160 - Gathering, Meeting (2) - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

The moment the flick landed, my head rang with a 'zing'. The curses spat out with a phlegmy voice were strangely comforting beyond words. It was an unexpected encounter. Meeting a family one had lived with for a lifetime again had its way of stirring emotions deeply. Mok Riwon couldn't help but roll his eyes. 'Could it be that the King of Roamers has come...!' Could it be that my master has also come? He looked around with hope, but it soon faded. "He's not here." Mok Riwon shuddered. "Inseok. You know, don't you?" Ma Il-seok smiled bitterly. Mok Riwon couldn't help but make a similar expression. The reason Mok Seon-o couldn't come out to the Central Martial World. He knew better than anyone that it was because of him. "If you make such a face, my brother would be sad." Ma Il-seok's words made Mok Riwon force a brighter expression, and he quickly changed the topic. "I was really surprised! I never dreamed that the King of Roamers would come all the way here...!" "Well, there's no reason for me not to come. Being by my brother's side might have dimmed my shine a bit, but the name of the King of Roamers is still legendary in the Open Sect~ That's what it is." Ma Il-seok laughed boastfully. Mok Riwon giggled and nodded. "Indeed! You wouldn’t believe how much I’ve heard about the King of Roamers since I’ve been out here in the Central World...!" Mok Riwon's eyes shone like stars. The corners of Ma Il-seok's mouth began to twitch. "Really? What kind of stories did you hear?" "Don't get me started! A transcendent warrior emerging from the Open Sect once in a hundred years! A brave hero who never retreated in the forefront of the Blood Wars! The remarkable one who even made the Blue Blood Demon fall...!" "Yeah, yeah!" Ma Il-seok's shoulders swelled with pride. "So I'm still of that calibre." He seemed very pleased. Mok Riwon chuckled. And then, he asked. "By the way! How is the master doing?" "Don't even mention it. Just a while ago, the Sword King bastard came and made a whole mess before leaving." Mok Riwon shuddered. Ma Il-seok's eyes narrowed. "Was it you?" Mok Riwon turned his eyes away, sweating coldly. Was it another flick? As tension instinctively built up in his body, Ma Il-seok spoke. "Well done." "...Pardon?" "Well done, I said. Brother enjoyed himself greatly that day. He had been quite lonely in the half year you were away, but he seemed to thoroughly enjoy the duel. Ah, but of course, the Sword King bastard couldn't win in the end." Two faces flashed through Mok Riwon's mind. His always smiling, immortal-like master, and Namgung Hyuk, the Sword King, with his stern face. Considering the Sword King's temper, he probably left quite upset. It was inevitable that laughter would escape. "Thank goodness!" "Yeah, once things settle a bit, let's go see my brother together." "That sounds good!" And so, Mok Riwon and Ma Il-seok exchanged stories for quite some time. Most of it was about the events that had occurred to Mok Riwon. Ma Il-seok laughed and scolded as he listened to Mok Riwon's handling of events, and after a long dialogue, Ma Il-seok suddenly started to clear his throat conspicuously. "What is it?" Mok Riwon asked, puzzled, when Ma Il-seok slyly said, "Well, when do you plan to introduce me?" "Introduce? Ah! Do you mean my comrades?" "Yeesh, you!" With a smack, Ma Il-seok flicked him. Mok Riwon felt like stars were swirling over his head as he made a dazed expression. Ma Il-seok said, "You know, that thing! That..." Out of character, Ma Il-seok started to act imposingly. "...Ahem, I've heard all about it. You and that lady from the Tang Sect were... you were in that and that kind of relationship! With such a thing going on and you not even opening your mouth about it to me, what are you doing!" Mok Riwon blinked at Ma Il-seok's words, then as he belatedly understood, his face started to flush. "That, it's not like that! Miss and I are..." "That's right, you call her Miss, don’t you? Others don’t refer to her that way." Ma Il-seok's face turned playful. A