Chapter 21: Anyone Who Torments You, No Matter Who They Are, I Will Execute Them
The boy who had spoken with Yeop Ryeong and the middle-aged man who appeared to be his father approached the Yeop siblings.
"Excuse me, we happen to have a physician traveling with us. If it's not too much trouble, would it be alright for our doctor to take a look at your sister's condition?"
Yeop Hyeon nodded hurriedly.
"P-Please! Thank you so much!!"
The middle-aged man signaled with his eyes to an elderly man in black robes standing at the back, who nodded and approached Yeop Ryeong to examine her wounds.
"She's fine. Just some external injuries. The dislocated arm has already been set, so a few days of rest should do it. But this chill inside her body... Hah, in all my years, I've never seen such a vicious cold energy..."
"That's a huge relief! No other issues—truly a relief! As for the cold energy, I have my own plans, so please don't worry about it!"
The elder nodded and stepped away.
Yeop Hyeon clasped his hands in a formal salute toward the middle-aged man.
"This humble one is Yeop Hyeon. And you, esteemed sir?"
The middle-aged man smiled brightly in response.
"I am Lu Xiaoruan, lord of Tianshan City."
Hearing the words "city lord," Yeop Hyeon bowed once more.
"I don't know how to thank you enough for helping my sister!"
"Think nothing of it. It was a trifling matter."
Yeop Hyeon gave a slight nod at Lu Xiaoruan's words. He turned and strode toward Great Elder Go. Not just Lu Xiaoruan, but everyone in the hold was stunned.
Was he really going to keep going?
Han Hyang-mong and the elder beside her paled instantly.
Though Great Elder Go belonged to the outer pavilion, he was still an elder of Chwi Seon Ru!
If he died right before their eyes, it would tarnish Chwi Seon Ru's reputation. Yeop Hyeon stopped in front of Great Elder Go, and Han Hyang-mong stepped forward to block him.
"Young Master Yeop, Chwi Seon Ru will handle this matter with utmost severity, so you needn't worry. In exchange, allow us to offer you a small token of our..."
Yeop Hyeon fixed her with a gaze sharp as a blade.
"Get out of my way, you wretch!"
In that instant, as Han Hyang-mong frowned and opened her mouth to speak, Yeop Hyeon closed the distance to her face.
"Didn't you guide us to the deluxe cabin? And yet when that bastard tormented my sister and me, why didn't you step in? You wanted to gauge my strength through that fight with him, didn't you? And your real scheme was to make us perish together! Am I wrong?"
Han Hyang-mong clenched her fists in shock.
His guess was spot on!
Great Elder Go, standing nearby, burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Why would you be wrong? She merely underestimated your love for your sister and your swordsmanship. Otherwise, to forge a connection with you, she would've risked her life to save your sister. But it seems Han Hyang-mong miscalculated completely, hahaha!"
In that moment, Yeop Hyeon thrust his sword into Great Elder Go's forehead.
Puuk!
Blood gushed from Great Elder Go's forehead like a waterfall, and everyone's expressions froze. This was a blatant provocation against Chwi Seon Ru!
Han Hyang-mong's face turned ashen in an instant.
Great Elder Go's death was not the end of the incident—it was the beginning. Yeop Hyeon sheathed his sword as if nothing had happened and returned to Yeop Ryeong.
"Anyone who torments you, no matter who they are, I will execute them!"
Tears streamed from Yeop Ryeong's eyes at his words.
Suddenly, the cloudship halted. A massive immortal crane appeared above them out of nowhere. On its wings, spanning over thirty feet, stood a dignified middle-aged man holding a white jade fan in one hand.
As countless eyes watched, the crane descended onto the cloudship, forcing people back with the fierce wind. The middle-aged man stepped down slowly from the crane's wing, and Han Hyang-mong and the elder beside her rushed forward in astonishment, bowing deeply.
"We greet Lord Han of the pavilion!"
"We greet Lord Han of the pavilion!"
Upon hearing this, Tianshan City Lord Lu Xiaoruan's expression hardened. Chwi Seon Ru had nine floors, each overseen by a pavilion lord. Their authority was immense, and their individual strength was formidable. This Lord Han before them managed all of Chwi Seon Ru's branches in Jiang Kingdom—even the kingdom's lord had to defer to him. Lord Han nodded in acknowledgment of their greetings, then shifted his gaze to Great Elder Go's corpse.
"He's dead?"
Han Hyang-mong and the elder could only nod, not daring to speak. Lord Han then turned to Yeop Hyeon, scanning him up and down with a peculiar gaze before speaking.
"It's rare to see someone with such a solid foundation, but even rarer to encounter a sword cultivator whose sword heart is clear and pure. Jiang Kingdom truly overflows with talent!"
Lord Han addressed the gathered crowd.
"This is Chwi Seon Ru's private affair. I kindly ask everyone to return to your cabins and rest."
At his words, the people on the deck hurried back to their rooms. Tianshan City Lord Lu Xiaoruan glanced once more at Yeop Hyeon before dragging away the reluctant boy.
