Chapter 36: Chapter 36
Leaving the banquet hall, Cheon Woo-jin walked behind the Sword King.
Perhaps lost in thought, the Sword King remained consistently solemn, not uttering a single word.
Cheon Woo-jin was not a talkative man either, so their silent walk continued for a while.
The place they arrived at following the Sword King was a pavilion that was not particularly large, but neatly and classically built. On the signboard, the characters Namgung Hall were written.
It was none other than the Patriarch Hall where the master of the Namgung Clan resided.
Naturally taking the seat of honor, Namgung Byeok pointed to the opposite seat across the tea table.
As Cheon Woo-jin sat down, the Sword King asked point-blank. The figures of the Namgung Clan were generally not of a nature to beat around the bush.
“Could your master perhaps be the White Flower Sword Immortal?”
It was a question as sharp as a sword, but Cheon Woo-jin nodded casually.
“Yes.”
Both masters had instructed him not to go around needlessly speaking about being Black Elder’s disciple. Although the Righteous Path, Unorthodox Path, and Demonic Path each harbored different ideologies, Black Elder was remarkably someone who had earned the hatred of all of them.
On the other hand, those who could be called Master White Elder’s enemies were only the Heavenly Demon Cult and the disciples of the Dark Emperor.
At Cheon Woo-jin’s concise answer, the Sword King’s expression grew even more solemn.
“If so, the grave mound dug up earlier was…”
“No. I served two masters.”
Only then did the Sword King nod with a somewhat relaxed expression. The White Flower Sword Immortal was an expert of the previous generation, but even in the present era, he was a chivalrous hero serving as a paragon of the Righteous Path.
The desecration of such a martial artist’s grave was not a matter to be casually overlooked.
“Come to think of it, there were two grave mounds.”
He did not bother asking for the identity of the other person. He merely presumed that someone capable of raising a disciple alongside the White Flower Sword Immortal had to be one of the previous generation’s foremost experts.
The Sword King’s words continued.
“At any rate, it is astonishing. To think you were Senior White Flower Sword Immortal’s disciple.”
A renowned expert disappearing from the world to raise a disciple was fairly common in the martial world. However, if that person was a great figure of the White Flower Sword Immortal’s stature, the story changed.
The Sword King looked at Cheon Woo-jin once more with fresh eyes.
Only then did he feel that Cheon Woo-jin’s nonsensical martial prowess became even the slightest bit comprehensible.
Lifting the teapot beside him, the Sword King filled two teacups, pushed one toward Cheon Woo-jin, and spoke.
“Generational seniority is thoroughly tangled up. Seeing how everyone treats you, they seem not to know. Are you hiding it on purpose?”
The Righteous Path valued generational seniority more than any other group. As a disciple of the White Flower Sword Immortal, Cheon Woo-jin ended up having roughly similar seniority to the Sword King himself.
For such a man to be the youngest recruit of the Martial Alliance.
Even thinking about it again only drew out a hollow laugh.
“I am not deliberately hiding it, but hearing that, it seems better not to tell others.”
“Why is that?”
“It seems like it would become tiresome.”
The Sword King nodded. Although he had not known Cheon Woo-jin for long, his personality had such distinct color that he grasped it quickly.
He did not seem like someone who enjoyed worldly attention, nor did he appear to have grand ambitions or desires.
“Well, that sounds like you. Let us do so.”
Wetting his throat with tea, the Sword King reviewed the spar between the Sword Tiger and Cheon Woo-jin that he had watched earlier.
Thinking about it, if he was the White Flower Sword Immortal’s disciple, Cheon Woo-jin’s initial suggestion of a spar with himself was not completely absurd.
Tak. Setting down his teacup, the Sword King faintly smiled.
“Do you wish to spar with me?”
Indeed, though embarrassing to say himself, it was only natural for a rising star newly venturing into the martial world to want to receive guidance from someone called one of the Twenty-Seven Venerables of All Under Heaven and one of the Three Great Swordsmen of the Righteous Path.
However, setting down his cup across from him, Cheon Woo-jin spoke without the slightest change in expression.
“I am fine.”
“Ahem…”
Because his tone was so resolute and calm, the Sword King cleared his throat. Being rejected by this young fellow actually left him feeling somewhat disappointed.
‘It was truly an unusual martial art…’
Among the masters of the Righteous Path, swordsmen were numerous. The reason was simple: the sword was a perfect weapon.
It was not because he was the Sword King. Even the saber, which showed efficiency closest to the sword, fell behind the sword in terms of the flexibility of its stances.
