Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 38
>Chapter Title: Real Strength (1)
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Among the candidates for the next Society Leader, the second disciple Jang Neung-ak.
There was considerable controversy regarding his background, and many raised issues with his temperament and conduct.
However, despite his overflowing greed, those who acknowledged Jang Neung-ak believed his resourcefulness would raise the Heaven-Earth Society back to its position as a pillar of the Central Plains.
The eldest disciple Na Yul-ryang was one thing, but Jang Neung-ak had built up quite a substantial faction over time.
It was estimated that his forces accounted for about thirty percent within the Heaven-Earth Society.
Among those forces, there were the next-generation powerhouses forming the core, and Jang Neung-ak referred to these loyal subordinates of his as such.
'Five Peaks Society.'
Five massive mountains.
It literally meant his five cherished limbs.
Jang Neung-ak, who loved ranking and ordering, would periodically have his subordinates compete to establish new rankings, encouraging rivalry.
As a result, five powerhouses were selected, and these were the Five Peaks Society.
Excluding Jang Neung-ak himself, there were five in total.
Excluding the woman serving as guard to Ho Jong-hyeok, the leader of the Destruction Squad, everyone from Second Peak to Fifth Peak was gathered.
Most assumed that Ho Jong-hyeok, disciple of Ho Tae-gang—one of the Five Kings and a member of the Central Plains' Eight Stars—would be First Peak or Second Peak, but the reality was different.
'Second Peak, Wi Maeng-cheon.'
Despite being blind, he was a powerhouse vying for First Peak.
And among the Five Peaks Society members, he was the only one not from the Heaven-Earth Society, brought in from outside. His martial prowess was one thing, but there was another ability everyone shunned.
It was his superhuman senses, developed after losing his sight.
Among them, the most outstanding by far was his hearing.
[That's a useful talent.]
Jang Neung-ak highly valued Wi Maeng-cheon's hearing ability.
And for good reason: with this absurdly keen hearing, Wi Maeng-cheon could read others' emotions or discern truth from lies.
-Thump! Thump! Thump!
'......Steady.'
Wi Maeng-cheon had been carefully listening to this person's heartbeat ever since first encountering him.
Normally, he wouldn't pay attention to the heartbeats of every unknown individual.
But it started because of the escort nearby.
[Young Master. You must hurry and pay your respects. The one at the very front is Second Young Master Jang Neung-ak, the Society Leader's second disciple.]
From this conversation alone, Wi Maeng-cheon realized that one of the approaching people was meeting his lord, Jang Neung-ak, for the first time.
Usually, upon first meeting the Society Leader's disciple, unless it was an executive-level figure, there would be noticeable emotional shifts, causing changes in the heartbeat.
However,
'Too steady.'
Not the slightest variation in the heartbeat.
It just kept thumping along, so regular it was almost unnatural.
Even during sleep, a restless dream would alter one's heartbeat, so how could it remain this steady?
This was on par with an assassin rigorously trained to the extreme.
Even assassins had heartbeat fluctuations.
'Who is he?'
For starters, this was someone he'd never encountered before.
Being blind, Wi Maeng-cheon distinguished people by footsteps, heartbeats, or habitual sounds.
Yet this person produced entirely unfamiliar sounds.
'Maintaining composure even upon seeing the Young Master......'
His detectable qi suggested early Pinnacle Realm at best, unusual for someone merely a senior warrior or squad leader.
And Wi Maeng-cheon realized through Jang Neung-ak's test that Mok Kyung-un was indeed extraordinary.
Having lost his sight, he knew well how precious eyes were to people.
Thus, when someone targeted their eyes, their heartbeat would spike dramatically compared to normal.
Yet,
-Thump! Thump! Thump!
'......What the hell is this guy?'
How could the sound be identical to before?
His movements and reactions suggested surprise, a flinch, but the heartbeat showed no change whatsoever.
It was as flat as everyday life.
'What?'
This was a first.
Nothing represented emotions as accurately as a heartbeat.
How could this be possible?
Wi Maeng-cheon pondered briefly, but one thing he was certain of.
"If my hearing isn't faulty, the man before us wasn't startled in the least, Young Master."
"......Not startled at all?"
At Wi Maeng-cheon's words, Jang Neung-ak glared sharply at Mok Kyung-un.
He might not know everything else, but he trusted the judgment of Wi Maeng-cheon, who excelled at reading people.
