162 - Gathering, Meeting (4) - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

War King Jegal Byeok. There was one indispensable topic when it came to discussing him: the matter of the simplified battle formations. Up until then, the formations existing in the Central Plains were as such: A method where chess pieces were placed in fixed positions in a predetermined order, only usable in a limited shape. Therefore, it was a technique unsuitable for a battlefield where the situation changes every moment. Jegal Byeok was the one who broke this notion. He developed combat formations that could be used in any situation, infusing internal energy into the minimum necessary pieces. Naturally, Ma Il-seok also greatly benefited from this in the era of bloodshed. To that extent, he acknowledged Jegal Byeok's ability. But did that appreciation extend to a liking for the person Jegal Byeok? Ma Il-seok could readily shake his head. “Still as dull as ever.” Ma Il-seok snorted. Jegal Byeok bowed his head. “As the head of the clan, I believe there’s dignity to be maintained.” “Are you cursing that Black-and-White guy by any chance?” “That's not the case.” “Kwon Ryong would be pleased to hear such words.” “A magnanimous person, indeed.” Jegal Byeok remained expressionless. But it was more than just being expressionless. It felt almost as if talking to a statue, so thin was the emotional presence that one could hardly feel like they were conversing with a person. There was a sense of discomfort that came with it. ‘He’s nothing like his son.’ Ma Il-seok recalled Jegal San, whom he saw in the hall of Yongbongdan. With a weasel-like impression and a rich array of expressions. No matter how much one looked, there was no trace of that stiff face to be found. Perhaps the only resemblance was in the shape of their eyebrows. As these thoughts crossed his mind, Ma Il-seok felt puzzled and asked. “So, you’re heading straight to meet Changseong?” “Yes. Since I’ve come to the alliance, it’s only polite to pay respects.” “And your son?” Jegal Byeok hesitated. This was a surprising moment for Ma Il-seok. A slight reaction, yet in the decades he had known him, he had never seen Jegal Byeok display even this much of a response. “Eh? He’s there at the Yongbongdan hall. Go ahead first. I’ll talk to him.” “How could that be? Coming with such authority, it’s only right to firstly meet the master.” “Such a stiff guy.” Ma Il-seok clicked his tongue, but Jegal Byeok remained unmoved. Amidst this, Jin Geon, who was awkwardly caught in between, spoke up. “Let’s not be harsh here. As Jegal suggested, let’s all go see Baekwoon first, shall we?” The effort of going against his nature made Jin Geon visibly uncomfortable, but Ma Il-seok let out a deep sigh and nodded. “Alright, let’s go then.” Ma Il-seok walked towards the alliance leader's residence. * The scenery of the alliance leader's residence was serene. Flowers blooming here and there and tall bamboos added a freshness to the place. The aspect that particularly showed care was the abundant natural energy filling the space. Just practicing energy cultivation here would presumably lead to significant improvement in one’s cultivation level. “Living in a nice place, aren’t you.” Jin Geon commented. Ma Il-seok agreed. “Made it big, haven’t you.” Sa Baekwoon, before being known by such a name, was a destitute martial arts master from a humble background. Awkward with money-related matters, he was always a step away from hunger, yet, oddly enough, he used whatever money he gathered to buy meals for the street beggars, leading everyone who met him back then to comment the same. Baekwoon was destined to live in poverty his whole life. “Looks like nobody knows what the world will bring!” True to Jin Geon's words. Who could have foreseen that the shabby tavern keeper would climb to the position of martial alliance leader? Feeling a strange sentiment, the trio was passing by the leader's residence when they heard a voice. “You’ve all arrived.” A deep voice resonated. Looking in its direction, they saw Sa Baekwoon seated in a hermitage, smiling gently. His neat dark blue silk attire and neatly arranged hair were striking. “Look at you, living well.” Ma Il-seok chuckled with a satisfied expression. Baekwoon laughed heartily, standing up to greet them with a fist-and-palm salute. “You must have had a hard journey here.” “What hard journey? Just bumming around made it fly by.” “Always the same, aren’t you? Did the other two gentlemen have any trouble on the way?” “Me? Nah, just comfortably followed Jegal here!” As Jin Geon laughed brightly, Jegal Byeok bowed his head. “I pay my respects to the alliance leader.” “You haven’t changed much either. It’s been a while.” So saying, Baekwoon led the three men to take their seats. “I’ve prepared some fine wine. Come have a drink.” Jin Geon excitedly climbed up to the pavilion first, immediately tilting a cup of wine. Ma Il-seok frowned at this action while Baekwoon laughed heartily. “This wine’s great! Hey, Baekwoon, do you perhaps have….” “You cheeky rat!” “Just kidding, just kidding!” Ma Il-seok sighed deeply and climbed up after him. Then Jegal Byeok also took his seat. “Let’s have a drink and talk then.” The four men seated in the hermitage raised their cups. The conversation had little substance. Any serious discussion would take place in the conference hall once all participants had arrived, so the conversation revolved mainly around updates on recent happenings. "Ah, Baekwoon, you've truly come a long way! Feels like just yesterday you were asking for a meal." "That's a story from over twenty years ago." "It's because I'm old! Because I'm old!" "Old indeed." The atmosphere was warm and amicable. It deserved to be described just so. Ma Il-seok, listening to the exchange, smiled faintly. 