Chapter 18. An Unexpected Clash (4)

Chaeng chaeng chaeng!

“Who are you?!”

The disciples of Qingcheng all drew their swords at once.

They directed their killing intent towards the strange man who had entered the circle.

“Ahaha, I told you I’m a medicine peddler~”

But the man was only calm.

Teobeok teobeok. With light steps, he crossed the open space. He passed in front of Uhak.

Umjjil

The moment their fleeting gazes met, Uhak took a step back. It was an instinctive movement.

The man passed Uhak and reached Lee Byeok. He looked at Lee Byeok, who was supporting his body with a wooden sword.

“Tsk tsk, rest, you punk.”

“……”

Pulsseok. Lee Byeok collapsed.

The last bit of consciousness he had been barely holding onto with his mental strength had finally been severed.

And the man walked again.

He approached Jaegal Somi in the distance.

Jaegal Somi, a mess with torn clothes and wounds, looked up at the man with difficulty.

Seuk

The man took off his nameless outer coat. He knelt down and draped it over Jaegal Somi’s shoulders.

“You’ve worked hard, taking care of the youngest.”

Seuk seuk. He stroked her head.

Kkuuk. Jaegal Somi’s two hands clutched the outer coat. Her shoulders flinched slightly.

“…I’m sorry. I caused trouble.”

“Ah, it’s okay, something like this. Kids grow up causing trouble. Anyway, as long as you don’t die, it’s fine.”

Kkeul kkeul. The man clicked his tongue and laughed.

Soon, he straightened his legs and stood up again.

The man, Lee Jincheon, glanced around at the surrounding disciples of Qingcheng.

“Sir, reveal your identity! Do you know that you are currently daring to interfere in the affairs of Qingcheng—”

“Ah, hold on. We’ll talk in a bit.”

Gong Myeong-ja, sensing a strange atmosphere, stepped forward and shouted. But Lee Jincheon cut him off by holding up his palm.

Seongkeum seongkeum. He strode towards Uhak.

“Keu… Heuaaaap!!”

Uhak extended his sword.

From the tip of his sword, the Azure Wind Sword Art once again exploded forth.

It was a struggle to desperately deny the cold sensation seeping into his spine.

Denggeong! Hwiririk!

But the moment Lee Jincheon swung his arm, Uhak’s sword, which clashed with his hand-blade, was helplessly cut in half.

It flew off into the distance and stuck into the ground.

“…Huh?”

Deobseok. Uhak’s collar was grabbed.

Kwaang!

“Keoheok!”

And an unhesitating hand slammed Uhak into the ground. Uhak, thrown face-first, let out a groan.

But it was not over.

Kwang! Kwang! Kwang! Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!

“Keuheok! Keok euheok! Keok! Keo-eok!”

In just one breath, Uhak’s face and the ground collided countless times.

His nose collapsed, and his once handsome face was instantly crushed like a monster’s.

Kwang! Kwang! Kwang! Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!

Lee Jincheon’s hands did not stop.

Crushed pieces of teeth flowed out.

At some point, it seemed even his consciousness had been cut off, as not even a groan could be heard anymore.

“Y-You vicious!!”

“Strike!! Save our senior brother!!”

The next moment, the disciples of Qingcheng, who had finally come to their senses, all charged at once.

“S-Stop it!! Stop!!”

Gong Myeong-ja shouted.

But it was a late cry.

Hwiik!

“Eok?!”

Towards the charging disciples of Qingcheng, Lee Jincheon extended Uhak. The swung swords wavered ambiguously.

Ppeok! Ppeok! Ppeok!

Through that opening, Lee Jincheon’s fist relentlessly dug in.

With each punch, one disciple fell.

Hwiik! Ttaak!

“Keuheok!”

Occasionally, to the disciples who slipped through the gaps, Lee Jincheon swung Uhak like a weapon.

Forehead met forehead, and consciousness was cleanly erased.

And so, it was only a moment before all the disciples of Qingcheng were lying on the ground.

A silence fell among the crowd that had been watching the situation.

Tuk, teolseok!

Only then was Uhak’s body, finally released from Lee Jincheon’s hand, limply sprawled on the ground like a rag.

“Alright, kids’ fight, over.”

Tak tak. Lee Jincheon dusted off his hands.

And his gaze turned to Gong Myeong-ja.

“Now, what shall we do, great master? Shall we talk? Or, since the kids’ fight is over, shall we move on to the adults’ fight?”

“……”

Gong Myeong-ja let out a groan.

The man didn’t even use a sword. Even so, his movements were not those of a fist fighter.

He just swung and extended.

With just that, all the disciples he had brought were defeated without even being able to put up a fight.

More than anything, he couldn’t even gauge his presence. That meant there was a high probability that this was not an opponent he could handle.

“…Reveal your identity. Depending on your answer, you will find yourself in a very difficult situation.”

