Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Rival Sect's Provocation
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'Who the hell is that?'
Shin Yu-hyun frowned and turned his head.
There stood a young man in his early twenties who didn't look much older than him. The young man scanned Shin Yu-hyun from head to toe with an arrogant gaze.
As if to say, "Who the hell are you to be chatting with Nam Yeon-ah?"
Flanking him on either side were two men sneering.
They appeared to be around the same age as the young man as well.
"Hey, aren't you gonna bow? How dare you stare like that in front of the Heavenly Moon Sword Sect?"
"Let's handle this neatly and with some class."
"Heavenly Moon Sword Sect?"
Shin Yu-hyun quietly echoed their words.
The Heavenly Moon Sword Sect.
It was the most renowned sword clan in Korea after the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan.
Among countless sword families, it was the one that burned with particular rivalry toward the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan.
They were steeped in authoritarianism and elitism.
As a result, the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan often clashed with the Heavenly Moon Sword Sect over even trivial matters.
"What business does the Heavenly Moon Sword Sect have with me?"
"What? You rootless punk, who the hell do you think you're talking back to?"
"Do you even know who you're standing in front of?"
The two men flanking the young man glared at Shin Yu-hyun in response to his words.
"Hey, don't scare the lady too much."
"Yes, sir."
At the words of the young man—who was eyeing Shin Yu-hyun with disdain—the two stepped back. He was Lee Cheon-woo, the second son of the Heavenly Moon Sword Sect.
"I don't know who you are, but know your place."
Lee Cheon-woo spoke while looking down on Shin Yu-hyun.
His words and attitude were crystal clear.
Get lost.
"Lee Cheon-woo, what are you doing? This is my guest. Don't be rude."
At that moment, Nam Yeon-ah sharply narrowed her eyes and stepped in front of Lee Cheon-woo.
But Lee Cheon-woo just smirked with a relaxed expression.
"Your guest? Yeon-ah, you need to be more discerning about who you associate with. What's so special about this nobody that you're giving him your attention?"
Lee Cheon-woo eyed Shin Yu-hyun with displeasure.
To him, Shin Yu-hyun looked like nothing more than an ordinary superhuman.
Maybe low 3-star level at best.
Compare that to himself.
He had already reached 4-star realm, and the two right-hand men he always kept close were top-tier 3-star experts.
And above all, Lee Cheon-woo didn't like seeing Shin Yu-hyun cozying up to Nam Yeon-ah.
Why the hell is she with a guy like this...?
Lee Cheon-woo frowned as he glared at Shin Yu-hyun.
He had been working for years to get close to her.
Yet Nam Yeon-ah hadn't even invited him to her parties, let alone shown any interest.
But upon arriving at the party venue, there she was—chatting with some stranger.
And not just any chat; she'd invited him to her artifact research lab alone.
How could he not feel pissed?
"Lee Cheon-woo, watch your mouth. This is a direct descendant of the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan."
At Nam Yeon-ah's words, Lee Cheon-woo and his two companions flinched, their faces paling.
The Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan was Korea's strongest sword lineage.
Even the Heavenly Moon Sword Sect had to yield a step before them.
"A direct descendant of the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan...?"
Lee Cheon-woo gritted his teeth.
No matter that it was the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan, he couldn't back down now.
How much effort had he put in to win Nam Yeon-ah's favor all this time?
Gifts, constant messages whenever he had time—he'd tried everything to build a connection.
Of course, that had only made her sick of him.
If he's really from the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan, I have even less reason to retreat.
Lee Cheon-woo's blood boiled.
The Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan was the Heavenly Moon Sword Sect's greatest rival.
His goal was to surpass them and claim a spot among Korea's four great sword clans.
But did the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan have a direct descendant like this guy?
Suddenly, doubt crept in.
The Heavenly Moon Sword Sect was obsessively fixated on the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan, so they knew virtually everything about them.
Yet this was the first he'd heard of a direct descendant like the one before him.
