Chapter 82
Chapter 82
Translator: Penny
Chapter 82
Not Caught in the Net (3)
In the Ho-yeon Family's Main Hall, Ho-yeon Tak knelt on the floor.
The disciples who had accompanied him to Shandong stood in a row behind him. Several wore bandages, but their injuries were minor, and thankfully, no one had died that day.
With Ho-yeon Nam's death and Yeom Hwa's severe injuries, the survivors were too shaken to consider killing each other. It was fortunate the incident had been so sudden; otherwise, one side would have been completely annihilated.
Ho-yeon Tak was both a disciple and a member of the Ho-yeon Family by blood. Though from a collateral branch rather than the direct line, he was still different from ordinary disciples.
Standing on the elevated platform, looking down at them, was Ho-yeon Se, the Patriarch of the Ho-yeon Family. The deceased Ho-yeon Nam was his third younger brother.
Ho-yeon Se, clad in a long robe embroidered with a tiger, stood tall with his white hair and long white beard flowing down his chest. His mere presence exuded an imposing aura, perfectly embodying the dignity of a family patriarch.
Ho-yeon Se closed his eyes tightly, suppressing his anger—or rather, pretending to suppress it. Though Ho-yeon Nam was his blood relative, their bond had never been particularly deep, so his death didn't tear at his heart with grief.
But he had to appear sorrowful now. This grief would serve a purpose when it was revealed to the world.
Standing beside him was his second son, Ho-yeon Chun, his cold eyes glaring down at the disciples as if ready to deliver punishment at any moment. Apart from the disciples who had witnessed the incident, these two were the only others present.
Ho-yeon Se slowly opened his eyes and asked, "What exactly happened here?"
"Even we disciples don't know. Master suddenly drew his sword and attacked Yeom Hwa."
"That bastard!" Ho-yeon Se roared, his qi surging forth to engulf the space.
Ho-yeon Tak trembled in terror at the overwhelming force. The disciples behind him could barely breathe.
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
"What safety would we have to dare lie?"
"Are you saying Nam attacked first?"
"Yes, Master."
The disciples behind him echoed in unison, "That's right!"
Ho-yeon Se glanced at Ho-yeon Chun, who stood beside him.
Ho-yeon Chun nodded curtly, his expression cold. It was a silent acknowledgment that Ho-yeon Nam's temperament made such an act entirely plausible.
Ho-yeon Chun harbored a deep resentment toward Ho-yeon Nam. Though he had won their rivalry for second-in-command, the bitterness lingered.
Ho-yeon Se let out a heavy sigh.
When the initial news arrived, he had dismissed it as a miscommunication.
But if it was true that Ho-yeon Nam had launched the first attack, the situation was dire. The greater problem was that an official gathering had been underway at the time.
Yeom Hwa, the Butcher of the Heavenly Blade Gate, known for his fierce pride and notoriously foul temper, would never let this matter slide.
It was like being bitten by a dog and, instead of receiving compensation, having to pay for the dog's broken tooth.
"Withdraw and reflect on your actions," Ho-yeon Se ordered.
"Yes, sir."
The men standing behind him retreated. But Ho-yeon Tak remained.
"Patriarch, I have something to report."
"What is it?"
Ho-yeon Tak cautiously recounted Yacheon's visit, including how Ho-yeon Nam had taken the Ten Thousand Taels from the leather pouch.
As Ho-yeon Se listened to the story, his expression grew increasingly grim.
If this were true, Ho-yeon Nam had attacked Yeom Hwa after accepting money from the Night Merchants—a scandal that would severely tarnish the Ho-yeon Family's reputation.
"Do any other disciples know about this?"
"No, only I am aware."
"This matter must never be spoken of again."
"Understood."
Ho-yeon Tak withdrew.
Now, only Ho-yeon Se and Ho-yeon Chun remained in the Main Hall.
Ho-yeon Se frowned.
"That fool! I should have known better when he insisted on handling this himself."
Though reluctant, they had no choice but to send Ho-yeon Nam since no one else was willing to deal with the Heavenly Blade Gate. They couldn't afford to forfeit the two hundred thousand taels.
"To resolve this, we'll have to meet with them after all."
Ho-yeon Chun nodded in agreement.
"I'll make contact with them."
"Please do."
"But..." Ho-yeon Chun trailed off, his gaze fixed on the door Ho-yeon Tak had just exited through. "What will you do about that child? If rumors spread that Nam started this for money..."
Ho-yeon Se stared silently at Ho-yeon Chun. Though he said nothing, Ho-yeon Chun nodded as if he had heard a response.
After Steward Gong locked himself in his room, Gwangdu threw himself back into training.
