Chapter: 689
This Central Plains has long worshipped martial arts.
Countless Taoist sects are spread all around, and while those who cultivate and believe in them may differ, in the end, the Taoists were no different; they governed martial arts under the banner of enlightenment.
Hold the energy in your danjeon and store it within your body to awaken your senses. Thus, you continually strive to transcend the limits of being human and rise higher as a martial artist.
Climb the steep wall.
And if you keep climbing…
‘A higher cliff awaits.’
You are bound to encounter much steeper and more rugged cliffs.
There is no end.
It’s said that ignorance is originally like that.
‘What a frustrating story.’
If you become satisfied and complacent, you will fall, and if you wish to climb, you must endure all sorts of hardships to succeed.
Is there really a summit at that height?
Even if it exists, can I even see it?
I wasn’t sure.
If there’s meaning in climbing and that act itself is ignorance…
‘Why should I bother doing that?’
If other martial artists had heard me, they would have been outraged.
Since the moment I first thought about it, my view has hardly changed.
Once, the sleeping dragon of my past life said:
– You seem a bit strange to be called a martial artist.
I thought that was true.
I don’t worship martial arts.
I have no interest in climbing cliffs and am always ready to stop and fall whenever I like.
Even after reaching the peak, my thoughts haven’t changed.
I’m just doing it because I have to.
To me, martial arts were nothing more than that.
No more, no less.
‘However…’
What on earth makes those people so keen on praising martial artists?
I just couldn’t understand it.
“Hey! The Four Great Clans are here!”
I was about to stay quiet for a moment, but I peeked out again when the noise grew louder.
From a distance, the largest carriage I had ever seen was approaching.
A red flag with a black border waved atop the carriage.
It was a flag symbolizing the Taedo Clan.
I bet inside that carriage…
‘There must be a head of the Peng family in there.’
The Sword King, Peng Zhou.
I think we briefly met back in Hanam.
‘He left quite an impression on me.’
The situation we ran into back then was just absolutely ridiculous.
He had a peculiar yearning in his eyes, not quite what you’d expect from the head of a prestigious family.
Desire and ambition are universal traits, so that’s not too strange.
‘But a head should know how to conceal that.’
His demeanor was shockingly careless, as if he had no intention of hiding his true nature.
‘All things considered, his children are growing up quite well.’
Thinking about Peng Ah-Hee and Peng Woo-jin, it’s rather intriguing.
While their skills should be decent enough to bear the nickname of a King…
‘I sensed a heart demon in him.’
There was an unknown darkness lurking within him.
I heard rumors that he had been living in seclusion ever since losing to the Sword Master in the competition for the Murim Alliance’s leadership…
‘But why did he show up this time?’
He quietly made his entrance to the martial arts tournament. Quite a curious development, I had expected him to stay away in a huff.
‘Surely he won’t participate, right?’
As the King and family head, he might attend but wouldn’t likely participate directly.
I nodded to this thought.
Just then, as I was about to take a sip of tea…
“Peng Clan! What an impressive presence!”
“Indeed, it’s none other than the Four Great Clans!”
A voice echoed from the corner, where another guest seemed to be.
But…
“Oh, are they still being called the Four Great Clans?”
I heard a somewhat grating remark.
“It’s been ages since the Tang Clan ceased to exist. Why are they called the Four Great Clans?”
Thud!
Tang So-yeol, sitting directly across from me, paused abruptly at that.
“Oh right… This doesn’t quite roll off the tongue.”
“If you go out and say things like that, you’ll attract scorn. Be careful. Who mentions the Tang Clan nowadays?”
Quickly averting my gaze, I didn’t look at Tang So-yeol.
What expression might she be making?
What reaction might spill from her?
I was curious but intentionally avoided looking.
Because I knew that was exactly what she wanted.
Merely pretending not to notice, I turned my gaze away when…
“The thought that, that foul place still bears the name of a righteous sect makes me shudder.”
