Chapter 93: Wuchang Martial Alliance Gathering (3)
Chapter 93: Wuchang Martial Alliance Gathering (3)
The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering is a meeting of young martial artists. It’s essentially a somewhat violent international youth competition where the promising rising stars of the Orthodox Faction socialize and test their martial prowess against one another.
This meant the average age of martial artists currently in Wuchang was quite low. For someone like me, who had mostly been a heartthrob for the elderly, this was a bit of a disadvantageous environment. Most people my age were strangely hostile toward me.
The proof of that appeared right before us. It hadn't even been five minutes since we sat down at the tea house.
"Lady Murong. I trust you have been well?"
"Yes, Young Master Shangguan. You look as gallant as ever."
"Haha, I’ve simply been keeping myself busy to ensure I don't grow soft."
Five boys around my age appeared, their entire auras screaming that they were the sons of prestigious families. I gave Murong Cheong a silent look, wordlessly asking who they were.
[They are the rising stars of the Gangnam Baekrim Association. From the right: Zhuge Yeon-seon, Shangguan Wook, Namgung Jeong-ha, Ak Seo-jin, and Huangfu Hyeon-seok.]
I could tell where they were from just by their surnames. If they were at a level to participate in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, they were either from the direct lineage or, at the very least, from highly influential branches of their families.
The Zhuge Family, Shangguan Family, Shandong Ak Family, Huangfu Family, and Namgung Family.
The Zhuge and Namgung families were part of the Five Great Clans. The Shandong Ak Family was a major sect currently trying to push out the Jinzhou Eon Family to enter the top tier of the Five Great Clans. The Huangfu Family was a traditional noble house said to be on par with the Five Great Clans.
The Shangguan Family, which led the largest merchant guild among the Gangnam merchants, was also a force to be reckoned with.
In other words, the future executives of the Gangnam Baekrim Association were currently standing right in front of me. For the record, the Gangnam Baekrim Association is the group that clashes most fiercely with our Hebei Dragon Slaying Alliance.
Shangguan Wook and Huangfu Hyeon-seok stepped forward and spoke.
"Lady Murong, please introduce the young master accompanying you."
"Since we’ve crossed paths like this, why don't we sit together? Now that you're in Wuchang, wouldn't it be better to enjoy Wuchang’s Red Lotus Liquor rather than sitting in a tea house?"
The look in their eyes was unusual. It was obvious they were interested in Murong Cheong.
Despite that, they didn't seem to realize that Murong Cheong preferred tea over alcohol, loathed taverns, and was an extreme racist with an allergy to Han Chinese men.
I’m telling you, you can't let appearances fool you. This is why adolescent boys are such a handful.
"This gentleman is a guest of our family. I personally owe him a great debt, so I invited him to the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering."
"If he has shown kindness to Lady Murong, then he is no stranger to us. Haha, Young Master, which sect do you hail from? Ah, right. How rude of me. I am Shangguan Wook. My peers refer to me by the undeserved title of the Lightning Flash Sword."
"…Do people usually say that with their own mouths?"
"…? What did you just say, Young Master…?"
"Ah, my apologies. I meant to keep that as a thought."
It was so cringeworthy that my internal monologue accidentally slipped out.
I mean, who says their own title with their own mouth? The self-promotion is just too much.
Shangguan Wook’s face flushed red at my words, but he quickly composed himself and laughed.
"Haha, you are quite a blunt person."
"He might have a reason for not being able to reveal his sect. Brother Shangguan, please understand," the Huangfu guy standing next to him said with a smirk.
This was generally considered an insult. In this era of China, it was standard to introduce oneself as 'I am YY of the XX Sect!' Not revealing one's sect first implied that there was something shady about it or that it was so humble it was embarrassing to mention.
I fell into the former category. If I shouted, 'Hyeon-hwi of the Peng Family is here!' the story might end with 'It is said he was once here…'
Murong Cheong would protect me, of course, but to these hot-blooded men in their early twenties—men who had spent their lives practicing the blade and ruled as overlords of their regions—the fame of slaying a direct descendant of the Peng Family might be more tempting than Murong Cheong’s protection.
Wait, but excluding the Namgung guy, I can pretty much gauge their level. Is it really right to hold back?
As I fell into thought, Murong Cheong tapped the top of my foot with her toe under the table.
[Endure it. I will handle this.]
