Chapter 31
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Brawl (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Taejin and Cheolho clicked their tongues at Hwangbo Jinwoon's attitude, who had been huffing and puffing alone before bringing up the idea of a spar. What the hell had this guy eaten? No way was he in his right mind otherwise.
"Kneel and beg for forgiveness right now. Then, out of my boundless magnanimity, I'll forgive you!"
Where had he seen that before?
It was the kind of arrogant posture that wouldn't come from anywhere but constant exposure to such displays.
He could tell just from his son's and Cheolho's dumbfounded faces. These were greenhouse flowers who had never met a worthy opponent, their shallow pride on full display.
Mujin swept his gaze over those watching the exchange with interest from behind the naive punk who had so thoughtlessly challenged them to a spar.
'Ho, so they're just sitting there quietly even after hearing that.'
Both Taejin and Cheolho showed no outward signs of their internal energy. Unless you grabbed their wrists to check—a feature of their martial arts themselves—it was impossible to judge by eye alone.
But who the hell sticks out their arm just because some idiot demands it? That would mean handing your weakness straight to the enemy.
Unless you were a complete moron.
That's why most disputes ended in spars or duels.
'Same then as now.'
They'd let it slide if they thought they had the advantage. Then, like they were doing some noble sect warrior a favor, they'd graciously forgive "just this once" and bestow their fake mercy.
'I never even got that much.'
-Isn't that rich coming from the guy who beat them half to death and actually killed a few?
Back when his name wasn't known, he'd beaten to death a few cocky bastards showing off. They all deserved it, though. Flaunting themselves in front of women? Nonstop wailing death was only natural.
Who gave them permission to act cool in front of ladies?
He hadn't seen that kind of nonsense back then. His own wife was dead, buried in the cold earth. No way he'd stomach lovebirds flirting in front of a widowed man. Those show-offs staking their lives on ego were the real idiots.
His musings ended as the proper duel kicked off.
There were others fidgeting anxiously: the ship captain and the merchants. This was a tricky situation for them.
They probably wondered why these fools were causing a ruckus on deck instead of staying on solid ground.
That was their problem.
The Hwangbo Clan had picked the fight first. If things went south, they could just bill the famously prestigious Hwangbo family in the martial world. Whether they'd pay was another story.
"I am Hwangbo Jinwoon."
"Nam Cheolho."
"Kang Taejin."
Hwangbo Jinwoon sharpened his glare at Cheolho and Taejin's consistently apathetic demeanor. He'd originally planned to yield the first three exchanges, but now he intended to make them realize their place from the outset.
"Come at me."
It was arrogant enough to irk anyone, implying he didn't care if the two attacked together. Yet Taejin and Cheolho accepted it calmly. They respected his decision to fight at a disadvantage on his own terms.
Pa-pat!
Striking first for victory, Hwangbo Jinwoon stepped into the Heavenly King Step. It fell short of the king's stride empowered by heavenly force.
Whoosh!
Taejin and Cheolho feinted a straight charge before abruptly changing direction. They split to both sides, scattering his field of vision. Basic tactics: better to divide the line of sight than rush head-on, making defense harder.
It'd be nice to have eyes in the back of his head, but unfortunately, their speeds were similar.
Huh!
Catching him off guard with their unexpected quickness, Hwangbo Jinwoon hastily unleashed the Tyrant's Mountain-Shattering Fist. A punch that could shatter mountains, even acknowledged within his clan. But his targets slipped its path, aiming for his flanks.
Despite his bulk suggesting he'd outpace them in footwork, they seized aerial superiority in an instant.
Shuuuk!
Taejin thrust his fist at the opening.
The lake was calm, but the boat kept moving. Even small ripples rocked the deck. Naturally, exerting full power on a swaying deck was tough. Even rooted in place, you couldn't channel your full strength due to the motion.
Taejin had trained in environments harsher than this boat. His body had learned to adapt instinctively, finding optimal form even in the worst conditions.
'Guess I should call this a silver lining.'
His father's brutal beatings and abuse had turned into an advantage. He could stay cool and unflappable in any situation. After all, nothing worse than his father had come along yet.
'Can't escape it.'
His weight was perfectly distributed, balance of speed and impact flawless. It pierced through Hwangbo Jinwoon's flailing limbs.
Paaang!
Taejin's punch was swift and precise.
Hwangbo Jinwoon didn't just take it lying down. As a prized later-generation talent nurtured by the Hwangbo Clan, he wasn't clumsy enough to eat a single clean hit. He twisted his footwork to redirect, spinning his waist to disperse the impact.
Then he created distance.
Tadak!
Taejin doggedly pursued the retreating Hwangbo Jinwoon, unleashing a barrage of punches. Not his pinnacle Six Harmonies Fist technique, but the basics were solid.
"You think this is enough to... kuhk!"
"Where do you think you're going!"
Taejin's straightforward Six Harmonies Fist had seized the initiative. Hwangbo Jinwoon struggled to find an opening for a counter.
All he could manage were similar exchanges.
The problem was, similar wasn't good enough.
Cheolho targeted his back with a punch. Hwangbo Jinwoon, focused forward, got stabbed in the blind spot.
From there, it was one-sided.
Once his balance cracked, Cheolho and Taejin pounced, turning Hwangbo Jinwoon into a sloppy mess. No matter how frantically he flailed, it was two against one.
Imagine equal speed and power clashing. The gap of two-on-one is no joke. You might think in a dream you could block, parry, redirect. Reality's not that forgiving.
