The Dragon Phoenix Gathering
The person who came to fetch Seomun Cheong for the Dragon Phoenix Gathering that morning was Paeng Cho-ryo.
“Ah, Cho-ryo!”
“Yeah, Cheong-ah. How have you been? Nothing happened while I was gone, right?”
“Eh, what kind of ‘nothing’ are we talking about? Seeing you like this is the event. My energy’s surging just from seeing you first thing in the morning. I feel like I could ascend from sheer joy.”
Paeng Cho-ryo’s eyes widened into perfect circles.
“Listen to you, spouting lines like some romantic young master. If you were a man, my heart might’ve skipped a beat. You’re heading to see the Alliance Leader, aren’t you? Get on.”
Seomun Cheong climbed into the carriage and headed for the Murim Alliance Headquarters.
“Are you going to the Dragon Phoenix Gathering too once you’re done?”
“Oh dear. An old woman like me showing up there would just earn dirty looks. I’d be butting in while the juniors are trying to have fun. There are a few shameless friends who wouldn’t mind, but even for their sake, I’ll pass.”
“I feel like everyone would be happy if you came……”
“They’d be cursing me in their hearts. Besides, there’s a separate gathering for the old folks at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering. I should stick with people my own age.”
Along the way, Paeng Cho-ryo gave her a brief explanation.
The Murim Alliance! When the alliance was first formed and its declaration was made before the gathered heroes in Kaifeng, the unorthodox factions had beaten the ground in regret. Of course, they had been horrified at the thought of the orthodox and unorthodox sides finally uniting to crush them. But if the other side banded together, this side could simply do the same—so that alone wasn’t worth regretting.
What the Unorthodox Alliance regretted so bitterly was the name.
The Murim Alliance. As if only they were martial artists. They regretted not forming their own coalition first and claiming that splendid name.
The Murim Alliance meant the Martial Alliance. Only factions that leaned even slightly toward the righteous side among the orthodox and unorthodox could join. It was a brilliant naming choice that declared the unorthodox and black-path groups would not be recognized as part of the martial world.
“The Alliance Leader is someone named Jo Hyeon-ryang……”
To become the face of the Murim Alliance, one’s name had to at least appear among the Ten Great Masters of the World. So whenever it was time to elect a new leader, the orthodox elders among the Ten Great Masters engaged in an intense battle of glances. They would humbly recommend others, each insisting they didn’t want the position and pushing it onto someone else like passing around a penalty drink.
After all, reaching the level of the Ten Great Masters meant wealth, fame, and honor were already theirs. The troublesome duties of leadership were best left to juniors so they could focus on training or raising disciples in peace. Being the Murim Alliance Leader only brought more work and required constant posturing—no previous master would willingly take it on.
Except during the last election. Seomun Su-rin had stepped forward first, declaring she would take the position. Moved by her example, the other elders rushed to volunteer as well. After a fierce contest, Jo Hyeon-ryang ended up with the role.
“Master did?”
“Yes. If Sir Jo hadn’t stepped up, the Grand Matriarch would have become the leader.”
While they talked, the carriage passed through the main gate of the Murim Alliance. Paeng Cho-ryo left to greet her family, leaving Seomun Cheong to pay her respects to the Alliance Leader first.
Jo Hyeon-ryang of the Changgeuk Clan. Known as the Greatest Spearman Under Heaven, he was respected by all spearmen, whether orthodox or unorthodox. In the martial world, spears generally had a poor reputation. What use was a spear when you weren’t a military general? Couldn’t you just stab with a sword? And weren’t nicknames hard to come up with for spearmen? Because of this, spearmen shared a culture of mutual respect regardless of their affiliations. Naturally, when the Greatest Spearman Under Heaven rose to become the Murim Alliance Leader, respect followed.
Jo Hyeon-ryang looked younger than most masters of his generation, appearing to be in his forties. But Seomun Su-rin had also reached the realm of reversing age, so walking beside Seomun Cheong she looked like a young mother. Thanks to that, Seomun Cheong understood he must be in the Profound Realm.
