Dark and Light Martial Emperor

Chapter 113: The Price of Insult (Part 1)

A faint smile of welcome blossomed on Mokbi’s face.

“Master Yeon.”

“Huff, it’s been tough.”

Thud!

The sound of the Gwangryongbu hitting the floor shook the entire top floor.

An ominous entrance. The atmosphere turned deadly in an instant as the massive axe struck the floor.

Yeon Hojeong smacked his lips.

“I haven’t had a proper meal since dawn yesterday. I’m so hungry I could stick to my back.”

“Did you have a good trip?”

“Do I look like I had a good trip? I’m dead tired.”

Yeon Hojeong glanced at Moyong Yeonhwa and a dozen men and women.

Moyong Yeonhwa’s face hardened. The young men and women flinched for a moment, but still managed to look quite composed.

Yeon Hojeong asked nonchalantly.

“So, what’s the matter? I heard all sorts of nonsense about apologizing and licking feet.”

Mokbi bit her lip.

She was about to speak hastily.

“Nice to see you again. It seems you’ll be staying here for a few days.”

Yeon Hojeong turned his head.

Moyong Yeonhwa stood up.

“Now that I think about it, that lady was part of Master Yeon’s entourage, wasn’t she?”

Yeon Hojeong smiled silently.

It was almost a sneer. The faces of the ten men and women reddened at that smile.

But Moyong Yeonhwa remained calm. There was no sign of disturbance.

“That lady made a mistake with our group. It seems she’s quite unaware of the ways of the world…”

“Are you Mokbi?”

“…?!”

“I didn’t ask you a question. I’m not in the mood to talk to you right now, so don’t bother me.”

Moyong Yeonhwa’s expression changed.

Although it was a difficult relationship, he had always maintained a certain decorum. But not now. He was being blunt.

“Are you saying that to me?”

Yeon Hojeong’s eyes turned cold.

Moyong Yeonhwa flinched involuntarily.

She was a warrior woman. She wasn’t scared by Yeon Hojeong’s chilly gaze.

But her mouth didn’t open easily. She thought there was no need to provoke him unnecessarily.

If she had been insulted, so be it, but she wouldn’t act rashly. She had remarkable patience.

Yeon Hojeong asked Mokbi.

“What’s the matter?”

Mokbi couldn’t open her mouth easily.

Yeon Hojeong grinned.

“You seem quite upset.”

“…Yes.”

She answered honestly. Yeon Hojeong liked Mokbi’s honesty.

“I get the gist of the situation. Did you make a mistake with that person over there?”

Mokbi’s face reddened again. She was angry.

“I did make a mistake… but I think they were wrong first.”

Suddenly, Haseok spoke up.

“That lowly creature still…”

Bang!

“Ugh!”

Everyone on the top floor was startled.

Suddenly, the Gwangryongbu was embedded in the wall right next to Haseok. Unable to bear its weight, it slowly slipped out and fell to the floor.

Boom! Crackle!

The floor trembled.

Even when held, its immense weight was evident. The inner wall’s durability, not bursting even when struck by the blade of Gwangryongbu, was astonishing.

Of course, it was thanks to Yeon Hojeong’s internal energy control. If he had swung it with intent, a fifth of the top floor’s inner wall would have shattered.

“Lowly creature?”

Thump!

Several men and women collapsed on the spot, terrified.

Haseok swallowed dryly. He had seen the phantom of the axe passing right by his nose.

Had it tilted just a bit, his body would have been cleaved in two.

Yeon Hojeong spoke in a calm tone.

“Mokbi is a person of Yeonga. Even my father treats her as an honored guest, who dares to call her lowly? Does the Yeonga of Byuksan dare to mock her as lowly?”

The eyes of Moyong Yeonhwa and the merchant alliance’s offspring widened.

Yeon Hojeong sneered coldly.

“Pigs only see pigs. If that’s the state of your eyes, you’re lucky if you don’t end up dying on the street instead of enjoying glory.”

The insulting words hit hard, but no one dared to utter a word. They didn’t want that axe to be swung at them.

“Continue what you were saying. They made the first mistake?”

Mokbi stammered.

“I didn’t want to sit with them.”

“And they kept insisting on sitting together?”

“Yes.”

“Who?”

Mokbi inadvertently looked towards Dongsobang. Following Mokbi’s gaze, Yeon Hojeong’s eyes also turned towards her.

Dongsobang’s face turned pale.

A teenage girl with little martial arts training couldn’t bear the presence of Yeon Hojeong, which spread out subtly.

Yeon Hojeong nodded.

“One who can’t manage his mouth, one who bothers people. For now, let’s start by punishing those two.”

Shiver!

The atmosphere turned even more deadly.

Punish them? It was a phrase fit for third-rate thugs, but the terrifying meaning behind those blunt words was felt by all.

Dongsobang involuntarily collapsed on the spot. Haseok tried to maintain a poker face, but his fingertips trembled slightly.

Yeon Hojeong, the Byuksanhojang.

The eldest son of the Byuksan Yeonga, a peak master who stood alone against the noble houses. He wasn’t the one who brought down the noble houses, but he played a crucial role in their downfall as a passionate warrior.

Passionate, indeed, but if provoked, he wouldn’t hesitate to act. He was so fierce that he would take on the nine noble houses alone.

A chilling atmosphere spread like fog, overwhelming the assembly.

Moyong Yeonhwa stepped forward.

“Master Yeon. Surely you don’t mean to…”

“Shut your mouth.”

Yeon Hojeong frowned openly.

“I’m holding back because of your father.”

“What, what did you say?”

“I’m not tearing you apart right now because of your father. But if you test my patience one more time, I won’t spare the Moyong family or anyone else.”

