Winning Hearts
Amidst the crowd of women who had gathered, the Young Sect Leader spotted a familiar young face.
Blushing, the girl spoke in a soft, timid voice. "Young Sect Leader... Do you happen to remember me?"
She was none other than the very girl who had been brought to the Sun and Moon Sect's banquet a year ago to play the zither.
She was also the daughter of the woman he had saved just a few days prior.
Her name was Jang Seo-yun. Appearing to be in her mid-teens, she was a few years older than the Young Sect Leader's current physical age.
With her cheeks flushed a delicate pink, she waited anxiously for his response.
"Indeed. How have you been? You look a bit healthier than before."
"...Ah... T-Thank you..."
Jang Seo-yun's face had burned bright red the moment she stepped before him, leaving her utterly tongue-tied.
Yet, seeing how she lingered instead of walking away, she clearly had something more she wanted to say.
"Seo-yun, go on. Tell him."
Another woman who had come with her, appearing to be around twenty, nudged her and tugged at her sleeve, but the girl still couldn't bring herself to speak.
"Young Sect Leader, if it pleases you, may I speak on Seo-yun's behalf?"
"And who might you be?"
"My name is Yu Hui-jin. I am a close friend of Seo-yun."
"...Very well. Speak."
Realizing her friend was hopeless, Yu Hui-jin stepped in to explain.
"Ever since the day she came home with that brand-new zither and a mountain of food, this poor girl has been acting like she caught a terrible fever. She's been sighing day in and day out, staring blankly at the sky as if she's lost in a dream. It was so pitiful to watch! But who could have guessed that the sweetheart who stole her heart was none other than you, Young Sect Leader?"
"Ah! Sister Hui-jin!"
"Haha! At any rate, we are all deeply grateful to you. Thanks to your immense generosity, Seo-yun's zither skills have improved by leaps and bounds. On top of that, you even saved her mother and younger sister's lives. Which brings me to..."
The Yu woman gave the crimson-faced Jang Seo-yun a sly wink, then clasped her hands and bowed deeply to the Young Sect Leader.
"Would you be so kind as to tell us more about the Sun and Moon Sect?"
"Tell you about it?"
"Yes. We have heard rumors about the Sun and Moon Sect from time to time, but surely rumors do not tell the whole story. Seeing how wonderful you and your followers are, we all felt a deep desire to truly understand your sect."
The "we" she referred to meant the dozen or so young women of the village, including Jang Seo-yun.
Indeed, a crowd of young girls and women were gazing at him with eyes full of eager anticipation.
Namgung Eon was also practically vibrating with excitement, waiting for the Young Sect Leader's permission.
The Young Sect Leader recalled the conversation he had shared with Namgung Eon just moments ago.
Namgung Eon had urged him to join the villagers' banquet, saying:
"If it pleases you, my Lord, perhaps we could use this occasion as an opportunity to spread our teachings to the villagers."
"Spread our teachings?"
In the first place, Namgung Eon's original mission in this town was proselytization.
Just like any other religious organization, spreading the faith was one of the most vital duties of a Sun and Moon Sect disciple.
Proselytization... Spreading the faith, huh?
The success of such endeavors was also one of the criteria used to evaluate the Young Sect Leader's performance.
But recruiting people into the Sun and Moon Sect—an organization widely branded by the world as the "Demonic Cult"—was a daunting prospect.
He had absolutely no idea where to even begin or what to do.
However...
If it's something I have to do eventually, it would be a waste to let an opportunity like this slip away.
After all, there would never be a better time to win them over than now, when his reputation among the villagers was at an all-time high.
"Young Sect Leader? Would that be alright?"
Shaking off his thoughts, the Young Sect Leader looked at the expectant faces of the women.
And offered them a dignified, elegant smile.
"Of course. I shall entrust this matter to Young Master Namgung Eon."
"Thank you, Young Sect Leader!"
"Namgung Eon, come here."
"Yes, my Lord!"
