Heavenly Inquisition Sword Novel - Chapter 254
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Chapter 254: The Jackal with the Heart of a Lion
Everyone has dreams. The dreams of proud warriors are often related to demonstrating their power. Shim Tong, known as the Old Dao of Nine Heavens, also had an unfulfilled dream. This dream, which had grown from his days as the Immortal Sword Demon, had become a kind of obsession: he wanted to proudly shout in front of the Seven Sects and the Five Noble Families before he died.
For Shim Tong, the title of Immortal Sword Demon was painful. Although he carried a sword on his chest, he had to sweeten his words with honey because he lacked power. He was like a jackal with the heart of a lion.
Despite the risk of internal deviation, Shim Tong learned the secret techniques of Yeon Jeokha because he desired to surpass his limits. But what would he do after surpassing those limits? He wanted to live without worrying about others’ opinions, like a majestic lion.
Shim Tong was reborn after memorizing three hundred characters of the True Classic of the Nine Heavens as One. He had even refined his chaotic internal energy, transforming it into Nine Heavens Energy. The experience and new techniques he had learned had turned him from a jackal into a lion.
Rising from his seat, Shim Tong moved forward, emitting a low roar like a true wild animal. His body radiated overwhelming energy.
Yeon Jeokha, slightly surprised, resumed using his chopsticks. He thought Shim Tong would resolve the situation with words, as he had always been skilled with them.
The Supreme Elder of the Jeomchang Sect and leader of the first patrol squad, Taeulsangin, calmly watched Shim Tong approach. The Immortal Sword Demon with his rosewood red blade and Vajra. It was undoubtedly Shim Tong.
Among the elders of the Seven Great Sects and the Five Great Families, Shim Tong’s identity was well known. The Heaven and Earth Alliance, as the successor of the Justice Alliance, could not ignore him. They believed that Shim Tong’s recent success was due to the effectiveness of his sacred artifacts, especially after the exorcists of the Demon Exterminator Division used artifacts to eliminate demons.
To Taeulsangin, Shim Tong was not a great threat. He saw him as someone boasting of power because of good artifacts, someone insignificant compared to the true masters of martial arts.
As Shim Tong approached, radiating energy, Taeulsangin could not help but feel contempt. He remembered how Shim Tong had made a name for himself in Henan Province and was now trying to act important in front of a Supreme Elder of the Jeomchang Sect.
“Will you join us at the Heaven and Earth Alliance? Or do you have another way to resolve this?” Taeulsangin asked.
Shim Tong scoffed.
“Ha! Save those tricks for the Jeomchang Sect. Did you ever ask those young ones what they did wrong? How do you expect to talk to me fairly? I’ve put up with enough. If you’re a real warrior, draw your sword. If you’re scared, leave.”
Shim Tong’s bold words silenced the restaurant. Even Yeon Jeokha stopped eating and looked at Shim Tong, surprised by his belligerent statement.
“Is it okay for him to behave like this?” Seok Ryeoshi asked, concerned.
“Let him be. He’s an old stubborn man,” Yeon Jeokha replied, downplaying the situation.
“But what if this gets worse…?”
“Don’t worry. In Nokrim, we don’t worry about the consequences.”
Yeon Jeokha’s words surprised Seok Ryeoshi. Her father had always said they should think about the consequences before acting. But Yeon Jeokha asserted the opposite, with confidence and determination. To be a true bandit, one should not worry about the consequences.
“Young Master, do you have someone you like?” Seok Ryeoshi suddenly asked, driven by curiosity.
“Yes,” Yeon Jeokha answered without hesitation.
The direct response surprised Seok Ryeoshi. She had never met anyone who admitted such a thing so frankly, especially in front of her, considered one of the most beautiful women in the north.
“Ah, I see.”
Seok Ryeoshi tried to act indifferent as she refocused on attending to Yeon Jeokha.
Meanwhile, Mu Mu Jin, outraged by Shim Tong’s words, shouted:
“Shim Tong! You’re a scoundrel! Have you forgotten your place just because you follow the Grand Inspector of Nokrim?”
Furious Mu Mu Jin finally revealed his true feelings. To the Elders of the Seven Sects and the Five Families, Shim Tong had always been insignificant.
“Ha, ha, ha! An arrogant Taoist daring to bark like that. Do you want to prove you have what it takes? Come and fight!”
Provoked, Mu Mu Jin drew his sword and attacked.
Since becoming an elder of the Quanzhen Sect, he had never faced such an insult. Enraged, he launched his attack with all his strength, not caring about the consequences.
Mu Mu Jin’s sword unleashed a storm of attacks, but Shim Tong dodged them all. After receiving eight moves from Mu Mu Jin, Shim Tong shouted:
“Is that all? Now it’s my turn!”
