Chapter 94: Wuchang Martial Alliance Gathering (4)
Chapter 94: Wuchang Martial Alliance Gathering (4)
Murong Cheong bit her lip as she watched Peng Hyeon-hwi’s back as he strode out of the tea house.
Again, it’s my fault.
Eyes had been drawn to them because of her unnecessarily loud title, the 'Flower of the Martial World.' The young experts of the Jiangnan White Forest Association had followed them because of the useless fact that marriage talks had once been exchanged between her and the Zhuge Family.
Peng Hyeon-hwi’s name should not have been revealed here. Not until his safety could be guaranteed—perhaps after the issue with the Fist King’s family, the Jinju Eon Family, was resolved.
If her uncle had personally raised this matter as an agenda for the Martial Alliance Gathering and a conclusion had been reached, he might have been safe. The Jinju Eon Family was located in Hebei, and to designate them as Public Enemies of the Martial World and move against them, consultation with the Dragon Slaying Alliance would have been mandatory.
Peng Hyeon-hwi’s position was essentially that of a goodwill envoy between the Dragon Slaying Alliance and the Martial Alliance following the last Righteous-Demonic War. After that, it wouldn't have been difficult for him to participate directly in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
But not now. The notoriety of the Hebei Peng Family was absolute among the Orthodox Faction. If the Blood Cult was the group among the Three Evils Beyond the Great Wall that had inflicted the most damage on the Orthodox Faction, then within the Central Plains, it was the Hebei Peng Family.
The family that had burned down the Shaolin Temple.
The family that had nearly annihilated the martial world of Shanxi and descended upon Shaanxi to grind down and consume half of the martial artists of the Mount Hua and Jongnam Sects of that generation.
The family that had driven out every Orthodox sect in the Hebei region and cultivated it into a home for the Black Path and Unorthodox Factions.
Considering the deep-seated grudges of the martial world, and the fact that it had been less than a hundred years since the Righteous-Demonic War, there were simply too many people harboring resentment.
In the midst of all this, he had been dragged into trouble because of her, revealed his name to protect her honor, and stepped forward to take responsibility.
Straight into the most precarious of dangers.
This situation... was something she could feel even more deeply because she was the one who had entered Tianjin alone.
It was twice as dangerous for a direct descendant of the Peng Family to stand alone in the front yard of the Orthodox Martial Alliance Gathering than it was for an Orthodox martial artist to go alone to Tianjin, where the headquarters of the Hebei Dragon Slaying Alliance was located.
As long as those men claimed to represent the Orthodox Faction, they wouldn't immediately trade lethal blows. However, if he were neutralized now, there was a high possibility they would shatter his Dantian or sever his meridians to turn him into a cripple.
She had to stop him. She had to protect him. Just as he had done for her until now.
"…Lady Murong? Lady Murong!"
"Ah, yes. Please, speak."
Murong Cheong, who had been caught in a spiral of self-reproach, turned her head. Seeing her like that, Zhuge Jeong-yeong wore a face overcome with a sense of defeat.
Because Murong Cheong was focusing all her attention on another man, wearing an expression he had never seen before in his life.
And for such a vulgar, filthy-looking man. A reckless ruffian of the Unorthodox Faction.
"…He is not someone who suits you, My Lady."
"That is offensive. You have no right to judge my person, Young Master Zhuge."
"Our… our marriage talks…."
"Enough."
Murong Cheong’s expression turned icy. She stole one last glance in the direction Peng Hyeon-hwi had disappeared. Right, at this distance… he might not have heard.
No, he probably found out because of what Sang-gwan Wook said earlier.
Still, even so, she didn't want him to find out. At least, not Peng Hyeon-hwi.
Fluent Han Chinese flowed from her lips.
"I would appreciate it if you never spoke of those broken marriage talks again. You are trampling upon my pure honor, Young Master Zhuge."
As it was for anyone, the label of a broken engagement was hardly welcome for a precious daughter of marriageable age. Even if it was a match made in their youth and she was the one who had broken it.
"Please… please reconsider just once more, Lady Murong. I, I did not intend to pursue the marriage for the reasons you think…."
"I know. And I have no intention of doing so."
"My Lady."
"The Zhuge Family must have taken my family too lightly. Even if the marriage talks with me had continued, you would not have been able to take over the Murong Family. I have a grown brother, and I plan to leave the family soon to continue my journey through the martial world."
"I wish… I wish to be by your side during that journey."
"You are the Young Head of the Zhuge Family. How can you say something so irresponsible?"
