Chapter 218: Master Jang (3)

“How….”

Even Yong Jeok-shim was well aware of the name Fierce-Fisted Heroine Maeng Ye-ju. Yet, the skills she was now displaying were different from what he remembered.

“You’ve reached the Realm of Immeasurability?”

Nodding, Maeng Ye-ju expanded her will-form qi. A fierce aura spread out around her.

Feeling the atmosphere as if it were filled with wild beasts, Yong Jeok-shim released his own qi.

“Ha, astonishing. To think you’ve grown this much. Today is full of surprises. I am Yong of the Divine Dragon Clan—”

Before he could finish his sentence, an attack poured in.

Dozens of slashes aimed for his neck, and Yong Jeok-shim deflected them all using Dragon King’s Scale.

But it didn’t end there. A scythe suddenly fell from midair. Though he dodged, he couldn’t avoid it perfectly and was grazed on the shoulder.

“Who the hell are you!”

Furious at the ambush aimed at him, Yong Jeok-shim roared.

“What are you doing?!”

Momentarily flustered, Maeng Ye-ju shouted in alarm.

Before she realized it, Mak Ya-wol with chain scythes and Seo Ryeom with three swords were standing on either side of her.

“Fighting Ghost Unit?”

Yong Jeok-shim instantly recognized them—members of the Baekmu Society’s Fighting Ghost Unit, already well-known names.

Neither of them were easy opponents. Yong Jeok-shim observed them cautiously. But oddly, the two who had suddenly appeared paid him no mind.

“How could you just barge in like this!”

“Ye-ju, this won’t do. It’s too dangerous.”

“She’s right. You’re still not ready to fight.”

“We agreed I would go first this time. What are you two even talking about?”

“It’s dangerous. That guy is Yong Jeok-shim.”

“Yeah, one of the Eight Swords of the Divine Dragon Clan. We know you’ve gotten stronger, but this is too risky.”

At their words, Maeng Ye-ju narrowed her eyes.

“You interfered because I was in danger?”

“Exactly.”

“Of course.”

“Then you should step in when I’m in danger—not now. Don’t tell me you just wanted to fight?”

“……”

Pressed by Maeng Ye-ju, the two avoided eye contact and looked elsewhere.

“See? I knew it. Not today. I’ll be the one to fight, no matter who the opponent is. You two wait.”

“But it’s dangerous.”

“Yeah, someone from the Eight Swords isn’t easy.”

“And you’re not even fully healed yet.”

“That’s exactly why we should fight instead.”

“Excuse me? What kind of logic is that?”

To her question, the two began saying strange things, trying to convince her.

Watching this unfold, Yong Jeok-shim’s face twisted.

He had been tense, expecting a strong opponent from the Baekmu Society, but now he felt like a fool.

‘Are they seriously fighting over who gets to fight me?’

It was absurd.

This wasn’t a sect-to-sect martial duel, and yet they were acting like this over someone like him.

Yong Jeok-shim’s anger surged into his will-form qi, spreading all around.

“Oh! He’s mad, huh?”

“Seems like it. Ryeom, Ye-ju, I’m going.”

“It’s my turn.”

“It’s dangerous, I said. Leave this to us.”

“You just want to fight, don’t you? Even if I die, I’ll be the one to die. You two stay back.”

“Back off? How could I stand by and watch you get hurt? Leave this to me.”

Even as Yong Jeok-shim fumed right in front of them, the three were more concerned with their own arguments.

“You bastards… Did I seem like such a joke to you?”

His voice filled with rage, but Seo Ryeom shook his head.

“Of course not. Would we be acting like this if you were weak? You’re strong—that’s why we’re doing this. If you were easy, we wouldn’t bother.”

“Exactly.”

Mak Ya-wol and Maeng Ye-ju nodded fiercely as if in agreement, but to Yong Jeok-shim, it all felt like mockery.

“You lot… Fine! Come all at once! Show me your strength!”

Yong Jeok-shim’s fury shook the air, but the three didn’t seem to care.

“What does he mean, all at once? That’s a bit much.”

