The Return of the Sw Chapter 55 : Your Greed Is Excessive. -01

Chapter 55: Your Greed Is Excessive. -01

At Ban Hojin’s response, which seed as though he had no interest either way, Peng Mancheol burst into laughter without restraint.

However, while he thought it was bold, he did not think it was arrogant.

Considering Ban Hojin’s age, he had the right to act that way in front of him.

If Peng Mancheol compared it to himself at the age of twenty, it was surprising that Ban Hojin was not even more arrogant.

‘To be honest, it doesn’t make sense.’

Peng Mancheol’s gaze grew heavy.

Though he was called the Blade King, even Peng Mancheol had not been called the best during his days as a rising junior.

That was because there had been so many with greater talent than him that it was hard to count them on one hand.

Even now, there existed those stronger than him.

However, among the countless rising juniors, even those once called the best could not dare be compared to the current Ban Hojin.

Surviving against Chief Escort Slayer at the age of twenty was already remarkable, yet Ban Hojin had outright beaten him to death.

‘In short, he’s a once-in-an-era genius. But Jianghu isn’t a world where you can survive on skill alone.’

Peng Mancheol smiled grimly.

There was a reason why among the proverbs of Jianghu there existed the saying luck seven, skill three.

Because Jianghu was a place where unexpected variables occurred regardless of skill, Peng Mancheol thought that perhaps Ban Hojin’s battle against the Green Forest Great Lord might have been such a case.

Of course, he also acknowledged that Ban Hojin’s fundantal skill was outstanding.

“May I go?”

“As much as you like.”

“It seed like you were lost in thought.”

“At my level, that’s allowed.”

“Hm.”

Ban Hojin said nothing further.

Yet that very silence instead grated on Peng Mancheol’s nerves.

For so reason, it felt as though he were being mocked.

But Ban Hojin’s face was utterly expressionless.

“Co in.”

“Let’s go.”

Tilting his head briefly at that contradictory feeling, Peng Mancheol drew his cherished weapon.

Just like his children, he had it slung across his back; he drew the Geopae Blade, then crooked a finger toward Ban Hojin as he spoke.

At the sa ti, Ban Hojin kicked off the ground.

There was not a shred of excitent on his face at the thought of witnessing the Blade King’s blade.

Kkaaang!

Using Golden Light Divine Steps, Ban Hojin closed the distance in an instant, his sword plunging toward Peng Mancheol’s solar plexus like a single streak of black light.

Having already decided how he would fight, there was not the slightest hesitation in Ban Hojin’s single strike.

“As expected!”

However, Peng Mancheol was surprised in a different sense.

As the saying went that a master could gauge another’s skill rely by looking at how they stood, Peng Mancheol was able to asure Ban Hojin’s level through this one exchange.

Seeing that it did not stray from his expectations, Peng Mancheol ford a smile at the corner of his mouth and swung his Geopae Blade.

Yet perhaps because his face was fierce, even an ordinary smile appeared savage.

Kurururung!

After lightly blocking Ban Hojin’s thrust with the broad blade of the Geopae Blade, Peng Mancheol imdiately unleashed a cleaving strike.

As though he could unleash the finest blade from any posture, Peng Mancheol’s Geopae Blade was fast and powerful, befitting neither its massive size nor appearance.

It was even accompanied by thunder.

It was the Primordial Thunderclap Blade, the supre technique the Peng Family of Hebei took pride in, a martial art only the family head could master.

Sswaeeek!

Spitting out a thunderous roar, the Geopae Blade charged forth with terrifying montum, as if to split Ban Hojin in two.

Unlike his sons, there was not the faintest trace of blade energy clinging to Peng Mancheol’s Geopae Blade.

However, the montum imbued within it could not be compared to the cleaving strikes of his two sons.

It was simple, yet the dignity and authority of a Blade King were embedded in this single strike.

‘That’s all, though.’

Certainly, Primordial Thunderclap Blade was a martial art with no shortcomings to be called unrivaled in Jianghu, and Peng Mancheol, who wielded it, was also a martial artist worthy of being counted among the best.

But that was precisely the limit.

He was not a martial artist who could aim for Best Under Heaven.

Thoom!

