Chapter 14: Who Asked for Help? (3)
Chapter 14: Who Asked for Help? (3)
Ominous rumors began to circulate among the residents of Cheonsu County. The rumors were none other than…
“The Blood Saber Sect is coming?”
“Yeah. It looks like they’re going to have a massive showdown with the Twin Dragon Room… I mean, the Twin Dragon Sect.”
“Good heavens. What on earth is happening?”
“Are those Unorthodox bastards moving in again?”
“I thought we could finally breathe after those thugs from the Twin Dragon Room were kicked out.”
“And of all groups, it’s the Blood Saber Sect…”
The residents of Cheonsu County looked utterly drained. Amidst the gloom, someone spoke up with a hint of hope.
“Maybe the Twin Dragon Sect could win?”
At that, another man barked back.
“How could the Twin Dragon Sect possibly beat the Blood Saber Sect?”
“Well, they did defeat the Twin Dragon Room…”
“Is the Twin Dragon Room the same as the Blood Saber Sect? The Twin Dragon Room was nothing more than a pack of hoodlums, except for their leader. But the Blood Saber Sect is a real martial arts sect.”
“…….”
“Besides, the leader of the Blood Saber Sect is one of the disciples of the Heaven-Shattering Martial Emperor. Do you honestly think the Twin Dragon Sect can fight them and win? Seriously?”
“Well, that’s…”
“Until recently, the leader of the Twin Dragon Sect was just a man running a clinic in the slums. It was a miracle enough that they beat the Twin Dragon Room. The Blood Saber Sect? Not a chance.”
The man’s pessimistic view might have been hard to swallow, but by the standards of common sense, he was right. Naturally, the anxiety of the commoners only intensified.
“Then… is the Blood Saber Sect going to take over our area?”
“Most likely.”
“Aigoo, out comes the fox and in comes the tiger.”
“Dammit, if I’d known this would happen, I’d rather have…”
“Hey! Watch what you’re saying!”
“No, I just… Ahem…”
“…….”
“Don’t look at me like that. It’s not like I’m wrong, is it?”
The man being questioned shouted back.
Usually, when an Unorthodox sect settled down, the lives of the commoners became miserable. The residents of Cheonsu County had already suffered greatly under the Twin Dragon Room. Even when they sought help from the authorities, the County Magistrate, claiming the principle of non-interference between the government and the martial world, didn't lift a finger. Instead, those who reported the crimes were met with even more vicious retaliation.
They had been happier than anyone when the Twin Dragon Room vanished overnight. But that joy was short-lived. Now that the Blood Saber Sect was coming, a thought crept into their minds.
‘Would it have been better if the Twin Dragon Room had just stayed?’
‘If the Twin Dragon Room was that bad, then once the Blood Saber Sect moves in…’
‘Ah… we’re doomed. I’m finished now.’
They didn't know exactly what the Blood Saber Sect would do, but since it was a much larger sect than the Twin Dragon Room, they would surely need more money—which meant the people would be exploited even more.
“They say life is full of ups and downs… and we’re the ones hitting the bottom, aren’t we?”
“What do we do now? What should we do?”
“They should have just left things alone…”
The human heart is a fickle thing, and some even began to feel resentment toward the Twin Dragon Sect. Of course, there were those who pushed back.
“How can you say such a thing?”
“Why can’t I? It’s the truth, isn’t it?”
“Ha! Weren’t you more grateful than anyone when the Twin Dragon Sect defeated the Twin Dragon Room?”
“That was then…”
“Who was it that lost their entire estate to debt from the Twin Dragon Room because of their parents’ medical bills and almost had their family sold off?”
“…….”
“And now you’re resentful? Is that how a human being acts?”
“…….”
“Have some shame! How can you say that?”
The other man flared up and shouted back.
“It’s easy to talk big. But honestly, isn’t everyone else thinking the same thing I am?”
“What?”
“Did I say anything wrong?”
“You subhuman piece of—”
“What?!”
Just as the two men were about to grab each other by the collar…
“It’s the Blood Saber Sect!”
A single shout froze everyone in place.
The crowd filling the main road split to both sides simultaneously, like the ebbing tide. Then, a group of men carrying a banner with the character for ‘Blood’ (血) embroidered in red marched proudly down the center of the wide road.
At the front was Ma Jae-ho, walking down the street while relishing the looks of fear and wariness directed at him.
