Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: A Violent Misunderstanding
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At Hyang-i's amused words, everyone's gaze turned in the direction she was looking.
The wall of the Cheong-a Inn's rear courtyard, a place shrouded in darkness.
But there was nothing there.
They carefully searched for any presence, but couldn't sense anything suspicious.
Yet, they couldn't easily look away.
The term "rat" referred to a hidden person, and the one who said it was none other than Hyang-i.
Who among them didn't know that she was the strongest in their group?
In Neung Un-bi's opinion, she was a top-tier master in that particular field, even when considering the entire Central Plains.
So, they had no choice but to watch intently.
Naturally, Un Hak, having experienced her martial prowess, also couldn't tear his eyes away.
A rat...
“Where is everyone looking?”
“Huh?”
“Not the wall, but over the wall. Up in that tree over there.”
“……!”
Shaking her head as if they were pathetic, Hyang-i pointed her finger toward a street tree a short distance from the wall.
Its branches extended over the wall into the courtyard.
“Wang Cheon! Ju Seung!”
Neung Un-bi shouted without delay, and upon being called, Wang Cheon and Ju Seung swiftly launched themselves forward.
Fwoosh!
Un Hak clicked his tongue in amazement at the sight of the two dashing forward in a single breath, using the wall as a springboard to launch themselves.
Their speed was incredible. He had expected them to be skilled, as they were guarding the Cult Leader's disciple, but seeing their movements in person, they were like lightning.
Even Un Hak, who prided himself on being the best among the rising generation of the Orthodox Faction, couldn't help but be impressed.
Is this the power of the Demonic Cult? To have such skill...
Then what is the true level of Neung Un-bi, who commands them as his subordinates?
He had seen him fight the bandits, but since he had unfortunately lost consciousness, he only saw the beginning and couldn't properly assess his abilities.
And that maid named Hyang-i... just what is she...?
Until she spoke up, no one had known about the rat's existence.
To discover the traces of the rat amidst all that noise, and while conversing with others, no less.
Moreover, the tree outside the wall was a good twenty zhang away from them in the rear courtyard.
To sense a presence from that distance?
“Hmm…”
Un Hak grimaced without realizing it.
The martial arts of the maid(?) were far greater than he had imagined.
No, it wasn't just great... she... she was an absolute monster, wasn't she?
Seeing how she even treated Neung Un-bi with disdain, her status was clearly not low.
No wonder Neung Un-bi had scoffed at even the name of the King of the Green Forest.
He had something to rely on.
But what kind of rat could it be?
As far as he knew, there were two groups Neung Un-bi had clashed with.
The Heavenly Pillar Gate of the Orthodox Faction, and the Azure Flower Stronghold, one of the eighteen fortresses of the Green Forest.
Gamcheon was the territory of the Orthodox Faction.
To be precise, it was a place where the Zhongnan Sect, a sect on par with Mount Hua, held strong influence.
Therefore, the probability of it being someone from the Green Forest was extremely low. Which meant it had to be someone from the Orthodox Faction...
The Heavenly Pillar Gate had no power. Even those who had connections with them wouldn't have stepped forward.
Hadn't the Orthodox Faction already confirmed their wrongdoings and cut ties with them?
Then who?
The Orthodox Murim Alliance? The Beggars' Sect?
That couldn't be it either.
Hadn't the Orthodox Murim Alliance requested Mount Hua's help in ensuring the Demonic Cult's Third Young Master didn't cause any unpleasant friction with the Central Plains?
Then… Zhongnan?
As his thoughts vaguely reached a conclusion, Un Hak's heart grew urgent.
What if someone dispatched by the Zhongnan Sect was watching Neung Un-bi?
And what if Neung Un-bi found out?
And what if the high-ranking master of the Demonic Cult, the maid whose status rivaled that of the Cult Leader's disciple, was with them?
“Infinite… damn it!”
Un Hak couldn't swallow the curse that burst out, and as he swore, he launched himself after Wang Cheon and Ju Seung.
Beating up bandits was one thing, but not Zhongnan.
Wasn't this the same Neung Un-bi who had beaten up the sworn brother of the King of the Green Forest and even plundered his stronghold?
If he found out that people connected to Zhongnan were watching him, all hell would break loose.
He wouldn't just beat up the person; he wouldn't forgive those behind them either.
He had to stop it.
The rat… he had to catch it himself. He absolutely could not leave it in the hands of the Demonic Cult.
