Unwanted Invitation (5)
Moyong Gang. In the golden age of the martial world, when masters littered the land like grains of sand on a beach, he was an absolute expert proudly listed among the Ten Revered Ones, transcending both the righteous and unorthodox paths.
During the chaotic Orthodox-Demonic War, while the Murim Alliance was torn by internal strife, he rallied warriors to defend the lands north of the river and publicly revealed his family's martial arts to encourage resistance against the demonic path.
After the war, the name Moyong family faded away, but in people's minds, he remained forever an object of respect.
'He was definitely the type where merits overshadowed flaws.'
An unexpected chain of events. A whirlwind of emotions he never even thought to control. The unchecked power of a tyrant backed by a massive clan like the Moyong family, allowing him to unleash his neurotic rage without restraint.
If people knew that was his true face? He wouldn't have been so revered. Let alone over something as trivial as that old man's words...
"Why no answer? Are you dissatisfied with the Moyong family name?"
I stopped my thoughts and let out a sigh.
"Haa... As if."
Honestly, 'Me, from Tae-eul Gate, becoming the Moyong family's son-in-law?' Even if it was written as a novel, it'd get flamed for lacking plausibility.
It was that absurd an opportunity—no way I'd be dissatisfied.
But just like the Namgung family had asked before, I couldn't choose marriage to a collateral branch woman and subjugation to their clan.
I had too many people to protect, starting with Tae-eul Gate and the Small Justice Squad.
'Besides, the Moyong family has Seol as well...'
Moyong Seol was a woman of very special meaning to me even in my previous life.
Keeping her close while marrying another? That wouldn't be right for me or the one I'd marry.
At that moment, Moyong Gang's voice wormed into my ear.
"Or does Seol look unworthy in your eyes?"
"Pardon?"
What the... Mom! Was he talking about Moyong Seol just now?
"Thanks to endless matchmakers, we've bolted the gates shut, and I use the marriage proposals flying in every day as kindling."
Moyong Gang narrowed his eyes and jerked his chin toward me.
"You've heard of our Seol too, if you're a man, right?"
Moyong Seol... Moyong Seol... Moyong Seol...
Wait, so. She'd be my wife? And I'd be her husband?
Oh man... That'd make my wife the Sword Queen?
My mind raced: marrying Moyong Seol, having kids, watching our grandkids, and finally holding her hand on my deathbed...
Then, her voice suddenly echoed.
"You want to live like that. So survive... like that."
The words she'd said to me in disappointment as I fled the Small Justice Squad into the mountains.
Her cold face and eyes that day, the way she turned away icily—they were vividly etched in my memory.
Then her weary approach after battle, talking about her father...
Her grieving for her brother, lost when the clan fell...
One after another, the images rose sharply.
'Heh.'
A sneer slipped from my lips unbidden.
What kind of delusion was this?
From the start, hadn't I desperately wished to avoid repeating the past?
If she didn't lose everything and join the Small Justice Squad, her title as Sword Queen would come later, if at all.
If the clan survived, she wouldn't join at all.
And above all—I didn't want to infringe on her free will.
I just hoped she'd meet someone she truly loved in a peaceful world.
Yeah, that's what I hoped.
Sorting my thoughts, I cocked my head defiantly.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"...?"
"Political marriages in this day and age? Don't you feel bad for your granddaughter?"
"What? You dare!"
I quickly cut him off.
"That's not what I meant."
"Not what?"
Moyong Gang was clearly the type reason wouldn't reach.
If logic didn't work... shake his emotions, right?
"Is the Moyong family a sword sect to begin with?"
"You insulting my clan?"
I brushed off his words and scanned his body.
"Then where's your sword, elder?"
Moyong Gang was obsessed with martial arts.
His eccentric temperament matched an experimental spirit in martial pursuits.
Just look at that bizarre technique warping space earlier.
His emotions weren't ironclad when it came to martial arts.
Moyong Gang snorted.
"You puny fool wouldn't know. At my level, everything I wield or execute is..."
"If all the Moyong family's sword arts vanished, would it cease to be the Moyong family?"
"...?"
He'd never considered it.
Before the war, no sect or clan in the Murim Alliance ever thought of annihilation.
Let alone the mighty Moyong family...
I stepped closer and asked again.
"If the Moyong family could no longer use swords, would it cease to be the Moyong family?"
Paradoxically, in my previous life, what made the Moyong family most famous was precisely Pa-gung.
People exalted the fallen clan, saying 'from grandfather to grandson.'
"What nonsense?"
Moyong Gang's gaze turned icy.
The thug-like demeanor vanished.
I'd touched his emotions seriously, as desired.
One more push—
"What is the Moyong family's kongui? Sword-breaking?"
"...!"
Pa-geom—the epithet of past Moyong family heads.
The family took infinite pride in upholding that name.
And that pride wouldn't tolerate my mocking provocation.
As expected.
His head bowed, trembling, red eyes glaring up at me.
"I misjudged you. Hiding a tiny flaw by committing a grave sin."
