Star Instructor, Master Baek-Chapter 328: The Hyonwon Clan Delinquent (2)

TL: FoodieMonster007

STEP, STEP…

Peng Sahyuk approached the main hall, but the sound of his footsteps alone was enough to put everyone on edge. He wasn't even releasing his aura or projecting any killing intent, his natural air of command was sufficient to silence the crowd.

"Peng Sahyuk…" Hyonwon Kang murmured.

In the few months they hadn't seen each other, Peng Sahyuk seemed to have grown even larger. His broad shoulders and thick chest muscles strained against his martial arts uniform, too bulky to hide completely.

Despite his size, though, he didn't look slow at all. Rather, he had the air of a leopard ready to pounce at any moment.

He wore a loose navy coat over his martial arts uniform, and his eyes scanned the crowd like a giant tiger searching for prey from a misty mountaintop.

He's gotten stronger.

Hyonwon Kang knew it right away. Peng Sahyuk had left the Azure Dragon Academy, transferred to the Heavenly Martial Academy, and returned much, much stronger. Just as he wasn't the same old delinquent anymore, the Peng Sahyuk standing there was no longer the same spoiled brat he was before.

His palms felt sweaty from anticipation, and a strange smile played on his lips.

"The Peng Clan's Young Master?"

"What's the Young Master doing here?"

"I didn't hear anything about the Hyonwon Patriarch inviting the Peng Clan…"

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The martial artists gathered here were all respected figures in Shanxi Province, but the Hebei Peng Clan was on a different level. As one of the Five Great Clans, they were a major martial family with centuries of history and power, known for producing countless blademasters through their aggressive and powerful dao techniques.

Even when the Hyonwon Clan was at its peak, they were compared to the Hebei Peng Clan only for their refined blade arts, and could never challenge the Peng Clan's influence.

So why was the heir to that clan crashing the Hyonwon Clan's banquet?

Is he here to congratulate them or warn them?

This isn't good, especially considering the messy history between the Hyonwon and Peng Clans.

Is the Peng Clan trying to stomp on the Hyonwon Clan now that they're trying to rise again?

Confusion spread among the martial artists from the various sects and families of Shanxi.

"Hmm…" Peng Sahyuk muttered, when he spotted Hyonwon Kang.

A flicker of interest lit up his bored-looking face.

Hyonwon Kang glared right back at Peng Sahyuk. What the fuck are you staring at?

Neither backed down, and it turned into a staring contest.

It ended abruptly, though, when the Hyonwon Patriarch stepped forward. "Hoho, it seems that the Young Master of the Hebei Peng Clan has graced us with his presence! Every time I see you, you seem to have reached new heights. Your progress is truly astounding, Young Master."

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Hyonwon Kang gritted his teeth. His father's submissive attitude said it all. The current Hyonwon Clan was literally the Peng Clan's vassal, existing only because of their mercy.

Peng Sahyuk took the praise in stride, replying, "Sorry for showing up unannounced. Please forgive our sudden arrival."

"Hoho, there is nothing to forgive. Please make yourselves comfortable. You've come a long way, so you're welcome to spend the night here."

"Thank you for your hospitality. We'll take you up on that offer."

After the brief greeting, Peng Sahyuk stepped back, and Peng Sagun naturally stepped into his place. He was too young to have a formal exchange with the Patriarch.

""……""

Hyonwon Kang and Peng Sahyuk's eyes met again, but neither said anything.

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After the Hebei Peng Clan's group arrived, tension filled the banquet air as all eyes shifted from the Hyonwon Clan to the newcomers, making it seem as if the hosts of the party had suddenly changed.

No, they actually had.

"Alright everyone, let's have a drink!" Peng Sagun shouted, raising his cup.

Nobody dared to refuse.

"The Hebei Peng Clan has long shared a bond of friendship with the Hyonwon Clan. We congratulate the Hyonwon Clan for finally overcoming their struggles and reclaiming their past glory."

Peng Sagun had addressed the Hyonwon Clan with a slightly dismissive tone. It might have seemed like a slip-up, except for the fact that an official envoy would never make such a blunder.

He's here to put them down.

The Peng Clan planned this.

Everyone present could feel how much the Peng Clan looked down on the Hyonwon Clan.

The Hyonwon Patriarch forced a smile. "…Hoho. Thank you."

