Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Translator: Penny
Chapter 43
My banquet had begun (1)
The banquet was held at the Yang Association, in the very same Main Hall where I had previously convened the sect leaders of Shandong.
I arrived long before the banquet was scheduled to begin.
In the room adjacent to the sleeping quarters, I met Jeong Yeo. Showing him the Iron Plaque I had received during my previous visit to the Mask ensured my safe passage through the Main Hall Door.
"Does he have a safe?"
"Yes, there's a secret safe in his sleeping quarters."
"Is it opened by a mechanism?"
"Yes. You need to enter the correct numbers on the abacus beside it. If you enter the wrong numbers three times in a row, it won't open for a full day. Then, a mechanical expert must come to open it."
"He must have changed the numbers."
"Yes, he asked for the original combination, and I gave it to him. He would have changed it immediately."
"What's the size of the safe?"
"It's a safe fixed to the wall. If you're asking if it can be moved, that's absolutely impossible. The steel is too thick to cut through with Sword Aura, and any attempt to force it open will trigger an alarm."
"Could he have entrusted the money to the Financial House?"
"That's highly unlikely. Neither he nor his companions ever entered the Financial House. Our Main Association's surveillance network covers the market district."
Given the constant public scrutiny, they likely wouldn't risk entering the Financial House carelessly.
"So the money must be in that safe after all."
"That's the most likely scenario."
Jeong Yeo had probably already guessed my intentions from our earlier conversation, but I formally declared my purpose.
"Association Leader Jeong, I'll be frank with you. I intend to strip that bastard of everything he owns."
Jeong Yeo smiled faintly.
"Truly remarkable."
Her expression was more admiration than worry. I was the one who felt concerned.
"If you succeed, Association Leader Jeong could face serious trouble," I warned.
After all, this was happening within the Yang Association.
"They'll never suspect I could pull off something like this. Don't worry and proceed as planned. I'll make sure to be with someone who can vouch for my whereabouts during the banquet."
"We still have no concrete plan. I'm just hoping for an opportunity to arise during the banquet tonight. At least it's a time when he'll be away from his chambers."
"I trust you'll succeed."
I shifted the topic.
"Is there any way to reach his chambers from the Main Hall without using the main entrance?"
Jeong Yeo gave me a knowing look.
"You know the Former Association Leader well, don't you?"
The Former Association Leader was none other than Yang Gicheol, whom I had killed with my own hands. He was a man driven by greed and plagued by suspicion.
"He constructed numerous secret passages throughout the compound, each designed to provide an escape route in times of crisis. There's even one in the Main Hall. It's so meticulously crafted that only an expert could detect it. Long curtains hang along all four walls, allowing anyone to slip into the passage unnoticed, even amidst a crowd. This passage leads directly to the Annex."
He revealed the location of the secret passage entrance, how to open it, and the route to the Annex. Fortunately, the Main Hall and Annex were not far apart.
Just in case, I asked him to place a portable leather pouch inside the passage.
As always, the problem came down to numbers. Without knowing the code, the passage would be useless.
How was I supposed to figure it out?
The banquet was magnificent.
It was a splendid affair, featuring delicious food and wine, skilled musicians, and beautiful dancers.
Even during my time as Alliance Leader, I rarely witnessed such extravagance.
The reason for this grand display was obvious: to flaunt his power and influence.
The sheer scale of such events undoubtedly had a psychological impact on people.
A prime example was the Alliance Leader's Hall itself. Its interior was vast and imposing, requiring a considerable walk from the entrance to the Grand Seat.
While security concerns played a role, the primary purpose was to intimidate opponents and elevate the Alliance Leader's authority. This banquet served the same purpose.
The Main Hall was filled with young people.
Some were unfamiliar faces, but most had attended the banquet we hosted at my residence previously.
I mingled among the crowd, observing Ma Jeongsu.
The man handled the rising talents with remarkable skill. His preliminary research was thorough; he already knew each opponent's personality, preferences, and family circumstances.
He understood exactly what young elites in their late teens and early twenties—especially those from prestigious families—desired. By striking the right balance between arrogance and genuine human warmth, he effortlessly won them over.
For the invited guests, impressing this man was paramount. They arrived tense and anxious, but his surprisingly engaging and relaxed demeanor quickly dissolved their wariness.
Soon, he began addressing several rising talents as brothers. These were the scions of the Cheongsong Sect and Nine Dragons Association, who had spearheaded the proposal to contribute funds, as well as the sons of those who had attended the secret meeting, including representatives from the Seodo Association.
This was an incredibly clever move, I thought.
As Ma Jeongsu flaunted his deeper friendships with a select few, the others were subtly influenced.
Even those who initially had no desire to become close grew uneasy seeing their peers bonding with him. It's human nature to feel anxious when others are forming connections you're excluded from.
