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chapter 76
“I was hoping I might run into you, Brother.”
E Do-gi said with a smile.
“You’ve been well?”
“Yes.”
“But these people are…”
E Do-gi trailed off as he looked toward Yu Ak-gun, Seo Gun-ha, and Ye Hwi-rang—his expression politely suggesting an introduction.
The Sword Spirit (Geomnyeong) gave a small nod toward Jeok Hwa-myeong.
“This man is Guard Yu, my younger brother’s bodyguard.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Yu Gun-ak.”
Yu Ak-gun introduced himself with his name order reversed. Since Seo Gun-ha and Ye Hwi-rang didn’t know his real name, it didn’t matter as long as Geomnyeong and Jeok Hwa-myeong stayed quiet about it.
“I’m E Do-gi, second son of the Sinchang clan.”
“And this is Seo Gun-ha,” Geomnyeong said. “We met at Mount Hengshan and have been traveling together since.”
“I’m Seo Gun-ha. Pleased to meet you.”
“And this is Ye Hwi-rang, my younger sister.”
“Hello.”
As Jeok Hwa-myeong introduced them, members of the Sinchang clan approached. Unlike the people of Cheonmyeong Villa, the Sinchang clan was friendly toward Geomnyeong.
At first, their relationship had not been good, but after several encounters—at Cheonmyeong Villa, the Myeonghwa Trading Company, and the village where those practicing the Jiangshi Art had gathered—their ties had warmed considerably.
E Je-ung, the First Elder who had led the clan’s younger generation to the martial arts tournament, greeted them warmly.
“I knew you’d show up for the tournament.”
E Je-ung regarded Geomnyeong as a benefactor, for the latter had once saved his life.
“Have you been well?”
“There was an attack by demonic cultivators, but nothing too severe. What about you? Any trouble with Cheonmyeong Villa or the Myeonghwa Trading Company?”
“It was tolerable.”
E Je-ung nodded.
The battle between Geomnyeong and Cheonmyeong Villa at Mount Hengshan had become well-known throughout the martial world, even though Cheonmyeong Villa had tried to keep it quiet. The deaths of Elder Hyeon Tae-seong and several guest warriors made that impossible.
What the world didn’t know, however, was that it had been Geomnyeong’s group who killed them.
“Have you met anyone from Cheonmyeong Villa since then?”
The elder’s tone carried concern.
“Yes. We had a dispute at an inn, and Elder Hyeon Tae-ji’s arms were broken.”
E Je-ung’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“And the others?”
“He attacked first. I merely defended. No one else was harmed.”
“That’s fortunate. I would prefer that you not cross paths with them again, but what’s done is done.”
He was right.
“That’s why I was going to ask—why not stay with us while the tournament lasts?”
“Stay with you?”
“Yes.”
Geomnyeong thought for a moment, then glanced at Jeok Hwa-myeong. It would be better for Jeok Hwa-myeong to handle these formalities publicly.
“We’re grateful for your kindness, but staying with you might worsen things between the Sinchang clan and Cheonmyeong Villa.”
“That relationship is already broken. They tried to kill us—how could we maintain ties with such people?”
Since they had already been nearly killed because of them, any relationship between Sinchang and Cheonmyeong Villa was beyond repair.
Let’s accept, Yu Ak-gun transmitted telepathically to Jeok Hwa-myeong. It doesn’t matter to us, but Gun-ha and Hwi-rang deserve proper rooms to rest in.
Jeok Hwa-myeong agreed with a nod.
“Then we’ll gratefully accept your hospitality.”
“Good. Come, then.”
The Sword Spirit’s party followed the Sinchang clan members to their assigned villa in the inner city.
* * *
The master of Cheonmyeong Villa, Hyeon Tae-ryeong, was troubled by a letter that had arrived overnight.
The letter reported that in Wuhan, where the martial arts tournament was being held, they had encountered the family’s nemesis—Geomnyeong and Jeok Hwa-myeong. A dispute had broken out, resulting in Elder Hyeon Tae-ji’s wrists being shattered.
It wasn’t that the news shocked him—it was the claim that the martial art used resembled Ice-White Small Water Divine Art (Bingbaek Sosu Shingong) that unsettled him.
Facing Geomnyeong again was a burden.
