Chapter 33 – Things Are Different Now (3)
“Or are you siding with Hoga Musa just because he’s one of your own? Ah, right, you two only have a contractual relationship, don’t you? So a mere servant, someone insignificant like me, a lowborn, means nothing to you. After all, once the time is up, you’ll just leave.”
“That’s not what I meant…”
Hoga Musa’s expression was one of bewilderment.
He instinctively realized he shouldn’t make a slip of the tongue and held back his words.
Crunch!
Meanwhile, Seok Jin-ho did not stop.
He struck No Chu-sam with precise technique to prevent him from passing out.
“P-please…!”
Even as No Chu-sam’s lips swelled and he barely managed to speak, Seok Jin-ho continued with a cold, unfeeling expression.
If Jeong Ma-ryung hadn’t won, it would have been him enduring this, not No Chu-sam.
And perhaps even Tak Yoon could have been affected.
“Stop!”
“Master Chiljo!”
At that moment, a fierce aura burst from inside the wooden building along with No Seong.
No Chu-sam’s master, Bong Woo-ryung, who also served as the leader of the Hoga corps, ran out with his eyes wide open.
“What do you think you’re doing, Sa-gongja!”
“What do you mean? I’m correcting my disciple’s behavior. His hand habits are unnecessarily bad.”
“Going too far just because he was involved with a mere servant!”
“A mere servant?”
Seok Jin-ho’s gaze grew sharp.
But the agitated Bong Woo-ryung, rather than flinching, glared back and continued.
Believing that the status of Hoga warriors assigned to protect the Seok family and a lowly servant could not be compared, Bong Woo-ryung raised his voice.
“Moreover, it was my disciple who suffered humiliation!”
“So that’s why you seemed thoughtless—it all comes from your master. Well, if the master thinks like that, it’s no wonder the disciple’s sense of reason isn’t properly formed.”
“What did you say?”
Bong Woo-ryung’s face flushed red with anger.
There was no insult like this.
Yet Seok Jin-ho’s mockery wasn’t over.
“On top of that, you have no pride as a martial artist. Seeing you talk so freely in this situation… Well, since you’ve already sold your pride for money, I guess there’s no room for honor as a warrior.”
Flash!
As soon as Seok Jin-ho finished speaking, Bong Woo-ryung charged.
He drew the sword he carried with lightning speed, rushing toward Seok Jin-ho.
Moreover, the sword emitted a frost-like aura that blazed vividly.
‘Is he only top-tier?’
Bong Woo-ryung charged like a thunderbolt, but unfortunately, Seok Jin-ho could see everything clearly.
Even the pinnacle masters seemed lacking; a top-tier warrior didn’t even need to be considered.
So Seok Jin-ho did not release No Chu-sam.
Shhhhk!
A sword with deadly intent rushed close by, aiming for the arm rather than intending to kill.
Swish!
Yet, Bong Woo-ryung’s sword, imbued with energy, failed to hit Seok Jin-ho.
With incredibly fluid movements, he evaded every attack—even while holding No Chu-sam in his left hand.
“That’s the Pyeokpung Naoho…!”
“The rumors were true!”
Hoga warriors watched in awe as Seok Jin-ho effortlessly deflected Bong Woo-ryung’s sword wind and attacks while holding No Chu-sam.
It was impossible not to realize how absurdly skilled he was.
At the same time, they understood that the rumors about him single-handedly subduing Heuk-ochaeju weren’t exaggerated.
“Yiik!”
Of course, not everyone was impressed.
Bong Woo-ryung’s face twisted like a demon as he swung his sword, roaring with all his strength.
But no matter how much he exerted, no matter how much energy he concentrated, nothing changed.
Seok Jin-ho evaded with the slippery precision of an eel, making Bong Woo-ryung’s face turn red with frustration.
‘This is impossible!’
Bong Woo-ryung’s pupils shook.
Seok Jin-ho wasn’t even bare-handed; he was holding No Chu-sam.
Yet he perfectly avoided every assault.
When Bong Woo-ryung heard rumors that he had subdued Heuk-ochaeju alone, he thought it was exaggerated.
No matter how talented, he assumed it was impossible to become that strong in such a short time.
Besides, he thought the exaggeration was intentional, as he had fought alongside Bung-san Cheol-kwon.
Seok Jin-ho’s sudden appearance, however, was reality—and it was impossible not to utilize.
‘This is his level?’
He dodged attacks at the peak of intensity with ease, tracking every trajectory.
He even anticipated changes, moving perfectly—a fact that made Bong Woo-ryung falter, unlike before.
Click!
Then, Seok Jin-ho’s right hand moved slowly.
He grasped the sword aura itself with his bare hand.
“Shall we call it a day?”
Like plucking a falling leaf, he grabbed Bong Woo-ryung’s sword with his index and middle fingers.
He could have subdued him long ago, but he delayed for the sake of demonstration.
The most certain way to settle all the rumors was to show his skill.
Bong Woo-ryung’s level might have been slightly lower, but the effect was undeniable.
Shhhk!
Bong Woo-ryung struggled to retrieve his sword, but the result didn’t change.
As soon as Seok Jin-ho infused it with energy, the sword snapped.
Not only that, Seok Jin-ho’s Honwon Cheonroe-gi surged along the sword, piercing deep into Bong Woo-ryung.
“Gah! Guhhh!”
