Chapter 217: Cooperation Is A Mess (4)
Chapter 216 – Cooperation Is A Mess (4)
Was Namgung Cheon’s intention to guarantee the position of the Hebei branch here?
Eon Yang-geol opened his mouth as he looked at Namgung Cheon.
‘Then, does that mean that guy was thinking of having a duel with Clan Leader Paeng from the very beginning?’
Well.
Since they were enemy families, he might have kept at least that much in mind.
No, more than that, could he even win the duel? If he lost the duel, wouldn’t the Eon Clan face arrows of criticism for failing to protect the Jianghu Divine Dragon, let alone gaining the branch leader position?
No, before that, they wouldn’t even be able to block the attack of the unorthodox forces.
The more he thought, the paler Eon Yang-geol’s expression became.
‘I don’t even want to think anymore.’
While Eon Yang-geol was floundering in his confused mind, Paeng Jeok-ho narrowed his eyes and asked.
“The authority to appoint a branch leader lies with the alliance, so why are you saying that to me?”
“Hey, don’t be like that between people who know each other. The Hebei Paeng Clan still holds the actual power in Hebei. Although you faltered once this time, if you mobilize your branch families, you still won’t easily lose the position of branch leader.”
It was true.
This was the difference between a family that the world had turned its back on and a family that had merely weakened and declined on its own.
The Namgung Clan had rapidly declined and was thoroughly isolated as the world turned its back on them, but the case of the Paeng Clan was different.
Even if they were excluded from the Seven Great Clans, their influence was still active at least in Hebei.
Of course, that was assuming they successfully drove away the unorthodox forces.
“Why are you paying attention to such a thing?”
“Because I promised him. Clan Leader Eon.”
Namgung Cheon winked at Eon Yang-geol.
‘Don’t wink in this situation! You crazy bastard!’
Paeng Jeok-ho’s gaze peeked at Eon Yang-geol.
When Eon Yang-geol tried to laugh it off with an awkward expression, Paeng Jeok-ho nodded.
“I see. So you helped the Paeng Clan for that reason.”
“Haha, rather than that specific reason…”
Eon Yang-geol felt cold sweat running down his spine.
Now, he felt like grabbing Namgung Cheon by the collar and shaking him.
No, why did he have to break such a good atmosphere!
Gathering intentions and joining forces?
Harmony and peace, my foot!
What was he going to do about this awkward atmosphere!
Paeng Jeok-ho soon sneered.
“Well, if it weren’t for that much, the Eon Clan would not have moved easily. But why do you make such promises as you please?”
“Because, as you said, there must be a price of that caliber to move the Eon Clan. For the Paeng Clan, it’s not a bad deal as the price for avoiding extermination, is it?”
“What if I refuse that proposal?”
“Why? Do you think you will lose? To me?”
Namgung Cheon looked at him with a strange look, wearing a bitter smile.
It was a clear provocation.
When Paeng Jeok-ho’s forehead twitched, Namgung Cheon shrugged his shoulders and continued.
“Well, if you are scared, it would be hard for me to persuade you, but if not, it doesn’t matter whether there is a condition or not, right?”
Gwooooo.
A murderous aura surged from Paeng Jeok-ho’s entire body. Of course, killing intent was mixed in it as well.
As his hair rose strand by strand into the air, even the onlookers felt a chill down their spines.
‘No, you don’t need to speak that far!’
Eon Yang-geol clenched his sweaty hands and swallowed hard.
Standing next to him, Paeng Su-hyeok quietly twisted his lips.
‘Anyway, that bastard’s mouth is the biggest problem.’
His father had finally felt some goodwill toward Namgung Cheon, but now he was expressing a certain rage again.
It could not be helped.
Was it like a gateway that one naturally had to pass through when dealing with Namgung Cheon?
Paeng Jeok-ho twisted his lips and thrust out his saber.
“Fine, I accept that condition. However, even if you die in this duel, there must not be any resentment. That is my condition.”
“I accept.”
Eon Yang-geol felt like screaming now.
He ultimately gave up, his face turning dark.
‘It’s all over. Since it has come to this, do I have no choice but to hope Namgung Cheon wins?’
