Chapter 192: The Day Before

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Gaze wavering repeatedly.

Seol Pan-gyo was clearly bewildered.

‘A Guest Retainer of White Peak Sword Sect…?’

Hearing the unexpected invitation, he momentarily forgot even the pain of his internal injuries and stood up using his sword like a cane, looking straight at Mun Bin.

“Are you serious? What you said?”

“Of course.”

Mun Bin’s expression as he briefly answered showed determination.

Seol Pan-gyo’s thoughts became complicated in an instant.

‘Hmm.’

It was troublesome.

It was clear that Mun Bin’s words about gaining truly much learning if he went to White Peak Sword Sect were sincere.

But even if he went there requesting to become a Guest Retainer, would Cheol Ryu-heun really permit it?

Above all… Setting aside approval, he had no confidence to face that person again.

At that moment, Mun Bin’s voice reached his ears again.

“You got the order wrong.”

“Hm?”

“The answer was there from the start.”

“What do you mean?”

“Weren’t you punished by Sect Leader Cheol because of your outrageous behavior in the past?”

“Yes… That’s right.”

“Think deeply. Do you think that was the end of it?”

At the meaningful question Mun Bin posed, Seol Pan-gyo also seemed to vaguely sense something.

“That other party still doesn’t know about your change of heart and attitude at all.”

At Mun Bin’s continuing words, Seol Pan-gyo finally realized.

‘That’s right!’

Now he understood.

Sincerity.

That had to be conveyed first.

To the person who must have received great wounds in his heart from his disgraceful bullying in the past…

That’s right.

As he said, the order was wrong.

Fundamentally, since he had committed a wrong, receiving punishment as a consequence was natural, and after that, meeting the person again and conveying words of sincere reflection and apology was right.

Naturally, his father Seol Hu-yong’s admonishment came to mind.

-From now on, abandon your sense of privilege and go out into the world.

-What you mean is…

-It means not relying on my name as one who holds a seat among the Five Martial Paragons, nor on our sect’s prestige, but simply as one person, leave the sect and study the principles of the martial world.

-…!

-You must reflect and repent that what you enjoyed as routine was absolutely not something you achieved through your own power. I’ll give you one year from now, so bump into things here and there and learn what it truly means to be an orthodox martial artist.

‘So that was it! Now I understand. At that time, Father didn’t specifically tell me to visit White Peak Sword Sect and apologize first. He only said that even if it was his own child, he would not tolerate one who disgraced the sect’s honor. That meant…’

He wanted him to realize on his own.

What should be done first, and what should be refrained from going forward.

A study of discerning right from wrong that follows the teachings of ancient sages about benevolence, righteousness, propriety, and wisdom.

The hidden meaning was to not point out the path, but to personally bump into things and repent one by one of his immature aspects as an orthodox martial artist.

It was a belated realization.

But then.

Mun Bin, who was only one year different from him, had precisely understood and pointed that out.

‘Dark Sword Fragrance… He’s a person of deep and great character.’

It was surprising.

And

It was embarrassing.

His peer had far surpassed him not only in martial level but also in depth of cultivation.

His father Seol Hu-yong’s voice circled his mind again.

-One year from now, if I judge that your mindset hasn’t changed, I will not hesitate to proceed with excommunication.

He knew very well.

That his father was a person who always kept the words he spoke.

‘One year from now…’

Seol Pan-gyo murmured inwardly and lit up his eyes.

‘White Peak Sword Sect was where I should have gone!’

As if seeing inside him.

Mun Bin, wearing a faint smile, asked meaningfully again.

“Have you firmed up your resolve?”

“Yes. Thank you for pointing it out directly. Thanks to you, I’ve realized. I was wallowing in self-pity alone. Forgetting what should be the top priority.”

“Ha. It’s nice that we communicate. Then I’ll tell you something that will prick up your ears.”

“Hm?”

“I recently obtained the Ink God Robe, one of the Ten Heavenly Weapons.”

Simultaneously, Seol Pan-gyo’s expression changed.

“What? Ink God Robe…!”

“I unexpectedly received it as a gift.”

“My goodness…”

“I said earlier, didn’t I? I obtained this power of mine just a few days ago.”

“Wait, then…?”

“Yes. I achieved it with Sect Leader Cheol’s help. The lost supreme martial art of a previous-generation martial master.”

At that, Seol Pan-gyo flinched in surprise and recalled something he had heard earlier.

-I didn’t even use the divine weapon I luckily obtained.

“You’re saying you even awakened all the latent divine power of the Ink God Robe with Sect Leader Cheol’s help…?”

“That’s right. To a perfect level.”

“…!”

“Would it be just me? There are already more than one or two instances where Sect Leader Cheol has displayed tremendous capability. If you go there, you’ll find out too.”

