Chapter: 679
“Are you okay…?”
This is what Nahi asked me as I was walking down the street right after Beomdong disappeared with the Flying Dragon Faction.
I glanced at Nahi and asked.
“What do you mean?”
As I looked at her, Nahi bowed her head and replied.
“I’m worried that we can just send the Dragon Lord away so easily…”
“Why? Do you think that level of threat would be meaningless?”
“…”
Seeing Nahi like that, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
She didn’t respond to my words.
I guess that means she’s on my side.
I understand Nahi’s concerns.
‘I guess it doesn’t make sense that I only used this when there’s a better way.’
The most I did to Beomdong was threaten his family.
I didn’t put a gold restriction on it, nor did I turn him into a demon.
‘I could have done it, but I didn’t.’
The magic was already in place, so I could have crushed him at any time.
If I wanted to, I could have imposed the gold restriction, but I didn’t.
Because there was a reason for it to be that way.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve thought it through.”
“However, if the Lord reveals the matter…”
“That won’t be the case.”
I mean, I said I had his daughter.
That should be enough for Beomdong.
‘He’s a guy who cares deeply about his daughter, you know.’
I once heard he had kids in my past life.
This was something that came to light when Beomdong defected to the demons. When it got out that he hid his child in Hubei, the Peng Clan stepped in and took Beomdong hostage.
I was wondering if he would care about his child now that he’s with the demons.
Surprisingly, as soon as the news spread, Beomdong headed straight to Paengga alone. As a result, he ended up getting killed by Paengga.
Even after becoming a demon, he went to Hubei alone for his daughter, which shows he has a special attachment to his family.
‘Even if that’s not the case…’
I guess it doesn’t matter.
“There’s still a way to use it. Just focus on what I asked you to do.”
“…Understood.”
Nahi bowed her head as she spoke. Looking at her, I asked.
“What did that crazy woman do?”
As I mentioned the madwoman who had just smashed the Flying Dragon Faction, Nahi cautiously replied.
“As you commanded, I tied her up and gagged her in a corner of the room.”
“Good job. Keep a close watch. She’ll probably regain consciousness in about two hours.”
Then she will go crazy again.
Just imagining it gives me a headache.
‘I really hoped to avoid calling her in if possible.’
Since she’s not your average person, I tried to refrain from using her as much as possible.
But it turns out that she’s the only one who fits the bill for what I planned.
“When that rascal opens her eyes, report to me immediately.”
“Lead us.”
“By the way, have you heard from Jisun?”
“There was a report that they had departed.”
“Then they should arrive in a few days.”
I thought it would be easier to manage things if they came within five days at the latest.
“Then check on Cheonra Daeju. Just organize what’s happening on your end and send it to me by tomorrow.”
“I will follow your orders.”
Nahi took her leave after responding and disappearing from sight.
“Huh.”
After Nahi left, I surveyed my surroundings.
The time was shifting from early morning toward noon.
I was getting annoyed since ridiculous things had been happening since morning.
‘I think it’s past meal time.’
From this point on, I had to think things through a bit.
The time we had set for a meal together had long passed.
I had already sent a message to Beomdong about something happening, so he must have eaten first.
‘But it’s a bit awkward to go train now.’
Today was supposed to be important for starting my afternoon training.
With some free time on my hands, it would be better to wrap things up and head out.
“…Tsk.”
I clicked my tongue shortly after wrapping my mind around the plan.
I know it’s unavoidable, but I didn’t think I would be wasting time on someone like Beomdong.
‘I should just go get some work done.’
With that thought, I took a step forward.
The first place I headed straight to was Baekhwasangdan.
It was also the room located on the highest floor.
“You’ve arrived.”
“Yes.”
As I stepped into the room, I saw Mrs. Mi.
She was, as always, looking at the papers piled high on her desk.
Amidst the many pieces of correspondence, a flower caught my eye.
It seemed to be the flower I had gifted her before my trip to the North Sea.
‘It’s still fresh, huh?’
The lifespan of a flower isn’t that long, so it’s quite impressive that it remains so vivid.
Rustle.
The sound of Mrs. Mi flipping through the letters filled the room.
