—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Boom!
The sound of Zhongli Chu hitting the ground echoed through the air.
It was a long drop, and he’d likely sustained both external and internal injuries.
Even for a first-rate master like him, capable of emitting Sword Qi and controlling his internal energy, a fall from that height would require months of recovery.
‘That should take care of the marriage proposal.’
I sheathed my sword.
Even for a powerful clan like the Zhonglis, this incident would surely put an end to the proposed alliance with Ha-seol.
Zhongli Chu had been the aggressor.
I had nothing to apologize for.
I surveyed the damage to the Jade Pavilion.
The top floor was practically demolished.
‘I was too focused on analyzing his sword technique. I let him get carried away.’
I grimaced.
The Zhongli Clan’s Hundred Victories Sword Technique… it wasn’t anything special.
I suspected the master who created it had done so under duress, just to appease someone.
Its core principles were too easy to decipher.
Lost in thought, I suddenly sensed someone rushing towards me.
“Oppa…!”
“…Ha-seol.”
“A-Are you alright?”
She’d been watching from a distance, worried about getting caught in the crossfire.
Now, she rushed to my side, her eyes wide with concern and shock.
I smiled reassuringly.
“I look alright, don’t I?”
“…!”
“Not a scratch on me, inside or out.”
“So… you really…?”
She stared at me in disbelief.
She’d been convinced I couldn’t win.
But now, even with her limited knowledge of martial arts, she could see how easily I’d handled the fight.
‘It took a while because I was trying to analyze his technique and end the fight without causing serious injury… but it was a good result.’
I patted her shoulder reassuringly.
She took a deep breath, then whispered,
“…Please, don’t do that again.”
“Alright, alright.”
“I mean it. Don’t be so reckless, especially when it involves other people…”
“…”
She had a point, but family was family.
I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.
Still, her tone was firm, so I nodded.
“N-No… this can’t be happening…!”
“…”
“H-How could Uncle lose…!”
“…Zhongli Wen.”
Zhongli Wen was still cowering in the corner, trembling with shock.
I left Ha-seol’s side and walked towards him.
He flinched and his face turned pale.
“S-Stay back…!”
“…”
“P-Please, spare me…!”
I stopped and released a bit of my killing intent.
He immediately dropped to his knees, begging for mercy.
I looked at him coldly.
“…Zhongli Wen, was it?”
“…!”
“Answer me.”
“Y-Yes! That’s my name!”
I stared at him for a moment.
“Do you still have some fight left in you?”
“…What?”
“Your uncle tried to kill me, and he paid the price. As his nephew, you might want revenge. Is that not the case?”
“H-How could I…!”
…possibly challenge you?
He trailed off, his words unspoken but clear.
I sighed, looking at his pathetic form.
“Then go back to your clan and deliver a message.”
“…?”
“Tell them that an elder of the Zhongli Clan was soundly defeated by the heir of the Silver River Trading Company. And that the marriage proposal is off.”
“…!”
“Frankly, I’d rather not let you leave unscathed. But if I cripple both of you, there’d be no one to deliver the message.”
“B-But…!”
“Answer me.”
Slap!
I backhanded him across the face.
He fell to the ground, crying out in pain.
“Aaargh…!”
“I told you to answer me! You bring your uncle here to threaten my sister, and now that things have gone south, you hesitate? What are you thinking?”
“I-I’m sorry…!”
“…Sigh.”
He was a blubbering mess, begging for mercy.
I couldn’t be bothered to deal with him any further.
I decided to keep it simple.
“…Zhongli Wen.”
“Y-Yes! Brother!”
“Don’t call me brother.”
“R-Right.”
“Get out. I don’t want to see your face again.”
“…!”
He nodded repeatedly, wiping his tears, and scurried towards the stairs.
I took a deep breath.
‘It was good to test my skills against a first-rate master, but it’s still mentally draining.’
Even among first-rate masters, there was a vast difference in skill.
Zhongli Chu was strong, but he’d underestimated me from the start.
His eagerness to finish me quickly with brute force had been his downfall.
“…The roof’s about to collapse.”
I looked at the damaged ceiling, a result of our fight.
It needed to be fixed.
Ha-seol followed my gaze, with a puzzled look on her face.
Then, realizing what I was thinking, she smiled.
“Don’t worry, Oppa.”
“…?”
“I can easily cover the cost of repairs. It won’t even make a dent in my personal funds, let alone the trading company’s.”
“Hmm… that would be much appreciated.”
“Don’t mention it.”
She smiled and walked towards me.
I looked at the only other person left on the top floor.
“…Manager.”
“…”
“Manager!”
“…Y-Yes, Second Young Master?”
“I want you to question everyone working here.”
“…What?”
He looked confused.
I sighed.
“…The Zhongli Clan knew we were here almost immediately. There must be a spy within the Jade Pavilion.”
“…!”
“I trust you’ll handle this.”
“…Certainly.”
His gaze sharpened, and he nodded firmly.
With the situation somewhat under control, I sat down on a chair with a broken back.
Thump!
‘Dealing with the aftermath is more tiring than the fight itself…’
I sat there, arms crossed, when I felt eyes on me from the lower floors.
The courtesans and staff were staring up at me in disbelief.
They’d seen what I’d done.
‘…Oh.’
Then it hit me.
‘I, the prodigal son who’d been training for barely a year, had just defeated a first-rate master from a prestigious clan.’
The reality of the situation began to sink in.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
And to add onto that … the MC didn’t even need to use his signature move