Chapter 214

Chapter 214
Chapter 214. An Unwelcome Summons (3)

“What do you mean by that?”

To Eun-ho’s inquiry, Murong Jae-hwa replied with a tremor in his voice.

“I-if Grandfather finds me, I am done for… Yes! I will surely be finished.”

Watching Murong Jae-hwa huddle in a corner of the roof, shielding his head with both arms, Eun-ho found himself utterly bewildered.

Regardless of the circumstances, perishing at the hands of one’s grandfather? What sort of grandfather would do such a thing…

Oh, wait. His grandfather was the Wind Earl Sword-Breaker!

“Is it because you took up the bow instead of the sword?”

“Y-yes!”

Eun-ho tilted his head, confused.

“But you chose that path knowing full well you would be reprimanded, didn’t you?”

“I-I know that… I do. But I suppose I am not mentally prepared yet… No, what I mean is, I am not ready to be thrashed yet…”

Eun-ho was left speechless.

He had pursued that path regardless of the fear he anticipated.

His friend, paradoxical in his courage, seemed genuinely impressive.

“Is he truly that terrifying? To the point where you need to steel yourself for a beating?”

“A-actually, I was intending to practice external techniques on the side. O-of course, even if I did, I would still be punished with internal-external pressure tactics, but at least the markings would be less obvious…”

Upon hearing that Murong Jae-hwa had considered learning external arts just to hide the evidence of his grandfather’s temper, Eun-ho swallowed hard.

He realized he shouldn’t underestimate this as a typical elder’s form of discipline.

Just how frequently had the lad been punished for him to act this traumatized?

“Haa… But how did your grandfather, who should be back at your ancestral home, learn about your situation and arrive here? Did someone inform him?”

Murong Jae-hwa shook his head so violently it looked as though his neck might snap.

“That is impossible. I ensured everyone kept their silence. However, I suspect…”

Murong Jae-hwa stared blankly at the debt certificate held in his trembling hand.

“……”

“……”

Eun-ho let out a long, shameful sigh.

‘Eldest Senior Brother! Eldest Senior Brother! Eldest Senior Brother! Just how much more embarrassment do you plan to heap upon me?!’

Looking at the certificate, the full picture began to take shape.

Jin So-un had been the only one radiating confidence when everyone else was anxious about the “Distinguished Guest Invitation.”

Based on what Eun-ho knew, his Eldest Senior Brother had very few ties, so he had been curious about who Jin So-un intended to invite to be so self-assured.

No matter how reckless his brother was, he would never dream of inviting someone like Old Man Go from the forge to such a prestigious event.

‘But that person was Lord Wind Earl Sword-Breaker…’

It was clear that he had contacted Murong Gang, knowing that once the elder discovered his grandson’s departure from tradition, he would arrive at the academy instantly.

Once Murong Gang had finished venting his fury on Murong Jae-hwa, Jin So-un would surely have planned to request his attendance at the “Distinguished Guest Invitation” since he was already present.

It was evident without even seeing it happen.

“Haa…”

In the end, the true casualty of this scheme was the wretched Murong Jae-hwa.

‘No wonder that miser opened his purse strings so readily.’

Seeing his friend trembling, his face drained of all color, Eun-ho felt too guilty to lift his head.

“……”

Still, how could a decent fellow like Murong Jae-hwa be made to suffer because of such a lunatic?

Had he not called for Eun-ho the moment he received the funds, insisting on looking after his friend first?

Ill-begotten deeds bear bitter fruit. By all logic, the one who incited the mess should be the one to rectify it.

“W-what are you doing?”

Murong Jae-hwa asked, observing Eun-ho as he retrieved the Four Treasures of the Study from his inner pocket.

Eun-ho unfurled a sheet of paper, soaked his brush in ink, and began to write with purpose.

“Delivering justice.”

“Hm?”

His expression burned with more resolve than ever before.

—

To think someone would dare unleash such a powerful Lion’s Roar within the hallowed grounds of the Murim Academy—a shout loud enough to reach the office of the Academy Head himself.

The Academy Head and his instructors rushed to the scene to confront the brazen intruder.

However.

“…H-how did you manage to get here…”

Upon recognizing the face of the “intruder,” they turned ghastly pale.

Some of the instructors retreated, looking as though they were reliving a nightmare, and promptly fled.

The interloper stroked his beard and remarked,

“The poise of the Three Pure Ones Peerless Sword is certainly intimidating. You do not even offer a greeting to your senior when you see him.”

At the man’s words, the hair on the back of Buk Won-pyeong’s neck stood on end, and he hurriedly bowed.

“I-I offer my respects to Elder Murong Gang! Have you been in good health?”

The others standing nearby scrambled to follow his lead, bowing deeply.

“Greetings to you!”

Murong Gang.

Murong Gang!

That eccentric, spine-chilling name echoed throughout the facility.

Even while greeting him, the hands of the instructors were visibly shaking.

It wasn’t just his immense power.

It was his unpredictable, volatile nature that truly struck terror into their hearts.

