Jo Gangmin tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
"Well, it's nothing. Anyway, since I'm back, shall we get going?"
"Hold on. Since you've troubled us like this, shouldn't you receive a suitable punishment first?"
Jo Gangmin wore a vile smile. Simultaneously, the team members who had come with him slowly closed in, completely surrounding Namgung Cheon.
Blatant hostility. Beyond fighting spirit, even killing intent could be felt.
Namgung Cheon let out a deep sigh. This is why brats are tiring. They probably didn't even know about the chaos happening at the mountain fortress right now.
Namgung Cheon tapped his shoulder with his scabbard and spoke. "Hey, Dongsaeng (younger brother)."
"Dongsaeng…?"
Jo Gangmin's cheek twitched. Namgung Cheon shrugged. "Well, is there any other Dongsaeng here besides you?"
"I see. Speak, Namgung-hyeong."
"This is a real battle, right? Then you should at least figure out who the real enemy is. Your Hyeong is in a good mood today after meeting some welcome faces. Isn't this a good chance for us all to go back smiling? Let's not cross the line."
"Hohoho. I've heard Namgung-hyeong's words well. But the true enemy is always within."
"Huh? Are you admitting you're the students' enemy?"
"Of course not. The students' enemy is a bastard like you, who carelessly breaks the rules, deserts at will, and puts his comrades in danger."
"Wow, such pretty words."
"Then do things that deserve pretty words!"
Paat!
In an instant, Jo Gangmin kicked off the ground, flew forward, and unleashed a sword strike.
Shiiiit!
A movement as fast as lightning! But for Namgung Cheon, who possessed the Chogyeon Pagongan, the red stream of Qi aiming for his solar plexus was already visible.
Pabat!
Namgung Cheon immediately used his footwork to retreat, then drew his sword in an instant, parrying Jo Gangmin's blade.
Shikkaaang!
With a clear metallic clang, Jo Gangmin stumbled back three or four steps.
Chwaaaat!
Sliding his left foot in a semi-circle, Jo Gangmin's eyes widened.
'He blocked it…?'
He had thought it impossible. It was a surprise attack. He hadn't held back either. Was it just his imagination? He seemed much stronger than when they had encountered each other in the academy cafeteria a few days ago.
The palm holding his sword still tingled.
'What is this? This bastard… was he hiding his strength?'
Namgung Cheon now stood with his sword drawn, legs slightly apart.
"Are you really going to kick away this good opportunity?"
"You talk a lot for someone who deserted the ranks."
Jo Gangmin spat out the words, slowly gathering his internal energy.
Uuuung.
As the energy condensed, the air grew taut. The Jangsam he wore puffed out.
As if that were a signal, Song Wongyo and the other team members began radiating sharp Yegi (killing intent/sharpness) and closed the distance.
Jo Gangmin recited in a cold voice, "It seems you learned some petty tricks during the break. Trusting in that, you've become too arrogant. Please understand that you brought today's events upon yourself. Everyone, what are you doing? Quickly strike down that bastard who deserted the ranks and endangered his team…!"
In that instant, dark shadows appeared as if dropping from the sky.
Papapapat…!
Six martial artists appeared, surrounding Namgung Cheon as if to protect him. They drew their weapons and shouted.
"Who dares threaten Namgung Sohyeop!"
Jo Gangmin's eyebrow twitched at the sudden appearance of the uninvited guests.
What is this now? Where did these bandits come from…?
But they weren't ordinary bandits. Especially the man glaring at him as if he wanted to eat him alive. His martial arts level was clearly a notch above his own. The aura emanating from his entire body was extraordinary.
A Jeoljeong-gosu!
The scar on the opponent's cheek twitched. "Hey, young man. What business do you have with Namgung Sohyeop?"
Jo Gangmin stared blankly, then suddenly shouted at Namgung Cheon. "Namgung Cheon! Don't tell me you were colluding with the Hyeorurim martial artists? Truly, the son of the Great Killing Star is…"
"Silence! What dog-shit nonsense is this? How do we look like those goddamn Hyeorurim to you?"
