Chapter 383
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## C383
The fight between Yeon Mubaek, the Waryong Swordsman, and Lee Cheolwon, the Death Swordsman, intensified in the courtyard in front of the main house.
Both Yeon Mubaek and Lee Cheolwon were masters of the sword with vast experience in real combat.
Their movements were distinct.
If Lee Cheolwon’s swordsmanship, which had been honed throughout his life of fighting, was practical, Yeon Mubaek’s was subtle.
*Clang*.
Once again, a spark flew between the two.
Lee Cheolwon pushed Yeon Mubaek’s sword away with his own and took a step back.
“Damn it! Where did this guy come from?”
Although he appeared calm, Lee Cheolwon was burning inside.
The young man was too strong.
He was out of breath, but the other remained the same as he was at the beginning.
He was losing in swordsmanship and internal energy.
“This is crazy. I should have brought the ones from the external branch!”
The thirty men who accompanied him were not all members of the main branch of the Iron Blood Sect.
Only ten were from the external branch.
The rest were thugs recruited from here and there.
In a fight, they would only serve to make noise, but not to help.
Yeon Mubaek said to Lee Cheolwon, who was standing with his shoulders tense:
“What’s wrong? Are you getting scared now?”
“You’re crazy! Guys! Attack!”
Provoked by Yeon Mubaek, Lee Cheolwon decided to bet everything.
After hearing those words, he had no choice but to move forward, no matter what happened.
“Go for him!”
“Kill him!”
Thirty-odd men ran towards the main house, wielding all sorts of weapons.
At that moment…
Before the warriors of the Jeong Family could react, Yeon Seolju lunged forward with her sword in hand.
Yeon Seolju was no longer the naive young woman she once was. How brave Yeon Seolju is! 💪 She had become a sharp blade during her time as the leader of the Haewon Chamber of Commerce.
And now, with the supreme technique that Yeon Jeokha had taught her, she was unstoppable.
*Clang*.
*Clang*.
Instead, the warriors of the Iron Blood Sect (Cheolhyeolbang) were not up to the reputation of their sect.
“Ugh!”
“Krrk!”
Two of them were immediately knocked down.
The warriors of the Iron Blood Sect (Cheolhyeolbang) were startled to see Yeon Seolju’s prowess, which exceeded their expectations.
Their arrogance faded.
Naturally, their movements became more cautious.
*Clang, clang, clang*.
*Clang*.
The sound of swords clashing echoed through the air.
But the eight warriors of the Iron Blood Sect (Cheolhyeolbang) could not advance a single step.
Sure, they could try to enter the main house from the sides, but none dared to take the first step.
They were afraid of the warriors of the Jeong Family, who were standing on the porch like towers of steel.
The twenty thugs, seeing that the warriors of the Iron Blood Sect (Cheolhyeolbang) were losing, kept their distance, observing the situation.
Lee Cheolwon felt that atmosphere.
His men were losing, the thugs were cowering, and his mind faltered.
Losing his concentration, his swordsmanship, which was once so sharp, became a mere struggle.
Yeon Mubaek did not waste that opportunity.
He unleashed the Nine Heavens Sword technique, the fourth technique, the Wheel of Calamity of Wind and Fire.
Lee Cheolwon retreated helplessly before the whirlwind of sword wind that swooped down on him.
*Clang*.
With a sharp sound, Lee Cheolwon’s sword flew away.
The force of Yeon Mubaek’s sword caused Lee Cheolwon to lose control of his weapon, and his hand was torn.
Yeon Mubaek rested the tip of his sword on Lee Cheolwon’s shoulder.
Seeing that Lee Cheolwon, the leader of the external branch, had been defeated, the warriors of the Iron Blood Sect (Cheolhyeolbang) slowly retreated.
“Do you want to keep fighting?”
Lee Cheolwon, instead of answering, gritted his teeth.
He was humiliated to have been defeated in front of his men, but he had to retreat.
Yeon Mubaek had not decided to end Lee Cheolwon’s life.
