Chapter 14 – No Complaints

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read more at Nineheavens.org

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Chapter 14 – No Complaints

Geum Ja-jeom's mind went blank.

"…!"

He felt his whole body stiffen and his blood run cold.

He couldn't move a single finger.

And he wasn't the only one.

Everyone in the Thousand Snake Gang gathered in this garden was the same.

They had been overwhelmed in both body and mind before the martial prowess of Cheol Ryu-heun, who had mercilessly split Gul Ma-hun and over a dozen elite swordsmen in half.

The White Peak Sword Sect disciples also looked dumbfounded.

Were they dreaming?

In this decisive battle where the fate of their fallen sect hung in the balance, Young Sect Master Cheol Ryu-heun had won.

And moreover, overwhelmingly and completely from start to finish.

It was the moment they finally understood Cheol Ryu-heun's relaxed attitude when facing Gul Ma-hun, one of the famous swordsmen in Hunan Province.

Soon, a faint smile formed at the corner of Hyeop Mu-geuk's mouth.

'The place where the Sect Master once happened to obtain a sword… The arrangements like a fortunate encounter must have included more than just Bone Replacement and Marrow Cleansing. The martial arts the Young Sect Master displayed today is ten to one some kind of absolute art kept there!'

Suddenly, the words Cheol Ryu-heun had spoken ten days ago came to mind.

-If you truly trust me, don't ask any more about that place. I'll prove everything through results.

It had come true exactly as he had boasted.

Having once again confirmed that his trust in Cheol Ryu-heun was right, he completely dispelled even the tiny bit of concern remaining in a corner of his heart.

Amid the humid air filled with the acrid scent of blood.

Click-

Cheol Ryu-heun sheathed the Gan Jiang and muttered indifferently.

"One's reputation – what's the big deal about that."

Words mocking Gul Ma-hun's choice to meet a miserable end while trying to protect his fame.

Coming back to his senses, Geum Ja-jeom clenched his teeth.

'Gugh, for the Gang Leader to be so helpless like this…'

His face contorted as complex thoughts and emotions tangled together.

At that moment, Cheol Ryu-heun took a step forward along with meaningful words.

"Fear is like a contagion, you know."

The Thousand Snake Gang members all startled and stumbled backward in unison.

Like a pack of wolves startled by a tiger's step.

The fear triggered by Gul Ma-hun's gruesome end had instantly consumed their hearts.

Just as he said, a contagion-like fear was pervading them.

Cheol Ryu-heun shrugged and spoke calmly.

"If you want to keep going, I won't refuse."

In group combat, numbers are a major condition that increases the chance of victory.

However, battles between factions are not always decided by numbers alone.

Cheol Ryu-heun knew that better than anyone.

So, based on his long years of experience, he had chosen the most effective method to neutralize the difference in numbers.

Namely, killing the enemy leader in one overwhelming strike to take control of the battlefield's atmosphere.

If you prove an overwhelming difference through dominating presence and overwhelming martial prowess, numerical inferiority becomes meaningless.

As a Divine Martial Sword, he had experienced countless similar situations through each era's owners.

That was why even the enemy's reaction now was something he had already foreseen.

Right now, in the eyes of the Thousand Snake Gang, Cheol Ryu-heun must look like a ferocious predator eyeing weak prey.

Gulp.

With the sense of crisis heightened, Geum Ja-jeom swallowed dry saliva and looked at Cheol Ryu-heun's face.

An expression where nothing could be felt – literally emotionless.

He didn't feel like a human being.

Looking into those eyes that seemed capable of doing anything without distinguishing between good and evil doubled his fear.

Slide.

Cheol Ryu-heun bent down and snatched White Fang from one of Gul Ma-hun's hands.

"My sword is too good for the likes of you, so I'll slaughter you with this sword now."

Simultaneously, a transparent wave of energy spreading around his body created a fierce whirlwind.

Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-whoosh-

Raindrops scattering hazily in all directions like fog.

'Urk!'

The Thousand Snake Gang members instantly got goosebumps and hunched their necks.

It was an intangible killing intent and fighting spirit that couldn't even be compared to Gul Ma-hun's earlier.

Geum Ja-jeom felt as if his breath was being choked off.

'Ugh, there's no way I can…'

Due to the fear churning through his heart, he couldn't bring himself to make a move.

Truly a presence standing out from the crowd.

Would the bearing of the 'Five Supreme Martial Experts of Hunan Province,' the five supreme masters who dominated Hunan Province, be like this?

