Chapter 134

Smack!

Woo Jintae’s head snapped to the side with a satisfying crack. He blankly stroked his cheek.

What just happened?

He was dumbfounded. Had he just been slapped? By a punk like this?

Woo Jintae was nearly thirty. He had married young and already had a family of his own.

Yet some kid who barely looked twenty had subjected him to such humiliation.

“Eek! Young Hero Woo!”

“H-Hyung, are you all right?”

“Isn’t that the Young Bureau Head of the Seongun Escort Bureau?”

“That’s him. My goodness, what kind of reckless bastard would… Wait. Doesn’t that face look familiar?”

The young prodigies’ belated reactions and the stares of the inn’s guests doubled Woo Jintae’s shame.

He glared at the little bastard before him, his eyes brimming with killing intent.

“How dare you…”

“That’s not what you should be saying.”

“What?”

“Not how dare you. You should be asking how did you do that? If you’re a martial artist.”

Woo Jintae froze for a moment.

Since childhood, he had received the full support of the Seongun Escort Bureau, taking in all kinds of elixirs and First Rate martial arts. Even if he hadn’t been born with extraordinary martial talent, it was only natural that he took pride in being a move and a half ahead of the other young prodigies.

How did someone like me get beaten so easily?

He hadn’t even seen when or how the bastard approached. The humiliation of being utterly disgraced in front of everyone had overwhelmed everything else.

Only then did Woo Jintae study his opponent with eyes full of caution.

“Look at those eyes darting around. What, do you want me to tell you my three measurements?”

“Who are you, and what sect are you from?”

“I’m Tien Shinhan of the Dodong Sect, you son of a bitch.”

Woo Jintae endured the young bastard’s profanity only because he had finally regained his reason.

In the Murim, you never knew what might happen. If the other man was a disciple of a great sect, Woo Jintae would have to withdraw cleanly.

The Dodong Sect? Tien Shinhan of the Dodong Sect?

Both the sect and the man’s name were utterly unfamiliar. Woo Jintae glanced behind him and saw the same bewilderment on the other young prodigies’ faces.

His mind raced.

As far as I know, there’s no such sect as the Dodong Sect in Shanxi Province.

Opening a new sect in Shanxi Province, where all the established sects had already secured their positions, was nearly impossible.

Even setting aside interference from the other sects, word of it would spread immediately.

If they raised a young prodigy of this level at his age, the sect must possess considerable power… Where could it be? Shaanxi? Henan?

As Woo Jintae found himself unable to speak, his eyes darting around, the young martial artist who had been standing idly by as though none of this concerned him suddenly asked,

“What’s the Dodong Sect? Is it a real sect?”

“Would it be? A well-told lie becomes fact.”

“Ah. I’ll engrave those golden words in my heart.”

“You little punk. You’re talking pretty for once.”

A young man dressed in rags like a beggar added his own comment.

“A well-told lie becomes fact… Those are wise words. I can sense profound mysteries in them.”

“Ah… yes. Thank you for the compliment, at least.”

Sparks flew from Woo Jintae’s eyes as he listened to the three of them.

“You bastard! Reveal your identity!”

“Why? So you can hear who I am and where I’m from, pick a fight if I sound like an easy target, then tuck your tail between your legs and apologize if my status is too high?”

“…”

Crude as it was, the remark hit the mark. When Woo Jintae couldn’t answer, the young bastard clicked his tongue.

“Punk, you started with the wrong question. They say the one who farted gets angry. If you wanted an answer from me, you should’ve apologized first.”

Woo Jintae bit down on his lip.

An apology?

Born the sole male heir the Seongun Escort Bureau’s family had produced in three generations, he had spent his entire life being pampered and revered. He wasn’t flexible enough to bow his head to some nobody of unknown origin.

At last, Woo Jintae made up his mind and gave the young prodigies of the Five Gates of Shanxi a subtle signal with his eyes.

No matter how strong he is, he can’t be that strong.

There were only three opponents. On their side were five First Rate masters, all among Shanxi Province’s foremost young prodigies.

Seeing the four men and women discreetly gripping their weapons in response to his signal, Woo Jintae felt reassured.

“Do you know who I am—or rather, who we are?”

“I happen to know your names, at least. But is that an apology?”

“An apology? You’ve got some nerve.”

Woo Jintae sneered.

“We are the heirs of the Five Gates of Shanxi. Surely you can’t claim not to know the Five Gates of Shanxi.”

“I’ll say I know. But are you really not going to apologize? This is your final warning.”

“I’ll warn you, too. I don’t know where you came from, but you picked the wrong person to mess with—”

Smack!

Woo Jintae’s vision flashed white.

He stumbled backward instinctively as lightning-fast slaps struck him one after another.

Smack! Smack! Smack-smack!

One slap with every step.

After taking five slaps in all, Woo Jintae staggered.

The relentless blows had struck only one side of his face, leaving his cheek grotesquely swollen and blood pooling inside his split mouth.

Even my father has never hit me.

It was the first humiliation of his life—and it had happened in front of everyone.

His eyes rolled wildly.

“You fucking—!”

“I told you, final warning. Do you not know what final means, or what warning means? Or both?”

“How dare you hit me?”

“I may be the first man ever to treat you so casually, but please don’t fall in love with me. I’m busy enough loving one Song-i.”

“I’ll kill you!”

“I’ll beat you!”

Smack-smack-smack!

“Guh!”

Woo Jintae couldn’t regain his senses.

The blows carried no internal energy, nor did his opponent seem to be using any mysterious manoeuvre technique. Yet he had no way to block the storm of slaps raining down on both cheeks.

How is this possible?

As he was beaten helplessly, a crazed shout rang in his ears.

“Slap with the left hand, slap with the right hand!”

