Gangchan quickly lowered his head, dodging Jijangmyeong’s fist. Twisting the outstretched arm, he pulled it in and struck Jijangmyeong’s chest with his other hand.
But contrary to expectations, Jijangmyeong’s chest caved inward, absorbing Gangchan’s punch as if grabbing onto his Jui Gi.
In that moment of Gangchan’s surprise, Jijangmyeong seized the opportunity, driving his free arm into Gangchan’s abdomen.
Thud! Crack!
With a dull sound, Gangchan’s body was pushed back slightly from the recoil.
They had exchanged blows—one landed, one received—but while the opponent remained unscathed, Gangchan grimaced at the pain rising from his abdomen.
Of course, he had used Jui Gi at the moment of impact to minimize the damage, but the discomfort was more emotional than physical.
Fixing his gaze on his opponent, Gangchan thought,
‘He’s different from all the martial artists I’ve faced so far. Not only are his movements fast and precise, but there’s almost no wasted motion.’
Jijangmyeong’s Seongmyeong Jeolgi was the Sambon Hupjeong Art.
To use absorption techniques, direct contact with the opponent was required. For this purpose, he had mastered all sorts of fist and leg techniques, and after honing them for twenty or thirty years, his skills became increasingly refined.
Jijangmyeong’s mastery of fist and leg techniques was now so intricate and thorough that it rivaled that of most experts.
Lowering his stance as much as possible, Jijangmyeong shot toward Gangchan like a bolt of lightning.
The moment Jijangmyeong’s right hand targeted his torso, Gangchan quickly blocked it, absorbing the shock. Slightly pushed back, he used the recoil to whip his right leg like a whip toward Jijangmyeong’s head.
Sensing Gangchan’s incoming leg, Jijangmyeong instinctively closed the distance, deftly evading the strike and disrupting the trajectory.
Yet Gangchan’s right leg immediately changed direction, spinning back as his calf and thigh closed in like pincers, trying to trap Jijangmyeong’s head.
Reacting instantly to Gangchan’s unpredictable move, Jijangmyeong ducked fast, narrowly avoiding the attack.
“Hah. You’re a dangerous one. This is getting interesting.”
Jijangmyeong’s eyes glimmered with a mix of surprise and excitement. Without hesitation, he lunged at Gangchan again.
After dozens of fierce exchanges, the two finally drew apart, facing each other with some distance.
Jijangmyeong caught his breath, a look of disbelief on his face.
‘Even after absorbing the opponent’s energy dozens of times during the fight…’
He tried to make sense of the situation. Gangchan wasn’t some seasoned master with deep inner power; he was just a greenhorn. Even after having so much of his energy drained, he still showed no sign of being affected. Based on Jijangmyeong’s experience, this was unfathomable.
Gangchan, for his part, was just as frustrated. The opponent used a bizarre technique to absorb energy and nullify the force of attacks, and he couldn’t think of a way to counter it.
‘What kind of freak is this guy, anyway?’
Suppressing his annoyance, Gangchan tried to come up with a new strategy.
At that moment, Jiyeom, who had been watching from the side, sent Jijangmyeong a secret message.
‘Brother, let’s stop now. If those idiots over there regain their senses and join in, things will get messy.’
Without taking his eyes off Gangchan, Jijangmyeong gave a slight nod.
‘Understood.’
“Youngster, this was fun. I’m busy today, so I’ll be going, but next time, let’s have a proper match.”
With those words, Jijangmyeong and Jiyeom disappeared out the tavern window in a flash.
If he’d wanted, Gangchan could have pursued them, but in this awkward moment, he chose to let them go.
***
As the opponents exited the tavern, Gangchan slumped down on the spot. Jijangmyeong was a formidable opponent—both physically and mentally.
Today’s experience would surely give Gangchan much to reflect on, but that was for later. For now, even just tending to his tired body and mind was overwhelming.
Meanwhile, the Suryongdan members who had been watching the fight became agitated, lamenting their failure to apprehend the Geonsang Gwae.
“We need to chase them down and finish this! They’re designated Muryimgongjeok!”
Paeng Cheonho spoke with a resentful expression, stepping forward.
All the other members, except for the struggling Nangung Jaeyeong, wore similar looks of regret at having lost the Geonsang Gwae.
Still seated on the floor, Gangchan glanced at Paeng Cheonho before slowly rising to his feet.
“Why are you all looking at me like that? If you’re so disappointed, why don’t you chase them down yourselves?”
At Gangchan’s words, the Suryongdan members exchanged silent glances, not saying a word. The one who finally broke the silence was the eldest, Je Gal Yong.
“We are grateful for saving our lives. I am Je Gal Yong of the Cheonyeon Union Suryong Unit.”
Gangchan nodded, answering briefly.
“Gangchan.”
