Chapter 36: Duel (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 36: Duel (2)
“Hahaha! Kahahaha!”
Cheol Mu-jin burst into a roar of laughter.
It had been a long time since he had laughed so joyfully. He laughed like a madman, his voice booming until the very roof of the inn seemed to rattle.
Only after a long while did he finally settle down. Cheol Mu-jin’s sharp gaze shifted toward Seok Myeong.
“So that was it.”
The patrons inside the inn held their breath, listening intently to Cheol Mu-jin’s words.
“Is that why you asked me to grant you three moves?”
There was something truly peculiar about Seok Myeong’s request.
Regardless of the circumstances, Qingcheng was still Qingcheng. If their pride was wounded, they would find a way to retaliate. Seok Myeong had resolved this dilemma in a unique way—a method that appeared to cast aside his pride on the surface, but in truth, was the only way to uphold it.
“However,” Cheol Mu-jin continued.
“Yes, please speak.”
“If I hadn't listened to your story and had lunged at you immediately to kill you, what would you have done then?”
Cheol Mu-jin was genuinely curious. He wanted to know how the boy would have handled a situation where reason failed.
Seok Myeong replied with the same calm expression as before.
“There is a lake on Mount Qingcheng called Wolseong Lake.”
“Wolseong Lake?”
Everyone looked on with questioning eyes at the sudden mention of the lake. Their expressions clearly asked why he was bringing up a body of water out of nowhere.
“Many people fish there. I visited a few times in the past, and the fishermen told me that when catching a fish, one must use any means and methods necessary.”
“And?”
“But while everyone was eager to catch the fish, they lost all interest in it once it was actually caught.”
“So...”
“So, I must ask you. In your eyes, am I a fish you are still trying to catch, or a fish already in your net?”
The old man’s eyes gleamed with renewed interest.
Did he consider Seok Myeong a fish worth the effort of the hunt? Or was he a fish already caught? If he was already caught, was there any need to exert further effort or violence?
‘This boy’s silver tongue is truly something...’
It was impressive.
What made it more interesting was that his speech didn't sound cunning or manipulative. Seok Myeong’s words were a blend of sincerity and humility. Acknowledging his own lower standing while still asserting his point was a level of eloquence rarely seen in the Jianghu.
Cheol Mu-jin stared intently at Seok Myeong.
He was different from the usual hypocrites of the Orthodox Faction—those who spoke righteously to one's face while committing foul deeds in the shadows.
‘He interests me.’
It had been a very long time since he had met such a fascinating youth. Moreover, the boy was undoubtedly the most skilled talent he had encountered in recent years.
‘Seeing him reminds me of Cheol Gun.’
Cheol Mu-jin thought of his grandson. A young hero who could hardly find a rival among the Rising Stars. It was said that because of his peerless martial arts—having never lost a single duel since his coming-of-age ceremony—he was already known by the title "Invincible Divine Sword."
He thought it would be a spectacle to see this boy clash with his grandson. No, he needed to see them fight.
“Then, do you know the rule?”
At Cheol Mu-jin’s words, Seok Myeong raised his head.
“What do you mean?”
“That if you lose a duel, you must follow the winner’s commands.”
“...”
Seok Myeong looked slightly flustered for a moment, but he soon nodded. He had expected as much.
“Please speak. If it is not something unreasonable, I will comply.”
“You shall come with me to my family’s estate.”
“Pardon?”
Seok Myeong’s eyes widened.
“Come with me. There, I will choose an opponent suited for you.”
The words burst reflexively from the mouth of Cheol So-yeon, who had been watching the exchange in confusion.
“Grandfather, surely you don't mean Brother Cheol Gun?”
At those words, Go Gu-heon, who was standing nearby, spoke up.
“If it’s Cheol Gun... do you mean the Young Lord of the Golden Martial Association?”
Cheol Gun was considered the greatest talent among the Rising Stars of the Unorthodox Faction.