Since he had volunteered to be their guide in the Central Plains, they probably wouldn't say much if he took the initiative and handled it.
“Haaaaap!”
But having started late, he couldn't seem to close the distance.
Growing frantic, Un Hak poured all his internal energy into his movement technique.
The Dark Fragrance Drift, renowned as the greatest movement technique of the Mount Hua Sect!
Paaaang!
The moment Un Hak kicked off the ground as if stepping on a stone bridge, his figure shot forward, drawing a single white line.
Swiiiiish!
“Get out of the waaaay!”
“……!?”
Wang Cheon and Ju Seung, startled by his charge which emitted a plum blossom fragrance so strong it made their noses tingle, jumped to the left and right.
Un Hak shot through the gap between them like a flash of lightning.
“That guy… what's gotten into him all of a sudden?”
Neung Un-bi could only be bewildered.
Why would he suddenly jump into action after just standing there?
Of course, the members of the Demonic Cult weren't the only ones with baffled expressions.
“Huh? Uh-oh? Ahhh!”
Jeong Ik-su, the Patrol Leader of the Seoncheon Faction, who had been hiding in a tree near the Cheong-a Inn's rear courtyard because he wanted to confirm the identity of the righteous person(?) helping those in need, couldn't help but be terrified.
He had only intended to confirm their identity.
He was curious about who was doing such a good deed.
But he couldn't just visit them openly.
Seeing as they left the money secretly, they clearly didn't want their good deeds to be known.
So he was watching in secret.
He planned to identify them and report to his Faction Leader so they could at least extend their greetings.
The people in the rear courtyard were merchants. And people dressed similarly to the righteous person(?) were constantly taking money pouches and climbing over the wall.
It seemed they were carrying out their righteous acts under the cover of night.
To think such merchants existed...
But on closer inspection, wasn't there a Taoist with them?
It was from a distance, but he could see it clearly.
The plum blossom pattern embroidered on his sleeve.
In other words, Mount Hua.
As expected…
No, it was more like, "of course." A merchant group associated with Mount Hua was passing through Gamcheon and couldn't turn a blind eye to the people's suffering.
Furthermore, to distribute a vast amount of money while acting secretly so their righteous deeds wouldn't spread...
The world was truly a good place to live.
His heart warmed for no reason, and he decided he should at least offer his greetings, so he started to climb down the tree.
But just then, the people who appeared to be the leaders of the merchant group, who had been drinking, suddenly looked in his direction.
First the young girl, and then all of them…
Following that, two martial artists suddenly rushed toward him at a speed that was hard to follow with the naked eye.
They must have noticed him watching secretly and mistaken him for an enemy.
But then, all of a sudden…
“You damn rat!”
“……”
The Mount Hua Taoist who had been with them used the wall as a springboard and flew toward him at an incredible speed, causing him to gasp.
But he couldn't retaliate. He couldn't even counterattack instinctively.
He had to explain and clear up the misunderstanding.
That he was also from the Orthodox Faction. A martial artist from the Seoncheon Faction, a vassal of Zhongnan.
Since the other party was a Mount Hua Taoist, there shouldn't be a problem.
“Taoist Master! I am—”
Thwack!
The moment he opened his mouth, he was kicked.
Thud!
The impact knocked him out of the tree, and he crashed to the ground.
“Kuaargh!”
He landed on his back, and the breath was knocked out of him.
An unbearable pain and a surge of irritation washed over him, but Jeong Ik-su barely managed to endure it.
Wasn't he the one in the wrong?
First, the misunderstanding…
But the impact on his back was too great, and he couldn't speak.
He had to stop the Taoist first, so the moment he raised his hand.
Craack!
Un Hak's fist, swung with all his might, smashed into Jeong Ik-su's jaw.
“Kraaack!”
Of all the times for his voice to return, why did it have to be while screaming?
Jeong Ik-su, who had been getting up, was slammed back onto the ground.
“You scoundrel! How dare you! Spying like a rat? I will never forgive you!”
Kwajik! Kwajijik!
Un Hak stomped on Jeong Ik-su with all his might.
“Guh, gurgle! Wa, wait…”
“Shut up, you bastard!”
There was no conversation.
Un Hak didn't stop his hands and feet, and Jeong Ik-su, beaten without even being able to resist, was quickly turning into a ragged mess.
And inside, Un Hak was earnestly apologizing.
