#33. The Second-Rate Warrior in Search of Legends (5)
If one had to name the most splendid building in glamorous Akyang, even among its dazzling array, it would undoubtedly be Akyang Tower, with its unobstructed view of Dongting Lake.
This landmark pavilion was a must-visit for high officials and nobles who wanted to boast of indulging in fine entertainment. Among scholars, it was the go-to spot for those who prided themselves on knowing true elegance. Reservations were notoriously hard to come by—even for those who could stomach the exorbitant prices—as difficult as plucking stars from the sky.
"Our group is at Akyang Tower."
"I hear getting a reservation there is incredibly tough. Did you book months ago?"
"Pardon? Ah... hehe."
At my question, Namgung Seonhwa shot Seong Moran a meaningful glance, her expression a mix of knowing amusement.
As we entered Akyang Tower, the revelers—deep in their drinks and chatter—turned as one to stare. These were people who carried weight wherever they went, yet the arrival of the Namgung family still felt like a fresh spectacle.
"Shall we head up?"
"......"
Akyang Tower's top floor, the seventh, offered ever more breathtaking vistas of Dongting Lake the higher you climbed. Prices skyrocketed with each level, turning the place into a blatant symbol of status.
Tae-eul Gate wouldn't even get in the door.
Not in my previous life, and certainly not now—even with our coffers overflowing, my ingrained aversion kept me away. The thought of dining here conjured images of my sect brothers, hall leaders, and elders.
Despite my skepticism, the Namgung group ascended all the way to the seventh floor. They'd even secured the prime spot right by the window.
The rest of the party was already seated, casually sipping drinks, each radiating an aura far from ordinary.
"This is Jin Sowoon from Tae-eul Gate."
As Seong Moran introduced me, the eyes of the four men already there flicked sharply in assessment.
A man in a blue turban spoke first, dipping his head slightly.
"Ha Minjung of Hwasan Sect."
He was Ha Minjung, the High Senior Sword of Hwasan—not quite one of the Nine Great Sects, but no weaker for it.
Hwasan was forever shadowed by the phrase "five hundred years of regret." They'd had a chance to join the Murim Alliance at its founding but passed, and now the jianghu mocked them for lacking the prestige.
"Ak Muhyeon of the Sandong Ak Family."
The eldest son of the Sandong Ak Family—one of the Five Great Families—whose Ak Family Spear Arts had even been adopted as an official military technique.
"Yang Insu of Yang Manor."
The heir to Yang Manor, holders of the 29th of the 108 Peaks.
All remarkable lineages gathered in one place. It explained their claim on the seventh floor.
Amusingly, while I offered a proper fist salute, they merely nodded curtly in response.
I was used to such slights and paid them no mind, but Seong Moran's expression soured by the second. Namgung Seonhwa, sensing it, stepped in quickly.
"We didn't greet you properly earlier. I'm Namgung Seonhwa of the Namgung family. I've heard so much about you from Brother San."
The men's faces lit up in unison at her words and poise. The last, a scholarly-faced man, even rose—perhaps influenced by her—to return the fist salute with a wistful smile.
"Yu Ji-ryang of Mosan Sect."
Mosan Sect, famed for formations and wine arts, stood out even among the world's sects. This was a gathering equipped with everything it needed.
"But how does a Tae-eul Gate disciple end up here?"
Ak Muhyeon tossed the odd question—not quite at me, not quite at Namgung Seonhwa.
"Ah, Young Master Jin Sowoon will be joining us."
At Namgung Seonhwa's reply, the three men's brows furrowed deeply.
"Hm... Does Tae-eul Gate covet the Mita Sacred Water too?"
"They might want it. If they had the skill."
"Won't we just have another burden to protect?"
Ha Minjung, Ak Muhyeon, and Yang Insu spoke in turn, and Seong Moran's face darkened further.
"So, how many did you bring along?"
"Just me."
"Eh?"
Ha Minjung gaped at Namgung Seonhwa as if she'd spouted nonsense.
