Chapter 91 – To the Central Plains (3)

No matter how formidable the Divine Sword Dragon was, Paeng Won-jun was also one of the Dragons. The three young men were left speechless as Paeng Won-jun, known for his hot-headedness and unwillingness to compromise, adopted such a deferential posture before Yu-jin.

“‘Scold them’… Brother Paeng, if other men were to ignore you and approach the women you’re with, would you forgive them? Not only that, they insulted me, calling me lowly, and even drew their swords.”

At those words, Paeng Won-jun finally scowled and glared at the three young men. The three of them trembled under his fearsome gaze.

If they had known Yu-jin was the grand young master of the True Dragon Sword Clan, or even just that he was the Divine Sword Dragon, they would never have approached him and his companions. But the deed was done, and they had even brandished their weapons at him.

“I understand your anger, Brother Kang. I will punish them in your stead, so please, quell your wrath.”

“That’s not possible. I gave them several chances, and they threw every single one away. Having lost all the opportunities they were given, they must now pay the price.”

Paeng Won-jun gritted his teeth at Yu-jin’s words. Of course, he understood how Yu-jin felt. Since they had squandered every chance, it was only natural for Yu-jin to take action. A martial artist must not make empty threats.

However, Paeng Won-jun could not simply stand by and watch. After all, they were his acquaintances, and furthermore, they were the heirs to sects and families that the Hebei Paeng Clan had to consider.

“Please, trust me, Brother Kang.”

“Brother Paeng, it will be difficult if you continue to act this way. If you keep standing in my way, you will not be able to escape my anger either.”

“I would rather bear Brother Kang’s anger myself.”

As Paeng Won-jun said this, the expressions of the three young men wavered. They had never imagined he would go to such lengths for them.

But Yu-jin looked at Paeng Won-jun with a blank face. As a man, he found such a display of loyalty admirable, but it didn’t make his anger toward the three young men disappear.

“I know you’ve been in closed-door training. But you, Brother Paeng, should know better than anyone that you still can’t guarantee a victory against me, can you?”

“I do not think I can win. I will simply do my best to bear Brother Kang’s anger.”

With those words, Paeng Won-jun began to circulate his internal energy. His energy materialized and resonated with the atmosphere.

The fact that his external and internal energies resonated so naturally was proof that Paeng Won-jun had reached a different realm than before.

He had become a martial artist so outstanding that no one would dare consider him a member of the younger generation anymore. If he hadn’t been the heir to the Paeng Clan, he would have already reached a level where he could have established his own sect.

“Seeing your progress truly is a novel experience, brother. But I’m not sure if you’ve improved enough to withstand my anger. Come, I will grant you the first three moves.”

When a master fights a lesser opponent, they often grant a three-move handicap. Normally, Paeng Won-jun would have considered it an insult, but not against Yu-jin.

His opponent was the strongest of them all, who had defeated all Eight Dragons and reached their pinnacle. It was wise to accept the concession when it was offered.

“Then I’m coming, Brother Kang!”

Paeng Won-jun shouted and charged at Yu-jin, using the Paeng Clan’s Thunder Lightning Steps. The Primordial Chaos Thunder Saber Arts he had mastered erupted from his saber.

If the Namgung Clan wielded swords of thunder and lightning, the Hebei Paeng Clan wielded sabers of crashing thunderbolts. And the martial art at the apex of those thunderbolt saber techniques was the Primordial Chaos Thunder Saber Arts.

Watching the scene, Yu-jin lightly drew his family’s sword and swung it to block Paeng Won-jun’s attack.

*Kwwaaaang!*

The sound was deafening, but the shockwave did not spread. Yu-jin’s sword had completely nullified it. With that single exchange, Paeng Won-jun realized that Yu-jin was even stronger than he had anticipated. His speculation had just become a certainty.

“Should you be revealing such a powerful martial art on a public street?”

If such a powerful attack were used on a main road frequented by people, there would surely be casualties.

It would not be good for word to spread that a scion of the Paeng Clan had killed commoners, so Paeng Won-jun gritted his teeth. Yu-jin smiled at him and spoke again.

“I’ll face you somewhere with no people. You three, follow along. If you run, I’ll kill you on the spot, so I suggest you abandon any thought of escape.”

The three young men could only nod. Then, Yu-jin and Paeng Won-jun moved to a deserted location.

***

The place Kang Yu-jin went with Paeng Won-jun was a forest with almost no signs of human presence. Here, Paeng Won-jun could also attack Yu-jin with his full strength.

“Here I come again!”

Every time Paeng Won-jun swung his saber, a fierce thunderous energy rushed toward Yu-jin. However, Yu-jin moved with ease, his sword drawn, and dodged all the attacks. Instead, the unfortunate trees couldn’t withstand the power of the thunderous energy and snapped.

But Paeng Won-jun was not flustered. Yu-jin’s efficient movements had always been something to envy.

“You won’t be able to keep dodging like that!”

Paeng Won-jun shouted as he unleashed one of the ultimate techniques of the Primordial Chaos Thunder Saber Arts, the Thunder Phosphorus Net.

The thunderous energy spread out in all directions, surrounding Yu-jin. In the blink of an eye, Yu-jin was trapped in a prison of lightning. The Thunder Phosphorus Net closed in, intending to swallow him whole.

“Excellent.”

