Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Just Half
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Jongli Ung was emanating a subtle fighting spirit.
He was certain. Byeok Taesan was afraid of him.
Byeok Taesan, still with a calm expression, asked.
“It's really just the two of us going, right? No one else is following?”
Jongli Ung grinned.
“Why? Scared to go alone? If you're really that scared, we can all go together.”
Byeok Taesan shook his head.
“No, I don't think that will be necessary. A crowd would just be a hassle.”
After saying that, Byeok Taesan smiled faintly and looked at Jongli Ung.
Having experienced Byeok Taesan before, Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon knew the terror hidden in that smile. They tensed up and swallowed nervously.
However, to Gyeong Chuhwang and Gal Jinhyeop, it looked as though Byeok Taesan was forcing a smile, mustering up his courage.
Just as the two were about to step in and mediate, Cheon Gyeongwan spoke quietly into Byeok Taesan's ear.
“Young Master, you must not kill him.”
He spoke in a hushed whisper, but Gyeong Chuhwang and Gal Jinhyeop, who were nearby, could hear him clearly.
Both surprised and baffled, they stared blankly at Cheon Gyeongwan for a moment.
Then, just in case, they glanced over at the Jongli Family warriors.
It seemed no one other than Jongli Ung had heard those words.
Only Jongli Ung was glaring at Cheon Gyeongwan with a look of disbelief.
“Hey, do I look like an idiot to you?”
“No, sir.”
Cheon Gyeongwan replied and discreetly stepped back, a look of relief on his face.
Gyeong Chuhwang and Gal Jinhyeop couldn't hide their confusion.
‘Is there really something about that young master? It was too serious to be a joke.’
The fact that the Divine Doctor of the Ages had pledged himself to him, and this current situation… something felt strange.
While Gyeong Chuhwang and Gal Jinhyeop were hesitating, unsure of what to do, Byeok Taesan gestured with his chin at Jongli Ung.
“Lead the way.”
“Ha, looks like this big brother needs to teach this disrespectful brat a lesson. Follow me. I know a quiet place.”
Jongli Ung strode off as if the Yeon Estate were his own home.
Byeok Taesan was about to follow when he looked back at Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon.
“If they start anything, don't hesitate and get hurt. Crush them completely.”
At Byeok Taesan's words, the atmosphere among the crowd instantly flared up.
The reaction of the Jongli Family warriors was particularly noteworthy. Feeling insulted, they unleashed a torrent of incredibly fierce killing intent.
Cheon Gyeongwan stared at Byeok Taesan, dumbfounded.
Why would he say such a thing and escalate the situation to this point?
Yu Seoyeon was just as bewildered.
“Young Master. Surely you're not trying to start a fight on purpose?”
Byeok Taesan grinned.
“Just don't kill them. I'll try my best, too.”
Everyone present watched Byeok Taesan's back as he strode away after leaving those words.
The Jongli Family warriors glared murderously, Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon gave bitter smiles and shook their heads, and Gyeong Chuhwang and Gal Jinhyeop's eyes were filled with confusion.
And the Divine Doctor of the Ages sat down on a suitable nearby rock.
“I trust that whatever happens, you won't involve me.”
Everyone looked at the Divine Doctor. Then they nodded.
There was no reason to antagonize one of the world's most renowned physicians, not knowing how their relationship might turn out later.
Gyeong Chuhwang approached Cheon Gyeongwan and asked quietly, his expression grave.
“I have no idea what Young Master Byeok is thinking. This is… it's almost as if he's pushing us to fight…”
Gal Jinhyeop, who had approached at some point, also spoke with a serious tone.
“It seems the Jongli Family sent their elites. It would be difficult for Great Warrior Gyeong and I to handle more than two each.”
There were eleven Jongli Family warriors in total.
If Gyeong Chuhwang and Gal Jinhyeop took on four of them, that would leave Cheon Gyeongwan and Yu Seoyeon to face the remaining seven.
Both Gyeong Chuhwang and Gal Jinhyeop considered that impossible.
