Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Wiped Out with a Fraction of My Power
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A woman in her thirties and a waiter standing at the counter a few steps from the entrance, their faces pale with fear, looked from a corner of the room to me as I walked in.
At a table in the center of the tavern sat Deung-bo, Yeon-cheong, and Team Leader Lee, surrounded by twelve martial artists.
They all turned to look at me and Dam Geum-hu.
The twelve martial artists were dressed in light attire, carrying sabers and swords. A single glance at their appearance was enough to tell they were from the demonic path.
Having extensive experience with such matters from my time at the Martial Alliance headquarters, I immediately grasped the situation.
Those demonic bastards—members of the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union’s Dong-ro regional branch—must have been causing a scene, and Team Leader Lee would have rushed over upon receiving the report. The Branch Master must have then sent the four members of Team Three to follow.
There was a good reason why the Branch Master hadn't led the entire branch himself.
Doing so could be misinterpreted as the Martial Alliance's Dong-ro Branch directly obstructing the activities of the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union’s Dong-ro regional branch.
In any case, the Martial Alliance's Dong-ro Branch was in a weaker position, forced to maintain a low profile.
That was why they sent Team Three, the weakest in the Dong-ro branch. It was a way to show they weren't just standing by idly, without any intention of actually starting a fight.
Team Leader Lee and Deung-bo shot me a look, urging me to leave at once. It wasn't a matter I could resolve, and they were worried I'd get caught in the crossfire.
But I sauntered over and plopped down in an empty chair at the table where Team Leader Lee, Deung-bo, and Yeon-cheong were sitting. I spoke bluntly.
“Having a team dinner?”
Team Leader Lee, Deung-bo, and Yeon-cheong stared at me as if I’d just said the most absurd thing.
I looked over at the woman and the waiter at the counter.
“We’d like to order here.”
The woman and the waiter jumped, startled, but were too flustered to approach.
Deung-bo and Yeon-cheong nervously glanced at the demonic martial artists standing around them.
Just then, Dam Geum-hu sat down next to me and called out to the counter in a booming voice.
“Sister-in-law! Please take our order!”
The members of the Dong-ro Branch often gathered at this tavern, so they were on friendly terms with Team Leader Lee’s wife, whom they called Sister-in-law.
But Team Leader Lee’s wife didn't come over, fidgeting nervously as she watched the demonic martial artists.
I casually asked Dam Geum-hu.
“What’s good here?”
It was the first time I had spoken to him since our duel. Dam Geum-hu answered spiritedly.
“Their shrimp dishes and fish stew are excellent!”
“Order those, then.”
“Sister-in-law! A shrimp dish, a fish stew, and a few bottles of white liquor, please!”
The demonic martial artists watched with folded arms, their expressions saying, ‘Look at these bastards.’
Team Leader Lee spoke to the leader of the demonic martial artists, as if seeking his understanding.
“Haha! I completely forgot we were having a team dinner today.”
The leader tilted his chin up, looking unimpressed.
“So what?”
The leader, dressed in brown, wore a sash over his left shoulder embroidered with the characters for ‘Demonic Emperor Dong-ro’ and another over his right with ‘Fourth Altar.’ He kept his arms crossed and spat on the floor.
“Want me to chip in for your dinner?”
Team Leader Lee played along with a jest.
“Would you?”
“Am I crazy? Of course not!”
The Fourth Altar Lord of the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union’s Dong-ro regional branch bristled, feeling that Team Leader Lee was mocking him.
The truth was, the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union’s Dong-ro regional branch had been collecting monthly protection money from every business in Dong-ro County.
However, they had always made an exception for establishments run by the Martial Alliance's Dong-ro Branch and the Ten Heavens of the Unorthodox Path's Dong-ro regional branch. It was a courtesy, a nod to the reputation of the Martial Alliance and the Ten Heavens.
Of the hundred and twenty or so establishments in Dong-ro County, a total of fifteen were run by the Martial Alliance and the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union.
The Martial Alliance's Dong-ro Branch ran four, while the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union’s Dong-ro regional branch ran eleven.
I didn't know the finer details, but I could guess why the men from the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union had shown up here in broad daylight. They wouldn't have come in a group just to get a free meal.
Team Leader Lee, Hyeong In-geol, spoke with a pleasant smile.
“Let’s continue our earlier conversation another time.”
“No, we need to finish this now. I have to report back to the regional branch.”
Hyeong In-geol was thirty-six, but the Altar Lord, who looked to be in his late twenties, spoke to him with blatant disrespect.
Hyeong In-geol said calmly.
“Fine. So, what you’re saying is that from now on, our tavern must pay fifty silver taels a month to the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union’s Dong-ro regional branch as tribute?”
“That’s right! You catch on quick.”
“Do you know who I am?”
“Aren't you the Vice Branch Master and Team Leader Lee of the Martial Alliance's Dong-ro Branch?”
“And you know this is the tavern I run?”
“That’s none of my concern.”
Hyeong In-geol spoke quietly.
“In any case, we will not pay tribute to the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union.”
“Is that so?”
This wasn't just about this tavern. If they paid, it would be tantamount to the Martial Alliance paying tribute to the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union.
Perhaps that was what the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union was aiming for—to create an atmosphere where the Martial Alliance seemed to be offering them tribute.
I approved of Hyeong In-geol’s stance. I could tell he wasn't just putting up a front because his subordinates were present. He was acting according to his usual character.
Even if we hadn't come, Hyeong In-geol would have undoubtedly taken the same stand.
A corner of the Altar Lord’s mouth lifted into a smirk.
“Hey, Team Leader Lee, are you prepared to handle the consequences?”
Hyeong In-geol had no way of dealing with the Altar Lord and his demonic martial artists here and now.