The success or failure of the surprise attack operation no longer mattered.

To survive or not… only that thought filled his mind now.

The intimidated Thousand Snake Gang members each crept back a few steps.

It was a sight that once again taught them the fact that numerical superiority was meaningless.

Cheol Ryu-heun took another step.

"What are you doing? Come at me."

At that moment, a gang member standing beside Geum Ja-jeom whispered in terror.

"V-Vice Gang Leader… What do we do? Please make a decision quickly…"

With the gang leader dead, the decision-making power rested solely with the vice gang leader.

'Right, what is there to hesitate about at this point!'

Having steeled his resolve, Geum Ja-jeom quickly bowed his head.

"Young Sect Master Cheol! All of this… was the late gang leader's will. I swear, from now on, such unfortunate matters will absolutely never occur again. So please, show mercy just this once."

At that, the rest of the Thousand Snake Gang martial artists also bowed deeply to express their surrender.

"Truly born unorthodox faction. Seeing how you shift the blame to the dead."

"…"

Having been struck at the core, Geum Ja-jeom couldn't bring himself to say anything in response.

"You're all saying that you were just underlings who followed the snake head's plan, merely obeying orders – that's what you mean, right?"

"Ah, th-that's…"

Just as Geum Ja-jeom was unsure what to do, Cheol Ryu-heun withdrew his intangible fighting spirit and killing intent.

"Fine, I'll spare you."

"Ah…! Th-Thank you!"

"But prepare the compensation money as originally agreed."

"Of course! But how much…?"

"One thousand taels of silver."

The moment Cheol Ryu-heun answered, Geum Ja-jeom choked.

'What? That's insane…!'

He was rendered speechless by the unexpected enormous amount.

Cheol Ryu-heun was perfectly composed.

"Why so surprised?"

"No, one thousand taels of silver is almost equal to a year's budget. How could we possibly come up with such a large sum right away…"

Before he could finish speaking, a loud sound rang out.

Crash!

Followed by a cry of pain.

"Aaahk!"

Geum Ja-jeom, stabbed in the left shoulder, had been embedded in a wall in the blink of an eye.

It was Cheol Ryu-heun's handiwork, of course.

The Thousand Snake Gang members turned their heads and saw the sight, their faces draining of color.

By now, they were so cautious that even looking around or exhaling felt risky.

Cheol Ryu-heun then withdrew White Fang from Geum Ja-jeom's left shoulder and warned.

"Two weeks. Within that time, liquidate all your illegal establishments and bring at least half the amount."

Still an indifferent expression and voice.

Geum Ja-jeom dared not object to those words.

"Gugh… Y-Yes, understood."

Honorific speech flowed out naturally without him forcing it.

Cheol Ryu-heun then brought the blood-stained sword tip to Geum Ja-jeom's Adam's apple.

"This is the price for sparing villains who attempted the extermination of this sect – it's only fitting to receive this much."

"Y-Yes! W-Within two weeks… I will definitely bring the money."

"Count yourself lucky."

"…"

"If the snake head's scheme had been determined to be connected to my master's death, this place would have become your grave."

"I'll keep that in mind. Urghhh…"

"I'll hold onto this sword as collateral until then."

Cheol Ryu-heun withdrew the sword tip and made a gesture with his chin.

It meant get lost.

Only then did the Thousand Snake Gang members hastily collect all the corpses, support Geum Ja-jeom, and flee in disorder through the broken wall.

Meanwhile.

Eul Sa-jeok, who had been watching the situation from the stretcher, was seized by a dizzying vertigo as if plummeting down a cliff into a bottomless abyss.

'It's over!'

Just then, a low voice came close to his ear.

"You should follow the snake head now too, shouldn't you?"

In Eul Sa-jeok's dark brown pupils, now pale as a sheet, a single person's face was projected large as if magnified.

It was Cheol Ryu-heun.

He had approached that close before anyone noticed.

"Woo-Um… S-S-Senior martial brother…! Just a moment…"

"Did you think I wouldn't notice? The Thousand Snake Gang's petty scheme against me."

"Ah… P-Please…! Forgive me just this once…"

Cheol Ryu-heun dug at his ear as if he didn't want to hear, then turned his head toward the disciples.

"As of today, I will become the new Sect Master and handle all matters large and small. Anyone with complaints?"

Everyone was silent.

With his single-handedly-defeating-a-thousand display, he had saved the sect and excellently filled the vacancy left by Sagong Woon – there couldn't possibly be any complaints.

