Chapter 157: Like Yeon Jeokha Back Then
From a distance, Yeon Jeokha heard someone mention Nokrim and smiled.
"I think we should change Nokrim's name."
"Change the name?"
Shim Tong, the Old Dao of the Nine Heavens, looked at Yeon Jeokha with curiosity. Stopping mid-sip of his tea and suddenly talking about changing the name seemed out of place.
"Yes, to something like 'Village Drum.' Every time something happens, they mention Nokrim."
Finally, Shim Tong understood that Yeon Jeokha was referring to the comments they heard from the Heavenly Sword Sect.
"Should I tear that woman's mouth apart?"
"Tsk tsk! It was a joke, why take it so seriously? Are you afraid someone will find out?"
"I thought you were offended, young master. I didn’t know it was a joke."
Yeon Jeokha asked Namgung Cheon, the Blue Cloud Swordsman.
"Brother, you knew it was a joke when I said 'Village Drum,' right?"
"Ha ha. Of course. If that isn’t a joke, then what is?"
"You see, it’s Old Shim who's being odd."
"Yes, I'll be more careful in the future."
"You don’t have to be so careful. Just ignore it and move on. You’re more stubborn than I thought. Let’s live like normal people. Peacefully."
Despite the repeated criticisms, Shim Tong smiled awkwardly while scratching his head. Namgung Cheon and Namgung Yeon, the Heart-Reading Solitary Flower, couldn’t help but laugh at his behavior.
However, Seol Chasu and his group didn’t dare to laugh and turned their heads in different directions, pretending not to have heard.
Meanwhile, Yu Jinwon, who was standing stunned by the unexpected news, quickly asked.
"Have you informed the Instructor?"
"Yes, I’ve sent someone to tell him to come quickly to the inn with the remaining disciples because there are problems with the Chilsang Sect."
"Well done."
Yu Jinwon nodded firmly.
Though they couldn’t compare to the Chilsang Sect, they had no other choice.
His daughter, Yu Soun, expressed her concern.
"Can we handle this with our forces? Shouldn't we ask for help from other nearby sects?"
"Who would help us in these difficult times? The Chilsang Sect knows that, and that’s why they’re trying to take our client."
"So do we have to watch as they take it from us without doing anything?"
"Let’s try to talk to them. Something will come to mind."
"How can you talk to someone who has kidnapped the Leader of the Chamber of Commerce?"
Yu Soun shook her head. Knowing the Chilsang Sect, that was a fantasy.
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At the Heavenly Sword Sect.
"Instructor!"
Someone burst through the door and ran towards the Heavenly Sword Sect’s quarters.
Lee Cheolsan, who was drinking tea with his disciples in the main hall, glanced sideways.
It was Jeong So-sam, who had left with the sect leader half an hour ago.
"Quickly, come to the inn with the disciples!"
"What are you talking about?"
"The Chilsang Sect has come to the inn with the Leader of the Taepyeong Chamber of Commerce. Quickly!"
"I don’t understand what you’re saying. Calm down and explain again."
Jeong So-sam calmed down and explained.
"Today, the Leader and the Taepyeong Chamber of Commerce were going to sign a contract. But the Chilsang Sect intervened and caused trouble. They’ve kidnapped the Leader of the Taepyeong Chamber of Commerce and said they’ll ‘show how weak the Heavenly Sword Sect is.'"
"Ah! So we need to go to the inn?"
"Yes."
"Will there be a fight with the Chilsang Sect at the inn?"
"It seems so."
Jeong So-sam’s voice suddenly trailed off.
The thought of fighting the Chilsang Sect frightened him.
Lee Cheolsan looked at the disciples in the main hall.
Including Jeong So-sam, there were seven young men in their twenties.
With the five who had gone with the leader, there would be thirteen in total.
In contrast, the Chilsang Sect had more than forty disciples.
Moreover, the Chilsang Sect’s guests were famous warriors in the Murim.
"Ah! Just when I found a good job, this happens..."
Han Chaeyeon and Ha Sobaek were working in the Chamber of Commerce.
Lee Cheolsan had been hired as a martial arts instructor on his first day in Wuhan, thanks to Yu Jinwon.
Since then, he had been teaching "The Dragon and Tiger Sword Method" and "The Eight Directions Sword Method."
For that reason alone, people here considered him excellent.
The sect leader, Yu Jinwon, though called the Healing Sword, had never fought anyone. His "Heavenly Sword Method" was incomplete, and no one really knew what it was like.
Rumors were that Yu Jinwon was a fraud.
"Instructor, what should we do?"
Lee Cheolsan was pulled from his thoughts by Jeong So-sam’s question.
He looked at Jeong So-sam with a complicated expression.
The same person who had just been shouting "Quick! Quick!" was now asking "What should we do?" That showed how inferior they felt against the Chilsang Sect.
Even Lee Cheolsan hesitated.
But if he fled now, he would have to leave Wuhan or wander like a Wanderer.
No sect would hire him if they found out he had abandoned his sect in a time of crisis.