Those who weren't chosen would likely tell their fathers about today's events upon returning home. If their parents wanted them to become closer to Ma Jeongsu, they would naturally become concerned about their children's affairs. This was all part of his meticulously calculated plan.
I wanted to tell the children:
When a good person suggests dropping formalities, it's to foster genuine friendship. But when a bad person suggests the same, it's to exploit you more easily.
Si Gon was always by Ma Jeongsu's side, seemingly his dedicated bodyguard. He never let his guard down for a moment.
Neither Elder Flower Fan nor the Mysterious Woman were in sight. I glanced out the window, wondering if they were outside, but they were nowhere to be seen.
Si Gon remained constantly attached to Ma Jeongsu, and the two appeared to move about freely.
I gathered every scrap of information about the man.
Though I tried my best to avoid catching Ma Jeongsu's eye, he found me anyway. He approached me in my corner and greeted me with forced familiarity.
"Young Master Byeok, how have you been?"
I forced an awkward smile and returned the greeting.
"How have you been, sir?"
Neither of us meant a word of the pretense.
After a few polite exchanges, Ma Jeongsu suddenly spoke up as if a thought had just occurred to him.
"Oh, by the way, Miss Song sent word that she won't be attending today."
"I'm aware of that."
"Did you beat her up?"
The moment I heard those words, I was certain: this bastard was interested in Song Hwarin. They wouldn't have revealed the reason for her absence at Song Family Manor, which meant he'd conducted a thorough investigation into her.
In the end, preventing her from attending had been the right move.
"What was your reason for sparring with Miss Song?"
This bastard is trying to extort money and chase after women? He wants it all, doesn't he?
I forcibly suppressed the urge to lash out. The desire to simply cut him down in one swift stroke was overwhelming.
Of course, I smiled instead of drawing my sword.
"It just happened that way."
How much did he know about me?
Probably all the basics, right? The rumors about me being a wastrel who'd recently turned over a new leaf.
"Very well. Let me be frank. She was the one who first brought up breaking off the engagement."
The story had already spread far and wide. It was information he likely already knew.
But I acted as if I were revealing a great secret.
"We have a Prenatal Vow. How could she even suggest breaking it off? It's utterly unforgivable."
This fact alone would serve as the most plausible reason for injuring my fiancée during the spar.
To further enhance the credibility of my words, I added one more detail.
"I got into a drunken brawl with her the other day and, absurdly, lost. It was obviously the alcohol's fault. That's why I challenged her to a spar this time—partly for revenge."
He probably knew all this already.
Still, this should be enough to conceal my true intentions. To him, I'll just seem like the kind of guy who beats up women—someone easy to manipulate. A win-win situation.
"Ha ha ha! You got your revenge!"
"I'm ashamed of myself."
"But I heard Miss Song was trained by a renowned master."
"She's still just a woman, isn't she?"
"Ha ha ha! Our Younger Brother is a real man, a true man!"
"Thank you for acknowledging me."
"They say Miss Song is incredibly beautiful. Is that true?"
"Yes, she's quite attractive."
I puffed out my chest, trying to look imposing.
"Younger Brother, let's have a meal together sometime. You can open the eyes of this Elder Brother."
"Ha ha, sounds good."
"They say I'll recover in about ten days. Let's make plans around then."
This bastard even checked when I'd recover.
There's something I've always emphasized to the younger generation of the Martial Arts Alliance:
Beware of beautiful women.
I had that thought when I met those rising talents at the inn the other day.
Song Hwarin's beauty would bring disaster.
See? Wasn't I right? He took an interest in her and met the disaster that is me. Of course, I would have crushed him anyway, even without her.
Ma Jeongsu strode to the center of the Main Hall and announced loudly,
"I have something to show you all."
I nodded to Si Gon, who left the Main Hall.
A moment later, Si Gon returned with a sword.
Even the magnificent scabbard, adorned with intricate patterns and inlaid with jewels, made it clear this was no ordinary blade.
Ma Jeongsu drew the sword.
Clang.
Everyone gasped at the razor-sharp, gleaming blade.
"This is the Heavenly Creation Sword, once wielded by the Former Alliance Leader," Ma Jeongsu announced.
His words sent shockwaves through the hall.
Could anyone have been more astonished than I was?
It was true. This was unmistakably the Heavenly Creation Sword I had once wielded.
Seeing my sword again after so long filled me with emotion. In my previous life, I had wielded five swords:
The Heavenly Creation Sword now before me, the Misty Wave Sword, the Dark Heaven Sword, the Cold Snow Sword, and the Asura Radiant King Sword.
Each was a Treasure Sword, yet they differed in shape, length, and elemental properties.
Among them, my most cherished blade was the Asura Radiant King Sword.
Named to embody both the wrathful Asura who subdues evil and the enlightened king who guides with wisdom, this sword was my signature weapon, forged specifically for my battles against the Heretics and Deviants.
