The Reformed Genius of the Sichuan Tang Clan - Chapter 35

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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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Chapter 35
Dang Yu-hyeon looked down at Wei Ji-gyeong with a bewildered expression.
“I’m going to kill you?”
“Did you forget what came out of there a moment ago?”
“I told you to speak casually, and now you’re using short words?”
“Did you forget what came out of there a moment ago, sir?”
Dang Yu-hyeon glanced toward the alley.
“Those people won’t come out.”
“They’ll come if you call them.”
“They would, wouldn’t they?”
“Then it puts me at a disadvantage.”
“I won’t call them. Satisfied?”
At his firm tone, Wei Ji-gyeong grabbed his head and groaned.
Then, as if some wind shifted something in him, his expression hardened with resolve.
“No. Call them or don’t—do as you please.”
Whoooosh!
Wei Ji-gyeong exhaled a long breath and purged the poison in one sweep.
His face, flushed with intoxication, returned to its natural color.
‘Ugh. The smell.’
He’d gifted Dang Yu-hyeon, who stood right before him, the stench of wine.
But Dang Yu-hyeon had already stepped outside the inn and walked deeper into the alley, to a place where few people ventured, before stopping.
“Was there any need to come all the way out here?”
“Fighting in the inn would cause trouble for others.”
“Mmm.”
Wei Ji-gyeong let out a low sound of admiration.
His expression said, ‘You actually know what causing trouble means?’
‘What do you take me for?’
As Dang Yu-hyeon took two steps back, Wei Ji-gyeong drew his blade.
“If that argument had continued, I’m certain we would’ve clashed with force. The fact that you suggested we slip away first—seems our hearts beat as one.”
‘It’s not that our hearts beat as one. I simply read what you were thinking.’
From hearing him speak a few times, his nature was plain to see, and so too was how he’d act.
But Dang Yu-hyeon saw no need to correct him on this.
“Think what you like.”
“I’m not embarrassed. Were it not for what happened just now, I believe you and I would have made fine friends.”
‘That’s your mistake.’
Fine friends with a raw, green boy—hardly.
Rather than add more words, Dang Yu-hyeon slipped his hand into his sleeve.
“I hope you won’t resort to poison.”
“Of course not. How do you propose we conduct this duel?”
“Whoever touches a vital point first or topples their opponent wins.”
“And the wager?”
“Is there need for one? The loser accepts the winner’s claim. Of course, it’s only my personal opinion—I don’t speak for my sect.”
So this is how you slip away?
Smart—leaving no lingering trouble in case of defeat, hedging your bets. I see it clearly.
‘Well, I’d do the same.’
Dang Yu-hyeon touched the Bi-Do lightly with his fingertip.
“Each of us judges for ourselves.”
“Agreed.”
Wei Ji-gyeong also stepped back two paces.
“St…… art!”
Whoosh!
The moment he called the start, Wei Ji-gyeong lunged forward with his arm fully extended.
Thanks to his balanced stance, he flew forward in a perfect line.
Around the sword blade held vertically, two different currents of energy rippled and intertwined.
The Yang-Yi Sword.
The energies of yin and yang converged and mingled within the blade.
‘So you mean to settle this in one exchange?’
It was a wise choice when facing someone with low Internal Energy or a smaller frame.
The Yang-Yi Sword harmonized yin and yang to defend and attack simultaneously while targeting vital points—a technique that needed only one clean thrust to end the match instantly.
It was perfectly suited for a duel without needless exhaustion.
‘But its weakness is fatal.’
Like most martial arts that rely on a single devastating blow, the Yang-Yi Sword had a crippling drawback.
First, it was heavily dependent on mastery; second, it had severe limitations against wide-ranging attacks.
Dang Yu-hyeon released ten Bi-Dos simultaneously.
The Yeon-Hwan Sip-Bi was originally a secret technique targeting ten vital points—joints, muscles, and the like—but Dang Yu-hyeon subtly altered their trajectories just enough to keep Wei Ji-gyeong alive.
‘After all, he might end up being a faithful servant. Better not kill him.’
What would Jomchang have worth stripping anyway?
Dang Yu-hyeon indulged in pleasant deliberation as he released two more Bi-Dos in succession.
Screeeech!
The Bi-Dos flew at him from multiple angles in a furious spin, forcing Wei Ji-gyeong to stumble backward.
At this rate, he couldn’t deploy the Yang-Yi Sword.
