Chapter 283

The third son of the Four Kings, Gwe Hang-gi, harbored ambitions to become the next Four King.

But, as the third-born, his position in the line of succession was also pushed to third place.

His eldest brother, Gwe Jeong-gi, was an enigma—he was the second-in-command of the current Four Kings Alliance and had ties to the Jin Gang-man family through his maternal side.

With the Jin Gang-man clan’s backing, Jeong-gi had built an overwhelming power base within the Four Kings Alliance.

Many of the high-ranking martial warriors in the alliance were connected to the Jin Gang-man family for various reasons, and that extensive network directly bolstered Jeong-gi’s unrivaled status inside the organization.

To challenge his eldest brother, Hang-gi had also tried to forge alliances through his maternal relatives, reaching out here and there.

But it was never easy.

“No matter where I tried to make connections, it was either already tied to the Jin Gang-man family or left only those who had no interest in such matters. How am I supposed to compete with the eldest brother like this?!”

And Jeong-gi wasn’t the only rival.

The second brother, Gwe Chang-gi, was just as formidable, though in a different way.

Chang-gi’s maternal family was the Heukrim clan, descendants of the legendary iron-fisted warrior Ji Mo-su, who was always ranked among the top five martial families in the Four Kings Alliance, regardless of the era.

Perhaps inheriting Ji Mo-su’s blood—known for being simple, fierce, and pure-hearted—Chang-gi was widely regarded as the strongest fighter among the heirs.

Unlike Jeong-gi, who focused on internal control, Chang-gi preferred to build his reputation externally through battles.

Currently, he led his own faction and was challenging the Namgung family in Anhui Province.

Hang-gi looked down on his second brother’s reckless approach.

“Ridiculous. How could he, leading only his followers, dare to challenge the head of one of the Five Great Families, the Namgung clan? What kind of foolishness is that?”

In truth, Hang-gi wasn’t alone in thinking this way.

Most within the Four Kings Alliance considered Chang-gi’s attempt reckless.

But this was the Four Kings Alliance—a place where a glorious defeat was valued and praised more than a cowardly victory.

Hang-gi knew that if, by some miracle, Chang-gi managed to defeat the Namgung family’s head and drive them out of Anhui Province, his status among the heirs would skyrocket beyond comparison.

“Probably, Chang-gi knows this too, which is why he’s gambling everything on this reckless challenge.”

Besides, at least Chang-gi had found a way and was acting on it.

Though reckless, it was still better than Hang-gi himself, who hadn’t even found a method yet.

That’s why Hang-gi had grown increasingly impatient.

Even if the fourth brother seemed weak and uninterested in power, catching up to his two overwhelmingly dominant older brothers would require something with tremendous impact.

And now, to make matters worse, another competitor had appeared.

Not just any half-brother, but a descendant of the supposedly extinct Seol family.

For Hang-gi, this was absolutely unacceptable.

He resolved to crush this so-called descendant of the Seol family right here and now.

To ensure he would never even dream of becoming the next Four King.

And Hang-gi didn’t think it would be difficult.

“A nobody from outside, a worthless remnant of the Seol family. They might be acting recklessly now, not knowing their place, but I’ll make sure they face reality!”

With a haughty expression, he addressed Seol Poong.

“You think you can become the next Four King? Ha! What a joke. Do you really believe the Four King is the head of some third-rate sect where you’ve been hiding? You don’t seriously think a mutt like you could ever be the Four King, do you?”

He sneered bitterly and slowly advanced toward Seol Poong.

“Come on, you don’t really believe that, do you? Even if your head’s empty, you wouldn’t dare dream that big. You probably thought you could just latch onto the Four King’s candidacy and make a tidy profit, right? But what if I told you I won’t let a mutt like you be mentioned in the same breath as me?”

Seol Poong smiled faintly and asked him.

“If you won’t let me, then what? Earlier, the Four King said not to kill or injure each other inside Jiangsu Province, didn’t he?”

That was the rule set by the Four King for the heirs.

So Hang-gi could never touch Seol Poong within Jiangsu Province.

