Righteousness in Every Step
Gulp. Yoo Jeong swallowed hard.
Who could have predicted he would find himself in such a predicament right in the heart of the Wulin Alliance, the very center of the orthodox factions? He felt a sudden surge of tension, reminiscent of the danger he had faced when confronting the Sword Demon.
How did it come to this? He recalled the events of the past few days.
"There are so many people," Yoo Jeong remarked.
"It's a big city," Goegelgae replied.
"Are there always this many martial artists here?" Yoo Jeong asked again.
"Of course. The Wulin Alliance Headquarters is here, after all," Goegelgae said, his expression thoroughly exhausted. Picking at his ear and avoiding Yoo Jeong's gaze, he suddenly snapped. "Hey! Why do you have so many damn questions?"
Yoo Jeong, who had been walking behind him, stopped in his tracks. His clear eyes turned toward the irritated old beggar. Did I do something wrong? Yoo Jeong furrowed his brow, pondering the question, but no answer came. Deciding that the old man's eccentric temper was simply flaring up again, Yoo Jeong spoke up bluntly.
"Why are you throwing a tantrum again?"
"My ears are practically bleeding because of you, you brat!"
"You asked me plenty of questions too, old man."
"That was official business! Do you have any idea how many times you've questioned me since we left Anhui?"
"Not really."
"It must be well over a thousand! You've been asking ten questions every fifteen minutes!"
Goegelgae shuddered with dramatic exasperation, his gestures so animated he looked like an actor in a slapstick comedy.
There's no way I asked that many questions.
Granted, everything was new and unfamiliar to him, so he had asked a lot. But it wasn't as if he was doing it specifically to annoy Goegelgae. He had asked Namgung Sua just as many questions.
Yoo Jeong glanced back at the young man following them. It was the dark-skinned youth, Byeok Sogun. Yoo Jeong's eyes silently asked, Is he telling the truth?
With a slightly weary expression, Byeok Sogun nodded. "You do seem to possess an... abundant amount of curiosity, young miss."
"See! Even he agrees!" Goegelgae pointed an accusing finger in his excitement, making Yoo Jeong pout.
"Young Hero Byeok is just humoring you because he respects you, old man..."
"That's not all!"
There's more? Yoo Jeong's delicate eyebrows twitched.
"I admit I have a nasty temper and no patience! I can live with that! But at my age, do I really have to be treated like some kind of lecherous pervert?!" Goegelgae beat his chest, howling in mock agony.
But Yoo Jeong was the one who felt wronged.
"When did I ever treat you like a pervert?" he asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"You! You little rascal! Whenever things don't go your way, you start acting like a sly fox, batting your eyes and playing with people's hearts to get what you want!"
Ah, so he noticed. Yoo Jeong let out a sigh and clasped his hands in a polite salute.
"I'm not entirely sure what you mean, but I apologize."
"That! That's exactly what I'm talking about, you brat! You draw everyone's attention to us, and then you pull that innocent act so they start whispering about me! You think I don't see through your tricks?"
Even without doing anything, Yoo Jeong's group naturally drew the attention of everyone around them. It was only natural. A remarkably beautiful young girl, a filthy old beggar, and a dark-skinned giant. It was a bizarre combination that even made the busy tavern waiters stop and stare.
A pure, beautiful flower standing amidst such eccentric men. Every smile, every mock tear from that "flower" elicited a dramatic reaction from the crowd—especially because of the bizarre contrast with the men beside him.
And Yoo Jeong had realized that teasing them using this dynamic was incredibly entertaining. If the Hwayeolluju had seen him on the ship, she would have burst into a bright, knowing laugh.
"Tsk. Well, that ends today anyway."
"Aren't you coming to the Wulin Alliance Headquarters?"
"I have to meet up with some other beggars first before I head over."
"What about you, Young Hero Byeok?"
"I also have some business to attend to elsewhere until the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering begins."
As he spoke, Byeok Sogun's face was filled with deep regret. Despite his massive build, he was someone whose emotions showed clearly on his face. He kept casting lingering glances at Goegelgae.
"Elder. I pray you remain in good health until the day we meet again." He bowed deeply, clasping his hands.
Byeok Sogun seemed far more reluctant to part with Goegelgae than with Yoo Jeong. Ever since they had cleared up their misunderstandings and he learned the old beggar's true identity, he had maintained this deeply respectful attitude.
