#9. The Third-Rate Warrior Who Protects the Sect's Honor (3)
Seong Moran was growing weary from greeting the endless stream of guests.
"Ha ha, Miss! Your beauty lives up to the rumors!"
"You're a sight for sore eyes. Your father must be over the moon."
"The moment you walked in, I thought the sun had risen early."
Countless young men showered her with excessive attention.
"I hear your sword is sharp as can be. Mind if I take a look later?"
"I'm no slouch with the blade myself. How about we share a cup of tea and discuss swordsmanship sometime?"
"Why not come to our clan as an exchange student? I could put in a word with my grandfather...."
They strutted about as if they possessed remarkable skill.
Greenhouse flowers who've never seen real combat.
Was that arrogant swagger really from their own merit? Without their sect's protection or family backing, could they pull it off?
She didn't think she was the same as them—someone who'd climbed this far with nothing from her clan.
Of course, she couldn't voice such thoughts. She remembered how Seong Mohyeon's face had twisted grotesquely after failing to overwhelm her in sparring, and how the elders' eyes had filled with concern. Seong Moran had no intention of stirring up trouble.
"Not a real warrior in sight, not even a decent man."
It was boring. She was only enduring it because her mother nagged endlessly about family honor, but it was excruciatingly dull.
Her father, grandfather, and even Seong Mohyeon seemed to be plotting something, but they hadn't shared a word, and she wasn't particularly interested anyway.
Probably something about the 108 Peaks or whatever.
The best these men could muster when gathered together was scheming? Why not just have an open duel and settle it with steel?
Tae-eul Gate's power had long surpassed theirs anyway. If they showed the gap in strength and embraced their rival honorably, at least they'd look like proper warriors.
"Boring."
She sorely missed Namgung Seonhwa's absence from the banquet. With her there, it wouldn't have been this dull.
"She's probably swamped right now."
She'd heard the main feast was hosted by Namgung San, who was attending in Namgung Seonhwa's stead for his sixtieth birthday, but she had no desire to go. It would just be filled with these fools desperate to fawn over the Namgung family and Iron Sword Sect.
She'd heard enough flattery and praise to last a while.
"Miss! Miss!"
A maid was calling for Seong Moran.
"Oops."
Knowing exactly why, Seong Moran lightly kicked off the ground and landed silently on the roof.
"Where did she go?"
The maid arrived at the spot where Seong Moran had just been, still craning her neck in search.
"The young master is looking for you. Miss! Miss!"
Only after the maid left did Seong Moran let out a small sigh.
"Ahh...."
Finally stretching out after playing the demure lady without a proper chance to loosen up.
Her eyes locked onto a man and woman between the buildings: Gye Cheolyeong and a young disciple from Tae-eul Gate.
"Hm... just the two of them?"
Seong Moran recalled the man she'd seen earlier that day, Jin Sowoon. His internal energy had seemed feeble, no mark on his Sun Acupoint. His personal martial arts looked downright pathetic, yet he'd subdued that Qingzhu Alliance thug with the charred salt in one move.
"Mysterious guy."
It wasn't just that one move that was strange. A person's demeanor reflects their foundation. Those with solid family backing naturally stand tall; those without hunch over.
One who rises through personal effort alone can hold their head high too. But Jin Sowoon's backing was Tae-eul Gate, and he was too young to have achieved mastery on his own. Plus, he'd shut down her father, Seong Jutaek, with logical, airtight responses.
"Was Iron Sword Sect not that scary to him?"
With that thought, she sprang to her feet.
"This could be fun."
The boring banquet suddenly seemed promising. Seong Moran kicked off the roof and soared into the night sky.
#
"...Isn't he acting a bit off?"
Gang Chaesok, who'd entrusted Jin Sowoon with an important task, said to Jin Taesan as he changed clothes.
"Hm... yeah, a little strange. The dining arrangements, the guest rooms."
"No, not that. I mean Jin Sowoon. Your son."
"Sowoon?"
"Isn't he acting weird? You saw it too, right? Staring down Seong Jutaek with his chin up, beating him with words. Made me wince just watching."
"..."
"Come to think of it, it's been like this since Gye Yeonseung. The kid seems like a whole different person lately."
"...You know his specialty. Probably just remembering something from a book he read before."
"What about Gye Yeonseung then? He beat that guy."
"He said it was just a clash of forms. If he can memorize everything after one look, he must've found a way."
Gang Chaesok pondered Jin Taesan's words, then tilted his head.
"Huashan's Plum Blossom Sword Technique?"
"..."
"You spot weaknesses just by looking? And he used Socheon Sword Technique, they say?"
"...No idea."
"Hear me out."
Gang Chaesok lowered his voice unconsciously.
"What if Sowoon's been training on his own?"
"??"
Jin Taesan's face filled with doubt. That playboy training?
"No, that's what I'm saying. All that wandering mountains and rivers for days on end... What if it's personal training? If he used that memory of his to simulate thousands of spars against the Plum Blossom Sword Technique in his head...."
Sowoon's memory was beyond common sense. It might even be possible, as Gang Chaesok suggested.
"Hmph."
