As the Nangong family's martial artists led and Yu Seong-yeon followed, the customers inside the inn rushed outside and surrounded them like an encirclement, becoming spectators.

"The young fellow has quite the audacity. Picking a fight with the Nangong family."

"A fight? Wasn't it you who came in numbers and oppressed without reason!"

"Oppression? Why would that be oppression? I am a patrol squad captain of the Nangong family. Since you've entered the Nangong family's land, following our control is natural."

"That's nonsense!"

"Well, how would a young fellow understand the ways of the world? So, you've challenged the Nangong family's martial artists in Anhui."

Yu Seong-yeon was angry, and Yeo Yeon-gwang held a sneer.

But even the spectators were sneering at Yu Seong-yeon.

Having lived within the Nangong family's territory all along, they seemed to regard their actions as natural.

That was problematic.

The Nangong family was in the wrong, yet didn't it seem like Yu Seong-yeon was playing the villain?

Then he had to step in...

He had no prior connection with the Green Blue Sect, so it didn't matter who won, but wasn't Yu Seong-yeon now his guest?

Naturally, he should take his side.

* * *

"Hmm, does this happen often?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

The spectators looked at Cheonyeong with puzzled expressions as he murmured quietly while watching the standoff between Yu Seong-yeon and the Nangong family's martial artists from among the crowd, his face altered by disguise techniques.

"It seems the Nangong family doesn't regard Anhui's people as human beings?"

"What? What kind of talk is that!"

At the bristling reaction, Cheonyeong smiled slightly.

Originally, stimulating expressions were best for drawing people's attention.

Look, weren't the people who had been focused on watching the fight now staring at him as if they would devour him?

But was the anger really because of the Nangong family?

The Nangong family's main base was Huangshan, and this place, Anjian, was merely a branch.

How strong could the loyalty of commoners be?

"My frustration has been building, so my words came out wrong. But isn't it that the Nangong family's martial artists act as if all of Anhui belongs to them?"

"..."

"How can they demand unconditional control by the Nangong family? They don't even feed the people here."

"Well, that's true, but..."

"Even now, I heard everything earlier. The Nangong family's martial artist just asked outright what you were doing and pressured you... ugh, my skin crawled watching from the side. If they treat outsiders like that, imagine how they treat Anhui's people."

"True, the Nangong family is somewhat oppressive."

Someone nodded, and gossip flowed like a broken dam.

Wasn't it true that people's words changed depending on how you directed the flow?

Since he had stirred it in a negative direction, naturally the current would flow that way.

"Right. These days they're really controlling people like dogs."

"They even control the merchant ships, I hear?"

"That's not all? It's been a month since they took control of Guhua Mountain."

"Yeah, I heard too. They say they're controlling woodcutters, herb gatherers, and hunters alike?"

"Don't even mention it. Because they haven't provided compensation, everyone's starving to death now."

"Wretched fellows... and Guhua Mountain isn't even theirs."

"When haven't martial artists caused harm to commoners?"

People began murmuring as Cheonyeong intended.

Since it was all negative, it seemed unnecessary to intervene further.

He hadn't done much, so it couldn't be called instigation.

It was due to the Nangong family's accumulated misdeeds.

"I heard too. I was on this floor earlier, and I heard the Nangong family's martial artists just oppressed without reason."

Now that witnesses had appeared, it was over.

* * *

"Though Anhui is the Nangong family's territory, your actions are gravely mistaken."

"What?"

"If there is purpose, one should clarify the reason and answer if that reason is deemed reasonable—that is the righteous path. But you intimidate with authority and force with strength. How can that be called the righteous path?"

"..."

"One who possesses strength should first bow their head humbly, and when witnessing injustice, should persuade three times to convince, and use strength only within the bounds of discipline."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"However, you stand stiffly with your power, showed injustice without persuasion, and insulted a guest with words! As one who walks the righteous path, I cannot forgive this. I will admonish your arrogance and later request the Nangong family to apologize!"

At Yu Seong-yeon's commanding words, Cheonyeong nodded.

Truly nonsense.

Changlim had brainwashed him thoroughly.

Why bow your head when you have strength?

If you see injustice, you should beat them immediately, and when showing strength, you should beat them so they never dare challenge again. That's the way of the world.

But his nonsense moved the spectators' hearts and made them nod.

With such words and posture, he truly appeared as a hero to all who saw.

As a result, Yeo Yeon-gwang, the Nangong family's patrol squad captain, lost his words and drew his sword with a flushed face.

"You! A greenhorn who only practiced talking! Let me confirm whether your martial arts match your three-inch tongue!"

A grave mistake.

In such cases, whoever draws their sword first is the villain.

The eyes of the people watching Yeo Yeon-gwang turned cold precisely because of that.

A fool.

That's why he remained a mere patrol squad captain.

"You all stand back. I alone am sufficient!"

Though a crowd would be insufficient, Yeo Yeon-gwang confidently commanded his subordinates.

Perfect.

Watching Yeo Yeon-gwang draw his sword and point it at him, Yu Seong-yeon frowned and broke a nearby branch, holding it in his hand.

"What, what are you doing?"

"There is no need for blood in discipline! Moreover, with your skill, a branch should suffice."

"What's this?"

"Come! I have long been curious about the Nangong family's sword, and I shall observe it while educating you!"