"You...... Were you really not startled?"
At this, Mok Kyung-un waved his hand dismissively and replied.
"......How could that be? Who wouldn't be startled nearly getting stabbed in the eye......"
-Clack!
At that moment, Jang Neung-ak pressed the tip of his fan against Mok Kyung-un's chest.
Not possessing superhuman senses like Wi Maeng-cheon, he could still gauge the heartbeat through a medium without direct contact.
Soon, Jang Neung-ak sneered and spoke.
"This guy's completely amusing."
"What? No way the blind master's right?"
The woman in red with thick lips asked with keen interest.
Jang Neung-ak then slid the fan up from the chest to Mok Kyung-un's chin and said.
"Is he bold? Or hiding his skills?"
Jang Neung-ak's gaze seemed to pierce through Mok Kyung-un.
Seeing this, Mok Kyung-un inwardly clicked his tongue.
He'd thought mere expression control and acting would suffice, but that blind man was more troublesome than expected.
First time facing someone who listened to heartbeats.
-Mortal. Stay calm. Even with abnormally keen hearing, your true power hasn't been exposed.
Cheong-ryeong said to Mok Kyung-un.
The situation differed from being in Bloodcurdle Valley.
Clashing with the Society Leader's disciple would escalate beyond mere annoyance, potentially making it impossible to settle grudges before even acting.
'This guy better not act rashly.'
Despite sticking close until now, Mok Kyung-un's actions were unpredictable.
Thus, she worried.
Suppressing emotions was best in such unprepared circumstances.
Then Mok Kyung-un spoke.
"I've heard you're one of the closest to the Society Leader."
"Hm?"
At Mok Kyung-un's words, one of Jang Neung-ak's eyebrows twitched upward slightly.
He didn't seem displeased by the remark.
Mok Kyung-un continued.
"My master, who taught me, said that one must stay calm even before a great tiger to survive."
At this, the corner of Jang Neung-ak's mouth curved up faintly.
Unlike appearances, this guy knew smooth words.
Calling him a great tiger elevated him as an overwhelming existence, while claiming composure for survival humbled himself.
To this, Jang Neung-ak said.
"You seem adept at conduct."
"Even if I'm bold, Young Master could kill someone like me anytime you wished. How could I act improperly?"
"You're no fool. Indeed, those who know conduct live long."
-Zing!
Mok Kyung-un glanced at the fan touching his throat.
No blade, yet the sharp intent emanating from the contact point threatened to pierce his neck at any moment.
As expected of the Society Leader's disciple, he was no ordinary man.
"......I'll keep your words in mind."
At Mok Kyung-un's response, Jang Neung-ak chuckled softly, removed the fan from his throat, clasped his hands behind his back, and stepped away.
Could this pass quietly?
But Jang Neung-ak walked a few steps forward and said.
"However, I see you're good at conduct, but without the skills to back it up, such composure wouldn't be possible. Isn't that right? Maeng-cheon."
"Indeed, Young Master."
"I suspect you're hiding your true power to match that composure, hostage. I don't know the method or technique, but......"
Mok Kyung-un bowed his head and lowered his stance in reply.
"How could that be? I fall short of your expectations."
"A man not up to par wouldn't take first place at Bloodcurdle Valley's trials for nothing. Right, Jong-hyeok?"
-Gulp gulp!
At the question, Destruction Squad Leader Ho Jong-hyeok downed his wine flask, wiped his lips with his sleeve, and answered.
"If he took first with his current power, it'd be heaven-sent luck or corruption inside Bloodcurdle Valley—nothing else."
"Our thoughts align."
-Sring!
Then, the blind Wi Maeng-cheon lightly drew his bamboo staff upward like unsheathing.
A sharp blade hidden inside revealed itself.
"It'll be simple to test and reveal. Leave it to me, Young Master. I'll confirm."
At those words, the thick-lipped woman in red stepped forward too.
"Hohoho. Let me do it. I want to check if his skills match that handsome face."
As the two showed eagerness, Jang Neung-ak smirked, shook his head, and turned to the muscular giant with a rough beard reminiscent of Zhang Yi-de.
"Jeo Mo-pal."
"Yes, my lord."
"I want to see this fellow's true power."
"Yes, my lord."
No sooner had the words ended.
-Pat!
The hitherto still man—no, Jeo Mo-pal—suddenly moved.