“That man is the Blood Wolf Wanderer.”
“I heard he’s a disciple of the Heaven-Shattering Martial Emperor and one of the top ten swordsmen in the Unorthodox Faction.”
“His arms are so long. They almost reach his knees.”
“Shh! He’ll hear you.”
“Gasp!”
The commoners of Cheonsu County kept their eyes lowered, terrified of making eye contact, and whispered among themselves. Ma Jae-ho ignored them, looking around Cheonsu County.
“It’s more prosperous than I thought. There was a reason those Twin Dragon Room bastards could offer up such hefty tributes.”
He then turned to the advisor beside him.
“What do you think? Wouldn’t it be fine for us to manage this place directly?”
“A wise idea, Sect Leader. It would be fitting to entrust the management of this area to one of your close associates as a reward.”
“Right. Then first, I’ll have to wipe out that backwater sect, the Twin Dragon whatever-it-is.”
It was a sect he had never heard of before, but since he was told they had over a hundred members, he thought his beloved blade might finally get a good soak in blood after a long time. But then…
“Hm? What’s that?”
A group appeared from the opposite side. Or rather, could you even call this a group?
At the very front stood an old man with twin swords at his waist, followed by a young child. And behind them…
“They’re all just brats?”
When an old man who looked like he had one foot in the grave stood before him with about a dozen children, Ma Jae-ho felt confusion before hostility. What on earth was this?
“Who are you people?” Ma Jae-ho asked in a sharp, ringing voice to clear his confusion.
The old man at the front gave a fist salute and spoke.
“I am Go Seok-hyeon, the leader of the Twin Dragon Sect.”
“The leader of the Twin… Dragon Sect? You?”
“Indeed. I heard the news that you were visiting our Twin Dragon Sect on business, so I came out to greet you.”
“Heh… Hehehe…”
Ma Jae-ho laughed. Then, the moment he stopped…
“Urgh…!”
His hand moved like a flash of lightning, grabbing the head of the subordinate he had brought as a guide and lifting him up with one hand. He growled fiercely.
“Didn’t you say this was a sect with over a hundred members? Then what is this pathetic sight? Huh?”
“Agh… Aaaargh…!”
The subordinate wanted to make an excuse, but he couldn't. Ma Jae-ho’s hand, which covered his entire face, was slowly crushing his head. The sound of a skull cracking was accompanied by unspeakable agony.
“How dare you mock me?!”
“Ugh… Gack… Uuuuh…”
“Atonement with your death.”
CRUNCH!
Immediately after, the head of the subordinate held in Ma Jae-ho’s grip was crushed. He had pulverized a human skull with pure grip strength alone.
“Hmph, trash.”
Ma Jae-ho tossed the crushed subordinate to the ground, spat out the words, and looked back at the Twin Dragon Sect.
“Whatever the reason may be…”
The moment he took a step forward, Go Seok-hyeon had to desperately steady himself to keep from backing away. But Ma Jae-ho, radiating an extraordinary pressure, continued to walk and speak.
“It is a fact that you lot challenged me. Is it not?”
“…It is.”
“Hmph, then that’s enough. A lion does its best even when hunting a rabbit. Resent the ruthlessness of the Jianghu—”
“Pfft!”
It was then. A burst of laughter erupted—the kind that blatantly said, ‘Ah, I couldn't hold that in.’
“Master, that’s rude.”
“No, don’t you find this funny? A lion? He said a lion.”
“It is funny, but he’s being serious in his own way.”
“No matter how I look at him, he looks more like a long-armed goblin than a lion, don’t you think?”
“Pfft… Don’t make me laugh too.”
The conversation that followed made Ma Jae-ho truly furious.
“You bastards!”
Ma Jae-ho swiftly drew the saber from his back and swung it toward the source of the voices.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
His saber qi tore through the ground as it extended. At the moment of the explosion, two figures leaped into the air, dodging the attack. The two people who revealed themselves were…
“Foreigners? And…”
“Whoa…”
“Ooh…”
Naturally, it was Patrick and Persona. The moment she appeared, Persona’s beauty was enough to make the entire crowd gasp in admiration. Even Ma Jae-ho, who was about to swing his saber again, momentarily froze.
However, he quickly regained his senses and spoke.
“Who are you people?”
“Who else? We’re members of the Twin Dragon Sect.”
“What?”