But hearing that, Hang-gi didn’t flinch.

Instead, he smiled fiercely.

“Sure, inside Jiangsu Province, maybe. But if I overpower you and drag you outside, won’t that solve everything? It might be a bit troublesome, but I’m more than willing to do that. So, do you understand your position now?”

Seol Poong’s face brightened as he replied.

“Ah! So, as long as it’s outside Jiangsu Province, you don’t care what I do. Got it.”

Hearing Seol Poong’s calm response, Hang-gi’s eyes twitched.

He didn’t like how peaceful Seol Poong seemed.

Unable to hold back, he unleashed a fierce aura and shouted harshly.

“Is it because you’re a mutt? Even after I’ve explained this clearly, you still don’t get it? Fine, I’ll make it simple. If you don’t want to die, drop to your knees right now, you lowly wretch!”

Hang-gi’s presence was formidable.

His martial prowess was nearing its peak, making him nearly unmatched among his peers.

Yet, despite Hang-gi’s furious roar and threatening aura, Seol Poong merely smirked.

Then, as if recalling something, Seol Poong asked.

“By the way, how old are you?”

It was an unexpected question.

Hang-gi’s eyes twitched in surprise.

“What did you say?”

Suddenly, Seol Poong unleashed a storm of energy and shouted.

“Didn’t you hear me? How old are you, you brat?”

Seol Poong’s overwhelming presence stunned everyone.

Hang-gi and the others watching from behind froze in place.

Seol Poong’s power had completely erased Hang-gi’s fierce momentum, far beyond their expectations.

“Ugh!”

“Is this for real?!”

“Wh-what kind of martial technique is that?!”

Hang-gi’s face twisted even more as he watched his own direct subordinates, the Yeodeung Samgeom, being effortlessly repelled.

He felt a deep shame.

At that moment, another figure leapt out from behind Hang-gi.

A large, hairy warrior.

“Not bad, showing some tricks.”

He was Go Sang-jong, the only supreme-level martial warrior among Hang-gi’s direct subordinates, known as Danakpaebu.

The Yeodeung Samgeom were a group of warriors each with over eighty years of internal energy cultivation, masters of the combined technique called Hapgyeok Sul, capable of taking on top-tier fighters when working together.

Their blades shot toward Seol Poong like rays of light.

“Shiiik!”

But this was all anticipated by Sun Woo-jin, who was calmly observing from behind Seol Poong.

The moment the Yeodeung Samgeom charged forward, he sent a telepathic message to Jin So-eun.

• Jin So-jeo.

• Yes!

As if waiting for the signal, Jin So-eun sprang forward.

She moved to intercept the Yeodeung Samgeom’s attack aimed at Seol Poong.

“Hah-ap!”

Startled by her sudden appearance, the Yeodeung Samgeom grimaced and shouted.

“Hmph?!”

“A woman?!”

“Get lost at once!”

At that moment, Jin So-eun’s wooden staff twisted through the air like a living dragon, filling the space.

It was the appearance of the Natural Staff technique.

“Whirrrrrrr!”

The sight was overwhelming.

Like a divine dragon coiling through the clouds, the staff blocked the way.

The ironclad presence of the Natural Staff before Seol Poong caused the Yeodeung Samgeom’s blades to bounce off helplessly, unable to reach their target.

“Clang clang clang!”

“Ugh!”

“Wh-what is this staff technique?!”

Watching this, Hang-gi’s face contorted with even greater frustration.

He felt humiliated seeing his own subordinates so powerless.

Then, from behind Hang-gi, another figure emerged.

A large, burly, hairy warrior.

“Not bad, showing some tricks.”

He was Go Sang-jong, the only supreme-level martial warrior among Hang-gi’s direct subordinates, known as Danakpaebu.

The most formidable warrior of the Guaihang Sect.

His great club slammed down on the barrier that Jin So-eun had created, as if it could split a boulder in one blow.

Shu-haak!

The martial artists of the Sa Wang Lian who witnessed this shouted out.

“Dan Ak Pae Bu!”

