Chapter 84 - Arrival at Wudang
The group, having received Nangong Yeong's invitation, set foot in the vast Nangong Family Estate as the sun reached its zenith.
"Whoa! So this is the Nangong Family! I've never seen such a huge estate before, Uncle!"
The estate was so enormous it made their eyes widen in awe.
The walls stretched out like a fortress, and the buildings within layered upon one another, forming what looked like a small city.
The roof tiles gleamed under the sunlight, as if proudly proclaiming their belonging to the Nangong household.
Indeed, in sheer scale, it was unrivaled among all the righteous sects and families under heaven.
Jin Hayeon couldn't close her gaping mouth from the moment they entered.
"Hong-a! Cheong-a! Is Okhwa Palace this big too?"
Though their time together had been short, Jin Hayeon and Hongcheong, being the same age, had grown close during the journey.
Hongcheong glanced at Buso-yong before whispering softly.
"No. Our Okhwa Palace isn't anywhere near this large."
"Hayeon, lower your voice a bit. People are watching."
Only then did Jin Hayeon look around.
Numerous gazes from those moving about the estate subtly turned their way—not overt, but the characteristic scrutinizing looks of martial artists sizing up strangers.
Jin Hayeon flushed slightly and lowered her voice.
"The people of the Nangong Family sure dress in all sorts of ways."
As Jin Hayeon said, the inhabitants of the estate wore attire of every variety.
Not only did the styles and colors of their martial robes differ, but there were even Taoist robes and monk's garments among them.
Muheo chuckled with a hearty heh-heh and said to Jin Hayeon,
"Those are probably attendees of the Murim Conference. Invited just like us."
"Ah! So not just anyone gets invited?"
"Of course. They open up during the conference, but only a select few can stay in the family estate. At most, the Nine Great Sects, the Five Great Families, and a handful of sects on their level."
"Like Okhwa Palace?"
"Right. Like Okhwa Palace and our Yunbong Jin Family."
The words "our Yunbong Jin Family" slipped naturally from Muheo's mouth.
Jin Hayeon, oblivious to the shift, looked enviously at Buso-yong and Hongcheong.
Buso-yong's graceful eyes curved softly above her face veil.
"The Yunbong Jin Family received an invitation too, didn't they?"
"Well, yes."
"That means they've been recognized as having power to match."
"Ah! I see!"
Jin Hayeon beamed, turning her gaze forward.
Jin Muhon's broad back looked more reliable than ever.
This uncle who had appeared out of nowhere one day, and the changes that followed.
In just over a year, their crumbling family had earned such proud recognition.
"Can we meet the family head first?"
At that moment, Jin Muhon's heavy voice rumbled low across the estate.
He hadn't spoken loudly, yet it spread uncannily far, crushing the ambient noise.
The martial artists nearby all turned their gazes at once.
—What was that? Who just spoke?
—Hmm... Never seen that face before.
—Oh! Look at those veiled women. They must be stunning beauties!
—Gasp! That old man!
The martial artists murmured as they eyed Jin Muhon's group.
Being from major sects, most dismissed them lightly, but some recognized Muheo's face.
—Gasp! It's the Dao Destroyer!
—Huh? Who?
—Dao Destroyer! Don't get involved, or it'll be trouble. Let's go.
—Ah! Yes!
Muheo's mere presence drove people away.
Jin Muhon smirked and said,
"Even you old-timers have your uses."
"Those damn punks. I'll remember every face."
Muheo grumbled while picking his nose.
The guide turned back with an awkward expression and bowed.
"Great hero, this way please. I'll escort you to the pavilion assigned to the Yunbong Jin Family."
"Oh my! They're giving us our own pavilion?"
Jin Hayeon asked with wide eyes.
The guide smiled warmly at her brightness.
"Of course. Every invited sect gets its own pavilion without exception. Especially for ones personally invited by the family head like the Yunbong Jin Family, we've prepared the finest."
The martial artists watching the group began murmuring again.
—Yunbong Jin Family?
—Yunbong Jin? Never heard of them.
—Hmph. That family head looks pretty pathetic.
Especially as Jin Muhon's group headed to a better pavilion than their own, voices of doubt and envy followed immediately.
But then.
A loud voice halted them in their tracks.
"Hey, hold it. Stop right there."
A thick, resonant voice.
The guide stopped and turned, then bowed with a slight look of surprise.
"Young master. What brings you here?"
At the title "young master," Jin Muhon's group also turned to appraise the newcomer.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Age around early to mid-twenties.
Bulging eyes, shoulders broad as a mountain— a imposing physique.
Were it not for the fine silk robe and ornate sword sheath at his waist, he could pass for a bandit from the wilds.
Like a tiger in human form, the man approached with two escorts.
Jin Hayeon whispered to Jin Muhon,
"He's the young master? He doesn't feel like Geomje Grandpa at all."