“Seeing as you have all gathered, you must be here to discipline me. Come at me!!!”

It was for reasons like this.

“W-what do you mean? W-we only came because we were concerned if something had occurred within the academy grounds…”

Had he not freely released a Lion’s Roar so deafening that the entire campus trembled?

Servants had collapsed in agony, and students had emerged with blades drawn, fearing an all-out assault.

Naturally, it was the duty of the Academy Head and his staff to investigate.

Yet Murong Gang used that as an excuse to spout nonsense about engaging in combat.

“If that is the case, you ought to greet me and offer a tour. Is it proper to leave me standing in the middle of the road like this?”

“V-very well, I shall escort you to the Academy Head’s office… or perhaps a guest chamber.”

“I decline!”

“……”

Honestly, what a headache! He was acting like a petulant child!

One would assume that as people aged, their odd temperaments would mellow.

Why was his temper intensifying alongside his martial prowess?

Though he felt a surge of bile rising in his throat, Buk Won-pyeong did not let his smile falter as he said,

“M-may I ask what brings you here?”

“I did not give you leave to question me!”

Buk Won-pyeong’s mouth twitched uncontrollably.

Nevertheless, he had to maintain his composure.

At his age, he had no desire to become the subject of gossip regarding being beaten until his limbs were shattered.

Even if the individual in question was the world-renowned Sword-Breaker.

To avoid offending him, Buk Won-pyeong bowed his head even lower and tried once more.

“…Might I ask if I may inquire?”

“…Hmm? Very well, proceed.”

This old man, really!

“Ahem, may I ask the reason for your visit…”

“I heard my grandson decided to take up the bow?”

“…!”

Buk Won-pyeong’s eyes widened in alarm.

Murong Gang’s expression turned icy.

“…Gulp.”

“So you were aware.”

Truth be told, whether an academy student favored a sword or a bow wasn’t something the administration could dictate, was it?

“T-that is…”

Just as Buk Won-pyeong scrambled for a justification,

“Regardless, you surely know it was a grave error not to notify me, do you not?”

“……”

“That is precisely why you are so jittery in my presence, isn’t it?”

That piercing stare seemed to dismantle his defenses entirely.

Most eccentric individuals were simple-minded.

If one pacified them or, to put it plainly, stroked their ego, they would usually accept it and maintain their dignity.

But Murong Gang was unnervingly adept at perceiving his opponent’s plots and tormenting them with that knowledge.

And he relished it.

More than anyone else.

If he hadn’t been the leader of the Murong Clan, he would have been branded a public enemy of the entire martial arts world long ago.

Buk Won-pyeong racked his brain desperately.

How could he survive this encounter?

Being humbled by Murong Gang was inevitable, but now that he was a prominent figure, he had to avoid being humiliated in public.

Furthermore, given Murong Gang’s nature, a few simple words would not suffice to appease him.

“N-no! Had I been properly informed, I would have alerted you immediately…”

Looking around, Buk Won-pyeong saw several instructors trembling.

These were the individuals who had recently conspired with the Orthodox Path Association to manufacture a fraudulent delegation.

As if that weren’t enough, they were the same ones who had insisted on penalizing Jin So-un, the Chief Disciple of his sect, regarding the incident with Ak Ju-pyeong.

A realization sparked in Buk Won-pyeong’s mind.

“It is entirely the fault of the Training Masters!”

“Pardon??”

“Responsibility for such matters falls under their jurisdiction, yet they failed to report it to me in a timely manner…”

The instructors glared at Buk Won-pyeong, stunned by his sudden betrayal, while Murong Gang shifted his piercing gaze toward them.

“Is that so?”

*Crack.*

“S-Sword-Breaker, sir, that is not true…!”

Before the instructors could offer any defense, Murong Gang’s aura flickered like a specter.

“B-Body-Shift Transposition?”

They had witnessed a miraculous technique—one that could elevate the very foundation of one’s martial arts and was rarely seen.

…The problem was that they were the recipients of that force.

“Ugh!”

“Kek!”

“Keuk!”

The instructors who had been standing were sent sprawling across the courtyard by a wave of invisible pressure.

Buk Won-pyeong swallowed hard, wiping away cold sweat at the display of power, though Murong Gang was nowhere to be seen.

Having wreaked havoc, Murong Gang looked significantly more composed as he asked Buk Won-pyeong,

“Where is Murong Jae-hwa?”

“H-he is likely in his dormitory. It is a day off today…”

“And where is that?”

For a moment, Buk Won-pyeong’s mind went completely blank.

“…You arrived without knowing his location?”

Had he simply raged his way here without even verifying his target?

Was this person truly a master of the Orthodox Path?

Seeing Murong Gang’s eyes narrow with irritation, Buk Won-pyeong quickly bowed.

“I will guide you at once.”

They searched the four-person dormitory thoroughly, but there was no sign of Murong Jae-hwa.

The students mentioned he had departed, leaving no word of his destination.

