Chapter 31: The Meteor Sect and the Gyeonghoe Gate (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 31: The Meteor Sect and the Gyeonghoe Gate (2)
Seok Myeong’s eyes widened the moment he stepped into the inn.
The scale and grandeur were on an entirely different level compared to any place they had visited before. The establishment was bustling, packed with tables overflowing with food. Despite the crowd, the tables were spaced generously, ensuring every guest looked perfectly at ease.
It felt as if the Peach Blossom Spring—the legendary paradise he had only heard of in his master’s stories—had manifested right before his eyes.
“Brother Seok Myeong, please stop gawking.”
Hyeok-jin frowned deeply at Seok Myeong, who was staring blankly with his mouth agape.
Already, several martial artists at nearby tables were snickering at them. Further back, a group of five or six men were openly mocking them with sneers. Their gazes all conveyed the same thought: Is this greenhorn on his first trip into the Jianghu?
“Brother Seok Myeong!”
“Ah, my apologies.”
Only then did Seok Myeong realize how he was acting. He offered an awkward, sheepish smile. “I wasn’t thinking about how it looked for you.”
“Let’s just find a seat for now.”
Fearing they would draw even more unwanted attention, Hyeok-jin led Seok Myeong toward an empty spot. Fortunately, there was a vacant table in a corner, allowing them to sit down immediately. As soon as they settled in, a waiter approached.
The man had been nowhere to be seen a moment ago, yet he had managed to pick them out instantly in the crowded room. His sharp, observant eyes suggested he was a veteran of the trade.
“What can I get for you?”
“A cup of water, please,” Seok Myeong said, looking at the waiter with fascination and speaking with total confidence.
“Pfft!”
The sound of laughter erupted from the men watching them. Even though they were some distance away, their mockery reached Seok Myeong and Hyeok-jin’s ears as clearly as a whisper.
“Give us two bowls of thin noodles,” Hyeok-jin interjected, covering his face with his hand as he corrected the order. Only then did the waiter nod and disappear.
“Brother Seok Myeong.”
“Yes? Did I make another mistake?” Seok Myeong asked innocently.
Hyeok-jin searched his eyes for any sign of mischief but soon sighed in resignation. It didn’t seem like he was acting clumsy on purpose. Then again, a normal person wouldn’t act like that even if they were paid to.
“Please, try to check with me before you do anything.”
“Why?”
“You leave too many openings, Brother. You might cause a misunderstanding or have your intentions misread by others.”
“Is that so? I understand. I shall do as you say from now on.”
Seok Myeong conceded easily, so Hyeok-jin didn't press the matter further. Soon, two bowls of thin noodles were served.
“Oh...!”
Seok Myeong’s eyes sparkled like a child witnessing a miracle. These were vastly different from the noodles he knew. The noodles sold near Mount Qingcheng always looked dry and heavy, but these had a glossy sheen that made him feel like he could eat them every day for the rest of his life.
Everything was new to him—the crowded room, the vibrant energy, and the novelty of holding a conversation amidst such a boisterous atmosphere. Following Hyeok-jin’s lead, Seok Myeong picked up his chopsticks and tasted the noodles.
So smooth!
It was a subtle, exquisite flavor he had never experienced before. It was both strange and satisfying, and his expression shifted constantly with every bite.
Sigh...
Hyeok-jin eventually gave up. It was impossible to stop Seok Myeong from reacting to every single aspect of urban culture. His attempts to keep the man composed had reached their limit.
“By the way, Hyeok-jin.” Seok Myeong spoke as he set down his bowl.
“Yes?”
“Where do you think I should send my Martial Challenge Letters?”
“Pardon?”
“Ideally, I’d like to challenge secular disciples of the Wudang or Mount Hua sects. Shaolin would be fine too, but... for some reason, I feel a bit intimidated by them. Anyone else is fine. Regardless, I want the duel to be beneficial for both parties.”
