Chapter 671: I Intend to Let Him Go First
Chapter 671: I Intend to Let Him Go First
Geom Mu-geuk stepped out of the Murim Treasure Vault.
Jin Pae-cheon stood waiting, his back turned toward the entrance.
"Alliance Leader, I’ve returned."
What had he chosen? Jin Pae-cheon was curious about the boy's selection.
The moment he turned to look at Geom Mu-geuk, Jin Pae-cheon’s mind went completely blank for a split second. Had this been a real battle, his life would have been in grave danger; for that brief instant, his consciousness was a total void.
The Gentleman’s Sword?
A wave of astonishment followed. He didn't let it show on his face, but he was truly shaken. He had nearly let out an audible gasp of surprise.
"These are the three items I’ve chosen."
The Gentleman’s Sword lay horizontally across Geom Mu-geuk’s outstretched arms.
Resting atop the sword was a bottle containing Sky Blue Stone Oil, and hanging beside it was the Dream of the Divine Maiden.
Stunned, Jin Pae-cheon remained silent for a long moment.
He actually brought out the Gentleman’s Sword?
He hadn't even considered the possibility that Mu-geuk would take it. The thought hadn't even crossed his mind.
The Gentleman’s Sword was the ultimate symbol of the Orthodox Faction. Even Jin Pae-cheon himself had only ever looked at it; he had never once dared to draw it from its sheath.
Is that really the Gentleman’s Sword in front of me?
He looked again, but there was no mistake. It was indeed the legendary blade.
"Do you know what kind of sword that is?" he asked, just in case the boy had picked it up without knowing its significance.
"Of course," Geom Mu-geuk replied, looking down at the blade. "It is the Greatest Gentleman’s Sword in History."
His gaze shifted back to Jin Pae-cheon.
"I brought out the finest sword among all swords."
Even if he had been told he could choose whatever he wanted, to actually take the Gentleman’s Sword...
Jin Pae-cheon was bewildered and flustered. He didn't know how to process the situation. Why hadn't he considered the possibility that Geom Mu-geuk might choose this?
Jin Pae-cheon’s eyes moved to the Sky Blue Stone Oil. It was the most precious of all spirit medicines. Perhaps because the shock of the Gentleman’s Sword was so great, the elixir seemed less startling by comparison.
Fine, he could give away the Sky Blue Stone Oil. The boy had saved his grandchildren and, by extension, the fate of the Murim Alliance.
But the Gentleman’s Sword was the symbol of the Orthodox Path. For that sword to fall into the hands of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?
The Orthodox martial artists would be in an uproar if they found out. The fallout might be even greater than the revelation that the Heaven’s End Recluse was a villain.
I have to tell him no, even now.
Jin Pae-cheon looked at Geom Mu-geuk. The boy was staring back at him with a mischievous face, looking quite pleased with himself. Well, of course he was.
"What is that cloth?"
"It is a sacred relic named the Dream of the Divine Maiden."
Geom Mu-geuk handed the cloth hanging from the sword to Jin Pae-cheon.
"It is a relic of the Divine Maiden Palace, one of the three organizations that protected the Heavenly Will Palace three hundred years ago."
Jin Pae-cheon examined the Dream of the Divine Maiden but found nothing special about it.
It’s just a piece of cloth with historical significance but no particular efficacy.
Geom Mu-geuk could tell what he was thinking from Jin Pae-cheon’s expression. Only he could feel the sacred energy emanating from it.
"May I ask why you chose this?"
"Because there is someone I wish to give it to."
Jin Pae-cheon returned the Dream of the Divine Maiden. He didn't ask who the recipient was. That wasn't the important part; he had to make a decision now. Once they left this place, there would be no turning back.
In the end, however, Jin Pae-cheon did not say that the Gentleman’s Sword was off-limits.
A promise was a promise.
And it wasn't just any promise. It was a vow made by the Murim Alliance Leader to the Acting Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.
"A fine choice."
Indeed, how could it be a wrong decision for a martial artist who wields a blade to choose the Gentleman’s Sword?
Jin Pae-cheon shook off his lingering regrets and sincerely congratulated Geom Mu-geuk. He steeled his heart not to regret this choice.
It wasn't just the Gentleman’s Sword; he wouldn't have begrudged giving away every treasure and relic in that vault. The boy had saved his grandsons' lives.
