Chapter Title: The Prodigal Son Returns (5)
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*Clunk!*
The one who shot to his feet was, unexpectedly, Yeon Ji-pyeong.
"From what I've heard, don't you think that's going too far?"
"What?!"
"Even if she's from the South Palace Family, there are things one should say and things one shouldn't!"
Yeon Ji-pyeong bellowed like a thunderclap.
"Apologize to Yang U!"
Namgung Sang-hwa, who had been about to spew a torrent of curses, tilted her head in momentary confusion.
She had thought he was demanding an apology from her. But no, he was telling her to apologize to the worm sprawled on the floor.
What on earth was this?
"Slapping an innocent person's face—is that the way of a prestigious house? Are the manners of the South Palace Family so rude?"
"...What?"
"Words that violate etiquette, followed by unprovoked violence! It's clearly the wrongdoing of a superior! Apologize to Yang U right now!"
He was resolute.
Yeon Ji-pyeong stood ramrod straight, shouting with the air of a lone bamboo stalk—perhaps a bit awkward, but unyielding.
Yang U looked up at him with trembling eyes. Lee Jeong-hak's gaze on Yeon Ji-pyeong grew strange as well.
Namgung Sang-hwa muttered in disbelief.
"What the hell is that idiot blabbering about?"
To her, Yang U was no different from the lowliest of commoners swarming the jianghu.
Even a pet dog wags its tail. But this one? Not only did it refuse to wag, it had the gall to bark out of turn.
She'd already shown mercy by not snapping his leg.
"If you don't apologize, you'll face humiliation. This is my final warning. Apologize."
"Humiliation?"
Namgung Sang-hwa burst into shrill, mocking laughter.
Her high-pitched cackle dripped with ridicule. Of course, her anger hadn't faded one bit.
"Do people puffing up the Seven Great Families make your guts spill out?"
"Even a bastard from a crumbling martial hall, if properly taught, would act as I have. Because that's what righteousness demands."
Yeon Ji-pyeong's eyes didn't waver.
"It seems you weren't taught properly."
Namgung Sang-hwa's laughter cut off.
*Whummm!*
"You don't know your place!"
Killing intent flickered at the corners of her eyes.
The atmosphere on the fourth floor of the tavern grew twice as frigid as before.
A heated argument could be overlooked somehow, but emitting killing intent changed everything.
Yeon Ji-pyeong's face hardened.
"Pitiful fool."
"Shut your mouth!"
Further words would only stoke her rage.
Namgung Sang-hwa, breathing heavily, shouted at Lee Jeong-hak.
"Make that bastard kneel before me right now!"
"M-Me, miss?"
Lee Jeong-hak's eyes bulged.
Namgung Sang-hwa's cheek twitched.
"Want me to make sure your family can't set foot in Anhui lands?"
Lee Jeong-hak truly panicked.
He had shifted the blame to the Yeon Family side to avoid her wrath. But he never imagined it would spiral like this.
"What are you waiting for? Move!"
"M-Miss! Even so, fighting the Yeon Family's heir is a problem...!"
*Slap!*
*Drip.*
Blood trickled from Lee Jeong-hak's mouth. The slap was far fiercer than the one he'd given Yang U.
"Touch my nerves one more time, and you and your entire clan will taste hell."
"..."
"Make him kneel."
Shock painted Yang U's face.
Lee Jeong-hak might have been obsequious, but who could've expected him to take this from Namgung Sang-hwa? The Anhui Lee Family might not match the South Palace, but it was still a notable house in Anhui.
To take a slap and say nothing? Unbelievable.
Lee Jeong-hak turned.
His eyes, fixed on Yeon Ji-pyeong, twisted with shame and fury.
*Thud. Thud.*
He slowly advanced toward Yeon Ji-pyeong.
Yeon Ji-pyeong sighed.
He had much to say, but he held his tongue.
Namgung Sang-hwa shouted again.
"Stop dawdling and drag that bastard to me!"
That was when it happened.
"Ruins the taste of the liquor."
Yeon Ho-jeong rose from his seat.
Namgung Sang-hwa snarled.
"Fine, you too...!"
*Thud!*
Everyone's eyes went wide.
"Guhk!"
Lee Jeong-hak staggered back.
A bare fist to the unguarded gut. His insides churned, legs buckling.
Yeon Ho-jeong's left hand reached for Lee Jeong-hak's head.
*Crunch!*
"Krrk!"
He seized a fistful of hair.
Something street thugs would do in back alleys. Not the act of a white path martial artist.
The panicked Lee Jeong-hak grabbed Yeon Ho-jeong's wrist.
"L-Let go!"
Then, Yeon Ho-jeong twisted his wrist.
Lee Jeong-hak's body spun through the air and slammed back-first into the floor.
*Whoosh! Bam!*
"Gak!"
Yeon Ho-jeong coolly raised his foot.
Pain twisted Lee Jeong-hak's face, now tinged with disbelief.
*Crack!*
"Kaaaaah!"
Lee Jeong-hak screamed, rolling on the floor. His nose bridge shattered, front teeth gone.
Yeon Ho-jeong brushed blood from his pant leg and spoke.
"Don't try shoving your responsibilities onto us."
"Cough! Guhk!"
"Consider your sins paid with this."
Horror dawned on every face.