"If… if you're not Hyeorurim…"
"We are righteous martial artists who were kidnapped by the Hyeorurim and endured all sorts of torture! Namgung Sohyeop, who is here, rescued us!"
Namgung Cheon wore an inwardly satisfied expression at the Ghost King's words. He had worried they might forget the story they'd agreed on, but thankfully, they weren't that stupid.
The Ghost King turned to Namgung Cheon. "Sohyeop! What is going on?"
"I don't know. They say they want to beat me up."
At Namgung Cheon's blunt words, the faces of Jo Gangmin and his team members turned pale.
The Ghost King, on the other hand, glared fiercely and swung his long spear. "Why do you threaten the righteous Sohyeop!"
"Th-this is an internal matter of Yongcheongwan. You have no need to interfere."
"Unacceptable! To stand by and watch when our benefactor seems to be in danger is not the way of those who have received grace!"
Huuuung!
As the Gwiwangchae martial artists simultaneously raised their Gigong (Qi cultivation), a hot wave of energy blasted outwards. The sheer pressure was suffocating.
"Chiit…!"
Jo Gangmin clicked his tongue and involuntarily took a step back. Unlike the students, this was an aura honed through countless real battles. At this rate, he and his team members would clearly be overwhelmed.
Charging in seemed like suicide, but retreating wounded his pride.
It was then.
"You lot! What are you doing here?"
With a shout, Gyepllyang arrived, using his Gyeonggong.
"Instructor!"
The team members welcomed him with relieved expressions. Gyepllyang, seeing the Gwiwangchae martial artists, grew wary and drew his sword.
"Who are you!"
The Ghost King politely performed a Pogwon. "We are merely nameless martial artists. We were kidnapped by the Hyeorurim and held captive, but thanks to your academy's Namgung Sohyeop, we were able to escape safely."
"Then why have you drawn your weapons?"
"Ah, that's because these students seemed to be threatening Namgung Sohyeop."
Although Jo Gangmin and his team should have been scolded, Gyepllyang questioned Namgung Cheon first.
"Namgung Cheon. Is that true?"
"I accidentally fell into a formation and found the hut where they were imprisoned. The door could only be opened from the outside, so I opened it for them."
Gyepllyang then turned to Jo Gangmin, his eyes asking what had happened. But how could Jo Gangmin know the details?
As Jo Gangmin silently shook his head, Gyepllyang sighed lightly. "Jo Gangmin, escort these people and return down the mountain with your team members."
"Understood."
At that, the Ghost King frowned deeply and asked, "Uhm. Are you not going to scold the students? They were clearly threatening Namgung Sohyeop…"
"We will handle our academy's internal affairs ourselves. You need not concern yourselves with that."
"Keum. Understood."
"Namgung Cheon, I need to see you."
"Just me? Why?"
Gyepllyang shot him a sharp look, and Namgung Cheon nodded. "Yes. Well, understood."
Damn it. He could at least tell me the reason. Glaring at a student who asks a question… This guy is seriously lacking as an instructor.
Gyepllyang strode through the fog. Namgung Cheon followed silently behind. Perhaps bothered by the awkward silence, Gyepllyang asked abruptly, "Did you train your martial arts during the break?"
For an instructor, he seems to have noticed Namgung Cheon's change to some extent.
Namgung Cheon shrugged. "I was always somewhat strong."
Psik.
Gyepllyang let out a snort. "Then does that mean you were hiding your strength until now?"
"I learned that in the Jianghu, one must hide a moderate amount."
"Then why reveal it now?"
"Because if you hide too much, you become a Hogu."
Namgung Cheon answered dismissively. He knew this conversation was mostly meaningless. For some reason, it felt like Gyepllyang was stalling for time.
"You have a destination, don't you?"
"Why do you think that?"
"A relatively fast pace, consistent strides, stepping forward without hesitation despite the thick fog. It means you have a clear place to go."
"Not bad." Gyepllyang sounded genuinely impressed.