If giving away the Gentleman’s Sword became an issue, he would gladly take the responsibility himself. This was his problem, not Geom Mu-geuk’s. Now was the time to offer sincere gratitude.
"Thank you for everything."
Geom Mu-geuk looked at Jin Pae-cheon with a moved expression before bowing deeply and respectfully.
"Please stay healthy for a long, long time and watch over us."
"Tsk, you rascal. Is that something the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult should say to the Murim Alliance Leader?"
The two men looked at each other and laughed.
"Let us head back."
"Yes, Alliance Leader."
Geom Mu-geuk tucked the Dream of the Divine Maiden and the Sky Blue Stone Oil into his robes and strapped the Gentleman’s Sword to his waist.
Though Jin Pae-cheon had firmly decided to give it away, his eyes involuntarily drifted toward the sword. Lingering attachment remained. Feeling his heart stir again, he thought:
Ah! I suppose I am no gentleman myself!
Jin Pae-cheon let out a self-deprecating chuckle as they walked.
Sss—
Just as when they entered, the mist within the formation cleared on its own, creating a path.
"Are you returning immediately?"
"No. As I mentioned before, I plan to call my friends and have a celebration for Ha-gun before I leave."
When he first heard it, Jin Pae-cheon thought it was just idle talk. It seemed the boy truly intended to hold a celebration.
"If someone doesn't raise a flag and tell everyone to gather, we might never see each other again. I’m usually the one holding that flag."
Jin Pae-cheon knew how difficult that task was. He was the same way.
I am Jin Pae-cheon; why should I bother? If you want to see me, you should contact me first.
To be honest, it would be a lie to say he didn't feel that way.
"Why do you try so hard to gather everyone?"
"Because I like them. I like my friends. I like Ha-gun, and I like Young Alliance Leader Bi of the Unorthodox Path Alliance. I like my other friends too. It’s fun and joyful to see them. That’s why I raise the flag. Of course, you might suspect that flag is a war banner for a battlefield, but it’s just a 'Gather Here and Laugh' flag."
Jin Pae-cheon gave a faint smile at Geom Mu-geuk’s joke.
"Do you not have friends like that, Alliance Leader?"
Geom Mu-geuk asked, even though he knew full well what had happened with the Heaven’s End Recluse.
As always, it was Mu-geuk’s effort to ensure that while the body was buried, the wound in the heart wouldn't be. If one friend was gone, it was time to make a new one.
"Why don't you try raising a flag yourself?"
Jin Pae-cheon looked at Geom Mu-geuk with a startled expression. He was telling him to raise the flag himself?
"If you raise a flag, the entire Murim will be shocked. So, you’ll have to write on it in big letters: 'Absolutely no ulterior motives! This is a flag for playing!'"
Jin Pae-cheon laughed out loud. Truly, this Geom Mu-geuk was the only person who could make him laugh like this. And he was doing it while wearing the Gentleman’s Sword, no less.
"If I were to set up a flag, who would come?"
Geom Mu-geuk mentioned people he hadn't even considered.
"There’s my father, for one. And the Leader of the Unorthodox Path Alliance."
"!"
Geom Mu-geuk added, as if speaking with total sincerity, "They might secretly be waiting for someone to raise the flag."
Jin Pae-cheon shook his head as if the boy were hopeless and resumed walking. He thought it was nonsense, but he suddenly recalled the Three-Party Meeting.
It had been more enjoyable than he expected. When the thought occurred to him that it might be nice to meet again, Jin Pae-cheon flinched.
What ridiculous thoughts am I having!
As the two of them emerged from the formation and walked through the Inner Court, someone was waiting at the spot where they had previously parted from Jin Ha-ryeong.
"Alliance Leader."
The person who bowed respectfully to Jin Pae-cheon was Jin Ha-gun. He had instructed his subordinates when he entered the training grounds: if Geom Mu-geuk came to see the Alliance Leader, they were to call him immediately.
It was so he could see Mu-geuk’s face before he returned to the Demonic Cult.
Jin Ha-gun asked Geom Mu-geuk, "Did you pick out some good gifts?"
He had heard from Jin Ha-ryeong that their grandfather had taken Mu-geuk to the Murim Treasure Vault.
