Chapter 25
“Is it Namman?”
“Y-Yes.”
The warriors from Namman were trembling in fear.
They were certain that this was the worst moment of their lives.
They were planning a business while trying to appease Cheol Museong, one of the Twenty-Four Masters.
Just appeasing that psychopath was a torment.
A young man had come and damaged the reputation of the Unorthodox Alliance.
That wasn’t much of a problem.
The Central Plains were full of crazy people fighting among themselves.
But that young man fought with the Unorthodox Alliance Lord.
The Unorthodox Alliance Lord ran away as if his butt was on fire.
Abandoning them,
Now that young man was looking at them.
“I see. Namman….”
Many of the notable yokai in his previous life were from Namman.
Of course, they were beasts, not humans.
They always talked about the things in Namman.
They said they were abused…?
There were quite a few yokai waiting for the death of the Namman warriors.
In fact, there were cases where their souls were eaten while crossing the Samdo River.
The warriors in front of him looked pitiful.
“Tsk, be careful when you die. There are many who are waiting.”
“…?”
Of course, the warriors from Namman couldn’t understand.
Regardless, Eunho turned his back on them and headed to the Cheonhajang with Yang Jintae.
***
Yang Jintae entered the Cheonhajang with a different purpose and status than in the morning.
He still felt bewildered.
A lot had happened in one day.
Eunho spoke to Yang Jintae, who was looking around the Cheonhajang.
“How is it? There are more warriors than you thought, right?”
Yang Jintae nodded.
Just by looking, it was clear that the people standing guard all over Cheonhajang were masters.
“As expected of Cheonhajang, it’s impressive.”
“They’re all people from the Murim Alliance who came to catch you.”
“…I’m sorry.”
Eunho took Yang Jintae straight to his father’s office.
“Eunho, you’re here. You’re a bit late considering you only brought Somi.”
“Has the young leader arrived?”
“Have you arrived?”
In the office, Hajinwi, Surin, and General Manager Jang were discussing ‘Shintu.’
Elder Chu was searching around Cheonhajang with his eyes wide open, pretending to investigate.
“What are you three doing so gloomily?”
“You brat, gloomily? We’re talking about Shintu. And who is that next to you?”
Hajinwi was no longer surprised.
He was just wondering if he should build a new pavilion for Eunho’s guests.
“Oh. This guy is Yang Jintae, and his specialty is stealing.”
“?”
Yang Jintae bowed his head deeply at the blunt introduction.
It was embarrassing for someone who had tried to rob Cheonhajang to stand in front of its lord. Surin looked Yang Jintae up and down and then widened her eyes.
A height of about six feet, a slender body, and a specialty in… stealing?
He matched the description Elder Chu had given.
Eunho’s next words confirmed Surin’s suspicion.
“I caught him trying to rob Cheonhajang.”
The expressions of the three people looking at Eunho and Yang Jintae became even more serious.
“…? I thought you’d be happy, but why do you all look like that?”
Surin stepped forward.
“Young master Ha, do you know who’s behind this?”
“The Unorthodox Alliance Leader?”
“You know? You know!? And you still brought him here? Are you crazy? Do you want us all to die?”
Surin shouted sharply and then hurriedly pulled out the writing materials from Hajinwi’s desk.
Hajinwi asked Surin, who was writing something diligently.
“What are you writing?”
“I need to send a letter to the Hao Sect immediately. First, we all need to evacuate, and then contact the Unorthodox Alliance Leader through the Hao Sect ….”
Surin’s mind was racing.
This handsome lunatic had gone too far, daring to openly interfere with the affairs of the Twenty-Four Masters.
Knowing that the Four Kings were behind it, the plans made with the Cheonhajang Lord were instantly ruined.
She knew the personality of the damn Four Kings better than anyone.
It was a situation where they could really die.
“The Unorthodox Alliance Leader isn’t at the Unorthodox Alliance right now?”
Eunho’s calm words stopped Surin’s hand.
“What do you mean?”
Eunho patted Yang Jintae on the back.
It was a signal to explain.
Understanding perfectly, Yang Jintae explained the events of the day in order.
From getting caught by Eunho while trying to rob Cheonhajang, to getting beaten, breaking in, the death of Muk Hyeolgeom, and the escape of one of the the Four Kings.
It was quite awkward to confess his own mistakes.
The expressions of the three people listening to the story changed constantly.
