A Tale Of A Scribe Who Retires To The Countryside [EN]: Chapter 198

제198화. 과거의 유산

The indoor training hall fell silent.

Dang Wol-ah declared, “No one can touch what is mine.”

Depending on how it was interpreted, it was a statement that could provoke tremendous backlash.

However, not only Dang Hwan-dok, with his fiery temper, but also the other elders with their graying hair, raised no objections.

The fire that had fallen on their feet was not just Dang Wol-ah.

“Hehehe.”

Dang Hu-gwang chuckled mockingly from behind the oddities.

“Presumptuous. Are you daring to say that the Dang Clan is yours?”

“Isn’t it?”

Dang Wol-ah asked. Dang Hu-gwang burst out,

“It is not! How could the Dang Clan become yours!”

“Then, is it yours?”

Dang Wol-ah did not use honorifics with Dang Hu-gwang, even though he was her senior in terms of lineage and hierarchy.

“That’s why a girl with no roots is like……”

Dang Hu-gwang sneered. And with an agitated voice, he raised an arm and shouted,

“The Dang Clan belongs to no one! Rather, we all belong to the Dang Clan and must sacrifice ourselves for the greater good of the family!”

“Then, it doesn’t matter.”

Dang Wol-ah said quietly.

“If I take it.”

Dang Hu-gwang’s face contorted. Dang Wol-ah was mocking him, with a calm voice that didn’t feel like mockery at all.

“Hmph. I didn’t expect you to understand the greater good of the family anyway……”

“I have a question.”

Dang Wol-ah interrupted Dang Hu-gwang.

“What are you relying on to do this?”

“What am I relying on?”

Dang Hu-gwang frowned. But soon, he broke into a smile.

“Ah, yes. I suppose it might look that way to you. The attack failed, and my own martial prowess isn’t that great either. Well, it’s not unreasonable to think so. But.”

He lightly raised the sword he was holding and threw it at one of the small, odd figures.

Swish, thud.

The sword was sucked into the oddity’s hand as if drawn in. The oddity didn’t seem to care that it was gripping the blade with its bare hand. The abnormally long fingers looked eerie.

“Do it.”

At Dang Hu-gwang’s heavy words, the sword in the oddity’s hand began to wail.

Oooooong.

“Gasp.”

“That, that’s……”

The people of the Dang Clan widened their eyes. A red aura seemed to surround the oddity’s hand, and the blade it was holding instantly turned red and began to crumble.

It was a more bizarre and shocking sight than what Dang Wol-ah had shown them earlier.

Thump.

The sword, broken in the middle, fell to the ground in two pieces.

“Do you think you stopped them? But that was just a warning.”

Dang Hu-gwang sneered at Dang Wol-ah.

“Foolish girl. This Death Knell Squad (死鈴隊) [a specialized unit known for their deadly techniques] left behind by Dang Baek-ho is made up of those who have truly mastered the Fierce Tiger Poisonous Energy.”

Dang Hu-gwang said with an exaggerated expression. And that declaration brought about the reaction Dang Hu-gwang had expected.

“D-Death Knell Squad?”

“From Dang Baek-ho? No way!”

The elders’ faces hardened at once, and the others couldn’t hide their shock. Dang Hu-gwang wore a triumphant smile.

On the other hand, Dang Hwa-ryun gritted her teeth.

‘I thought there might be some left, but I never imagined they would be with the Inner Lord.’

The name ‘Death Knell Squad’ was probably given by Dang Hu-gwang.

People are surprised that Dang Baek-ho left them behind, but the truth about these so-called Death Knell Squad is more deadly and terrible than it appears.

“Inner Lord Dang Hu-gwang.”

Dang Hwa-ryun’s voice rang out sharply.

“Do you know what will happen if this gets out?”

A strange light flashed in Dang Hu-gwang’s eyes. Dang Hwa-ryun also knew the truth about the ‘Death Knell Squad’.

“It doesn’t matter.”

Dang Hu-gwang, who had been silent, replied with cold eyes.

“Because if we can’t fix the Dang Clan now, the result will be the same anyway.”

“You villain, Dang Hu-gwang!”

As the roar burst out, Elder Dang Hwan-dok stomped his foot.

Bang!

The training hall vibrated subtly from his powerful stomp infused with internal energy. Elder Dang Hwan-dok, known for his fiery temper, finally unleashed his anger.

“Did you think you could control the Dang Clan as you please just because you have these things?”

Dang Hwan-dok poured out his rage without hiding it.

“Besides, what did you say? You dare to say you will fix the family? There is no end to your arrogance!”

The elder’s fury with his graying hair. But Inner Lord Dang Hu-gwang wore a sneer.

“Dang Hwan-dok. In the end, my goodwill……”

“I will kill you right here and now!”

Grinding.

Dang Hwan-dok gritted his teeth. And immediately kicked off from his spot.

Clang.

The training hall vibrated once again from the powerful stomp infused with internal energy. Dang Hwan-dok immediately charged towards Dang Hu-gwang.