“Outer disciple of the Goddess Sect, Seomun Cheong, greets Sir Jo Hyeon-ryang. Though lacking, I study the sword under the guidance of Seomun Su-rin and devote myself to the blade. I would be grateful if you could look kindly upon my humble skills.”
“Hoho. I wondered what kind of fairy-like child had come, but it turns out she wasn’t lost from the heavens—she’s the little fairy of the Goddess Sect. Yes. I am Jo Hyeon-ryang. By the way… the Grand Matriarch didn’t come?”
“Master said she was too busy with sect matters and unfortunately couldn’t attend.”
“Is that so? Hoho, what a shame. The female martial artists of the murim will be disappointed. Hoho, hohohoho, hohohohoho.”
His laughter started as an awkward chuckle but grew into something genuinely warm. Jo Hyeon-ryang’s face had brightened considerably.
“Well, child. You still look young, yet you’ve already reached the peak of the Peak realm. How old are you this year?”
“This humble girl has reached the age of twenty.”
“Truly twenty? The Grand Matriarch’s disciple luck in her later years is truly extraordinary. Wait…… That’s it! Moonlit Divine Sword! Yes, now I remember.”
“Moonlit Divine Sword?”
Seeing Seomun Cheong’s expression, Jo Hyeon-ryang laughed.
“You didn’t know? The Mount Hua Sect Leader praised you as a talent whose swordsmanship reminded him of the Moon Maiden. A title carrying that kind of authority is different from the rest.”
What? I have a title? Moonlit Divine Sword? Ooh, that sounds cool. Satisfaction showed on Seomun Cheong’s face, making Jo Hyeon-ryang laugh again.
“Ah, right. You said you were an outer disciple? That means there are no restrictions on marriage. Do you perhaps have someone in mind right now? It would be a waste to give a child like you to my great-grandson, but this old man can’t help being meddlesome.”
“A romantic interest? Right now I’m too busy honing my skills to think of such things. And by great-grandson, do you mean Young Master Jo Hak-cheo?”
“Oh, have you met him?”
“I saw him from a distance……”
Seomun Cheong’s expression grew subtle. Jo Hyeon-ryang’s blood pressure rose slightly in response.
“Ahem. Yes. His conduct is a bit improper, but he’s not rotten at the core. And when it comes to his woman, that boy would gladly offer up his liver and gallbladder—actually, all his internal organs.”
“How could a man’s interest in women be a flaw? Hmm. Is it a flaw……?”
Seomun Su-rin’s teachings on proper female conduct slipped for a moment. Even so, she wondered if it was right to defend the behavior she’d witnessed while disguised as a beggar.
“Aigoo, it’s all my fault. I saw the signs when he was young but spoiled him because he was my great-grandson. I told his father to educate him, but he went soft in front of his own son. He should’ve at least disciplined his own child. Look at how well this household runs. We’re practically raising a murim criminal. If word gets out that a lecher appeared in the thousand-year Jo Clan, how could I face my ancestors after death?”
It was an abrupt lament. But Seomun Cheong, specialized in dealing with the elderly, responded without hesitation, saying exactly what the old man wanted to hear.
“Please don’t worry too much. From what I’ve heard, the young men at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering all praise him as a reliable and generous older brother. It must be because his true nature is pure and open-hearted.”
Of course, this only applied when there were no women in the group. Seomun Cheong didn’t bother adding that unnecessary detail.
“Yes, that boy’s foundation is good. He’s always known how to give to others and could never turn away from someone in need. He’s too kind, really. That’s what worries me. He’s been scammed multiple times. No, does that even make sense? How does the heir of the thousand-year Jo Clan keep getting scammed? If someone looks even slightly pitiful, he opens his purse right away. Not everyone who’s poor is honest. I just hope he finds a wise woman who can keep that flighty temperament in check.”
