I Will Apologize On His Behalf

His build alone was enough to guess the man’s origins.
The Hebei Peng Clan.
At his words, Namgung Hyeok politely gave a fist-clasp salute.

“If that offended you, I apologize. You stood beside a man who picked a pointless quarrel and started trouble, yet did nothing to stop him, so I assumed you were the same.”

His words were courteous, but barbed.
The large man opened his mouth to say something, then closed it.
He had no suitable response.
Then the woman beside him stepped forward.

“…Now that I hear you out, it seems our side was discourteous as well. But this doesn’t look like a pointless quarrel.”

The woman held a fan. She was clearly from the Jegal Clan.
She took Moyong Min’s side. It meant she found Gyo-ha’s words hard to believe.
Namgung Hyeok looked away from her and turned to Young Master Moyong.

“You asked earlier who had the right to judge whom, didn’t you? Step forward. I’ll judge whether you have the right to say such things to my elder brother.”

Thunder qi flowed from his body as though he might attack at any moment.
The woman’s face reddened at being abruptly ignored, but it was nothing compared to Moyong Min’s.

“What did you say?”

Moyong Min’s face contorted.
Anger rose within him, but he couldn’t express it.
It was because of what Namgung Hyeok had said.
Namgung Hyeok’s elder brother.
There was no way that Gyo-ha was a blood relative of the Namgung Clan. That meant they had become sworn brothers.
If so, Moyong Min truly had made a mistake.
Moyong Min’s gaze swept over their surroundings.
The disturbance had drawn many onlookers. If he backed down now, rumors would spread.
Kkadeudeuk.
He ground his teeth. Moyong Min had already lost to Namgung Hyeok in last year’s martial contest.
Losing to the younger Namgung Hyeok had been a great shock to him.
That was why he had approached as soon as he saw Namgung Hyeok mingling with members of the Nine Sects, One Union.

‘…His internal energy has decreased.’

The reports that he had been badly injured were true. However, his presence was sharper than before.
It didn’t seem as though he could defeat him easily.
Someone came to Moyong Min’s rescue.

“Hyeok. There’s no need for you to step in.”

Patting his full stomach, Gyo-ha stood up.

“Things like this should be settled between the people involved. Right?”

Gyo-ha spoke with a smile toward Moyong Min.

“…Right.”

Moyong Min quickly seized the opportunity.
Gyo-ha’s internal energy was nothing to speak of, and one of his arms was injured.
Even if he tried to lose, he couldn’t lose this fight.

“This is hardly something you need to handle, Brother.”

After patting Namgung Hyeok’s shoulder, Gyo-ha addressed Moyong Min.

“Then shall we go outside?”
“…I will at least commend your spirit. Follow me.”

Moyong Min walked out first, followed by the members of the Five Great Clans.
When Gyo-ha moved, his companions went outside as well.
Hyeon Gong and Ye-in watched Gyo-ha with concern, while those who had heard about him or already witnessed him followed with interest.

Though they had strode out boldly, they couldn’t fight immediately outside.
In Changsha, the Murim Alliance strictly prohibited personal disputes.
They therefore had to file a request and borrow a training yard within the Murim Alliance.
Was it because this sort of thing happened often?
There was a small training yard within the Murim Alliance.
Or perhaps because the applicant belonged to the Five Great Clans? The approval came quickly.
Yet the members of the Five Great Clans didn’t look pleased.
They had come along after being swept up in the mood, but the opponent was an injured man who could not use one of his hands.
They couldn’t help but feel ashamed.
Perhaps Moyong Min thought the same, for he addressed Gyo-ha.

“If you apologize even now, I will let this pass.”

Gyo-ha tilted his head at Moyong Min’s words.

“Huh? What am I supposed to apologize for?”

Gyo-ha’s question left Moyong Min speechless.
In truth, Gyo-ha had done nothing wrong. Moyong Min had started the quarrel on his own.
However, he soon found an excuse.

“Did this not happen because you lied?”

Lied?
Gyo-ha shrugged and took his stance.

“Then see for yourself whether I lied.”

Since one hand was wrapped in bandages, he held only the other out toward his opponent.
At the sight, Moyong Min clicked his tongue.

“Insolent bastard. I will teach you a lesson today.”

