Chapter 152 Suspicion
Two days had passed since capturing Muyoung Sintu Gongjin.
Those two days had been relatively peaceful.
A strange phenomenon involving a martial demonstration had occurred, but since there were no damages, the matter of Muyoung Sintu faded into obscurity.
Of course, I had informed Poison King Dang Mugi that I had caught Muyoung Sintu and secured the spiritual medicine from Yaoxian.
Dang Mugi was extremely curious about Muyoung Sintu's true identity, but I replied that I couldn't tell him because of my promise.
If this were the Divine Cult, he might have forced it out of me with sheer power, but this was the murim, ruled by justification and greater causes.
Once I invoked the justification of a promise, Dang Mugi didn't press further, even if he wasn't thrilled about it.
Just when it seemed like we'd found true peace...
"Ah."
The invitation to the Yongbong Assembly had finally arrived.
To pray for the peace and safety of the murim, we host this gathering. Please attend and grace the event with your presence.
"I really don't want to go."
Honestly, it was a hassle.
The Yongbong Assembly was an event perfectly optimized for clichés to trigger.
If I went, there was a 99.9999% chance something would happen.
With the young castle lord of Sa Wang Castle, the Poison King, Poison Demon, Dao King, and now Muyoung Sintu...
After dealing with all these major incidents, I just wanted a few days to rest.
"Mu-geuk-ah."
Piik-!
I even tried dousing Mugyeok-i with fire to check if it had been hit by some curse again, but no.
So the laziness I felt right now was 100% pure, unadulterated me.
"If it's that much of a hassle, just ignore it. Isn't that an option?"
Pa Cheon spoke from the side, sounding puzzled.
"Even if you don't go, what can they do about it?"
"That'd work if this were the Divine Cult. I could just brush it off with talk of a strongman's rights."
But not in the murim.
Besides, Nangong Jin had deliberately—deliberately—written "of Anhui" at the end of the letter.
Anhui was the region where the Nangong family held sway. Mentioning it wasn't just about Nangong Jin personally; it was a metaphor implying the backing of his clan's power.
"If I don't go, they'll make a fuss about the Nangong clan's face or whatever."
From that point, it stops being personal. It becomes an issue between the Nangong family and the Tang Clan. Since I'd become the Tang Clan's honored guest, no less.
Of course, the Tang Clan wielded near-absolute influence in Sichuan, but the Nangong family was a level above.
There were even those who called the Nangong family the world's greatest clan.
They wouldn't openly pressure the Tang Clan, but if it were the Nangong Jin I knew, he could subtly maneuver things to make the Tang Clan suffer losses.
"Tang Clan losses? I could just wash my hands of it. But still, no need to weaken the power of those backing me in the murim."
"Murim folk are such scheming bastards, every last one."
"It's a headache. Every word requires calculations."
No wonder the cliché of "righteous faction hypocrites" exists. They live so exhaustingly that everyone schemes behind the scenes.
"Besides the Nangong family, there's one more reason I have to go."
"Because of Yi Seong Ryeong?"
I nodded at Pa Cheon's words.
"Right."
In Murim Return, the North Sea Ice Palace gets wiped out by the Heavenly Demon.
The direct reason was the incident where Mu Jin was captured by the Ice Palace, of course.
But before that, no one from the North Sea Ice Palace had ever emerged into the murim.
I remembered that a woman called the Heavenly Ice Jade Phoenix had never appeared in the murim.
'Even in a place completely unrelated to my actions, changes are happening.'
In this Murim Return world, I was a thorough weakling.
One might think my innate power was pretty strong at this point, but the problem was that this story was still in its early stages.
Already, title-bearing "kings" were wandering near me, and by mid-story, all hell would break loose.
Your average inn waiter turns out to be a hidden Super Peak master from a secret organization, or the old lady drawing water from the well is a previous-generation supreme expert—that kind of thing.
One slip, and my head rolls.
So what I could do was...
'Eliminate variables as much as possible and prevent wars.'
Just stop fights from breaking out in the first place.
To that end, I needed to figure out what changes were happening in the Ice Palace first.
"Yi Seong Ryeong seems to have some purpose with you, so if you stay put, won't she stick around too?"
"That would flip Nangong Jin's lid. That's why I'm not seeking her out first right now."
"Tch. No helping it, huh."
"For now, there are still a few days left."
The Yongbong Assembly date on the invitation was about a week away.
Even if combined with other events, overlapping with the Tang Clan's would be seen as ignoring them.
"Well... rest is off the table. Time to visit the Dao King."
"Dao King? Paeng Yu-gun? Ah."
"I won the bet, remember?"
Paeng Yu-gun had promised to teach me the introductory saber art of the Samnak Do Castle, Cheonhwasamnakdo's Noe Yeong-do.
"Felt like pure honey back then, but now I see he's one sly old geezer."
"Why?"
"Sword and saber are different, aren't they?"
"Hundred Days Spear, Thousand Days Saber, Ten Thousand Days Sword. You're not spouting that nonsense, are you?"
It was a common cliché in wuxia. People trot it out to argue the sword's superiority as the most profound weapon.
Of course, as Pa Cheon said, it's nonsense.
"Not that. Even if I don't know much, sword and saber differ from grip to footwork to trajectory—everything."
"True."
A saber has its edge on one side, a sword on both.
"For someone of Samnak Do Castle's level, their saber arts must hide profound principles. Since I'm known as a sword practitioner, he probably figured I wouldn't fully grasp saber arts, right?"
