Clear Skies Over Chengdu
The Murim Alliance's Sichuan Branch.
Dang—! Dang—!
"Emergency! Emergeeeency—!!!"
The sudden arrival of an uninvited guest forced everyone—branch leader included—to rush toward the main gate.
A moment later.
"I don't know who came up with it first, but they did an excellent job."
"...What do you mean?"
"Gwang-gongja. It really suits me perfectly!"
"Haha... Yes, it suits you well..."
"It probably carries several meanings, right?"
"No, I think there's only one..."
"Oh come on. How could there be only one? I know you're busy with work, but you should read a book once in a while. Tsk tsk..."
"...Cough...!"
"Oh dear, have you caught a cold? Even with nice weather, you should bundle up properly at night..."
"......"
"Anyway, I'm sure it was meant to mean not just 'light' (光), but also 'correct' (匡) and 'broad' (廣)!"
"I feel like the most important one is missing...?"
"Oh~ You don't have to flatter me that much. This is already plenty!"
"......"
Moyong Jin, the Sichuan Branch Leader of the Murim Alliance, was barely holding back the qi deviation surging through him.
Yet the madman before him paid no heed to his desperate plight and kept talking.
"Anyway. Sigh... You really have it rough, Branch Leader."
"Yes, and whose fault is that..."
"Right? The so-called orthodox sects of Sichuan don't appreciate all your hard work—they just keep causing trouble!"
"...Huu...! Huu...!"
"Aigoo, just thinking about it makes you furious. Of course it does."
"...What does?"
"Even though you kindly explained everything, those idiots still came looking for me, begging to get their heads smashed, didn't they?"
"...Yes, that's true..."
"Sigh... Out of consideration for you, I only finished off three of them."
"......"
Moyong Jin squeezed his eyes shut.
If you truly care about me, please just shut your mouth...
He wanted to shout it right then and there.
But Do Gwang's heartfelt wish went unfulfilled.
Instead, the madman only fanned the flames of his inner demons further.
"How can I be this kind? I don't know how I held back! I mean, smashing all their heads!"
"......"
"This is going to make me feel guilty toward Paedo Sect..."
"...Paedo? You mean the Paedo Sect Leader?"
"Yes, exactly! They've been providing me room and board, and here I am only siding with the orthodox side. It feels unbalanced!"
"...The balance in Chengdu was already ruined because of you..."
"Right? But what can I do? I can't exactly fight the Murim Alliance folks who are struggling every day to force the balance back into place, can I?"
Do Gwang spun his steel bat lightly, smiling brightly.
"Cough...! Cough...!"
Not only Moyong Jin, but also Gwak Byeok and the other Murim Alliance warriors behind him turned deathly pale.
"Listen, Gwang-gongja. The orthodox side already had the Tang family smashed to pieces..."
"Ah, that's true. Then maybe I should smash the Paedo Sect kids' heads next...? But we've stayed together, and they're not the type to bully the weak like those Tang bastards. They're just a bit too obsessed with sabers. The kids are nicer than the Tang lot."
"Haha... Is that so..."
Moyong Jin had reached a state of enlightenment.
If he exchanged a few more words with this madman, he might actually ascend to immortality.
Fortunately, that did not happen.
"Sigh... I'd love to chat more, but I should get going now."
Do Gwang shook his head and prepared to leave.
"Then I'll be off. Kids, let's go."
"Okay! Dad!"
"Yes, Young Master."
Do Hwa and Dang Soryeong immediately followed behind him.
Throughout the entire conversation, those two madwomen had only added to Moyong Jin's torment.
— Kyahaha~
— Hehe...
Giggling in that unsettling way.
So, the proper thing would have been to smile and see them off with a fervent wish that they leave as quickly as possible.
Yet Moyong Jin had no choice but to stop Do Gwang.
"Listen, Gwang-gongja. No, Do Gwang...?"
"Oh, it's a shame, but don't hold me back. I'm planning to leave Chengdu now. I just stopped by to say goodbye."
"R-Really!?"
"Yes. I've seen everything worth seeing, and it feels awkward to keep imposing on the Paedo Sect."
"Yes, that's right!"
Moyong Jin's expression brightened instantly.
Gwak Byeok and the other warriors' faces lit up as well.
The madman was finally leaving!
It was such a monumental occasion that they felt like throwing a grand feast that very night.
But Moyong Jin could not simply let Do Gwang go like this.
Because—
"By the way, Do Gwang. That thing on your shoulder... You're not planning to put that young man down?"
Just as Moyong Jin said, an unconscious young man was dangling limply from Do Gwang's shoulder like a sack of rice.
"Ah, you mean U Gyeong?"
"...Cough...! So you were acquainted with Qingfeng Parang?"
