Chronicles of the Martial God’s Return - Chapter 84

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“Stop dawdling! Arrest everyone at once and haul them to the magistrate’s office!”
“Yes, sir!”
Clang-clang-clang!
Early in the morning, the constables moved with perfect coordination and stormed into Punggeommun. They smashed through the main gate, swiftly detained the servants in sight, then rushed to the inner and outer halls, seizing every disciple.
Those who resisted violently were dragged away and beaten; those who still refused to comply were shot full of arrows and left as corpses.
The constables made no distinction between young and old, male and female. Servants, disciples, even the sect master’s family—all were bound with rope and taken away.
In an instant, the whole of Punggeommun was thrown into upheaval.
Those watching stood stunned, drained of all sensation.
Though the disciples of Punggeommun had indeed behaved outrageously of late, no one had dreamed things would be settled this swiftly the moment Hong Won-chang returned.
“Word has it they were caught trying to murder an innocent person.”
“My, and there’s doubtless far more besides. They’ve well and truly been caught red-handed.”
“Done for—utterly done for. Ak-yang will be a good deal quieter from now on. Hah-hah-hah!”
The people greeted this turn of events with open approval.
Watching those bound and dragged away, the crowd’s faces gleamed with satisfaction. The disciples of Punggeommun had leveraged their sect’s power to harass common folk time and again, so there was no warmth in the hearts of these people. Many had secretly harbored wishes for precisely this outcome.
For that reason, everyone again showered praise upon the County Magistrate.
‘Gratifying.’
Hong Won-chang felt a deep sense of satisfaction as he met the gaze of those around him.
Once, though many had bowed their heads out of respect for the office of County Magistrate, they had never looked upon him with genuine admiration.
Hong Won-chang was no magistrate prone to grave wrongdoing, yet neither was he one known for tender care of the common people.
But now? All eyes turned toward him brimmed with veneration.
When word of this reached the Royal Court again, a suitable reward would surely follow, and Hong Won-chang’s position would rise accordingly.
The mere thought of it warmed his chest.
Of late, Hong Jin-rang too looked upon his father with admiration and followed his lead.
Only those who have felt it know what it means to be respected by one’s own son.
Indeed, among all the words his boy had spoken recently, the ones that had most pleased him were: “I wish to become a fine County Magistrate like Father.”
Hong Won-chang’s satisfaction showed no sign of fading.
What’s more…….
Hong Won-chang discreetly touched his breast.
This very dawn, while arresting Hu Ja-ryung and his disciples at their estate, Dan Woo-hyun had pressed it into his hands.
A secret manual.
The same sort Jang Sam-tae had received, containing merely the Tai Chi Fist, yet Hong Won-chang harbored no disappointment.
For this Tai Chi Fist bore Dan Woo-hyun’s own commentary, making it altogether different from Jang Sam-tae’s version.

“You possess less natural talent than that Sam-tae boy. So I’ve simplified it somewhat—if you prove capable of mastering it, then give it a try.”

Such was Dan Woo-hyun’s manner of bestowing reward upon Hong Won-chang.
To Hong Won-chang, this gift held greater worth than any treasure from an emperor, something precious enough to pass down through generations as a family heirloom without shame.
He longed to rush home at once, open the manual, and study it. To master it. At last he would fulfill the dream of a martial artist he had set aside so long ago.
A crooked grin spread across his face as he raised his voice.
“Pick up the pace!”
“Yes, sir!”
The trail of Punggeommun people being dragged along quickened their steps.

“Ah, this is taxing.”
“H-Grandfather, are you well?”
Whether he had taken a tumble somewhere, Namgung Cheon limped along, his whole body seeming to ache. At this, Dan So-mi fretted anxiously.
“Hah, worry not, child. I simply overexerted myself yesterday.”
“What do you mean?”
“Work, of course.”
Dan So-mi tilted her head in confusion.
Yesterday morning and afternoon, Jang Sam-tae had handled all the chores while Namgung Cheon did nothing but loaf about. He hardly seemed to have done any labor at all, so why would he claim to have overexerted himself?
