SMACK!

With a crisp sound, Wu Jin-tae’s head snapped to the side. He blankly stroked his own cheek.

What just happened?

He was completely dumbfounded. Me, slapped? By a punk like this?

He was approaching the age of thirty and, having married early, already had a family of his own. To suffer such a humiliation at the hands of a kid who couldn’t be much older than twenty…

“Aah! Young Master Wu!”

“B-brother, are you alright?”

“That, isn’t that the Young Escort Chief[1] of the Seong-un Escort Agency?”

“It is. Good heavens, what kind of audacious bastard… wait, that face looks familiar.”

The delayed reactions of the other young talents and the stares of the guesthouse patrons magnified Wu Jin-tae’s shame tenfold. He glared at the brat before him with murderous eyes.

“How dare you…”

“That’s not it.”

“What?”

“It shouldn’t be ‘how dare you,’ it should be ‘how.’ That is, if you’re a martial artist.”

Wu Jin-tae froze. From a young age, he had absorbed all sorts of spiritual medicines and first-rate martial arts under the full support of the Seong-un Escort Agency. So, even though he wasn’t born with exceptional martial talent, he was confident that he was a cut above the other rising talents.

And I was taken down so easily?

He hadn’t even properly seen when or how the punk had approached him. He had been too blinded by the shame of being publicly humiliated.

Only now did Wu Jin-tae scan his opponent with wary eyes.

“Look at this bastard’s eyes rolling around. What, you want me to tell you my three sizes?”

“Which sect do you belong to, and who are you?”

“I’m Tien Shinhan of the Dodonpa School[2], you bastard.”

The only reason he could tolerate the kid’s profanity was because his reason had returned. In the martial world, one never knew what might happen. If his opponent was a disciple of a major sect, he would have to back down cleanly.

Dodonpa School, Tien Shinhan of the Dodonpa School?

Both the sect and the name were completely unfamiliar. A quick glance behind him showed that the faces of the other young talents were also filled with bewilderment.

Wu Jin-tae’s mind raced.

As far as I know, there is no sect called the Dodonpa School in Shanxi Province.

To establish a new sect in Shanxi, where other sects were already firmly established, was next to impossible. Putting aside the interference from other sects, news of it would inevitably spread quickly.

To have raised a rising talent of this caliber at his age, it must be a sect of considerable power… Where is it? From Shaanxi? Or perhaps Henan?

Just as Wu Jin-tae hesitated, unable to speak, the young warrior who had been watching the fire from across the river, as it were, suddenly asked.

“What’s the Dodonpa School? Is that a real sect?”

“As if. But you know, if you tell a lie convincingly enough, it becomes the truth.”

“Aha. I will carve those words, like a golden rule, upon my heart.”

“Heh, you’re finally saying something nice for a change.”

The shabbily dressed young man who looked like a beggar also chimed in.

“‘If you tell a lie well enough, it becomes the truth’… Those are good words. I can feel a profound principle[3] in them.”

“…Ah, yes. Well, thank you for the compliment.”

Hearing the three’s conversation, sparks flew from Wu Jin-tae’s eyes.

“You punk! Reveal your identity!”

“Why? So you can pick a fight if you think I’m a nobody, and tuck your tail and apologize if you think my background is too high-class?”

It was a blunt, but piercingly accurate remark. Seeing Wu Jin-tae unable to respond, the young punk clicked his tongue.

“Man, your questions are all wrong from the start. The one who farts is the one who gets angry, they say. If you wanted an answer from me, you should have apologized first.”

Wu Jin-tae bit his lip.

Apologize?

As the sole heir of the Seong-un Escort Agency, he had been catered to his entire life. He was not the type of person with a flexible enough mindset to bow his head to an opponent whose origins were unknown.

Having finally made his decision, Wu Jin-tae gave a subtle glance to the scions of the Five Sects of Shanxi.

No matter how strong this punk is, he can’t be that strong.

His opponent had only two others with him. In contrast, his side consisted of five first-rate masters, counted among the best of the rising generation in Shanxi. Seeing the four men and women discreetly grip their weapons at his signal bolstered his confidence.

“Do you even know who I am, who we are?”

“I happen to know your names, more or less. But is that an apology?”

“An apology? You’ve got some nerve.”

Wu Jin-tae smiled venomously.

“We are the successors of the Five Sects of Shanxi. Surely you’re not going to claim you’ve never heard of the Five Sects of Shanxi.”

“Let’s say I have. But are you really not going to apologize? This is your last warning.”

“Let me give you a warning, too. I don’t know where you’re from, but you’ve messed with the wrong people—”

SMACK!

A flash of light went off in front of Wu Jin-tae’s eyes. As he stumbled backward, a series of lightning-fast slaps landed on his face.

SMACK! SMACK! SLAP-SLAP-SLAP!

One slap for every step. After taking a total of five slaps, Wu Jin-tae staggered. Because he had been hit so persistently on only one side, his cheek was swollen, and the inside of his burst lip was filled with blood.

I’ve never even been hit by my own father.

It was the first humiliation he had ever experienced in his life. And it had happened in front of everyone. His eyes flashed with madness.

“You son of a…”

“I told you, it was the last warning. Do you not know the meaning of ‘last,’ or do you not know the meaning of ‘warning’? Or is it both?”

“How dare you hit me?”

“I may be the first man to treat you so roughly, but please don’t fall in love with me. I’m busy enough loving just my Songyi.”

“I’ll kill you!”

“I’ll hit you!”

SMACK-SMACK-SMACK!

“Keoheok!”

Wu Jin-tae couldn’t get his bearings. The blows were not imbued with internal energy, nor did it seem like he was using any profound footwork. And yet, there was no way to block the barrage of slaps raining down not on one, but on both of his cheeks.