mischievous smile imprinted on Mok Riwon's retina. Ma Il-seok’s nostrils flared. "You, you. You can deceive the heavens but not the King of Roamers, eh? When I was your age..." Ma Il-seok went on. Mok Riwon couldn't say a word and just twitched his lips, unconsciously nodding at the end of Ma Il-seok's statement. "Anyway, I'll just go attend to some business and come back, so do tell her I wish to meet her!" Mok Riwon suddenly felt a sense of crisis. * In Yongbong Peak's office, Dang Hwa-seo replayed Mok Riwon’s words with a blank expression. The more she did, the more the complicated matters at hand seemed to fade away from her mind. "So, you are saying the King of Roamers has come?" "Yes! That, but... because of some strange rumor, Miss and I were...." "I understand." Strange rumor, no, it was that an inevitable truth had spread. Dang Hwa-seo's face turned serious. 'So, it is.' Dang Hwa-seo struggled to suppress the grin forming on her lips. King of Roamers, Ma Il-seok. I already know about his relationship with Mok Riwon. The foster son of Mok Seon-o, Mok Riwon's master. Which means, he would be Mok Riwon's uncle. Considering he wants to meet, what could it possibly mean? 'A formal meeting.' On our side, since there are no parents, a formal meeting is fitting. Anyway, that's how it is. Dang Hwa-seo's head was spinning. Could she find time amidst her pressing tasks? That wasn't what she was pondering about. Dang Hwa-seo was naturally assuming her place, thinking about other matters. 'What about the outfit?' It should be neat. 'And the condition of the face?' She took a quick glance at her reflection. There was a hint of tiredness. Perhaps a bit of makeup was needed. While Dang Hwa-seo was lost in thought, she suddenly got up, realizing, 'Ah! I didn't wash my hair!' She had left in a hurry this morning, only managing to comb through her hair. This could be a point of deduction. One cannot afford to look unkempt at a first meeting. "Mok Sohyeop!" "Why, what is it?!" "I will go and get ready! Just one hour! The King of Roamers said he would be back from his tasks as well! Please hold him back for a bit!" With a bang loud enough to echo, Dang Hwa-seo opened the office door. And before leaving, she added one more thing. "Also, leave the desk as it is but please tidy up the office! It wouldn't do to have it untidy when we have a guest!" "Th-there's really no need to..." "Oh!" Mok Riwon's body jerked. Normally, she might have felt sorry for raising her voice too loudly, but Dang Hwa-seo was in no position to care about such niceties at the moment. "Understood!" "Ah, yes!" Mok Riwon began to hastily tidy up the office. Leaving him to it, Dang Hwa-seo rushed off towards her quarters. She even employed lightness skills. * In a secluded corner of Yongbong Peak, there lay a small annex. This place was specially prepared by the sect leader, Sa Baekwoon, for Yeom So-so, who, aside from offering counsels, didn't partake in any of the sect's events due to his disposition. Thus, no one aside from Mok Riwon ever visited that quiet annex. And so, on the deck of such a tranquil annex, Ma Il-seok had arrived today. "It’s been a while, beggar." "And you, years haven’t been kind, have they? You’ve aged quite a bit." At Ma Il-seok's words, Yeom So-so chuckled. A relaxed attitude. Ma Il-seok didn't quite like that. "To think you’re still alive at such an age to soon meet death." "You young ones truly lack manners." "Young? I’m well past sixty." Ma Il-seok glared at Yeom So-so as he tore apart a piece of chicken placed on the table. An annoying old hag. That’s how Ma Il-seok referred to Yeom So-so. For no particular grand reason. It was because of an incident when they were all still young, just as Mok Seon-o was making a name for himself in the martial world as the Sword Lord. 