Decades ago, when the Hyonwon Clan fell after the Crazy Demon's Massacre, he had once believed that the Peng Clan offer of help was genuine.

How wrong I was. I didn't realize back then that they wanted to be our masters, not our friends.

Now that they had recovered the Earth Shattering Blade, the Hyonwon Clan didn't need the Peng Clan anymore, and he knew the Peng Clan wouldn't like that.

Still, he hadn't expected them to crash his family's banquet and humiliate them so openly.

"That's not the only thing to celebrate!" Peng Sagun bellowed, standing right next to the Hyonwon Patriarch.

Everyone stiffened. Even if the Hebei Peng Clan was way bigger and more powerful than the Hyonwon Clan, that was plain rude.

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"The Hyonwon Clan has gained a strong friend in the Azure Dragon Hero, haven't they? That's also worth congratulating!"

"…Thank you."

"Of course, many still argue whether the Azure Dragon Hero really deserves to be one of the Ten Supremes. Haha!"

"……" Hyonwon Kang's face darkened with every moment. Every word pricked like a thorn.

On the other hand, Peng Sahyuk simply enjoyed the banquet like none of it was his business.

"Hyonwon Patriarch. Don't push us away just because you found a new friend."

"Push you away? What do you mean…"

"You know exactly what I mean." Peng Sagun sneered. "One martial master may bring glory for a century, but a family lasts for centuries. Our history and might are on a different level."

"……"

It was a warning not to get cocky just because they had the Azure Dragon Hero, and also a blatant threat that if the Hyonwon Clan tried to leave the shadow of the Peng Clan, they wouldn't just watch quietly.

"…Master Peng Sagun. Are you quite finished?" Hyonwon Kang snapped. He couldn't take it anymore.

So crashing our party isn't enough for these bastards? They're going to openly insult and threaten us too?

He strode forward, stopping only within inches of Peng Sagun.

Peng Sagun looked puzzled. "Did I say something wrong?"

"Of course you did. If that wasn't a threat, what was it?"

A smug smile spread across Peng Sagun's face, and he looked down at Hyonwon Kang like he was dirt. "Well well, look who's all grown up now. I still remember the kid who couldn't even meet my eyes."

Hyonwon Kang mirrored the smug grin. Even though he was done being a delinquent, he couldn't call himself Baek Suryong's disciple if he let such an affront go.

"Yeah. I've grown up a lot. Enough to punch that face of yours," he chuckled.

"…What?" Peng Sagun's face hardened at the unexpected retort.

Behind him, Peng Sahyuk giggled, "Pfft!"

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"…Did getting the 'Sky Sundering Blade' title inflate your ego? Or are you offering me a demonstration of those legendary skills?"

"Anytime," Hyonwon Kang said confidently.

"That's enough!"

Shocked, the Hyonwon Patriarch tried to stop his son, but Hyonwon Kang shook his head firmly.

If we back down now, the Hyonwon Clan will never get out from under the Peng Clan's thumb.

Peng Sagun was neither the Patriarch nor an elder of the Peng Clan, but a mere troop commander. Sure, that rank carried weight in the murim, but he was hardly one of the top masters in the Hebei Peng Clan.

I don't think I'd lose.

He couldn't have imagined thinking that just six months ago, but now, he wasn't just being cocky for the sake of it.

Placing a hand on the hilt of his dao, he said plainly, "Bring it on. I'll show you just how sharp the Hyonwon Clan's blade is."

"Arrogant brat…!" Peng Sagun snarled, his eyes flashing in rage.

How dare this kid talk about the Hyonwon Clan's blade arts in front of the Hebei Peng Clan? Did learning a trick or two from the Azure Dragon Hero make his ego swell sky high?

"Fine. I'll teach you what real blade techniques look like. Draw your weapon," he growled, releasing a powerful, imposing aura.

Sparks flew between the two bladesmen as they geared up for battle.

"Hyung-nim, stop spoiling the mood. You're making the wine taste bad," Peng Sahyuk remarked offhandedly.

"…Young Master?" Peng Sagun stared, baffled, at his much younger cousin.

"I wanted to stay quiet, but you went too far. If you want a fight, go pick on someone your age! Don't take it out on a kid!" Peng Sahyuk chuckled, wildly waving a wine bottle around as if he was drunk.

"…Young Master, this is a formal banquet. Please watch your language."

