhuge Yun, with strategy.'
Since I had firmly established an image of noble character and scholarly grace since I was seven, I might get a title related to academics.
That would be a bit of a penalty, considering the Peng Family's characteristically rough and unrefined atmosphere.
"Something like Literary Dragon (文龍) or Radiant Dragon (輝龍) would be good. It should contain the meaning of Divine Calculation and being gifted in both literary and martial arts."
"What are you talking about? It’s Beheading Blood Wolf (斬首血狼)."
"…Pardon?"
"They say you cut off Yang Jeok-yo’s head in Pyeongseong, hung it on a pole, and walked down the main road. And a few years ago in Beijing, didn't you also cut off the head of the Assassination Pavilion Lord’s second son and carry it around? Those two incidents have become widely known. You walk around covered in blood with a head dangling in your hand, so of course you get a title like that."
"I’m going to wipe out the Beggars' Sect in Beijing."
"Don't you dare. The Beggar Immortal might try to kill you."
"Is that old man stronger than Grandfather?"
"The Beggar Immortal hides all over the Central Plains, so if he kills you and runs away, we have no way of catching him."
"Ugh."
I really shouldn't associate with uneducated beggars.
The thought of this terrible slander spreading throughout the Orthodox faction made me shudder.
Nang-rang, who had brought my clothes, let out a snicker.
"Why? What? Why are you laughing?"
"Was it when the Young Master was seven? I just remembered what you said back then."
"What was it?"
"If a Mount Hua Sect swordsman harms someone in broad daylight, people blame the victim, but if a Peng Family warrior kills someone in broad daylight, it’s considered the Peng Family's tyranny—that is the nature of justification and prestige… The family's prestige and public evaluation are even more important because we are a martial family… so I will build justification by making a name for myself through studies… It was something like that."
"Ugh."
"At the very least, you’ve succeeded in building prestige. Congratulations, Young Master."
"I can't even hit my own nanny."
"Beheading Blood Wolf. Endure it."
"Please endure it, Lord Beheading Blood Wolf."
"Everyone, please get out."
Deeply discouraged, I got dressed and headed toward the Family Head’s hall.
Thinking that I would one day repay today's humiliation.
The Beggars' Sect was now my sworn enemy.
On the way to the inner courtyard's Family Head hall, I encountered a suspiciously large number of grandfathers.
It was quite distressing to have relative grandfathers suddenly pop out like daytime ghosts from nowhere to greet me with kind and benevolent faces.
"Hwi. Is your body alright?"
"I have quite a few precious herbs I’ve saved up. I wonder if they’d help your injuries; would you like some?"
"Is there any need to stay in the Sanwol Pavilion? If you wish, I will personally speak to the Family Head to change your affiliation…"
Even when I firmly refused and left, they would nod with satisfied faces and mutter, "As expected of the arrogance befitting the name Blood Wolf," which nearly drove me crazy.
I think I preferred the days when I was evaluated as being weak and scholarly.
At least that meant I knew my letters.
In most cases, having 'Wolf (狼)' in a title is a derogatory term.
It’s a word that represents a mean and cruel nature, and it’s used as a significant insult in both civilian circles and official records.
A representative example is the 'Wolf-like Countenance' among the nicknames of Sima Yi, who is counted among the treacherous.
How could a human neck rotate 180 degrees?
Wait, if it’s a martial artist, it might be possible?
I walked toward the Family Head’s hall with a complicated heart.
"I cannot send you to the Hao Clan."
"Now, I expected you to say that, so I will now begin my presentation on why I must enter the Hao Clan."
I finished my preparations for the pitch in front of my grandfather’s solemn face.