Chapter 51
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Pang Ho-rip
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The murim world is like a living creature.
Its situation changes from moment to moment, and looking back through history, there are no days of calm—which is probably why it's called the realm of heroes.
"Peng Clan's second young master?"
Defining this murim in a single word isn't easy.
It could be called the world of martial artists, the world where the strong reign supreme, but even those are only half right.
The Central Plains was currently enjoying an era of great peace.
Neither the imperial court nor the murim world had ever known such tranquility, and one could tell just by looking at the lives of the common folk—this was an unprecedented peace.
Yet, as history proves, there were no small number of people calling it the calm before the storm.
The foreign invaders and the new demonic murim, always eyeing the fertile lands covetously.
Unable to uproot them entirely, their very existence served as unwitting motivation.
For the martial artists who constantly honed themselves.
The Nine Great Sects and One Gang had always held their positions steadfastly, upholding their doctrines and diligently pursuing their martial arts.
In contrast, the circumstances of the Six Great Clans were somewhat different.
Even among the Six Great Clans, the ways they prepared for tomorrow's dark clouds varied wildly, so just observing each other's differences made this gathering meaningful in many ways.
"Young master?"
She seemed a bit more composed now, but A-so, whom he hadn't seen in a while, tugged at his collar with a worried look.
"Let's go."
With A-so and U Hak-bong in tow, Seo Mun-ha didn't stop walking.
The Hebei Peng Clan held a rather unique position even among the Six Great Clans.
Having their base in the capital, they should have been closely tied to the imperial court by rights, but surprisingly, not as much as the Moyong Clan or the Jeokgal Clan.
Among the Peng Clan's martial arts, the Five Tigers Gate Severing Blade, hailed as the best in the world.
Its foundation came from the Nine Great Sects' Shaolin, but it wasn't as deeply connected to them as the Sichuan Tang Clan or the Nangong Clan.
'In simple terms, they're a lone wolf.'
The Hebei Peng Clan's second young master, Pang Ho-rip, boasted bones as sturdy as Bi Ju-seong's.
Between the two men of similar builds, the aura Pang Ho-rip exuded was undoubtedly worthy of the Nine Dragons.
The Six Great Clans, each sharpening their own unique weapons.
Just as the Shandong Hwangbo Clan bolstered their entire family's power and the Sichuan Tang Clan developed new poisons, the Hebei Peng Clan focused on nurturing the next generation.
It was the most orthodox approach, and while the Jinju Eon Clan was often mentioned as their underlings, the hegemon of Hebei was ultimately the Peng Clan.
From the assessment that they weren't even comparable, one could see the gap was far wider than that between the Shandong Hwangbo Clan and the Seo Mun Clan.
'And arrogant to match.'
He was blatantly radiating hostility as people passed by.
Limiting that target to Seo Mun-ha alone made it a hostility bordering on killing intent.
Conveying killing intent within hostility required a delicate expression of will.
Thud.
Seo Mun-ha advanced undeterred through the wordless pressure.
One step, two steps...
The two men's gazes brushed past each other, and Seo Mun-ha passed by with a casual glance.
"Th-this way, please."
The servant guiding them fidgeted nervously but fulfilled his duty.
He had probably received pressure from some Pang fellow.
In this uneventful situation, Seo Mun-ha followed the hesitant servant, leaving the three men and one woman behind.
"Hold up."
A man in his forties spoke on behalf of Pang Ho-rip.
"Are you Ghost Flash?"
"You know me?"
"It'd be ridiculous not to know Ghost Flash after stepping into Shandong soil. You're the Seo Mun Clan's third young master, called Shandong's top scoundrel—or so I've heard. As for me, I'm undeservedly known as the Hundred Strength Fast Blade."
He belittled his opponent while pretending to praise, then humbly downplayed himself.
The man felt somewhat at odds with the rumored Peng Clan style, but his fast blade that cut through tangles was known throughout Hebei.
"Sorry, but it's news to me."
It was a moniker Seo Mun-ha, who had passed through Hebei before, and his companions at the time would have heard at least once in the markets.
"It does seem overly generous."
This was based on what had fully registered in his ears with interest.
"..."
The Hundred Strength Fast Blade's brow twitched.
Normally, one would at least pretend to know, even if feigning courtesy, but Seo Mun-ha's lack of pretense suited the Peng name even better.
"So, what business does the great hero Hundred Strength Fast Blade have with me?"
He lightly raised his presence.
Against the choking pressure, his own expanded aura pierced back through the Hundred Strength Fast Blade.
'Guh?!'
Common tales say masters can kill with intent alone.
This was generally only possible at the pinnacle peaks, and while Seo Mun-ha hadn't reached the heart-kill realm, he could shock opponents depending on the matchup.
"If anyone has business, it's me."
Pang Ho-rip, who had been silently watching, stepped between them.
"Pang Ho-rip."
It was a shock not to be ignored for the guard lagging behind his charge.
