Manhwa: Chp.68-69
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the ears. Na Junghae had lightly played with his words without thinking of the proverb that the mouth is the root of all evil and the advice of the sages that words become seeds.
The two people came like a storm and left, leaving only the scene of disaster behind. Once he confirmed that their figures had completely disappeared from his sight, Na Junghae's face turned coldly stiff. It felt like all the energy had drained from his body. His complexion, which was initially pale and coldly stiff, gradually turned redder, and one by one, veins began to bulge, and eventually, it became as red as heated iron.
It was a grotesque sight, as if the veins that had risen on his forehead would burst at any moment, unable to endure the surging anger, and spew out blood. With a face that had turned as red as possible, Na Junghae used the boiling rage as fuel and shouted loudly towards the outside. The pent-up resentment that had accumulated so far erupted all at once in a wave of sound.
"You damn bastards who deserve to be struck by lightning and die! You cursed sons of bitches! You will surely face the judgment of heaven. Just wait and see, just wait and see. Hahaha..."
After spewing out curses that were too vulgar to even utter or put into writing, unbefitting of a leader responsible for an organization, Na Junghae's heart calmed down a little and subsided. Moreover, thinking about what he had orchestrated, he naturally felt a sense of satisfaction.
The two detestable bastards who came like a sudden storm and left only the scene of disaster behind. There was one thing that the stingy Na Junghae did not tell those two bastards who wouldn't be satisfying even if beaten to death. That was the fact that if Blazing Blade wanted to enter Heavenly Martial Arts Academy as an instructor, he could demand Bi Ryu-yeon's special exam qualification as a condition. For Heavenly Martial Arts Academy, which was desperately short of instructors and in need of even a single expert, it was an offer they could never refuse.
Compared to gaining a great figure like Blazing Blade as an instructor, such a price was too insignificant to even mention. However, Na Junghae did not teach them this simple and easy method. If this were true, there would be no need for Bi Ryu-yeon and Blazing Blade to go to Tiger Fang Manor hand in hand. Na Junghae intentionally hid this fact and deliberately sent the two to Tiger Fang Manor. In fact, when objectively assessed, the probability of Tiger Fang Manor being able to stop Blazing Blade was close to zero.
Tiger Fang Manor, the number one martial arts villa in Nanchang!
Of course, it was by no means a place to be taken lightly. The fact that it could confidently hang its signboard and act as a sect in the front yard of Heavenly Martial Arts Academy, which could be called the temple of martial arts, was more than enough to prove that Tiger Fang Manor's potential was extraordinary. However, it was not because of Ho Cheon-sang, the owner of Tiger Fang Manor, known as the Blind Tiger of Tiger Fang.
The 26 Forms: Fierce Tiger Flying Strike Sword Art. Although it was a powerful sword art, Na Junghae had never even thought for a moment that the villa owner, Ho Cheon-sang, could block Blazing Blade's unique skill, the Crimson Seventeen Flames of the Fire Spirit Blazing Heaven Blade Stance, even if he had mastered it to the extreme. With his individual true divine power alone, Blazing Blade was more than qualified to be evaluated as equal to or surpassing the first-class sects of the Gangho. Na Junghae, who collected and handled a vast amount of information scattered throughout the Gangho, knew this fact better than anyone else.
Blazing Blade was a person worthy of such qualifications. Of course, it should be noted that personality and character were excluded from the evaluation criteria for these qualifications. Therefore, if Na Junghae had only considered Tiger Fang Manor as a force to deal with the unlucky brat who was unfortunately attached to Blazing Blade, he would not have lured Blazing Blade and Bi Ryu-yeon there in the first place.
However, Na Junghae had a trusted corner. An unexpected variable, that person, was currently staying at Tiger Fang Manor. The one who made Tiger Fang Manor what it is today. There was someone who could be considered the master of Ho Cheon-sang, the Blind Tiger of Tiger Fang. The one who taught Ho Cheon-sang the truth of the sword and helped Tiger Fang Manor establish itself and act with authority within Nanchang City. Na Junghae was convinced that his Frozen Ice Sword, which was said to freeze even the moonlight, would be more than enough to stop Blazing Blade.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that he was the only one in this Gangho who could stop Blazing Blade. That was why Na Junghae had lured Blazing Blade and the ill-mannered brat to Tiger Fang Manor with the intention of teaching them a lesson. The only person who could confront Blazing Blade. One of the Five Great Swordsmen under the Heavens, who was praised and admired by the martial artists of the Gangho alongside the Five Great Bladesmen under the Heavens, was currently staying there.
Thinking about it, he naturally felt excited and exhilarated. His heart, which had been like rough waves, calmed down in an instant. Blazing Blade would likely suffer a great defeat this time. Na Junghae firmly believed so. However, after sending the two bastards to Tiger Fang Manor, he felt uneasy, like a blocked nostril, and a vague sense of anxiety began to creep in. So, Na Junghae prayed to the heavens. He prayed with all his heart, over and over again, that the two of them would be beaten to a pulp. Whether the heavens would listen to his prayer or heartlessly discard it was for the heavens alone to decide, but...