He was spurred on by the news of Gwanhwi's improved skills. For a martial artist, having a rival was not just a good thing—it was a blessing.
Gwangdu trained tirelessly.
I didn't offer him any special instruction. Even when I noticed flaws in his technique, I let them be. Micromanaging every detail would only hinder his progress.
It was better to let him discover things on his own and answer his questions when he asked.
I practiced separately, far from Gwangdu's training area. My own training would undoubtedly distract him. He still needed to focus solely on his own practice, without external stimuli.
Alone on the mountain peak, I sat in deep meditation.
The Cheonmu Hoshim Gyeol was constantly active, except during sleep, steadily accumulating internal energy. I still had over a year to go before reaching the internal energy of a sixty-year-old.
I could shorten that time by acquiring an Elixir with the money I'd earned, but I decided against it.
Partly because I had other uses for the money, but mainly because I could already use the Fourth Form. There was no need to spend on an Elixir just to greedily pursue the Fifth Form.
Today's training session focused on meditative practice.
Recently, I'd realized that while enlightenment could be found in everyday life, I shouldn't limit all progress to daily experiences alone.
Only when fundamental training forms a solid foundation can the concept of "everyday enlightenment" truly exist.
I mentally reviewed the Immortal Crane Secret Art, visualizing each movement as I simulated a virtual battle.
My opponent was the Cult Leader of the Blood Heaven Divine Cult, the strongest adversary I had ever faced.
Having engaged him in a half-day Life-and-Death Battle, I knew his Demonic Arts intimately—their nature and devastating power.
I mentally replayed our clash.
Using the Immortal Crane Secret Art, I penetrated the Demonic Cult Leader's defenses, closing in for close-quarters combat and unleashing my attacks.
In the first simulation, my skull was shattered.
In the second, half my torso was obliterated.
Unsurprisingly, my current mastery of the Immortal Crane Secret Art was insufficient to defeat him.
Could I kill him if I achieved Great Mastery of the technique? That remained uncertain.
This time, I simultaneously recalled the Soul-Chasing Asura Sword Technique and the Immortal Crane Secret Art. Combining these two martial arts, I confronted the Demonic Cult Leader.
As the sword arts and secret art intertwined, an image of an even more arduous battle flashed through my mind.
This moment starkly revealed the folly of attempting to wield two martial arts simultaneously against an absolute master.
Yet I refused to give up.
I resolved to find a way to properly fuse these two techniques to effectively combat my enemies.
After finishing my training, I ventured out with Gwangdu to the marketplace.
Instead of our usual inn, we stopped at a larger establishment near the Martial Arts Alliance Headquarters for a meal. This was partly to enjoy the fresh air and partly to gather recent rumors.
"After such grueling training, this meal tastes like honey!"
"Eat plenty! I'll order more!"
"Young Master, let's have a drink together for old times' sake."
"Sounds good."
They called the waiter and ordered wine and snacks.
Gwangdu drained his cup in one gulp, his face beaming with delight.
"Ah, this is perfect! Nothing could be better than this cup of wine after a long day of training!"
Su agreed wholeheartedly. Especially when shared with someone you enjoyed being with, the pleasure was doubled.
"Anyway, everyone's talking about the same thing."
At the inn, the only topic of conversation was the conflict between the Ho-yeon Family and the Heavenly Blade Gate. Given the clash between these two powerful factions, it was inevitable that the topic would dominate discussions.
Listening quietly, Su noticed a wide range of opinions.
Some argued that Ho-yeon Nam bore the greater responsibility for initiating the surprise attack. Others insisted that Yeom Hwa was wrong to kill Ho-yeon Nam, regardless of the circumstances.
Some even went so far as to suggest the Ho-yeon Family would be wiped out entirely.
Gwangdu, overhearing the distant chatter, wore a skeptical expression.
"Surely the Ho-yeon Family won't fall? They're one of the Four Great Families of the Martial Arts World."
"You never know," Su replied.
"Huh?"
"Establishing a sect is incredibly difficult, but its collapse can happen in an instant."
And the larger the sect, the greater the repercussions would be. Like a massive brute stumbling under its own weight, it would crash down, crushing everything around it.
Just then, a man burst into the inn, breathless with news.
"Have you heard? A disciple of the Ho-yeon Family has committed suicide!"
"What? A disciple of the Ho-yeon Family? You mean a disciple of Ho-yeon Nam, the one who died recently?"
"That's right. I heard his name was Ho-yeon Tak. Anyway, they say he was so tormented by guilt for failing to protect his master that he took his own life."
