The Black Flame Dragon Quiets the Chaos (6)
"The streets are quiet."
Dang Hyeokjae nodded at my words.
"Everyone's being cautious. Out of fear."
Akyang was silent. If the previous hush had been people bowing their heads in terror at the clash of weapons, now it felt like the calm before a storm.
Vendors hawking candied haws and rice cakes had vanished from the streets, and even the merchants who'd been aggressively touting their wares had left their stalls unattended, constantly glancing around.
"Rumors are flying that assassins are prowling about. That your doing?"
"......Why do you think it's just a rumor?"
"It's spreading too fast for mere gossip. Even busybodies have physical limits to how quickly they can pass stories along. But you think that'll work?"
As expected, you couldn't fool a sharp mind with something so simple.
"Someone of your stature as branch chief can analyze and discern fact from fiction, but the others can't."
Just look at how the unorthodox sects had halted their movements. Every one of them had brought their escorts into their lodgings and tightened security.
Expanding influence was fine, but ending up like the Mukk Blood Hall's hall leader—dead—only benefited their underlings.
Thanks to that, Akyang enjoyed a temporary truce.
Of course, a few orthodox sects, unable to endure the unease, had packed up and left Akyang in the end. No one knew how things would unfold here moving forward.
"So, can I pack my bags again?"
"Why ask that?"
"If you die, will Tae-eul Gate invest in me?"
What a jinx. Why say something like that?
"Sounds like even if I survive, you'll want to back out of the investment deal."
Dang Hyeokjae looked utterly bewildered.
"Isn't that the truth? If you die, why would I go all the way to Tae-eul Gate for nothing?"
"This guy, seriously. Who said anything about dying?!"
"The Mukk Blood Hall side will definitely send Sword Evil. Sword Evil is on par with the Malevolent Divine Trio among the Eight Evils."
The Malevolent Divine Trio were the top three of the Eight Evils: Dragon Evil, Blood Evil, and Dao Evil. These three were deemed one step above the other Eight Evils in terms of danger and were prime observation targets for the Murim Alliance.
"I know that well."
Moreover, Sword Evil harbored deep grudges over the Mukk Blood Hall leader's death and whatever had happened to him personally. Even if another of the Eight Evils showed up, he'd likely insist on taking the field himself.
A situation I couldn't avoid even if I wanted to.
I shook off the mounting worries and changed the subject.
"How about the request?"
"Heard they set out from Jangsa. Should arrive the day after tomorrow."
"Two days? Isn't that too late?"
"What can we do? Distance is a physical limit."
"Why take on Akyang branch chief duties without opening a Tang family branch here too?"
"Good grief. Anyone hearing that would think I'd been saddled with this."
Dang Hyeokjae pouted.
"Don't you want to watch your investor die?"
"......I told them to hurry without rest. It'll be close, but they'll make it in time."
Anxiety filled Dang Hyeokjae's gaze as he looked at me.
"Just don't die."
Suddenly, I wondered about his sincerity.
"Is that purely out of worry for me? Or fear of losing your investor?"
Dang Hyeokjae's eyes shook violently for a moment.
"......"
"Forget it. No need for an answer."
Sword Evil and the rest—what the hell did they take me for?
Entering Yujangmun, I paused at an odd sight while passing the training grounds.
What the hell are they doing?
Yujangmun's lord, Jang Sagyeong, was strolling around, inspecting every corner of the sect.
For someone facing a life-or-death duel in two days, he seemed far too relaxed.
Does he fully trust some hidden trump card?
Normally, ahead of such a duel, one would cherish every instant for training, yet here he was, utterly at ease.
"Oh? Jin Gongja!"
Jang Sagyeong greeted me warmly. I slowly formed a fist salute in return.
"You're out and about?"
"Just checking how badly Yujangmun's facilities are damaged."
Jang Sagyeong seemed convinced of Yujangmun's victory. Otherwise, he wouldn't be preparing for such a distant future.
"Care to walk with me a bit?"
"Yes."
