Moorim Pochang - Chapter 83

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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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Episode 83. Clan Annihilation Calamity.

Cough—!
Blood spilled from the elder who had been pursuing the Family Head.
“You bastard…”
Another elder, consumed by fury, pivoted his Body Technique to meet the assault.
Crash—!
Screech.
Blade met blade, and the elder’s head flew upward into the void.
Now only two middle-aged martial artists remained at the Family Head’s side, tasked with his protection.
“We will hold them back with our lives.”
The middle-aged warriors froze their Body Technique.
But Eon Ju-gwang could not even offer them a farewell.
He knew they could not stop what was coming.
They could only buy him a handful of moments.
A shattering scream—!
The sound of flesh tearing echoed from behind him.
Now only the Family Head remained.
Whoosh—
He unleashed his Lightness Martial Art with every ounce of strength.
The darkness before his eyes receded instantly behind him, only to be swallowed again by the same darkness ahead.
“How much further will you run?”
A chilling voice emerged from the darkness before him.
Eon Ju-gwang swung his sword toward the source of the voice.
Crash—crash—crash—!
His Sword Force cleaved through entire trees.
Crack—crack—bang—!
The trees shrieked as they fell.
And from among the falling timber, a dark blade flashed into view.
Then came the face of Kang Jo, gripping the sword.
Crash—crash—!
As blade collided with blade, Eon Ju-gwang’s body trembled, unable to absorb the impact.
But no more strikes came at him.
Eon Ju-gwang prepared to unleash his Lightness Martial Art again.
“I won’t let you die so easily.”
Yet from the darkness came another chilling voice.
Kang Jo watched the fleeing middle-aged warrior intently.
‘So he really is from the Eon Family.’
If that man was indeed the Family Head of the renowned Eon Family, then that clan was nothing more than a great tiger that could not hunt—a creature of size alone.
It had no grotesque fangs to tear flesh, no sharp claws to rend it asunder.

*

Skilled personnel filled bowls and buckets with water, casting them onto the burning pavilion.
But the roaring flames could not be stopped.
“Don’t let the fire spread…!”
Instead of extinguishing the blaze, Shin Pung-gae had them encircle the burning pavilion.
“It’s a blessing the wind isn’t blowing.”
One of the skilled personnel watching the flames muttered beneath their breath.
Shin Pung-gae heard it and erupted.
“A blessing?! The Eon Family is finished—utterly finished…!”
As his voice rose, Cho Yak drew near to his side.
“Why did the Eon Family do such a thing?”
Haah—
Shin Pung-gae could not answer, only exhaling a long sigh.
At this, Baek Won-yeong provided the answer in his stead.
“Eon So-ryong once challenged Kang Jo and suffered humiliation. It seems the Eon Family never forgot it and plotted revenge.”
A sigh escaped Cho Yak’s lips.
“The Eon Family—nothing has changed from then until now.”
The Cho Family and the Eon Family had once shared such good relations that marriage negotiations passed between them.
Or rather, because the Eon Family’s influence was so great, the Cho Family always yielded, making it merely appear that relations were amicable.
Had the Hyeol-gyo affair never occurred, she might have become Eon Ju-gwang’s wife.
She turned her gaze from the flames toward the direction of the wall.
Someone was flying over it, a man tucked under each arm.
Shin Pung-gae also recognized Yang Jung as he cleared the wall.
Thud! Thud!
Yang Jung hurled the men he’d been carrying to the ground before a blazing pavilion.
They were all bleeding from their legs.
The cuts across their thighs ran so deep the bone gleamed white beneath.
“Has he still not returned?”
Yang Jung’s voice was utterly unlike his usual tone.
Even Shin Pung-gae, about to speak, flinched at the shift and fell silent.
‘This one’s absolutely furious.’
Yang Jung surveyed the burning pavilions with troubled eyes.
‘I’d meant to give each one to the women… damn these dogs.’
Now only the Guest Inn and the Stable remained, along with one small pavilion that had already collapsed.
On top of that, the old pavilion where the Secret Manuals had been hidden was completely reduced to ash.
“Are you all right? Young Master Yang?”
Baek Ha-yeong ventured the question cautiously, but he merely nodded.
A strangled groan…
“Save… me…”
Crack!
As one of the Eon Family members groaning on the ground tried to open his mouth, Yang Jung immediately kicked his face away.
‘I should have captured them all alive.’
These men had been too quick with their Lightness Martial Art and scattered in all directions—he hadn’t managed to catch everyone.
Shin Pung-gae, about to say something else, quickly closed his mouth instead.
‘They say couples who live long together come to resemble each other, and this one does bear some resemblance to that man.’
Shin Pung-gae turned to address the Eon Family members on Yang Jung’s behalf.
“Why did you commit such an act?”
“We merely… followed the Family Head’s orders.”
Yang Jung looked down at them coldly.
“Don’t lie. You ate pheasant meat at the Guest Inn this afternoon and left traces.”
He remembered their faces with perfect clarity.
“But who are these men?”
Yang Jung had not yet learned their identities.
The skilled personnel all knew who they were, yet no one offered an answer.
“In any case, once he returns, you’ll know whether you wish to or not.”
At his words, Baek Won-yeong finally found his voice.
“They are Family Members of the Eon Family in Jinju.”
Yang Jung showed little surprise at this.
“So it was them, after all.”
Shin Pung-gae studied the situation before speaking.
“But why hasn’t your brother returned yet?”
“He’s too angry. He’ll pursue them to the bitter end.”
At Yang Jung’s reply, both Shin Pung-gae and Baek Won-yeong felt a chill run through them.
‘Surely he isn’t actually going after the Eon Family itself?’
If he went that far, it would be a disaster.
“He should have returned by now…”
Yang Jung’s continued words only deepened their unease.
“This is…”
Shin Pung-gae moved with urgent Body Technique.
If Kang Jo actually reached the Eon Family, that house would not escape the Clan Annihilation Calamity.
No matter how heinous the acts the Eon Family had committed, it was necessary to prevent a Gangho family from facing extinction.
If not for the Eon Family’s sake, then for Kang Jo’s own.