With his master's permission granted, Namgung Eon practically leaped forward in joy.
He gathered the women, cleared off an entire large table, and had them sit down.
From an introvert's perspective, extroverts were nothing short of a scientific marvel.
How on earth do they have so much energy?
That was exactly what the Young Sect Leader was thinking as he watched Namgung Eon preach to the village women.
"And so, right then and there, I declared my intentions to my father and swore my eternal loyalty to the Young Sect Leader!"
They say extroverts recharge their batteries by interacting with people.
The profound, overflowing energy that the Young Sect Leader felt during his solitary, wall-facing meditation in the Hall of No-Mind was exactly what Namgung Eon was experiencing right now in this crowded room.
Namgung Eon was passionately recounting the tale of how he had become a disciple of the Sun and Moon Sect to the young women of Maehwa County.
It was a story captivating enough to hold anyone's interest, but the women's minds were entirely elsewhere.
Ah, the Young Sect Leader... How can a man be so breathtakingly handsome?
Whether it was Lady Han, Lady Kang, or Lady Eun...
Though their ears registered Namgung Eon's words, their minds were filled with entirely different thoughts.
Some were even stealing blatant glances at the Young Sect Leader.
The Young Sect Leader didn't spare them so much as a single glance, yet merely looking at his profile was enough to make more than a few hearts flutter and cheeks burn.
Did the Young Sect Leader just look at me?
If only I could hear his voice just once...
Unbeknownst to him, the women were falling head over heels for his quiet, aloof charm.
His noble status as the successor to the Sun and Moon Sect Leader.
His formidable martial prowess, which perfectly matched his rank, and an aura so cold, noble, and untouchable that it commanded absolute reverence.
Combined with his silent nature, he appeared to them like a mystical immortal stepped straight out of legend. Naturally, they felt they could die happy if they could hear him speak even a single sentence.
While extroverts might grab one's attention first, it was an eternal truth of the universe that once you fell for an introvert, there was no turning back.
"Ah, my apologies. I have rambled on for too long. Let us take a short recess."
Sensing that the atmosphere was hardly conducive to a lecture on religious doctrine, Namgung Eon paused his speech.
Watching this, the Young Sect Leader made up his mind.
As expected, if I leave everything to my subordinates, nothing gets done properly.
"Namgung Eon."
"Yes, my Lord!"
Having reached a decision, the Young Sect Leader summoned him.
Namgung Eon respectfully took a seat beside him. Naturally, every single eye in the room instantly locked onto the Young Sect Leader.
"It has been a year since you took refuge in our sacred sect. What have you felt during this time?"
"What have I felt, my Lord...?"
"I ask if you truly believe our sect's doctrines and philosophy are worthy of you risking your entire life."
"Ah... Young Sect Leader, is it alright for me to speak of this here?"
"Is there anything you would hesitate to say in front of others?"
Hearing those words, Namgung Eon realized the Young Sect Leader's true intent.
He wasn't merely asking to hear Namgung Eon's sincere thoughts.
He was providing the perfect climax to the proselytization efforts Namgung Eon had been making all evening.
"No, my Lord. I shall speak."
Namgung Eon began to speak, his voice clear and resonant.
"I believe the Sun and Moon Sect's unique mindset of 'survival of the fittest,' our tendency to establish order through sheer force, and our dismissive attitude toward other faiths are obstacles we must overcome. Perhaps I feel this way because of my orthodox background, but even in the orthodox factions, not everyone is evil."
"Hmm..."
Listening to this, Yeongho Bin was utterly shocked.
Even if the Young Sect Leader had granted him permission to speak freely, to openly criticize the sect like this was incredibly bold.
Knowing their master's usual temperament, it wouldn't have been surprising if he immediately roared in anger or struck him down.
Yet, the Young Sect Leader merely listened, his face a mask of deep, contemplative silence.
