Chapter 531
“You. Move.”
“No.”
“…Huh?”
He didn’t seem to expect that kind of response. The brute rolled his fist-sized eyes around in confusion, stammering:
“N-No?”
“Yeah, no. I’m not moving.”
“T-That’s strange. Everyone else moved before…”
What kind of character is this?
‘Did he not invest any points in intelligence?’
For someone that massive, his behavior was straight out of kindergarten.
I scratched my chin while staring at the hulking man wobbling awkwardly.
‘I’ve seen all kinds of weirdos in Murim, but this one’s a new breed.’
I thought I’d built up some immunity after everything I’d seen, but this guy was definitely a first.
Still, personal curiosity had to take a backseat to calming the situation right now.
“Alright, just take a step back, slowly.”
“Step back?”
“Yeah.”
It wasn’t out of some desire to play the righteous hero. I wasn’t brimming with noble purpose.
But we were in the middle of the main road in Henan. If a fight broke out here, it could lead to civilian casualties.
“I don’t know what your situation is, but let’s leave it here, alright?”
I spoke gently and gave Gong Gi-bang a quick signal.
Catching on quickly, Gong Gi-bang started guiding the civilians who hadn’t escaped yet to safety.
As he watched, the brute rolled his massive eyes around.
“That guy… insulted me.”
He pointed with a hand as thick as a log toward none other than Hwangbo Ak, who was coughing and doubled over.
“Insulted you?”
“Called me a lowborn demonic mutt… a dumb pig. What do you think I’d do if someone glares at me?”
“Ahh.”
“My lord told me to think three times before fighting. So I thought three times, then fought. He even drew his sword first.”
That’s enough to piece it together.
Though it was a short string of words, it was plenty to understand the situation.
Hwangbo Ak, heir to the Hwangbo Clan that ruled Shandong and a member of the Ten Phoenix Dragons. A martial world golden spoon with top-tier talent. It wasn’t hard to imagine someone like him picking a fight with a demonic cultivator.
Gong Gi-bang even once told me Hwangbo Ak was kind of an asshole.
‘So this guy’s from the unorthodox faction, huh?’
No wonder his energy felt so intense.
Aside from some third-rate thugs, I hadn’t had a proper run-in with a real demonic cultivator yet, so I had to suppress the curiosity bubbling up inside me.
Because of one sudden thought that struck me.
“Did you… maybe hit anyone else?”
“Anyone else?”
“Yeah. There were others with that guy, right? People he was with.”
My heart beat faster. I couldn’t quite bring myself to say the name “Ju Hwaran,” but it lingered at the tip of my tongue. The brute tilted his head and blinked.
“There were. Two men. One strong, one weak. And then…”
“And?”
“A pretty woman. Really, really pretty.”
‘Well, he’s got good taste.’
“Huh?”
“Nothing. So, did you fight with them too?”
“No. Only hit that guy. Pretty lady… she was as kind as her face.”
So they’re safe.
Relief washed over me, and I patted the brute on the shoulder.
“Good, good. Well done. What a good boy.”
“Well done? I’m… good?”
“Yeah, of course. So let’s make peace now, okay?”
“Ummm… mmhmmm…”
Looks like he was just about convinced.
I thought I’d have to knock him out since he was a demonic cultivator, but treating him like a sunbeam kindergarten kid seemed to work just fine.
As the brute’s huge eyes rolled with hesitation—
“What is the meaning of this?!”
A furious voice rang out from behind me.
Turning my head, I saw Hwangbo Ak, now back on his feet, glaring at us with burning eyes.
“Blazing Fire Dragon! Did I hear you wrong just now? You’re siding with a demonic cultivator?!”
It was my first time meeting him, but it seemed he already knew me.
No need for introductions then. Probably better that way.
I waved a hand at Hwangbo Ak, speaking casually.
“Ah, you’re up. Great, now come over and make up.”
“M-Make up?”
“Yeah. Sounds like there were some reasons behind all this. Let’s not make a scene. Just shake hands and settle it like men.”
But Hwangbo Ak looked like someone who’d just lost a ranked game to Yasuo and got flamed in chat. His eyes bulged.
“How could you side with someone like this?!”
“I can. So come here while I’m still being nice.”
“A fellow righteous martial artist was harmed by a demonic cultist, and you stand by his side?!”
“Who cares if he’s unorthodox or orthodox? We’re all one Murim Alliance family now. You never heard that song? ♪ We’re all friends, yes we are. ♪”
“There’s no such song! And family? How can you call these demonic bastards family?! Did you forget what they did in the Great War of Justice and Evil?!”
“Forget it? I never experienced it. Were you there during the war? Wow, you look good for your age.”
“Enough nonsense! Stand aside! I will make that bastard kneel and beg for forgiveness!”
Huff.
A warm gust blew down from above. It was the brute’s breath—he was two heads taller than me.
“Kneel? You want… me to kneel?”
For a moment, Hwangbo Ak flinched, then clenched his jaw.
“Fine! You caught me off guard earlier, but I swear I’ll make you regret ever laying a hand on me, even in death!”
“You die now.”
At the moment his eyes went cold—
Shrrrkkk! SWOOSH!
A piercing burst of air sliced past my ear.
