I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 84

< A Bloody Day 4 >

Blood splattered from behind the group surrounding Namgung Hyo-shin.

The screams that erupted halted the Azure Dragon Gate’s attack.

Namgung Hyo-shin focused his gaze on the source of the screams.

Who could it be? Who had joined the fray? An uncle? A brother?

However, the one who appeared, cutting through the Azure Dragon Gate warriors, was not of the Namgung bloodline.

“What? You…?”

Namgung Hyo-shin was taken aback. This person should not be here, could not be here.

“Heh heh. Long time no see, you bastard. Having a hard time, huh?”

The Azure Dragon Gate warriors, unable to comprehend the situation, seemed to understand one thing.

A master who indiscriminately slashes at friend and foe alike. They didn’t know who he was, but his ultimate target was Namgung Hyo-shin. And he was strong.

With a flourish, Yoo Hong-cheon of the Tiger Plaque, his sword dripping with blood, spoke.

“Hey, you mongrels, go play somewhere else. This one’s mine.”

When life and death hung in the balance under Namgung Hyo-shin’s blade, a lifeline appeared.

To the hesitant mongrels, this curse was a voice of salvation.

The Azure Dragon Gate disciples quickly moved away from Namgung Hyo-shin.

“I need to collect my debt before you die. Give me an arm, and I’ll let you go.”

Yoo Hong-cheon said, looking at his fluttering empty sleeve.

Namgung Hyo-shin gritted his teeth.

Why had Yoo Hong-cheon appeared here? Had the Azure Dragon Gate made a deal with the Demonic Faction? The fact that this bastard showed up with only one arm was undeniable proof.

“Jo Gwang-yun, you son of a bitch! Not content with the Black Faction, you’ve dragged in the Demonic Faction too?”

“Bullshit, you pathetic bastard. Why are you bringing up the Righteous and Demonic Factions in this situation? Isn’t it natural for a creditor to come to a failing household to collect an old debt?”

Namgung Hyo-shin smirked at Yoo Hong-cheon.

“Old debt? You bastard. You should be repaying the favor of being spared. Ending it with an arm instead of your neck wasn’t a debt, it was a favor.”

Yoo Hong-cheon found it difficult to respond to Namgung Hyo-shin’s humiliating words. Namgung Hyo-shin could have easily taken his head, but he had shown the magnanimity of a strongman and spared his life.

However, the price Yoo Hong-cheon paid for his life was harsh. The ridicule and contempt of the Jianghu [the martial arts world] were more humiliating than death.

The old ginger of the Demonic Faction defeated by a greenhorn. This phrase followed him for the rest of his life.

And today, he had drawn his sword to reclaim that humiliation.

Namgung Hyo-shin smirked once more at Yoo Hong-cheon’s determined expression.

“Just leave. Should I cut off your remaining arm too?”

“Stop blabbering and draw your sword, you bastard. I’ve given you enough time to recover your strength. What? Should I give you time to meditate too?”

Namgung Hyo-shin also tightened his grip on his sword.

There was no more time to hesitate. Demonic Faction experts had joined the fray. His younger brothers, cousins, and nephews would die.

Namgung Hyo-shin raised the Great Expansion Swordplay to its twelfth level and unleashed his first move towards Yoo Hong-cheon.

# #

Namgung Hyo-shin barely managed to stand upright, using his sword as a cane.

Only then did the pain surge in. Looking at his waist, he saw that a chunk of his side had been torn off, causing severe bleeding. After stopping the bleeding with pressure points and tearing his clothes to wrap around his waist, he felt he could still wield his sword.

He dragged his feet towards the fallen Yoo Hong-cheon.

He spat on Yoo Hong-cheon, whose remaining arm had been severed, turning him into a blood-soaked corpse.

“Ptoo! You insignificant bastard…”

Namgung Hyo-shin couldn’t finish his sentence. A chilling sensation ran down the back of his neck. It was definitely the sharp intent emanating from the tip of a sword.

He slowly turned his body and saw the tip of a sword before his eyes. The one holding the sword was Seo So-gang, the Thousand Victory Flying Sword, wearing a sinister smile.

