Chapter 85 - Agenda
“Uh… w-well, you see…”
Paeng Geuksin stared wide-eyed, alternating his gaze between Wudang Sect Leader Hyeonjin and Jin Hayeon.
Only after Hyeonjin released his wrist did Paeng Geuksin finally catch his breath.
Hyeonjin fixed him with a stern look.
“Young Master Paeng. This is my junior sister, and the niece of Yunbong Jin Family Head.”
“…Ah.”
Hyeonjin’s words were brief, but their weight was immense.
There was no way the Wudang sect leader would lie in front of so many people.
Not only Paeng Geuksin, but everyone watching gaped in disbelief.
Hyeonjin ignored the growing commotion and turned to look behind him.
Muheo stood there with a shit-eating grin, staring blankly.
“And the one you insulted is my martial uncle, the esteemed elder of Wudang, Dao Destroyer Muheo.”
“……!”
Paeng Geuksin’s face drained of color; he couldn’t even close his gaping mouth.
Dao Destroyer!
Cold sweat trickled down his back.
He’d thought he knew all the key figures at the conference.
Yet he’d picked a fight with an unexpected powerhouse from the unlikeliest place.
“I’m sorry… I lost my temper after being cursed at out of nowhere.”
Paeng Geuksin bowed his head.
His apology shifted the blame to Muheo, though.
He wasn’t just some dumb brute bear despite his looks.
Hyeonjin saw through it but smiled anyway.
“You should apologize to my junior sister and uncle, not me.”
“Ahem! Hm!”
Paeng Geuksin cleared his throat, then clasped his hands in a formal salute to Jin Hayeon and Muheo, bowing slightly.
“My apologies, young lady. Sorry, Elder.”
“Yes. I accept your apology.”
“Hmph!”
Jin Hayeon accepted graciously, but Muheo showed no sign of letting it go.
Hyeonjin smiled faintly and admonished Paeng Geuksin.
“Young Master Paeng. A warrior’s spirit is vital, but excess breeds calamity.”
“What do you mean?”
Realizing Hyeonjin was about to impart wisdom, Paeng Geuksin faced him respectfully.
“Did you pick a fight knowing who they were?”
“I… had no idea they were the sect leader’s uncle and sister.”
“No, it’s more than that.”
Hyeonjin shook his head.
“That veiled woman over there is Palace Lord Buso-yong of Okhwa Palace. Her skills alone are formidable, and her sect rivals any of the Nine Great Sects. Your recklessness nearly pitted the Paeng family against both Wudang and Okhwa Palace.”
“…Ah!”
Paeng Geuksin’s pupils trembled.
Hyeonjin continued.
“But you nearly made an even more fearsome enemy.”
“…Pardon?”
Hyeonjin’s eyes sparkled as he gazed at Jin Muhon.
Jin Muhon met his stare calmly.
That look confirms it—he’s the Sword Demon. Amazing. A face-changing disguise.
Hyeonjin studied Jin Muhon’s altered features, falling silent for a moment.
Paeng Geuksin’s eyes followed to Jin Muhon.
A sickly-looking middle-aged man.
Someone he’d completely ignored until now.
What? That guy’s the fearsome one?
A hint of tension crept into Hyeonjin’s usual composure.
Just from locking eyes with this frail-looking man.
Paeng Geuksin swallowed hard, scrutinizing Jin Muhon cautiously.
Still, he didn’t sense any overwhelming strength just from looking.
“That man is Yunbong Jin Family Head, Great Hero Jin Muhon. Didn’t you know?”
“Jin… Muhon? Never heard of him.”
“I heard on the way here—he’s called the Yunbong Sword Hero among the murim youth.”
“Ah! Him!”
The Yunbong Sword Hero, whose fame had spread rapidly lately.
But few knew his face exactly.
As Hyeonjin named him Yunbong Sword Hero, a stir erupted among the warriors who’d been quiet.
Wudang’s top sword Muheo, Okhwa Palace Lord Buso-yong, and now Yunbong Sword Hero Jin Muhon.