"Uh... well..."
"If Young Master Jin joining makes you uncomfortable, I'll bow out too."
"Sister!"
Seong Moran's sudden declaration widened not just the men's eyes, but mine as well.
"Sorry, Seonhwa. Even if I get the sacred water, I'll give it to you."
Lips pressed tight in resolve, she met my gaze and nodded firmly.
The three stared at me, demanding explanation, but I was as baffled as they were. If she wanted to travel with me, maybe to stick a knife in my back—but her actions on our last day at Iron Sword Sect and now didn't fit that.
"Miss Seong... you don't have to go that far..."
I tried to defuse things. This group was doomed in Ma-ryeong Plateau anyway; bailing now wasn't bad.
But even Namgung Seonhwa cut me off.
"Sister Moran came solely to help me. If that's your stance, then I'm with you."
With her joining in, the three men's faces twisted in awkward dismay—like finding silver on the road, only for it to be shit-smeared.
"Ahem. Well, it could happen. We gathered to cooperate, after all. Can't complain if someone's hitching a free ride."
"Actually, it might work out better. Better than going solo."
"Young Master Jin must've saved a nation in a past life."
They couldn't resist a parting jab.
As Seong Moran sat, she fired back.
"If you've already forgotten what happened to Iron Sword Sect for looking down on Tae-eul Gate, you'd best watch yourselves."
"......"
"......"
"......Ahem."
Awkward silence fell until Yu Ji-ryang smiled and spoke.
"Instructor Ha has the map."
All eyes turned; Ha Minjung grinned smugly, pulling a scroll from his robes.
Unfurling it revealed a densely packed sketch like an ant colony.
"Oh, the map. Where'd you get it?"
"Miss, that's confidential. Haha."
It was the cave map the Black Dot Lord had shown.
"Can we trust this?"
Despite the earlier friction, Ha Minjung smiled at Seong Moran.
"Made by someone who lived there half a year."
"Even so, not fully reliable."
"Of course, just a reference. But going into that maze without any map?"
Seong Moran's tone stayed icy, but the men's gazes toward her warmed. Now I got it.
They're in the thick of it.
Seong Moran was the cool, striking beauty; Namgung Seonhwa, the dainty, adorable type. With two of Anhui Province's three famed beauties right there, their eyes naturally softened.
To hot-blooded young men in their twenties, such women were treasures in themselves—doubly so with their pedigrees and skills. Natural they'd want to impress potential mates.
Have your fun.
I savored Akyang Tower's signature Jade Dew Wine, watching their smirks, ignorant of what awaited.
Suddenly, noise erupted from below. We craned toward the stairs—and the men shot up like they'd been struck by lightning.
"Dragon Child!"
"It's the Dragon Child!"
"Wudang's One Sword, Dragon Child!"
My body shuddered as if I'd been hit myself.
Yong So-a—Taecheong Sword Immortal—and his apparent disciples ascended under a waiter's lead. Ha Minjung's group met his eyes and offered utmost courtesy with fist salutes.
"Great hero! An honor to meet you."
"An honor."
"An honor."
Seong Moran and Namgung Seonhwa followed suit. Yong So-a merely nodded in reply.
No one took offense.
A dragon child soars above young dragons.
This saying graced every Murim Academy's elite gathering, the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly. Even they paled before Yong So-a.
Consider the assembly's leader: Sobul, the transcendent genius who would master Shaolin's Seventy-Two Special Skills. The claim's arrogance was clear—yet no assembly member resented it.
Yong So-a transcended genius; he'd already appeared on the Heavenly Hundred Swords list. At mid-twenties? Astonishing.
"...All gathered, I see."
His impassive gaze swept the room, landing on me.
Ha Minjung's group fidgeted, urging me with scowls and nods to greet him.
"......"
Only once in my past life had I been this close: when he came to assassinate me.
Not pleasant for me, though he was oblivious. I raised my cup, staring out at Dongting Lake.