How is this happening!

As he was being beaten helplessly, a crazed shout pierced his ears.

“Slap with the left hand, and slap with the right hand!”

SMACK! SMACK!

“One-chi, two-chi, three-chi, four-chi, Ppu-kku’s cheek! Ppu-kku’s cheek!”

SMACK-SMACK-SMACK!

He kept shouting incomprehensible words while slapping him, looking like a madman born for the sole purpose of slapping people. Just like at this very moment.

“Left hand up and right hand down. Right hand down and left hand down. Left hand down and don’t raise your right hand.”

“Heok!”

“That’s right. Good boy. As a reward, teacher is going to give our little Wu Jin-tae a good hard slap on the cheek.”

SMACK-SMACK-SMACK-SMACK!

How many times had he been hit in just a few short moments? Thirty? Fifty? He had been hit so relentlessly that his head was ringing and tears welled up in his eyes.

In the end, all Wu Jin-tae could do was cry for help.

“S-someone, help me!”

The Seong-un Escort Agency. The young master of the very same agency, said to be comparable in wealth to the Taiyuan Jin family, the richest in all of Shanxi, cried out in a desperate voice.

“P-please, help me!”

Despite his desperate plea, which had thrown away all pride, the rising talents of the Five Sects of Shanxi couldn’t easily draw their weapons.

“How are we supposed to win against that…”

Someone’s groan-like whisper represented the thoughts of everyone. That’s right. There was no need to experience it firsthand. Just watching from the side was enough to make their knees tremble and their legs give out. The opponent, though of similar age, was undoubtedly a master whose skills were beyond imagination.

“To be at that level at his age.”

“That’s a complete monster.”

SMACK! SMACK!

“H-help me!”

His voice grew even more desperate. His cry for help had subtly changed. A little longer, and he might start begging for death instead.

“We… we should help, right?”

“We should at least try to stop him… Young Master Wang, why don’t you do something?”

“Me? Why me all of a sudden?”

“Why do you think? You were always bragging about your family’s martial arts. You said it was a swordsmanship[4] that wouldn’t be shameful anywhere in the Central Plains.”

The heir of the Wang family, who usually took every opportunity to boast about the greatness of his family’s arts, answered with a straight face.

“I’m a saber user, I never learned swordsmanship.”

“What?”

“And why are you pushing this onto me? If you really want to stop him, Young Lady Shin should step up.”

“My, what nerve.”

Just as the scions of the Five Sects were passing the buck to one another, Hyeok Mujin, who had been quietly observing the situation, chimed in.

“You’re all worrying for nothing. If it were me, I’d have jumped in to help long ago.”

“You, no, what are you?”

The scene unfolding before them was so terrifying that they had to use semi-formal language even with a seemingly insignificant warrior. Young Lady Hwang, who had just received the Shu brocade from Wu Jin-tae, quickly spoke up.

“Let me say this beforehand, we have no ill feelings toward you. Understood?”

“Is that so? Well, if you say so, let’s just say that’s how it is.”

“It’s not ‘let’s say so,’ it’s the truth.”

“What good would it do to tell me that?”

Hyeok Mujin grinned and gestured with his chin toward Jin Tae-kyung, who was joyfully beating Wu Jin-tae to a pulp.

“Our young master has quite a temper. When the person getting a lively beating over there collapses, who do you think will be next…? That young master over there? Or perhaps the young lady next to him?”

“Ah, and just in case, that man hits everyone, regardless of gender.”

“I-I wasn’t laughing!”

“Me neither!”

“Do I have to say it twice? It’s no use telling me. Ah, though there might be one way that could work.”

“A way?”

The young talents’ ears perked up. They had enough martial arts training to realize they had no chance of winning against that monstrous young man.

“S-save me…”

Just then, Wu Jin-tae’s dying voice drifted to their ears, further fueling their survival instincts.

“W-what is this way you speak of?”

Hyeok Mujin stroked his chin with a deliberately serious expression.

“Well, since you are all the children of influential families, I’m not sure if you’ll be able to do it.”

“I’ll do it!”

“I’ll do it! I’ll do whatever it takes!”

“Hmm. You have the right attitude.”

Nodding with a satisfied look, Hyeok Mujin pointed to Cheong Pung, who was watching the one-sided beating with his mouth agape.

“First, you will offer a sincere apology to this gentleman here.”

Before he could even finish his sentence, the scions of the Five Sects of Shanxi bowed deeply at the waist.

“I offer my sincerest apologies.”

“It was wrong of us to make a rash judgment based on your appearance. We are truly sorry.”

Cheong Pung scratched the back of his head.

“It’s alright, so please, stand up.”

For someone who had been mocked in front of so many people, he forgave them so readily that it was Hyeok Mujin who was taken aback. Moreover, his face, which should have been red with displeasure, was nothing but bright and clear.

“Just like that?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

“No, it’s not that… But weren’t you angry earlier? You were insulted in such a public place.”

“Why would I be angry? I just found it a bit fascinating.”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“It was the first time so many people paid attention to me like that. Being apologized to by someone who ignored me is also a first, so I find it novel and interesting.”

“Ah, I’m really glad I came down from the mountain.”

This one’s a bit crazy, too.

Staring at Cheong Pung as if he were a bizarre creature, Hyeok Mujin shook his head and turned to the young talents.

“You heard him. Since the young hero here has accepted your apology, we will consider this matter closed.”

“Ooh!”

“Ooooh, we’re saved!”

However, Hyeok Mujin’s words were not finished.

“Now, then, the second and final part remains.”

“…A second part?”

“There’s more?”

“Yes, and this is the most important part.”

Then, he solemnly declared to the four men and women staring at him.

“All of you, on your knees, heads on the ground.”