It was only then that Na Junghae finally called for Heuksam, a low-ranking disciple who had been pacing restlessly outside, and gave him an urgent task to do. It was a very important and urgent matter.
"Heuksam."
"Yes, Leader."
"Go quickly and bring a sack of king salt!"
"Pardon? King salt?"
For a moment, he couldn't understand what Na Junghae was saying. Why was he suddenly talking about salt out of nowhere? And he particularly emphasized the character "king."
"Yes, and make sure it's very coarse."
As a low-ranking disciple, Heuksam was currently in charge of various chores at Hall of Favorable Winds. Even if he doubted the leader's sanity, he couldn't dare to say it out loud. He had no choice but to act as he was told.
Na Junghae had initially asked Heuksam to bring a sack of king salt, but after giving the order, he felt it was a bit insufficient. Considering what had happened today, it wasn't something that could be resolved with just a sack of salt. So, Na Junghae shouted outside again.
"Heuksam, this won't do. Bring another sack of king salt. And call a priest as well. We need to perform a grand ritual to ward off evil today. Bad luck has stuck to us like a leech, a leech. A huge, damn leech!"
Feeling that one sack of salt was not enough, the stingy Na Junghae ordered an additional one. Then, he meticulously sprinkled the coarse king salt everywhere with his own hands. He even spent a regrettable amount of money to call a famous Taoist priest to perform a ritual to ward off evil, chanting incantations and plastering expensive talismans all over the place.
However, even after sprinkling sacks of salt, performing rituals to ward off evil, and putting up talismans, it was uncertain whether Na Junghae's ill-fated connection with the two people, who could be considered walking disasters, would end with this...
***
Tiger Fang Manor Intrusion Incident
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The sun was warm, the wind was gentle, and the atmosphere was quiet.
In the silent wind, the sky was high,
And the flow of clouds crossing the high blue sky was as leisurely as could be.
The witnesses unanimously testified,
That it was a very warm afternoon that day.
The weather that day, although it was winter by the solar terms,
Was clear and bright, more like a warm spring day…..
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It was an afternoon like any other, with the sunlight silently beating down warmly. If it weren't for that incident, it would have been remembered as just a peaceful and pleasant winter afternoon. However, an event caused by the visit of two people made that day very special for the martial artists of Tiger Fang Manor. It was a sudden and unexpected thunderbolt. Uninvited visitors disrupting the peaceful afternoon meditation. They were none other than Bi Ryu-yeon and Blazing Blade. Although there were only two of them, the effects they caused were on par with a disaster.
Due to the visit of the two, the martial artists of Tiger Fang Manor were left with an indelible humiliation and an unforgettable sense of defeat, deeply imprinted like a vivid brand that would not be forgotten for a long time.
"It's a promise," Bi Ryu-yeon said in a playful voice. Blazing Blade nodded knowingly.
"But that doesn't mean you can be informal with me. You should keep what needs to be kept."
Blazing Blade nodded again stoically. A satisfied smile appeared on Bi Ryu-yeon's lips.
"Then let's go."
Bi Ryu-yeon turned his body and walked ahead, with Blazing Blade silently following behind. In the direction they were heading, there was a martial arts villa named Tiger Fang Manor.
Normally, the main gate of Tiger Fang Manor should have been wide open, as if to welcome everyone. However, it was not so at the moment. It was firmly and tightly closed, seemingly impossible to open. Originally, for a first-class sect of this caliber, unless there were special circumstances－such as a prohibition on women, a sealed gate, a special ritual ceremony, a secret location, or a strict code forbidding interaction with the secular world－it was the principle to keep the main gate wide open and receive guests from sunrise to sunset.
Usually, there were two guards and one disciple in charge of greeting guests at the main gate. They would welcome visitors, have them write their names in the visitor's book, and then guide them to the guest hall or the place where they had business. That was the norm of the Gangho. Therefore, it was impossible for a first-class sect like Tiger Fang Manor to refuse guests during the day. In principle, even if the visitor was a beggar, they could not be refused for the sake of maintaining face, as it was an unspoken rule.
However, the reality of the current martial arts world was that even general conventions were not being followed well. It was unpleasant to pay attention to dirty and troublesome beggars, and it was also difficult to bear the enormous expenses incurred for entertaining guests. Therefore, they were selectively accepting only some of the invited visitors. If they were to accept and entertain every single visitor, Tiger Fang Manor's wealth would be ruined in an instant, and all the household members would easily end up on the streets. So, uninvited guests were not welcomed, while invited guests were treated with the utmost hospitality. Such practices had become the norm in all sects.
Nevertheless, this was Nanchang, one of the largest forces in the martial arts world. Even passing beggars had to be suspected of being masters at least once. This was because more than half of the beggars here were martial arts beggars belonging to the Beggar's Sect.