Ridiculous. Sowoon had always coasted on his brilliant mind, learning effortlessly without real effort, which bred laziness. Books memorized at a glance, forms copied loosely—it was almost his fate, Jin Taesan thought.
But Gang Chaesok saw it differently.
"Think about it. What was the bet with Gye Yeonseung? Exemption from Busengdang duties, right?"
"..."
"No need to go there, so he's been out roaming for days, yeah?"
"..."
"And I've been watching him the whole way here from Iron Sword Sect—his build's changed a bit."
Jin Taesan was skeptical but increasingly drawn into Gang Chaesok's words.
"My take? He's harboring some serious rage."
"Rage?"
"Yeah. Ever since Gye Cheolyeong wormed into Tae-eul Gate, how messed up has the hierarchy gotten? And the way he's bullied the juniors, subtly or not. Plus, it's basically set that Gye Cheolyeong's heading to the Murim Academy next. Why wouldn't the kid be pissed?"
Jin Taesan had never considered it.
"Even earlier with Seong Jutaek. Hate to admit it, but he's a peak expert. Even suppressing his aura, for a kid like Sowoon to meet his eyes without flinching—is that easy?"
After listening at length, Jin Taesan shook his head.
"That's what's worrying you? The martial world is too harsh on Tae-eul Gate for boldness alone."
"Tsk tsk. You're getting old. The will to advance, the courage to step past fear—don't those build up to revive Tae-eul Gate?"
Jin Taesan fell silent at Gang Chaesok's words, mulling them over repeatedly.
"I'm back."
Jin Sowoon appeared, a large bundle in one hand.
Gang Chaesok barked.
"You idiot! The one to lead Tae-eul Gate, wasting time on a crucial mission like this?"
"What're you on about? Lead what? And what makes this some big mission?"
Jin Sowoon was rummaging in the kitchen for rare liquors not served at the main banquet.
"This is all part of gauging Iron Sword Sect's wealth—key intel gathering."
Gang Chaesok rushed over, practically snatching the bundle, then froze, staring at Jin Sowoon.
"Sniff sniff."
"...Uh, brother needed some fresh air, feeling stuffy...."
"You been drinking?"
"You gonna say that to the guy who risked his life for intel? Spilled a bit carrying the booze."
Gang Chaesok grabbed Jin Sowoon's collar as he tried to leave.
"Breathe out."
"How could I presume to foul the air before the exalted Kwaehwa Dang Lord?"
Gang Chaesok's head snapped around stiffly.
"Taesan, forget what I just said. I must've been seeing things."
"What do you mean? Was it something important— Aack! Aack!"
As Jin Sowoon struggled against Gang Chaesok's iron grip, someone knocked at the hall door.
Knock knock—
Gang Chaesok and Jin Sowoon locked eyes, then moved like lightning. Gang Chaesok hid the liquor inside the bedding, Jin Sowoon stashed the bundle out of sight.
"Miss Moran?"
Opening the door revealed not an Iron Sword Sect servant, but Mirang Iron Sword Seong Moran.
"What brings you so late?"
"The young elites of Anhui Province are holding a private feast. Thought you'd like to join."
Jin Sowoon glanced back at Jin Taesan, who shook his head.
"Thanks, but after walking all day, I'm worn out. Better to join next time."
At Jin Sowoon's refusal, Seong Moran paused before speaking.
"...You sure? Looks like Miss Hong's already there."
The eyes of Jin Sowoon, Jin Taesan, and Gang Chaesok intertwined.
#
Ha ha ha ha. Ho ho ho ho.
The banquet hall overflowed with laughter.
Beautiful young men and women laughed as if something joyous had happened, the sound never ceasing.
But amid the silk robes, the only one in martial attire—Saryeon—had a face stiff as stone.
She'd braced for it. That she wouldn't be treated well anywhere.... No, that not being mocked and ridiculed would be a blessing.
She'd come prepared for that. With a sliver of hope that, before the sect leader's child, they'd show minimal courtesy.
"As a swordsman, it's always been my dream to witness the Tae-eul Sword Emperor's blade. Could you arrange a meeting with your sect leader sometime?"
"..."
The words from the jade-robed man were as unlovely as his attire was fine.
"Hey, ease up on the teasing!"
One side pretended to intervene, but...
"The Tae-eul Sword Emperor? That's just a story they cooked up to join the 108 Peaks, right?"
"No way! Really?"
Exaggerated, fanciful gestures. The courtesans covered their mouths, giggling.
"Can you even get into the 108 Peaks on a tale like that?"
"It's so detailed, though. Must've worked."
Harmless gossip in the absence of the subject.
"..."
She'd expected it.
"Enough, you'll embarrass Miss Hong."
The biggest teaser stepped in first.
"Sorry, Miss Hong. Us guys got carried away."
On one hand, she felt relieved. Senior Brother Sowoon wouldn't have stood for it. He'd have exploded in fury, maybe even thrown punches. Gotten pummeled, even.
But how'd he beat Senior Brother Cheolyeong?
The stray thought eased her mind further. She felt she could endure more comfortably now. What a relief. It was truly a relief that she'd come instead of Senior Brother Sowoon.
Saryeon responded with a smile instead of words.