Chapter 59
Chapter 59
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Section 3. Fate is Unfathomable, and the Ways of the World Unknowable Even One Inch Ahead (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Yi Sin-pung, the lord of Hongam Mountain Manor, was not just celebrating a simple birthday banquet for his sixtieth.
It was also a grand gathering for the countless sects that made their home in Gansu Province.
Over a dozen prominent sects had already arrived at Hongam Mountain Manor. The number of lesser-known mid- and small-sized sects was easily twice that.
“Haha! Long time no see.”
“Indeed. It’s been about three years, hasn’t it? Manor Lord Jang, you haven’t changed a bit.”
“No such thing. Heh heh!”
Middle-aged martial artists exchanged pleasantries with one another, while on the other side, young warriors introduced themselves and enjoyed the moment.
“Whew! Impressive.”
A young man whistled as he took in the scene.
He appeared to be in his late twenties, a handsome southerner with starry black eyes, slightly curled lips, and a face full of mischief.
The young man had claimed one of the dozens of raised platforms set up in the vast training grounds and sat there watching the people come and go.
The other platforms were packed with people, but strangely, no one approached the one where he sat.
Several empty liquor bottles lay scattered around his platform. He was the only one seated there.
Naturally, he was the one who had drunk them. His face was flushed red.
People nearby clicked their tongues at the sight of the young man who seemed drunk in broad daylight but kept their distance.
“Drinking like that in the middle of the day.”
“Exactly. No idea which sect’s disciple he is, but he’s got a bad streak.”
Even hearing their whispers, the young man’s expression didn’t change. Instead, he called over a passing maidservant.
“Could you bring me another bottle of liquor?”
“Pardon? But you’ve already had quite a bit…”
As the maidservant made a troubled face, the smile on the young man’s lips deepened.
“What? Do I look drunk to you?”
“Well, not exactly, but…”
“‘Life is not yours alone; it is the harmony bestowed by Heaven and Earth.’ Words from Master Liezi of old.”
“Pardon?”
“Life belongs not to you, but is entrusted by Heaven and Earth in harmony. Do you know what that means?”
“How could I…”
“Since life and death are governed by Heaven, it means to fully enjoy this very moment. Even the sages of antiquity said as much—how could I neglect this instant? From the greatest sages to the least, none abstained from liquor…”
“I-I’ll bring it right away.”
Fearing his ramble would drag on, the maidservant hurriedly cut him off and retreated. Moments later, she returned with a bottle, handed it to him, and vanished.
Left alone once more, the young man smacked his lips but soon filled his cup to the brim and began drinking.
“‘One cannot discuss the Way with those who will not walk it.’ Truth cannot be shared with those on a different path. No one shares my path—how lonely. Tsk!”
After downing his cup, the young man scanned his surroundings again.
That was when a man who stood out starkly from the crowd caught his eye. A man with black hair clad in dark robes. Upon closer inspection, one of his legs dragged slightly, which seemed to be why no one approached him.
The man looked around. He appeared to be searching for an empty seat. The young man waved at him.
“There’s an empty spot here, brother.”
He even flashed a bright smile.
A thick stench of alcohol wafted from the young man’s mouth. Those nearby assumed he was drunk and rowdy, figuring the dark-robed man wouldn’t come.
But contrary to their expectations, the man in dark robes approached the young man’s platform without hesitation.
The young man’s eyes sparkled. The man walking toward the platform was limping slightly.
The man who sat across from the young man was none other than Dam Ho.
The young man cupped his fists toward Dam Ho.
“Pleased to meet you. Sharing a table like this is fate enough—let’s exchange names. I’m Cho Yeon-un.”
The young man who called himself Cho Yeon-un stared straight at Dam Ho. Though his face was flushed red, not a hint of drunkenness clouded his pitch-black eyes.
“Dam Ho.”
Dam Ho gave only his name, curtly.
Any ordinary person might have flushed with embarrassment. But Cho Yeon-un burst into hearty laughter.
“Haha! Great name, Dam brother.”
Dam Ho nodded silently.
One might find Dam Ho’s emotionless face intimidating, but Cho Yeon-un paid it no mind and offered him a cup.
“Have a drink.”
“I don’t drink.”
“Shame. Missing out on such joy. Well, no matter—everyone pursues their own path. Haha!”
Cho Yeon-un grinned good-naturedly.
Dam Ho stared straight at him. Among all the people Cho Yeon-un had met since venturing into the world, he was the most scatterbrained and talkative.
Cho Yeon-un seemed genuinely thrilled to have Dam Ho at his table and chattered on about this and that. Dam Ho listened without letting a word pass idly.
After rambling on for a while, Cho Yeon-un scratched the back of his head, abashed under Dam Ho’s intense gaze.
“Did I talk too much about myself? Anyway, where are you from, Dam brother?”
“Beyond the passes.”
“Beyond the passes? Heh! You came from afar. Lucky you! I’ve always wanted to go. What’s it like out there? As desolate as they say?”
“Probably.”
“You seem from the Central Plains—how’d you end up beyond the passes? Ah, must’ve traveled with merchants on a trade caravan. I hear more people are tagging along with trade groups these days.”
Cho Yeon-un speculated and answered himself.
He seemed born a chatterbox. He talked nonstop without his throat tiring—an odd thing.
It was while Cho Yeon-un was going on like this.
“Kongtong Sect. Warriors from Kongtong Sect have arrived.”
The crowd suddenly buzzed. Excitement laced their voices, impossible to hide.
“Kongtong Sect sending celebratory envoys. Yi Sin-pung the hero truly is something.”