Paeng Geuksin finally realized who he’d provoked.
But seeing someone who looked far weaker than him draw admiration stirred his competitive spirit.
Hyeonjin chuckled and shook his head.
“Ha! Impressive. The Paeng blood runs true, it seems.”
“I’m sorry…”
Paeng Geuksin bowed, but his heart wasn’t fully humbled.
Hyeonjin broached gently.
“Looks like you want to test your skills against the Yunbong Sword Hero.”
“If the chance arises, why not?”
“Ha! Good spirit. But to challenge the Yunbong Sword Hero to a spar, you’ll need the qualifications first.”
“Pardon? What do you mean?”
Hyeonjin smiled softly, eyes fixed on Paeng Geuksin.
Everyone stared at his lips, eager for what came next.
“From now on, you won’t be able to discuss swords without mentioning the Yunbong Sword Hero.”
“……!”
All eyes bulged, locking onto Jin Muhon.
The frail-looking Yunbong Sword Hero.
The man they’d dismissed as a lucky fluke was a sword master endorsed by the Wudang sect leader.
Inside a lavish hall.
Jin Muhon sat facing Hyeonjin.
“You talked too much.”
Jin Muhon eyed him displeased, voice low.
Hyeonjin laughed heartily and averted his gaze.
You must be the Sword Hero, not the Sword Demon. Especially in these chaotic times.
Hiding his thoughts, Hyeonjin changed the subject.
“Hayeon. Don’t you agree?”
Jin Hayeon blinked her large eyes, glancing around the grand round table at Jin Muhon, Muheo, and Buso-yong.
True to its reputation as a top-tier hall, the one assigned to Yunbong Jin Family was spacious and opulent.
“Yes. I agree with senior brother sect leader, but Master said this: Victories in the murim aren’t decided by strength alone. Wins and losses come from a blend of techniques, inner power, control of surroundings and situations, and experience. There are no eternal victors or vanquished, so never grow complacent—always train diligently.”
“Oh? Really?”
Hyeonjin looked surprised at Muheo.
Buso-yong’s eyes widened behind her veil.
Muheo turned away, embarrassed.
Jin Hayeon smiled and finished.
“So arguing who’s strongest is pointless, right? Uncle could be the world’s top swordsman one day, Master the next, or Palace Lord after that.”
“Hahaha! Indeed. You’re wiser than this fool of a senior brother.”
“Hehehe!”
Hyeonjin beamed, patting Jin Hayeon’s head fondly.
The Sword Demon’s niece, tied to Wudang through her uncle’s eccentricities.
The more he learned, the more this connection delighted Hyeonjin.
He’d gladly take her as his final disciple and entrust her with Wudang—she was deeper-thinking and kinder-hearted than her peers.
“Cheongpung. Did you hear that?”
“…Yes.”
Cheongpung, standing behind Hyeonjin, bowed stiffly.
He’d encountered Jin Muhon during his Sword Demon days and still couldn’t escape that shadow. Even recently, witnessing the Tang Clan’s near-destruction had deepened it.
Left unchecked, he’d fall to heart demons someday—Hyeonjin kept him close, taking him everywhere to guide him.
Jin Hayeon smiled brightly and greeted Cheongpung.
He bowed back.
Whish—
Suddenly, a snack flew and thwacked Cheongpung’s forehead.
“Ow!”
Cheongpung clutched his forehead and looked up.
Muheo chewed another snack, eyeing him.
“Hey, you brat! Greet your elders first instead of standing there like a dummy!”
“I-It’s been a while, Grand Martial Uncle.”
“Tch! Stiff as a board. Greet the murim seniors properly!”
Belatedly, Cheongpung straightened and saluted Buso-yong and Jin Muhon.
“Pleased to meet you, Palace Lord.”
“Likewise.”
“…It’s been a while, Family Head.”
“Yes.”
Hearing Jin Muhon’s voice, Cheongpung sighed softly and dropped his salute.
Muheo clicked his tongue.
