Chapter 130
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Confrontation with the Soul-Brushing Spear
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Anhui Province, Hefei.
Already a major city due to the presence of the Namgung Family, it had now reached unprecedented prosperity with the Righteous Heaven Alliance's headquarters established on its outskirts.
Dong Ho-won gaped at the throngs of people filling the city, which had grown by nearly thirty percent.
"Is this really the same Hefei we visited before?"
Eom Mu-hwi looked stunned as well.
"Less than three years have passed... What terrifying growth."
Seol Hwa-un explained.
"The Righteous Heaven Alliance alone has thousands of warriors. Add to that the martial artists flocking here hoping to join them."
Indeed, a significant number of passersby were armed martial artists.
"Not to mention the supplies pouring in for the Alliance. Think of the merchants, transporters, and administrators handling it all—how many do you suppose that adds up to?"
"……!"
"And if you factor in their families settling here too, that's at least thirty thousand new residents overnight."
"Quite right."
Hong Gwang, who had been silent, chimed in.
"Amitabha. Even that's a conservative estimate. Once people flock in, commerce booms and construction thrives naturally. The population snowballs from there."
"Of course, the investment is no small sum. But in a few years, they'll recoup it all and reap massive profits."
At Seol Hwa-un's words, Dong Ho-won seemed to have a realization.
"Ah! So that's why the Ximen young master was so hard to spot during the Grand Assembly!"
Eom Mu-hwi looked surprised.
"Impressive. You've finally learned to think one step ahead."
"What?"
He patted the bristling Dong Ho-won's shoulder.
"Yeah. Keep using that brain of yours."
"You bastard?"
Now used to it, Hong Gwang ignored their bickering and muttered to himself.
"At this rate... it might soon rival Nanjing in Jiangsu Province."
Of course, that might still be premature. Nanjing was one of the greatest cities in the realm, after all.
But given this momentum, it wasn't impossible.
As Seol Hwa-un walked the streets lost in thought.
'The Ximen Family couldn't have shouldered this alone. The other Seven Great Families must have poured in considerable funds.'
They would have burned through much of their accumulated wealth.
'The Ximen Family, with their strong merchant ties, might manage, but the others only have basic estate income. This has to hurt.'
Moreover, the Ximen Family undoubtedly monopolized the most profitable ventures.
So the other families would see slimmer returns on their investments.
'They won't complain openly for the sake of face, but was the loss truly worth it?'
Perhaps the Righteous Heaven Alliance had been painting a 'grand picture' from the start.
As Seol Hwa-un pondered this while walking with his group through Hefei's streets, they naturally drew stares from all around.
It was hardly surprising. Seol Hwa-un and Eom Mu-hwi's striking appearances were one thing, but traveling with a monk bearing the insignia of a rare sect was another.
"Who are they?"
"They're too handsome."
"That monk looks like he's from Shaolin. What's he doing in Hefei with the Righteous Heaven Alliance?"
They had drawn countless gazes on the journey already. Hefei just had more people, so more eyes.
Amid it all, the relatively overlooked Dong Ho-won scowled in frustration.
'Tch! Reduced to less than Baldy Hong Gwang.'
In Hong Gwang's case, it was novelty, but Dong Ho-won ignored that.
"……."
Setting aside such personal gripes, Seol Hwa-un and the others—now utterly accustomed to the attention—moved on unperturbed.
Then, someone blocked their path.
"……?"
The plain-faced warrior scanned Seol Hwa-un's group with sharp eyes.
"……!"
Seol Hwa-un's eyes lit up in recognition.
'That uniform...'
Irritated, Dong Ho-won scowled.
"What? It's rude enough to block our way, but what's with the staring?"
Instead of replying, the man suddenly shouted toward somewhere else.
"Yes, Division Leader! It's definitely the North Heaven Dragon's group!"
"Eh?"
A heavy aura followed.
"Good thing I waited in these streets after all."
The voice came from the second floor of an inn to their right—the epicenter of the aura.
"……!"
A refined middle-aged man in luxurious brown martial robes gazed down at Seol Hwa-un's group.
Seol Hwa-un met his eyes naturally.
"……."
The middle-aged man's gaze sharpened.
"You're the brat they call the North Heaven Dragon?"
"Brat, huh. Didn't expect to still hear that."
"Arrogant, just as rumored."
The middle-aged man leaped lightly from the second floor.
"……!"
Now fully asserting his presence, he stunned everyone but Seol Hwa-un.
'Whoa, what a monster!'
'Who the hell is this guy?'
Seol Hwa-un regarded him calmly.
"You must be the Soul-Brushing Spear, Ak Ja-hwa."
Evidently unprepared for Seol Hwa-un to recognize him, Ak Ja-hwa's eyes widened slightly.
"Not bad. Spotting my identity at a glance."
"Nothing to it. That brown uniform symbolizes the Shandong Ak Family, and only you could emit this aura."
Soul-Brushing Spear Ak Ja-hwa.
