“Uh oh, we’re in big trouble! Shop Owner! The rumor leader from Cheon-ho Sect is causing a ruckus!”
At the frantic report from the servant, Son Mi-ok bit her lip.
Memories of the past flooded Son Mi-ok’s mind.
How did Yeon-hwa end up leaving the So Gap Po Mok shop and wandering the world?
It was all because of that troublemaker Dong Bo-wi, who’s causing chaos right now.
Born with the New Moon physique, Yeon-hwa had been blessed with exceptional looks and charm since childhood. Her beauty blossomed year by year, even though she was still in her youth; no beauty in Ak-yang could compare.
As time went on, Yeon-hwa grew even more beautiful, and with that beauty came a growing number of admirers.
Despite the situation, Son Mi-ok mobilized the full power of So Gap Po Mok to protect Yeon-hwa. The influence wielded by So Gap Po Mok in Okgyo was not small, so she barely managed to keep Yeon-hwa safe from major incidents.
But then there was that damn troublemaker, Dong Bo-wi, who messed everything up in an instant.
Dong Bo-wi spread the ridiculous rumor that Yeon-hwa was to wed him.
Son Mi-ok immediately rebutted it, but once a rumor starts spreading, it never dies down.
This was because Dong Bo-wi continued to proclaim that he had an engagement with Yeon-hwa. Once a rumor spreads widely enough, it solidifies into truth, and by the time it is believed as fact, both Son Mi-ok and Yeon-hwa would have no choice but to throw up their hands. That was Dong Bo-wi’s cunning strategy.
And this behavior of Dong Bo-wi ignited a sense of urgency in those who had feelings for Yeon-hwa.
The mighty Cheon-ho Sect holds significant influence in this Ak-yang. If the rumor leader of Cheon-ho Sect were to pursue her, he might actually succeed!
Then before Dong Bo-wi and Yeon-hwa’s marriage could happen, I will take Yeon-hwa for myself!
Thus, those men who had that thought rushed in, reckless and without restraint, to claim Yeon-hwa, leading to chaos and threats that Son Mi-ok found impossible to handle… so she had no choice but to make an extreme decision to protect Yeon-hwa.
That’s why Mi-ok, hiding their true identities, hired a female warrior to send Black Cat into the Central Plains.
As Mi-ok sent Black Cat off, she thought about how long the female warrior, who didn’t know her or Yeon-hwa’s identity, would actually protect Yeon-hwa. Once the mission was completed, the warrior would undoubtedly turn her back; Yeon-hwa would be destined to wander the world with only the precious gold she was given.
To cut off any connections, Mi-ok sent Yeon-hwa away, leaving no links behind… before Yeon-hwa returned on her own, she’d have no idea how her beloved daughter was surviving, or even if she was still alive.
And thus, Mi-ok had lived up to this point.
Clenching her fists, Son Mi-ok trembled with rage.
It was bound to happen someday that the ruckus caused by Black Cat’s beauty would arise. With the might of So Gap Po Mok, she could not fully protect Yeon-hwa, and her retreat from this Ak-yang may not have changed the outcome.
However, it was that damn troublemaker, Dong Bo-wi, who caused the situation to rapidly deteriorate to the point where she had to face the worst parting ever.
Son Mi-ok suddenly stood up.
“I will no longer endure this!”
Having been unable to take any action against Dong Bo-wi, who made her separate from her daughter due to the power of Cheon-ho Sect, she had no intention of refraining any longer. No, she could not hold back.
She had to protect the daughter who had returned home.
Even if it meant spending all the money she had saved up, she would not let that troublemaker get away with this.
Grinding her teeth, Son Mi-ok stepped outside.
“Gah, guh…!”
She could only widen her eyes at the sight of Dong Bo-wi struggling in Ho Cheon-an’s grasp, along with all his subordinates moaning on the ground.
*
I approached the troublemakers causing a scene outside So Gap Po Mok.
“Did you come searching for me?”
They were completely taken aback, surprised that I wasn’t inside. Among them, the one who had been shouting looked at me with a suspicious expression, scanning me from top to bottom.