People often assume these five swords are similar, but that's only because they underestimate the Asura Radiant King Sword's true magnificence. Even combining the other four blades couldn't match its power.
Speaking of which, what happened to my Asura Radiant King Sword?
Did Ma Bonggi take it? Or was it stored in the Martial Arts Alliance's treasury? Or...? I desperately hope Gal Saryang secured it separately...
In any case, while the Heavenly Creation Sword fell far short of the Asura Radiant King Sword's grandeur, it was still a remarkable Famous Sword in its own right.
Ma Jeongsu proudly declared to everyone, "This sword was personally bestowed upon me by my father."
In that moment, I deduced another crucial fact: Ma Bonggi had sent this man here. Otherwise, Ma Jeongsu, who held a low position in the succession hierarchy, would never have been given such a sword. It was likely given to him with the intention of using the Alliance Leader's authority through the sword.
"Anyone want to try taking it?"
At those words, everyone's hearts must have sunk. A sword once wielded by the Alliance Leader was priceless, beyond any monetary value.
"If you truly become my younger brother..."
His tone suggested he might actually give it away.
I scoffed inwardly.
A true younger brother would be used to the fullest and then discarded.
The young men gathered here were barely twenty years old. They lacked the experience to discern Ma Jeongsu's hidden motives and were in a position where they needed to impress him. The Heavenly Creation Sword further stirred their ambitions.
Another item had been added to the list of things to retrieve.
Money was important, but the Heavenly Creation Sword was paramount. He couldn't bear the thought of that weapon remaining in the hands of that bastard.
Of course, even if he retrieved it, he wouldn't be able to use it openly. He'd either have to modify it or sell it on the Black Market. As long as it wasn't the Asura Radiant King Sword, either option would do.
Ma Jeongsu addressed the group.
"The future of Shandong rests on our young shoulders, wouldn't you agree? In that spirit, I have a proposal."
"What is it?"
"How about we establish regular gatherings?"
"An excellent idea!"
"Ha ha ha! Now, let's raise a toast!"
Everyone lifted their cups high, the atmosphere growing increasingly lively.
Si Gon took the Heavenly Creation Sword he had brought and stepped outside the Main Hall.
The moment he crossed the threshold, I was no longer there either.
Si Gon slowly manipulated the abacus attached to the safe.
The moment the numbers aligned perfectly, the safe clicked open with a loud clank.
He bent down to place the Heavenly Creation Sword inside.
In the next instant, he twisted his body and drew the sword with lightning speed.
Swish!
Crack!
Before the sword was fully drawn, a fist slammed into Si Gon's face, sending him crashing backward.
I had moved faster.
I had arrived in the room before Si Gon and hidden myself behind the curtain next to the window, beyond the bed beside the safe.
I stood as still as possible, suppressing every trace of my presence. The moment the safe door clicked open, I moved.
The clank of the safe had masked the sound of my movement.
The best approach would have been to figure out the combination and open the safe after he left, but there was no place to hide and observe him. Moreover, doing so would have shifted all suspicion onto Jeong Yeo, who might be accused of tampering with the safe.
In any case, if I had fought Si Gon fairly, the outcome would have been uncertain.
But this was a surprise attack—a surprise attack launched by the Foremost Person Under Heaven, wielding twenty-four years of accumulated internal energy. Si Gon collapsed, unconscious.
I swept everything from the safe into a pre-prepared leather pouch.
There was no time to examine the contents. After gathering everything, I also grabbed the Heavenly Creation Sword.
Then, I darted away like the wind.
It all happened in an instant.
A moment later, the Main Hall Door burst open violently, and Jeong Yeo and Elder Flower Fan rushed inside.
Elder Flower Fan quickly whispered something into Ma Jeongsu's ear.
Ma Jeongsu's eyes widened gradually until they were bulging.
"Everyone, silence!"
The banquet hall fell into complete silence.
By the time the whispering ended, Ma Jeongsu's expression was twisted beyond description.
He was about to hurry out with the two others when he stopped at the entrance.
"Find the one who isn't here!"
Ma Jeongsu, Elder Flower Fan, and Jeong Yeo began scrutinizing the guests one by one.
When it was my turn, I asked with a startled expression, "What's going on?"
Before I knew it, I had returned. I left the Leather Pouch behind the secret door, entering the Main Hall alone.
All the rising talents were gathered in the Main Hall. No one had left through the door.
Even if someone had slipped out, they wouldn't have thought they could defeat Si Gon. Right now, I was simply assessing the attendees, just in case.
Ma Jeongsu hurried out of the Main Hall, announcing urgently, "The banquet is over for today. Everyone, please return to your quarters."
I watched his retreating figure with a faint smile.
I'm sorry, but my banquet is just beginning now.
A banquet you can never end.