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EP.10 Gathering of the Nine Dragons (4)

“Is that guy claiming to be a Lesser Clan Leader?”

A young man with an appearance that seemed barely beyond his youth, engaged in a scuffle with a few ruffians, made me frown.

What on earth is the direct descendant of the Peng Clan doing here? It’s absurd that a member of a great house is throwing a tantrum in front of everyone!

“Surely, this can’t be right.”

It couldn’t be. It mustn’t be.

How foolish can he be to impersonate a Lesser Clan Leader from the Four Great Clans? That guy’s gonna be in big trouble.

Suddenly, the Peng Ah-Hee I ran into in Mount Shan popped into my head, but I immediately wiped that thought away.

There was a bad vibe in the air.

Plus, I had never heard of a Lesser Clan Leader from the Peng family showing up at the Gathering of the Nine Dragons, so it should just pass uneventfully.

That was how it should be.

“What’s going on here?”

Just as I was about to ignore the situation and head back, I ran into Elder Lee.

“It looks like some strange dude is causing a ruckus.”

I said this in a casual tone, wanting to leave quickly since I had other business to attend to.

But Elder Lee stopped me.

“I’ve been searching for you since early morning, and my back is killing me!”

“You’re saying that when you look healthier than me? That’s nonsense.”

“Just like yesterday, your ability to talk back has really improved. You should be focusing on developing your martial arts instead.”

And he was ruffling my hair again.

Ugh, this is dizzying…

“By the way, you said you were looking for me?”

Why not just send a servant? Why come find me in person?

“Oh, it’s nothing major. After the Gathering of the Nine Dragons is over…”

“What do you mean it can’t be done? I’ve already shown everything! Do I have to unleash the Black Night right here to make you believe me?”

“Now, now, calm down, and you have to understand our position…”

“No, I don’t have time for that! You said anyone can join once their identity is confirmed!”

Elder Lee’s gaze shifted as I was speaking. The Black Night is the secret martial arts of the Peng Clan.

It’s a martial art passed down only through the direct line of the clan leader.

It felt like something weird was about to unfold, so I tried to grab Elder Lee, but he had already stepped away.

“What the… Where did he go…?”

“Is it the son of the Peng Clan?”

Elder Lee was already in front of the young man claiming to be the Lesser Clan Leader of the Peng family.

“I… I’m honored to meet Elder Lee!”

The servants who had been taking applications jumped, startled, at the sudden appearance of Elder Lee.

Of course, all eyes were also on the Gu Family’s Sword Team members who had come to provide support.

“Ah, good to see you too. So, you’re the son of the Peng family?”

Upon Elder Lee’s words, the young man straightened his posture.

“I am the Lesser Clan Leader, Peng Woojin. It’s an honor to meet the great master of the Flame Tooth Fist, Gu’s renowned martial artist.”

Flame Tooth Fist was a title Elder Lee had earned during his active years in the Central Plains.

Elder Lee chuckled at Peng Woojin’s words, seemingly pleased to be called by an old title after such a long time.

“Indeed, you’re really the son of the Peng family. There’s no way such a hysterical body would belong to anyone else. You even look just like the clan leader.”

Calling the clan leader ‘that guy’ is something I can hardly understand…

Regardless of how I see it, ‘hysterical’ seems to be more appropriate for Elder Lee.

“So, what brings you here?”

“I’m here because I wish to join the Gu Family’s Sword Team.”

A Lesser Clan Leader from the Peng Clan left his own clan’s Sword Team just to be here?

“It’s not fun there.”

Elder Lee chuckled at Peng Woojin’s words, his eyes sparkling as if he had discovered someone interesting.

“You’re quite the crazy one, huh? Who’d have thought there’d be a madman from the Peng family?”

“Thank you. I often hear that.”

“That’s not a compliment, you brat.”

As Peng Woojin assumed the posture of Pogo, a deep black ring caught my eye between his fingers. It was the exact same ring that Peng Ah-Hee wore.

“Shit, this is serious…”

Why is a Peng Clan member acting like this here?

“They said anyone can join if their identity is confirmed. But I’ve shown everything and still been told it can’t be done, so I found it troublesome.”

“Did you at least ask for permission from your Peng family?”

“I figured they wouldn’t let me go, so I ran away.”

What a genuine crazy person is here.

“Truly, a madman.”