Suddenly, Shim Tong’s blade glowed with a blue light. Both Mu Mu Jin and Taeulsangin shuddered at the sight of the sword enveloped in that light.
The Immortal Sword Demon used the Wind Dragon and Tiger Storm technique from the Nine Heavens Swordsmanship. A burst of sword energy rushed towards Mu Mu Jin, who retreated frantically, releasing bursts of energy with his sword to defend himself.
Finally, Mu Mu Jin was expelled from the restaurant, breaking the door frame, and spat blood.
“Ugh!”
Mu Mu Jin, now outside the restaurant, vomited blood, clearly injured internally.
Taeulsangin, furious, looked at Shim Tong and said:
“Attacking a patrol squad leader is a serious crime! Your arrogance has blinded you!”
Recognizing Shim Tong’s skill, Taeulsangin could not let his attack go unanswered. Attacking a patrol squad leader was a serious offense, and the Heaven and Earth Alliance would not tolerate it.
“Arrest Shim Tong! If he resists, kill him!”
With that order, Taeulsangin and nineteen patrol squad warriors moved towards Shim Tong.
Seok Ryeoshi, unable to continue watching, put down her chopsticks and shouted at the experts of the Evil Faction:
“What are you doing? Are you going to keep watching?”
Reluctantly, the nine experts of the Evil Faction got up and joined Shim Tong.
Seeing that the nine experts were also resisting, Taeulsangin did not hesitate.
“Anyone who resists must be arrested! If they resist, kill them all!”
Shim Tong was not left behind and responded with a shout of his own.
“Nonsense! You never asked who is to blame! If you want to die, come.”
Just as the tension reached its peak and the two sides were about to clash, about twenty warriors burst into the restaurant.
“Stop!”
“What’s going on here?!”
“Grand Inspector, we are here.”
They were members of the Nokrim patrol squad, consisting of experts from the Evil Faction.
With the reinforcements, Taeulsangin and his group took a step back.
Taeulsangin, enraged, looked at the Nokrim patrol squad and said:
“We are enforcing the law! What are you doing? Are you going to help these criminals?”
“Criminals? Ha!”
Yeon Jeokha stood up and walked towards Taeulsangin and his group.
“Hey, old man. Are you a Taoist or a rotten bureaucrat? Who are you calling a criminal?”
“How dare you!”
Taeulsangin trembled with anger. Being called “old man” by the Inspector of Nokrim was an insult. But Yeon Jeokha was even angrier.
“How dare you? Are you saying ‘how dare you’? Am I a disciple of the Jeomchang Sect? Are you my grandfather? Who are you saying ‘how dare you’ to? Are you senile?”
With those words, Yeon Jeokha struck a table, making the chopsticks in a holder fly into the air. Yeon Jeokha waved his hand slightly.
The chopsticks, propelled by strong energy, flew like arrows towards Taeulsangin, stopping just before touching his body.
Everyone was stunned, watching the chopsticks suspended in the air. The powerful energy imbued in each chopstick kept them floating, ready to pierce Taeulsangin at any moment.
“…”
Taeulsangin’s face, previously filled with rage, now showed disbelief and fear. Even the other elders of the Seven Sects and the Five Families held their breath, focusing entirely on Yeon Jeokha.
“Elder, patience has its limits. Do you know what those young ones said to me? They called me a scammer and a bastard. Do you realize what that means? Not one of them said something good about us,” Yeon Jeokha declared firmly.
Although no one had said those exact words, the atmosphere of disdain towards them was undeniable. Shim Tong had merely confirmed what was already implied.
Taeulsangin swallowed, visibly affected. If this was true, punishing the young ones would be complicated, and any retaliation against Yeon Jeokha and Shim Tong could seem unjust.
“Furthermore, neither you, nor Mu Mu Jin, nor anyone here bothered to ask who started it first. Why should Old Shim be punished for correcting your subordinates? He only broke their arms, it’s not a big deal. Do you think Nokrim is a toy? Do you think we joined the Heaven and Earth Alliance to be treated like this?” Yeon Jeokha continued, his gaze fierce.
“…I didn’t know this had happened,” Taeulsangin responded with a trembling voice.
“Who created the patrol squad?” Yeon Jeokha asked, staring directly at Taeulsangin.
“The Commander General,” Taeulsangin answered.
“Then tell him to come and apologize to me. If he doesn’t, Nokrim will leave Chiliah Village.”
Taeulsangin, caught between a rock and a hard place, was at a loss for words. Yeon Jeokha approached the floating chopsticks and picked them up one by one, dissipating the tension in the air.
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