What Are You Gonna Do About It? (3)
The late disciples on the sparring platform had grown up hearing endless tales about the Namgung Clan since childhood.
"Those guys are all monsters."
"Each one has a single horn sprouting from their head. Who knows, maybe they've even got fur growing on their consciences."
"Demonic cults? Even the Demonic cultists would smash their heads on the ground and crawl away at the sight of them."
"So keep that in mind. If you ever run into a Namgung, put everything you've got into running away."
"What about your sect's honor? They don't give a damn about that."
"They just start beating first and ask questions later."
Jamcheong of the Jeomcheong Faction didn't let his tension slacken for a moment. The good news was that the sect elders had already coordinated things yesterday. If by some stroke of terrible luck they ended up on the same platform as Namgung Daeso or Namgung So, everyone would team up to take those two out first.
Righteous honor and camaraderie? That stuff didn't exist in a world ruled by the Namgung.
Defeating the Namgung was honor and camaraderie.
"No need to tense up!"
Jamcheong was the oldest among the late disciples participating this time. And this was his second Sawangjeon. In his first, he'd even advanced to the main rounds—a true prodigy among prodigies. Everyone followed his lead tacitly.
"Namgung or not, they're just warriors a bit stronger than us, that's all."
His words eased the tension a little. Then another man stepped up beside him. He too was a late disciple who'd advanced in the previous Sawangjeon—Bakga.
Rarely did hidden dragons emerge from lesser sects, but Bakga was one such case. He and Jamcheong were old acquaintances.
"Brother Jam, let's make the most of this."
If they'd been in different brackets, both Jamcheong and Bakga had the skills to pass the preliminaries. Unfortunately, they'd drawn the same platform this time.
"Brother Bak, I was thinking the same."
The major sects naturally gravitated toward Jamcheong, the mid-to-small sects toward Bakga.
I glanced at them and said curtly, "Have your fun."
Yi Jung-hyeok, elder of Jeomcheong Faction, stared holes into Platform 1.
Well done, Jamcheong!
It was a solid start. Amid the wary glances, he'd stepped up decisively, unifying the mood. With Bakga backing him up, his words carried even more weight. First, cooperate to eliminate the trickiest threats. Even the Namgung couldn't escape unscathed from 49 late disciples uniting against them. Monster or not.
Jinheo said with a worried frown, "This is trouble."
Ilseon Dosa asked, puzzled, "Why?"
I-gwon was busy thrashing disciples from other sects alongside his fellow Shaolin late disciples.
"Looks like our I-gwon hasn't slacked on his training. He's improved even more—haha!"
Jinheo shook his head.
"Not that. And our I-gwon wouldn't lose in mere preliminaries. Though I do feel a bit bad for the other three sects' disciples."
"If not that, then what's got you worried?"
Jinheo cautiously pointed at Platform 1.
Ilseon Dosa let out an involuntary chuckle. "Heh heh..."
Jinheo eyed him curiously.
Ilseon Dosa continued, "I thought it was something serious."
"Master, aren't you worried the youngest young master is in a bind? Not to speak ill, but that kid Jamcheong and Bakga, disciple of the Martial World Weirdo—they're no pushovers."
"So what?"
"Huh? What do you mean...?"
Ilseon Dosa had witnessed Namgung Daeso's training up close—the closest view, in fact. The duration was shorter than his time at Shaolin, but the intensity was beyond imagination.
"Call the Blood Squad."
"Why?"
"For sparring."
He'd trained relentlessly against the Blood Squad, no less.
"Don't worry. The ones in trouble aren't the young master—it's them."
Ilseon Dosa murmured softly, then gazed calmly at Namgung Daeso. But Jinheo still looked anxious.
I stretched lightly. Crack, pop! Every time my joints popped, the surrounding late disciples flinched.
Scared before the fight even started. A sight you'd never see in the Namgung estate.
Still, couldn't deny they were from prestigious sects.
They're scared, but not running.
The resolve in their eyes... For some reason, it made me want to beat them up. They were so damn cute.
I couldn't hold back anymore and charged at the nearest one. His fear-filled eyes sharpened instantly, as if the terror had never been there.
Jegal Sua, the youngest of the Jegal Clan's three direct disciples, wasn't really at a level to compete in the Sawangjeon. She'd entered purely to satisfy her own greed.
I want to see the world!
Her sword hand was steady. Inner energy built through years of unrelenting Small Heavenly Star Technique flowed into her blade. Then came the Jegal Clan's signature art, the Small Heavenly Star Sword Method.
It couldn't compare to the Great Heavenly Star Sword Method her brothers wielded, but her training hadn't been in vain. Her sword arced precisely toward the incoming Namgung Daeso.
This should...!
Buy a little time, at least. Elimination was inevitable anyway. The platform was full of people stronger than her.
The Namgung Clan's youngest young master. Rumors painted him as a half-baked dodger extraordinaire. If the rumors held, he'd evade this strike.
Everyone watched his next move intently, sharing the same thought. But she had a hunch he wouldn't dodge.
The Shaolin late disciples looked at him with eyes full of resolve to conquer their fear. Cowards who only ran didn't earn that gaze.
Besides, he was direct lineage of the world's strongest clan, the Namgung. What kind of man was he? She'd begged her father just to see for herself.
"You!"
In the instant sword met fist, he said with a dissatisfied frown, "That's not how you do the Small Heavenly Star Sword Method! Raise your arm higher, tuck your waist in more."
