The Summit at Jungcheon-gak
Namgung Woo took a few steps forward, and at some point, voices began to reach his ears.
"Why not? You told me to come anytime…"
"That may be true, but the Lord has a guest scheduled right now, so it’s difficult."
"I’m not asking to see the Lord. Even the head of the Upper Administration Hall would be fine…"
The visitor stamped her feet anxiously, pleading with the guard in a voice still tinged with youthful fragility. She wasn’t demanding an audience with the Murim Lord herself; it seemed she had business with the Upper Administration Hall, which handled the alliance’s administrative affairs. The guard looked sympathetic, yet the orders from above left him no room to help.
That guest is probably me.
Namgung Woo filed the conversation away in his memory as he climbed the stairs. Jungcheon-gak, befitting the Murim Alliance’s largest structure, stood atop a platform nearly two stories high. The sensation beneath his feet felt different from solid ground. There must be space beneath as well. Five stories rising above, a two-story platform below, and even an underground level beneath that—Jungcheon-gak was effectively an eight-story building. None of that particularly interested him at the moment.
He ascended quickly but without haste, stopping before the entrance. Only then did the guards notice him and hurriedly straighten into alert postures. Namgung Woo spoke first.
"From what I heard, it seems you’re blocking entry because of me. There’s no need. Let her in."
At his words, the visitor turned. Her swift motion betrayed intense curiosity about the person who had been the cause of her obstruction. Yet sight was a two-way street. If one looked, one was also seen. The face that met his gaze hovered between girl and woman. She looked to be in her late teens at youngest, and certainly no older than her early twenties. Still, the determined set of her eyes suggested she was at least twenty.
The two guards at the main gate exchanged uncertain glances. Their lips moved slightly, perhaps exchanging a sound transmission.
"A~h, it’s fine. No need to let her in separately. She’s the guest the Lord instructed me to bring. Just open the door. I’ll accompany her."
"Ah! Lord of the Thunder Dragon Unit."
The guards brightened as if spotting a lifeline and called out to Deung Jong-yu. Meanwhile, the guard who had been speaking with the visitor asked cautiously, "But… is it really all right to let her in together? The head of the Upper Administration Hall said no one else should enter Jungcheon-gak while the guest is here…"
"Hmm. If the guest permits it, it should be fine. I’ll handle it myself, so don’t worry and return to your duties."
"Yes, Lord of the Thunder Dragon Unit."
With Deung Jong-yu intervening, matters proceeded smoothly. The guards opened the main doors with relieved expressions. Deung Jong-yu entered first as their guarantor, followed by Namgung Woo. The young woman hurried after them, as if afraid of being left behind.
Whether from obliviousness or distraction, she failed to notice the look Paeng Ha-ryeong was giving her and approached Namgung Woo to offer thanks.
"Th-thank you… young hero? Great hero?"
"Call me whatever’s comfortable. More importantly, what’s your name?"
"Ah, I’m…"
Before she could finish, Deung Jong-yu rushed over, positioning himself between them, and urged Namgung Woo onward.
"Come now, this isn’t the place for that. We should hurry. The Lord is waiting."
Namgung Woo ignored the prodding and continued steadily.
"You mentioned business with the Upper Administration Hall, but meeting the Lord directly would be simpler. I also have matters to discuss with him. Since things have turned out this way, let’s go together."
"What? B-but is that all right? You’ve already helped me so much…"
Namgung Woo finally addressed Deung Jong-yu, leaving the hesitant woman behind.
"It’s fine, isn’t it?"
"The alliance brought you as a guest. If the person in question wishes it, there’s nothing to be done. Let’s do that."
Shrugging as if resigned, Deung Jong-yu resumed his role as guide. As they climbed, Namgung Woo observed the interior of Jungcheon-gak. Far more presences lingered than he had expected. He had heard the building was shared with the Upper Administration Hall the woman sought; these were likely administrative staff. Few showed signs of having trained in martial arts. Some possessed considerable internal energy, yet none approached Deung Jong-yu’s level.
After ascending roughly four stories, a middle-aged man in scholarly robes greeted them with a cupped-fist salute. Unlike the Jegal family members, he carried no distinctive aura of a martial artist. Instead, the refined air of a pure scholar flowed from him. Just as the man was about to speak, his eyes widened as though he had seen something he shouldn’t.
"Wait, you—why are you here…? Lord of the Thunder Dragon Unit, what is the meaning of this?"
"Our guest requested she accompany us. That’s acceptable, isn’t it?"
"Acceptable…? Haah, I shouldn’t have sent you. I should have sent the Lord of the Great Swamp Unit instead."
"Haha, don’t say such regrettable things. More importantly, where is the Lord? Shall I send them up right away?"
"That would be best, but… it can’t be helped. Please wait a moment, honored guest. I’ll inform the Lord…"
"That won’t be necessary."
The voice that descended from the ceiling resonated like the gentle sound of wind chimes. It was eogijeonseong—a voice transmission technique far more profound than ordinary sound transmission. The skill in removing secrecy to let the voice carry naturally was extraordinary.
"So it seems. Let us go up, then."