“Haa... Brother Seok Myeong.” Hyeok-jin let out a long, weary sigh.
“Yes?”
“You know far too little about the Jianghu.”
“What do you mean?”
“People in the Jianghu don’t accept challenges so easily. Especially not when the opponent is a newcomer like you.”
“Why not?”
“Because there is no justification for it.” Hyeok-jin spoke plainly. “Duels are commonly known as a way for martial artists to test their strength, but there are many hidden factors involved. They consider whether the skill levels are comparable, if the status of the respective sects matches, and what kind of reputation the challenger has. Only after weighing all these complex factors do they decide whether to accept.”
“Is it truly that complicated?”
“It is. Furthermore, you mentioned you are from one of the Nine Great Sects, but the name of the Qingcheng Sect often acts as a hindrance. If someone defeats a member of the Qingcheng Sect, they often face endless retaliatory challenges until they eventually lose.”
Listening to him, Seok Myeong realized his situation was more serious than he had thought. Even among the few people he had met within his own sect, many had fierce, prideful personalities. To the outside world, the Qingcheng Sect was likely known as a very hot-blooded organization.
“You seem to know quite a lot, though.”
“Pardon?”
“Weren’t you also living only near the Sichuan Mountains?”
“Ha, well...” Hyeok-jin’s face darkened slightly. “I wandered quite a bit for a few months. I visited marketplaces and stopped by any sect that caught my eye. I picked up a lot of information while I was out making my master worry.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“It’s fine. Thanks to that, we can avoid dangers that we both might have otherwise missed,” Hyeok-jin said, trying to stay positive.
Seok Myeong didn't pry further. A moment of silence passed before Seok Myeong suddenly spoke with a troubled expression.
“Now that I think about it, this is a problem.”
“What is?”
“I must build a reputation before I can return to my sect.”
“A reputation? For what reason?”
Seok Myeong shook his head. “I have my reasons, but I cannot say.”
“Hmm.”
“Is there no other way? Is it truly that difficult?” Seok Myeong asked again. His current predicament was his greatest concern.
Hyeok-jin replied, “First, it’s important to take things step by step. For a duel to happen, the opponent must feel that the gain from defeating you outweighs the risk of being defeated by you. Therefore, if your reputation is high to begin with, they will accept your challenge more readily.”
“Ah, I see.” Seok Myeong thought for a moment. “Then let us discuss the best way to increase my fame—”
CRASH!
Before Seok Myeong could finish his sentence, a table was smashed to pieces nearby, followed by a roaring voice.
“So what if you’re from the Meteor Sect? Are you telling me to just crawl before you?”
The voice was booming and gravelly. It belonged to a burly man shouting from the center of the inn. He stood surrounded by several warriors dressed in black.
At his shout, the expression of the young man facing him wavered. In this region, it was standard practice to bow one's head when the Meteor Sect was mentioned. But this burly man did not.
“This is the Young Lord of the Gyeongmun Society!” shouted one of the guards standing beside the man.
The young man’s face flickered with surprise, but he quickly regained his composure. It was an unexpected group to encounter. However, this was a battle of wills; he couldn't afford to back down.
“Hmph! You’re just the lot who survive by sucking the lifeblood out of penniless merchants.”
“What did you say? You bastard, have you said your piece?”
Clang!
Shring, shring, shring!
The burly man and the youth both drew their swords. In that instant, their respective guards followed suit. A murderous atmosphere filled the room, and the surrounding patrons began to murmur in alarm. The moment the sound of clashing steel erupted, the inn would turn into a scene of carnage.
“Let’s get out of here.”
“Quickly, move!”
At these shouts, the people inside the inn began to scramble for the exit.
*
“Brother Seok Myeong, we should leave as well,” Hyeok-jin said, his face hardening.
“Why?”
“Can’t you see what’s happening?” Hyeok-jin pointed toward the confrontation.
Seok Myeong watched them for a moment before asking, “I don’t understand. They are the ones fighting, so why must we leave?”