For once, I completely agreed with Elder Lee. That guy is genuinely insane.

Elder Lee looked Peng Woojin up and down, then grinned. Isn’t there something oddly perverted about this?

“Your body is well-trained. How old are you?”

“I just turned twenty-three this year.”

“Still young, but at that level…. The Peng family has been raising a dragon, huh? If only our idiot could resemble you even half as much.”

Is he talking about me?

I almost felt offended as I was being compared for no reason, but it didn’t upset me.

If this young man really is Peng Woojin, then he does resemble a dragon.

The Sword Emperor, Peng Woojin.

Eventually, he would earn himself that title in the not-so-distant future.

The Great Lord of the Heavenly Demon’s direct Demon unit, Cheonrahakmangdae, faced off against Pejon, one of the Three Eminent Beings, and matched him blow for blow.

If he stood toe-to-toe with a Three Eminent Being, it meant he had no reason to doubt his level of martial arts.

However, he would be killed in the fight against Peng Woojin.

Even though he had been exhausted from countless battles, Peng Woojin defeated him all on his own.

Afterward, upon hearing the news, Pejon directly bestowed the title of Sword Emperor upon Peng Woojin.

As Elder Lee stroked his long beard, he chuckled playfully.

“Your identity’s confirmed, and your power looks outstanding, so I don’t see a problem, right?”

What nonsense is that?

The reception staff, having the same thought as me, looked troubled.

“…But, Elder Lee, no matter what, still…”

“What’s the problem? Isn’t it what he wants?”

“That’s right. I want to participate in the Gathering of the Nine Dragons! I definitely want to work in the Gu Family’s Sword Team!”

“See, he wants it that much, doesn’t he?”

The receptionist’s eyes seemed to tremble like the ground had shaken. Their face was one of utter confusion over what to do.

As small beads of sweat appeared on the receptionist’s forehead, a savior suddenly arrived.

“Brother!”

The one who suddenly shouted and appeared was none other than Peng Ah-Hee, whom I met yesterday.

“You crazy fool!”

With a thud, she unleashed a kick filled with inner strength right into Peng Woojin’s solar plexus.

“Guhhh!”

Caught off guard, Peng Woojin flew backward, slamming against the reception desk.

“…Wow, that must hurt a lot.”

Is he dead?

“This crazy fool, he runs away from home after putting the title of Lesser Clan Leader on his back, and just leaves a note!?”

Still not satisfied, Peng Ah-Hee raced toward Peng Woojin, relentlessly kicking him.

Thankfully, it seems like Peng Woojin wasn’t dead; he screamed while being stomped on.

“Ack…! Wait…!! Just wait a second…!”

“You left us behind to do this? Are you out of your mind!?”

Oh no, don’t step there…

“Brother, you’re going to die like this! Ah-Hee, please…”

“Better to die! Just die, you idiot!”

“If I die, who’s going to be the clan leader?”

“Who cares! I could leave it to a neighborhood dog, and they’d do better than you!”

“AAAHHH!”

I turned my head away from the gruesome scene. Even Elder Lee looked troubled, scratching his cheek.

I carefully approached Elder Lee and asked,

“Is it okay to just let this go? If this continues, someone’s going to die.”

“The Peng Clan folks are all sturdy; they won’t die from Evergreen Iron. Don’t worry about it.”

“…I’m not so sure about that…”

After a while of being pounded like a rag doll, perhaps she finally let off some steam, as Peng Ah-Hee took a breath to calm down.

Lying on the ground was Peng Woojin, seemingly either dead or alive.

“Get up.”

Peng Ah-Hee said coldly, but Peng Woojin remained on the ground, appearing lifeless.

“If you don’t get up, I’ll pick up a rock and crush your family jewels.”

“I’m up!”

At that merciless threat, beads of cold sweat rolled down Peng Woojin’s face as he jumped up promptly.

Seeing him, Peng Ah-Hee let out a long sigh.

Her expression revealed a lot of thoughts.

“Hah, it’s good that I found you… Please, just come back home, brother.”

Dressed in black robes, the members of the Peng family approached behind her.

They were the same clan members, including her escort, whom I had met yesterday.

Upon seeing us, Peng Ah-Hee rushed toward us with a shocked expression.

“I apologize for the inconvenience we caused in Gu’s schedule with our family matters.”