In Nanchang, where this was the reality, a first-class sect like Tiger Fang Manor would have an endless stream of guests every day. Therefore, Tiger Fang Manor could not be negligent in entertaining guests and was doing its utmost to provide hospitality as long as circumstances allowed. This was definitely the case until a few days ago. Any visitor who came here received a warm welcome. However, for some reason, it was not so at the moment.
If that was the case, it meant that something special was happening. The reason was to prepare for the Heavenly Martial Arts Academy entrance exam, specifically for Gam Oon-su, the second disciple of Tiger Fang Manor's leader, Ho Cheon-sang, who was about to take the exam. Therefore, Tiger Fang Manor had firmly locked its main gate and was shrouded in silence for the past few days. It was a small consideration from the master, Ho Cheon-sang, who wished for his disciple's success. For someone facing a major exam, noise was strictly forbidden, as it could distract the person's mind and weaken their concentration, making it more harmful and fatal than poison.
So, for the sake of his beloved disciple's preparation for the Heavenly Martial Arts Academy entrance exam, Ho Cheon-sang had firmly locked the main gate and maintained silence as a way of requesting self-restraint and self-discipline from those around. At the same time, he had also asked the villagers around the villa to be quiet and discreet in their behavior. There was no one in the vicinity who had the guts to boldly refuse Tiger Fang Manor's request and arrogantly engage in loud and boisterous activities, so Gam Oon-su was able to diligently prepare for the special entrance exam of Heavenly Martial Arts Academy in a quiet and serene environment. Even though it was a special screening, there were still dropouts, so he could not be negligent in his exam preparation even for a moment.
The iron gate of Tiger Fang Manor, firmly locked, was a silent pressure demanding the utmost discretion. It clearly indicated that refusal and rejection were not an option. This silent pressure was highly effective, and now the surroundings of Tiger Fang Manor were as quiet as if rats had died en masse. As a result, the senses of all the people inside the villa were bound to be sharply on edge, and the disciples who had to stand guard at the main gate were inevitably subjected to an overwhelming workload due to their heightened nerves.
The two people on duty at the main gate today were members of the Hall without Tigers, the main martial arts group of Tiger Fang Manor. The 'Hall without Tigersl' was the largest and most powerful military force within Tiger Fang Manor, consisting of 2 divisions and 6 squads under the command of the villa's owner, with each division comprising 3 squads. These two individuals belonged to the 1st Squad, known as the Sword Tiger Squad, which was notorious for its fierceness even among the Hall without Tigers's subordinate squads. Their names were Lee Gwan-jeong and Son Gon-woo, respectively. The two were inseparable friends and rivals within the Sword Tiger Squad, secretly competing in martial arts and intelligence for the position of the next squad leader. However, even they were not currently on duty with a strong sense of mission and in a good mood. It was simply because they had no choice as it was a disciplinary duty. Otherwise, who would want to stand guard at this tiresome main gate?
The main gate guard duty during midday not only involved guarding the gate but also required checking each visitor to the villa, conveying their purpose to the inner court, and even running errands for the guests, which was often the case. Therefore, no one could help but find it bothersome and exhausting. This fact applied equally to most other sects, making it a universal and very common occurrence. As a result, this duty was usually assigned to those without a position in each squad or those who had caused trouble and were serving disciplinary duty here.
These two individuals were contenders for the position of the next squad leader of the Sword Tiger Squad and were considered senior members within the squad. However, a few days ago, they had gotten drunk and engaged in a drunken martial arts duel, which unfortunately caught the attention of the Hall without Tigers's commander who was patrolling the area. As a punishment, they were sentenced to serve as guards at the main gate for an entire month. It was a so-called disciplinary duty.
Nevertheless, they had to be grateful that they ended up with only this level of punishment for engaging in a drunken martial arts duel, which was strictly prohibited by the sect's rules. Although they received a month-long disciplinary duty at the main gate and had to repeat the basic training techniques of the Fierce Tiger Sword Art a thousand times as punishment, it was truly a blessing that their disciplinary action ended at that level.
The punishment for a drunken martial arts duel—especially one involving real swords—was very severe because a momentary lapse of attention could instantly take a life. Despite this, the reason Lee Gwan-jeong and Son Gon-woo got away with only this level of disciplinary action was due to the intervention of the Hall without Tigers's commander, who favored the two. However, although they managed to avoid a major disciplinary action, their nerves couldn't help but be on edge in this situation. Therefore, both of them were in an extremely low-spirited state.
At that moment, not one but two uninvited guests visited Tiger Fang Manor. This group consisted of Bi Ryu-yeon, who had no distinctive features, and Blazing Blade, who stood out wherever he went due to his all-red attire.
Blazing Blade, with his intense impression like a burning sun, and Bi Ryu-yeon, in ordinary black clothing with his long black hair tied up haphazardly, were definitely an mismatched pair. Their footsteps silently came to a halt right in front of the main gate.