Chapter 187

Chapter 187: The Noble Castle

Translation: Tay

Edit: Sephtair

Banjoong’s face turned red .

He was an old man . As he was older, he was that much stronger and had plentiful battle experience .

Looking at it like that, this situation itself was like a child’s game .

However, the game was a bit violent .

Banjoong spoke rigidly with a firm expression .

“My Lord, the return of Young Master Banya is a matter to be congratulated, but the order of the clan must be kept . As the Young Master has lived a foreign life for a long time, it seems he has forgotten the clan’s order . ”

Order?

Muyoung inwardly clicked his tongue .

The Command Clan was the oldest and one of the largest clans .

There was a certain order, but Muyoung had no interest in that sort of thing .

In spite of order, in the end, strength was justice .

Muyoung had already proved his strength by showing seven Bone Dragons .

Nevertheless, to still oppose him seemed like a frantic last-ditch effort to Muyoung .

‘Banjoong . He became the next head . ’

That was true in Muyoung’s memory .

The clan leader, Bango, had been assassinated by Muyoung, and Banjoong had risen into his position .

After that, the rapid collapse had begun .

This was because he was only good at fighting, and was ignorant in politics and economics .

During a time at the height of the confusion .

If Muyoung could sum it up, it was a time of ‘foul politics’ .

There were innumerable groups that fell prey to all sorts of plots and absurd gossip, and disappeared .

The Command Clan couldn’t adjust to that flow .

To be precise, Banjoong was incredibly passive . His greatest challenge was his inability to accept changes easily .

In any case, in the situation where the next leader was almost decided, Muyoung… no, Banya appeared .

It was enough to make his lower stomach hurt .

He’d try to suppress Muyoung and keep his position somehow .

In fact, it looked like there was hardly anyone in the clan on Muyoung’s side .

There were merely those who wanted to try to use Muyoung and those who hated him .

Muyoung also was well aware of that .

So, he intended to use them instead, and make this place a hideout .

“You cannot fight in the venue . Also, should you not listen to Banya’s opinion?”

Bango came up with a compromise .

However, this was only for appearances, and it was probably meant to test Muyoung and his military power .

After all, not all of them were satisfied by the 7 Bone Dragons .

People were selfish and wanted power they could control . Since Muyoung had displayed his strength here, they would certainly try to keep him in check .

So Muyoung decided to leave the matter entirely to Tacan and Ain .

Perhaps roughly understanding him, Tacan nodded to Muyoung .

‘You’ve changed a lot . ’

Muyoung could sense that he knew how to act, and that he knew how to read the situation .

He was a little curious about how Tacan had been living for the past two years .

“Anytime . ”

Muyoung spoke leisurely .

He secretly looked around and stuck out his chest as arrogantly as possible .

Although Muyoung enjoyed hiding in the shadows and assassinations, he had never disguised himself like this and impersonated someone .

Perhaps if Banya was still alive, he would give off this kind of feeling .

Muyoung then looked around and added a few more words .

“I am the heir of the Command Clan . If you don’t like it, force yourselves to submit . ”

“You…! You…!”

“Huuhh . ”

Incredibly arrogant words .

The chairman’s aura hardened in an instant .

However, this was all possible because he was ‘the Command Clan’s heir’ .

Muyoung had stressed that point .

Rather, he would have been disappointed if he didn’t .

As expected, Bango smiled subtly .

‘This is the best as a hideout . ’

Muyoung only had to gain the appropriate amount of trust .

In any case, his real goal was not the Command Clan .

The ancient weapons, Ellarsigo!

Muyoung’s only purpose here were the things that were sealed in the ground .

Tacan went up on the platform .

This platform that was neither wide nor narrow was the Arena .

The person that came up as Tacan’s opponent was a middle-aged man .

Bansan . Banjoong’s apprentice .

He was perhaps the strongest of those that followed Banjoong .

Muyoung watched him carefully as well .

He didn’t care whether it was Banjoong or Bansan .

It was just that he wanted to keep an eye on Tacan’s progress .

Even though it was only in the Arena, Muyoung felt that Tacan was hovering around the level of humanity’s ten strongest .

But that was only a numerical concept, and real ability was revealed in a life-or-death battle .

Banjoong and Bansan were going to try to kill Tacan .

So even before the start of the fight, Muyoung could see their plan to take him down a peg .

On the other hand, for Muyoung, it was a question of whether to kill or spare his opponent .

If his opponent was killed, his future actions would change depending on what he did after, and if he spared his opponent, it would be a warning to some extent and, at the same time, his behaviour in the Command Clan would be a little free .

Although, either way, there were prerequisites for winning .

“I am Bansan . ”

“Tacan . ”

Tacan was maintaining his concept .

An ignorant warrior . However, the type of warrior that knew only honor .

Tacan, who was wearing black full-body armor, pulled out a sword .

Swoong!

A gigantic greatsword .

Bansan’s weapon was a knife .

A 1 . 5-meter-long ornamental knife . One side of its blade was shining .

And people who showed promise participated as the duel’s observers . The clan head Bango was also included among them .

“Start the duel . ”

At Bango’s words, Bansan rapidly began to move .

Bansan was the most boasted master in the Command Clan .

The apprentice of Banjoong, who led the Command Family . However, his talent was so superior, it could be written as the most promising .

He stepped on the floor with The Eighth Step . It was a move that dazzled the eyes of his opponent .

The feeling was inexplicably slow, but approaching and cutting the opponent in two seemed to be Bansan’s tactic .

At that moment, fog surrounded Bansan .

The fog blurred the view and made identification of Bansan’s location confusing .

An obfuscation skill .

Thud!

Tacan stepped heavily on the ground .

Hwiiiing!