“Is this the daughter of the Peng Clan this time?”

“Yes, I am Peng Ah-Hee. Great Master of the Flame Tooth Fist.”

“Indeed, you’re as well-trained as your brother. That bear-like guy must have raised his children well.”

I have no idea who calls who a bear.

“We will make sure to compensate for any losses caused. We will take our leave now to avoid causing any more inconvenience.”

“I won’t be going. Ah-Hee.”

Upon hearing Peng Woojin’s words, Peng Ah-Hee shot him a fierce glare.

“Are you going to keep talking nonsense?”

“This isn’t nonsense. I don’t plan on going back to the Peng Clan.”

“Why not? What’s the reason, brother? Why are you saying this?”

“The Peng family isn’t fun.”

Why does that madman keep talking about fun? Did he hear my thoughts or something? Peng Ah-Hee voiced my inner questions.

“Is the Gu family fun then? Or are the other clans more fun than the Peng? Why do you keep blabbering about fun in this random place?”

“At least it’s more fun than our home.”

“Brother, please get a grip. You’re a Lesser Clan Leader!”

“Thus, I need to find more enjoyment before becoming the clan leader. The only way I won’t end up as clan leader is if I become a half-wit or die. I don’t want either of those.”

As Peng Woojin dusted off his clothes, there was a firm determination in his eyes.

“I don’t want to be clan leader, but objectively speaking, there’s no one to sit in the chair besides me. Unless you count you, Ah-Hee, everyone else are just beasts wearing the family name, not just one, but as a whole they wouldn’t even be worth a second look to me.”

He spoke firmly and coldly as he evaluated his bloodline.

There’s a mix of pride and arrogance in him, but he undoubtedly possesses the talent to back it up.

“Even so, I can’t make you the clan leader, Ah-Hee. So, one day, I will sit in the clan leader’s chair. That’s why I accepted this annoying name of Lesser Clan Leader.”

Hearing this madman’s justifications seemed oddly reasonable, perhaps because my own mind was spiraling.

Peng Ah-Hee hurriedly rubbed her forehead. It seemed the situation was giving her a headache.

At that moment, Elder Lee stepped forward.

“I was thinking about just accepting him, believing old men could be entertaining, but given the Peng family’s situation, let’s do this.”

At Elder Lee’s words, Peng Ah-Hee looked worried while Peng Woojin looked hopeful.

“If you duel with me and win, then I’ll accept you.”

“…What kind of nonsense is that?”

I thought maybe a wise method would come up, but it was clear that was not the case.

Even if Peng Woojin became one of the best martial artists in the future, for now he’s just a Late-Stage Talent. There’s no way he could win against a great clan’s elder.

“…No, you don’t have to defeat me. We’ll share an understanding; if you can touch me in any way during that, you win.”

“Will that work?”

Peng Woojin’s eyes lit up at Elder Lee’s words. Behind him, Peng Ah-Hee appeared anxious as she looked on, though she seemed afraid to interrupt.

“I’ll give you exactly one opportunity. If you merely brush the edge of my robe, then you win.”

Before Elder Lee finished speaking, Peng Woojin pulled out a sword and took his stance.

Wait… for real? In front of all these people right here?

“W-Wait…”

Shouldn’t we at least wait for a proper training ground? Just as I was about to say something, Elder Lee suddenly punched Peng Woojin right in the face.

Bam!

With a sound that shouldn’t have been audible as a hit, Peng Woojin fell to the ground. Unlike the time he crashed into the reception desk from Peng Ah-Hee’s attack, this time was completely different.

He might genuinely be dead.

“I controlled my strength, so he’ll wake up soon.”

“…Elder Lee, weren’t you just avoiding a fight?”

“Don’t remember me ever saying that, though.”

What a shameless old man…

“Since we reached a mutual agreement, didn’t we solve this predicament?”

“No matter what, you can’t just throw a punch right at the start. I mean, he’s still the son of the Peng family.”

“When dealing with someone annoying, it’s easier to settle things quietly.”

“…Isn’t that violence?”

“Violence? What a frightening word, you brat! This was an honorable duel!”

“And you said that just brushing against your robe counts, but you punched him, so that counts as a touch, right…?”

As I quietly poked at the flaws in the logic, Elder Lee cleared his throat and quickly left the scene.

He definitely hadn’t thought that far ahead.

 

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