Zhuge Jeong-yeong’s face contorted. Murong Cheong didn't feel even a shred of pity at the sight.
The Zhuge Family had once attempted to seize the Murong Family while pushing for the marriage. That was about ten years ago.
Back then, when the Hebei Dragon Slaying Alliance declared war on the White Lotus Cult and the entire Hebei region was in turmoil both inside and out.
The Zhuge Family took advantage of the situation to seek an alliance between the Orthodox sects of Jiangnan and the Murong Family of Liaoning. Marriage talks between the two families were exchanged as a means to that end, and for a while, the matter seemed to be progressing smoothly.
It would have stayed that way, if not for the words a servant had whispered to the young Zhuge Jeong-yeong back then.
—The one who will one day become the master of the Murong Family.
It might have been youthful arrogance, or flattery intended to boost his ego. However, Murong Cheong was far too intelligent a child to let that short sentence slip by.
She informed her family of the matter, and the Family Head was not so closed-minded as to ignore her words just because she was a child. After spying on the Zhuge Family, it didn't take long to discover their true objective.
The Murong Family followed a tradition closer to Northern tribal culture than Han Chinese culture. They were more like a confederation of numerous clans in the North, and because of that, there was no issue with a woman inheriting the right of succession.
By the natural order of things, Murong Cheong was supposed to become the next Family Head. The Zhuge Family had targeted this and sent their eldest son. If they could get their hands on the immense interests of the Liaoning Maritime Fleet, it wouldn't be a pipe dream to become the Greatest Family Under Heaven.
With a significant portion of Jiangnan’s vast commercial sphere already in the Zhuge Family’s grasp, the Murong Family’s maritime fleet would provide enormous power. That must have been their plan.
"If that is all you have to say, I must take my leave. I am worried that my friend might suffer hardships in a strange land."
"He is, he is a man of the Peng Family. With you, he could never—"
"At the very least."
Murong Cheong stood up, cutting Zhuge Jeong-yeong off.
"At the very least, he expects nothing from me and has risked his life without asking for anything in return. Could you do the same, Young Master?"
"…."
"Han Chinese people," Murong Cheong muttered briefly and opened the door of the tea house. After gripping the handle and clearing her throat a few times, she shouted to Peng Hyeon-hwi in her awkward Han Chinese again.
"Why are you not listening to me! Stop this reckless and rude behavior typical of the Han people this instant!"
*
"Who’s coming first?"
"Where on earth do you think you are? You are standing before the Orthodox Martial Alliance Gathering. Do you not know what kind of grudges our comrades of the martial world hold against your family?"
"So you’re planning to gang up on me? How very 'Orthodox' of you."
"You bastard…!"
Sang-gwan Wook’s face contorted instantly. Yet, despite his words, he didn't step forward himself.
Inside, he might have blustered because he was in front of Murong Cheong and his friends from the Jiangnan White Forest Association, but now that blades were drawn, it was a different story.
It was only natural.
After all.
"It seems your courage only appears when your friends are around. With a liver that small, how do you expect to make a living by the sword?"
"I won't let you die easily."
"I wanted to ask you something. You, Sang-gwan Wook. I don't know you, but you knew my alias. If so, don't you also know why I was given that alias?"
I’ve never been fond of the title 'Beheading Blood Wolf.' As a scholar who learned to read and write, such a name is nothing more or less than a disgrace.
But even so, if there was a reason such an alias was attached to me…
"Are you stronger than the head of the Divine Spear Yang Family?"
In Shanxi, in the heart of the Orthodox martial world, I had fought a life-and-death duel with the head of the Yang Family.
And I had returned to my family after beheading the Peerless Spear, Yang Jeok-yo.
I don't know what kind of rumors the Beggars' Sect members in Shanxi spread about that process, but the fact itself doesn't change. In other words, from that point on, I had already surpassed the level of bickering within the ranks of the rising stars.
Not just in terms of martial prowess, but at the very least, in terms of reputation.
"…I heard you had the help of the Hao Clan Leader. Just like you Black Path bastards always do, through cowardice."
"If that’s what you believe, then come. I’ll prove it to you."
I slung my blade over my shoulder and looked around with a smile. Before I knew it, a large crowd had gathered, surrounding us in a circle to watch.
Sang-gwan Wook was likely among the fairly famous rising stars, and there were few among the young experts at the Martial Alliance Gathering who wouldn't recognize the faces of those present.
Especially since the Young Head of the Namgung Family was among them.
With such people engaging in a duel on a main road in broad daylight, it was only natural for the audience to grow. There wasn't much entertainment around, and Wuchang was like a cradle for martial artists.