“So, how should we decide?”

“Let’s draw sticks.”

“Why are you two deciding? It’s my fight.”

“Then shall we draw with three?”

“No. I’m going first.”

As the three argued over who would go first, Yong Jeok-shim’s rage reached its peak—but despite his words, he didn’t act.

Just moments ago, he had demanded they all come at once out of anger, but even he knew he couldn’t handle all three together. Even Mak Ya-wol and Seo Ryeom were not ones to be taken lightly.

It was a bizarre scene. A Divine Dragon Clan martial artist burning with fury but unable to move, and three people bickering over nothing. Anyone watching would think they were mad.

While the childish quarrel continued, Jin Ha-un quietly approached.

“Um, I think you all need to stop.”

“What? Ha-un, you too? No way, kid. You’re not ready.”

“Yeah, you’re still lacking.”

“That’s not it. Look over there.”

The three looked in the direction Jin Ha-un pointed.

“Huh?”

“Captain?”

Their surprised expressions made Yong Jeok-shim turn his head, gritting his teeth.

Standing behind him was Jang Woo-hyun.

‘When?’

Startled, Yong Jeok-shim quickly moved to create distance. His instincts were screaming danger.

He felt more tense now than when facing the well-known Seo Ryeom and Mak Ya-wol.

Only after backing away could Yong Jeok-shim get a proper look at Jang Woo-hyun.

His aura was faint. If he hadn’t seen him up close, he wouldn’t have sensed his presence at all. In Jang Woo-hyun’s arms was someone, yet that person’s presence was equally undetectable.

Yong Jeok-shim knew exactly who it was. She was the reason he had come here.

“You… How did you take her?”

It was Yong Seo-hee, who should have been with his subordinates. And yet now, she was in Jang Woo-hyun’s arms, as if rescued moments ago.

“Ha-un.”

Jang Woo-hyun didn’t respond to the question and instead called Jin Ha-un. As he handed over Yong Seo-hee, his gaze never left Yong Jeok-shim.

Watching from afar, Maeng Ye-ju decided to give up on fighting this time.

‘He’s mad.’

The expression and atmosphere she saw now were the same as back when he witnessed the dying beastkin in Sa Do-woong’s Floating Stronghold.

Jang Woo-hyun was truly furious—and for that reason, even if she wanted to fight, Maeng Ye-ju chose to back down.

‘Why is he so angry? Was he really that close to Seo-hee?’

‘Does she not know something?’ While thinking this, Maeng Ye-ju saw Yong Seo-hee being handed over to Jin Ha-un, and she understood why Jang Woo-hyun was so enraged.

‘So that’s the reason.’

The black awl embedded in Yong Seo-hee’s chest.

From the ominous tip, red mist formed, reminiscent of the strange tubes lodged in the dying beastkin.

“This is bad.”

Quick-witted Seo Ryeom also recognized Jang Woo-hyun’s rage and gave up immediately. But among their group, there was one who lacked awareness.

“Captain, let’s stick to the order. Some of us were waiting here first. If not, come over and draw lots like the rest of us.”

As soon as those words left his mouth, Maeng Ye-ju grabbed Mak Ya-wol’s arm, and Seo Ryeom gripped his shoulder.

Mak Ya-wol turned to them. His face clearly said, ‘Why?’

Maeng Ye-ju shook her head. Seo Ryeom frowned.

“Read the room.”

“What? What did I do? You two were the ones making a fuss about who’d fight first.”

“That’s different. You’re seriously clueless. Don’t you see the captain’s pissed?”

“He’s mad?”

Mak Ya-wol looked back toward Jang Woo-hyun.

His face was expressionless, his aura unreadable. If he were angry, he should be radiating killing intent, but Jang Woo-hyun didn’t seem much different from usual.

“Doesn’t look mad to me?”

Seo Ryeom sighed at that.

“You’re dense. Come on. Let’s just go clean up the small fry.”

“We should wait our turn. Where are we going?”

“I’m telling you—he’s really angry.”

“Who? The captain?”

“Yes.”

