Chapter 308
Chapter 308
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 308
Chapter Title: Duel
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The next morning, Cha Ryong and Ban Go left the inn and headed straight for the Paeng Family.
Ban Go asked,
“You found a reason the Paeng Family can't refuse?”
“Of course.”
“Then you have to tell me.”
Cha Ryong pointed behind him as he spoke. Dozens of martial artists were following them.
“Those guys will be that reason.”
“Damn it! Say it so I can understand!”
“All of them are martial artists of the jianghu who live by the blade. Do you think the Paeng Family can refuse in front of them? Considering the righteous sects value face as much as their lives, they absolutely won't refuse this time.”
“Oh! That makes sense. Then we could've just gone with those guys from the start instead of racking our brains for two days.”
A smirk.
‘Did you even use your brain?’
Cha Ryong was convinced that today, of all days, the Paeng Family would accept the duel. As Ban Go said, it was regrettable he hadn't thought of this sooner.
‘If the Paeng Family head steps forward himself, that would be ideal, but that's unlikely. Still, having heard our rumors, they'll have no choice but to send someone they're confident in. Wonder who it'll be. Heh heh heh.’
It was then. A white-robed man approached the two from behind.
“As per your instructions, Great Hero, we've spread the word throughout the markets that there will be a duel at the Paeng Family today. Quite a crowd will show up.”
“Good work.”
“Not at all, Great Hero. Looking forward to another spectacular match!”
The white-robed man returned to his place.
A satisfied smile formed on Cha Ryong's lips.
‘Even in an enemy state like Yeon Kingdom, they call me Great Hero.’
How much farther did they walk?
Commotion arose from behind. Looking back, hundreds of people were chasing after them—those who had heard the rumors and were heading to the Paeng Family.
Cha Ryong's smile deepened.
‘This should be enough.’
It was then.
“Huh? Who are those guys?”
Ban Go's eyes widened. Men were blocking the road ahead.
The smile faded from Cha Ryong's lips.
“Looks like they have business with us.”
* * *
Park Ji-mun stared at Cha Ryong and Ban Go as he asked,
“Will they really accept?”
“They won't be able to refuse, even with all those people following them. Spreading the rumors to force the Paeng Family's hand has ended up tying their own feet instead.”
Ju Tae and Park Ji-mun silently nodded at Kim Mu-gwan's words.
Ju Tae asked,
“Who's going out?”
“I'll go.”
“I'll go.”
Ju Tae and Park Ji-mun answered simultaneously.
Ju Tae laughed.
“Heh heh, at least one of us has to.”
“Mu-gwan, yield to me today.”
“......”
A grin.
“Then it'll be me and Brother Park.”
Kim Mu-gwan raised both hands as if conceding defeat and shook his head.
Ju Tae and Park Ji-mun stepped forward. As Ju Tae flashed his signature rough grin toward Cha Ryong and Ban Go, Park Ji-mun said quietly,
[To those people behind them, these two are heroes. Provoke them wrong, and we might have to face that crowd too, so act as politely as possible.]
[What? I've always been polite.]
[Who would believe that.]
[......]
Park Ji-mun stepped forward and cupped his fists.
“By any chance, are you the Sun and Moon Twin Swords Great Heroes?”
Park Ji-mun's gut burned, but he held it back. Ju Tae, watching, felt like dying inside.
Cha Ryong and Ban Go halted.
Cha Ryong took one step forward.
“And who might you be?”
“Hearing of your great reputations, I am Park Ji-mun, an unknown wanderer from Henan Province who has come to humbly learn a move or two.”
“And I'm his friend Ju Tae.”
Cha Ryong glanced at Ju Tae and narrowed his eyes as he asked,
“Learn a move? You mean you're challenging us to a duel?”
“That's right.”
At Park Ji-mun's words, Ban Go made a ridiculous face and let out a bizarre shout.
“Kya kya kak!”
But Cha Ryong's eyes subtly changed.
‘So they're no ordinary guys after all.’
He hadn't noticed at first, but Park Ji-mun's gaze flickered like a beast's. Though he called himself an unknown wanderer, the aura emanating from Park Ji-mun was far from ordinary.
The same went for Ju Tae beside him and Kim Mu-gwan standing behind with arms crossed.
Cha Ryong's eyes sharpened.
“From your auras, it doesn't seem like you just came to learn a move.”
“Fine. I'll be straightforward.”
Park Ji-mun took one step forward.
“In southern Hebei Province, the Wind-Thunder Blade Ki Jeong—your duel partner who ended up half-crippled—is my uncle by marriage.”
Park Ji-mun lowered the greatsword he had resting on his shoulder and continued.
“If you'll allow it, this isn't a duel—it's a challenge to the death.”
It was true that the martial artist Wind-Thunder Blade Ki Jeong had been crippled in his duel with Cha Ryong and Ban Go.
