Chapter 55: Chapter 55

Chapter 55: This Is What Your Father Is Like

Jin Yeomyeong recalled three things.

Among these, Hwangbo Gak ranked lowest.

Both loach and rat were lowly creatures. As lowly creatures, they lived according to instinct. Rats didn't harbor malice deliberately harming people.

However, Hwangbo Gak was a monstrosity.

One who should protect Luoyang brought chaos to Luoyang.

So no further honorific was needed.

"Let's go out. It's cramped."

Inside the branch main hall was full of martial artists.

No space to extend fist or sword.

"Jin Yeomyeong, you bastard!"

"Hwangbo Gak, you're no longer Murim Alliance Branch Leader in my eyes. If you won't fight, receive binding."

Couldn't obediently receive binding.

Hwangbo Gak looked around then soon steadied his breathing.

Couldn't break through all martial artists at this place.

Only this duel was the path given to him.

"Jin Yeomyeong, you'll use a sword?"

"I'll also use a sword. Someone bring my sword from the Branch Leader's office."

An unexpected choice.

However, Alliance members only watched silently.

No one responded to his instructions.

"What are you doing? I said bring my sword."

Still no one followed.

The one who stepped forward was Gong Pilsang.

Hwangbo Gak stared at him blankly.

Gong Pilsang met that gaze speaking calmly.

"At least make the duel fair without trickery. If you dirty even this."

If you dirty it—words carelessly brought out, but the ending was difficult.

"Damn. Already disappointed to the point of disappointment. No room for more disappointment. Anyway, I'll bring it."

Eventually Gong Pilsang headed to the Branch Leader's office wearing only a bitter smile.

"You and I should go out first. Everyone else, please come out with Deputy Branch Leader Gong Pilsang shortly."

Jin Yeomyeong made an incomprehensible request and went outside the main hall.

Hwangbo Gak also followed out.

"What? Why did only we come out first?"

As soon as coming out, Hwangbo Gak asked.

Jin Yeomyeong who briefly looked at him pointed at the stone wall.

"Clear fist marks. Deep inner power can be guessed. Don't know when you did such training while immersed in politics."

"What? Surely you're not frightened coming this far."

"With such martial arts, why collude with Demonic Cult?"

Jin Yeomyeong turned his finger pointing at Hwangbo Gak.

Simultaneously created small wind near faces so their conversation wouldn't be heard by others.

"Same clan origin as Alliance Leader, the position of Luoyang Branch Leader, and excellent martial arts too."

If Hwangbo Gak was escorted to the Alliance, wouldn't meet again, so had to ask here.

"After the duel ends, there'll be no chance to speak. Since I deliberately accepted the duel and only we two came outside, try speaking once."

"Hmph. If I don't speak? Will you take it back?"

"I'll take it back. We'll all rush together and massacre."

Hwangbo Gak had an expression as if caught off guard.

"The world's Ink Sword Hero saying two things with one mouth?"

"Don't you know by now? I'm different from the past me."

"Heuh. What? What made you change this much?"

Jin Yeomyeong told him the one reason that changed him.

He'd lost Jayeong and Taebok.

"The me before and after that are completely different."

"A child? A child changes a person this much?"

Hwangbo Gak seemed not to know at all.

"When a child is born, even the same Luoyang becomes different. You come to think from the child's position."

"My child, other children too. With the heart wishing they'd live safely, prosperously, healthily, I came to see Luoyang again."

Hwangbo Gak stroked his chin briefly then nodded alone.

"I see. That's it. So that's why you started fighting Black Path. I wondered if someone was behind you, but wasn't at all."

"So I want to ask. Why collude with Demonic Cult making Luoyang this way?"

Hwangbo Gak was briefly silent then grinned—hijuk.

"What to do? Seems I'll disappoint. My reason is extremely simple."

"I wanted to become great myself. By any means."

"Simple, right? But can't say more than this."

A sinister energy rose over his face.

I'd seen it before. Those with wrong desires get such faces.

