Vol 2 Chapter 81. Prepare Yourself (2)
200 years ago in Jianghu, there was a saying.
Everyone has a plan.
Until they get beaten up by that bastard….
The Ugly Dragon Scholar, Jaegal Hyeon, had said this.
It was never revealed who ‘that bastard’ from this saying was, but it resonated with quite a lot of people.
But perhaps 200 years was too long a time?
The eldest son of the Namgung Clan dared to make a reckless challenge with a flimsy sense of confidence.
The result, as everyone expected, was truly disastrous.
Yes.
Let's say that much was understandable, but the problem was….
“Why… why me too….”
Next to Namgung Jin, who was collapsed on the floor and barely breathing, Mun Yul was also stretched out in a similar state.
Patrick then spoke confidently without batting an eye.
“Don’t you know about joint responsibility? He’s a Vice Captain, and you’re a Vice Captain.”
“…So?”
“Isn’t it the sentiment and loyalty of Jianghu to get hit together when the time comes, since all men are brothers?”
“……”
Mun Yul began to weep.
He did not know that the saying ‘all men are brothers’ was used in such situations.
And what welled up after the sadness was….
“Why did you have to needlessly provoke that man and get me hurt too? Why?!”
It was anger toward Namgung Jin, who was lying next to him, just breathing.
In his collapsed state, Namgung Jin silently thought to himself.
‘Sorry.’
In truth, how was he to know that man was like that?
No, that he was a bastard who wasn't even human?
He had thought that the worst-case scenario would be his own defeat, followed by having to treat him as a proper Captain.
Had he known such a disastrous future awaited, he would not have done something as reckless as a challenge.
“These Vice Captains have no guts. No skill. No manners. They’re absolutely crazy.”
Patrick said, grinding his teeth as he looked at the two collapsed figures.
“Anyway, just you two wait starting tomorrow. You will live each day in desperate regret and agony, wondering why you were born human and not an inanimate object to have to endure this harsh pain and ordeal.”
‘Should I run away?’
‘Let’s run away.’
His words absolutely did not sound like a joke.
***
The next day.
Patrick stood before Mun Yul and Namgung Jin again with a sullen expression.
Although their faces were swollen, their bodies had recovered quite a bit.
They had gotten considerably better in just one day.
This was because Patrick had beaten them with the goal of maximum pain and minimum injury, ensuring there were no major wounds to interfere with the next day’s training.
And….
“Namgung Jin.”
“Yes, sir!”
Unlike yesterday, Namgung Jin’s attitude had changed drastically.
Stiff with discipline like a newly enlisted soldier, his appearance showed not even a hint of arrogance.
“Hmm, have you sufficiently replenished your lack of manners?”
“Th-…?”
“Hmm? You’re saying it’s still not enough?”
“No, sir!”
As Patrick slowly raised his fist, Namgung Jin hurriedly answered.
The pain of yesterday was truly terrible.
But what was more terrible was the horrified look on his younger brothers’ faces when they saw him return with a swollen face.
‘Damn it, what is this humiliation?’
It was the first time he had experienced such shame since being born as the grand young master of the Namgung Clan.
He could not go through that again.
“Hmm, alright. It seems you have the minimum mindset for training, at least.”
As Patrick said that, a loud explosion echoed from far below the mountain fields.
KABOOM!
When Patrick glanced over, he saw Persona’s saber qi exploding there.
On top of that, he could feel the energy of spirits mixed in today.
On the way here, his wife had mentioned she was lacking exercise lately; it seemed she had joined in over there.
“Looks like they’ve started over there too.”
Started what?
Hell?
“Then we should probably get started too.”
No.
The real hell was right here.
As Patrick drew his sword, Mun Yul and Namgung Jin let out a deep sigh.
Then, Patrick spoke with a serious expression.
“Actually, I was supposed to say this yesterday, but due to Namgung Manners’ outrageous challenge, I’m telling you today.”
Mun Yul nudged the ribs of Namgung Jin next to him with his elbow.
‘Did you hear that? It’s because of you.’
‘Are you giving me a look right now?’
‘So what if I am?’
‘You bastard….’
“Are your eyes rolling to the side? Huh?”
The two, who had been having a silent fight, quickly straightened their posture and fixed their gazes forward.
Patrick clicked his tongue at them and said.
“I personally appointed you two as Vice Captains.”
They knew.
And they regretted it too.
Why hadn't they run away?
“There’s a point where a Vice Captain must be definitively different from a regular squad member. What do you think that is?”
