Chapter 252: Eastern Emperor (3)
“Phew.”
Peng Chae-hyang wiped away her sweat with her sleeve. The weather wasn’t particularly hot yet, but she had walked at a brisk pace out of sheer impatience.
Perhaps because she had entered Hubei, stories about the leader of the New Justice Association could be heard from all directions.
“Did you hear? The leader of the New Justice Association is currently offering guidance to martial artists.”
“The Eastern Emperor? But isn’t he quite young?”
“Even if he is young, he seems to be a formidable master. Everyone who went there doubting him has returned with nothing but praise.”
“Should I go as well? I’ve been feeling a bit stuck lately.”
Listening to the conversations of the swordsmen, Peng Chae-hyang couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride.
As expected, Muk Hui-yeong was a remarkable person. She had judged him correctly.
Even when others didn’t recognize his worth, she had been keeping an eye on him.
Just then, Peng Chae-hyang noticed a man approaching her.
“…Excuse me.”
“Yes?”
As she replied, Peng Chae-hyang subtly placed her hand on the short sword at her waist. It was a natural precaution against a stranger.
“I only ask because you are so beautiful, but would you care to converse for a moment?”
“…Pardon?”
Peng Chae-hyang furrowed her brow.
“I am wearing a veil. How could you possibly know if I am beautiful?”
Just as she said, she was wearing a face veil. No matter how skilled a master one might be, it was impossible to peer through such a thick veil to see her face.
“I caught a glimpse of you earlier when you briefly raised your veil.”
“Ah.”
Peng Chae-hyang clicked her tongue. To think he had seen her during that brief moment when she raised her veil because it felt a bit stuffy. She could feel the gazes of the people in the tavern converging on her.
She had specifically left behind the Hebei Peng Clan’s signature great saber to hide her identity. The last thing she wanted was to draw attention to herself.
“I am sorry, but I already have a beloved.”
Peng Chae-hyang decided to use that excuse for now. Although Muk Hui-yeong’s face flashed through her mind when she mentioned a beloved, she decided not to overthink it.
“You are truly my ideal type. Please, just give me a single chance.”
The man spoke in a desperate tone. The curiosity in the gazes of the patrons grew even more intense. Uncomfortable with the attention, Peng Chae-hyang stood up from her seat.
“I am sorry.”
Similar situations had occasionally occurred in Beijing as well.
There were times when the sons of high-ranking officials had tried to treat her like a courtesan from the red-light district.
Compared to that, this man’s request was quite polite, so Chae-hyang intended to leave without causing him any further embarrassment.
“Come on, let us also have a look at how beautiful that face is!”
Just then, a gruff voice bellowed from somewhere in the tavern. The crowd burst into laughter at those words.
The man who had spoken so rudely to Peng Chae-hyang stood up and slowly walked toward her. A massive shadow loomed over Chae-hyang’s small frame.
“Is even a glance forbidden? How precious could that face possibly be?”
“…”
Peng Chae-hyang saw no point in responding. The rough, unrefined energy he exuded made it obvious at a glance that he was a vulgar martial artist of the unorthodox sects.
“Ah, wait. I did not mean to cause such a situation.”
The man who had confessed to her seemed flustered. After all, the fault lay with him. He had essentially announced to an unorthodox martial artist that a beauty was present.
“Brother. I apologize, but I hope you will refrain from threatening the young lady.”
“Haha. Do you think putting on a heroic act after being rejected will make her look at you?”
“It is not like that. If you are interested in wine and women, please take this.”
The unorthodox martial artist accepted what the man handed him. It was a bank note from the Wuhan Money House.
“I am Jeon Oh-su, the Young Proprietor of the Wuhan Money House. I will ensure you are well-entertained elsewhere, so please allow this young lady to go.”
“Aha. You possess quite a noble status.”
The martial artist nodded in satisfaction, pocketing the note. Just as a smile began to form on Jeon Oh-su’s face, the unorthodox martial artist proved to be far from cooperative.
“Still, I must satisfy my curiosity before I leave. Just how beautiful must she be for the Young Proprietor of the Wuhan Money House to cling to her like this?”
“Excuse me, brother…”
“Do I look like someone who couldn’t beat the Young Proprietor of a mere money house to death?” the unorthodox martial artist growled.
