Chapter 5: Filthy Dogs Not Worth a Dog!
Yeop Hyeon spun around, this time leveling his dagger at Yeop Go.
"You dog-worse-than scum! Did you really think I wouldn't know this was all your and the Great Elder's scheme?
You trash only think about tormenting your own kin! If you've got so much energy to spare, why can't you say a word to the Zhang or Li families? You're all bark inside the walls and less than a mourning dog outside—that's the hallmark of you elders!"
The Zhang family, Li family, and City Lord's Mansion. These three powers, alongside the Ye family, formed Qingcheng's four great factions. Among them, the Ye family was the weakest.
At that moment, Yeop Go's face darkened viciously as he bellowed,
"Yeop Hyeon, who do you think you are to act so insolently! Parading around terrorizing people in broad daylight—what the hell are you...?"
Yeop Hyeon cut him off.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Enough talk—if you're so confident, come at me!"
Yeop Go's face turned ashen as he shouted,
"Seize that bastard and make him kneel!"
But none of the guards at his side moved.
Yeop Hyeon had fought countless bloody battles for the Ye family. Most of the guards held deep respect for him. Whenever he appeared on the battlefield, the Ye family could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with powers like the Zhangs. Moreover, most of these guards had shared wars with him.
As the guards remained still, Yeop Go began to panic.
"Y-you... you dare defy my orders?!"
One of the guards at the front hesitated, then stammered,
"Brother, w-we..."
Yeop Hyeon addressed him.
"Imok, you've rolled through the battlefield with me at least a hundred times. You know better than anyone how I feel about the Ye family. I can't stand seeing my family treated like dog food.
I don't want to put you in a tough spot—I get your position. But if you draw steel on me, there'll be no more talk of brotherhood. You don't need to hold back for me, and I won't for you!"
Imok's expression darkened at Yeop Hyeon's words.
Factional strife never ceased in Qingcheng. Battles over the mines always demanded rivers of blood.
There was one unwritten rule: only young warriors could participate in these fights. It was a measure to prevent all-out clan wars.
Yeop Hyeon had always been the Ye family's representative in those battles—the leader of their youth. These guards had crossed life-and-death thresholds with him countless times, forging unbreakable bonds. Facing him in combat was no easy task for them.
Besides, they knew his skill and temperament all too well. Once a fight started, he'd charge like a madman and wouldn't stop until everyone was dead!
As Imok still hesitated, Yeop Go roared,
"Do you all want to die by my hand?!"
Imok drew a deep breath to respond when Yeop Hyeon spoke first.
"He knows you can't stop me. The elder's probably hoping you'll die by my hand. That way, things escalate even more."
Yeop Hyeon shouted clearly for all to hear,
"Our Ye family elders are something else. No one can match how they use their own people!"
The guards' faces darkened in an instant. Yeop Hyeon's words planted the seed of doubt: the elder was trying to sacrifice them.
Yeop Go glared at Yeop Hyeon with murderous eyes.
"Yeop Hyeon! Things are different now from the old days. If you'd bowed your head like the others, you might've lived a few more days. Can't you read the room? How can you be so arrogant? You..."
"You old dog!"
Yeop Hyeon interrupted.
"Was the idea to marry my little sister off to trash like that your brainchild?"
Yeop Go sneered coldly.
"And what will you do about it?"
Yeop Hyeon's eyes grew increasingly ferocious.
"Not content with setting a trap for me, you tried to do unspeakable things to a mere twelve-year-old girl... Don't beg for my forgiveness..."
Yeop Hyeon stomped the ground, cracking the stone floor as his figure shot toward Yeop Go.
Caught off guard by the sudden assault, Yeop Go had no choice but to panic.
He really attacked! Daring to strike an elder of the Ye family!
Yeop Go crouched low, shoulders pulling back. In that instant, his fist shot forward like a spring.
A low-grade martial technique of the Ye family, powerful enough to shatter boulders.
Yeop Hyeon met the elder's fist with the same technique.
Boom!
Their fists collided, splitting Yeop Go's open and spraying blood everywhere.
As Yeop Go screamed in agony, Yeop Hyeon drove a fist into his gut.
Pfbt!
