Chapter 308 – There’s No Tiger’s Den Like This (2)

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“How dare you ignore the Martial Alliance’s inspection and flee. If you thought you’d be safe after doing that, you’re gravely mistaken.”

“To despise the Martial Alliance.”

The martial artists surrounded Jang Gyu-ho while shouting angrily. With more than ten martial artists, all radiating extraordinary presence, surrounding him, the atmosphere was truly murderous.

‘Martial Alliance?’

Jong Ri-yeon showed a bewildered expression at the sudden situation. But that was only momentary, and she soon regained her composure and ran toward Jang Gyu-ho. Bang Jin-bo followed behind her.

“Wait a moment. What is the meaning of this?”

She spread her arms and blocked in front of Jang Gyu-ho.

The martial artists showed bewildered expressions for a moment at Jong Ri-yeon’s sudden intrusion. But they soon flared up with anger and said:

“He is a criminal who fled without receiving inspection from the Martial Alliance.”

“Criminal?”

“That’s right.”

The one who appeared to be the leader among the martial artists spoke confidently.

Jong Ri-yeon looked directly at his face and asked:

“Who are you?”

“I am Lim Hap-chu, Group Leader of the Fifth Group of the Martial Alliance’s Outer Hall.”

“Lim Hap-chu? You’re saying you’re a group leader of the Martial Alliance’s Outer Hall?”

“That’s right.”

“What business does the Martial Alliance’s Outer Hall have in Huayin County?”

At Jong Ri-yeon’s provocative words, Lim Hap-chu’s expression contorted. It was because the atmosphere Jong Ri-yeon gave off was extraordinary.

“Who are you?”

“I asked first. What business does the Martial Alliance have in Huayin County?”

“I told you. We came to catch a criminal.”

“Criminal? Who?”

“This person.”

Lim Hap-chu pointed at Jang Gyu-ho with his finger. Then Jang Gyu-ho desperately shook his head and said:

“I am not a criminal.”

“Then why did you flee?”

“Didn’t you try to steal my goods by being unreasonable?”

“Unreasonable? How dare you deny the Martial Alliance’s actions?”

For a moment, Lim Hap-chu’s face turned red. Then Jang Gyu-ho raised his voice even more:

“I already explained sufficiently to you. These are goods going to Mount Hua Sect. And didn’t you confirm they were medicinal herbs? Then why are you trying to confiscate them?”

“How can I believe that you’re a disciple of Mount Hua Sect?”

Lim Hap-chu’s cheeks were trembling.

“I am certainly a lay disciple of Mount Hua Sect.”

“Anyone can claim to be a lay disciple. How would I know if you’re really a lay disciple of the fallen Mount Hua Sect? When I tried to verify that, you fled. I absolutely cannot forgive your insolence.”

Lim Hap-chu’s eyes were already bloodshot red.

Watching this, Jong Ri-yeon immediately understood what the situation was.

“He is definitely a lay disciple of Mount Hua Sect.”

“Hmph! How can I believe that?”

“I am Jong Ri-yeon. Though embarrassed, I am called by the nickname Divine Doctor.”

“Divine… Doctor Jong Ri-yeon?”

Lim Hap-chu’s eyes trembled.

He too was a martial artist. As a martial artist, he couldn’t not know Divine Doctor Jong Ri-yeon.

“Are you really the Divine Doctor?”

“That’s right. She is indeed Divine Doctor Jong Ri-yeon.”

Bang Jin-bo, who had been quiet until now, stepped forward and spoke. Then Lim Hap-chu said irritably:

“I cannot believe it.”

“Whether you believe it or not doesn’t matter. What’s important is that person is a lay disciple of Mount Hua Sect, and you dare to enter Mount Hua’s territory and persecute Mount Hua’s disciples.”

“Damn!”

“Though Mount Hua Sect has closed its gates, isn’t it overstepping authority for the Martial Alliance to invade this place, which is like an inner courtyard, and try to arrest lay disciples?”

Jong Ri-yeon’s voice was very gentle. But it resonated clearly. Clear enough for people nearby who were watching this entire scene to hear.

A briefly bewildered light flashed across Lim Hap-chu’s eyes.

He too knew he was being unreasonable. But this was also something he was doing under orders. He didn’t know the reason, but since orders had come from above, he had no choice but to follow them.

