Chapter 112
Just as the Zhongnan Sect has Affiliated Families, the Mount Hua Sect naturally has Affiliated Families as well.
As two Sects that had been in a neck-and-neck rivalry for hundreds of years, the number and strength of their Affiliated Families were naturally similar.
However, as the Mount Hua Sect recently made leaps and bounds to surpass the Zhongnan Sect…
Mount Hua Affiliated Families also came to look down on the Zhongnan Affiliated Families as beneath them.
This was the same for Gamnyeong, a Disciple of Hwaseongmun, one of the Mount Hua Affiliated Families.
Having followed the Mount Hua Sect to participate in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering as an Affiliated Family Disciple, he simultaneously held pride in the recently elevated status of the Mount Hua Sect and contempt for the Zhongnan Sect.
Of course, since the Direct Disciples of the Zhongnan Sect possessed skills several levels above his own, the ones he practically looked down on were the Zhongnan Affiliated Families.
‘Hmph! The likes of those Zhongnan Affiliated Family bastards…’
In truth, apart from the Main Sect of Mount Hua rising in level, the Affiliated Families hadn’t changed much, but Gamnyeong also had the baseless confidence that if he met a Zhongnan Affiliated Family at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, he could miserably crush it.
But when he came out Downtown to eat with the other Affiliated Family Disciples, a grating rumor reached his ears.
“Lately, Jongrimun is…”
“I heard they’re that outstanding even though they’re an Affiliated Family.”
‘Jongrimun…?’
It was none other than rumors about the Zhongnan Affiliated Family, Jongrimun.
The Gossips on the street were predicting which Sects would perform well at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering and discussing Jongrimun.
Not even mentioning the Mount Hua Affiliated Families, only Jongrimun.
Naturally, for Gamnyeong, who viewed all Zhongnan Affiliated Families as beneath him, it couldn’t help but be unpleasant.
He voiced his dissatisfaction and asked the other Mount Hua Affiliated Family Disciples.
“Do the rest of you know where this place called Jongrimun is?”
“No… at least in our region, I’ve never heard of it…”
“Me neither…”
“Same here.”
Naturally, there was no one who originally knew about Jongrimun.
At this, the other Mount Hua Affiliated Family Disciples also raised their voices just like Gamnyeong.
“No, since when have the Zhongnan Affiliated Families had an outstanding Sect that everyone is suddenly making such a fuss about?”
“Could it be they paid money to hire people to spread this?”
They had accidentally guessed the right answer, but the Affiliated Family Disciples continued to badmouth them without knowing it.
“Now the Zhongnan Sect is no match for the Mount Hua Sect.”
“Isn’t that the same for the Zhongnan Affiliated Families?”
And that continued even after they took their seats at the Inn.
“Honestly, compared to the Mount Hua Sect, the Zhongnan Sect’s Sword Art lacks charm.”
“That’s right, should I say it’s too bland and lacks distinct characteristics?”
“Whether it’s the Thirty-Six Swords Under Heaven or the Heavenly Gang Sword Art, they’re all completely devoid of style.”
“I guess that’s why they’re falling behind the Mount Hua Sect. Hahaha.”
However, as the saying goes, birds hear the words spoken by day, and mice hear the words spoken by night.
“What did you just say?”
“…!”
At the sudden voice interrupting their conversation, the Mount Hua Affiliated Family Disciples turned around to see…
“Did you just dare to insult the Zhongnan Sect!”
… the Zhongnan Affiliated Family Disciples, who had been hidden by the crowd, were glaring at them with scowls.
* * *
‘Oops.’
Looking at the angry expressions of the Zhongnan Affiliated Family Disciples, Gamnyeong and the other Mount Hua Affiliated Family Disciples swallowed dry saliva.
No matter how much they were rivals, the Mount Hua Sect and the Zhongnan Sect were ultimately part of the same Taoist Family within the Nine Great Sects and One Alliance.
They only secretly kept each other in check and insulted each other; the two Sects had never once officially taken a hostile stance.
But now, they had been so absorbed in talking behind the Zhongnan Sect’s back that they were caught insulting the Zhongnan Sect by the Zhongnan Affiliated Family Disciples.
Looking at the faces of the Zhongnan Affiliated Family Disciples, one could see that they were furious.
Gamnyeong, who was somewhat of a leader among the Mount Hua Affiliated Family Disciples, stepped forward to resolve the situation.
