Chapter 10: Nine Dragons Ceremony (4)
“Is that the Young Master?”
A young man who looked to be just over twenty.
I grimaced at the sight of him throwing a tantrum.
Why on earth is a direct descendant of the Peng Clan here? Moreover, a member of the prestigious bloodline throwing a fit in front of everyone?
“Surely, this can’t be right.”
It can’t be. It shouldn’t be.
Impersonating the Young Master of one of the Four Noble Clans like an idiot—he’s really cruising for a bruising.
An unwelcome memory of running into Peng Ah-Hee out of the blue flashed in my mind, but I managed to push it away.
I could smell trouble brewing.
Besides, I had never heard that the Young Master of Peng was attending the Nine Dragons Ceremony in my previous life, so this should pass without incident.
It had to go smoothly.
“What’s going on here?”
As I was about to brush the situation off and leave, I bumped into the Second Elder.
“Some strange fellow seems to be causing a ruckus.”
I casually replied, planning to leave the scene. I had matters to attend to, so I wanted to exit quickly.
But the Second Elder stopped me.
“I’ve been searching for you since the crack of dawn, and my back is killing me.”
“What nonsense are you spouting? You look healthier than I do.”
“Hmm. I noticed yesterday too, but your attitude in retorting is quite remarkable. You should be improving your martial skills as well.”
He ruffled my hair again.
Ugh, I feel dizzy…
“Anyway, why were you looking for me?”
He could have summoned the servants; why did he come looking for me instead?
“Ah, it’s nothing major, just that after the match is over…”
“Why can’t I participate? I showed you everything required! Do I need to summon my shadow arts to earn your belief?”
“…Please calm down. We are in a situation here…”
“No! I don’t have time for this! You said that anyone with credentials would be allowed in.”
The Second Elder’s gaze shifted towards the man. Shadow arts were a specific martial skill exclusive to the Peng Clan.
Moreover, it was a skill only passed down through the direct bloodline of Peng.
I wanted to stop the Second Elder as I didn’t like where this was heading, but he was already too far gone.
“Crap.”
“Are you the son of Peng?”
The Second Elder was already in front of the young man claiming to be the Young Master of Peng.
“I-it’s an honor to meet you, Second Elder!”
The servants who were receiving applications all gasped and quickly paid their respects upon seeing him.
Of course, everyone’s attention, including those who were hoping to enlist in the competition, was fixed on them.
“Ah, good to see everyone working hard. So, you’re the son of Peng?”
The young man straightened his posture at the Elder’s words.
“I am Peng Woojin, the Young Master of the Peng Clan. It’s a great honor to meet the Flaming Fist of Gu.”
‘Flaming Fist’ had been the title bestowed upon the Second Elder.
The Second Elder smirked at Peng Woojin’s words.
Did being greeted with a title make him feel delighted?
“So, you are indeed the son of Peng. With a physique like that, you couldn’t belong to anyone else. Your face is also a spitting image of your father.”
To call the Lord of the Peng Clan a “sucker”…
No matter how I looked at it, “manly” suited the Second Elder much more.
“So, why have you come here?”
“I came to support the swordsmen of Gu.”
“The Young Master of the Peng Clan has left his own swordsmen to come here?”
“It’s boring over there.”
The Second Elder chuckled at Peng Woojin’s response, as if he found amusement in a fool.
“You’re a crazy one. The Peng Clan hosts lunatics.”
“Thank you, but I’ve heard that quite often.”
“That’s not a compliment.”
Suddenly, I noticed a dark ring on Peng Woojin’s finger. It was identical to the ring that Peng Ah-Hee wore.
Oh damn, he is real…
Why is he here making such a spectacle?
“I came because I heard that anyone with credentials could enter. But they just refused me after I showed them everything.”
“Did you come to seek permission from the Lord of Peng?”
“There’s no way he’d let me leave, so I ran away.”
He was indeed a crazy one.
“You really are a madman.”
For the first time, I concurred with the Second Elder. This guy was honestly nuts.