“Here comes the legendary old master!”

“Finally!”

At that, Guaihang’s expression brightened slightly.

He believed that with the supreme master Go Sang-jong stepping forward, dealing with Seol Poong’s subordinates would be no problem.

But at that moment, Sun Woo-jin sent another transmission.

— Yeon So-jeo.

Upon hearing this, Yeon Tae-jin smiled and dashed forward.

“Leave it to me!”

The next instant, Go Sang-jong’s great club collided with Yeon Tae-jin’s right fist.

Kwaaaang!

The tremendous impact sounded like a cannon blast.

Go Sang-jong’s eyes widened in surprise as he took two steps back.

To have his great club repelled head-on—and by a woman who looked so slight—was unbelievable.

Then, Yeon Tae-jin, who had stepped back three paces, grinned broadly like a man and slammed his fists together.

Bang!

“Wow! That was electrifying! For someone ugly, you’re better than I thought. Now, let’s really get started, whisker-face!”

“…What did you say?”

Go Sang-jong ground his teeth in response.

Yet despite his words, he dared not charge recklessly again.

At first glance, the two’s retreat distances made it seem like Go Sang-jong, who stepped back two paces, held a slight advantage over Yeon Tae-jin, who stepped back three.

But any martial artist would know what it meant that the much smaller Yeon Tae-jin only retreated one step further.

Go Sang-jong’s skill was inferior to Yeon Tae-jin’s.

Then, while Yeon Tae-jin faced off against Go Sang-jong, Seol Poong, now unimpeded, strode steadily forward until he stood before Guaihang.

With a fierce grin, he said, “Looks like no one else is going to interfere. How about you take a hit first, then we talk?”

Guaihang swallowed hard at the sight of Seol Poong, who was similar in build but felt like a towering mountain.

This feeling is like…

He suddenly recalled a few people who had given off a similar aura.

Uncle Yuk? Uncle Maeng?

As the thought crossed his mind, Guaihang realized all of them were renowned masters listed among the Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars.

His instincts told him Seol Poong was a master of that caliber.

With a pale face, he stammered, “Th-That can’t be. There’s no way someone like you has reached that level…”

Seol Poong slowly raised his fist before Guaihang’s eyes and said, “I don’t know what you mean by ‘no way,’ but you never learn your lesson, do you? Looks like you need a good beating.”

Guaihang stared up at Seol Poong’s fist, which, though similar in size to his own, seemed enormous—like a giant’s.

Then, from behind, one of the Sa Wang’s sons quietly spoke.

“That’s enough.”

His voice was calm but carried undeniable power and presence.

In an instant, all eyes in the hall turned to him.

The owner of the voice stepped forward slowly.

He was the expressionless man who had stood furthest back among the Sa Wang’s sons.

Seeing him, Guaihang’s face lit up with relief as he called out, “Brother Jeong-gi!”

From Guaihang’s words, Seol Poong understood this was Guaihang Jeong-gi.

Jeong-gi was the eldest son of the Sa Wang and considered the most likely heir among the brothers.

He’s about twenty-eight, the same age as me.

Seol Poong recalled his age and smirked before asking, “Why me?”

Jeong-gi looked at Seol Poong with a momentary unreadable expression before answering, “He may be a hopeless younger brother, but I can’t just watch someone else beat him up. If you want to keep going, you’ll have to get through me first.”

Jeong-gi.

The second-in-command of the Sa Wang Lian, grandson of Man Seong-guk, and the son with the largest faction among the Sa Wang’s heirs.

From what was known, his influence within the Sa Wang Lian was already immense.

The quality and number of martial artists under his command rivaled the sect’s main forces, and the number of warriors he could influence directly or indirectly was countless.

His martial skill was formidable as well.

In both power and skill, he was considered the closest to becoming the next Sa Wang.

So opposing him from the start was unwise.

If he marked you, it could become impossible to establish yourself within the Sa Wang Lian.

Hearing Jeong-gi’s warning, Seol Poong looked at him with a strange expression and asked, “Is that so? I have to face you?”