"Seo Mun-ha."
Seo Mun-ha returned the light greeting.
'Indeed, the Whirlwind Blade Dragon.'
U Hak-bong, clapping silently, admired the invisible clash of auras between them.
'A man who vied for supremacy among the later generation talents with the Nangong Clan's Soaring Heaven Sword Dragon.'
U Hak-bong swallowed hard at Pang Ho-rip's aura, which transcended even the later generation—not to mention Seo Mun-ha.
He craved liquor. And some spicy stir-fried chicken to go with it.
There were levels even to spectating fights, and spectacles like this weren't easy to come by.
He was far more thrilled wondering how Ghost Flash would fare against Pang Ho-rip, the pinnacle of the Nine Dragons and Seven Peaks.
"What business might that be?"
Especially if the spark was a woman.
"What do you think?"
"I'm not fond of riddles."
Seo Mun-ha let out a short sigh.
The Hebei Peng Clan was based in the capital.
This meant it was familiar territory for him, who had served the court, and the experts of the previous generation he'd heard of were beyond these two.
'Impressive, but...'
Twenty-five, was it? Considering Pang Ho-rip's age, he could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those experts in their era.
Whether Hundred Strength Fast Blade or Whirlwind Blade Dragon, Seo Mun-ha himself wasn't particularly intrigued.
"Isn't Ghost Flash renowned across Hebei, Shandong, and Sichuan? Any martial artist would naturally want to see his skills."
"..."
"But I won't spout the same lip-service nonsense they do."
At the very least, in Seo Mun-ha's mind, the name he'd dismissed as some Pang nobody was now replaced with Pang Ho-rip.
"How about a little wager?"
"Reason?"
"Because of Lady Baek Ri."
The Seo Mun Clan's scoundrel third young master couldn't get enough of gambling and women, so he wouldn't back down—or so he judged.
"She's a woman far too precious for the likes of you."
"Terms?"
There was no reason to refuse outright, but to Seo Mun-ha, the whole thing felt utterly ridiculous.
"What would you like?"
"Your basics are all wrong. Shouldn't you be the one proposing?"
Pang Ho-rip suffered an insult that wasn't quite an insult.
"...Nothing compares to her, but money or whatever, I promise it."
Pang Ho-rip calmed his boiling guts and bowed repeatedly.
"Again."
But his opponent was too poor a match.
"What?"
"Prepare again."
"Prepare what?"
"The stakes."
It was woefully inadequate preparation for daring to wager on another's fiancée, and whether he'd considered defeat wasn't Seo Mun-ha's concern.
"Are you toying with me?!"
Finally, a thread of reason snapped, and Pang Ho-rip stomped the ground with a thud.
"Hoo, if you're not confident, that's fine too. Admit defeat and stay away from her forever. I'll handle the clan matters myself."
"And if I refuse?"
"I have more than enough ability to force it—regrettable for you, though."
Seo Mun-ha wore a thin smile.
"What will you do?"
With Pang Ho-rip showing no intent to back down, Seo Mun-ha thought it was rather good.
In fact, perfect.
Better than watching these brats' arrogance throughout the gathering.
Setting aside the wager, there was a need to crush someone's spirit right from the start, and this would surely help his two younger brothers as well.
"Don't forget the bows."
The wager itself was important, of course.
"If I win... you'll hand it over."
Seo Mun-ha's small voice reached only certain ears.
"You said nothing compares, so I'm being generous."
It might seem like a jab at a glance, but his expression was sincere.
"Y-you madman!"
Pang Ho-rip restrained the furious Hundred Strength Fast Blade with a chin flick.
Even he had no shred of reason left.
"I'll take that as acceptance."
With a smirk, Seo Mun-ha pointed at the man who had been guiding him to the lodgings.
"Is there a sparring ground nearby?"
"W-well..."
There was. But he wasn't strictly a Peng Clan servant, and recalling rules beyond his authority, he looked troubled.
"What's with the commotion?"
It was then.
Two men and women approached the group that had gradually drawn the crowd's attention.
"Young Master Seo Mun."
Pang Ho-rip's face visibly darkened for a moment.
Murmur murmur.
The newly arrived pair wielded influence equal to his own—the ability to enforce things by force.
"Long time no see. What are you doing standing around in this uneventful venue, Young Master Pang?"
"Long time no see, Lady Ha."
Pang Ho-rip made a cupped-fist salute with a displeased expression.
"This is personal, so I'd appreciate if you passed quietly."
"Young Master Seo Mun's business is my business too."
Ha Eun-ye, dressed in splendid palace robes.
She, who had switched faces and stances as needed, now stepped forward in her true form before the crowd.
"Ridiculous."
Pang Ho-rip scoffed in disbelief.
A scoundrel who changed women daily.
Since they were all exceptional women, it was a talent in its own right—a skill, even.
"Been well?"
"It's only been a few days."
"Just happy to see you."
Ha Eun-ye openly flaunted their closeness.