The Second Elder grinned again after assessing his physique. Something about it looks kind of bizarre…
“Your body is well-trained. How old are you?”
“I turned twenty-three this year.”
“You’re still young, but at that level… The Peng Clan is raising a dragon. I wish our little brat would be at least half as capable as you.”
Was he referring to me as the “little brat”?
Though I was being compared, I didn’t take offense; if that man really was Peng Woojin of the Peng Clan, then he was indeed a dragon.
Sword Emperor Peng Woojin.
That was a title that would be his in the near future.
The leader of the Heavenly Black Army was known to be at the same level as one of the Heavenly Venerables, Disgraced Venerable Bijuu.
Being on par with a Heavenly Venerable implied that comparisons to other martial artists were ridiculous.
But he died in a duel against Peng Woojin.
It was said he was already fatigued from prior battles, yet Peng Woojin managed to defeat him single-handedly.
Upon hearing this, Bijuu personally granted Peng Woojin the title of Sword Emperor.
The Second Elder stroked his long beard, grinning playfully.
“Credentials are confirmed, and you look quite strong. Isn’t this acceptable?”
What kind of nonsense was he spouting?
The registration staff seemed equally perplexed by the Elder’s comments.
“…But Second Elder, no matter how we look at it…”
“What seems to be the problem? Is this not what he wants?”
“Yes, I would love to participate in the Nine Dragons Competition! I truly want to serve as a swordsman of Gu.”
“Look at that; he’s asking for it himself.”
The registration staff’s eyes were shaking like there was an earthquake. They had no idea how to handle this unfolding situation.
As the clerks’ nervousness began to create a puddle of sweat on the floor, a savior appeared.
“Brother!”
The one who burst onto the scene was none other than Peng Ah-Hee.
“You idiot!”
She delivered a robust kick right into his stomach. No doubt, she put her martial arts energy into that kick.
Urgh!
Peng Woojin, sucker-kicked in the stomach, soared a little distance and tumbled to the ground.
“Geez, that really looked like it hurt.”
Is he dead?
“You moron! You pull rank as Young Master and then run away, leaving just a note?!”
She clearly wasn’t done as she rushed over to Peng Woojin, unleashing a storm of kicks upon him.
Thankfully, Peng Woojin wasn’t dead yet; sadly, he started screaming louder.
“Ugh… Agh! Wait… Just wait a moment…!”
“You ran away to join another clan’s swordsmen? Have you lost your mind?!”
Damn, that is not a spot she should be kicking!
“Your brother—ugh—is gonna die! Just give me a sec—OW! Ah-Hee!”
“Then die! Just die already, you idiot!”
“If I die, who’s going to be the Lord?!”
“Who cares?! Even a dog would do a better job than you!”
“Argh!”
I turned my head away from this merciless spectacle. The Second Elder scratched his cheek, evidently troubled by the situation.
I cautiously approached the Second Elder and spoke up.
“Can we really just leave them like this? He’s seriously going to die at this rate.”
“The folks of the Peng Clan are tough; even if you beat them with the strongest steel, they won’t die. No need to worry.”
Save me…
“…I’m starting to think otherwise?”
After a long bout of beating him like a pinata, Peng Ah-Hee finally calmed down a bit, taking a breath.
Lying on the ground was Peng Woojin, completely motionless, his state uncertain.
“Get up.”
Peng Ah-Hee spoke coolly, but Peng Woojin remained sprawled out like a corpse.
“If you don’t get up, I’ll use a rock to smash your nuts.”
“I’m up!”
Peng Woojin shot up straight, cold sweat cascading down his back at the horrifying words.
Peng Ah-Hee sighed deeply as she looked at him.
Her face seemed saturated with thoughts.
“Well, now that I found you, it’s time to go home, brother.”
Figures adorned in black cloaks approached behind Peng Ah-Hee.
These were members of the Peng Clan, among whom were also their guards who had escorted her.
Peng Ah-Hee, momentarily startled by seeing me and the Second Elder, approached us with wide eyes.