Yu-jin spoke and swung his sword down. A pure, silvery-white sword aura, the Galactic Aura, shot out from his blade and sliced through the Thunder Phosphorus Net.

“What!”

Sword auras were meant to clash, but his had been cut so easily. Paeng Won-jun scowled and unleashed his next moves in rapid succession.

Yu-jin moved lightly, yet with incredible speed, dodging all of Paeng Won-jun’s attacks. At the same time, he swung his sword sharply, and Paeng Won-jun’s body was soon stained with blood.

However, Paeng Won-jun didn’t seem to feel much pain. The martial artists of the Paeng Clan were typically of a tough constitution, and Paeng Won-jun was the perfected form of that physique. As such, he didn’t feel pain from ordinary attacks.

“Haaat!”

Thick veins bulged on Paeng Won-jun’s arms as he closed the distance and brought his saber down.

His innate monstrous strength combined with the hegemonic energy of the Paeng Clan imbued his saber with incredible power. Of course, Yu-jin had no intention of meeting it head-on.

*Woong!*

Numerous illusions formed around Yu-jin, and Paeng Won-jun couldn’t help but be disoriented. However, he trusted his instincts and swung his saber.

A massive bolt of thunderous energy instantly engulfed Yu-jin’s illusions. But as the number of illusions grew, Paeng Won-jun gritted his teeth.

“To think you possessed such a footwork technique. I have truly never seen anyone as fearsome as you, Brother Kang. But you won’t be able to do anything to me with just that.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Paeng Won-jun channeled an immense amount of energy into his saber and swung it at the ground. An explosion erupted, and a massive wave of soil, wood fragments, and rocks surged toward Yu-jin.

Moreover, it was imbued with the power of thunderbolts. It was an attack of truly immense power. The illusions that had been confusing Paeng Won-jun’s vision instantly dissipated. And he could see the real Yu-jin floating in the air.

“Here I come!”

A storm-like wave of energy burst from Paeng Won-jun’s body, and soon, a single streak of lightning shot from his saber toward Yu-jin.

Yu-jin smiled as he watched the bolt of lightning. This was far more entertaining than he had expected. Although he had restrained most of his power, Paeng Won-jun’s progress still pleased him.

“But you shouldn’t try to judge me by common sense.”

Yu-jin stepped on the air, twisting his body, and the bolt of lightning shot high into the sky.

“What!”

Paeng Won-jun, who had never imagined Yu-jin could move so freely even in mid-air, couldn’t hide his shock. In that moment, Yu-jin used the Art of the Arching Body to instantly close the distance between them from the air.

Paeng Won-jun hastily threw himself backward, but there was bound to be a difference between the speed of retreat and the speed of pursuit.

Ultimately deciding he couldn’t escape, Paeng Won-jun raised his protective aura to its limit, and soon, a meteor shower of pure white energy exploded all over his body.

“Keoheok!”

Paeng Won-jun, who had thought of his body as an indestructible diamond, felt immense pain and lost consciousness, collapsing. His falling body was covered in blood.

“Brother Paeng!”

The three young men screamed for Paeng Won-jun in terror. It was a natural reaction, seeing the man who seemed to be their protector fall after just a few of Yu-jin’s attacks. But Paeng Won-jun, already unconscious, could not answer them.

*Thump.*

The sound of footsteps, unsettling to the soul, reached the ears of the three men. Their eyes fell upon Yu-jin, who was looking at them with an indifferent gaze. He slowly raised his sword.

***

“Huk!”

Barely opening his eyes, Paeng Won-jun looked around. When he lost consciousness, he had been in a forest, but now he was in a room inside a building.

“You’re awake, Brother Paeng.”

Lee Gung-ho said, looking at Paeng Won-jun.

“Y-You’re safe… What about the others?”

Lee Gung-ho pointed a finger at the sleeping Cheong Won-hak and Hwang Jin-gyeol. Only then, knowing his juniors were safe, did Paeng Won-jun let out a sigh of relief.

“I suppose I should thank Brother Kang.”

“He said this. That he lost to your stubbornness.”

At Lee Gung-ho’s words, Paeng Won-jun gave an awkward smile. The men of the Paeng Clan were men who did not compromise with injustice and never went back on a decision once made. Faced with their stubbornness, Yu-jin had shaken his head and decided not to cut the three down.

“Keuk!”

Having sighed in relief, Paeng Won-jun finally felt the immense pain.

No matter how sturdy his body was, it couldn’t possibly be fine after being repeatedly struck by attacks made of sword aura.

He was only able to endure it to that extent because of his constitution; anyone else might never have opened their eyes again.

“Still, I won’t lose next time.”

Paeng Won-jun said and looked at Lee Gung-ho.

“And you lot are dead meat.”

Lee Gung-ho’s face turned pale in an instant. And even in their sleep, Cheong Won-hak and Hwang Jin-gyeol trembled as if anticipating the terror to come.

***

After lightly beating up Paeng Won-jun, Yu-jin purchased a large carriage and headed for Beijing again. It wasn’t that he couldn’t travel faster, but he was being considerate of Bukri Eun, who wanted to see more of the Central Plains.

Thanks to Yu-jin’s consideration, Bukri Eun was able to marvel at the beautiful scenery of the Central Plains. Of course, some fruit flies buzzed around them from time to time, but Yu-jin crushed them with extreme prejudice.

Then, Yu-jin’s party found one particularly nasty character.