With speed unfit for his massive frame, Jeo Mo-pal swung both hands clasped like scissors toward Mok Kyung-un's head.
-Swish!
Mok Kyung-un deployed footwork, retreating his form.
Jeo Mo-pal, lowering the striking arm, then charged forward like a wild boar.
His momentum seemed to crush anything in its path.
Yet despite this, Mok Kyung-un lost no composure, continuously widening the distance with footwork.
-Tat tat tat tat!
"Hmph!"
Jeo Mo-pal stomped the ground toward the distancing Mok Kyung-un and thrust a fist.
-Boom!
At that instant,
-Paaang!
White light flickered from Jeo Mo-pal's fist, and an invisible heavy force assaulted Mok Kyung-un's face.
It was fist wind.
Facing the qi-infused fist wind hard to evade, Mok Kyung-un crossed both arms into a defensive stance.
-Paaaang!
Struck on crossed arms, Mok Kyung-un's form slid back six paces.
-Scraaaape!
His eyes narrowed at his trembling arms.
He'd guessed from the exposed aura, but as expected, this Jeo Mo-pal possessed late Pinnacle Realm prowess.
Purely in terms of fist power, he surpassed that.
Likely near-superhuman in both external and internal arts.
'This won't do.'
With hidden power, properly handling this man would be difficult.
But revealing full strength would play right into Jang Neung-ak's hands.
'No choice.'
Better to take some hits moderately.
His pride wasn't wounded by such.
Avoiding entanglement in nuisances now beat enduring a few blows.
Then.
-Thud!
Jeo Mo-pal's flung fist smashed Mok Kyung-un's face, wrenching his head sideways to crash into the floor.
-Bang!
'Whew.'
That stung a bit.
But such pain was negligible.
Mok Kyung-un had endured worse without a groan.
Then Jeo Mo-pal kicked the belly of the prone Mok Kyung-un with a qi-charged foot.
-Thud!
-Scraaaape!
Mok Kyung-un curled like a shrimp and was sent flying.
At this sight, Destruction Squad Leader Ho Jong-hyeok clicked his tongue.
"Tsk tsk. He's done for. Totally done."
From his footwork, he'd guessed seasoned Pinnacle Realm, but getting one-sidedly beaten suggested otherwise.
Jeo Mo-pal was Fifth Peak, yet near-superhuman in skill.
No matter Bloodcurdle Valley's top graduate, how could he match when the expert went all out?
"Hmm."
'Is that all there is?'
Disappointment mingled in Society Leader's second disciple Jang Neung-ak's eyes.
He'd expected a show matching his anticipation, but watching him get pummeled eroded it.
Of course, even hiding power, facing a Five Peaks like Jeo Mo-pal was impossible from the start.
"Enough. Now......"
He meant to call it off moderately, but,
"His heartbeat remains steady still."
"What?"
"Leave him to me instead."
-Pat!
With those words, someone dashed out.
It was none other than Second Peak, the blind Wi Maeng-cheon.
-Sring!
Drawing the sword hidden in his bamboo staff, Wi Maeng-cheon flew forth in an instant, slashing toward the neck of Mok Kyung-un, who was getting battered by Jeo Mo-pal.
He unleashed maximum killing intent, poised to behead in one stroke.
-Shwaaa!
The blade neared the neck—that instant.
-Clang!
-Paaaang!
'!?'
Jeo Mo-pal's eyes widened in shock.
Mok Kyung-un had casually caught Jeo Mo-pal's incoming fist with his left hand, and somehow drawn his sword to block Wi Maeng-cheon's blade.
"You bastard......"
He meant to say he was indeed hiding power, but Mok Kyung-un ignored him entirely, looking at the blind Wi Maeng-cheon and saying.
"I was taking hits on purpose, but you're making it difficult."
"What did you say?"
This rat dared claim he was graciously taking hits from him?
Enraged by Mok Kyung-un's words, Jeo Mo-pal shook off the gripped fist and swung the opposite one to smash his face.
But,
-Craaack!
"Grk!"
-Boom!
In that moment, a pain-filled groan escaped Jeo Mo-pal as his seized right wrist twisted backward, forcing one knee to the ground.
'W-what qi is this?'
Jeo Mo-pal couldn't hide his shock.
This guy's internal energy surpassed his own, near-superhuman level.
End of Chapter 38: Real Strength (1)