“Well, when an old body moves about that much, it’s only natural it aches. What else would you expect?”
“Do you really want another smack?”
“I’m not saying anything wrong…….”
Jang Sam-tae clicked his tongue.
Jang Sam-tae himself had witnessed the battle with Hu Ja-ryung yesterday from the front row. Recalling what Namgung Cheon had done then, it seemed little wonder his entire body should ache.
Jang Sam-tae glanced sideways at Dan Woo-hyun.
‘One monster wasn’t enough—now there’s an old demon too…… This is really…….’
Jang Sam-tae sighed deeply, recalling yesterday’s events.
Namgung Cheon had found himself in situations where he couldn’t twist his body while parrying Hu Ja-ryung’s blade—more than once. Even as he felt the piercing pain of bones splintering, he’d twisted his frame and thrust his sword through, seizing the advantage.
It was a divine technique beyond what the eye could believe.
Truly, the Sword Emperor was the Sword Emperor.
“What if…… what if that bastard had attacked from the right instead?”
Jang Sam-tae pondered for a moment before asking Namgung Cheon.
In that urgent twist of his body, Namgung Cheon had been riddled with openings.
Fortunately, the blade had carved in from the left, grazing him by the narrowest margin—and it was because of that gap that Namgung Cheon’s sword had found its mark perfectly in Hu Ja-ryung.
But what if the blade had come from the right instead?
Would he have died?
Though Jang Sam-tae entertained the thought, his answer was ‘he would have lived.’ Namgung Cheon’s mysterious footwork had been enough to captivate Jang Sam-tae’s gaze.
“What do you mean ‘what if’? I would’ve deployed the Tactical Retreat.”
“The Tactical Retreat? That’s not a word that should come from an old man’s mouth, is it?”
“Ha, you still don’t understand a thing. The world always remembers only the victor. The one who survives is the one who wins—that’s true strength. If you can save your life through the Tactical Retreat, isn’t that the wisest choice of all?”
“Is that so?”
Jang Sam-tae turned his head subtly and looked at Dan Woo-hyun.
As he understood it, martial artists didn’t deploy the Tactical Retreat. Most of them believed it better to die than to bring such humiliation upon themselves.
That’s why hearing it from the Sword Emperor’s lips was somewhat surprising. And Kwon Mu-jin’s expression of shock was just the same.
But Dan Woo-hyun nodded.
“That’s right. In the martial world, the one who survives is the strong one. Anyone foolish enough to trade their life for pride is without equal in stupidity.”
“Well, if even the manor lord says such things, it must be true…….”
Yet Jang Sam-tae still wasn’t convinced. So he turned to look at Kwon Mu-jin, but the man said nothing.
‘Why is that bastard keeping his mouth shut today of all days?’
It was unusual, different from his normal self. Dan So-mi seemed to share Jang Sam-tae’s thought, for she didn’t approach Kwon Mu-jin.
‘That fellow looks like something happened to him yesterday.’
“In-seok! You won’t believe me, but you’ll believe what the manor lord says?”
“Well, the manor lord seems like the greatest under heaven, and you, grandfather, you seem more like…… just an old man…….”
“You rotten bastard!”
Namgung Cheon reached out and deployed the Golden Thread Hand. His right hand moved swiftly, snatching the broom from Jang Sam-tae’s grip. Thwack! Thwack!
Then he immediately used the broom as a weapon, rapping it against Jang Sam-tae’s head.
“Ow! I’m dying here!”
“Why is it you never learn even when beaten? Don’t you think that if you run your mouth, you’ll get hit? Do you have no brain?”
“Ah, please! Stop hitting me! You hit me like this every day!”
“How dare you talk back to me!”
“But you asked for an answer!”
“You rotten thing……!”
Dan So-mi laughed awkwardly as she watched the two bicker. It happened every day, but she never could get used to it.
Normally, after taking a few blows, one would learn to be careful—but Jang Sam-tae talked back every day and got hit every day.
As Dan So-mi watched them, she suddenly muttered softly toward Namgung Cheon.
