On the top floor of Yongcheonru, with a commanding view of the Janggang (Yangtze River) that cut through Wuhan.
Gkol, gkol, gkol…
As the bottle was tilted, the hwaju made a clear sound as it filled the cup.
Moyong Kang raised his cup and gazed at the sunset spreading over the distant river.
'Beautiful.'
Moyong Kang, the number one student of Jeonghyeopgwan, the academy funded by the great families. He downed the drink in one shot and set the cup down with a tak.
If one were to carve ice, would it look like that face? A visage so handsome that women found it hard to look away, yet an expression so cold it was devoid of emotion.
"Keueu…!"
"Aheuk…!"
The sounds of dying groans could be heard all around. Moyong Kang indifferently turned his gaze. Yongcheongwan students were collapsed everywhere, letting out pained moans.
It seemed the "cleanup" wasn't finished, as shouts and screams were still mixed, rising from the floor below. Listening to the sound of something breaking, Moyong Kang leisurely refilled his cup.
Gkol, gkol, gkol…
He was about to raise his cup again.
Someone appeared, dragging a Yongcheongwan student by the hair. It was the number two student of Jeonghyeopgwan and the Sogaju of the Sichuan Tang Clan, Dang Ugi.
He threw the student he had been dragging.
Teolseok.
"Keuk!"
The battered student collapsed weakly next to the table where Moyong Kang sat.
Dang Ugi dusted off his hands and plopped down opposite Moyong Kang.
"Dammit, I don't see Jo Gangmin."
"Drink."
Moyong Kang pushed a cup toward him and filled it. Dang Ugi downed the drink in one gulp, popped some geonpo (dried grapes) in his mouth, and asked, "Keu! Good. But who was drinking this?"
"No idea."
"Right. Well, must've belonged to one of these guys scattered around here."
"So, Jo Gangmin?"
"We have to find out."
Dang Ugi chewed the geonpo and grabbed the hair of the collapsed student next to him.
"I won't waste words. Where is Jo Gangmin?"
"Kulleok, keok! At Ha-gane... jinyojunina-go… keuk… kulleok!"
"What are you saying?"
"I... I... jus… S-sogaju Jo Gangmin… bsni-byeo…"
"What is this byeongshin saying?"
Peok.
"Keo-eok!"
The student, who had been struggling to get his words out, was slammed into a wall and lost consciousness.
Moyong Kang, his already narrow eyes thinning even further, shook his head. "You should have at least left him able to speak, shouldn't you?"
"You're not one to talk."
Dang Ugi smirked and looked around. Moyong Kang's eyes narrowed even more. Dang Ugi subtly shifted his posture and added, "Well, we thrashed these guys in the Yongcheongwan courtyard. You think Jo Gangmin won't show up?"
"Today is the last day of the Free Observation Period. After midnight, we'll have no pretext to hunt."
"He'll crawl out before then."
Just then, a clear voice interjected. "I don't think he will."
The person who came up the stairs was none other than Jegal Gi. He looked at the students scattered everywhere, whistled once, and hopped over the gaps to approach them.
Dang Ugi raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, he won't show? Even so, if he's the number one at Yongcheongwan, his pride should make him crawl out…"
"A variable has occurred."
"What variable?"
"Surprisingly, Jo Gangmin was beaten by another student."
Dang Ugi slammed his fist on the table and growled. "What? Nimiral, did those Mumaenggwan bastards already make a move?"
The Mumaenggwan (Martial Might Hall), with its many formidable rising stars from the Nine Great Sects, certainly had the skill. But Jegal Gi shook his head.
"No. You'll be surprised when you hear."
"Damn it. Then who the hell hit our prey first?"
"Namgung Cheon."
For a moment, Dang Ugi looked baffled. Moyong Kang's eyelids twitched.
After a moment, Dang Ugi spoke, finding it hard to believe. "You must have heard wrong. Not Namgung Cheon…"
"That's right. The Great Killing Star's bastard son, Namgung Cheon."
"Heh! The official Hogu of Yongcheongwan, that Namgung Cheon?"
"That Namgung Cheon."
Dang Ugi's jaw dropped. Impossible. The Namgung Family of when? Weren't they the family that had fallen from the Five Great Families, then slipped from the Seven Great Families, and fallen so far they were out of sight?
But the words that followed were even more shocking.
"I heard Gwak Cheolju, Baek Rihyang, and Song Wongyo were all with him."
"And on Namgung Cheon's side?"
