Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: In Chang'an
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Three days had passed since departing from Huayin in the carriage. The journey had gone smoothly, and their destination was now just within sight.
"Great hero, Chang'an is finally coming into view."
At Flower Shadow's words, he stuck his head out and looked ahead. The outline of the city walls was gradually emerging at the edge of his vision.
The long walls stretched so far that even from a distance, their ends were nowhere in sight, and the city they enclosed sprawled vast and wide, as if touching the horizon itself.
Crimson buildings topped with blackish-gray tiled roofs stood densely packed across the expansive Chang'an, harmonizing with the Chang River flowing between them.
It was a sight like a red sun rising amid the blue sky.
A landscape befitting Chang'an, the heart of the jianghu.
"Brother, is this your first time in Chang'an?"
Jegal Hyeon spoke up, seeing him lost in admiration of the city.
"Not my first, but it might be the first time I've seen it like this."
In his previous life, he'd been too busy hiding to avoid detection to take in the scenery.
Only now did he truly understand why Chang'an's vistas were called a grand spectacle.
Entering through the main gate in the vast walls, a long boulevard stretched toward the city's heart.
Countless carriages crossed the wide road, and warriors with swords at their waists were visible everywhere on the streets.
Chang'an had always been home to throngs of martial artists, so this crowd wasn't solely due to the Dragon Phoenix Tournament.
As they advanced, more and more warriors lined the roadside, until they reached a street packed with countless inns.
"This is the place known as the Warriors' Street."
"Come to think of it, I've heard of it."
In Chang'an, where martial artists were scattered everywhere amid the bustling crowds, conflicts never ceased.
Tensions between those ignorant of the martial world and powerless folk scorned by arrogant warriors were common enough, but in Chang'an—the jianghu's center—they were especially severe.
With brawls breaking out daily, people began shunning martial artists. In turn, the warriors tacitly agreed not to draw their blades anywhere but designated spots.
'Settle your martial disputes on the Warriors' Street.'
This street, teeming with inns that drew crowds of warriors, earned its name for that reason.
"I hear fights break out at all hours and riffraff lurks about. Is it safe?"
"No need to worry."
Flower Shadow, driving the carriage, gave Unhak's question a curt reply.
Jegal Hyeon nodded quietly, grasping the implication.
The lower the haunt of the lowly, the more weight the name Lower Five Gates carried.
Flower Shadow halted the carriage in front of an inn inscribed with "Clear Sound Pavilion."
"This way, please."
She who'd always been curt now led the way herself, suggesting this was the end of her assigned duty.
"Give us your finest room."
As soon as the inn door opened, Flower Shadow addressed the errand boy first.
"Pardon me, but that room is reserved for another guest."
"We're his party. We're to meet here, so we'll wait."
A code phrase of the Lower Five Gates.
A method used for discreet meetings at inns under their affiliation.
"This way, please."
The errand boy guided them to a corner table and set down four empty cups.
Upside down, and he'd return to lead them to the prearranged person.
"Great hero, turn your cup over."
Flower Shadow left hers upright as she instructed him.
Someone wanted to meet him here in secret, it seemed. Best to follow her lead.
Jegal Hyeon and Unhak, sensing it was a code, proceeded cautiously.
He quietly flipped his cup. The errand boy soon approached.
"I'll take you to the reserved room."
Following him up the stairs to the innermost chamber, he opened the door to find a familiar face.
"It's been a while, Great Hero Yi Sowol."
"What brings you here, Sect Leader?"
Baek Eunhwa, leader of the Lower Five Gates, waited alone inside.
"To cheer you on, of course?"
She wasn't one to appear at formal gatherings, let alone something like the Dragon Phoenix Tournament.
No reason for her—who'd resolved not to side with the Alliance—to come here.
"Truth be told, we've formed an unofficial alliance with the Alliance. We won't intervene in the war, but we'll share our information."
Reading his mind as always, Baek Eunhwa spoke as if privy to his thoughts.
"Why make that choice?"
Staying neutral minimized risks to the Lower Five Gates, yet allying offered no clear gains.
"You're asking the obvious. I can't leave you to fight alone."
To help him?
He'd meant to handle it solo to spare her needless entanglement, yet she never let him be.
"Don't get too deeply involved."
"No worries. I'm only helping you—nothing else interests me."
With him as the Lower Five Gates' Grand Commander siding with the Alliance, any info passed would go through him anyway.
That way, the Gates stayed safe, and he gained an intelligence edge.
Caught between the untrustworthy Murim Alliance and the Demonic Cult enemy, a reliable ally was born.
"My thanks, Sect Leader."