Crispy?!
Dry leaves crumbled in my mind.
It must still be far from when the leaves would truly fall.
“It seems the leader showed some pity and treated them kindly, but how can they be considered righteous factions?”
“Calm down a little, brother Joo.”
“Calm down my foot! I’ve heard rumors that descendants of the Tang Clan surfaced at the martial arts tournament. Did you hear?”
“Are you saying the Poison Phoenix?”
Shudder?!
A presence lingered in the air.
“Yeah, how on earth could they dare make an appearance?”
“Is it true, the gossip?”
“They say it as a fact. You know, the guy who runs errands daily at the reception. He claims he saw it.”
“Oh, goodness…”
The reaction was chilling. Their words gnawed at my insides.
“How disgraceful! They kidnap orphans and commit unspeakable crimes. What business do they have…”
Grrrr?!
Listening to them made my head feel cool, while my insides burned hotter, almost boiling over.
At that moment…
Crick.
Someone gently grasped my hand.
It was Tang So-yeol again.
“No…”
“…”
Tang So-yeol looked at me with shimmering eyes.
“Master… please don’t go there.”
“…You.”
“You know, I have to bear this burden. It’s alright.”
“…”
“That’s not wrong, is it? I can handle it. So…”
She wasn’t the one to blame.
The head didn’t know; it was the elders who acted.
Considering it that way, I could see how one might feel it was unjust.
Tang So-yeol’s eyes only glistened slightly, withholding more words.
The Poison King also showed such a demeanor.
Whether he knew or not, the head must accept the responsibility for events occurring within the family.
This also applies to blood relatives, which must surely resonate with Tang So-yeol’s thoughts.
“…”
After gazing into Tang So-yeol’s eyes, I sighed and sat back down.
What could I do if they insisted it was okay?
At that moment, just as I looked out the window to gather myself…
“Hey!”
A voice came from an unanticipated place.
Someone was chatting with the men who had been speaking loudly.
I widened my eyes to spot the instigator.
It was none other than Mo Yong-hee.
What’s she doing all of a sudden?
“I get it’s a lovely day, but please tone it down a bit. There are other folks too, you know?”
Mo Yong-hee, who seemed to have stirred awake, smiled at the men.
“What’s up with that?”
One of the agitated men frowned and turned to Mo Yong-hee.
“What’s it to you?!”
“Brother! Brother!”
A companion who stood nearby rushed to stop the man who was likely to lash out.
“What’s this? This young lady is saying…!”
“Mind your words! Brother! Check your waist, your waist!”
“What…?”
The man gasped in surprise as he heard those words, eyes widening.
His gaze shifted to the sword on Mo Yong-hee’s waist.
Though she wore a mask, one could infer her skill level from this sight.
“Whoa…”
Clench!
Seeing the sword made the man clamp his mouth shut.
From his reaction, it appeared he wasn’t a martial artist.
“That… that’s…”
“Could you keep it down a bit more? That shouldn’t be too much to ask, right?”
“Oh, um, yes…”
The man stuttered while nodding his head.
Mo Yong-hee reclaimed her seat, settling back down.
Watching this made me almost chuckle.
“You didn’t like this sort of thing.”
What she just did was wholly surprising to me.
Mo Yong-hee despises actions without reasoning.
Noise in an inn is a commonplace occurrence, so her request felt entirely forced.
Was it because of her annoyance with the Tang Clan conversation?
I couldn’t help but question this.
‘It’s not even her concern.’
As it was all about the Tang Clan, it’s unrelated to Mo Yong-hee.
In fact, as Tang So-yeol pointed out, the man didn’t speak wrongly.
It was just puzzling that Mo Yong-hee had to step up to rectify the matter.
“I hate it.”
To my inquiry, Mo Yong-hee affirmed with a peculiar expression.
“I don’t like it… I simply found it rather annoying.”
An emotional reply devoid of rational explanation.