Deung Jong-yu offered a light salute to the head of the Upper Administration Hall before leading the group up the final staircase to the fifth floor. The party that followed him had grown from three to four: Namgung Woo, Paeng Ha-ryeong, the still-unnamed woman, and now the head of the Upper Administration Hall as well. The remaining four members of the Changcheon Squad had been sent off separately to complete their registration and secure lodging.
Only one person awaited them on the fifth floor: a monk clad in yellow robes with a red kasaya draped over them. His shaved head bore nine ritual marks upon the forehead. A man who had walked the martial world for decades yet remained undefeated. A man of the Shaolin who had never taken a life. The Murim Lord, the Venerable Gak-won, seemed to have melted into the space itself, like an ancient tree that had stood in one place for centuries.
"Lord, I have brought the guest."
"Amitabha. Come in, all of you."
Only when he spoke did Gak-won seem like a living human once more. Unlike Gwak Dan, who had lived at the heart of the secular world, or Paeng Hu-sang, who had devoted his entire being to family, or even the O-eum Demon Emperor who had trampled others for his own sake, this was the aura of one who had reached the pinnacle by following the teachings of religion. It was surprising that such a person hailed from Shaolin, a sect known for readily opening killing intent and staining hands with blood, yet even so, it was only natural that he stood more detached from worldly affairs than the previous three.
Everyone returned the greeting. Only Namgung Woo and Paeng Ha-ryeong added self-introductions; the other three were already acquainted with the Venerable Gak-won.
"Then I shall take my leave."
Having fulfilled his role, Deung Jong-yu descended from the fifth floor. Gak-won gestured for Namgung Woo to sit.
"Sit here. If you prefer sitting on the floor, say so."
"It’s fine. I’m comfortable with chairs."
Gak-won had already prepared tea according to the number of guests when he sent his voice from the fourth floor. He personally poured tea into the five cups on the table.
"It’s Maojian tea, grown in Xinyang. It’s considered a famous tea even in Henan."
"Thank you."
Accepting the cup, Namgung Woo glanced sideways before drinking and spoke.
"While we enjoy the tea you’ve provided, why don’t we resolve this young lady’s matter first?"
Gak-won showed no sign of discomfort, maintaining his serene expression. He was a peerless master and monk. His mental discipline was not so shallow as to be shaken by mere words.
"That would be best."
"Lord…"
The head of the Upper Administration Hall tried to speak, but Gak-won raised an open palm to stop him.
"So, Sol. Have you come to say the same thing as before?"
The woman called Sol shrank her shoulders slightly, as though the atmosphere weighed on her, yet she nodded vigorously.
"Yes. I understand the alliance wants to protect me, but if things stay like this, nothing will change."
"You understand this could be a dangerous decision, don’t you?"
"It’s fine. What I’m more afraid of are the people trying to use me."
"Amitabha… The karma of the righteous sects runs deep."
Paeng Ha-ryeong quickly sent a sound transmission to Namgung Woo, having caught something from the conversation.
[Gaga… could it be—]
[Not now. We’ll talk later.]
Namgung Woo cut her off cleanly, his gaze fixed on Gak-won. The Venerable was looking at the woman called Sol beside him, but Namgung Woo sensed that what he saw with his eyes was not all there was.
"Still, my answer must remain the same as before."
"Anyway… the Dokgo family…!"
"Sol."
At the head of the Upper Administration Hall’s call, Sol lowered her head.
"…I’m sorry."
"Let us discuss that matter again later. Head of the Upper Administration Hall, would you take Sol and step out for a moment?"
"Yes, Lord."
Once the two had left the fifth floor, Gak-won finally turned to Namgung Woo.
"It is as the letter from the Jegal family head stated."
"What did the Jegal family head say about me?"
Jegal Chong was one of the few who knew Namgung Woo’s true name. Yet Namgung Woo judged that Jegal Chong would not have mentioned it. He trusted him, and if Gak-won had known his real name, his reaction earlier would have been different. Namgung Woo’s prediction was correct. Jegal Chong had not revealed every detail about Namgung Woo. Instead, he had said only this: that the Lord might doubt him three times upon seeing him, yet everything was true.
"The first doubt, I understood the moment I saw you. At that age, that level of cultivation. My own training is still shallow, so I wondered for a moment how such a thing could be possible. Yet the Black Lotus Lord also rose as a peerless master at a similar age, so how could I doubt only you?"
The first doubt concerned Namgung Woo’s realm. Gak-won had not participated in the Great War of Good and Evil. At the time, Shaolin had been too occupied dealing with the aftermath of the Blood Cult calamity, which had nearly destroyed them, and had entered a thirty-year seclusion.
"I still cannot grasp the remaining two, but I suppose I will come to understand them in time."
Namgung Woo suspected he already knew at least one more. Paeng Ha-ryeong likely did as well. Instead of mentioning it, however, he asked again.
"May I ask why you sought me out?"
"Indeed. An old man should not steal too much of a young man’s time. You know the alliance meeting will be held."
"Yes."
"Separately from the summit of the righteous sects’ leadership, a martial tournament will also be held."
Of course. A martial tournament would never be absent from such an occasion. The forces attending the alliance meeting were bringing their younger generation precisely with the tournament in mind, hoping to build their reputations.
"I would like you to abstain from that tournament."