“Insulting the Zhongnan Sect… There must be some misunderstanding…”
“What a misunderstanding! You were saying the Zhongnan Sect’s sword lacks charm, and that’s why the Zhongnan Sect is falling behind the Mount Hua Sect! We heard everything you were talking about!”
‘Damn it… so they really heard everything…’
Listening to the words of Jo Hong, a Disciple of the Zhongnan Affiliated Family Jongyeongmun, Gamnyeong felt a sense of dismay.
If by any chance they reported this fact to the Zhongnan Main Headquarters, the Mount Hua Sect would not be able to avoid reprimand.
‘In that case, rather…’
However, the Mount Hua Affiliated Family Disciple Gamnyeong was a smart person.
Rather than being reprimanded for unilaterally insulting an opposing Sect…, wouldn’t it provide an excuse to evade responsibility if he induced mutual fault?
Having made that judgment, Gamnyeong muttered as if talking to himself to further agitate the Zhongnan Affiliated Family Disciples.
And…
“But well, it’s not like it’s wrong…”
“What? What did you just say?”
Jo Hong immediately raised his voice upon hearing his words.
“Are you insulting the Zhongnan Sect again!”
“Ah, why are you saying I insulted the Zhongnan Sect? Honestly, isn’t it true that the Zhongnan Sect’s sword lacks distinct characteristics?”
“You…, you…”
“… And it’s also a fact that the Zhongnan Sect is falling far behind the Mount Hua Sect.”
“This bastard right now…! What did you just say, you bastard!”
In the end, Jo Hong couldn’t hold back and spat out a curse.
However, Jo Hong’s reaction was more violent than he had anticipated, so Gamnyeong and the other Mount Hua Affiliated Family Disciples were also taken aback.
“Wh-what? What did you just say? Bastard…?”
“Yeah, you bastard! How dare a mere Mount Hua Affiliated Family insult the Great Zhongnan Sect!”
“What, punk? And you guys are nothing but a mere Zhongnan Affiliated Family!”
“What, you bastard-!”
Thus, the battle of pride between the Zhongnan Affiliated Families and the Mount Hua Affiliated Families began.
* * *
“… That’s how it happened.”
“…”
I listened to Dongryong’s explanation while observing the scene unfolding right in front of me.
Because the Affiliated Family Disciples of each Sect were pointing fingers and screaming at the top of their lungs, all the attention in the Inn was drawn this way.
“They aren’t even Bandit Bastards. What are they doing right now…”
Even my subordinates in the Green Forest don’t fight so vulgarly. But these guys, who call themselves Rising Stars of the Righteous Faction, are fighting like that when they aren’t even kids.
Tsk, tsk.
Perhaps if these guys were Direct Disciples of the Mount Hua Sect and the Zhongnan Sect, they wouldn’t have clashed so severely, as they would still have their dignity as Taoist Priests to uphold.
But maybe because they were rootless Affiliated Family bastards, they couldn’t look any more childish, unable to hold back and resorting to brute force.
“Leader…, no, Senior Martial Brother. What should we do?”
Dongryong asked me with a worried look in his eyes.
To this, I…
“What do you mean? What should we do? Is my food out? Let’s just eat.”
“… Pardon? Even so, shouldn’t we stop them or take the side of our Affiliated Family Disciples?”
“What? Our Affiliated Family Disciples?”
I whispered into the ear of Dongryong, who was spouting nonsense.
“… Dongryong-a, snap out of it. Are you really a Disciple of Jongrimun? You’re not.”
“But…”
“To us, this bastard and that bastard are all the same Righteous Faction bastards anyway. Let’s just not get involved in a kids' fight and eat our food.”
Just in time, the somen noodles I ordered arrived at my seat, so I sat down and picked up my chopsticks.
Then, Yoo Somyung and Yu Jinmyeong, who had returned to the Inn with me, also asked me with worried expressions.
“Hey…, they’re fighting over there…”
“Great Hero… shouldn’t you somehow stop them?”
At this, I had no choice but to answer unjustly before I could even take a single bite of my noodles.
“No, why are this guy and that guy all telling me to stop them…!”
If a fight breaks out, call the fucking Police.
I don’t know why the hell they keep bitching at me.
I’m even a Bandit.
I mean, why are they telling a Bandit to stop a fight between Rising Stars of the Righteous Faction?
It was then.
“No, but seriously, this person…!”
Unable to hold back in the end, one of the Mount Hua Affiliated Family Disciples pushed a Zhongnan Affiliated Family Disciple with his palm.