"Himself."
"Impossible!"
"That impossible thing happened. What do you think this means?"
"What does it mean?"
"Two things. One, there's been a change in Namgung Cheon. Either he had a fortuitous encounter, or he gained some enlightenment after his suicide attempt."
"The possibility is slim. What's the other one?"
"That Jo Gangmin is all heomyeongseongse (empty fame). And, well, the same goes for Baek Rihyang and Song Wongyo."
"If I had to choose, this side seems more likely."
"Now, there are three shichen (6 hours) left until midnight. What do we do?"
Jegal Gi's question was directed at Moyong Kang. Dang Ugi also turned to him.
Moyong Kang silently looked at the students scattered around. As the red sunset light seeped in, the scene looked even more wretched, as if the air itself were stained with blood.
Finally, Moyong Kang's heavy lips parted. "Once you've started something, you have to see it through. We strike Namgung Cheon before midnight. Jegal Gi, you handle the composition."
Jegal Gi smiled brightly and turned to Dang Ugi. "Just in case, it's best to be certain, right? Dang-hyeong, Ak Goeng, and Hwangbo-hyeong, you three should form the core."
"That many, just to catch that Hogu?"
"You know me. I knock on a stone bridge before crossing."
"You sure know how to order the Five Great Families around."
Dang Ugi pouted as he spoke, and Jegal Gi shrugged. "How could I dare? If you don't want to, I can adjust."
"As if I'd refuse."
Dang Ugi smirked and shot to his feet.
Moyong Kang turned his gaze back to the sunset and smiled faintly.
'Namgung Cheon. Interesting.'
Namgung Cheon walked down the alley, gazing up at the brightly shining moon.
'The moonlight is nice.'
He always felt a new appreciation when he could take a leisurely walk like this. It was a luxury he could never have felt in his past life. Especially in his past life, whenever he passed through an alley like this, he had to be constantly tense, checking for ambushes. Not that he could walk the main streets as a fugitive, either.
'If anyone recognized me, I wouldn't sleep for days.'
That was what alleys meant to him. A place that hid him, but also a place from which the hand of death could extend at any moment.
"Anyway, the Muyeonhoe…"
Those Jeongpa bastards sure create a lot of these little amusements. Well, that part was convenient. If he achieved a notable result in the tournament, it would be a much more advantageous situation for rebuilding the Namgung Family.
Of course, the backlash would be just as severe, but he didn't care. The more severe the backlash, the clearer the line between friend and foe.
'First, aim for victory in the Muyeonhoe?'
If winning was too conspicuous, he could stop at runner-up, or third or fourth. I'll think about it slowly.
But…
Namgung Cheon, deep in thought, suddenly stopped and looked back. The bright moonlight settled on the dark, narrow path.
Namgung Cheon spoke abruptly. "This alley is like my room. I notice immediately if a rat is hiding. Come on out while I'm asking nicely. If you're here for a beating, let's get it over with."
Just then, a shadow revealed itself from the corner of the alley. Namgung Cheon looked at the large figure and sighed.
"It was you. Paeng Suhyeok."
"Right, it's me, Namgung Cheon. Good thing we met like this before the Free Observation Period ended. You can't run anymore."
Seureureureung.
Paeng Suhyeok drew the Daedo (Great Saber) from his back, and a menacing yegi flared from the blade.
"You're really persistent. Do you like me that much?"
"Crazy bastard. You died and came back, and your head is definitely screwed up."
"Your grudge runs deep."
"Shut up. Draw your sword, Namgung Cheon!"
"Well, I feel sorry about your grandfather."
"I said, shut up."
"If my… no, my father, hadn't killed your grandfather, the Habuk Paeng Family would still be counted among the Five Great Families. I apologize on his behalf…"
"Just draw your sword, you son of a bitch!"
Tadat.
In an instant, Paeng Suhyeok kicked off the ground and flew like an arrow. His movements were incredibly fast for his large build.
Namgung Cheon's eyes narrowed.
'A movement art using the Joksoeumshin-gyeong (Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian). Then it must be the Eogishinpung (Imperial Qi Divine Wind).'
The Eogishinpung was the Habuk Paeng Family's unique movement art. Like other movement arts, it primarily drew Gongnyeok from the Yongcheon acupoint, but a significant amount also burst from the Yeongok-hyeol (Yangu acupoint). This was likely to support the Habuk Paeng Family's uniquely heavy and tyrannical Dobeop (Saber Art).