"Up to Luoyang Branch Leader was smooth sailing. But after getting used to even Branch Leader, thinking about climbing above this felt daunting. I'm also confident in martial arts, but Hwangbo Clan has many talented people."

Alliance Leader Hwangbo Gihyeok promoted centered on blood relatives while thoroughly training and managing Hwangbo Clan.

He'd cultivated that many people to place in key positions.

"When will my turn come? How long must I wait? When thinking such thoughts, certain people approached."

"Demonic Cult Water Vein?"

"Oh? You even know it's Water Vein."

"Because I only met Water Vein bastards related to this matter."

"Heuheue. Right, Luoyang is a place Demonic Cult Water Vein targeted."

Demonic Cult Water Vein says—

tear human restraints with beast's fangs and claws.

"They and I had aligned interests."

And it says to follow instinct.

"It was enjoyable. All of Luoyang was in my hands."

How many people were sacrificed for that enjoyment? Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel-fire.ɴet

"Branch Leader? I was to become Luoyang's king. First Black Path King, then when Demonic Cult rises, become king of Luoyang martial world. That fellow Guyang Je seemed to expect me to go somewhere, but no!"

Hwangbo Gak spat out forcefully as if possibility still existed.

"I was one to become king."

The instinct Water Vein says to follow isn't proper instinct. A type of instinct that devours other instincts and eventually devours the person themselves.

Actually, couldn't even tell if it was instinct.

Might be desire that even contradicts instinct.

"Vain dream ends here. Too many already involved. Hwangbo Gak, you must pay the price."

"Heuheuheuheue. Can you do that? Will make you regret accepting the duel. If I defeat you, justification to leave this place openly arises."

Just then, Gong Pilsang and martial artists came outside.

Seeing them, Hwangbo Gak returned to usual appearance shouting.

"I'll present myself directly to the Alliance and clear the false accusations. The Alliance Leader will judge wisely. When that time comes, people here will have to apologize to me."

Slippery, slithery, loach-like shrewdness escaping crises.

Wuuuung—Mukheun cries.

Right. Let's make pieces. To my ears, somewhere has soup boiled with loaches. Let's make him that way.

Gong Pilsang threw the sword.

Seureung—Hwangbo Gak immediately drew the sword. A large, heavy greatsword.

Wuuuung—Jin Yeomyeong also lifted Mukheun.

Now words weren't needed.

The moment two swords faced each other, even the conversation until now briefly disappeared.

Only two martial artists.

The one who thrust sword first was Hwangbo Gak.

"My. As martial world senior, no yielding!"

"What yielding would Demonic Cult give?"

However, the martial arts were real.

Kwareung—with sound shaking the atmosphere, Hwangbo Clan's Thunder Tremor Sword Technique unfolded.

"Both sword and sword technique are heavy unlike the person."

He hadn't separately learned thunder arts.

Thunder Tremor Sword Technique deployed with Hwangbo Clan's Heavenly King Divine Arts.

That is, bringing down lightning with power, and thunder following the lightning.

"If I'd learned such things, the Alliance Leader would have caught on. Demonic arts were for later."

Conversation only the two could hear, buried in Thunder Tremor Sword Technique.

Even meanwhile, the Heavenly King holding huge lightning advanced step by step. The Heavenly King's enemy had no choice but to kneel before that power.

So, if in front, that is.

"Oh, look at the Ink Sword Hero's movement technique!"

"Evading all of Hwangbo Gak's attacks!"

"Like a fight between lightning and wind."

Combat style established by reaching Four-Tenths mastery of Eight Trigram Unity Technique and choosing Xun Trigram Technique.

Jin Yeomyeong moved lightly, quickly, freely following Xun Trigram hand seals.

Lightning struck down and surroundings trembled.

Wind was already far away.

The Heavenly King holding lightning approached again step by step—seonkeuk seonkeuk. Heavenly King steps were dignified and powerful.

Wind moved so the Heavenly King couldn't catch it.