"I, for one, hope I don't see you again," Goegelgae grumbled. "And you. Just follow this main road straight down, and you'll reach the Alliance."
"Understood. Thank you."
Yoo Jeong meant it. Of course, he could have easily found the Wulin Alliance Headquarters by asking around, but this was his way of thanking the old man for patiently answering his endless questions despite all the bickering.
"Hmph."
Goegelgae snorted, but the slight upward curve of his lips betrayed his satisfaction with their respectful farewells. Humming a tune, the old beggar turned and departed, and Byeok Sogun also bid Yoo Jeong goodbye before heading on his way.
I'm on my own again.
But since this was the second time, he felt relatively calm. Ignoring the stinging stares of the passersby, Yoo Jeong walked in the direction Goegelgae had pointed out.
As long as heaven and earth endure, the righteous path shall never change. With chivalrous hearts, we form this alliance.
The Wulin Alliance
He arrived at the Wulin Alliance Headquarters alone.
"I wonder when our Commander and Vice Commander Sua are coming back."
At the words of the young girl dressed in red martial robes, a woman swinging a staff nearby replied, "Who knows? Once the Commander leaves, she's usually gone for quite a while."
"Honestly, it's better when the Commander isn't here."
"So-eun."
The woman called out her younger companion's name in a stern, warning tone. Instantly, the girl's lips pouted. She hopped up and argued, "Be honest, Sister Yang, you think so too, don't you?"
"Paeng So-eun."
"Hmph! The Commander never helps us train anyway. She just spends all day reading those weird books."
Watching the girl flail her arms in frustration, the woman, Yang Se-hwi, almost nodded in agreement.
"Still, she is our Commander. Watch your tongue."
"Bleh. They say even the Emperor gets badmouthed behind his back."
So-eun stuck her tongue out playfully, causing the usually calm Yang Se-hwi's brow to furrow in irritation. Seeing the warning sign, So-eun immediately grabbed her saber and bolted.
"I'm going to the training grounds!"
If she got caught now, she would have to endure at least an hour of nagging. Leaving the rising Se-hwi behind, So-eun flung the door open. But just as she was about to dash out, she nearly collided with a Wulin Alliance guard who was approaching to open the door from the other side.
"Whoa!"
"So-eun!"
Whoosh!
Like a startled cat, Paeng So-eun leaped into the air, flipped, and landed gracefully on her feet. Though she had reacted purely on instinct, she was still thoroughly shaken. Her already round eyes grew even wider, and her chest heaved as she caught her breath.
"My goodness, you scared me!"
"I-I'm terribly sorry."
"No, it's fine. It was partly So-eun's fault anyway," Se-hwi said, stepping forward.
"What do you mean my fault?! I was just... Huh?"
Paeng So-eun, who had been about to yell at Se-hwi for always blaming her, suddenly fell silent. Her gaze shifted from Se-hwi to the unfamiliar guest standing behind the guard.
"Who are you?"
"..."
The "girl" stood there with an indifferent expression, brushing off the dust kicked up by So-eun's sudden leap. The response to So-eun's question came a moment later, but when it did, it left both So-eun and Se-hwi utterly stunned.
"Huh?"
"That token..."
In the visitor's hand was a silver token engraved with a phoenix—the symbol of the Phoenix Squad's Vice Commander.
"Whoa!"
The wariness in So-eun's eyes instantly vanished, replaced by a bright, sparkling curiosity. "Sua sent you!"
Without warning, unable to contain her excitement, So-eun grabbed the visitor's hand.
"?"
"What are you doing?"
Before anyone could explain, the two of them were already standing in the middle of the training grounds.
"Hurry up and draw your sword! Let's see if you've got what it takes to join the Phoenix Squad!"
Yoo Jeong found this exceptionally energetic and cheerful girl rather hard to handle.
I've met a few people like her before.
Goegelgae, Ssangjeol-papa, and the Hwayeolluju all had strong personalities. But while the former two were driven by irritation or obsession, the girl before him was much closer to the Hwayeolluju.
Still, she wasn't exactly like the Hwayeolluju either, who possessed a refined grace and elegance befitting the mistress of the Flower Moon Pavilion. If he had to describe her, this girl was more like a stray cat, full of erratic energy.
