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Chapter 107: The Strong Survive
When Yeon Seolju mentioned that Yeon Jeokha had appeared, the reactions of Yeon Mubaek and Yeon Seungbaek were different.
Yeon Mubaek, who had lived with the Namgung Family and was unaware of Yeon Jeokha's secluded life, felt relieved. He carried a sense of guilt towards Yeon Jeokha.
On the other hand, Yeon Seungbaek, who had lived with Yeon Jeokha for more than ten years in the warehouse, showed no interest. He had no concern for Yeon Jeokha.
If Yeon Seolju hadn’t had a special experience at the Five Peaks Mountain Camp, she too would be indifferent. After all, she had also spent her childhood under Baek Miju's control.
"How is Jeokha now? Have you seen him? Is he in Kaifeng?"
Yeon Seolju answered Yeon Mubaek's questions, who wasn’t even giving her time to breathe.
"Brothers, don’t be surprised to hear this. Do you remember the young thief with great martial skills among the Ten Heroes of the Five Peaks? It turns out he is Jeokha."
"What?"
"Is it true?"
Yeon Seolju shrugged while observing her brothers' surprised faces.
"Yes, and the reason he demanded a thousand taels from Waryong Manor back then also makes sense. Although it’s hard to believe, it’s the truth."
Yeon Mubaek, after thinking deeply, shook his head.
"Are you sure you’re not mistaken? How could a child locked in a warehouse since he was six years old learn the sword techniques of Waryong Manor? Before I left for the Namgung Family, he hadn’t even begun his training."
"I heard it directly from the former leader of the Five Peaks Mountain Camp. He told me that Jeokha found an ancient manual left by the ancestors of the Yeon Family in the warehouse. It was a blessing in disguise."
"Hmm! So, the Ten Heroes of the Five Peaks were using the techniques of Waryong Manor. If Jeokha taught them directly, it makes sense."
Yeon Mubaek, who had not witnessed Yeon Jeokha's martial skills, thought it was possible.
"So, everything he did was for revenge against Waryong Manor? And even after stealing a thousand taels, he still taught our techniques to the thieves of Nokrim? This is absurd!"
Yeon Seungbaek was clearly upset.
Yeon Mubaek intervened.
"Seungbaek, don’t blame Jeokha. Consider what our mother did... Haa!"
"Brother, that’s not fair. Do you forget what we suffered because of that thousand-tael debt? We still haven’t paid off the debt to the Uicheon Sect. And teaching our techniques to Nokrim? It’s like tarnishing the name of Waryong Manor. Can you imagine the thieves using the Nine Heavens Swordsmanship? Damn it!"
"The Nine Heavens Swordsmanship was destined to be revealed when we accepted so many disciples. We can’t blame Jeokha for that."
Yeon Seolju, who had been observing the heated discussion, bit her lip.
'Should I tell them that Jeokha's skills are comparable to those of the Virtue Swordsman?'
After thinking for a while, Yeon Seolju spoke cautiously.
"Brothers, Jeokha’s skills might be more impressive than we imagine."
Yeon Mubaek looked at her curiously.
"What you and the third young master of the Uicheon Sect said is already impressive. What more is there?"
"Well, according to Lady Lee Somin of the Uicheon Sect, his skills are comparable to those of the Virtue Swordsman."
"No way..."
Yeon Mubaek couldn't easily accept it.
Even with an ancient manual found in the warehouse, ten years didn’t seem enough, even if the ancestors' techniques were exceptional.
Yeon Seungbaek also disagreed.
"Bah! That’s ridiculous. Not even if he were trained from childhood in any of the Seven Great Sects could he reach that level at his age."
Yeon Seolju couldn’t refute.
After listening to her brothers, she too began to have doubts.
Fighting against the Grandmaster Swordsman of the Uicheon Sect and escaping with the Sword Control technique doesn’t necessarily mean being on the same level as the Virtue Swordsman.
After hearing Lee Somin, she had impulsively accepted her words, but now, her brothers’ words planted doubts.