Looking slightly to the side, Paeng Su-hyeok was looking at Namgung Cheon with an expectant expression for some reason.
What about the other cadets?
They also had tense faces, but their eyes somehow contained trust.
‘How on earth are these kids like this…’
Was it because they did not know the world?
Or did the Jianghu Divine Dragon really have a move that would surprise even him?
Of course, remembering when the Jianghu Divine Dragon enlightened them on the Jiangling Divine Art, infinite trust did well up.
However, wasn’t there a world of difference between enlightening someone on an internal cultivation method and actually fighting a duel?
And against the Hebei Paeng Clan Leader who had rolled and tumbled in real battles at that!
Nevertheless, if they had such trusting expressions…
‘Yes, other than trusting him, what else can I do right now?’
It was spilled milk.
The duel had begun.
Since it had come to this, he had no choice but to trust him!
‘Please, I beg you, Jianghu Divine Dragon!’
Clenching his fists and biting his lip, Jin So-hong, who had approached his side before he knew it, spoke in a soft voice.
“Do not worry too much. As much as you trusted and invested in Namgung Cheon, there will surely be a return.”
The daughter of the Gold King.
She was surely a child with business talent.
Yes, let’s trust the discernment of these children.
Right now, he felt like grasping at straws to support his mind.
Hwooooom!
Finally, a wave of energy blew in all directions centering around Paeng Jeok-ho.
At that hot heat, the gathered people braced themselves and swallowed hard.
Gulp!
The sound of someone swallowing could be heard.
Rustle!
Paeng Jeok-ho slowly stepped his left foot forward and took a starting stance.
The son of the enemy.
He intentionally thought of it that way to pour all his heart and strength into martial arts.
Thud!
At the same time his brow furrowed, Paeng Jeok-ho kicked the ground and rushed forward like a flying arrow.
Since there was a difference in generation, he could have conceded the first move, but right now, Paeng Jeok-ho was treating this as a real battle more than ever.
“Hyaaah!”
With a thunderous shout, the saber split the air and fell.
It was the stance of Iron-Blood Flash Hegemony of the Iron-Blood Star-Plucking Saber.
Swish, boom!
Narrowly grazing Namgung Cheon, the saber struck the ground, sending fragments flying. At the same time, Paeng Jeok-ho raised his eyes in surprise.
‘He avoided it? Let’s see about this time!’
He unleashed the second stance in succession toward Namgung Cheon.
Fwoooosh!
The heavy saber qi extended long horizontally, leaving a red tail.
It was the stance called Blood Star Tail Circle of the Iron-Blood Star-Plucking Saber.
The saber swung by Paeng Jeok-ho always carried a heavy energy, but it never felt dull. Rather, it moved lightly like a martial artist holding a soft sword.
Clang!
This time, even Namgung Cheon could not avoid it and raised the Emerald Silk Sword to block.
Screeech!
The moment he slid backward, Paeng Jeok-ho’s eyes gleamed sharply, and the next stance followed. He was pushing without giving him any room to breathe.
“Take this!”
Swish, swish, swish!
In an instant, Paeng Jeok-ho’s figure seemed to move like a ghost from his standing posture.
Reaching the front in an instant, Paeng Jeok-ho slashed the saber down as if striking from top to bottom.
Swiiiiiish!
“Gasp!”
“Dangerous!”
The onlookers screamed despite themselves.
Yun Jong-seung and Yu Hyeon also winced, and Jin So-hong, who had been watching calmly all along, also clenched her fists tightly.
What Paeng Jeok-ho swung was the stance called Meteor Seeking Flower of the Iron-Blood Star-Plucking Saber.
It was a powerful stance where the saber, falling like a meteor splitting the air, would surely pierce the heart to find the blood flower.
Finally, the saber cut through Namgung Cheon and slammed into the ground.
Crash!
As the saber sank a span deep into the ground, the earth trembled as if an earthquake had occurred. At the same time, dust rose up.
“Ah…”
The people let out groans and stared at the dust. Eon Yang-geol also swallowed hard.
‘It, it is over.’
Several people had expressions of not knowing the decision would be reached so quickly, while others clicked their tongues as if they had expected it.
