A young man who looks like he just passed his coming-of-age ceremony.
I frowned as I watched the troublemaker causing a commotion.
Why would the direct descendant of the Pang family be here? And for a noble family's bloodline to be causing a scene in public like this.
"Surely, it can't be."
It can't be. It shouldn't be.
It would be a disaster if he's pretending to be the young master of one of the Four Great Families.
Suddenly, I thought of Pang Ahxi, whom I met unexpectedly in Shanxi, but I quickly dismissed the thought from my mind.
There was a faint smell of something I didn't want to get involved with.
Moreover, I hadn't heard of the young master of the Pang family appearing in the Nine Dragon Society in my previous life, so it should pass without incident.
It had to.
"What's going on?"
Just as I was about to ignore it and leave, I ran into Elder Li.
"It's just some strange guy causing a commotion."
I tried to leave with a casual remark, thinking it would be more convenient to leave quickly since I had things to do.
But Elder Li held me back.
"You've been making me run around looking for you since early morning."
"Sir, you look healthier than me, so what are you talking about?"
"Yesterday was the same, but your attitude has become quite disrespectful, even to someone you haven't seen in a while. Your martial arts should also improve as quickly as your attitude."
He messed up my hair again.
Ah, dizzy...
"But, you were looking for me?"
Why did you come all the way here when you could have just sent a servant?
"Ah, it's nothing much. After the Nine Dragon Hall competition ends this time..."
"Wait, why can't it be done! I've shown everything I can! Do I have to display the Black Night Sword for you to believe me?"
"...Calm down, we also have our position to consider..."
"I don't have time! I was told that anyone can apply as long as their identity is verified."
As I was about to speak, Elder Li's gaze shifted. The Black Night Sword is the name of the unique sword technique of the Pang family.
It was a family martial art passed down only through the direct lineage of the family head.
Sensing something strange about to happen, I quickly tried to grab Elder Li, but he was already gone.
"What? Where did he go..."
"Are you the son of the Pang family?"
Elder Li was already in front of the young man claiming to be the young master of the Pang family.
"Y-Yes, Elder Li!"
The servants who were taking applications were startled and bowed when they saw Elder Li appear suddenly.
Of course, the gazes of those who had come to apply to the Gu family's sword team also focused on him.
"Ah, I'm also glad to see you. So, you're the son of the Pang family?"
The young man straightened up at Elder Li's words.
"My name is Pang Wujin, the young master of the Pang family. It's an honor to meet the famous Flame Tooth Fist, Sir."
Flame Tooth Fist was Elder Li's nickname when he was active in the Central Plains.
Elder Li smiled at Pang Wujin's words.
Is he feeling good to be called by his old nickname after so long?
"You are indeed the son of the Pang family. Only a family with such tyrannical physique could produce someone like you. Your face is a spitting image of the family head."
Calling the family head a 'bastard'... No matter how I look at it, 'tyrannical' seems to fit Elder Li better.
"So, why are you here?"
"I came to apply to the Gu family's sword team."
"The young master of the Pang family, leaving your own family's sword team to come here?"
"There's no fun there."
Elder Li laughed heartily at Pang Wujin's words, as if he had found something amusing.
"You're a madman. There was a madman in the Pang family."
"Thank you, I hear it often."
"It's not a compliment, you brat."
As Pang Wujin made a fist, a jet-black ring caught my eye, the same one that Pang Ahxi wore.
"Damn, it's really you..."
Why is the Pang family's brat here, acting like this?
"I came because anyone can apply as long as their identity is verified. But even after showing everything, they said it wasn't enough, so I was in a dilemma."
"Did you get permission from the Pang family?"
"I ran away because I knew they would never give it."
There really is a madman over there.
"You're really a madman."
This time, I agreed with Elder Li's thoughts. He was truly a madman.
Elder Li scanned Pang Wujin's body and smiled. There was something perverted about it...
"You're well-trained. How old are you?"
"I'm twenty-three this year."
"You're young, but... the Pang family is raising a dragon. If our side's idiot were even half as good as you, it would be great."
Is he talking about me with 'idiot'?
Although I was suddenly compared, I wasn't offended.
If this young man is indeed Pang Wujin of the Pang family, then he is a dragon.
Sword Emperor Pang Wujin.
The nickname he would earn in the near future.
The leader of the Heavenly Demon's direct subordinate Black Web Team, he once fought to a draw with one of the Three Respects, the Tyrant of Defeat.
If he could fight to a draw with one of the Three Respects, it means his martial arts were beyond reproach.
However, he died in a fight with Pang Wujin.
Although he was exhausted from countless battles, he fought alone and lost to Pang Wujin.
After hearing the news, the Tyrant of Defeat personally bestowed the nickname 'Sword Emperor' on Pang Wujin.
Elder Li, stroking his long beard, smiled playfully.
"Your identity has been verified, and you seem to be quite skilled. Isn't that fine?"
Isn't that a ridiculous thing to say?
The servant at the registration desk seemed to agree with me, looking troubled.
"...But, Elder Li, even if that's the case..."
"What's the problem? Isn't it what he wants?"
"That's right. I want to participate in the Nine Dragon Hall competition. I want to work for the Gu family's sword team."
"See, he wants it so much."
The servant's pupils shook as if an earthquake had hit. He looked completely at a loss.
Just as a small puddle was forming from the servant's cold sweat, a savior appeared.
"Brother!"
It was Pang Ahxi, who I met yesterday, shouting loudly.
"You madman!"
With a loud shout, she leaped forward. That was definitely infused with inner energy.