Moyong Min launched himself forward and drew his sword.
It looked as though the blade would pierce Gyo-ha’s head at any moment.
At that moment, Gyo-ha’s body rotated.
Whirling Lotus Kick.
His foot flew in a circle like a lotus blooming.

‘Foolish.’

Moyong Min changed the direction of his sword.
Changing his sword move midway through an attack was easy for him.
The blade flew toward Gyo-ha’s ankle.
Then Gyo-ha’s foot stopped dead.
Ttudeudeuk.
A cracking sound came from his waist.
His lower body remained still as his upper body turned.
It looked more like a feat of skill than martial arts. However, there was no time to be astonished.
A fist shot up from below in an instant.
Moyong Min hurriedly withdrew his sword.
And then.
Kwang!
Moyong Min’s body was sent flying.
Sparks flashed before Moyong Min’s eyes as he barely regained his balance.

“A cheap trick like this…!”
“Young Master Moyong! Watch out!”

Peng Seon-ho’s shout snapped him to his senses.
A knee was already bearing down on his face.

“Keuk.”

He barely twisted his body out of the way.
Boong!
The knee swept past the side of his head.
Even though he dodged it, his skin stung.

‘How dare he.’

At the thought that he had been pushed back, shame and rage surged through him, making the corner of his mouth tremble.
Moreover, the others from the great clans were watching.
His grip tightened around his sword.

Flashing Light Rushing Cloud Sword.
One Flash, Startling Thunder.

Moyong Min’s sword shot toward one of Gyo-ha’s vital points.
The onlookers frowned.
A killing strike.
It was not a sword move fit for a spar.
Gyo-ha twisted his body, but the sword sank into his shoulder.
Pook!
Moyong Min’s eyes trembled with delight.
Now he wouldn’t be able to use that arm.
Moyong Min looked at Gyo-ha with a vicious smile.
However, Gyo-ha’s expression was different from what Moyong Min had expected.
Gyo-ha was grinning.
Before Moyong Min could realize something was wrong, an attack came from the side.
The bandaged arm.

“…!”

Gyo-ha’s elbow struck Moyong Min’s head.
Kwang!
Moyong Min’s body flew backward.
He continued stumbling backward, failed to regain his balance, and collapsed with a thud.
Moyong Min soon staggered back to his feet.
His face had turned red. Blood ran down it despite the Protective Aura Qi wrapped around him.
However, blood was not the reason his face had reddened.

“You tricked me!”
“Huh?”

Gyo-ha, who had been about to continue his attack, tilted his head.
What had he supposedly lied about?
Then Moyong Min pointed at Gyo-ha.

“You pretended to be injured and lured me into a trap?!”

Namgung Hyeok frowned at the absurd accusation.
Namgung Hyeok quietly placed a hand on his sword.
However, Jeon Pung, who stood beside him, caught his hand.
Their gazes collided.
The situation was poised to explode.
The one who broke their standoff was Gyo-ha.
As soon as he heard Moyong Min, Gyo-ha tore away the bandages with his hand.

“Huh!”
“Mmm!”

Exclamations rang out from all around.
Gyo-ha’s arm was a wreck.
The bones and muscles below his elbow were twisted out of shape.
Moyong Min’s eyes trembled.
He fought in that condition?
It was unbelievable.
More than anything, he could not believe that someone so badly injured had pushed him back.

“…Evil sorcery. You’re using evil sorcery!”

Nothing else could explain it.
The gazes of the others changed at Moyong Min’s words.
The Murim Alliance and the Evil Heaven Alliance were in the middle of a war.
Moyong Min’s accusation was not something that could be dismissed lightly.
Jeon Pung clicked his tongue and released Namgung Hyeok.

‘Fool.’

Moyong Min had uttered words he could not take responsibility for.
The Kunlun Sect was a longstanding ally of the Murim Alliance. They had sacrificed themselves to protect the Alliance. Some within the Alliance even argued that Kunlun should be brought back into its ranks.
Moreover, Gyo-ha was now Namgung Hyeok’s sworn elder brother.
The Namgung Clan would not let this pass easily either. Moreover, contrary to what Jeon Pung had heard, Namgung Hyeok was aggressive and headstrong.
Sure enough.
Namgung Hyeok released his killing intent.

“Those words won’t be settled with just your head.”

He meant to hold even the Moyong Clan itself responsible.
Just as Namgung Hyeok was about to step forward, someone moved before him.

