Chapter 35: Martial Alliance (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 35: Martial Alliance (2)
Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun.
He was one of the Eight Great Masters, known as the Twelve Superhumans of the Central Plains.
Alongside Merciless Blade Jeong Cheon, another of the Eight Great Masters, he was said to have reached the pinnacle of the saber.
Though he belonged to neither the Orthodox nor Evil factions, he was famous for his uncompromising, upright character—a man who would never tolerate injustice.
Who could have imagined that I would come face-to-face with this peerless master, whom I had only seen from a great distance once in my past life?
‘Why is the Ardent King Hegemon here?’
As far as I knew, he had no interest in these kinds of martial world events. Even before my regression, I had never heard of him attending a Grand Martial Assembly.
‘This is absurd.’
To think that one of the famous Eight Great Masters would be sitting idly under an awning at an inn on the outskirts of the Martial Alliance, quietly drinking.
—Something feels off.
My thoughts exactly.
Unlike the old man sitting across from him in hemp clothes, looking relaxed and leisurely, Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun had such an intense presence that he looked like he belonged in the middle of a battlefield.
I had only frozen for a split second, but Jin-gyun, who had been tilting his cup, looked up at me.
His gaze alone felt as if it were piercing right through me.
His unfathomable power made his aura seem ordinary, yet his reputation alone was enough to make one shrink back instinctively.
Hesitating on what to do, I prepared to greet him.
He was a great senior of the martial world. It felt only right to show respect.
Then—
Swish!
Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun raised a hand to stop me.
Then he spoke.
"How did you recognize me?"
He had realized in an instant that I knew who he was.
Behind me, Sama Yeong and the twin vice leaders looked on in confusion. They hadn't recognized him.
Because Jin-gyun had reached the realm of Reversal Formation, he appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary warrior unless one was already familiar with his face.
On the other hand, Jo Seong-won, being from the Beggar's Sect which specialized in information, seemed to have recognized him. He stared at the man and froze just as I had.
[What’s wrong?]
[...It’s Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun.]
When I replied via sound transmission, Sama Yeong couldn't hide her shock. It made sense; this was the first time since entering the martial world that she had seen a peerless master whose fame rivaled her father's.
"Why can't you answer, young man?"
At Jin-gyun's question, I hurriedly opened my mouth.
"I recall seeing you from a distance a long time ago, Elder."
Despite his appearance, I knew he was older than even Hae Ak-cheon. I had heard that those who reached the level of the Eight Great Masters aged much slower.
"You saw me?"
Yes. I saw you clearly.
Of course, that was in the future.
"Then why don't I have any memory of seeing you?"
My heart thudded at his words. I had said I saw him from a distance, but I didn't expect him to respond like this.
Was he suspicious of our identities?
I couldn't rule out that possibility. A master of his caliber could likely read the energy of everyone in this inn as clearly as the palm of his hand using his Qi Sense.
I didn't dare turn my head, but I couldn't help but be conscious of what was behind me.
Hae Ak-cheon was sitting a short distance away.
‘Ah...’
Come to think of it, in the original timeline, Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun was destined to cut off Hae Ak-cheon's arm. That was supposed to happen about five years from now.
Of course, I didn't know if that would still happen. In the past life, I knew that event occurred because Hae Ak-cheon had acted independently.
However, I was worried about the present.
‘What if he realizes who we are?’
I knew that while Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun was upright and hated injustice, he didn't have a specific hatred for the Evil Faction or the Blood Cult. If he did, he would have joined the Great Orthodox-Evil War long ago.
Still, knowing what was supposed to happen in the future made me anxious.
[What is going on?]
Just then, Hae Ak-cheon's voice reached my ears via sound transmission. He must have noticed something was wrong since I was standing instead of taking a seat.
This was bad.
Hae Ak-cheon hadn't noticed Jin-gyun's identity yet. But if I let them clash here, it wouldn't just ruin the mission—it could lead to the worst-case scenario.
[It’s nothing.]
Even with that excuse, Hae Ak-cheon would move soon. I had to find a connection with Jin-gyun quickly.
‘Think. Think, So Woon-hwi. Ah!’
A famous incident from five years ago flashed through my mind.