Unlike Yeo Yeon-gwang, who shouted loudly, Yu Seong-yeon held out the branch with a relaxed expression.

The opponent had a real sword, but he had a branch.

Truly a sight that made one thirsty for wine.

Though it might seem somewhat arrogant, in the people's eyes, he appeared as a flawless young hero.

Our guest is doing well.

Cheonyeong stepped back and enthusiastically cheered.

As the people's voices of support for Yu Seong-yeon, who appeared far more orthodox than the Nangong family's martial artists, grew louder, Yeo Yeon-gwang's face twisted.

"You talk big, but let's see if you can say such things after receiving my sword!"

Swiftly came not the Nangong family's representative Boundless Azure Sky Sword Technique.

Indeed, how could a mere patrol squad captain master what only the family's elite learned?

"Impressive."

But Cheonyeong couldn't help but admire.

Though the sword technique's name was unknown, it carried the typical characteristics of the Nangong family's sword technique using heavy swords.

It was just that the opponent was Yu Seong-yeon.

As Yu Seong-yeon repeatedly retreated, observing the sword's trajectory, his hand moved lightly.

The branch, swung, changed the direction of the sword strike.

Immediately, the branch began pointing out the flaws in the sword technique.

The Green Blue Sect's sword?

No, Yu Seong-yeon hadn't displayed anything he possessed.

He merely struck the visible gaps.

By cutting at the starting point of the sword technique, Yeo Yeon-gwang's sword lost its flow and became confused.

It was like a master conducting instructional sparring with a novice to awaken them to their shortcomings.

"This, this bastard!"

Suddenly forced into the defensive, Yeo Yeon-gwang gritted his teeth, and a bluish aura appeared on his sword.

His pride was wounded.

He must have felt like he was being toyed with by a young martial artist he had underestimated.

"I'll kill you!"

The branch was cut in half with a rough shout, and as the bluish aura tore through the air, Yu Seong-yeon stepped back further than before, his face twisting.

He looked angry.

The severed branch in his hand.

No matter how great a master, they couldn't withstand an infused sword with just a branch.

And wasn't he an assassin?

With clear intent to cause harm.

"You, you're truly a wretched human!"

"Shut up! Young fool! Now I see you came to Anhui with ill intent!"

"What?"

"You hide your identity with such skill—how can you claim good intentions!"

"Hmm..."

At Yeo Yeon-gwang's sharp cry, Yu Seong-yeon sighed with a deeply furrowed brow.

"I merely hoped you would realize your own mistakes and reflect. But you've closed your eyes and ears... so I must show you."

Only then did Yu Seong-yeon draw his sword.

And he shouted to those around him.

"Everyone, step back! You might be harmed by the momentum!"

His loud cry echoed in all directions, but infused with the Taoist's immortal energy, it sounded comforting.

By now, one should have noticed, but Yeo Yeon-gwang seemed to have truly closed his eyes and ears in his rage.

Displeased that he prioritized the spectators' safety over his own concerns, Yeo Yeon-gwang pushed off the ground in one motion and threw himself toward Yu Seong-yeon.

"Ha!"

Rising and falling, he brought down his sword with force that seemed to split Yu Seong-yeon's body in half.

At that sharp momentum, Yu Seong-yeon lowered his stance.

And he spoke softly as if chanting.

"Azure Cloud..."

As his breathing stopped and the immortal energy seeped into his sword, Yu Seong-yeon's blade rose toward the sky.

The sword blade in Yeo Yeon-gwang's hand was cut like a radish.

"...!?"

In his wide-open eyes, the trajectories of the sword filled the sky.

"Crimson Glow."

With the following chant, when Yu Seong-yeon's hand descended, all the sword trajectories filling the air were drawn along a single point.

The sunset descended, and Yeo Yeon-gwang's vision darkened.

He could do nothing.

With eyes torn wide, he could only stare blankly.

His entire body felt shattered.

It was a single sword strike, yet his limbs seemed severed and flesh scattered in all directions.

And the sword touched his throat.

At the cold sensation, Yeo Yeon-gwang blinked in shock and stepped back.

Then, as if waking from a dream, he felt his body and examined himself.

"Huh..."

With a relieved breath, the pathetically collapsed Yeo Yeon-gwang looked at Yu Seong-yeon with startled eyes.

"I only sought to cut your incorrect thoughts, so I infused no killing intent."

"That, that sword was?"

"The Green Blue Sect's."

"The, Green Blue Sect? Then you're a Green Blue Taoist?"

"A disciple of the Green Blue Sect Master, Seong-hwa."

"..."

Yeo Yeon-gwang could only gape.

What had he just done?

He had oppressed... a Green Blue disciple?

And if the Green Blue Sect Master was Sword Immortal Changlim?

The heavens had fallen.

"I hope you take this incident as a lesson and never again commit such rudeness toward others."

Seeing Yeo Yeon-gwang sitting blankly with his fighting spirit broken, Yu Seong-yeon frowned and sheathed his sword.

And seeing the two of them, Cheonyeong smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"Anyway, that's the problem with Taoists. To correct habits, you naturally need to beat them. Beat them, trample them... until they beg completely."

He was disappointed at not seeing Yeo Yeon-gwang being beaten.

(End of Chapter)