“You say that because you don’t know how things work. Why do you think everyone else is running away? If we stay here and get caught up in that fight, it’ll be a massive headache. That’s why we need to leave quickly.”
“Then can’t we just make sure we don’t get caught up in it?”
“Do you think it’s as easy as it sounds? In this world, people will drag you into a fight between sects for the most trivial reasons. And don’t you know how famous their sects are?”
“I heard them mention the Meteor Sect and the Gyeongmun Society just now...”
“Ah...” Hyeok-jin shook his head again at Seok Myeong’s ignorance. Both sects were so well-known in this region that people fled just at the mention of their names.
Ultimately, he decided to try and persuade him. Since the two groups were currently locked in a stalemate, glaring at each other, he figured he could explain quickly and then they could leave.
“The Meteor Sect is currently the undisputed top sect in this area. It’s the sect of Cheon Yeok-jin, who is known as one of the Hundred Great Masters. They have many skilled warriors and are a significant mid-sized sect, even providing guards for nearby escort bureaus.”
“Then the Meteor Sect must be stronger.”
“One could see it that way, but the Gyeongmun Society is not to be trifled with either. They started as a group responsible for maintaining order in the marketplaces, but as the markets grew, they formed a large organization. In terms of individual martial prowess, the Meteor Sect is stronger, but in terms of unity and influence, the Gyeongmun Society is more fearsome. They possess a reckless loyalty and have solid financial backing from the local elites.”
“Hmm, is that so?” Seok Myeong nodded as if he understood.
Thinking he had finally convinced him, Hyeok-jin stood up. “Now, let’s go.”
“Why?”
“What do you mean 'why'? Didn't I just explain everything?”
“I mean, why should we leave?”
“Ah...” Hyeok-jin groaned in frustration. He thought he had explained it well enough for anyone to understand, but Seok Myeong still hadn't grasped the situation. However, Seok Myeong’s next words revealed that he had interpreted the situation in an entirely different way.
“From what you’ve said, the Meteor Sect is an Orthodox sect led by one of the Hundred Great Masters, and the Gyeongmun Society is an Unorthodox group that manages merchants with the backing of local elites, correct?”
“That is correct.”
“Then there is no reason for us to avoid them. In fact, since we are of the Orthodox Faction, shouldn't we step in and help?”
That was Seok Myeong’s logic. He believed that one should help those doing right and stop those doing wrong. Hyeok-jin, however, had a different perspective.
“Normally, that would be true... but Brother Seok Myeong, think about it. This is the Jianghu, where blood is spilled over the simplest misunderstandings.”
“Hmm...”
“Furthermore, we can’t just jump in blindly. We don’t even know why they are fighting. For all we know, that youth from the Orthodox sect might have been the provocateur. We don’t know the full story, and we don’t have the power to intervene. If we meddle, we’ll only end up facing the consequences.”
“You have a point.”
“Right?”
“Yes.” Seok Myeong nodded. The argument that they couldn't act without knowing the full story was perfectly sound. If he could just find out the circumstances, he would be able to lend a hand immediately. “Then let us stay and watch.”
“Pardon?”
Hyeok-jin, who was about to walk away, stared at him with wide eyes. Seok Myeong, whom he thought was ready to leave, had once again refused.
“We can observe the situation first, and then decide whether it is appropriate for us to intervene or not.”
“Didn’t I tell you? If we get involved for no reason...”
“And what if it is a righteous cause and we simply turn a blind eye? Wouldn't that make us a laughingstock in the Jianghu?”
“Brother Seok Myeong...”
Hyeok-jin couldn't find a rebuttal. When he thought about it, Seok Myeong’s words weren't wrong. And considering everything, it wasn't as if Seok Myeong lacked the power to act.
On the day of the duel with his master... this young man, who seemed so clumsy and naive, had displayed a level of power that was unimaginable for someone his age.
“Fine, I suppose we have no choice.”
Hyeok-jin sat back down.