Seok Myeong looked at Go Gu-heon for a moment before turning his gaze back to Cheol Mu-jin. He hadn't realized the weight of the name they were discussing.
“Yes, I am talking about Cheol Gun. I think it would be quite a sight to see him and this boy compete.”
“Grandfather, this man is no match for my brother. Besides, I don't even know if Brother would bother fighting him,” Cheol So-yeon said, shaking her head in dismissal.
“I will take care of that. Regardless, you just need to follow me.”
“Grandfather!”
Cheol So-yeon frowned. She still held a grudge against Seok Myeong for how he had interrupted her earlier.
What made her even angrier was his appearance. She had expected a snub-nosed, freckled, ugly fellow, but his face was unexpectedly handsome. That only served to irritate her more.
“Hmph!”
Cheol So-yeon glared at Seok Myeong before looking away. She wanted to be angrier, but since he had shown martial prowess impressive enough to catch her grandfather’s eye, she held her tongue.
Seok Myeong remained stoic, showing no reaction to her temper.
“Sigh, this is getting out of hand.”
Only Hyeok-jin, who had been holding his breath, muttered to himself in dismay. To think they were actually heading to the Golden Martial Association with Cheol Mu-jin.
It was a day that seemed to have no end in sight.
*
The Golden Martial Association.
An organization among the Eight Inner Courts of the Unorthodox Faction that had established deep roots in the Sichuan region. In terms of military power, it was an extremely influential power, ranking among the top three even within the Unorthodox Faction.
The Golden Martial Association was divided into the Three Bands and the Five Halls. The Three Bands controlled and trained organizations specialized in various roles, while the Five Halls managed the security of major territories and strongholds. Simply put, they functioned as the Outer and Inner Courts.
The Inner Court was further divided into the Six Towers and Twelve Pavilions. The Six Towers housed everything from weapon production to the research of secret manuals and martial arts. The Twelve Pavilions directed the internal administration, including intelligence, territory management, finance, and general affairs.
Then, there were the Four Palaces.
Upon entering the heart of the Golden Martial Association, these Four Palaces immediately caught the eye. They were four grand halls built to maintain a specific area, much like a traditional courtyard house. To enter this sanctum, one had to pass through no fewer than twelve defensive barriers and scale walls as thick and high as an iron fortress. It was a place so perfectly defended that it was often called the residence of the Hegemon of Sichuan.
“How many times has it been now?”
The carriage had stopped and started nine times. As guard warriors continuously appeared to conduct inspections, Hyeok-jin couldn't help but let out an exclamation of awe.
Although he couldn't see outside because of the cloth covering the windows, he could feel the sharp, heavy gazes of the guards who came to inspect them. He caught glimpses of massive castle gates through the gaps and a road that seemed to stretch on forever. It was a sight that commanded pure admiration.
“Now that we’ve passed the Nine Gates, we’ll have to travel a bit further.”
“The... the Nine Gates?”
Hyeok-jin couldn't hide his astonishment at Cheol Mu-jin’s words. He was dumbfounded by the fact that there were as many as twelve such gates in total. Although he had recently learned about the state of the Jianghu, there was still much he didn't know.
“Why are you keeping your eyes closed?”
Cheol So-yeon asked, looking at Seok Myeong. She had tried to ignore him, but since he had kept his eyes shut from the moment they boarded the carriage, her curiosity got the better of her.
At her question, Seok Myeong replied without opening his eyes.
“Because I believed opening my eyes would be improper.”
“What does that mean?”
“Since I was young, I was taught the etiquette one must observe toward others. Even though the windows are covered with black cloth, one never knows. If I were to unintentionally see something I shouldn't, you all would be greatly offended. That is why I am traveling with my eyes closed.”
“...”
Cheol So-yeon was momentarily speechless. He was clearly an unpleasant person to her, but she found herself hesitating, not knowing how to take his words.
“You said your name was Azure Cloud Taoist, right?”
Suddenly, Cheol Mu-jin interjected. Seok Myeong replied, his head still slightly bowed.
“That is correct.”
