Chapter 169: The Life and Death Struggle of Experts (2)

Yong Hwarin thought that the old man was a martial artist since the child mentioned they were waiting for their Senior Brother.

'So, he really is a martial artist.'

He could sense a considerable aura from the old man who had approached.

However, he didn’t seem like someone who had reached an extraordinary level.

Judging by aura alone, Yong Hwarin estimated him to be around First-rate Martial Artist level.

Yong Hwarin had reached the Cycle Completion Stage in internal energy, so he could measure such things. Otherwise, gauging the aura of other martial artists was a meaningless effort.

The old man ordered some food for himself and the child and quietly sipped his tea.

Despite sitting at the same table with women like the Three Chivalrous Sisters and Seok Unjeong, which could have made things awkward, the old man drank his tea without showing the slightest discomfort.

The child glanced around at Yong Hwarin and his group before opening their mouth.

"Are you a female swordsman?"

It seemed like the child had never seen a female swordsman before, staring intently at the Three Chivalrous Sisters, who wore martial attire and carried swords.

Jeong Minji smiled as she looked at the child.

The child's tiny, adorable face naturally brought a smile to her lips.

"Aren't you scared of us?"

"No."

Usually, children would get frightened just by the sight of someone carrying a sword.

"My grandpa is invincible, so I'm not scared."

At the child's words, Jeong Suji chuckled.

"Hohoho. I see."

She casually went along with it, but Jeong Suji didn’t consider the child's grandfather to be such a great expert.

She saw him as an old martial artist who hadn’t surpassed the First-rate Martial Artist level.

Though consistent training could improve one’s internal energy over time, most martial artists hit their limit as they aged, remaining at the level they reached in their youth.

Since the old man remained silent, Yong Hwarin didn’t bother saying anything else and simply waited for the food.

Namgung Yoo looked at the child and asked.

"But there are several empty tables around. Why did you come to ours specifically?"

Just as she said, there were several five-seater tables with only two people seated.

The child replied without hesitation.

"Because the big brother here is handsome."

Jeong Suji reflexively asked back at those words.

"Huh? You think this big brother here looks handsome?"

Compared to Namgung Soomyung, with whom she shared a relationship, Yong Hwarin’s face seemed quite ordinary to Jeong Suji.

However, there was a certain harmony in Yong Hwarin’s seemingly average features that made people feel at ease.

But even so, Jeong Suji didn’t think it was enough to surpass someone like Namgung Soomyung or Pang Giyok.

"Yes. He has this mysterious vibe. And when I look into his eyes, it feels like I’m falling deep into them. I really like that feeling."

Jeong Daji laughed as she looked at the child.

"Hohoho, look at you. You’re just a little thing, but you already know so much."

The child pouted at those words.

"I may look small, but I’m quite well-educated."

The way the child spoke with such mature airs made everyone smile.

"Hohoho, oh my, you’re adorable."

As Jeong Daji giggled, Jeong Suji smirked as well.

"I get the feeling you’ll grow up to be like Young Master Yong."

Even though Jeong Suji teased him, Yong Hwarin only responded with a gentle smile.

"See? His smile somehow makes me feel sad."

"Hohoho, you’ve fallen head over heels for this big brother, haven’t you?"

At that, the child lowered their head deeply.

Seeing the child become embarrassed, the old man finally spoke.

"Please understand. The child speaks nonsense at times. They are still too young to discern right from wrong."

"Grandpa..."

The child seemed like they wanted to say something to their grandfather but lowered their head again.

As the old man looked at the child with a stiff expression, the child stopped speaking and just fidgeted with their fingers.

Finding that cute, the Three Chivalrous Sisters smiled pleasantly.

While everyone shared light laughter for a moment, Jeomsoi approached the table carrying the food.

"Wow! It looks delicious!"

Just as the child joyfully reached for their chopsticks, a loud crash erupted from the entrance.

Bang!

The tavern door burst open roughly as a young man entered.

The young man had lost one arm, and blood was streaming from his shoulder.

"Un-ah!"

The old man cried out when he saw the young man.

The young man, called Un, staggered toward the old man’s table and collapsed to his knees.

"Master... please run... he’s coming."

After saying that, the young man dropped his head.

The guests in the tavern stopped eating and, sensing the situation, began slipping out quietly.

"Hey! You have to pay for your food!"

Despite the protest, some people hurried out without even collecting their change.

They knew well that when martial artists got involved, a deadly storm would follow, and getting caught in it could easily cost them their lives.

With a sorrowful face, the old man gently brushed his disciple’s face and then raised his head to look at the tavern’s entrance.

At some point, another old man had entered and was slowly walking inside.

Yong Hwarin frowned.

He hadn’t even sensed when the man arrived.

Looking back at the old man grieving over his dead disciple, Yong Hwarin realized something he had completely misunderstood.

'Now that I think about it... this old man has already reached a level beyond my ability to gauge.'

The energy radiating from the old man’s body was nearly at the Cycle Completion Stage.

Possessing such internal energy in old age meant this man was likely a renowned elder in the martial world.

Since in his later years, the Demonic Master was famous as a member of the Six Demon Sects, Yong Hwarin thought this man might be someone of similar standing.

Neither the Three Chivalrous Sisters nor the others recognized the two old men.

That meant they were experts so rare that it was difficult to ever meet them.

"Everyone, go outside."

Yong Hwarin sent out the Ten Elites of the Heavenly Central Sect, the Namgung Clan’s escorts, the Three Chivalrous Sisters, Seok Unjeong, Namgung Yoo, and the others.

"You too, Young Sect Leader."

Mu Iso spoke in concern, worried they might get dragged into an unnecessary fight.

"I'll stay here and keep an eye on them for a moment. Don’t worry and go on out."