If judged purely by strength and cultivated power, Peng Mancheol was clearly superior to Ban Hojin at present.

However, a fight was not won simply because one was stronger or possessed greater inner energy.

Depending on how well one utilized the abilities and cards one held, victory and defeat could be overturned at any ti.

And Ban Hojin was soone who utilized such things better than anyone.

“Huh?”

The trajectory of the Geopae Blade, which had been surging forth with enough force to cleave even Mount Tai, twisted ever so slightly.

The mont it made contact with Ban Hojin’s sword, its path was deflected.

No matter that he had not used his full power, it was still a strike swung by none other than Peng Mancheol.

Yet when Ban Hojin deflected that strike without even the slightest recoil, Peng Mancheol wore a shocked expression.

Tadadadang!

However, it was still too early to be surprised.

This was only the beginning.

As if to make that clear, Ban Hojin unleashed a wave-like offensive the instant the Geopae Blade brushed past him to the side.

He poured out sword strikes like a storm.

Ssuaaang!

But Peng Mancheol did not submit ekly.

He forced back Ban Hojin’s sword montum, which poured down like a torrential rain, using nothing but brute force.

With his unique ferocity and monstrous strength, he raised an enormous blade montum and shoved Ban Hojin back.

“Hup!”

Yet despite that trendous strength, Ban Hojin neither panicked nor showed surprise.

As if he had known it would be at this level, he instead swung his sword even faster.

Ban Hojin knew all too well that he was lacking compared to Peng Mancheol in both innate strength and accumulated cultivated power.

Thus, Ban Hojin chose to compete with speed and technique.

Kkaaang! Kkaang!

Perhaps because they were overshadowed by overwhelming strength, Peng Mancheol’s forms themselves were not much different from those of Peng Chu-yeong or Peng Juyeong.

They were sowhat more refined than his sons’, but compared to Ban Hojin’s, they were crude to the extre.

Ban Hojin relentlessly targeted that very point.

On top of that, he added one more thing to the Seonwu Bang’s thod.

Teong! Teong! Teodeodeong!

Using the intuition gained from countless experiences, Ban Hojin interfered with the pathways of the Geopae Blade.

He severed its flow so that Peng Mancheol could not swing his blade properly, nor properly load his strength.

“Ggh!”

Without knowing Primordial Thunderclap Blade, yet instinctively obstructing his movents, Ban Hojin’s sword strikes forced a groan from Peng Mancheol.

Whenever he tried to move sohow, Ban Hojin would ghostlike pierce through his intent and interfere.

And unlike the others, Ban Hojin did not aim for Peng Mancheol’s body.

He hamred only the Geopae Blade he was holding.

‘So this is how he cos at .’

No matter how trendous the power of a martial art, if it could not be properly unfolded, it was useless.

Ban Hojin was demonstrating that fact right now.

Of course, since he was unleashing sword strikes at a speed not inferior to a swift-sword expert, his stamina consumption was severe and he would be exhausted before long, but the problem lay in Peng Mancheol’s pride.

That the man called the Blade King had not been able to show anything so far pricked at Peng Mancheol’s pride.

Sseuik!

At Ban Hojin’s appearance of persistently targeting only the Geopae Blade, Peng Mancheol broke his stubbornness.

He acknowledged that in the current situation, it would be difficult to suppress Ban Hojin through technique alone.

So he thrust out his left palm.

He hid it behind the swinging Geopae Blade, then when the distance between them closed, he unleashed Primordial Thunderclap Blade.

Kwarureureung!

Along with the familiar thunderclap, a palm strike imbued with lightning energy surged toward Ban Hojin’s upper body.

Because it had been hidden behind the Geopae Blade, it was too late to react.

The mont he saw it, Peng Mancheol’s palm was already just about to touch Ban Hojin.

Jjeoeoeong!

However, Peng Mancheol underestimated Ban Hojin’s adaptability.

Having encountered the Blade King in his previous life, Ban Hojin had known that Peng Mancheol would eventually resort to such a move.

Thus, blocking it was not difficult.

Using the flat of his sword to block Peng Mancheol’s palm strike, Ban Hojin naturally retreated backward and widened the distance.

“Your reflexes are impressive.”

