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chapter 68
The death of Sahak-ryeong, the lord of Sipayaseong, caused a small ripple through the martial world of Zhongjing.
When the lord of Sipayaseong died, the chief warrior, Naeng Seoryang, temporarily took full authority and set out to find who had slain Lord Sahak-ryeong.
Because the victim’s arms had been severed and his tongue cut out, they reasoned it was more likely the work of a demonic being than a righteous or heterodox sect member. They searched for the fiend, but could not find it.
“What is happening to the world….”
The only people harmed by these fighters’ battles were ordinary civilians.
From their perspective, whether someone was from the righteous or heterodox faction, they were all thugs.
“The city is becoming noisy because of the demons.”
Guseo Min, head of the Guga Ironworks, came to see Geomryeong (Sword Spirit) carrying a sword.
It was a sword Geomryeong had ordered for Seo Gun-ha.
It had been made so it could be strapped to the wrist, which had the advantage of deceiving an opponent.
“It will calm down soon.”
Geomryeong did not tell anyone that he had killed Sahak-ryeong.
“I think so. I hope you like the sword you ordered.”
Geomryeong took the short sword and drew it from its scabbard.
Overall it felt a bit light, but it was just the right weight for a woman to use.
“Good. Thank you.”
“No thanks necessary — you paid for it. By the way, our friend from the Tianjin caravan is heading to Wuhan in Hubei on the upstream trip.”
“To Sichuan, you mean?”
“Yes. It seems they have a fair amount of goods this time.”
“You mean Wuhan in Hubei?”
“Yes. They’ll be carrying items for the martial contest held by the Martial Alliance next month….”
They meant they were taking goods to be used in the martial contest.
Geomryeong felt like watching the tournament, and he was also curious to see how impressive the so-called Ten-Dragon Eight-Pole (Sipryong Palbong) really was — people kept saying they were powerful.
“I wanted to see the Martial Alliance’s tournament too. That’s good. If we follow the caravan to Wuhan in Hubei, wouldn’t that help Master Tianjin?”
Guseo Min beamed.
Although Tianjin, head of the Heavenly Dragon Caravan, hadn’t said much, he was clearly worried about this trip.
Even excluding bandits and river pirates, demons appeared in various places to threaten people, so he was uneasy.
“If you do that, it will ease his worries a lot.”
The Guishu Villa, situated on Yuhwha Mountain in Zhongjing, was one of the sects representing the heterodox schools and was a member of the Heresy Alliance.
The villa’s master, Guishu Liang Hageon, though not counted among the martial world’s top hundred experts, was well known for his considerable skill.
He bowed his head before a young man who, at most, looked to be in his twenties.
It was Geomryeong.
Yu Akgun had brought Geomryeong here on Geomryeong’s orders.
A short distance away, Yu Akgun had his head pressed to the ground with his hands behind his back and one foot raised, standing at attention as punishment.
“My foot won’t come down.”
The foot that was being lowered rose again.
Although he had been told not to reveal that he was the former host of the Ghost Demon Lord, Yu Akgun had disclosed this to Liang Hageon.
If Yu Akgun had suddenly appeared and said he wanted to meet Soju (small alcohol) and urged him to hurry, a hundred out of a hundred people would have called him a madman.
Liang Hageon had likewise thought Yu Akgun mad when he suddenly suggested they go meet someone, so the two had sparred to settle the matter.
In truth, Yu Akgun’s martial skill was only slightly less than Liang Hageon’s. After meeting Geomryeong and training under him, Yu Akgun’s skills had increased to the point where he could stand as an equal to Liang Hageon.
Because of that, the match was indecisive, and since Yu Akgun had to carry out Geomryeong’s orders, he ended up revealing that Geomryeong was the former host of the Ghost Demon Lord.
Liang Hageon was surprised to hear it, but he didn’t quite believe it. Up until then, five different people had appeared claiming to be the former host of the Ghost Demon Lord.
He had come to see who else might be posing as that host.
Although most people didn’t know, Liang Hageon’s grandfather Liang Seojin had been friendly with the Ghost Demon Lord.
If someone dared to fake being the Ghost Demon Lord’s host, Liang Hageon had come intending to kill the pretender with his own hands — but upon meeting Geomryeong, he bowed his head.
Even though Yu Akgun had been told not to reveal Geomryeong’s identity, he had done so and was now receiving his punishment.
“If time allowed, I would like to speak with the villa master longer, but I cannot.”
Unlike Yu Akgun, Geomryeong treated Liang Hageon with full courtesy.
“Please speak freely.”
Liang Hageon addressed Geomryeong with respectful speech because he accepted him as the host of the Ghost Demon Lord. Even though the Heresy Alliance existed, the heterodox sect leader was the Ghost Demon Lord. He felt Geomryeong deserved such honor.
“I learned my art from my master, but I’m just a newcomer to the rivers and lakes. Speak as you like. By the way, I asked to see you because I have a request.”
“A request?”
“On my way to Zhongjing….”
Geomryeong told Liang Hageon what he had heard from an assassination squad of the Milyeong Caravan.
Liang Hageon showed a face of disbelief, but because he knew who stood before him, he could not deny Geomryeong.
“I have urgent business elsewhere, so it’s awkward for me to go to the Heresy Alliance to tell them. And even if I spoke, they might not believe me….”
Geomryeong explained his position and asked Liang Hageon to convey his words.
“Is that true?”
“It is. There is not a shred of falsehood in what I say. I told you to inform Sima Gunseong, the chief warrior; would you say that?”