Shandong's First Spear, the pride of the Ak Family, and the family head's younger brother.
His spearmanship ranked among the realm's top five.
"Sharp insight, as the rumors say. Then you know why I've been waiting for you."
At Ak Ja-hwa's question, Seol Hwa-un smiled faintly.
"Don't tell me you're here to avenge the Spear Dragon's humiliation from the Small Assembly? That's almost three years ago."
Ak Ja-hwa's eyes grew icy.
"They say a gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years. And you didn't just shame our young master—you insulted the entire family."
"What audacity. Who bared their fangs first? Your family's young master, that's who."
"No excuses needed."
Ak Ja-hwa drew the three-section staff from his back.
Clack, clack!
It instantly assembled into a long iron spear—his signature weapon, the Dragon Acupoint Spear.
Gripping it amplified his already formidable aura explosively.
"I'll show you the Ak Family's dignity right here."
Seol Hwa-un provoked him right back.
"You? Think you can?"
He didn't forget to send a transmission to Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won.
[Get away from me.]
"……!"
"How dare you."
Enraged, Ak Ja-hwa channeled inner energy into the spear tip.
Bang!
The Dragon Acupoint Spear shot toward Seol Hwa-un at terrifying speed.
"……!"
Seol Hwa-un lightly stepped back, evading the spearhead.
Whoosh!
Ak Ja-hwa smirked coldly.
"Think you can dodge with that?"
The spearhead's trajectory shifted instantly, targeting Seol Hwa-un again.
Shuu shuu shuu!
"……."
For some reason, Seol Hwa-un kept dodging the spear strikes with successive movements. Soon, a fierce clash unfolded.
Crowds naturally gathered.
"What is it?"
"A fight!"
"Who? Who's fighting?"
"That's the Soul-Brushing Spear! He's attacking some young guy!"
"Who's the opponent?"
"Ah! I know him! Saw him at the Grand Assembly!"
"Who is it?"
"The North Heaven Dragon!"
"What!!"
Chaos erupted instantly. No martial artist was unaware of the North Heaven Dragon's fame, and Ak Ja-hwa was renowned too.
"No way! Soul-Brushing Spear versus North Heaven Dragon!"
"Can't miss a show like this!"
Hundreds of spectators swarmed in moments.
Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won, having quickly distanced themselves, looked baffled.
"Wh-what the hell...!"
"Huh! Who'd have thought the Soul-Brushing Spear was lying in wait for the Young Palace Lord."
Eom Mu-hwi tilted his head.
"But it's odd. Why did the Young Palace Lord provoke him?"
"Hey, when someone's waving a spear, you just take it?"
"No. At first, the Soul-Brushing Spear wasn't emitting killing intent. Just pressuring with aura."
"Was he?"
"Definitely. I wasn't on high alert either. Then suddenly, the Young Palace Lord provokes him..."
Hong Gwang interjected.
"Amitabha. Seems Master Seol wanted a round with the Soul-Brushing Spear."
"What do you mean?"
He glanced around before continuing.
"To show off the North Heaven Dragon's might in the Central Plains after so long."
"……?!"
Only then did they notice the swelling crowd.
"Ah!"
'He had such deep intentions...'
Snapping to attention, Eom Mu-hwi urged Dong Ho-won.
"Ho-won, don't miss this. A rare spear master even in the Central Plains."
"……Got it."
Truth be told, he wanted to face the man himself. But he knew he fell short.
'Even a simple thrust is on another level.'
Thrusts were the foundation and essence of spearmanship.
And right now, Ak Ja-hwa demonstrated the orthodox form perfectly.
Shua shua shua!
Seol Hwa-un dodged ceaselessly, yet couldn't fully escape the spear's range.
Then, abruptly, the Dragon Acupoint Spear halted.
"……?!"
Ak Ja-hwa's face had returned to cool composure.
"Plenty of audience now. Shall we get serious?"
Seol Hwa-un chuckled.
"You noticed, huh?"
"Of course. Others might not know, but I do—you felled the Blood Sword Legion."
Rumors were only now spreading to the north, not yet across the entire Central Plains.
But the Ak Family in neighboring Shandong had heard early.
"The Blood Sound Evil Army and Blood Sword Legion, no less. Even as Shandong's First Spear, I can't strut before the man who defeated them."
Fortunately or not, the distant spectators couldn't properly hear, wary of stray blows.
Light dawned in Seol Hwa-un's eyes.
'More level-headed than I thought.'
"So you went along with my provocation on purpose?"
"I'd be lying if I said I held no grudge against the man who so thoroughly humiliated our young master. But you've proven your worth by defeating them."
"……."
"I'm a warrior with my own pride. How could I not itch for a bout with a master like you?"
In the end, he'd used avenging family honor as an excuse to vent his own battle lust.
"You feel the same, don't you? Though our goals differ, of course."
A smile curved Seol Hwa-un's lips.
"Let's say our interests align."
The two, smiling at each other, simultaneously kicked off the ground.