Looking at her, Yoo Jeong spoke up. "I'll say it again: I have no intention of becoming a Wulin Alliance martial artist."
The girl, who had been swinging her saber through the air, blinked in surprise. "Are you stupid? Of course you aren't! Joining the Phoenix Squad requires a rigorous screening process, you know!"
Stupid?
The corner of Yoo Jeong's mouth twitched.
"I apologize. Our youngest has a terrible habit of speaking without thinking."
"Sister!"
The older woman quickly stepped in to apologize. However, despite her polite words, she didn't seem to have any intention of stopping the duel. Instead, she narrowed her eyes slightly, observing Yoo Jeong closely—as if testing to see whether he truly deserved to carry the Vice Commander's token.
"Sigh."
Yoo Jeong let out a soft sigh. The girl clearly had no intention of backing down, and this was their home turf.
A guest should accommodate the host.
Besides, he was somewhat curious about the strength of the Wulin Alliance and the great noble clans. When the two women had introduced themselves, he had noted their surnames: Paeng and Yang.
The Hebei Paeng Clan and the Yang Spear Clan.
Judging by the saber and spear they held, his guess was almost certainly correct.
Yoo Jeong let his arms hang loosely at his sides. He didn't take any stance, remaining completely relaxed. Seeing this, So-eun complained as she readied her saber.
"Take this seriously!"
"Well..."
Yoo Jeong lightly tapped his chin with a finger, pretending to ponder the matter before speaking. "I think this single finger will be more than enough."
He offered a gentle smile and wagged his index finger.
The response was instantaneous.
Whoosh!
"Fierce Tiger Emerges from the Cave!"
Since this was a friendly spar and not a battle to the death, the girl shouted out the name of her technique. Yet, she clearly had no intention of holding back; her momentum was fierce and overwhelming.
"The Five Tigers Severing the Gate Saber?"
"That's right!"
With heavy, powerful strides, Paeng So-eun advanced like a mountain tiger. Delighted that her opponent had recognized her clan's signature martial art, she beamed even as she swung her weapon. Like a beast playfully batting with its paw, she thrust her saber forward from a mid-level stance, then swiftly shifted her posture to deliver a horizontal slash.
But Paeng So-eun's smile did not last long.
"Huh?"
Just as he had said, Yoo Jeong did not draw his sword. He didn't use his fists or palms, nor did he even take a step. With only a single finger resting lightly on the flat of Paeng So-eun's blade, her saber was frozen in place.
It's so heavy.
Usually, she could swing her weapon multiple times in the blink of an eye. Now, it felt as if a boulder weighing ten thousand catties had been placed upon it—all because of that single finger.
The mighty tiger's strike had been reduced to the feeble pawing of a newborn kitten. She was terrified that if she let her focus slip for even a second, the weapon would fly from her grip.
In desperation, So-eun immediately threw a kick. Her target was her opponent's groin—a dirty trick more suited to a lowlife bandit, which had caught many a young noble hero off guard in the past.
But instead...
Spin!
"Huh?"
She found herself spinning in place. She didn't even understand why at first. Only a moment later did she realize.
He pushed me.
The very instant she lifted her foot to kick, her balance had faltered for a fraction of a second. Yoo Jeong had not missed that window. Applying pressure to the finger resting on her blade, he had redirected her momentum outward.
As a result, Paeng So-eun spun around like a top.
"I told you, this is more than enough."
Waiting for her as she completed her spin was Yoo Jeong's grinning face.
And then...
Flick!
. . .
"Whoa."
Paeng So-eun, who had been splayed out on the ground where the spar had begun, scrambled to her feet. Though the center of her exposed forehead was already swelling into a bright red bump, she didn't seem to mind.
"You're really strong!" she beamed.
Stepping in to take So-eun's place, Yang Se-hwi was now trading blows with Yoo Jeong. To So-eun's eyes, Yoo Jeong no longer looked like a delicate, porcelain-doll-like peer, but rather a massive wall. An incredibly high, solid, and thick wall.
Yet, Paeng So-eun felt no fear. Had she not been eagerly awaiting the return of Vice Commander Namgung Sua out of a sheer thirst to grow stronger?
Soon, So-eun leaped back into the fray, shouting energetically, "Let me join in too!"
And on that day, Paeng So-eun ended up getting flicked on the forehead three more times.