CLS-Chapter 125

Chapter 125

“Why?”

Does this fellow have no manners toward his elder?

And why does he say “Why?” If you open your eyes and see a stranger, the proper response should be “Who are you?” not jumping straight to “Why?”

Though anger flared momentarily in Gong Mu-jin, he suppressed his fury. Now was not the time to lose his temper.

“I heard you saved my disciple.”

“Disciple?”

Wei Yan-ho tilted his head.

“Me?”

“…That’s right.”

“Who said that?”

Did this fellow eat boiled crow meat?

What was he supposed to do when the person involved in last night’s incident couldn’t remember it? His disciple wouldn’t lie to him about such a thing.

“…My disciple’s name is Lee Seol-hwa. That child over there.”

Wei Yan-ho looked back at Lee Seol-hwa and nodded.

“I wouldn’t say I saved her, but we did get entangled somehow. But why? Did something go wrong?”

“Nothing went wrong. I didn’t come because something was wrong—I came to thank you.”

“Ah, I see. Yes, understood.”

The door closed again.

At the same moment, Gong Mu-jin’s face began trembling with rage.

He was Gong Mu-jin. The Plum Blossom Sword Ghost Gong Mu-jin.

Where had he ever received such treatment?

Never once in his life had anyone treated him this way.

From childhood, he had been cherished as a prodigy, and as he aged, he was recognized as a talent who would spread Huashan’s fame far and wide. Now he was about to enter the ranks of the renowned masters.

No matter which sect or which person he met, his name alone could command respect—that was Gong Mu-jin.

“Heh heh heh.”

Gong Mu-jin laughed as if bewildered, then spoke again.

“Listen here, young brother.”

“Yes?”

When an adult is speaking, you should open the door and answer properly.

“I would like to express my gratitude, so won’t you come out for just a moment?”

This was Gong Mu-jin’s polite way of saying, “How dare you rudely hide inside when an adult is speaking to you?” No matter how upset he was inside, the courtesy required of someone raised in a prestigious sect was essential.

“Can’t we just consider it said? I’m sleepy right now.”

“…You seem very tired. However, I won’t have time except for now, so I’d be grateful if you could show me a little consideration.”

Bang!

The door opened again.

Wei Yan-ho was extremely courteous.

“Go ahead.”

“…Huh?”

“You said you wanted to express gratitude, so go ahead and do it now.”

What was this feeling?

Of course, Gong Mu-jin was the one who had said those words, but… somehow this felt strangely humiliating.

“Thank you for saving my disciple. If it wouldn’t be impolite, may I know under whom you studied?”

“You wouldn’t know even if I told you.”

The corners of Gong Mu-jin’s mouth began trembling again.

Though Wei Yan-ho had spoken honestly, to his ears it sounded like nothing but dismissive treatment.

“My knowledge is not so limited.”

“You still wouldn’t know.”

“…”

He wanted to draw his sword immediately and thrash this brat’s behind, but desperate patience held him back.

“Really, you can’t tell me?”

“It’s not that I can’t—I’m saying you wouldn’t know even if I told you. Why won’t you believe what I’m saying?”

Wei Yan-ho beat his chest as if frustrated, but there was no way that gesture would look endearing. Gong Mu-jin finally gave up on getting an explanation from Wei Yan-ho.

“I see. So you cannot speak of it.”

Seeing this, Lee Seol-hwa turned pale and rushed to Gong Mu-jin.

“Master!”

“Stay back!”

Gong Mu-jin’s face became sharp as a blade.

“Then I have no choice but to ask your martial arts directly. How about it? If you’re skilled enough to defeat the Flower-Obsessed Scholar in one strike, you must be confident in your martial learning. Are you willing to exchange moves with me? I ask this out of curiosity about your martial arts.”

“Master!”

“Did I not tell you to stay back?”

Lee Seol-hwa began sweating profusely. Her master was the Plum Blossom Sword Ghost Gong Mu-jin. He earned the title “Sword Ghost” not only because of his passionate dedication to the sword, but also because of his ruthless technique that showed no mercy to opponents even in sparring.

For such a person to exchange moves with a young child…

This was no different from saying he would punish under the guise of sparring.

“This is improper.”

“How dare you?”

When Gong Mu-jin glared fiercely, Lee Seol-hwa’s complexion paled, but she did not back down.

“He is my benefactor. For my sake, couldn’t you let this pass just this once?”

Gong Mu-jin stared quietly at Lee Seol-hwa.

“Which is more important—your debt of gratitude or my honor?”

“…”

“I am someone who bears the responsibility of Huashan. If I am disrespected, it is no different from Huashan being disrespected. If you interfere any further, I will treat it as the crime of abandoning one’s teacher and sect. Say no more.”

Lee Seol-hwa collapsed to the ground.

Seomun Da-yeon quietly approached and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Don’t worry.”

“What?”

Seomun Da-yeon whispered softly in Lee Seol-hwa’s ear.

“No matter how much of an elder he is, he can’t force someone who refuses to fight.”

From what she had observed of Wei Yan-ho so far, there was no way he would engage in a pointless fight. He was someone who didn’t even like walking on his own feet—how could he possibly do something as tremendous as sparring?

“He’ll refuse. And though Master may be inwardly frustrated, he won’t be able to force it any further.”

If word spread that he had threatened his benefactor after receiving a favor, even he would find it hard to show his face in public.

Hope appeared in Lee Seol-hwa’s eyes.

