Chapter 57: The Cheon Family (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 57: The Cheon Family (2)
“Are they not here yet?!”
Cheon Wi-jin, the second son of the Cheon family, erupted in a fit of rage the moment he saw his subordinate. He was so incensed that even tearing the intruders limb from limb wouldn't have sated his fury, yet the targets of his ire had still not arrived.
“Cheon Wi-dok, who is guarding the First Checkpoint, reported seeing them on the mountain path, Young Master.”
“The First Checkpoint? Then they’ll be here any moment.”
“Yes. They should appear within fifteen minutes.”
“…….”
A fierce fire flickered in Cheon Wi-jin’s eyes. The Qingcheng Taoist he had been waiting for so impatiently was finally about to show his face.
It was then that the door slid open.
Slide.
A man exuding a refined and elegant aura stepped into the room. He wore a robe with lotuses embroidered upon the shoulders. His features were clean and composed; though he was a man, he possessed a graceful, almost delicate beauty.
It was the eldest son, Cheon Wi-hyeon.
Since childhood, he had dedicated himself to literature and scholarship. Having already passed the Provincial Exam, he was currently preparing for the Metropolitan Exam.
“So, this is where you were?”
“I was just about to head out, Brother.”
Wi-hyeon nodded understandingly. The Martial Challenge Letter lying on the floor spoke volumes about his younger brother's state of mind. It was a letter that had clearly been crumpled and smoothed out countless times.
He approached Cheon Wi-jin and placed a steady hand on his shoulder. It was a simple gesture, yet it carried the solemnity of a venerable scholar.
“How far away is the Qingcheng Taoist?”
“He just stepped into our territory. Word came in that he passed the First Checkpoint.”
“I see. He’s close, then. How do you feel?”
Cheon Wi-jin, his eyes now sharp with intensity, replied, “I am angry, but I am restraining myself. I must win, no matter what.”
As he displayed his resolve, Cheon Wi-hyeon patted his shoulder again.
“Indeed. With the skill I’ve seen from you, you are more than capable of handling anyone. The Cheon family cannot be pushed around by someone so full of conceit.” He shifted his gaze for a moment before continuing. “However, you must be cautious—extremely cautious. Rumor has it he fought to a draw with Cheol Gun.”
“Brother, do you actually believe that? It’s just a baseless rumor floating around the marketplace. I’ve also heard talk that he was utterly crushed.”
“Regardless, the fact that such rumors even exist makes him dangerous. As you know, Cheol Gun is strong. He is one of the Five Dragons, after all.”
“His time as one of the Five Dragons is ancient history. Haven't you heard the rumors that he’s spent the last few years buried in women's skirts? While he was wasting away, I was training relentlessly. And now, I am on the verge of reaching an even higher realm.”
Cheon Wi-hyeon nodded. Just as his brother said, Cheon Wi-jin’s skills were improving by leaps and bounds. Though he had been a late bloomer among the Seven Well Heroes, Wi-hyeon believed his brother could now be ranked comfortably in the middle of that elite group.
“Very well. In any case, Father has high expectations this time. If you defeat the Qingcheng Taoist, the Cheon family’s standing will become unshakable. Do not be careless. Fight well.”
“I will, Brother.”
“Good.”
Wi-hyeon gave a thin smile and walked out. Soon after, Cheon Wi-jin followed.
Crackle!
Once again, he gripped that wretched letter—whether it was a challenge or a deliberate insult, he couldn't tell—and crushed it in his fist like a piece of trash.
*
“Honestly, what was Father thinking, introducing us to a sect located on such a steep damn hill?”
Since the carriage couldn't navigate the rugged incline, Cheol So-yeon was forced to travel on her own two feet. Seok Myeong still wore a bright expression, and Hyeok-jin walked upward in silence, only scowling occasionally.
But Cheol So-yeon was different. The grumbling that had started at the base of the hill was still going strong.
“I don’t care which beggar-bastard it is; just let me catch them. I’ll snap their wrists in two.”
It was the kind of language one would expect from a street thug, and her eyes were laced with genuine murderous intent. Watching her, Hyeok-jin decided to revise his evaluation of her once again. She wasn't just a handful; she was a total nightmare.
“Please, restrain yourself. What if there’s a misunderstanding and your identity is revealed, or we get attacked?”
As she continued to mutter, Hyeok-jin finally lost his patience and snapped at her. But Cheol So-yeon wasn't one to take a rebuke lying down. She shot him a venomous look.
“What did you say? Are you trying to pick a fight with me right now?”
“I’m not trying to pick a fight; I’m telling you to behave. This is Orthodox territory. You are disguised as an Orthodox member, so why can't you understand that you need to act with some modesty?”
“You be modest!”
“…What? Do you think you can just say whatever you want? I’m only putting up with this for Seok Myeong’s sake, but I can’t take much more—”
“Then why don’t you stop putting up with it?”
“Why, this woman…!”
At that moment, Seok Myeong intervened.
“Excuse me.”
“What?!”
“What is it?!”
Both of them turned on Seok Myeong, their eyes blazing with anger. Seok Myeong scratched his head awkwardly and spoke quietly.
“I think we’ve arrived.”
*
Step, step.
As Seok Myeong walked onto the sect’s grounds, the atmosphere felt as cold as an icy road in the dead of winter. Perhaps to show a facade of courtesy, many warriors were lined up from the entrance to welcome them.
