Chapter 147 – Competition for the Succession (4)

Smack!

Hearing Yu-jin’s words, Seol Un-yeong slapped him across the face. She glared at him with trembling eyes and shouted.

“We may have different mothers, but they are your siblings! How can you speak of killing your own flesh and blood!”

One of the reasons the True Dragon Sword Clan was praised was the absence of strife between siblings. Though they might compete relentlessly before a new head was chosen, once someone took the position, the others would always concede and work for the good of the clan.

No clan head had ever purged their own kin out of fear for their position. But now, Yu-jin had become the first to suggest breaking that tradition.

“Mother, did you know?”

Despite having been slapped, Yu-jin continued with a nonchalant smile.

“The people of the clan are saying things. They say that no matter how great my fame or how strong my martial arts, the elders and other high-ranking members will not choose me. But you see, I initially planned to kill them all. Flesh and blood? I can kill anyone who isn’t my birth mother. I could even kill you, right here, right now.”

As Yu-jin spoke, unleashing a tremendous killing intent, the color drained from Seol Un-yeong’s face. Her body swayed precariously, as if she might collapse at any moment.

“I am a man who will do anything to become the clan head. Do you think someone who has made such a vow would hesitate to kill his own siblings?”

Believing Yu-jin’s words to be true, Seol Un-yeong gritted her teeth. But there was only one choice she could make.

“I will give you… my support. I will tell them. I will tell them to support you.”

As Seol Un-yeong spoke in a drained voice, Yu-jin smiled brightly and nodded.

“An excellent choice. It may not be much of a trade, but when I become the clan head, you won’t have to leave the True Dragon Sword Clan. We are all family; having to part ways would be far too cruel and sad, wouldn’t it? I do not wish for that.”

At Yu-jin’s words, a delicate tremor ran through Seol Un-yeong’s brow. He was offering her the one thing she desired most, and she couldn’t help but react.

Yu-jin watched her for a moment before turning and leaving the garden. There were still many people he needed to persuade peacefully. Of course, he didn’t persuade every single one of them himself. For those of lesser value, his precious women had been dispatched.

“Still, the idea of embracing the mothers is repulsive.”

Even though they weren’t related by blood, it felt unsettling. He had never intended to kill his siblings in the first place. Their existence posed no real threat to his ascension as clan head.

“So I can’t escape it completely. Well, I suppose this isn’t so bad either.”

After all, there were countless women in the world for him to embrace. There was no need to meddle with the mistresses of the True Dragon Sword Clan.

With that thought, Yu-jin moved on to his next target. There was still much work to be done.

* * *

Yu-jin’s recruitment efforts continued. He won over several combat units and elders, as well as the mothers who were not part of the succession contest.

Amidst it all, there was a piece of good news: Yu-jin had been given a new title. Because of it, the clan members cheered his name even louder.

Now, if he could just win over one more of the mothers, no one would be able to ignore his power.

‘Beautiful.’

Yu-jin smiled brightly as he gazed at the beautiful woman before him. She possessed a beauty and strength that were in no way inferior to his own mother, Ye Un-hyang.

She was Cheon Ji-hui, the Plum Blossom Fairy—mother of the Heavenly Phoenix, Kang So-hee, and the third wife of Kang Yu-hyeon.

Once a renowned prodigy of the Mount Hua Sect, she had fallen into Kang Yu-hyeon’s clutches and become his wife.

She looked at Yu-jin with a calm expression, but he could tell. He could see the cold fury simmering within her.

“You would kill my daughter if I don’t follow you? Even though you know how much she adores you?”

Yu-jin had once saved Kang So-hee when she was in danger. Since then, Kang So-hee had followed him devotedly, and Cheon Ji-hui had also looked upon him favorably.

But when Yu-jin threatened to kill Kang So-hee if she didn’t support him, she was enraged. She had never seen him as that kind of person, and his words were more than enough to make her feel betrayed.

“There’s no need for us to fight, Mother. All you have to do is say you support me.”

“I wished to remain neutral. But even if I hadn’t, I was supporting you in my heart. Yet you have betrayed that trust.”

Shiiing!

As she spoke, Cheon Ji-hui drew a sword. The slender blade cast a pure white gleam.

Yu-jin nodded at the sight of the beautiful, captivating, and alluring blade. It was truly a magnificent sword. But that was all it was; it posed no threat to him.

“Hah, Mother. Are you aware that I have reached the Transformation Realm? You cannot defeat me. Not me, the Star Sword King.”

“You know full well that a lack of strength doesn’t mean I must bow to another!”

At Cheon Ji-hui’s cry, Yu-jin gave a bitter smile. He knew. This woman was strong not only in martial arts but also in spirit. She was not one to ever go back on a decision she had made.

‘I knew it would be like this, but it’s still a bit tiresome. Well, a bout with a beautiful woman is always an enjoyable affair, so I suppose it doesn’t matter.’