‘Then I have no choice but to try something else.’
Wei Ji-gyeong angled his blade and smoothly deflected the Bi-Dos away.
Ting! Ting! Clang!
He snapped the sword down with the fluid grace of a bird in flight.
The Baek-Geum Sword, learned by Jomchang disciples from their third generation onward, was far more than mere parrying technique.
It was the seamless exchange of evasion and counterattack, defense and offense.
To prove it, a deflected Bi-Do landed point-down at Dang Yu-hyeon’s feet.
‘So he didn’t train carelessly, at least.’
Dang Yu-hyeon smiled faintly and rolled his foot forward.
Whoosh!
The distance closed in an instant, and Wei Ji-gyeong—who had been deflecting the Bi-Dos in steady rhythm—faltered and retreated.
But he immediately swung his blade again.
Clang!
The incoming Bi-Do struck the sword and veered off course.
Dang Yu-hyeon’s eyes traced its new path.
‘It’s targeting my legs.’
Clang! Ting!
Not just one, either.
‘There’s nowhere safe to dodge.’
Sidestep, and his thigh would be caught. Step back, and his ankle would be slashed.
In that brief moment of retreat, Wei Ji-gyeong had already calculated his counter.
Immobilize the legs, disrupt his mobility, then finish it with a single decisive strike.
“How is that! Wouldn’t it have been better to admit it gracefully from the start?”
“Do you think I’ve never faced something like this?”
Dang Yu-hyeon chuckled and engaged his footwork.
“Keep playing tricks and you’ll put holes in those legs of yours.”
Dang Yu-hyeon paid no heed and executed the footwork.
As he did, the Bi-Dos screamed toward his thigh.
Whoosh!
But they missed.
The Bi-Dos tore through an afterimage and embedded themselves in the ground.
“See? You wouldn’t listen, and now—wait, what?”
His confident tone faltered.
Wei Ji-gyeong spun around in confusion, scanning the space.
“This—what on earth—!”
Behind the vanished afterimage stood dozens of Dang Yu-hyeons.
Confronted by the impossible sight, Wei Ji-gyeong blinked rapidly.
Yet his vision did not clear.
“You! Have you used poison!”
“Poison? No.”
A soft voice came from behind him.
Wei Ji-gyeong whipped his head around.
Dang Yu-hyeon stood alone, a Bi-Do resting on his palm as he channeled his Internal Energy into it.
“Just footwork.”
The Bi-Young Byeon-Wi Step—technique that deceived the eye and scattered the mind.
It wasn’t as refined as it once had been, but with the Internal Energy he’d accumulated and the aid of Spirit Medicine, he could manifest it to this degree.
Screeeech!
The Bi-Do spun violently as it shot forward.
Wei Ji-gyeong extended his blade to deflect it once more.
But the Bi-Do did not yield.
Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang!
It came down even heavier, and with a sharp metallic ring, the blade bit deep into his sword.
“Ugh!”
Wei Ji-gyeong gritted his teeth.
The Bi-Do was now leaden, as if his earlier casual deflections had been nothing but illusion.
“How can he have this much strength…!”
As Wei Ji-gyeong planted his feet firmly and braced himself, Dang Yu-hyeon drew two more Bi-Do blades.
Clang-clang-clang! Clang-clang-clang!
Intense pain shot through his wrists.
He could barely withstand one; there was no way he could hold against three descending at once.
“Ahhh!”
Wei Ji-gyeong cried out as his sword flew from his grip.
Snap!
Dang Yu-hyeon snatched the blade out of the air before Wei Ji-gyeong could, then swung it in a swift arc, stopping just short of his opponent’s chest.
Whisper.
The tip of the blade pointed directly at Wei Ji-gyeong’s heart.
‘This is the Ja-Sim Geom-Mang. That’s what it means.’
Dang Yu-hyeon’s lips curved into a crooked smile.
‘Watch. Remember.’
Wei Ji-gyeong stared at his own blade now in Dang Yu-hyeon’s hands, then raised his palm in surrender.
“Damn. Should’ve kept my mouth shut. I’ve lost.”
Once Wei Ji-gyeong conceded defeat, Dang Yu-hyeon lowered his sword.
“Since I’ve lost, I’ll admit what’s true. But I’d appreciate it if you’d spare me in public. I’m as good as dead anyway.”
Wei Ji-gyeong reached out for his blade.