Shake Mount Hua Sect.

That was the order Lim Hap-chu had received from above.

He raised his voice:

“Since it’s come to this, let’s all go to the Martial Alliance and settle this matter. Everyone follow me.”

“Go to the Martial Alliance? You want us to go to Hunan Province, thousands of li away from Shaanxi Province?”

“That’s right.”

“You’re really shameless. You come into Huayin County and that’s what you say? Do you think that makes sense?”

“How dare you disregard the Martial Alliance’s authority?”

“Who’s disregarding the Martial Alliance’s authority? Rather, you’re the one disregarding Mount Hua’s authority. No matter how much Mount Hua Sect has closed its gates, this is going too far. Did you send an official document to Mount Hua Sect before entering here? If not, then you’ve invaded Mount Hua’s territory without permission.”

“This woman’s nonsense is remarkable. Anyone listening would think it’s real. I don’t need to hear any more. I’ll escort even that woman to the Martial Alliance. Subdue them.”

“Yes!”

The subordinates who had been quiet until now drew their weapons with their response. They pressured Jong Ri-yeon, Jang Gyu-ho, and others while pointing their weapons.

That’s when it happened.

“You bastards! Who are you to point swords at Miss Divine Doctor?”

Suddenly someone jumped between them with an angry shout.

The white-haired old man was none other than Old Man Jang, Jang Gyu-ho’s father. When he stepped forward, people who had only been watching until now came forward.

“What has the Martial Alliance ever done for us that you’re causing trouble in Huayin County?”

“Those people are indeed disciples of Mount Hua Sect. Don’t lay a hand on them.”

It wasn’t just one or two people. In an instant, a wall of humans was formed around Jong Ri-yeon, Jang Gyu-ho, and others.

This bewildered Lim Hap-chu and the Outer Hall martial artists. They hadn’t expected so many people to step forward.

The eyes of Huayin County residents looking at them were full of hostility. They were people who had lived their entire lives under Mount Hua’s shadow.

Though Mount Hua Sect had closed its gates now, their pride in Mount Hua Sect hadn’t diminished one bit.

When Mount Hua Sect was thriving, no sect could cause such disturbances in Huayin County. Even the Martial Alliance had to maintain courtesy.

Because they remembered those times, their anger was immense.

Lim Hap-chu felt irritation surge up in an instant.

“How dare!”

He knew their anger was justified. He also had unavoidable reasons. But he didn’t want to explain himself humbly to such lowly ignorant people.

He shouted at the people:

“If you don’t all step back, I’ll execute you in the name of the Martial Alliance.”

“Hmph!”

But not a single person stepped back. At this, Lim Hap-chu’s face turned even redder.

He shouted at his subordinates: “Those people are also accomplices. Give them all a good beating.”

“Yes!”

The Outer Hall martial artists flared up with killing intent.

Though many people were blocking their way, they weren’t afraid at all. They were all martial artists who had learned martial arts above a certain level. They were confident they could compete with disciples of other major sects without shame. Much less people who hadn’t learned martial arts, no matter how many there were, couldn’t frighten them.

“Attack!”

“Chaat!”

They deployed martial arts toward the people blocking their way. They had no intention to kill. But they planned to break an arm or leg to teach them a lesson.

Swish!

It was the moment their swords and sabers sharply cut through the air.

“Ha! This is really ridiculous.”

With a quiet voice, Bang Jin-bo jumped between them. The Outer Hall martial artist, surprised by the sudden intrusion, shouted:

“Wh-what?”

“What do you mean what? This is Mount Hua Sect’s Head Cook.”

With a blunt answer, Bang Jin-bo’s fist flew.

For a moment, the Outer Hall martial artist saw an illusion of plum blossoms scattering in the air.

Thump!

“Kereuk!”

With a scream, he was sent flying.

That was the beginning.

“Oh my!”

“Hureok!”

With screams, the Outer Hall martial artists fell one after another.

Just before falling to the ground, they all saw illusions of plum blossoms blooming in the air.

It was the Plum Blossom Fist.

The Plum Blossom Fist was the basic fist technique that all main mountain disciples of Mount Hua Sect learned. But its power was by no means weak.

Though it looked light like plum petals blown by wind, the Plum Blossom Fist had power as heavy as an iron mace.