"Just doing what needed doing."
Baek Eunhwa smiled faintly, sipping from her teacup on the table.
No outward show, but her upturned lips betrayed her good mood.
"By the way, are your companions dear friends?"
"Yes. Folks I had ties with in my past life."
"Then until the tournament, the Lower Five Gates will host you lavishly."
Jegal Hyeon and Unhak had potential to become major players; building ties now was wise.
"I appreciate the gesture."
"Shall we go say hello?"
Baek Eunhwa pulled a human-skin mask from her bosom, donning it in an instant and altering her face.
No wonder people say not to trust women.
"Any issues?"
"None at all."
Hiding his cold sweat, he stepped out to hear a commotion downstairs.
Someone had barged in causing a ruckus.
"Stay here. I'll check it out."
Leaving the Sect Leader for safety, he descended. A man in orthodox sect garb was yelling at Jegal Hyeon and Unhak.
"Hanging with a wicked faction wench while bearing the righteous name—aren't you ashamed?"
"Easy now, Brother Namgung. Calm down and hear me out."
Unhak tried soothing the man, who seemed ready to draw his sword.
Called "Brother Namgung," so from the Namgung Clan.
That house was short on decent folk, as expected.
"What's the trouble?"
He approached to intervene.
"You with that filthy Lower Five Gates too?"
Instead of de-escalating, the man glared murderously and spat.
He'd spotted Flower Shadow's affiliation and was grilling Jegal Hyeon and Unhak.
This was why he couldn't stand the righteous lot. Useless at protection, they just lorded their faction over others.
"Belated introductions. Yi Sowol, Fifth Commander of the Lower Five Gates Escort Unit."
The man flinched at "Commander" but clicked his tongue and drew his sword.
"A ragtag Lower Five Gates punk acting all high and mighty? I'll beat that attitude out of you today."
Sigh. Pride too fragile to bend, so he lashes out hard.
"What's the commotion?"
As he reached for his sword to humor him, Baek Eunhwa's voice sounded from behind.
A low, icy tone—the voice she used when furious.
"And who the hell are you?"
As the fool bellowed without gauging her, Flower Shadow rose swiftly from beside Jegal Hyeon and bowed to Baek Eunhwa.
"Flower Shadow of the Lower Five Gates greets the esteemed Sect Leader."
Finally grasping the situation, the Namgung maniac looked around in panic.
"Zhuge Family Chief Strategist Jegal Hyeon greets the Lower Five Gates Leader."
"Huashan Sect's Unhak greets the Lower Five Gates Leader."
To top it off, Jegal Hyeon and Unhak bowed to her as well.
"And who might you be?"
Baek Eunhwa pointed coldly at the Namgung man.
Her aura was terrifying, even without eye contact.
"......Namgung U of the Namgung Clan greets the Lower Five Gates Leader."
He grudgingly bowed.
"You insulted me and the Lower Five Gates. And pointed your sword at our Commander. How do you plan to answer for it?"
"That was......"
Better for him to have crossed swords with Yi Sowol.
Her voice, colder than ice, gave even him chills.
"We'll formally notify the Namgung Clan via writ. Now get out of my sight."
Namgung U hesitated, then stormed out.
With their new Alliance tie, word of insulting the Lower Five Gates Leader to his face would spell trouble for him.
As the brief uproar settled and the inn quieted, Baek Eunhwa sighed deeply, then switched to a bright smile as she faced the group—somehow more unnerving.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself properly. I am Baek Eunhwa, 37th Leader of the Lower Five Gates."
Even the usually impassive Jegal Hyeon sweated as he returned her greeting.
"I hear you're friends of Commander Yi Sowol. Rest easy; we'll treat you royally till the end."
Baek Eunhwa signaled Flower Shadow.
"I'll handle the guiding. Let's move to another inn first."
Catching the glance, Flower Shadow led them.
From top inns to rare delicacies and fine liquors, it all perfectly eased their travel fatigue.
Even Unhak, sparred with relentlessly en route, focused solely on recovery then.
Time flew, and the Dragon Phoenix Tournament loomed.
"The journey's end is in sight."
Jegal Hyeon approached, gazing skyward.
"Yeah, a long one."
"Brother, why enter the Dragon Phoenix Tournament?"
Typical of him to ask at the last moment.
"To protect those dear to me."
He finally voiced what he could say at the end.
"I see."
Jegal Hyeon nodded quietly.
The reason hardly mattered. Just whether he spoke from the heart.
Even knowing he was among those dear ones likely didn't faze him.
As night deepened and dawn broke with the sun's rise, the day to decide many fates drew near.