It felt almost unfathomable coming from Mo Yong-hee.
Her response made me chuckle even more.
“Good move.”
Hearing this, Mo Yong-hee looked astonished.
“Seriously? Compliments are rare from you, yet now I get one for this? Honestly…”
“When did I ever fail to compliment you?”
“Don’t pretend! You should at least have a conscience, don’t you?”
“…”
“Just stay quiet.”
“…Yes.”
Struck by her sharp words, I sealed my lips.
It wasn’t easy. She’s always a bit terrifying.
Just then, as Mo Yong-hee glanced at Tang So-yeol to speak, she interrupted.
“You don’t need to thank me. I just found it irritating.”
“…”
“Don’t apologize either. That might also upset me.”
Mo Yong-hee took the initiative to cut him off.
Tang So-yeol, left speechless, barely moved his lips.
Seeing the slightly crumpled expression on Tang So-yeol prompted a deep sigh from Mo Yong-hee.
“Get a grip. Sit up straight. You already seem small, but now you look even smaller.”
“…”
“If you’re set on shouldering this, do it with pride. That’s the way to endure.”
“…Yeah.”
Tang So-yeol nodded.
I turned my head to observe the two.
Martial artists continued to stroll down the street.
Some notable faces seemed to have passed as I listened to their reactions.
Huroop?
Just as I finished sipping my tea.
“Whoa!”
I perked up at the sounds wafting in.
“It’s the Hwangbo Clan!”
I tilted my head to look.
A carriage painted in yellow arrived, the flag fluttering.
‘They’re here.’
Finally, my purpose for being here was about to unfold.
I awaited the arrival of the Hwangbo Clan.
As my eyes followed the fluttering yellow flag, a voice echoed nearby.
– We have arrived.
It wasn’t Nahi’s voice.
A much deeper and more resonant tone. This was a voice I had also been waiting for.
– As ordered, I shall meet you at the designated location.
Hearing this, I instantly rose to my feet.
As I moved, Wi Seol-ah, who sat beside me, stood up, wanting to follow.
I gently placed my hand on her shoulder and sat her back down, gesturing her to stay.
“I’ll head out first. You come along slowly.”
“Wha—don’t you want to stick around?”
Mo Yong-hee frowned, pressing on.
“Are you leaving halfway again?”
Her stare was sharp enough to take my breath away. Yet, I had to endure it.
“…I have some business. Sorry. I’ll make it for dinner.”
“I have my own agenda this evening.”
“…”
Oh boy, I messed up.
Mo Yong-hee turned her head away, huffing, as if she felt let down.
I couldn’t help it, having left so many times before.
“Can it be okay to go without meeting the Namgung Clan yet?”
“I can rely on them to come by. Their daughter hasn’t shown up either.”
Namgung Bia was probably holding off because healing was her utmost priority.
Thus, she couldn’t accompany us here.
‘Or, even if she were here, she wouldn’t have gone to see her own family anyway.’
She didn’t seem particularly interested in being involved.
Lately, she appeared more distant.
‘I sensed there might be some enlightening experience on her part.’
While it seemed that way, you never could tell.
Because I didn’t pay it much mind.
‘That’d actually serve her better.’
My indifference was crucial for sharpening Namgung Bia’s blade.
It was an action dictated by that assessment.
After all, leaving the geniuses around to their own devices would be far more advantageous.
‘That aside, I have plenty to handle myself.’
With less than two days until the martial event, time was of the essence.
Inside, the final tasks needed wrapping up.
“Catch you later.”
After bidding farewell to my companions, I took my leave.
My destination was back to where I was staying.
There remained a considerable amount of daylight yet to wane.
I returned to my quarters, escaping the cacophony outside.
In stark contrast to the noisy crowd just moments ago, my quarters felt oddly serene.
Though my ears enjoyed the peace, my heart felt a tad weighed down.
Stomp.
