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chapter 38
“How about hiring the mastermind to take care of it?”
Gon Man-wook of the Myeonghwa Trading Company wanted revenge against the Sword Spirit who had killed his son.
At first he hadn’t taken it too seriously, but after seeing Geomryeong display real martial power with Hyeon Taeryeong’s state, he couldn’t bring himself to dispatch the Myeonghwa Sword Corps.
Many would say that one hand can’t beat many hands, but facing someone who cut off even Hyeon Taeryeong’s ear, no one believed the Sword Corps could defeat him.
Even if they won, the losses to the Myeonghwa Sword Corps would surely be enormous.
They had invested huge sums to build up the Myeonghwa Sword Corps. If that armed force took big damage, it meant a loss for him.
Judging his son’s case in terms of profit and loss like this, Gon Man-wook was a merchant by nature.
There were many ways to kill the man without mobilizing his own armed group, the Myeonghwa Sword Corps.
“That’s not good. Soon we’ll investigate whether the mastermind has learned magong or not.”
They agreed it would be better for the Sado Alliance rather than the Wulin League to handle the mastermind’s affairs.
And if the mastermind wasn’t a deaf group, they probably had already heard the rumors about Hyeon Taeryeong and Geomryeong—so hiring them wouldn’t be a great idea.
“If you don’t like assassins, how about using ronin?”
“Ronin?”
Provinces bordering the sea—like Guangdong and Fujian—suffered frequent pirate incursions.
The authorities hired ronin and other mercenaries to make up for the lack of soldiers, and naturally a market for ronin emerged in Guangdong.
“Could they kill him?”
Hyeon Taeryeong was ranked among the top one hundred masters of the martial world. No one imagined ronin could handle a swordsman who had defeated such a figure.
“Even if they can’t kill him outright, they can wear him down.”
His eyes sparkled.
“In that case…”
“If the ronin exhaust him, the Myeonghwa Sword Corps can finish him. That way our side won’t take major losses. With just a hundred ronin we could kill him.”
Gon Man-wook nodded.
“Yes, facing a weakened man won’t be that difficult.”
Late at night, Uije-min came to see Geomryeong. Naeng Yeoseol and Jeok Hwa-myeong were with him.
“Is what you said true?”
He asked bluntly.
This was a far different attitude from when he had earlier dismissed Geomryeong as a brash youngster.
There were very few people who could meet sword-to-sword with Hyeon Taeryeong, one of the Wulin’s top one hundred masters. Even at most, fewer than a hundred.
Uije-min now acknowledged Geomryeong.
“What are you referring to?” Geomryeong replied.
“That Hyeon Jin-myeong and Gon Hong-gi have learned magong.”
Uije-min looked into Geomryeong’s eyes as he spoke—trying to glean his thoughts.
“Of course. I have no personal grudge or unique relationship with them that would make me insult them. There’s no need for falsehood. They have certainly learned magong, and many have lost their lives to them.”
He stated the facts with unwavering eyes. There was no reason to lie, so he spoke confidently.
“Then what you said in the past must have been true as well.”
He was referring to the annihilation at Bulsan Cliff.
“Yes. People simply didn’t believe me; there isn’t a shred of falsehood in what I said.”
Their gazes collided in the air.
Like a contest of wills, the two men stared at each other without blinking.
Naeng Yeoseol and Jeok Hwa-myeong, listening, tensed in the brief silence.
“You are more excessive with your hands than you look.”
Uije-min was the first to speak.
“My cultivation isn’t high enough to spare someone who tried to take my life,” Geomryeong said, nodding.
A broad forehead and tightly set mouth betrayed his stubbornness.
“Judging from what you say, magong manuals have spread across the central plains, and many have practiced magong. Am I right?”
“Yes.”
“But don’t you find it oddly quiet?”
“If those who learned magong weren’t fools, they wouldn’t leave traces. The reason Gon Hong-gi left a trace this time was because Gaebangdo saw him using magong.”
“Gaebangdo?”
“Yes. So they couldn’t properly dispose of the corpse and chased after Gaebangdo.”
He spoke as if he had seen the scene himself.
“So Gaebangdo, who was with Gon Hong-gi’s corpse, was attacked by Gon Hong-gi.”
Geomryeong nodded.
“Those who learned magong likely targeted ordinary civilians rather than martial artists. That’s why the Wulin didn’t come to know widely.”
For someone who’d only lived in Heukamdo, he deduced the events remarkably well.
“How do you know so well?”
“My grandfather who taught me said, when thinking, don’t think centered on yourself—think from the other person’s perspective. I’m not saying I know the facts; I’m saying if I had learned magong, this is what would make sense.”
Naeng Yeoseol and Jeok Hwa-myeong, hearing the exchange, nodded to Geomryeong’s logic.
“Thinking not from my side but the opponent’s… that’s a good lesson.”
Uije-min paused, then continued.
“So listen. Cheonmyeong Villa’s current master or Gon Man-wook of the Myeonghwa Trading Company will not leave you be.”
His tone softened. Not out of particular concern, but out of a kind consideration for a younger colleague.
“As you say, they will come for you to avenge their sons.”
Geomryeong knew it too.
If they moved to hurt him, he could just as well kill them.
Those who had taught Geomryeong—Solitary Maya, Ghost Demon Lord, and Jeon Mo—had dominated an age. The martial world moves by the law of the jungle, by strength regardless of age.
If he impressed upon them that they could do nothing against greater strength, they would bow their heads; Geomryeong understood that.