For that reason, rising to such an eminence with the Crane Feather Fan in the Righteous Path’s martial world, where swordsmen overflowed, was an exceedingly tremendous feat.
‘If not now, when would I ever be able to experience Senior White Flower Sword Immortal’s martial arts?’
Observing the Sword King’s expression, Cheon Woo-jin asked.
“Do you perhaps wish to spar?”
“Ahem…”
The Sword King’s face grew slightly warm. Yet he could not deny it in the end. The obsession and interest of martial artists, especially those who had reached a realm like the Sword King’s, toward martial arts were almost bordering on morbid.
Nodding his head, Cheon Woo-jin stood up and cupped his fists with a courteous attitude.
“Please grant me a move.”
Judging from the Sword King’s attitude, he possessed respect toward Master White Elder. As a disciple, it was not right to disregard such a person’s feelings.
“Splendid.”
Chortling contentedly, the Sword King rose from his seat. Soon stepping out of the door connecting to the back of the Patriarch Hall, a moderately sized training ground appeared.
Since it was an exclusive training ground for the Patriarch, it was a place that would never catch others’ eyes.
Cheon Woo-jin untied the Crescent Moon Staff, set it upright to one side, drew out the Crane Feather Fan, and stood facing the Sword King.
Looking at the Crescent Moon Staff for a moment, a strange thought crossed the Sword King’s mind, but he quickly shook it off.
‘Preposterous.’
After all, the person standing before him was none other than the disciple of the White Flower Sword Immortal.
* * *
The Sword King lowered the Blue Sky Sword downward. Looking at the training ground shattered here and there, his expression was truly a sight to behold.
“Hahaha…”
Only empty chuckles continuously leaked out.
Such a guy was the youngest recruit of the Martial Alliance?
Cheon Woo-jin had said that Alliance Leader Bukli Cheon also knew he was the disciple of the White Flower Sword Immortal. Just what was he thinking, keeping such a monster tied down in the Martial Alliance?
On the other hand, he felt a slight pang of jealousy.
‘Just what kind of luck with people does Bukli Cheon have?’
Bukli Cheon and Sword King Namgung Byeok were martial artists who had walked the same era. While not something the Sword King, born as the eldest son of the Namgung Clan, should say, in his eyes Bukli Cheon was an oddly blessed man when it came to interpersonal fortune.
Above him, he received the affection of epochal experts including the White Flower Sword Immortal, and below him, brilliant juniors leading the present Martial Alliance genuinely offered him loyalty and respect.
The Sword King gazed steadily at Cheon Woo-jin, then burst into laughter.
“The elder raised a monster.”
“Calling me a monster upon our first meeting is a bit much.”
Even at Cheon Woo-jin’s bold retort, the Sword King simply found the situation enjoyable.
“It is just a figure of speech. However, if you are Senior White Flower Sword Immortal’s disciple…”
Trailing off for a moment, the Sword King asked with an incredulous feeling.
“Was killing the Lust Demon and the Demonic Cult fellow also your doing?”
“Yes.”
The Sword King nodded. Naturally, he had thought that internal strife erupted among them while discussing the corpse of the Giant Stone Monster.
Considering Cheon Woo-jin’s age, it was an exceedingly reasonable deduction. However, after experiencing the spar with Cheon Woo-jin, his perspective changed entirely.
“The squad leaders and the White Sword Hall Master did not seem to imagine it at all. Why do you not mention it? In particular, the Lust Demon is a prominent figure even among the public enemies of the martial world, so it would surely be recognized as quite a grand achievement.”
In truth, by the Sword King’s common sense, it was hard to understand.
If he were Cheon Woo-jin, he would immediately reveal that he was the White Flower Sword Immortal’s disciple to gain legitimacy, have his abilities recognized, and aim for rapid promotion.
Of course, at the end of that goal would be the position of Martial Alliance Leader.
For a martial artist of the Righteous Path not hailing from the Five Great Clans or the Nine Great Sects and One Clan, the most glorious and successful position was precisely the Martial Alliance Leader.
However, Cheon Woo-jin firmly shook his head.
“For now, the status of the youngest recruit is more comfortable for following Master’s words.”
“Indeed, that could be so. At any rate, how like Senior White Flower Sword Immortal. Telling you to see, experience, and confirm firsthand what kind of place the Martial Alliance is.”
“Do you know Master well?”
At that question, the Sword King stared into the air as if recalling something.
“I met him only a few times, but his personality was so distinct that he left a deep impression.”
Cheon Woo-jin nodded. Like Master Black Elder, Master White Elder was also a person of such definite character that one could grasp what kind of person he was after just a brief conversation.