Watching her, I recalled that last time I saw Mo Yong-hee.
They say she’s been learning from Mrs. Mi; is she starting to resemble her more and more?
‘Should I call that good or bad?’
It feels a bit ambiguous.
Just as I was pondering, Mrs. Mi spoke up.
“I heard something happened.”
“…”
I had to laugh awkwardly at her words.
Oh no.
‘You heard about it already!’
She was probably referring to the incident with Beomdong visiting earlier today.
I had just finished that and came here, but I didn’t expect Mrs. Mi to already know about it.
“It was nothing special.”
As I awkwardly replied, Mrs. Mi turned her gaze from the letter to me.
“The lord of the Meng came to see you, and you say it’s nothing?”
I swallowed hard; it was really hard to bear her keen gaze despite my gains in experience.
Even as my level increased, it seemed I could still hardly endure the looks from my father or Mrs. Mi.
“I know the affiliated clan has been keeping an eye on our faction, but why search for you instead of me?… Is it because of some friction you had with the branch manager last time?”
“…”
My eyes widened slightly at those words.
Did she know about that too?
“No, well… it resolved itself.”
I couldn’t bring myself to deny it outright, so I evasively replied.
‘It’s not a lie, so I should be fine, right? It did get resolved.’
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Mi fixed her gaze on me.
The pressure made me want to look away, but I held on.
A moment of silence passed.
“Would it be alright if I cleaned it up for you?”
“…Pardon?”
I blurted out a confused reply at Mrs. Mi’s unexpected request.
“Do you mean to clean it up?”
“What are you talking about?”
“If you want it done, just say so.”
“No….”
I hesitated and struggled to find my words.
I figured out what Mrs. Mi was implying.
‘If she offers to clean it up, she could actually do it.’
I understood she meant she’d take care of the Flying Dragon Faction.
But even though Baekhwasangdan is recognized in the Central Plains, would they really have the power to eliminate a faction under the Meng?
Regardless, I wasn’t willing to accept assistance.
“It’s alright. I can handle it myself.”
Even if such a thing were possible, I had no intention of accepting help from Mrs. Mi.
I’ll manage on my own.
It’s what I planned to do from the beginning, after all.
Hearing my response, Mrs. Mi nodded slightly.
“Understood.”
She wouldn’t ask twice.
Then she promptly redirected her gaze back to the letter, as sharp as a knife.
This wasn’t really part of the main reason for my visit anyway.
“I have a question for you.”
“Speak up.”
“What’s going on with the lord?”
Pause.
At my question, Mrs. Mi paused her reading and turned her gaze back to me.
“I heard you received a letter from him.”
“Yes, I did see it, but…”
Mrs. Mi did pass me the letter containing my father’s message.
‘But there seems to be something bothering you.’
It strangely irritated me, even though it was clearly written in my father’s handwriting and tone.
“Is something wrong with him?”
“…”
Mrs. Mi’s expression changed slightly at my question.
I could sense concern flickering in her eyes.
That alone told me something was up.
So I waited for her response.
“I’d considered it, but I can’t reveal anything to you yet.”
The disappointing response fell from Mrs. Mi’s lips.
Just as I was about to sulk, wishing I could glean more information.
“You still haven’t inherited the clan’s legitimate status yet, so this is expected.”
“…!”
Her next words made my heart sink instantly.
“Understood.”
As I quickly wrapped things up, my mind whirled with the implications of what Mrs. Mi just said.
‘We can’t discuss it yet.’
To be precise, it meant I couldn’t be informed because I hadn’t inherited the position of Sogaju.
That implies.
‘It indicates that the Sogaju can hear it. It also suggests something significant has happened to my father.’
Moreover, since she’s in a position where she can’t speak freely about it, Mrs. Mi must’ve been careful with her words.
Knowing Mrs. Mi, she wouldn’t make a casual slip of the tongue, so it made sense that she deliberately relayed this information.
“…Thank you.”
I gave Mrs. Mi a slight bow. In response, she nodded lightly.
That seemed to affirm my thoughts were correct.
‘…Then it seems there’s something going on with my father.’
I know the family troubles have been coming to light for a while now.