"However, when one looks at how corrupt the self-proclaimed 'noble orthodox sects' of the Murim have become, and how much the common people suffer under their yoke, anyone would agree with the paradox that the teachings of our sect—branded as the 'Demonic Cult' and pointed at with scorn—actually hold the true moral high ground. Furthermore, our doctrine that all humans are equal, whether they be high-ranking officials or humble peasants, and our teachings to protect the weak and aid the poor, will surely become the sole, shining beacon of the Jianghu."
As Namgung Eon spoke, many in the crowd found themselves nodding along.
His words carried immense weight, perfectly aligning with the tragic events the village had recently suffered and the justice that had been served today.
Because it wasn't blind, unconditional praise, his testimony felt incredibly genuine.
"To answer your question, my Lord: yes, I believe our doctrines and philosophy are worth dedicating my entire life to. In fact, my conviction is far stronger now than it was when I first swore my loyalty to you a year ago."
As Namgung Eon finished speaking and knelt to bow deeply to the Young Sect Leader, a burst of applause erupted from the villagers.
Some were so moved that they nodded in deep agreement.
Right then, the Young Sect Leader, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.
The villagers, who had been dying to hear his voice, instantly fell into a breathless hush.
"Never forget the words you have spoken today. And, Namgung Eon, Yeongho Bin. I shall hand down a decree to you both."
"Yes, my Lord!"
Jang Seo-yun and the other young women leaned forward, their eyes sparkling as they hung on his every word.
"As the Young Sect Leader, and as the future leader of our sect, I am bound to uphold the principles of strength, the survival of the fittest, and the law of the jungle. However, if the day ever comes when I forget our true foundation—the very one Namgung Eon just spoke of..."
"......!"
"...You must admonish me out of loyalty. You must guide me, so that I may remain the true guardian of our sect's teachings, which exist to deliver the common people from suffering."
"...!!!"
"And if I still refuse to listen, you must use force to bring me back to my senses."
The Young Sect Leader's words were entirely sincere, without a single trace of falsehood.
That raw sincerity resonated deeply with everyone listening.
"Hmm. Though to do that, you will both have to train far harder than you do now."
The villagers were profoundly moved by the Young Sect Leader, who, despite his exalted status, was genuinely prepared to sacrifice everything for the common folk of the Jianghu.
Yeongho Bin and Namgung Eon were no exception.
"My Lord... Your wisdom is absolute!"
"I shall obey your command even at the cost of my life!"
Needless to say, Yeongho Bin and Namgung Eon were so deeply moved by their master's heartfelt decree that they swore their allegiance once more...
"Oh, Young Sect Leader!!"
"He is the true beacon of light who will save the Jianghu!"
The villagers, who hadn't even listened to the actual doctrinal lecture, were all nodding in awe and admiration.
Several of the women looked as though they might swoon from sheer adoration.
"Young Master Namgung Eon! I want to join the Sun and Moon Sect! What must I do?"
"Have you obtained your parents' permission?"
"My mother and father have both decided to join as well!"
"I see! Excellent. Come this way, and I shall explain everything!"
Thus, there was absolutely no need to state the obvious: the proselytization campaign was a roaring success.
My journey into the Jianghu to investigate Namgung Eon and the Kunlun Sect had yielded great results, but the toll it took on my introverted energy was greater than ever before.
That night, I retreated straight to my room and fell into a deep, dead sleep.
I planned to wake up early the next morning to report the situation to the Right Guardian, who was acting on behalf of the Sect Leader.
"The atmosphere seems a bit strange today... Don't you think so, Yeongho Bin?"
On my way to the Great Hall of the Sun and Moon to meet the Right Guardian, every disciple I passed bowed deeply to me, their faces filled with profound reverence.
It was as if I had returned after achieving some legendary, world-shaking feat.
Of course, while my accomplishments certainly warranted praise, the strange part was that I hadn't told a single soul about what had happened yet.
I had even strictly ordered Namgung Eon to keep his mouth shut until I officially reported to the sect leadership.
"Well, you see, my Lord..."
It was only after listening to Yeongho Bin's explanation that I finally understood the reason.