“Maybe so…”
Moyong Yeon-hwa nodded to the voice within.
Just by diligently training in martial arts to become a late-stage practitioner, Moyong Yeon-hwa felt she fulfilled her duty.
She was just one of the members of the main clan.
Until she left the main house with Moyong Seo to resolve the issues with the Shengsu Faction, she bore no obligations towards them at all.
The inner voice whispered:
– That’s right.
– Shengsu Faction didn’t ask the main clan for help; they chose this path for themselves.
– They brought it upon themselves.
That might be true.
In the end, wasn’t it their choice when the faction master and the seniors allied with the Blood Sect?
As she gazed upon the unfolding scene of a journey of five thousand li, Moyong Yeon-hwa thought so.
“….Ah.”
At that moment, someone caught her eye.
– Haha, sister, long time no see!
It was Moyong Mo.
Obliviously trying to open the gate with the daughters of the Tang Clan and the Jeomchang Faction.
Even while receiving cold stares from the branch clans of the faction, he did not cease his mine inspections.
Though he was just a facade easily manipulated by Ho Cheon-an’s schemes.
– The Moyong Clan that neglects corrupt merchants should awaken! Wake up!
He fearlessly confronted even the opposition of the faction, believing that he was right.
– Sister! Please help! The branch clans of Shengsu Faction are just momentarily distracted! Once they understand the reality of the mines, they too will come to their senses!
Even knowing the relationship between the main house and the faction, he approached her for help, regardless of the risk of being branded a traitor in the faction.
When she faced those upright eyes from her memories, Moyong Yeon-hwa was reminded of why she traveled five thousand li.
“I wanted to bring the Shengsu Faction back into the fold of the main clan. If there’s a problem, I want to solve it together.”
She didn’t want to completely sever ties with Moyong Mo, who played with her as a child, and with Moyong Jin-gyeong, who used to pat her head in her childhood.
That was why she had come this far.
– The branch clans of Shengsu Faction colluded with the Blood Sect. And you still talk about connections?
As if mocking Moyong Yeon-hwa’s thoughts, the inner voice spoke again.
“I believe they too can reflect and repent.”
– For the sake of the Moyong Clan, it’s crucial to thoroughly understand the crimes of the Shengsu Faction and administer severe punishment! You think of tarnishing the entire name of the Moyong Clan over just one faction’s deeds?
“I will bear it all.”
Moyong Yeon-hwa responded to the inner voice, recognizing her change. The vague determination that had been like clouds was gradually becoming solid.
The voice within her seemed to sense her transformation and hastily continued.
– That’s nonsense! Do you think it makes sense to preserve the reputation of the Moyong Clan while not punishing the Blood Sect’s insiders?
“That would be difficult. However, I have made sufficient determination.”
– That’s impossible!
“It is possible.”
Moyong Yeon-hwa spoke soothingly to her inner voice.
“There are branch clans that have been isolated internally while being pointed at externally, yet they have continued to uphold what they believe is right. What’s to stop me from doing the same?”
– That’s foolish talk! The weight you must bear is on an entirely different level from Moyong Mo’s antics!
“It’s not different at all.”
Sure, the difficulty of what Moyong Mo had done and what Moyong Yeon-hwa had to do was significantly different. The obstacles she needed to overcome to resolve the current situation as she wished were numerous, involving the main clan, the branch clans of Shengsu Faction, and the Se-in.
But Moyong Yeon-hwa decided not to fear those problems any longer and to face them head-on.
“Given the circumstances. Given the situation. Since it has been this way until now, I don’t want to swallow my regrets with such notions. I think the Shengsu Faction’s branch clans have just taken a wrong turn. They might not reflect as I wish, but I want to give them a chance.”
The right path and great principles.
If they can follow, they should.
But what if they can no longer follow? What if they have already stepped onto the wrong path?
Must everyone give up?
Moyong Yeon-hwa shook her head.
In special times, one must use special methods.
Moyong Yeon-hwa wished to create a new path for those who had strayed from the way to return on their own.
That, she thought, was the duty of a main clan member, a relative of the branch clans, and a child who was cherished by friends and adults alike.
The answer did not come back.
With a wry smile at the voice within that had vanished without a trace, Moyong Yeon-hwa looked at her own hands.
In the hand that had nothing, the loved sword was grasped.
Upon confirming the sword, Moyong Yeon-hwa swung it with vigor.
“I must win.”
The fierce techniques of the Pado Ilhwi Sword and the smooth moves of the Banyun Mu Wol Sword unfolded alternately.
The Pado Ilhwi Sword was incredibly robust, while the Banyun Mu Wol Sword was smoother than ever, yet Moyong Yeon-hwa instinctively felt discomfort.
Could it be that her doubts were being reflected?
Before long, a masked senior stood before her. This was a virtual senior created by Ho Cheon-an’s descriptions and special training, coming at her with a dragon’s power.
It’s insufficient.
Moyong Yeon-hwa murmured as she exchanged blows with the virtual senior.