“Amitabha. It is not evil sorcery.”

It was Hyeon Gong of Shaolin.

“Benefactor Gyo may lack internal energy, but he has trained his body to its absolute limit.”

People frowned at Hyeon Gong’s words.
However, not everyone reacted that way.
Hyeon Gong’s gaze turned toward one of the members of the Five Great Clans.

“Benefactor Peng, surely you must have noticed?”

Peng Seon-ho cleared his throat and avoided answering.
However, his attitude was no different from an affirmation.
Hyeon Gong picked up a nearby stone and walked over to Gyo-ha.

“Benefactor Gyo. I apologize for the trouble, but could you stand on this?”

Hyeon Gong placed the stone on the ground.
Gyo-ha tilted his head and stepped onto it.
It was because he sensed no ill intent from Hyeon Gong.
A small stone.
He balanced on it with a single toe. Hyeon Gong was not finished.
He picked up another stone and held it out.
Understanding Hyeon Gong’s intention, Gyo-ha lightly jumped.
Another stone was placed atop the first.
The stack looked ready to collapse at any moment, but Gyo-ha quickly found his balance.
Then one more.
The surrounding onlookers exclaimed in admiration.
They too could stand atop a stone.
However, balancing atop a stack of stones like that was impossible.
Gyo-ha had even jumped while standing on them.
After stacking the stones five high, Hyeon Gong dusted off his hands.

“There seems little point in continuing. Thank you, Benefactor Gyo.”
“It’s fine.”

Gyo-ha stepped down with an awkward smile.
Hyeon Gong slowly turned toward the Five Great Clans.

“Our sect’s Martial Uncle Ji-am once demonstrated something similar.”

Ji-am. There was no one who did not know that Dharma name.
Ji-am, Master of the Arhat Hall.
He was known as the Vajra Warrior.
He was one of the foremost masters of external martial arts in the entire Kangho, not merely within Shaolin.
With Hyeon Gong stepping forward like this, dismay appeared on Moyong Min’s face.
Hyeon Gong was not the only one who stepped forward.

“This humble Taoist will also vouch that Fellow Daoist Gyo did not use Heretical Arts.”

It was Jin-un of Wudang.
Shaolin and Wudang.
They had stood at the forefront in wars against not only the Unorthodox factions, but the Demon Cult as well.
Few could detect sinister powers as well as they could.

“Kunlun has long been a friend of Mount Hua.”

This time, it was Jeon Pyeong.
Jeon Pung did not step forward, but he did not stop Jeon Pyeong either.
It was tacit approval.
When even Jeon Pyeong stepped forward, Gyo-ha instead became troubled.

“…Uh, this isn’t good.”

Gyo-ha’s quiet mutter.
Only Hyeon Gong, who stood nearby, heard him and tilted his head, but he couldn’t guess what Gyo-ha meant.
Gyo-ha possessed a power even more sinister than Heretical Qi.
Moreover, Gyo-ha’s junior brother Moon Ryang also practiced Heretical Arts. Not everyone in the Unorthodox faction practiced Heretical Arts.
Many were classified as Unorthodox simply because they lacked a legitimate lineage.
Conversely, that meant Gyo-ha and Moon Ryang were closer to the legitimate tradition of the Unorthodox faction.
Even family members did not vouch for one another lightly, so why had they gone that far?
Gyo-ha began to worry about them.
Unaware of Gyo-ha’s concern, Moyong Min bit his lip hard.
When he looked back, the members of the Five Great Clans subtly averted their gazes.
They had been reluctant to come from the beginning.
They didn’t want to become involved in something like this.
Though they had gathered under the name of the Five Great Clans for their common interests, the safety of their own clans came first.
Moreover, not all five clans were represented here.

‘…They said he has ties not only to the Namgung Clan, but the Tang Clan as well.’

Recalling that fact, Jegal Yeon let out a quiet sigh.
This was a bad turn for them.
Anger rose on Moyong Min’s face at their behavior.
Just as Moyong Min was about to speak to them.

“I will apologize for this matter on behalf of my younger brother.”

A breeze swept through the training yard.
Gyo-ha and Jeon Pung turned as though they had already sensed him, while the others stared at the newcomer in surprise.
And one person.
Moyong Min, who knew the owner of the voice, went deathly pale.