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Peng Sagun was utterly dumbfounded. The whole point of the Hebei Peng Clan coming here was to put the Hyonwon Clan in their place. Even the Patriarch had approved it, so why was their own Young Master messing things up?

"Me? Watch my language?" Peng Sahyuk snorted. "Hah! Crashing someone else's party is far ruder than any shit I can spout. Give it a rest. What's the meaning in bullying a little brat less than half your age? Pathetic. Tsk tsk."

"Peng Sahyuk!" Peng Sagun glared daggers at his cousin, his face as red as a beetroot.

However, Peng Sahyuk met his stare calmly. "We came to drink, so let's drink. Stop this nonsense. Same goes for the rest of you."

Peng Sahyuk nodded towards the Peng Clan martial artists. The ones with hands on their swords hesitated, then lowered them.

Peng Sagun was their commander, but Peng Sahyuk was the Young Master. It was obvious whose orders they should priortize.

"You! The Patriarch will not forgive you for this…"

"I'll deal with my own problems myself. Besides, I hated this plan from the start. Why does our family need to pull stupid third-rate stunts like this?" Muttering to himself, Peng Sahyuk turned back to Peng Sagun. "Hyung-nim, you head back first. I'm staying to drink some more."

"…!!" Peng Sagun's face crumpled. Not even the Hyonwon Patriarch dares to embarrass me like this!

"Didn't you hear me? That's an order," Peng Sahyuk warned in a low voice.

"…You'll regret this."

With those parting words, Peng Sagun stormed out of the Hyonwon Estate, taking half the Peng Clan men with him.

Peng Sahyuk watched him go for a second, then turned to the remaining guests with a wide grin. "Okay, everyone! Let's relax and enjoy the party now!"

His eyes scanned the crowd and landed on Hyonwon Kang again.

"Guess I should congratulate you. You must've crawled through hell to get this far."

Hyonwon Kang's jaw dropped. "What the fuck is that crazy asshole thinking?" he muttered to himself.

The banquet went on as usual, but even after it ended and everyone left, he couldn't shake the feeling that Peng Sahyuk was up to something.

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Late at night, Peng Sahyuk wandered around the courtyard like a predator in search of prey, occasionally taking a sip from a bottle of liquor.

"Stop hiding like a rat and come out," he suddenly said, glaring into the shadows.

Hyonwon Kang stepped out. "Why'd you do that earlier?" he demanded, getting straight to the point.

"Do what?"

"Kick your cousin out. Aren't you gonna get chewed out when you go back?"

"Hahaha!" Peng Sahyuk chuckled, his lighthearted laughter seeming out of place with his intimidating appearance. "I'm the confirmed heir, the Young Master of the Peng Clan. I'll get yelled at a bit, but not even my father can really punish me."

"Right. Bet you think you're hot stuff."

"Hotter than you, at least." Peng Sahyuk casually showed off a muscular forearm before downing the last of his drink.

Hyonwon Kang glared daggers at him. "You still haven't answered my question. Why did you butt in earlier? I could've beaten Peng Sagun even without your help."

"Idiot. Why would I help you?"

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"What did you just say, you son of a bitch?"

Peng Sahyuk looked at Hyonwon Kang like he was dumb. "I stopped him because the main family would lose face if Peng Sagun lost. That moron couldn't even judge his opponent's strength. He's just all flash, no substance."

Hearing that faint praise, Hyonwon Kang felt the corners of his mouth twitch upwards. "…Hmph. Well, I guess I have gotten pretty strong."

Peng Sahyuk snorted. "Yeah, right. But at least there's some real defiance in your eyes now."

In truth, he was genuinely surprised. Back at the Azure Dragon Academy, when they'd agreed to fight again someday, he never dreamed that Hyonwon Kang would grow this strong.

"……"

"……"

Hyonwon Kang's eyes burned, and Peng Sahyuk met his gaze unflinchingly. There was no one left to stop them this time.

Hyonwon Kang broke the silence. "…This is it. I can't wait any longer."

CRACK, CRACK.

He cracked his neck from side to side, then drew the dao hanging at his waist.

"My body's itching for a fight. There's no way I can hold back until the Heavenly Martial Festival. Let's go."

Shoulders shaking with silent laughter, Peng Sahyuk drew his own dao like he'd been waiting for this exact moment. "Maybe beating you up will actually be fun this time."

Translator's Note: I'm out of brain juice, so happy cliffhanger week! Kukuku!