After sending that sound transmission, she spoke with a hardened expression.
"Such rudeness toward a guest of the Murong Family? You weren't even invited to this table in the first place. Is this the etiquette of Gangnam? Young Master Zhuge, did you bring them here?"
"T-That…! That’s not it, Lady Murong. You misunderstand."
"Then please leave. The Young Master and I are simply trying to rest for a moment, as we haven't recovered from the fatigue of our long journey."
The young man named Zhuge Yeon-seon was flustered by Murong Cheong’s sharp reaction. Seeing this, Shangguan Wook gave a short laugh.
"Even if the marriage talk was called off, weren't you once promised to each other? Lady Murong, why are you being so cold to Brother Zhuge?"
"Shangguan Wook. You are overstepping."
"Overstepping? Haha. To take up with a new man after the marriage talk was canceled…"
As he said that, he scanned me from head to toe with blatant mockery.
"To travel all the way to Wuchang alone with a man like that… I heard the customs of Liaoning were open-minded, but this is a bit much…"
"You are currently insulting both my family and our guest. Do you think the name of the Shangguan Family can handle the weight of this insolence?"
Murong Cheong was more indignant than I’d ever seen her. I scanned the atmosphere of the group and couldn't hold back a sigh.
So, this Zhuge Yeon-seon fellow was the one who had marriage talks with Murong Cheong, and it sounds like the Murong Family unilaterally called it off. Zhuge Yeon-seon clearly still has feelings for her.
And that brute Shangguan Wook seems to dislike both me and Murong Cheong. He was acting like the leader of this pack.
I heard the head of the Gangnam Baekrim Association was the Namgung Family, but the guy named Namgung Jeong-ha was keeping his mouth shut, not intervening in Shangguan Wook’s behavior, and just staring at me.
Okay, I get it. I see your level.
"Peng Hyeon-hwi."
[You…!!]
"What?"
When I blurted it out, Murong Cheong turned pale and started bombarding me with sound transmissions. Ignoring her, I continued.
"I am Peng Hyeon-hwi. I am the direct grandson of the Blade Emperor and Bloodhound Asura, Peng Ik-jin, one of the Three Venerables of the World. And the Mad Blood Saber Demon, Peng Wi-cheon, is my father. I don't have a title worth introducing myself with like you, but—"
"The Beheading Blood Wolf?!"
"No."
Just how far has that name spread?
Ah.
Let’s just do a reset. I’ve come all the way to the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering; someone give me a cooler nickname.
"Beheading Blood Wolf Peng Hyeon-hwi…? Of the Hebei Peng Family?"
"How dare you show your face here!"
"Lady Murong, doesn't this require an explanation? To accompany a villain of the Peng Family to Wuchang?"
The medieval Chinese bullies all started shouting at once. Shangguan Wook furrowed his brows fiercely, and Huangfu Hyeon-seok clenched his fists and began yelling at me.
On the other hand, Ak Seo-jin and Namgung Jeong-ha took a few steps back, seemingly intending to remain bystanders. This was quite interesting.
‘If it’s the Shandong Ak Family, I can understand since they supposedly made a secret pact to cooperate with the Murong Family to push out the Jinzhou Eon Family. But why the Namgung Family?’
The Namgung Family were the ones who reigned as the reapers of the Northern Black Path and Unorthodox sects. In this uncivilized medieval China where the Geneva Convention didn't exist, the treatment of prisoners of war was horrific. The Namgung Family, in particular, maintained a policy of not taking any Unorthodox martial artists prisoner, even if they were neutralized.
Those guys were lunatics who would stab anyone from the Black Path first, whether they were armed or not. They had a 'no compromise with terrorists' mindset.
I couldn't fathom why a direct descendant of such a family wasn't showing any hostility toward me.
"Say something!"
But then again, that wasn't the important part.
"You asked for my name and sect, so I answered in your fashion. I came here at the invitation of the Murong Family, and I have no reason to ask for your permission regarding my whereabouts. Is there anything else you want to hear?"
"What? Where do you get the nerve—"
"Or."
I tapped the table with my left hand. While I had pulled back for a moment, I had already slipped my gauntlets out from my sleeves and into my grip.
"Shall we speak in our fashion?"
"Do you dare to threaten me in front of the Martial Alliance Gathering?"
"You're the ones doing the threatening. Hah, what am I going to do with you? You guys act like you've never even learned to read."
