The Yongmun Assembly (3)
Time flew by in a blur. Just three days before modern Christmas, Baek Su-gyeong finally finished preparing volumes 9 and 10 of Wudang Sword Hero, while the entire city of Luoyang buzzed with the opening ceremony of the Yongmun Assembly.
Since Baek Su-gyeong had announced in advance that he'd release volumes 9 and 10 together, fans of Wudang Sword Hero were in a frenzy. And it didn't stop there—with rumors confirmed that the author himself would attend as a VIP guest, attention had skyrocketed.
"They said Baek Su-gyeong was in Luoyang, in Luoyang, but who knew he'd actually show up as a VIP at the Yongmun Assembly!"
"I heard tons of people saw him at the Murim Alliance in Xuchang too."
"In Luoyang, it was all vague rumors—no one actually claimed to have laid eyes on him!"
"Maybe they saw him but kept quiet?"
"Nah, if even one person had spotted him, they'd be itching to blab about it!"
"True that."
On top of everything, word leaked that the Yongmun Assembly winner would receive the title of Yongbong—Dragon Peak—which had folks joking that it wasn't the Yongmun Assembly at all, but the Yongbong Assembly.
"Still, I'm worried the unorthodox factions might crash this Yongmun Assembly and stir up trouble."
"Yeah, didn't something like that happen with Wudang Sword Hero?"
"Exactly. That's probably why the Yongmun family is going all out on security."
And sure enough, every warrior from the Yongmun family was out in force, tightly guarding the area around the sparring arena. They had backup from warriors dispatched by Cheonryong Merchant Group, plus reinforcements from Luoyang's major clans lending support in various ways. The security was far stricter than any previous Yongmun Assembly, with checkpoints thorough enough to leave no gaps for infiltrators from the unorthodox sects or Ilwolgyo.
"With security this tight, what could possibly go wrong?"
"You never know. They broke through something like this for Wudang Sword Hero."
"Only Ilwolgyo could pull that off..."
"You hear the rumors? Ilwolgyo's Lord has gone mad—"
As people chatted like that while heading toward the arena...
"Baek Su-gyeong!"
On the path to the VIP seats at the Yongmun Assembly, Baek Su-gyeong—who had sent Namgung Som-in and Gal Ye-ryeong ahead to their matches—was walking with So Ssaang-a when he ran into someone completely unexpected.
Nakbong Princess Ju Geum-ye. She had come alone with just one guard.
"Your Highness?!"
"We greet Your Highness."
Ju Geum-ye smiled faintly at the two, who hurriedly bowed in shock.
"I came to observe the matches as a VIP. Shall we go together?"
"We're not worthy of such an honor..."
"Hmm. A refusal, as expected?"
As Baek Su-gyeong subtly hinted at declining, Ju Geum-ye clicked her tongue lightly, as if she'd seen it coming. He noticed the guard's face darken slightly. Baek Su-gyeong averted his gaze from the man, whose martial robes seemed modified from official court attire.
Seeing his reaction, Ju Geum-ye let out a small sigh and turned away.
"Fine, whatever. Plenty of chances left. See you again, Baek Su-gyeong."
"Take care."
As Baek Su-gyeong raised his head after the bow, So Ssaang-a murmured from behind.
"Master, you sure run into some incredible people..."
"...I think I need some Pingwei Powder."
"Conveniently, I have some. Want it?"
Baek Su-gyeong nodded. Getting tangled with murim figures was one thing, but why did a princess from the imperial palace have to show up, of all people? He took the Pingwei Powder from So Ssaang-a and downed it like Gulp Force, grimacing at the bitter taste flooding his mouth as he resumed walking.
"...Damn it all."
In some hideout in Luoyang, the man in red robes gritted his teeth against the pain from the massive wound slashing diagonally across his left shoulder and torso. Even after applying golden sore medicine and inner bandages, there was no sign of improvement.
The red-robed man—Jeokjo—glanced at the blue-robed warrior.
"Sorry, Cheongpyo. My stubbornness got even Guimun Hall's warriors killed..."
"...No choice in the matter."
Cheongpyo, the blue-robed warrior, closed his eyes. Jeokjo, Cheongpyo, Yajeop—the three great lords representing Haomen—had been powerless against the enemy they encountered on Tianshan.
They had no choice but to be. No one could have imagined Blood Cult demons lying in ambush amid the ruins of the Tianshan branch.
Of course, they'd approached with caution, suspecting the possibility. But even Haomen's elite from Guimun Hall, plus two lords, weren't enough against the remnants of old murim's Blood Cult warriors.
"If not for that man, we might not have escaped at all. Surviving is a miracle in itself."
"Agreed. Damn it. I knew demonic arts left nasty aftereffects, but the Blood Cult's are even worse."