Yeon Jeokha had great skills, but was he really at the level of the Virtue Swordsman?
‘Besides, I feel like I forgot to mention something important...’
Suddenly remembering, Yeon Seolju slapped her forehead.
"Ah! And Jeokha said that he had cut ties with our family."
"Did you see him?"
Yeon Mubaek looked at her with eyes full of regret.
"No. I heard it from his sworn brothers of the Ten Heroes of the Five Peaks. Two of them left Nokrim and joined the Chamber of Commerce. And it turns out they joined the Geumseon Chamber of Commerce."
"I understand Jeokha’s feelings, but... It’s unfortunate. And seeing those guys in Kaifeng... It must not be easy for you."
"It’s nothing. By the way, did you know that Waryong Manor has become famous in Kaifeng thanks to them?"
"What do you mean?"
Yeon Seolju summarized what had happened in Kaifeng for her brothers.
"...It is known that two people who killed the assassins were from Waryong Manor, so the sword techniques of Waryong Manor have gained attention."
Yeon Mubaek murmured with a bitter expression.
"This is... I don’t know whether to be happy or not."
Last year, the Lunar Fairy ruined the reputation of Waryong Manor. Now, the sword techniques of Waryong Manor were being recognized again, which was gratifying. But they couldn’t be completely happy, considering the backgrounds of those people.
Yeon Seungbaek commented with a disgusted expression.
"Damn it! All of this is because Waryong Manor disappeared. If Waryong Manor still existed, those thieves couldn’t claim to be disciples of Waryong Manor. Isn’t that right, brother?"
"I don’t know. We can’t deny that they learned the techniques of Waryong Manor from Jeokha."
"So, are you saying that you consider those thieves as disciples of Waryong Manor?"
"No, I’m just saying we can’t deny that they learned our techniques."
Yeon Mubaek, feeling guilty towards Yeon Jeokha, was trying to be understanding.
Acknowledging the Ten Heroes as disciples of Waryong Manor meant maintaining a connection with Yeon Jeokha. Yeon Mubaek wanted to keep that relationship, even if it was minimal.
"Brother, wasn’t one betrayal from the wanderers enough? Nokrim is a definite boundary."
"The fact is that Waryong Manor no longer exists, so why make such a fuss?"
"Mother said she would rebuild Waryong Manor. You know that when mother says something, she means it, right?"
Yeon Seolju, surprised, opened her eyes wide and asked.
"What? Mother is going to rebuild Waryong Manor? Where? I can’t believe the Lunar Fairy would allow that to happen. That witch won’t allow Waryong Manor to prosper."
Yeon Seungbaek, with a confident expression, responded.
"She plans to do it in Zhengzhou. It seems she is considering a compromise with the Lunar Fairy. Soon, the hard days for the Yang Family will be over."
"A compromise? Is that witch really willing to forget what father did to her?"
Yeon Seolju, dreaming of becoming a heroine, didn’t seem pleased.
The tragic events of the past could be a symbol of glory, but a shameful story would only bring disgrace.
"And if she doesn’t? Even the Seven Great Sects are avoiding the Yoomyung Cult. Do you expect us to fight? These days, the Namgung Family has moved from Luoyang to Zhengzhou to avoid the Fairy Cult. Unfortunately, they will surely weaken. To achieve something, we must be realistic. Do you know the saying? It's not the strongest who survives, but the one who survives is the strongest."
Yeon Seolju stared at Yeon Seungbaek.
"So, are you going to bow down to the Lunar Fairy? To the witch who destroyed our family? Will you forgive what she did to our father?"
"The living must keep living. A few generations more, and no one will remember. The Namgung Family will disappear, and Waryong Manor will be an established family in the Murim World."
"Do you really think the same, older brother?"
Yeon Muryong avoided Yeon Seolju's gaze.
"Shouldn't you think of the Sword Emperor before deciding, older brother?"
"I... Haa! Rebuilding Waryong Manor is something mother has decided. I can’t do anything about it. And I can’t stop her if she decides to meet with the Lunar Fairy."