Peng Chae-hyang sighed inwardly. It was becoming clear that she would have to suppress him, but she was hesitant in case someone recognized her martial arts.
“To think that because the leader of the New Justice Association is offering enlightenment, even cattle and horses have gathered here.”
Just then, someone stood up from a corner of the tavern. He wore a bamboo hat pulled low, obscuring his face. However, judging by his smooth, unwrinkled white neck, one could easily guess he was a young man.
“Get lost instead of making those who are trying to eat uncomfortable.”
The aura exuded by the young man was extraordinary. As his internal energy vibrated through the air, the bowls and chairs in the vicinity began to tremble.
It was a level of internal energy that the unorthodox martial artist could not hope to approach. His face turned pale, and he ultimately fled the tavern in a hurry.
“Phew.”
Peng Chae-hyang let out a sigh of relief. It was the best possible outcome, as the unorthodox martial artist had been chased away without her having to lift a finger.
“Thank you.”
Peng Chae-hyang bowed to the man. Jeon Oh-su also expressed his gratitude to the savior and apologized to Chae-hyang.
“I am sorry, Lady. I believe my feelings got the better of me.”
“It is fine. Just please be more mindful of the time and place next time.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Regret practically dripped from Jeon Oh-su’s eyes, but after what had just transpired, he couldn’t afford to be stubborn.
Jeon Oh-su, Peng Chae-hyang, and the young man left the tavern together. Since they had caused a commotion, it was only polite to depart.
“…?”
Yet, for some reason, they were all walking in the exact same direction.
Well, such things could happen. It wasn’t an incredibly shocking coincidence. The three of them naturally spaced themselves out and walked.
Feeling a bit awkward, Peng Chae-hyang took a slightly detour. However, on the official road leading out of Shiyan, she encountered Jeon Oh-su and the man in the bamboo hat once again.
Only then did they realize that their destination was the same.
“Are you heading to the New Justice Association?”
“Yes, I am.”
“So am I.”
“…Then, shall we walk together?”
The three of them exchanged glances, and swallowing their embarrassment, they nodded. After all, they had heard that the New Justice Association was currently borrowing a hall from the Wudang Sect.
Wudang was located in Jun County, which was entirely rural. The highway leading from Shiyan to Jun County was narrow, so parting ways here would make no difference. And so, their awkward journey together began.
“…”
“…”
“…”
How much time had passed? Amidst the dreadful silence, Jeon Oh-su finally managed to speak.
“Since we are traveling together, why don’t we introduce ourselves?”
Peng Chae-hyang and the man in the bamboo hat hesitated, but they soon complied. After all, the journey from Shiyan to Jun County would take a couple of hours. Engaging in conversation was the only way to alleviate the awkwardness.
Removing his bamboo hat, the man spoke. To Peng Chae-hyang’s surprise, his face was one she knew well.
“I will introduce myself first. I am Namgung Hwi of the Namgung Clan.”
“Young Master Namgung?”
Peng Chae-hyang was startled by his sudden appearance. Having not seen him in a while, she hadn’t recognized him by his voice alone.
Namgung Hwi tilted his head in confusion at her reaction.
“Do you know me?”
“Ah, I am Peng Chae-hyang.”
Peng Chae-hyang removed her veil and bowed. Namgung Hwi was equally astonished by her unexpected identity.
“My word. It was Lady Peng.”
“To think we were so close yet I failed to recognize you.”
“We were both hiding our identities, so it couldn’t be helped.”
Namgung Hwi and Peng Chae-hyang shared a sheepish laugh. Of course, the one most shocked by their identities was Jeon Oh-su.
“So you were the Azure Dragon Rising Hero and the Moon-Shrouding Saber. To think I would see two of the most prominent rising talents of the jianghu at once. I, Jeon, am incredibly fortunate today.”
“The Young Proprietor of the Wuhan Money House is also a rare guest.”
Peng Chae-hyang decided to travel without her veil now. Since her identity had already been revealed, there was no need to keep wearing the stuffy veil.
Knowing Namgung Hwi’s upright character, she had no worries about him, and she only needed to keep Jeon Oh-su in check.