"Hmm."
Jin Muhon nodded in agreement.
The onlookers began whispering.
—Ugh, that hothead again. Picking a fight.
—What is the Peng family head doing? Not disciplining his son.
—Tsk tsk. Don't talk. The family head was just as bad in his youth.
—Anyway, the Peng family blood is rotten.
Muheo spat on the ground and grumbled,
"What? Just some Peng family mutt."
The man dubbed young master wasn't from the Nangong Family but from the Hebei Peng Family, one of the Five Great Families.
And with his skill, he easily overheard Muheo's mutter.
"Hey, old man. What did you just say?"
The young master twitched his brow and placed a hand on his sword hilt.
The guide jumped in between the group and the young master.
"P-Please wait! Young master! These are the family head's guests! No rash actions!"
"Rash? Ha! You heard it too. That old man started the provocation. Should a martial artist just take that lying down?"
"Well... that's..."
The Peng Family originated from the imperial military.
Even now, most Peng scions served in the military, loyal to the empire.
Perhaps because of that, Peng men loved fights to the point of seeming ignorant.
They were even suspected whenever conflicts arose in murim, big or small.
Shing!
"Hey! Rotten tangerine old man! Was I wrong?!"
Among such Peng men, the most hot-blooded—the young master Paeng Geuksin—couldn't miss this chance.
Paeng Geuksin drew his sword outright and bellowed.
Muheo, who had been verbally slapped by a mere junior, gaped in disbelief.
"Hah! R-Rotten... tangerine? Have I seen such an ignorant dog bastard! You saying that to me?!"
"Who else here deserves to hear it but you?!"
"You... you... you damn punk!"
As Muheo trembled with rage and stepped forward,
Jin Hayeon shrieked and planted herself in front of Paeng Geuksin.
"That's too much! Apologize!"
"Hm?"
Paeng Geuksin flinched and stepped back at the tiny girl glaring up at him from arm's length.
"N-No. The old man provoked first..."
"Master didn't mean it that way! That's just his habit! And even if so! How dare a young punk talk like that to an elder! Don't they teach respect for seniors in your family?!"
"Ugh..."
"Apologize now!"
Had it been a man pressing him, Paeng Geuksin would have punched first despite any fault.
But with the frail-looking Jin Hayeon, he hesitated, glancing at the onlookers.
—Tsk tsk. Pathetic.
—That's why the Pengs are no good.
Lumped with the Five Great Families, other clans and Nine Great Sects always viewed the Pengs with such disdain.
'Those bastards...'
The contemptuous stares turned Paeng Geuksin's head.
"Shut your mouth! Where does a wench like you get off?!"
Paeng Geuksin raised his thick hand high.
Unable to strike with a sword, he'd threaten her away.
"......"
Yet Jin Hayeon didn't flinch, glaring right back.
Instead, Paeng Geuksin looked ridiculous with his hand raised.
"Tch!"
When a man draws a sword, he must swing it.
Paeng Geuksin swung his arm with moderate force.
Grab!
But the arm that could shatter rock wouldn't budge.
Someone had appeared and gripped Paeng Geuksin's wrist firmly.
"Wh-What?! Let go..."
Paeng Geuksin twisted to yank free, then widened his eyes at the sight.
"Uh...?"
A Taoist in white robes smiled gently at him.
Moreover, he was someone even Paeng Geuksin's father, the family head, wouldn't dare mishandle.
The man opened his mouth leisurely with a smile.
"Young Master Paeng. Long time no see."
"Ah... yes."
Paeng Geuksin tried to pull away and offer a fist salute, but his arm still wouldn't move.
"Urk! Why...?"
Instead, crushing pressure threatened to snap his wrist.
The Taoist gripping it asked with a smile,
"Why? That's what I want to ask."
"...Pardon?"
"Why are you harassing my youngest junior sister?"
"......Pardon?!"
Paeng Geuksin blinked dumbly, uncomprehending.
Commotion erupted among the watching martial artists.
—It's Hyeonjin!
—Wudang has arrived!
—The sect leader himself intervening in something like this!
The Wudang Sect, just arriving at the Nangong estate, had stepped into the scuffle between Peng and Jin.
The sect leader in person, no less.
The onlookers went wild, and some dashed off to report to their sect elders.
Regardless,
Hyeonjin turned from Paeng Geuksin to flash Jin Hayeon a bright smile.
"Long time no see, junior sister. Have you been well?"
"Senior Sect Leader Brother!"
Jin Hayeon returned a fist salute and a smile blooming like a flower.
"I've missed you!"
"Hahaha! Is that so? I've missed you too."
"Hee-hee-hee!"
Hyeonjin laughed, Jin Hayeon laughed.
With each laugh, Paeng Geuksin's face darkened further.
At some point, silence fell over the estate.
Instead, shock appeared on the faces of those watching.