But unfortunately, Wei Yan-ho was someone who excelled at turning other people’s hopes into bubbles.

Wei Yan-ho opened his mouth.

“Master said…”

Wei Yan-ho’s eyes slowly darkened.

“Do whatever you wish, anything.”

Gong Mu-jin tilted his head.

What was he talking about?

But his question was answered by Wei Yan-ho’s next words.

“However, to those who challenge my sword and yours, you must show your majesty. That will be your final courtesy toward me.”

Wei Yan-ho reached out to pull his bundle and drew his beloved sword wrapped in cloth.

“Actually, if I’m being honest, I’m quite an obedient disciple who follows Master’s words well. I may not know about other things, but when it comes to discussing swords, I can never back down.”

“Ho?”

A smile bloomed on Gong Mu-jin’s lips, while the faces of those watching the situation hardened instantly.

“My, what a spirited declaration. So I’m the one challenging you, is that it?”

“I accept your challenge.”

When Wei Yan-ho smiled and spoke, Gong Mu-jin burst into hearty laughter.

“A challenge! A challenge! I never expected to be making a challenge at my age. Heh heh heh, a challenge!”

A blade-like aura began rising from Gong Mu-jin’s body.

The word “challenge” had thoroughly scratched his pride. With just a few flicks of his three-inch tongue, he had ended up in the position of challenging a greenhorn.

“Then this Gong somebody challenges you, sir. What is your name?”

“Wei Yan-ho. Wei Yan-ho of the Guangdong Wei Family.”

“Guangdong Wei Family?”

Gong Mu-jin bared his teeth.

“So you’re the son of the Righteous Hero Sword?”

“You know my father?”

“Of course. I had planned to someday break the Righteous Hero Sword with this sword to prove that his sword is never above mine. It wouldn’t be bad to break his son before that. If I defeat you, the Righteous Hero Sword might come looking for me—that would be killing two birds with one stone. Now, are you ready?”

“I’m always ready. But you know…”

“Do you have something left to say? It’s useless to try to back out now.”

“No, that’s not it.”

Wei Yan-ho unwrapped the cloth around his sword and spoke.

“You’re mistaken about two things.”

“Two things?”

What two things could he have gotten wrong in that brief exchange?

“First, I don’t use the Guangdong Wei Family’s swordsmanship, so defeating me has nothing to do with the Guangdong Wei Family. That’s the first thing.”

“You don’t use the Wei Family’s swordsmanship?”

“Second, even if you defeat me, my father would celebrate rather than come seeking revenge. Ah… and there was one more thing?”

Gong Mu-jin laughed emptily and said:

“Fine, tell me. I’ll listen. What is your final word?”

Wei Yan-ho slowly drew his sword from its sheath.

‘A white blade?’

As Gong Mu-jin wondered at the sight of the unusually brilliant white sword, a voice completely different from Wei Yan-ho’s usual tone—heavy and weighty—flowed from his lips.

“Though there are countless swords under heaven, only the Light Sword stands pure and alone.”

Instantly, goosebumps rose all over Gong Mu-jin’s body. What an arrogant statement! Wasn’t he saying that the Light Sword was the greatest swordsmanship under heaven?

“No matter what the reason, those who challenge the Light Sword must pay the price.”

Wei Yan-ho threw the scabbard to the ground and raised his sword. Wei Yan-ho’s blade, catching the morning sunlight, radiated brilliant white light in all directions.

“You’d better be careful. I may be lazy, but my sword is never lazy.”

Wei Yan-ho’s eyes grew cold.

“To those who challenge my sword and yours, you must show your majesty. That will be your final courtesy toward me.”

“Of course, Master.”

***

“What about Jang Bo-do?”

“I’ve arranged for him to fall into Chu Ji-ja’s hands. People are flocking to Nasan without suspicion. The Poison King’s death notice is also causing a stir throughout Sichuan.”

“What of Tianshan’s movements?”

“They will move soon. Having drawn this much attention, if they fail to act, they would prove themselves far too incompetent.”

“I see.”

The scissors in the old man’s hand quietly cut a branch of the bonsai before him.

“Do you see?”

“Yes, I see.”

The old man spoke while looking at the bonsai.

“Being natural is a good thing. But sometimes, natural things can be unpleasant to look at. Bonsai is the same. No matter how good a bonsai is, if you leave it completely natural, useless branches will grow and ruin its shape.”

“You speak truly.”

“So you must properly prune the branches to create a beautiful bonsai.”

The old man quietly cut another branch and continued:

“The martial world is no different. If left alone, it might live naturally, but that’s not necessarily the right direction. You must cut away what needs cutting for proper growth.”

“I will ensure the grand plan proceeds without disruption according to your profound will.”

The old man’s eyes gazed at the void in the sky.

“Now is the time to prove that we stand alone. The martial world has been too quiet for too long.”

“Even small ripples spread widely across a calm lake.”

“It must not end with mere ripples.”

“Yes.”

“Show them how sharp the blade we have been honing all this time truly is.”

“I will keep this in mind.”

After the middle-aged man quietly withdrew from the estate, the old man leisurely tended to his bonsai.

As if it were his calling, the old man who had been calmly trimming his bonsai suddenly stopped.

Snap!

The old man frowned, having failed to see a small branch hidden behind another and cut it along with the rest.

“Nothing goes exactly as planned, does it?”

The old man shook his head at the ominous sign.

“But it cannot be stopped now.”

A low smile bloomed on the old man’s lips.