Thud, wobble.
The moment his body lost balance!
Srrek!
Cheolho swept the deck with his foot.
Hwangbo Jinwoon floated into the air before slamming face-first onto the deck. Seizing the chance, Cheolho and Taejin stomped him hard.
Hmm.
He understood his nephew's competitive spirit. A bit hasty, sure, but a necessary trait for any warrior.
His nephew was set to compete in the Little Dragon Tournament. With folks already talking winners, gauging his skill wasn't a bad idea.
'This is tricky.'
His nephew's fault for allowing a joint attack, but this was excessively one-sided. Getting worked by no-name rookies? He hadn't anticipated it'd go this far. He'd hoped it'd flow toward stroking the kid's ego a bit.
The lopsided beatdown was one thing, but his punches—Hwangbo Clan techniques honed over years—were flying wildly, barely staying grounded.
At this rate, the family's face would be lost. With the Little Dragon Tournament not even started, he needed to preserve the kid's confidence.
Time to wrap it up.
Sweek!
Just as he moved to intervene.
Twitch!
The man who'd come with them was staring right at him. With an expression like he knew exactly what he was about to do.
He wagged a finger. A haughty warning: meddle clumsily, and you won't get off easy.
Ha!
Hwangbo Jangseong was dumbfounded. He was the Fist King's son, one of the ten pinnacle experts representing the Hwangbo Clan. Yet this guy was looking down on him.
He immediately summoned the Heavenly King Art that defined the Hwangbo Clan. The will of heaven fortified his flesh.
Wooong!
He'd advance boldly and display the Hwangbo Clan's dignity.
'Kuh, what the!'
He tried to take a step forward.
But Hwangbo Jangseong couldn't push his will through. An overwhelming pressure crushed his spirit, blocking his body.
'What?'
It was hard to bear. He'd only felt this facing his father. Yet this man wasn't much older than him. It defied common sense. Sure, hidden masters were as common as sand in the martial world, but his father was one of the twenty-one superhumans upholding it.
'No way!'
Hwangbo Jangseong shook his head. He couldn't accept it. He had to step forward, shatter the pressure, and showcase the Hwangbo Clan's might.
Huhk!
One step was enough.
But instead of advancing, he crumpled to the deck. The pressure was incomparable to before. The instant he tried to move, it felt like his breath would snap. The invisible stranglehold was none other than the formless aura of a true master. Resist to the end, and it'd turn into formless killing intent, dominating his body.
-Go ahead if you think you can handle it.
A telepathic message pierced his mind, forcing Hwangbo Jangseong to pull his foot back. He realized the unassuming man sitting on the deck was a master beyond his capacity.
A glance around confirmed it.
'Just me!'
No one else on deck noticed. The aura was precisely controlled. Not all formless auras are equal. Beyond distribution and focus, no one else felt the crushing pressure he did.
'A master. Mid-peak supreme realm!'
Mentioning absolute realm was premature, but if he—entry peak supreme—felt this oppressed, it had to be higher.
What now?
Hwangbo Jangseong was in a bind. He'd been about to step in but tucked tail. Ignoring it meant his nephew was at risk.
The man was going easy on him now. Push with the Hwangbo name, and it'd lead to a disaster he couldn't handle.
Best to wrap it neatly here. No need to escalate.
"Those country bumpkins are getting cocky!"
"Insolent fools! We must rescue the young master!"
Hwangbo Jangseong snapped to attention. He wasn't alone. To escort his nephew, five from the Azure Dragon Squad among the clan's elite guards had been assigned. Just five, but first-rate warriors anywhere.
"You'll just watch?"
Damn it!
His daughter was with them too.
Backing out now without cause would make them a laughingstock. But revealing the man's power felt off. Look—even now, he was pressuring only him unnoticed. Clear message: fail to handle it yourself, and it's not just you who suffers.
"It's Jinwoon's mess."
"But at this rate, the clan's face..."
"Hah! Don't you know jumping in without cause is what truly shames the clan?"
"Still, that's too much!"
Situationally, Hwangbo Jinwoon was at fault. They could've ignored the kids' chatter. Pride as direct clan bloodline led him to propose a joint attack even.
He'd done plenty to deserve the beating. Self-inflicted, really. Now that it turned sour, adults wanted in. Couldn't say it outright for the clan's reputation, but enough to fuel gossip.
Still, he got the Azure Dragon Squad's reaction.
Thwack, puke!
Only the sounds of hits. Right side, left side—beaten like a neighborhood punching bag. No trace of Hwangbo Clan's heroic spirit, even if you scrubbed your eyes raw.
Moreover, neither showed ordinary movement. At least Jinwoon's equal, maybe more. Yet they didn't hesitate on the pincer.
Result was obvious. A humiliating one-sided thrashing to end it. The heir meant to lead the Hwangbo Clan was getting a brutal initiation to the martial world.
Kuwek!
Block one, the other strikes without fail. No coordination needed—their teamwork was perfect. Didn't even need to be, really.
Plenty of openings.
Hwangbo Jinwoon took the pounding until his stamina gave out.
Thud!
Hwangbo Jinwoon collapsed unconscious.
Taejin and Cheolho won the duel but felt no thrill. Rather, they burned with fighting spirit toward each other more than the foe. Acknowledging each other's prowess.
'That body's no joke.'
'I won't lose!'
Poor Hwangbo Jinwoon, left like a Yangtze River duck egg amid their rivalry.