Faced with Patrick’s question, the two pondered deeply.
Namgung Jin spoke first….
“A Vice Captain must have excellent judgment.”
“Wrong.”
SMACK!
“Kugh…. Why… why did you hit me?”
“Hmm? You get hit when you’re wrong, don’t you?”
“……?”
“What? If you’ve got a problem, you can challenge me again.”
Namgung Jin quietly lowered his gaze.
And he thought to himself.
Was this man really a hero of the Orthodox Faction?
No matter how he thought about it, his way of thinking was too messed up to be considered Orthodox.
Patrick’s voice came from above Namgung Jin’s head.
“What a Vice Captain must excel at more than other squad members is skill.”
“Skill… you say?”
“That’s right. Would it be okay for you, a Vice Captain, to live getting beaten up by regular squad members? How embarrassing.”
“No, even if a Vice Captain’s martial prowess is lacking, there is no way he would be hit by a squad member.”
“Hmm? Why?”
“That would be a severe act of insubordination. As a member of the Orthodox Faction belonging to the Murim Alliance, who would dare to do such an ill-mannered thing?”
“…There are people who do.”
“There is no way such an ill-mannered, dog-mess-like personality exists in this world…. Aack!”
WHACK!
“If I say they exist, then just know that they do. Huh!”
They had indeed existed 200 years ago.
A dog-mess-like person who, despite being a regular member of the Murim Alliance, would challenge not only Captains but also Elders and even the Alliance Leader.
“Ahem, ahem…. In any case, to prevent such insubordination and to establish the proper hierarchy of the squad, skill is the most important.”
“Kugh…. What kind of logic is that, where the strong reign supreme?”
Namgung Jin raised his hands to protect the top of his head as he questioned Patrick.
No matter what, such a radical statement was a way of thinking that deviated too much from the righteous path and chivalry he had learned.
However….
“Didn’t you know? Jianghu has always operated on the principle of the strong reigning supreme.”
“That is the logic of the Unorthodox bastards. We of the Orthodox Faction uphold righteousness and benevolence, and revere chivalry….”
“Raise your hand if you challenged the Captain just yesterday.”
“……”
Ah….
He had nothing to say to that.
Namgung Jin’s face turned red.
Come to think of it, he himself had challenged the Captain just yesterday and had been crushed.
And thanks to being thoroughly crushed there, the current hierarchy had been established.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, this is why I say you pampered young masters are….”
“……”
“What’s the use of spouting plausible words you’ve picked up somewhere? When you can’t even abide by them yourself.”
“……”
His face was burning so much he couldn't dare to lift it.
It was because everything the other person was saying was correct.
Patrick said to Namgung Jin.
“To get straight to the point, in the end, a martial artist is someone who establishes their will through martial arts and is treated accordingly. You two, who have become Vice Captains, must become much stronger than the other regular members.”
This time, Mun Yul spoke up.
“Bong-gong. It’s a bit awkward to say this, but my skills are already a clear step above my junior brothers’.”
So please let me out of this hell.
As Mun Yul was about to add those words, Patrick grinned and said.
“Can you win if Yun-a and Sanghun attack you at the same time?”
“It would be a bit difficult, but if I do well, there is a chance I could win….”
“Can you win if Yun-a, Sanghun, On Hoe, Muwon, and Mi Ryeong attack you, five of them together?”
“I think a 5-on-1 is cowardl…. Ouch!”
SMACK!
“Tsk, tsk, talking about cowardice. There’s no cowardice in a real fight. Do you win? Or do you die? Only those two exist.”
“Ugh….”
It was frustrating and unfair.
To think that such correct words were coming from the mouth of that dog-mess-like great demon, leaving him unable to even retort….
Patrick spoke to the two.
“If you’ve taken on the title of Vice Captain, being vaguely strong is meaningless. You have to be overwhelmingly strong.”
“……”
“……”
“And in your case, I have a way to raise your skills in a short period of time. That’s why I appointed you two as Vice Captains.”
At that, Mun Yul and Namgung Jin’s expressions changed completely.
Is there a way to improve their skills?
Then there was no reason to refuse.
They too were martial artists in the end.
What martial artist in the world would refuse a path to improving their skills?
“What is that method?”
“Well, it’s basically nagging and drilling you, but before that, we need to correct your martial arts.”
Patrick glanced at Namgung Jin and said.
“First, Namgung Manners.”
“My name is Namgung Jin.”
“I know. Manners.”
“……”
“You could sort of execute something similar to the Emperor Sword Form, right?”