“What a man-child… tch tch.”
Buso-yong didn’t know the details but grasped the situation from Cheongpung’s fearful eyes and Muheo’s scolding.
“Wudang knows Jin Family Head’s true identity, I see.”
Hyeonjin and Cheongpung were the surprised ones.
“Even Okhwa Palace Lord knew?”
“Yes.”
“Yet you travel together… blackmail, perhaps…?”
Jin Muhon’s head turned slowly toward Hyeonjin.
Hyeonjin slapped his own mouth playfully and laughed.
“Ha! Just a joke. Why glare so fiercely?”
“These days, Wudang Taoists aren’t very Taoist-like.”
“Ahem! Perish the thought!”
Creak.
The reception room door opened; a maid brought tea.
Timing breaking the tension, Hyeonjin sent Cheongpung, Jin Hayeon, and Hongcheong out.
Jin Hayeon, itching to tour Nangong estate, grabbed Hongcheong’s hand with a grin and dashed off.
Now four remained at the table: Jin Muhon, Muheo, Buso-yong, and Hyeonjin.
Jin Muhon sipped his tea, staring at Hyeonjin.
“You didn’t come just for introductions.”
Hyeonjin set down his cup, meeting Jin Muhon’s eyes seriously.
“The conference’s biggest agendas are two.”
The Murim Alliance Leader was Shaolin Abbot Gongyo, the murim’s Mt. Tai and North Star.
Though not Shaolin, Wudang matched it—so Hyeonjin knew the key topics.
“What are they?”
“You know the Sichuan Tang Clan suffered near-annihilation?”
“Yes.”
Jin Muhon nodded.
He’d seen the blood himself.
Hyeonjin eyed him sharply.
“First agenda: aid for Tang Clan and identifying the culprits.”
“I see.”
Jin Muhon nodded nonchalantly.
Murim was survival of the fittest.
The weak got devoured—that was the law.
“Aid plans” were lip service; the survivors would squabble over Tang remnants.
“Second: dealing with the Demonic Cult.”
“Demonic Cult?”
“Yes. Traces found across Central Plains lately. Cheongpung says Demonic Cult behind the Sichuan Blood Demon too. So I ask.”
“……?”
Jin Muhon tilted his chin, inviting the question.
Hyeonjin steeled his gaze and spoke slowly.
“Jin Family Head. Did you destroy the Sichuan Tang Clan?”
“……!”
“……!”
Muheo and Buso-yong stared at Jin Muhon in shock.
He silently lifted his teacup.
“Jin Family Head! Sect Leader’s nephew speaks truth? You killed Poison King?”
Jin Muhon sipped leisurely.
Heavy silence blanketed the room.
Muheo trusted him, but Buso-yong and Hyeonjin harbored doubts.
If it was a Demonic Cult ploy.
If the Sword Demon infiltrated the Alliance to strike from within.
Righteous murim would crumble before fighting.
Clink.
Jin Muhon set down his cup.
The tiny sound rippled through their hearts.
“Poison King fell to Ma-seon too.”
“Ah!”
“Of course! No way you’d wipe out Tang without reason.”
Muheo and Buso-yong nodded immediately.
Hyeonjin couldn’t comprehend their reactions.
“Uncle. Ma-seon? What’s Jin Family Head saying?”
“Good grief. A sect leader so ignorant of the world.”
“Pardon?”
Pour.
Jin Muhon refilled his cup.
Hyeonjin turned to him.
“Let me ask now.”
“Go ahead.”
Jin Muhon sipped slowly, eyes locking with Hyeonjin’s.
His pupils flashed red briefly.
Hyeonjin felt a faint head throb but nothing major.
Jin Muhon nodded slightly and spoke.
“Not just Tang Clan. Nangong Family too.”
“I don’t follow.”
“Any sudden changes in Wudang personnel? Likely a high position.”
“What are you getting at…”
Hyeonjin trailed off, eyes sharpening as realization dawned.
Jin Muhon smirked.
“Wudang’s hit too.”