Bolt from the Blue
After getting some rest, Baek Su-gyeong finally began receiving visitors. The crowd was so massive that the martial tournament had essentially fizzled out, with martial artists lining up to exchange even a single word with him—leading to impromptu duels right in front of the Luoyang Detached Palace just to determine the order. Of course, upon hearing this from Namgung Som-in, Baek Su-gyeong's face took on a look of half-dazed enlightenment.
"What the hell did I do in a past life to deserve this...."
He had started writing to avoid the sight of righteous faction thugs wielding swords like gangsters and demonic faction scum acting like real bandits. He had no idea just how far the ripple effects of that story had spread. Duels to decide who got to meet him first? The fact that the Yongmun Escort Bureau event had been pushed completely aside was enough to make his neck ache.
It meant Baek Su-gyeong's status had risen to the point where even a fairly prestigious murim tournament took a backseat—but for him, already plagued by stomach issues lately, it was a fatal blow.
"Ah, my head...."
"Teacher!"
Namgung Som-in steadied the staggering Baek Su-gyeong. He was truly dizzy. He couldn't fathom how things had escalated to this point. Feeling like bursting into tears, Baek Su-gyeong slumped into a nearby chair with her help.
"...What do you make of the current situation, Lady Namgung?"
"I think it's extremely inconvenient for you, Teacher...."
Namgung Som-in continued.
"But if you look at it the other way, doesn't it mean there are that many people eager for your wisdom?"
"Haha...."
Baek Su-gyeong managed a feeble smile. What a headache.
"Pushing the Yongmun event aside entirely? That doesn't make sense."
"The chaotic atmosphere is probably the biggest reason."
"Mm."
She wasn't wrong. The Blood Sect's raid had ruined the mood completely, and the drop in participants had a huge impact. With a major incident halting the tournament midway, resuming it was no easy task. Even if they tried, sorting out the disorder was impossible—it was the natural outcome.
"How does it feel to be called Sword Phoenix?"
"It's an honor I don't deserve."
Namgung Som-in turned her head slightly, avoiding his gaze with a shy expression as she fiddled with her High Star Sword. Sword Phoenix. The Ilwolgyo Lord had remarked that a phoenix suited her better than a flower, and what started as a joking reference to her swordsmanship had somehow stuck as her official nickname. It had even sparked talk of reorganizing the Thirteen Assassins without her for the Four Flowers.
"It suits you perfectly, Lady Namgung."
"N-No, it doesn't."
"Don't sell yourself short. You've got the skill to back up a title like that."
At Baek Su-gyeong's words, Namgung Som-in blushed. Perhaps because the praise came directly from the man she respected so deeply. He looked away from her fanning her flushed face and stood up.
Starting with Cheongmyeong, he had a packed schedule of meetings with numerous martial artists. Of course, he couldn't see them all—only a select few. Meeting everyone would drain his mental energy far too much.
'The question is when the Ilwolgyo Lord will show up again.'
That thought alone muddled his mind. Namgung Som-in naturally fell in step beside him as he moved.
The meeting with Cheongmyeong was guarded by Imperial Guard warriors, under Princess Jugeum Ye's orders to protect him. Among them stood the wax-doll-like Salt King Corps warriors in black uniforms here and there—Ilwolgyo Lord's elite personally assigned to shadow Baek Su-gyeong. Even amid the righteous faction members, they looked like emotionless machines.
The righteous artists eyed them with displeasure, but there was no way to pull the Salt King Corps away from Baek Su-gyeong.
"Tch. Filthy demonic cult bastards."
"Cut it out. They're Teacher Su-gyeong's guards. The Ilwolgyo Lord is in the Central Plains. Don't provoke them needlessly."
"Demonic cult scum guarding Teacher Su-gyeong? These are end times, end times."
"We could barely stomach the Blood Sect, and now demonic cult dogs are strutting openly in the Central Plains. What a disgrace!"
"Urgh, Teacher Su-gyeong's stuck among those bastards!"
"Even the Imperial Guards had their protection taken by Teacher Su-gyeong—the righteous factions' face is ruined!"
The righteous martial artists, seeing Baek Su-gyeong guarded by Imperial Guards and Salt King Corps, vented their fury in unison.
"But if you think about it, doesn't it suggest Teacher Su-gyeong might have been in league with the palace or the cult all along...."
"Hey!"
"How dare you spout such nonsense!"
