Chapter 122

After unraveling the secret of the Pass of the Poisonous Sound, time passed without any particularly special events.

Then, the day before leaving the Hwang Family’s territory, the family’s business manager Hwang Jincheol summoned me once again.

His reason was that he had a few questions about the Simple Barrier Stones.

“I’ll leave the distribution channels entirely to your judgment, sir.”

“Are you sure that’s alright?”

“Yes. To be honest, I’m an outsider in that area and wouldn’t even know where to begin.”

After concluding our business and while leaving Hwang Jincheol’s residence, I encountered someone exuding an unusual aura.

And seeing the other person’s strangely contorted expression, I could roughly guess.

That this person might be Hwang Sejin, who had previously clashed with Han Kangyoon.

My expectation seemed correct, as the man immediately spat out words filled with contempt.

“What are you doing here?”

“…I was invited.”

“Was it that bastard Hwang Jihak again? Truly low-class. This is no place for an inferior like you. Get out immediately.”

At the sudden verbal attack, I made a troubled expression and sank into thought.

It’s common for members of the Three Great Noble Families to occasionally have people like this.

Ruffians who can’t contain their arrogance and look down upon the family’s less talented members or Exorcists from non-noble families, simply because they lack talent.

Even at a glance, Hwang Sejin appeared to be a considerable powerhouse, but having already experienced the oppressive aura of Cheong Soha, an Elder-rank Exorcist, it just felt like petty complaints to me.

“I plan to leave tomorrow. We probably won’t meet again.”

Leaving only those words, I began to leave the spot. After all, further conversation wouldn’t lead to anything good.

However, it seemed Hwang Sejin didn’t appreciate my attitude.

“Stop right there.”

“…What is the matter?”

“I clearly told you before. If I ever saw you walking around with your head held high in front of me again, I’d make you realize your lowly station.”

Whoosh.

Grrrrr.

A faint Spiritual Power began to emanate from Hwang Sejin’s body after he finished speaking.

I immediately used the Appraisal function to check his information.

Ding!

【Hwang Sejin】

▶Level 48

▶Stats

【Stamina : A-】

【Spiritual Power : A】

【Cursed Technique : B-】

【Mental Strength : C+】

▶Traits (5/10)

【Critical Strike(A)】

【Growth Acceleration(B)】

【Tyrant(B-)】

【Strong Body(C+)】

【Intimidation(C+)】

It was indeed a statline worthy of being called one of the next generation Elders. Even at a glance, considerable talent was evident.

However.

‘For all his talk, it seems he hasn’t trained that diligently.’

If you examined the detailed stats, Hwang Jihak, who was five years younger, had actually achieved superior growth.

It was clear he had become intoxicated with his own talent and failed to maintain the intensity of training required by a noble family.

“…I came here as a guest. Is there really a need to be so angry?”

“Shut up! You really insist on talking back to the end. Today, I’ll thoroughly correct that arrogant attitude of yours.”

Seeing him get angry without any basis, it was clear something had indeed happened with the previous Han Kangyoon.

Since a peaceful resolution seemed unlikely, I also drew up my Spiritual Power and prepared for battle.

At that, Hwang Sejin flinched momentarily and sneered.

“Hmph. So you’re not as pathetic as before. Then, try receiving this.”

As he spoke, a Cursed Technique began to rapidly form from Hwang Sejin’s fingertips.

A structure centered on the four cardinal directions, but with a concentration of numerous Cursed Technique sigils peculiarly gathered in the north.

This was definitely a technique I remembered.

‘Falling Spirit Plunge?’

An Intermediate-Rank Binding Spell Formula that converts one’s own Spiritual Power to exert pressure on opponents within a certain range.

Considering his abilities, he was using a surprisingly difficult technique.

‘But…’

Unfortunately for Hwang Sejin, Falling Spirit Plunge could be blocked with Severance.

I deployed the basic defensive art, Prepared Stitch, and carefully watched for the timing.

‘After all, I can complete the technique faster.’

That was precisely the terrifying aspect of Severance.

Since it generally employs a technique of a lower rank than the opponent’s, even if the opponent initiates the attack first, a faster reaction is possible.

Having tensed my entire body while waiting for Hwang Sejin’s technique deployment, I activated my technique the moment the strand of Spiritual Power wrapped around the final Cursed Technique sigil, as if I had been waiting for it.

“Falling Spir…”

“Prepared Stitch.”

Crack!

Zzzzzzzzzz—!

The Prepared Stitch, deployed precisely diagonally to sever the connecting links within the opponent’s Cursed Technique sigils, caused the Falling Spirit Plunge to have all its structures misaligned just before completion, resulting in a complete Dispel.

Hwang Sejin, perceiving the fragments of scattered Spiritual Power, widened his eyes.

His expression clearly held disbelief at what had just happened.

“P-Prepared Stitch? Don’t make me laugh.”

“……”

“There’s no way a mere technique like that could block Falling Spirit Plunge. What trick did you use?”

Hwang Sejin was bewildered, but also seemed thoroughly enraged.

Well, having allowed a strike from someone he had continuously looked down upon, his towering pride must have been wounded.

“…Lacking talent, you’ve resorted to using forbidden arts.”

“It wasn’t a forbidden art. The technique just now was definitely the basic art, Prepared Stitch.”

“Such excuses won’t work in front of me. There was definitely some other method. It felt like the technique collapsed in an abnormal form.”

No, if you noticed that much, you should be able to roughly guess the principle?

Hwang Sejin definitely had talent, but something felt rather clumsy. He was different from Cheong Jiyeon, who had instantly sensed the peculiarity of Severance.