“Hmph. That kind of……”

The expression on Dang Hu-gwang’s face, who had been sneering, changed in an instant. This was because not only Dang Hwan-dok but also three other elders were attacking him at the same time.

A prearranged, tacit understanding. Dang Hwan-dok’s seemingly reckless behavior was a feint to hide the movements of the others.

Whoosh.

A blue aura was already flickering on the swords of the elders, including Dang Hwan-dok.

But Dang Hu-gwang, facing the ultimate swordsmanship, didn’t even blink.

Clang.

As if hearing a small bell sound, the masked oddities disappeared. No, they were out of the elders’ sight.

“Evade!”

The desperate cry was none other than Dang Hwa-ryun’s voice. And the elders who were rushing towards Dang Hu-gwang felt a chilling aura rushing in from all directions.

‘Gasp.’

Although they couldn’t see it, they knew exactly what it was. The elders quickly turned their swords to defend themselves. And that saved their lives.

Clang.

With a sharp sound, a tremendous impact struck the elders through their swords.

“Kugh.”

“Cough.”

The elders, whose internal energy had been instantly disrupted, quickly retreated.

Not only that, but a portion of their swords’ blades had turned red. Elder Dang Bi-gwang, who was cautious by nature, was no exception.

‘How can this be! Bare hands?’

Dang Bi-gwang realized that the oddities had no weapons at all. It wasn’t a fist technique or palm technique either.

However, those abnormally long fingers, wrapped in a red aura, were more terrifying than any weapon.

“You bastards!”

Elder Dang Hwan-dok also realized it. But instead of retreating, he leaped forward and swung his sword.

He was confident that he could pierce the small oddity’s chest before the oddity’s hook-like fingers could reach him.

Thwack.

Dang Hwan-dok’s prediction was correct. His sword, imbued with sword energy, pierced through the leather armor and into the oddity’s right chest.

The moment he confirmed that unique sensation, Dang Hwan-dok wore a triumphant smile. But it was too early to judge.

Boom.

The oddity’s hand, rushing towards Dang Hwan-dok, did not stop. No, it hadn’t considered defense from the start.

The hand, wrapped in a red aura, reached out towards Dang Hwan-dok’s neck without hesitation. Dang Hwan-dok sensed that things had gone wrong.

‘Damn it! I didn’t think they would resort to mutual destruction……’

It was the very moment when those fingers, like a death sentence, were about to tear Dang Hwan-dok’s Adam’s apple. A heavy energy struck Dang Hwan-dok’s chest.

Thud.

“Cough.”

Dang Hwan-dok groaned without realizing it. It felt as if he had been struck by something huge.

Having been shocked, Dang Hwan-dok was helplessly pushed back without even being able to correct his posture.

But thanks to that, he was able to save his life. The oddity that had attacked Dang Hwan-dok was also pushed back as if bouncing off.

“Hwan-dok!”

Elder Dang Bi-gwang leaped forward to catch Dang Hwan-dok, who was falling like a kite with a severed string.

“Are you okay, Hwan-dok?”

“Kugh. What a damn thing to happen……. Ugh.”

Dang Hwan-dok couldn’t continue speaking and struggled to control his disrupted internal energy.

Dang Bi-gwang quickly checked his condition. There were no external wounds or signs of poisoning. However, judging from the blood on his lips, he seemed to have suffered a considerable shock.

“Oh, this is surprising. I didn’t think you would save them.”

Dang Hu-gwang’s sharp gaze was directed at Dang Wol-ah.

The slender young lady, Dang Wol-ah, with her hands stretched forward, was slowly retracting her small, white hands.

Clang.

The sound of iron fragments falling echoed from one corner of the training hall only then. It was a small iron coin that was now distorted beyond recognition.

“I don’t care about their lives.”

Dang Wol-ah’s voice echoed softly from behind the veil.

“But I’ll be the one to kill them. So, don’t touch them.”

There was a presence that overwhelmed the surroundings in that low voice. No one could open their mouths, and silence flowed through the training hall for a moment.

“Indeed.”

Dang Hu-gwang said with a smirk.

“It seems you’ve finally begun to understand the rights of the bloodline. But too bad. Because you’re going to die here.”

Dang Wol-ah didn’t respond. She just stared at Dang Hu-gwang.

It was then.

“That, that!”

At someone’s surprised shout, Dang Bi-gwang turned his head and saw a sight he couldn’t possibly believe.

Crack, drip.

The oddity that had been bounced away earlier was slowly getting up. Even though its chest had been pierced by a sword and it had been directly hit by that tremendous impact, it was getting up again.

The oddity’s movements were so unnatural that they couldn’t be called human.

Despite standing, it was not even up to Dang Hu-gwang’s chest, with its abnormally long arms and legs, and the green light like a ghostly fire leaking out from the gaps in its broken mask.

“Kyar륵.”

A sinister sound like the sob of an evil spirit echoed from behind the mask. As if answering that cry, Dang Hu-gwang said.

“Attack.”

Clang.

The moment the small bell sound rang, three oddities charged towards Dang Wol-ah.

