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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: We Don't Listen to the Words of the Weak (2)
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"It's not exactly proper for me as an official, but don't you have any greed at all?"
"I'm only human, after all. How could I have none?"
"You don't seem like it."
"Haha. I am merely a subject of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor."
What was wrong with following the laws of the nation as an imperial citizen?
Jang Ung was moved by Dang Yu-wol's bold declaration.
"You are a true loyal subject of the Great Empire."
"It's not that grand."
"Everyone else struggles desperately to avoid paying taxes..."
"The Tang Clan has never caused a single issue regarding taxes up to now."
They were a poison-using family.
They already had plenty of reasons to be disliked by the officials.
Getting entangled in something trivial like taxes would only make things more of a headache.
"Besides, the taxes from our clan will boost your achievements as well, won't they?"
How effectively one collected taxes.
That was one of the key duties of an official.
Thanks to Dang Yu-wol, Jang Ung had obtained results several times greater than those from other counties.
"I only wish for you to rise even higher."
"Yu-wol, my friend..."
Jang Ung praised his past self.
He had been right to trust Dang Yu-wol.
"How can I just sit still on such a joyous day?! Come on! Let me buy you a drink!!"
"Haha. I know how meager an official's salary is. Why would you buy?"
"Don't say that!!"
"I'll cover it. Shall we go? I've prepared a spot at Taeseong Pavilion."
Jang Ung's expression brightened even more.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A few days after Dang Yu-wol absorbed the Yangji Merchant House.
Notices were posted throughout Seongdo County.
"Heavens!!"
"That bastard Gu Won-il died by the hand of Young Clan Head Dang?!"
"It's divine punishment! Divine punishment!!"
"Who in Sacheon hasn't suffered under the Yangji Merchant House's tyranny?!"
"That scum! He lavished bribes on other martial sects and officials alike?"
"And committed all sorts of evil deeds!! Even heaven wouldn't forgive him!!"
"On top of that, the Tang Clan is paying compensation to all those harmed by them?! Is this real?"
"Of course it is! The county magistrate of Seongdo stamped it himself!!"
"And the other Sacheon officials are lending their support too!!"
The words on the posted notices were utterly unbelievable tales.
"Could it be..."
"That Sacheon might become livable again, like back when the Tang Clan ruled as overlords?"
Hope filled the hearts of the people of Sacheon.
And one man faced that hope squarely.
"Heh. Well, damn. Living long enough, you see all sorts of things."
The last remaining pillar of the Sacheon Merchant Alliance.
Yukwol Hall's Hall Master Yuk Geo-wang twisted his fierce face into a grin.
"That Tang Clan brat took down Cheongsung Sect's Top Sword, huh?"
"Yes."
"I see. In that case, things change. Send a challenge to the Tang Clan."
"Pardon? You mean..."
"Let's go all in on one match."
"Understood..."
That was when it happened.
"Hall Master! Hall Master!!"
"What?!"
"A letter from the Tang Clan has arrived!!"
"Heh heh. I was just about to send one myself. Let's see... Pfft, puhaha!! Puahahahaha!!"
Yuk Geo-wang burst into laughter.
He couldn't help it.
The letter proposed going all in on one match.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Yukwol Hall's Hall Master Yuk Geo-wang was a transcendent realm expert.
That was why he couldn't accept Dang Seong-u, who was merely at peak realm, as his superior.
But now, things were different.
"Heavens!! The Tang Clan and Yukwol Hall are settling things in a duel?!"
"Isn't the Tang Clan at too much of a disadvantage?"
"Right. They say Young Clan Head Dang Yu-wol is still only first-rate level!"
"Come on! Would someone at first-rate beat Cheongsung's Top Sword?!"
"Well, that's true."
"This is exciting!!"
"The Tang Clan has to win..."
"Thinking about how those Yukwol Hall bastards fought for the other Sacheon Merchant Alliance scum... My teeth still grind."
"Yukwol Hall was one reason those Sacheon Merchant Alliance dogs could rampage."
"But if their Hall Master loses, will those Yukwol Hall fanatics back down quietly?"
"What if they don't?!"
"Yeah! Once they taste the Tang Clan's poison, they'll shut up!"
Seongdo—no, all of Sacheon—heated up with anticipation for the duel between Dang Yu-wol and Yuk Geo-wang.
And amid everyone's expectations and attention, the day of the match arrived.
"Are you sure you'll be alright?"
"I'll be fine."
"Give it your all. If things go really south, give the signal. I'll deploy the county guards if I have to..."
"Haha. No need to worry."
Receiving Jang Ung's worried encouragement, Dang Yu-wol walked out calmly.
"Hmph. So you've come."
The site for the decisive match to determine Sacheon's overlord.
A sparring arena had already been set up in front of the Seongdo county office.
"You're slow as hell. Hurry up."
"Heh heh. Hey, Young Clan Head. Do you know what's most important in the martial world?"
"What bullshit are you spouting?"
"Strength."
As he stepped onto the arena, Yuk Geo-wang growled.
He didn't hide the power of a transcendent expert.
Some admired it, while others frowned.
"Strength is the most important thing!!"
Shouting loudly, he scanned the surroundings.
His gaze landed on Dang Yu-wol.
"Isn't it only natural that I wouldn't acknowledge Dang Seong-u, who is merely at late peak realm, as my superior!!"
'Bowing to strength, eh? How arrogant.'
'At least he's honest. That's exactly what he did.'
Before his regression, Yukwol Hall's master had seen the Blood Cult's massive forces and judged there was no chance of victory.
And immediately submitted to the Blood Cult.
"So you bowed your head when the Tang Clan was strong?"
"That's right!"
"How shameless."
"That's the martial world!!"
