Chapter 24. From the Seongwangbu
A thunderous roar erupted from deep within Cheongsu Gate, making everyone in the sect flinch.
"You're telling me he delivered this and just vanished?"
The thick brows of Cheongsu Gate's second lord, Hwa Cheon-gang, twisted in fury.
Hwa Cheon-gang had a broad forehead and a square jaw that gave him a fierce look. His wolf-like sharp eyes betrayed his temperament.
On the table in front of where Hwa Cheon-gang sat lay a challenge letter delivered by a man in scholar's robes.
He, who prided himself as one of the Hundred Great Masters of the Central Plains, had never imagined receiving such a challenge. It was too resolute to dismiss as a prank.
— I shall settle our twenty-year grudge in a duel to the death. This month's last day, at the hour of the ox. Yong Family Ruins at the mouth of the Sang River.
Hwa Cheon-gang read the challenge letter once more. The short, matter-of-fact words hinted at an opponent who was no pushover.
"The moment I took it, he bolted. If only your men had brought it quicker, we could've caught him."
Cheongsu Gate's second steward, Jo Bang-un, bowed repeatedly in fear. If Hwa Cheon-gang lost his temper, a beating was the least of it—he could even end up dead.
"He must have a hideout in Gwangeonbang territory. He's definitely not anywhere south of Sangyang."
The bastard had waltzed in, ignored Cheongsu Gate entirely, even had a bowl of noodles before leaving leisurely. Hwa Cheon-gang's temples bulged with rage.
Grind. He gnashed his teeth.
"The nerve of him..."
The area north of Sangyang was Gwangeonbang territory, locked in confrontation with Cheongsu Gate. They couldn't just rummage around freely. He'd have to send word to the Gwangeonbang lord himself and request cooperation.
Normally, that might work, but not now. Tensions with Gwangeonbang were at their peak.
"You said the guy he was with is at the guesthouse?"
"To be precise, they didn't come together—they just sat at the same table eating noodles. The guy claims... he doesn't know him at all."
"Doesn't know him, but ate noodles together?"
Hwa Cheon-gang's gaze sharpened on Jo Bang-un, who couldn't meet his eyes and bowed his head.
"Suspicious bastard. I'll wring the truth out of him about their connection, even if I have to beat it out of him."
Jo Bang-un said the words, but inwardly he grumbled.
'Idiot underlings... making things complicated.'
It didn't make sense that the scholar had been caught. If they were accomplices, why flee separately? Why let himself get nabbed alone?
Jeong Ho-chang's report nagged at him too.
'His clothes suggest he's from a prestigious family. Turns out he even had a servant trailing him.'
The servant was No. 50. Having fifty servants meant... an incredibly powerful household.
And that implied the scholar wouldn't spill easily, even if connected to the challenger.
As Jo Bang-un hesitated, Hwa Cheon-gang bellowed.
"What are you waiting for? Go grill that bastard already!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
Jo Bang-un bowed hastily and scurried out.
'Gotta at least figure out why they ate noodles together.'
Descending the stairs toward the guesthouse, Jo Bang-un spotted someone entering and bowed quickly.
"What brings the third lord here?"
It was Cheongsu Gate's third lord, Hwa Cheon-un.
"Hm? Need to talk with my brother. Carry on, Steward Jo."
Hwa Cheon-un nodded curtly and climbed the stairs. Jo Bang-un watched him go, then turned, his expression darkening.
Hwa Cheon-un entered his second brother Hwa Cheon-gang's office.
"Brother, I heard a challenge letter arrived. Who sent it?"
Hwa Cheon-gang wordlessly tapped the letter on the table. Hwa Cheon-un picked it up, read it, and furrowed his brow.
"Twenty-year grudge... Yongssi Pye-ga!"
The words triggered a memory the moment he saw them.
Hwa Cheon-gang muttered, frowning deeply.
"Back then, we were knee-deep in blood. But specifying the Yong Family Ruins made it obvious."
"A descendant of the Yong family stronghold."
Hwa Cheon-un's brow creased too. A memory he'd rather forget resurfaced vividly.
Twenty years ago, the Yong family stronghold, hegemons of the Sang River, fell when their lord died and the family scattered. The ones who dueled their lord to the death... were the Hwa brothers, including himself. Even ganging up three against one, they'd barely taken him down. The Yong lord had been that formidable.
That victory handed them control of the Sang River, letting Cheongsu Gate dominate south Sangyang. But ganging up on one man wasn't exactly honorable, so they'd kept it hushed.
Hwa Cheon-un grumbled gravely.
"Just the date and place—no signature even."
"No need. The son of the Yong lord! I remember his eyes. Eyes of a hidden dragon. The moment I saw them, I knew this day would come."
"Of all times..."
Hwa Cheon-un sighed. Their eldest brother, first lord Hwa Cheon-baek, was in secluded training to unblock his meridians.
They'd barely obtained the elixir, setting a one-year deadline—top secret.
"Could be a Gwangeonbang ploy. With big brother in seclusion, they're probing us, seeing what we're up to. Best to hold back until we know more."