The spatial distortion from his earlier escape—now, up close, immense pressure crushed my body.
"I was nice, and you spout anything. I've given Tae-eul Gate enough grace; I qualify to judge you."
Crunch, crunch—my skin swelled as if blood circulation halted.
Blood threatened to burst from my pores, eyes ready to pop.
Yet I stayed calm, calm.
"Is the kongui you envision for the Moyong family... truly sword-breaking?"
"Huh? Still wagging that wicked tongue? Yes, sword-breaking. That's what our Moyong family has upheld through the ages."
I rasped out, word by word.
"...I don't... think so."
"What?"
Pa-gung rampaging battlefields like Cheol-eung—vivid as yesterday.
Watching him block the Demonic Cult, I'd thought: A momentum that could shatter the heavens...!
Forcing my head up, I met his eyes.
"The Moyong family's true kongui... ngh, is heaven-breaking..!"
"...!"
Instantly, the crushing pressure halted.
Still painful, but no longer deadly.
I exhaled hot breath.
"Do you think our Tae-eul Gate's kongui is... sword-refusal?"
"..."
"Tae-eul Gate failed to uphold sword-refusal for five hundred years. Yet it endured."
Catching my breath, I stared unwavering at Moyong Gang.
"I've never forgotten the Tae-eul Gate kongui I learned grasping my first sword as a child."
[Tae-eul Gate's kongui is change.]
Though talentless, stuck at second-rate, Hong Moon-gi never lost the sect's roots.
Nor forgot passing them to his disciples.
That's how Tae-eul Gate lasted five centuries.
"..."
Silence swept the space, then Moyong Gang nodded oddly.
"Heaven-breaking... heaven-breaking... heaven-breaking..."
Like it was branded in his mind, repeating endlessly.
No wonder.
A realm invisible through mere sword-breaking.
Only heaven-breaking reveals it.
"To shatter the heavens, does it matter sword, fist, or even bow?"
Hostility faded from his gaze.
Only profound eyes pierced me.
"Jaehwa made the Blood Cult tremble with one bow. The martial world dubbed him 'One Arrow Against Thousands'."
Yes.
In Sichuan, his bow feats were astonishing.
"Jaehwa will use the family arts to shatter the heavens one day. Sword or bow—what's the difference?"
"Hah! You're certain?"
I was.
Even in that harsh previous life, Pa-gung was born.
This life, as Jaehwa said, he'd become the Heaven-Breaking Divine Bow.
I nodded firmly.
"I'm certain Jaehwa will surpass sword-breaking and claim heaven-breaking as his epithet."
"...Heaven-breaking."
"Then the Moyong lineage hasn't ended, right?"
I grinned at him.
"A new martial tradition has been born."
Moyong Gang eyed me complexly.
"You truly..."
Sad? Joyful? Unclear.
But his rage was gone for sure.
His heart must have raced at "heaven-breaking."
"Can you ease this now? Feels like I'm about to die."
"...Ah, sorry."
Huh? Sorry?
A word I'd never dreamed from him—and the pressure vanished instantly.
Blood flow resumed, electric tingles shooting through me.
"Ugh... my body..."
"Y-you okay?"
Reason returned; his demeanor turned cautious.
Realizing his huge mistake after hearing heaven-breaking.
I deliberately slapped my throbbing shoulder.
"What is this? I was choosing for the Moyong family... and you didn't even listen."
"A-hem. Why not speak sooner?"
"Did you give me a chance? No, what was that killer pressure while I was talking?"
Moyong Gang averted his eyes slyly.
"A-hem... I wanted to show you my lifelong martial insight..."
"Cut the bullshit. I nearly died!"
His face hardened.
"So what? Want payback?"
Others would cower, but not me.
"Hah, forget it. My punch wouldn't even tickle. Just pay compensation."
"What?"
"Why? You hit, you pay up—common sense."
Moyong Gang gaped, incredulous.
Stare all you want.
Plus, I took it for Jaehwa—double the claim, fair and square.
Damn right.
# Rumors of Moyong Gang attending Murim Academy's 'Famed Scholars Invitation' event sent the students into a frenzy.
"No way! The Sword Breaker himself?"
"Never dreamed I'd see him in person!"
"D-does that mean Moyong Seol is coming too?"
"Hey! I told you not to hang with that guy. No sense at all!"
"Wait, you're from Jeongdo Council anyway—didn't like Jin Sowoon from the start?"
"...Nonsense! I saw him save the Baekdo Council folks—decided he's a true hero."
For the first time, students transcended factions and sects, submitting applications purely to attend.
Save for those missing for personal training, nearly everyone showed up.
The news reached nearby Murim Alliance too.
With Sichuan battle dragging, internal tension eased; some wanted to join, but the academy refused.
This sparked grumbles: favoritism, inviting such a big shot(?).
"Tsk tsk, living selfish his whole life—causing trouble again."
At Jegal Somyeong's words, Moyong Gang scowled.
