Chapter 240: Battlefront (10)
After Hwangbo Cheolwi managed to gather the unconscious individuals, chaos erupted in the Hwangbo Clan’s tent, which was located a small distance from the Murim Alliance’s front lines.
BANG!
Objects flew through the air, creating a ruckus.
A massive figure that seemed to fill the entire tent was throwing items around without pause, radiating an overwhelming aura of rage.
“That bastard…!”
CRACK!
The table shattered as the giant’s fist slammed down, scattering debris across the ground.
The man, Hwangbo Cheok, ground his teeth, recalling the martial artist he had encountered just moments before.
“True Dragon…!”
As soon as he regained his wits, he learned the identity of his assailant.
The True Dragon, Gu Yangcheon, had made waves by conquering the Dragon and Phoenix tournament, a name that even reached Hwangbo Cheok’s ears.
How could he have missed it? The emergence of a new Dragon was the talk of the Central Plains.
Not only was he considered a significant figure, but it was also said that he possessed extraordinary talent that hinted at a bright future.
But—
In the end, he’s just a young talent,
In Hwangbo Cheok’s view, that was all True Dragon amounted to.
But that bastard… dares to mess with me?
THUMP!
The tent quivered as Hwangbo Cheok swung his fist in fury.
The servants in the vicinity trembled in fear; however, Hwangbo Cheok chose to ignore them, expelling only a wild roar.
His tantrum stemmed not merely from a simple loss.
I thought there wouldn’t be any more monsters after the one from the Peng Clan.
Recalling the creature lurking within that clan, Hwangbo Cheok felt an involuntary shiver run down his spine.
An entity that appeared to exist in a realm apart.
Experiencing the predatory gaze that overlooked everyone was utterly unbearable for Hwangbo Cheok, who aspired to be the future head of the clan.
And that was precisely why one such creature was more than enough.
CRACK.
Hwangbo Cheok curled his fingers into a tight fist as his thoughts lingered on the young man’s title.
This mighty Hwangbo Cheok…
Lost to a mere young prodigy!
Impossible.
With experience from the Central Plains and a mastery of Qi, there was no way that a young prodigy could ever compare to him.
No, it shouldn’t even be possible.
I am destined to lead the grand Hwangbo Clan!
CRACK.
He was supposed to lead a life filled with fame and glory, therefore, he couldn’t let such a disgrace tarnish his reputation.
…What if I eliminate all those who witnessed it?
If there are no unreliable witnesses left, how could anyone ever know about this humiliating defeat?
Hwangbo Cheok nodded to himself, solidifying his decision.
CRACK.
“Ughh…”
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his arm.
It was the arm that had been twisted by that bastard.
The injury from that encounter left no lasting damage, and Hwangbo Cheok had been assured that resting would restore his arm back to normal.
He considered himself fortunate; it was rare to emerge from such an event without lasting injuries.
At first, Hwangbo Cheok wondered whether that bastard had done this on purpose.
Surely not.
Only those who had committed numerous killings or possessed torturous knowledge could accomplish something like this.
No matter how skilled the bastard was, this wasn’t a feat achievable by mere talent. It had to be just a coincidence.
If not, there simply wouldn’t be any explanation for it.
CRACK!
With a final show of his fury, the last remaining table in the tent shattered under Hwangbo Cheok’s enraged grip, and he mumbled, consumed by his anger.
“What should I do?”
Turning slightly, he caught sight of another massive figure standing behind him.
“Brother.”
It was Hwangbo Cheolwi, his younger brother, the second son of the Hwangbo Clan.
“…Brother.”
“I’m asking you, as Hwangbo Cheok, what am I supposed to do after such humiliation?”
“…”
Hwangbo Cheolwi stood there, silent, only gazing at Hwangbo Cheok with an unreadable expression.
In response, Hwangbo Cheok let out a chuckle, sensing the frustration in his younger brother.
“What should I do? Father would surely be thrilled to hear this.”
“But… brother, you were just ambushed…”
“Ambushed? Does that look like an ambush to you?”
“…”
“No, it’s more like an assassination attempt. That would be a more fitting description.”
No matter how much he wanted to belittle the young martial artist, Hwangbo Cheok recognized that he had transcended his limits.
How could he not realize this when he had experienced it himself?
This wasn’t some ambush.
The young man’s gaze was different, his body movement was different, and his speed of decision-making was unmatched.
It was a matter of sheer levels.
“And that’s exactly why I’m so furious.”
He couldn’t stand the fact that he, as part of the illustrious Hwangbo Clan, lost to a younger, smaller martial artist because of pure strength.
