Book 2 Chapter 8

On the verge of utter disgrace

Yeomdo (焰刀) was speechless.

He couldn't believe that a greenhorn, still wet behind the ears, had dared to interfere with his actions.

Yeomdo was beside himself with anger. He couldn't stand it without saying a word to the fearless brat standing over there.

"This is a mere infant. Are you insane?"

"I'm not insane."

Bilyeon's reply only made Yeomdo more speechless.

"Heh heh heh. I don't know whose child you are, but you're a fearless little kid. You, a fluffy youngster, dare to stand before my blade? You dare to be a shield against my sword? Is that it?"

Yeomdo spoke in a tone of utter disbelief, finding it too absurd to even be funny. In response, Bilyeon, who had been deemed a fearless, greenhorn brat, had the corner of his mouth lift slightly. Then, his two eyes, shimmering like silver flakes, began to fill with confidence and mischief. His gaze clearly conveyed that he paid no mind to Yeomdo.

"You could say that."

A pure and calm admission. But the content was far from calm and ordinary. It was an absolutely extraordinary statement. Naturally, Bilyeon's reply painted Yeomdo's angry glare with an even deeper shade of red, known as furious rage. Thus, his anger surged even more intensely.

Yeomdo's red glare was nothing short of ferocious. Its intensity and strength were such that it could swallow Bilyeon whole and then wash it down with a glass of cold water; it was sheer, chilling deadliness. Very few in the martial world could stare directly into his fierce gaze, and ordinary people would likely be too terrified to even stand.

Regardless, judging by his flashing red eyes, Yeomdo had undoubtedly made a decision.

'I've already decided to take down one person and am about to carry it out, so even though you're an unforeseen variable, I'll go ahead and take you down too with a little extra effort. That way, you two won't be lonely in the afterlife and can spend time together amicably!'

His burning gaze clearly held such meaning and will. This decision was evident in the strong snort he let out through his nose and the numerous blood vessels that pulsed on his flushed face and forehead.

"Heh heh… You dare to challenge me? Do you think that's even remotely possible? Do you think you have even one in a thousand, or one in ten thousand, chance? You're like a puppy who doesn't know the fear of a tiger; your guts have spilled out, little kid!"

Yeomdo spoke as if it were absurd nonsense. However, Bilyeon's reply was like scratching Yeomdo's insides five or six times and then flipping them over with a "whoosh."

"Ah, of course. I'm confident I have enough skill to handle a strange old man whose name sounds like a girl's. How could anyone survive in this harsh world without such skill, right, uncle? Ah, if you don't believe me, you can test me, I won't say anything. *Grin!*"

Bilyeon had fearlessly touched a place that should absolutely not be touched. He had cleanly trampled upon Yeomdo's absolute forbidden zone, a place that had caused many to shed blood, with muddy feet.

"Huk, gak, heok, heuk!"

The sounds that escaped as he hurriedly inhaled, the death rattles that mingled and formed. If a blind person were present, they would mistake everyone in Huanyun Tower for suffering from respiratory illnesses. Everyone had gasped so quickly that their breath got caught in their throats. The interior of Huanyun Tower had entered a state of extreme, palpable tension.

It was like the strings of a zither stretched taut, about to snap at the slightest touch. The hand carelessly plucking the precarious strings, on the verge of breaking, belonged to Yeomdo (焰刀), whose lips dripped with a smug smile.

"Heh heh heh, a test? Alright, I'll test you. Of course, I'll test you. Heh heh heh, not only will I test you, but I'll also grade you as a bonus. Of course, the price for that grade will be steep."

Yeomdo's eyes were already split wide open from a "zzzzip" sound, and his pair of rough, red eyebrows twitched upward towards the sky in anger. The backs of his clenched fists, as large as cauldron lids, began to bulge with thick veins, like blue vipers eyeing prey, so prominent they seemed audible.

However, Bilyeon, staring directly at Yeomdo's state, was still completely at ease, as if he had nothing to fear. There wasn't a trace of tension on his face. He might even be a complete idiot.

"Ah, great. I'm ready for 'uncle's' evaluation anytime. If you don't believe me, you can test me. Of course, this is when 'uncle' feels confident. "

With a smile that Bilyeon found annoyingly smug and impudent in Yeomdo's eyes, Bilyeon delivered the final blow to Yeomdo (焰刀).

"Of course, this is when uncle feels confident, so don't worry too much. You don't have to do it if you're afraid of losing. Shall we make a bet?"

"Snap!"

Somewhere, something of someone snapped. Of course, that someone was Yeomdo, and what snapped was the thread of patience that was already thin and almost transparent. Simultaneously, a great explosion occurred within Yeomdo (焰刀), and the force released by that explosion burst outwards unrestrained.

Was it the aftermath? In an instant, with a "crack" sound, a spiderweb-like pattern of cracks appeared on the beautiful, expensive, and sturdy wooden floor of Huanyun Tower where Yeomdo stood, spreading outwards. What a powerful feat of strength!

The floor, unable to withstand the powerful waves of qi emanating from Yeomdo's body, was shattered. No doubt, the owner would have to shed tears and spend a considerable amount of silver to repair the Huanyun Tower floor damaged by Yeomdo's aura.

"Heh heh heh, good. A bet? Fine, excellent. However, the stake for this bet will be something of immense value."

Despite the immense pressure emanating from the sharp killing intent, which even the martial artists seated around, who prided themselves on their skill, found difficult to withstand, Bilyeon remained unfazed. In fact, he was suppressing the urge to rejoice, as if he were the happiest person in the world. Wasn't it an undeniable, age-old truth that those who rely solely on brute strength are simple?

The fish he had been aiming for had taken the bait on the hook, and Bilyeon began to carefully pull the fishing rod. The fish that took the bait had already been pulled to the shore, and now the fisherman only needed to scoop it out with a net as the final touch.

"Ah, I'll bet my life. If that's not enough, I'll bet all of Zhongyang Escort Agency's assets."

Bilyeon's casual words, as if he owned all of Zhongyang Escort Agency, were so astonishing that they could have made the state leader Jang Wuyang faint on the spot. It wouldn't be strange if Jang Wuyang's soul had left his body and was wandering in the heavens. It was a testament to his resilience that Jang Wuyang, miraculously still in his right mind, remained standing.

"Heh, do you have the authority to dispose of all of Zhongyang Escort Agency's assets?"

Yeomdo asked with an expression of utter disbelief, but Bilyeon replied without hesitation.

"Ah, of course. If it's left as it is, it's bound to be annihilated. Wouldn't it be my property if I were to save it? What would disappear if left alone, but remains if salvaged, is as good as mine. Well, don't worry. The state leader over there also agreed. Isn't that right, State Leader Jang!"

Bilyeon might have thought he was smiling a pure and innocent smile, but to State Leader Jang Wuyang, it appeared as a wicked, detestable grin. However, as if in agreement, State Leader Jang Wuyang remained seated without saying a word. Why did he do that? Why couldn't Jang Wuyang refuse outright and remained silent? Everyone was puzzled, but no one noticed the thin needle lodged in his neck.

"See? The State Leader agrees. Are we good to go? Then shall we start the bet?"

"Heh heh heh, good. I'll make sure you regret it for eternity in the next world."

As Yeomdo's thick, rough hand gripped the hilt of Hongyeom (紅焰), a storm-like heat began to erupt. It was the moment Yeomdo (焰刀)'s ultimate skill, Sword Flame Qi, was about to be activated.