Thinking Yong Hwarin might have some intention in mind, Mu Iso gathered the Ten Elites of the Heavenly Central Sect and stepped outside.

"Excuse me, but… could you take the fight outside? This inn is everything I own. Please, I beg you, warriors."

The innkeeper, hiding behind the counter with only his eyes peeking out, gathered his courage to speak.

If martial artists caused chaos in the inn, the destruction and ruin of the inn would come in an instant.

The elderly man who had entered waved his hand as if the innkeeper's words were a nuisance.

At that, the half-grey-haired elder holding his disciple also waved his hand.

Immediately afterward, an explosion erupted out of thin air.

Boom!

The internal energy shot by the red-clad elder was blocked by the internal energy of the half-grey-haired elder.

"Eungang! You still have the same habit of killing innocent people, don’t you!"

The elder spoke with a calm but underlying anger.

"Hehehe, you’re still pretending to be that righteous orthodox fool, I see!"

"Let’s take this outside! This place is too small for us!"

"I don’t like fighting in places like this either. No one to watch us… And killing Lee Geuk alone would be boring, wouldn’t it?"

Hearing the names tossed around, Yong Hwarin felt his mind itch as if he had heard them somewhere before.

'Demonic Master…'

With no choice, Yong Hwarin called Demonic Master.

'What is it?'

Without replying, Yong Hwarin stared intently at the two men.

Through his Tong'an Method, Demonic Master examined the two men and swallowed nervously.

'What are those monsters doing here?'

'You know them?'

'Don’t tell me you woke me without even knowing who they are?'

When Yong Hwarin didn’t respond, Demonic Master sneered.

'You’re ridiculous. That half-grey-haired one is called Lee Geuk, known as the Cloud Grass Rain Sword, one of the Eight Venerables of the Martial World. And that one in the red robes is Jeung Eungang, known as Falling Sunset in One Stroke, a member of the Six Demon Sects, rivaling the Eight Venerables. Both are monsters. Normally, they are mortal enemies. It seems they’ve chosen today to settle their grudge. You’re witnessing a fight that people rarely see even once in a lifetime. Even I feel excited.'

Watching a fight between experts of this level was something almost no one got to witness.

They usually chose places where no one could observe them.

But Jeung Eungang seemed to want witnesses this time, making it public.

Lee Geuk accepted the challenge, driven by the sorrow of losing his disciple and his rage toward Jeung Eungang.

"Looks like I’ll have to show the martial world what it looks like when Falling Sunset Jeung Eungang gets put in a coffin today."

The half-grey-haired elder coldly laid his disciple on the floor and stood up.

"Grandpa."

When the child grabbed Lee Geuk’s pants, Jeung Eungang glanced at the child and smirked.

"Never seen that one before. Did you have a child late in life?"

He was mocking Lee Geuk, who had lived alone all his life with no known children.

"Don’t concern yourself. It’s a friend’s child."

"Must be some special kid. The great Lee Geuk, escorting a mere child? Or have you become a toothless tiger?"

Despite the provoking words, Lee Geuk didn’t respond.

"If that little brat dies, it’ll all be your fault."

At Jeung Eungang’s words, Lee Geuk answered coldly.

"Do you think I avoided you because I feared you? You’re the fool, Jeung Eungang. I stayed away to avoid killing you."

"Ever since you wiped out my clan, I’ve only lived for the day I could have my revenge. Foolish or not, that’s all I have left."

"It was because of that guilt that I kept away. But it seems the time has come to end this grudge once and for all."

"That’s exactly what I’ve been wishing for."

Yong Hwarin asked Demonic Master while watching the two men.

'Which one of them is stronger?'

'Those monsters are about equal in skill. One is among the Eight Venerables, the other one is a member of the Six Demon Sects, almost equal in rank. There’s not much difference between them. Fights at this level can’t be predicted easily.'

Jeung Eungang’s face was terribly scarred.

As he turned to leave the inn, his fluttering hair revealed horrifying burn marks.

Lee Geuk picked up his sword and turned to Yong Hwarin, who had been watching while continuing to eat.

"Would you mind looking after this child for a while?"

Jeung Eungang glanced at Yong Hwarin and muttered.

"You’re an amusing one. Eating while watching all this unfold. You’ve got guts."

Only then did Yong Hwarin realize he had been eating this whole time while observing them.

He had been absentmindedly picking at his food while conversing with Demonic Master.

Even Lee Geuk seemed entertained, as he smiled slightly.

Yong Hwarin nodded.

"Yes, I’ll look after the child for a while."

The half-grey-haired elder spoke to the child.

"Guna, go stay with that big brother for a bit."

"Yes, Grandpa."

The child, knowing that their grandfather was about to fight Jeung Eungang, had a dark expression.

However, they didn’t cry or throw a tantrum.

"It’ll be okay. Didn’t you say your grandpa is invincible?"

Yong Hwarin tried to comfort the child, who lifted their head and said firmly.

"That’s right. Grandpa is the strongest in the world."

"Then there’s nothing to worry about. Let’s stay here together."

But the child shook their head.

"I want to watch Grandpa fight. Whether he wins or loses, I have to see it with my own eyes. That’s what I heard a descendant of a martial family should do."

Yong Hwarin patted the child’s head.

He himself hadn’t even considered such things at that age.

'You’re better than I ever was. Facing your harsh fate head-on like that.'

"Alright. Then let’s go out and cheer for Grandpa together."

As Jeung Eungang and Lee Geuk stood face to face, a huge crowd gathered along the street.

It was natural since witnessing such powerful martial artists fight was a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Demonic Master spoke to Yong Hwarin.

'From now on, keep your Tong'an Method fully open and watch carefully. It will be very beneficial for you. Their fight will be decided in an instant.'

Yong Hwarin nodded.

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