“No need to say more. Who can deny he’s Gansu’s top power alongside Kongtong Sect? Kongtong may have deeper traditions, but Hongam Mountain Manor holds its own in current prestige.”
The murmurs reached Cho Yeon-un and Dam Ho’s ears.
Interest lit up Cho Yeon-un’s face at once.
“Oh! Finally seeing those heavy-arsed Kongtong Daoists?”
He watched with keen fascination as the Daoists pushed through the crowd.
A dozen Daoists strode forward with dignified poise. Each exuded a calm yet extraordinary aura.
They were the celebratory delegation from Kongtong Sect.
Like famed swords meticulously forged by one of the Nine Great Sects, their sharp presences made people avert their eyes.
Among them, one stood out with an especially intense presence.
Bold features, a seven-foot frame, a body like chiseled steel, and eyes fierce with arrogance.
He looked down as if the world lay beneath his feet. It suited him perfectly.
“It’s Nam Hak the young hero.”
“Wow! So that’s the Heavenly Thunder Martial Guest?”
“To see one of the Nine Dragons, the Heavenly Thunder Martial Guest, here. We’re truly fortunate.”
The crowd buzzed about him, faces alight with excitement.
“Heavenly Thunder Martial Guest Nam Hak.”
A mischievous smile played on Cho Yeon-un’s lips.
His gaze suddenly shifted to Dam Ho.
Even with Nam Hak’s entrance, Dam Ho’s eyes remained deep and unshaken, as if unaware of him.
Cho Yeon-un asked.
“Do you know that guy by any chance?”
Dam Ho looked at Cho Yeon-un.
His eyes held no emotion, yet somehow Cho Yeon-un understood the message within.
“You don’t. Ha! There’s someone in the world who doesn’t know the Nine Dragons.”
Cho Yeon-un slapped his forehead.
Dam Ho stared at him steadily.
“Do I have to?”
“No! No need. But it’s better to know than not. And why the casual speech on first meeting?”
Only then realizing, Cho Yeon-un glared at Dam Ho. But Dam Ho replied nonchalantly.
“If you don’t like it, speak casually too.”
“Ah! Fine then. Damn!”
Cho Yeon-un’s face crumpled like paper.
He glared at Dam Ho. But no malice showed on his features.
“Alright! Guess I’ll explain from the start. Ever heard of the Nine Dragons?”
“…”
“Knew it. You’re new to the jianghu, right? No matter—everyone starts somewhere. The Nine Dragons are the current top young experts of the jianghu.”
As Cho Yeon-un said, the Nine Dragons were the jianghu’s finest rising stars. But their skills were no light matter to dismiss as mere youths.
Their prowess already rivaled elders of the Nine Great Sects. And it wasn’t even their peak.
Considering their ages, their potential for growth was immense. Indeed, they grew terrifyingly stronger even now.
Jin Mu-yeong of Wudang Sect, the Peerless Sword hailed as the one to lead his sect for the next century. His sword talent was genius-level—even Wudang elders yielded to him.
Hence his moniker: Peerless Sword, unmatched swordsman.
The second was Myeong Gyeong, the Huashan Lone Sword.
A once-in-millennia prodigy raised by Huashan’s Sword Immortal. Few had seen his face, but his fame echoed across the land.
Third was Pyo Seo-un, the Swift Wind Yama.
Unusually, he was a lay disciple of Jeomchang Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects—specifically, the young master of Unchang Escort Agency, a Jeomchang affiliate. His talent was nothing short of genius.
Fourth was Eom Tae-cheon, the Shadowless Divine Dragon.
A Kunlun warrior from the enigmatic Kunlun Sect.
True to his name, he roamed the jianghu without trace, his true face known to almost none.
“And another of the Nine Dragons is Cheon-un, the Sichuan Lone Star from Cheongseong Sect. The three pillars of Sichuan—Cheongseong, Tang Clan, and Emei—are stingy with praise for each other. But not for Cheon-un’s talent. Hence that ridiculous moniker, Sichuan’s One Star.”
The sixth spot belonged to a Shaolin monk.
A monk named So-cheon.
A warrior monk with the absurd title One Fist Mountain-Shatterer.
The seventh was, unusually, a woman.
Hae So-wol of the Sea Flower.
Hae-nam Sect’s heroine, wandering the world in pursuit of sword enlightenment. A proud beauty like a single flower. They said anyone who saw her face once couldn’t help falling in love.
Eighth was Geum Han-su, the Heavenly Strong Young Lord.
Zhongnan Sect’s Geum Han-su, who debuted in the jianghu twelve years ago, quickly made his mark and gained fame.
A man of the creed: better to break than bend. Thus, Heavenly Strong Young Lord.
“And the ninth is that guy. Heavenly Thunder Martial Guest Nam Hak. Kongtong Sect’s prized prodigy. Rumor has it six elders sacrificed half their inner energy each to complete his cultivation.”
“…”
“Don’t know? It’s the Energy Transfer Great Law. They gave him half their power. By theory, his inner energy triples a Kongtong elder’s. Purely in terms of inner energy, he’s arguably unrivaled under heaven. Keh!”
Cho Yeon-un’s lip curled upward.
“No rankings among the Nine Dragons. They’re evenly matched, like dragons and tigers. As for me…”
“Long time no see. Cho Yeon-un.”
“Yeah! Cho Yeon-un. Huh?”
A unfamiliar voice cut in. Cho Yeon-un looked up to see a familiar face gazing down.
“Nam Hak?”
“Cho Yeon-un. That nonstop blabbering mouth of yours is still going strong.”
“And your creepy glaring eyes haven’t changed either.”
The man looking down at Cho Yeon-un was Nam Hak.