159 - Gathering, Meeting (1) - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

It had not been long since the events in Cheonghae had concluded. The summoning of the martial world's council by the leader of the Murim Alliance. The news of the gathering, known only to a few influential individuals in the central martial world, had spread in all directions, causing chaos. Someone cheered. There were those who, filled with vigor, saw in this the martial world uniting once more after 20 years since the blood feud. "It's time to show the strength of the central martial world!" Yet, someone else swallowed their anxiety. Mostly those who had experienced the blood feud firsthand held this sentiment. "Blood will flow again." Beyond these, countless reactions emerged. Hope, fear, sorrow, anger. A mix of emotions engulfed the entirety of the central martial world, all converging towards one target. The Heavenly Devil Sect. Perhaps even more dreadful than the Blood Heaven Sect, the land of outer demons. With the martial world starting to take a rougher course than before, united by the single goal of capturing the demon, there were those who spent tumultuous days. Of course, it was the Dragon Peak Clan. "Geomryong! Stop your training and come out! When do you plan to prepare!" Dang Hwa-seo's shouting echoed across the training yard. Namgung Jincheon, startled, ceased his sword practice, but her rebukes did not cease. "Ilwoon! When will you finally report in! You should've at least prepared the Shaolin schedule in advance!" Ilwoon hurriedly shrank away and scurried off. "White Phoenix!!! Where has that girl gone againnn!!!" Dang Hwa-seo's shouting was enough to resonate beyond the Dragon Peak Clan hall to the entire Murim Alliance. The reason for her fury was no other. The unique nature of the Dragon Peak Clan was to blame. A gathering of the nine martial sects and family heirs. An alliance that should not have been possible, forcibly created under the pretext of resisting the demonic sect's invasion. Thus, in this situation where all the sects and families were gathered, they had to go back to their original affiliations and prepare to welcome them. 'But they should!' These damned people wouldn't listen to reason. Dang Hwa-seo ground her teeth, revisiting past events. First, Namgung Jincheon. The head of the Namgung family and the supreme leader, Jingwang, who should be preparing to welcome the Sword King, was too absorbed in his training to bother with duties. And then Ilwoon. Shaolin, too, with the arrival of the Buddhist Star Yuanming, required preparations befitting his arrival, yet Ilwoon seemed utterly incapable of managing any sort of task. The Buddhist Star Yuanming wasn't just a warrior who had risen to the rank of Si Sheng Liu Wang; he was also the Head of Shaolin and the former leader of the Murim Alliance, a person who undoubtedly required special arrangements. Well, that would be better. At least, when instructed, he does something. The real problem lay elsewhere. "Mok So-hyeop!" "Yes...!" "Go and fetch that Jegal fellow and White Phoenix! Both of them!!!" "Ah, understood!" In such moments, the 'fellow' and 'girl' who became the biggest headaches were the real issue. Hyewon was already preparing to flee at the news of the Ami faction's arrival. Jegal San had been missing ever since he heard his family members were coming. Dang Hwa-seo sighed deeply, leaning back in the office chair. "Really, no one's any help." Fortunately, Mok Riwon's affiliation was not something that could be disclosed publicly. If Sword Saint Mok Seon-o were to appear, the responsibility for the clueless Mok Riwon would have fallen entirely onto Dang Hwa-seo as well. Sighs deeply escaped her. Dang Hwa-seo, clutching her throbbing head, collapsed onto the desk. Then, something caught her eye. [Summoning Order] Words inscribed on the correspondence. Dang Hwa-seo's expression darkened. This order was a summon for her, as the master of Sacheon Dangmun, to attend the grand council. Pain welled up inside Dang Hwa-seo. 'The master....' She hadn't thought about it. Even though she had become the master of Sacheon Dangmun, the role still felt distant and daunting. Could she truly fulfill her role there? Dang Hwa-seo, amidst her worries about the clan members, was increasingly overwhelmed by these doubts. "...It's really burdensome." In the end, she could only grumble to herself. * In the most secluded alley of the assembly. In front of the alley that no one sought out, due to the concentration of latrines nearby, Jegal Muyeon was facing Jegal San. "How did you even find this place?" Jegal San fiddled with his ear as he tied his pants. Jegal Muyeon, covering his nose, complained. "Who in the family doesn't know? Whenever you're troubled, you seek out the latrines first. Are you really unable to control that even at your age?" "Try spending time in the Dragon Peak Clan. Seriously, whenever there's a chance, my aunt inflicts me with diarrheal poison, making my bottom feel all loose. It's not my fault." Jegal San laughed heartily. Jegal Muyeon's brow furrowed. "...The Head is coming." "So?" "Prepare yourself. As befits the Vice Head." "Since when have you cared about such things?" "The Head has always been concerned about you." "Is that so?" Jegal San's gaze turned downcast. For once, the usually sly and smiling face was enveloped in gloom. "So, that esteemed Head left me alone while being so concerned?" "...That was the best I could do." "It seems what my uncle considers the best and what I consider the best are quite different." "Still..." "Yeah yeah, I'm still me. A petty and ridiculous sight for the Head to behold. So, you all can go ahead without me. Why, aren't there plenty of others to take the Vice Head's place? Eh, I'm leaving. This latrine’s not doing it for me anyway, can't even relieve myself properly." Jegal San waved his hand nonchalantly as he turned to leave. Jegal Muyeon silently watched his retreating figure. '...Still.' It seemed Jegal San had not forgotten the past, not in the slightest. What came to mind was the face of his sister-in-law, with her fiercely upturned eyes, once a terrifying presence. "Muyeon, please take good care of our San. If it's you, please be on San's side. Okay?" 