Yeop Go's body flew back, spewing blood. The moment he hit the ground, Yeop Hyeon's foot crushed his chest. Yeop Go glared up with furious resentment.
"Why... why are you still so strong...?"
Yeop Go had mostly handled internal affairs, and his skills weren't exceptional. Even so, he was in the Qi Transformation Realm. He couldn't believe a single punch had broken him.
Yeop Hyeon slapped his cheek hard.
"Lazing around in the Ye mansion all day, you can't even match a child in strength. How dare you call yourself a Ye elder anywhere?"
"How dare you lay hands on this old man!"
Yeop Hyeon raised his hand and slapped him again.
"What're you gonna do about it?!"
Yeop Go's face swelled instantly.
"Arrrghhh!"
Humiliated before the crowd, Yeop Go raged.
"What are you waiting for? Kill him now!"
Imok and the others only hesitated. If they thought they could subdue Yeop Hyeon, they might have stepped up—but they knew their skills couldn't match him.
"Insolent whelp!"
A stern shout echoed from somewhere.
The warriors turned to see the Great Elder striding toward them, other elders and guards in tow.
Yeop Ryeong rushed behind Yeop Hyeon, clutching his collar and whispering,
"Oppa, run... q-quick... fast..."
"It's okay. Don't be scared."
Yeop Hyeon took her trembling hand. Suddenly, Yeop Ryeong burst into tears.
"It's all my fault... I got you in trouble again... Sorry... sorry..."
"It's fine. Don't worry—even if the sky falls, I'll protect you!"
Yeop Hyeon turned to the Great Elder and suddenly grinned broadly.
"Great Elder, how about this? I'll admit my fault, we make peace, and call it even. Sound good?"
The Great Elder looked incredulous.
"What? Make peace? Yeop Hyeon, are you dreaming? You..."
As he spoke, Yeop Hyeon casually placed his foot on Yeop Go's throat.
Crack!
The sound of breaking bone echoed through the hall. Yeop Go's eyes bulged, life fading from them as his neck snapped.
"...Didn't I say let's make peace?"
Yeop Hyeon lifted his foot and walked slowly toward the Great Elder. As everyone swallowed dryly, he stopped before him and spoke.
"Great Elder, your junior here challenges you... You won't run, will you?"
The hall fell deathly silent.
A challenge?
Yeop Hyeon challenging the Great Elder!
Shock rippled through the room.
The strongest in the Ye family was the secluded clan leader, followed by Protector Elder Yeop Gyeom. With Yeop Gyeom absent, the Great Elder was the top expert.
And Yeop Hyeon had thrown down the gauntlet!
Some thought it overstepped. Others saw it differently.
The Great Elder rarely unleashed his martial arts, safe within the mansion.
Yeop Hyeon, however, was the Ye family's elite, forged in constant war. He brimmed with ferocity and spirit the elder lacked.
Thus, some figured even at fifth-grade Unceasing Realm, if he fought with his life, he had a slim chance.
The Great Elder, blindsided by the challenge, glared murderously.
'Accept it?'
Refusing would tank his reputation. Defiers might even emerge.
'Accept?'
Yeop Hyeon's battle prowess gave him pause. Though the elder's realm was higher, he hadn't fought for his life in ages—just sparred lightly.
Yeop Hyeon was a daily killing machine on the battlefield!
The Great Elder knew the gap well.
Even victory would be expected. Defeat? He'd lose face and position!
His face darkened further.
He should be cornering Yeop Hyeon—yet here he was, trapped.
Another voice rang out.
"Hasn't the order gotten reversed?"
Yeop Rang, the Ye family's crown prince, approached slowly.
As the Great Elder opened his mouth, his eyes widened in disbelief.
"Yeop Rang... you've already reached the Qi Transformation Realm?"
Qi Transformation Realm!
The Ye family members' pupils dilated.
Feeling their stares, Yeop Rang nodded slowly.
"It took ten days, so I'm not fully satisfied."
Gasps erupted.
Fourth-grade Combined Cultivation Realm. Yeop Rang's level before awakening.
Achieving Qi Transformation Realm in just ten days post-awakening was unheard of for mortals—unprecedented in Ye family history.
The Great Elder's laughter filled the hall.
"The heavens watch over our Ye family! Hahaha..."