Chapter 44: If You're Scared, Never Mind (1)
Chapter 43 – If You’re Scared, Never Mind (1)
Tang Wu-gi’s nose twitched as he looked at Hwangbo Seung lying collapsed on the ground.
“That pathetic bastard…”
To be sprawled out like that because he couldn’t even catch the pushover of pushovers.
He was burning with rage.
At the same time, with one variable occurring after another, he couldn’t help but feel wary, wondering if there really was something to those guys.
Whatever the case, it was now his turn to step forward.
He could absolutely never let those bastards leave here.
Murong Gang looked back at Tang Wu-gi with a heavily subdued gaze.
“U-gi, we don’t have time.”
“Tch! I know.”
Clicking his tongue, Tang Wu-gi strode forward and gestured with his chin at Yue Goeng.
Swish.
Yue Goeng spun his spear dazzlingly and took the lead alongside Tang Wu-gi.
As the two of them stepped forward, Namgung Cheon watched them with a calm gaze before speaking.
“You want to keep going?”
“Don’t act so smug just because you won by luck.”
Namgung Cheon smirked at Tang Wu-gi’s words.
“By luck, you say. According to your words, we must be people aided by heaven itself. At this point, wouldn’t that be even scarier? Will you be alright? Messing with those whom heaven helps?”
“Shut up. You will soon be lying on the ground, looking up at that heaven and cursing it.”
“And yet you’re sneakily sending out two people.”
This time, Yue Goeng replied as he spun his spear.
“If you’re scared, you can send out two people as well.”
Then, unexpectedly, Jin So-hong stepped forward.
At her appearance, both Tang Wu-gi and Yue Goeng frowned at the same time.
And with good reason, for Jin So-hong had a bandage wrapped around one of her legs, and seeing it soaked in blood, she was undoubtedly injured.
Did this not mean they were being deeply underestimated?
Tang Wu-gi growled in a low voice.
“Young lady, does this look like a joke to you?”
“Of course not. I have wanted to test myself against you.”
“Test yourself, you say. Against whom?”
“People of the Tang Clan like you.”
At Jin So-hong’s reply, Tang Wu-gi wore an exasperated expression, while Namgung Cheon wore an interested look, as if finding it unexpected.
Tang Wu-gi let out a dry laugh and asked back.
“Is there a reason?”
“Not really. Just that since we use similar weapons, I thought I could learn a thing or two?”
Jin So-hong smiled softly and drew her weapon from her waist.
Since this was the first time they were seeing the weapon Jin So-hong used, Paeng Su-hyeok and Yun Jong-seung also blinked and focused their attention.
“Is that… a meteor hammer?”
Paeng Su-hyeok muttered, and Namgung Cheon nodded.
It was indeed a meteor hammer.
However, to call it a hammer, it looked closer to a spike, and the other end was connected to a fairly large flying dagger.
Originally, a meteor hammer referred to a weapon where two weights were connected by something like Thousand-Year Silkworm Silk.
So Jin So-hong’s weapon was somewhat peculiar.
Because of the flying dagger, it also looked like a rope dart at first glance.
Furthermore, the Thousand-Year Silkworm Silk connecting the flying dagger and the spike was so thin it was barely visible to the eye.
It was like a spiderweb.
‘Silver Silkworm Silk.’
A thread drawn from the Silver Silkworm, a spiritual beast. It was a thread so tough that even Thousand-Year Silkworm Silk could not compare to it.
In short, it meant it would not break even from ordinary sword strikes.
Recognizing it as well, Paeng Su-hyeok’s mouth fell wide open as he muttered.
“Where on earth did she get something so precious?”
Come to think of it, where was Jin So-hong from again?
Tang Wu-gi’s voice suddenly rang out, breaking his train of thought.
“You have brought some strange toy from somewhere. But do you think that just because you can handle a mere meteor hammer, you can match my clan’s hidden weapon arts?”
“We will only know which is longer or shorter once we compare them. Why don’t you check for yourself whether it’s just a mere meteor hammer or not? Even if I lose, I can just consider it as learning a lesson, so it’s not a losing deal for me.”
Tang Wu-gi’s expression hardened slightly.
She was a bold and annoyingly silver-tongued woman.
Seriously, it was as if every single one of these bastards had greased their three-inch tongues.
Tang Wu-gi tightly gripped his daggers.
“Even so, it will be difficult for you to face the two of us alone.”
Tang Wu-gi’s gaze shifted toward Namgung Cheon.
In any case, the target this time was Namgung Cheon.
If Namgung Cheon did not step forward, there was no need to waste their strength.
Yet, Namgung Cheon unexpectedly pushed Paeng Su-hyeok’s back.
“What are you doing? Go on out.”
“What? What about you?”
