A Place Fitting for Jeong Gwang
Un Hak grew increasingly uneasy as time passed.
It was because of Huashan Sect Elder Ja Yeop and Zhongnan Sect Elder Gu Seong.
"Can't you change your mind? The Pang Clan has no chance of winning."
"Refusing to switch ships when the outcome is obvious. Don't come crying to us later."
Un Hak couldn't help but flash a bitter smile.
'Even back when the True Heavenly Demon, the root of all evil, was alive and the Murim Alliance was functioning properly... they were men of integrity.'
Now they were nothing more than petty schemers spouting sweet lies and threats for their sect's gain and power.
Watching their greedy faces, he wondered how his own must look to others.
'I'm probably still fine.'
Not spotless, but not as corrupted as that.
'Heh. What arrogant thinking. I should ask Jeong Gwang.'
The boy would tell him straight.
Brutally straight, even.
'...Maybe I don't need to ask.'
Un Hak rose and cupped his hands in salute.
"Our sect will honor its promise to the Pang Clan. We'll take our leave."
"Ahem. We understand Kunlun's stance. You'll regret this."
"See you at the Murim Alliance. I'm curious to see how you'll act then."
As Un Hak turned to leave silently, a Huashan Taoist burst in.
"Elder! Big trouble!"
"What is it? Don't fluster—speak clearly!"
"The... the Xi'an division heads... no, the Xi'an division scum got badly beaten!"
Provinces on the border like Qinghai or Gansu had governors wielding full authority to swiftly counter foreign invasions.
Central Plains provinces were different, divided into three agencies: the Provincial Administration Commission for finances, the Provincial Surveillance and Investigation Commission for judiciary, and the Regional Military Commission for military affairs.
These spoiled brats, hailed as Xi'an division heads up front but cursed as Xi'an division scum behind their backs, were the sons of those agency heads and great merchants who lorded over Shaanxi Province.
Ja Yeop and Gu Seong scowled.
There was a reason they were such thugs—their fathers were no better.
Thinking of those stubborn old men throwing tantrums already gave them headaches.
"They wouldn't have fought among themselves. Who picked a fight with them?"
To Ja Yeop's question, the Huashan disciple answered cautiously.
"It... it was two young Taoist youths, they say..."
The disciple trailed off, glancing at Un Hak.
A chill ran down Un Hak's spine. He pictured Jeong Gwang grinning mischievously.
'No way?'
Ja Yeop and Gu Seong, eyeing the disciple and Un Hak alternately, smirked triumphantly.
'A Kunlun disciple? Perfect.'
'Let's see those filthy old men suffer for once.'
The two elders shouted at the disciple in unison.
"No matter the reason, beating up people who don't even know martial arts? In Shaanxi, no less!"
"They think we're fools! Speak—whoever it was, they won't be forgiven!"
Un Hak stared at the disciple with a stiff expression.
The disciple squeezed his eyes shut and replied.
"It was disciples from our sect and Zhongnan Sect!"
"......"
"......"
When something was too absurd, people laughed in disbelief.
That was Ja Yeop and Gu Seong right now.
"Heh. Your disciple must be quite the joker, Elder."
"Haha. He's always so amusing and dutiful."
"But isn't it a bit too much?"
"Indeed. Sang Won, enough joking. Who committed such an outrage?"
Huashan disciple Sang Won stared at the two old Taoists as if to say what? then spoke gravely.
"It's true. Disciples from our sect and Zhongnan beat up the Xi'an division heads..."
"Nonsense!"
"Who dares spread such lies? I'll thrash them myself!"
"...The shop boy and customers right there saw it. People on the street testified too. Two young Taoists in blue robes like ours and Zhongnan's white ones..."
"You insolent brat! Polluting my ears further?"
"What are you thinking, spouting such drivel?"
Sang Won felt wronged.
He was just relaying what he'd heard—why was he catching this flak?
Then Ja Yeop's transmission voice reached him.
-You fool. Regardless of truth, why speak with Kunlun's Un Hak right here?
-I... I glanced at him earlier...
-You should have transmitted! Transmitted!
-I tried to glance and transmit, but you two scolded me...
-Shut it! Backtalk now?
Tears welled up from the injustice.
'Damn it. Sang Won, don't cry. They're always like this.'
Ja Yeop's specialty was bellowing, scolding, and badgering.
He'd earned his position at Huashan through it, but his disciples suffered daily.
Un Hak, grasping the situation, muttered as if to himself.
"Heavens. No matter the reason, beating people ignorant of martial arts like that. In Shaanxi, where our headquarter is."
It was a slight tweak of what Ja Yeop had said earlier, assuming Kunlun's involvement.
Ja Yeop and Gu Seong, faces flushed, saluted Un Hak and dragged Sang Won away.
Un Hak moved at once.
'Huashan and Zhongnan wouldn't do that unless insane. But Jeong Gwang... no, he's quick but wouldn't without reason.'
He was right. Street folk confirmed the Xi'an scum were trash among trash.
He rushed to Kunlun's inn and demanded Jeong Gwang.
"Jeong Gwang! Where's Jeong Gwang?"