Seol Pan-gyo, having repeatedly been unable to hide his surprise at Mun Bin’s words, changed his expression and clenched his fist tight.

“You’re right. That if I join there, I’ll truly learn a lot…”

“Go and seize the opportunity for growth. My advice ends here. The rest is up to you.”

“Of course, it’s up to me.”

Seol Pan-gyo nodded with a determined expression.

Seeing that, Mun Bin handed over one medicinal pill and said.

“Here, treat your internal injuries with this. Since Sect Leader Cheol will be absent due to the scheduled duel anyway, you can stay at this hall for a few more days before leaving.”

Seol Pan-gyo, having received the pill, shook his head slightly and answered.

“No. I plan to leave today.”

“Right away?”

“Yes, even if I end up waiting a long time, I should go there and wait. If they won’t open the door… I’ll have to kneel before it and plead until they do.”

“Oh… A determined attitude. I see you in a new light.”

“I’ve made up my mind to that extent. My purpose for visiting is to apologize for my wrongs. I can’t show my innermost feelings, so I have to somehow show it with my body. Only then will it be conveyed. My heart of atonement.”

With those words, Seol Pan-gyo bowed at the waist to express thanks, then staggered his way out of the duel arena.

Mun Bin watched his retreating figure vacantly for a while, then soon took out the letter from his chest and checked its contents.

Then.

FLINCH.

His expression hardened like stone.

Because of an unexpected faction name.

‘How can this be…!’

The four-character name that had embedded itself in his dark brown pupils was none other than the Sun Moon Demon Cult, one of the five demonic cults of the foreign lands.

* * *

About half a shichen later.

Seol Pan-gyo, having calmed his internal injuries with the medicine received from Mun Bin, offered his greetings to the one-eyed swordsman Nine Heavens Spring Swordsman Gwang Ryo who had come to see him off.

“It was a meaningful meeting. Then I’ll be going…”

“Yes, Young Master Seol. Please take care on your way.”

Just as Seol Pan-gyo took a step, leaving Gwang Ryo’s polite response behind.

“Young Master Seol.”

“Yes? What is it?”

“Even I, who am missing one eye, have walked the martial world and seen and learned much. But Young Master Seol, both your eyes are intact, are they not? Haha. So I believe you’ll be able to see and learn even more than me. By all means… I wish you good fortune in martial arts.”

At Gwang Ryo’s smiling words, Seol Pan-gyo felt his heart grow warm.

“Thank you.”

And then he continued with a respectful expression of gratitude.

“I understand that faction logic is meaningless in one’s learning.”

Though the long history of orthodox and unorthodox factions was marked with antagonism, he meant that such dichotomous thinking or concepts were meaningless for a martial artist seeking the true meaning of the world.

“Yes, I feel the same. Let’s meet again sometime.”

After exchanging greetings, Gwang Ryo closed the main gate and disappeared, and Seol Pan-gyo turned and walked forward with a smile.

‘I’m glad I came here. Though the order was wrong.’

Then the image of a woman as beautiful as a flower flashed through his mind.

Jade Robe Swallow Lady Mae Yak-bang.

The object of his unrequited love since coming of age.

‘How unfortunate. If only Miss Mae too… Would have a change of heart like me…’

He didn’t know.

That Mae Yak-bang, who had repented of her past wrongs, had already headed toward the Hubei region together with two beasts hiding their dark fangs.

* * *

Wanju in the Hubei region.

Beon Sa, Mountain Shattering Sword who represented Broken Mountain Sword Manor as a martial talent, had ridden his horse almost without rest heading north, and finally arrived at this city.

‘Hmm, there are many.’

From the point where the entrance was visible, crowds were swarming.

Especially.

The figures of martial artists were visible here and there on the streets.

It was the aftermath of the duel scheduled for tomorrow.

Soon Beon Sa, having set foot on the ground, was leading his horse by the reins when he turned back.

‘Hmm, this won’t do.’

Because as he went further, there were too many people, and it seemed it would be difficult to get a room in the city area.

In the end, he chose a large inn at the entrance of Wanju.

With the thought that the facilities looked somewhat shabby, but as long as there was a room to stay in.

When he tied up his horse and stepped inside, a noisy clamor drummed at his ears.

Martial world people sitting crammed together at every table, eating and drinking.

There were about thirty of them in total.

There were only a couple of empty seats.

At that moment, the gaze of Beon Sa, who was looking around, sank heavily.

‘Damn, of all the places…’

The group currently occupying the space was none other than members of the famous unorthodox force from Hunan.

Jackal Wolf Blade Sect.

A place said to be full of blade practitioners like jackals and wolves.