Seeing Murong Gang’s face darken with frustration, Buk Won-pyeong worried about what might happen next.

Suddenly.

*Whirrr—*

The sound of air being sliced whistled past Buk Won-pyeong’s ears.

‘What is this? A sneak attack?’

The sound was clearly artificial, yet scanning the area, he couldn’t see a single projectile.

“What is this?”

Murong Gang muttered, extending his hand.

In an instant, an arrow, falling vertically from the clouds, was caught effortlessly in his grasp.

‘A high-arc trajectory?’

Buk Won-pyeong was stunned.

That Murong Gang had caught such a shot was impressive enough, but the fact that the arrow had been fired straight up—so high that Buk Won-pyeong hadn’t even tracked its flight—was truly remarkable.

Meanwhile, Murong Gang’s attention had shifted elsewhere.

“A letter?”

He unfurled the note attached to the fletching and read the tightly packed characters.

Just what could be written there?

While Buk Won-pyeong dared not ask, he noticed Murong Gang’s face contorting into that of a vengeful spirit.

Buk Won-pyeong found it difficult to breathe.

‘W-what is this? Was his clan under assault?’

A terrifying, unprecedented pressure radiated from Murong Gang in all directions.

It was an aura that even Buk Won-pyeong found impossible to endure.

Soon, the name of the individual responsible for his wrath exploded from the elder’s throat.

“Jin So-un!!! I will tear that brat to shreds!!”

What?

Buk Won-pyeong stood in paralyzed confusion.

Why on earth was that young man’s name being invoked here?

—

One Arrow against a Thousand.

That was the moniker bestowed upon Murong Jae-hwa for defending his peers with nothing but a bow.

It was an astonishing title for an academy student who had yet to even join the Alliance.

For the disciples of Shaolin and Diancang, who had been left dazed by dark magic, Murong Jae-hwa’s display of strength had been truly staggering.

And naturally, his heritage as a descendant of the famed Murong Clan, renowned for their mastery of the sword, only fueled public fascination.

It wasn’t just Murong Jae-hwa, either.

The Gold-Silver-Copper trio, who had neutralized the Kunlun Thirty-Six Swords Cold Plum formation with only three people, had earned the title: Iron Wall Three Dragons.

‘Damn it, why am I still just the Black Flame Dragon?’

For some reason, the three of them lamented that their previous nickname, the Black-Blood Three Dragons, had been abandoned.

At any rate, it was inevitable that the story of our group traveling to Sichuan to rescue the students would spread like wildfire.

The narrative was so dramatic, it practically begged for a drink.

Moreover, the Murim Alliance had been fumbling around Sichuan, prolonging the conflict and refusing to utilize the strategy I had provided in such detail.

The atmosphere of war was tightening.

The rising costs of iron ore and basic necessities were fueling widespread panic.

The public desperately needed a story to alleviate their anxiety.

Among all the rumors, was One Arrow against a Thousand not the most compelling?

“Naturally… This is… unavoidable. Entirely so.”

Judging by the speed at which word was traveling, it wouldn’t be long before the Murong Clan heard the details.

In any case, since Murong Jae-hwa had been born into a legendary house of the sword but chose the bow, he was destined to face this ordeal eventually.

“Besides, a beating he would have received for free has now become one he is essentially getting compensated for. What better business venture could there be?”

Hmm, the tea smelled wonderful.

Just as I was calmly enjoying the fragrance of the Seven-Colored Flower, offering a silent prayer for Murong Jae-hwa’s spirit,

*Kyaaaak!*

*Kkeok!*

*Keuheok!*

Piercing shrieks erupted from the hallway.

‘What now? An ambush?’

I immediately popped the Seven-Colored Flower into my mouth and gripped the hilt of the Black Dragon Sword, bracing for an enemy.

‘Ak Ju-pyeong? Jegal Gi-pyo? Whoever it is, I’ll snap their arm the moment they step in!’

Every engagement had concluded; to refuse to acknowledge defeat and continue posturing like this was utterly pathetic.

As a man who cherished justice and upheld the law, I could not tolerate such behavior.

Ah, it was definitely not because they were interrupting my peaceful tea time.

I summoned the energy of the Taeul True Scripture and prepared to strike.

A moment later.

*CRASH!*

With a thunderous explosion, my office door splintered into kindling.

Huh? That was a bit excessive.

A figure emerged from the swirling dust.

A bold attitude, steady, deliberate strides.

It was the gait of someone permanently etched in my memory.

‘Wait. Why is he here…’

The person walking through the dust, his face twisted in malice, was someone who should have been hundreds of miles away.

Yes, someone who certainly had no business being here…

“Jin So-un…”

*Crrrack.*

Why was Elder Murong Gang, the Wind Earl Sword-Breaker, standing here right now?

He, who ought to have been busy teaching his grandson a lesson for straying from the path, had shown up here.

“You dared to sever the lineage of the Murong Clan?!”

He looked as though he intended to beat me to death, let alone his grandson.

Damn… What on earth happened?