"So?"
"He loses nothing by teaching me. He thought I wouldn't get it properly anyway."
"Not as dumb as he looks."
"Dang Mugi said it: surviving to that age in the murim means they've gotten that cunning."
I clicked my tongue.
"What Paeng Yu-gun didn't know was that you're a genius, Pa Cheon."
"Suddenly gilding my face? Not like you."
"It's objective fact."
Pa Cheon was practically a top-tier wuxia AI.
He'd comprehend Do Il Gwang's intent after hearing it a few times—something even modern knowledge couldn't easily grasp—and apply it, or dismantle Mo Yong Hak's sword in real time.
"But it might not be as easy as you think."
"Nah, think about it. Paeng So So learned Cheonhwasamnakdo too."
"......I'll definitely decipher it."
"Let's go, then."
"Step back one move."
"No."
"Playing dirty like this? Again?"
"The world of competition is ruthless."
Paeng Yu-gun bristled his mustache at Dang Mugi, who calmly sipped his tea.
"Insolent punk. You hurt So So, and tea still goes down your throat?"
"I'm truly sorry about that, and will be forever. But that's separate from Go. Why challenge me to Go when you never played?"
As Dang Mugi said, the two were seated in a serene pavilion, playing Go.
"So So told me: 'Play Go properly like a gentleman.'"
"Again, truly sorry about So So."
"Enough. Her dad and Mun Su will handle it. So, you won't yield?"
"Can't."
"Tch. Fine."
Paeng Yu-gun shoved the Go board aside. He rummaged in a nearby basket and pulled out a bottle of liquor.
"Booze again? Don't you ever get sick of it?"
"Sick? Never."
"Yet yesterday you gagged at the sight of alcohol."
"Ugh... I was seriously ill then."
With that, Paeng Yu-gun suddenly asked,
"That Eastern Sword Dragon punk. What the hell is he?"
"Honored guest of the Tang Clan, heir of Yaoxian."
"Not what I meant."
Paeng Yu-gun continued.
"He withstood my simsang without batting an eye."
"Isn't Yun-i Super Peak too?"
"Calling him by a nickname? Like family."
Dang Mugi shrugged. Paeng Yu-gun gulped his liquor and spoke again.
"Not all Super Peaks are equal. Our Paeng family's simsang usually takes a tiger's form—normal folk convulse just seeing it."
"Your simsang is certainly chilling."
"You're no slouch either. Anyway. A guy like that drops from the sky without warning—does that make sense?"
"Are you suspecting Yun-i now?"
"You think a kid that age could kill the Little Witch?"
"You did it too."
"I was over fifty then. Eastern Sword Dragon's barely out of his teens."
Dang Mugi set his teacup down with a clack.
"Yun-i is family to the Tang Clan."
"Touchy, aren't you?"
Paeng Yu-gun looked to the sky.
It was clear and blue.
"That arrogant Je Gal kid warned us. Secret forces lurking in the murim, infiltrating sects and families for some scheme."
"Hyung-nim!"
"Even that little girl bodyguard with him is Super Peak. But her aura's too battle-hardened."
Paeng Yu-gun's eyes sharpened.
"If he's from the group Je Gal warned about... I'll cut him down without mercy."
Dang Mugi didn't back down.
"You want war?"
"To prevent chaotic times."
Paeng Yu-gun continued.
"You and I are too old. Should've retired ages ago, even with rejuvenation."
"So?"
"Our juniors are greenhouse flowers. They can't weather chaos."
"Sophistry."
"Then let's do this."
Paeng Yu-gun turned his head.
A presence approached the pavilion entrance.
"Right on time."
"Hyung-nim!"
"Don't block testing him. If innocent, all good."
"If he is..."
Dang Mugi ground his teeth.
"Prepare something commensurate, hyung-nim."
"Kehahaha... Of course."
As their conversation wrapped up...
"Greetings to Poison King and Dao King."
The Eastern Sword Dragon appeared.
"Heavy ass on that one. Should've come sooner."
At the laughing remark, I smiled and bowed.
"Sorry. Dared to compete in drinking with you elders, got seriously ill myself."
"Smooth talker. Come here."
At Paeng Yu-gun's gesture, I stepped into the pavilion.
"A drink?"
"If offered by an elder, gladly."
That was when it happened.
[Something's off.]
Pa Cheon spoke up.
'Why?'
[Dang Mugi. Doesn't he seem tense?]
I pretended to lift my cup and glanced at Dang Mugi. Pa Cheon was right; something felt wrong.
"What's up?"
"Nothing. Bug in the cup."
"Flick it out. Here, have a drink."
Paeng Yu-gun lifted the bottle. I held out my cup.
But...
Kwa-duk-.
'Crazy.'
The liquor pouring into the cup weighed a ton. Infused with inner energy.
As I panicked at the suddenness...
A voice even more bewildering whispered in my ear.
"You. From the Cult?"
My heart sank, breath caught. I desperately circulated Heavenly Demon Divine Art to feign calm.
[Run!]
'Can't run.'
Whether Blinking Jade or Time Wheel Jade to the max, someone like Paeng Yu-gun could chase me down.
This wasn't a situation to flee. Had to face it head-on.
"What do you mean?"
Paeng Yu-gun, staring into my eyes, opened his mouth.
"Asking if you're from the Blood Cult."
......Not the Divine Cult, but Blood Cult?