"Yes. U Gyeong might not know me, but I know him very well."
"...That's not usually how one describes an acquaintance..."
"It's fine. I know him that well."
"...Cough...! Very well. Setting that aside... You're not seriously planning to leave Chengdu with him like that, are you?"
"?"
"?"
"???"
"???"
They tilted their heads at each other several times.
Do Gwang tilted his head once more and asked first.
"Why?"
"What do you mean, why...?"
"Our U Gyeong is sleeping so soundly. We can't wake him up, can we?"
"All I see is someone who's lost consciousness..."
"Oh, you just don't understand, Branch Leader. Thanks to those Qingcheng old fogies, he's been through so much. He's just exhausted and sleeping deeply right now."
"Haha... Is that so...?"
"Of course! And he's got no sense of loyalty either. I saved his life, yet those Qingcheng bastards abandoned him and ran off to save themselves!"
"Haha..."
Moyong Jin was at a loss for words.
The madman was spouting nonsense, but the Qingcheng Sect was truly pathetic as well.
Abandoning their most promising disciple—their sect's hope and future—and leaving him with this madman, of all people.
"...So you're saying you'll kidnap... I mean, take Qingfeng Parang with you?"
"Yes, of course. I want to make sure U Gyeong lives a happy life this time around."
"This time around... Haha..."
He had no idea what that meant, but Moyong Jin was certain the young man would never be happy on that shoulder.
"Did you at least ask for Qingfeng Parang's opinion?"
"Oh, of course."
"What did he say...? Did he agree?"
"No?"
"...?"
"It's obvious even without asking. That wretched place—he's only there because of his grandfather. Why would he want to stay? I have to help him escape!"
"Cough... Cough...!"
"Aigoo, your cold must be bad, Branch Leader. You should go inside. I'll really be going now."
"Wait, Do Gwang?"
"Yes?"
"I'm not anyone important, and we've only just met, so asking this feels awkward, but..."
Moyong Jin broke into a cold sweat as he carefully opened his mouth.
"For my sake, couldn't you return Qingfeng Parang...?"
"You want U Gyeong?"
"Yes. Taking him with you will cause all sorts of problems... Of course, I know you don't care about such things, you crazy... I mean, person."
"Hmm..."
Do Gwang pretended to ponder for a moment, then—
Grin—
Smiled brightly and spoke.
"So even you, Branch Leader, are tempted by U Gyeong."
"W-What...?"
"With his talent and ability, it's only natural."
"No, that's not what I—!"
I was trying to send him back to Qingcheng!
Before Moyong Jin could get the words out, Do Gwang continued.
"But are you sure? The Qingcheng old fogies will protest fiercely."
"No, I—!"
"Right? It'd be tough, wouldn't it? That's why I'm taking him with me."
"...Ugh...!"
Thud—
Overloaded, Moyong Jin clutched the back of his neck and collapsed.
"Aigoo... Our Branch Leader collapsed from overwork. Hey, Gwak Byeok, what are you doing? Hurry and take him inside."
"It's not overwork—it's because of you!!!"
Finally unable to hold back, Moyong Jin shouted.
But the madman misinterpreted his indignant cry once again.
"Aigoo... Yes, the Sichuan Branch really lacks talent. That's why they missed the chance to recruit such a promising youth."
"Cough... Yes, yes... Since everything you say is correct, just put Qingfeng Parang down now...!"
"Hmm...."
Do Gwang stared at U Gyeong dangling from his shoulder, deep in thought.
In the game, U Gyeong had always met a bad ending.
This time, Do Gwang had wanted to give him a path of flowers instead of hardship, but Moyong Jin was begging so desperately to recruit him that it was very troublesome.
Just then—
"Dad!"
Do Hwa tugged insistently at Do Gwang's sleeve.
"Can't you just give that to Grandpa?"
"U Gyeong?"
"Yeah! He looks like he really wants him!"
Do Hwa pointed her small hand brightly at the seated Moyong Jin.
The Sichuan Branch Leader, singled out, tried to let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.
But before he could—
"Hehe... What are you doing? Nod your head quickly. This is your only chance to get him back."
Dang Soryeong's creepy whisper from somewhere nearby snapped him back to his senses.
"Yes, the child is right! Please give him to me!"
Moyong Jin shouted with an "I don't care anymore" attitude.
Do Gwang let out a reluctant sigh.
"Sigh... My heart is just too soft for my own good..."
Do Gwang genuinely lamented his own weakness.
As expected of a polite modern person, he couldn't help it.
When an elder begged so earnestly, his heart had no choice but to soften.
Well... As long as it's not Qingcheng, U Gyeong probably won't meet a dead end.