Listening from the side, I was inwardly shocked. After everything we'd been through, Ho-yeon Tak was someone I'd seen with my own eyes. You get a certain feeling about people. He didn't strike me as weak. He might have been tormented by his master's death, but I never would have imagined he'd take his own life. A cold wind swept through my heart.
The people lamented his death.
"What a tragedy."
"Such a waste of a promising young life."
"He must have been deeply devoted to his Master," someone remarked.
"Truly worthy of a disciple from the Prestigious Orthodox Factions," another added.
Everyone offered a word of condolence for the deceased disciple.
Gwangdu also expressed his sorrow. "Ah, what a truly tragic event."
I mourned his death by draining a cup of wine. Setting the cup down, I said, "Do you really think he took his own life?"
"What else could it be?"
Gwangdu, quickly grasping the implication of my words, flinched in surprise.
"H-hey! Why are you being so creepy?"
I had seen it countless times: humans brazenly committing unspeakable acts under the guise of protecting their clan.
"Yes, perhaps not. But it's also possible."
The suicide of a young disciple who hadn't even bloomed like a flower would inevitably spark public criticism against Yeom Hwa. This condemnation would soon spread to the Heavenly Blade Gate.
Although Ho-yeon Nam had initiated the ambush, Yeom Hwa would likely bear the responsibility for the consequences.
"Since we can't know the truth... this is precisely why you must master martial arts."
"Why?"
"Because only the strong can uncover the truth."
The truth of the weak is destined to remain buried forever.
Gwangdu looked at me earnestly and replied, "Yes, I'll train diligently."
If the Ho-yeon Family had murdered him and staged it as suicide... they had crossed a line.
Someday, they would pay the price for their transgression.
A man sat by the riverbank.
He was none other than Ilho, the same man who had recently received a report from Chilho.
Having gazed endlessly at the painting of crashing waves on the beach, he now stared at the river, fishing rod in hand.
A man wearing a bamboo hat sat down beside him. Surprisingly, it was Ho-yeon Chun of the Ho-yeon Family.
"Catching any fish?" Ho-yeon Chun asked.
"I've been out since dawn, but the bites have been poor," Ilho replied.
"Isn't it said that fishing can lead to a state of no thought, no imagination, and no self?"
"That's what they say."
"But I have no interest in sitting still like this."
"People often think fishing is a completely static activity, but that's not true. Fishing is similar to martial arts."
Ho-yeon Chun looked intrigued by Ilho's words and asked, "How so?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"It means there is stillness within movement and movement within stillness. Just as you wait patiently for the float to twitch before forcefully jerking the fishing rod, isn't swordsmanship the same?"
"That makes sense."
But Ho-yeon Chun wasn't truly convinced.
If you apply that logic, wouldn't everything—cooking rice, taking a dump, everything in the world—be the same?
Hiding his skepticism, Ho-yeon Chun cut to the chase.
"I don't know if you're aware, but the Main Family recently had a minor conflict with the Heavenly Blade Gate."
Ilho immediately interjected, "You agreed to receive two hundred thousand taels from the Shandong Night Merchants, didn't you?"
Ho-yeon Chun's mood soured. There was no need to bring up money, yet Ilho had pointedly accused him of greed.
"Our side has settled matters for now, but it seems the Heavenly Blade Gate still has unresolved issues. In particular, The Butcher Yeom Hwa won't let this matter rest."
Everyone knew Yeom Hwa's temperament was far from ordinary. He wouldn't consider Ho-yeon Tak's suicide the end of this affair.
"We've heard he's gone to Wuhan to meet Ma Bonggi."
Ilho nodded, confirming the information. His demeanor suggested they were fully aware of all developments.
"Understood. We'll handle this matter ourselves."
"Thank you."
As Ho-yeon Chun rose to leave, Ilho spoke:
"This is a one-time favor. Don't let such incidents occur again."
Ho-yeon Chun's eyes turned icy.
"What do you mean by that?"
Ilho turned his gaze back to the river, his voice cold and dismissive:
"Warning," Ho-yeon Chun said, glancing at Ilho before silently departing.
After Ho-yeon Chun left, Ilho stared at the river for a long time before finally speaking.
"Do you know why I love the water so much?"
A woman emerged from behind a nearby tree. It was Chilho, who had previously been monitoring Ma Jeongsu.
"I don't."
"My father drowned."
One might expect a word of sympathy, but Chilho replied in a flat, emotionless tone, "I see."
Ilho chuckled bitterly. He himself had trained her to be this way.
"Take The Ghoul and have him handle this matter."
As always, Chilho simply replied with a curt "Yes" before leaving.
Ilho watched her go briefly, then turned back to the river. The fishing float bobbed, but he didn't strike the line.