Although his behavior had been despicable, he could not kill the leader of the Iron Blood Sect (Cheolhyeolbang) for that.
Lee Cheolwon left without looking back.
The warriors of the Iron Blood Sect (Cheolhyeolbang), wounded, followed him.
Once the warriors of the Iron Blood Sect (Cheolhyeolbang) were gone, Yang Yihwa called the women who were hiding to clean up the courtyard.
As they removed the broken tables, they realized that there was not enough space for the guests.
Quickly, Yang Yi-hwa borrowed tables from the neighbors to make sure that no one was left without a seat.
The inauguration ceremony was held with a slight delay.
Despite the concerns, many guests attended.
Even after the ceremony, people from the town kept coming.
All thanks to the Iron Blood Sect (Cheolhyeolbang).
People wanted to see the young master who had defeated Lee Cheolwon, the leader of the external branch of the Iron Blood Sect (Cheolhyeolbang).
The Yeon Military Academy seemed like a party.
Guests kept arriving, and Yang Yihwa and the women had no time to rest.
Especially Yang Yihwa, she was constantly going back and forth between the courtyard and the kitchen to make sure that there was no shortage of food on the tables.
Just as she was taking a breather in the kitchen, a cook came in and complained.
“I don’t understand why he keeps saying he doesn’t have smallpox. It’s obvious he has it! Let him go already! He wants to take advantage of the situation until the end. Is he a beggar?”
Yang Yihwa, who was listening without paying attention, asked:
“What’s wrong? What’s happening?”
“A stranger came and is ruining the atmosphere.”
“Is he causing trouble?”
“No, it’s just that he seems like he shouldn’t be here, but he’s staying here and asking for food.”
“Someone who shouldn’t be here?”
“He seems to have smallpox, judging by his face. I told him to leave, but he won’t listen.”
“Smallpox? Isn’t it contagious?”
“It’s a contagious disease. I told him to leave, but he won’t go. People are going to start leaving because of him. What do we do? Do you want me to go?”
“…”
Yang Yihwa hesitated for a moment before getting up.
Her legs were tired from fatigue, but she had to resolve the situation.
She went out to the courtyard and moved through the crowd of guests.
It wasn’t hard to find the man with smallpox.
He was the only one sitting alone, eating, because no one sat near him.
Although he was surrounded by people, he seemed lonely, and that gave Yang Yihwa a sense of sadness.
“Maybe I should pretend I don’t see him.”
Just then, the man, who was devouring the fish soup as if possessed, raised his head.
Yang Yihwa and Yeon Jeokha’s gazes met.
In that instant, the young man’s gentle and wounded eyes touched Yang Yihwa’s heart.
She saw reflected in him the members of the Yang Family who were wandering the martial world.
She felt a sense of guilt that she couldn’t explain and looked down.
The table he was sitting at was full of leftover food that people had spilled.
He didn’t have many plates of food either.
It seems that the maids and women who served the food had avoided him.
Yang Yihwa quickly returned to the kitchen and filled a basket with fresh food.
She wanted to give him a good meal, even if she had to throw him out.
In the guest room, Jeong Gyeokcheon, the Swordsman of the Sea and Mountains, Leader of the Jeong Family, sighed.
“Oh! We’ve stirred up a hornet’s nest. The Iron Blood Sect (Cheolhyeolbang) won’t stand still.”
Yeon Mubaek said calmly:
“I know. But they came looking for a fight.”
“My brother is right. It’s an inevitable fight. But how crazy that the orthodox military academies would attract the Iron Blood Sect (Cheolhyeolbang), an evil sect!”
Yeon Seolju snorted indignantly.
Jeong Gyeokcheon looked at the Yeon brothers with a worried expression.
If the Iron Blood Sect (Cheolhyeolbang) took it seriously, could the Yeon Gamu-gwan Academy defend itself alone?
“The Yeon Gamu-gwan Academy won’t be able to do it alone.”
But the Yeon brothers didn’t seem afraid.
“Do you have contacts in Henan province?”
“No. Unless it’s in Namjik province.”
