Chapter 917: So in the end.

I followed Gu Bong, who had rushed out.

Exiting the alley we’d entered earlier, we returned to the bright street.

As we quickly left that place too, a much wider space revealed itself.

A plaza?

Unknown stone statues were erected, and something resembling a circular pond had been made.

Curious, Gu Yangcheon was quietly observing it.

“That way.”

At the disciple’s words, Gu Bong moved forward with a strained face.

Following his gaze, I shifted my attention.

“This makes no sense!”

I heard murmuring voices from ahead.

“You’re suddenly raising the price? That’s different from the contract.”

I wondered who was making such a racket.

Looking in the direction of the voices, I saw several people wearing familiar martial arts uniforms.

They were the same uniforms as Gu Bong’s, belonging to the Mount Hua Sect.

And in front of them.

“How dare a lowly thing raise its voice like that.”

There stood a guy, hands behind his back, sneering at the disciple.

He had snow-white hair reaching down to his back, was quite large in build, and, as expected, possessed beast ears.

Judging by his appearance, he seemed to be of the dog or wolf lineage.

“Even if you are a member of the family. This is clearly…!”

Slaaack-!

The disciple’s head snapped to the side.

The guy had slapped his cheek.

“You vermin. How dare you mention the family with such impunity?”

His eyes were filled with disgust and mockery.

“Know your place. You runts who ran away because you weren’t chosen.”

Watching that, I nodded.

His choice of words was quite colorful.

Not chosen?

I strained my ears, wondering what he meant. At that moment, Gu Bong quickly headed over.

“Young Master Baek.”

At Gu Bong’s words, the white-haired youth looked at him.

“Well, look who it is.”

The guy’s lips curled upwards.

“Isn’t that our Heugya?”

“…”

Gu Bong flinched at the guy’s words.

“…I am Gu Bong of Mount Hua.”

“Ah, right. Of course.”

The fellow nodded repeatedly, as if realizing it belatedly.

“After all, such a name is a luxury for a loser.”

“…”

“Long time no see, Gu Bong. Looks like you’re in charge this time?”

“That’s right. However, it seems there’s a problem…”

“Ah. It’s nothing major.”

Tap. Tap.

The guy tapped the disciple’s cheek he had just slapped.

“How dare this ignoramus contradict me?”

Seeing that, Gu Bong grabbed the disciple’s shoulder and pulled him back.

“…Senior Uncle….”

The disciple who had been slapped looked at Gu Bong with a crestfallen expression.

“What’s the matter?”

“Well…. We paid the agreed price correctly yesterday. But they suddenly raised the price, saying they won’t hand it over unless we pay the increased amount…”

Hearing this, Gu Bong’s brow furrowed.

“Young Master Baek. Is this true?”

“That’s right. Is there a problem?”

“…Once a contract is made, any other matters should be discussed in the next transaction. This is unreasonable.”

“Unreasonable?”

Young Master Baek chuckled dismissively.

It was a remarkably rude smile.

“Unreasonable? Gu Bong, you’re being harsh.”

“If this isn’t unreasonable, then what is….”

“It’s not unreasonable; it’s strictly the privilege of nobility.”

“…”

At Young Master Baek’s words, Gu Bong fell silent.

“It’s a right you can exercise because you have power. Isn’t that right? You should know that better than anyone?”

At the guy’s words, Gu Bong bit his lip. They seemed to know each other.

As if finding his expression amusing, Young Master Baek’s smile deepened.

“Ah, yes. Let’s say it’s unreasonable, as you say. But.”

Tap! Tap! The guy’s index finger poked Gu Bong’s shoulder, pushing him repeatedly.

“So, what can you guys do?”

The disciples heard him and ground their teeth in silence.

The atmosphere was tense.

“Things that couldn’t stand their lowly status and ran away. What exactly can you do?”

“This has nothing to do with status. This was clearly obtained through a contract between Mount Hua and the Baek family.”

“A contract? Let’s be clear. It was just something Father agreed to do once because you begged so much.”

“…Young Master Baek…!”

Gu Bong’s voice finally rose.

But.

“If you don’t like it, why? Shall we have a go right here?”

Gu Bong fell silent again at Young Master Baek’s provocation.

“It might be fun to do it like old times. Right? I’ve never lost to you before. What? Are you scared?”

Young Master Baek turned the finger he was pointing and tidied Gu Bong’s clothes.

“Afraid you might scratch this noble body? Or that our family might get angry? Is that what you fear?”

“Young Master Baek….”

“Of course, you’d be scared. If that happens… what was it? Your group formed by bunching up losers. Ah, Mount Hua, wasn’t it? That place would be in trouble. That’s why you can’t do anything, right?”

Grrrrd.

Gu Bong’s shoulders trembled violently.

He looked like he might explode any second, but he was barely managing to suppress his anger.

Young Master Baek smirked upon seeing Gu Bong’s trembling shoulders.

“Are you angry? Then go ahead and charge. Let’s see what happens.”

“…”

“I’m saying, go ahead and break the contract if you want to.”

As the guy said that with a smirk, Gu Bong continued to tremble, then…

…he finally asked Young Master Baek.

“…What exactly do you want?”

“Hm? Didn’t I say? I asked for more money.”

“I know well that you wouldn’t do this just for money. Doing this means you want something from me.”

“Wow.”

Young Master Baek exclaimed in admiration and clapped his hands.

“Still as sharp as ever.”

“Just what is it you want….”

“Oh, well… I’m not asking for anything major.”

The guy said to Gu Bong.

“Just some entertainment.”

“What…?”