The Sword King added somewhat bitterly.
“Alliance Leader Bukli Cheon probably has deeper ties with him than I do.”
“Yes, the first person among those Master told me to inform of his passing was Alliance Leader Bukli Cheon.”
“Could it be that my name was not among them?”
A glint of expectation crossed the Sword King’s face. Having built up his renown in the Righteous Path in his own right, he might have been chosen as one of the juniors Senior White Flower Sword Immortal trusted to entrust matters to.
However, this impudent fellow spoke with the utmost firmness.
“It was not.”
“…Is that so.”
Smacking his lips, the Sword King stood up from his seat.
“Having stepped out like this, the atmosphere of the banquet must be a mess. Let us head back.”
“Yes.”
Cheon Woo-jin also rose from his seat.
Suddenly, the Sword King asked.
“Was there truly not even the slightest mention of me…”
“Yes, there was not a single character.”
“…I see.”
The Sword King unnecessarily glared at the innocent back of Cheon Woo-jin, who walked out of the Patriarch Hall first.
* * *
Early morning at the main gate of the Namgung Clan.
All the Martial Alliance members and several elders led by Sword King Namgung Byeok were gathered.
A letter had arrived instructing that since the Martial Alliance had dispatched investigators, the Black Tortoise Squad and the Heavenly Tiger Squad should return after waiting for a day in preparation for any unforeseen situation.
Black Tortoise Squad Leader Cheol Ji-ak said that since they had also been indebted to the Anhui Song Clan, they would go to pay their respects before leaving, and the Heavenly Tiger Squad Leader also agreed.
“Patriarch Song is an exhilarating man counted among the foremost of the present era. Please convey my regards.”
“Yes, understood.”
Cheol Ji-ak politely bowed his head. Looking at Cheol Ji-ak for a moment, the Sword King let out a peculiar smile.
“I wonder if I will be able to see you become a Division Head before I die.”
“Ahem…”
Cheol Ji-ak cleared his throat, and at that sight, several people burst into laughter. Only Zhuge Rin, destined to become a perpetual Vice Squad Leader thanks to serving a perpetual Squad Leader, thumped her chest.
The Sword King’s gaze turned to the Heavenly Tiger Squad Leader beside him. The Heavenly Tiger Squad Leader’s expression was not bright. It was only natural since he had lost two subordinates during the mission.
Although he did not show it, his heart must have been quite troubled.
Without a word, the Sword King patted the Heavenly Tiger Squad Leader’s shoulder, then glanced through the Martial Alliance members in turn.
It was an atmosphere where he felt obliged to say a word to each as a senior elder of the Righteous Path’s martial world.
The first to catch his eye was the eldest son of the Song Clan. As was the case in Patriarch Song’s youth, that fellow had such a handsome face by nature that he stood out wherever he went.
It was already an open secret that several young girls of the Namgung Clan, which frequently interacted with the Song Clan, secretly harbored affection for that fellow.
When the Sword King looked at him, the tense Song Yi-yeon sheepishly smiled.
“Even if you follow only half of your father’s footsteps, you can become a great figure of the Martial Alliance. As your father’s friend, I will always be watching you, so keep that in mind.”
“…Yes.”
It was truly a burdensome blessing.
Lightly ignoring Song Yi-yeon’s pale expression, the Sword King looked toward Zhuge Rin this time.
That child also possessed a truly tragic background.
“You suffer much at a young age. At heart, I wish to help, but I cannot meddle in another family’s affairs, so there is nothing I can do. However, do not worry excessively. The other patriarchs, including myself, are also always keeping an eye on the Zhuge Clan.”
As the head of one of the Five Great Clans, the Sword King seemed to be aware of the internal affairs of the Zhuge Clan to some extent.
Amidst the awkward atmosphere, Zhuge Rin lowered her head with a complicated expression. It was not particularly comforting words.
Soon, the Sword King’s gaze turned to Cheon Woo-jin last.
“As for you…”
This time, the Sword King’s expression grew complicated. Even to his son Namgung Jin, it was an expression of his father he had never seen before.
After pondering deeply for a while, the Sword King spoke.
“If the day ever comes when you are expelled from the Alliance or leave the Alliance on your own two feet, come find me. Somehow, it feels as though you will not endure for long.”
The Sword King thought so.
Either that fellow could not endure the Martial Alliance.
Or the Martial Alliance could not handle that fellow.
“Yes, well…”
Cheon Woo-jin merely scratched his head, confused as to whether this was a blessing or a curse.