"How long will you let mother control you?"
Yeon Seungbaek intervened upon seeing Yeon Seolju pressuring their brother.
"Seolju, enough. We need to support each other as a family, not blame each other."
The three siblings fell silent.
Yeon Jeokha, Waryong Manor, revenge... Nothing was clear.
Yeon Seolju, with a bitter expression, bid farewell to her brothers.
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Late December.
Kaifeng.
Jin'an Night Market Entrance.
At five in the afternoon, warriors began to gather on the streets on either side of the night market entrance. On the left was the Geumseon Chamber of Commerce, and on the right, the Haewon Chamber of Commerce.
The Geumseon Chamber of Commerce had thirty warriors, while the Haewon Chamber of Commerce had fifty.
However, the head of the Geumseon Chamber of Commerce, Geum Dongshin, appeared confident.
Fights are not won by numbers but by the quality of the warriors. He had recently recruited two famous warriors, so he felt secure.
Ma Sang, the head of the Haewon Chamber of Commerce, thought the same.
Coming from Mugeukmun, he had high expectations for Pung Yeoncho and Tak Gomyung.
They were more reliable than his other subordinates.
Even now, while the others were nervous about the number of enemies, Pung Yeoncho and Tak Gomyung were calm.
'As rumored, they are impressive. It's said they have killed professional assassins...'
Although wanderers are known for their toughness, not many shine in a real fight. In that sense, the arrival of those two was a stroke of luck.
Geum Dongshin signaled to Ma Sang.
Ma Sang, carrying a large scythe with nine rings resonating, stepped forward.
"Chief Gal! Do we really have to fight in this cold? Let’s give up Jin'an Night Market. We've already made enough concessions."
The head of Haewon, Gal Hong, sneered.
"Hmph! What nonsense! If you don't want to fight, step aside and stop wasting time. We were the first to enter Jin'an Night Market. Why come now with greed?"
"Ha! If you don't want to yield, just say so. Everyone knows that the Geumseon Chamber of Commerce developed Jin'an Night Market."
"What? Enough lies! Let's fight! Anyway, isn't that why we came?"
Gal Hong, with the numerical advantage, took a firm stance.
Although the Haewon Chamber of Commerce didn’t have a chief, Gal Hong fulfilled that role. He was the eldest and most respected for his skill and confidence.
Soon, the leaders Sang Am and Yeon Seolju positioned themselves beside him.
Ma Sang looked back.
He couldn't face those three alone, so he sought reinforcements.
His eyes stopped on Pung Yeoncho and Tak Gomyung.
Ma Sang signaled to them.
He trusted them more than his own leaders, who seemed nervous.
'The leaders may change soon.'
While thinking that, Pung Yeoncho and Tak Gomyung stood beside him.
In a moment of high tension, Yeon Seolju advanced towards Ma Sang.
She wanted to avoid confronting Pung Yeoncho and Tak Gomyung.
Gal Hong naturally moved towards Pung Yeoncho and Sang Am towards Tak Gomyung.
Ma Sang smiled.
He had provoked a confrontation between the leaders, which benefited his side.
Confrontations between leaders can boost their troops’ morale while eliminating the enemy’s best warriors.
Soon, Ma Sang’s scythe and Yeon Seolju’s sword clashed.
Clang, clang, clang. Clang. Clang.
The sound of the scythe’s rings echoed far.
The more skilled a warrior is, the sharper their senses.
Yeon Seolju frowned at the constant noise.
The sound of the rings irritated her and made her feel nauseous.
It meant she was losing her composure.
At that moment, she heard cheers of joy.
She saw the warriors of the Geumseon Chamber of Commerce cheering with their weapons raised.
Had the fight already ended? Gal Hong and Sang Am were formidable warriors...
Yeon Seolju deflected the scythe and quickly looked.
"What?!"
Gal Hong and Sang Am were standing, bleeding from their shoulders.
Both seemed more surprised than angry.
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