The Plum Blossom Fist that Bang Jin-bo deployed properly utilized that power.

In an instant, five or six Outer Hall martial artists were rolling on the ground. With the situation like this, the Outer Hall martial artists who had been charging at people confidently became frightened and hesitated.

Lim Hap-chu’s pupils shook.

“Who are you?”

“I told you. Mount Hua Sect’s Head Cook.”

“How dare you mock me? How could a mere cook have martial arts…”

“Is there a law saying cooks can’t learn martial arts?”

Bang Jin-bo answered bluntly.

Mount Hua Sect had transmitted martial arts to Bang Jin-bo.

Dam-ho and Master Hyeon-so had modified the Five Elements Gentleman Technique that Bang Jin-bo had learned to be suitable for learning Mount Hua Sect’s martial arts. Thanks to this, Bang Jin-bo could learn Mount Hua Sect’s martial arts without restrictions.

Cold sweat ran down Lim Hap-chu’s back.

He too was a martial artist who had learned martial arts. He couldn’t not know that the Plum Blossom Fist Bang Jin-bo deployed inherited the orthodox lineage of Mount Hua Sect.

‘Tsk!’

He thought the matter was getting bigger and bigger. But it was like riding a tiger. He had already mounted the tiger’s back. He couldn’t retreat now.

He raised his voice:

“Does Mount Hua Sect dare to interfere with the Martial Alliance’s activities?”

“You keep repeating the same thing, mister! You’re the one who invaded Mount Hua’s territory without permission and caused trouble.”

“Shut up.”

“What good are ears if you don’t try to listen?”

“How dare you insult me. I won’t forgive you.”

Lim Hap-chu drew his sword and charged.

Swish!

His sword sharply cut through the air. The killing intent contained within reached his skin.

Bang Jin-bo’s complexion hardened. It was because the opponent’s killing intent was real. Lim Hap-chu was really trying to kill him.

For a moment, Bang Jin-bo’s gaze changed.

He could overlook things until now. But if the opponent really had killing intent and was trying to kill him, he absolutely couldn’t forgive it.

Those who came with killing intent had to be met with the same killing intent.

That was a precious lesson he had learned from Dam-ho.

“Chaat!”

The short sword hanging at his waist was drawn. It was a kitchen knife used in cooking.

Swish!

Sword energy burst forth from the kitchen knife like firecrackers in succession. And the sword energy bloomed plum blossoms.

Lim Hap-chu’s eyes opened wide.

“Pl-Plum Blossom Sword Technique?”

There was only one sword technique in the world that created plum blossoms with a sword.

Twenty-Four Step Plum Blossom Sword.

Bang Jin-bo deployed with a saber the sword technique that only Plum Blossom Sword Masters could learn. Its power was by no means inferior to the original Twenty-Four Step Plum Blossom Sword.

Clang clang clang!

“Kreuk!”

Lim Hap-chu, who had blocked the plum blossoms at first, eventually fell backward with a scream. Long wounds had formed on his chest and side, with blood flowing freely.

If Bang Jin-bo hadn’t shown mercy in his attacks, his breath would have been cut off long ago.

“Kreuk!”

A groan flowed from Lim Hap-chu’s mouth.

At this sight, the Outer Hall martial artists who were still standing froze. They hadn’t expected that a young boy would defeat their group leader Lim Hap-chu in a single exchange.

“This can’t be.”

“The group leader in just one exchange…”

The prowess of the boy who called himself Mount Hua Sect’s Head Cook was weighing down on their hearts.

Bang Jin-bo looked down at them and said:

“Mount Hua is not weak enough or soft enough for you to look down upon. No one is allowed to despise Mount Hua. Even if the target is the Martial Alliance.”

“Ugh!”

“Take these people and get out.”

Bang Jin-bo’s voice resonated thunderously throughout Huayin County.

The Outer Hall martial artists supported the fallen ones and hurriedly left Huayin County. It was the moment when Bang Jin-bo’s three-character name was deeply engraved in their minds.

It wasn’t just the Martial Alliance’s martial artists. All the martial artists who had secretly entered Huayin County were repeating Bang Jin-bo’s name.

Mount Hua Sect’s Head Cook Bang Jin-bo.

He was finally revealing his name to the forefront of martial world history.