Though she gained realization and dramatically improved her martial arts, overcoming the techniques of dominance remained a challenge.
A phrase floated in her mind.
Tangyebyeollon.
In special times, special methods are needed. Moyong Yeon-hwa found herself nodding unconsciously.
The place that needed special methods was not just the Shengsu Faction.
The martial arts matches against the seniors were also a special occasion, and to win in those matches, special strategies were indeed necessary.
To prepare those special strategies.
Moyong Yeon-hwa’s sword began to change little by little.
* *
On the day of the martial arts match between the Shengsu Faction and the direct line, Moyong Jin-gyeong, standing in the clearing of the forest designated as the match venue owned by the Shengsu Faction, let out a sigh of relief.
“It’s been a long week…”
With the important martial arts match looming, the Iron Blood Rat and the Blood Person had suddenly gone missing.
Having known the power of the entity known as Iron Blood Rat, Moyong Jin-gyeong did not think the Blood Person had died or that the Iron Blood Rat had encountered trouble.
Even if there were intruders, it would have been a minority, and it was hard to believe that Iron Blood Rat would lose against such a small group of intruders.
There were a few suspicious signs, but there was no evidence of a battle from Iron Blood Rat; thus, from the perspective of the faction master, it could only be assumed that the Blood Person and Iron Blood Rat had intentionally vacated their positions.
Two days later, the faction master and seniors realized the severity of the situation.
Forced to participate in the match, they rushed their final training, while the other seniors began searching outside for the Iron Blood Rat and the Blood Person.
Then they encountered the mysterious masked individual.
The emergence of an entity hunter with information about Iron Blood Rat forced the faction master and seniors to sharpen their vigilance and collect information.
While preparing for the martial arts match, they also had to find the whereabouts of the Blood Person and Iron Blood Rat, and on top of that, gather news about the unknown entity hunter.
For the faction master and seniors, it had truly been a week filled with anxiety that felt like blood had drained from their bodies.
“Such worries are now at an end…!”
They still had no idea where the Blood Person and Iron Blood Rat were, but if they could secure victory in today’s martial arts match with the direct line, nothing else would matter.
Moyong Jin-gyeong surveyed his surroundings.
He noticed the branch clans keeping a slight distance while maintaining silence.
After witnessing the reality of the mines, the branch clans had begun to feel doubt about the grand undertaking. If he could regain them, he could sufficiently manage the external turmoil.
As he contemplated this, Moyong Jin-gyeong sensed a stir among the branch clans and turned his head.
He saw the members of the main clan approaching from a distance.
Seeing that, Moyong Jin-gyeong clenched his fist.
How could he not be excited?
After a long wait, the martial arts match, which could serve as a stepping stone for the Shengsu Faction to rise, was finally at hand.
“The odds are overwhelmingly in our favor.”
Though the duel between Moyong Seok-jil and Moyong Chan-gyeong would also decide the fate of the mines, in Moyong Jin-gyeong’s mind, it was merely a formality.
The real reason he initiated this match was to showcase the power of the new martial arts strengthened by the Blood Sect’s techniques alongside his own.
Among the seniors, Moyong Wi-ji, one of them, would display the synergy of the Pado Ilhwi Sword and the Banyun Mu Wol Sword while overwhelming Moyong Yeon-hwa, who had just gained her new prowess.
Moyong Seok-jil himself would use that rising martial prowess to fully utilize the Blood Sect’s techniques to take down Moyong Seo.
The branch clans would be shocked and awed at the power of the Blood Sect and the new martial arts that overpowered the main clan.
Once they experience that momentum, if they were to pass on the new techniques from the Blood Sect, the Shengsu Faction would completely fall under their control.
As he thought of this, a grim smile spread across Moyong Jin-gyeong’s face, but as he neared the direct line, his expression hardened unexpectedly.
What had solidified Moyong Jin-gyeong’s face was none other than Moyong Yeon-hwa.
The depth of the martial arts she exuded had changed.
What about her gaze?
Her eyes were deeper and heavier, enough to leave a weight in his heart.
It was immeasurable compared to when they had met at the mine a week ago.
In that change, Moyong Jin-gyeong could think of only one word.
Realization.
“I’m sorry for being late. It took some time for Yeon-hwa to settle her achievements.”
With a tone that dripped with pride rather than apology, Moyong Seo’s comments made Moyong Jin-gyeong bite his lip.
Of all times!
In just that week, Moyong Yeon-hwa had attained realization.
Moyong Jin-gyeong looked at Moyong Wi-ji, the senior who would duel with Moyong Yeon-hwa today. Moyong Wi-ji also seemed surprised by Moyong Yeon-hwa’s sudden growth, as he repeatedly tried to gauge her strength.
Could Moyong Wi-ji really win against Moyong Yeon-hwa?
It was something that Moyong Jin-gyeong could hardly predict.
“Now, let’s begin.”
With that confident declaration from Moyong Seo, the martial arts match between the Shengsu Faction and the direct line commenced, uncertain of its outcome.
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