This was the man who had deflected his sword techniques and annihilated both the Sword Heaven Corps and the Assassination Squad he’d sent to kill him. Even the assassins from professional killer groups who tried afterward had all perished.
That wasn’t luck—it proved his martial strength was formidable.
Furthermore, he had heard from Elder Song Il-guk that Geomnyeong was connected to the Hengshan Sect.
If someone mastering the Ice-White Small Water Divine Art stood by Geomnyeong’s side, it meant he would have to postpone his revenge for his son and brother.
Jeok Hwa-myeong also troubled him deeply.
Still, to ignore vengeance for family was unthinkable.
The problem was justification—revenge would require the entire clan to move, but the reason to do so was weakened after it became known that Hyeon Jin-myeong had practiced the Asura Exploding Heaven Art.
There was one option: abandon their righteous front and embrace demonic ways. But that would destroy all the support and reputation they had built over generations.
Hyeon Tae-ryeong sighed deeply.
If he weren’t the clan head, he wouldn’t have to deal with this dilemma. It was only because he led Cheonmyeong Villa.
“Clan Master!”
A voice called from outside his study.
“Enter.”
Elder Song Guk-il stepped in, bowed, and took a seat.
“I called you because I need your advice.”
Hyeon Tae-ryeong handed him the letter. Song Guk-il’s eyes flickered as he read it.
He already knew Geomnyeong was not someone to trifle with. If possible, he would avoid him entirely.
“So Elder Hyeon Tae-ji suffered at his hands… but this mention of someone who wields Ice-White Small Water Divine Art troubles me. That’s why I summoned you.”
“It seems your fates are entangled, Clan Master.”
“Indeed.”
“When we were at Mount Hengshan, he had only two companions—and one unfamiliar woman who didn’t seem to be one of his people. She appeared there for another reason.”
“I see.”
“If Elder Hyeon Tae-ji was defeated, we can’t simply sit idly by…”
Song Guk-il stopped himself. He didn’t want to wound the clan’s pride.
“If we do nothing, we’ll become a laughingstock.”
“As I told you after we returned from Hengshan—if we mean to fight him, we must first isolate him.”
He had already warned that Geomnyeong’s ties to the Hengshan Sect could cause trouble.
“If the Hengshan Sect intervenes on his behalf, things could turn ugly.”
“True.”
Even a prestigious clan like Cheonmyeong Villa couldn’t afford to fight one of the Nine Great Sects.
“Do you know what his relationship with the Hengshan Sect really is?”
“I’ve heard from Elder Cheol Song that when he first came to Hengshan, even the sect leader was wary of him. But after the Grand Elder, Gun Il-san—the strongest sword of Hengshan—met him, the sect leader’s attitude changed completely.”
“Then he must be related to Gun Il-san.”
“That’s my belief as well. I tried to find out more, but we had to leave before I could.”
Hyeon Tae-ryeong frowned.
“Hengshan, huh…”
“With the martial arts tournament going on, it’ll be difficult to act. The Hengshan Sect will also be attending as part of the Martial Alliance. My suggestion is to wait until it ends, then track his movements before taking action.”
“Agreed.”
But to be honest, Song Guk-il thought, I’d rather tell him to bury his vengeance. That man is not someone to provoke lightly.
He couldn’t say that aloud to someone who had lost both son and brother.
For now, this blood feud could only end with either Cheonmyeong Villa’s destruction or Geomnyeong’s death.
“I’ll be heading to the Martial Alliance tomorrow. Handle things here while I’m gone.”
“Understood. Safe travels, Clan Master.”
* * *
The martial tournament brought countless martial artists to the Martial Alliance headquarters, crowding the city day and night.
Naturally, shops along Heroic Avenue bustled with business, and by nightfall, inns, taverns, and pleasure houses overflowed with people.
Their conversations all revolved around one topic:
Who would emerge victorious in the martial tournament’s grand competition?
Would the young elites of the Nine Great Sects and Ten Great Clans perform well?
Who among them would rise to prominence this year?
Would the famed “Ten Dragons and Eight Peaks” live up to their reputations?
And, inevitably, debates over which of the Eight Peaks was the most beautiful.