"What? You bald bastard! What trouble?"
Voices rose; Hyeok Mu-gang mediated.
"Haha, enough. The kids outside'll hear."
"Hmph! Sitting as Alliance Leader, acting all prim—looks awkward."
Moyong Gang's jab made Hyeok Mu-gang's eye twitch.
The usually stoic man showing emotion—proof of deep bonds from youth.
"What mood swing made you attend suddenly? For Jin Sowoon's request, no less?"
Moyong Gang flinched, sipping tea hastily.
"A-hem. Considering my ties with the kid, sure."
"..."
Jegal Somyeong's eyes brimmed with doubt.
"You skipped your grandson's entrance—now trekking here for another sect's disciple?"
"Cough! Ack!"
"And why's your hand all swollen?"
Not just hand—scratches on neck and face, bruises peeking on arms.
Jegal Somyeong shook his head, clicking tongue.
"Tsk, at your age, still brawling?"
"Brawling? This is... yeah, from teaching."
"Teaching? To Jaehwa?"
Moyong Gang frowned.
"That damn grandson... no, another damn fool."
"Jin Sowoon?"
"Yeah."
Jegal Somyeong and Hyeok Mu-gang exchanged odd looks.
What relation let Sword Breaker and Jin Sowoon exchange teachings and favors?
Moyong Gang added, as if explaining.
"Gonna make him my son-in-law."
"Son-in-law?"
"...!"
Moyong Gang puffed proudly.
"He'll make the Moyong family great. Uhahaha!"
Hyeok Mu-gang and Jegal Somyeong barely held back spit-takes.
First time seeing the arrogant Moyong Gang praise someone so.
"No, listen—that punk dodged my Kongmyeol Fist effortlessly! Barely past twenty! And he even pondered our clan's future I never considered. Where's a guy like that? Uhahaha!"
Jegal Somyeong tilted his head at the beaming Moyong Gang.
"Son-in-law building the clan... you mean adopted son-in-law?"
"Yeah."
"Pfft...!"
They finally spat tea.
Beyond Moyong Gang doting on Moyong Seol, he wasn't one to casually bring outsiders in.
Then Jegal Somyeong sensed oddity.
"...You know he's Tae-eul Gate's senior disciple?"
Moyong Gang nodded confidently.
"Heard so."
"Senior disciples usually inherit the sect."
"...Huh?"
Jegal Somyeong sighed, as expected.
"...You ignored his wishes and situation entirely."
"A-hem... He can dual-role. It's the Moyong son-in-law seat!"
"Hmph!"
Jegal Somyeong sneered.
"You're unchanged since the old days."
"Wh-what? He liked the idea!"
"Liked...! You probably punched him into agreeing!"
Moyong Gang shot up, furious.
"You bastard! Want my fist persuasion too?"
"Oh? Locked in Palgeumjin starving a fortnight like before to wise up?"
Hyeok Mu-gang intervened.
"Enough. They'll hear out—"
"Shut it!"
"Alliance Leader, stay out!"
No use.
These martial elders growled like in their youth.
After the scuffle.
"Heard on the way—Sichuan's getting noisy."
Jegal Somyeong sighed deeply.
"Too long at peace."
"Send more warriors?"
Jegal Somyeong shook head lightly.
"Momentum's shifting our way. We'll win—just takes time."
"Heard unorthodox forming alliance—want me to sweep 'em?"
Jegal Somyeong glared at shrugging Moyong Gang.
The second round began.
"Try it! I'll drag warriors to your clan, uproot every weed!"
"Help? Bullshit!"
Jegal Somyeong poked his head mockingly.
"Don't know splitting fronts is suicidal? Use that head!"
"Hmph! Age shrank your guts too. Letting alliances form?"
"You know about the demons?"
Jegal Somyeong mentioned Moyong Sangwon's attack.
Moyong Gang sobered.
"Serious?"
"Jeongdo incidents, Sichuan—nothing ordinary. Darker than unorthodox coming."
"Using barbarians against barbarians?"
"No."
"Huh?"
Moyong Gang turned; Hyeok Mu-gang answered.
"When darkness covers the world, righteous and unorthodox must fight together."
Moyong Gang smirked after stiffening.
"Possible?"
"Try our best. Or more blood."
Had black and white ever not fought since Murim began?
Moyong Gang felt anticipation for unseen sights.
"Murim's getting fun."
With a sly smile.
"Alliance? Send envoys."
Glancing at Jegal Somyeong.
"Who? Chance to handle rivals? Send unruly Mudang?"
"..."
"..."
Awkward silence irked him.
"...Not sending Dragon-Phoenix Gathering?"
Symbolic figures attended such events.
Problem: Moyong Seol in it.
And venue—heart of unorthodox.
Jegal Somyeong cleared throat.
"No..."
"Then?"
"Jin Sowoon and..."
"Huh? Sending our Sowoon?!"
Jegal Somyeong frowned at Moyong Gang.
Who the hell calls him 'our Sowoon'? Senile much?