Return of the Heavenly Sword

Chapter 10. Inhuman (1)

Two quarters of an hour ago.

A corner of Immortal Spirit's marketplace. A street that was once mostly ordinary inns and taverns, but had at some point transformed into a red-light district.

At the end of that street, there was a manor with a sign that read [Iron Dragon Sect].

In the [Leader's Hall] located in the center of the Iron Dragon Sect, the leader Byeok Cheollyong and the vice-leader were having a conversation.

“Seo Gyu said he plans to take over an inn soon, so I should probably prepare some courtesans.”

Byeok Cheollyong gave the order, thinking of the subordinate he had sent to Limhwa to expand their territory.

Both Seo Gyu, who was sent to Limhwa, and the vice-leader he was currently talking to were people who had been with Byeok Cheollyong since he first came to Immortal Spirit.

‘Hehehe. I wonder when he'll produce results, now that he's happy to be a gang boss himself.’

A month ago, Seo Gyu had visited Immortal Spirit with the ruffians he had gathered in Limhwa, showed the Limhwa country bumpkins around, and then returned.

It was to stimulate those country bumpkins by showing them how the Iron Dragon Sect made money in Immortal Spirit.

“I will do so, Leader.”

The vice-leader, who had responded to the leader's command, briefly observed Byeok Cheollyong's mood and asked.

“By the way, Leader. When do you plan to take care of Azure Sword Sect?”

For some reason, even though he mentioned Azure Sword Sect, the only ones in Immortal Spirit who interfered with their business, the leader did not seem particularly displeased.

“Azure Sword Sect… There are still a few of them left, so wouldn't it be better to watch a little longer? The ones who came over from there are quite useful.”

There were two reasons why the Iron Dragon Sect left Azure Sword Sect alone.

One was that a direct confrontation would result in casualties.

It certainly did not mean ‘defeat.’

Byeok Cheollyong was confident of certain victory.

He wasn't just relying on numbers. He was confident he could kill the Azure Sword Sect leader at any time.

Although the Azure Sword Sect leader's skills were quite outstanding, Byeok Cheollyong was a man who had operated in a bigger pond than Immortal Spirit.

So, he didn't even consider defeat, he just didn't want his subordinates to decrease.

In addition to the subordinates who would be defeated by the Azure Sword Sect men, there were also those who could potentially become subordinates in the future.

Those who could become subordinates in the future were none other than the disciples of Azure Sword Sect.

Thanks to Sect Leader Cheong Daejin's upright character, he could easily recruit useful new members who had learned martial arts, so there was no reason to strike Azure Sword Sect.

It was much simpler to persuade one Azure Sword Sect disciple than to raise a ruffian who had never learned a single martial art until he became a functioning person.

This was the second reason for not attacking Azure Sword Sect.

The vice-leader, who knew the leader's intentions, held a slightly different thought.

“Now, besides the sect leader and his sons, there are only six of them left. And according to what I heard from that guy, the remaining six are all similar in character to the sect leader and have no intention of coming over.”

His judgment was that since they had squeezed out as much as they could, it was time to get rid of Azure Sword Sect.

‘Hmm. It would be good if I could bring over the remaining six as well.’

While Byeok Cheollyong was lost in thought with a regretful expression.

Someone approached the front of the Leader's Hall.

“L-Leader. It's me, Jang Hwan.”

“Come in.”

As Byeok Cheollyong's permission was granted, a ruffian soon entered the hall with an anxious expression.

Just by looking at his expression, Byeok Cheollyong thought the answer was obvious and asked.

“What happened to the old man's contract?”

At the leader's question, Jang Hwan bowed his head deeply and replied.

“Th-that is, just as I was about to get the thumbprint, the Azure Sword Sect leader appeared…”

“I clearly figured out the time the Azure Sword Sect leader makes his rounds and told you, yet you still failed, is that what you're saying?”

At Byeok Cheollyong's reaction, clicking his tongue as if he was pathetic, Jang Hwan hastily made excuses.

“A-a strange guy interfered and dragged out the time, that's why it happened.”

“A strange guy?”

“Yes. H-he was someone I'd never seen before. He suddenly popped out and charged at us.”

Byeok Cheollyong cut the man's words short and asked.

“Never seen before, you say. Do you mean he was an outsider?”

“Ye, yes, Leader.”

For some reason, at the word 'outsider,' Byeok Cheollyong's expression became quite serious.

“How were his skills?”