"How'd it go?"
"Handled it all perfectly. Though the workload piled up midway."
To Seo Mun-ha, who had personally eliminated the demonic heads, she praised him lavishly, as if commending his efforts.
"You worked hard. Sorry it's late."
It was the second time, after all.
"Sorry, Lady Ha. But I'm in the middle of talking with Young Master Seo Mun."
"Is that so? I thought it was over."
Ha Eun-ye had grown remarkably brazen in the time apart.
"It is over. Just pointless chatter."
"It's the first day of the gathering. I hope for minimal disturbances, but am I asking too much of you, Young Master Pang?"
This might just be her true self.
"No matter who wins, everyone except you two just suffers the fallout. The location I can overlook, but please pick your timing."
"Hmph. Isn't a gathering ultimately for gauging each other?"
"There's an order to it. I know your spirit well, Young Master Pang, but we're not unorthodox. Take Seol-ah—even if it's her, if you two start sparring out of nowhere, what happens to that child's position? Have you considered it?"
At the mention of Baek Ri-seol, whom he adored endlessly, Pang Ho-rip's will faltered.
Seo Mun-ha shook his head.
Childish.
They're right at that childish age. Big brothers like you have to understand.
Though it was a mental transmission, the casual tone between the two remained unchanged.
And is that something Young Master Seo Mun should say?
No corner to be embarrassed about.
Men are all childish, aren't they?
Plus, I'm eighteen too, you know.
Pang Ho-rip ultimately had to step back.
"No troubles in the meantime, Young Master Pang?"
It wasn't just Baek Ri-seol's position, but also the man standing beside Ha Eun-ye.
Who’s that?
His appearance was like jade carved from stone.
In crude terms, a gigolo-like beauty who could captivate men and women, young and old alike.
Before Ha Eun-ye could answer, he spoke first.
"I've heard much about you. Namgung Cheon-hwi of the Nangong Clan."
Unlike Seo Mun-ha in his black attire, the man wore pristine white robes.
He exuded flawless elegance.
"Soaring Heaven Sword Dragon!"
U Hak-bong finally shouted aloud.
They'd anticipated it from the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering name, but seeing such illustrious figures together felt novel and fresh, murmurs rising here and there.
"You've only gotten more handsome."
Of course, a few were exceptions.
Pang Ho-rip, arms crossed, muttered mockingly.
"They say even village women lose sleep when the Jade Qilin passes by. Now you're after men too?"
Unlike his reaction to Seo Mun-ha, Namgung Cheon-hwi seemed like a one-sided rival to him.
"You're too kind."
There was much debate on their similar skills, but in archaic grace and appearance, he was utterly outclassed.
"Tch. Same boring guy as ever."
To the bold-featured Pang Ho-rip, it was a kind of inferiority complex.
Impressive.
That much?
Honestly, astounding. Definitely half a level above that big lug.
Seo Mun-ha, now pushed to the background, assessed coldly.
Compared to you, Young Master Seo Mun?
To Ha Eun-ye's beaming question, Seo Mun-ha deftly changed the subject.
Anyway, the Peng Clan’s out. Thanks to him.
His upright nature rivals his white robes. Doesn’t go for those jokes.
What Seo Mun-ha had demanded was a special privilege to command one of the Peng Clan's units at any time, for one instance.
Your lover?
Me? Jealous?
You seem to know him well. Forgot your in-laws are the Nangong Clan.
There we go. What’d you expect?
She shook her head with a wry smile.
He’s my cousin.
I see.
Watch out. Just grandmotherly advice, but next time, your acknowledged Soaring Heaven Sword Dragon might be your sparring opponent.
Threat?
Advice. Be nice to me.
Ha Eun-ye complained inwardly without showing a hint on her face.
I’m so exasperated—want to hear the latest rumor?
Duck egg on the Yellow River.
On the surface, she even exchanged greetings with A-so, whom she hadn’t seen in a while.
No ducks in the Yellow River, though.
One drifts in now and then.
She shot him a glance, likening her own plight.
You soothed A-so, good. But watch yourself. Lots of eyes on Young Master Seo Mun.
Will do.
And no needless scandals. I just said duck egg, right? Know what people are calling me?
He didn't particularly want to know.
Feeling he shouldn't, Seo Mun-ha turned back to A-so and resumed his delayed steps.
"If you're not up for it, I'll be going."
Pang Ho-rip flinched, belatedly turning to Seo Mun-ha as if he'd forgotten him.
'When did he...?'
Though distracted, he'd exposed his back—an oversight he blamed himself for.
"...The mood's gone, so next time."
At least there was the consolation of future revenge.
The gathering had only just begun; time was plentiful.
"Suit yourself."
Seo Mun-ha shrugged and went on his way first.
"Don't disappoint."
Leaving the three men and woman behind.
Skipping the lodgings, the place he entered was Cheonryong Pavilion, Shandong's finest and Qingju Commandery's pride.
Creeeak—