Chapter 370
Just past noon.
As always, Hanam was bustling with people. However, today felt particularly hectic.
Each inn was packed to the brim, with no room for another soul. It had come to the point where chairs had to be dragged from elsewhere to create some seating.
The servers were also extra busy, far more than usual.
“Another bamboo leaf tea over here!”
“Got it! Coming right up!”
Within the crowd, the sound of chatter was incessant. With so many more people than usual, the noise was even more pronounced.
Yet, among all this chaos, there was one notable difference: a clear path had been opened through the throng. Perhaps this was why it felt like even more people had gathered.
A thoroughfare prepared to allow people and carriages to pass, along with onlookers standing guard on either side, keeping the path clear.
There was no other reason for it to be so neatly arranged despite the seeming chaos.
“He’s here… he’s arrived!”
With that shout, the previously noisy crowd instantly quieted down.
The path toward the Murim Alliance.
Those who had noticed something from the entrance turned their gazes to one spot.
Thud.
In the distance, someone was walking closer—no, it wasn’t just one person. A whole group was making their way through!
They were all dressed in similar uniforms, with swords hanging from their waists.
Someone remarked, gazing at them.
“It’s the Wudang sect…!”
The identities of the group that had appeared were those from the Wudang sect, a faction of the Gupailbang.
They had come from Hubei to attend today’s sect assembly.
This meant that the one leading the charge was—
“The Wudang Sword Immortal…!”
An elderly man with long white hair, neatly tied up, wearing the traditional robes of the Wudang sect.
With sharp eyes and an aura of undeniable prowess, he was a warrior well-respected in the martial world.
He was said to mainly practice swordsmanship.
Among the top five swordsmen in the world, his name was always mentioned.
The Wudang Sword Immortal passed through the crowd and entered the Murim Alliance, guided by the members of the Alliance who had been waiting.
The time it took for the Wudang warriors to step through the entrance wasn’t long, but onlookers were thrilled.
After all, how often do you get to see the leader of the Wudang sect, a master who could be counted on one hand?
Moreover, there were still many warriors left behind—more than just the Wudang Sword Immortal—still to enter this path.
This is precisely why so many people were crowding around to see.
The fact that a sect assembly was taking place meant that many prominent figures would be attending.
This also meant they could see them up close.
I, who was watching from a distance, couldn’t help but wear a dumbfounded expression.
“They could’ve just taken a carriage, but they purposely decide to walk in like that.”
I couldn’t help but wonder about their choice. The Wudang sect wasn’t exactly short on gold.
Why walk when you could ride in style?
But as people stood guard, it seemed the warriors were taking their sweet time for a show.
Could this be some sort of tacit agreement?
A performance for the gathered crowd?
“What a farce.”
It was so ridiculous it left me chuckling.
If it was a tournament or a festival, such antics would be understandable.
Since it’s supposed to be an enjoyable event, one could just let it slide.
“Is there really a need for this at a meeting?”
Why act like clowns at a gathering meant to establish the future of the Murim Alliance?
If it was to sway public opinion? Fine, but I didn’t have much to say about it.
“And yet, they insisted I come to the entrance too.”
Thank goodness I didn’t go. That decision was brilliant on my part.
If I had, I would’ve gotten all eyes on me just like the Wudang Sword Immortal moments ago.
“Who knows who might recognize me?”
Actually, it wouldn’t be too far off since the most frequently uttered name among the warriors in Hanam was mine.
What a load of crap, really.
With a furrowed brow, I glanced at the guy trembling beside me.
“Hey, buddy. Quit shaking. The roof will cave in on us.”
“Uh… uh… I… um…”
Is that supposed to be a reply?
I sighed at his pitiful state.
The one nearly quaking in his boots was none other than Cheol Ji-seon.
To my surprise, his name was also on the list of attendees for the assembly.
That left me puzzled.
Namgung Bi-ah and Dang So-yeol hadn’t been summoned, yet suddenly they call Cheol Ji-seon?
“You’ve been like this since yesterday.”
“Uh… no… I wasn’t!”
“Really? Do you remember how much you were shivering during dinner?”
“…”
Cheol Ji-seon’s eyes were darting back and forth, reflecting his extreme anxiety.