At that moment, a sly smile spread across Seol Poong’s lips.

Then, without hesitation, his fist ruthlessly struck Guaihang.

Pah!

“Ugh!”

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Guaihang, unable to defend, was sent flying backward, rolling on the ground in a pitiful heap.

Shock and horror flashed across the faces of all onlookers.

“Th-That…!”

“Gasp!”

“!”

It wasn’t surprising that Seol Poong, who had been dominating Guaihang, struck him.

But to ignore Jeong-gi’s warning was shocking.

It meant openly defying the most influential of the Sa Wang’s sons.

Then, for the first time, a flicker of emotion appeared on Jeong-gi’s usually expressionless face.

Anger.

As his eyes blazed, he glared at Seol Poong.

Seol Poong smiled coldly and asked, “So, am I the one you want to face now?”

Jeong-gi’s eyes flickered.

To not fear hostility but to even want to face it—and to deliberately hit Guaihang to provoke him—was something Jeong-gi had never experienced.

At that moment, a transmission from Sun Woo-jin reached Seol Poong’s ear.

— That was a very satisfying statement, brother.

Hearing this, Seol Poong’s smile deepened.

In fact, when he was wondering how to respond to Jeong-gi’s warning that he’d have to face him, Sun Woo-jin’s transmission had already come through.

— To say he’ll face you in my place? That’s madness.

Seol Poong understood that Sun Woo-jin’s words meant there was no need to hesitate.

That’s why he could boldly act on impulse without holding back.

Then, someone standing behind Jeong-gi could no longer contain himself and burst forward, shouting.

“You bastard! How dare you!”

He was Baek Gol Goe-jang Hong Chu, the second strongest warrior among Jeong-gi’s subordinates.

Known as a notorious figure in the underworld, he wore a necklace made of human skulls and adorned his massive club with a large skull.

Just the sight of him was terrifying.

With a fierce roar, he swung his club at Seol Poong.

Bwoaaang!

But his club never reached Seol Poong.

Zheng Chil appeared out of nowhere, spinning in midair, and kicked the club away.

Kwaaaang!

“Ugh!”

Hong Chu couldn’t withstand the impact and was forced to retreat.

Meanwhile, Zheng Chil landed gracefully and laughed mockingly.

“Heh heh heh! Hong, you still carry that hideous weapon with that hideous face, huh?”

Recognizing Zheng Chil, Hong Chu shouted in surprise.

“Hong Hae-ah?! How did you—!”

Hong Hae-ah Zheng Chil and Baek Gol Goe-jang Hong Chu had fought several times before.

Back then, they never reached a conclusion and had to stop just before mutual destruction.

But ten years later, their expressions showed a stark contrast.

Zheng Chil’s skills had improved dramatically after learning the Thunder Dragon Kick technique from Sun Woo-jin and facing countless masters in life-or-death battles.

Though it was only a brief clash, Hong Chu clearly felt that Zheng Chil’s skill was superior.

As Hong Chu’s face flushed with rage and he hesitated to charge again, Jeong-gi’s eyes shifted to an old man standing quietly behind him.

A gaunt figure dressed in black, holding a long straight sword, with eyes sharp as a snake’s.

Jeong-gi spoke to him.

“Master Baek.”

The old man frowned briefly, clearly annoyed, but then began to walk forward slowly.

At that moment, everyone in the hall tensed and swallowed hard.

“Guido.”

“Master Baek is…”

A faint smile appeared on Jeong-gi’s face.

Though difficult to rouse, once he decided to act, no one present could stop him.

He was Baek Gi-ryang, known for decades as the East Sea’s assassin.

Though not one of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars, his name was always included among those closest to that elite group.

Even within the Sa Wang Lian, one of the three great powers, few martial artists surpassed him.

Jeong-gi had no doubt.

As always, this man would never disappoint him.

But just as Baek Gi-ryang was about to slowly step toward Seol Poong, someone else began to emerge quietly from behind Seol Poong.

Step by step.

He walked forward until he stood diagonally in front of Baek Gi-ryang, blocking his path.