Moving as if surrounding the Heavenly King.

"A whirlwind? Am I seeing correctly?"

"Seems correct. I'm also seeing that."

"If caught in that, can't avoid sword strikes either."

Lightning and wind fought.

When lightning rang, wind was pushed back. When wind raged, lightning scattered.

Whether lightning struck the wind's center first,

or power exhausted getting caught in the whirlwind—such a fight.

However—the Heavenly King's momentum grew even stronger. If he paused even briefly, fist or sword would definitely fly.

"Isn't the Ink Sword Hero gradually getting caught?"

"C-cornered! Will be caught!"

Hwangbo Gak murmured.

"Jin Yeomyeong, I noticed from Black Path subjugation, but this exceeds expectations."

"I'm becoming stronger faster than before."

"Hmph. But not above me."

The moment Hwangbo Gak aimed for arrived. He concentrated inner power in his sword.

The place for lightning to strike down was decided. Since he'd driven Jin Yeomyeong binding him in one place, the sword path was clear.

"This ends it! Coming!"

Thunder Tremor Sword Technique's ultimate technique unfolded.

Kkwareureung—the sound shaking heaven and earth—

Hwangbo Gak's sword was a feint.

He deployed a feint so Jin Yeomyeong had no choice but to block low.

This was Hwangbo Gak's ultimate technique.

His method of defeating enemies exceeding his martial prowess.

A feint the solely upright Heavenly King suddenly deployed.

Though reluctant to show martial artists gathered here, couldn't help it.

Before converting from feint to real strike—

Jin Yeomyeong aimed for the very short gap.

Mukheun that flew like wind suddenly changed heavily striking down the greatsword.

Kwaaaang—the sound of metal bowing to metal.

Hands throbbed as the greatsword drooped downward.

Very slightly contained deeper inner power.

Very slightly faster footwork unfolded.

Very slightly sharper sword technique.

'Don't tell me the entire duel until now—'

He'd used the entire duel as feint.

Not even simple sparring but a duel with much at stake.

To hide very slight levels continuing the duel.

If at first maybe not, but as duel continued would easily be revealed, yet hid until this moment.

Had never seen or heard of such operation.

Beyond inner power, sword technique, footwork, all these things—

"Experience? That's above me?"

Reaching an unacceptable conclusion, Hwangbo Gak burst out shouting.

For one moment, the sword path scattered.

Jin Yeomyeong's face that approached close came into view.

Together with one short remark, Mukheun placed a period.

Deep in the qi center—a period announcing a martial artist's end was placed.

For martial artists, qi center destruction was no different from death sentence.

Martial arts accumulated through lifetime training disappeared in one moment.

Hwangbo Gak's screams didn't end.

Of course pain from sword wounds, but he was screaming involuntarily at the sensation of inner power scattering.

Jin Yeomyeong looked at such Hwangbo Gak coldly.

"While overturning Luoyang, I realized one thing."

Luoyang where public order scattered, prices rose, and people were sold.

"An environment where children can live safely, prosperously, healthily."

Even in chaotic Luoyang, there were people who fed, cared for, and taught children.

"Ultimately, just needed to be good adults."

The environment where children lived well was 'good adults.'

"Then you know what the opposite is?"

The existence that drove all that environment down the path of deterioration,

the existence that brought suffering to both children and adults.

"For bad adults, I have nothing to give but the sword."

Hwangbo Gak's screams were subsiding.

"Collusion with Demonic Cult will end after receiving Alliance investigation and proper disposition. However, as White Path, as Luoyang person, and as one adult, I wanted to personally punish."

As someone who saw all the harm a bad adult caused—couldn't leave that qi center alone.

So I accepted the duel.

All martial artists were quietly watching.

"I just destroyed the Murim Alliance Branch Leader's qi center. Since it's something done before Alliance disposition, I don't know how the Alliance will judge. It's all my responsibility, so if the Alliance comes to investigate, just tell them what you saw."