His gaze soon shifted away.
"...Heading to Ma-ryeong Plateau?"
"Ah! Yes. Are you, great hero?"
"Sect orders."
He had no need for Mita Sacred Water anyway.
"I see. Then why not join us? We have an interior map."
"...I already have the map and just met someone from there. ...But if you want to come, I won't stop you. Can't stand by while friends' siblings die."
"......"
"......"
Not the warmest tone, but agreement lit their faces.
"...Only those whose identities are verified."
His eyes turned to me again.
Seong Moran jumped in.
"His identity is solid. Jin Sowoon of Tae-eul Gate—one of the 108 Peaks."
"...Tae-eul Gate? Never heard of it. Can't risk it. If you insist on him, you're out."
"...!!"
Seong Moran gaped between me and Yong So-a.
I drained my Jade Dew Wine, stood, and approached her.
"Miss Seong, this is where we part. Your kindness was more than enough."
As I turned to leave, Yong So-a ground out,
"Arrogant."
"...Pardon?"
"Hard to survive alone there."
I tilted my head.
"Follow you and I'm guaranteed to live?"
"......"
"Hey!"
Ha Minjung bellowed, but I ignored him.
"No one can promise survival inside. Better I take responsibility than trust someone else."
Yong So-a paused.
"...Arrogant and delusional."
Like scolding a child.
"Worry about your own sect first? Wudang swords don't always stay sheathed."
I offered fist salutes to Seong Moran, Namgung Seonhwa, and Yu Ji-ryang, then left Akyang Tower.
Only after weaving far through the crowds did reason return.
"Hoo..."
My composure, ironclad even at Iron Sword Sect, had run wild like an unchained dog.
Only one encounter in my past life, yet it shook me—he'd unknowingly plunged countless righteous sects into despair with his choices.
"Odd, though. Wudang and Namgung entered together—why did only Namgung get wiped out?"
I knew Wudang, led by Yong So-a, joined the Mita Sacred Water fight. But with Namgung? News to me.
"They could discard a Great Family— a third-rate sect never registered."
A bitter smile twisted my lips. Knowing tragedy loomed yet staying silent—that was the regressor's burden.
A few steps later, footsteps pattered behind.
"Miss Seong? What brings you here? Weren't you with Wudang?"
"Haa, forget it. I'll survive whether they go or not—but them? They're dead."
"Pardon?"
"Agh, whatever. It's decided. Haa, what'll Father or Grandpa say?"
As Seong Moran sighed skyward, Namgung folk approached.
"We'll keep quiet about you meeting Great Hero Yong So-a to Iron Sword Sect."
"Seonhwa!"
"You came to help—can't just leave now."
"But... I'm worried."
Seong Moran fidgeted, glancing at me.
"You okay?"
"Fine. With them, Yong So-a likely takes it anyway. Better this way."
"Our group is leaner now."
Yu Ji-ryang followed with two retainers.
"Great Hero Yu, sorry."
"No matter. We're hires, aren't we? Just protect us formation experts."
I voiced my lingering question.
"Bit rude, but isn't Ma-ryeong Plateau too dangerous for formation masters?"
Namgung Seonhwa smiled.
"They say natural formations formed from spirit objects inside."
"Formations?"
"Yes. That's why even Haomen, with maps, didn't claim the sacred water."
"...Heard natural formations are hard to break."
Most crumbled under brute force, and Namgung—packed with experts beyond their lady—had no reason to fear.
"Mm... It's natural materials, but not truly natural. Apparently a massive one from three or four centuries ago."
"......"
Pieces clicked like lightning in my mind.
No way...
Namgung Seonhwa fretted.
"But without the map, what now?"
"Sorry, Seonhwa."
"No. They lack info too. Easier to get our own map."
Seems the prior group had split to gather inside the cave.
After sorting my mental library, I said,
"Don't worry about the map."
"Pardon?"
"I memorized it."
They tilted heads in confusion—then Seong Moran's face lit in shocked realization.