Wha...? That's the exact critique I always get from the instructors!
How did he know? Jegal Sua unconsciously adjusted her stance as he said.
"Good! Now it's worth looking at."
His praise made her puff up with pride for no reason. Her clan hadn't approved of her learning martial arts anyway. Truth be told, she had far more talent for scholarly pursuits—a lot more.
"You!"
He called again.
That's weird. My stance is perfect now.
Overwhelmed by this stranger's commanding presence, she forgot it was a match and answered instinctively. "Yes?"
Nonsense poured from his mouth. "Daegalbak's full up, and the flower vase quota's exceeded... Perfect! Daegaltong!"
"Dae... gal... tong...?"
It felt like a word she shouldn't repeat. Then she saw a massive fist descending from above. He'd already slipped her sword like the "loach" nickname suggested.
Her eyes widened. That's...!
He wasn't holding a sword, but Jegal Sua knew. It was the perfect trajectory of the Small Heavenly Star Sword Method she'd longed for but could never achieve—with his fist.
"You!"
The third call.
"Good. From now on, you're Daegaltong Number One."
What followed made her doubt her ears.
"Daegari~~~!"
Crack!
Another first for her. No... don't... pass out...
She fought desperately to stay conscious. For one reason alone.
"If you get tangled with Namgung scum, it's all over."
Her uncle, a renowned scholar respected by all. The man Jegal Sua admired most in the world turned childlike and terrified at anything Namgung-related.
His insightful eyes lost all reason. His dignified voice whined like a kid's.
"They're monsters! I truly hope you never go there!"
"Waaah! Monsters! They're here again! Waaah!"
She should've listened back then!
Her eyes fluttered shut. An unprecedented shock hammered her skull. She didn't even know what hit her.
She collapsed. Namgung Daeso caught her lightly.
The watching late disciples muttered in disbelief.
"He headbutted her..."
"Smashed her right in the noggin, didn't he...?"
Jegal Sua. She had many nicknames in the martial world, but the most famous was Hobuk's Number One Beauty.
When she first became Namgung Daeso's target, they'd secretly cheered inside. A man weakens before a pretty girl, right? Strike then! He'll show an opening for sure!
Screw openings—a massive lump bloomed on her forehead, drool trickled from her mouth, and she slumped against Namgung Daeso's arm, out cold.
Her beauty still shone through, but Namgung Daeso...
"Take her to the medical hall. And tell Grandpa Singui this: new Daegaltong Number One."
Something was off. A Blood Squad member scooped her up and dashed toward the medical hall.
The late disciples clutched their heads.
Namgung Daeso turned back to them and opened his mouth.
"If you don't train your martial arts right, your Daegaltong shatters. Man, woman, kid, old fogey—doesn't matter!"
Jinheo chanted, "Amitabha."
He knew of Jegal Sua too. He glanced toward the Jegal Clan seats. A somber mood hung over them.
Soon, they filed out. The Jegal Clan's real heavyweights weren't here—probably in other arenas for preliminaries. But Jegal Sua wielded the Small Heavenly Star Sword Method. They'd had hopes for her, yet their retreating backs looked utterly dejected.
Jinheo spoke up. "Were they counting on a honey trap or something?"
That girl's beauty had been exceptional.
"Heh heh heh, honey trap?"
Ilseon Dosa chuckled lecherously again.
"With that?"
Has this old man's finally lost it?
"One look at our head maid and his eyes would pop out."
Ah... that beauty's girlfriend? God, I hope the rumors stay quiet. Shameless at his age... I can't even lift my head. If he weren't my master, I'd smash his Daegaltong flat!!
One thing nagged at him, though.
"Um, Master."
"Yes?"
"Why's the youngest young master so obsessed with heads?"
Shaolin had just shrugged it off, but today it bordered on obsession. He hadn't dreamed the guy would smash a woman's head without hesitation.
"Th-that's a story I can't tell."
When Namgung Daeso still had a cute streak left in him. He'd grown up taking quite a few hits. From fifty adults, taking turns.
On the head.
"Well, everyone has their reasons. Anyway."
This was Jinheo's real question. He was a man too, after all.
"Why?"
"Just wondering."
"Wondering what?"
"Does the head maid have any... connections?"
He'd lived alone for so long. Never regretted it once.
And now look at the result!
"Gaaah!!"
"I'll smash 'em."
"What the hell! A sword's stuck in me! Why'd the sword break?!"
"I'll smash 'em all!"
Thwack!
"Wha...! Flower Vase (100)!!! You bastard!!! Why hit me, you punk!!!"
"Uh... smashed the wrong one. Sorry, senior brother. I'll smash everyone here instead!"
Hm... A bit rough around the edges, but he'd grown up well enough.
Still...
Ilseon Dosa eyed his disciple with a strange look.
"Youuuu...!"
"Ahem! Lower your voice!"
Ilseon Dosa turned serious. "Don't tell me! Are you eyeing our head maid?! If so, disciple or not—you die, Shaolin dies, everything dies!"
Sigh... Stupid me for expecting anything from that damn old geezer.
Then Jinheo spotted a woman in the distance.
"By the way, Master, who's that lady over there?"
"Ah~ Jipyeongjeon, where the second young master stays—that's their head maid."
"Is her husband...?"
"None. She came to the Namgung estate young to work. Why?"
"Ahem! Nothing. Just curious."
"You killjoy."
Spring. Spring breeze blowing.
Whoosh~
The flower of broken precepts bloomed once more in a certain man's heart.