The Return of the Sw Chapter 53 : Blooming Stage. -02

Chapter 53: Blooming Stage. -02

Toward Peng Chu-yeong, who seed excited as he emitted a fierce aura from his entire body, Peng Hwayeong and Peng Mancheol opened their mouths at the sa ti.

But despite the diation of the two, Peng Chu-yeong did not rein in his aura.

He had wanted to cross hands with Ban Hojin at least once anyway.

There had been no opportunity at Shaolin, but this place was the Peng Family of Hebei.

‘I acknowledge that he defeated Namgung Gwang. I saw it clearly with my own two eyes. But the Green Forest Great Lord is different.’

Peng Chu-yeong found it hard to believe the rumors circulating in the world.

He knew for certain that Ban Hojin was strong.

However, bringing down the Green Forest Great Lord simply did not make sense.

Namgung Gwang and the Green Forest Great Lord were on completely different levels.

The position of Chief Escort Slayer of the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds was not a seat just anyone could occupy.

That was why Peng Chu-yeong wanted to confirm it himself.

‘He must have used so despicable trick that others don’t know about. Or maybe he fought a series of opponents and only ca out at the end. Considering the succession struggle of the Geum Family Estate, it’s also possible they deliberately spread such rumors. No—putting all that aside, if I win, I can take all of his current fa for myself.’

Peng Chu-yeong curled his lips into a greasy smile.

Namgung Gwang, called the Heavenly Dragon, was a powerhouse said to be the strongest among the Rising Juniors, but Peng Chu-yeong believed his own skill did not lag far behind.

In so respects, he even thought himself slightly superior.

On top of that, he had returned to the main house and honed himself relentlessly, with tangible results, so he judged that his chances of victory were more than sufficient.

“It seems you wish to spar with .”

“That’s right.”

Because Ban Hojin was younger than him, Peng Chu-yeong spoke down to him as if it were only natural.

At that, Seo Joun and Seonwu Bang’s eyebrows twitched.

No matter how young he was, it seed far too rude.

Seo Joun, in particular, glared at Peng Chu-yeong as if he wanted to devour him, but Peng Chu-yeong failed to notice that gaze, as all of his attention was fixed on Ban Hojin.

“But what can I do. I have no intention of it.”

“What did you say!”

“Big brother!”

At Peng Chu-yeong’s outburst once again, Peng Hwayeong called out to him, flustered.

Then she repeatedly looked toward Ban Hojin and his group with an apologetic expression.

She had not expected the situation to flow in this direction either, so Peng Hwayeong also wore a troubled look.

But Peng Chu-yeong showed no sign of stopping.

“Isn’t this far too rude? We ca here as guests, after all.”

“That’s right.”

At that mont, Seonwu Bang opened his mouth.

No matter how he thought about it, this did not seem right.

Moreover, judging by Peng Mancheol, he did not look inclined to stop it.

Rather, reading a faint sense of anticipation in him, Seonwu Bang hardened his expression and spoke.

“I wasn’t talking to you.”

“Huh!”

However, Peng Chu-yeong cut off Seonwu Bang’s words with a single stroke.

As if this were solely a matter between himself and Ban Hojin.

At that high-handed attitude, Seo Joun, who had been backing Seonwu Bang, made a dumbfounded expression.

There was no end to such willfulness.

“Surely you won’t run away? You who even defeated the Green Forest Great Lord. If you’re a martial artist, you won’t run away, right? For the sake of your own reputation, if nothing else.”

“That’s right.”

Peng Juyeong, the Second Young Lord, chid in.

He shared the sa thoughts as Peng Chu-yeong, so he joined in the provocation.

But despite their taunts, Ban Hojin did not even snort.

For provocation to work, there had to be so parity of level, and the two of them fell far short, so he consistently ignored them.

“I don’t think there’s any need to go as far as Hojin.”

Step, step.

Seonwu Bang walked forward.

He t Peng Chu-yeong’s gaze and placed himself in front of Ban Hojin.

“What did you say?”

“I’m saying it looks like it can be settled at my level.”

“You bastard!”

“Kahaha! Interesting! Yes! That’s it! If you’re a man, you need that kind of flavor!”

Unlike Peng Chu-yeong, who looked dumbfounded at Seonwu Bang responding to provocation with provocation of his own, Peng Mancheol, who had been watching quietly, burst into hearty laughter.