However, a stern, frigid energy flickered in their eyes. This hostile look was shared by everyone in the Cheon family, including the warriors standing in formation.
An old man stood at the end of the line. He guided Seok Myeong and his companions through the estate. They passed through two large gates, circled around an outer path, and were led inside another walled compound.
“Man, they’re being really difficult.”
Having walked quite a distance, Cheol So-yeon spoke irritably, beads of sweat forming on her brow. Hyeok-jin placed a finger to his lips, signaling her to be quiet, but she ignored him. She absolutely loathed this kind of empty formality. Her expression looked as if she were about to explode at any second.
“Uh, Seok Myeong.”
Just then, as if noticing something strange, Hyeok-jin called out.
“What is it?”
“Doesn't this place feel a bit odd?”
“In what way?”
“The look in people's eyes. Even for a scheduled duel, they seem far too guarded.”
“Hmm.”
Seok Myeong looked around. Warriors passed by occasionally, and as Hyeok-jin said, their gazes were far from friendly. There was a chilling sensation in the air. It wasn't just a high level of alertness; it was pure, unadulterated hostility.
“Perhaps something bad happened, or there’s another reason?”
Seok Myeong didn't think much of it, assuming this was simply how the sect operated. Cheol So-yeon still found their attitude frustrating, but seeing Seok Myeong and Hyeok-jin walking in silence, she finally stopped complaining.
And so, the trio passed through the final large gate that appeared before them.
*
A hall with a massive octagonal roof, resembling a fortress, revealed itself. In front of it stretched a vast sparring ground, roughly three hundred jang wide. Surrounding the hall on three sides were pavilions built with sturdy pillars and roofs but no walls.
“This way, please.”
Following the old man’s guidance, Seok Myeong crossed the sparring ground. He caught a glimpse of dozens of shirtless warriors moving and shouting in unison. Their passionate training in the sweltering summer heat was reminiscent of Shaolin monks practicing the Five Fists. Here and there, he saw men holding spears or sabers. Judging by that, it seemed the Cheon family was not a sect that dealt exclusively with the sword.
As Seok Myeong approached the front of the great hall, an old man sitting in the leftmost chair of a row stood up and offered a stiff greeting. He had firm lips that gave an impression of extreme stubbornness, and his eyes held a cautious, sharp light rather than a welcoming one.
“Greetings. I am Cheon Wi-seol, the head of the Cheon family.”
Seok Myeong returned the courtesy with a bow.
“I am Seok Myeong. It is a pleasure to meet you. I hope this will be a good learning opportunity for both of us.”
“Whether it turns out to be a good opportunity or a bad one remains to be seen,” Cheon Wi-seol said, his voice laced with enough thorns to make anyone uncomfortable.
Hyeok-jin’s eyebrows twitched immediately, and Cheol So-yeon momentarily furrowed her brow.
“Indeed. Who can know the future? That is why we strive. I will do my best, but I ask for your leniency so that no ill will remains between us.”
“Hmm?”
Cheon Wi-seol narrowed his eyes. He had shown blatant hostility, yet the opponent had given a perfectly textbook, polite response. He wondered if this was truly the same person who had sent that insulting challenge letter.
‘No, perhaps he’s just a sly snake hiding a blade in his gut.’
Cheon Wi-seol returned to his original expression and raised a hand to point to one side.
“Allow me to introduce my sons. The eldest is Cheon Wi-hyeon; he is a scholar, not a warrior. He has passed the Provincial Exam and is studying hard for the Metropolitan Exam. He is a son I can be proud of anywhere.”
At his words, the man bowed his head. “It is a pleasure. I am Cheon Wi-hyeon.”
His face was expressionless. Unlike his father or younger brother, his personality was one that did not reveal a shred of emotion.
“And beside him is your opponent. My second son, Cheon Wi-jin. In the Jianghu, he is known as one of the Seven Well Heroes.”
A man with a sturdy build, looking more like a seasoned adult than a youth, took a step forward. His eyes were fierce and his complexion dark; one could tell just by his aura that he had reached a significant level of mastery.
“I am Cheon Wi-jin.”
“I am Seok Myeong of Qingcheng. I look forward to our match.”
Seok Myeong spoke with a natural, easy tone. But Cheon Wi-jin was different. Releasing a bit of his aura, he stared intently into Seok Myeong’s eyes, attempting to gauge his opponent's skill even in this brief moment.
‘What? I can barely feel any energy.’
The energy he sensed from Seok Myeong was nothing special. It was far too shallow—to the point where it lacked any perceived depth. If there was anything unusual, it was only that it felt exceptionally soft.
‘I was told there was something about him, so I won’t be careless, but still, this is a bit…’
Looking at Seok Myeong, Cheon Wi-jin couldn't hide a sudden surge of confidence. The amount of internal qi he felt was far less than expected. He felt as though he could win with one hand tied behind his back.
Once the introductions were finished, Seok Myeong introduced Hyeok-jin and Cheol So-yeon. Hyeok-jin was introduced truthfully, but Cheol So-yeon was a different story; she was presented as a woman who lived alone in Heartless Village, Sichuan.
“Please, have a seat for now. Since you’ve come for a duel, would you first like to observe our family’s martial arts?”
After finishing the introductions, Cheon Wi-seol gestured for Seok Myeong’s group to sit and raised his hand.