“Ah, Young Master Jeon. Just to be safe…”
“I know, I know. I will take the fact that I saw Lady Peng today to my grave.”
“Thank you. You are very considerate.”
“One has to be quick-witted to survive in the money house business.”
With their introductions out of the way, the atmosphere grew considerably warmer. As the awkwardness dissipated, conversation flowed naturally.
Unlike the hesitant and stuttering beginning, the three shared quite a lot of stories. Being of similar age, they found many common topics of interest.
As they drew closer to the Wudang Sect and the New Justice Association, more and more people began to appear. Peng Chae-hyang put her veil back on to conceal her identity.
“My word. The movement of the New Justice Association’s leader is truly like lightning.”
“I never expected to receive guidance from someone so young.”
Praises for the Association Leader, Muk Hui-yeong, echoed among the martial artists. It was the same story she had heard in the tavern, but because these were people who had just experienced it, the level of excitement was entirely different.
“Did you hear about that too? They say the salary for joining the New Justice Association as a martial artist is quite substantial.”
“Ah, yes. But they seem to select them very strictly.”
“Still, seeing how they distribute such funds, the New Justice Association must be incredibly wealthy.”
“With five of the Nine Great Sects and the Namgung Clan backing them, how could they possibly lack money?”
It wasn’t just Muk Hui-yeong who drew attention. The New Justice Association as a power was also the subject of great interest.
Although they carried the risk of standing against the Imperial Palace, they were a rising supernova that had entered the center of the martial world alongside their opening ceremony.
Befitting that status, the external growth of the New Justice Association was progressing at a rapid pace. The sheer number of martial artists showing interest was proof of that.
Of course, Muk Hui-yeong valued internal substance over external growth, which was why new members were selected through a strict screening process.
“Is the New Justice Association really that wealthy?” Peng Chae-hyang asked Namgung Hwi after listening to the crowd’s chatter.
While other martial artists might not know, Peng Chae-hyang was a member of the Hebei Peng Clan. She knew very well that the Nine Great Sects did not accumulate wealth.
Namgung Hwi let out a slightly awkward laugh.
“In truth, the Nine Great Sects have no money. Almost all of it is being funded by my family.”
“Is the Namgung Clan supporting all six factions on its own? No matter how wealthy your family is, that must be incredibly difficult.”
“Of course, the Namgung Clan is not providing the support for free. I heard that Master Muk—no, the Association Leader—borrowed the funds from the Namgung Clan and plans to repay them later.”
“So it is money that must be paid back. Even if he was a merchant leader, I wonder if he can repay such a massive sum when the Radiant Crystal Merchant Company is practically defunct.”
Peng Chae-hyang spoke in a worried tone. Namgung Hwi also showed a bitter smile.
“Actually, my family had no intention of receiving the money back from the start, and that remains true today. It was the Association Leader who insisted on signing a promissory note despite our offer to support him.”
“Is that so?”
“As far as I know, he said he has never used another’s money for free in his entire life.”
“Master Muk can be incredibly stubborn about the strangest things, especially when it comes to financial calculations,” Peng Chae-hyang laughed.
Although it had only been a little over half a year since she last saw him, it felt as though she was reminiscing about a distant, ancient past.
Even then, she had thought of him as an extraordinary person, but she never imagined he would appear as the leader of the New Justice Association. Furthermore, he was showing unprecedented moves as a leader.
“It seems Master Muk is sparring with everyone who seeks him out.”
“So it seems.”
“Are you also going to spar with him, Young Master Namgung?”
“I would love to, but that is not my primary purpose. Since I was saved by him, my main goal is to express my gratitude. Is it not the same for you, Lady Peng?”
Confronted by Namgung Hwi’s innocent gaze, Peng Chae-hyang felt a pang of guilt. In truth, her primary motivation was her affection for her beloved rather than gratitude for saving her life, but she quickly nodded in agreement.
Jeon Oh-su, sensing a subtle shift in the air, cleared his throat.
“It seems you two are already acquainted with Hui-yeong.”
“Are you also close with him, Young Master Jeon?” Peng Chae-hyang asked, surprised.
Jeon Oh-su smiled. “We were classmates as lay disciples of the Wudang Sect. Though we didn’t spend a long time together, Hui-yeong was friendly with most of the lay disciples.”