'If only brother were here, it would have been so wonderful.' It felt all the more regrettable being in a foreign land. In such gatherings, Mok Seon-o would always be there, joining in on someone's story or happily debating over martial arts opinions. Indeed, it was even more so when Namgung Hyeok was present. - The essence is harmony. In wielding a sword, nothing is more important than harmony. - What good is harmony without power? Sword King, harmony is something to ponder after achieving a certain level of mastery. - Then it appears Sword Dragon will spend his life without such concern. There’s no surpassing me for you. - Come out, Sword King. Let's have a duel. Namgung Hyeok was a man who enjoyed a bit of teasing. Mok Seon-o would sometimes provoke him, drawing Namgung Hyeok into a frenzy which Jin Geon and Sa Baekwoon would calm down. Laughter and bets were bound to follow. 'Indeed...' How did things come to be this way? A bittersweetness crossed Ma Il-seok's face. “…War King.” Sa Baekwoon spoke. As Ma Il-seok looked up, he saw Baekwoon hesitating, seemingly struggling to phrase his thoughts. Ma Il-seok understood and responded. “I don’t know where brother is now.” The conversation ceased among the others too. “After the era of bloodshed, he disappeared. I’ve searched but haven’t found any trace of him anywhere.” Fortunately, there was a silver lining: The wistfulness about Mok Seon-o's absence added a lively animation to his expression. Such a face would surely not arouse their suspicion. His judgment was correct. “…I see.” A hint of sadness tinged Baekwoon's face. Jin Geon fell silent and turned to his wine. Jegal Byeok maintained his expressionless demeanor. “He must be alive. Brother was not an ordinary warrior. But he likely won’t return. He places great value on promises.” Sa Baekwoon took a sip of his wine. Setting the cup down, he spoke again. “…There’s something I regret.” “Related to brother?” “What if I had voted in favor that day? I can’t shake off such thoughts.” “What’s the point of bringing that up now?” “Just saying.” Sa Baekwoon chuckled dryly. “Seems age has made me like this. The older I get, the more regrets I find.” Ma Il-seok added no more. Mok Seon-o's expulsion from the martial world wasn’t solely his fault. Baekwoon's decision was rational, well within the bounds of common sense. “Let’s leave this matter. It’s enough that we remember brother.” Ma Il-seok cut off the topic. The fact that they still remembered Mok Seon-o was enough for him. As the conversation resumed, “…Ah, seems others have arrived as well.” Sa Baekwoon looked towards a distance. It was towards the entrance of the martial alliance. Ma Il-seok also sensed someone approaching. “The Black-and-White Man, and…” Immortal Origin. It seemed they had come together from the east. * Namgung Hyeok stood with his arms crossed at the entrance of the martial alliance. Before him stood his pride and joy, his grandson, the future of the Namgung clan. “Grandfather, it’s an honor.” “Your skills have improved.” “I found no reason to stay where I was, so I advanced.” “Impressive.” Namgung Hyeok was pleased. As a member of the Namgung clan, this was expected. However, Namgung Hyeok didn’t intend to stop at mere praise. To become a supreme master at such a young age, by thirty he had to reach transcendence. After all, wasn't Mok Seon-o's disciple advancing at a faster pace? Overcome by a competitive spirit, Namgung Hyeok didn’t want to lose in this aspect of familial pride. “Continue your diligence.” “Yes.” With that, their conversation ended. Next to them, Kwon Ryong Ilwoon was greeting Immortal Origin. Having met by chance on the road today, this situation had unfolded. “Master! Your journey here was…” “Quite comfortable. Thanks to the Sword King.” Ilwoon’s gaze turned towards Namgung Hyeok. “Ah! My apologies for the late greeting! It’s our first meeting since the Yongbong branch event. I, a disciple of Shaolin, Ilwoon, greet the Sword King.” His face was bright with a kind smile. Yet, Namgung Hyeok could sense a formidable fighting spirit in him. ‘Stronger than before.’ A temperament unfit for a monk’s disciple. But Namgung Hyeok didn’t dislike such a nature. “You too, continue to improve.” “I will hold your advice dear!” “Standing around here isn’t ideal, would someone guide us inside?” Following Immortal Origin's suggestion, Ilwoon nodded, and the four entered the alliance. There were gazes that naturally lingered on them. Gazes of admiration. The title of the absolute ruler of the previous martial world was never taken lightly, hence the gazes that the martial artists of the alliance shot were particularly sharp. Namgung Hyeok paid attention to the whispers around him. “That person is the Sword King…!” “The best swordsman in the world!” “Ah, the best swordsman is actually in the Sword Scriptures…” Swish! Namgung Hyeok's head turned sharply. Veins throbbed in his eyes. "Eek!" The two martial artists who were chatting were startled and fled. “Sword King.” Won Myeong spoke. “Intimidating children like that isn’t admirable.” “I haven’t intimidated anyone. Just gave them a look.” “To someone, even a gaze can be intimidating. Please show some mercy.” “Are those the words of the Buddha?” “I'm speaking of the principles of living in this world.” Won Myeong laughed heartily. Beside him, Ilwoon was listening intently to Won Myeong’s words with sparkling eyes. Namgung Hyeok thought to himself, ‘Immortal Origin, indeed is quite peculiar.’ Wondering why one would bother raising such a fighter as a Buddhist follower. But that was as far as his thoughts went. Namgung Hyeok didn’t bother to delve any deeper. ‘…Must have his reasons.’ Namgung Hyeok’s concern was solely upon Mok Seon-o and Mok Riwon. "Oh, right, Ilwoon." Amidst this, Won Myeong called out to Ilwoon. “Yes!” “You smell too strongly of meat. Couldn't you have changed your clothes?” Ilwoon stiffened. Cold sweat began to pour down. Won Myeong said with a gentle smile, “A follower of Buddha shouldn’t indulge in eating meat.” “That….” Namgung Hyeok chuckled at the farceunfolded before.