Then, a strong wind blew away the fog .

On the other hand, calm winds swirled around Tacan .

Tacan could feel everything in contact with the wind blast . Like a spider that knew what was on its web .

Bansan walked the path of the dense wind without any suspicion .

He was sure that his skills would work even though the fog had blown away .

Tacan lifted his sword up . Of course, his chest was open .

He was preparing in order to unleash some sort of technique . However, the preparatory gesture was too big .

Bansan penetrated that gap .

Suuuuk!

The shortest distance . A fast slash crossways .

Poof!

However, Bansan only hit the air .

He had only cut Tacan’s after-image .

“Keuuk!”

On the other hand, Bansan vomited blood .

Before he knew it, he had a long wound that stretched from his shoulder to his belly button .

“Body Bow Shadow Bomb!”

“Rather than the Body Bow Shadow Bomb, isn’t that the Royal Spirit Charge?”

“Well, it’s a bizarre skill . ”

Body Bow Shadow Bomb was a technique where the body bent and moved instantly, while the Royal Spirit Charge was a skill where the energy was subdued then sprung upwards .

Tacan seemed to have used a mixture of the two .

And there was one more thing . The usage of the techniques while cutting down the approaching opponent .

While striking with his sword, through that half-flexibility he had quickly fallen; however, at the same time, he had somehow cut down Bansan .

If he did this intentionally, he would be a ridiculous master .

‘There is nothing else to see . ’

Everything was shown in one strike .

A clear distinction in ability .

Seeing the technique that Tacan had just used, he was forced to nod his head .

Muyoung was the same . Where had Tacan earned that ability to use offensive and defensive battle methods at the same time?

“Still…”

Bansan got back up . He was bleeding a lot, but not enough to die .

Tacan stretched his neck . He didn’t seem to like it because Bansan hadn’t fallen meekly .

Then, Tacan switched his greatsword to a reverse grip .

Whooosh!

Along with the sound of wind, he quickly moved like a sword being drawn .

Before he realized it, Tacan was standing behind Bansan .

Bansan’s body was in exactly two pieces .

Without losing even a drop of blood, Tacan sheathed his sword and came down from the field .

“…”

Everyone was speechless .

Even when Bansan had died and become a corpse, Banjoong and Bango were unable to regain their senses .

The highest level of martial arts!

Mastery skill that surpassed a certain point .

Banjoong and Bango were both unable to read Tacan’s movements .

If either of them had been in Bansan’s position… would they have been able to block him?

‘He still has a hot-tempered personality . ’

He was originally going to spare his life .

However, Muyoung knew that when Bansan had risen again, Tacan had killed him impulsively .

Still, Tacan’s growth could be seen .

In terms of handling the sword, he had exceeded Sword One .

Tacan, who had been horribly defeated by Sword One a little over two years ago, had overcome that defeat and now appeared stronger .

Muyoung also had no choice but to nod his head .

“As the heir to the Command Clan, I am ready to accept a duel at any time . But…”

He wanted stability, but he shouldn’t give the impression that it was too easy .

Muyoung had to be made to seem as if it would be wasteful if he was disposed of, but he was not exactly desired either[1] .

Muyoung left the field with Tacan while speaking coolly .

“I’ll have to take your life . ”

Banya, the heir of the Command Clan, had returned!

The rumor spread quickly . The Noble Castle was wide but narrow .

Especially those called the Vested Interests Class knew everything that happened inside the Noble Castle . Of course, they had to pay attention to the hot topic, which was Banya’s return .

“Seven Bone Dragons…”

“The power to wipe out a medium clan by himself . ”

Banya was the subject of the week .

Bone Dragons were top-level monsters . The difference was obvious depending on the materials used to make them, but if it was a Fire Bone Dragon, it would be enough for the top three levels .

Seven of those monsters .

“The Command Clan is going to rise again . ”

“Even though Banya himself was not proven . ”

“The Command Clan will show up at the banquet after 10 years . ”

“The Lawless Clan has fallen . There are many clans that aimed after the Command Clan’s position . I’m looking forward to this banquet in many ways . ”

The Five Great Clans should always be maintained .

However, the Lawless Clan that had established a foothold in the Great City had fallen .

Everyone was hushed up regarding the fall of the Lawless Clan, however, seeing their behaviour, it was only natural that one day they had fallen .

And the middle clans were all fiercely competing for that position .

The Command Clan, who had also gradually fallen, was on the road to recovery .

They couldn’t stand still . They would certainly make a move .

“Are you guys just going to watch?”

And the heirs to Great Clans like Banya were all gathered in one place .

A secret room .

In fact, it was a place where all the heirs of the Great Clans, excluding the Command and Lawless Clans, interacted with each other .

They were not happy about Banya’s sudden appearance .

The Command Clan dealt with corpses . There were many who didn’t view that bizarreness happily .

While it was decaying naturally, Banya had emerged .

Of course, Banya was an eyesore to them .

Everyone’s gaze fell on one person .

One man was leaning against a wall .

He seemed to be in his mid to late thirties, and there was a subtle but indescribably heavy mood around him .

The man who was responsible for this gathering, and who had the greatest power .

His words certainly had a ripple effect . At the very least, there was no one at the Noble Castle who defied him .

The Noble Castle . An enormous fortress and birthplace . The one that was treated like the king of the place was one man .

The Reign Clan’s heir, Reign Gun!

Up until now, he had kept silent, but now he spoke .

“He has to be suppressed, so that he can’t crawl up . ”

Translator’s notes:

Original phrase was ‘Chicken ribs’ (계륵 | Gye-reuk): An idiomatic expression of Chinese origin describing a war situation in which both sides were evenly matched so even victory would be pyrrhic .