The Gathering of Hidden Dragons
Among the Eight Great Clans, the Namgung Clan was an illustrious lineage consistently ranked at the very pinnacle. Now that the Dokgo Clan had vanished, they vied alongside the Sichuan Tang Clan for the mantle of the World’s Greatest Clan.
Dokgo Jin’s eyes narrowed.
‘Come to think of it, the Eight Great Clans summit should be right around this time.’
Before its annihilation, the Dokgo Clan had stood as the undisputed head of the Eight Great Clans, presiding over the grand summit held once every five years.
‘I heard that now, several clans take turns hosting it, beginning with the Namgung.’
Evidently, Sagong Wun intended to attend this very gathering.
A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Dokgo Jin’s lips.
‘Of all things... the clan summit.’
While he was lost in thought, Sagong Wun appeared before the gathered martial artists.
"A pleasure to see you all."
At his greeting, the martial artists scrambled to clasp their hands in salute.
"Greetings, Hall Master of the Cloud Sea!"
"Hahaha. I am counting on you all. If you encounter any discomfort during the escort, do not hesitate to speak with Captain Wu. We will provide every accommodation so you can focus entirely on guarding."
"We thank the Hall Master!"
"Hahaha."
With a pleasant laugh, Sagong Wun departed, not forgetting to meet Dokgo Jin’s eyes before turning away.
"Right, line up and state your affiliation and name! We'll be handing out supplies!"
Though the assignment was temporary, they were formally under Cloud Sea Hall for the duration. Each was issued Cloud Sea martial robes, along with dried meat and travel rations for the road. What came as an unexpected surprise was that every single warrior received a horse. They were even told that anyone unaccustomed to horsemanship was welcome to ride in the carriages. Fortunately, not a man among them was unable to ride.
‘To provide support of this scale...’
It might not seem like much at first glance, but distributing mounts to thirty escort warriors was no simple matter. Aside from the steep cost of thirty steeds, they had to prepare separate wagons just to haul fodder and hay. It was a tremendous logistical hassle.
‘He certainly knows how to cultivate popularity.’
The intent was clear: spare them physical exhaustion during travel so their strength remained fresh for guarding. And that was not all. Though there would hardly be any place to spend it on the road, each person was handed ten taels of silver under the name of 'travel expenses'—in truth, a handsome gratuity on top of their standard monthly stipend.
Dokgo Jin let out a wry smile.
‘Well, such generosity ultimately stems from coin.’
Backed by Sagong Wun’s formidable resources, it was an open secret that Cloud Sea Hall was the wealthiest of the Three Hidden Halls.
Captain Wu, who was personally distributing the silver-filled pouches, flashed an intrigued smile when he came face-to-face with Dokgo Jin.
"A pleasure, Dragon Tiger Plaque Master. This is the first time I've seen you up close."
"...What do you mean by that?"
"I've caught glimpses of you from a distance a few times. I was curious what sort of young man had claimed the Dragon Tiger Plaque that our Hall Master coveted so dearly, so I went to look for you."
‘I see.’
Ever since he had joined the Iron Soul Unit, numerous people had indeed lingered around the Iron Heart Hall looking for him. Captain Wu had apparently been one of them. Since approaching a newly inducted martial artist with an assigned unit was strictly forbidden, most had merely watched from afar.
"I look forward to seeing your martial prowess in action, Dragon Tiger Plaque Master."
Indeed, the other warriors had also been casting stealthy glances at Dokgo Jin from time to time. Once all the escort warriors had changed into their new robes and assembled, Captain Wu conducted roll call: thirty escort guards, and ten martial artists belonging directly to Cloud Sea Hall.
Passing through the eastern gate of Northern Heavens Fortress, the escort party set their course southward, gradually quickening their pace.
Riding near the rear, Dokgo Jin was deep in contemplation.
‘The Namgung Clan.’
When most people heard of the Namgung Clan, they thought of its patriarch, the 'Quiet Sky Sword' Namgung Se-ok, or the foremost blade of the clan, the 'Azure Vault Sword Star' Namgung Wi. But not Dokgo Jin.
‘I can only hope I do not run into him.’
Anyone else would not matter. But he within the Namgung Clan might very well recognize him.
‘Even if he does, it will make no difference. I can simply deny it.’
His face and name might invite suspicion, but his martial arts were no longer those of the Dokgo Clan. Even so, avoiding doubt entirely would be difficult.
‘I can only pray he isn't currently staying at the clan estate.’
Their journey proceeded smoothly. Within the sphere of influence of the Northern Heavens Alliance, none possessed the reckless courage to target carriages flying the alliance's banner high.
The travel itinerary arranged by Cloud Sea Hall was equally lavish. With ample time on their hands, they stuck almost entirely to broad official highways, and when evening fell, they invariably stopped at an inn. Despite the sizable party, Cloud Sea Hall had secured reservations in advance, buying out entire establishments so that the escort contingent could rest in complete comfort. Dokgo Jin found himself marveling anew at Cloud Sea Hall's financial muscle.