"You... you're really a direct descendant of the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan?"
"What if I am?"
"From what I know, there's no one like you in the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan... Ah."
Suddenly, it hit Lee Cheon-woo.
The eldest son and daughter, Shin Cheol-min and Shin Yu-ra, were famous for leading large raid teams into high-grade dungeons.
The second son, Shin Cheol-jin, was notorious as a battle maniac during dungeon assaults, and the youngest, Shin Cheol-ho, possessed innate genius.
The second daughter, Shin Ji-ah, who guarded the clan armory, was also someone to watch.
But there was one among them deemed safe—outside the Heavenly Moon Sword Sect's radar.
"You're that Shin Yu-hyun, the useless trash of the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan. I've heard all the rumors about you."
Lee Cheon-woo sneered at Shin Yu-hyun.
The guy who couldn't even perform Qi Opening, despised and shunned even within his own clan.
Who would've thought such a loser would be here?
"Sigh. Those damn rumors."
At the mention of rumors, Choi Yu-ri—who had been quietly munching on her chocolate cake nearby—shook her head.
She looked at Shin Yu-hyun with pity.
"You've had it rough, oppa."
Until just moments ago, even Choi Yu-ri had only known Shin Yu-hyun through rumors.
But now she knew.
He was nothing like the rumors.
The problem was that Lee Cheon-woo's gang had no idea.
"Rough? It's the truth. The rumor that the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan's third son is looked down on by his own family is pretty famous."
"Well, not wrong."
Shin Yu-hyun chuckled in response to Lee Cheon-woo's words. After all, just three months ago, he truly hadn't been able to perform Qi Opening.
"No, oppa, that contradicts what you said earlier."
Choi Yu-ri looked up at him from below.
"I told you, that was then. Not anymore."
"Oh, right."
Choi Yu-ri nodded immediately at his reply.
"Hmph. Even if you're from the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan, that doesn't change the fact you're trash. Your own clan abandoned you. Now get out of my sight."
Lee Cheon-woo now openly dismissed Shin Yu-hyun.
And that wasn't all.
- If you don't get lost right now, I'll beat you to death.
Smiling at Shin Yu-hyun, he sent a telepathic curse.
No matter what Nam Yeon-ah or Choi Yu-ri said, to him, Shin Yu-hyun was a powerless nobody who couldn't even do Qi Opening.
And he didn't forget to mock him one last time.
- You pathetic worm who can't even use telepathy.
Telepathy was a basic ability for superhumans who had achieved Qi Opening.
But for Shin Yu-hyun, who supposedly hadn't—it was something he could hear but not send.
Or so Lee Cheon-woo thought.
But.
- Shut your retarded mouth and fuck off somewhere else, you moron.
Shin Yu-hyun sent him a telepathic message in return.
"......"
Lee Cheon-woo's face went blank.
Not only had Shin Yu-hyun, whom he'd assumed couldn't send telepathy, done so flawlessly—but the content was even more shocking.
"You... you...!"
Lee Cheon-woo glared at Shin Yu-hyun murderously.
But that was it.
This was the auction party hosted by Namdu Group.
A place filled with famous figures and high-realm superhumans.
What would happen if he caused a scene here?
He'd be blacklisted from all future Namdu Group events and risk offending powerful high-rankers.
That's why he'd provoked Shin Yu-hyun via telepathy.
But Shin Yu-hyun had countered far better than expected.
"I like the spirit of today's youth."
At that moment, a deep, resonant voice came from behind Shin Yu-hyun.
"......!"
Lee Cheon-woo froze.
"Grandfather!"
Somehow, Nam Hyun-cheol—the chairman leading Namdu Group—had approached from behind them.
As he arrived, Choi Yu-ri and the others around bowed their heads in greeting.
"Is this the young man who saved you?"
"Yes, that's right."
Nam Yeon-ah nodded at Nam Hyun-cheol's question.
Shin Yu-hyun bowed to him in turn.
"I'm Shin Yu-hyun."