“Oh, you’ve gotten stronger in the meantime. Impressive, Namgung Hyo-shin.”

The sword blade pierced his neck. As Namgung Hyo-shin fell, the bright moon that had risen in the sky caught his eye.

Namgung Hyo-shin took his last breath, gazing at the full moon illuminating the night sky.

Seo So-gang indifferently looked at Yoo Hong-cheon’s corpse before turning away.

“Yoo Hong-cheon. I told you, take good care of your remaining arm. I knew you wouldn’t be able to handle him.”

Seo So-gang casually placed his sword on his shoulder and slowly moved his feet, searching for his next prey.

* * *

Although the younger generation of the Namgung family didn’t seem particularly strong, their Great Azure Sky Boundless Sword Formation had killed quite a few warriors.

Even though they were young, they were quite resilient when united. No matter what anyone said, they were tiger cubs.

Outside the circle they formed, warriors from Hongmun and the Azure Dragon Gate waited for an opportunity.

At that moment, a benevolent voice was heard from behind them.

“Well, well, clear the way. Just passing through.”

The voice was gentle, but the energy it exuded was ominous. And it was difficult to determine whether the person, dressed in plain clothes without any particular adornments, was a martial artist or not.

The sudden appearance of a figure who seemed completely out of place in this blood-soaked scene caused everyone to hesitate and make way.

However, the fact that some Hongmun disciples let out a sigh of relief did not attract much attention.

Paedo Blood God Noh Deuk, who had walked right up to the Great Azure Sky Boundless Sword Formation, carefully examined the formation and smiled.

“This is supposed to be an eight-person formation… but you’re using sixteen. Is this a new formation created by your grandfather?”

The gentle words of the scholarly-looking old man eased the wariness of the blood-soaked tiger cubs, who thought he might be a hermit from the Righteous Faction who had come to help the Namgung family.

“Who are you, sir?”

“Who else? I was sent by your grandfather, Great Hero Namgung Hyun.”

A friend of their grandfather. He must possess tremendous martial prowess. The younger generation of the Namgung family brightened, thinking they would overcome this difficult hurdle.

Seeing this, the old man chuckled.

“Heh heh. Look at how happy you are. You bastards! Your grandfather sent me to collect an old debt from you. Of course, I plan to collect that debt with your heads.”

As Noh Deuk raised his sword, the sixteen young warriors hurriedly activated the formation, but that fleeting moment was fatal.

Noh Deuk, possessing overwhelming martial prowess compared to them, had already beheaded three or four of them before the sword formation could even move properly.

The sixteen tiger cubs were devoured one by one by the giant tiger who had invaded their territory.

##

Unexpectedly, two heads rolled at the feet of Namgung Hyun, who was weakened.

“You spawned a lot of offspring, you bastard. I only brought two. But is it sixteen grandchildren? Are there any more?”

Namgung Hyun, upon confirming the heads at his feet, felt rage surge within him and eventually vomited blood. He had guessed that many had already passed away, but seeing the severed heads of his grandsons was unbearable.

“Who… who are you?”

As Namgung Hyun wiped the blood from his mouth, the face of the scholarly Noh Deuk instantly contorted and turned red.

Namgung Hyun, seeing Noh Deuk’s reaction, stirred his emotions.

“Oh ho. Judging by your appearance, you’re one of the guys I beat up a few times when I roamed the Jianghu [the martial arts world]. There were so many of those guys that it’s hard to remember all their names.”

“Namgung Hyun! You bastard!”

“Judging by your face, you must be over sixty… How petty. Are you still holding a grudge over such a trivial matter?”

“Shut your mouth before I tear out your tongue.”

However, Namgung Hyun still needed time. Time to squeeze out the last of his inner energy.

“The fact that I can’t remember you means your martial arts were unremarkable… So, have you been training hard?”

“Enough to send you to your grandsons’ side.”

The word ‘grandsons’ caused Namgung Hyun’s energy and blood to churn again.

“Good. I’ll give you a chance.”

“A chance?”

“There are only a few martial artists among those I’ve killed whose titles or names I remember. I’m giving you that glorious opportunity. What’s your name?”