“I was expecting it.”

“You knew I’d make a move?”

“When cornered, humans will do anything.”

“Heo heo heo!”

At a word he had almost forgotten, Peng Mancheol let out a hollow laugh.

Yet at the sa ti, he understood.

Indeed, even if only briefly, he had been pushed unilaterally.

Though the final outco would have been different.

“Let’s stop here.”

“Hm?”

“There’s no need to go further, is there? I think this much is proof enough.”

“Heh!”

Peng Mancheol wore a dumbfounded expression.

Watching Ban Hojin, who had not even lived half of his life, refuse to relinquish the initiative, hollow laughter kept spilling out.

Yet what was amusing was that it was not wrong.

Knowing each other’s abilities, there was no need to go all the way to the end.

“If you wish, we can continue.”

“You’re certainly sharp.”

“Thank you for the complint.”

“Good. Let’s end it here. What matters isn’t victory or defeat.”

Peng Mancheol nodded.

Though bold, Ban Hojin had skill, so he was not hateful.

Just a little irritating.

But even that thought did not last long.

‘His breathing didn’t waver even once.’

Though he accepted it readily, Peng Mancheol had seen everything.

Especially Ban Hojin’s physical condition.

Despite moving so violently and swinging his sword, Ban Hojin’s breathing had not been disturbed in the slightest.

There was only one thing that could an.

‘He’s trained his stamina trendously.’

Though a bit arrogant, he was not ill-mannered.

Moreover, as a martial artist, Ban Hojin was a flawless warrior without equal.

That was why, even if he was slightly irritating, he was not detestable.

“Thank you for your effort.”

“Isn’t it customary to say you’ve learned a move?”

“Would you like

to?”

“Tsk! It’s not like I’m begging for a bow.”

At Ban Hojin’s indifferent gaze as he looked at him steadily, Peng Mancheol clicked his tongue.

His martial arts were impressive, but his verbal sparring was also superior to most mid-generation masters.

No, not even most distinguished figures of Jianghu could treat him like this.

“More importantly, have you forgotten?”

“Forgotten what?”

“There is still one thing the Family Head must do.”

Peng Mancheol wore a bewildered expression.

He had no idea what Ban Hojin was talking about.

“?”

“Yes. Didn’t you promise? That once the sparring ended, you would apologize for the discourtesy you committed against us.”

“Ah.”

At Ban Hojin’s continued words, Peng Mancheol nodded.

What he had forgotten finally ca back to him.

However, he had not intended to gloss over it.

It was just that, given the situation, he had postponed it for a mont.

“Were you perhaps planning to let it slide quietly?”

“Of course not. I truly just forgot. I will formally apologize to the three of you. I’m sorry for the discourtesy.”

Contrary to his fierce appearance, Peng Mancheol apologized quite readily.

Of course, it was still filled with manliness.

Still, when the Family Head of the Peng Family of Hebei bowed his head, Seonwu Bang and Seo Joun also reflexively bent at the waist.

“We will accept the apology.”

“Kahaha! Well then, go on.”

Seeing Ban Hojin, who looked more impressive the more he watched, Peng Mancheol finally burst into laughter.

Yet a peculiar light settled in his eyes.

He had briefly looked at Ban Hojin with a aningful gaze.

In contrast, the shoulders of Peng Chu-yeong and Peng Juyeong drooped more than ever.

After preparing a lavish dinner as a gesture of apology and hosting Ban Hojin’s group, Peng Mancheol headed to his quarters with his two daughters once the al ended.

As he had said, the two sons were sent into closed-door training the mont dinner ended.

“Do you have sothing to say to us?”

“Would I have called you separately otherwise?”

“ too?”

Peng Suyeong, who had followed Peng Mancheol together with the youngest, Peng Hwayeong, tilted her head.

She thought that perhaps Peng Hwayeong might be called, but she saw no reason for herself to be included.

However, Peng Mancheol thought differently.

“Yes. Your opinion is important too.”

“My opinion?”

At the increasingly puzzling exchange, Peng Suyeong blinked her eyes.

But instead of explaining, Peng Mancheol gestured for the two of them to sit.

“Sit down first.”

“Yes.”

“Alright.”