Tap. I tapped with a bit of force, and a crack split across the wooden table. I stood up, giving a short nod to Murong Cheong, who was about to bolt upright.
"Come outside. I actually quite like this tea house, and I'd rather not cause a scene inside."
Disciples of the Hao Clan generally don't like fighting in tea houses, taverns, or inns run by commoners. These are people working hard to make a living; it’s too guilt-inducing to smash their furniture during a brawl.
At my words, Shangguan Wook’s expression contorted. As I strode outside, Zhuge Yeon-seon spoke to Murong Cheong, who was trying to follow me.
"Lady Murong, could you spare a moment to speak with me?"
"I have nothing to say to you."
"I do. It will only take a moment, so please give me some of your time."
At those words, Murong Cheong looked at me, and I gave her a smile. Sure, she might have something to say to her ex-fiancé. Considering Hwa-yeong’s case, I should give Zhuge Yeon-seon bonus points for not trying to kidnap her the moment he heard the engagement was off.
As I headed toward the tea house entrance, an urgent sound transmission pierced my ear.
[What are you thinking?! You agreed to stay quiet until my uncle finished his business with the Martial Alliance Gathering!]
Well, I wanted to do that too.
But the world just won't leave me in peace.
And the Peng Family isn't very good at that sort of thing anyway.
Enduring. Staying quiet. Waiting patiently.
Maybe it's because I come from a family that always spams the 'Then Die' button whenever they feel slighted. Maybe that bloodline remains intact within me.
Or.
‘They can't kill me right away anyway.’
No matter how much they've lost their minds, this was Wuchang—the front yard of the Martial Alliance.
No matter how great the Shangguan Family was, the Martial Alliance was fundamentally a group where the influence of the Nine Great Sects and One Alliance was greater than that of the Great Clans. If a commotion broke out, they would have to answer to the Nine Great Sects.
Since the Elder Beggar Immortal of the Beggars' Sect had personally come to see me, it meant he wouldn't let me be summarily executed, no matter what happened.
As long as the Namgung guy stayed out of it, I could handle the rest of them even if they attacked at once.
And most decisively.
‘It’s really tingling.’
Even at this very moment.
A gaze was sticking to the back of my head, thick and heavy.
I didn't know from where or who was watching, but there was someone who wasn't even trying to hide their aura as a peerless master, focusing their presence entirely on me.
The one who noticed that here was…
‘Is it just that guy from the Namgung direct line?’
Namgung Jeong-ha, who had been keeping his mouth shut since earlier. He seemed to be the only one.
To put it the other way, these two—Shangguan Wook and Huangfu Hyeon-seok—who were currently baring their teeth at me with faces full of rage, were not on my level.
"Will it be a duel or a life-and-death match?"
I rested my hand on the hilt of my blade, slung over my shoulder.
I stood with my left leg casually forward, leaning on one hip.
I acted slovenly, like a bandit out to collect a debt.
"A life-and-death match? Do you say that because you're confident you'll walk away alive?"
"My family doesn't think about things like that."
I spoke as I watched Shangguan Wook draw his sword.
"And honestly. I don't think I'd lose even if there were three of you."
What a fantastic stage for a debut.
*
"Sword Immortal, what are you looking at so intently?"
"I thought an old friend had returned."
"Pardon?"
The boy toyed with a Go stone, resting his chin on his hand as he smiled.
"They look so much alike I almost made a mistake. Indeed, bloodlines cannot be hidden."
"Then shall we say I won this match?"
"Now, now, you rascal. We haven't even started yet."
"I'm winning by five points, though…"
The boy glanced at the Go board and blew a soft breath.
The Go board, where black and white stones were intertwined, shook violently, and the stones scattered and mixed together.
"Again! You're doing that childish thing again! Sword Immortal, please maintain your dignity!"
"At my age, dignity is something maintained just by breathing."
The boy chuckled and gestured. The window of the pavilion opened on its own, and he walked out as if taking a stroll, his hands tucked behind his back.
One of the Three Venerables of the World.
The Supreme Patriarch of the Jongnam Sect.
Sword Immortal Cheongunja, Jang Yun.
He moved his steps while looking at the young man who looked exactly like his nemesis from the distant past.
With an appearance unchanged from those days, with a sensation as if he had returned to those good old times.
Like a mountain immortal who perceives the world as if it were a dream.