-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Acknowledgment
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"You, you don't mean to say you used the Swirling Stream Chaotic Flowers Art...?"
Yuk Hong-seo forgot they were in the middle of a spar and pointed accusingly.
Yuk Jin-yang didn't give his opponent a chance to press further. He unleashed a barrage as swift as a waterfall's torrent on the upper body. The finishing blow was an uppercut to the jaw. Unable to withstand the impact, Yuk Hong-seo collapsed helplessly.
"Urk!"
The short cry of pain ended abruptly. Blood streamed from his mouth where the fist had struck. It seemed a tooth had broken.
Yuk Jin-yang gathered his qi. In his mind, he evaluated the proficiency of the technique he had demonstrated during the spar.
'The Ten Thousand Rivers Single Source Art didn't unleash its full power as expected.'
He had held back, of course. After all, he couldn't just kill a fellow clansman without cause. Knocking him out in one strike was sufficient. The problem was that the power had fallen short of expectations.
The Coiling Dragon Dance Step of the Ten Thousand Rivers Single Source Art was an exquisite technique. If it had performed at full strength, there would have been no need to resort to the Swirling Stream Chaotic Flowers Art.
'I need to focus more on qi circulation for explosive power. Perhaps incorporating Twining Silk Force or Bouncing Force would help.'
Yuk Jin-yang's thoughts couldn't delve deeper. Yuk Hong-seo's whimpering broke his reverie.
"D-Do you think you'll get away with striking me, you wretch?"
"Want to hide behind your parents now?"
Interrupted in his contemplation, Yuk Jin-yang shot back sharply.
"Kuh."
Yuk Hong-seo ground his teeth in fury. His glaring eyes were sharp as well. A venomous aura refused to accept defeat.
Yuk Jin-yang smirked and asked,
"Shall we continue?"
"Of course!"
Yuk Hong-seo sprang up indignantly. But no second chance was given. People had gathered due to the commotion they caused.
They couldn't hide their shock at the contrasting appearances of Yuk Jin-yang and Yuk Hong-seo.
The despised outcast child had defeated the well-raised direct descendant. No one had anticipated it.
"Young Master!"
A sharp shout pierced the murmurs. A man in black martial robes pushed through the crowd of retainers and stepped onto the sparring platform. He hurriedly supported and checked on Yuk Hong-seo.
"Are you alright?"
"Let go! The spar with that guy isn't over yet!"
"Young Master, too many eyes are watching. Do you want to disappoint the Pavilion Leader?"
At the man's rebuke, Yuk Hong-seo squeezed his eyes shut.
"...I, I..."
"You must endure for now."
Yuk Hong-seo bit his lip and nodded. Even so, he refused the support.
The man sighed and turned to Yuk Jin-yang. He approached with a outwardly polite demeanor and inquired about the situation.
"I am Dan-ryeong, attendant to the Distant River Pavilion Leader. If it's not too much trouble, may I ask what exactly happened?"
The Distant River Pavilion Leader was Yuk Gyun, Yuk Hong-seo's father. His affiliation was already obvious from his blatant favoritism.
Yuk Jin-yang met Dan-ryeong's gaze squarely in confrontation.
"He slandered me with baseless words."
Emphasizing his voice, he gestured toward Yuk Hong-seo with his chin.
"So I taught him the lesson of the Gate of Verbal Calamity through a spar. Is there a problem?"
"Lies!"
The crowd flinched at Yuk Hong-seo's hysterical shout.
"It's a lie! That guy replicated the Moon Maiden Sword Art and Swirling Stream Chaotic Flowers Art after seeing them just once. How could a kicked-out family bastard do that?!"
"Shut your mouth. Unless you want the rest of your teeth broken."
Yuk Jin-yang raised his qi.
The menacing aura pricking at his skin made Yuk Hong-seo instinctively shrink his neck. The bruises on his body throbbed belatedly.
Yuk Jin-yang shrugged nonchalantly and added,
"His attitude makes it easy to guess what he said to me, doesn't it?"
"Then are you claiming... you bear no responsibility?"
"Are you in a position to question my responsibility?"
Dan-ryeong's face stiffened as he realized his mistake.
The boy before him was a direct blood relative of the Yuk Clan. He was no match for a mere guard of the family.
Dan-ryeong had backing himself, and the opponent was young, so he had hoped to bully the situation away.
Dan-ryeong felt a strong sense of incongruity.
Yuk Jin-yang's demeanor toward him seemed arrogant yet restrained. It was befitting of a prestigious family's direct descendant.
It meant he clearly understood his own position. Hard to believe for a boy who had been back at the main house for less than a month.
'Did the Flying Stream Pavilion Leader educate his son thoroughly?'
The thought was brief. Dan-ryeong bowed.
"My apologies. I overstepped."
"I'll let it pass this time."
Yuk Jin-yang replied calmly and left without waiting for a response, crossing the training ground. All eyes were fixed solely on him.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The next morning.
During breakfast, Yuk Eon casually asked about yesterday's incident.
"You caused quite a stir."
It wasn't a tone of reproach. A faint smile even played on his lips. Yuk Jin-yang answered with relief.