“I’m sorry for causing such trouble.”
“You’re the daughter of Peng?”
“Yes, I’m Peng Ah-Hee, Flaming Fist Champion!”
“You’re quite well-trained compared to your brother. That bear of a father of yours must have raised well.”
I don’t know who’s being called a bear here.
“We won’t forget the trouble we caused and will surely make reparations. We’ll leave now so we don’t get in the way further.”
“I’m not going back, Ah-Hee.”
Peng Ah-Hee spun around, glaring at Peng Woojin with piercing eyes.
“Are you really going to keep this nonsense up?”
“It’s not nonsense. I have no plans to return to the Peng Clan.”
“Then why, brother? Why are you so intent on this?”
“The Peng Clan is no fun.”
Why is this lunatic constantly talking about fun? As if reading my thoughts, Peng Ah-Hee shot back.
“Is Gu Clan any more fun? Are other clans more entertaining than the Peng? What’s it with this obsession with fun in random places?!”
“Honestly, it has to be more fun than our place.”
“Brother, please grow up! You’re the Young Master!”
“Exactly why I need to find enjoyment before I become the Lord. The only way to avoid it is to either die or become half a vegetable. I don’t like those options.”
Peng Woojin’s gaze held a firm determination.
“I might not want to be the Lord, but I don’t see anyone worthy enough to take the position. Aside from you, Ah-Hee, everyone else in our family is nothing but beasts in name. They wouldn’t fare well even if they all teamed up against me.”
He boldly critiqued his bloodline.
Though it was mixed with pride and arrogance, he certainly had the talent to back it up.
“But I can’t make you Lord, so I will inevitably become the Lord someday. That is the reason why I accept this pesky title of Young Master.”
Somehow, I found logic in the madman’s reasoning, as if I too had gone mad listening to his rant.
Peng Ah-Hee rubbed her temples, clearly suffering from a headache from the chaos.
At that moment, the Second Elder interrupted.
“I intended to let him join because I thought it might be amusing, but I also have to consider the perspective of the Peng Clan, so let’s negotiate.”
At the Second Elder’s words, Peng Ah-Hee shot him a nervous glance while Peng Woojin sparkled with anticipation.
“If you beat me in a duel, I’ll allow you to join.”
“…What kind of nonsense is that?”
I half-expected him to propose something reasonable, but nope.
Even if Peng Woojin becomes one of the strongest figures in the future, there was no way he could defeat the Elder right now.
“…Well, you don’t explicitly need to beat me. I’ll count it as winning if you so much as touch me within ten attempts.”
“That works?”
Peng Woojin’s eyes lit up at the Second Elder’s words. Meanwhile, Peng Ah-Hee, standing behind him, looked on nervously but didn’t dare intervene.
“I’ll give you ten attempts. If you brush against my clothing even once, you win.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than Peng Woojin drew his sword and assumed a stance as if he were ready to fight.
Wait… they’re actually going to do it here with all these people around?
“Hold on—”
I tried to step in and stop them but, before I knew it, the Second Elder had punched Peng Woojin right in the face.
POW!
Peng Woojin collapsed onto the ground with a sound that shouldn’t have come from a mere punch.
His fall was different from when he rolled after Peng Ah-Hee’s attack.
…He might be dead for real this time.
“I dialed back my strength. He’ll come to shortly.”
“…Second Elder, didn’t you say you were only going to dodge?”
“I never said that.”
This insufferable old man…
“Anyway, since we’ve reached a consensus, isn’t this all resolved now?”
“Even so, how can you just start with a fist? Especially against the Young Master?”
“When dealing with annoying people, sometimes a good whack is the most effective method.”
“…Isn’t the violence itself the issue?”
“Violence? Careful now! What a frightening phrase! It was an official duel.”
“…But you did say he’d win if he just touched your clothes. Doesn’t that mean he technically won since you hit him?”
As I pointed out this inconsistency, the Second Elder coughed awkwardly and managed to avoid my gaze.
It was clear he hadn’t considered that far.
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