"I only brought out the most incredible things."
Jin Ha-gun looked at the Gentleman’s Sword strapped to the side opposite the Black Demonic Sword. Since he had never seen it in person, he didn't recognize it as the Gentleman’s Sword.
One thing was certain: no matter what treasure Geom Mu-geuk took, it wouldn't be a waste.
"Thank you for this time."
He knew that his becoming the successor was all thanks to Geom Mu-geuk.
"Are you leaving right away?" he naturally assumed Mu-geuk would be heading back to the Demonic Cult now.
"Me? I’m not going yet."
"What?"
"I’m going to stay for your celebration. You’ve become the successor; we have to celebrate. I’ve already called our friends."
"Which friends?"
"You only have a few, so why ask?"
Flustered, Jin Ha-gun looked at his grandfather. Jin Pae-cheon simply watched the two of them in silence.
"Why? You don't want to?"
"It’s not that I don't want to, but..."
To be honest, he felt good. This celebration would be a gathering of those who truly and sincerely congratulated him.
"Now, and this..."
Geom Mu-geuk unfastened the Gentleman’s Sword from his waist and held it out to him.
"My gift to you in honor of becoming the successor."
The person truly shocked at this moment was Jin Pae-cheon. It was a shock that went beyond mere surprise. He had never dreamed, not even in his wildest thoughts, that Mu-geuk would give the Gentleman’s Sword to his grandson as a gift.
Jin Ha-gun waved his hands in refusal.
"Forget it! What do you mean, a gift?"
In that moment, Jin Pae-cheon’s face contorted as if he were stifling a groan. Geom Mu-geuk teased him slightly.
"You’ll regret it later."
"I won't. It’s your gift, so take it with you."
Geom Mu-geuk made a move to strap the Gentleman’s Sword back onto his waist. Jin Pae-cheon watched with eyes full of lingering attachment.
Just as he was about to fasten it, Geom Mu-geuk held the Gentleman’s Sword out to Jin Ha-gun again.
"Take it. I chose this specifically to give to you. Don't ignore your friend’s sincerity."
Jin Ha-gun looked at Geom Mu-geuk and then at his grandfather. Since the person who had provided the gift was his grandfather, he wondered if it was okay to accept it.
His grandfather said nothing and only stared at the sword. For some reason, he seemed tense, unlike his usual self. He wasn't the type to get nervous even in front of thousands of enemies.
Geom Mu-geuk thrust the sword toward Jin Ha-gun.
"I received other great gifts from the Alliance Leader. So don't feel burdened and just take it. It’s no big deal, and if you keep stalling, I’ll just be embarrassed. Hurry up!"
"Thank you, then. I will accept it gratefully."
Finally, Jin Ha-gun took hold of the Gentleman’s Sword. The moment he grasped it...
"!"
Jin Ha-gun’s eyes changed. He could tell the instant he held it.
This is no ordinary sword.
Jin Ha-gun slowly drew the Gentleman’s Sword.
Srrrng.
The Gentleman’s Sword finally revealed itself to the world. It was a blade showing its face again after leaping across a vast span of time.
"Ah!"
An exclamation of awe escaped Jin Ha-gun’s lips. The sharp energy flowing along the blade was something he had never seen in his life. It felt as though it could cut through the very heart of anyone who looked at it.
He could feel the sword’s breath. A deep, elegant breath. It was the first time he had ever felt such a thing from a weapon.
He hadn't seen every sword in the world, but he knew. This was the greatest of them all.
Jin Ha-gun slowly infused his internal energy into the sword, introducing himself. As if in response to that introduction...
Wuuung!
The sword gave a short, resonant hum.
Having completed their first communion, he returned the sword to its scabbard. Jin Ha-gun’s heart was pounding as if it might burst.
"You said it was no big deal?"
At Jin Ha-gun’s question, Geom Mu-geuk replied with a smile.
"It doesn't suit me. I’m far too removed from being a gentleman."
Gentleman?
Jin Ha-gun’s eyes widened further and further until he shouted, "The Gentleman’s Sword!"
At his shocked cry, Geom Mu-geuk nodded.
"Yes, it’s the Gentleman’s Sword."
Jin Ha-gun was stunned. How could he not know of the Greatest Gentleman’s Sword in History? That legendary sword was now in his hands as a gift.