“Seeing castoffs and abandoned things struggling to survive despite their lowly status is pathetic. I can’t stand it when I see that.”

“Young Master Baek…!”

“Things that would be trampled if trampled upon. Why are they struggling so hard to live….”

Young Master Baek’s gaze swept over the surrounding disciples one by one.

“If you’re losers, just act like losers. Stay within your limits.”

“…”

“Ah, if you don’t like it, feel free to file a formal complaint using the name of that Mount Hua or whatever it is.”

Heh heh heh. As Young Master Baek laughed, those behind him joined in.

“Then, not only will the contract be canceled, but you’ll also have to pay hefty penalty fees.”

Grrrk.

Gu Bong gritted his teeth.

However, he could only grit his teeth and couldn’t utter another word.

“Of course, I don’t know where else you’ll find anyone willing to contract with you besides here.”

At Young Master Baek’s words, not only Gu Bong but also the disciples were speechless.

Their faces were filled with humiliation, but no one could retort.

“Ah, but I am somewhat magnanimous, so I’ll give you one chance.”

Looking at them, or rather, at Gu Bong, Young Master Baek spoke.

“Gu Bong.”

The moment Gu Bong looked up at Young Master Baek’s call.

“Kneel and beg.”

“…What?”

Young Master Baek said.

Hearing this, Gu Bong’s eyes widened.

“Gu Bong. I want to see if your knees are still as heavy as ever. How about it?”

“…What are you saying right now….”

“I mean, kneel down on both knees right here and beg me. Then I’ll give it to you for the original price.”

“…”

“Well?”

Young Master Baek spoke to Gu Bong as if he were serious.

It wasn’t Gu Bong who reacted to those words, but the second-generation disciples.

“Senior Uncle! No! We should just give up…!”

“That’s right…! We don’t even need to hear this…!”

“Quiet.”

Clang-!

Swords were thrust towards the second-generation disciples’ necks.

Those who appeared to be Young Master Baek’s guards had somehow gotten close to the disciples.

“How dare you retort to someone like me?”

Young Master Baek looked at the disciples with a contemptuous expression.

“You guys shut up and just watch. See how this guy reacts.”

He said this and moved closer to Gu Bong.

Getting right up to his face, he leaned his head close to Gu Bong’s ear.

“We don’t have much time. My time is precious, unlike yours, so choose quickly. Will you kneel? Or will you just return to your filthy den empty-handed?”

Grrrrip….

Gu Bong clenched his fists as if to burst them.

Seeing them tremble, it seemed he was gripping them tightly.

After trembling for a moment, Gu Bong’s hands stopped shaking shortly after.

Had he made his choice? Or should I say, had he given up?

It was probably the former.

As if to prove it, Gu Bong’s body slowly lowered.

“Hahaha!”

Young Master Baek burst into laughter, as if he had been waiting for this.

“S-Senior Uncle!”

“No!”

No matter what the disciples said, Gu Bong remained silent and slowly knelt down.

Young Master Baek looked at Gu Bong with satisfaction and said.

“As expected, that posture suits you perfectly….”

Just then.

“Idiot.”

Gu Bong’s descending body stopped.

“…!”

Gu Bong’s eyes suddenly widened.

It wasn’t because he had stopped himself by his own will.

Someone intervened and grabbed Gu Bong’s arm, pulling him up.

“What is this….”

Gu Bong started to speak as he looked at the owner of the arm, but he couldn’t continue.

It was because his blue eyes were so piercing.

“I didn’t know you were such an idiot. You’re even more idiotic than I thought?”

Despite the harsh words, his voice lacked melody.

However, it contained a thick layer of disgust and irritation.

“I thought you might be decent since that old man doted on you so much. Looks like that old man misjudged you badly.”

“…You…!”

Gu Bong tried to get angry upon hearing that, but the youth, Gu Yangcheon, was no longer looking at him.

He was looking at Young Master Baek, and Young Master Baek was also looking at Gu Yangcheon.

With a considerably distorted expression.

“Who the hell are you?!”

As if his amusing situation had been interrupted, Young Master Baek became furious.

“How dare you butt in and interfere? Do you want to die?”

Gu Yangcheon didn’t answer and just stared into Young Master Baek’s eyes.

“You piece of trash…!”

No matter what Young Master Baek said, Gu Yangcheon, after glancing at him briefly…

“Confirmation complete.”

Suddenly uttered a single phrase.

“Do you even know who I am…!”

Slaaash—-!!

“Gack!”

He swung his hand and slapped Young Master Baek across the face.

The guy’s head snapped sideways.

“Huh…?”

What just happened?

Young Master Baek didn’t comprehend what had just happened to him.

He grabbed his burning cheek.

Drip! Something flowed down to his mouth.

It was blood.

“This… what is this?”

Had he just been hit?

Him? By that trash?

Young Master Baek, realizing the situation, became enraged, but…

“You disgusting bastard–!”

WHAM—-!!

“Guhck!”

Gu Yangcheon swung his fist again, driving it into Young Master Baek’s face and slamming him into the ground.

CRUNCH—-!!

The ground cracked, sending fragments flying.

Seeing that, the people around covered their mouths.

“Uh… urk….”

Young Master Baek, embedded in the ground, trembled violently.

“Doesn’t seem like there are many restrooms here?”

Gu Yangcheon said to Young Master Baek, seeing that.

“Maybe that’s why you’re spewing shit from your mouth. How filthy.”

Gu Yangcheon’s expression as he spoke was more blank than ever.

This meant.

That he was genuinely angry, which was rare for him.