Like being struck by lightning, Bong Woo-ryung writhed violently, leaving the Hoga warriors around him confused.
They had no idea why he suddenly acted that way.
Seok Jin-ho, instead of explaining, released No Chu-sam and grabbed Bong Woo-ryung by the collar, intending to give the master the same mental lesson he gave his disciple.
‘And assert my own reputation while I’m at it.’
After all, he planned to leave the Seok family eventually.
But leaving didn’t mean he would quietly endure humiliation until then.
Leaving and pride were different matters.
Though he no longer sought dominance in the martial world, he had once been an absolute figure.
Grrr!
In his previous life, he had never spared anyone who dared show hostility.
At that moment, a new voice came from the wooden building.
“Sa-gongja, won’t you stop for my sake?”
“D-Daeju!”
The rich, deep voice made all the Hoga warriors present visibly relieved.
Everyone recognized who spoke.
Seok Jin-ho’s gaze also turned toward the pavilion.
“I will properly discipline Woo-ryung and Chu-sam and make them apologize. Disciplinary action will follow as well.”
“Hmm.”
Hoga Grandmaster Ma Chang-seon, over fifty, bowed respectfully, as if apologizing for his subordinates’ mistakes.
Seeing this, Seok Jin-ho refrained from further aggression.
Unlike ordinary Hoga members, Ma Chang-seon had been personally brought by the Supreme Patriarch and had maintained fairness over the years.
‘At least he’s a proper martial man.’
Therefore, Seok Jin-ho had to consider his actions carefully.
“Please show leniency.”
“Out of respect for the Grandmaster, we’ll stop here. But if this happens again, it won’t go unpunished.”
“I will confirm all the details and take action, reporting the results personally.”
“Understood.”
Seok Jin-ho’s expression softened slightly at Ma Chang-seon’s courteous demeanor.
He had already sufficiently punished them, and the purpose he came for was achieved.
“I would like to offer you tea as an apology, Sa-gongja. Would that be acceptable?”
“Could I refuse, given your words?”
“Ha ha ha, please feel at ease. Compared to you, I am an insignificant old man.”
Seok Jin-ho accepted with mock reluctance, making Ma Chang-seon smile faintly and turn.
Seok Jin-ho then followed, accompanied by Tak Yoon and Jeong Ma-ryung.
Ma Chang-seon personally poured tea into Seok Jin-ho’s cup, gazing at him quietly.
But in his mind, it wasn’t the seated Seok Jin-ho, but the one who had subdued Bong Woo-ryung earlier that came to mind.
The presence he had briefly shown was far from inferior.
‘So the rumor that he single-handedly subdued Heuk-ochaeju was true.’
At his age, he had gained the insight to perceive what was previously unseen, and to sense what was previously unfelt.
Experience and wisdom confirmed it: the seated Seok Jin-ho was one of the monsters known as geniuses.
‘No wonder the proud Hebei Peng family made such an effort.’
In his youth, he had traveled the martial world with only a sword, encountering countless prodigies and geniuses.
He had faced formidable warriors from the Nine Major Sects and the Five Great Families.
Yet, few surpassed Seok Jin-ho in greatness.
‘Now I understand the feelings of the former and current Seok Patriarchs.’
He recalled Seok Bi-gang and Seok Myung-il, who would have been furious at this display, and smiled faintly.
A talent long desired had suddenly appeared.
The only problem was that this talent intended to leave the Seok family.
The irony was that there was no reason to stop him.
‘Could you forcibly restrain such a skilled individual? Possible, yes—but the losses outweigh the gains. Hebei Peng wouldn’t stand idly by either.’
For the Seok Patriarch, it was a dilemma.
For Ma Chang-seon, as an observer, it was entertaining.
“The tea tastes excellent.”
“I’m glad you enjoy it. I’ve heard you intend to leave the Seok family.”
“Yes. My memories here are more unpleasant than pleasant.”
“Ha ha ha.”
Ma Chang-seon laughed awkwardly, sensing that today’s events would be added to those unpleasant memories.
Knock, knock, knock.
Someone knocked and entered.
Awakened, Bong Woo-ryung and No Chu-sam walked into the parlor.
With their spirits crushed, they knelt immediately upon seeing Seok Jin-ho.
Yet Seok Jin-ho’s expression remained unchanged.
“I have been disrespectful. Please forgive me.”
“I-I am sorry!”
Where had their previous ferocity gone? They lay flat, bowing deeply toward Seok Jin-ho.
Despite their apologies, his gaze remained cold.
“No Chu-sam, there’s one more person you should apologize to.”
“S-sorry! I let jealousy blind me and did something I shouldn’t have! Please forgive me!”
As soon as Seok Jin-ho finished, No Chu-sam turned and bowed deeply to Jeong Ma-ryung, unsure what to do.
Jeong Ma-ryung’s expression was awkward.
“What are you doing? Decide quickly.”
“I’m fine. I was startled, but I’m not hurt. Mistakes happen to everyone.”
Still awkward, Jeong Ma-ryung answered hesitantly, keeping an eye on Seok Jin-ho.
He didn’t know if this was the proper response.
Seok Jin-ho, however, did not speak further.
“Shall we consider this matter settled?”
“Yes, let’s.”
At Ma Chang-seon’s words, Seok Jin-ho smacked his lips and responded.
It wasn’t entirely satisfactory, but it was acceptable.
Both still needed time, so Seok Jin-ho decided to conclude matters here.