But Dang Yu-hyeon still refused to release it.
“You’re not giving back the sword?”
“It’s not over yet. What are you talking about?”
Dang Yu-hyeon bared his teeth in a grin.
“Didn’t we agree that the winner is whoever touches a vital point first?”
“…!”
“I haven’t touched mine.”
Dang Yu-hyeon spun the blade in circles.
Whissh. Whissh.
The sound of it cutting through the air was like a serpent’s hiss.
“You’ve got sharp eyes, I’ll give you that.”
Thud.
The blade stopped.
“First, kneel.”
Crack!
“Ungh!”
He brought the blade down to strike Wei Ji-gyeong’s shoulder, and the large frame staggered.
“I’m going to teach you a personal lesson right now.”
Crack!
The blade swung down like a cleaver against his thigh, and both knees buckled against the earth.
“Etch it deep into that thick skull of yours, yes?”
Boom!
The flat of the blade, charged with fury, struck him square across the head.
“Did you understand?”
“Ughhhh.”
Rather than answer, Wei Ji-gyeong let out a wheeze and collapsed where he knelt.
“Ah—”
Dang Yu-hyeon made a pleased humming sound and sat down on top of the fallen man.
“I’ve done it now.”
He began bouncing his legs up and down.
As the vibrations rippled through, Wei Ji-gyeong underneath let out a muffled groan.
‘I’m dead.’
To whom?
To Dang Gang-heon.
Dang Gang-heon had told him to settle things, not to lay hands on a disciple of another sect.
Whatever the reason might be.
‘At this point, there’s nothing for it.’
When a problem arises, isn’t there one time-honored and foolproof method to bury it?
* * *
“Father, I apologize!”
Thud!
Dang Yu-hyeon knelt before Dang Gang-heon once more.
“What is this about?”
“I’ve caused some trouble, sir.”
“Again?”
The question escaped Dang Gang-heon’s lips before he could stop it.
His son, sent to put affairs in order, returns having stirred up problems.
The more he turned it over in his mind, the hotter his irritation grew, and Dang Gang-heon pressed his brow with his fingers.
“I heard the arrangements were handled properly. The report was filed correctly too.”
“Something happened after I completed the task.”
Dang Gang-heon gestured for him to continue.
“After finishing the assignment, I had a rather… quite intense duel with Wei Ji-gyeong of Jomchang.”
“Was it a one-sided match?”
“No, it was not.”
“Then what prompted it?”
“Someone in Yunnan said that the Patriarch’s exploits were attributed to the Yang-Yi Sword, and I corrected them in the heat of the moment…”
“How did you know of that?”
“Pardon?”
“That is something only an extreme few within the Dang Clan know.”
These fools?
They knew perfectly well yet didn’t bother to correct it?
“Then why did you allow the Yang-Yi Sword to receive the credit?”
The matter was so secret that Dang Gang-heon hesitated before deciding to speak to Dang Yu-hyeon.
“There was no clear evidence. Looking only at the scars, one cannot distinguish between sword techniques.”
Dang Gang-heon exhaled, a sigh heavy with frustration and regret.
“So I have been searching everywhere to find that proof.”
“I see…”
It was a moving story.
Then why did it feel ominous?
‘I have a terrible feeling I’ve made another mess of things.’
Dang Yu-hyeon bowed his head, hoping his intuition was wrong, and waited for Dang Gang-heon to order him to leave.
“Good, then. As it happens, I was planning to send someone to Yunnan. You will go with them.”
“Where to, sir?”
“To Yunnan.”
Dang Gang-heon smiled faintly.
“Search for that evidence together.”
‘This is bad.’
He had half-finished Secret Manuals and unstarted ones numbering in the hundreds—how was he supposed to make that journey?
Just as Dang Yu-hyeon was grasping for a decent excuse, Dang Gang-heon dropped another remark.
“Your reputation will change quite noticeably because of this.”
Dang Yu-hyeon froze at those words.
Right now, reputation was everything to him.
Since he was living such a harsh, demanding life, he mustn’t leave even a single blemish.
Dang Yu-hyeon clasped his hands and flashed an amiable smile.
“Of course. I shall depart with care.”
Sichuan Dang Clan Prodigy of Reform
Author |
Yi Il-yeong
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Samyang C&C Co., Ltd.
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Editorial Department
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© Samyang C&C — No part of this book may be used in any form or by any means without the written permission of Dream Books.

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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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