novelraw Chapter 89
Chapter 89
Chapter 89
“If you are the Principal, wouldn't it be better to just focus on the Martial Arts Academy?”
“If I were only the Principal, that would be the case, but am I not the person who will become the Cult Leader's son-in-law? As such, I have to pay attention to various things. And isn't their heart a good one? Even when they were told that the Divine Cult would provide settlement funds, they tried not to accept it, saying it would be better to use that money for people who are in a more difficult situation than them.”
Hearing that, even Danmok Yeon's heart was moved.
“I understand. If that is the case, then it can't be helped. In any case, it will probably be fine even if we have the duel without any special preparations.”
“Thank you, Senior. I'll be in your care.”
After Cheon Ha-seong left, Danmok Yeon was in a complete daze. He couldn't even concentrate on his martial arts manuals. As a result, he even had the thought, 'Did he perhaps do that on purpose to distract me?'
‘No way, right? Right. It couldn't be.’
However, as the concentration he had once lost showed no sign of returning, his suspicion began to bloom anew.
……
On the day the duel between the two was held, the Divine Cult's plaza was opened early, and people were coming in.
The followers Cheon Ha-seong had spoken of had taken their places early and were opening their stalls. There were many people who had come from afar to see the duel, and they were so hungry that they had to eat something right away.
To such people, the stalls immediately drew their attention.
Anticipating from the start that many people would gather, they had decided on and sold only one item, somen noodles, but the line, far from shortening, only grew longer as time passed.
The people, who had been screaming with joy at first, gradually saw the color drain from their faces. It was to the point where they even had the thought that at this rate, they might die a heroic death just a few days after settling in the Divine Cult.
The number of followers who had come with Cheon Ha-seong was by no means small, and there were also those who had specially stepped up to help with this event. So dozens of people were boiling noodles, but they had reached a point where they couldn't handle it because the number of people flooding in was too great.
“Why are you so bad at your job? What is taking so long? I thought you were making something amazing. It would be faster if I just did it myself.”
Among the customers, there were some who got angry that the line wasn't getting shorter and started shouting.
It seemed that had happened because they had stood in line to at least fill their empty stomachs, but their turn was not coming.
When one person opened fire, others followed suit and got angry, and the already timid followers now wanted to hide.
Didn't it seem like they were just causing a nuisance by needlessly opening a stall to try and earn money? More than anything else, they felt sorry to Cheon Ha-seong, who had specially allowed them to open a stall and do business.
It was because they felt that he too would be blamed because of them.
As they were wearing gloomy faces at that thought, a few people suddenly appeared in front of them.
Seeing them come forward without standing in line, the people who had been waiting were about to get angry, but then they seemed to flinch at the energy pouring out from their entire bodies.
The followers, who had been diligently boiling noodles even in the midst of the chaos and gloom, looked at him and froze on the spot.
“…!”
The Young Family Head of the Danmok Demonic Clan, Danmok Muyeol.
They couldn't understand why the man who had been severely dealt with by Cheon Ha-seong and the old senior, and had been made unable to set foot in the Divine Cult ever again, was in that place.
Just as they were even thinking, 'Could he have infiltrated the Divine Cult to take revenge on us?', Danmok Muyeol strode forward and confidently took the follower's place.
The follower, pushed aside blankly, couldn't even make a squeak.
Having seen his frightening appearance in Qinghai, it was as if his body had frozen on its own.
The people who had been standing in line also just watched the scene blankly, not knowing what was going on.
As they did, people who were quietly whispering amongst themselves appeared.
“That person, isn't he the Young Family Head of the Danmok Demonic Clan?”
“Right? It is, right? I thought so too but was a bit unsure. But why has the Young Family Head of the Danmok Clan gone over there?”
As they were talking, several martial artists of the Danmok Demonic Clan moved, carrying stacks of bowls.
Then they began to neatly lay out the well-stacked bowls.
The followers, though they had decided to open a stall and do business, did not have many bowls that they could prepare individually.
It was a business for just one day, and it seemed the belly button would be bigger than the belly if they were to buy bowls for it.
So they had gone around and borrowed as many as they could, but since the quantity was woefully small, it had not been enough.
But they had not even imagined that Danmok Muyeol, who had suddenly appeared, would have brought bowls.
“Isn't it just a matter of scooping the broth and putting in the noodles? We will do that, so you just boil the noodles.”
Danmok Muyeol said in a voice that was as cold as could be.
Listening to his cold tone, it seemed like words telling them to offer up their necks should have followed, but he was saying that he would be scooping the broth.
“Yes, Young Family Head!”
The follower, who had been scared to death thinking his neck might be lopped off, immediately moved out of the way.
At that, the martial artists of the Danmok Demonic Clan each took their places.
“Form five lines.”
When Danmok Muyeol shouted loudly, the people who had been in line reformed into five lines in perfect order.
At that, the lines shortened in an instant, and the people in the back were surprised, wondering what was going on.
“Don't make any idle chatter while you eat. Eat quickly and get lost.”
Danmok Muyeol said, still coldly, and held out a bowl. At that, the person who received the noodles slurped down the contents of the bowl without knowing if it was going into his mouth or his nose.
