Book 2 Chapter 6

The arrow has already flown from the bowstring,

and the foundation of a family and their inherited business has been thrown into a vortex of cruel fate,

demanding an answer to the choice: annihilation or resurgence? Or nothingness or completeness?

Jang Woo-yang, the master of the family and the leader of the nation, thought about the person who was demanding a choice between annihilation or resurgence, a question of life and death. Although the person had not said it directly, their overwhelming and destructive aura, emanating from their entire body, was enough to indirectly demand a choice. Jang Woo-yang fully recognized that this person possessed the potential to utterly destroy his family's business, just as significant as their presence in the martial arts world.

The anecdote of him annihilating three bandit strongholds in a single night for obstructing his path in the past was too famous. Originally, there was only one bandit stronghold that had blocked his path at the time. However, after Yeomdo completely devastated the one stronghold that blocked his way, he, still not having vented his anger, swept away the two other strongholds on the adjacent mountain all at once. The remaining two strongholds were forced to walk the path of ruin under Yeomdo's ruthless blade, for the simple and absurd reason that they were merely nearby, neighbors of the primary victim.

The fate of Jungyang Express Company was no different now. Therefore, Jang Woo-yang had to do something immediately. This was not a choice for an individual, but a crucial choice concerning the survival of the organization, Jungyang Express Company, and the lives of over 300 people. However, Jang Woo-yang was so overwhelmed by the immense weight of that choice that he couldn't even think of moving properly.

At that moment, his son, Jang Woo-gang, and the deputy head of the express company, Deung Yeo-ho, as if reading Jang Woo-yang's thoughts, suddenly stood up and stealthily approached Yeomdo. Of course, the two of them had no intention of fighting Yeomdo and devising a solution and resolution to this situation by defeating him. Jang Woo-gang had no desire to test the sharpness and profoundness of the Qingcheng Sword, honed while breathing the clear air in the high and deep parts of Qingcheng Mountain, against this fearsome man, not even in his dreams. This thought was the same for Deung Yeo-ho, who was no different.

The only goal of the two men, who were forcing themselves to muster courage and walk towards Yeomdo, was the desperate and humble wish of how to quell the anger of this fiery man and escape this dire crisis.

"I'll do anything, just save us! Then I will be eternally grateful! Please save us!"

This would best represent their feelings at the moment. To achieve this, mutual conversation was essential. While walking, Jang Woo-gang and Deung Yeo-ho continued a silent battle through glances and gestures, without rest, about who would speak to this dangerous man first. The exchange of glances between the two was so intense and swift that it resembled the hand exchanges of peak martial artists. The fierce mutual eye movements and gazes between these two were all the more desperate and intense because it was a fight to determine the first victim, the one who would put a bell on the cat's neck.

Jang Woo-gang, of course, wished Deung Yeo-ho would speak first. However, his pride was too hurt to clearly convey this intention to Deung Yeo-ho. He hated showing his weakness to Deung Yeo-ho more than dying, but he disliked it nonetheless. On the other hand, he didn't feel like stepping forward himself. Life was a precious and valuable gift bestowed by heaven, so it should be treated and cherished.

Deung Yeo-ho felt the same way. Although he was forcing himself to muster courage and walk towards Yeomdo, now that he thought about it, why had he done so? He also was someone who keenly felt the preciousness of life. However, the situation made it even harder for him to tell Jang Woo-gang, the young master, to speak first. He was the successor to Jungyang Express Company. No matter how small his capacity or how blunt the edge of his sword, it was an undeniable fact.

As a subordinate, he couldn't say, "I don't want to, so you go and apologize to that dangerous person." Thus, the two men found themselves in a very typical, standard, and utterly maddening situation.

Still, as expected of the successor to the express company, Jang Woo-gang put on his sword belt. There must have been immense mental conflict for him to go this far. Nevertheless, his pride as a direct disciple of the prestigious Qingcheng Sect greatly helped his resolve. Jang Woo-gang politely, and barely managing to, bowed and opened his trembling lips.

"I am Jang Woo-gang, the Sword of Qingcheng, the young master of Da Jungyang Express Company, the unparalleled and most powerful express company in Sichuan. Have you heard of us? Even an unknown warrior would have heard of us at least once. I'm talking about the reputation of Da Jungyang Express Company, which is currently all the rage in the martial arts world, hahahaha!"

"?"

Yeomdo's insides churned once again.

Yeomdo's already contorted face crumpled even further. No martial artist in this martial arts world, especially the hot-tempered Yeomdo, could remain still upon hearing such a loud, arrogant remark that said, "I don't know how high the heavens are or how wide the earth is, do you know?"

However, he uttered words brimming with the intention of wanting to die as quickly as possible, as if he wanted to be killed right away. Jang Woo-gang, perhaps due to extreme nervousness, had his mind gone completely blank and lost all fear. He continued to speak, not knowing he was about to die soon.

"We, Da~h (Great) Jungyang Express Company, wish to stay here today, but there aren't enough seats. However, we all need to sit and eat comfortably. So, what can be done? What do you mean, what can be done? We must make seats. How do we make them? How about you yield your seat and quietly leave this inn? Don't you think that's a good idea? But why are we doing this to you, leaving everyone else aside? Ah, naturally, it's because you're the easiest to deal with. What, are we looking down on you? Is the one who looks down on others bad? The one who acts in a way that makes others look down on them is bad, isn't that right? Well, do you understand now? Then, how about you vacate your seat?"

The words, every single syllable, were like flowing water from a blue mountain and utterly arrogant… but perhaps this is what is meant by a discrepancy between words and actions. From the mouths of the two men, whose backs were so drenched in sweat that they were clearly visible, heads bowed and hands rubbing together anxiously, came words that could never be uttered by them, repeatedly piercing Yeomdo's ears and churning his insides.