‘This is a delicate situation.’
It’s also tricky to investigate the matter.
It feels too intrusive to meddle. As Mrs. Mi pointed out, I haven’t taken over the family business yet.
‘So for now, it seems like I just have to wait.’
At this stage, I figured it would be better to go find Gu Hee-bi instead.
‘I should ask her about my grandfather too.’
Also, I can’t keep sending people to keep an eye on Cheonma forever.
‘…They said they caught on to those who’ve been deployed around him already, so I guess I should go.’
It was said that Cheonma noticed the people I had previously assigned around him.
Consequently, they were unable to approach him deeply.
Tsk.
In any case, things never resolve themselves neatly for me.
That’s how my life has always been.
Feeling this uneasy inkling, I stated to Mrs. Mi.
“Now that the important matters are wrapped up, I’ll be on my way.”
“Where do you plan on heading next?”
I heard this as I was preparing to leave after bowing.
“Probably towards the Meng.”
“The Murim Alliance….”
Upon hearing my destination, Mrs. Mi interjected.
“So, it seems you’re planning to go today.”
I scratched my cheek after hearing Mrs. Mi’s words.
It seemed like she could tell my destination and the reason I was headed there.
It sure is hard to hold a conversation. That’s why dealing with clever individuals feels uncomfortable.
Especially when it’s difficult to hit back against intelligent people.
“…If I wait a few days, I think it’ll be more bothersome since there will be so many people.”
“Alright, have a pleasant trip.”
“…Yes.”
After answering, I stepped out the door.
It was now time to go.
With our discussions settled, I set off.
I departed the merchant association and made my way toward the Murim Alliance.
I was headed there, likely in accordance with Mrs. Mi’s expectations.
‘It’s about time, after all.’
The area was unusually lively.
The road toward the Meng was far more crowded than usual.
There wasn’t any other reason for the commotion.
This was because today marked less than ten days until the Non-Mu Festival, and today was the first day applications could be submitted.
Thanks to that, there were tons of martial artists visible.
And many people had arrived to witness those martial artists perform.
Even more.
‘In just five days, it’s going to be an absolute frenzy.’
It’s like this on the first day, but it’ll only get crazier in five days.
That moment will also be the last day for applications… and to top it off,
‘All the famous families and nobles will show up that day.’
It’s a time when every renowned martial artist gathers.
It would’ve been so convenient if everyone could come and just finish things on the first day, but the well-known figures will undoubtedly wait until the last day.
The reason is simple.
‘They think it would look ridiculous to come from the very beginning.’
It’s said that the main characters always make their entrance last.
Those people will likely come late because they feel they’re losing face, and care about their public image.
I can imagine them all behaving in such a predictable manner.
‘That damned politics and the social standings… tsk.’
Why live so begrudgingly?
Why not just let loose and live a little?
‘Well, I’m conveniently slipping through thanks to them, so I can’t complain.’
But considering how overcrowded it’s going to be, it would make more sense to finish up quickly while they’re still twiddling their thumbs.
That’s why I made sure to arrive today, ahead of everyone else.
As I pushed through the crowd, I managed to arrive at my destination shortly.
I could not enter the main compound of the Murim Alliance, but only the entrance was open.
Usually, they wouldn’t even open it, but since they needed to handle applications, they opened it today.
“Please line up correctly!”
As soon as I stepped in, that shout rang out.
The warriors standing at the Murim Alliance were straining to keep the order amidst the throng.
Within that chaos, I could hear whispers from warriors affiliated with other clans.
“…That person seems to be the Innate Light Sword (先千武光劍)?”
“What!? Isn’t he that young master who’s famous in the Central Plains these days?”
It’s a name I’ve never heard before.
Innate what…?
‘What a ridiculous nickname.’
Why don’t they just come up with something more memorable?
“No way! How did a martial artist who only operates from Qinghai end up here?”
“I guess he felt that Qinghai couldn’t contain him. He wants to establish a wider name.”
“Right… As expected, it’s the Innate Light Sword. I heard he’s well past his peak for his age too…”
“What!? If that’s true… then this is really something remarkable.”
Those around me were raising a commotion about him.
