The Bodyguard Tournament Shakes the Martial World
A month after heading to Xuchang, just as volume 4 of Wudang Sword Hero hit the shelves following a brief hiatus, Baek Su-gyeong heard the news that most of the culprits behind the illegal copies had been rounded up. This came about three weeks after he'd holed up in a mountain temple to collect his thoughts.
Word was that the Murim Alliance had circulated Murim Notices in Wudang's name to hunt down the copycats. What a scary world. No, wait—issuing Murim Notices just to catch some pirate scum?
"Are they insane?"
His head throbbed. Baek Su-gyeong pressed his forehead hard, trying to quell the pounding headache. Things were spinning out of control. Even the temple's abbot, whom he'd come here to relax around, was a die-hard Wudang Sword Hero fan who hit him with "When's the next volume?" every morning. And now this—Murim Notices for pirate scum? Was this really reality?
"...I wish someone would tell me it's all a dream."
Baek Su-gyeong sighed deeply. He could understand Wudang stepping up; it was a novel bearing their sect's name, so of course they'd sharpen their swords. He'd even posted those notices himself to bait them out. But somehow, things had escalated beyond the posters.
And now the Murim Alliance? "Is this karma biting me?"
His mind reeled. He'd accepted he couldn't live quietly anymore, but the Alliance getting involved? That was a whole different level. Clutching his aching head, he let out another sigh.
"At least there's no newspaper around. Small mercies."
No massive headlines blaring his name across front pages was a relief, but he couldn't relax. This mad world was changing faster than he'd imagined.
"They won't invent newspapers now, right?" No, he sincerely hoped not.
The illegal copies circulating in the markets had mostly been cleared out. Rumors spread like wildfire across the Central Plains that the pirate gangs had been hauled off to the authorities and judged by Murim Alliance warriors.
Even after volumes 4 and then 5 of Wudang Sword Hero came out, the thirst of the Central Plains folk for it showed no signs of quenching. As footsteps quickened toward Baekun Seogwan in Wuan, Hubei Province, a crisis emerged: Baek Su-gyeong had shut his doors to visitors, going into complete seclusion, making volume 6's release uncertain.
"It's because of that incident harassing Master Su-gyeong."
"It's all the fault of those illegal copiers!"
"Nonsense! The print runs are ridiculously low, so that's why the black books are floating around!"
"You defending black books?!"
"You a Black Brush Party thug?!"
"Damn, how'd you know!!"
Whatever the case, with the man himself vanishing without a word, it stayed in the realm of speculation. Baekun Seogwan's doors stayed shut, his whereabouts unknown, leaving people to wait endlessly for his return with the next volume.
"This can't be happening!"
Bam.
The tiger-faced man slamming his desk in fury cut an imposing figure. His massive build and bold presence spoke volumes, the sword scar on his forehead marking him as no ordinary soul. Yet in the hands of this far-from-rational middle-aged man was a single book.
The goat-bearded elder tried to calm the raging man. "Please, calm yourself, Alliance Leader."
"How can I calm down?! Why end it here, like this?! Master Su-gyeong!!"
He wanted to storm to Wuan and demand the next volume right now, but he knew better than anyone he couldn't. This was Jang Hyo-un, the era's Murim Alliance Leader, the Thousand Hands Sword Venerable. A man who'd steered the snake pit of politics with his upbeat, straightforward nature was losing it over a book. Laughable, yet no one dared mock him.
"Master Su-gyeong must be troubled after recent events. That's why he released two volumes at once."
"Why are you so calm, Strategist?! Volume 5 ends on such a maddening cliffhanger! Doesn't it piss you off?!"
"Haha, getting angry won't make the book appear. Besides, the reprints sell out instantly—I had to borrow mine from the Alliance elders."
"Ughhh! This is tyranny! Tyranny! Who ends a book on such a tease?!"
Jegal Yu understood Jang Hyo-un's frustration, but seeing a man who could crush a tiger with one fist throw a childish tantrum was a rare sight. Of course, Wudang Sword Hero was that captivating. It felt penned by someone with deep murim knowledge, its bold prose worlds apart from classical tales. Jang Hyo-un falling under its spell was no surprise—even Alliance elders carried dog-eared copies.
"Mm. I lost my composure. Sorry, Strategist."
The quickly recovered Jang Hyo-un prompted a wry smile from Jegal Yu. "It's undeniably gripping, of course. But I'm worried."
"About what?"
"If another mishap befalls Master Su-gyeong, writing will delay again. And this Black Brush Party incident..."
"Hm!"
This was grave. Delays in Wudang Sword Hero threatened the peace and happiness of the jianghu. Its influence on murim folk was that profound. Jegal Yu continued calmly.
"Plus, if he stops writing, there'll be plenty willing to threaten his life."
"Mm! True enough! Wudang's protecting him now, right?"
"Yes. Two warriors from Wudang are guarding him."
"No other escorts?"
"Divine Eye Pavilion reports say no."