It was fortunate that Yeomdo tilted his head and pondered for a moment amidst this bizarre and absurd discrepancy between words and actions. Had their actions matched their words, the two would have already been sent to the other world with a single sword strike. What was really going on? Of course, if Jang Woo-gang and Deung Yeo-ho, who were groveling in fear, were still in their right minds, they would never have uttered such life-disregarding words.

There was no need to dig a shallow grave even deeper. Jang Woo-gang and Deung Yeo-ho had never said such a thing. Yet, it was clearly heard by Yeomdo. And Yeomdo's hearing was not at fault. Then, what was the matter? It was truly a strange occurrence. The words Jang Woo-gang actually spoke, with an apologetic and embarrassed expression, were:

"Oh, today… to meet the renowned giant of the martial arts world, Yeomdo Gwak Daehyeop, is truly an honor of three lifetimes. I, your humble servant, am Jang Woo-gang, the Sword of Qingcheng, the young master of Jungyang Express Company, a small and unknown express company in Sichuan. O-today, to meet the great Senior Yeomdo (焰刀), whose name shines like the sun in the martial arts world, and whom I have always admired, is an immeasurable honor for our family. My greeting to Senior Yeomdo is naturally my duty as a novice in the martial arts world, and another thing, it seems there has been a great misunderstanding between Senior Yeomdo and our Jungyang Express Company. That is why we bow our heads to Senior Yeomdo and apologize, hoping you will clear up this misunderstanding. Our Jungyang Express Company has never harbored any intention of acting disrespectfully or presumptuously towards the greatly admired Yeomdo Gwak Daehyeop. This, this whole thing was all an accident, yes, an accident. Therefore, please forgive us, your humble servants, with your vast heart as wide as the sea!"

They begged and pleaded, cringing pitifully, abandoning all pride as if it were less than the dirt under their toenails. Then why were the contents delivered to Yeomdo's ears completely opposite, one hundred and eighty degrees different from what was said? The truth was this.

Let's say there are A, B, and C. Assume A, B, and C are martial arts experts. Under this assumption, let's say A and B are having a conversation. At this time, A said a word of praise to B. It was a very excellent, cool, and good word. That is, it was a word that could make the other person happy. However, at the same time, if C, using a skillful transmitted sound (a skillful and miraculous transmitted sound that distorts the voice to sound like A's, and which the listener cannot perceive as transmitted sound), simultaneously insulted B, what would happen?

Naturally, B would only hear the insults and none of A's praise. And B would naturally think that A had insulted him greatly. Then, A and B would have a fierce fight.

Transmitted sound is a technique that sends sound waves or voices embedded with internal energy towards a specific target, a skill that uses internal energy to strike the void and directly transmit sound into the listener's ear. If transmitted sound and normal speech are delivered to one person's ear simultaneously, that person will not hear the sound carried through the air, but only the transmitted sound carried by internal energy. Transmitted sound is a technique that transmits sound by striking the eardrum directly through the void using internal energy. Therefore, due to that internal energy, a kind of invisible barrier of energy is formed inside the ear, and the sounds carried through the air are blocked by this invisible energy barrier, and only the transmitted sound is delivered. It is literally a "Qi-blocking" (기막힌) situation.

What just happened between Yeomdo and Jang Woo-gang was the same situation as described above. If Jang Woo-gang is A, then Yeomdo can be considered B. Then, who is C, the culprit that caused A and B to fight? Naturally, without a doubt, C is Bi Ryu-yeon. Bi Ryu-yeon skillfully, and perhaps even despicably, used transmitted sound techniques to toy with Yeomdo and Jang Woo-gang once again.

The first was, of course, the banner of Jungyang Express Company that flew in from somewhere and was firmly planted on Yeomdo's dining table while he was enjoying his meal. And this incident pushed Jungyang Express Company even deeper, much deeper, into the abyss of destruction. This was a result of Bi Ryu-yeon's casual prank, simply because Jang Woo-gang was presumptuous.

Unaware of Bi Ryu-yeon's manipulation, a malicious and rough sneer, mixed with anger towards Jang Woo-gang, or rather, towards the entire Jungyang Express Company, escaped Yeomdo's lips. His face was now so red that it looked like a fiery red sword heated in a furnace.

"Hehehe, Jungyang Express Company? I've heard a little of your name recently, but how dare such a petty express company dare to offend me, Yeomdo? You want me to leave because there aren't enough seats in this inn? Da Jungyang Express Company doesn't even consider me, Yeomdo? Your guts have grown out of proportion. Do you value your life so lightly? Hehehe, and you expect to remain unharmed? And you expect to keep your lives! HAH!"

Along with the roaring shout that echoed throughout the inn, an immense oppressive aura erupted from Yeomdo. It was so fierce and intimidating that the two men standing directly in front of Yeomdo almost lost consciousness and fell to their knees.

"W-what are you saying? Gwak Daehyeop! We… we…"

Stunned by Yeomdo's terrifying reaction, Jang Woo-gang stammered. He couldn't understand the words Yeomdo was uttering at all. Jang Woo-gang could barely stand on his trembling legs.

"H-how could we dare to say something that would offend the feelings of Yeomdo Gwak Yeong-hui Daehyeop, the foremost bandit of the martial arts world?"

Deung Yeo-ho, who had been watching the two with a worried expression, his anxiety evident, suddenly turned ashen.

"G-Young Master, no!"

Deung Yeo-ho's cry was almost a scream. At Deung Yeo-ho's scream, Jang Woo-gang also realized his mistake. But the arrow had already left the bowstring. His last slip of the tongue had completely robbed him of any opportunity for careful consideration and reconsideration, even though it was uncertain whether Yeomdo's reaction was due to Jang Woo-gang's last words.