“Ah, I see.”
It was easy to forget, but Muk Hui-yeong had started as a lay disciple. Seeing his extraordinary martial arts, she often mistakenly assumed he was a main-sect disciple who had trained in Wudang since childhood. That was the true greatness of Muk Hui-yeong.
“I wish to see him as soon as possible,” Peng Chae-hyang blurted out.
Startled by her sudden words, Namgung Hwi blinked and stared at her. Just as an awkward silence threatened to dominate the atmosphere, Jeon Oh-su laughed heartily.
“I, too, wish to see my friend who returned from the dead as soon as possible.”
“Y-Yes, exactly.”
Surprised by her own outburst, Peng Chae-hyang quickly chimed in with Jeon Oh-su’s words.
While Namgung Hwi remained oblivious, Jeon Oh-su felt a sense of certainty.
It was also the moment when Jeon Oh-su’s brief crush came to an end.
Sharing their memories of Muk Hui-yeong, the three ascended Wudang Mountain. The entrance of the Wudang Sect, which had once been quiet, was now packed with an absolute sea of people.
Wherever crowds gathered, merchants naturally followed. The area was bursting with vitality, filled with everyone from those seeking the New Justice Association to various street vendors.
“It feels as though Wudang’s former glory has returned.”
“Though it is the New Justice Association, not Wudang.”
Namgung Hwi and Peng Chae-hyang stared at the crowd with sentimental expressions. Since the Gye-yu Shipwreck incident, the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families had seen a drastic decline in visitors—excluding those aligned with the Martial Alliance, of course.
“Let us enter.”
At the main gate of Wudang, disciples were guiding and controlling the flow of people.
Namgung Hwi looked around, searching for a familiar face. He thought that if he found someone he knew, they could enter more easily. Unlike Chae-hyang and Jeon Oh-su, the Namgung Clan was a member of the New Justice Association.
“Oh, it is Namgung Hwi.”
Fortunately, someone recognized him. However, Namgung Hwi’s brow furrowed.
“Priest Myeong-gyeong.”
“Yes.”
The Daoist who recognized him was Myeong-gyeong, whom he had met in Huaiyin. Myeong-gyeong had grown quite a bit since they last met.
“Since you’ve grown, shouldn’t you speak to me using polite honorifics?”
“Since I spoke comfortably from the start, I will keep doing so. Don’t be so petty.”
“…”
Calling someone petty carried a magical power. If one argued back, they would truly become a petty person. Indeed, what was the point of getting angry at a much younger brother? Since Myeong-gyeong only spoke comfortably but did not behave rudely, Namgung Hwi decided to endure it.
“We came to see the Association Leader.”
“My Junior Brother? He is quite busy though.”
“I know. Still, I am a member of the New Justice Association.”
“Ah, that is true.”
Myeong-gyeong struck his palm with his fist and nodded.
“Follow me. But my Junior Brother is currently in the middle of a spar, so it might be difficult to meet him right away.”
“We do not mind waiting.”
“No need for that. After all, the spars are held in public.”
“In public?” Namgung Hwi tilted his head.
Normally, a spar would inevitably reveal one’s martial arts, so martial artists preferred to keep them private, or limit entry to only a few approved individuals to conceal their techniques.
Yet to spar in front of such a massive crowd. Surely there were people sent by the Martial Alliance or the Imperial Palace to spy on them. Muk Hui-yeong was not someone who would overlook such a fact.
“Ooh!”
As they followed Myeong-gyeong while harboring such doubts, the cheers of the crowd echoed.
Just as Myeong-gyeong said, the spars were indeed being conducted in full public view.
“Wow,” Jeon Oh-su let out an exclamation.
Muk Hui-yeong had just stepped onto the very tip of his opponent’s sword.
While Jeon Oh-su, not being a martial artist, did not understand the full implications, Peng Chae-hyang and Namgung Hwi could see it clearly.
As individuals who had once faced Muk Hui-yeong themselves, they knew that he had stepped into a completely different realm far beyond their own.
Amidst the thunderous cheers, Muk Hui-yeong, who wielded his sword while maintaining his cool composure, was undeniably a martial artist who radiated brilliant light.