"The rumors have spread already?"
"By now, the whole household probably knows."
Dang So-so apparently wasn't included. She stared wide-eyed at her husband and son alternately, as if asking what it meant.
"What incident?"
"Nothing much. Jin-yang sparred with Hong-seo and went a bit overboard."
But after the meal, in a private setting, Yuk Eon demanded a detailed explanation from his son.
"So, what happened?"
"How much do you know?"
"Just what I said at breakfast. That you sparred with Hong-seo. Even that came from his father, so I thought I should hear your side."
"Did Third Great-Uncle come by?"
"Yes. No need to worry. I sent him off well placated."
Yuk Eon replied indifferently. As if treating a mere merchant.
"Anyway, you wouldn't do that without reason. Tell me the details."
Yuk Jin-yang briefly recounted the events. From the insult by his cousin to the outcome of the spar.
Having heard it all, Yuk Eon briefly comforted his son.
"Well done."
"Pardon?"
"I don't know why you're surprised. I told you to restrain yourself, but not to accept injustice. He tried to slander you, so making him pay was right."
Instead of scolding, Yuk Eon patted his son's head.
His feelings toward his third brother were already poor due to the insult on Mid-Autumn Festival. They had frequent clashes due to his erratic behavior.
He must have passed on his flawed temperament to his child. So he surmised.
"By the way, someone has come looking for you."
Yuk Eon turned toward the papered door and said. He had sensed a presence far outside. Proof that his skills hadn't rusted despite exile.
Soon, a servant's voice rang out.
"Pavilion Leader, someone has come from the Family Head's Hall."
"Let them in."
The one who entered was Hwang Dal-pyeong.
"The Family Head summons the Young Master."
Hwang Dal-pyeong delivered the order from the Family Head's Hall with a troubled face. Then, in a cautious tone, he shared his thoughts.
"It seems he'll question you about yesterday's spar."
Yuk Eon frowned at once. But it was the Family Head's command. No good excuse to refuse.
"Then I'll go with him."
"My apologies, but the Family Head said to bring only the Young Master."
Yuk Eon narrowed his eyes and clicked his tongue. His displeasure was plain. Substituting a shallow sigh for acceptance, he reassured his son.
"Don't worry too much. He won't punish you over a mere spar."
"Yes."
Yuk Jin-yang gave a short reply and followed Hwang Dal-pyeong.
As they crossed the vast Yuk Clan Great Compound, passersby bowed but sent strange glances. Some even whispered behind cupped hands.
Yuk Jin-yang passed them indifferently. Whatever others gossiped, the Family Head would sort truth from falsehood.
Hwang Dal-pyeong stopped before a grand hall. The plaque read Crystal Sea Hall. The Family Head's residence and office.
The guarding attendant blocked Hwang Dal-pyeong from following casually.
"Only the Young Master is to enter."
Hwang Dal-pyeong nodded slightly and stepped back. Yuk Jin-yang opened the door alone and entered. A waiting page followed to guide him.
The interior of Crystal Sea Hall was lined with columns adorned in olive glass. Sunlight filtering softly made their star-like surfaces sparkle, drawing the eye. Intricate patterns added elegance.
"This way."
A servant waiting ahead opened the office door with utmost courtesy.
"I didn't expect results from opening Martial Valor Hall just ten days ago."
A voice came from within before Yuk Jin-yang even entered. It wasn't stern. A hint of amusement lingered.
Yuk Jin-yang entered slowly. A marble table stood inside. The Family Head, reviewing documents there, turned to face him directly.
"How was practicing the Ten Thousand Rivers Single Source Art?"
Yuk Jin-yang's eyes widened momentarily. No one yet knew he had practiced it in Martial Valor Hall.
'Could it be... qi sense!'
Yuk Mu-hyeok hadn't heard from anyone. He had sensed the qi fluctuations from the training ground at the Family Head's Hall.
A truly astonishing realm. Almost like observing all things from a thousand li away.
"The Ten Thousand Rivers Single Source Art is a supreme fist technique that dominated the Northern Song era. Even Emperor Taizu of Song coveted it, or so the tales say."
Yuk Mu-hyeok stroked his beard and asked in a meaningful tone.
"Yet who would have thought it could fell another Yuk clansman. At your level, you could have held back midway. Why didn't you?"
"I deemed it right to settle it decisively."
"Settle what?"
"Proof of my innocence. He insisted I deceived the elders for attention, so I revealed my prowess in a spar to prove my innocence."
"Even so, didn't you think you went too far?"
The Family Head's tone was even, but the content was not. It subtly reproached.
But was that truly his intent? Yuk Jin-yang inwardly denied it.
Yuk Mu-hyeok was not one to prioritize brotherly bonds. Hadn't he killed most of his own kin to claim the Family Head's seat?
He was likely probing for true intentions.
'Better to be straightforward.'
Yuk Jin-yang exhaled softly and spoke clearly.
"I wanted to teach a lesson. Today's experience will ensure he never slanders others lightly or spreads false rumors again."
"Outrageous."
His words and expression differed. A gentle smile bloomed on Yuk Mu-hyeok's face.