Night watch duty was similarly manageable. The escort warriors were split into three-man teams, rotating in one-hour shifts to guard the perimeter of the inn, while martial artists belonging to Cloud Sea Hall kept watch around the inner courtyard where Sagong Wun stayed.
Dokgo Jin was assigned the midnight watch. As chance would have it, his partners were the very men who had drawn his attention earlier: the swordsman with the long blade and the gloomy-faced fellow.
The swordsman with the long blade smiled and offered a greeting.
"A pleasure, Dragon Tiger Plaque Master."
"You know me?"
"Of course. How could anyone eating the rice of the Northern Heavens Alliance not have heard the renown of the Dragon Tiger Plaque Master?" Cupping his hands, he continued, "I am called Mok Woo-jeon."
"A pleasure."
Dokgo Jin quickly searched his memories, but the name 'Mok Woo-jeon' did not exist anywhere within his store of knowledge.
‘Hmm.’
The gloomy man beside him spoke next.
"I am Tang Pung-yeong."
His voice was so low that an ordinary listener would barely have caught it.
‘Tang Pung-yeong...’
The moment he heard the name, an intrigued gleam surfaced in Dokgo Jin's eyes.
"You two keep watch down here. I shall take the roof."
Without waiting for an answer, Tang Pung-yeong pushed off the ground and leapt onto the rooftop. While not an overwhelming technique, his movement was crisp, devoid of excess, and remarkably light.
‘He is indeed from the Tang Clan.’
Carrying the surname Tang did not automatically mean one was from the Sichuan Tang Clan, but with Tang Pung-yeong, there was no doubt. Dokgo Jin had not noticed from afar, but seeing him up close made it unmistakable. The tips of his fingers, revealed beneath long sleeves, bore fingernails of a dark, purplish-black shade—the telltale mark left by years of handling deadly venoms. Even more decisive was the faint, sweet aroma drifting around him: the fragrance of white wax, the purified beeswax applied to the hands by high-realm poison masters of the Tang Clan to ward off toxicity.
Watching him ascend, Mok Woo-jeon let out a chuckle.
"No wonder... So he really is that Tang Pung-yeong."
"Do you know him?"
"Not well, but I know he belongs to the Vermilion Shadow Squad under the Vermilion Bird Banner. Rumor has it he's a failed Poison Human cast out by the Tang Clan..."
A Poison Human.
Just two words, yet their weight was immense. It was a legendary realm dreamt of not only by the Sichuan Tang Clan, but by every martial artist who practiced poison arts: an ultimate state granting staggering defenses reminiscent of the Vajra Indestructible Body, alongside the power to wield every venom under heaven at will. Yet the Poison Human was known strictly as a legend, an achievement that none—not even within the Sichuan Tang Clan—had ever accomplished.
At Mok Woo-jeon's words, Dokgo Jin shook his head.
"He is indeed a master of poison arts, but he is no Poison Human."
"Hm?"
"Even a failed attempt would not leave a Poison Human fearing poisoning. It is almost certainly a baseless rumor."
"Is that so?"
Mok Woo-jeon tilted his head, but Dokgo Jin was certain.
‘His darkened skin seems to be discoloration from exposure to countless poisons... and yet he is a master of the Peak Realm.’
No matter how many experts the Sichuan Tang Clan possessed, they would never casually discard a Peak Realm martial artist with such profound mastery of poison cultivation.
‘There must be a story behind it.’
Yet seeing how Tang Pung-yeong radiated a desperate desire to be left alone with every fiber of his being, Dokgo Jin felt no urge to force a conversation.
Dokgo Jin turned to Mok Woo-jeon and asked, "Are you affiliated with the Guest House Hall?"
"That's right. Just freeloading and wasting rice in the Guest House Hall. But how did you know?"
"I saw your martial robes before you changed. You didn't belong to any organization."
"Hahaha, what an honor that the Dragon Tiger Plaque Master was paying such close attention to me."
"..."
"Tell me more. What kind of person do you think I am?"
Seeing Mok Woo-jeon's eager expression, Dokgo Jin merely shrugged. "I see no reason why I should."
Mok Woo-jeon pressed him with a disappointed pout. "Aren't you curious about who I am?"
"Not particularly."
"Someone from the Guest House Hall joined the Cloud Sea Hall's escort detail. Doesn't that strike you as strange?"
"Not especially."
Mok Woo-jeon looked as though he was on the verge of tears. "Wait, do you really dislike talking to me that much?"
Seeing him look as if he would die if he couldn't have a chat, Dokgo Jin let out a quiet chuckle.
"It's not that. If you wish to converse that badly, will you answer my question as well?"
"Of course! Anything I am permitted to say—"
Dokgo Jin shook his head. "You must answer unconditionally. In return, I will ask only one question."
"Ugh, I suppose I have no choice. Very well."
Dokgo Jin smiled faintly.
‘He is simpler than he looks.’
