#63. The Great Peng Awaiting the Typhoon
Moyong Gang, who had descended between me, the Dragon-Phoenix Conference, and the myriad swords hovering in the air, looked at me and chuckled.
"Heh heh heh. Back in my youth, I heard plenty of 'madman' talk myself, but I've never pulled off anything as insane as what you just did."
Moyong Gang let out a small gasp of admiration as he gazed at the swords floating in the air.
"I thought the tales recorded in history were pure fabrications... but..."
His eyes sparkled like a child's beholding the stars for the first time.
"...this feels like the records fell short."
He soon turned back to me.
"You've already proven yourself, so withdraw the swords. Do you even know what innate true energy is, to wield it so recklessly?!"
I pointed at Jong Byeokgi.
"That man insulted me, my sect, and my grandmaster."
"You planning to start a deathmatch right here?"
"I'll do exactly as Jeomchang Faction did when they were insulted. Jong Byeokgi! What would you do if your sect were disgraced?!"
"......"
Moyong Gang smirked at my stance, then shifted his gaze to Jong Byeokgi.
"You horse-nosed Daoist... apologize."
Jong Byeokgi's face filled with bewilderment at the abrupt demand.
"...Who are you to meddle in Murim Alliance affairs?!"
"Refuse now, and neither you nor the Dragon-Phoenix Conference leaves intact. Don't you get it?"
"Our Dragon-Phoenix Conference..."
"Tsk tsk. No talking sense with you."
Moyong Gang extended his hand toward Jong Byeokgi and twisted it.
Crack.
Incredibly, Jong Byeokgi's arm—shielded behind Ilmyeong—bent in a direction bones weren't meant to go.
"Gaaahhh!"
It was too destructive for mere air-grasp, and using space manipulation while Ilmyeong guarded him with the peerless Diamond Indestructible Divine Art made no sense. No one there could fathom Moyong Gang's method.
"What is this outrage?! How dare you..."
Thud.
Jong Byeokgi had clearly stood in the Dragon-Phoenix Conference's center, yet somehow he alone flew as if yanked by a rope, slamming into the wall.
Thump.
"Kuhk."
"That enough for you?"
Moyong Gang turned to me.
"Or should I finish him off myself?"
"......"
"You're amusing. I don't want to see you dead or crippled. Your swordsmanship intrigues me—you and it both."
His eyes gleamed predatorily through the face veil. A chill ran down my spine, silencing me.
"......"
"If you wish, I'll kill him even if it means war with Jeomchang. Been a while since I tangled with that horse-nosed Daoist anyway."
"!"
"!"
The Dragon-Phoenix Conference members' faces paled. His plain, calm tone made the threat feel all too real, sending shivers through them.
I addressed the now leaderless Dragon-Phoenix Conference.
"While Jong Byeokgi spoke, no one from Dragon-Phoenix stepped up except Moyong Seol. Looks like you all share his views."
Ilmyeong protested desperately.
"...No! That's not..."
"Quiet!"
Moyong Gang turned to me with a roguish grin.
"In my life, I've met all sorts, but you're the toughest nut I've seen."
"......"
"Short companionship, yet you're claiming quite the prize."
"If I'm unscathed after this, I'll repay it."
"Good. Remember that."
Moyong Gang nodded in satisfaction, then addressed the Dragon-Phoenix group.
"Hey, you worms and chicks—do you lot really have inspection authority to probe martial origins?"
"......"
No one dared speak. Their fearsome Murim Alliance status meant nothing after witnessing otherworldly mastery.
"Huashan's speck of dust. Speak."
Hwa Jeongsan scowled.
"We are Murim Alliance inspectors... upholding martial order and..."
"I asked if you have authority. Rotten bastard."
"......"
Hwa Jeongsan's face flushed crimson at the insult. Finally, Ilmyeong interjected.
"Pardon, but who might you be?"
"Why? Think you can report me and crush me with Shaolin's might?"
"......"
Ilmyeong hesitated at Moyong Gang's casual invocation of Shaolin.
"Little monk who devoured Shaolin's Scripture Pavilion—you know this boy's arts resemble ancient records of the Tae-eul Sword Emperor, right?"
"......"
Ilmyeong glanced at the crumpled Jong Byeokgi.
"Gonna pretend ignorance? Want to see my clan's records?"
A glint entered Ilmyeong's eyes—he'd caught a hint from Moyong Gang's words.
"Could it be... Mo...!"
Then, as if recalling something, he shook his head.
"...No. I know."
"Records say this boy's arts match the Tae-eul Sword Emperor's. And everyone knows Tae-eul Gate inherited his tradition."
Tales of the Tae-eul Sword Emperor and Tae-eul Gate had echoed across the jianghu, mostly as mockery—no martial artist was ignorant.
"Objections to my view?"
All eyes turned to Ilmyeong.
"......None."
With that, murmurs erupted throughout Tae-eul Gate.
Jong Byeokgi staggered forward, clutching his dangling arm, eyes burning with grudge.
"Who the hell are you to do this?!"
"Why so curious?"
"Jeomchang never forgets grudges."
"Heh heh, so your big plan is hiding behind that dung-puppy Baek Umun?"
Jong Byeokgi's face hardened. Baek Umun was Jeomchang Faction's current lord—calling him a "dung-puppy"?
"No regrets, eh?"
Moyong Gang's hand rose toward his throat.
"What..."
As Moyong Gang's face emerged, Jong Byeokgi and the Dragon-Phoenix crew blanched like dirt.
"P-Pungbaek Sword Breaker...!"
Moyong Gang smirked viciously.
"You dared disrupt my wanderings. Prepared for the price?"
Then Moyong Seol shrieked.
"G-Grandfather!"
Ignoring her, Moyong Gang addressed the platform.
