The Dragon Phoenix Assembly (4)
“Burned it all to white...”
Is this what a celebrity’s life feels like?
I stared blankly at the pile of letters stacked on the table and let out a long sigh. Every single one had come from some family or sect. A few were simple networking invitations asking me to drop by and visit, but most were serious offers to join them as a guest expert.
With my seal as a Peak expert—someone who ranked comfortably in the top five percent of high-value martial artists— their desire to recruit me was blatantly obvious.
Thinking back on the wuxia novels I’d read, the proposals weren’t half bad. Being a guest expert didn’t mean doing chores or menial work. It was closer to living comfortably and stepping in when things got dangerous. Wealthy families often collected them. A famous guest expert was, after all, a symbol of a clan’s prestige.
“As expected of you, Benefactor. You’re incredibly popular.”
“What are you talking about? Looks like you got about twenty yourself.”
People really have no eyes. How could he have only received twenty? This guy was basically a guaranteed lottery winner, yet most of the letters came from minor and mid-tier families. Quite a few had probably given up after he kept politely declining, deciding it was hopeless.
Being the runner-up also meant his presence was somewhat overshadowed by the champion… which, from my perspective, wasn’t a bad thing. If he suddenly wandered off somewhere else, it would create a massive headache for me. I needed to think of a way to keep him around. What kind of bait would work?
Wealth?
I wasn’t exactly poor, but I couldn’t claim to have real financial power either.
Force?
Being all alone in the world meant I had no faction to speak of. If I were a Super Peak or Harmonization Realm expert—one of the very best in the world—things might be different, but at my current level, that was impossible. It would honestly be better to suggest he seek shelter with the Hainan Sword Gate.
The Hainan Sword Gate was a respectable mid-tier faction within the Nine Great Factions. It would give Mok Gyeong at least some support for his revenge, and they were relatively open to outsiders, so he wouldn’t have much trouble adapting.
Ugh.
It sucked that I had to worry about all this alone.
“Benefactor? Are you feeling unwell?”
“Just got a headache from looking at so many letters.”
“...I understand. It must be your first time receiving this many since you were a child...”
“A child, huh...”
“...You may not believe it, but I was once the second son of a wealthy family.”
Why was he suddenly telling me his life story?
Had we grown closer internally than I realized? Mok Gyeong fiddled with his teacup as he continued.
“Back then, our family was well-known in Yunnan, so I would stack up invitations to all sorts of events and open them one by one, heart pounding with excitement.”
...This part didn’t appear in the original novel. Then again, the protagonist’s backstory was barely touched on.
“I believed those days would last forever. I was absolutely convinced everything would remain peaceful and uneventful.”
“Everyone thinks that way when they don’t know any better.”
I had been the same right before my transmigration. Was it the day of my discharge or the day before? I’d been so happy that my military service was finally over, never imagining I’d end up living it all over again.
“Benefactor? Your expression...”
“...It’s nothing. Just old memories. Don’t worry about it.”
“...But that life withered away in an instant, like flowers reaching the end of summer. I still remember that day clearly. My uncle woke me in a panic, thrust a bundle containing secret manuals and emergency funds into my arms, and told me to escape through the secret passage...”
The events of that day must still be vivid in his mind. Deep remorse clouded Mok Gyeong’s face.
“If only I had trained harder in martial arts… I might have been able to save my uncle...”
Damn, that hits my conscience right where it hurts.
I really am trash, aren’t I?
Or… is that accurate?
“Don’t blame yourself too much. If you had fought head-on against people who deliberately set out to exterminate your entire family, you wouldn’t be here now sharpening your blade for revenge.”
“...You’re right. Thank you for listening to my complaints, Benefactor.”
“...Well. If you have more to vent about later, feel free to come find me.”
“Mister! I’m back!”
“Oh, how did the talks go?”
I glanced at Hye Ryeong as she sat down beside me and let out a heavy sigh.
She had gone with Ha Gyeong to speak with several sects that had close ties to the Hainan Sword Gate. She scooted her chair subtly closer to mine before answering.
“We talked for nearly half a shichen. Ha Gyeong did most of the talking, but… why do men have to be so clingy?”
