Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Who Is the Trash?
The Gwonwon Sect was located to the west of the Cheongsam Mountain Range and occupied seven or eight mountain peaks. The outer sect’s Danjeon Peak stood over three thousand zhang high, soaring as if piercing the heavens. Mansions were lined densely within those mountains. The higher one lived, the higher their status. In addition to the residences within the mountains, there was also a small village at the foot of the range. The servants and guards of outer sect disciples lived there.
Jinpung was walking along the mountain path when he arrived at a plaza. The plaza was bustling with people coming and going. Crossing that plaza led directly to the outer sect mountain gate.
“Jinpung.”
A gentle voice came from behind. Jinpung turned around with a smile. The person who called him was a middle-aged man of about thirty with an ordinary appearance. He looked at Jinpung with a faint smile.
Jinpung approached and respectfully greeted him.
“Uncle Master Han.”
It was Han Jong. He and Yeon Cheong-woo were senior and junior brothers, and like Yeon Cheong-woo, he was an outer sect elder. From the very beginning, he had revered Yeon Cheong-woo, who possessed extraordinary talent. Even after Yeon Cheong-woo fell from grace, Han Jong remained close to him, and after Yeon Cheong-woo passed away, he continued to look after Jinpung. If not for Han Jong, it was impossible to imagine what Jinpung’s situation would have been during those five years of guarding the grave.
Han Jong smiled, then let out a sigh.
“Jinpung, it seems I won’t be able to take care of you when you come to receive resources from now on.”
“Uncle Master, is something the matter?”
“I’m being transferred elsewhere. The Resource Hall will no longer be under my jurisdiction.”
Han Jong had been responsible for distributing resources to outer sect disciples at the Resource Hall every month. Because of that, he always made sure Jinpung received the finest spirit stones. But whether the person who would take over would treat Jinpung the same way was uncertain. Jinpung felt a little sad. Not because of the spirit stones, but because he was parting from the only uncle master who had treated him well.
Han Jong understood Jinpung’s feelings as well.
“Even though I’m leaving the Resource Hall, I’ll still be in the outer sect, so we’ll still be able to meet.”
Han Jong lowered his voice slightly.
“The Sun Elder who will be in charge of the Resource Hall has suffered losses at the hands of your master before. He has always been hostile toward your master. Moreover, you’ve also fought with his son before, so he may not let you off easily. Be especially careful.”
Jinpung felt his heart sink, but he nodded with difficulty.
‘Since I’m powerless and living on the edge of the outer sect of the Gwonwon Sect, I’ll have to endure even if my pride is hurt. Once I become stronger later, I can reclaim my dignity then.’
Just then, as if to prove the saying “speak of the tiger and it appears,” a mocking voice came from behind.
“Who do we have here? Isn’t this the trash disciple of a trash master? What, did you come to waste our outer sect’s resources?”
Jinpung turned toward the voice. A boy who looked about seventeen or eighteen, dressed in silk robes, came into view. He was quite handsome, but his thin lips gave him a frivolous and cold impression. Beside him stood a middle-aged man in his forties.
That boy was Son Heun, and the middle-aged man beside him was Elder Son, one of the powerful figures among the outer sect elders.
Before Jinpung could respond, Han Jong glared at Son Heun and spoke coldly first.
“Son Heun, say that again.”
Son Heun flinched under Han Jong’s sharp gaze and couldn’t look him straight in the eye.
“Hmph….”
Instead of his son, Elder Son snorted.
“Han Jong, you really lack decorum. Picking on a child—do you call that ability? If you’re like this, it’s no wonder your fellow sect brothers don’t trust you and handed the Resource Hall over to me instead. Hahaha.”
Elder Son sneered with a self-satisfied attitude.
He was jealous of Yeon Cheong-woo, and by extension, he also resented Han Jong and Jinpung, who were close to Yeon Cheong-woo.
Han Jong stepped forward and spoke coldly.
“Elder Son, even if I lack ability, that is not for you to judge. One only knows the length after measuring it. So why don’t we have a match?”
At Han Jong’s words, Elder Son couldn’t hide his fear and subconsciously stepped back. He knew very well that his cultivation realm was inferior to Han Jong’s, so he did not dare advance further. However, with so many people watching, retreating would damage his reputation. If that happened, he would have no choice but to live in obscurity within the outer sect.
Just as Elder Son was caught in an awkward situation, a voice rang out.
“What is going on here?”
It was a calm, emotionless voice.
The onlookers recognized the owner of the voice and greeted him one after another. Han Jong and Elder Son were no exception.
It was So Jodong, the Supreme Elder of the outer sect, with white hair and beard. He was one of the highest-ranking figures in the outer sect. He scanned Han Jong and Elder Son with a cold gaze, then frowned slightly.
“Are you not both outer sect elders? Causing a disturbance in front of your juniors—have some decorum! Especially you, Han Jong! Picking a fight first—do you have nothing better to do? Sending you away from the Resource Hall to handle beast hunting now seems like the right decision. You’ll never amount to much! And you, useless fellow. Instead of guarding the grave of your trash master, who allowed you to come here and cause trouble?”
