Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Who Harmed My Father?
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No sooner had Jo Seol-yeon finished speaking than Umun Hye and Jegal Rin nodded. They had been thinking the same thing.
"Come on, we need to hurry. Weren't we just about to head there?"
At the Sword King's words, Dan Hyeong-u moved forward with a helpless shrug. He could still go alone if he wanted. But Jo Seol-yeon's words lingered in his mind.
Dan Hyeong-u took the lead, and the group followed behind. It was still quite early, so the streets were empty.
Dan Hyeong-u quickened his pace a little. The others deployed their lightness skills to barely keep up. Yeom Hye-mi, who still lacked a proper movement technique, was naturally scooped up by the Sword King.
In an instant, Dan Hyeong-u arrived at the Moyong Clan grounds. The group watched with shining eyes. They had made it this far last time too. But they hadn't found that forge.
Dan Hyeong-u walked along the wall of the Moyong Clan. Then he reached the forge where Cheolmak-sim was.
"Hmm, so this is the place."
The Sword King tilted his head in surprise. He hadn't paid much attention to it back then. He hadn't even realized it was a forge at first, but now that he thought about it, it felt oddly fitting.
The moment Dan Hyeong-u arrived at the forge, he rushed inside. There, he found Cheolmak-sim collapsed on the floor, bleeding.
The others, seeing his urgency, hurried into the forge after him.
"Who the hell would do something like..."
The man on the floor was undoubtedly the one Dan Hyeong-u had come to meet.
Dan Hyeong-u approached Cheolmak-sim and placed his hand on the man's chest.
Whoosh!
The qi inside the forge churned violently. It was filled with the metallic energy Cheolmak-sim had accumulated over years of work. That energy surged at Dan Hyeong-u's will, then seeped into Cheolmak-sim's body.
"Cough!"
Cheolmak-sim spat up blood again. But he didn't regain consciousness.
Dan Hyeong-u expelled the faint lingering energy in Cheolmak-sim's body—the same force that had wounded him this badly and was still devouring his vitality.
He had put out the immediate fire, at least.
Dan Hyeong-u's senses expanded in all directions. He pinpointed the place where the energy that had harmed Cheolmak-sim was most concentrated.
Dan Hyeong-u scooped up Cheolmak-sim and sprang to his feet. He turned his head toward the door connecting the forge to the Moyong Clan grounds.
Boom!
Just a single glance from Dan Hyeong-u reduced the door to dust.
Amazement flickered in the group's eyes.
Ignoring their stunned gazes, Dan Hyeong-u stepped through the shattered doorway into the Moyong Clan grounds. The others hurried after him.
Dan Hyeong-u's steps were swift. After just a few paces, a tall wall appeared. Crossing it would take them into the clan's outer courtyard.
Still cradling Cheolmak-sim in both arms, Dan Hyeong-u glared at the wall.
Boom!
The wall crumbled. By now, the group resolved not to be surprised anymore.
The outer courtyard was vast. But Dan Hyeong-u strode straight ahead without hesitation. Midway, a building appeared—a barracks for the Moyong Clan warriors.
It was in an uproar. The recent explosion had woken everyone.
"What is it?!"
"Enemies!"
The Moyong Clan warriors spotted the group and scrambled for their weapons.
Dan Hyeong-u ignored them completely, walking straight on. The others checked their own weapons.
No matter that it was the Moyong Clan—they had to fight now. And the group was formidable. With the Sword King and Sword Demon present, plus Tang Ho-gwan. Elsewhere, he might not shine, but by Dan Hyeong-u's side, Tang Ho-gwan could display incredible prowess.
As the Sword Demon moved to draw his sword, Dan Hyeong-u glanced at the building.
Whoosh!
A fierce storm of qi erupted. Pure qi alone had conjured a gale. The storm, centered on Dan Hyeong-u, hurtled straight toward the building.
Boom! Crash!
The structure was torn apart by the tempest, its fragments shooting into the sky. The debris spun upward in a whirlwind before raining down like hail in all directions.
Naturally, those still inside met the same fate as the building.
Blood rained down amid the debris.
Dan Hyeong-u passed right through the spot where the building had stood and headed for the wall separating the outer and inner courtyards.
The surviving Moyong Clan warriors stared blankly at the scene.
Terror slowly crept from the depths of their hearts. They were soaked by the bloody downpour.
Dan Hyeong-u blasted away the inner courtyard wall just as easily. Countless people were already pouring in, battle-ready, their killing intent thick in the air.
Dan Hyeong-u walked toward them steadily, still carrying Cheolmak-sim. His group followed tensely.
The Moyong Clan forces in the inner courtyard exuded formidable auras. Without Dan Hyeong-u, it would have been a tough fight.
The Sword King eyed the man at their center. He looked about forty, but it was unmistakably Azure Dragon Sword Moyong Cheon.
Dan Hyeong-u stopped about three jang away. In a low but firm voice, he spoke.
"Who did this to my father."
At his words, the group's heads snapped around with a whoosh.
"N-No way...!"
It was unbelievable. If he'd come to meet his father, why not bring him along?
Moyong Cheon ignored their reactions. He simply eyed Dan Hyeong-u and Cheolmak-sim with curiosity.
"Ho, so he had a son after all. I heard he was dead, but here you are."
Moyong Cheon flashed a chilling smile.
"A son should follow in his father's footsteps. That's the proper path, no?"
This way, he wouldn't even need to find a new woman. If he was Cheolmak-sim's son, he'd surely have some skill with iron too.