Taking someone like this to the Murim Alliance?
I felt light-headed.
“I’d rather take Paewoocheol or Gujeolyeop.”
When it came down to it, those two would’ve been far more suitable.
“Ha.”
This is getting ridiculous.
As I raked my hair back.
Another cheer burst out from below.
“It’s the Tang Clan…!”
There had been a few cheers since the Wudang, but nothing compared to this.
Well, that made sense.
The figure that made an appearance was none other than the head of one of the four major clans.
My eyes naturally turned towards the street.
The Tang Clan uniforms, often worn by Dang So-yeol, were lined up as they marched in.
The distinction between sects and clans was palpable.
Despite being a respected master in his own right, the Wudang sect eschewed unnecessary showiness.
The Iron Clan, known for its position at the apex of weapon supply, however, flaunted their wealth effortlessly.
Seeing this made me realize that Dang So-yeol didn’t actually dress up as much as I thought.
“That guy.”
A middle-aged man walked confidently at the forefront.
Dressed in deep green silk that seemed to glimmer.
Just looking at him gave me a tingling sensation on my tongue.
“The Poison King Dangcheon-gi.”
He was the head of the Tang clan and currently the highest authority on poisons.
He had been so until Dang So-yeol rose to the status of the Poison Queen.
“He looks pretty good, though.”
I’d wondered why Dang So-yeol looked so harmless considering her clan was infamous for its poisons.
The answer lay in the man’s appearance.
Compared to the other warriors, he appeared shorter.
About a bit smaller than me.
Considering that I’m quite small myself, this ‘Poison King’ must be quite diminutive.
“Did I not see him right last time?”
Flashbacks to a few years back at the Tang Clan convention floated to mind.
Back then, I was too preoccupied to meet the Poison King due to all the commotion.
Remembering that had me chuckling to myself.
“What a crazy guy.”
A noble’s descendant visits the Four Great Families but doesn’t even glance at the clan leader.
At the time, I hadn’t realized it, but even I could see how utterly absurd that was.
“It’s strange my father didn’t blow up at me.”
Though my venture to the academy was somewhat forced, that wasn’t the reason they sent me out.
Looking back, it’s odd I literally just went to gorge myself.
In the middle of my thoughts, Cheol Ji-seon called out to me with a shaky voice.
“Uh… Yangcheon…”
“Yeah?”
“Are you going to stay here forever…?”
“It’s kinda fun. Don’t you think?”
“I feel like I’m going to hurl.”
“…”
My face contorted upon hearing that. Cheol Ji-seon flinched when he caught sight of me.
“Oh! No, it’s fine if you take a longer look. Don’t be scared, it’s not like that.”
As Cheol Ji-seon had said, there wasn’t actually a need to force myself to look.
“I wonder who else is coming next.”
So far, the talk from the Gupailbang members was of Kunlun, Wudang, Shaolin, and Kaifeng.
It had been mentioned that the remaining sects would not attend.
“What could their reasons be?”
After hearing this, I couldn’t help but feel confused.
It wouldn’t be odd for everyone to turn up at an assembly.
Especially since the presence of the Youngpung and Geomhu clans made it shocking that Hwasan had decided to skip out.
“Hmm…”
My mind was swirling with questions.
But it wasn’t something I could unravel just through thought. I hoisted myself to my feet and spoke to Cheol Ji-seon.
“Let’s go.”
“Uh, really?”
“Yeah, it’s a bit weird to have a junior like me arrive late.”
“Okay.”
With such renowned figures arriving, it would certainly be inappropriate for us, the younger ones, to remain absent.
In a world where those kinds of things mattered greatly, there was no way out of it.
“Anyway, I don’t like it.”
That wasn’t the only thing nagging me.
If I headed there now, I was bound to run into Baekcheon Sword Master once again.
That was going to be quite a headache.
But it was unavoidable, so I bit my lip and jumped down from the building, kicking off with my feet.
And then—
Cheol Ji-seon, who was still perched on the roof, stared at the suddenly vanished Gu Yangcheon and muttered,
“…What about me?”
His voice was filled with confusion.
That was understandable, given that it was Gu Yangcheon who had dragged him up here.
He certainly didn’t have the ability to leap down on his own.
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