In truth, the good deeds Seomun Cheong had seen Jo Hak-cheo perform were quite high.
“Sir, would you stop helping others just because you’re afraid of being deceived? Even if nine out of ten people lie, saving one person is still worthwhile. From what I’ve heard, that’s exactly what a great hero would do. Please don’t worry too much.”
“Yes! That’s right! What truly grateful words! How could I not envy the Grand Matriarch? In her later years, what could be more enviable than having both children and disciples to be proud of……”
She had only been told to give her name and leave, but the Alliance Leader’s complaints suddenly poured out, stretching the greeting far longer than expected. It started with worries about his great-grandson, moved on to how the Murim Alliance moved too slowly for his liking, then drifted into the state of the world, the Demonic Cult, the Blood Sect, and how at his age he should be free to train in peace instead of being tied down here pretending to be dignified with constant throat-clearing. His only joy these days had been watching his great-granddaughter’s antics, but now she was grown and chasing after men—especially that Jade Qirin, tsk tsk tsk.
Seomun Cheong kept picking out exactly the words he wanted to hear, and the relief was as satisfying as scratching an itch.
Indeed, her skill in handling the elderly—her “elder-slayer” technique—had reached heavenly heights. Soothing the heart of a lonely, busy old man was as easy as snapping her fingers.
“If I could just find a match for my grandson, I’d have no more wishes. But it feels wrong to ask that of you. If it weren’t for the Grand Matriarch, I would’ve taken you as my adopted daughter. Since my heart feels that way, come visit this old man sometimes and keep me company with conversation. Would that be all right?”
“Of course. Ah, but weren’t there people waiting for you?”
“Yes, that’s how it is. What kind of greeting requires sitting solemnly all day just nodding your head? Right. Let’s meet again next time. If you go to the guest reception hall and say the Alliance Leader told you to use Mucheon Pavilion, they’ll give you a room.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you for your consideration.”
“It’s not consideration—it’s just an old man doing what he should. Well then, see you again.”
When she left the Alliance Leader’s reception room, the Paeng family members were sitting at a table outside waiting. She bowed to Paeng Heon, whom she had met before, waved to Paeng Daesan and Paeng Cho-ryo, then stepped outside and asked a Murim Alliance warrior for directions.
After delivering the Alliance Leader’s message at the guest reception hall, she was guided to a tall building nestled against the Murim Alliance’s outer wall. As she entered Mucheon Pavilion and climbed the stairs, the maid guiding her opened the door blocking the hallway the moment they reached the sixth floor.
“Esteemed guest, you may use this area.”
It was a luxurious corridor decorated with silk. Seeing eight visible rooms, Seomun Cheong asked again.
“I can choose whichever room I want? Can I look inside all of them first? If possible, I’d like the biggest one.”
The maid smiled and answered.
“You may use all of them. The entire sixth floor is your residence. However, the servants who will attend to you are staying at the very end over there. If you need anything, simply pull the signal cord beside each bed.”
“Oho.”
Seomun Cheong’s eyes widened. What? I get the whole floor to myself? Hmm. This is an absolute jackpot.
She realized within a single day that the Dragon Phoenix Gathering wasn’t much, but Seomun Su-rin had specifically told her to go and spend time with people her own age. It wasn’t really about having fun—it was about getting to know faces and exchanging names. Seomun Cheong wasn’t so dense that she couldn’t understand that much.
As Paeng Daesan had said, the banquet food tasted different from freshly made dishes at a restaurant. Only dishes that didn’t suffer from being served cold—or were meant to be served cold—were offered.
“Hmm. I’ll go today. Rest tomorrow.”
Being alone would just mean sleeping more anyway. Today she’d go to the Dragon Phoenix Gathering and make separate plans with her friends. Tomorrow she could explore the Central Plains’ First Market, which she still hadn’t fully seen. She could go to a teahouse, eat and drink sweets, and chat while she was at it.