"That said... do you even know what this place is, causing a ruckus at dawn?"
Moyong Cheon scanned the group behind Dan Hyeong-u as he spoke. The Sword King and Sword Demon looked strong, but it was hard to gauge their level.
"You shouldn't think you can just leave quietly."
Dan Hyeong-u didn't so much as blink at Moyong Cheon's words.
"I asked who."
Dan Hyeong-u's voice grew icier. Moyong Cheon felt a chill down his spine for a moment. But irritation quickly followed. Why should the Azure Dragon Sword feel this way?
"I don't know either. I'm more curious why Cheolmak-sim, who should be forging my precious sword, is in that state."
Moyong Deok, watching nearby, flinched at Moyong Cheon's words. Then he began trembling.
He hadn't imagined his actions would cause this, nor that Cheolmak-sim was forging Moyong Cheon's sword.
Moyong Cheon quickly noticed Moyong Deok's shaking. His brows furrowed sharply, but he saw no need to reveal it here.
Jegal Rin took in every reaction. She stepped forward.
"I'm disappointed. To think the mighty Moyong Clan handles things this way."
She whipped her head toward Moyong Deok, glaring sharply.
Moyong Deok startled under her gaze and stepped back.
"How can you not be ashamed, reducing an innocent man to this?"
Moyong Deok stammered excuses without thinking.
"I-I didn't know he was forging Grandfather's sword! If I had, I never would have..."
Jegal Rin smiled faintly at his shout. She turned back to Moyong Cheon.
Moyong Cheon's face twisted viciously.
"Fool."
But the outcome wouldn't change. Moyong Cheon regained his composure and eyed Jegal Rin.
"Insolent wench. He's a servant of our clan. We use him as we see fit."
Aura began rising from Dan Hyeong-u at those words. But just then, Cheolmak-sim stirred.
"S-Stop."
Dan Hyeong-u's aura vanished before it could fully manifest.
"Live by the natural order. Don't solve everything with force."
Cheolmak-sim spoke through the pain. He didn't want his foolish son's friend dying here because of him.
Cheolmak-sim pushed himself up and slipped from Dan Hyeong-u's arms.
"Enough now. I'll do as you say."
Moyong Cheon smiled at Cheolmak-sim's words.
"You've come such a long way. How could we let you leave so easily?"
Cheolmak-sim's face remained serene even then.
"You've already gotten everything you wanted."
"Is that so?"
Moyong Cheon glanced at Dan Hyeong-u. Cheolmak-sim knew what he desired and shook his head.
"This boy is just my son's friend. He has nothing to do with me. Let him go."
Moyong Cheon snorted.
"That's a problem."
This time, Jegal Rin spoke up. She looked at Cheolmak-sim.
"Why are you doing this? Are you being held hostage by the Moyong Clan?"
Cheolmak-sim chuckled wryly. What hostage did he have? Dan Hyeong-u was the only one right there.
All Cheolmak-sim wanted was for Dan Hyeong-u to leave safely. What happened to him after didn't matter.
The answer came from Moyong Yeong-hwan.
"He owes our clan a debt. He's working hard to pay it off. Not sure if he'll finish before he dies."
"Just for a debt..."
A flicker of anger crossed Jegal Rin's face. Raised in the sheltered Jegal Clan, how could she grasp the terror of debt?
"Just? It's a whopping twenty thousand silver taels."
Twenty thousand silver taels was no small sum. Even the Jegal Clan would shake to gather that much.
Dan Hyeong-u looked at Cheolmak-sim. The man gave a faint smile. Seeing it made Dan Hyeong-u's chest tighten.
He didn't know how much twenty thousand taels was, but he could smash everything here and end it. The Moyong Clan couldn't stop him. It wouldn't take much time or effort.
But looking into Cheolmak-sim's eyes, he couldn't.
Dan Hyeong-u turned to Umun Hye.
Umun Hye was deeply moved that he looked to her. He needed her help. Twenty thousand taels was a lot, but not for the Umun Clan.
"Steward."
Umun Hye called out, extending her hand. The steward gently placed a bill of exchange on her palm from his bosom.
Without checking it, Umun Hye infused it with inner energy and flung it at Moyong Yeong-hwan.
Swish!
Moyong Yeong-hwan caught it effortlessly. His face changed. It was a bill for twenty thousand taels.
"The debt is paid. Anything else?"
Moyong Cheon's eyes sharpened at Umun Hye's mocking tone.
"Watch your mouth, or you'll regret it."
Umun Hye felt no fear. With Dan Hyeong-u here, what was there to fear?
"So you're from the Umun Clan."
Moyong Yeong-hwan said with a twisted expression. The group seemed more formidable than expected. Things could escalate.
"Now he has no ties to the Moyong Clan. Just punishment left."
Moyong Deok trembled at Umun Hye's words. The woman he'd desired so much was dragging him into the abyss.
"Punishment? What punishment?"
Moyong Cheon smiled chillingly.
"Did we take money from them?"
Moyong Cheon disliked this situation. He felt pushed back. Unthinkable for the Azure Dragon Sword.
Umun Hye smirked at him.
"Trash."
Moyong Cheon's expression hardened.
"Those words seal your fate."
Moyong Cheon ordered Moyong Yeong-hwan.
"Prepare the Heavenly Gang Sword Formation."
Moyong Yeong-hwan couldn't hide his tension at the command. It meant one of them matched Moyong Cheon in skill.
"Understood."
No sooner had he spoken than the Moyong Clan warriors moved in perfect unison. The group was surrounded in an instant.