Chapter 270 : Fourth Sister Hong Ahyul (2)

Chapter 270: Fourth Sister Hong Ahyul (2)

This scene felt so surreal that even the gangster thugs causing the chaos stood dazed for a moment, watching the young man handle the beasts with the sound of his flute.

Then the gang leader suddenly shouted.

“What the hell are you supposed to be!”

At first, he had assumed the young man was a martial artist, since he was freely controlling the beasts. But after seeing that he lacked the sharp pressure that true martial artists carried, the gang leader grew bolder.

He figured the young man must be just a hunter who happened to know how to handle animals with a flute.

Even so, the sword hanging at the young man's side rubbed him the wrong way, so he yelled from about three jang away.

“Are you seriously trying to interfere with our business? Boys! Break that bastard’s hand so he can’t blow that damn flute!”

“Yes, boss!”

Five of the thugs charged at the young man.

But the young man didn’t stop playing the flute.

Worried that the young man might get beaten badly, Hong Ahyul stepped forward.

At that moment, Dong Oh placed a hand on Hong Ahyul’s shoulder.

“Just watch.”

“What?”

“That young man knows martial arts.”

“Really?”

Hong Ahyul found it hard to believe.

The young man’s face looked like a pure scholar's—far removed from what one would expect of a martial artist.

Those who trained relentlessly in martial arts naturally developed a firm, disciplined appearance.

Most martial artists shared that kind of presence. But this young man was the complete opposite of the tough impression that such people gave off.

Moreover, Hong Ahyul couldn’t find any indication at all that he was a martial artist.

She herself was beyond the first-rate level, even aiming for master level. For someone like her to sense nothing at all—it was absurd.

‘But if Grandpa Dong says he knows martial arts, then he knows martial arts. There’s no way he could fool Grandpa’s eyes. That must mean this young man is a master who surpasses even me?’

As she continued thinking, she saw the five thugs swing their fists at the young man—only for their fists to shatter or their forearms to snap and go flying.

“Argh!”

“Guhhak!”

Their screams, like pigs being slaughtered, echoed as they rolled on the ground. The gang leader recoiled in shock and shouted.

“Wh-what sorcery is this!”

As surprised as the gang leader was, Hong Ahyul was just as astonished.

“Grandpa Dong, don’t tell me that young man just used Protective Energy?”

“That’s right.”

“If it’s Protective Energy, shouldn’t those guys be turned into minced meat?”

She asked because objects that collided with Protective Energy were typically destroyed.

“He weakened it by adjusting the force of his Protective Energy.”

“Oh, Protective Energy is already amazing, but to control it like that? Then that young man must be an incredible master!”

“So it seems.”

Hong Ahyul’s feelings toward the young man had shifted from mere curiosity to genuine interest.

As the frightened wild animals returned, the owners began rounding them up, locking them back in their pens or cages.

“Y-you bastard...”

The gang leader couldn’t bring himself to approach Yong Hwarin, so he yelled from afar instead.

In fact, he instinctively stepped back, widening the distance.

Yong Hwarin handed the flute back to its owner and gestured at the gang leader.

“Come here.”

“W-why would I?”

“Because I’ve got something to say to you.”

The young man spoke with a smile.

But the gang leader, eyeing him cautiously, began to turn to flee.

At that moment, the young man flicked a bird feed bean with his finger.

Piiing!

Dtak!

Even from a distance, Hong Ahyul could hear the bean smack hard into the back of the gang leader’s head.

“Gahh!”

The young man had infused the bean with just enough true energy to avoid killing him before flicking it.

The gang leader rolled on the ground, howling.

“Oww, I’m dying!”

“Come here. If you try something stupid again, that bean will pass straight through your head and pop out your eyeball. That’ll be a real show, don’t you think?”

At that, the gang leader sprang to his feet and ran to where the young man stood.

“Y-you called for me?”

His tone had suddenly changed to polite speech.

“The people doing business here earn just enough to get by each day. Do you think it's okay to smash their rice bowls?”

“No, sir.”

“Right, it’s not. So what are you going to do?”

“I won’t come here again.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I swear.”

The young man gave a gentle smile as he spoke.

“Still, I don’t believe a word you say. The moment I leave, you’ll be back here tomorrow causing trouble again.”

“No, I won’t.”

“That’s why I’m thinking of cutting off your legs so you can’t come back. What do you think?”

“N-no, Master. I swear I’ll never come here again.”

Hong Ahyul listened to the conversation between the two and gave an amused expression.

“Grandpa Dong, that person seems like a demonic practitioner.”

“He is not a demonic practitioner.”

“Why not? People from the so-called orthodox sects don’t talk like that. They always act lofty and elegant to appear impressive, but they don’t threaten people like this.”

“That may be true, but his energy is not of the demonic path.”

Suddenly, the young man grabbed the gang leader’s wrist pulse, startling him.

At the same time, the gang leader, seizing the moment, pulled a dagger from his coat and stabbed downward at the young man’s chest.

“Oh no!”

The elderly spectators gasped in shock.

The ambush was so fast that it looked like the young man wouldn’t be able to block it in time and would die.

However, the young man caught the dagger with two fingers and grinned.

“P-please spare me, Master.”

As the gang leader trembled in fear, the young man spoke softly.