Mak Ya-wol looked at Jang Woo-hyun again, confusion clear on his face.

“So we can’t fight?”

“Read the room. This is when we back off.”

“Then what do we do?”

“I was gonna say clean up the small fry, but… looks like we’re not needed there either. Let’s just watch.”

“Just watch?”

“Yeah, what else can we do?”

“Let’s bet on it.”

“Bet? You mean for money?”

“No, on who gets to go first next time. Whoever guesses right this time gets to fight first next.”

“Ooh, I like that. The captain’s gonna win anyway, so a normal bet’s no fun. How do we do it?”

Seo Ryeom lit up at Mak Ya-wol’s suggestion.

“Let’s bet on how quickly he ends it. I say half a sijin.”

“Half a sijin? That’s too long for the captain. I say two gak.”

“He’s not fully recovered, and it’s not an easy opponent.”

“You think I didn’t consider that? Still, I’d say two gak in total. What about you, Ye-ju?”

Seo Ryeom turned to Maeng Ye-ju, who was standing to the side.

“Less than one gak.”

“Less than a gak? That’s too fast.”

“No matter how strong the captain is, he can’t end it that quickly. Yong Jeok-shim isn’t a pushover.”

“True. And he’s not fully healed either, so it won’t be easy.”

While the other two predicted it would take much longer, Maeng Ye-ju thought differently.

In this state, Jang Woo-hyun wouldn’t fight half-heartedly. He hadn’t then either.

While the three placed their bets, Jang Woo-hyun drew Black Wilds Sword. And at that moment, Dragon King’s Scale poured down from the sky like a rainstorm.

“Huh?”

Seeing that, Mak Ya-wol and Seo Ryeom realized their predictions were completely off.

“Who are you, exactly?”

Yong Jeok-shim denied his own emotions.

He couldn’t accept that someone of a great lineage like himself would feel fear toward a mere human martial artist.

“Jang Woo-hyun.”

A short introduction. It was a name Yong Jeok-shim recognized.

A rising powerhouse whose name had begun to spread through the Central Heavens Martial Realm. But he hadn’t expected this level of strength.

He’d been surprised by Maeng Ye-ju, but she didn’t compare. Even if Maeng Ye-ju had grown strong, she was still someone he could defeat. But he couldn’t guarantee victory over Jang Woo-hyun.

‘No, I will win.’

He forced the emotions that resurfaced back down. He refused to imagine losing.

“Cheonrin Sword Alliance, this is a family matter. It’s not something an outsider like you can just interfere with.”

For someone who had been so aggressive moments ago, Yong Jeok-shim had become quite subdued. Though he denied it, his instincts wanted to avoid fighting Jang Woo-hyun.

“Good, you said it. Family, right?”

If they were truly family, this wasn’t how things should be. Yong Seo-hee, a blood relative of Yong Jeok-shim, was in this state—why?

If he were a true elder of the family, he should’ve guided her. How did she end up like this?

“And that condition—does it make any sense?”

The ominous awl embedded in her chest was a vile thing. Even Jang Woo-hyun couldn’t remove it easily. If mishandled, it could kill her.

From the tip of the awl—like the tubes that extracted power from beastkin—Yong Seo-hee’s blood and qi were leaking. Her unconscious, pained state reminded him of that young beastkin child.

“Anyone who betrays the family must receive due punishment. That is our clan’s rule.”

“So that’s the Divine Dragon Clan’s way? Then there’s nothing more to say.”

If that was how the Divine Dragon Clan handled things, Jang Woo-hyun had no more words. He was, after all, an outsider.

However—

Just as the Divine Dragon Clan had their way, Jang Woo-hyun had his.

“You lot have trespassed into Five Elements Cult territory.”

Jang Woo-hyun slowly drew Black Wilds Sword.

“And this is the way of their ally—my way.”

In response, Yong Jeok-shim revealed his own aura. His hand began to glow, morphing into a dragon’s claw. At that moment, a downpour of qi burst from the sky.

Jang Woo-hyun, unleashing Myriad Blossoms and Rain through Dragon King’s Scale, kicked off the air.

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