Chapter 51

“Manor Lord.”

Seo Nak-il looked at Bukgung Yoon, who had bowed her head and fallen silent.

His heart was as heavy as hers.

He had seen Yeon Mujin more often than anyone, and yet he’d failed to notice how grave his condition had become.

“I’m sorry.”

Hearing that from a captain—someone so strong—made the apology cut deeper.

Truly, his chest ached with conflict.

“But couldn’t you at least not have let him go so easily?”

Bukgung Yoon had agreed to Yeon Mujin’s leave without pressing for details.

“Couldn’t you at least ask why, or what was wrong? What would you do if the captain never returned?”

“No.”

Bukgung Yoon lifted her head.

“Yeon Mujin will return. If he doesn’t—”

She met Seo Nak-il’s eyes.

“We’ll make him come back.”

There was no self-reproach or regret in her gaze. Instead, it burned with resolve.

“Deputy Captain Seo, inform all External Protection Troops clearly. Yeon Mujin’s leave is to be kept top secret. It must not leak anywhere.”

“Yes!”

“And call Hye-ran, who ran out earlier, back. Find which medicine hall Yeon Mujin visited. Find out what medicine he sought and what illness he has.”

“Yes!”

“We have fifteen days. Do everything you can prepare within that time.”

Bukgung Yoon said, eyes blazing.

“For Yeon Mujin’s return.”

Silver Claw member Baek Seok entered the Lonely Claw Troops’ training ground and summoned all the junior disciples.

“All bronze members with no immediate duties, assemble here at once.”

The bronze members packed tightly together.

Baek Seok stood with his hands behind his back, waited until they all gathered, and then addressed them.

“As you know, there will be a duel exhibition featuring warriors from the Zhuge family and the Hwangbo family. From Solitary Cloud Manor, two silver members and six bronze members will take part.”

Baek Seok assumed the full dignity of a senior and swept his gaze across the bronze faces.

At that moment, one of the bronze members shot his hand up.

“What’s that?”

“I have a question!”

“A question?”

The Lonely Claw Troops were strictly hierarchical. Gold members were like gods to silver, and silver were gods to bronze. To question a senior so brazenly was almost refreshing.

Baek Seok, feeling magnanimous, gave him a chance.

“What is it?”

“What criteria do you use to select?”

“We pick bronze members whose skills are at least decent. If their skills are too poor, the duel loses its tension.”

Flash!

The same guy raised his hand again.

Baek Seok’s irritation grew.

“What now?”

“In that case, pick me. I’m confident I can do well.”

Baek Seok studied the boy who’d spoken. Such brazen familiarity was rare in the Lonely Claw Troops. Many new recruits had joined recently after heavy losses; this one must be a newcomer who didn’t yet fear his elders.

Baek Seok ignored him and began choosing the promising disciples he remembered.

“You, you, you—come out here.”

Three were certain picks; the other three were either borderline or strangers. If they hadn’t stuck in his memory, their skills weren’t exceptional. Baek Seok scratched his jaw and pointed out the remaining three he found noteworthy.

“And you, you, you. Come here.”

Once he had selected the six,

Flash! The arm from before shot up again.

A vein throbbed on Baek Seok’s forehead.

“Stop raising your hand! Before I cut that arm off!”

“I object! Why won’t you pick me?”

“What, you punk?”

Even the generous Baek Seok couldn’t tolerate such insubordination.

“You, come out here.”

At his summons, the mood soured instantly. But when called forward, the kid didn’t flinch. He swaggered up, stared straight at Baek Seok, a smile never leaving his mouth, hair sticking out messy like a mangy dog’s. He gave off the air of a wild dog.

“Name.”

“Mujin.”

Baek Seok’s brows knit.

“Why’s this brat speaking informally? Affiliation.”

“I’m from Black Fang Unit, the eleventh squad.”

“Black Fang Unit?”

“Yes.”

The Black Fang Unit handled covert missions reserved for the elite. Its gold leader was a fearsome figure, and thinking of him eased Baek Seok’s tension; the leader outranked him.

“Who questioned my decision? Just because you’re from Black Fang doesn’t mean you’re above me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Next time this won’t end so mildly. Now go.”

“……”

Despite the order, Mujin stayed rooted.

“What is it?” Baek Seok asked, more irritated than before.

“Then I will make a proposal.”

“What now?”

“If I fight those guys and win, will you pick me?” Mujin pointed at the six chosen.

Baek Seok stared in incredulity.

“What?”

“You said you’d pick those with decent skill. If I win, will you choose me?”

Baek Seok’s eyes narrowed.

“You’re saying the ones I picked aren’t worth much?”

“In my opinion, yes.”

The six bristled. No warrior could tolerate his skill being belittled.

Baek Seok laughed scornfully.

“Bullshit. I’m not picking you. If you can beat all six at once, then I’ll pick you.”

With skills like that, he would already be a silver disciple, not a junior.

Mujin snorted.

“You promised.”

At that, Mujin moved—no hesitation.

His knee shot like a stinging bee and smashed into one bronze member’s face.

Smack!

The struck boy collapsed without a scream.

Mujin didn’t stop. Like a storm he surged at the next man.