Seeing the spectacle of hot blood colliding fiercely with hot blood, his own blood began to boil as well.

It brought back mories of long ago.

And contrary to what he had heard, Seonwu Bang’s realm was by no ans sothing Peng Chu-yeong could take lightly.

“F-Father?”

“What is it? Surely you’re not frightened by that child’s provocation?”

“Of course not!”

Peng Chu-yeong vehently denied it.

To him, Seonwu Bang was not even worth noticing.

His target was solely Ban Hojin.

Aside from Ban Hojin, no one else held any aning for Peng Chu-yeong.

“Then fight.”

“……Understood.”

Because it was an order from none other than his father, Peng Chu-yeong answered through clenched teeth.

However, his gaze was still directed at Ban Hojin.

“First get past , then challenge him.”

“Hmph!”

At Seonwu Bang’s faint smile, Peng Chu-yeong did not even reply, rely letting out a snort of derision.

In his eyes, it all looked utterly laughable.

But Peng Chu-yeong did not see it.

That, unlike his smiling lips, Seonwu Bang’s eyes were gleaming coldly.

“Let’s move. We can’t spar here.”

“Everyone, follow.”

“Dad.”

As Peng Mancheol rose from his seat with an amused expression, Peng Hwayeong hurried over to him.

No matter what, she felt that behaving this way toward guests was discourteous.

“It’s fine. This is all experience as well. And we can apologize later.”

“But still…….”

“If I truly couldn’t stand it, I would’ve rushed out long ago. From the look of him, he seems to have quite a temper.”

“You really will apologize, right?”

“Of course. I have my own sense of face as well. If we wrapped this up like this, would Shaolin stay quiet?”

He had a violent temperant, but that did not an he lacked thought.

Having taken everything into account before letting matters unfold, Peng Mancheol patted his youngest daughter’s shoulder as if to tell her not to worry.

“It’s a promise?”

“Of course. You also have your dignity, having brought those three along. Don’t worry.”

“I’ll trust you.”

Peng Hwayeong sought confirmation once again.

With an expression that clearly said she would not let it go if he did not apologize to the three of them.

Then, repeatedly bowing her head toward the three, she sent a voice transmission.

Since she had been the one to invite them, she was apologizing in his stead, at least.

-I'm truly sorry!

-It's all right. In a way, it turned out to be a good thing.

-What?

At Ban Hojin’s reply, Peng Hwayeong’s eyes widened into circles.

She could not understand what he ant.

-You’ll understand when you see it.

However, Ban Hojin seed to have no intention of explaining further, and as he followed Peng Mancheol, he rely smiled aningfully.

Yet at that sight, Peng Hwayeong’s heart sank with a thud.

For so reason, she had the feeling that the current situation would not end easily.

Srrrng.

“I’m ready.”

“I am as well.”

After arriving at the private training grounds behind the family head’s residence, Peng Chu-yeong and Seonwu Bang took their places facing each other.

Keeping an appropriate distance, they simultaneously drew the Geopae Blade and the sword.

And in one corner of the training grounds, Peng Mancheol’s children, along with Ban Hojin and Seo Joun, stood at a suitable distance, watching the two of them.

“Begin.”

Seeing that everything was ready, Peng Mancheol opened his mouth as if he had been waiting for this.

At that, Seonwu Bang and Peng Chu-yeong kicked off the ground at the sa ti.

The instant Peng Mancheol finished those four characters, they charged straight at each other.

“Hmph!”

At the sight of Seonwu Bang rushing in, Peng Chu-yeong let out a snort.

It was absurd to him that Seonwu Bang was charging head-on instead of trying to evade.

But soon, Peng Chu-yeong thought better of it.

He could finish this quickly and then deal with Ban Hojin.

Screeeech!

Perhaps because of that, Peng Chu-yeong’s slashing strike was packed with power.

As if he intended to decide the match in a single blow.

Claaang!

However, Peng Chu-yeong’s plan went awry from the very start.

Seonwu Bang blocked his slash head-on.

Due to the difference in physique, Seonwu Bang was inferior in raw strength, but the gap did not seem all that great.

He was pushed back slightly, but the fact remained that he had blocked it directly.

“How dare you!”

And that struck Peng Chu-yeong’s pride.

Because he had not even deigned to look at Seonwu Bang before, Peng Chu-yeong did not like the fact that this man had dared to block his strike.