As we strolled slowly through the grounds, Jang Sagyeong introduced various spots. The barn where he'd skipped training as a child and hidden away. The hall where he'd held his wedding. The room where Jang Ujae was born. Having lived his entire life within Yujangmun, he unraveled these stories at a leisurely pace.
"I'm sorry."
His sudden apology tilted my head.
"For what?"
"Do you know Ujae admires you? Or rather, idolizes you."
"Pardon?"
"Ever since going to the academy, over half his letters have been about you. How cool you are, how bold and magnificent—never missing a detail."
"......"
"He said he wanted to become a man like that, to fight alongside you."
"Is that so?"
"That's why I discouraged him. ......The path you walk is too harsh, too painful. I told him to take the easy road."
No parent wants their child on a thorny path.
"I understand. It was the natural choice."
"That's why I feel even more ashamed. I chose the easy path and ended up needing your help."
Jang Sagyeong bowed deeply, fist saluted. Yujangmun disciples were around, but he paid them no mind.
Startled, I quickly helped him up.
"People are watching. Please, rise."
Jang Sagyeong's eyes, now lifted, brimmed with complex emotions.
"Seeing you fills me with respect. I understand why Ujae idolizes you."
"You're too kind."
"I truly regret it. Life is inherently painful—why did I always try to avoid it?"
No more words passed between us as we resumed walking. As the stroll ended and I turned to leave, Jang Ujae entered our view.
He wasn't alone. He was handing over a pouch to someone from the Murim Alliance and receiving a small wooden box in return.
Something about the box drew me in. I approached.
"Ah! Representative Jin!"
The Alliance member scurried off like a fleeing rat. Jang Ujae smiled awkwardly.
Something was definitely up.
"What's that?"
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"What you exchanged with that guy."
"......Oh, nothing much. Just some cheap elixir before the tournament, in case it helps."
"Mind if I take a look?"
"......It's really nothing. If Representative Jin needs it, I'll get you something better."
"No. I want to see what it is."
With that, I extended Hundred Peak Hand and pulled the wooden box from his robes.
"Eek! R-Representative!"
"......"
As expected—a familiar shape.
Pushing aside Jang Ujae trying to snatch it back, I opened the box. A dark, reddish-black pill lay inside.
"......"
I turned to Jang Sagyeong. His eyes widened in shock too.
I barely swallowed a sigh.
"Do you know what a Pogeukdan is and still touch it so casually?"
"......"
"If you're not confident in winning, just send someone else."
"No! I can win. This was just preparation for a sure victory."
I understood his mindset. Determination to do everything for his sect.
But the situation wasn't as dire as yesterday—no need for self-destructive acts.
Crunch.
Crushing the box and pill together, Jang Ujae couldn't hide his shock.
I stared him down.
"No one in Yujangmun wants this."
Then I shifted my gaze to Jang Sagyeong.
"Especially not what your father wants to see."
Jang Sagyeong stared at Jang Ujae with a face like stone.
"......"
As Jang Ujae kept his head bowed, Jang Sagyeong spoke solemnly.
"Follow me!"
I watched silently as the two departed.
How humiliating to show one's parents a death wish.
Even after entering the room, Jang Ujae couldn't lift his head.
Only after a long silence did Jang Sagyeong's heavy voice ring out.
"Do you know your mistake?"
"......Our bodies, hair, and skin we receive from our parents—we dare not damage them. This is the beginning of filial piety. I violated the most basic tenet of filial duty."
Jang Sagyeong barked suddenly.
"Wrong!"
"......!"
Jang Ujae looked up at his father in shock. Frustration filled his eyes.
"You truly don't see it? You shirked your responsibility!"
"......What."
"What is your duty? As Yujangmun's heir, to protect its people and keep them alive!"
"......"
"Only the sect lord stakes his life for Yujangmun. Are you already the sect lord?"
Disappointment began clouding Jang Sagyeong's gaze.
"How dare you seek death to escape hardship. Would the Jin Gongja you so admire do that?"
"Father......"
"You've watched him so long—surely there's something to learn. Is that all you've gleaned from him?"
"......"
Jang Sagyeong sighed deeply at his bowed son.