It was an insult to the martial artists present.
Some of the warriors ground their teeth.
"You live a tough life. Let me end that pathetic existence here."
"Kuhahaha!! Good!! Then it's a deathmatch!!"
A spar? No need for such nonsense.
They would clash with lives on the line.
"Magistrate Jang!! Is that alright?!"
"Urgh..."
Jang Ung naturally wanted to refuse.
But with Dang Yu-wol nodding, he had no choice but to permit it.
"Approved. The winner of this fight claims everything from the loser's faction."
He raised the magistrate's seal, looking around at everyone.
"This is certified in the name of Seongdo County's magistrate."
"Perfect. Let's do it!!"
No sooner had the words ended than murderous intent rose from Yukwol Hall's master's body.
Surprisingly, what emanated from him was an aura of inviolable sanctity.
'Huh. Shaolin martial arts?'
'Yuk Geo-wang was a lay disciple of Shaolin.'
'Doesn't suit him at all.'
Shaolin martial arts were based on compassion.
They didn't suit Yuk Geo-wang, who despised the weak, no matter how you looked at it.
Yet his skill was the real deal.
"Haaap!!"
With a shout, his charging footsteps shifted.
Like one unburdened by worldly desires, his steps were straight and unhindered.
This was the Arhat Step.
'Well-trained.'
'That's why I say. How can he use it when he's overflowing with desires and delusions?'
It was simply astonishing.
But that was that, and this was this.
Dang Yu-wol also moved with his footwork.
"Heh heh! Not bad with your feet! But can you block this?! Haaaap!!"
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡
Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist
Power gathered in his fist as he charged with Arhat Steps.
The Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist.
A fist for subduing demons, wielded by one who embraced demonhood himself.
The power in his fist was hardly just "sanctified."
"Haaap!!"
An attack aimed at the head.
Dang Yu-wol easily dodged and thrust out his sword qi in a straight line.
"Ha ha!! Not bad!!"
⚔ Ironclad Triple ⚔
Ironclad Triple.
A technique that produced the effect of iron armor on the bare body.
Mastered properly, it could even block sword qi—and it casually deflected Dang Yu-wol's.
'Tough for no reason.'
But that didn't mean he couldn't pierce it.
Dang Yu-wol gripped his dagger tightly.
One of his hidden ultimate techniques.
The Internal Crushing Palm to shatter solid defenses.
Just as he was about to use it—
Ye-ui spoke up.
'Try this.'
'Hm?'
"In the beginning, there was the void." "It split into two: yin and yang. This is the principle of the world." "Dividing it further into eight yields the Eight Trigrams. Thus, divide your inner energy into eight..."
⟨ Eight Trigrams Palm ⟩
Ye-ui's voice was solemn.
Mystical energy infused his words.
Utterly different from his usual playful tone.
Meanwhile, Yuk Geo-wang whirled fiercely with Vajra Demon-Subduing Fist and Arhat Steps.
In that time, Dang Yu-wol listened to Ye-ui's incantation formula.
'What is this?'
'A decent Internal Crushing Palm, if I do say so.'
He had studied countless martial arts in the Blood Cult.
Even to Dang Yu-wol, this was unfamiliar.
'But you wouldn't give me something useless.'
Dang Yu-wol channeled his qi according to the formula.
Dodging the fist aimed at his chest, he lightly extended his hand.
"Keoheok!!!"
A single palm strike embedded in the abdomen.
Simultaneously, the eight streams of inner energy invaded, ravaging the meridians.
'This... the inner energy consumption...'
Nearly half his inner energy was depleted in one attack.
But the effect was undeniable.
"Cough! Cough!!"
Yuk Geo-wang, clad in Ironclad Triple, was vomiting blood.
'Take this.'
The massive inner energy drain had caused minor internal injuries.
Ye-ui formed an internal injury recovery pill in his hand.
Dang Yu-wol discreetly slipped the pill into his mouth and resumed his stance.
"Keoheok... Wh-what is this!!"
As a former Shaolin lay disciple, Yuk Geo-wang recognized it.
The Internal Crushing Palm Dang Yu-wol used was worthy of being called a divine art.
"Did the Tang Clan... have an Internal Crushing Palm like this...?"
"Would a thousand-year Tang Clan history lack even that?"
'Has the Tang Clan been around for a thousand years?'
'Not quite, but let's just say so.'
"Kuh... ugh...!!"
The unexpected blow shocked him deeply.
Yuk Geo-wang desperately tried to recover, but Dang Yu-wol wasn't about to wait.
"This isn't some spar."
Green sword qi swirled fiercely.
No, that wasn't all.
"Y-you bastard...! Poison?!"
"In a deathmatch, what's off-limits?"
As he smirked, light burst from Dang Yu-wol's hand.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡
Soul-Chasing Phantom Dart
The Soul-Chasing Phantom Dart pierced his body.
"Keoheok!!"
If Ironclad Triple had held, he could have ignored mere projectiles.
But the prior Internal Crushing Palm's damage was too severe.
He couldn't maintain Ironclad Triple anymore.
'If this continues... I'll die...!!'
He had always despised the weak.
He had always revered strength.
Thus, he never fought the strong.
Yet...
Yet this weakling was strong.
"Cough!! Cough!!"
Black blood flowed from his nose.
Proof of poisoning.
'No...!!'
Poison, darts, sword qi.
And that unpredictable Internal Crushing Palm.
Every circumstance screamed disadvantage.
"Sp-spare... me..."
Death.
He would die like this.
Just as he tried to surrender, Dang Yu-wol's mocking voice rang out.
"What? Thought you'd live long enough to shit yourself against the wall?"
His dagger pierced Yuk Geo-wang's heart.
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