So he drew up even more power and unleashed another slash.

This ti, with the montum to cut both sword and man in half.

Clang-clang-clang!

Yet once again, Seonwu Bang blocked his blade strike.

He barely managed it, but what mattered was that he had received it.

“Grr!”

At that sight, Peng Chu-yeong began to grow rapidly agitated.

Having been blocked twice in a row, Peng Chu-yeong swung the Geopae Blade incessantly, his face flushed red.

‘It’s going according to plan.’

By contrast, Seonwu Bang laughed inwardly.

Everything was unfolding just as he had planned.

At the sa ti, he began to naturally divert Peng Chu-yeong’s slashes.

Unlike monts ago, when he had not avoided a frontal clash, he now gradually shifted into evasion.

Screeeech!

But that, too, set Peng Chu-yeong’s chest ablaze.

Already irritated, seeing Seonwu Bang evade like a loach only made his fury surge even more violently.

Woooong! Woooong!

As a result, blade force flickered like flas from Peng Chu-yeong’s Geopae Blade.

When excessive true energy was injected, the blade force erupted explosively.

Kwaaang! Bang!

The Geopae Blade, its blade force burning like fire, fell with murderous montum toward the crown of Seonwu Bang’s head.

However, what the Geopae Blade split was not Seonwu Bang, but the unfortunate ground.

Astonishingly, he had evaded in that brief instant.

Whoosh!

And Seonwu Bang did not rely evade.

Whenever he saw an opening, he did not hesitate to thrust his sword in.

“Not a chance!”

But Peng Chu-yeong did not submit so easily.

He used the broad blade of the Geopae Blade to deflect Seonwu Bang’s sharp counterattack.

Screeeech!

At the sa ti, he swung the massive Geopae Blade lightly, as if it were a re stick.

He counterattacked the instant the block was made.

“Hup!”

At the slashing strike that surged in with a terrifying piercing sound, Seonwu Bang steadied his breathing and moved quickly.

Monts later, the Geopae Blade stabbed into the spot where he had just been standing, sending dirt and stones scattering in all directions.

‘That’s harder to dodge.’

Frowning at the dust cloud that not only scattered everywhere but also obscured his vision, Seonwu Bang narrowed his eyes.

In truth, avoiding Peng Chu-yeong’s attacks was not particularly difficult.

They were fierce, but precisely because of that, Peng Chu-yeong’s blade montum was simple and crude.

They were attacks swung while trusting only in innate strength, so once he read the trajectory, dodging was easy.

‘I’d better be able to dodge at least this much.’

Seonwu Bang grinned.

He was soone who sparred daily with the monstrous Ban Hojin.

To such a Seonwu Bang, Peng Chu-yeong’s blade strikes were no different from the sword of a child who was strong but stupidly so.

Of course, if the spar proceeded exactly as Peng Chu-yeong wished, the one to lose would be Seonwu Bang, but the important point was that Seonwu Bang had no obligation to accommodate him.

“How long are you going to just run away like a loach!”

Peng Chu-yeong roared toward Seonwu Bang, who was evading in an infuriatingly slippery manner.

Every attack ca close, yet never quite landed.

He swung his blade stronger and faster, but even so, nothing changed.

Though there were collisions between weapons, the situation Peng Chu-yeong wanted never ca to pass.

“…….”

What irritated him even more was that Seonwu Bang did not respond to his words at all.

He rely swung his sword in silence.

That bothered Peng Chu-yeong all the more.

“Kraaaah!”

At last, irritation piled upon irritation until Peng Chu-yeong’s lid blew, and he brought out a finishing move of the Five Tigers Severing the Gate Blade.

He intended to blow him away outright with a single powerful strike.

As if daring him to try blocking it, Peng Chu-yeong poured all of his true energy into the Geopae Blade.

‘Now!’

And at that mont, Seonwu Bang’s eyes flashed.

The mont he had waited and waited for had finally arrived.

The instant Peng Chu-yeong drew up all his power, Seonwu Bang’s sword struck the Geopae Blade with exquisite timing.

Kkwaaaang!

With a deafening roar unlike anything before, a dazzling light flashed between the two.

A massive explosion erupted from the collision of true energy with true energy.

At the sa ti, a gigantic shadow spat blood and was flung toward the opposite side.