“You are the Brain Knife Outcast?”
I wasn’t carrying my great sword or wearing Black Rib, yet he had the gall to call me the Brain Knife Outcast, looking perplexed.
I stared back at him with suspicion.
So they knew I was here but had no clue how I looked?
That makes no sense.
I discreetly gathered my Qi and assessed the one in front of me.
His level was at the peak. The unrestrained energy exuding from him was a sign that he had consumed multiple spiritual medicines but hadn’t properly refined them afterward.
Moreover, despite me raising my Qi and evaluating his momentum, he seemed entirely oblivious.
No matter how great the gap in levels, one should instinctively sense something wrong in this situation.
In simpler terms, he was the type who spent money on training but neglected the actual practice.
“Hmph, very well.”
While I finished my assessment of him, he seemed to have concluded his own judgment and suddenly yelled.
“To dare act brazenly in the territory of Cheon-ho Sect and the protector Dong Bo-wi! You have gall!”
“…What did you say?”
I asked back, incredulously. Thinking I was scared, he raised his voice further.
“With your meager reputation, you dare to harm those in Dong Jeong Lake, deceive the citizens, and defile the natural beauty! Worse yet, you occupy the So Gap Po Mok shop and exploit the innocent!”
Is this guy crazy? He’s really targeting a Hwa-gyeong Martial Artist with such ridiculous accusations?
Cheon-ho Sect is a sect that I know of. The problem is, the Cheon-ho Sect I know is not a powerful one that would openly provoke me like this.
Could it be that my previous actions created a butterfly effect that caused Cheon-ho Sect to skyrocket in prominence?
“Today, I shall deal with you and bring justice back to the Martial World!”
I briefly pondered this idea but quickly dismissed it. No matter how I look at it, Cheon-ho Sect has nothing to gain from provoking me.
What, the glory of defeating the much-discussed Brain Knife Outcast?
With no justification whatsoever, if they attacked me out of the blue and that became publicly known, they would certainly face criticism. It would be a loss. Believing that a sect of this level suddenly rose to power is ludicrous.
So this foolish young master acted on his own accord, hoping to ride on my fame?
Swish!
“Draw your sword!”
As if to prove my thoughts correct, Dong Bo-wi suddenly drew his sword.
At this point, I was curious about his logic.
“I can’t understand this. It’s a well-known fact across the Martial World that you are a Hwa-gyeong Martial Artist. Do you really think that you and your lackeys can take even a single strike from me?”
“What did you say?!”
Seeing the flustered expression on this fool made me consider if I should just kill him.
As he laughed smugly, I felt a surge of anger, but fortunately or unfortunately, he continued ranting without giving me a chance to strike.
“Even if you deceive the world, you can’t deceive my eyes. The Brain Knife Outcast is undoubtedly a lackey of the Demon Sect, clearly using evil sorcery to deceive the people!”
It was then that I finally grasped his thinking.
His phrasing suggested that he viewed me and the rumored Brain Knife Outcast as separate entities. He claimed I wield evil sorcery, yet he laughed instead of being wary of it.
This punk… thinks I’m a fake?
He believes I’m merely impersonating the Brain Knife Outcast, and by defeating me, he’d gain recognition for taking down someone he considers a fraud. His ego would be soaring!
“Hah.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
I understood why this brat saw me as an imposter. I also recognized that he was likely a notorious troublemaker in this Ak-yang.
Yet, despite this, I was both amused and appalled at how he underestimated the true Brain Knife Outcast, Ho Cheon-an.
Regardless of how much he hoped to feel superior by defeating a bogus version of me, in front of an audience to claim I’m a minion of the Heavenly Demon Sect and to spout about sorcery would only lead to future trouble for him when the real rumors circulated.
Why do you think those people huddled around Dong Bo-wi were just watching?
Eventually, the reality is that, no matter how great my reputation might be, plenty of fools will overlook it.
“That’s right.”
It seems I must directly engrave the reality of the vast sky on this little brat.