Unlike the Qingcheng idiots, Moyong Jin was a decent person, so it should be fine to entrust him.
But he couldn't just hand U Gyeong over like that.
That would mean giving up on traveling the martial world together with U Gyeong.
"Then will you grant me one request in return?"
"A request...?"
Moyong Jin squeezed his trembling eyes shut.
There was no way the madman's request would be normal, so he couldn't easily agree.
In the end, however, he had no choice but to accept the madman's request with a heart bleeding for the pitiful promising disciple.
###
"...Branch Leader, have you lost your mind?"
"Listen, Gwak Byeok... No matter what, I'm still your superior..."
"No, Branch Leader, no matter what, how could you give that to Gwang-gongja!?"
"We can't sacrifice a bright young man's future to a madman, can we...?"
"Then you're planning to sacrifice all the other young people instead!?"
Gwak Byeok raged, veins bulging on his neck.
"Don't you know the saying 'penny wise, pound foolish'? Because of your complacent judgment, all the orthodox promising disciples are going to get their heads smashed!"
The reason he was shouting himself hoarse was precisely because—
"Why did you write a recommendation letter for the Yongbong Gathering for that madman!? Have you completely lost it?"
Moyong Jin had written a recommendation letter for Do Gwang.
And under the name of the Sichuan Branch Leader, no less.
The Yongbong Gathering.
A martial arts tournament hosted by the Murim Alliance and other orthodox factions, mainly for young promising disciples.
The participation requirement was, of course, affiliation with an orthodox sect or family.
If not, one needed a recommendation letter from a high-ranking orthodox figure who could vouch for one's identity.
That very recommendation letter—
"Why did you just write it for that madman!?"
Because Moyong Jin had handed it over so readily, Gwak Byeok had no choice but to explode.
"No matter how promising Qingfeng Parang is, unlike this rotten Sichuan, the Central Plains has far more promising disciples!"
"...Listen, Gwak Byeok."
Moyong Jin closed his eyes and spoke quietly.
"Shut your mouth."
"What...?"
"I said shut your mouth."
"......"
Gwak Byeok could only doubt his own ears.
Shut your mouth?
Not only had he written the recommendation for the madman—
He was now copying the madman's favorite phrase!
To the horrified Gwak Byeok—
"Shut your mouth."
Moyong Jin repeated firmly.
"Do you think I wrote it because I wanted to?"
He gazed wistfully toward the main gate where Do Gwang's group had disappeared and continued.
"If I hadn't written the recommendation..."
— Ah, is that so? Then I guess it can't be helped.
— I'll have to ask the Qingcheng or Emei Sects to write one instead.
— Ah, but going all the way there is a hassle. Maybe the Tang family? Their patriarch would probably write one right away.
"...Either two of the Nine Great Sects would be forced to close their doors, or the Sichuan Tang Family patriarch would die of rage."
Moyong Jin shook his head vigorously to erase the image of the brightly smiling demon child from his mind.
Then he looked at the pitiful young man who still hadn't regained consciousness and continued.
"We have to save at least this one child, don't we...?"
"......"
Gwak Byeok followed Moyong Jin's gaze to U Gyeong.
His eyes trembled with sorrow as well.
The other warriors behind them felt the same.
Because—
Though he was clearly unconscious—
Twitch—!
Shiver—!
U Gyeong was convulsing like a freshly caught fish, looking utterly pitiful.
"Yes, I was wrong. We should at least save this poor young man."
"Yes. We must save at least one."
Moyong Jin gestured for the warriors to take care of U Gyeong and continued.
"That madman said he wouldn't participate himself."
"T-That's true..."
Gwak Byeok nodded.
But his expression remained grim.
Because if the madman himself didn't participate—
— Kyahaha~~
Swish—! Swish—!
— Hehe...
Stab—! Stab—!!!
Then the other madwomen tagging along beside him would be the ones participating instead.
Reading his thoughts, Moyong Jin cleared his throat and added,
"Ahem...! Still, at least their heads won't get smashed or their bodies chopped into pieces. Even if some parts get cut off or severed, as long as their heads stay attached, the King of Medicine will find a way to save them...."
"After that, the Baili Family will send an enormous bill to the Murim Alliance."
"Yes. And then the Alliance Leader will draw his sword and come looking for me. So, Gwak Byeok...?"
"I refuse."
"No, listen to the end of what I'm saying."
"Shut your mouth."
"...What?"
"Ah, my apologies. The words slipped out. I thought you might say something ridiculous like making me take your position."
"......"
"......"
Once again, the two men stared at each other in silence.
Then—
As if by unspoken agreement, they both looked up blankly at the sky.
"......"
"......"
The sky over Chengdu was dazzlingly clear.
Utterly unlike their pitch-black, burning hearts.