“Oh, well. If we send someone to Namjik province, it will take two months to get back…”
Jeong Gyeokcheon left the sentence unfinished.
Two months wouldn’t do any good.
Yeon Seungbaek said to Yeon Mubaek:
“Brother, now that we’re in this situation, let’s gather people and fight. Like other chambers of commerce, let’s hire ronin.”
“Ronin?”
“Anyway, the Iron Blood Sect (Cheolhyeolbang) doesn’t have a leader right now. You and Seolju can face the sub-leaders and branch leaders, and we can let the ronin take care of the thugs.”
“That’s a good idea. If we have to fight the Iron Blood Sect (Cheolhyeolbang), let’s fight properly. I’ll also send a letter to the chamber of commerce, even if it’s a bit late.”
Yeon Mubaek didn’t answer his brothers immediately.
But if they had to fight, there was no choice but to recruit ronin.
Jeong Gyeokcheon said:
“But will the ronin come? Their opponent is the Iron Blood Sect (Cheolhyeolbang).”
“…”
The Yeon brothers were silent at his words.
Jeong Gyeokcheon looked at the Yeon brothers with pity and continued:
“I know there’s no other way. A rural military academy without merit or reputation, the Infinite Heaven Alliance won’t intervene.”
When the Infinite Heaven Alliance was mentioned, a wry smile appeared on Yeon Mubaek’s face.
The Yeon Gamu-gwan Academy and the Infinite Heaven Alliance were now like strangers.
“But don’t give up before you start. If you’re going to hire ronin, I’ll help you financially.”
“Thank you. We won’t forget your kindness.”
“Don’t mention kindness. Rather, I’m sorry I can’t help more because of my lack of contacts.”
“No, you are the benefactor of the Yeon Gamu-gwan Academy.”
“Brother, since we’re talking about this, how about we tell the guests? To spread the rumor.”
“I thought the same thing as my second brother. There are quite a few warriors among the guests. Let’s start recruiting right now. Who knows? There might be someone who wants to become a disciple of the Yeon Gamu-gwan Academy.”
At the insistence of his brothers, Yeon Mubaek got up.
The sooner they acted, the better, as they had decided to fight the Iron Blood Sect (Cheolhyeolbang).
———–
Yeon Jeokha, who was eating enthusiastically, raised his head.
A woman dressed in silk was cleaning the table.
“Will you also throw me out with that beautiful face, like the other women?”
While he was thinking about that, the woman said:
“I’m sorry, the table cleaning was delayed because we are short-staffed. I’ll bring you another meal, so eat calmly.”
“No need…”
“No, guests shouldn’t be treated this way. My mother would have scolded me.”
“…”
Yeon Jeokha stopped eating for a moment.
Yang Yihwa quickly finished cleaning the table and brought new food.
When the new food arrived, Yeon Jeokha leaned over the table again.
Then, Yang Yi-hwa said:
“But those eruptions on your face… is it a contagious disease?”
“No. It’s because of a medicine I took wrong. They say it’s because of the excess heat in my body. It’s just a severe rash.”
“I see. I’m sorry, the people who work here were very rude without knowing it. Please understand them.”
“It’s okay. Do you live here?”
“Yes, even though it doesn’t seem like it, I’m the owner of the Yeon Military Academy. Have a good time.”
Yang Yihwa smiled cheerfully and left.
Just then, Yeon Mubaek, Yeon Seungbaek, and Yeon Seolju came out to the porch.
The guests, who were eating and talking loudly, fell silent at the sight of the young master.
“I am Yeon Mubaek, the master of the Yeon Academy.”
Yeon Mubaek explained the situation of the Yeon Gamu-gwan Academy to those present calmly.
“…Our Yeon Academy refuses to succumb to the tyranny of the Iron Blood Sect (Cheolhyeolbang). The warriors of the Jeong Family of Gaebong have decided to join us. But it’s not enough. That’s why I wish to recruit heroes to join our Academy. Of course, we will reward them generously. If they wish, we will also teach them the martial arts of the Yeon Military Academy, which are top-notch in the martial world.”