"The Alliance Leader gave me three items from the Murim Treasure Vault as a reward."
Geom Mu-geuk’s next words were directed at both Jin Pae-cheon and Jin Ha-gun.
"The Alliance Leader has served all his life without ever touching a single item in the vault. Given his upright character, the Gentleman’s Sword would have likely remained stored there forever, wouldn't it?"
It was true. Jin Pae-cheon had no intention of ever bringing the Gentleman’s Sword out into the world.
"And having grown up under such a grandfather, would you be any different? The Gentleman’s Sword would have remained in the vault for the next generation as well. That’s why I caused a bit of trouble. I figured I had to be the one to act for this sword to ever see the world. Well? Now that you’ve greeted it, can't you tell? It’s happy to be out of that stuffy place."
Jin Ha-gun didn't know what to say.
"Truly, you are...!"
Mu-geuk was right. If not for him, it was a sword he could never have possessed. Furthermore, it was a gift given by sacrificing one of the three things Mu-geuk could have kept for himself.
Jin Ha-gun looked at his grandfather. At the look asking if he could truly accept this sword, Jin Pae-cheon nodded.
Jin Pae-cheon didn't show his emotions outwardly, but he was feeling an immense joy. He was far happier than if the sword had simply returned to the vault. The Gentleman’s Sword would protect his grandson more reliably than anything else.
Of course, the happiest person was Jin Ha-gun. What could be better for a martial artist than obtaining a fine weapon? And if that weapon was the Gentleman’s Sword?
"It’s great, isn't it? So great you feel like dancing?"
It was so good he almost fell into the trap. He had nearly answered "Yes."
"I heard the Gentleman’s Sword is the history of the Orthodox Faction. From now on, my friend will be the one continuing that history."
Jin Ha-gun looked at Geom Mu-geuk, who was as happy as if it were his own success, with trembling eyes. He couldn't say a word. No words could express this level of gratitude.
Jin Pae-cheon asked Geom Mu-geuk, "Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Not knowing his true intentions, he had worried for nothing about the Gentleman’s Sword passing to the Demonic Cult.
"I wanted to surprise you, but more than that, it was because I trusted you, Alliance Leader."
"Because you trusted me?"
"Yes. Even though I brought out something that should never be taken away, you didn't stop me. I believed you would act that way, and you kept your promise to the end. Now, you hold an even greater place in my heart."
Jin Pae-cheon stared at Geom Mu-geuk in silence. Setting aside Orthodox, Unorthodox, or Demonic, setting aside status, he simply thought the boy was remarkable as a fellow martial artist—no, as a human being.
"Then, I shall take my leave."
After Geom Mu-geuk politely bid farewell to the Alliance Leader, he spoke to Jin Ha-gun.
"It’ll take some time for everyone to arrive. I’ll send you the time and place later."
Jin Pae-cheon and Jin Ha-gun stood for a long time, watching his excited, retreating figure. Once Geom Mu-geuk was no longer in sight, Jin Ha-gun spoke quietly.
"There were moments when I gave up. I thought I could never match that friend. That no matter how hard I tried, I could never win."
Jin Pae-cheon felt that wasn't the end of the thought, so he asked calmly, "And now?"
"It’s not giving up; I intend to let him go first."
At the look asking what he meant, Jin Ha-gun smiled.
"Since he is such an outstanding friend, I should let him lead the way. Instead, I will follow him silently."
It was by no means giving up. Nor was it a desperate determination to win. It was a will to walk alongside Geom Mu-geuk. Even if he was a little late, he would walk through the same era with quiet persistence.
"Perhaps one day, in the distant future, I will see that friend sitting on a rock with white hair, waiting for me. When that time comes, I’ll tell him: 'Thanks to you, I’ve made it this far.'"
Jin Pae-cheon realized that his grandson, who had always felt like a child, had grown up quite a bit. He had always been worried—worried about the Murim that Jin Ha-gun would have to lead, and about the grandson who would have to face that Geom Mu-geuk.
But today, a different thought occurred to him.
I shouldn't be worrying about these children; I should be cheering them on.
Jin Pae-cheon spoke as he began walking toward the Alliance Hall.
"When you meet him then, be sure to tell him. Tell him I was worried sick that he might actually take the Gentleman’s Sword away."