To establish himself like Han Chaeyeon and Ha Sobaek, he had to face the Chilsang Sect.
"What are we going to do? Go, of course. Grab your weapons."
"Yes!"
The disciples were inspired by Lee Cheolsan’s determination.
Though they were at a disadvantage, seeing their master face the crisis made them feel like they were seeing a true hero.
--------------------
Lee Cheolsan and his group stopped in front of the Sahae inn.
The disciples of the Chilsang Sect were controlling the entrance.
Jeong So-sam looked nervously at Lee Cheolsan.
"Instructor, what do we do now?"
"Follow me."
Unlike his frightened disciples, Lee Cheolsan advanced confidently.
Before meeting Yeon Jeokha, he would never have dared to do something like this.
Just as Shim Yanggak had changed, he too had changed a lot internally.
He had stopped giving up in the face of adversity.
As he walked into danger, he remembered his sworn brothers.
When the Sage of Heaven and Earth attacked, his brothers didn’t run away. Today, he would lead his disciples as Yeon Jeokha did that day.
Gu Yangcheon, the lead disciple of the Chilsang Sect, who spotted Lee Cheolsan, told his master Yang Simyung, the Heavenly Saber:
"Master, the Heavenly Sword Sect members are here."
Yang Simyung looked at Lee Cheolsan and sneered.
"Ha! Is that the new instructor?"
"Yes. It is said that he is quite skilled with the sword."
"He must be a big fish in a small pond. He probably only knows a few basic moves."
Instructors of small sects were rarely skilled.
But he had learned from the famous lay disciple of Qingcheng. He was different from the ground up.
Furthermore, the Chilsang Sect Leader had brought the Three Southern Demons to display their power.
Even without them, the disciples of the Chilsang Sect would be enough to intimidate the Chamber of Commerce.
As Lee Cheolsan approached, Yang Simyung spoke coldly.
"Stop. Today, the Chilsang Sect has an event here, so no one else can enter."
"I am Lee Cheolsan of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Our leader asked us to come here. Please let me pass."
"Hmpf! Didn’t you hear? I’m Yang Simyung of the Chilsang Sect. Don’t make me humiliate you in front of your disciples. Leave while you can."
Lee Cheolsan's eyes gleamed.
Yang Simyung was reputed to be a skilled swordsman who had learned from Qingcheng.
"I heard that your leader has kidnapped the Leader of the Taepyeong Chamber of Commerce to force a contract. Is that true?"
Lee Cheolsan’s direct accusation made Yang Simyung shout.
"Bastard! Who do you think you are to speak like that? Do you want to die?"
"Prove what you say."
With that, Lee Cheolsan unsheathed his saber.
"Crazy! Do you think you can win with just eight men? Kill them all!"
Thirty disciples of the Chilsang Sect charged at those of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Lee Cheolsan did not flinch.
Like a tiger, he roared and charged forward.
Wherever his saber passed, enemies fell with screams and blood.
After a brief skirmish, five fell, and no one dared to approach him further.
The disciples of the Chilsang Sect realized they couldn’t face him.
Finally, Yang Simyung intervened.
He had learned Qingcheng's supreme arts: the Heart of Heaven and Earth Method, the Heavenly Sword, and the Flying Step.
Those three arts were enough to earn his reputation.
Yang Simyung channeled his power into his sword, which trembled slightly.
He smiled in satisfaction.
A sword infused with energy was sharper than any blade.
With more training, he could emit energy from the sword, a level known as "sword qi emission," reserved for supreme masters.
Very few reach that level in their lifetime.
Yang Simyung struck Lee Cheolsan’s shoulder like lightning.
Lee Cheolsan responded with the first move of the Nine Heavens Swordsmanship, Flying Dragon Ascension.
With one move, the battle was decided.
Yang Simyung's sword, though infused with power, broke in two.
Lee Cheolsan's saber rested at Yang Simyung’s neck.
"Master Yang, you should stop this."
Yang Simyung, frightened, ordered his disciples to stop.
The disciples of the Chilsang Sect, who had been beating those of the Heavenly Sword Sect, retreated.
The injured disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect stood up, staggering.
Yang Simyung, gritting his teeth, said.
"Lee Cheolsan, you should leave. Our leader is a supreme master and has brought the Three Southern Demons. You won’t be able to change the outcome."
"We’ll see when we try."
"Idiot! I won’t stop you."
Yang Simyung warned the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect.
"Did you hear? Inside are our leader and the Three Southern Demons. If you enter, you’ll either die or be crippled. The brave may enter."
The disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect looked at Lee Cheolsan in fear.
Lee Cheolsan just shrugged.
He didn’t have the confidence to face the Three Southern Demons alone, so he couldn’t ask them to follow him.
The disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect looked at their bruised faces and laughed nervously.
Finally, Jeong So-sam stepped forward.
"Since we’re here, we’ll enter with you."
"That’s what I expected from my disciples."
Lee Cheolsan winked at them and walked towards the inn's entrance.
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