Chapter 4

## Chapter 4: Murder to Seal the Mouth

Impersonating the name of a prestigious family.

"Actually, that's quite common."

The Five Great Clans, including the Namgung Clan, had vast influence and numerous branches, and they often used the prestige of their names to gain all sorts of benefits.

Among them, there were many fraudsters.

Frankly, even street peddlers would occasionally mention the Nine Sects or the Five Great Clans to sell their medicines.

"The Martial Alliance doesn't go around investigating and punishing every single one of them."

The Martial Alliance isn't that idle, and it's impossible to investigate everyone, nor is it necessary.

That kind of thing is trivial.

But what if someone impersonated the Namgung Clan and taught dark martial arts?

"Hey? Sir Namgung Wook? Why have you been looking so grim? You look like you need to use the restroom."

"You little brat..."

At my sarcasm, Namgung Wook gritted his teeth. He couldn't hide his panic and was drenched in cold sweat.

"Are you going to inform the Martial Alliance? What do you think will change by doing that..."

"It seems there's some misunderstanding. I just wanted to brag. There's a martial arts school in this village teaching the Namgung Clan's secret techniques. They're so powerful that they can almost kill a person. The part about it being dark martial arts was a joke. A joke."

I know it's not a joke, Namgung Wook knows it, the man with the goatee knows it, and my father, Baek Muheun, who's standing next to me with a strange expression, also knows it.

'The more prestigious a family, the more they detest being associated with the dark side.'

Honor and reputation.

The righteous factions stake their lives on these two things.

Of course, they might gossip behind each other's backs, but at least they act with righteousness and chivalry on the surface.

Therefore, they never tolerate insults to their sense of justice.

"Isn't your joke going too far!"

"Come on. Surely the Martial Alliance won't kill you, or me, just for a joke."

"Wha...!"

When I made a gesture of slicing my throat, Namgung Wook's face turned pale.

He's a naive guy, despite his imposing size.

[What are you thinking?]

Father's voice echoed in my mind at that moment.

I glanced sideways, and he was frowning at me.

[They taught dark martial arts, right? Are you sure about that?]

I nodded slightly, unable to use mental communication yet.

'I'll handle it. Just stay out of it.'

I'm not sure if he understood, but it seemed he decided to let me take the lead.

I looked around at the onlookers and spoke.

"Just to be clear, I'll inform the Martial Alliance and the Namgung Clan. Since the great Sir Namgung Wook has opened a martial arts school here, I'll ask them to send a congratulatory wreath. It would be even better if they could verify the world-renowned techniques that Yangsam has learned..."

"Shut up!"

Namgung Wook's face turned red with anger at my sarcastic tone.

If looks could kill, he would have killed me dozens of times already.

I smirked.

"Why? Are you scared?"

"This brat really wants to die..."

He twitched, as if he wanted to attack, but he couldn't because of the many onlookers.

He brought this upon himself.

Murmurs arose.

"What's going on?"

"Seems like Sir Namgung is a fraud?"

"Tsk. Martial artists have such long tongues. If they want to fight, they should just fight, or stop talking."

"I came here to watch a fight."

"Let's wait a bit. It looks like a fight will happen soon..."

If the onlookers were observant, they would realize that the situation was turning serious.

As public opinion turned against him, Namgung Wook's expression became like a dog that desperately needs to go to the bathroom. He glanced around nervously.

The man with the goatee was frowning, where Namgung Wook's gaze landed.

'So, he's the real one.'

I had my suspicions from the beginning.

This bandit-like man didn't seem like someone who could think strategically.

Sure enough, the man with the goatee stepped forward.

"Listen, young sir."

I calmly looked at the man with the goatee, who was smiling softly at me.

But I could sense the killing intent behind his smile.

"Can you take responsibility for what you said?"

"Responsibility?"

"We didn't sell the Namgung Clan's name to teach dark martial arts. Have you considered the consequences of making such claims without evidence?"

If this incident spreads, it won't end with just an investigation by the Martial Alliance.

Namgung Clan's warriors might come here themselves.

If Namgung Wook (self-proclaimed) really taught dark martial arts, he would be executed by the Namgung Clan.

But if not?

"Do you know how dangerous your actions are? The Namgung Clan won't tolerate being associated with dark martial arts, even if it's just a rumor."

Yes, I might face backlash.

For spreading unfounded rumors about the Namgung Clan.

The man with the goatee turned to my father and bowed.

"Master Baek. It seems both sides are very agitated. To avoid a bigger issue, let's keep what was said here confidential and set a date for a proper discussion."

In other words, the man with the goatee was saying:

'You accuse us of teaching dark martial arts? If you make such claims without evidence, you might end up dead. So, back off.'

Martial arts can't be easily categorized as righteous or dark just by looking at the traces.

Righteous martial arts can have cruel techniques, and dark martial arts can have techniques as upright as those of the righteous.

Without knowing the incantations and seeing the techniques firsthand, it's almost impossible to distinguish them.

But 'almost' means it's possible for someone.

*Chuckle*

"Are you trying to scare me?"

"Listen, young sir..."

"Where do you dark scum come from?"

I'm from the Blood Sect, the pinnacle of the dark side, but I'll let this slide.

"!!"

The man with the goatee's expression turned stone-cold at my words.

I had no intention of backing down.

I was certain that Jinmugwan taught dark martial arts.

How could I be so sure without seeing the techniques?

'Because I've been teaching dark martial arts for over ten years.'

The unconscious movements Namgung Wook and the man with the goatee made, the tense postures of their disciples standing behind them—everything was evidence to me.

"Which sect are you from? It looks like you're trying to expand your influence by disguising yourselves as a local martial arts school."

This is a common tactic used by the dark side.

"...Sigh."

The man with the goatee looked at me with a defeated expression.

Then he suddenly burst into laughter.

"Haha... Hahaha!"

The sharp killing intent made my skin tingle. His laughter, infused with inner energy, hurt my ears.

The man with the goatee's aura and posture changed.

Crack, crack!

His hunched back straightened, and his frail body transformed into a muscular one.

'So, he was using the Reverse Bone Technique.'

The transformed man glared at me as if he wanted to devour me. He looked almost like a different person, but the goatee remained.

I gauged his level.

'Probably at the beginning of the First-Class realm.'

A rare expert, harder to find than ginseng in a small village.

No longer hiding his true identity, he glared at me, radiating killing intent.

"You're not an ordinary person. How did you figure out our true identities?"

"That's a trade secret."

My playful tone made his eyebrows twitch.

"You still don't understand the situation, do you? Let's see how long you can keep up this act."

*Boom!*

When he stomped his foot, a large footprint was left on the stone training ground.

"Move! Anyone who takes a step from now on will die!"

A thick killing intent enveloped the training ground.

Some of Jinmugwan's disciples, who had been standing behind the man with the goatee, rushed to block the entrance.

The onlookers, sensing the danger, turned pale and tried to leave.

"Please, spare us."

"We didn't see anything!"

"We won't say a word!"

People who couldn't withstand the killing intent fell to their knees, trembling and begging for mercy.

Among them was Mr. Zhang from the fabric shop, hugging his son Zhangyi tightly. Zhangyi struggled in his father's arms, shouting.

"You bad guys! You'll all die at the hands of Master Baek!"

"Brat! Be quiet!"

The man with the goatee glanced at them, then turned back to me with a sinister smile.

"Brat. Because of you, everyone here will die."

Murder to Seal the Mouth.

They planned to kill all witnesses who had seen their true identities.

"I'll show you what happens when a weakling acts recklessly."

The man with the goatee grinned and strode toward me.