While saying this, Geomryeong watched Liang Hageon’s expression closely — he needed to see if Liang had been bribed by conspirators.
From Liang Hageon’s facial expressions and emotional shifts, he did not seem to be a spy. But Geomryeong could not be completely certain.
“Is that all you want me to convey?”
“Yes. And do not reveal my existence. If they knew I existed, it might cause them to move prematurely.”
“I will do so.”
― Follow this man for a few days. You’re confident you won’t be found?
― Certainly.
― If you do well, I’ll teach you more skills; if you want to learn, do it properly.
Using martial threats didn’t faze Yu Akgun.
He had already confirmed through Liang Hageon that he was indeed growing stronger by training under Geomryeong.
― Leave it to me.
“So you intend to go to Hubei?”
Geomryeong told Jeok Hwamyeong that he wanted to watch the martial contest.
“Yes. The tournament is one thing, but I have a feeling that if conspirators are plotting something, they won’t waste this good opportunity. Also, I want to see these allegedly high-ranked late-stage fighters called the Ten-Dragon Eight-Pole.”
Jeok Hwamyeong nodded approvingly at Geomryeong’s words, then looked toward Seo Gun-ha sitting nearby.
“I want to see the tournament too. Young masters will appear, and there will be much to learn, won’t there?”
“But, Geomryeong, listen.”
Attending the tournament together to broaden their experience sounded good, but there was a more pressing matter to handle first.
“Wouldn’t there be trouble with Cheonmyeong Villa? The Yidogun (Yi Do family) faction would also come to the tournament.”
Jeok Hwamyeong mentioned Cheonmyeong Villa and the Yido family.
Because of the events that occurred in Guangdong Province, relations with those two were not good.
He worried that if they met and started a quarrel or disturbance, Geomryeong might be put in a difficult position.
Geomryeong didn’t bother about such problems.
“Those are my problems. I’ll repay them as I’ve received.”
Geomryeong spoke as if it were nothing and reiterated his desire to attend the Martial Alliance tournament.
Jeok Hwamyeong nodded at his resolve, but he felt they should at least take safety precautions.
“Very well. But this time, no disturbances.”
“I’m always quiet, but people pick fights with me. Now we have Yu as escort, so I won’t have to step out much.”
Jeok Hwamyeong thought Geomryeong had a strong personality; he worried that such a temperament might lead to trouble someday.
“Understood. Again, I ask — follow my control this time.”
“Master, what you wish…”
Yu Akgun opened his mouth to complain but was stopped by Geomryeong.
“I will comply.”
“Master!”
“Not everyone who comes to the Martial Alliance’s tournament are righteous sect people. This time it’s right to heed Brother Jeok’s advice. And you — until we depart, don’t slack on what I’ve assigned you.”
“But…”
When Geomryeong narrowed his eyes slightly, Yu Akgun accepted it and bowed his head. And so the four agreed to go together to the Martial Alliance.
In fact, Zhongjing to Hubei was not that far.
Using the Yangtze River, they could reach Wuhan in about fifteen days.
“When shall we leave?”
“They say the Heavenly Dragon Caravan is going upstream from Zhongjing to Hubei. I want to travel with them and see the world.”
“Heavenly Dragon Caravan?”
Seo Gun-ha cocked his head in puzzlement.
“It’s a place I’m acquainted with. They’re taking many goods to Hubei, so I thought it good to go with them.”
Though Geomryeong didn’t say it outright, the others understood that joining the caravan also implied protecting it.
Escorting a caravan was actually tiring work. Forest brigands, river pirates, and many others often targeted caravans.
“Very well. The city is a bit noisy now, so keep a low profile while we prepare to leave.”
“We will.”
Hyun Taeryeong, head of Cheonmyeong Villa, frowned as Elder Song Guk-il returned from Hyungsan and recounted what had happened there.
“Are you saying we must endure this?”
“Guniilsan Noya, the previous elder and the foremost sword of the Hyungsan school, is protecting that person. The Hyungsan sect’s headman is also protecting him.”
“Must we just take it? Jinmyung is dead. The villa’s head was humiliated.”
Elder Hyun Taeji angrily declared he could not accept this.
“If we do nothing, the righteous factions of the martial world will mock us.”
Hearing Hyun Taeji’s words, Song Guk-il thought the situation was dangerous. He had seen directly how Hyungsan treated Geomryeong.
Though Cheonmyeong Villa represented Guangdong Province, it was somewhat inferior compared to the Hyungsan sect, which represented the central plains.
The incident began when Hyun Taeryeong first attacked Geomryeong, and Geomryeong only defended with his sword.
Hyun Jinmyung had learned demonic arts, and while they claimed Geomryeong had killed him, it was weak as pretext.
If they were to kill Geomryeong, they had two choices: acknowledge Jinmyung’s practice of demonic arts and kill Geomryeong to avenge the son, or prepare to fight Hyungsan and kill Geomryeong that way.
Either choice would make it difficult for Cheonmyeong Villa to maintain its standing.
Master Hyun Taeryeong said nothing at first in response to Hyun Taeji’s remarks.
Then a voice announced from outside.
“Master, a guest has come. Gon Manuk, the caravan chief of the Myeonghwa Caravan, is here.”
“From Myeonghwa Caravan?”
“Yes.”
“Very well. Escort him to the guest quarter.”
Footsteps receded.
“Geomryeong — he will likely come to the Martial Alliance tournament as well; we can deal with him then. Taeji, think on that. I will go meet Gon Manuk.”
“Understood. I will do so.”