As Paeng Su-hyeok looked back with a dumbfounded expression, Namgung Cheon shrugged his shoulders.
“I’ll be cheering for you.”
“You crazy… You step up! I am not your subordinate!”
As Paeng Su-hyeok huffed, Namgung Cheon stepped forward as if he had no choice.
“Since this guy is scared, I will personally deal with you guys.”
“You bastard! Who’s scared?!”
When Paeng Su-hyeok shouted in a huff, Namgung Cheon waved his hands dismissively.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. The opponents are descendants of the Five Great Clans. I understand. No one will blame you for being scared here. Trust me. I will keep you safe. You might get hurt if you get caught up in it, so just stand far away and watch quietly…”
“Shut up, you bastard! Move! I’ll fight! Namgung Cheon, you bastard. Just wait until I beat these guys to a pulp!”
“Hmm. Will you be alright?”
“Shut up! I am not a pushover like you guys!”
“Oh, how reassuring.”
When Namgung Cheon even clapped his hands, veins bulged on Paeng Su-hyeok’s forehead.
“Why does it… not sound like a compliment even when you say nice things?”
“Hmm. Indeed.”
Namgung Cheon rested his chin on his hand with a seriously contemplative look.
Come to think of it, it had been the same in his past life.
Whenever he sincerely complimented others, they would all turn red in the face and get angry.
It seemed he possessed a talent for feeding people shit at the same time he complimented them.
What on earth did he not have?
It felt resentful and infuriating all over again that someone as talented as him had ended his life after spending it doing nothing but running away.
It was all because of that bastard Alliance Leader.
Just you wait, Alliance Leader.
The day he would stand by that bastard’s side was not far off. No, even if it was far, he would definitely reach that position one day.
While Namgung Cheon renewed his resolve, Paeng Su-hyeok drew his broadsword and shouted.
“The sun will rise soon, you bastards. Let’s finish this quickly!”
Meanwhile, since Namgung Cheon, whom they had been targetting, did not step forward, Tang Wu-gi and Yue Goeng seemed a bit taken aback.
The two looked at each other for a moment, then, as if making up their minds, Yue Goeng took his stance first.
“Brother Tang, let’s finish this quickly and deal with that pushover too.”
“Let’s do that.”
The two of them took their opening stances.
Just as Paeng Su-hyeok yelled out a battle cry and was about to charge, Namgung Cheon suddenly intervened.
“Wait!”
“What?”
Not only Paeng Su-hyeok but also Tang Wu-gi and Yue Goeng glared and whirled their heads around.
Namgung Cheon raised his hand.
“Whoa, whoa. Everyone calm down. Since we are fighting anyway, let’s finish what we were talking about earlier.”
“What are you talking about?”
When Tang Wu-gi asked, Namgung Cheon threw something with a toss.
Thud.
What fell beside Hwangbo Seung was none other than the corpse of the Golden Blood Rat.
As Tang Wu-gi twitched his eyebrows and looked over, Namgung Cheon gestured with his chin toward the Red Cat Seol-ah.
“You should bet your side too. Let’s make it so the winner gets to choose one of the two first.”
“What? Who said you could change the spiritual beasts as you please? No, in the first place, is there any proof that the rat you caught is a spiritual beast?”
“Man, you really don’t trust people’s words. I’m telling you, it’s a special-grade spiritual beast even among spiritual beasts.”
“Cut the bullshit! Anyone can see it’s clearly just a rat, where do you think you’re trying to scam us!”
“Fine, even if I take a hundred steps back and concede it’s not a spiritual beast. All you have to do is win anyway, right? Why? Are you scared?”
“This bastard, who is scared…”
“Then make the bet. Or, if you’re scared, forget it. Oh, it’s totally understandable to be scared. Since your opponent is the direct descendant of the great Hebei Paeng Clan.”
At Namgung Cheon’s words, Paeng Su-hyeok squared his shoulders and smirked simplemindedly.
Honestly, that simple guy.
I even have the talent to play with people’s minds like this.
Just then, Murong Gang, who was watching, spoke coldly.
“U-gi, we have no time.”
Tang Wu-gi glanced toward the east.
The sun would rise before long.
This was not the time to be bickering over such things.
As Namgung Cheon said, they just had to win.
Tang Wu-gi pulled the rope and tied it to the wrist of the fallen Hwangbo Seung.
Thus, the Red Cat Seol-ah and the corpse of the Golden Blood Rat were left side by side next to Hwangbo Seung.
Tang Wu-gi growled as he looked back at Namgung Cheon.
“Are you happy now?”
“Good. Then, start.”
The moment Namgung Cheon’s words fell, Paeng Su-hyeok charged forward with a furious expression and shouted.
“Namgung Cheon! Don’t you dare command me to start or whatever!”
Shhh, clash!