The whispering grew louder. The number of people pointing at me and guessing my identity increased sharply.
It would be a lie to say I wasn't nervous. Unlike before, there was no way to escape from here.
And.
The Hebei Peng Family does not learn how to run.
"I am Peng Hyeon-hwi!"
I shouted toward the crowd. I really should have planted the family banner firmly here, but unfortunately, I didn't have time to grab it when Eon Do-cheon sent our family cruise to the bottom of the canal.
As soon as this is over, I’ll have to ask Murong Cheong to make a new one.
"I am Peng Hyeon-hwi of the Sanwol Pavilion, of the Great Hebei Peng Family! I have come here staking the name of the Peng Family, and I have visited the Martial Alliance Gathering as an envoy of the Black Path Demonic Alliance! Sang-gwan Wook, if you wish, I will let you decide right here. Shall we make this a spar, or a life-and-death duel?"
At my words, the commotion among the crowd intensified. Some even radiated killing intent, while others quickly ran off somewhere. Most of the rest remained, staring at Sang-gwan Wook and me.
Sang-gwan Wook’s face turned pale. Now that this was happening in broad daylight, there was no way to avoid it. He gritted his teeth and, looking at my blade, spoke with difficulty.
"Life… life-and-death…."
"It is not auspicious for juniors to shed blood unnecessarily in this place."
Having the stage set like this, he couldn't have given any answer other than a life-and-death duel. Just as Sang-gwan Wook was about to speak, someone standing on the roof of the tea house interrupted him.
The crowd’s gaze shifted there. I also looked up at him.
I saw a boy smiling faintly.
"It is also too early for a spar. The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering is coming soon; would it not be better to display your spirit there?"
"…The Sword Immortal…?!"
"Elder Sword Immortal…!"
No.
Wait, what?
"So, child of the Sang-gwan family, withdraw from this place. I promise I will surely arrange a place for you to seek your revenge."
"I-if that is the will of the Elder Sword Immortal, I, Sang-gwan, shall gladly do so."
Sang-gwan Wook bowed repeatedly and retreated, along with his friends from the Jiangnan White Forest Association.
The boy, after glancing at them, now looked at me and spoke.
"And, child of the Peng Family."
"Uh, yes. Yes."
"Let us have a cup of tea."
As the boy gestured, the door of the tea house slid open on its own.
Murong Cheong, who had been standing between me and the boy before I knew it, began to tremble and collapsed as soon as she met the boy’s gaze.
Hey, if you’re going to do that, why were you blocking the way?
As I grabbed Murong Cheong’s shoulders to support her, the corners of the boy’s eyes curved softly.
"To think I’d live to see such a sight. One truly has to live a long time."
With those words, the boy hopped down and entered the tea house, then suddenly looked around and said, "Be on your way, everyone."
The crowd slunk away and dispersed, not daring to say a word.
Supporting Murong Cheong, I looked inside the tea house. I felt like a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse.
"L-let go of me. You lewd Han Chinese man."
"Hey, hey, if you go anywhere, I’m dead. Please save Peng Hyeon-hwi."
"…? Why would you die?"
"That guy, he’s… um. Ahem."
Is it okay to refer to the Sword Immortal as 'that guy'?
Damn, I should have learned Sound Transmission.
I quickly tried to write on Murong Cheong’s shoulder with my fingertip.
"…!! Y-you still haven't mastered Sound Transmission?!"
—Shh.
"I told you it tickles! What kind of nonsense are you doing to a lady in broad daylight—!"
—No. If you leave, I’m seriously dead.
At my words, Murong Cheong narrowed her eyes and sent a Sound Transmission.
[What on earth are you talking about?]
—That’s the Sword Immortal. The Supreme Elder of the Jongnam Sect.
[And?]
—Do you happen to know the history of how my great-grandfather was sliced and diced by that gentleman?
[Enough! Stop tickling me! If the Sword Immortal wanted to execute you, he could have done so the moment he appeared!]
"The girl is right."
"Wait."
He’s eavesdropping?
How do you even eavesdrop on Sound Transmission!
Is the Martial World Data Privacy Act okay as it is?
"So stop your useless worrying and come in. If you are still out there by the time I finish this tea, I shall do as you wish."
"It seems the time has come for me to show off one of the many skills I, Peng, have mastered. Elder Sword Immortal, I happen to be exceptionally good at brewing tea!"
Ignoring Murong Cheong’s pathetic look, I walked into the tea house with a dignified bow.