Moreover, the knowledge that others had witnessed this only intensified Hwangbo Cheok’s rage.
“What do you think I should do, brother?”
“First, you should send a letter to the Gu Clan…”
“Ha.”
Hwangbo Cheolwi erupted in laughter at his brother’s suggestion.
“Since when did my brother become so rational?”
“…Brother?”
“A letter… not a terrible idea. It might eventually benefit us.”
Violence occurring within the collateral line of the Hwangbo Clan was officially within their domain, and the True Dragon had no right to meddle.
Not to mention that he not only assaulted the martial artists of the clan but also harmed their blood relatives. This would give the Hwangbo Clan just cause, and they might secure compensation as well.
However.
“What about my pride?”
“That’s…!”
As Hwangbo Cheok vehemently stated such, Hwangbo Cheolwi found it impossible to downplay the importance of the matter.
He very well knew that for martial artists, pride meant everything, even if that pride lacked true value.
The fact that he couldn’t respond to his brother’s question only brought a sly smile to Hwangbo Cheok’s face.
“Don’t worry. There won’t be any ‘clean-up’ as you might think.”
Laughing, he interpreted Hwangbo Cheolwi’s silence as concern for him.
As his laughter died down, he pondered his next move.
That bastard seemed to have surpassed his limitations.
His defeat, particularly how effortlessly his escorts—who exceeded the Peak Realm—were obliterated by the True Dragon, indicated someone who had certainly surpassed their limits.
Deploying his forces against him would undoubtedly be futile.
I probably can’t even kill him to begin with.
If he were part of an obscure clan, it would be one thing, but he was part of a noble clan in his own right, though not as renowned as the Hwangbo Clan.
All in all, it meant there was no benefit in rashly engaging a blood relative.
That just makes that bastard even stranger.
Even if he eventually recognized that Hwangbo Cheok was related to him, could he really act so cavalierly?
Unless he’s truly insane…
The unsettling gaze he encountered earlier sent a shiver down his spine.
He definitely seemed like a lunatic.
…The one silver lining is this is the frontlines.
A place brimming with Demons and constant danger. Being in such an environment was the most crucial factor.
No matter what happens…
It wouldn’t be surprising.
Massaging his tense shoulders, Hwangbo Cheok called out to his brother.
“Brother.”
“…Yes, brother.”
“Do you know where the Sixth Elder is right now?”
At the question, Hwangbo Cheolwi suppressed his shock; he somehow felt as though he understood his brother’s intentions behind that inquiry.
Being on duty at the frontlines wasn’t exactly a remarkable affair.
It consisted of standing guard in areas where the Gate of Demons frequently manifested, all while preparing for any possible happenings.
While it could be considered a form of patrol, having performed this duty both during the day and the night, nighttime guard duty was far more perilous and exhausting.
“…And that’s why I said I didn’t want the night shift.”
I muttered in annoyance while gazing at the moon in the sky.
I wasn’t sure how it stood with other clans, but in the Gu Clan, blood relatives were not afforded many privileges.
The most I could hope for was to avoid night watch. But since I wasn’t to do that, I had to work twice as hard in other respects.
In essence, it all boiled down to the same thing.
…What a terrible household.
Additionally, Gu Huibi, the Captain, was even busier than I was, training on top of her other duties, leaving me with little room to complain.
In the end, I had to comply with her every request.
Letting out a series of sighs, I continued to move around restlessly.
“Mmm…”
Maybe my agitation had led to excessive movement, as the lady resting beneath me stirred slightly.
“Ugh…”
Was she sleep-talking?
Watching with curiosity, I gently pinched her nose.
“…Mmm… Huh…?”
Suddenly, perhaps due to constrained breathing, the lady let out a strange sound before gradually awakening, only to find herself resting her head on my knees with a bewildered look.
Seeing that, I couldn’t help but let out a wry smile.
“Quite the noble lady you are.”
She seemed oblivious to her tousled hair and continued with a sleepy expression, gradually leaning her head onto my shoulder.
“Hey.”
“Ugh….”
“I told you not to come along if you plan on acting like this. What’s the point of coming out here if you’re just going to take a nap?”
Namgung Bi-ah paid no heed to my words, still dozing off.
It was already absurd that she had followed me all this way, especially after going deep into the front lines with Gu Huibi and then choosing to doze off while I pulled a night watch.
“Just go back and sleep if all you’re going to do is nod off here. Why make it hard on yourself?”
“…Ugh…”
Now you’re completely ignoring me.
It was utterly ridiculous.
My gaze brushed over the accessory I had gifted her.
“Still wearing this cheap trinket, huh?”