‘From the start, it was bound to be no match.’
‘He is still the Hebei Paeng Clan Leader, after all. The Jianghu Divine Dragon was too careless.’
Just as Eon Yang-geol was about to run out in panic, Paeng Su-hyeok quickly grabbed his shoulder.
“Let go of this!”
“Not yet.”
“What do you mean? With Clan Leader Paeng’s strike just now, the Jianghu Divine Dragon…”
“Watch.”
When Paeng Su-hyeok spoke with strength in his eyes, Eon Yang-geol turned his head again and looked at Paeng Jeok-ho.
Paeng Jeok-ho’s expression was distorted.
“Do you… possess some skill?”
A voice flowed out of Paeng Jeok-ho’s mouth as if spat out.
Soon, as the dust settled and their vision cleared, the people burst out in astonishment.
“Ah! Namgung Cheon is completely fine?”
“He, he avoided it? Didn’t it clearly cut his body?”
The words spoken by the people were no different from what Eon Yang-geol had thought. However, he realized that he had failed to perceive it properly because he was in an excited state.
‘An afterimage was left because it was too fast.’
Yet, it was surprising that Paeng Su-hyeok knew it. As he watched with his mouth wide open, Paeng Su-hyeok spoke with a chuckle.
“It turns out that the more you believe, the more you see. It will be the same case for that guy.”
Paeng Su-hyeok pointed with his chin at Yu Hyeon, who was watching from the side.
Certainly, Yu Hyeon also had a calm expression. Even though Yun Jong-seung, standing next to him, was shedding tears.
Eon Yang-geol’s expression stiffened.
‘These children are definitely different. Especially Yu Hyeon and Paeng Su-hyeok, they are in a different realm.’
The more you believe, the more you see?
Those words also made sense.
Since their minds would be calm, they wouldn’t panic like him.
However, that must be based on skill.
Would his own son possess this level of skill?
Just then, he saw Eon Ho-ryang watching from among the people. His eyes were wide open in surprise.
Eon Yang-geol smiled bitterly.
‘I should have sent him to the Dragon Heaven Academy.’
Meanwhile, receiving everyone’s gaze, Namgung Cheon exhaled deeply. Then, the front of his shirt fell away, cut long, and his top fluttered open.
As his solid upper body was fully revealed, the people let out low exclamations.
“Unbelievable. To avoid that by a hair’s breadth.”
“He was far too lucky.”
However, they still did not know.
That Namgung Cheon avoiding the saber was absolutely not luck.
As a result, they could not hide their shock at Namgung Cheon’s subsequent provocative remark.
“When are you going to do it properly? If it’s like this, let’s stop.”
“……!”
He was even sheathing the Emerald Silk Sword into its scabbard?
The people looked at each other with puzzled faces.
“What does that mean?”
“Are you saying Clan Leader Paeng was showing mercy?”
“No way, how could that be. If that kind of force isn’t his full power, then what is?”
At this moment, the one who was most surprised was none other than Paeng Jeok-ho.
‘That fellow…!’
He was certainly no ordinary person.
Just as Namgung Cheon said, he did not use his full power. But that didn’t mean he showed mercy.
He had deemed it sufficient.
Even without using all his strength.
But now, his mind had changed.
‘He is indeed… an interesting fellow.’
He had to put away the thought of testing him further.
From now on, he had to fight with the mindset of truly killing him. Because the martial arts of the Paeng Clan were meaningless unless based on real combat!
‘Fortunately, he is a fellow of that caliber.’
Grasping the saber, Paeng Jeok-ho twisted his lips.
“Fine. From now on, I will use my full heart and strength.”
Hwooooom!
Once again, a wave of energy blew in all directions.
“Gasp!”
“Ugh!”
The surrounding people turned away, covering their faces.
It felt as if a force strong enough to sting the skin was washing over their entire bodies.
Paeng Jeok-ho’s robe also puffed up severely, and soon burst with a ‘bang!’
Immediately after, Paeng Jeok-ho’s body began to swell solidly.
The internal cultivation method that could be called the best secret of the Paeng Clan.
It was the Hunyuan Thunder Divine Art.