So Jodong sided entirely with Elder Son and Son Heun. Elder Son smirked darkly, looking pleased as he glanced at Han Jong.
Han Jong’s face flushed red as he trembled with anger at being reprimanded in front of everyone. Over the past few years managing the Resource Hall, he had prided himself on being fair and impartial. Yet all his efforts were being utterly denigrated.
However, Han Jong could not retort. The other party was a Supreme Elder whose strength was beyond measure. If he dared to oppose him, he might not survive even a single move.
Jinpung lowered his head and clenched his teeth. Fury burned within him.
‘So Jodong… I will definitely repay the humiliation you have inflicted on Uncle Master Han and me today!’
Jinpung ground his teeth. So Jodong snorted, glanced at Han Jong, and soon left the place. Elder Son looked triumphant.
“Han Jong, I guarantee your future will be bleak. Be careful not to be retaliated against. When fighting beasts, you might be struck by a blade flying out of nowhere and lose your life.”
Then he looked at Jinpung and said,
“And you. Don’t expect any resources from me. Trash being what you are… let’s see how long you can keep running around after Han Jong is gone!”
“Isn’t that going too far?”
Han Jong said, agitated. Jinpung, standing beside him, let out a hollow laugh in disbelief. Seeing Jinpung’s expression, Elder Son erupted in anger.
“What is a piece of trash laughing at?”
“I’m laughing because you look more like trash. Back then, you boasted about your age and higher cultivation, and dared to oppose my master. But you were thoroughly beaten by my master. Even after my master’s meridians were destroyed, you still weren’t his match. You only knew how to show off in front of juniors like me. Hahaha! Truly impressive. Since my master passed away, no one has guided me, but Son Heun must have been personally taught by you, so his cultivation should be remarkable. You keep calling me trash, but if I defeat Son Heun, then the trash will be you and your son.”
“What did you say? You think you can defeat me?”
Son Heun glared at Jinpung, then burst out laughing as if hearing something ridiculous. He shouted to those around him.
“I heard that wrong, right? This piece of trash says he can beat me? He thinks he can beat someone at the third level of the Houtian realm?”
Jeers erupted among the watching outer sect disciples.
“Has he lost his mind? A trash who hasn’t even reached the first level of the Houtian realm is challenging Son Heun!”
“Exactly. Son Heun is at the third level of the Houtian realm—middle tier within the outer sect. Thanks to Elder Son’s careful teaching, he’s mastered many high-level techniques.”
“He must have a death wish.”
Jinpung smiled as if he had heard nothing, tore a strip from his robe, and threw it at Son Heun.
“Son Heun. Let’s fight!”
Elder Son sneered.
“You’ve really lost your mind!”
He then said to Son Heun,
“Heun, teach that brat a lesson.”
Son Heun nodded and shouted,
“I accept your challenge.”
He grinned viciously and said,
“Brat who only knows how to boast. When you descend to hell, send my regards to your trash master.”
As he spoke, Son Heun rubbed his fist with one hand and gathered all his strength. Power at the third level of the Houtian realm surged throughout his body. The surrounding crowd erupted in awe.
Han Jong shouted in shock.
“Jinpung! Have you gone mad! With your level—”
“Uncle Master Han, don’t worry.”
Jinpung said softly with a faint smile.
“I’m confident.”
Han Jong remained doubtful but nodded nonetheless. He resolved that if things turned unfavorable, he would rescue Jinpung and retreat from the scene.
Amid the crowd surrounding them, Jinpung and Son Heun faced each other at a distance of about two spans.
Son Heun raised a finger and smiled ominously.
“Jinpung. One punch from me, and you’ll be going to see your trash master.”
He poured five hundred jin of force into that punch, empowered by his third-level Houtian cultivation. That single blow could have killed Jinpung—if this were the old Jinpung. But he did not realize that the current Jinpung was entirely different from before.
“Too many words. Like a girl.”
Jinpung stepped forward and threw a powerful punch. The fist cut through the air, stirring the wind. At the same time, immense force surged forth. Son Heun’s expression changed. He instantly sensed the terrifying power behind Jinpung’s strike and was overcome with fear.
‘Since when did this trash become so strong…?’
But there was no time to think further. He shouted and circulated all his true qi. His palms turned bluish. The two forces collided.
Son Heun’s technique was a Yellow-grade first-rank martial art called “Green Wood Hand.”
After mastering Green Wood Hand, the hands become as hard as tree bark, greatly reducing pain. Even for beginners, it hardened the limbs and reduced pain sensitivity, making it a very useful ability.
The reason an outer sect disciple could learn such a formidable martial art was because his father was an elder. Otherwise, Son Heun would never have had access to such a cultivation method.
“I don’t know how that trash suddenly improved enough to reach the third level of the Houtian realm, but he can’t be Son Heun’s match.”
“Right. Looking at Jinpung’s stance, it’s quite sloppy. Has he even trained in martial arts?”
The onlookers exchanged remarks among themselves.
In an instant, a thunderous impact rang out as the two fists met. Son Heun was startled. A tremendous surge of true qi entered his body and reverberated violently, causing his blood and energy to churn wildly.