Especially the part about one of the Four Kings running away was hard to believe.
Surin reacted the most intensely.
She knew the terror of the Twenty-Four Masters better than Hajinwi or General Manager Jang.
“I can’t believe it.”
“But it’s true.”
Yang Jintae made a stern face.
Who was this woman to deny Eunho’s achievements?
“But the Four Kings….”
“It’s true.”
Eunho spoke firmly.
Surin could no longer deny it.
Eunho wasn’t the type to lie, and he had no reason to lie.
‘Not just a master, but a transcendent.’
It felt strange.
She was glad to have discovered his true worth before anyone else, but also felt an insurmountable wall.
A transcendent was such an existence in the martial world.
Cheonoecheon (天外天)
Another sky beyond the sky.
The Twenty-Four Masters, known as the pinnacle of the current martial world.
And the young warrior Eunho, who might be equal to or even stronger than them.
“It’s best not to mention that fact anywhere.”
The emergence of a new master excited many people in various ways, but in Eunho’s case, it was a bit extreme.
A master of the transcendent realm suddenly appeared.
‘And in his twenties…’
Hajinwi nodded in agreement with Surin’s opinion.
He knew from his master that his son was strong, but to this extent?
“I agree with Miss Surin. So, what are you planning to do now?”
“What do you mean?”
“I heard you’re heading to Inwangchae to chase the member of the Four Kings?”
TL/N: The member of the four kings they are referring to is the Unorthodox Alliance Leader.
“Yes, such people will definitely grow stronger and come back. We can’t just wait for trouble to arise.”
Hajinwi’s eyes narrowed as he looked at his son.
He had changed a lot.
His once weak-willed son had become strong at some point.
Look at him now.
His son, who had barely left Cheonhajang, was analyzing and predicting the personalities of people like the Four Kings.
Like an old man who had traveled the world.
“That’s not allowed.”
“Why?”
“I know you’re strong, but if what this man says is true, there are two of the Twenty-Four Masters there. I’ll formally request help from the Murim Alliance.”
“They won’t be of any help.”
Hajinwi knew it too.
Even the Murim Alliance would find two of the Twenty-Four Masters burdensome.
But what’s not allowed is not allowed.
Seeing Hajinwi shake his head firmly, Eunho sighed.
He had expected it, but it was more resolute than he thought.
“That’s not like you, Father. There’s a realistic solution, but you’re turning away. The Cheonhajang will surely suffer damage.”
“I am your father before I am the Lord of the Cheonhajang.”
“…Yes, I understand.”
Eunho had no other options.
Hajinwi’s words had a significant impact on Eunho.
At that moment, someone came to Eunho’s mind.
“Then what if one of the Twenty-Four Masters accompanies me?”
“?”
“Would that be okay? I can bring one of the Twenty-Four Masters right now.”
“Who is it?”
“Bear… no, Paeng Jiyeol.”
Hajinwi rubbed his forehead.
“Eunho, do you think Lord Paeng would help you?”
“He will.”
“…”
Hajinwi, unaware of what had happened between Paeng Jiyeol and Eunho, was puzzled.
What gave him the confidence to say that Paeng Jiyeol would help?
“If he steps in….”
It wouldn’t be a losing deal.
If Paeng Jiyeol helped, it wouldn’t just be a master of the transcendent realm.
It would mean the entire Northern Pang family would be moving.
While Hajinwi was momentarily lost in thought.
“Then I’ll go. Oh, and ask the Hao Sect about the whereabouts of the Four Kings.”
“Wait, hold on!”
With that, Eunho disappeared in a flash.
“…”
Only Yang Jintae was left, looking awkward under the gazes of the three people.
***
“Hasn’t the Lord changed a bit lately?”
One of the servants cleaning spoke to the person next to them.
“Yes, he doesn’t come out of the training hall at all. Only the eldest son suffers because of it. He used to love having fun.”
“Hey! Be careful, someone might hear you.”
Since the incident with Eunho, Pang Jiyeol had immersed himself in training.
He left the affairs of the family and the Murim Alliance to the elders and spent his days in the training hall.
Of course, his son Pang Jeoak was also forced to join the training.
“Huff… Huff… Father, can we rest for a bit…?”
“Shut up! Do you think you have time to rest now?”
Pang Jeoak couldn’t understand his father’s sudden change.
His father used to be proud of him, one of the notable masters among the younger generation, but after the funeral, everything changed.