While resting in the villa provided by the Sinchang clan, Geomnyeong and Ye Hwi-rang occasionally went to inns to eavesdrop on such talk.
“Sis,” Ye Hwi-rang asked Seo Gun-ha, “are the Ten Dragons and Eight Peaks really that strong?”
After realizing through conversations with Geomnyeong how much she didn’t know, Ye Hwi-rang had taken to asking Seo Gun-ha about anything she was curious about—quickly becoming close friends in the process.
“It depends on what you mean by ‘strong,’” Seo Gun-ha replied.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, it depends whether you’re comparing them to the top hundred masters of the martial world, or just to other young elites of our generation.”
“I see. Then, compared to Geomnyeong?”
“Much weaker.”
She answered without hesitation.
“And compared to you?”
“A little weaker.”
Seo Gun-ha, now among the world’s top hundred experts herself, said it confidently.
“Then they must be way weaker than me,” Ye Hwi-rang said brightly.
“In pure martial skill, yes.”
Geomnyeong joined in, smiling.
“Strength isn’t judged by martial skill alone. It’s also shaped by surroundings and circumstance…”
He explained it simply so Ye Hwi-rang could understand.
After listening, she nodded earnestly.
“Okay! Then I’ll work hard too, so I can be as strong as you, Brother!”
“Here you are!”
A voice called from the inn’s entrance. Turning toward it, they saw E Do-cheon, E Do-gi, E Do-gun, and their youngest sister E A-ryeong approaching their table.
“Ah, you’ve come,” Geomnyeong said. “We were just listening to people talk.”
“Is that so? Mind if we join?”
“Please, sit.”
The four took seats.
Among them, E Do-gi still felt awkward around Geomnyeong because of their past.
After the Cheonmyeong Villa incident, the Sinchang clan owed Geomnyeong a debt. Their clan head, E Je-min, had ordered his children to rebuild that relationship if they met Geomnyeong at the tournament.
“How about it?” E Do-gi asked. “After hearing all this talk of the Ten Dragons and Eight Peaks, don’t you feel like meeting them?”
“I’ve already met one in passing—Gwon Ryong, Hwang Bo-soong.”
“Oh? What did you think of him?”
E Do-gi seemed eager to converse, while Geomnyeong—though reluctant—answered politely out of courtesy.
While the two spoke, E Do-cheon turned to Seo Gun-ha.
“I heard from Brother Jeok Hwa-myeong that you performed greatly at Mount Hengshan.”
“It was nothing. I just did what needed to be done.”
“Still, to face demonic cultivators takes great courage. You fought bravely and prevailed—truly worthy of being called a heroine.”
Unused to compliments, Seo Gun-ha grew flustered.
“Compared to her,” E Do-cheon said teasingly, “this little one is…”
“What about me?” protested E A-ryeong, jumping into the conversation.
Soon she was chatting naturally, while E Do-gun sat awkwardly like a sack of barley, until his eyes met Ye Hwi-rang’s across the table.
When she smiled, he flushed and looked away.
“Brother Geomnyeong,” E Do-gi said cautiously, “though our first meeting wasn’t pleasant, we are still bound by fate. Please, forgive our Do-gun.”
Geomnyeong looked at E Do-gun, who couldn’t meet his gaze.
“When I left the Sinchang clan, I let go of all that,” Geomnyeong said calmly.
“Thank you for saying so.”
“There’s nothing to forgive. It was all a misunderstanding between us.”
E Do-gi nudged his younger brother. “Say something.”
“I—I was young and foolish. Please forgive me.”
“I already said there’s nothing to forgive. Let’s not dwell on the past.”
“Understood. Thank you.”
E Do-gi decided to leave it there for now. After all, they would have time to build rapport before the tournament ended.
“Have you heard?” E Do-gi said, changing the subject. “The Martial Alliance plans to form a new force composed of young elites—the later-generation talents.”
Geomnyeong and Seo Gun-ha exchanged curious looks.
“They say it’s to pass down experience, but I think it’s actually to protect them from demonic cultivators.”
“So they want to gather all the hot-blooded youths in one place—so none go chasing demons on their own.”
Geomnyeong’s gaze, by chance, landed on E Do-gun. The young man could only bow his head.
Shameless guy, he thought. Didn’t he say he’d forgotten everything?