"I, Moyong Gang, current head of Moyong Clan—called the Windbreaker Sword Saint by jianghu worthies—vouch for it. Jin Sowoon's arts are undoubtedly the legendary Tae-eul Sword Emperor's."
Groans of anguish burst from the platform.
"Ughhh!"
"Sniff... really..."
"...Such a thing."
No adult held back tears. Even Hong Moon-gi squeezed his eyes shut, head high, to hide his weeping before Moyong Gang.
"That settle it?"
Moyong Gang grinned roguishly at me again. Cautiously, I withdrew all my arts.
"Your innate true energy didn't shatter, right?"
"...Yes, my dantian held thanks to you."
"Good, good. Truly fortunate."
Moyong Gang, a mere acquaintance, had steadied me when I'd abandoned all hope.
"......"
A man I'd never crossed paths with in my past life—how could I not be moved?
Would my grandfather have been like this if he'd lived? Playful and stubborn, yet always on my side when it counted...
"Now, time to settle between us?"
"Pardon?"
A fist rocketed in, smashing my gut and throat before I could dodge.
"Kuhk..."
I forced my fading mind alert, glaring at him.
"Why... the hell...?"
"Madmen need the stick. Don't touch innate true energy lightly."
"But... that..."
With that, darkness claimed me.
# In Daehyeonjeon, Tae-eul Gate elders and hall lords gathered.
The bombshell—that Jin Sowoon had mastered the Tae-eul Sword Emperor's arts—was huge, but they awaited Moyong Gang.
Pungbaek Sword Breaker Moyong Gang: absolute jianghu overlord, dream encounter for any swordsman, famed elder.
As the herb-gatherer-clad Moyong Gang entered, all rose. Hong Moon-gi offered the head seat, but he declined.
"No need. Beyond jianghu rankings, we're sect heads now. Don't be overly humble, Sect Leader."
Hong Moon-gi took the head, Moyong Gang beside him.
"I don't know how to repay this grace."
Moyong Gang had mediated the near-clash with Murim Alliance over the arts' origins, vouching with his and his clan's name. Tae-eul Gate owed him hugely.
"Just stating Tae-eul Gate's arts are Tae-eul Gate's. Glad it helped ease my mind."
"...Pardon? What do you..."
"Hm? Didn't know? Your Jin Sowoon saved my son's life."
"What?!"
"!"
Hong Moon-gi's gaze flicked to Jin Taesan, who was equally clueless.
Damn brat—can't he just tell us after pulling something off?
Jin Taesan had panicked learning the herb-gatherer's identity.
"Apologies. I didn't know beforehand. I'll retrain him."
"Haha, accomplishing such a feat without telling his sect means he didn't think much of any help. Commendable—don't worry, Sect Leader."
"Th-thank you."
Everyone was stunned, especially Jin Taesan. His precious son and prized disciple Jin Sowoon—why did a giant like Moyong Gang favor him?
"My fool son sought spirit medicine for his own boy and fell in peril. Sowoon saved him, received a Fire Phoenix inner core in thanks, but refused it—said he couldn't rob a father's heart for his son. How could I not take interest?"
"?!"
"?!"
'Fire Phoenix inner core' twisted faces: admirable greedlessness, yet lamentable missed chance.
Sensing it, Moyong Gang chuckled.
"Not quite equivalent, but in gratitude, my son pledged three Clarity Pills to Tae-eul Gate."
"Ah...!"
"Heavens!"
"Such... our thanks!"
Tae-eul folk eased into relief.
"No need. I know the core outshines Clarity Pills. That's why I came personally to thank you."
"......"
Life's strangeness: If Sowoon took the core, Moyong Gang never visits. No mediation, Alliance rift. Could Tae-eul purely rejoice in the Sword Emperor's arts' return?
"Also, a proposal for you, Sect Leader."
"What is it?"
"To commemorate, how about exchange disciples between our sects?"
"......"
Exchange disciples: sects swap pupils for mutual instruction, typically among Nine Great Sects or Five Great Clans to shore weaknesses or broaden experience despite mighty arts.
But feasible only between peers. Moyong Clan gained nothing from Tae-eul Gate. Moyong Gang meant this as grace via the term.
"You sure? We'd have little to teach... haven't even seen Sword Emperor's arts ourselves..."
"Haha, nonsense, Sect Leader. Not your arts I want them learning—we Moyongs overflow with those."
Arrogant words, yet from him, unpretentious.
"Then what?"
"Tae-eul Gate's spirit."
"Pardon?"
Moyong Gang dropped his mischief, beaming paternally.
"Heard something similar happened with Iron Sword Sect lately."
Jin Taesan and Gang Chaeseok nodded faintly, recalling.
"Sect insulted—anyone would rage. But staking all against a stronger foe? Not easy."
Hong Moon-gi nodded instinctively.
"Raising innate true energy heedlessly was wrong, but now no Alliance soul—including Dragon-Phoenix—dares insult Tae-eul without risking life."
"Ah..."
"Moyong Clan never faced such. Our strength allowed it. I want my children as proud as Sowoon before even mightier foes."
"......"
Elders and lords fell silent, emotions swelling at the praise. Hong Moon-gi, throat tight with pride in Sowoon, quickly pointed at Jin Taesan.
"Ahem, that spirit? Our Outer Hall Lord there knows best—he's Sowoon's father."
Moyong Gang eyed Jin Taesan oddly.
"Heh, I know."
A mischievous smile played on his lips.
"What method rears such a child?"
"...Senior overpraises; I'm at a loss."
"Genuinely curious. Traveled with him briefly, played some pranks. Asks the Windbreaker Sword Saint if he wants a taste of warrior fury? Share your fearless rearing secret."
"Whaaat?!"
Jin Taesan gaped. Others mirrored his shock.