Moyong Yeonhwa’s eyes turned cold.

‘How dare!’

To say such things in front of everyone, it was unbelievable before it was infuriating.

“You…”

“So, what’s become of that damned wretch?”

Moyong Yeonhwa was utterly disregarded. The intent was clear: no more words were desired, and her face inevitably flushed with a fiery red.

Mokbi sighed deeply.

“No, let’s stop here.”

“Stop? Why?”

Mokbi, with a face muddled by confusion, replied,

“I don’t want to make a big deal out of it. It seems meaningless anyway.”

“Meaningless?”

“I’m angry, but… they’re already scared out of their wits. There’s no need to drive an arrow through the hearts of the frightened.”

Such a metaphor was truly befitting of her.

Yet, her words seemed to have pricked the pride of a few among the Merchant Alliance’s offspring.

“How dare you ignore us!”

It wasn’t ‘I’ but ‘we’. Even amidst their anger, they inadvertently showed signs of unity.

“Do you think being from Beiksanyeon makes you invincible? This is Zhejiang! Even the Six Great Martial Families can’t guarantee safety here!”

Their confidence was astounding.

The Six Great Martial Families weren’t renowned just for their martial prowess. Of course, martial skills were a given, but a reputation as formidable as their skills was equally important.

They knew that Beiksanyeon was considered the weakest among the Six Great Families.

But there was one thing they overlooked.

While their power might be the weakest, Beiksanyeon’s chivalrous reputation was contending for the top among the Six. Even before Yeon Hojeong faced the noble houses, it was so.

Those who had only heard rumors and not truly experienced the world. They mocked Mokbi for being naive, yet they were the ones who were truly ignorant of the ways of the world.

“See that?”

“…”

“Those are the kind. Little rats who don’t know how vast the world is. Offspring of the Moyong family, too dim-witted to find it odd that they’re keeping their mouths shut.”

The situation was escalating.

They were about to burst out in anger again when they suddenly looked at Moyong Yeonhwa. Something in Yeon Hojeong’s words had struck a chord.

Moyong Yeonhwa’s face was ablaze with red.

“That’s how it is in the martial world. Gratitude may be forgotten, but grudges never fade. It’s the same with those fools. If you don’t teach them a lesson now, they’ll become a thorn in your side someday.”

“…”

“And yet, you wish to end it here?”

Mokbi nodded, an air of weariness about her.

“I don’t want to tussle with those who know nothing of martial arts.”

Yeon Hojeong smiled.

“That’s fine too.”

“…What?”

“Your nature might lead to regret someday. But I respect your choice. The world needs pure-hearted people like you.”

Confusion clouded Mokbi’s face.

She couldn’t quite grasp what was happening.

“Then I shall…”

“Worry not. I’ve got your back. Even if you do regret, I’ll be the pillar that prevents you from crumbling. I didn’t bring you along without that resolve.”

Mokbi’s eyes flickered.

Yeon Hojeong patted her shoulder.

“They say people grow through relationships and conflicts. You’ve done well to endure.”

With a smile, Yeon Hojeong turned away.

In his eyes, as he turned, flickered a ghostly fire.

“Shall we have a word amongst ourselves then?”

Mokbi was taken aback.

“Why, why would you?”

“Unlike you, I have a nasty temper.”

“What?”

“Those who threaten and mock my people, I can’t let them off without at least a slap across the face.”

Haseok gritted his teeth.

“Look here, Yeon…”

Thump!

Haseok was slammed against the wall without even a chance to scream.

“Aaagh!”

“Ugh!”

Haseok’s eyes were dazed as he slumped to the ground, several white teeth spilling from his bloodied mouth.

A state where vital energy clings to every muscle fiber. Even without opening his internal energy, a single punch could shatter a tree.

That he didn’t die from such a slap was fortunate.

But Yeon Hojeong wasn’t planning to end it there.

“Who said you could faint on your own?”

He walked over, grabbed Haseok by the collar, and swung again.

Thump! Thump!

“Ack!”

Haseok came to his senses instantly, but it was worse than being unconscious.

His face was a mess in no time. More teeth broke, both cheeks were torn, leaving ghastly wounds, and his right eye swelled up instantly.

Yeon Hojeong’s murderous gaze fixed on Haseok.

Extreme fear painted Haseok’s face.

“Please…”

Thump!

Haseok was slammed against the wall again and lost consciousness. If he ever woke up, the mere mention of Yeon Hojeong’s name would make him tremble.

Yeon Hojeong turned to Dongsofang.

Dongsofang hiccuped.

“I, I am from… Daetianjinbang…”

“Daetianjinbang? Is that a special dish from Zhejiang?”

Thump!

“Cough!”

Yeon Hojeong was merciless.

The process of turning a robust youth into a battered mess was horrifying, but the sight of a young woman being beaten to a pulp was utterly surreal.

Thud! Thud! Crack!

Dongsofang crumbled right there.

Neither Haseok nor Dongsofang died. But they were left with scars so severe they couldn’t show their faces in public again.

It was a cruel handiwork.

Regardless of their status, beating the ignorant to a pulp was not befitting of Beiksanyeon’s chivalrous reputation.

Yeon Hojeong looked at the others.

Tss tss tss tss.

His eyes glowed blue like a ghost’s, filled with the aura of darkness.

“Gasp!”

They knelt without realizing it, their legs giving out on their own.

After glaring at them for a while, Yeon Hojeong turned to Moyong Yeonhwa.

Moyong Yeonhwa was trembling. Her eyes blazed with anger.

“You’ve made a mistake.”

“Explain.”

“What?”

Yeon Hojeong pointed at the kneeling offspring of the Merchant Alliance.

“Explain why you used these fools to provoke Mokbi.”