However, a white sword was already revealed in Dang Wol-ah’s small hand.

Ooooong.

Her sword, So-wol, shed tears. And the next moment, a green trajectory cut through the air.

Whooong.

The oddities, rushing towards Dang Wol-ah, crossed their arms the moment they faced that tremendous force. They, who had never defended before, reacted to Dang Wol-ah’s sword energy.

Kagaang.

The sword and hands collided, and a fierce impact sound erupted.

Tsk.

The oddity that had been bounced away immediately kicked off the ground and attacked Dang Wol-ah again.

Dang Wol-ah’s So-wol emitted a green aura, dyeing the air, and the oddities’ red aura licked at Dang Wol-ah as they attacked.

Clang, Kagaang, Clang!

Sparks flew. The three oddities and Dang Wol-ah continued their offense and defense without giving an inch. People held their breath and watched the battle.

Dang Hu-gwang was no exception. He was waiting for the outcome of the battle with a smirk.

In the meantime, Elder Dang Bi-gwang exchanged glances with the other elders. If Dang Wol-ah could tie up the three oddities, it seemed like they would have a good chance of winning.

Dang Bi-gwang, who had exchanged glances with the two elders who had responded earlier, made eye contact with the White Tiger Captain. The White Tiger Captain nodded. The White Tiger Captain could sufficiently replace Dang Hwan-dok’s absence.

“Taha!”

Dang Bi-gwang immediately kicked off the ground. But he had to twist his body in shock at the force stabbing at his side.

Swish.

The hem of his clothes was torn by the sharp sword energy. Dang Bi-gwang shouted with a surprised face.

“What are you doing! White Tiger Captain!”

The person who attacked Elder Dang Bi-gwang was none other than the White Tiger Captain.

But the White Tiger Captain swung his sword instead of answering. It was a powerful sword energy befitting the leader of the Dang Clan’s best two armed groups.

Clang.

The White Tiger Captain’s sword did not reach Dang Bi-gwang. The Silver Sword Captain’s sword blocked him.

“Silver Sword Captain!”

Dang Bi-gwang looked up with a delighted expression, and the White Tiger Captain smirked.

“Oh, have you become good enough to block my sword now? You, who have never beaten me?”

The Silver Sword Captain’s sharp eyes did not waver at all. His sword flew towards the White Tiger Captain without hesitation.

Clang, Kagaang.

A new battle began. But Elder Dang Bi-gwang couldn’t help the Silver Sword Captain. Two oddities guarding Dang Hu-gwang were charging towards the elders.

“Gasp!”

Clang, Bang.

Three of the elders, who had reached the pinnacle of their cultivation, faced off against the two oddities. But even three of them couldn’t properly block the two.

They were the oddities who had put the Golden Dragon Captain in a life-threatening crisis with just a graze. Moreover, now that they knew it was the Fierce Tiger Poisonous Energy, their actions naturally became more cautious.

The indoor training hall was rapidly turning into a chaotic battle situation.

“Keuheuhe.”

Inner Lord Dang Hu-gwang laughed as he watched the chaotic training hall.

“Now, finally.”

Dang Hu-gwang’s eyes shone blue.

“It’s time to fix the Dang Clan.”

His smile was no longer human. But that smile couldn’t last.

Bang!

With an explosion, one of the oddities tumbled to the ground. It looked like a small ball rolling.

Bang!

Another oddity was thrown into the air.

Clang!

Dang Wol-ah’s sword, So-wol, slammed the last oddity to the ground.

The oddity was barely blocking So-wol with its arms crossed in a kneeling position, but So-wol, wrapped in a green aura, was slowly descending towards the oddity’s head.

Whoosh.

The oddity’s hands were burning redder than ever. But So-wol, wrapped in a green aura, did not waver at all.

“This is the Fierce Tiger Poisonous Energy?”

Dang Wol-ah said softly.

“Too, weak.”

Crack.

The fingers of the oddity that had been enduring So-wol were distorted.

“Kyar륵.”

A groan-like sound flowed out from behind the mask. And in that instant, Dang Wol-ah smelled a pungent odor. The very smell that was so familiar to her.

Swish.

Dang Wol-ah’s one hand, wrapped in a green aura, fell towards the oddity’s head. But it wasn’t to kill it.

Smash.

Dang Wol-ah’s hand easily shattered the oddity’s hard mask. And finally, the face behind the mask was revealed.

“Gasp!”

Several people gasped in surprise.

Bruised flesh, pus covering the skin, and sparse remaining hair.

It was such a terrible sight that one would think a bizarre mask would have been better.

“M-Monster!”

It was perhaps a natural reaction for them to shout that. And for the first time since coming here, Dang Wol-ah’s eyebrows furrowed.

It wasn’t just because the faces of the collapsed oddities were the same as her former self.

“Kyareuk.”

The oddities’ appearance, unable to even conjure fear in this situation. Although she couldn’t read their expressions, the shape of their faces was that of young children.

Grinding.

A chilling sound flowed from Dang Wol-ah’s mouth.