Now, only a few remained on the deck. Lord Han fixed Yeop Hyeon with a piercing stare.
"The force that nurtured a martial artist of your caliber can't be ordinary. Speak! Who stands behind you to give you the audacity to strike at Chwi Seon Ru?!"
Yeop Hyeon smiled faintly.
"If I tell you my backers are formidable, you'll let me live?"
Lord Han shook his head.
"Killing a Chwi Seon Ru elder in broad daylight is an insult to all of Chwi Seon Ru. No matter who you are, you won't leave here alive today. Regrettable, but we have our reputation in Qingzhou to uphold. Asking about your backers is so we can hold them accountable too. In any case, no force in Jiang Kingdom can oppose us."
Yeop Hyeon fell silent. He had no backing whatsoever. In truth, though he'd killed Great Elder Go on impulse, he'd do the same if faced with the situation again. If he hadn't killed him, the elder would've received at most a light punishment before resuming his lavish life.
Then who would avenge Yeop Ryeong's unjust beating?
Yeop Hyeon could endure his own pain, but not when it came to his sister. Lord Han pressed for an answer.
"Why? Reluctant to speak?"
"I have no such force. That's the truth."
"You dare kill a Chwi Seon Ru man without any support?"
Yeop Hyeon met the man's eyes squarely.
"I killed him because he abused his Chwi Seon Ru authority to trample on people. That's all."
"You're gravely mistaken. The strong rule this world. When Chwi Seon Ru oppresses you, you bow your head and endure. Only then can you keep breathing. But you couldn't hold back your anger for a moment and now forfeit your life—what folly!"
Yeop Hyeon straightened his back and shouted fiercely.
"How can a sword cultivator bow to others?!"
"Haha! There's truth in that. One who bows cannot be called a sword cultivator. In any case, with no backing, you'll bear this alone."
"He's not alone! I'll stand with my brother!"
Yeop Ryeong suddenly rushed forward and hugged Yeop Hyeon. Glaring venomously at Lord Han, she declared,
"My brother and I will face this together!"
Lord Han smiled at Yeop Ryeong.
"I'll allow that much. Men! Kill them and hang their heads from the prow. Show the world the fate of those who defy Chwi Seon Ru!"
Having issued the order to the martial artists, Lord Han turned to leave.
But at that moment!
The sword in Yeop Hyeon's hand began to tremble violently. Lord Han whipped around to stare at the prow. At the ship's bow stood a woman facing away, her black hair cascading to her waist. She slowly turned her head to survey the hold. A sudden wind billowed her pristine white skirt, yet she remained utterly still.
Lord Han's face darkened sharply. He hadn't sensed her presence at all.
Who was she? At that moment, the woman spoke.
"I stand here to show you what true bullying with power looks like. Attack me with all you've got. If I draw a second sword, consider it my loss."
Yeop Hyeon started at her voice.
It was so familiar!
A shiver ran through his entire body. It was the voice he always heard in the Gyeok Ok Tower!
'How is she here? Can she come out like this!?'
As Yeop Hyeon reeled, Lord Han narrowed his eyes at the Heavenly Maiden.
"You want Chwi Seon Ru to give its all? What arrogance! Even the mighty Daehan Empire, greatest power in Qingzhou, wouldn't dare utter such words to us!"
Chwi Seon Ru's roots spanned not just Jiang Kingdom but all of Qingzhou.
Through countless dynastic changes, it had held its ground unchanging.
That alone proved its stature.
The Heavenly Maiden made no reply, merely scattering her flawless jade hand lightly into the air.
In that instant, the waters of the great river flowing below the cloudship gathered into a mass, transforming in the blink of an eye into a single water sword!
Faced with this surreal sight, the martial artists in the hold could only gape.
"What is that?"
This is the trueOne Sword Determines Life and Death!
The water sword in the Heavenly Maiden's hand soon became a streak of sword light that surged into the hold.
Was the sword fast?
Far from it—the sword was in no way swift!
Its speed was slow enough for all to see clearly.
Lord Han too watched the single sword approach him languidly. Yet his face grew darker than ever. At his level, he couldn't grasp the sword's essence at all!
A sword beyond perception!
Lord Han wouldn't simply await death.
He clasped his hands together, and golden radiance suddenly swirled around him. Forming hand seals fluidly as water, the entire cloudship began to vibrate.
Myriad Mountains Guard Seal!
A golden disk formed beneath Lord Han's feet. Mountains throughout the area stirred, sending torrents of earthen-yellow qi surging endlessly into the disk.
Just then, the golden disk shuddered violently, erupting with a mass of qi brighter than the sun.
The Heavenly Maiden's sword had already reached the disk. Everyone braced for a massive explosion.
But!
As the water sword drew near the golden disk, it suddenly radiated blinding light and vanished entirely. The Heavenly Maiden's water sword continued toward the dazed Lord Han at its original pace, as if nothing had happened.
By the time Lord Han lost the will to resist, the water sword halted right before his forehead!
The Heavenly Maiden still stood with her back turned, unmoving.
Total defeat!
Lord Han had lost to a single sword!