Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: Part 3: Party Crashers Are Inevitable at a Feast (2)
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Sanwol Manor was a modest estate located on the outskirts of Eoyang. It was one of the villas owned by Sima Gyeongwon, the sect leader of the Eoyang Sword Sect.
“Nice place.”
Han Soyu murmured as she looked around Sanwol Manor.
Fitting for a villa belonging to Sima Gyeongwon, the overlord of Eoyang, the manor was clean and impeccably maintained. Thanks to that, the Mount Hua Sect warriors could rest comfortably.
After receiving such lavish hospitality and getting a good night's sleep, the fatigue accumulated during their journey here vanished as if washed away.
“It would’ve been great if the martial brothers could’ve come too.”
She couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful that Mugyeong and Ungyeong hadn’t been able to join them. But Han Soyu knew better than anyone that it couldn’t be helped.
Mugyeong was the disciple who would lead the next generation of Mount Hua Sect, and Ungyeong was a prodigy destined to help him revive the sect. Their absence would deal a serious blow to the sect’s operations.
They were already at the heart of Mount Hua Sect. They couldn’t afford to leave their posts lightly—nor should they.
Han Soyu was here in their stead, representing those extraordinary figures. She couldn’t help but feel the weight of that responsibility.
It was then.
“Martial sister.”
A familiar voice suddenly snapped her out of her thoughts.
When Han Soyu turned her head, she saw Myeonggyeong.
“What were you thinking so deeply about? I called you several times, but you didn’t respond.”
“Just this and that. What’s up, martial brother?”
“Nothing much.”
Myeonggyeong smiled brightly.
Han Soyu shook her head slightly at the sight of him.
Having become a first-generation disciple only recently, Myeonggyeong was endlessly curious. Even after arriving at Sanwol Manor, he’d been itching to go out exploring whenever he had the chance.
He’d tried to hold out for a day, but his curiosity had finally gotten the better of him.
“Want to go out?”
“Don’t you want to see the streets of Eoyang, martial sister?”
“Hmm…”
“Come on, let’s go together.”
“Sigh.”
Han Soyu let out a soft sigh at Myeonggyeong’s innocent plea. But she soon nodded. She remembered Hyeongeom the Sword Immortal’s request to let Myeonggyeong gain as much experience as possible.
“Alright, let’s go.”
“Thank you, martial sister!”
Myeonggyeong beamed. Han Soyu’s mood lifted in response.
The two left Sanwol Manor side by side, heading straight for Eoyang’s bustling streets.
Myeonggyeong glanced around and spoke up.
“There are so many people here.”
“It’s where all eyes in the martial world are focused, so it’s bound to be crowded.”
“Because of the Martial Alliance?”
“Shh!”
“Oh! It’s still a secret, right? Sorry.”
“It’ll be announced soon enough, but we still need to be cautious for now.”
“Got it.”
Myeonggyeong nodded obediently.
Though his martial arts were profound, Myeonggyeong still had plenty of naive sides to him. That meant he needed even more looking after.
Seeing Myeonggyeong like this reminded Han Soyu of someone.
The image of a boy now all but forgotten even within Mount Hua Sect.
‘Cheongyeong.’
Thinking of him still left a pang of emptiness in her heart.
‘I should visit Elder Hyeonso’s residence once I return to Mount Hua.’
She hadn’t visited Hyeonso the Immortal’s quarters even once, always making excuses about being busy. But Han Soyu knew the truth. It was just that—an excuse.
In reality, she was afraid to face him.
She knew full well how much Hyeonso the Immortal cherished and loved his disciple Cheongyeong.
She didn’t have the courage to confront the immense grief he must have felt. That was why she’d avoided it all this time.
And she wasn’t the only one who felt that way.
Any disciple of Mount Hua Sect—at least any first-generation disciple or higher—likely shared her sentiments.
“Martial sister, let’s go over there.”
Myeonggyeong’s voice pulled her from her reverie once more.
The place he pointed to was a fairly large noodle house by Lake Dongting. It was packed with customers.
Their voices filled the street, lending the air a lively buzz.
Myeonggyeong was the type who naturally gravitated toward such spots.
“Alright, let’s go.”
Han Soyu followed his lead.
“Welcome!”
A server greeted them as they entered the noodle house.
“Any seats available?”
“There’s a spot in the back, but as you can see, it’s a bit noisy. Is that alright?”
“It’s fine.”
“Then follow me.”
The server grinned at Myeonggyeong’s response and led the way.
He showed them to a corner table inside. As he’d said, it was quite noisy there.
Myeonggyeong looked delighted, while Han Soyu sighed softly.
“What’ll it be?”
“Bring us some noodle soup and a roast duck.”
“Got it. Please wait just a moment.”
The server dashed off to the kitchen.
Once the order was placed, Myeonggyeong looked around with wide-eyed wonder. Numerous people sat at tables, engaged in lively conversations.
Among them, the voices of merchants at a nearby table stood out especially clearly.
“Isn’t he just incredible?”
“What?”
“The Fist Demon.”
“Oh! The Fist Demon.”
“He’s unstoppable, isn’t he?”
“That monster being incredible? Are you in your right mind?”