"Ah, Martial Uncle! Third room upstairs."
"Jeong U, be honest. Is Jeong Gwang definitely inside, never left?"
"Yes. None of our disciples went out."
Un Hak vanished, reappearing at the third room door. After a deep breath, he opened it with trembling hand.
His eyes widened at the sight.
"Martial Uncle, you're here."
"Whatever it is, knock a few times before opening, please."
It was Baek Seung-mu and Jeong Gwang.
Un Hak sighed in relief and nodded.
"Yes. I was hasty. Rest well."
Closing the door, he walked away, chiding himself.
'Amitabha. How can my faith be so weak? Even Jeong Gwang wouldn't do that.'
Jeong Gwang was busy caring for late-entry Baek Seung-mu, amplifying his guilt.
'Wait. But it's Jeong Gwang.'
Un Hak blurred, back at the door.
Bang!
"Ma-Martial Uncle?"
"Agh, knock before opening, seriously."
"...It really wasn't you?"
"What?"
"Beating the Xi'an division heads."
Un Hak's sharp gaze shifted to pale Baek Seung-mu, then back.
"Seeing Seung-mu, I get the idea. Did you do it?"
A normal person would sigh in relief.
Jeong Gwang sighed for another reason.
'I need to teach him a thickening-skin technique.'
None came to mind.
Fine, he'd make one.
"Staring so scary—how can my junior endure?"
"...You truly never did such a thing?"
"Of course not. Who's this Xi'an division head anyway?"
Jeong Gwang was innocent.
He'd beaten Xi'an scum-shits, not fine Xi'an heads.
Un Hak's glare softened after staring.
Jeong Gwang's eyes were purely clear.
'Heh. How can a grand-martial uncle distrust his grand-disciple?'
Un Hak patted his shoulder.
"Got it. My mistake. Go eat and rest."
As he left, Baek Seung-mu transmitted urgently.
-Senior Brother, is this okay?
-Yeah.
-Lying to Martial Uncle? You beat the Xi'an heads and deny it...
-I know Xi'an scum, not those lads.
-...Correction: you beat the Xi'an scum?
-When?
-...Huh?
-They hit my fists.
-...Such sophistry... Fine, but lying they were Huashan and Zhongnan disciples?
-Junior Brother, weren't we together? Why twist facts?
Jeong Gwang gently scolded wide-mouthed Baek Seung-mu.
-I planned to say Kunlun truthfully. Asked if he knew the Nine Great Sects and One Gang first—Shaanxi shop boy might not know us.
-When he said Huashan? Zhongnan? why not Kunlun?
-Too bothersome.
Baek Seung-mu oddly accepted it.
Natural for Jeong Gwang.
'This isn't the Kunlun I dreamed of...'
Jeong Gwang added to the confused boy.
-Plus, I didn't like Huashan and Zhongnan.
-...Saw them briefly—what rubbed you wrong?
-This inn. In ancient capital Xi'an, staying in this dump?
-What does that have to do...
-Their fault we're here.
* * *
Late night, Jeong Gwang sprawled on the bed.
"Ugh, sleep time, Junior Brother."
"...Sleepy?"
"Not? Brothel then?"
"...I'll sleep."
Baek Seung-mu closed his eyes.
He tossed endlessly, unable to sleep.
Then passed out.
Jeong Gwang had struck his sleep acupoint.
Normally a smack to the head, but he'd endured Un Hak's grilling—mercy granted.
Jeong Gwang eyed the window instead of sleeping.
Irritation flickered in his eyes.
"That guy's energy. How'd he find here?"
He vanished, reappearing on a distant pavilion roof.
There stood the handsome youth from Yimi Noodle Shop.
A thin smile played on his lips.
"You came."
"Why sneak peeks? Rude."
"I had my men there testify Huashan and Zhongnan beat the Xi'an scum—for you. Yet so cold."
"You gained too, right?"
"True. But you're fun—that's biggest. Didn't know Kunlun's village fame reached here."
"Qinghai's countryside, yeah."
"Hahaha. Fun indeed. You're Jade Dragon, right?"
"And? How'd you know?"
"Don't flatter. You're not that famous—only I know."
The youth patted his chest, scrutinizing Jeong Gwang's face.
"Handsome as me, huh. Tough call."
"Thought just rude—now shameless too."
"What? Saying you're better? Uhahaha. Hilarious."
The youth laughed delightedly; Jeong Gwang was baffled.
'This guy's got that superiority complex?'
Overconfidence transcending limits.
Seemed so.
'Incurable. Pity.'
Jeong Gwang, world's top physician past and present, felt a speck of pity for the untreatable.
Past him would've punched first; nineteen mountain years Kunlun-softened him.
"Who are you?"
"Hu Wei-jin of Sima Lian."
"Sima Lian? That Saheuk Alliance thing gathering Sapa and Central Plains demons?"
"Yes. You knew."
"Heard they were forming years back."
"Heh. Just formed."
"Fresh off the pan. Why seek me?"
"One proposal."
"What?"
Hu Wei-jin's face turned serious.
"Join Sima Lian. You suit us more than the righteous sects."