I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry.
I don't know who you are, but please bear with me even if my actions are cruel.
This is all for the peace of the Central Plains…
“Don't say a word!”
Kwajik! Kwajijik! Thwack! Thwack!
Jeong Ik-su couldn't speak even if he wanted to.
Being thoroughly beaten by the ultimate techniques of Mount Hua emanating from Un Hak's hands, his consciousness began to fade.
“Le, Leader! You bastarrrd!”
Just then, the Seoncheon Faction's patrol team, who had been following the traces left by Jeong Ik-su, joined the fight.
The assailant was wearing a Taoist robe with a clear plum blossom pattern on the sleeve, but this was no time for questions.
Jeong Ik-su was dying at his hands.
“Vicious scoundrel! How dare you! To harm the Patrol Leader of the Seoncheon Faction! We will not forgive you!”
Swiiish!
As the sword drawn by Anpyeong slashed toward the wrist that was grabbing Jeong Ik-su's collar, Un Hak's face twisted.
Dammit… he had companions?
And the Seoncheon Faction? Isn't that a vassal of Zhongnan?
But even knowing their identity, he couldn't stop.
He had to resolve this himself before they incurred the wrath of the Demonic Cult.
Even if it meant bowing his head to Zhongnan, he had to prevent a bloodbath, didn't he?
For the peace of the Central Plains… I'll take them all down!
Kuuung!
Taking a horse stance and stomping down hard, Un Hak drew a large circle with both hands.
Hwiiii!
Energy flowed along the circle, and soon, a thick fragrance of plum blossoms filled the air.
The state of Sword Fragrance, where just emitting energy is accompanied by a scent, was a testament to how profound Un Hak's internal energy was.
There were about fifteen martial artists from the Seoncheon Faction.
He couldn't use a sword.
Also, he had to finish this before the Demonic Cult members intervened, so he would use a martial art that could take them down in one fell swoop.
Pang!
Taking a single step, Un Hak's figure instantly weaved into the midst of the Seoncheon Faction's patrol team.
“You bastard!”
Toward the sword aiming for his neck, Un Hak's hand moved so fast it was invisible.
Claaang!
The sword was knocked away, and Un Hak's hand reappeared, creating dozens of afterimages.
Mount Hua's Falling Blossom Shadow Chase, said to be so dazzling it could even catch the shadows cast by falling plum blossom petals.
Papak! Papapak!
Along with palm techniques that shot out in all directions, Un Hak's figure wove through the gaps in the Seoncheon Faction's patrol team.
Un Hak, the rising star of Mount Hua and acclaimed as the best among the new generation of the Central Plains.
How could the patrolmen of the Seoncheon Faction, a vassal of Zhongnan, possibly handle his movements, executed with his utmost effort?
Thwack! Crack! Schlaaak!
Each time a blow, seemingly containing the force of a thousand catties, landed, a martial artist would lose consciousness and be sent flying.
Of course.
I am sorry, and sorry again…
This is all to save your lives, and for the peace of the Central Plains.
Please forgive this poor Taoist for having no other choice.
I will be sure to apologize.
Un Hak ceaselessly begged for forgiveness.
In his heart…
Thwack! Pa-pa-pa-pak!
“……”
Having lost their chance to act due to Un Hak's sudden appearance, Wang Cheon and Ju Seung stood on the wall with blank expressions.
It was dazzling.
Should they call him a true Taoist of Mount Hua?
No, his methods were too cruel to be called those of a Taoist.
But… why did he suddenly interfere?
All they needed to do was catch the rat and ask for its identity.
That was probably what Neung Un-bi had intended as well.
Their master wasn't the type to order them to attack recklessly unless the person was a villain, nor did he intend to cause trouble in the Central Plains.
In this utterly bewildering situation, Wang Cheon pointed outside the wall and asked Neung Un-bi.
[What should we do?]
[What do you mean, what should we do?]
[He's beating them too severely.]
[You think Taoists don't hold grudges? Let him be. Don't make things complicated.]
After finishing the mental transmission, Neung Un-bi gestured with his finger for them to return.
Indeed, he was beating them too brutally for someone who didn't usually hold a grudge.
But where was the Seoncheon Faction from?
Well, wherever they were from, it was clear they weren't on good terms with Mount Hua.
Just as Neung Un-bi said, there was no reason to get involved and make things complicated.
Let Mount Hua handle its own grudges.