“You two seem too quick to assume we'll fight. If we just remain quiet, I doubt they'll provoke us for no reason…”
Cheon Gyeongwan said cautiously.
But he soon had to shake his head.
The aura of the Jongli Family warriors had become much more blatant.
“Haa.”
Yu Seoyeon let out a soft sigh.
Cheon Gyeongwan looked at her with a troubled expression.
And Gyeong Chuhwang and Gal Jinhyeop felt a strange sense of dissonance from the pair's attitude.
‘No matter how I look at it, they don't seem afraid.’
* * *
Jongli Ung stopped in a fairly spacious clearing.
It wasn't a training ground. Just an empty space.
“Well, I was thinking of going outside, but I didn't think it was necessary, so I came here. What do you think? A pretty decent spot, right?”
Jongli Ung said with a grin.
Byeok Taesan glanced around and nodded.
“It's fine.”
It really was quite fine.
For one, it was completely surrounded by trees. It looked like they were planning to build a pavilion here.
A stream also flowed through the area.
It was the kind of place one might use when they wanted to clear their mind or get lost in thought.
Of course, that would be after a suitable building or gazebo was built for resting.
In any case, the trees provided excellent cover, making it a good spot where prying eyes from the outside couldn't see in.
Jongli Ung's reason for choosing this place was also very obvious.
“You haven't been at the Yeon Estate for long, yet you managed to find a place like this.”
Jongli Ung smirked at Byeok Taesan's words.
“I've been waiting for this very moment since I first arrived at the Yeon Estate. Naturally, I had to put in at least this much effort.”
“Your effort is commendable.”
Byeok Taesan nodded and looked around once more.
There was no sign of anyone nearby.
It was truly just Jongli Ung and Byeok Taesan here.
One might expect a few people from the Yeon Estate to be passing by in the distance, but there was no one.
In other words, he had cleared the area of people beforehand.
Jongli Ung seemed truly excited. The smile on his face never faded.
“What's so funny that you've been grinning like an idiot this whole time?”
At Byeok Taesan's words, Jongli Ung's expression hardened.
But he soon let out a hollow laugh and shook his head.
“Heh, this bastard really doesn't know his place. Hey, you. Don't you understand the situation?”
“You're the one who doesn't understand the situation.”
Jongli Ung smiled faintly. He could tolerate that much.
Considering what was about to happen, he was willing to put up with even more.
“From now on, I'm going to hurt you a little. I'll be very careful, you see? So you stay still. It'll just hurt a bit, but it'd be a shame if you died for no reason. Right?”
Byeok Taesan smiled faintly.
“Are you confident you can?”
At that question, the corner of Jongli Ung's mouth twitched upward.
“I have a knack for inflicting pain that doesn't show on the outside. You'll probably be amazed. There was this one guy, he was practically on his deathbed, right? But he held on without dying. I don't know where he found the strength, but he was bawling his eyes out, snot and tears everywhere, grabbing my collar and begging. Ha, you should have seen it.”
Jongli Ung smirked at Byeok Taesan.
“I'll make it so you piss your pants just by looking at my face.”
With those words, he slowly approached Byeok Taesan.
“Pissing your pants in front of Yeon Harin would be entertaining in its own way. Don't you think?”
Byeok Taesan nodded.
“You're right. That would be rather amusing.”
At Byeok Taesan's words, Jongli Ung's expression stiffened slightly. He didn't like how composed he was.
“What gives you the right to be so relaxed? You're in big trouble now.”
Jongli Ung was now standing in front of Byeok Taesan, close enough to touch him just by reaching out.
“You should have at least tried to run. It would have been much more fun.”
Jongli Ung laughed viciously. It was a smile that would make anyone who didn't know him tremble.
But Byeok Taesan asked calmly.
“So what's the plan? Surely you're not doing this because you actually want to take Yeon Harin's fiancé position, right?”
Jongli Ung snickered.
He still didn't like his attitude, but it was always more fun when guys like that started groveling.