Jang Hyo-un stroked his chin gravely. "Losing Master Su-gyeong would be losing a great treasure of the jianghu. He's vanished without a trace again. We should assign personal guards!"
"I agree, Alliance Leader."
Baek Su-gyeong would've called them both mad, but unfortunately, Jang Hyo-un and Jegal Yu were dead serious. Wudang Sword Hero had enchanted murim so deeply. Righteous sects' attitudes were shifting, centered on Wudang, and public views of them improving—proof of its impact. For Jang Hyo-un, who'd agonized over controlling these ticking bombs, Su-gyeong was a true treasure.
"Honestly, I'd love to bring him to Alliance headquarters and have him write in peace."
"Impossible."
"Why?!"
"Would he even write if we did?"
Jang Hyo-un shut his mouth at Jegal Yu's words. Intel painted Su-gyeong as sensitive. He'd posted those black book notices himself, then vanished. Cage him at headquarters? Disaster.
"He's not one to be locked up and controlled. It'd harm his reputation and tarnish the Alliance's honor, Alliance Leader."
"Mm... My thinking was shortsighted."
Having persuaded him, Jegal Yu pressed on. "But we can't divert full forces, so let's find another way."
"What do you suggest, Strategist?"
"Host a martial tournament to select his escorts."
"Oh! Brilliant! Send the winner as his guard!"
Jang Hyo-un shot up from his seat. "Make it happen, Strategist!"
"I'll draft the schedule swiftly, Alliance Leader."
Carrying on a conversation that would've spiked Baek Su-gyeong's blood pressure fatally. With Jang Hyo-un's approval and Jegal Yu handling execution, the tournament plan solidified.
"Oh, and some Black Brush Party remnants remain. Shall we fetch the Master to decide their fate?"
"Yes. I'll send for him at once, Alliance Leader."
"What?! The Murim Alliance is hosting a tournament to select Master Su-gyeong's escorts?!"
"Yes, Sect Leader."
"Then Wudang can't sit this out! It's 'Wudang' Sword Hero, after all!"
Against soaring peaks, two Taoist elders conversed. One was a stern old swordsman with a sword on his back, the other Hyeonseongja, Wudang's current sect leader.
"Mujin, Jeongu and Jeongjin alone won't cut it."
"What shall we do?"
"What else? Send Cheongmyeong!"
Cheongmyeong, the standout among new disciples, had Hyeonseongja and all elders pinning hopes on him as Wudang's sword lineage successor. Hyeonseongja was that serious about sending him.
"Such an honor as guarding Master Su-gyeong—Wudang can't miss it!"
Mujin smiled wryly at Hyeonseongja's fervor. These men who'd once raged like fire over Wudang Sword Hero were now as hooked as he was. No wonder Wudang led the Murim Notice charge against Black Brush Party. Mujin agreed, of course.
"Naturally not. For 'Wudang' Sword Hero, our disciple belongs there."
"Exactly!"
Hyeonseongja nodded vigorously. "Other sects will think the same. On the way to Xuchang, I'll teach the boy a few more techniques, Sect Leader. Your permission?"
"...Take Taicheong Pills too! In my name."
The name of Wudang's secret elixir, not lightly dispensed, came up casually. Baek Su-gyeong, with his wuxia knowledge, might've cursed these mad old coots—but it unfolded matter-of-factly. And this wasn't just Wudang. Hubei sects swarmed with warriors eager for the escort tournament, righteous murim folk flocking to Xuchang from the Nine Provinces' Eight Directions. Truly, one man Baek Su-gyeong was shaking the Central Plains.
Rumors of the escort tournament spread like wildfire across a thousand li, even reaching Anhui Province.
"Miss, Miss So-min!"
"Come in."
A voice cold as shattering ice. A graceful beauty with pinned-up black hair sat fanning herself over an open book, as if it were the most natural thing.
Others might assume a martial manual, but her maid of over five years spotted it wasn't—today, as always.
"Miss So-min, word of a martial tournament in Xuchang...!"
"I know."
"Then we must hurry!"
"Don't fuss."
Her glass-like black-jade eyes fixed on the maid, Jonghwa. Even after years, Jonghwa thought her carved from ice.
"Nothing's decided yet."
Namgung So-min closed her book. Wind rustled her ink-black hair. It flipped the pages, revealing the cover: Wudang Sword Hero Volume 5. Worn from endless reads, letters faded from touch.
"You'll go, right, Miss So-min?"
Namgung So-min nodded at Jonghwa's question. Namgung family warriors were avid readers, but none more than her. The ice sculpture thawed only discussing Wudang Sword Hero—need more be said?
Tucking volume 5 close, she smiled faintly. "Of course."
One of the Central Plains' top beauties, her smile dazzled. Fleeting as spray in sunlight, yet mirage-like, peerlessly lovely.
Turning to the door, her hair whipped long in the wind.
"...Prepare, Hwa."
"Yes, Miss!!"