Namgung Cheon asked again, "Where are we going?"
"In life, there are times when we walk the path we desire, and times when we walk paths we do not. But more people than you think end up on paths they do not desire. Some turn back, and some find they can no longer turn back. That is life…"
"Sounds like bullshit."
"What?"
"Ah, nothing."
Dammit, my inner thoughts slipped out again. This dizzying honesty.
Truthfully, he hated these kinds of Zen riddles the most. If he asked where they were going, just spit out the destination. What was all this gaesori?
Gyepllyang, rambling on with his crap philosophy, finally concluded.
"…That is how it is. So, I hope you will think of yourself as just one of those many cases. There is no perpetrator, no victim."
"So where are we going now?"
In the end, he didn't get an answer. Did Gyepllyang even realize how inefficient this conversation was?
Gyepllyang, oblivious, chuckled. It was a somewhat heartless smile.
"We're almost there."
Gyepllyang rounded a large boulder, and presences could be felt in the thick fog ahead. Namgung Cheon narrowed his eyes, focused his internal energy, and enhanced his vision.
A trio of masked men.
Well, look at this. Things are getting strange. What business would a Yongcheongwan instructor have meeting masked men?
Soon, the masked men strode closer and stopped in front of them. One of them glanced at Namgung Cheon and asked, "You mean you'll let us go if we take care of this kid?"
Gyepllyang frowned uncomfortably. "Loose lips."
"What does it matter in front of a brat who's about to die? Nothing to hide, is there?"
"Finish it quickly."
"Not a difficult task. Are you going to watch from the side?"
"I'll be over there."
After speaking, Gyepllyang went back around the boulder.
Ha, so this was it?
Namgung Cheon stared in the direction Gyepllyang had disappeared with an incredulous expression. He had suspected it wouldn't be good, but to this extent? This was truly unbearable. For the first time in a while, his anger management failed.
Whether they knew his feelings or not, the masked men sneered and muttered.
"Righteous faction bastards, anyway. They do all sorts of despicable things but act all high and mighty."
"Tell me about it. Well, maybe waiting behind a rock makes them feel like it's not their doing?"
Namgung Cheon couldn't hold back and joined the conversation. "I agree with you a hundred times over. Those righteous faction types, when you get down to it, are utter trash."
"Right, right."
"They act all noble, but their actions are filthy. In short, they're fucking annoying."
"That's what I'm saying."
"We seem to get along pretty well."
"So it seems. But you… what are you?"
One of the masked men raised his eyebrows sharply, glaring at Namgung Cheon as if he wanted to eat him.
Namgung Cheon asked nonchalantly, "What?"
"Has this brat gone mad? Who gave you permission to join the conversation? Is your imminent death making you blind? You stompable…"
Peo-eok!
Shuuuuuk, Kwadaang!
The masked man, struck by Namgung Cheon's palm strike, flew like a cannonball and crashed into a tree trunk.
"Oh, the Hwangsan Yun Family's Hyeokryeonjang is quite useful."
Namgung Cheon muttered, looking at his palm. The other two masked men's jaws dropped.
Namgung Cheon rolled his wrist back and forth. "Things were going well, why did the bastard have to start cursing? Annoying."
"Y-you, you bastard! What are you?"
Chachaang!
The two startled masked men simultaneously drew their swords.
Namgung Cheon cracked his neck. "Why? You guys want to fight too? Hey, you bastards. The number of people beaten to death or crippled by your Hyeong here could circle the training grounds three hundred times in formation. And today, your Hyeong is in a pretty shitty mood. Doesn't that instinctively make you think you're fucked?"
"Sh-shut up! You crazy bastard!"
"Die!"
The two masked men swung their swords simultaneously and charged.
In that instant, Namgung Cheon activated his Chogyeon Pagongan and met them head-on. His form danced through the chaotic shower of red light.
As Namgung Cheon drew his Byeokrageom, he thought, There certainly are a lot of moths drawn to the flame in the Jianghu.
read more on brightnovels.com