Smack-smack!

“One chi, two chi, three chi, four chi—Ppukku cheek! Ppukku cheek!”

Smack-smack-smack!

He kept shouting words that made no sense while flinging slap after slap. He looked like a madman born for the sole purpose of smacking people across the face.

Just like right now.

“Raise your left hand and lower your right. Lower your right and lower your left. Lower your left, and don’t raise your right.”

“Hurk!”

“That’s right. Good job. As a reward, your teacher is going to give little Woo Jintae’s cheeks a thorough beating.”

Smack-smack-smack-smack!

How many times had he been struck in the space of less than a moment?

Thirty? Fifty?

He had been hit so frantically that his head rang and tears swam in his eyes.

In the end, all Woo Jintae could do was call for help.

“P-please! Somebody help me!”

The Young Bureau Head of the Seongun Escort Bureau—the very Seongun Escort Bureau whose wealth alone was said to rival that of the Jin Family of Taiyuan, the richest family in Shanxi—cried out in desperation.

“P-please help me!”

Yet even after Woo Jintae cast aside his pride and everything else, the young prodigies of the Five Gates of Shanxi couldn’t bring themselves to draw their weapons.

“How are we supposed to beat that…?”

The words slipped from someone like a groan, speaking for them all.

They were right. There was no need to experience it firsthand.

Just watching from the side was enough to make their knees go weak and their legs give out. Their opponent was roughly the same age as them, but there was no question that he was a master far beyond their imagination.

“To reach that realm at his age…”

“That thing’s a complete monster.”

Smack-smack!

“P-please spare my life!”

Woo Jintae’s voice grew even more desperate. Even his plea for help had subtly changed.

If this continued much longer, he might start begging to be killed instead.

“W-we should help him, right?”

“At the very least, we should try to stop him… Young Master Wang, do something.”

“Me? Why me all of a sudden?”

“Why do you think? Every time we got together, you bragged about your family’s martial arts. You said it was sword arts you could display anywhere in the Central Plains without shame.”

The heir of the Wang Family Estate, who never missed an opportunity to boast about the greatness of his family’s martial arts, answered with a solemn expression.

“I’m a saber user. I never learned sword arts.”

“What?”

“And why are you trying to dump this on me? If Young Lady Shin wants to stop him so badly, she can step in herself.”

“My goodness. What a spectacle.”

As the young prodigies of the Five Gates passed the responsibility around, Hyuk Mujin, who had been quietly watching the situation, suddenly cut in.

“You’re all worrying over nothing. If it were me, I’d hurry over and lend a hand, at least.”

“You—no, sir. Who are you?”

With such a terrifying scene unfolding before them, they had to speak with even an ordinary martial artist using half-polite language.

Young Lady Hwang, who had received Shu brocade as a gift from Woo Jintae only a quarter of an hour earlier, quickly stepped forward.

“Let me make this clear in advance. We have no ill feelings toward you people. You know that, right?”

“Do you? If that’s how it is, then fine. Let’s say that’s how it is.”

“I’m not saying we should just say that. I’m saying it’s the truth.”

“What good will telling me do?”

Hyuk Mujin grinned and jerked his chin toward Jin Taekyung’s back, where he was enthusiastically beating Woo Jintae.

“Our Captain has quite a temper. Once the gentleman getting beaten over there collapses, who do you think will be next? You, Young Master? Or the Young Lady beside you?”

“…”

“Oh, and just in case you’re wondering, that man hits men and women alike.”

“I-I didn’t laugh!”

“Neither did I!”

“Do I have to say the same thing twice? Telling me won’t do you any good. Though, there is one way that might work.”

“A way?”

The young prodigies’ ears perked up.

They hadn’t trained in martial arts for nothing. They understood that they had no chance against that monstrous young man.

“S-somebody save me…”

Woo Jintae’s dying voice happened to drift into their ears, fanning their survival instincts even further.

“W-what exactly is this way?”

Hyuk Mujin stroked his chin with a deliberately serious expression.

“Well, you’re all scions of influential families, so I don’t know whether you can bring yourselves to do it.”

“I will!”

“I’ll do it! I’ll definitely do it!”

“Good. At least you’ve got the right attitude.”

Hyuk Mujin nodded in satisfaction and pointed at Cheongpung, who was watching the one-sided beating with his mouth hanging open.

“First, apologize politely to this gentleman.”

Before he had even finished speaking, the young men and women of the Five Gates bent deeply at the waist.

“We sincerely apologize.”

“We’re truly sorry for judging you rashly based on your appearance.”

Cheongpung scratched the back of his head.

“I’m fine, so everyone, please stand up.”

Considering how they had mocked him in front of so many people, Cheongpung forgave them so readily that even Hyuk Mujin was taken aback.

Even his face, which should rightfully have been flushed with anger, was sunny and bright.

“You’re saying that so easily?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

“It’s not that, but… Weren’t you angry earlier? You were insulted so publicly.”

“Why would I be angry? I just found it fascinating.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“That was the first time so many people had paid attention to me. It was also the first time someone who looked down on me apologized afterward. I found it fascinating and fun.”

“…”

“Ah. I think coming down from the mountain was a good decision.”

This guy’s a little nuts, too.

Hyuk Mujin looked at Cheongpung as though he were some strange creature, then shook his head and turned to the young prodigies.

“You heard him, right? Since the Young Hero here has accepted your apology, we’ll consider the matter settled.”

“Oh!”

“We’re saved!”

But Hyuk Mujin wasn’t finished.

“All right, then. There’s one final thing left—the second.”

“…The second?”

“There’s more?”

“Yes. This is the most important one.”

Then he solemnly declared to the four men and women looking at him,

“All of you, get down and plant your heads on the floor.”

“…!”

“…!”