Yeophyeon shot the eldest elder a gaze as cold as ice.
"Eldest Elder! You claimed this life-and-death duel was for just the two of us, so why have you intervened to turn it into a chaotic mess? Are you trying to make the Yeop family a laughingstock in front of all these people, putting your pride aside?"
As Yeophyeon said, everyone in the hall stared at the martial stage with expressions of disbelief. It was no longer a one-on-one duel but appeared to be a group attacking a single person. This was a violation of the life-and-death duel rules.
The spectators began to murmur. Leeok and the others exchanged meaningful smiles. For Yeoprang, who had reached Ki-Transcendent, to be completely overwhelmed by Yeophyeon was a major anomaly. It was an excellent opportunity for the three clans. Leeok stood and shouted at the eldest elder.
"Eldest Elder! You invited us under the pretense of a duel, only to show a scene where multiple people persecute a single boy?"
Jangryeol chuckled and echoed her words.
"So the life-and-death duel of the Yeop family, which I had heard so much about, turns out to be nothing but a brawl! I could die laughing, hahahaha…"
Gangnyeom of the Seongju clan also spoke toward the eldest elder.
"Eldest Elder, everyone in the world is watching this scene. You should feel shame!"
The eldest elder turned toward Yeoprang, looking embarrassed. Yeoprang's armor was already tattered, and blood continuously flowed from his mouth, suggesting serious injuries. At this rate, if the duel continued, he might be struck down by Yeophyeon.
Then Yeophyeon's laughter rang out.
"Hahaha! Eldest Elder, you never intended a one-on-one duel from the start, did you? Let's hear it then. What excuse are you using to try to eliminate me… and since so many people from inside and outside Cheongseong are here, explain it openly!"
"Yeophyeon, this duel is indeed quite unfair, because you used deception," the eldest elder replied.
Yeophyeon shouted in anger.
"Deception? You senile old fool! You proposed a one-on-one duel, and now that you're losing, you call it deception? Your face is thicker than your backside!"
The eldest elder roared.
"Disciples of the Yeop family! Kill the traitor Yeophyeon at once!"
By now, the eldest elder saw nothing else. The crowd erupted with shouts.
"The Yeop family has no shame! Why won't they admit defeat?"
"Not only that, but now they claim deception because their side lost! How shameless can that Eldest Elder be?"
"Even if that Heaven-Calling Prodigy is his grandson, this is beyond disgraceful!"
The man and woman from Yeomseong and Naseong also could not hide their contempt. The guards holding crossbows at the edge of the life-and-death stage hesitated. The eldest elder shouted again.
"What are you waiting for? Fire!"
Just as the guards hesitated to shoot, someone shouted loudly.
"The clan head has appeared!"
The eldest elder flinched and turned his gaze to the gate of Yeopbu. Yeopchang, the head of the Yeop family and the strongest, was walking slowly toward the stage.
"Greetings, Clan Head!"
All Yeop family warriors knelt and paid respect. Yeopchang, now on the life-and-death stage, fixed his gaze on the eldest elder.
"Such behavior is unacceptable!"
The eldest elder's face turned pale as he quickly bowed his head.
"Cl… Clan Head!"
Ignoring him, Yeopchang raised his fists toward the assembly.
"To all who have come here today, this is a grave disrespect! From this moment, I demote the eldest elder to a regular elder and confiscate all his powers!"
Before the pale eldest elder could respond, Yeopchang turned to Yeophyeon.
"This matter should end here."
Yeophyeon shook his head and pointed at Yeoprang.
"The life-and-death duel with him is not over yet!"
Yeopchang furrowed his brow. The eldest elder interjected.
"Clan Head, Yeoprang is a Heaven-Calling Prodigy, and recently even reached Heaven-Calling. Yeophyeon, on the other hand, may have won today, but his dantian is destroyed. I guarantee he will remain a crippled warrior, never leaving Cheongseong."
Yeopchang's cold gaze pierced the eldest elder.
"You were the one who destroyed his dantian, weren't you?"
"Yes! Clan Head! All of this is the doing of this old man! But listen! Yeophyeon has no future. Conversely, if Yeoprang continues to grow, he will bring great honor to our family!"
Other elders nodded repeatedly. Yeoprang was essential to the Yeop family's glory; he could not be allowed to die like this.
Yeopchang pondered. Even a genius like Yeophyeon could not be entrusted with the family if his dantian was destroyed. Meanwhile, Yeoprang, a Heaven-Calling Prodigy, was far more valuable. Yeopchang looked up at Yeophyeon.
"I cannot reinstate you as heir, but from today, I will restore all the privileges you once held. Let this matter end here. Do you understand?"
Suddenly, Yeophyeon laughed, a sound pitifully desperate.
"Actually, Clan Head, you have known about all of this for a long time and never intervened. You stood by while the Eldest Elder treated me unfairly because you felt threatened by my rapid growth. Don't deny it!"
Yeopchang furrowed his brow.
"You insolent fool!"