It was none other than Gwi-do Baek Gi-ryang—the notorious killer of the East Sea and a master nearly ranked among the Thirty-Six Stars of the world—who had been stopped.

The onlookers were first shocked that someone had so blatantly blocked Baek Gi-ryang’s way, and then doubly stunned to see that the one doing so was a strikingly handsome young man who looked barely in his early twenties.

Swallowing hard.

It was Seon Woo-jin.

Seon Woo-jin, standing between Baek Gi-ryang and Seol Poong, turned his head toward Baek Gi-ryang and smiled faintly.

At that, Baek Gi-ryang’s eyes twitched ever so slightly.

He slowly raised his hand as if ready to draw his sword at any moment.

In response, Seon Woo-jin’s left thumb gently slid the Mukrang Sword’s scabbard upward, revealing the blade.

A tense silence hung in the air as their gazes locked—Baek Gi-ryang’s eyes sharp and snake-like, gleaming with lethal intent, and Seon Woo-jin’s calm, confident smile unwavering.

The warriors of the Sa-wang-ryeon whispered among themselves.

“He’s going to die right here.”

“Foolish kid.”

They were certain the young man who had recklessly stepped into this fight would be cut down in an instant.

They didn’t even know who he was, and Seon Woo-jin’s youth made him seem no match for the monstrous Gwi-do Baek Gi-ryang.

Yet, while all the Sa-wang-ryeon warriors thought this, Baek Gi-ryang did not draw his sword.

He simply stood there, exchanging gazes with Seon Woo-jin.

As the strange standoff continued, Gwe Jeong-gi furrowed his brow and spoke again.

“Baek no-sa?”

But Baek Gi-ryang seemed not to hear him.

He didn’t even glance in Gwe Jeong-gi’s direction, his eyes fixed solely on Seon Woo-jin, as if facing a lifelong rival.

“Could it be…?”

“That… that’s…”

Only then did the crowd realize the truth.

Baek Gi-ryang wasn’t choosing not to draw his sword—he couldn’t.

Shock spread across everyone’s faces.

“No way!”

“Who on earth is this guy?”

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

Then, instead of drawing his sword, Baek Gi-ryang finally spoke, addressing Seon Woo-jin.

“…Who are you? I’ve never heard of anyone like you among the young ones.”

Seon Woo-jin chuckled softly in reply.

“I’ve heard plenty about the old man. But… you’re not nearly as impressive as I expected. Quite disappointing, actually.”

His arrogant words stunned everyone.

To speak so boldly to Gwi-do Baek Gi-ryang—the ultimate master and killer—was to risk one’s life many times over.

But what followed was even more astonishing.

Despite gritting his teeth in anger at Seon Woo-jin’s insolence, Baek Gi-ryang still couldn’t bring himself to draw his sword.

“Damn it…!”

Baek Gi-ryang wanted nothing more than to draw his blade and cut this young man down immediately.

But his hand wouldn’t move.

His instincts, honed through decades wading through rivers of blood, warned him clearly.

‘If I draw my sword, I will die.’

Baek Gi-ryang swallowed hard without realizing it.

The young man standing before him, smiling so casually, seemed like a sword itself.

Baek Gi-ryang was no weakling.

His martial prowess, forged over more than seventy years soaked in blood, was formidable.

He was comparable even to Yoon Sak, the Blood Sea Demon who had given Seon Woo-jin a hard time.

Yet, precisely because of that, Baek Gi-ryang was no match for the current Seon Woo-jin.

Having slain the Blood Sea Demon Yoon Sak and even overcome Jin Tae-do, the Haenam Sword Saint ranked among the Thirty-Six Stars, Seon Woo-jin was a master capable of killing Baek Gi-ryang at any moment.

As Baek Gi-ryang endured this bitter humiliation, unable to draw his sword, Seol Poong strode over to Gwe Jeong-gi and asked calmly,

“So, are you finally ready to come out yourself?”

At those words, Gwe Jeong-gi’s face twisted.

The usually expressionless man showed a rare flood of emotions today.