Chapter 53
Chapter 53
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Hostage Drama
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After finishing breakfast, the Heaven Dominating Blade King hurriedly left the estate.
Se Yeong, who had come out to see him off with his squad members, spoke first.
"The Demonic Cult will invade within five years at the latest. If the family's situation isn't favorable by then, evacuate everyone here to this place."
He had first encountered Se Yeong at the main gate of this estate just a day ago.
Back then, he never would have believed those words.
The Demonic Cult, silent for over thirty years, invading again?
But now, his instincts told him without a doubt that it was true.
Tsk, tsk, tsk...
"How could I, Paeng Do-il, flee with enemies right before my eyes?"
Se Yeong realized there was no point in saying more.
"I'll see you again next time."
The man nodded, then stared at Paeng Se Gi for a moment before turning away.
"Stay well, Father."
"You too."
There was no gold.
No matter how much he dug after lifting the rocks, no gold appeared.
"Why in the world isn't any gold coming out?"
The despairing Yi Dae-in watched endlessly as the workers shoveled dirt.
The retainer standing beside him spoke in a somber tone.
"Patriarch. It seems we've been tricked."
"What do you mean?"
At the patriarch's question, the retainer voiced his suspicions.
"This barren mountain never had any gold to begin with. But after that Hwang Moo-young bought it, gold suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Doesn't that strike you as strange, no matter how you think about it?"
The young retainer's words brought great realization to him.
He had deceived many people throughout his life but had never been deceived himself.
Yet, calmly retracing events, it was clear he had fallen into a trap dug by that young punk.
'That bastard. How dare he trick me.'
Enraged, he immediately gathered the retainers.
"You lot, head straight to the estate and capture that punk! If he resists, you can break his limbs!"
"Understood."
The twenty-odd retainers set off immediately toward Se Yeong's estate.
Yi Dae-in gave orders to the remaining retainers as well.
"Send all the miners home."
"What about their wages?"
At the retainer's question, he snapped first.
"Are you in your right mind or not? No gold means no wages—what wages?!"
As the patriarch vented his anger, the retainers bowed their heads.
"Forgive us, Patriarch."
"Hurry and chase those bastards out!"
"Understood."
The Geumcheon Yi Family retainers stormed into the estate with great momentum.
"Come out, Hwang Moo-young!"
The workers repairing the house just stared at them in mute confusion.
"Where is he? Hwang Moo-young!"
As the Geumcheon Yi retainers shouted again, the siblings rushed out.
They had heard from Se Yeong, so they knew Hwang Moo-young's true identity well.
"Who are you looking for?"
At Second Brother Yi Gu's question, the retainers recognized the siblings' faces.
Some among them had even shown interest in First Sister Yi Hwa before.
"Why are you two here?"
"We work here."
Hearing Yi Gu's answer only fueled their anger further.
The woman they had taken interest in was working at an estate full of men.
"Where is Hwang Moo-young?"
The siblings pointed toward the training grounds behind the estate.
"Probably at the training grounds."
The Geumcheon Yi retainers dashed toward the training grounds behind the estate.
Rounding the annex building, they arrived to find Hwang Moo-young and his companions gathered just as Yi Gu had said.
But every one of them held weapons in hand.
"What brings you here?"
Moreover, Hwang Moo-young's voice brimmed with dignity unlike before.
But the Geumcheon Yi retainers were already committed.
"You dare trick the patriarch and steal this estate? And you expect to live?"
Se Yeong calmly countered their words.
"Trick? I merely traded this estate for that barren mountain your patriarch wanted."
"Don't spout nonsense, you punk!"
Clang! Shing!
The retainers bellowed and drew their swords in unison.
Se Yeong turned toward his squad members and clapped his hands.
Clap, clap, clap...
"Alright. Time for real combat. Don't take lives—capture them all alive."
In the jianghu, capturing opponents unharmed was far harder than killing them.
Yet the squad members sprang into action the moment Se Yeong finished speaking.
The first to move was, as expected, Paeng Se Gi.
He swung his iron club without even drawing his greatsword.
The startled retainers hastily raised their swords to block.
Thud!
The retainer who blocked with his sword couldn't withstand the impact and flew backward.
Simultaneously, the squad's weapons began sweeping through the retainers.
Clang...! Thud...!
Yi Cheon Yeong's sword deflected a retainer's blade, then struck his chest with the hilt.
Gahk...!
The moment the Geumcheon Yi retainer collapsed, Dang Ok Yi's hidden weapons pierced the thighs of others in succession.
Thwack...!
Clang-clang-clang...!
Hahu Yeon's spear deflected their swords one after another, while the shaft whipped their necks and waists.
Sa Sa Un handled his Geumcheon Yi opponent with ease as well.
The panicked Geumcheon Yi retainers faltered back step by step.
Se Yeong blocked their retreat and glanced at Yeong-gak, who stood idly by.
"What are you doing?"
Yeong-gak clasped his hands and bowed.
"Om mani padme hum. It seems there's no place for this humble monk to intervene."
In truth, the situation was so desperately hopeless he couldn't even think of moving.
'These foolish mortals—how can they be so dim-witted?'
They were like moths plunging into flames, oblivious to their own burning.
"You still have to earn your keep."
At Se Yeong's cold voice, he reluctantly joined the fray.
