Chapter 204 |
The Jinzhou Eon Clan[1].
Though settings vary between martial arts novels, they’re usually famous for their Corpse Puppetry Arts[2] and Jiangshi techniques.
In “Supreme Heavenly Demon,” they appeared several times as a group renowned for their sorcery while also being skilled in martial arts.
Located in Jinzhou in Hebei Province, they’re a prominent family whose business spans funeral services and liquor trade.
Since alcohol is inseparable from ancestral rites, they naturally expanded into that business.
The Jinzhou Eon Clan’s origins trace back to a legend of a sage who learned Corpse Puppetry Arts during the Great Calamity to return deceased bodies to their families.
What is Corpse Puppetry Arts?
It’s a technique that raises corpses and turns them into jiangshi.
Though newly raised corpses are weaker than copper jiangshi, it’s undeniably a powerful sorcery.
Of course, they also create the commonly known jiangshi, with their strongest weapon being the Spirit Jiangshi.
The Jinzhou Eon Clan is known to possess four Spirit Jiangshi.
Their power is said to be equivalent to gold-grade jiangshi among copper, iron, silver, and gold levels.
In other words, they have four Transformation Realm-level jiangshi.
What’s more mind-blowing is that in martial arts novels, the Jinzhou Eon Clan belongs to the Righteous Faction.
It seems strange how a family that raises corpses could be part of the Righteous Faction in this Confucian society.
They don’t just raise any corpse into jiangshi – they purchase bodies legitimately.
They’re known for creating jiangshi through proper transactions to buy corpses.
Moreover, there are few sects or families who haven’t received their help, as they still assist in preserving bodies from Blood Events and helping families conduct proper funerals.
Their martial arts were famous for fist techniques and footwork, if I remember correctly. The Eon Clan’s Fist Technique[3], Ghost Spirit Divine Fist[4], Cloud-Stepping Ghost Spirit Steps[5], Dream Soul Ghost Spirit Jiangshi Technique[6]…
They’re similar in position to the Tang family, who use poison yet belong to the Righteous Faction.
However, that only lasts until this generation.
Later, during the rebellion, the Blood Immortal Sect’s spy will take control of the Jinzhou Eon Clan.
In the original story, the Jinzhou Eon Clan eventually becomes the Blood Immortal Sect’s jiangshi supplier.
In other words, someone among them is already the Blood Immortal Sect’s puppet.
Since the Jinzhou Eon Clan never directly fought the Supreme Heavenly Demon in the original story, like the Wudang incident, the puppet’s name remains unknown.
In the novel “Supreme Heavenly Demon,” they were only referred to as ‘the traitor.’
What the Supreme Heavenly Demon fought were the four Spirit Jiangshi.
Yeo Ha-ryoon, the Supreme Heavenly Demon, defeated them all simultaneously.
Finally, he burned down the Jinzhou Eon Clan compound and beheaded all family members – since the traitor’s identity was unknown, he didn’t spare even a dog, beheading everyone.
At this point in time, they haven’t been taken over by the Blood Immortal Sect yet.
If that puppet could be dealt with quickly, at least four future Blood Events could be prevented.
Next is the Northern Peng Clan.
The Northern Peng Clan.
They’re the most powerful family representing Hebei Province, so much so that their family name includes “Northern Hebei.”
The saying that they rule Hebei Province is no empty boast.
They’re often portrayed as allies with the Jinzhou Eon Clan since their business territories don’t overlap.
They’re famous saber techniques enthusiasts known for the Five Lakes Single Blade Technique.
Usually, they’re a family where supreme saber technique masters like Saber Emperor or Saber King frequently appear. But in Supreme Heavenly Demon, neither appeared.
Which means they didn’t make it into the world’s top ten masters.
Of course, that doesn’t mean the family’s power is weak by any means.
Perhaps because Peng is such a minor surname, they rarely appear as protagonists in martial arts novels.
In reincarnation or regression stories, the Namgoong family, famous for their Imperial Sword, appears most often as protagonists.
Still better than the Jinzhou Eon Clan though. They’re really minor…
Professor Jin’s heart stirred for a moment.
He understood the feelings of those who devoted themselves to protecting rare wildlife.
“Oh, Miss Namgoong and Blood Whip Queen are here too!”
“How delighted we are to meet the three of you!”
The two respectfully greeted the Namgoong siblings and Tang-ah while completely ignoring Jin Cheonhee and Sama Hyeon.
Watching their attitude with interest, Sama Hyeon cheerfully transmitted:
[Wow, brother. Looks like they’ve had their heads cracked by those three but not by us yet. They don’t know how to greet properly~]
Sama Hyeon’s white, distinctly-jointed fingers twitched.
Jin Cheonhee was well aware those hands could crush human skulls like tofu.
[Let it be. Let’s just eat. The food will get cold.]
[But brother. They’re ignoring you~? They haven’t introduced themselves or asked your name yet~?]
Sama Hyeon whispered with slightly excited eyes.
It was true.
Eon Jeongmu.
Peng Cheonshik.
Both were already acquainted with the Namgoong siblings.
Of course, the same went for Tang-ah, daughter of the Sichuan Tang Family.
They regularly attended the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, and being from great families, interactions were inevitable.
Perhaps that’s why they weren’t exchanging names.
But this was quite rude.
In the martial world, it was customary to meet by saying “I am so-and-so from such-and-such family” and asking “Which family/sect are you from?”
To completely skip this introduction was clearly discourteous and improper.
It was behavior that openly declared “I’m ignoring you!”
Naturally, martial artists, suffering from inflated egos, self-centered mindsets, and living on pride alone, couldn’t tolerate such treatment.
Even Sama Hyeon expressed displeasure.