“I told you I’m a medicine peddler, great master. Your hearing is quite poor. You don’t seem to be of that age yet, do you?”

Lee Jincheon shrugged.

“Well, but it’s hard to make a living doing just one thing. So I’m running a small local martial arts hall. Those kids lying over there are the disciples of that hall.”

Tuk tuk. Lee Jincheon nudged Uhak with the tip of his foot.

“Anyway, since this bastard seems to have ground up our kids, I ground him up a bit too. If you’re unhappy about it… you know what to do, great master?”

“……”

It was a nightmarish situation.

Gong Myeong-ja pressed a little harder.

“Right, it seems you’re having trouble revealing your identity. But you wouldn’t be unaware of what it means in the Jianghu to have laid a hand on a disciple of Qingcheng, would you?”

“Ah, so you’re trying to use your backing because you’re at a disadvantage?”

“Our Qingcheng, and furthermore, the Righteous Path Alliance, will never let such an act of yours slide.”

“Oh my, even the Righteous Path Alliance is coming out? You’re playing hardball. Then I have no choice. Let’s see~”

Dwijeok dwijeok. Lee Jincheon put his hand into his clothes. After rummaging for a while, he took something out.

Hook. He threw it.

Taenggeurang!

The object fell at Gong Myeong-ja’s feet.

Gong Myeong-ja carefully picked it up.

“……!”

His eyes widened.

[Rogues’ Guild, The Filthy Lower Gate]

[Lord of the Guardian Order]

Among the factions that dealt with information in the Murim of Jianghu, if the Beggar’s Gang represented the orthodox sects, then the Rogues' Guild represented the unorthodox sects.

However, unlike the Beggar’s Gang, which had a unified identity of ‘beggars,’ the members of the Rogues' Guild lived in countless different statuses all over the Central Plains.

From merchants and ruffians in the marketplace, to escorts of escort agencies, musicians, blacksmiths, and even courtesans.

The eyes of the Rogues' Guild were extended to wherever people gathered, and it was by no means an easy task to escape their gaze.

But that was all.

As an information-gathering group, they were compared to the Beggar’s Gang, but in terms of martial strength, they were at a level that couldn’t even be compared to the Beggar’s Gang, a proud member of the Nine Sects One Gang.

Even if they were disciples, the majority of them had not learned any martial arts at all, and they didn’t even possess a proper unique martial art.

A group that was embarrassing to even call a proper Murim faction. That was the Rogues' Guild.

‘…At least, until about ten years ago.’

But the Rogues' Guild of recent years was different.

The ‘Guardian Squad,’ the martial unit directly under the sect leader.

Unidentified masters known to have been personally recruited by the Rogues' Guild’s sect leader, whose identity was not properly known.

Over the past few years, they had greatly enhanced the name of the Rogues' Guild by performing acts close to chivalry, such as tracking down villains and saving the common people throughout the Central Plains.

Although their numbers were not large, it was known that their martial strength was by no means inferior to that of the masters of prestigious sects, judging from their achievements.

‘Is this… that identity token.’

Of course, there was no way Gong Myeong-ja could have seen this object before.

But if the story went that way, it made sense.

He had thought it was an exaggerated story, but seeing that man, it seemed it had been an underestimation instead.

Hook. Gong Myeong-ja threw the token back, and Lee Jincheon caught it lightly.

“…There was a misunderstanding, I see. If you were associated with the Rogues' Guild, it would have been better if you had said so from the beginning, wouldn't it?”

Gong Myeong-ja laughed.

It was a strained laugh.

“Misunderstanding, my foot. My disciples have nothing to do with the Rogues' Guild. I just got an honorary position while selling medicine in the marketplace.”

“……”

“Well, I was neglecting my duties year-round without doing what I was told, but it’s useful at times like this.”

Lee Jincheon chuckled.

“As for you, I wonder why a Daoist master who was cultivating the Way in the mountains came all the way to this land of Yunnan. Shall I take a guess?”

Lee Jincheon’s gaze changed.

“It’s because of the Righteous Blood Alliance, isn’t it?”

Umjjil. Gong Myeong-ja’s shoulders moved.

“This Yunnan was, until recently, a blank space in the Murim’s power map. It was also a border region with the unorthodox Murim of Guizhou and Yangguang, and the Outer Regions.”

“……”

“But when news spread that some unheard-of country bumpkins called the Seonwoo Clan or something suddenly appeared and joined the Righteous Blood Alliance, you suddenly got a chill down your spine, didn’t you?”

“…Enough. This doesn't seem to be a suitable topic for this place.”

“What’s not suitable? You orthodox sects, you’re busy keeping each other in check these days, dividing into the Righteous Path Alliance and the Righteous Blood Alliance, aren’t you? And it seems the Tang Clan is going along with it, as they say, charity begins at home.”