This was information obtained from the Moon Pavilion's secret branch. Rather than issuing a challenge out of nowhere, linking it to a grudge would make it hard for them to refuse easily, so they had decided to use his name.
Ju Tae stepped up beside Park Ji-mun.
“I'm his disciple, so I should have plenty of standing to join in, right?”
* * *
“It's a duel!”
“Woo!”
The martial artists following Cha Ryong and Ban Go swarmed forward. Even those who had heard the rumors and followed soon encircled the area.
‘His nephew and disciple, huh...’
Cha Ryong recalled Wind-Thunder Blade Ki Jeong, whose arm he had severed. The resentful look in his eyes back then too.
He had anticipated that if he went too far in a duel—taking a life or severing limbs—someone harboring grudge would eventually come seeking revenge, just like now.
Repay favors with favors, grudges with grudges.
This cycle of grace and grudge was the most important virtue and ironclad rule for jianghu folk.
‘Prey delivered itself right to me.’
But this situation posed no problem for Cha Ryong and Ban Go. No, it was exactly what they wanted. If experts came seeking them out on their own, it saved them the effort.
With a faint smile, Cha Ryong said,
“Understood. Since I severed Wind-Thunder Blade Ki Jeong's arm, I suppose I should face you.”
“Good.”
Park Ji-mun stepped forward.
Ju Tae stared at Ban Go with a bored expression. Ban Go stared back, their gazes clashing fiercely.
“Ki ki ki. What're you looking at.”
“What does it look like, punk.”
“What?”
“Wanna throw down, just you and me?”
“You're dying to get killed? Ki ki ki!”
“What's with that monkey laugh?”
A twitch.
Ban Go's eyes flashed white.
Then Cha Ryong tossed a word at him.
“Step back.”
“That punk's mocking me?”
“I said step back.”
“Damn it.”
Ban Go retreated.
Ju Tae grinned at Ban Go and took a few steps back. He didn't forget to throw in a jab.
[You two got that kind of relationship? Sun and Moon usually mean yin and yang—who plays the woman? You? Looks like it.]
Tremble...
Ban Go's face flushed red.
[Don't have to hold back, right?]
“Kyaak!”
Ban Go bellowed in rage. If not for Cha Ryong, he would have already drawn his sword and charged.
Ju Tae crossed his arms and smirked.
* * *
Park Ji-mun and Cha Ryong faced off three zhang apart.
Park Ji-mun let his greatsword from the Paeng Family hang low. Cha Ryong slowly lowered his sword as well, spreading his legs shoulder-width apart.
Even Kim Mu-gwan watching had his eyes harden slightly. He knew Park Ji-mun's skills better than anyone, but the opponent's presence was no joke.
It was a fight where even victory would mean heavy injuries and no gain.
Pa-pat!
They moved simultaneously.
Kagang!
After three exchanges in an instant, they returned to their original positions.
Pa-pa-pat!
Dust billowed up, swept around by the wind.
“Oh!”
“What movement!”
Exclamations erupted from all sides.
Almost no one present could follow the exchanges between Park Ji-mun and Cha Ryong without missing a beat.
Ju Tae's eyes changed for the first time.
“What the hell is that guy.”
“Seems stronger than we thought. Unless a Paeng Family elder or above steps up, we can't guarantee victory.”
Ju Tae nodded in agreement. Even after just three exchanges, he couldn't deny Cha Ryong's skill.
After a moment's thought, Ju Tae turned to Ban Go, who was still glaring and fuming at him.
‘Which means that one might be just as strong...’
The enemy stronger than expected. Normally, one would tense up in such a situation.
But Ju Tae was far from normal.
A grin.
‘My body's itching more and more.’
* * *
Right now, Park Ji-mun was wielding the Paeng Family's greatsword in swordsmanship. A situation where he couldn't fully unleash his original techniques.
But he was savoring the thrill of boiling blood for the first time in ages.
‘Not bad!’
Pa-pa-pat!
Dust erupted in front of Park Ji-mun.
The same before Cha Ryong. Their clashing forces had formed a powerful vortex.
Ka-ga-gang!
They clashed again and separated.
Even this time, it was a draw.
“Waaah!”
“Sun and Moon Twin Swords, win!”
Amid the martial artists' fervent cheers, doubt filled Cha Ryong's eyes.
‘I knew he wasn't ordinary... but not to this extent.’
Ziiing.
The shock traveling up his arm lingered.
He had never felt this level of impact in his duel with Wind-Thunder Blade. In fact, it had been so underwhelming compared to his reputation that he had held back.
“You tricked us?”
“Why do you think that?”
“You think someone of this skill has no fame?”
“I only recently finished training and emerged into the world, so I haven't earned a proper title yet. I'm hoping to get a fitting one by defeating you here.”
“You're dreaming.”
Hwaaak!
Powerful energy surged from Cha Ryong's entire body.
‘He's finally going all out.’
Park Ji-mun knew too. That Cha Ryong hadn't been giving his all until now.
‘Then I have no choice either.’