Above all, the reason the Jackal Wolf Blade Sect was famous was because of the current Sect Leader’s presence.

Jinjo Jeok-je.

A powerhouse said to boast terrifying bladework like a starving wolf.

Hence in the martial world, he was called the Hungry Wolf Blade Demon.

Before the Thousand-Kill Sword Ghost Eum Ryun departed this world, they had been referred to as the Two Demons of Hunan, and now he was in name and reality one of the Five Martial Paragons representing the region.

In truth, the Jackal Wolf Blade Sect and the Broken Mountain Sword Manor were in competition.

Of course, they hadn’t had major friction since their territories were different, but nerve wars frequently occurred because of their respective reputations.

That’s why Beon Sa felt uncomfortable.

Jinjo Jeok-je, the Jackal Wolf Blade Sect Leader, was nowhere to be seen inside.

Instead.

His direct disciple was sitting over there.

‘An unpleasant fellow…’

The moment Beon Sa unknowingly frowned.

“Welcome.”

The inn owner approached with a smiling face and greeted him.

“Do you perhaps need a room? There happens to be one vacant.”

“No, thank you. I’ll stop by next time.”

Just as Beon Sa quietly declined and turned around.

“Hey, isn’t that Young Master Beon?”

A clear voice caught his ankle.

‘Hmph.’

Beon Sa, having frowned again, soon changed his expression and turned around.

The owner of the voice was waving his right hand.

A young man wearing blue martial attire with a jackal embroidered on the left shoulder and a wolf on the right.

With a sturdy build and distinct facial features, he was Jong Pyeong, the sole disciple of Hungry Wolf Blade Demon Jinjo Jeok-je.

Twenty-five years old this year, he was a blade talent who had early earned the alias Violent Wolf Blade, and like Azure Mark Sword Seol Pan-gyo of Azure Heaven Sword Sect, was a rising powerhouse counted on one hand throughout the Hunan region.

Also, for Beon Sa himself who belonged to the unorthodox faction, he had always been an existence who was like an arch-rival, a so-called fated opponent constantly compared to him.

‘Can’t be helped.’

Having missed his chance to escape, Beon Sa reluctantly approached where he was.

“Here, here, have a seat.”

Jong Pyeong quickly offered a seat and handed over a cup filled with liquor.

“Thank you.”

The moment Beon Sa politely paid his respects and drained the cup, Jong Pyeong wore a peculiar smile and spoke.

“Ha. Young Master Beon, is it true? That Manor Master Do suffered a setback? But I don’t completely believe it. Rumors tend to be exaggerated.”

It had begun.

Rubbing salt in the wound.

Beon Sa knew well.

That he was deliberately bringing up that story to irritate him.

“It’s… True.”

When Beon Sa answered quietly, Jong Pyeong murmured as if in passing.

“Well, how will you walk around showing your face now? It might be different if your reputation were low.”

At that, Beon Sa inwardly flared up.

‘How insolent…’

That was Jong Pyeong’s character.

He easily looked down on others and crushed hearts with painful words.

He was an arrogant and presumptuous person.

But Beon Sa didn’t just take it either.

“You only truly realize things when you experience them yourself. By the way, isn’t your Sect Leader going to challenge him? Though the result is already decided anyway.”

It was a provocation meaning that even Hungry Wolf Blade Demon Jinjo Jeok-je would fare no better.

Jong Pyeong’s eyes flashed and he twisted his mouth.

“Ha. As I said, I don’t completely believe the floating rumors. There must be exaggeration mixed in.”

“Exaggeration, you say…”

“Number One Martial God of Hunan? What kind of nonsense is that… If I get the chance to exchange moves with him here, before my Master who is staying in the city, I myself will verify this martial prowess that only empty rumors speak of. Isn’t that the proper order?”

He was showing off pointless pride.

As if his master Hungry Wolf Blade Demon Jinjo Jeok-je was in a different class than Blue Robe Sword Noble Do Yun who was at the bottom of the Five Martial Paragons.

But then.

-DUDUDUDUDU, DUDUDUDUDU… KWAKWANG!

Suddenly, loud vibrations and a roar echoed.

It was right outside the inn.

Following that.

MURMUR MURMUR.

The sound of people on the street chattering as if startled could be heard.

“What’s the commotion?”

Just as Jong Pyeong tilted his head.

SWOOSH-

A young man wearing splendid black martial attire lifted the entrance curtain and entered.

Gazes concentrated all at once.

The eyes of the Jackal Wolf Blade Sect group changed rapidly.

‘WHAT!’

‘Those clothes are…!’

Beon Sa shot to his feet despite himself.

As they say, speak of the devil.

The identity of the person who had appeared inside the inn was none other than White Peak Sword Sect Leader Cheol Ryu-heun.