Boom!
In an instant, my Qi erupted, and the rumble of thunder struck the surroundings.
“Gah…!”
“W-What’s this?!”
Then the desperate moans erupted among the sect members of Cheon-ho and Dong Bo-wi’s followers. How could the bumbling fool before me think he could control those above him?
The only ones he had backing him were low-ranking members of his sect, sitting at the beginning of their own peak. Those pawns couldn’t even withstand the energy released from my attack.
Dong Bo-wi was no exception.
Feeling the backlash of my Qi, Dong Bo-wi turned pale and started retreating while shouting.
“Get him! He’s using sorcery!”
“Dong Bo-wi, that’s…”
“We’re no match for him!”
Having tasted my energy, the few of Dong Bo-wi’s followers began to realize my actual strength. They refused his commands, shaking their heads; however, he choked on his own words.
Of course.
To realize life is a practice ground, you have to taste the bitter fruits; when one gets into trouble, they expect their parents or sect to bail them out, losing any ability to distinguish between good and bad.
“Attack him now! Anyone who turns their backs on an evil sorcerer will face my wrath!”
Under the continued threats and bluster from Dong Bo-wi, his followers drew their weapons, encircling me. Encouraged by their numbers, Dong Bo-wi found a bit of calm and ordered,
“Attack!”
The moment his command was given and his minions charged at me,
Boom!!
I unleashed my Qi, sending it surging outward.
“Gah!”
“Ughhh!!”
The explosive energy swept through Dong Bo-wi’s followers, knocking them to the ground in pale-faced defeat.
“A-Ahh… how can this be?!”
Dong Bo-wi trembled, sensing all his minions fell before me.
I calmly approached him, grabbing him by the collar and lifting him up.
“Uggg…!”
Now, how shall I deal with this guy?
It was almost laughable how weak he was, yet his actions taught me one crucial lesson.
That is, I needed to properly demonstrate my strength in this Ak-yang.
The rumors circulating about the Brain Knife Outcast across the world.
Do they accurately reflect my true power?
Absolutely not.
My martial prowess was fully demonstrated when I battled Jeong Cheol. Since then, I’ve fought against Blood Sect with Oh Seong-jin and Six Star Chen, but I hadn’t individually proven my strength since then.
Thus, the assessments of my capabilities are locked in the past.
While it may be impressive that I reached Hwa-gyeong at a young age, that impression hasn’t changed—everyone assumes I’m merely half of what I’ve achieved, since all they’ve seen is a glorified façade.
However, I am not merely half anymore.
Since my battle with Jeong Cheol, my martial skills have grown immensely. I’ve learned the martial arts of my companions, and after training with Seo I-ryeong and Jo Yong-sang in Sacheon City, I’ve dedicated myself to expanding my potential.
Those changes alone would probably cause ordinary martial artists to think I’ve experienced a major breakthrough.
But the real breakthrough is mine alone. I grasped the teachings left by the first Heavenly Demon and comprehended the true essence of the Single Cut Blade Technique—Heavenly Thunder across the World.
So how strong am I now?
I don’t even know!
I’ve never even encountered the first Heavenly Demon’s insights in any game or world I’ve experienced. Even if it’s just fragments, being from the Heavenly Demon makes it extraordinary.
It’s not fully in my control yet, so it would be a stretch to call it mine… However, excluding those Heavenly Demon influences, my own strength has definitely surpassed the usual estimates of the Martial World.
Currently, even the rumors swirling around aren’t an accurate reflection of my abilities; yet, those in the Ak-yang think they’re exaggerated.
So, for those mistaken fools who have met Black Cat today, I’ll have to clearly announce,
The strength that I, Ho Cheon-an possess.
I released Dong Bo-wi’s collar and spoke clearly.
“Lead me.”
He, gasping for air, looked up at me, confusion evident in his expression. But, displaying the kindness of a Martial Hero, I responded,
“Take me to Cheon-ho Sect. Today, I will hold you accountable for your crimes against me.”
Dong Bo-wi’s face paled more than ever.