“The Azure Sword Sect leader popped out before we could properly fight, so I couldn't confirm for sure, but he seemed to be a shabby-looking guy. His age also seemed to be around the same as the youngest son of Azure Sword Sect.”

At his answer, Byeok Cheollyong's expression turned cold again.

“You failed because you were hindered by a shabby kid. Is that what you're saying?”

The man, realizing he had misspoken, hastily bowed his head.

“I'm sorry, Leader! The guy charged…”

“Shut up!”

After silencing Jang Hwan with a shout, the leader furrowed his brow and fell into thought.

‘Is it really time to get rid of them?’

Byeok Cheollyong's deliberation was not long.

“Come here.”

At Byeok Cheollyong's words, the man, who was watching him, cautiously raised his head and asked.

“M-me?”

“Yes.”

As Byeok Cheollyong, who had answered shortly, gestured, Jang Hwan cautiously approached Byeok Cheollyong.

The moment Jang Hwan finally came right in front of him, Byeok Cheollyong preemptively swung his fist.

Thwack!

“Gack…”

As Jang Hwan, who was hit by the surprise attack, clutched his face and collapsed, Byeok Cheollyong rose from his chair and stomped on him.

“Aaaah. F-forgive me, Leader!”

Jang Hwan screamed in pain several times.

Byeok Cheollyong, who had beaten him up refreshingly, lightly clapped his hands together a few times to dust them off, then squatted down and spoke to him, who was sprawled on the floor.

With a very pitiful expression.

“Oh dear. It seems you got a proper beating from the Sect Leader of Azure Sword Sect.”

“??”

Jang Hwan wondered what kind of crazy talk this was.

“Your eyes look strange. Weren't you beaten by the Azure Sword Sect leader?”

“Ah! Ye, yes! Th-the Azure Sword Sect leader, that bastard, d-did this to me!”

Not wanting to be beaten anymore, Jang Hwan hastily shouted so, and Byeok Cheollyong, with a satisfied expression, gave an order to the vice-leader.

“Call all the boys. How can we let it slide when he not only dared to interfere with our legitimate business but also left my precious brother in this state?”

At the leader's command, the vice-leader also replied with a joyful smile.

“I will do so, Leader.”

The vice-leader left the hall and gave instructions to the Iron Dragon Sect ruffians who remained in the manor.

The ruffians who received the vice-leader's command found the unorthodox bastards who were working or slacking off all over Immortal Spirit and gathered them at the manor.

When they had all gathered, Byeok Cheollyong put his arm around Jang Hwan's shoulder and opened his mouth.

“Do you see this face here?”

Jang Hwan's face was already severely swollen, and bluish-black bruises were appearing.

“The Sect Leader of Azure Sword Sect did this! He did this to our family member who was doing nothing wrong, just conducting legitimate business!”

Jang Hwan hastily nodded his head, affirming Byeok Cheollyong's words.

“Ye, yes, my b-brothers! Th-the Azure Sword Sect leader, that bastard, d-did this to m-me!”

At Jang Hwan's shout, one of the two ruffians who had gone with him to get the old man's thumbprint tilted his head.

“Hmm? The Azure Sword Sect leader didn't do anything…”

But before he could finish his words, the other ruffian who was with him quickly jabbed him in the side with his elbow.

“Shut up. You're so clueless.”

While the two ruffians were acting foolishly, Byeok Cheollyong shouted again.

“How can we, the Iron Dragon Sect, who are no different from blood brothers, turn a blind eye when our brother has been put in this state!! Isn't that right?”

“Yes, Leader!!”

“We must exact bloody revenge on those from Azure Sword Sect!!”

As the rest of the ruffians responded in unison, Byeok Cheollyong nodded his head and shouted.

“Let's go to Azure Sword Sect!”

With the leader at the forefront, the unorthodox group of the Iron Dragon Sect left the Iron Dragon Sect headquarters in unison and headed towards Azure Sword Sect.

The common people on the streets of Immortal Spirit, with startled faces, quickly moved out of the way or began to flee.

“Hehehe.”

Seeing the people fear them, some of the Iron Dragon Sect's unorthodox members even puffed out their chests proudly and burst into laughter.

After intimidating the residents as they moved, they soon arrived in front of the small manor of Azure Sword Sect.

***

At Byeok Cheollyong's shout from outside the gate, the Azure Sword Sect leader furrowed his brow for a moment.

He said to Jin Yuseong.

“Young Master Jin, since you are not involved with them, please slip out secretly over the back wall.”

As soon as the Azure Sword Sect leader's words ended, a shout was heard again from beyond the gate.