Even Yeon Ji-pyeong's. He'd watched from behind, yet couldn't grasp Yeon Ho-jeong's technique.
First time he'd failed to comprehend a martial art he'd seen clearly. It left him stunned—and shocked by his brother's ruthlessness.
"B-Brother!"
"Ji-pyeong."
"Yes?"
"If something like this happens again, unless it's absolutely necessary, don't waste time on useless talk."
"...?"
"You think people who act like that in public will listen to reason? They're already rotten."
Yeon Ho-jeong's eyes gleamed.
"If you must correct or lecture them, knock them down first. It's not too late then."
Brutal words.
Yeon Ho-jeong walked toward Namgung Sang-hwa. His eyes met Yang U's midway, but his indifferent gaze showed not a shred of interest in the man.
Namgung Sang-hwa's face contorted.
"Do you have any idea what you've just done?"
Yeon Ho-jeong said nothing. He approached at the same steady pace and stride, as if merely stepping out for a drink.
Utter disregard. Namgung Sang-hwa's eyes rolled back in fury.
"You damned cur! How dare you ignore me?!"
*Hiss!*
An ominous energy emanated from Namgung Sang-hwa's body.
Different in quality from Lee Jeong-hak's power. Yeon Ho-jeong's eyes sharpened.
'Azure Sky Qi.'
One of the South Palace Family's prized internal arts, from the Azure Sky Heart Method. High-level cultivation that encompassed all their martial arts—a top-tier technique.
'She's got real talent.'
Eighteen, maybe?
Impressive pure energy for her age. Worthy of first-rate status.
But Namgung Sang-hwa had a critical flaw.
"Kneel now! If you do, I might overlook this disgrace out of respect...!"
*Whoosh!*
"Gasp!"
Namgung Sang-hwa flinched.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who'd been advancing steadily, suddenly accelerated. Such a move catches the unprepared off guard.
Namgung Sang-hwa's right hand swung instinctively.
*Rip! Rip! Rip!*
Her hand tore through the air viciously. Arrogant she might be, but her martial arts were well-trained.
Yeon Ho-jeong's hand countered.
Triumph flashed across Namgung Sang-hwa's face.
'Idiot!'
Daring to clash bare-handed with Heavenly Wind Palm? Foolish. She could splinter logs with one strike.
Meeting it with bare hands? His arm would shatter from hand to shoulder.
Namgung Sang-hwa poured more Azure Sky Qi into her hand.
That was when it happened.
*Swish!*
'What?!'
Yeon Ho-jeong's hand whipped like a serpent up her arm to her wrist.
As if it had no joints. Slower than Heavenly Wind Palm, but perfectly timed—she couldn't pull away.
Yeon Ho-jeong's fingers dug hard into her elbow, the Curved Pool acupoint.
*Crunch!*
"Aaaah!"
Namgung Sang-hwa screamed, stumbling back.
The Azure Sky Qi flowing to her hand snapped. Her entire right arm went numb.
"W-What sorcery is this...!"
*Crack!*
"...Huh?"
Namgung Sang-hwa blankly looked down at her leg.
Her left leg was bent inward—impossible for human joints.
Only then did she realize it was broken.
"Kaaaaah!"
*Thud!*
Namgung Sang-hwa collapsed, unable to steady herself.
This wasn't carelessness. She could've dodged, but didn't.
She thought he'd wait if she retreated, like in her spars.
But Yeon Ho-jeong's fights weren't gentle.
Once engaged, he pressed until one yielded or died. That was black path combat.
"Krrk! Y-You bastard! You broke my leg?! You and your whole family are dead!"
*Crack!*
"Kaaak!"
Namgung Sang-hwa screamed again. Her left arm snapped too.
As she opened her mouth for more curses, her body froze.
Cold eyes looked down—no human emotion in them.
Like staring at an object. That's how Yeon Ho-jeong saw Namgung Sang-hwa.
"What now?"
"Ugh! W-What?"
"How exactly do you plan to kill me and my family?"
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
Namgung Sang-hwa and Yang U felt chills at the sight.
"Fun kid. Planning to come back as a ghost?"
More chilling than the smile.
Become a ghost? It meant he'd kill her.
Only then did Namgung Sang-hwa realize she'd provoked someone beyond her.
She stammered.
"I-If word gets out I ended up like this, my family won't forgive you!"
"Oh?"
"Yes! So let me go now...!"
*Crash!*
Yeon Ho-jeong stomped a chair to splinters and picked up a leg.
"Then I have to kill you and bury you. That way, even the South Palace won't know."
Namgung Sang-hwa paled.
"You...!"
*Thud!*
No scream this time. Her head took the blow, and she toppled sideways.
Even in a daze-worthy state, her mind sharpened—amplifying the pain.
Terror gripped Namgung Sang-hwa's face.
She realized this madman might actually kill her.
*Sss...*
Behind that terrified face, the killing intent of the grandmaster who forged Black Dark legends crept forth.
Smile first, and he'll smile back.
But strike first, and he'll shatter you beyond recovery.
Shove or stab—it doesn't matter. If harmed, he charges and tears apart.
That was the Black Dark Emperor, the Black Emperor Castle Lord, the reason all unorthodox paths bowed to the Black Path Grandmaster.
"No more of what you want to say. Tell me what I want to hear."
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled, raising the club.
And swung mercilessly.
*Thud thud thud thud!*