Jin Yeomyeong smiled—binggeut.

Though caused truly great trouble,

the fact of causing great trouble made him happy.

Right now, Jin Yeomyeong was free beyond compare.

Martial artists had no answer.

Jin Yeomyeong added one remark.

"If anyone doesn't want to be involved, you can just say you didn't see. I say again, this is my responsibility—"

Autumn wind blew past—hwing hani.

As if pushed by that wind, the person who walked out staggering was Gong Pilsang.

He knelt on one knee examining Hwangbo Gak.

"When the hero corrected the branch's wrongdoing."

After confirming Hwangbo Gak still breathed, Gong Pilsang raised his head.

"Your leave application hasn't been approved yet. That is, you're still Luoyang Branch's Outer Hall martial artist. An Outer Hall martial artist handled a traitor. Who would say anything about this? Probably gratitude will come from main headquarters. As Deputy Branch Leader, I'll be witness."

Gong Pilsang finished rising.

Only after instructing to put Hwangbo Gak in Thunder Prison did he conclude his words.

"I'm also on the Ink Sword Hero's side."

The one who received Gong Pilsang's words was Kwak Daebang.

"As a martial artist belonging to Outer Hall together, I'll also be witness. The evil deeds witnessed while subjugating Black Path were severe. Though Outer Hall moves receiving Alliance missions, that's not saying to leave aside evil deeds outside missions. Couldn't not punish the evil deeds' mastermind."

"I'm also on the Ink Sword Hero's side! This Swift Wind will also be witness. Not only Flying Black Bear witnessed evil deeds. As Luoyang's White Path martial artist, I'll be witness. If White Path, couldn't not see the end of these matters."

Following Kwak Daebang who offered to be witness as Outer Hall martial artist, Swift Wind said he'd be witness as White Path martial artist.

"Same here! Dragon Sword Gang will also be witness. We nearly became Black Path as entire sect due to previous gang leader's wrong guidance. If Black Path King is related to Demonic Cult, might have entered Demonic Cult."

"We're also so! Tiger Alliance entered Luoyang as Black Path. Might have become hands and feet of Black Path King's evil deeds. But now thanks to Ink Sword Hero, we found different lives. We'll also be witnesses."

If I'd remained the past Jin Yeomyeong,

people who'd have walked Black Path and further Demonic Cult's path stepped forward for me.

"If someone distanced from Luoyang martial world is needed, I'll be witness. I'm Sang Jinhwa of Banggachon. Here's my son Yang Cheonjo."

"I'm Silver Hero Yang Cheon—, mmph."

"Excuse me, but it's a name I haven't heard.

Could you tell us your alias or school?"

She couldn't say she was a reclusive master.

"No particular school. I'm the granddaughter of Ten Thousand Leaves Hand of Taehang Mountains."

"Ten Thousand Leaves Hand of Taehang? Isn't that one of the Five Eccentrics?"

"His granddaughter lived near Luoyang?"

"Had no idea! Then she must possess brilliant palm techniques!"

Yang Cheonjo looked at his mother Sang Jinhwa in great surprise.

"I'm... the great-grandson of a past master?"

The boy's question was buried.

"This Iron Eagle Blade will also be witness!"

"If Branch Leader-nim is insufficient, this Jogon will also step forward!"

"We're sects from Songshan County. We'll also be witnesses!"

One after another, people's voices burst forth.

Alliance members, Outer Hall, inside and outside Luoyang City, from renowned martial artists to reclusive experts— everyone was raising voices for me.

For me, and for the new path I'd taken.

"The Ink Sword Hero's sword! Set right Luoyang's righteousness!"

Kwak Daebang who looked around whispered quietly.

"Told you, didn't I? You're not the type to rest."

"Now that everything's finished, if I rest..."

"Won't work. Now you represent Luoyang. Not Luoyang's First Sword, but Luoyang's First Hero."

Luoyang's First Hero.

A name that sounded extremely busy.

However, I didn't dislike it.

This is what your father is like.