Je Gal Yong hesitated, then asked again.
“May I ask which sect you belong to?”
Gangchan replied indifferently,
“I don’t belong to any sect. I’ve just learned a few martial arts passed down in my family. If no one is hurt, I’ll be on my way.”
He said nothing more and turned his back on them. His demeanor was calm and unbothered, as if nothing had happened. The Suryongdan members watching him were left momentarily at a loss.
Some felt respect toward their benefactor, while others felt something entirely different.
‘Who do you think you are…?’
They prided themselves on being children of prestigious families. Normally, people in the Kangho would bow before them, overwhelmed with gratitude just to converse. But even after they spoke to Gangchan first, he turned his back on them as if it were nothing.
To them, that was an insult—behavior unthinkable before their eyes.
All the more so since the young lord of the Pang Family had spoken, yet was ignored.
Believing her brother had been humiliated, Paeng Suhyeon shouted at Gangchan as he walked away.
“Aren’t you being too rude? Do you know who we are, acting like that?”
“What are you saying, Suhyeon!”
Je Gal Yong hastily waved his hand to stop Paeng Suhyeon.
“My apologies. She’s still young, please don’t mind her.”
But as everyone tried to stop her, Paeng Suhyeon only became more stubborn.
“Why are you stopping me, Yong Orabeoni? It’s not like I said anything wrong! If you introduced yourself and thanked him, he should at least be polite in return!”
Looking around at everyone, Paeng Suhyeon raised her voice at Gangchan again.
“You must think you saved us, but honestly, we could have handled it ourselves!”
At this, Yaryul Hui, who had been silently watching, finally snapped at Paeng Suhyeon.
“Suhyeon, that’s not right. If it weren’t for that gentleman, who knows what would have happened to us. Don’t deny it.”
“You’re the strange one. Why do you think we’re incompetent? It was only because Jaeyeong Orabeoni was in trouble. If we’d fought, we would have won eventually. Am I wrong?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Please, just stop.”
As the argument between the girls escalated, the men fell silent.
At this point, Gangchan’s annoyance boiled over.
He’d only fought because he sensed a strong trace of Mage Energy in the tavern. He had no other motive.
In the end, they were saved from danger, and he never demanded anything from them.
Yet now, they argued among themselves as if he’d done something wrong.
“Enough——!”
Gangchan shouted, instantly releasing his Jieugiseong.
Boom!
Compressed air exploded outward, drawing the gaze of everyone in the tavern to him.
“I said enough. I already told you—I have no interest in you, so stop lecturing me about manners.”
Under the suffocating tension, Paeng Suhyeon gritted her teeth and muttered, “As expected, those without background can’t help it. Manners aren’t learned in a day.”
As soon as she finished, Gangchan’s eyes went cold, all emotion gone. A chilling, heavy energy wrapped around the tavern as his gaze bored into Paeng Suhyeon.
“Background? Manners? Seems my mistake was saving people who would repay kindness with hostility.”
Gangchan’s cold smile and scornful glare froze the tavern. Paeng Suhyeon’s face stiffened under his bug-crushing gaze.
“You—are you insane?! How dare you treat us like that?”
Paeng Suhyeon was intimidated by Gangchan’s aura, but she clung to the vague hope that, as always, someone would come to her aid.
But that hope shattered quickly.
As Gangchan stepped forward, his presence pressed down on her, completely overwhelming her.
Deciding he couldn’t just watch, Paeng Cheonho drew his sword and stepped in front of Gangchan.
“How dare you threaten us?”
“How dare I? Sounds like you’re begging to be killed.”
As Gangchan’s icy voice rang out, he was already right in front of Paeng Cheonho.
Paeng Cheonho swung his sword with all his might in surprise, but his movements were too simple and slow for Gangchan.
Unleashing Gwihoonbo, Gangchan easily dodged the attack and, in an instant, got behind him. Gangchan’s fist crashed into Paeng Cheonho’s side.
Thwack.
“Ugh!”
Struck in the side, Paeng Cheonho’s upper body twisted. In the next moment, Gangchan’s other hand landed squarely on his temple.
Smash.
Paeng Cheonho’s head snapped around, his eyes losing focus as he crumpled where he stood.
In the blink of an eye, everything ended with a single sword swing and two punches.
Paeng Suhyeon, seeing her brother collapse, screamed and tried to rush over, but Gangchan blocked her path with a cold indifference.
He pushed Paeng Cheonho’s fallen body aside and spoke.
“It’s easy to deal with someone who only relies on their name. Given the Pang Family’s reputation, it’s all the more pitiful. If you apologize properly now, I’ll let it go this once.”
His calm yet chilly tone instantly froze the atmosphere in the tavern.
“So, what will you do? I’m giving you one last chance to behave.”