Pop! Bang!
Gurk...! Gahk...!
The retainers screamed and tumbled as Yeong-gak spread his palms wide.
Thwack!
Squeal!
Se Yeong spun, smashing his fists into the faces of fleeing retainers and kicking up into their chests.
Twenty-two retainers lay sprawled on the ground.
Ugh...
Oof...
They groaned intermittently, writhing in pain.
"Ten thousand nyang each makes two hundred twenty thousand for twenty-two. Ah... minus ten thousand."
Se Yeong grabbed the collar of the least injured-looking retainer and hoisted him up.
Gahk... Gurk...!
The choking retainer twisted his face and flailed.
"I'll give you two shichen. Tell your patriarch to bring two hundred ten thousand nyang within that time. If not, I'll chop off your limbs one by one and feed you to the wild beasts."
Se Yeong released his grip, and the retainer slumped limply to the ground.
But he soon staggered to his feet and limped out of the estate.
Thud!
Gahk!
Paeng Se Gi kicked the face of a retainer trying to lift his head and asked.
"Brother. Will Yi Dae-in bring the silver?"
"If he's smart, yes. If he's stupid, he'll send more experts. Collect the weapons and tie their hands and feet, then lock them in the warehouse."
At Se Yeong's words, the squad members fetched ropes and began binding the retainers.
Normally they'd chat as they worked, but now no one dared open their mouths carelessly.
They might accidentally reveal their true identities.
"Hey! Sa Sa... Sa San-myeong! Bind hands behind the back!"
Paeng Se Gi, about to scold Sa Sa Un, quickly changed the name.
"A... alright, Paeng..."
As Sa Sa Un nearly let Paeng Se Gi's name slip, the squad glared at him in unison.
'Sigh. Better to stay quiet and be thought a fool.'
He promptly shut his mouth.
"Patriarch. They were all incredible masters."
The retainer who returned to the family prostrated himself and confessed everything that happened at the estate.
Yi Dae-in was utterly bewildered by the report.
"Twenty-two went and got beaten by just... seven? How can I trust trash like you to get anything done?!"
In rage, he bellowed.
"They were all masters, Patriarch."
"Shut up!"
Dismissing the retainer, the patriarch summoned the guest warriors.
"You men, head straight to the estate and rescue our retainers. If young punks block your way, kill them all."
The guest warriors showed no particular concern.
"Give us three shichen, Patriarch. We'll bring the retainers back for sure."
No weak martial artist could ever become a clan's guest warrior.
Becoming one meant their skills were that formidable.
As dusk began to fall, Se Yeong ordered torches lit.
The siblings, having finished preparing dinner, cautiously entered the training grounds.
"Dinner... when will you have it?"
Sa Sa Un answered Yi Hwa's question.
"Can't fight on a full stomach. Wait a bit."
Dang Ok Yi gave a thumbs-up at his bold reply.
"Ooh... feisty."
Sa Sa Un was weak against his squad mates but showed a strong side especially to the siblings.
Probably because they were weaker than him.
Since the Heaven Dominating Blade King left, the siblings had treated the squad with utmost care.
Not just meals, but cleaning from early morning.
Se Yeong asked the bowing pair.
"Do you two want to learn martial arts by any chance?"
The siblings snapped their heads up.
"Us... learn martial arts?"
Their voices lacked confidence, but their eyes shone brighter than ever.
"Can't have you getting beat up out there. Sa Sa Un, teach them basic inner arts first."
Sa Sa Un jumped at the absurd suggestion.
Clans absolutely forbade leaking family martial arts to outsiders.
Family arts were the root and essence of a clan.
"Forgive me, Hero Han. Even on your word, I can't teach family arts to outsiders."
This time, Sa Sa Un firmly refused.
The squad knew the ironclad taboo of clans and sects, so they were equally troubled.
Haha...!
Se Yeong chuckled and shook his head.
"Really? That's a shame. If you taught them, I would've passed on some excellent inner arts to you."
"Pardon? For real?"
Sa Sa Un's insides suddenly burned black with greed.
He'd been tricked by Se Yeong more than once or twice.
Afterward, regret always followed: Why did I fall for that?
But one thing was certain—Se Yeong never spoke empty words.
"I... I'll do it."
After agonizing, he accepted the offer.
Leaking family arts was a capital offense, but gaining superior inner arts would delight his clan.
"Good choice. Come to my room tonight."
"Understood, Hero Han."
Sa Sa Un beamed as if he'd already acquired the arts.
'Not something to be that happy about...'
Se Yeong smiled inwardly.
Since his father had taught swordsmanship to the Hangzhou Sa Family, the inner arts were likely similar.
He'd long suspected his father taught inner arts too and wanted to confirm.
Then Se Yeong's thick brows twitched, and Paeng Se Gi, noticing, dashed to the wall.
"They're coming. Five of them, strolling in all casual."
"The patriarch?"
"No sign of him, Brother."
Se Yeong ordered Sa Sa Un.
"Fling the estate gates wide open."
Sa Sa Un rushed to throw the gates wide and returned.
Boom... crunch...!
As they waited, the sound of the gates shattering rang out.
Se Yeong's eyes flashed with murderous blue light.
"We courteously left the gates open, and they smash right through anyway?"
The squad members' faces darkened coldly as well.