I stepped forward.
Thrum—!!
In that instant, an unmistakable sensation coursed through my body.
The atmosphere inside was thickened with an imposing aura.
This presence was extremely intricate and profound.
As I grasped this, a smile spread through me.
“Hey kid. You’ve really leveled up.”
The depth and complexity of the atmosphere had dramatically shifted since my last encounter.
This wasn’t how it was at first. If they had made these strides while I was away, then surely there’s a talent at work here.
‘Well, the surname is “Seong”.’
Considering his real name, it’s not surprising he’s involved in such craft.
Not willing to break my pace, I closed the distance to my quarters.
It was eerily quiet.
No sounds echoed within.
That meant, quite unusually, it felt dead silent.
Feeling an odd sensation, I opened the door.
Creek—!
As the door swung open, a figure emerged from within.
He looked somewhat pallid, a diminutive young man of slight stature.
Waving my hand, I greeted him.
“It’s been a while.”
“Uh-huh…”
Cheol Ji-seon.
A descendant of the Jegal clan, known by his true name, Jegal Jinseon.
He nodded in response.
This guy, whom I hadn’t seen in a few months, wore an evenly weary expression.
“Are you feeling better?”
“No, I’m still not alright…”
“Glad to hear you’re okay! That means more work to come.”
“…”
A bit of jest and I noticed Cheol Ji-seon’s face twisting in an odd manner.
His expression seemed to say, “Why on earth did you ask that?”
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding.”
“…It doesn’t feel like a joke.”
“I assure you it is! You don’t believe me?”
“…No, I believe it, I do…”
Yet, he appeared timid, but I was well aware that wasn’t entirely true.
‘He says what he wants anyway, even if he pretends to be nervous.’
Feigning fear, he stumbles in speech yet still manages to voice his wants.
It turns out, he’s braver than I thought.
‘That’s why I entrusted him with the task.’
If he lacked guts, would he have dared to venture into Hubei all alone?
As I surveyed the thickened aura that enveloped the room, I turned back toward Cheol Ji-seon.
“Your skills have indeed blossomed. You’ve put in a lot of work, haven’t you?”
“Yeah, isn’t it great?”
Pleased by the compliment, Cheol Ji-seon flashed a bright grin.
It always seems he bears a cheerful demeanor.
How does a simple compliment make him so happy?
Yet, the praise was sincere.
The aura that had developed around him was noticeably extraordinary.
‘Is it based on some numbered system?’
It wouldn’t seem like he constructed it lightly on a gamble.
In a span of thought about what principle lay behind it, I halted my curiosity.
Last time with the Celestial Daeju bore unwanted hassle if mishandled.
For now, it was best to divert my attention elsewhere, as I turned to view another presence aside from Cheol Ji-seon.
The focus landed on the figure behind him. There was indeed another person present in the room.
Someone had kneeled before me.
I approached him, taking a stride.
“Hope you’ve been well.”
Simultaneously, we exchanged greetings. The figure professed in turn.
“…Yes…”
It was the very same voice that had previously pinged me.
A titan of a man echoed with a presence reminiscent of monstrous authority, his muscles tightly knit into his large frame.
He was undoubtedly a powerhouse, clearly a martial artist.
A rough and rugged energy radiated off him.
Slowly, the man lifted his gaze toward me.
“I have the honor of meeting the esteemed leader.”
His purple eyes, signifying a demon’s bloodline, sparkled.
Their underlying golden attire was evident beneath.
This was the garb symbolizing the Hwangbo Clan.
Notably, the white embroidery on the yellow uniform could only be worn by one individual within the Hwangbo family.
“Good to see you.”
This signified only one thing.
“The Fierce Tiger Nine Fists, Hwangbo Yeolwi.”
This man stood as the head of the Hwangbo Clan.
Moreover…
“Are you prepared to ascend among the Four Great Families?”
It indicated I had indeed corrupted this demon.
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