*

Eon Ju-gwang’s Lightness Martial Art had grown sluggish by degrees.
Each time he moved his Body Technique, blood streamed from his legs.
That wound had been carved there moments before by Kang Jo’s blade.
“Are you the Family Head of the Eon Family?”
Kang Jo’s voice came from behind him.
Sensing that eerie killing intent, Eon Ju-gwang wheeled around swiftly, his sword cutting through the air.
Swish…
But Kang Jo stood at a distance, regarding him with cold indifference.
Eon Ju-gwang still clung to his pride and self-esteem.
“Soon your limbs will be severed, and you’ll be cast into the street for all to see…!”
He raised his voice and spun his Body Technique, unleashing his Lightness Martial Art.
But before long, that eerie killing intent pierced his back again.
Swish…
He rotated his form and swung his blade, yet nothing met the sword’s edge.
This time Kang Jo stood to his right, watching him.
“Are you the Family Head of the Eon Family?”
“Yes! I am Eon Ju-gwang of the Jinju Eon Family! Come then, if you dare…!”
Before Eon Ju-gwang’s cry had even finished, Kang Jo’s face materialized in front of his eyes in an instant.
Swish…
In the moment his blade carved through empty air, Kang Jo’s Dark Sword grazed his abdomen and swept past.
Swish… shwick…
Eon Ju-gwang moved his Body Technique with ferocity, his sword a blur of motion.
Whiiieee…
The air caught in the sword’s arc erupted into wind with a delayed rush.
But Kang Jo’s form had already withdrawn from him.
Only then did he cease his blade and look down at his abdomen.
Between the torn edges of his Martial Robe, crimson blood glistened.
The wound did not appear deep, yet blood continued to flow, soaking his robe.
Aaaahhh…!
He unleashed a roar of fury, his eyes fixed on the distant Kang Jo watching him.
His reddened, bloodshot eyes called to mind a beast driven into a corner.
With that terrible gaze still fixed on Kang Jo, Eon Ju-gwang pivoted his Body Technique.