"Clan Head, isn't it true that your inaction—letting those who destroyed my dantian and persecuted me go unpunished—is your way of protecting Yeoprang, whose future is bright, rather than me?"
Yeopchang stared silently at Yeophyeon. Though a genius, Yeophyeon had no direct lineage or backing like Yeoprang, so his exclusion was natural. Allowing this to continue was Yeopchang's calculation, letting Yeophyeon and the eldest elder exhaust each other. He believed he was simply fulfilling his duty as clan head.
As the hall fell silent, all eyes turned to Yeophyeon. Even Leeok could not help but side with him now. She could not understand such disrespect toward someone who had built the family.
A mournful laugh escaped Yeophyeon, and he looked toward Yeopbu with a troubled expression.
"I, Yeophyeon, have fought countless battles to protect the Yeop family since becoming heir at twelve, yet the reward for my efforts is so miserable."
He tore the Yeop family emblem from his chest and threw it to the ground.
"I, Yeophyeon, declare that from today onward, my sister Yeopryeong and I are no longer connected to the Yeop family. Even if we die, we will not be buried under the Yeop family!"
The hall erupted. The Yeop family warriors stared at him in shock. No one had ever abandoned the family on their own, at least not in Cheongseong. Leeok and the others looked on in disbelief.
Yeophyeon was rebelling against the Yeop family! Yeopchang addressed him.
"This is your choice. Blame no one else."
Yeophyeon turned without a word and descended from the martial stage.
At that moment, the eldest elder shouted.
"Stop!"
Yeophyeon halted. The eldest elder pointed at him and spoke to Yeopchang.
"Clan Head! Even without his dantian, his combat strength cannot be underestimated. If you let him go unpunished, he will surely bring future calamity to our family!"
Other elders chimed in with similar warnings.
"Clan Head! Yeophyeon is a traitor. If he is not killed, it sets a bad precedent for other warriors. Moreover, if such a strong Yeophyeon joins another faction, it will bring disaster to our family!"
Yeopchang raised his hand, and the guards simultaneously aimed their crossbows at Yeophyeon. His cold voice echoed through the hall.
"A traitor to the family is to be executed immediately. Kill!"
Just as the guards were about to fire, someone shouted.
"Stop!"
A woman wielding a long spear walked slowly toward the martial stage. The eldest elder's face changed drastically upon recognizing her. Gangnyeom also rushed forward in surprise and bowed.
"Cheongseong's Lord Gangnyeom pays respects to the National Warrior!"
The National Warrior, An Ransu!
The youngest National Warrior in the history of the Kang Kingdom!
Even the king could not interfere with the position of a National Warrior. Officials had to bow in respect. The man from Yeomseong and the woman from Naseong also bowed to her.
"I, Makhaeng of Yeomseong, pay respects to the National Warrior!"
"I, Uga of Naseong, pay respects on behalf of my region!"
Only when representing their factions were they allowed to speak to the National Warrior. Otherwise, they could not approach her. An Ransu nodded slightly.
"I have business here."
The three made way for her. All eyes were on An Ransu. She walked to the life-and-death stage with grace.
Lingkong Stage!
Those who recognized her level gasped.
The youngest Lingkong stage warrior of the Kang Kingdom, An Ransu, approached Yeophyeon.
"Today is the very day we agreed to face each other."
Her words made everyone flinch. The eldest elder muttered, stunned.
"How can someone without a dantian request a duel…"
All eyes were fixed on Yeophyeon. He finally spoke.
"Very well!"
A sword appeared in his palm.
Spirit Sword!
The hall froze as if turned to stone.
"A… swordsman?"
A single whispered word pierced the silence, shocking everyone.
A swordsman!
Cheongseong had never produced a single swordsman—until now. Yeophyeon had become one. Faces went pale. Even Yeopchang looked stunned, and the elders had long been frozen in place.
Just as An Ransu was about to speak, the eldest elder shouted angrily.
"No, this cannot be… how can you be a swordsman?!"
Yeophyeon stepped closer to the half-crazed elder.
"Sorry, but it's happened. Why, are you so angry you might explode?"
"Cough!"
The eldest elder spat blood, scowling and pointing at Yeophyeon. Then he shouted at Yeopchang.
"Clan Head, this one must not be allowed to live! If he does, he will surely bring great disaster to the Yeop family!"
An Ransu frowned.
"I have never seen someone so malicious in my life!"
The eldest elder tried to speak, but An Ransu interrupted.
"One more word, and your shoulders will feel empty."
The eldest elder fell silent. The glares from Gangnyeom and the others were not ordinary. An Ransu ignored the elder and turned to Yeophyeon.
"Draw your sword!"
Yeophyeon saluted her and tilted the Spirit Sword toward the ground. His body was motionless as if fixed to the earth. An Ransu nodded slightly and stepped forward. At that moment, Yeophyeon moved swiftly like the wind, the Spirit Sword aimed at An Ransu.
One Sword!
A single, swift, and precise strike. An Ransu twisted her upper body and thrust her spear. The tip clashed with Yeophyeon's sword.
Clang!