"Seize him!!"
One who tried floating a "logical" conspiracy theory got beaten down.
"But Teacher Su-gyeong earning the Ilwolgyo Lord's favor on top of the palace isn't that strange...."
"Jealous scum slandering Teacher Su-gyeong! Get him!!"
"Conspiracy nuts!!"
"Teacher Su-gyeong is the one the Ilwolgyo Lord herself certified as the Central Plains' treasure!! How dare you insult him— as fellow righteous artists, we can't forgive this!"
Even those trying to continue the argument got branded as jealous haters and pummeled indiscriminately. At some point, the Central Plains folk's view of Baek Su-gyeong had shifted: he was someone they absolutely couldn't let outsiders or the demonic cult claim. Even at the Yongmun event, people had shown up just for him.
His status had skyrocketed beyond reason.
"Insulting Teacher Su-gyeong is insulting the Central Plains itself!!"
"In that case, let's formally form Teacher Su-gyeong's guard right here!"
"Hear, hear! Hear, hear!"
"Gathering the will of all you martial comrades here, I propose forming the Su-gyeong Society on the spot!"
Cheers erupted from all sides.
And just like that, unbeknownst to him, Baek Su-gyeong gained the Su-gyeong Society—a guard group formed by a faction of the warriors who had gathered for the Yongmun tournament. He would have clutched his neck if he'd known.
"I am Cheongmyeong of Wudang, humbly known by the moniker Azure Wind Sword."
"Baek Su-gyeong."
As always, his introduction was brief. He had no flashy nickname to flaunt, and though famous in the jianghu, he was called "Teacher Su-gyeong" with respect far more often—no need for one. Besides, why would jianghu folk bother nicknaming a mere scholar?
Harboring such self-deprecating thoughts, Baek Su-gyeong faced Cheongmyeong.
'A talent who truly embodies the Three Purities Ultimate Sword....'
His mind wandered. Countless people had marveled at Cheongmyeong's talent in manifesting Jin-un's Three Purities Ultimate Sword Canon. Baek Su-gyeong still remembered the thrill when it unfolded at the Xuchang tournament.
'Is that what it means to have grandmaster potential?'
A twinge of envy—for something he'd never have. But he quickly dismissed it. Envying the unattainable only bred useless emotions. He'd come this far; looking back changed nothing. What he couldn't have, he couldn't have. Wishing wouldn't alter reality.
'Lady So, Hero Cheongmyeong... too many people surpass my thoughts.'
Learning martial arts by imitating from a gifted book? In a world like that, murim would overflow with masters. Becoming a peerless expert from manuals alone was old-school wuxia stuff, reserved for geniuses with the brains to match—and even then, protagonists usually had prodigious talent and worthy masters.
Get stronger from reading novels? Title it that, and it'd get axed before long.
"Teacher Su-gyeong?"
"Sorry. Just lost in thought for a moment."
Shaking off his reverie, Baek Su-gyeong regarded Cheongmyeong.
"I heard you've mastered the Three Purities Ultimate Sword."
"It just sort of happened...."
"Even the Twin Spirits Ultimate Pure Energy?"
"Yes."
"Heh."
Baek Su-gyeong let out a genuinely stunned, hollow sound. He'd vaguely lumped it together without detailed inner arts descriptions, yet Cheongmyeong had manifested it into reality and mastered the Twin Spirits Ultimate Pure Energy? What kind of absurd talent was this? Unbelievable. Talent had limits, surely. He could somewhat grasp the swordsmanship of the Three Purities Ultimate Sword, but the energy art? He hadn't even imagined it.
It wasn't an exact replica of Jin-un's Azure Crimson Invincible Sword from Xuchang either.
"So the version at Xuchang was incomplete?"
"Yes. The sword forms were fine, but my attainment was lacking...."
And with that, he'd charged into the Murim Alliance tournament finals and dominated. What kind of monster was he?
As Baek Su-gyeong stared in dismay, Cheongmyeong said shyly,
"If it's not too presumptuous, I'd like to take you as my second master. Would that be alright?"
What the—? Baek Su-gyeong's face hardened like stone. Thunder crashed in his mind.
"Did I hear that wrong, Hero Cheongmyeong?"
"No."
Cheongmyeong repeated it with unwavering resolve.
"I'd like to stay by your side and refine my arts further. Will you allow it?"
To Baek Su-gyeong, it was a bolt from the blue.