"Pleasure to meet you."
After exchanging names and greetings, Nam Hyun-cheol turned his head.
His gaze fell on Lee Cheon-woo's group.
"Are you gentlemen done talking? I'd like a word with this young man."
"Y-yes, of course! Please, go ahead!"
Lee Cheon-woo startled and retreated.
Nam Hyun-cheol, chairman of Namdu Group.
The man who gripped Korea's economy and supplied superhumans with their essential artifacts.
Falling out with him wouldn't just be personal—it could threaten the Heavenly Moon Sword Sect's very survival.
Artifacts were that crucial to superhumans.
Why is Chairman Nam Hyun-cheol interested in that loser...?
Lee Cheon-woo couldn't comprehend it.
Unlike his sect, which had poor intelligence, Namdu Group knew Shin Yu-hyun's current standing in the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan well.
And they knew he'd rescued Nam Yeon-ah from the unconfirmed 3-star dungeon gate investigation team.
The latter was kept under wraps by the Hunter Association and Namdu Group, so it wasn't widely known.
Unable to grasp the situation, the wisest move now was to withdraw.
He had one way to screw Shin Yu-hyun over later.
Just wait until the auction.
Lee Cheon-woo ground his teeth inwardly.
The main purpose for superhumans at this party was the auction.
Shin Yu-hyun was surely after items there too.
And a clan reject like him wouldn't have the funds.
Whereas Lee Cheon-woo had ample funds from his sect.
I'll make sure you leave empty-handed.
With that, he sneered inwardly at Shin Yu-hyun and quickly slipped away.
"Thank you for saving my granddaughter."
Once Lee Cheon-woo's group was gone, Nam Hyun-cheol bowed to Shin Yu-hyun in gratitude.
"No need. I only did what anyone should."
"Doing the 'should' is no easy feat. Yeon-ah told me if it weren't for you, she might really have been in danger."
"I didn't do much. It was all thanks to the sacrifices of our 4-star hunter seniors."
Shin Yu-hyun credited his achievements to Kang Yu-chan and Kim Woo-sung, who had been on the investigation team.
He'd already discussed it with Nam Yeon-ah.
We also agreed not to mention the assassin.
"And I've already been compensated."
Shin Yu-hyun smiled at Nam Hyun-cheol.
He'd received a Namdu Group black card loaded with 10 billion won.
That was more than enough reward.
On top of that, Nam Yeon-ah was gifting him a new barrier coat.
"I'm grateful for those words. I'll send my thanks to the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan later."
"I'd appreciate that."
Shin Yu-hyun smiled.
As expected of Namdu Group.
Their intelligence was top-notch.
Unlike Lee Cheon-woo, Nam Hyun-cheol knew Shin Yu-hyun's situation well.
He'd realized Shin Yu-hyun wasn't incompetent, contrary to past rumors.
Had he been, he'd have died with Nam Yeon-ah in that unconfirmed dungeon gate.
And what Shin Yu-hyun wanted was recognition from his clan.
A thank-you from Namdu Group would help with that.
Nam Hyun-cheol had said it with precisely that in mind.
"We'll talk more next time. Enjoy the party."
"Thank you."
After a brief chat, Chairman Nam Hyun-cheol departed with his entourage.
"Grandpa seems to like you, Yu-hyun. He doesn't smile like that often."
"Really? That's good to hear."
Shin Yu-hyun smiled back at Nam Yeon-ah.
"Oppa, it's amazing. Talking to the chairman is seriously tough."
Choi Yu-ri looked at Shin Yu-hyun in wonder.
Nam Hyun-cheol generally treated people very formally.
"Probably because Yeon-ah is so precious to him."
"Agreed."
"Hey, what kind of talk is that?"
Choi Yu-ri nodded at Shin Yu-hyun's words, while Nam Yeon-ah's cheeks flushed slightly.
As they chatted.
"The auction will now commence!"
The host on the stage at the front of the party venue announced the start of the auction.