As he slowly approached Paeng Suhyeon, her hands began to tremble. When the Suryong Unit tried to intervene, Gangchan addressed them in a cold, quiet voice.
“Stop. If anyone takes a single step, I won’t hold back anymore.”
With that one sentence, the Suryong Unit froze.
Gangchan’s demeanor was more than just a threat. There was a sense that if they took another step, something irreversible would happen.
Looking back at Paeng Suhyeon, Gangchan spoke again.
“So, what will you do?”
Paeng Suhyeon wavered under his pressure, but forced herself to hold firm.
Instead, a stubborn, defiant look glimmered in her eyes—a haughty conviction seemed to hold her up.
‘I can’t just take this lying down.’
Paeng Suhyeon drew the short sword from her waist in a flash. Her steps, infused with Honwonbo, unfolded into the Pang Family’s pride—Ssangryudo.
Of the many sword arts passed down in the Pang Family, Ssangryudo was especially renowned as a technique suited to women. Its flowing, swift style was said to be impossible to follow with the naked eye when mastered.
Paeng Suhyeon had been taught this art amid the expectations of her family, and now, in this moment, she had no doubt that Ssangryudo would defeat her arrogant foe.
Her twin swords sliced through the air, fluid yet sudden and sharp, cornering Gangchan like unpredictable lightning.
Her movements, both graceful and quick, evoked the image of a dancer.
But before her swords could close in, Gangchan had already twisted his body away, widening the distance with natural ease.
When Paeng Suhyeon changed direction and attacked again, Gangchan dodged with subtle movements, ghost-like in his avoidance.
Each time her blades swept the air, Gangchan’s gaze never wavered, tracking her every move.
Just as her swords were about to rise again, Gangchan slipped out of the line of attack in an unexpected direction, almost as if stumbling.
At that instant, his hands shot out like lightning, grabbing both of Paeng Suhyeon’s wrists. Her final thrust faltered uselessly in the air.
Paeng Suhyeon resisted until the end, but Gangchan’s grip had her completely subdued.
Not defense, but restraint.
What could be more humiliating to a martial artist?
But Gangchan paid no attention to such feelings.
Drawing in close, his eyes burning, he whispered coldly into her face.
“Say it again, if you dare.”
Paeng Suhyeon struggled desperately to twist free, but Gangchan’s grip wouldn’t budge. The more she fought, the deeper the pain in her wrists became.
“No matter what you do, you won’t suddenly get any background….”
Before she could finish, Gangchan’s fist slammed into her abdomen.
Thud.
“Keuk…!”
Without the slightest hesitation, his clean punch sank into her stomach.
Her body instinctively doubled over from the blow. Looking down at her impassively, Gangchan spoke icily.
“It’s best if you apologize now. That’s your last chance.”
The pain spreading from her abdomen and Gangchan’s cold, emotionless voice shook her to the core.
With a blurred gaze, Paeng Suhyeon looked up at him, her lips trembling as she managed to speak with barely any strength.
“Sorry…”
Before she could finish, her body went limp and she lost consciousness.
With steely resolve, the Suryong Unit approached Gangchan.
“That’s enough. If you cross the line any further, we’ll have no choice.”
Their shout echoed through the tavern.
Gangchan turned to look at them, not a trace of fear in his eyes—only icy contempt.
“You say I’ve crossed the line? You were the ones who crossed it first. Now you want to accuse me?”
His voice was low and stern as he scolded them.
“I saved all of you. Isn’t that enough? Don’t speak such foolishness in front of me again. And stop judging others by your own standards.”
Gangchan scanned the frozen Suryong Unit briefly, then turned without hesitation.
As he walked away, the Suryong Unit finally rushed to check on the unconscious Paeng Suhyeon and Paeng Cheonho.
Meanwhile, Gangchan quietly left the tavern and headed back to his lodgings. Even as he walked, countless thoughts ran through his mind.
Ever since setting foot in the Kangho, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being drawn into an endless cycle of conflict.
‘Is this the Nip of the Jianghu they speak of?’
He asked himself. Even if he tried to pull away now, the mire was already gripping his ankles.
The situation earlier was the same. Maybe if he’d just ignored them and walked on, nothing would have happened. But he now realized he couldn’t do that anymore.
Before entering Hangju during his journey across the Middle Plains, he would have simply lowered his head and withdrawn if something unjust happened. He was able to avoid trouble that way.
But now, things had changed.
He resolved not to yield to anything or anyone that tried to judge or oppress him.
No longer would he live his life by others’ standards.
He wouldn’t run away anymore.
‘Father, Brother… am I doing the right thing? Is this really the right path?’
For a moment, a complex mix of emotions flickered in Gangchan’s eyes. But soon, those feelings hardened into resolute determination, and the path he walked was no longer simply the road back.