Jeokjo scowled, clutching his chest in agony. Without that mysterious man from Tianshan, could they have fled all the way to Luoyang alive? If that lone figure hadn't slaughtered the Blood Cult warriors single-handedly, both he and Cheongpyo might be corpses back there.
Cheongpyo spoke up. "We can't be sure we've shaken their pursuit yet. Too many sacrifices on the road here. I have no face left to show the Gate Lord."
"Damn... Who'd have thought Blood Cult bastards were lurking there. Why the hell did they pop up?"
The Tianshan branch going dark was suspicious enough, but what reason could the Blood Cult have for ambushing Haomen forces? Without the full picture, Jeokjo and Cheongpyo could only speculate so far. If it was just for info, they could've made a deal—Haomen traded with anyone, orthodox or unorthodox, to survive. Even now, as part of the Ten Unorthodox, old Haomen had sold secrets to the entire world.
Cheongpyo added, "The real problem is if those mad wolf pups track us to Luoyang."
"...Kuh. Any word from Yajeop?"
"Sent word to the Luoyang sub-branch. No telling how it'll go."
"Hope it ends with that man."
Cheongpyo nodded in agreement. Against Blood Cult warriors Haomen couldn't hope to face, that overwhelming prowess—not just holding them off, but butchering them solo. No one had ever mentioned a man like that hiding on Tianshan.
Cheongpyo said, "Focus on healing for now. Getting you stable is priority one."
"...Got it."
"Namgung, if you drop out in the preliminaries, you're done for."
"Look who's talking."
Even the banter between Namgung Som-in and Gal Ye-ryeong crackled with sparks. Baek Su-gyeong, who'd come down from the VIP seats to see the two before their matches, could only look deflated.
"Is this encouragement or a fight?"
"Encouragement, if you want to call it that. Though it'd be even better if Namgung drops first."
"Hmph. I'll claw my way up no matter what it takes."
Baek Su-gyeong shook his head, while So Ssaang-a managed an awkward smile. The two heading to settle things at the Yongmun Assembly stemmed purely from their differing views. Namgung Som-in respected Baek Su-gyeong's wish that she didn't need to learn martial arts. Gal Ye-ryeong insisted on at least basic qi cultivation for self-defense. Both had valid points, so while Baek Su-gyeong pondered, they'd agreed to let a spar decide—like true warriors.
Warriors are such a headache.
What were they, duelists? No idea why things always escalated to a match.
"Namgung here is in the Heaven Group, Gal in the Cloud Group, right?"
"Yes, Master. Eldest sister-in-training is Heaven Group, third is Cloud Group."
Baek Su-gyeong nodded at Yi Jeon-hwi's words.
"Neither of you get hurt. Safety first—second and third too. Might be insulting to warriors, but still."
He looked at Namgung Som-in and Gal Ye-ryeong.
"Remember: no intense fights that risk injury. It's just a spar, not a deathmatch."
"Teacher..."
"Baek is such a monster."
Gal Ye-ryeong turned away with a tsk, while Namgung Som-in beamed. Baek Su-gyeong gave a wry smile, then turned to Yi Jeon-hwi.
"You're busy too, Young Master Jeon-hwi. Head back. You're overseeing the Heaven Group arena—sure it's okay lingering here?"
"Eh, the place won't collapse if I'm gone. Not like I help much anyway."
He's changed a lot. Baek Su-gyeong thought, watching Yi Jeon-hwi shrug casually.
"The overseers would probably prefer I stay away—useless guy like me hanging around."
"Still, they gave you the spot because the leader recognizes you."
"Truth is, I snuck off to watch from VIP seats."
"Too honest can be poison, Young Master Jeon-hwi."
Yi Jeon-hwi scratched his head at the jab.
"Anyway, that's why I'll stick by Master during the Yongmun Assembly. Block my dad for me, yeah?"
"You've gotten brazen all around, Young Master."
"Thick skin's my one talent."
Whatever resolve he'd come to, his cheekiness had leveled up. Baek Su-gyeong turned from the joking Yi Jeon-hwi to the two women.
"Gal. Namgung. My best wishes."
"Yes, Teacher!"
"With Baek's cheers? Can't lose now."
Namgung Som-in and Gal Ye-ryeong eyed each other.
"Don't embarrass yourself dropping in prelims after Teacher's support."
"Pot calling the kettle. Don't you dare flop in Heaven Group, Namgung."
Baek Su-gyeong felt dizzy as they turned even encouragement into rivalry fodder.
"So Deputy Leader."
"Yes, Master."
"Pingwei Powder, please."
His Pingwei Powder addiction wasn't ending anytime soon.
Fireworks announcing the Yongmun Assembly's start painted the sky in splendor, met by thunderous cheers. The event had begun.