CLS-Chapter 139

Chapter 139

Do you know much about a person named Shangguan Hong?

At that time, Shangguan Hong was the eldest son of the Shangguan Family, and he entered the Sleeping Dragon Martial Academy with high expectations.

Back then, the Sleeping Dragon Martial Academy was considered a place where renowned families and smaller factions throughout the realm naturally had to send their talented members.

This was largely because graduates from the Sleeping Dragon Martial Academy had made names for themselves across the realm in the previous generation.

However, the major orthodox factions known as the Nine Orthodox Sects didn’t send their disciples there. Because of this, there was subtle tension.

Huh?

Me?

Well, Wang Geoji told me to go.

Actually, as you know, the Beggar’s Sect has many miscellaneous martial arts, but aside from the Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms and Dog-Beating Staff Technique, there are virtually no techniques that could be called first-rate. So for the Beggar’s Sect, sending disciples to the Sleeping Dragon Martial Academy wasn’t a bad choice.

I was able to make many connections there, including Shanhu.

I think that was part of the intention too. For someone from the Beggar’s Sect, connections are life. That way, you won’t starve to death wherever you go.

Huh?

Shangguan Hong?

Ah, my story went off track.

Anyway, Shangguan Hong was considered a genius of his generation. He was overshadowed by Wei San-ho from the previous class, but Wei San-ho was too exceptional. Even Shangguan Hong was evaluated as a talent who could sufficiently aim for becoming the Greatest Under Heaven of the next generation.

Well, that was only the story until that day.

***

“Aaaaargh!”

Shangguan Hong lost his reason and rushed at Wei Yan-ho. Fire blazed from his eyes, and rough breathing poured from his mouth.

Actually, this was reckless.

Just moments ago, the single move of Illusory Transformation that Wei Yan-ho had shown was enough to make one guess how strong he was.

The fact that it ended so disgustingly didn’t diminish its impact – those who lived with their lives on the edge of a blade wouldn’t miss that single move. If one thought coolly, it was obvious to anyone that Shangguan Hong couldn’t match Wei Yan-ho.

But!

Who could blame his anger!

All the men watching him cheered for him with one heart.

Show him what’s what!

Punish that shameless human who, as a fellow man, committed an unforgivable act!

However, Gongmujin clicked his tongue.

‘Even in his usual composed state, he wouldn’t last one second.’

A swordsman must not become excited.

Unlike the Way and fist techniques, the sword is a very sensitive weapon.

Speed and accuracy are more important than strength when it comes to the sword.

When first learning the sword, isn’t the most important thing to learn how to keep the sword tip from trembling?

That’s how important it is for a sword user to possess an unshakable, immovable mind.

But here was someone who hadn’t even reached that level, rushing in having lost himself to excitement.

Normally, Gongmujin would have frowned at such a sight. But this time, well…

‘It’s understandable.’

The feelings of someone directly experiencing that mockery weren’t something onlookers could imagine.

In that sense, he felt sympathy for Shangguan Hong, but evaluation had to be objective.

‘Should I watch a bit more?’

At that moment, Shangguan Hong approached right in front of Wei Yan-ho.

“Huh?”

Wei Yan-ho tilted his head as he watched Shangguan Hong bringing his sword down toward his head.

‘Isn’t this a killing blow?’

If Wei Yan-ho couldn’t dodge properly, his head would be split in half. Given the momentum and the viciousness of the technique, this couldn’t be called a move used in a martial contest.

“Tsk tsk.”

Wei Yan-ho clicked his tongue and spun to the side.

Whoosh!

Shangguan Hong’s sword cut through the air and struck down into the ground.

“It would be better to calm down first.”

Wei Yan-ho was also a person with conscience. While punishing someone who used killing blows might be the right thing to do, Wei Yan-ho acknowledged that there was also fault on his part in making someone resort to killing blows.

So the kind-hearted Wei Yan-ho tried to pacify Shangguan Hong.

“You seem very angry right now, so for a martial contest…”

At that moment, Shangguan Hong’s sword exploded upward from the ground like a spring and slashed at Wei Yan-ho’s throat.

Wei Yan-ho gently crouched down on the spot and avoided Shangguan Hong’s sword.

“So what I’m saying is…”

Swoosh!

“No!”

Swoosh!

“What I mean is!”

Whiiing!

“Hey!”

Sparks flew from Wei Yan-ho’s eyes.

He was trying to speak nicely, but he kept using killing blows!

Grab.

Wei Yan-ho avoided the sword and grabbed Shangguan Hong by the collar, then threw him away.

“Heave-ho!”

Shangguan Hong flew through the air like a bird but couldn’t control his posture, flailed helplessly, and flew toward a building pillar.

“…Eh?”

Wei Yan-ho’s face turned slightly pale.

Those watching also cried out in shock.

“No way!”

“Surely not!”

“It can’t be! It can’t be!”

But the direction Shangguan Hong was flying seemed all too clear.

If he flies like that…

Thud!

Wei Yan-ho covered his face with his hands.

When swords are flying around, how could one consider the landing spot while throwing someone?

In Wei Yan-ho’s mind, it was awkward to hit him and awkward to stab him with a sword, so he just grabbed his collar and threw him to make him come to his senses. But unfortunately, there happened to be a pillar where he threw him, and unfortunately, Shangguan Hong happened to fly backward with his legs spread wide.

Wei Yan-ho approached Shangguan Hong slowly with an awkward expression.

Seeing Shangguan Hong’s pitiful state – clutching the pillar with both legs while trembling, his face buried in the ground – brought forth indescribable emotions.

From far away, Gongmujin’s sigh could be heard.