Still, perhaps having no intention of hurting him, he made nothing more than a light contact, but the problem was…
Splash.
… as the Zhongnan Affiliated Family Disciple’s body was pushed, the table was also pushed, causing my noodles to spill.
“This fucking bullshit.”
I had been eating nothing but raw grass since yesterday, and I was just about to taste some proper food.
But before I could even lift a single chopstick, my noodles had miserably left my side.
“Seriously…, fuck…”
Unbearable rage surged from my dantian all the way to the top of my head.
‘These dog-like bastards, I was just going to ignore them…’
Ultimately unable to suppress my anger, I shouted at the Mount Hua Affiliated Family Disciples.
“Hey, you fucking Fake Mount Hua Sect bastards.”
“… Wh-what? Fake Mount Hua Sect? Who just said that!”
“It’s me, you bastard.”
Hearing my words, the Mount Hua Affiliated Family Disciples immediately glared at me. Then they flinched.
It seemed they did so because they recognized the appearances of Yoo Somyung and Yu Jinmyeong standing next to me.
“Y-Young Hero, who are you to butt into our conversation and spout such nonsense…!”
When the Mount Hua Affiliated Family Disciple asked with a trembling voice, Jo Hong answered on my behalf.
“Haha, this person is the famous Shadowless Taoist Priest of Jongrimun! He’s also acquainted with the young master and lady of the Shanxi Yu Family!”
Pride could be heard in the voice explaining this.
“Jo, Jongrimun…? If so, then that person is…”
“Sh-Shanxi Yu Family…”
As the Mount Hua Affiliated Family Disciples began to waver, one who appeared to be their leader stepped forward and continued speaking.
“Look here! I am Gamnyeong of Hwaseongmun! You just made a remark ignoring all Mount Hua Affiliated Family Disciples by calling us Fake Mount Hua, is that correct?”
Although there was tension in his eyes, his voice did not tremble.
It seemed he thought he had caught me on a technicality after hearing me say Fake Mount Hua…
“It’s true, Fake Mount Hua.”
“Wh-what?!”
So what.
Did I say something wrong?
“Fake Mount Hua…! Even though we are Affiliated Families, we are respectable Disciples of the Mount Hua Sect…”
“Hmph, what kind of Mount Hua Sect Disciple can’t even bloom a single plum blossom.”
“…!”
Blooming plum blossoms while using a Sword Art was the very trademark of the Mount Hua Sect.
However, to bloom proper plum blossoms, one had to execute at least the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Art.
‘The Mount Hua Affiliated Family Disciples, who have restrictions on learning Martial Arts and thus can’t learn the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Art, can’t bloom plum blossoms.’
A steamed bun without red bean paste.
An iPhone without the Apple logo.
A club retreat without female members.
A Mount Hua Sect Disciple who can’t bloom plum blossoms.
Truly a Fake Mount Hua.
“You…, you…, even if we can’t bloom plum blossoms, we are…”
“You guys are just pushovers, pushovers, pushovers who just offer tribute money to the Mount Hua Main Headquarters. If they considered you real Family, wouldn’t the Mount Hua Sect have taught you the Plum Blossom Sword Art?”
“You son of a bitch-!!”
Paat-!
Ultimately unable to hold back in turn, Gamnyeong raised his fist while drawing up his Internal Energy.
Plum Blossom Fist.
The Mount Hua Sect didn’t teach the Plum Blossom Sword Art to their Affiliated Families, but perhaps unable to lose their premium customers, they passed down the best one among their Fist Arts.
However…
SMACK-!
“Kuaaaagh-!”
Even so, it was merely the fist of a Righteous Faction Rising Star.
Without even needing to block it with my hands, I lowered my head and took it with my head. As if his fist hurt from colliding with my hard skull, Gamnyeong screamed and stepped back.
And this was…
“Huh? You hit me, right? The crown of the head is the most important vital spot on a person. And you just went and slammed a Plum Blossom Fist right into my vital spot? People of the world - ! Look! A Mount Hua Affiliated Family is using a killing move on a Zhongnan Affiliated Family!”
The exact situation I had been aiming for.
“K-Killing move! You shoved your head into the trajectory of my fist…!”
At the sudden instigation, Gamnyeong grabbed his reddened fist and retorted, but…
“Whatever, this is self-defense, you bastard!”
“Aaaaaagh-!!”
… Before I even had a moment to say anything, the guy was struck in the forehead by the noodle bowl I threw.