Yue Goeng, who barely managed to block Paeng Su-hyeok’s strike, quickly retreated with a stiff expression.
Thud, thud, thud!
‘He-he’s strong!’
Yue Goeng’s eyes trembled.
He definitely felt even stronger than when they had clashed in the alleyway last time.
Was it just his imagination?
Yue Goeng whirled nimbly with dazzling movements and rushed toward Paeng Su-hyeok.
Swoosh, swoosh.
The spear curved like a snake, seeming to dig into Paeng Su-hyeok’s chest.
Paeng Su-hyeok snorted and struck away the spear shaft.
“Hmph!”
Clang!
Swish, swish.
Surprisingly, Paeng Su-hyeok’s body slipped inside as if sliding along the spear shaft.
“Ah!”
Yue Goeng retreated in embarrassment.
“A petty trick!”
Paeng Su-hyeok let out a loud shout as he slashed his broadsword horizontally.
It was a variation of the Iron-Blood Flash Dominance following the Qi-Controlling Divine Wind.
Yue Goeng hurriedly stood his spear vertically, barely blocking the blade.
Clang!
Screeech!
Along with a screeching sound that pierced his eardrums, Yue Goeng’s body slid back about twenty feet.
Tang Wu-gi, who happened to be parrying the meteor hammer nearby, was pushed back as he bumped into Yue Goeng.
“What?!”
As Tang Wu-gi turned around irritably, Yue Goeng quickly corrected his stance and apologized.
“Bro-Brother Tang, I am sorry. I let my guard down.”
Although he called it letting his guard down, he harbored doubts within himself.
Had he really just let his guard down?
He did not know.
Paeng Su-hyeok’s martial arts had changed.
While it had been simple, ignorant, and merely rough last time, this time it felt sophisticated and faster.
‘If it’s not my imagination… does it mean he has made progress?’
He fell into thought for a brief moment, when a chilling sharpness flew fiercely from behind.
“Heh!”
As he reflexively lowered his body, the flying dagger attached to the Silver Silkworm Silk brushed past his eyes by a hair’s breadth.
Flutter, flutter! Tap.
As Yue Goeng exhaled a sigh of relief after barely retreating while spinning his body, Tang Wu-gi beside him spat out curses.
“Why are you stupidly spacing out? Don’t you know there are two opponents!”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t just apologize like an idiot and fight properly!”
“I-I understand.”
Yue Goeng replied as he readied his spear.
Paeng Su-hyeok, who stood facing them, smirked.
“It seems you guys don’t get along very well?”
“Nonsense. Stop the chatter and fight.”
“We are fighting right now!”
Swoosh.
Once again, Paeng Su-hyeok kicked off the ground and flew forward.
‘As expected, he’s fast!’
Yue Goeng quickly retreated while wielding his spear.
He had definitely gotten faster.
He had to deal with him in a different way than before.
Clang, clang, clang! Clang!
Once he changed his mindset, Yue Goeng did not get pushed back easily either.
Paeng Su-hyeok grit his teeth.
‘This bastard…!’
Screeech! Clang!
As the broadsword and spear clashed, the two retreated two steps each.
Once the distance widened, the spear had the advantage.
In an instant, Yue Goeng let out a shout and thrust his spear straight forward.
“Haaah!”
The spear imbued with spear qi flew like an arrow.
It was the Flash Prison Qi stance, a secret technique of the Lightning Spear Art from the Yue Family Spear Art.
Paeng Su-hyeok’s eyes widened as a shout like a battle cry
burst forth.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
Clash!
Once again, the broadsword and spear clashed, and the two staggered back.
It was at that moment.
Swoooosh.
A hidden weapon flew rapidly toward Paeng Su-hyeok.
For some reason, it was a hidden weapon that shone unusually bright and looked slightly large.
In an instant, Namgung Cheon suddenly intervened and shouted.
“Step back, Paeng Su-hyeok!”
“Who are you to tell me to step back or…”
Thud.
Appearing as he sliced through the air, Namgung Cheon kicked Paeng Su-hyeok’s shoulder, pushing him back.
At the same time, Namgung Cheon, flying forward as if shot out, swung his Emerald Silk Sword and struck down the hidden weapon.
Thwack.
He struck the hidden weapon, but a sound like a sandbag bursting rang out, and at the same time, a hazy powder scattered in all directions.
Flutter, flutter, flutter!
As Namgung Cheon rotated like a whirlwind, the powder descending in the air dispersed and flew in all directions.
The sight was so dazzling that everyone stared blankly, forgetting the battle.
Shhh.
Landing on the ground as he slid, Namgung Cheon glared at Tang Wu-gi, who was standing with a blank expression.
Namgung Cheon’s expression was as terrifying as Yama.
“This bastard… is using deadly poison?”