“Grandfather, did you have a fight?”
Turning over their conversation in her mind, it seemed to her that Namgung Cheon must have fought someone.
At that, Namgung Cheon jumped in surprise, waving his hands.
“No, no, So-mi. Do I look like someone who fights?”
“But…….”
Dan So-mi hesitated.
Putting it all together, that’s the impression she got.
“Fighting is not good! Our dad doesn’t do it either.”
The moment those words came, the three men’s expressions went blank.
Jang Sam-tae’s mouth itched to speak, but he couldn’t bring himself to open it. Kwon Mu-jin and Namgung Cheon exchanged a strange look, their eyes turning toward Dan Woo-hyun.
“Right, Dad? Fighting is bad, isn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s right. Fighting is a bad thing.”
“See! Dad says so too! So you mustn’t fight ever again.”
Dan So-mi spoke in a clear, ringing voice as she folded her arms across her chest.
That gesture looked almost as if she were scolding the three men.
Namgung Cheon, who had been listening quietly, swallowed thin air.
“Ha…… I’m at a loss for words, truly…….”
The first to speak was none other than Namgung Cheon himself.
Both Kwon Mu-jin and Jang Sam-tae seemed to want to say something, but they clamped their mouths shut as if they simply couldn’t open them.
It was the sharpness of Dan Woo-hyun’s gaze, keen as a blade’s edge.
“Enough of that story. Since the Punggeommun matter is resolved, we can consider it settled.”
“Yes, well… the County Magistrate is handling the aftermath, so news of the estate shouldn’t spread.”
Jang Sam-tae replied, his expression somewhat uncomfortable. He still seemed shaken by what Dan So-mi had revealed moments ago.
“But there’s no telling when a new sect might move into Ak-yang again….”
Kwon Mu-jin opened his mouth with a note of concern.
Given the traces of Martial Immortals and the Three Immortals discovered throughout Honam, more people would inevitably flock here seeking opportunities for enlightenment connected to them.
There was no guarantee that something like this wouldn’t happen again.
“Which is precisely why,” Namgung Cheon said, turning his gaze toward Dan Woo-hyun.
He paused for a moment, then closed his mouth. Whether he thought his words would fall on deaf ears or for some other reason, it was impossible to say.
Dan Woo-hyun’s brow furrowed.
“If you have something to say, speak it.”
“No, it won’t reach you, so I’d rather not bother.”
“…Speak.”
Namgung Cheon let out a quiet sigh.
It seemed Dan Woo-hyun was determined to hear it no matter what. There was an air about him that he would force the words out if necessary.
Who says a man like that has never once fought?
Dan So-mi had misunderstood him thoroughly—catastrophically so.
“Why not hang a signboard and establish a noble clan instead? If word spread that you’re a clan wielding influence even over Ak-yang, wouldn’t troublesome matters actually decrease somewhat?”
“Nonsense. That would only breed more troubles. If I’d had such intentions from the start, there would be no need to dump everything on Hong Won-chang.”
Dan Woo-hyun frowned and turned away.
As it stood, unwanted nuisances kept gathering on their own. If he were to establish a clan and extend its influence, there would certainly be those who arrived with swords drawn, confidently proclaiming they’d crush such arrogance.
“Ah… so that’s why I hesitated to speak.”
Namgung Cheon muttered to himself, tasting bitterness anew.
‘It seems, after all, impossible to draw this man into the Martial World.’
Dan Woo-hyun had likely grasped Namgung Cheon’s intent at once.
“For now, let us observe the situation. A better idea may yet come to mind….”
“Ah, I understand.”
Namgung Cheon withdrew gracefully. He knew well enough that pressing further now would be pointless.
Still, given all that had transpired, he thought Dan Woo-hyun could not help but be aware that many skilled masters had gathered in this place.
‘Perhaps even Punggeommun was being used by someone.’
Namgung Cheon could not shake the thought.
After all, Punggeommun—a sect with scarcely any name even in Hubei—suddenly seizing control of Ak-yang itself was something he could not fathom.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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