“In the past, the Azure Cloud Taoist of Qingcheng was famous in Sichuan. He didn't place much importance on the distinction between the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions. In fact, if something was wrong, he would scold even those of the Orthodox Faction.”
“...”
“You are no different. You possess the character worthy of inheriting his legacy.”
Cheol Mu-jin smiled as he watched him. This was a man he coveted. He wasn't swayed by empty formalities and maintained genuine respect for others.
‘The elders...’
Seok Myeong also felt something welling up in his chest. He didn't believe that Azure Cloud Taoist had only practiced demonic arts. The countless traces of research and the books—weren't they traces of an attempt to study the true nature of humanity?
‘Hmph! He’s probably just trying to look cool.’
Cheol So-yeon was displeased with Cheol Mu-jin’s praise, but she didn't voice it. Though she didn't realize it, the expression with which she looked at Seok Myeong had softened slightly.
“By the way, who is the person next to you? He doesn't seem to be from the Qingcheng Sect.”
Cheol Mu-jin belatedly asked about Hyeok-jin’s identity. This put Hyeok-jin in a difficult position. He had ended up coming along with Seok Myeong, but the truth was that a nameless nobody like him held no weight in the eyes of a titan like Cheol Mu-jin.
“He is a brother I met nearby.”
“A brother? Not a junior disciple?”
“Yes.”
At that, Cheol Mu-jin’s gaze turned toward Hyeok-jin.
“Who is your master?”
“...Pardon? Me?”
As Cheol Mu-jin showed interest, Hyeok-jin’s face stiffened. He was in the presence of masters the likes of which were rarely seen—the Qingcheng Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects, and the Golden Martial Association, a pillar of the Unorthodox Faction.
But he was different from them. His background was humble, and his martial arts were not strong. Although the martial arts his master had shown him before passing away were shocking, he had only seen them. Compared to those with grand backgrounds, he felt infinitely small.
“His surname is Baek, and his given name is Yang-cheon.”
He spoke in a voice barely above a whisper, tucking his head in to hide his embarrassment.
However...
“...”
Cheol Mu-jin went silent. He stared at Hyeok-jin with a dazed expression for a long time.
Just as Hyeok-jin, feeling uneasy, cautiously raised his head...
“No way. It couldn't be the person Grandfather is thinking of,” Cheol So-yeon cut in. Hyeok-jin blinked, not knowing what she was talking about.
Then...
“Your master’s title... what was his title?” Cheol Mu-jin asked.
As he suddenly showed intense interest, Hyeok-jin shrank back even more.
“He was called the Flash Divine Sword. He wasn't very famous, so mentioning it like this is...”
Thud!
“What did you say?!”
A sudden shout. Seok Myeong and Hyeok-jin were startled by the reaction. But Cheol Mu-jin didn't care at all; he leaned forward and glared at Hyeok-jin, shouting.
“The Flash Divine Sword, Baek Yang-cheon! Is it truly him? Is he really your master? Is he?!”
“Y-yes. He is my master.”
“Hah...”
Cheol Mu-jin grabbed Hyeok-jin by the collar. Startled by the sudden action, Hyeok-jin asked, “But how... how do you know my master?”
Cheol Mu-jin fell silent for a moment. Even Seok Myeong, who had been quiet, turned his head toward where he was sitting.
Then, Cheol So-yeon spoke up. Her tone was full of disbelief.
“He was known as one of the Ten Great Masters.”
“...Pardon?”
“I mean one of the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven.”
“What? Is that true?!”
Hyeok-jin’s eyes flew open. He was so shocked that his eyes were twitching.
The Ten Great Masters Under Heaven. It was a title given to the ten strongest beings in the entire world.
“With just a sword... one of the Ten Great Masters...”
“Twenty years ago, he didn't just use a sword.”
“Pardon?”
Hyeok-jin, who had been murmuring in deep emotion, turned his head.
Cheol Mu-jin, reminiscing about the past, said softly, “Back then, he also wielded a Great Axe.”