"Hmph!"
Hwa Cheon-gang snorted enigmatically, his eyes distant with the past.
Hwa Cheon-un changed the subject.
"Why was Jo Bang-un rushing out like that?"
"They caught a scholar who was with the sender. Grilling him should turn up something."
"They nabbed the challenger's companion?"
"Apparently."
Hwa Cheon-un stood. Too serious to leave to Jo Bang-un.
"I'll handle it myself."
* * *
Jo Bang-un scowled deeply, putting on a grave face to intimidate.
The young scholar before him stared blankly with an innocent expression.
'Squeezing this kid'll be a breeze.'
Behind Won Seung stood Jong Bi, her face full of resentment.
She hated being treated as his servant, but Jo Bang-un mistook it for defiance over her master's capture.
Jo Bang-un asked gravely.
"What's your name?"
"You'll learn that soon enough... Why'd you drag me here?"
"You're in deep now, kid. Things have gotten serious. Spill everything you know about that guy."
Jo Bang-un shook his head like it was dire, starting with threats.
'Couldn't catch the bastard.'
Won Seung sized up the Cheongsu Gate second steward inwardly. Narrow eyes, thin mustache—shrewd, but no virtue.
Jo Bang-un suddenly softened, coaxing slyly.
"Looks like you just crossed paths on the road... You don't really know him, do you?"
'Listen to this guy.'
Won Seung was puzzled. The interrogator was talking to himself.
"Got caught up in a freak coincidence. Just explain from start to finish. His goal's obvious—dragging you in to cloud my judgment. Hmph, cheap trick. You're not involved. Right?"
Jo Bang-un seemed sharp. He'd heard the details from Jeong Ho-chang and planned to gloss over it, knowing Won Seung was clean.
'Not letting you off that easy. Face is known now—can't just waltz back into Cheongsu Gate anytime.'
Won Seung had no intention of leaving quietly. Even if he wanted to... he was broke. Needed to hole up at the guesthouse. He schooled his face seriously and told Jong Bi,
"Wait outside."
He gestured to Jo Bang-un's escorts too, acting right at home—too naturally.
Jong Bi ground her teeth and left; the escorts didn't budge.
"Out."
But Jo Bang-un waved them off, and they went.
Alone, Won Seung muttered as if to himself.
"Guess I have no choice but to reveal my identity. Chased that bastard all the way to Sangyang—can't let him slip at the end."
He dropped the line with feigned gravity.
"So... he challenged Cheongsu Gate after all?"
Jo Bang-un frowned at the brat's arrogance but held back, thinking to coax his desired conclusion.
"You knew. He challenged our second lord. suicidal fool. So, your identity?"
'Gotcha.'
As Jo Bang-un bit, Won Seung straightened solemnly.
"Hm. Top secret... just between us. Truth is, I'm from the Seongwangbu in the capital."
"Gasp!"
Jo Bang-un recoiled at "Seongwangbu." After the brutal succession wars, only two princes remained: Yeongwang and Seongwang.
Seongwang's power grew daily—Cheongsu Gate's second steward over the Sang River knew well.
Won Seung pressed without pause.
"Hm. Knew he'd target Cheongsu Gate when he headed to Sangyang."
Jo Bang-un tilted his head.
What the hell?
"That bastard wrecked havoc in the capital too. Dared challenge the Great Abyss Righteous Sword of Seongwangbu."
"Challenged the Great Abyss Righteous Sword? Isn't he insane?"
Jo Bang-un yelped in shock.
The Great Abyss Righteous Sword rivaled the Ten Great Experts. Without Seongwangbu, he'd have displaced one.
'Guess the Great Abyss Righteous Sword's still at Seongwangbu.'
Won Seung spun a tale from childhood tales. Mentioning the name left Jo Bang-un no room for doubt.
"He survived challenging the Great Abyss Righteous Sword and made it here? What about the Sword?"
Won Seung sighed in disbelief.
"His scheme was absurd. Challenged for the fame, then fled. Hit Sangyang and immediately slapped a challenge on Cheongsu Gate's top master."
Jo Bang-un frowned. The tale painted the challenger as fame-hungry. But fleeing after challenging the Great Abyss Righteous Sword? That was shame, not fame.
Won Seung sighed.
"After challenging, he claimed Seongwangbu experts were after him as an excuse. Jianghu's now criticizing Seongwangbu and the Sword instead. Same trick here—exploiting gullible warriors' psychology."
Jo Bang-un had heard no such rumors.
Sangyang and the capital were a thousand li apart.
"Furious Seongwang sent me to nab him. Ran into him at that noodle shop ahead... still bragging. Says he'll prove his skills in a deathmatch with Hwa Cheon-gang."
"He really said that?"
Jo Bang-un eyed Won Seung suspiciously.
A secret agent from Seongwang with one puny servant?
A madman who challenged the Great Abyss Righteous Sword could snap a scrawny scholar's neck effortlessly—yet let him go?
This kid screamed fraud.
'You little shit!'
Killing intent flickered in Jo Bang-un's eyes.