It’s as if they’re desperately discussing and making a big deal out of the matter while I’m none the wiser.
This is precisely why I detest crowds.
“Hey, that must be the Wing Blade Swordmaster (昧波正設劍) ruling over Sacheon!”
“Over there is the Wind Enveloping Bullet Fist!”
As I moved forward, I heard all sorts of nicknames being tossed around me.
Every time a name surfaced, it seemed to draw considerable attention from the crowd, with everyone around clearly known figures.
‘…I thought I was keeping an ear out for worldly news lately.’
But now I find myself among individuals I not only do not recognize now but never did in my past life.
I start to wonder if I’ve just been terribly disinterested in martial artists.
‘Of course, many were gathered, creating rank and name within that time frame.’
Rumors about who the best among the best or the top ten existed precisely because others were interested in those renowned martial artists.
Not recognizing them must make me seem odd, I suppose.
“And over there is…”
“Right beside that person!”
With their constant gasping, I ignored them and kept moving forward.
I could feel their reactions growing increasingly intense.
I need to be quick and go practice.
‘This should do.’
I finally spotted an area with a relatively short line and subtly slipped into that spot.
There were so many people around, yet the lines weren’t that extensive.
The reason was straightforward.
Most folks were merely spectators, while there were significantly fewer participants wanting to take part.
‘You can’t apply without a recommendation letter, so it’s only natural.’
For the upcoming Non-Battling Tournament, one needed a letter of recommendation sent from the alliance to be eligible.
Basically, it means you need at least a certain level of notoriety.
‘Which means famous martial artists recognized by the alliance will attend, attracting crowds who came to watch them.’
They’ve certainly crafted quite the attraction in that regard.
The Murim Alliance seems to have a knack for these kinds of events anyway.
“Next!”
There were a few lines, and since it was the first day, people were moving quickly, bringing my turn up shortly.
I hurried towards the reception desk and handed over the letter I had tucked under my arm.
The receptionist was looking utterly worn out as she received the letter and began to unfold it.
“…Gu Clan? Huh?”
Upon reading the letter, her eyes widened dramatically.
I observed her reaction and frowned slightly.
‘Uh-oh, this doesn’t look good.’
A bad feeling crept in.
“No way, no way, cow inflammation…”
Just as I expected.
The receptionist was on the verge of shouting that bombshell when suddenly.
“It’s the Divine Dragon!”
A shout from somewhere drowned out her voice.
“Divine Dragon? You’re saying that Shaolin’s genius has shown up here?”
The noise prompted people to start murmuring in excitement.
I shared in their excitement.
A Divine Dragon? Is that the one I know?
‘Wait, so that kid just decided to come on the first day instead of waiting till five days later?’
I genuinely believed they would arrive on the last day. How did they end up here so soon?
Curiosity-filled gazes began shifting toward one side.
“No way! That person isn’t the Divine Dragon!”
Someone began to point out the flaw in the call made by the initial shouter.
“We’ve got to be specific! That person is the former Divine Dragon!”
Huh?
I tilted my head in confusion after hearing this.
Former Divine Dragon?
‘If it’s the previous Divine Dragon…’
As far as I know, only one individual held the Divine Dragon position before Shaolin’s current Divine Dragon.
As I looked, a familiar figure emerged into view.
He appeared as if he had painted his entire body black.
A young man, with a sword symbolizing his martial prowess, was firmly clutched at his waist.
A gem who would later be known as the Sword Emperor, securing his spot as a master representing the Central Plains.
The former Divine Dragon.
Peng Wu-jin from the Peng Clan stood there.
‘No way, why is that guy here already?’
I nodded, recognizing him.
It had been a while since I last saw him, but I didn’t expect to cross paths here.
As I stood there, a peculiar expression on my face, Peng Wu-jin seemed to notice and turned his gaze toward me.
Our eyes met.
At that moment.
“Oh!”
Peng Wu-jin reacted.
“Who is this!!”
He boomed, using an incredibly loud voice.
“C-careful…”
“A pride of the Shanxi Clan—! It’s the famed Guyangcheon!! Hahaha!!!”
“…”
What the actual fuck.
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