“I am Patrick Schneider, a Bong Gong of the Great Twin Dragon Sect. And this is Persona the Lord, my disciple.”
“I can introduce myself…”
“Why bother with the extra effort?”
At Patrick’s words, Ma Jae-ho nodded slightly.
‘They’re experts. Both of them.’
Though it was a sudden attack, they had easily dodged a strike he had swung with genuine intent. They were definitely not amateurs.
‘Right. This makes some sense now.’
If there were experts like this, it explained why the subordinates he sent had been one-sidedly beaten. But then another question arose…
“So, in the end, you are also members of the Twin Dragon Sect?”
“What? Can’t you understand even when I tell you? Unorthodox bastards are as dim-witted now as they were in the past.”
“Hmph, then why didn’t you appear with your Sect Leader instead of hiding off to the side?”
Patrick couldn't readily answer Ma Jae-ho’s question. At that, the advisor beside Ma Jae-ho shouted.
“Were you hiding to look for an opportunity to launch a sneak attack from the flank?! You cowards!”
“What sneak attack? I just…”
“Just what? If you’re so honorable, speak up!”
Under repeated questioning, Patrick hesitated before continuing.
“Well, actually… I thought it would be cool to suddenly appear out of nowhere when the sect was in danger, making everyone go, ‘Whoa! I didn't know the Twin Dragon Sect had such experts!’ You know, that kind of entrance? Or maybe not?”
“…….”
“…….”
“What? Why? So what?”
The Twin Dragon Sect and the Blood Saber Sect. And all the people of Cheonsu County who were secretly watching the situation fell silent. They all had the same thought—the thought everyone has once they experience Patrick Schneider.
‘What kind of crazy bastard is this?’
‘What is wrong with this guy?’
It was a perfectly normal reaction.
*
“Fine! Fine! You guys really don’t know how to read the room. Let’s just get to the sword fighting. Happy now?”
To break the frozen atmosphere, Patrick grumbled and stepped forward. Ma Jae-ho raised his hand and spoke to his subordinates.
“I’ll handle him. You lot take care of the others.”
“Yes, sir!”
Patrick also spoke.
“They’re all mine. Don’t any of you interfere; just stay back and stay out of the way.”
“Yeah, yeah, fine. I won’t touch them, you stingy man.”
“What did you say, brat?”
“Kids, let’s stay way back over there.”
“Senior Sister, is that okay?”
“Yeah, it’s fine.”
The two were giving completely opposite instructions. But why did the Unorthodox guy’s tactical orders seem more normal?
Regardless, Patrick drew his Black and White Twin Dragon Swords and licked his lips.
‘Hehehe. The Quest said I’d get 2,000 Causality points if I defeat these guys, right?’
Most of the instructions from the Quest often went against Patrick’s inclinations, but for once, they were in agreement. He could crush the Unorthodox sect that invaded his territory and earn Causality points at the same time. For Patrick, it was like killing two birds with one stone.
‘Come on, you cute little things.’
And just as the two sects were about to clash spectacularly…
“Stop!”
At that moment, someone—no, a group of people—came running across the rooftops of Cheonsu County with a loud shout.
“What is it now?”
The ‘what’ that Patrick was squinting at were Taoists wearing caps and carrying swords at their waists. Running gracefully with the hems of their light green martial robes fluttering in the wind…
“Hah!”
They leaped elegantly from the rooftops, spun twice in the air with flair, and landed softly on the ground. Judging by the fact that they didn't even make a sound when their feet touched the earth, it was clear their Lightness Skill was superb. There wasn't just one of them, but two, three, four… and soon over thirty appeared.
Then, the one leading the pack shouted.
“Draw swords!”
Shring! Shring-shring!
In an instant, they drew their swords with a clear metallic ring. The sword light reflecting the brilliant sunlight and their righteous gaze, even brighter than the light, were the very definition of heroes from a heroic novel.
And most importantly…
“It’s… it’s the Kongtong Sect!”
“The Kongtong Sect is here!”
“Waaaaah! It’s the Kongtong Sect!”
These were people belonging to a power with undeniable fame and prestige. The overlords of Gansu Province and a member of the Nine Great Sects. The Kongtong Sect had appeared in Cheonsu County.
At that sight, the commoners of Cheonsu County cheered wildly. And…
“Tsk, that’s exactly what I was trying to do.”
The devil clicked his tongue.