Her inner energy-infused kick immediately hit Pang Wujin's chest.
"Ugh!"
Struck by surprise, Pang Wujin flew back and rolled on the registration desk before falling.
"...Wow, that must have hurt a lot."
Is he dead?
"This madman, he ran away as the young master, leaving only a letter behind!"
Still not satisfied, Pang Ahxi ran to Pang Wujin and started stomping on him wildly.
Fortunately, Pang Wujin wasn't dead, as he screamed while being stomped on.
"Ow... Ow! Wait...!! Just a moment...!"
"Leaving home and the best you can do is join someone else's sword team? You're really out of your mind!"
Don't stomp there...
"Brother, you're going to die! Ahxi, stop...!"
"Rather die! Just die! You madman!"
"If I die, who will be the family head?"
"Who cares! Even a neighborhood dog would do better than you!"
"Aaaah!"
I turned away from the brutal scene. Elder Li also seemed troubled, scratching his cheek.
I cautiously approached and spoke to Elder Li.
"Should we just let it be? He might die if we don't stop it."
"Pang family members are all tough, they won't die even if beaten with a steel rod. Don't worry."
"Alive...?"
"...I don't think so?"
After stomping on him like a doll for a while, Pang Ahxi seemed to calm down a bit and panted heavily.
Pang Wujin lay on the ground, either dead or alive.
"Get up."
Pang Ahxi said coldly, but Pang Wujin lay there like a corpse.
"If you don't get up, I'll crush your testicles with a rock."
"I'm up."
At the unimaginably cruel words, Pang Wujin broke out in a cold sweat and jumped up.
Pang Ahxi sighed deeply as she looked at Pang Wujin.
She had a thoughtful expression.
"Alright, I found you... Now let's go home, brother."
Behind Pang Ahxi, people in black robes approached.
They were the Pang family members, including Yu Bi, who I met yesterday as Pang Ahxi's bodyguard.
Pang Ahxi approached me and Elder Li with a surprised look.
"I apologize for causing trouble with our family matters."
"Is this the daughter of the Pang family this time?"
"Yes, I'm Pang Ahxi. Sir Flame Tooth Fist."
"You're as well-trained as your brother, it must be painful to see that bear of a man raise such good children."
I don't know who is calling whom a bear.
"We will not forget to compensate for any damage caused. We will leave now to avoid causing more trouble."
"I'm not going. Ahxi."
Pang Ahxi turned her head with a glare at Pang Wujin's words.
"Are you going to keep talking nonsense?"
"It's not nonsense. I have no intention of returning to the Pang family."
"What's the reason? Why are you acting like this, brother?"
"The Pang family is no fun."
Why does that madman keep talking about fun? It's as if he read my mind, Pang Ahxi said.
"Is the Gu family fun? Is any other family more fun than the Pang family? Why do you keep talking about fun in inappropriate places?"
"At least it's more fun than our family."
"Brother, please grow up. You're the young master."
"That's why I need to find more fun before becoming the family head. The only way to avoid becoming the family head is to become half-dead or die. I don't want either."
Pang Wujin brushed off the dust from his body, his eyes filled with firm resolve.
"I don't want to be the family head, but objectively, there's no one else who can take the position except me. Except for you, Ahxi, the others are beasts wearing the family name. Even if we put them all together, they're no match for me."
He spoke firmly and coldly, evaluating his bloodline.
His words were a mix of pride and arrogance, but he clearly had the talent to back it up.
"Even so, I can't make you the family head. So, I will eventually become the family head. That's why I accepted the annoying and unpleasant title of young master."
The madman is saying mad things, but they sound strangely justified. Is it because I'm also going mad?
Pang Ahxi rubbed her forehead urgently. It seemed like she was getting a headache from the tense situation.
At that moment, Elder Li stepped forward.
"I was going to accept him since he seemed interesting, but we need to consider the Pang family's position, so let's do this."
Pang Wujin looked at Elder Li with hopeful eyes, while Pang Ahxi looked at him with anxious eyes.
"If you can defeat me in a sparring match, I'll accept you."
"....What are you saying? That's ridiculous."
I thought he might come up with a wise solution, but it was impossible.
No matter how great a master Pang Wujin would become in the future, he was still a young talent now. There was no way he could defeat an elder of a noble family.
"...No, you don't have to win with force. We'll have ten exchanges, and if you can even touch me, you win."
"Is that enough?"
Pang Wujin's eyes lit up at Elder Li's words. Pang Ahxi, standing behind, looked anxious but didn't dare to intervene.
"I'll give you ten exchanges. If you can even brush against my clothes, you win."
As soon as he finished speaking, Pang Wujin drew his sword and took a stance.
Wait... Can we really do this with so many people around?
"Wait..."
I was about to suggest doing it in a sparring ground when Elder Li suddenly punched Pang Wujin in the face.
Smack!
With a sound that shouldn't be a punch, Pang Wujin fell to the ground. It was different from when he was hit by Pang Ahxi earlier.
He might really be dead.
"I controlled my strength, so he'll wake up soon."
"...Elder Li, weren't you just going to dodge?"
"I never said that."
This shameless old man...
"Since we agreed, isn't it resolved?"
"Even so, you can't just start with a punch. The opponent is the opponent."
"When someone is annoying, it's best to quiet them down."
"...Isn't the problem that your method is violent?"
"Violent? Kid, what are you talking about! It was a legitimate sparring match."
"And you said if you could touch my clothes, it would count. Since your fist touched him, doesn't that count...?"
I quietly pointed out the flaw, and Elder Li coughed and moved away.