'If it weren’t for this hag!' Ma Il-seok had just sworn brotherhood with Mok Seon-o and was traversing the martial world with him. Yeom So-so appeared, expressing a wish to speak with Mok Seon-o. At the time, known as the Heaven-Faced Demon Killer, Yeom So-so was a dangerous figure, prompting Ma Il-seok to try and stop her. And ended up bedridden from poison for ten days. Such a shameful experience. Ma Il-seok still felt a twinge in his heart recalling how he had burdened Mok Seon-o that day. "Such a petty beggar you are. Still holding onto that incident?" "Still?" As Ma Il-seok growled, Yeom So-so responded, "What’s the use dwelling on old stories? Let’s talk about the present. How’s the Mok family lad?" "Why do you want to know?" "I’m thinking of paying him a visit. To see what he’s up to." "He’s doing well on his own." "Seeing Riwon made that clear." Ma Il-seok’s lips sealed shut. '…As expected.' Yeom So-so’s insight was undeniable. His obsession with Mok Seon-o could even rival Namgung Hyuk's. It must have been why he recognized Mok Seon-o’s swordsmanship in Mok Riwon right away. Ma Il-seok didn’t bother hiding it. "...He’s a good lad." "I know. He reminds me so much of the young Mok. Don't even think of doing anything unnecessary." "I have no such plans, you rascal." Yeom So-so chuckled again and continued, "I just want to watch. I'm curious how the lad, raised by Mok after giving up his notorious fame, will grow." "You’re asking the obvious." Ma Il-seok continued, eating the chicken, "He’ll become a swordsman. A great swordsman, comparable to his master." There was a fierce certainty in Ma Il-seok’s eyes, full of respect for Mok Seon-o and trust in the Mok Riwon he had seen over the years. Yeom So-so stated, "Great power, talent, those things tend to lead men astray. Especially Riwon, with his abnormal talent. A talent unseen in the martial world before and likely never to be seen again. The moment he realizes that many things can be solved with power might come." "He will not falter. Because that’s who he is." "You beggar, nobody can be certain of that in this world." "The master is certain." Ma Il-seok reached for the chicken again, only to find that only bones were left. He smacked his lips and stood up from his seat. "I was just wondering if you were still alive. Now that I see you are, I'll be on my way." "See you again, as we'll meet at the meeting anyway." "Bah." Ma Il-seok snorted with a 'hmph!' and turned around. * Though he said that, Ma Il-seok was surprised. He was astonished by how much Mok Riwon had grown since their last meeting. To reach the pinnacle in just half a year. Ma Il-seok never dreamed such a thing would be possible. There was doubt. 'Even with the combination of the Heaven-Slaying Star and Extreme Devil Body...' Even with that in mind, the speed was unbelievable. As Ma Il-seok continued to ponder, he remembered something from the past he had forgotten. '...Riwon was found on top of an altar.' Inside the side gate, after defeating the Blood Demon Dancheonhwa, where they found the baby Mok Riwon on what was presumably an altar for a terrible great law to have been enacted. Was that great law really just for the Extreme Devil Body and Heaven-Slaying Star? Ma Il-seok felt doubtful. 'I should investigate.' It was a chance. Now that he was in the Central Realm. Ma Il-seok felt the necessity to delve deeper into the Blood Demon’s great law. Lost in these thoughts, he soon found himself in front of Yongbong Peak's office. Inside, he sensed two presences. One was Mok Riwon and the other was a stranger. 'That must be the Miss I heard about.' Ahem, cough! Ma Il-seok cleared his throat and composed himself. He set aside his complicated thoughts to focus on the task at hand. 'Let’s see what kind of lady she is!' Mok Seon-o seemed curious about her as well, so it would please him greatly to hear about her upon returning. "Is anyone there!" As Ma Il-seok spoke, the office door opened. "King of Roamers! You've arrived!" Mok Riwon greeted him with a bright smile. And behind him, a woman with pale skin and sharp features smiled softly and bowed her head slightly. "King of Roamers, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Dang Hwa-seo, the leader of Yongbong Peak." Ma Il-seok smiled contentedly after looking at her for a moment. 'She's beautiful!' Her face doesn't pale even next to Mok Riwon. She passes in terms of looks.