A skinny merchant scolded the rotund one who had spoken first. The fat merchant, however, replied unfazed.
“Why? You think differently?”
“He wiped out the Western Mill Sect and dealt massive damage to the Red Rock Mountain Manor. And now he’s gone and killed the sect leader of Hyeong Mountain Sect. He’s a giant demon wreaking havoc in the world. Why haven’t the Nine Great Sects eliminated a fiend like that already?”
“Hmph! Does he have the ability?”
“Ability? If the Nine Great Sects lack ability, then who does?”
“What have the Nine Great Sects even done lately? Ever since the great war with the Demonic Cult, they’ve just been playing it safe. Do you really think they’ll go all out against the Fist Demon?”
“Hmph! He’s just one man. No way he can stand against the Nine Great Sects at the pinnacle of the current martial world.”
“I guess you forgot. One of the Nine Great Sects, Kunlun Sect’s leading disciple Namhak, was humiliated by him. Give it a few more years, and he’ll surely surpass even the sect leaders of the Nine Great Sects.”
“Ridiculous.”
“Wanna bet?”
“You’re on!”
The merchants’ voices piqued Myeonggyeong’s interest.
He murmured softly.
“The Fist Demon…”
“You hear that name a lot these days.”
A spark of curiosity lit up Han Soyu’s face as well.
Ever since arriving in Eoyang, the moniker “Fist Demon” was the one she’d heard most often.
From the servants and guards managing Sanwol Manor to countless others, everyone was talking about the Fist Demon’s prowess.
Even as warriors from the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families gathered in Eoyang and along Lake Dongting, to the locals, this one man called the Fist Demon was the hotter topic.
Anytime two or more people gathered, they talked about the Fist Demon, and the streets buzzed with tales of him.
Most intriguing of all was how he’d defeated Namhak of Kunlun Sect.
Namhak was one of the Nine Dragons.
Myeonggyeong, himself counted among the Nine Dragons, couldn’t help but feel uneasy about it.
Moreover, his master Hyeongeom the Sword Immortal had declared that by toppling all the Nine Dragons, he would proclaim Mount Hua Sect’s greatness to the world.
“He’s someone who must be defeated as well.”
Seeing Myeonggyeong burn with competitive spirit, Han Soyu’s expression turned troubled.
Behind that innocent face lay a fiery rivalry and aggressive nature.
That wasn’t Myeonggyeong’s original personality. It was something instilled in him later.
By Hyeongeom the Sword Immortal himself.
He was her martial brother, yet sometimes he gave her chills.
‘Just what is Elder Hyeongeom…’
The product of Hyeongeom the Sword Immortal’s obsession.
That was what Han Soyu thought every time she saw Myeonggyeong. But she never voiced it.
After all, he was her martial brother and the future of Mount Hua Sect.
Soon, their food arrived.
The noodle soup was neat and tidy, the roast duck light and savory.
‘I should come back here with the others sometime.’
Han Soyu thought as she worked her chopsticks. Myeonggyeong tasted the food with a faint smile.
“Delicious.”
“Yeah!”
“What kind of person was Martial Brother Cheongyeong?”
“Huh?”
Myeonggyeong’s sudden question made Han Soyu pause mid-bite.
As she blinked in surprise, Myeonggyeong smiled and continued.
“I just heard about him by chance. There was someone called Martial Brother Cheongyeong. Apparently, he was here before I became a first-generation disciple, and you two were especially close?”
“Sigh.”
Han Soyu sighed softly at his innocent question.
She’d never dreamed of hearing Cheongyeong’s name from Myeonggyeong’s mouth.
Up until now, the dharma name Cheongyeong had been virtually taboo within Mount Hua Sect. Disciples avoided mentioning it, treating him as if he’d never existed.
“Who told you?”
“I told you, I just overheard it. But whenever I asked, everyone reacted just like you.”
“Like what?”
“Like they’d heard something they shouldn’t have. Exactly that look.”
Han Soyu’s eyes trembled, her lips pressed tight. It was an involuntary reaction.
Myeonggyeong watched her with amused fascination.
It wasn’t often that the usually composed Han Soyu showed such a crack in her facade.
He was enjoying this novel experience.
Only after a long moment did Han Soyu finally speak.
“Cheongyeong… he’s Mount Hua Sect’s sore spot. Or rather, a finger that’s been severed.”
“I’d like to hear more.”
“Later.”
“Huh?”
“I’m not ready to talk about it yet. Just… leave it at that for now.”
“I see.”
“Sorry.”
“It’s fine. That’s understandable.”
Myeonggyeong shook his head with a smile. Still, he couldn’t help his curiosity.
‘Well, I’ll find out eventually. It’s not that important anyway.’
It was then, as Myeonggyeong convinced himself of that.
“Martial aunt, martial grandaunt!”
A second-generation Mount Hua disciple named Wonyul burst through the noodle house door.
“So this is where you were! I searched every inn in Eoyang without knowing.”
The two women eyed him curiously as he panted from running.
“What’s going on?”
“Big trouble.”
“Big trouble?”
“The Hebei Peng family experts en route here were ambushed and nearly wiped out. Elder Hyeonmu the Immortal has summoned you back at once.”
The two rose without a second thought.