“Bullshit. You should remember me as the archenemy who slaughtered your sixteen grandsons rather than my name. Oh, and you should also remember the one who took your life.”

Namgung Hyun took a deep breath and raised his sword.

“You’ll be comfortable. You’ve already failed to forget the name of the person who will take your life.”

With these words, Namgung Hyun raised his sword high.

“Dragon Wing Peng’s Edge (龍翼鵬際)!”

Namgung Hyun’s sword created countless sword images as if spreading its wings. Like an owl snatching a mouse, countless sword images shot towards the dantian [energy center] of the man who killed his grandsons.

He poured out all of his remaining energy. The old Namgung Hyun no longer had the strength to even hold his sword and slowly collapsed to the ground.

Namgung Hyun, who had fallen to the ground, raised his head and saw that the man who had slaughtered his grandsons had not yet fallen. But he was staggering. If he had the strength to swing his sword just one more time, he could have taken that bastard with him to the afterlife.

Was he going to die like this? Was he going to have to let that bastard live? The man who had slaughtered sixteen of his precious kin was still alive! His blood boiled. Judging by the constant metallic taste in his mouth, his internal organs were all damaged.

At that moment, the figure of the man who had killed his grandsons collapsed forward.

In the place where he had fallen, he saw the familiar figure of a young boy.

The familiar boy pulled a knife from the bastard’s back and grinned.

A son? A nephew? Or a grandson who had survived?

It was hazy. He was certain that whoever it was, they had inherited his blood.

At that very moment, the neck of the kin who had been smiling just a moment ago was severed.

The head of the kin, still with a smile on its face, fell, and the body collapsed.

The owner of that place changed again. It was an unfamiliar face, so it must be an enemy. But the bastard who had beheaded his kin didn’t seem to be in good shape either.

A knife was stuck in his side.

Heh heh, what a tenacious bastard.

The scene of killing and being killed continued to repeat itself.

He only wanted to lie down. Dirt entered his mouth.

Oh ho. His body was already lying down. He felt like he was going to fall asleep like this.

With all his might, he turned his body to look at the night sky.

Bang! Boom!

Suddenly, beautiful fireworks spreading across the night sky were reflected in his eyes.

How did they know of his death and decorate this final moment? Who was mourning his end? Or was the brilliant flame of the fireworks an expression of joy?

Namgung Hyun breathed his last without closing his eyes.

* * *

As two fireworks exploded, the Azure Dragon Gate ceased fighting and began to escape over the walls.

No one cared how many had died, or even tried to retrieve the bodies of their comrades. Everyone only thought about escaping this hell as quickly as possible.

The Demonic Faction occupied the Namgung family, from which the Azure Dragon Gate had retreated.

The roar of Seo So-gang, like a Yaksha [a fierce, demon-like deity], was heard by the bewildered Hongmun disciples.

“The leaders are all dead. Spare the servants and slaughter all the Namgung family members. Finish it before dawn!”

Now, the true massacre would begin.

* * *

“Did everyone get out?”

Jo Gwang-yun asked urgently.

“Not yet, but we will complete the withdrawal soon.”

“Hongmun? Are Hongmun with us too?”

“No. Hongmun is still there, slaughtering the remaining Namgung bastards.”

Goo Seung-do looked relieved.

Heaven had helped them. He didn’t know why, but Hongmun had joined the battle early. Thanks to that, they had exchanged the lives of Hongmun and the Azure Dragon Gate.

Perhaps the Sado Alliance [alliance of evil or unorthodox sects] had made up their mind. The fact that they had reversed the situation in an instant was proof that many experts had joined them.

Was the Namgung family and Anhui Province so coveted? Or were there many who held grudges against the Namgung family?

But what would happen when they found out that they had only come to loot an empty nest?

Jo Gwang-yun shook his head.

Now was not the time to think about that. Withdrawal was the priority.

“Have the surviving Hana Association members support the Azure Dragon Gate disciples so that they can leave Huangshan as quickly as possible. Everyone must be out before sunrise. Do you understand?”

“Understood.”

Goo Seung-do rushed out.

Now, the Sado Alliance would try to act as the owner of this Huangshan. Whether that would be possible or not.

< A Bloody Day 4 > End