"Just from seeing Jin Gongja negotiate with Mukk Blood Hall yesterday, I understood why you follow him. What did you learn there?"
"......Manly boldness?"
"No! If Yujangmun lost, he planned to hand it over and let the people leave safely. Hadn't he already saved everyone in Yujangmun?"
"Ah......!"
Jang Ujae's eyes widened. Realizing something so crucial only now.
Seeing his son's gaze change, Jang Sagyeong softened his tone.
"That's why he's called the Black Flame Dragon in the jianghu. Tae-eul Gate, once unknown, now on everyone's lips in mere years—thanks to him."
"......"
Jang Ujae burned with shame at the praise for Jin Sowoon, wishing for a hole to hide in.
"Now do you know your error?"
"......I chose the easy...... the comfortable path......"
A faint smile touched Jang Sagyeong's lips at his son's crawling admission.
"Yes! That's it!"
"......"
"I chose you over others because you bear responsibility as heir."
"I'll keep it in mind."
"I apologize for telling you to keep the Nine Great Merchant Houses at bay. From now on, always watch Jin Gongja and learn. Ponder what you can do for Yujangmun's people in the future."
"......"
"That is your duty as heir."
Jang Sagyeong's admonition weighed heavier on Jang Ujae's shoulders than any scolding.
After Jang Sagyeong and Jang Ujae left, I headed alone to the sect lord's private training ground.
Having gotten prior permission, no one stopped me.
My top priority now: facing Sword Evil.
The issue? Tae-eul Gate's martial arts weren't a good matchup against Sword Evil.
Especially his signature stealthy, blindingly fast swordplay—tricky as hell.
Of course, in an all-out duel, who knows? But after Yujangmun wins, the unorthodox sects' reaction had to be considered.
Those backstabbers won't admit defeat and slink away just because they lose a duel.
Either way, win the duel and prepare so Mukk Blood Hall can't strike recklessly.
Thus, I couldn't go all-out with full internal energy burst.
Fortunately, I had a way.
The White Moon Heaven-Subduing Three Forms recently acquired from Sword Demon.
Problem: two days was too short to master such advanced martial arts.
"Never thought the day would come to use this."
Past advice from Divine Sword had sparked a theory while harmonizing essence, qi, and spirit: using my curse.
I possessed a memory so painful it felt cursed.
Combined with reaching the O Dragon Worshipping Sage realm—harmony of essence, qi, spirit.
And recently, surpassing Sun-Moon Harmony to Jade Petal Golden Flower stage.
A transcendent state where thought moves body flawlessly, qi flows without hindrance.
Using these two, I'd compress years of training into moments.
"Did Elder Baek do it like this?"
In my mind, Baek Hae-gwang appeared, unleashing the White Moon Heaven-Subduing Three Forms.
I recalled perfectly: not just movements, but breaths, muscle usage, footwork spacing.
Vivid as if he stood before me.
Reciting the forms' conclusion, I commanded my body to mimic Baek Hae-gwang exactly.
Crack.
Arm barely extended, yet muscles tore with a snap.
Squelch, squelch.
Hand fully open, joints twisted wildly, bones grinding.
Thump-thump-thump.
Heart raced wildly from the overload.
That instant—
"Aaaagh!"
Clang.
I couldn't endure, dropping the Black Dragon Sword.
"Haa, haa, haa."
This technique shortcutted time via essence-qi-spirit harmony and perfect recall.
A mad feat only I could pull off.
I equated my body to the opponent's, leaping over their training lifetime in one go.
Gripping my aching elbow, I muttered.
"Crazy. What the hell kind of training was that?"
Bodies change gradually through long training and rest. Forcing ten years into one night? Strain was inevitable.
Worse, higher realms amplified pain exponentially.
Reaching for Black Dragon Sword, my arm trembled uncontrollably.
Unconscious instinctual fear, despite unawareness.
But paths appear at limits.
"Huu, huu, huu. Quitting here makes it all pointless."
Biting my lip, I reached for Black Dragon Sword.
"Gaaahhh!"