Eudeuk. Gong Myeong-ja ground his teeth. But there was no way to shut the man’s mouth in this place.

“So, you were thinking of using this opportunity to get acquainted with the unorthodox Murim, butter them up a bit, and use them to keep the others in check, wasn't that your intention?”

Hwaak!

Gong Myeong-ja raised his presence.

“Everyone! Leave this place! Those who remain and watch! I will understand it as a challenge to this humble Daoist and Qingcheng!”

As he laid down the threat, the onlooking crowd began to hastily disperse. Regardless, Lee Jincheon continued to speak.

“But what to do? You came here to ask a favor from the unorthodox Murim, but you ended up messing with my disciples?”

And in the instantly deserted open space, Gong Myeong-ja let out a big sigh with a face that had aged considerably.

“…I apologize for the unfortunate incident. What would you have me do?”

“No, there’s nothing you need to do. I’ll just tell you right here, so you don’t have to go all the way to Guizhou. Go back. The unorthodox Murim does not welcome you.”

Hwoi hwoi. Lee Jincheon waved his hand. Grit! Gong Myeong-ja ground his teeth once more.

It was difficult to make a decision. As an elder of Qingcheng, it was unlikely he had often experienced a situation where he was at a disadvantage in terms of martial strength.

“…Do you have the right to do that?”

Gong Myeong-ja managed to squeeze out the words.

“I do not agree with everything you have said, but even if that were the case, that is a matter for the Evil Faction Alliance and the Righteous Path Alliance. Don’t you think it’s presumptuous for a mere Rogues' Guild disciple to act as if they represent the Evil Faction Alliance?”

Pisik. Lee Jincheon laughed.

He crossed his arms and nodded his head.

“Ah, then do as you please. I’ve eaten and bathed with the Evil Faction Alliance Lord, but I can guarantee you won’t hear anything good even if you go.”

“……”

Is it a lie? Or?

Gong Myeong-ja’s mind spun rapidly. But he had too little information to make a judgment.

However, that man was strong.

Excessively. Unreasonably.

Jeobeok.

The next moment, Lee Jincheon took a step.

Gong Myeong-ja hastily brought his hand to his sword.

But Lee Jincheon’s steps were headed in a completely different direction. He approached the fallen Lee Byeok and hoisted him over his shoulder.

“Hey, the great master has been hard of hearing from the start. Do you want to be transported by an escort agency in a coffin?”

“……”

There was no other way.

He had made a grave mistake.

“…I understand. I will withdraw from this place for now. But I assure you, you will soon regret this day.”

Gong Myeong-ja said.

It was the final outburst of his torn-to-shreds pride.

But it was a huge mistake.

“Ah, so you’re going to hold onto your pride even if you die? Come to think of it, that young master lying over there was quite a swordsman. Is he the future of Qingcheng or something?”

Jeobeok jeobeok.

Lee Jincheon approached Uhak again. Tuk. He nudged Uhak with the tip of his foot.

He picked up one of the swords scattered around.

“Then I’ll just take one of his arms?”

“S-Stop! No!!!”

Chaeng!

Gong Myeong-ja drew his sword.

He knew he could not win.

But even if he or the other disciples were harmed, Uhak alone could not be broken. Absolutely not.

“Why? You also gave my disciple a lesson without permission, didn’t you? So this young master should also take a lesson from the unorthodox sects to heart, right?”

“I-I understand! I will leave this place right now! Please, just forgive me this once! I will never come near Yunnan again!”

Kkuuk.

Just then, someone pulled on Lee Jincheon’s sleeve. Lee Jincheon’s gaze shifted.

“Sect Leader. Don’t do it.”

It was Jaegal Somi.

Her gaze, looking at Lee Jincheon with her battered body, wavered precariously.

The Sect Leader seemed like a different person.

But Jaegal Somi could tell. He was angry beyond measure.

Just like the day they first met.

“It’s unsettling, so let’s go now. We have to stitch up the little one’s sword wound quickly, don’t we.”

“…Right. I understand, Somi.”

Lee Jincheon turned around.

Huu. Gong Myeong-ja let out a sigh of relief. He had somehow avoided the worst-case scenario—

“Then let’s just cut half his tendons.”

Seugeok!

The movement of the sword was not even visible.

Tuk. Uhak’s right arm bent at a strange angle.

Taenggeurang!

The sword fell from Lee Jincheon’s hand.

“Eek! U-U-U-Uhak!”

Gong Myeong-ja hastily kicked off the ground.

But by then, Lee Jincheon’s figure was already several feet away.

Holding Lee Byeok and Jaegal Somi, he moved away in an instant.

“Ah, don’t worry, great master. If treated well, he’ll be able to hold a spoon. I’m not so sure about anything heavier than that, though.”

“Uwaaaaaaak!! You bastard!!! How dare you, how dare you!!! I will never, no matter what, forgive you!!!”

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