“Since you can't come out, you must have something to hide! Or, are you scared of this Byeok Cheollyong? Hahahaha!”

At Byeok Cheollyong's blatant provocation, the faces of the surrounding disciples all turned beet red.

Jin Yuseong, who was observing the scene for a moment, opened his mouth.

“I will take care of my own safety, so you don't need to worry. More importantly, what will you do?”

“There is nothing to be ashamed of, and I am not afraid of the Iron Dragon Sect leader, so what reason is there not to go out?”

Having answered so, the Azure Sword Sect leader moved his steps and headed towards the entrance of Azure Sword Sect, and his seven disciples and three sons followed behind him.

Jin Yuseong, who was watching their backs, moved his steps, retrieved the sword that had been sent flying at the end of the duel, and followed them.

When they stepped out of the entrance of Azure Sword Sect, just as the sect leader had said, a group of just under fifty unorthodox bastards were gathered.

‘To think there is so much trash to clean up.’

Just as Jin Yuseong was having that thought, the Azure Sword Sect leader took another step forward and opened his mouth.

“What is this commotion in broad daylight? Won't people be anxious if you gather like this?”

As expected of an upright man, the Azure Sword Sect leader was using honorifics even to such unorthodox bastards in this situation.

“We came because you interfered with our legitimate business in broad daylight!”

“Legitimate business, you say!”

Before the Azure Sword Sect leader could further rebut Byeok Cheollyong's words, Byeok Cheollyong pulled a man forward.

It was a face familiar yet unfamiliar to Jin Yuseong.

‘That guy from before?’

It was the man who had been oppressing the old man. Only, it was hard to recognize him because his face was swollen and tinged with a dark blue color.

“Not only that, you turned our family member into this state, so how can we stand by and do nothing!”

“…What are you talking about? I have not used any violence.”

“Ahem. Where are you trying to get away with lies? There are more than one or two witnesses here. Isn't that right?”

At Byeok Cheollyong's words, his subordinates replied in a thunderous chorus.

“Yes, Leader!”

Byeok Cheollyong, who became even more emboldened by his subordinates' response, moved his mouth.

“Since my family member has ended up in that state, shouldn't your side do the same? Send one of your sons. If not, there will be a lot of blood to be seen today.”

Sect Leader Cheong Daejin, who had clenched his fists so tightly they could have been crushed, opened his mouth.

“You came here today fully intending to cause trouble. Very well. Instead of shedding unnecessary blood, how about we settle this with a one-on-one fight between the leaders?”

The Azure Sword Sect leader knew that since the difference in numbers was large, there was a risk that many of his sons and disciples would be killed or seriously injured.

‘As if he'd accept.’

Jin Yuseong had such a thought, but strangely, Byeok Cheollyong accepted the proposal.

“Fine!”

Byeok Cheollyong, who had shouted confidently, ordered his subordinates to step back.

The Azure Sword Sect leader, who was observing the scene, also turned his head and gave an order to his sons and disciples.

“You all step back as well.”

While it was chaotic with the ruffians and disciples from both sides moving.

‘Look at these guys?’

Jin Yuseong, who had discovered something, let out a smirk.

‘Of course, there's no way vile unorthodox bastards would settle things with a fair duel.’

With that thought, Jin Yuseong also moved his steps.

Before long, the stage for the life-or-death battle between the sect leader and the leader was set.

In the center, the sect leader and the leader faced each other with a gap of about one zhang, and behind them, their respective ruffians and the sons and disciples of Azure Sword Sect took their positions.

Jin Yuseong had also blended in among the sons and disciples.

“Hehehe. Your courage is commendable. Did you really think you could beat me?”

“You're the one who is surprising, Leader. It seems you have at least a little affection for your family members?”

Byeok Cheollyong, who snorted at Cheong Daejin's words, preemptively rushed at the sect leader.

Byeok Cheollyong, who had closed the one-zhang gap(Unit of length, approx. 3.33 m) in an instant by using a footwork technique, swung his broadsword at the sect leader.

As everyone's attention was focused on the first exchange of the life-or-death battle between the two leaders.

One of the Azure Sword Sect disciples preemptively swung his sword at the youngest son of Azure Sword Sect.

It wasn't to kill him. It was just to use him as a hostage by putting a sword to his throat.

However, the man's objective could not be achieved.

“Gack…”

It was because Jin Yuseong, who had positioned himself next to the man in advance, had already drawn his sword and was stabbing it into the man's side.