'Big sister, I really don’t know.' Tactics, gathering intelligence, strategies, and formations. All these issues could easily be resolved with a bit of effort, yet Jegal Muyeon found people issues utterly inscrutable. Emotions were tricky simply because there was no clear 'right' or 'wrong'. 'How vexing.' Why entrust him with such a task? Jegal Muyeon exhaled deeply and turned away. * Mok Riwon finally found Baekbong Hyewon. It was at the inn opposite the fabric shop where Jegal San and Hyewon had once conspired to disrupt a household. "Mo, Monk..." "Eh? It’s Lord Mok." Sweat dripped down Mok Riwon's face, his situation leaving him no choice. 'Drinking in broad daylight...' Even more so, the fact that a monk was blissfully indulging in intoxication. "Come here." Hyewon, with a flushed face, beckoned with a giggle, and Mok Riwon timidly approached. He was obligated to bring her back, following Dang Hwa-seo's order. "Ugh... I’m so drunk." As Mok Riwon sat down, Hyewon belched. Then she turned to him and asked, "Is the clan leader coming?" "That’s... correct." "If only they would just leave me alone..." Hyewon sighed, and Mok Riwon had much he wanted, but chose not to say. '...Being the grand disciple, it seems right for you to participate.' Words he couldn't voice swarmed his throat. Unaware of Mok Riwon’s internal conflict, Hyewon started to grumble. "Hey, Lord Mok." "Speak, please." "The Grand Master will be coming. Then, surely, he will find out about all I’ve been doing, won’t he?" "That’s... likely." "What a trouble. Just wanted to meet men, and now I might get dragged away bald. Don’t you think I’m pitiable?" 'Not in the slightest.' "What's so wrong about a woman meeting men?" 'It’s wrong for a monk.' "Right? The harmony of yin and yang. That’s important, isn’t it? It’s about showing my duty as a monk." Mok Riwon remained silent until the end. Hyewon’s complaints persisted for a while, but eventually, she concluded, "Ah, when I get dragged away, at least the fabric shop..." She cast a sharp glance toward the fabric shop. The couple there, happily arranging silks, seemed terribly pitiful to Mok Riwon. 'How could such a well-matched couple...' The fabric shop couple was known within the assembly for being a beautiful and loving pair. They also had a deep connection with the Dragon Peak Clan, not least because the white robes worn at the clan's founding ceremony were made by that very shop. "Just one bite would do..." Hyewon licked her lips. Mok Riwon thought to himself that Hyewon was not so much a White Phoenix as much as a Colorful Phoenix. "Ah, sigh..." Hyewon swallowed her saliva. Mok Riwon realized a grave crisis was impending for the fabric shop owner’s chastity. 'I might not be very powerful, but!' Protecting the happiness of a couple was the right thing to do. In Mok Riwon's judgment, there lay the 'righteousness'. "Mo, Monk! It’s time we were going!" "Just a moment. The shop owner’s wife went inside. Now..." Mok Riwon firmly closed his eyes and executed an acupoint strike. Tap, tap, tap. As he hit the acupoints, Hyewon collapsed on the spot. "Eek!" Mok Riwon caught the falling Hyewon and slung her over his shoulder. "Shopkeeper." The innkeeper approached. Mok Riwon tilted his head, and with a smile, the innkeeper said, "That’s five nyang. The wine the White Phoenix drank." Mok Riwon grimaced and ended up paying the debt. * Upon returning to the pavilion, Mok Riwon handed Hyewon over to Dang Hwa-seo and walked through the pavilion's corridors, drained of energy. His trudging steps were laden with both the frustration of losing five nyang and the fatigue from dealing with Hyewon’s nonsense. 'Really a unique person.' Not a bad person... or, is she bad? Mok Riwon pondered deeply and finally reached a conclusion. "Let’s just say she’s unique!" Yes, that seemed fitting. At that moment, Mok Riwon smiled brightly. "What’s so unique?" Startled, Mok Riwon's footsteps halted. A voice that shouldn’t be heard here had echoed from right behind him. Could it be that he was hearing things? Had the recent events so overwhelmed him mentally? Mok Riwon, utterly astonished and frozen, slowly turned his head. And there, he was taken aback by the sight of the elderly man standing before him. Shabby clothes, hair now turned completely white, and a face smeared with grime. A face he had dearly missed was there. "...Beggar King." "You look as if you've seen a ghost." Beggar King Ma Il-seok, there he was, smiling wryly as he spoke. "It's been a while, you sly fox." Mok Riwon immediately ran up and spread his arms wide. "Beggar King!!!" And then. "How disgusting, you rascal!" With a slap loud enough to be heard, Mok Riwon received a powerful flick on the forehead. Tears welled up in Mok Riwon's eyes, but still, he smiled. "Your hand is as swift as ever!" "Of course, it is. I'm not someone you can mess with just yet." It had been a reunion of two seasons in the making.