"It is only natural that you wouldn't know me, Senior. I saw you at Dongting Lake, but how could you possibly remember me among such a large crowd?"
"Dongting Lake?"
Jin-gyun frowned at my words.
Five years ago, Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun had taken his family to Dongting Lake. At that time, a group from the Black Path who held a grudge against him targeted his family, and Jin-gyun had slaughtered them all.
"I remember seeing you when I followed my father there."
"...May I ask your father's name?"
"My father's surname is So, and his given name is Ik-hyeon."
At those words, the old man in hemp clothes sitting opposite him spoke up.
"Ho. Is he not the Family Head of the Yikyang So Family? I didn't realize it, but you come from a prestigious family."
Hearing this, Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun relaxed his expression and nodded.
Fortunately, the Yikyang So Family's main house was very close to Dongting Lake. I was breaking into a cold sweat trying to come up with that connection.
"It seems we had a misunderstanding. We thought the young man was a disciple of that large fellow over there."
The old man used "large fellow" as a polite euphemism. His gaze was directed exactly at Hae Ak-cheon's back.
Though there was some distance, Hae Ak-cheon seemed to be listening intently to our conversation, remaining perfectly still.
"Ah... that gentleman is an old acquaintance of my father's. He was once known as the Tiger Shield Golden Palm. Do you perhaps know of him?"
I revealed the identity we had prepared for Hae Ak-cheon. It was a real person who had existed. However, that person had died a sudden death, and we were simply using his identity.
"Is that so?"
Looking at the expressions of the old man and Jin-gyun, they didn't know him.
That was a relief. It would have been more troublesome if they did.
The old man let out a hearty laugh and asked me, "Haha. Seeing as you've come all the way here, I assume you're here to participate in the Successor's Martial Discussion at the Grand Martial Assembly."
"That is correct."
There was no reason to hide this.
At my answer, the old man spoke as if it were good news.
"Then you'll likely have a good match against this fellow's grandson."
‘Grandson?’
The "fellow" the old man pointed to was Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun.
Wait, did that mean Jin-gyun's grandson was competing in this Successor's Martial Discussion?
My head began to throb. It seemed another part of the future had changed.
—Didn't you say he wasn't interested in these events?
‘I did.’
I couldn't understand why he was participating. Was Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun trying to establish a close relationship with the Martial Alliance?
Just then, someone walked out from inside the inn.
It was a tall young man with handsome features. Like Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun, he carried something shaped like a lute wrapped in black cloth on his back.
‘...The Rending Saber.’
That strangely shaped object was likely a saber. The blade was short but very wide, specifically designed to perform the Ardent King Hegemon's unique martial arts.
However, since he hadn't opened his Middle Dantian, I couldn't gauge the grandson's level.
So, I slightly opened my own Middle Dantian to check.
‘...He’s not easy.’
The aura he radiated was at the very peak of the Supreme Peak Realm. He would be a difficult opponent to face without opening the Middle Dantian.
He truly inherited the blood of one of the Eight Great Masters.
‘Hm?’
However, the grandson's gaze was fixed on Sama Yeong. He must have read the aura emanating from her.
Since he sensed the energy of a strong person from someone of a similar age, he didn't seem to care about me, who appeared weaker than him.
"Grandfather. I have settled the bill."
I wondered why he had come from inside the inn; it turned out he had been paying. Since the inn was crowded and the waiters were busy running around, he must have gone to find them to pay.
"But who are these people?"
At this, Jin-gyun glanced up at me. It seemed he wanted me to introduce myself.
I clasped my hands in a respectful Fist-and-Palm Salute.
"I am So Woon-hwi, the third son of the Yikyang So Family."
Upon hearing that, a look of confusion appeared on the smiling old man's face. The same went for Jin-gyun's grandson.
Was it because they had heard the rumors that I had been cast out by the Yikyang So Family?
Contrary to my expectation, the old man spoke.
"No. Did the Yikyang So Family send their third son as the representative for the successors? I naturally assumed you were the eldest son."
Huh?
Did they not know?
The old man seemed unaware of the rumors about me.
—Maybe they just didn't care?