But he knew that if he backed down, they would try to swallow the Martial Alliance's Dong-ro Branch whole, so he refused to yield.
I had been feeling twisted up inside for a while now, and I decided it was time for me to step in.
Without even looking at the Altar Lord, I muttered.
“If you’re not going to eat, you should leave.”
The Altar Lord looked down at me, his face a mask of disbelief. “Huh?”
“You little shit, were you just talking to me?”
Hyeong In-geol’s face was aghast, while Deung-bo, Yeon-cheong, and Dam Geum-hu tensed up, their expressions screaming, ‘It’s finally starting!’
I lifted my head and looked at the Altar Lord.
“I said, leave, didn't I?”
The Altar Lord, who was standing two steps to my left, snorted and swung his fist at the back of my head.
*Whoosh!*
“You crazy bastard, you must have a death wish!”
His fist was imbued with internal energy, powerful enough to shatter a pine board half a span thick.
But my, his fist was coming so slowly… no, it was crawling toward me.
As expected, my body reacted.
Suppressing a yawn, I slowly tilted my head back to dodge the fist, then turned in my seat toward the Altar Lord and kicked his shin with the tip of my foot.
*Crack!*
“Aaargh!”
As the Altar Lord’s shin shattered and he screamed in agony, falling forward, I grabbed him by the neck.
*Grab!*
“Gurgle!”
This time, I used one-tenth of my power.
But it was impossible to measure exactly how many years of cultivation one-tenth of my power equated to.
The point was, one-tenth of my entire cultivation and martial arts was enough to subdue a high-ranking officer like an Altar Lord of the Demonic Emperor's Grand Union’s Dong-ro regional branch.
I had to suppress a laugh, and my whole body shook with the effort.
Still seated, I held the Altar Lord by the neck with my left hand and spoke calmly to his cronies.
“You all saw it, right? This man attacked first, and I merely retaliated.”
I didn't forget to lay the groundwork so that the Martial Alliance's Dong-ro Branch wouldn't be at a disadvantage later.
The demonic martial artists all drew their weapons at once.
*Ch-ch-chang!*
At that moment, I realized something. I shouldn't display my overwhelming skills against such low-level martial artists.
Though I wasn't certain of the exact extent of my abilities, I was confident I was at least a first-rate master, having perfectly mastered over a hundred and thirty different types of fist, foot, saber, and sword techniques.
No, perhaps I was even at the level of a supreme master. After all, hadn't I just subdued an Altar Lord with a mere fraction of my power?
Therefore, there was no need to attract public attention by displaying brilliant martial arts against low-level fighters in a backwater place like this.
I had already confirmed that I was plenty strong. Slowly revealing my strength and enjoying the process didn't seem like a bad idea.
The eleven demonic martial artists looked murderous, ready to unleash a storm of sabers and swords at any moment.
Hyeong In-geol, Deung-bo, Yeon-cheong, and Dam Geum-hu stood up, their faces tense as they prepared for the worst.
I tightened my left hand on the Altar Lord’s neck slightly, causing his face to turn beet red before gradually paling.
I lowered his head to my eye level and admonished him quietly.
“How old are you?”
“Guhhh…”
His eyes bulged as he choked for air. I lightly slapped both his cheeks.
*Slap! Slap!*
“How old are you to be speaking so disrespectfully to our Team Leader Lee?”
“Ugh…”
Blood trickled from the Altar Lord’s nose and mouth.
Hyeong In-geol shouted urgently.
“Ak Bi-ryong! Behind you!”
One of the demonic martial artists standing behind me had quickly lunged, aiming his sword at the nape of my neck, but I was already aware of him.
As if on cue, three more joined in, their sabers and swords slashing toward my head and torso.
*Shhhk!*
But I didn't turn around. I simply extended my right hand.
The man aiming for my neck was six feet away, out of my fist's reach.
My fist was aimed at his chest, and from it, a faint white energy shot out.
*Fwoom!*
*Thwack!*
“Huk!”
The man struck by the fist wind stumbled back three steps with a grunt before collapsing to the ground.
‘Two-tenths!’
At twenty percent of my power, a fist wind was released. A new and surprising discovery.
However, no one saw it. They all thought my fist had struck the man’s chest.
The other three who had been attacking me saw this and froze mid-attack.
“Guhh…”
The man who had collapsed to the floor looked as if he were suffocating, then fell backward.
I turned the Altar Lord's face slightly toward Hyeong In-geol.
“Apologize to Team Leader Lee.”
“…”
“You must want your neck broken.”
“I… I was wrong…! Please forgive me!”
“That’s enough.”
I flung the Altar Lord toward an empty space away from the tables and chairs.
*Thud!*
“Ack!”
He was slammed to the floor and slid toward the entrance.
Before throwing him, I had delivered a shock to his neck, so he would remain unconscious for a while.
Two of the demonic men rushed to his side.
“Altar Lord!”
The remaining eight fanned out in a semicircle before me, poised to attack at any moment.
The man who had tried to stab my neck lay still, his eyes wide open, twitching for a moment before going limp.
Hyeong In-geol, Deung-bo, Yeon-cheong, and Dam Geum-hu, their faces taut with tension, lined up behind me and slowly drew their weapons.
*Shhhring!*
In a situation like this, there was no need for words.
“Get him!”
Someone shouted a short command, and the eight men attacked simultaneously, swinging their sabers and swords.
*Swoooosh!*
All eight weapons converged on me.
Hyeong In-geol cried out frantically.
“Fight back!”
I trusted that my body would react in a real fight this time, too.
If it didn't, I would be sliced to pieces and die.
*Sarara…*
It was as if I could hear a soft rustling sound, as the eight sabers and swords descending upon me cut through the air in agonizingly slow motion.