“Yeon Harin, she's pretty. So pretty that sleeping with her once wouldn't be enough.”
Jongli Ung licked his lips as he spoke, his eyes filled with a thick lust.
“But as for whether she's a suitable partner for me, that's another story. My ambitions are too great to be satisfied with just the Yeon Estate.”
“Is it okay to say that? In front of me?”
Jongli Ung snickered.
“Why? So you can go run your mouth somewhere else? Don't worry. The guys who've experienced me never dare to speak carelessly.”
Byeok Taesan's eyes widened slightly.
“Oh? That's quite something. Me too.”
“Let's start with you on your knees. You don't really need to hear all this, do you?”
Saying that, Jongli Ung placed a hand on Byeok Taesan's shoulder. Or rather, he tried to.
“Huh?”
Jongli Ung's hand swiped through empty air. Byeok Taesan had slightly shifted his shoulder to dodge it.
“This bastard?”
Jongli Ung reached out again.
Hitting him wasn't an option. No, from the start, Jongli Ung preferred other methods over hitting when tormenting people.
Once he got a hold of him, it was over.
*Woosh! Woosh!*
Jongli Ung's hands repeatedly cut through the air.
Byeok Taesan didn't even seem to be moving much, yet he couldn't be touched.
“Wh-what! Won't this bastard stay still?”
Byeok Taesan chuckled and dodged Jongli Ung's hand again.
And at the same time, he placed a hand on Jongli Ung's shoulder. Byeok Taesan had done what Jongli Ung had tried to do first.
“Kuaaaack!”
Jongli Ung screamed and staggered. Then, as if he couldn't bear the weight of Byeok Taesan's hand on his shoulder, he fell to his knees.
*Thud.*
He hit the ground so hard that his knees throbbed with excruciating pain.
But that was nothing compared to the agony that followed.
“Kuaaaaaaaah!”
A soul-tearing scream erupted from the depths of his being.
“What, you can't even handle this? This is disappointing. From the way you talked, I thought you were pretty tough.”
Jongli Ung was going insane. His entire body ached.
It felt as if someone had grabbed all the flesh on his body and was ripping it off.
A pain so intense it could make him lose his mind ravaged his body without rest.
“Uwaaaaaah!”
Tears and snot streamed down his face. He didn't even realize it, but he had also soiled himself.
“Aaaack! Please! Please!”
Byeok Taesan, his hand still on Jongli Ung's shoulder, asked calmly.
“Please what? Speak clearly if you want me to listen.”
“Kuaaaack! S-stop! Stop!”
“Your way of asking is all wrong.”
“I was wrong! Uwaaaack!”
Jongli Ung shouted as he looked at Byeok Taesan's face. Terror was reflected in his eyes.
Byeok Taesan's expression was so serene. It's not easy to maintain such a calm expression and demeanor while doing something like this, as if it were as natural as breathing.
But that was exactly what Byeok Taesan was doing now.
“It would be easier for both of us if I just killed you. Don't you think?”
“Aaaack! You're right! Please, just kill me! Kuaaaaah!”
Jongli Ung genuinely agreed with what Byeok Taesan had just said. It was better to die than to continue enduring this pain.
“But I promised not to kill you.”
Jongli Ung's face turned deathly pale. Seeing this, Byeok Taesan spoke.
“I'll just take half.”
At that moment, Jongli Ung's eyes rolled back. The pain had suddenly intensified.
He couldn't even scream. He just trembled violently, his mouth hanging open.
And yet, his mind remained clear.
“Ha, this is quite effective.”
Byeok Taesan was currently pulling out about half of Jongli Ung's soul and slowly searing its surface with the Soul-Devouring Demonic Arts.
The pain inflicted on the physical body was nothing compared to the pain inflicted directly on the soul.
Right now, pain and fear were being forcibly carved into Jongli Ung's very soul.
“Ugh-uh-uh-uh!”
The screams filled with pain and terror continued for some time after that.
And in the meantime, the atmosphere between the Jongli Family warriors and Cheon Gyeongwan's group was also heating up.