Of course, Jin Cheonhee didn’t.
At forty years old, seeing young ones measuring their acorns against each other only made him think “Ah… the passion of youth…” and let it pass.
Moreover, crucially, Jin Cheonhee wasn’t a martial artist.
He was a doctor.
He had no interest in such shows of force from the start.
But he worried Sama Hyeon might crack some skulls trying to stand up for his brother.
Right. Unorthodox Faction members need Unorthodox Faction-style persuasion.
[Hyeon. When these family kids get something broken, where do you think they’ll run to? They’ll rush to the White Dragon Medical Pavilion, and I’ll be very, very annoyed having to treat them. Are you going to do that? Create more work for your brother?]
He translated “don’t crack their skulls because they’re pitiful” into Unorthodox Faction language.
[Sigh~ Brother, why are you a doctor… No, thinking about it, that’s not the issue.]
Just then, Peng Cheonshik addressed Jin Cheonhee.
“Our conversation seems to bore you? Warrior Jin.”
Now Jin Cheonhee got it.
Ah, they came to pick a fight.
They weren’t unaware of Jin Cheonhee. They deliberately ignored him.
I see. So this is the flower of martial arts novels, the Later Period’s trouble-seeking!
Still, they had slightly more sense than Hwangbo Mu-hwi.
At least they weren’t openly complaining about food.
Hmm, in novels these guys always pick fights with the protagonist, get their heads cracked, and end up humiliated… if I do that too… I should go easy if I do. Avoid lacerations and fractures.
He’d often wondered while reading about such groups picking fights with protagonists – did they have no brains? Was the author abandoning plausibility for story?
But only after coming to the martial world did he understand.
In this era without TV, radio, or GodTube, all they could trust were rumors.
Even in the modern era where information overflows, pseudo-science and anti-vaccine movements run rampant.
It was natural to be skeptical when martial world rumors contained many errors.
But even believing them wouldn’t change the outcome.
Fundamentally, martial artists had strong egos.
If forced to train by others, they’d only reach the level of a low-rank practitioner at best.
The ego developed by people who voluntarily punch rocks with bare hands and thrust their hands into heated sand was like a blade.
While older martial artists usually gained some worldly wisdom and restraint, young ones had none of that.
Their inflated egos knew nothing of the martial world’s terrors.
No matter how much family elders warned young people, hardly any martial artists listened.
This was why every family struggled with educating their children.
A fight at an inn. Quite classic.
Was there really a need to increase work for the Martial Righteous Alliance ER branch already?
Alright. Three quick hits with the Joyous Energy Bullet, then dislocate each shoulder once! I can relocate them without aftereffects!
His heart thumped with excitement.
Just then, Namgoong Woon quickly stepped in.
“When the four seas are brothers, how can we fight before the assembly even begins? Let’s exchange greetings amicably.”
“Brother Namgoong speaks true. I apologize for raising my voice.”
He hadn’t expected such a ready apology.
Oh? Why the sudden retreat?
Knowing martial artists’ nature, they wouldn’t have started if they planned to back down like this.
But perhaps they’re waiting for another chance out of respect for Namgoong Woon?
However, he immediately rejected that thought.
Because Eon Jeongmu’s expression was still full of fighting spirit. He said:
“Instead, this Eon will offer a drink as apology. Please accept my apology.”
He poured liquor into a cup and slightly flicked his wrist toward Jin Cheonhee.
“Here. Please accept.”
He threw the cup with internal energy toward Jin Cheonhee.
So that’s their approach. For provocation, this is quite stylish.
He liked it.
The cup filled with internal energy spun as it flew toward Jin Cheonhee.
Strangely, not a drop of liquor spilled from the cup.
If caught wrongly, the cup would explode and create small cuts with its shards.
An even bigger problem would be the humiliation of getting liquor splashed on one’s face.
Right. A young martial artist wouldn’t back down here.
Jin Cheonhee’s sleeve slightly puffed up.
His hand, containing the mysteries of Five Elements True Qi, Profound Origin Heaven and Earth Divine Technique, and Taiqing Mountain Hand, effortlessly caught the spinning cup.
To outside observers, it would look like he simply caught the cup normally.
Tak.
Namgoong Woon, Namgoong Yeon, Tang-ah, and Eon Jeongmu’s group each showed different expressions.
They probably saw according to their martial arts depth.
The most unreadable among them was Sama Hyeon.
Sama Hyeon maintained the same expression as before, just grinning.
Jin Cheonhee downed the drink in one go.
Ugh, still tastes bad.
Liquor that hadn’t improved past forty wouldn’t suddenly become tasty now.
But this too was romantic.
Now it was his turn to offer a penalty drink.
Glug glug glug-
He lightly filled the cup.
A Return Strike[7] would be good.
Smiling while imbuing the cup with the rotating principle of the Flicking Heaven-Prenetrating Finger, Jin Cheonhee spoke:
“I drank well. Then for my return drink…”
The cup left Jin Cheonhee’s hand, spinning as it flew.
On the surface, it looked no different from the cup Eon Jeongmu had thrown. However, there was one strange thing.
“…”
It was slow.
Naturally, it should have been fast since he threw it with internal energy according to the principle.
However, what Jin Cheonhee threw defied such common sense.
Eon Jeongmu’s eyebrow twitched.
“Then I’ll receive it.”
He filled his hand with internal energy and deployed the Golden Silk Hand[8].
His confident catch lasted only a moment before the cup wouldn’t stop.
He clearly felt the sensation of his fingers being pulled along with it.
This…!
As he hurriedly reinforced his internal energy, the rotation stopped and balance broke.
Crash!
The cup shattered, spraying liquor everywhere.