“I expect as much. My grandfather told me that once you enter the Wulin, you cannot be free from grudges. If this is the Wulin’s nature, what else can be done?”
“Don’t take it lightly.”
“I understand. But it’s already happened; I can only watch the situation and respond. I know there’s not much I can do.”
“Hmm…”
Uije-min himself thought he’d have little recourse in such a case.
“Seems you’re right. I have a proposal for you.”
“What proposal…?”
“I want you to go to the Wulin League and repeat what you told me. On the way there we will protect you.”
At the mention of the Wulin League, Geomryeong narrowed his eyes. He could go there without their help.
Their protection could be a burden instead—if the other side knew he would be traveling with them, would they not prepare and dispatch people? Thinking it through, they might be more of a liability.
“Young Master Geomryeong, do as he says.”
Naeng Yeoseol spoke.
If the Shinchangui family endorsed him, Cheonmyeong Villa or Myeonghwa Trading Company would hesitate to touch him, and the Wulin League would offer protection—relatively safer. That was why he recommended it.
Geomryeong didn’t answer right away; he looked at Jeok Hwa-myeong.
“That sounds wise.”
Jeok Hwa-myeong decided to accompany him, so following his advice seemed best.
“All right, I’ll do it. But! I am not responsible for damages incurred on the way to the Wulin League.”
Geomryeong wanted the responsibility clearly stated.
“Don’t worry. Our Shinchangui family’s Hyeonryong Corps isn’t weak.”
“And I won’t go straight to the Wulin League.”
“What do you mean?”
“Because something might happen along the way, I plan to take care of my affairs en route to the League.”
“Do as you must.”
After Uije-min left, the three stayed behind. Jin A-seol slept so deeply she might be carried off and not wake.
“You made the right choice. With the Hyeonryong Corps, Cheonmyeong Villa or the Myeonghwa Trading Company won’t dare aim at your life.”
That would be fortunate, but they still expected the enemies would not sit idly by.
“That will reduce needless sacrifice, but they will not remain idle.”
“But with the Hyeonryong Corps escorting you, they won’t attack easily.”
“They say money can even hire ghosts. They’ll put in a contract, or hire ronin to attack us. And if they become confident they can kill all of us, they’ll strike.”
It was not an impossible scenario.
“So it’s not something to take lightly.”
“Still, we needn’t worry overly. Whatever happens, things won’t change drastically.”
“It sounds like you want to kill everyone.”
“I was taught to always be mindful that those who target other people’s lives must also worry about losing their own lives. So those who aim at me must worry for theirs.”
“Are you always like that?”
Naeng Yeoseol asked.
“What…?”
“Can you not show mercy or forgiveness to those trying to kill you?”
“Clumsy mercy or forgiveness could put not only me but all who are connected to me in greater danger. And I am still young; my cultivation of heart has not reached the point where I can spare those who aim at my life.”
“You are strong.”
“…”
“Being strong will eventually make you brittle. There should be times to be flexible, and times to be weak. If you are always strong, no one remains by your side.”
Geomryeong thought of someone at Naeng Yeoseol’s words.
—Being strong isn’t everything. But it’s better to be strong than to be weak and fail to protect those beside you.
Those were words of someone who had roamed the world alone.
So strong that no one wished to join him; he called himself Solitary Maya and traveled the land alone.
“I know well. But I think it’s better to be strong so I can protect those beside me than to be weak and bring harm to them.”
“Hmm…”
Naeng Yeoseol was reminded of someone he had seen from afar in his childhood by Geomryeong’s demeanor.
“Anyway, you should soften up a bit.”
“I will try.”
Dawn came.
“Be careful.”
Naeng Yeoseol picked up Jin A-seol and prepared to return to Wolyeong Gate. Because of the trouble with Geomryeong, A-seol could be endangered; they also had matters to confirm back at the sect.
“Please look after Young Master Geomryeong. Guide him well.”
“Don’t worry.”
“It’s a relief you’re with him.”
Jeok Hwa-myeong forced an awkward smile.
Although he couldn’t precisely measure Geomryeong’s martial power, judging by his method which had even repelled Hyeon Taeryeong’s sword qigong, he could tell Geomryeong was a high-level master above his own tier.
“Be careful returning. Hyeon Taeryeong or Gon Man-wook might touch the Patriarch.”
“I understand. I will be careful, and you should be too. Even with the Hyeonryong Corps escorting us, it won’t be easy to stop enemies hiding in the dark.”
Naeng Yeoseol truly worried for Geomryeong.
“Do not worry.”
“Aseol! When you get back to Wolyeong Gate, you must train hard.”
“I’ll become better than you, so don’t worry! If anyone bullies you later, Aseol will make them pay.”
“Even if I call you my brother.”
“Pfft!”
“Go on now. If Hyeon Taeryeong knows, he’ll follow as soon as you leave the gate.”
“I’ll contact the main sect before the full moon. If that happens, we’ll be at ease.”
“Do so.”
Goodbyes are better to be quick. Considering they would meet again soon, they hurried their farewells.
Naeng Yeoseol and Jin A-seol left early for Wolyeong Gate.
After the two left, the remaining two felt a little regretful.
“How about going to the Wulin League and then to Wolyeong Gate?”
“That’s fine, but there’s somewhere I must go first.”
“Where?”
“I must stop by Jungkyung.”
“Jungkyung?”
“Yes. There is something to deliver there.”