At the Lesser Conversation Sword's words, I thought that might be the case. I didn't know who the old man was, but a master standing at the pinnacle of the martial world like Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun wouldn't have much interest in someone as obscure as me. Even if they had heard something, it would have gone in one ear and out the other.
Then, Jin-gyun's grandson performed a salute and spoke.
"I am Jin Yong. I would like to know your name."
The person Jin Yong was addressing was none other than Sama Yeong.
Was he openly treating me like I didn't exist? It seemed he was the type to ignore anyone he deemed weaker than himself. He was more arrogant than I expected.
But there was something this fellow didn't know.
"I am Ma-yeong."
Sama Yeong didn't even look at him. Instead, she performed a salute toward the old man and Jin-gyun and stated her name.
She was openly ignoring him back.
A crease formed between Jin Yong's brows. Sama Yeong never treated those who were rude to me with kindness.
The old man laughed at this.
"Hahahaha. The young lady has quite the wit."
Understanding the meaning behind those words, Jin Yong lowered his head in embarrassment. He still refused to meet my eyes.
If he had even a bit of flexibility, he would have used the atmosphere to offer me a boisterous apology, but he didn't.
Just then, Jin-gyun lightly dipped a finger into his wine cup.
He pulled it out and flicked his finger.
In that instant, the drop of wine that had been on his fingertip flew through the air and struck Jin Yong's abdomen.
Thud!
"Ugh!"
Jin Yong clutched his stomach, groaning in pain.
‘!!!’
It was a feat of skill I couldn't believe even after seeing it with my own eyes. To deliver such an impact just by loading internal energy into a drop of wine—how profound must his internal energy be?
Jin-gyun spoke to me.
"Unlike my son, he is my only grandson, so I suppose I've raised him too softly. Brother So, please do not take offense."
—Whoa. Talk about strict parenting.
I had heard he was upright, but to use force on his own grandson like that...
Jin-gyun turned his head to look at him. Realizing his grandfather was displeased, Jin Yong hurriedly saluted me and apologized.
"I, Jin, have been rude to Brother So. Please forgive me."
He apologized, but there was no sincerity in it. It was merely for his grandfather's benefit.
‘Should I mess with him a little?’
I waved my hand as if I didn't mind at all.
"Not at all. It is only because I am lacking that I did not meet Young Master Jin Yong's expectations. I am more concerned that I have brought shame upon my family's reputation."
Jin Yong's expression stiffened at those words.
It sounded like a humble statement, but I had just dealt him a proper blow.
Sure enough, Jin-gyun's expression twisted fearsomely.
Thud!
Standing up from his seat, Jin-gyun spoke to Jin Yong in a low voice.
"You bring shame to your grandfather's face. Follow me. I shall correct your manners thoroughly before the assembly begins."
Jin Yong's face turned pale.
This was interesting. I didn't realize I could use his upright personality like this.
Fuming with rage, Jin-gyun strode away without looking back.
"Good grief, this fellow again."
The old man shook his head and spoke to me.
"Since you said you're participating in the discussion, I suppose I'll see you later. I wish you good results."
With those words, the old man hurried after Jin-gyun. Jin Yong, who was looking at me with eyes full of resentment and a pale face, also rushed after them.
*
The old man following Jin-gyun tried to soothe his temper.
"Don't be too hard on him. It's not like your grandson did it on purpose. He probably just felt a sense of rivalry because the person behind the third son of the Yikyang So Family was more outstanding."
At the old man's words, Jin-gyun shook his head.
He spoke in a voice full of disapproval.
"If that's the case, he deserves to be scolded even more."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Because he failed to recognize the opponent he truly needs to be wary of."
The old man's expression turned puzzled.
Jin-gyun had been displeased with his grandson entering this kind of discussion, but he had said that if he did enter, there would be no rivals except for a few specific successors.
Yet now, he was highly evaluating the third son of the Yikyang So Family, whom he had just met for the first time.
"What on earth do you mean?"
To the old man's eyes, the third son of the Yikyang So Family was quite strong for his age, but that was his limit. He was by no means a candidate for victory.
Jin-gyun spoke in a heavy voice.
"I am saying he might be an opponent my grandson cannot defeat."
‘!?’