Sweeping his eyes over Mok Woo-jeon from head to toe, Dokgo Jin continued, "To begin with, you have numerous scars all over your body, and your martial presence is unrefined and fierce. My guess is that you come from a ronin background."
Mok Woo-jeon nodded. "Spot on. But anyone could have guessed that much."
"The shape of your sword is unusual. Judging by the hilt, you practice a sword style meant to be wielded with both hands."
"...!"
"Swords of that shape are rarely used in the Central Plains. My conjecture is that you learned swordsmanship practiced by the Eastern Barbarians or the Wa."
Mok Woo-jeon let out an exclamation of genuine admiration. "What staggering discernment! I learned swordsmanship from an old man I met in the military. The form was so unique that I asked him about it, and he told me its roots lay in ancient Goryeo swordsmanship."
Dokgo Jin's eyes narrowed slightly.
‘The military. I see. That rough, savage momentum was tempered on the battlefield.’
His face brimming with pride, Mok Woo-jeon continued, "I didn't stop there. I honed and refined it on the battlefield until I created a sword art uniquely my own: the Shura War Sword."
"You created your own sword style?"
"Indeed. There were times I swung my blade for three days and three nights without proper rest. Through that, a sword technique tailored to my own body naturally took shape."
Such an accomplishment could only be called a miraculous martial breakthrough.
"Some bastards scoff when I say that, but even the Hall Master of the Cloud Sea acknowledged my sword."
An intrigued light flashed in Dokgo Jin's eyes.
‘The Hall Master of the Cloud Sea acknowledged it?’
That fact carried profound implications.
‘And such a man, along with Tang Pung-yeong, was assigned to the exact same watch rotation as me.’
It was by no means a coincidence.
"Have you agreed to become a subordinate of the Hall Master of the Cloud Sea?"
At Dokgo Jin's question, Mok Woo-jeon's eyes wavered.
"Th-that is...!"
"This is my question, so answer honestly."
Reluctantly, he nodded his head. "Aye, it's true. I owe him a debt for saving my life, so..."
"Just as I thought."
Dokgo Jin was now certain.
‘The Hall Master of the Cloud Sea is putting on a display for me.’
In all likelihood, Tang Pung-yeong was also sworn to Sagong Wun. Sagong Wun was deliberately demonstrating to Dokgo Jin: ‘Even such extraordinary talents serve beneath me.’
If a Squad Leader or Banner Master of the Northern Heavens Alliance supported Sagong Wun, that was only natural; after all, Sagong Wun was a central contender in the alliance's succession battle. But men like Tang Pung-yeong and Mok Woo-jeon were different. To unearth hidden gems who had never seen the light of day and make them his own people required astonishing capability.
‘His resourcefulness is truly out of the ordinary.’
Mok Woo-jeon wore an awkward, anxious expression. "If the Hall Master finds out I gave it away, it'll be troublesome..."
"Do not worry. In fact, he likely wanted me to notice."
"Eh? Is that so?"
"Tang Pung-yeong is probably the same."
"...?"
Seeing Mok Woo-jeon's bewildered face, Dokgo Jin chuckled quietly.
‘He didn't know.’
He turned his gaze toward Tang Pung-yeong on the roof. From rumors and demeanor alone, he could already gauge what sort of man he was.
‘Mok Woo-jeon aside, Tang Pung-yeong is hardly someone who could be recruited with mere honeyed words.’
A sudden curiosity arose.
How had Sagong Wun managed to move Tang Pung-yeong's heart?
Dokgo Jin kicked off the ground.
Tap!
Rising into the air in a single bound, his figure landed lightly behind Tang Pung-yeong.
In that very instant—
Phee-ing!
A razor-sharp projectile surged toward the point between Dokgo Jin's eyebrows.
In the breath before impact, a crisp explosion rang out.
Pop!
Right in front of Dokgo Jin's nose, the projectile shattered into pieces and scattered as dust in the wind. Looking closely, what had flown at him was merely a small pebble.
Dokgo Jin spoke nonchalantly, "Your hand is quite vicious."
"Had I truly intended to kill you, I would have used something other than a stone."
Tang Pung-yeong slowly turned around.
"I dislike people appearing behind my back."
"I shall keep that in mind."
Dokgo Jin and Tang Pung-yeong's gazes met in the moonlight.
"Your finger arts are formidable. Befitting the Dragon Tiger Plaque Master."
To Tang Pung-yeong's surprise, Dokgo Jin had shattered the rapidly flying pebble in midair using nothing more than a blast of finger qi.
"Your Flying Flower Blood Trace was rather impressive as well."
The Flying Flower Blood Trace was a hidden weapon technique of the Tang Clan that turned mundane everyday objects into lethal projectiles capable of boring holes through an enemy's body.
"...You have mastered it remarkably well, for a member of a collateral branch."
At Dokgo Jin's following words, Tang Pung-yeong's face hardened into stone.
Dark Sky Martial Emperor
Author: Jeong Cheon | Publisher: Samyang C&C Co., Ltd. | Editorial Department
Published by: Samyang C&C Co., Ltd. - Dreambooks
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