Hwangbo Ak’s body flipped with terrifying speed, flying like a bolt of light. His leg lashed out like a whip, imbued with refined energy.
‘[Leg Technique]?’
The Hwangbo Clan had long been famed for producing masters of fist and kick techniques—a martial family with a long and storied history.
The technique Hwangbo Ak just unleashed was no doubt a secret art of the Hwangbo Clan, the very one that had let them dominate Shandong.
But…
“You! I’ll kill you!”
Not a good matchup.
From what I’ve seen, this brute’s martial ability is not inferior to Hwangbo Ak’s. No—in fact, he might be one or two levels above him.
And now, in his hand was a massive [Great Shaozi Staff] that perfectly matched his frame.
Whoosh!
Fast. Ferocious.
The sheer force and speed radiating from the way that staff tore through the air was overwhelming—it felt like it could crush the space itself.
At the very moment of impact, just before the clash, I silently extended both arms.
BOOOM!
A thunderous roar exploded out. A massive wave of [Qi] swept across the street, sending debris, dust, and even clothing scraps flying beyond a three-jang radius. People gasped.
And in the middle of it all, two pairs of wide, trembling eyes stared.
How…?
In the stunned eyes of the brute and Hwangbo Ak was disbelief. Their gazes went to the immobilized [Great Shaozi Staff] and Hwangbo Ak’s leg, both locked in place by my hands.
With just one move, I stopped all attacks—and the entire fight.
“Th-This is…!”
“Strong! You, strong!”
Staring into their shaken eyes, I slowly opened my mouth.
“Alright then. Let’s make peace now.”
Ah. Almost forgot one thing.
“…Unless you’d rather die by my fist.”
Sometimes, you get more from a kind word… when it comes with a kind punch.
The brute stood frozen for a moment, then slowly stammered,
“P-Peace. I’ll make peace. I’m… good.”
“Yeah, you’re a good boy. So, who wants to be the bad one?”
As my gaze naturally drifted over, Hwangbo Ak clenched his lips tight.
“Blazing Fire Dragon… do you seriously intend to—?”
“Oh! Important update just in! Turns out all the bad kids I’ve met so far got beaten half to death and turned good!”
“…Now that I think about it… maybe I was partly at fault too.”
“Great. That’s settled.”
Only then did I release the staff and leg I was gripping.
The brute continued stealing glances at me in a daze, while Hwangbo Ak trembled in shame—but he didn’t dare continue the fight.
He could only glare at me with eyes full of rage and fear, his mouth twitching silently.
“Blazing Fire Dragon… and you still call yourself orthodox?”
“Amazing. That’s exactly what I was about to say.”
“Y-You must not know who I am to be acting like this…”
“Hwangbo Ak. Twenty-nine. Heir of the Hwangbo Clan. Title: [Shandong Fist Dragon].”
“…Also recently had a wet dream.”
“That’s not true!”
“Or maybe not.”
Hwangbo Ak’s clenched fists trembled violently.
“You… you knew who I was and still dared to humiliate me like this?!”
“Idiotry has no gender, age, or alignment—orthodox or unorthodox. That’s my philosophy. And it seems to be spot on.”
If I had left him alone, he’d have gotten his spirit crushed beyond recovery. I helped him avoid that and still had to listen to this nonsense.
‘Why… am I not even angry?’
After a brief pause, I realized why.
He’s just… too dumb to be mad at.
So insignificant I couldn’t even be bothered.
‘A bug.’
That’s all Hwangbo Ak was to me. A bug crushed by a flick of the finger. A mosquito swatted unconscious by an absentminded swing.
After spending so long among giants, I myself had become one. Like Gulliver among the Lilliputians.
And Hwangbo Ak was no exception.
That’s why his title, his status as heir of the Hwangbo Clan and one of the Ten Phoenix and Dragons… none of it impressed me.
‘Just… a slightly larger midget than the others.’
That’s how I, Gulliver, looked at Hwangbo Ak. Maybe that thought even leaked out through my eyes.
Hwangbo Ak’s face darkened with rage.
“Y-You…”
“Want some advice?”
“…What?”
“Don’t stretch your legs where you don’t belong.”
“Y-You bastard!”
He shouted, but I didn’t even blink as I continued.
What I was about to say—he needed to etch it into his bones.
“[Wrathful Sword Elder]. [Great Purity Sword]. You’ve heard those names before, right? Maybe not so much recently—he’s been recovering.”
“You want your name added next to [Shandong Fist Dragon]? Then don’t pull anything stupid. This is your first and final warning.”
Shhhhh.
With my full presence locked onto him alone, Hwangbo Ak involuntarily swallowed hard.
He must’ve heard what happened to the two senior disciples of the Zhongnan Sect.
And now he’d remembered again—
That the martial world was ruled by righteous cause… and the law of strength.
I patted his shoulder with a smile as he trembled from head to toe.
“You look tired. I’ll talk to the others for you. Go on back.”
“B-But…”
“Go.”
In the end, the only thing Hwangbo Ak could do was grit his teeth and walk away.
And when his figure—now looking especially small—finally disappeared into the distance, a voice called out to me.
“Jin Daehyeop!”
It had been a while.
And that familiar voice made me even happier to hear it again.