It was inevitable.
To Pang Jiyeol, Eunho was a shock itself.
Losing to Eunho was something he couldn’t talk about anywhere.
It would obviously damage not only his reputation but also the entire Northern Pang family.
What he chose instead was his son’s training.
If the eldest son of the Cheonhajang could do it, there was no reason his son, from the Northern Pang Family, couldn’t.
Thus, the child was going through hellish days due to his parents’ misguided expectations.
Bang-!
Pang Jeoak was knocked down by Pang Jiyeol’s strike.
‘Yes, it’s more comfortable to be unconscious like this…’
At that moment.
A strange foot appeared in front of the fallen Pang Jeoak.
As he looked up from the ankle, Pang Jeoak couldn’t believe his eyes.
“You, you!”
It was Ha Eunho.
The same Ha Eunho who had humiliated him in front of everyone!
Pang Jeoak’s face turned red as he jumped up.
The characteristic hot temper of the Northern Pang family kicked in.
Nothing else mattered.
Once his head turned, he could only see the opponent in front of him!
Pang Jeoak immediately charged at Eunho with full force.
“You bastard!”
Eunho waved his hand dismissively.
“Huh?”
Pang Jeoak’s body flew and crashed into a tree in the corner.
This time, Pang Jeoak was truly unconscious.
“Isn’t that Eunho!”
Whether his son was knocked down or not, Pang Jiyeol found Eunho’s appearance more important.
For a warrior to reach the training hall of the Northern Pang family so quietly, it was indeed Eunho.
Eunho had become someone he looked forward to seeing.
Not only had he shown the true meaning of “Cheonoecheon” (Heaven Beyond Heaven), but he had also promised to teach his son someday!
“Have you finally come to teach my son?”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you say before that you would teach my son?”
“Oh.”
Eunho let out a dry laugh.
He had meant he would beat him up, but it was taken differently.
It was a typical Northern Pang family way of thinking.
“Yes. I’m a bit busy now, but I’ll teach him soon. Today, I need your help.”
Pang Jiyeol looked disappointed for a moment but brightened up at the mention of help.
“What is it? If it’s something I can help with, I’ll gladly do it.”
His tone was full of pride.
Eunho’s martial prowess was monstrous, but he had no social status.
As the eldest son of the Cheonhajang, he could hold his head high, but he wasn’t the head of one of the Five Great Families.
Pang Jiyeol assumed it would be help that utilized his status.
“I like your proactive attitude. I need you to come with me to Inwangchae to deal with the Four Kings and kill the Green King.”
“…”
“Why aren’t you answering?”
Pang Jiyeol’s mind went blank.
“Inwangchae? The Four Kings? The Green King?”
Eunho explained what had happened so far.
The reaction was not much different from others.
Knowing Eunho’s martial prowess, he was a bit, just a bit, calm.
“Haha… They say a person’s true nature comes out when facing a strong opponent. I didn’t expect that Four Kings guy to run away without even fighting.”
Listening to the story, Eunho’s martial prowess seemed even more impressive.
But facing two of the Twenty-Four Masters at the same time….
Honestly, it would be a lie to say it wasn’t burdensome.
Moreover, facing the Green King at Inwangchae was almost like confronting the entire Green Forest.
Pang Jiyeol seriously considered it.
Should he lead all the elite warriors of the Pang family into a full-scale war with the Green Forest…
Anyone who heard this would be terrified.
It was a scale that could easily lead to a major conflict.
Eunho seemed to read his thoughts and frowned.
“We’ll go just the two of us. That’s enough. You just need to accompany me. I’ll handle the two of them.”
Pang Jiyeol nodded.
If Eunho said so, it must be true.
That’s how much trust Pang Jiyeol had in Eunho’s prowess.
Then a question suddenly came to him.
“But why are you dealing with the Four Kings and killing the Green King?”
It seemed strange to kill only one of them.
“Oh, the Four Kings only tried to mess with the Cheonhajang, but the Green King killed three warriors of the Cheonhajang. Of course, I’ll deal with the Four Kings and then hand them over to the Murim Alliance.”
Pang Jiyeol swallowed hard. A simple but clear reason.
And the power to make it happen without hesitation.
As Eunho trailed off, Pang Jiyeol became even more curious.
He felt there must be a significant reason if it was Eunho.
“…If I go alone, my father will worry.”
“…”
Eunho’s face turned slightly red with embarrassment.