*

Dawn had already broken; the new day was brightening the sky.
Most of the embers had burned out, leaving only pale smoke rising in columns.
Though most of the skilled personnel had returned to the Murim Alliance, a few remained at the scene.
“Shouldn’t we hand over those we’ve captured to the Murim Alliance?”
Baek Won-yeong wanted to take the Eon Family members to the Murim Alliance.
That way they could receive treatment and be interrogated.
But Yang Jung was unwilling to surrender them.
“My brother will interrogate them himself.”
Baek Won-yeong was the eldest of the three brothers.
Ordinarily Yang Jung should have deferred to him, yet he gave greater weight to Kang Jo’s words.
Baek Won-yeong harbored no resentment about this.
Kang Jo and Yang Jung were inseparable, already closer than family.
“Yang, you should listen to your brother’s counsel. If you don’t, there will be a serious confrontation with the Eon Family.”
Baek Ha-yeong stepped in, her frustration evident.
Had he been his usual self, Yang Jung would have smiled with a clear, ringing voice.
But he was no longer the Yang Jung of before.
“Do you think my brother fears the Eon Family, Miss Baek?”
Baek Ha-yeong found no words to counter him.
As he said, the one to worry about was not Kang Jo, but the Eon Family.
“Those who commit crimes must face punishment. The Eon Family has no excuse, even if they face the Clan Annihilation Calamity.”
“I share that view.”
Dok-go Eun and Dok-go Il were unrelenting.
Had such a thing occurred in Ma-gyo, it could only end when one side was completely destroyed.
Yeon Ja-seol said nothing.
He merely gazed at the wall from time to time.
While they stood frozen in indecision, Baek Moon-do appeared with the warriors of the Murim Alliance.
The skilled personnel bowed in unison.
Baek Moon-do barely acknowledged their greeting before advancing slowly toward Yang Jung.
“Welcome, Alliance Leader.”
Yang Jung also bowed respectfully, placing his hands together.
“Will you not hand those men over to the Murim Alliance?”
Yet Yang Jung did not yield to Baek Moon-do’s words.
“I must wait for my elder brother.”
Hmm……
Baek Moon-do could not help but marvel inwardly.
‘How could these brothers be so bold?’
This was no thoughtless, frivolous youth who laughed and chattered aimlessly.
Yang Jung’s unyielding resolve differed little from Kang Jo’s.
“Your elder brother entrusted those men to you. Therefore, it should be acceptable for you to hand them over to the Murim Alliance.”
“How could Your Highness know that?”
“Can you not see it from the fact that your elder brother has not yet returned?”
Only then did Yang Jung’s resolve waver.
His gaze shifted to the fallen members of the Eon Family.
They lay motionless—whether dead or alive, none could tell.
“Take them away.”
With his permission given, the Murim Alliance warriors lifted the Eon Family members and began to carry them out.
Ugh……
Faint groans escaped their lips—they were still alive, at least.
“All of you return to the Murim Alliance as well.”
At Baek Moon-do’s words, the skilled personnel bowed.

*

Baek Moon-do looked up at the sky and began to speak.
“A warrior of the Gangho without pride and self-esteem is as good as dead. The Eon Family possessed an abundance of such things—that was their only distinction. If they erred, it was in acting recklessly against a foe they did not understand. They must bear the price for that folly.”
Having finished, he turned to Yang Jung.
“Is there anything you require? Shall I have a new hall constructed for you?”
Yang Jung, who had worn a heavy expression, started in surprise.
‘A new hall? Does that mean if I do nothing, new halls will simply appear for me?’
It was a tempting offer indeed.
Yet he could not answer at once.
He had already suffered at the hands of the Sect Master of Ma-gyo, and the memory gave him pause.
‘My elder brother would surely have refused.’
If he accepted that offer too readily here, he might be beaten to death by his brother.
Well, perhaps not to actual death, but far more severely than any previous beating.
With effort, he separated his lips that seemed reluctant to move.
“I shall construct the hall………..myself.”
Baek Moon-do was satisfied with his answer.
‘Yes. He has at least that much mettle.’
“Then work hard.”
He turned his body technique and stepped out beyond the compound.
Once Baek Moon-do had vanished, only the charred traces and corpses heaped in one place remained.
Sigh……
Yang Jung felt a sudden surge of frustration.
‘Looks like I’m going to be digging graves alone again.’

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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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