“It’s not a forbidden art, it’s a skill.”

“Ha, so you’re saying I was outmatched in skill just now? You’re spouting nonsense without knowing your place.”

“……”

I was gradually getting a rough idea of what kind of person Hwang Sejin was.

The type commonly said to live in their own world. Hwang Sejin undoubtedly belonged to that category.

Whoosh.

“Fine. I didn’t intend to go this far, but if you’re going to act like that, I have no choice but to respond seriously.”

A release of considerably powerful Spiritual Power—he probably intends to use an Advanced Art.

Just as I was steeling myself in response to his attitude of wanting to end things decisively, someone who had approached unnoticed shouted.

“Stop this at once. What is this commotion in broad daylight?”

It was Hwang Jincheol, who had been with me just moments before.

Since his residence was nearby, he had likely sensed the fighting energy and come outside.

“Hwang Jincheol, are you going to protect this insignificant creature too?”

“Protect or not, Kangyoon is a formally invited guest of the Hwang Family. Isn’t it ridiculous for you to cause a disturbance here in the territory of Elder Jeongwook?”

“Hmph, while this is the territory of the 3rd Elder, it’s also under the jurisdiction of my father, the 9th Elder. I find Hwang Jihak’s attitude of continuously allowing entry to someone I’ve rejected to be lacking in respect as well.”

Perhaps because he was indeed a future Elder of the Hwang Family, Hwang Sejin refuted Hwang Jincheol’s words with a fairly logical argument.

At that, Hwang Jincheol could no longer speak and let out a low groan.

During the ensuing silence, Hwang Jincheol, who seemed to have thought of something, quietly made a proposal.

“Then, rather than doing this in an unrelated place, how about we settle this properly with a match?”

“A match?”

“The loser of the bet must follow the winner’s words without complaint. You wouldn’t have any objections to that, would you?”

Actually, I wouldn’t have minded leaving a day early, so I was about to refuse, but Hwang Jincheol immediately offered a new reward.

“Just watching would be boring, so I’ll give one of my Yellow Dragon Immortal Jade Herbs to the winner of the bet.”

“…That’s not a bad proposal.”

The Yellow Dragon Immortal Jade Herb is a high-grade Spiritual Elixir of the Hwang Family, considered to be on the same level as the Cheong Family’s Azure Mystic Pill.

Since a family’s secret Spiritual Elixir isn’t something easily obtainable even with money, it was a reward I found tempting as well.

“What about you? Will you accept the bet?”

“…Yes. I’ll do that.”

While Hwang Sejin is undoubtedly stronger than me in terms of specs, the difference isn’t overwhelming.

If I can win the bet and obtain the Spiritual Elixir, it’s a profitable deal.

Looking at the two of us who had decided to accept the match, Hwang Jincheol announced the exact date and time.

“Come to the entrance of Dohaksan at 14:00 today. I’ll convey the exact details of the bet there.”

And so, a sudden match was established with Hwang Sejin, a future Elder of the family.

“Are you sure about this? Why on earth did you play along with his tune?”

A girl with light brown hair tied up in a hairpin, Hwang Seyeon, spoke to me with a worried face.

It was because she had heard the news about the bet with Hwang Sejin.

“You didn’t have to accept it. Since he made the first move, I’ll go and settle this definitively.”

Hwang Jihak stood up, seeming slightly angry, but I deliberately stopped him.

To be honest, even if I pretended otherwise, I really wanted the Yellow Dragon Immortal Jade Herb, the reward for the bet.

‘I’ll soon clash with Cheong Doyool’s faction, so it’s better to increase my strength however I can.’

Moreover, to fully make the energy of the Nine Dragons Pill my own, I need to keep moving my body. One way or another, this match wouldn’t be bad for me.

“A-Anyway I think, this really isn’t right… Hwang Sejin might seriously injure you.”

Hwang Seyeon continued to show signs of unease. She was undoubtedly recalling the pitiable skills of the previous Han Kangyoon, which were no exaggeration to call pathetic.

“Just call it off. Okay? If it’s because of what Hwang Sejin said to me, you don’t have to. I don’t care about it anymore either.”

That was something I was hearing for the first time. It was probably related to the previous clash between Han Kangyoon and Hwang Sejin.

“It’s fine. If I happen to visit again later, the same thing might happen. I’ll take this chance to settle it clearly.”

“B-But how? Kangyoon, you even lost to the middle school kids in the family before…”

Although it wasn’t something I did, it was truly an embarrassing past. Hwang Jihak, looking at me as I deliberately avoided eye contact, spoke up.

“Sis, come to think of it, I haven’t told you yet.”

“Huh? What?”

“The current Han Kangyoon is an opponent even I can’t confidently say I’d win against.”

“…What do you mean?”

“Even if it’s Hwang Sejin, he won’t be able to easily overpower him. No, this side might even gain the upper hand.”

“He became that strong in just a year? I don’t believe it…”

But with Hwang Jihak speaking so confidently, Hwang Seyeon no longer seemed intent on dissuading me.

She had sensed, as I said, that this was something that needed to be settled someday.

“Do you have confidence in winning?”

“To some extent.”

“Then that should be enough.”

To Hwang Jihak, who nodded, I let out a slight chuckle.

To be precise, though I phrased it indirectly, I have no intention of losing this bet.

‘Now I can use Advanced Arts too.’

I don’t know why he’s so obsessed with me, but it’s fine to settle the match now and take the Spiritual Elixir.

I rested leisurely, then headed to the entrance of Dohaksan as mentioned by Hwang Jincheol at the appointed time.

In my mind, I was contemplating dozens of strategies to deal with Hwang Sejin.