“Sounds like you worked hard.”
“It would’ve been better if you came along too, mister.”
“I can’t go sticking my nose into Hainan Sword Gate business.”
I was clearly an outsider. There wasn’t anything I could do even if I went. Hye Ryeong smiled brightly at my words.
“It’s fine if it’s you, mister.”
“No thanks. I hate troublesome things.”
“Tch. I hate it too, but Senior Brother Ha Gyeong kept insisting I go.”
“It couldn’t have been that difficult.”
“Exactly. We were just exchanging pleasantries with people we already interact with occasionally… but without Great Senior Brother Ha Jin, it doesn’t mean much anyway.”
Well, that was true.
No matter what Ha Gyeong did, the one who truly mattered was Ha Jin. Nothing would move forward without going through him. Since Ha Jin was busy running around at the Wuxia Alliance Headquarters, Ha Gyeong was essentially acting as his proxy.
“Speaking of which, what’s Ha Jin been up to lately? I haven’t seen him around.”
“Um… I heard he’s learning all sorts of things. There’s a lot to know if he wants to become the sect leader, plus he has to discuss various matters with the Nine Great Factions and attend meetings with the Wuxia Alliance about the Demonic Cult.”
“Ah, right. I should visit the elders soon.”
I wanted to hear what was discussed in those meetings. They might not tell me everything, but since we were in the same boat, they would probably share at least some information. I could adjust my plans accordingly.
My immediate goal was to reach the Master realm. After that, I’d start raiding the Demonic Cult’s branches one by one. If possible, I’d help Mok Gyeong with his revenge as well.
As I was vaguely organizing these plans in my head, Hye Ryeong started poking the back of my hand with her finger.
“Mister? Mister? Are you even listening to me?”
“Ah, sorry. I was thinking for a moment...”
“What were you thinking about?”
“Just… how exactly does someone reach Super Peak?”
“Does thinking about it make you reach Super Peak?”
...Now that she mentioned it, that was a stupid question.
If it were that simple, the world would be full of people shooting sword aura the moment they saw each other. Even manifesting more than a single jang of sword qi was rare—like finding beans in a drought.
Thinking about it that way, my own thoughts were the height of arrogance.
The Master realm—Super Peak—was said to be a level only the chosen could attain. Simply reaching it would firmly place someone in the middle ranks of the Hundred Experts of the Kangho.
“I’ll just have to work hard.”
“You’ll get there soon, mister! I know it!”
“If it’s you, Benefactor, you will surely achieve Great Accomplishment soon.”
I hope so.
If I could break through the wall of the Master realm, I would be able to handle the events of the original story much more smoothly.
When I thought about how the original Mok Gyeong had done every crazy thing imaginable to defeat the Super Peak experts who popped up constantly from the middle of the story… nearly every fight had been a desperate struggle.
And the Heavenly Demon was a madman who had gone beyond Harmonization Realm into Deification. I had no idea how the protagonist was supposed to win against that. The fact that the novel ended abruptly without properly explaining how he won was the biggest problem.
If I knew the method, I could prepare in advance. But I didn’t.
“Honestly, I don’t think it’ll happen quickly. Still, I have to try.”
That was exactly why I had actively participated in the Dragon Phoenix Assembly.
There was someone here I was personally curious about—someone who might even help me break through my own wall.
“Hye Ryeong, I’m going to go pick a fight for a bit.”
“What? Excuse me?”
“I ate, so I need to digest.”
Peng Jeoksan had said something interesting, and I was personally curious. There was no better time to build a relationship. Even a somewhat aggressive approach could be justified right now as an attempt to form a connection.
“Can I come with you?”
“Hmm. Wouldn’t it be better for you to rest a little?”
“Are you trying to ditch me?”
“It’s not like that, so don’t sulk. It’s just… the conversation might not be very fun.”
I was literally going to pick a fight. Taking Hye Ryeong along didn’t seem appropriate.
“You’re planning something, aren’t you?”
“You know me so well. As expected, I don’t even need to explain it to you.”
“Hehe.”
“So just wait here a bit. I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay~”
Time to go, then.
To the guy who would become the sacrifice for my advancement.