“What the…!”

Before they could react, a sharp strike caught another in the throat. With a single knife-hand, Mujin felled a second.

“Crazy bastard!”

They hadn’t expected him to attack out of the blue.

The remaining bronze members scattered to create distance—an opening they would regret. Mujin ghosted after one who tried to flee. The man met Mujin’s gaze and felt a chill: this mad dog was gutting their comrades with a grin.

“Aaaargh!”

A shriek that was part battle cry, part scream, and a lunge followed. It was a basic joint-attack technique taught by the Lonely Claw Troops—something Mujin wouldn’t fall for.

He deflected the move with his left arm and slammed his right elbow into the attacker’s cheek.

Crack!

A bone snapped; the man went limp. Mujin already had his next target.

Screech!

One victim watched Mujin’s fist fly. He raised his arms to guard, but Mujin wasn’t aiming for the face—he aimed for the collar.

“Ah? Ahh!”

Gripped at the collar, the man lost balance, panicked, and left himself open. An elbow drove into his face. That was five down.

‘He’s aiming for faces, faces!’ the remaining bronze members realized.

They made a quick decision. They didn’t know Mujin’s grievance, but he was obsessively targeting faces.

The sixth raised both arms to defend, planning to counter with his confident Golden Hand technique if distance allowed.

Everyone has a plan until they get hit.

Wham!

The sixth collapsed, clutching his groin and foaming at the mouth—Mujin’s shin had somehow wedged itself between his thighs.

From one to six, it took only a blink.

Mujin dusted his hands and asked Baek Seok, “Is this enough?”

Baek Seok looked at him with disbelief and surprise.

“What did you say your name was?”

“Mujin.”

“……”

The ones he’d picked were among the better junior disciples, yet Mujin had sent six flying with quick, simple strikes—no flashy techniques.

‘Where did a guy like this come from?’ Baek Seok watched him closely. Mujin’s claim of being from Black Fang no longer sounded empty.

“All right. Give it a try.”

“Thank you.”

Mujin raised his hand again.

“What now, you punk! I already picked you!”

“But in the duel, do weapons have to be used for sure?”

“…Not necessarily. Do you have a weapon you’re confident with?”

Mujin looked around and picked up one item.

“I’ll use this.”

Baek Seok glanced at the weapon, then back at him.

“Are you really crazy?”

“You said this time you’d give Solitary Cloud Manor a clear warning?”

“You, of all people—didn’t you say the Hwangbo family had been patient until now?”

Zhuge Kwan and Hwangbo Ryeong, who had left Solitary Cloud Manor’s main hall, wore a markedly different air from when they entered.

A subtle battle of wits simmered between them.

They argued over the Sunny Breeze and Green Field Bukgung Bi-beom had put up as the first prize.

The divine relics Sunny Breeze and Green Field of the Tae-san Divine Sword had long been flashpoints between the Zhuge and Hwangbo families.

“This time, you wild boar, yield. I’m giving you advice as an elder.”

“You’re a joke. Flying fish, are you insane? Zhuge, you should be the one to yield. Step back calmly and Hwangbo will offer appropriate compensation.”

“Hmph. Do you plan to be humiliated in front of everyone? If you lose Sunny Breeze and Green Field and Hwangbo’s strength is exposed, it’ll be painful.”

“Ha! Who’s worrying about whom?” Hwangbo Ryeong clicked his tongue.

“But did that Zhuge family not notice this simple trick? We’ve both fallen into Solitary Cloud Manor’s trap. In fancy terms, it’s a stratagem—using Sunny Breeze and Green Field as bait so we can’t defy Solitary Cloud Manor.”

Zhuge Kwan nodded.

“I know.”

“You do?”

“But if we take Sunny Breeze and Green Field and return, then it’s no trap.”

“……”

“If you don’t like that, quietly withdraw and return to Jinan. You’re the one who said you could no longer support Solitary Cloud Manor.”

“Quietly give up Sunny Breeze and Green Field and retreat?”

“Isn’t that much better than having it stolen by the Zhuge family and crying about it?”

“Hmph! That argument won’t fly. The warriors of the Hwangbo family are strong. They’re all people who passed my strict standards.”

“Hmph.”

Zhuge Kwan mocked him.

“No matter how Hwangbo struts, it’s still Hwangbo, right?”

A vein bulged on Hwangbo Ryeong’s forehead.

“This flying fish brat… I tried to be civil, but he keeps picking at people. Does he really need bloodshed to be satisfied?”

“Whose blood? Are you talking about Hwangbo clan’s blood?”

“You sure can talk for a gentleman. You think you can keep mouthing off after getting beaten by me?”

“With that ignorant wild boar talk—get out of here. Your ignorance is contagious.”

Zhuge Kwan fluttered his fan dismissively.

Hwangbo Ryeong grinned.

Yes. Exactly.

The gulf of years between the Hwangbo and Zhuge families wasn’t easily bridged.

“You flying fish. Steady your mind before you step onto the duel arena. I’ll make you see why I’m called Hwangbo’s rising star.”

Zhuge Kwan scoffed in return.

“I’ll show you this time that his fame is all bluster.”