“…Who would have thought the Shangguan Family lineage that continued for generations would end here.”

Twitch.

At those words, Wei Yan-ho’s body flinched.

“Isn’t there a younger brother or something?”

To Lee Seolhwa’s question, Gongmujin kindly answered.

“As far as I know, Shangguan Hong is the only legitimate son.”

“Oh dear.”

Lee Seolhwa’s final words felt like driving in the nail.

“Mmm…”

Wei Yan-ho trembled with the wave of guilt washing over him.

Guilt, of all things.

Wasn’t this the same Wei Yan-ho who, with his solid mental strength and shamelessness, had rarely felt emotions beyond discomfort despite receiving all kinds of abuse? For such a Wei Yan-ho to feel guilt.

Wei Yan-ho looked at Shangguan Hong struggling on the ground and slowly crouched down in front of him.

Then he offered what might have been his first sincere apology in his entire life.

“…I’m sorry.”

Really.

***

“How is the situation?”

“Hmm…”

At Peng Daohyeong’s question, Gongmujin looked at the room with a pitiful expression. Inside that room, Shangguan Hong was resting while receiving treatment from a physician.

“Well, how should I put it?”

Yiryong Yibong’s eyes focused on Gongmujin.

“First, the external injuries don’t seem severe. As for the part we’re concerned about…”

“…Yes.”

Everyone wanted to hear while simultaneously strongly not wanting to hear. No one would want to hear about that kind of thing.

“Fortunately, the feared incident doesn’t seem to have occurred. There should be no problem continuing the lineage.”

“Ooh!”

“That’s a relief!”

Peng Daohyeong and Eonhyo rejoiced as if it were their own matter.

Namgung Hye and Wei Su-ryeon kept their mouths shut, not knowing what reaction to show.

It was awkward to be happy about it…

“Then that’s fortunate.”

“Hmm, that is true, but…”

“…Is there some problem?”

Gongmujin spoke as if troubled.

“Well, how should I put it. That problem is fine, but the internal injuries are so severe that he needs to rest and recover for a while. It seems impossible to continue the mission.”

“Internal injuries?”

“That’s right.”

Peng Daohyeong spoke as if he didn’t understand.

“Shangguan brother’s wounds are severe, but he wasn’t hit by an attack imbued with internal energy – they’re just external wounds. Are you saying he also suffered internal injuries?”

“Not from the attack.”

“Then what?”

“The physician says it’s rage sickness.”

Peng Daohyeong found himself slowly nodding without realizing it. If he had been in the same situation, he probably would have gotten rage sickness too.

“Then are you saying he’s suffered Qi Deviation?”

To Namgung Hye’s question, Gongmujin affirmed.

“You could say that. However, the symptoms aren’t that severe, so the physician says if he rests and recovers for about a month, he’ll be able to get back on his feet without any problems. I share the same opinion on this matter.”

“…Then that’s fortunate.”

The question of whether this could really be called fortunate arose in everyone’s minds, but no one voiced that fact.

“Well then.”

“Thank you for your help, Great Hero Gong.”

“Not at all.”

Gongmujin slowly headed to his room while shaking his head.

‘It’s ruined.’

The physician said there would be no problem continuing the lineage, but the future was uncertain. Gongmujin cleanly erased the name Shangguan Hong from Lee Seolhwa’s list of potential marriage candidates.

“So what do we do now?”

At Namgung Hye’s question, Eonhyo looked troubled. Now that Shangguan Hong was injured, it was his responsibility to lead the group.

“First, shouldn’t we return to the academy?”

“But our mission is to head to Nashan.”

“It’s an unavoidable situation.”

“How about sending Shangguan brother back and we go by ourselves?”

“That’s not a bad method either, but he’s someone who’s suffered Qi Deviation. It wouldn’t be right to just leave him and go. Besides, I’m really bothered by the thought of leaving him behind…”

Everyone nodded.

Others might call them the Three Dragons and Two Phoenixes, but as they kept getting involved together, they had developed their own friendship. But when a colleague had been injured, it felt extremely uncomfortable to just abandon him and leave.

“Then let’s take Shangguan brother with us and return for now.”

“But there’s one problem.”

“What?”

Eonhyo opened his mouth with a very troubled expression.

“If we abandon the mission, we have to report the reason…”

Everyone could understand what Eonhyo was trying to say now.

How could they report that while on their way to carry out a mission, they met some strange guy, and while having a martial contest with him, Shangguan Hong suffered a horrific fate to a part that couldn’t be expressed in words, making it impossible to carry out the mission?

“…This is a case where problems arise even when writing only the truth.”

“For Shangguan brother’s honor, we have to consider even writing the truth.”

“Well, this is, how should I put it, the situation is a bit…”

Tangled.

Everyone let out deep sighs.

‘Just what is that person?’

He was completely incomprehensible.

They all knew. None of them could have thrown Shangguan Hong around like a toy. Even if Wei San-ho, who was famous as the Academy’s Greatest Talent, returned, it didn’t seem like something that would be possible.

‘He seemed to be about the same age too…’

If what they saw with their eyes was true, then a talent surpassing Wei San-ho had emerged from the Guangdong Wei Family. Now they could understand what Gongmujin had meant when he first picked a fight.

Gongmujin’s words weren’t about Wei San-ho – they were about Wei Yan-ho.

Though they hated to admit it, a master with unimaginable abilities had appeared among their peers.

Namgung Hye turned to Wei Su-ryeon and asked.

“Jong sister, no, Wei sister.”

“Yes, sister.”

“Just what does your brother do?”

Wei Su-ryeon became like a mute who ate honey.

‘He’s a lazy bum.’

Here was another case where problems arose even when speaking only the truth.