“Look into my eyes.”

The moment the gang leader looked into the young man’s eyes, he began to shake his head violently as if having a seizure.

Seeing this, Hong Ahyul muttered.

“Grandpa Dong? Isn’t that Soul Reaping Art? Would an orthodox person really use Soul Reaping Art on a normal person?”

Dong Oh activated a Qi Barrier, making sure no sound leaked out.

It was clear that the young man’s Qi flow had no trace of the demonic path.

Though there was a faint scent of demonic nature, it wasn’t distinct enough to categorize as such.

Then he ought to be considered orthodox, yet his actions resembled those of a demonic practitioner without question.

‘He’s using Soul Reaping Art to suppress the thug’s will so he can’t harm the people here. That’s not something demonic practitioners normally bother to do.’

The gang leader, still trembling, looked at the young man in terror.

“From now on, don’t come here and cause trouble.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Take your subordinates and leave. If you don’t treat their bones quickly, they’ll heal wrong.”

“Yes, yes. Thank you.”

The gang leader realized this was someone far beyond his level and backed down immediately.

At that moment, a group of gangster thugs came rushing over.

“Boss! What happened! Huh? What happened to the boys?”

“It’s nothing.”

As the boss spoke, someone who looked like the vice-leader asked in confusion.

“Weren’t we supposed to mess up the animal market today? I brought more guys just in case we were short-handed.”

“It’s fine. We’re leaving.”

“Boss! What do you mean, leaving? We were paid for this.”

“From now on, we don’t touch this place.”

“But boss—”

“Just do as I say!”

As the boss even emitted killing intent, the vice-leader lowered his head in surprise.

“Understood. We’ll withdraw.”

When the gangster thugs left the market, the young man turned to the elderly vendors.

“They won’t come for now. But others might. You should consider relocating before then.”

“Thank you, young man.”

As the elders praised him, the young man simply smiled.

Then his gaze shifted to a middle-aged man and a girl watching him from afar.

Due to the Qi Barrier, he couldn’t hear their conversation.

The young man seemed cautious of the two but decided it wasn’t worth worrying about and turned to leave.

Hong Ahyul’s interest in the young man deepened.

“Yul, where are you going?”

“I’m going to follow him.”

“Why?”

“It’s interesting. Besides, I want to learn how he handles animals.”

“It’s time to go back. If we’re too late, the Three Grand Elders won’t be pleased.”

“It’s fine. I’ll follow him a bit, then return right away.”

“You promised.”

“Yes.”

As Hong Ahyul followed the young man, Dong Oh let out a sigh.

She was a child who never listened.

Still, since she was like family to the three elders, they indulged her whims.

The young man, sensing the middle-aged man and girl trailing him, didn’t react until he was about to enter the inn. Then, he turned to face them.

“Why are you following me?”

To that, Hong Ahyul responded.

“Why do you think we’re following you? We came here to eat too.”

“Is that so? Then go in first.”

Hong Ahyul lifted her chin briskly and stepped into the inn.

However, the young man, after confirming that they had gone into the inn, began to walk away.

When Hong Ahyul waited but the young man didn’t enter, she went back outside.

“Seriously? Is he trying to act? Walking into the inn on the opposite side?”

Hong Ahyul headed toward the inn the young man had gone into.

Dong Oh followed her in silence, also growing curious about the young man.

More than Hong Ahyul, he wanted to know which sect had raised such a young master and what the young man’s true identity was.

Hong Ahyul flopped down at the table where the young man sat.

Seeing that, the young man let out a soft chuckle.

“Why have you come here?”

“I go wherever I please. What does it matter to you?”

Hearing that, the young man muttered suddenly.

“It would’ve been entertaining if Suji were here.”

“Who? What do you mean by that?”

The young man smiled lightly and replied.

“There’s a girl I know named Suji. And her antics are exactly like yours. I just thought it would be something to see if the two of you met.”

“What? What about me?”

The young man nodded.

“Seeing how you don’t even realize what you’re doing wrong… you’re just like Suji.”

Although it sounded like he was insulting someone else, Hong Ahyul realized he was subtly mocking her and snapped.

“Are you done talking?”

As she raised her voice, the young man asked.

“Did you come here to fight me?”

At that, Hong Ahyul lowered her lifted eyes and gave a sheepish smile.

“That’s not it.”

“Then why did you come?”

“To learn your technique for handling animals.”

It was the only excuse she could come up with at the moment.

“I don’t have any such technique.”

“Don’t lie. You made a bird perch with just a flick of your finger back at the market. That’s not something a wild bird would do unless it had been tamed. And then you used your flute to call back the fleeing animals. Without some kind of skill, that’s impossible.”

The young man glanced at Hong Ahyul as she passionately argued, and replied without much interest.

“Is that so?”

Then he turned to the waiter standing nearby and ordered food.

Feeling ignored, Hong Ahyul furrowed her brow and suddenly asked.

“What’s your name?”

Seeing her ask so bluntly, the young man smiled gently.

“Why do you want to know my name?”

Hong Ahyul, annoyed at the young man dodging the question, snapped sarcastically.

“Hmph, can’t even say your name? Must be afraid. Maybe you’re that pervert with a bounty on his head lately.”

Pervert here referred to what one would call a Chaihua Sound Degenerate.