“Pardon?”
“Try it. I’ll watch.”
At that, Namgung Jin spoke with a serious expression.
“Captain. A clan’s secret sword art is not something that can be displayed so carelessly.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course. The Emperor Sword Form is a sword art secretly passed down only to the next successor among the direct descendants of our clan.”
“So you can’t display it?”
“This is not possible.”
“Really?”
Patrick stealthily raised a fist.
At the sight, Namgung Jin flinched.
Then he composed himself internally.
‘I must get a grip. I am the eldest son of the Namgung Clan.’
Reaffirming his position, Namgung Jin spoke with a determined expression.
“I will first display the starting stance.”
Namgung Jin was the precious eldest son of the Namgung Clan.
So shouldn't he take care of his body?
***
The Emperor Sword Form.
It was the Namgung Clan’s decision secret art and the very goal toward which the Namgung sword aspired.
As Namgung Jin performed the Emperor Sword Form, a massive Gang Qi over three feet long billowed from his sword, and an intent that overwhelmed the onlookers spread from his entire body.
This presence, called the Emperor’s Qi, was a unique pressure that emerged when performing the Emperor Sword Form, and in a real battle, it would restrain the enemy and empower his own sword.
It was truly an absolute sword form of both offense and defense.
That was the Emperor Sword Form.
Patrick stared at Namgung Jin with his mouth agape.
“Wow….”
Behold, is not even this arrogant man unable to contain his admiration before the great sword of Namgung?
Just as Namgung Jin was thinking this, Patrick’s voice reached his ears.
“It’s a complete mess.”
At that, Namgung Jin blurted out resentfully.
Even if he was a greater master, he could not just stand by while his clan’s sword was insulted.
“The sword of Namgung is by no means lacking. The fault lies with my own shortcomings, so please do not insult the sword of Namgung.”
“What nonsense are you talking about?”
“Captain, you are now insulting the sword of Namgung….”
“I know. I know. I know that the Namgung Clan’s sword is ridiculously good, you bastard!”
“……”
“Right now, I’m not insulting the sword of Namgung, I’m insulting you. You idiot. You mannerless, empty-headed fool.”
“Uh….”
Patrick ranted at the bewildered Namgung Jin.
“Who’s looking down on the sword of Namgung? Who? Me?”
“Uh, that is….”
“This is ridiculous. Do you know why the Namgung Clan has maintained its position as the head of the Five Great Families all this time?”
“Pardon? That is because we have diligently, for generations….”
“Diligently for generations, my ass. Do the other Five Great Families not work hard and just play around? Huh? Do they?”
“……”
“It’s because your clan’s sword is that outstanding that you have been the head of the Five Great Families for generations.”
“……”
“It’s not that you descendants are great, it’s because the legacy you received from your ancestors is ridiculously good.”
What was this?
It was clearly a condemnation, but it was a condemnation based on the major premise that the sword of Namgung was that amazing, making it difficult to refute.
Then, Patrick, as if determined to say everything now that the topic was out, spoke.
“Speaking of which, there are only a few martial arts in Jianghu that allow one to express their intent from the state of a peak master just by diligently training the martial art itself. Shaolin, Wudang, Mount Hua, and you Namgung, that’s about it.”
“……”
“The martial prowess of the Namgung Clan’s first head was likely not below that of Zhang Sanfeng or Bodhidharma. And you say I look down on Namgung? Me? When? When did I ever look down on Namgung, huh?”
“……”
“The problem is solely you. You! You’re horribly bad at it, so don’t go dragging your clan into it. Got it?”
“…Yes.”
Namgung Jin answered sullenly.
Still, did he have to go this far?
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, it’s like a crow sticking a peacock’s feather on and acting all high and mighty. How am I supposed to make a person out of this?”
Seeing Patrick sigh, Namgung Jin’s shoulders slumped.
Just then, Patrick drew his left-hand Black Dragon Sword and held it with both hands.
Then, after taking a high guard stance….
“Watch carefully. Namgung Manners.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s not my specialty, but it’ll still be better than yours.”
“What does that… Hah!”
Namgung Jin was horrified.
In an instant, a terrifying dignity and presence began to overflow from Patrick’s body.
That power, imbued with will, became an intangible wave of qi and soon overwhelmed the onlookers.
“Kuk….”
“Ugh….”
The pressure was so intense that just facing it felt like his heart was being squeezed.
This was definitely….
“Em… Emperor’s Qi?”
The sword of Namgung was being performed in the hands of someone who was not from Namgung.
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