It looked worn out; perhaps I should buy her a new one?
As I reached out to examine it more closely—
SMACK!
To my surprise, Namgung Bi-ah, whom I thought to be asleep, caught my hand.
“No! That’s mine!”
“…Yeah, I know. It’s yours.”
“I’m not going to give it to you…”
“Even if you do, I wouldn’t accept it. What would I even do with that?”
Letting her be, I turned to the other person quietly watching the sky.
This guy’s also a pain in the neck.
“What brings you here?”
“Pardon…?”
The person, Bi Yeonsum, jumped a bit at my question.
“I’m asking why you’re here.”
“Oh, um… The Vice Captain said to come along with Brother Gu.”
At his excuse, my expression soured.
“That guy always sends me some newcomer.”
The Vice Captain had a tendency to assign fresh recruits to my side.
Why was it always me when there were others like Gu Jeolyub and Muyeon around?
What was that the Vice Captain had said again?
Something about enduring hardships being easier if you faced them from the start?
Felt like a jab at me…
Sigh…
Letting out another sigh, Bi Yeonsum hesitated a moment before finally speaking up.
“Um… Brother Gu?”
“What is it?”
“I greatly appreciate what you did earlier.”
I turned to look at Bi Yeonsum.
He likely understood how serious his request was.
Being affiliated with the Murim Alliance, asking not to go back was not a simple affair. They probably had their own reasons for wanting to keep things as they were.
Of course, they might have already classified him as a casualty, and wouldn’t be opposed to us taking him in.
In the long run, that would also reflect poorly on them if they argued about this matter.
“…I joined the Murim Alliance with the belief that they were the pinnacle of the righteous sect… but what I’ve seen is….”
“No need to share your life story. I’m not that interested.”
“Oh… I understand.”
I didn’t care for his narrative of high hopes juxtaposed with disillusionment, as it failed to pique my interest.
I wasn’t the kind to pry into another’s life story.
Meanwhile, Bi Yeonsum’s gaze continually strayed towards Namgung Bi-ah, who was still napping against my shoulder.
Even as he tried not to stare, his eyes moved instinctively.
“…If you keep staring, you might burn a hole in her face.”
“Uggh… I’m really sorry…”
“Look forward.”
“Got it…!”
Even though Namgung Bi-ah had a face that was undeniably enticing, I wasn’t pleased with others gazing at her like that.
I had taught Namgung Bi-ah how to conceal her presence, and typically she handled it well when using her Qi. Yet it seemed she struggled to maintain it while dozing off.
After giving Bi Yeonsum this admonition, thankfully, he straightened up and focused only ahead.
Unlike Gu Jeolyub, he seemed educated sufficiently.
That idiot sometimes needed a good smack to keep him in line.
Was he finally improving?
Well, I couldn’t say for sure, considering I never paid him that much attention.
“…Um.”
Lost in thought, I pulled out a few letters from my pocket and opened them.
I had expected them, and indeed, they had arrived.
How fortunate!
Rustle…
I carefully flipped through the letters one by one.
One of them was from Tang Soyeol, as anticipated. Her familiar inquiries about my well-being—whether I was eating properly, gaining weight, and other trivial matters—filled the letter.
Reading her words sparked a curious warmth within me, but it wasn’t an unpleasant one.
“Hmm…?”
Her letter included thoughts about how she felt she should have been there, followed by continued concerns over whether Namgung Bi-ah, or particularly Moyong Hi-ah, had done anything to me. But by the end of the letter, something in the last line halted me abruptly.
-But I’m so happy that I’ll be able to see the Young Master soon!
-The Young Master is going there, right?
“Huh? Where does she mean?”
I thought she was referencing the military exhibition at the Tang Clan.
However, that seemed unlikely.
As I racked my brain, trying to unearth something I might have forgotten,
“…Ah?”
Suddenly realizing my oversight, I flipped through the letters again.
Between the correspondence from Tang Soyeol, the Hao Clan, and the Beggar’s Sect, one letter stood out as far more significant.
“Isn’t it a bit… early?”
A memory dawned upon reading Tang Soyeol’s message.
I focused on the last letter, unfolding the one addressed simply with ‘Gu.’
There wasn’t much information within, but I found myself taken aback after reading the final line.
The rough yet straightforward handwriting undoubtedly belonged to my father, and as expected, it contained only the necessary information.
-The Eldest Son of the main clan will return from the frontlines shortly. No further extensions are permitted.
-Additionally, upon returning, he will be attending the Heavenly Dragon Academy.
“…Damn.”
The time had finally come.
The moment I had been anxiously awaiting.
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