“Good.”
From then on, a miracle-like event occurred.
The efficiency was the best. As they gradually got the hang of it, the work progressed at a rapid pace.
One of the followers, who had been working with a pleased heart, suddenly had a strange thought and glanced at Danmok Muyeol.
‘The money… they are collecting it, right?’
Then, looking closely, he saw that there was no one paying, and no one collecting.
‘Could it be that he thought he was just giving it away for free? He has such a handsome appearance, so how could he think such a thing?’
And yet, because Danmok Muyeol was so frightening, he couldn't bring himself to speak, but then thinking that this wouldn't do, he carefully brought it up.
It was all money; he couldn't sell at a loss like this.
“Young Family Head, you are collecting the money, right?”
The follower had asked, having practically braced himself for death. But Danmok Muyeol's shoulders, which had been silently scooping broth in front of him, shot up and then fell. Then he glared at the Danmok Demonic Clan martial artist who was next to him.
“You weren't collecting it?”
“Ah…”
“What were you doing, not even collecting the money!”
“My apologies, Young Family Head.”
Then, from that moment, he immediately began to collect the money and sent other martial artists to collect double the amount from those who had left without paying. A fine had been added for the crime of being impudent.
The people who had left without paying made the poor excuse that they thought it was being given away for free, but there was no way such an excuse would work.
Although there was a bit of a commotion, after that, they all worked in unison and deftly made and sold the noodles.
The followers from Qinghai were greatly surprised by the fact that so many members of the Divine Cult lived in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.
And they were also surprised that so many people had flocked to see the duel of just two people.
In truth, the people didn't even know who Cheon Ha-seong or Danmok Yeon were. But they knew that Cheon Ha-seong was the person who would become the Cult Leader's son-in-law.
As a result, they were flocking to the event out of a desire to see what the Cult Leader's son-in-law looked like.
When nearly seventy percent of the prepared quantity had been sold out, the followers from Qinghai became tense again.
Then, with the hope that the martial artists of the Danmok Clan might help again this time, they spoke as if to themselves into the empty air.
“It seems we're out of the ingredients we prepared, so we'll have to just send the customers away now.”
At that, Danmok Muyeol glared at the man.
“Can't you just go and buy more ingredients?”
“That is true, but it is too far and will take time…”
“What are you doing, not going!”
When Danmok Muyeol shouted at a martial artist of the Danmok Clan, the man launched his body as if he were now used to it.
The followers from Qinghai, who were so tired, gained strength again with the hope that the end of their work was now in sight.
They firmed their resolve, thinking that if they earned money this way, they wouldn't have to receive the settlement funds, and that they should endure it for that reason.
While that was happening, Cheon Ha-seong arrived at the plaza with the Cult Leader.
Behind the Cult Leader followed a large number of attendants.
The leadership of the Divine Cult, including the Protectors, were with them.
Cheon Ha-seong had hoped that as many of the Divine Cult's martial artists as possible would come, but it wasn't just the martial artists; even the common followers had come, to the point where there was no room to set one's foot.
“Son-in-law, you may be nervous, but you must win. With so many people having come, you won't be able to save face if you lose.”
“I wasn't necessarily trying to win…”
“You can't do that. You must no longer think only of your personal reputation. Because when people look at you, they also think of my reputation.”
Cheon Ha-seong, thinking that he was right, bowed his head.
The Cult Leader and the leadership went up onto the platform where they could see the duel well, and Cheon Ha-seong headed for the specially raised stage for the duel.
Before Cheon Ha-seong arrived, Danmok Yeon had already come and was waiting.
“You've arrived first, Senior.”
“This has become quite a big event. I don't know what they want to see that they've come here like this.”
“Isn't it because they want to see what kind of person the Chief Head Instructor of the Martial Arts Academy is?”
“You're good at saying insincere things so shamelessly.”
Saying that, Danmok Yeon wore a triumphant expression.
“I will not be defeated easily. I intend to show the essence of the Divine Cult's wicked arts. I have to show it properly so that the candidates and Head Instructors will take an interest, don't you think?”
“I am hoping for that as well. And I too intend to unfold the Heaven-Shattering Will Art that I have realized to its very limits.”
“I should be scared.”
“I am scared too.”
As the two walked to the center of the stage, showed their respects to each other, and took their ready stances, the arena gradually grew quiet.
Thinking that the duel was finally beginning, everyone held their breath and watched the two.
“I will yield the first move.”
At Danmok Yeon's words, Cheon Ha-seong bowed his head as if to say he would gratefully accept.
Paaang—
The next moment, his body shot towards Danmok Yeon.
The people were so daunted by the incredible speed that they thought Danmok Yeon was being helplessly defeated from the very beginning. It seemed there was no one who could possibly avoid that speed.
Then, they were all astonished to see a thick fog rise up from where Danmok Yeon had been.
“How can he…!”
Everyone shot up from their seats and opened their eyes wide, as if wanting to see into the fog, even if just a little.
Cheon Ha-seong flew his body towards the place where Danmok Yeon had originally been.
Then he swung his sword and scattered the fog. However, in the scattered fog, there was no trace of Danmok Yeon's form.