However, adapting to Cheol Ryu-heun's unfamiliar demeanor was still not easy.

'He really seems like a different person.'

Just as everyone was thinking that, Cheol Ryu-heun spoke in an indifferent voice.

"As I told Chief Supervisor Hyeop the other day, I've erased my former self. So forget it too. I will now start everything anew for the sect's revival, and accordingly, this sect will change greatly too. Do you understand what I mean?"

He was saying they needed to quickly accept his changed self so they could adapt to the changes that would come.

"Yes!"

When Hyeop Mu-geuk took the lead in shouting, the disciples suppressed their bewilderment and answered in unison.

"Yes, understood!"

"Good. Since everyone seems to agree, we'll skip the inauguration ceremony."

Then Cheol Ryu-heun looked down at Eul Sa-jeok lying on the stretcher again.

"I'll formally hand down the punishment."

"S-Senior martial brother…"

"Someone who tried to fill his own pockets first during the mourning period for my master has no right to use this sect's martial arts."

The moment the words ended.

Thud!

Cheol Ryu-heun's left palm was driven right into the center of Eul Sa-jeok's abdomen.

"Gyaaaahhhk!"

Tremendous pain coursing through his body.

The heavy internal force released through the palm had shattered the lower dantian to dust.

That wasn't all.

That force, having charged along the major energy meridians, then mercilessly ruptured the muscles and tendons in his hands and feet.

It was the ultimate punishment symbolizing the expulsion of a disciple who had committed a sin.

Eul Sa-jeok foamed at the mouth and trembled before losing consciousness.

With this, he had become someone who could no longer use martial arts.

Removing his hand, Cheol Ryu-heun said expressionlessly.

"At dawn, hand him over to the authorities along with evidence of his betrayal. Let him do prison time for his crimes."

Hyeop Mu-geuk clasped his hands together.

"Yes, Sect Master."

Right after, Cheol Ryu-heun scanned the surrounding disciples with his eyes.

"Chief Supervisor Hyeop, where is the absent member?"

"Ah, yes. One person went to stay by the Elder's side. By the way, are you alright?"

"About what?"

"Earlier, when you briefly showed your back…"

He meant the moment when he had allowed Gul Ma-hun's surprise sword energy acupoint strike.

After all, they had all clearly heard it.

The sound of the sword shadows the opponent executed striking ten acupoints on the upper and lower body.

"As you can see, I'm fine."

At Cheol Ryu-heun's brief reply, all the disciples inwardly clicked their tongues.

-What to do about this? I don't have acupoints.

'My, how remarkable. Of course, those words probably weren't true but…'

The moment Hyeop Mu-geuk was thinking that, one of the three Guyang brothers asked.

"Sect Master, why did you destroy the wall? We initially thought that was the Thousand Snake Gang's doing."

"It wasn't me. That one was too fast."

When Cheol Ryu-heun's finger pointed at the horse he had ridden, the disciples had absurd expressions.

'What? The h-horse did that?'

Whether they believed it or not, Cheol Ryu-heun only said what he wanted to say.

"Anyway, you followed my orders well while I was away, right?"

It was a question about whether they had properly carried out the new body tempering method while he was gone.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

Cheol Ryu-heun's eyes suddenly narrowed.

"Well, I'll know when I test you. Whether anyone slacked off or not."

Amid everyone being seized by some inexplicable ominous feeling, Cheol Ryu-heun spoke again.

"The eleven people in that cart over there will become workers for this sect. You'll all have to focus on martial arts training all day from now on, so you'll need hands to handle chores."

Hyeop Mu-geuk responded with some puzzlement.

"They don't seem like ordinary laborers. Looking at their appearance somehow…"

"That's right, they're former bandits. They're all physically healthy, so they're perfect for putting to work."

"…"

Hyeop Mu-geuk and the others again had absurd expressions.

'Gasp, but this is supposed to be an orthodox martial school, so to employ a gang of bandits…'

Cheol Ryu-heun completely ignored such reactions and gave an order.

"Put your curiosity aside and finish the training before dinner. By the way, starting tomorrow, Elder Yeop will also join that process."

Suddenly, the disciples' eyes went wide.

"Pardon?"

What was he saying now?

White Mountain Sword Excellence Yeop Hwon, the sect's elder, had been suffering from chronic illness for so long that he could barely even move.

But Cheol Ryu-heun just grinned as if it were no big deal.

"Look forward to it. After one night's sleep, you'll see an elder walking around just fine."