In truth, subduing her would be a simple matter if he used the Mind’s Eye, the technique passed down from Kang Yu-hyeon, but Yu-jin had no intention of doing so.

He didn’t care about doing it to some unknown female warriors, but to forcibly control the mind of a family member, a woman at that? It went completely against his aesthetics.

Yu-jin also drew his sword and pointed it at Cheon Ji-hui. In that instant, she swung her sword at him. It was a surprise attack, meant to catch him off guard.

Shwiiik!

An elegant attack, like a dancing butterfly, rushed toward Yu-jin. It appeared graceful on the surface, but hidden within were incredible variations and sharpness.

Despite the sudden assault, Yu-jin remained unfazed, swinging his sword to block Cheon Ji-hui’s incoming blade. In truth, an attack of this level wasn’t even worthy of being called a surprise to him.

“I told you it was useless, Mother.”

Hearing Yu-jin’s words, Cheon Ji-hui’s expression darkened slightly. She had attempted a surprise attack, but it hadn’t worked at all.

But she quickly swung her sword at him again. She was, after all, the one who had personally taught Kang So-hee the way of the sword.

A floral scent began to emanate from her sword, and Yu-jin instinctively recognized it as Plum Fragrance, a technique only the most exceptional swordsmen of the Mount Hua Sect could use.

‘Hmm, so she’s that determined? It seems I’ll have to put in some effort.’

Plum Fragrance was a dangerous technique. Its variations were unpredictable, and its power was immense. In a way, it was a perfect martial art, an integrated offense and defense much like Raging Wings.

Its only weakness was that its defense wasn’t as strong, and unlike Raging Wings, it could be shattered by a sufficiently powerful attack. Nevertheless, it was undoubtedly a formidable art.

Chwaaaak!

The moment the technique was unleashed, the entire room was filled with red plum blossom petals, and their rich fragrance stimulated Yu-jin’s sense of smell.

The terrifying aspect of this attack was that each and every petal was a potent blade of sword energy.

But Yu-jin launched himself into the air, dodging the petals. Hundreds of them flew in pursuit, but his speed far surpassed theirs.

“Let’s see how long you can dodge!”

Kuooooh!

The number of petals increased, completely dominating the space around Yu-jin before showering down on him. At that, Yu-jin’s eyes flashed as he swung his sword forcefully, sending dozens of energy blasts like meteors to strike the petals.

Kwakwakwang!

The petals scattered with a massive explosion. Startled, Cheon Ji-hui tried to conjure the Plum Fragrance again, but Yu-jin had already closed the distance, preventing her from using it easily.

Forced to protect herself with the plum blossom petals, Cheon Ji-hui swung her sword at Yu-jin. The swords of the man and woman clashed at a single point, beginning to weave patterns in the air.

‘Huh?’

Cheon Ji-hui parried Yu-jin’s attack with a puzzled expression. Though she had been the first to strike, she was well aware of the gap in skill between them.

She couldn’t guarantee she could last even ten seconds against him at full power. Yet, fifty seconds had already passed, and she was still trading blows with him on equal footing.

This would have been impossible if Yu-jin wasn’t holding back.

‘What are you thinking?’

He had been an ill-behaved child from a young age. At six, he was already groping the maids, and he would even invade their baths.

As he grew older, he had openly flirted with the female warriors and maids. But she had realized that was a facade when he saved her daughter.

‘Is he really that kind of person? Is he truly so cold-hearted that he would kill his siblings for the position of clan head?’

She knew he could be ruthless. Though she didn’t know the details, she had ears and had heard a little about how Yu-jin conducted himself.

A boy with contradictory traits—at times merciful, at others, endlessly cruel. But one thing was certain: he cherished his family.

“Hah!”

Cheon Ji-hui unleashed her ultimate technique. The Plum Fragrance formed a pair of wings, and she charged straight at Yu-jin.

‘Hmm, no matter how I look at it, that technique is really familiar.’

Yu-jin had a rather useless thought as he infused his sword with energy. It was a remarkable technique, but not one that could do anything to him.

However, what he wanted was to subdue her without causing injury, which required a delicate control of his energy.

‘My mothers are truly tiresome people.’

With that thought, Yu-jin lunged forward. In that instant, a pair of wings and a single sword thrust toward him.

But Yu-jin easily cut through all the attacks. No matter how powerful the assault, it was useless before his sword. And when it was all over, his blade was pointed at Cheon Ji-hui’s neck.

“Let me ask you one thing.”

Even with the cold, sharp blade at her throat, Cheon Ji-hui maintained a calm expression as she spoke.

“Were you really going to kill So-hee if I kept refusing?”

Cheon Ji-hui looked at Yu-jin as she asked. Her gaze screamed at him, demanding he not lie. Seeing her, Yu-jin sighed and shook his head.

“How could I ever do such a thing?”