'The drawback is that it slows down in the end.'
Seuseut.
Namgung Cheon quickly used his family's Muhanbo (Infinite Step) footwork to dodge the diagonally falling blade.
Kwajaang!!
The Daedo split the air and struck the ground, sending fragments flying.
"Namgung Cheoooon!"
Hwiiiiiing!
Paeng Suhyeok, leading with a Dopung (blade wind), swung his saber horizontally.
Namgung Cheon was inwardly impressed by the unexpectedly fast change in direction. His control over the Gongnyeok for his movement and saber arts is ridiculous. This was a quality that couldn't be obtained through training alone. Not without numerous real battles.
So, has Paeng Suhyeok experienced that many real battles? No. It was because the Habuk Paeng Family's Dobeop itself had been refined through countless real battles. Paeng Suhyeok's own talent must have played a part, too.
The red light, traveling fast along the blood vessels, extending down the blade. Of course, the qi visible to the Chogyeon Pagongan was always faster than the real thing. Because of this, Namgung Cheon was able to draw his sword and block the saber in time.
Jjeo-eong!
A metallic explosion, and a Gipung (wind from the clash) blasted outward. At the same time, Paeng Suhyeok's pupils widened.
'…He blocked it?'
He had guessed as much when he saw him beat Jo Gangmin. But now that they had crossed Dogeom (blades), the weight felt different.
Namgung Cheon smiled faintly. "It's a good martial art. Your grandfather in heaven would be pleased."
"Y… you… you son of a biiiitch!"
Skkaang!
Paeng Suhyeok swung his saber, pushing Namgung Cheon back. His eyes rolled back as he charged. An even more violent rage than before was imbued in the blade.
Normally, the more excited one gets, the sloppier their movements become, but the Habuk Paeng Family's Dobeop, derived from countless real battles, was the exception. It became rougher, more tyrannical, and more threatening.
Kaang! Kkang! Jjeong! Shiiit, Kaaang!
Those who sublimate even their soaring rage into their saber art—that was the Habuk Paeng Family.
Sparks flew between the two, and the sound of metal tearing the eardrums erupted.
Namgung Cheon, frantically blocking the saber, clicked his tongue.
'Damn it, I complimented him, saying his grandfather would be pleased. Why is he going crazy?'
Maybe he hated his grandfather? No, then why does he hate me?
In this incomprehensible situation, Paeng Suhyeok finally let out a kihap and unleashed his finishing blow.
The red energy, traveling along the Sugweoreum Shimpogyeong (Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian), rode the saber and fell diagonally. The Cheolhyeolpaesan (Iron Blood Mountain-Crushing) move from the Cheolhyeoljeokseongdo (Iron Blood Star-Plucking Saber).
Namgung Cheon clicked his tongue. 'He doesn't seem to know his grandfather was beaten while using this exact move.'
He felt a little bad about countering it in the same way, but he had no choice. If he tried to block this attack, filled with killing intent, half-heartedly, he'd be the one getting injured.
'No choice. The same way as before.'
Namgung Cheon abandoned the Muhanbo he had been using and moved his feet "randomly." Of course, though it was "random," it was the same footwork he had used when he killed the Paeng Family Head long ago. The reason it was called "random" without a proper name was that the young Jin Cheonrang had moved instinctively, just to survive.
As Namgung Cheon suddenly showed a strange movement, Paeng Suhyeok was flustered.
'What is this…?'
At first, he thought Namgung Cheon had missed a step. The movement looked that clumsy. But the moment the saber fell, Namgung Cheon spun like a lie and dodged.
Kwadeuk.
The saber qi struck the ground. Namgung Cheon, who had already circled to his side, swung his Geompa (sword hilt) and struck Paeng Suhyeok's back.
Peo-eok.
"Keo-eok!"
Shuuut, Kudang-tang-tang.
Paeng Suhyeok was sent flying like a cannonball, rolling across the ground for a long time.
Namgung Cheon sheathed his Byeokrageom and sighed. "Still a hundred times better than Jo Gangmin. By the way…"
Namgung Cheon turned around, looked up at the dark alley, and shouted. "If the show's over, stop hiding and crawl out. It'd be a shame to come all this way for a beating and go home empty-handed."
As soon as he finished speaking, dark shadows began to appear on the rooftops, one by one.
Let's see… two, four, six, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-fi…
…Shit, there are so many…
…Anyway, this damn popularity.
read more on brightnovels.com