The Guest I Sought
After my demonstration of swordsmanship ended—
"Why?"
That was the first word out of his mouth.
What I had shown him were the last three forms of the Thirteen Heaven and Earth Swords.
They had taken on a shape quite different from what he himself had displayed.
But Moyong Hyeon-rak did not dismiss it as merely different.
Like the genius he was, he had realized something from my demonstration.
"Why did you perform the forms that way?"
"Are you curious?"
"I am."
"Then grant me one request."
"...!"
At my teasing reply, Moyong Hyeon-rak's eyes widened.
"Are you asking me to become a retainer of the Northern Heavenly Sword Sect?"
"No. I don't want that."
"Then what?"
"Remain not as a man of the Northern Heavenly Sword Sect, but as my personal guest. You needn't feel any obligation toward the sect itself. Just help me when I ask for it."
"Hmm."
He frowned.
"Looking at you now, it seems you're searching for a hunting dog skilled with a blade."
"Rest easy. I have no intention of using you like one. Even after becoming my guest, if you think any request I make is unjust, you may refuse it at any time."
"Fine. I accept."
"...!"
I stared at him, startled by how readily he agreed.
The answer came without the slightest hesitation. Frankly, it threw me off.
"Why do you look so surprised?"
"I thought you'd take more time to consider it."
"You said yourself that I could refuse if I found your request unreasonable. Why would I reject terms like that?"
Moyong Hyeon-rak's lips curled upward.
"And besides, a fellow who offers terms like those doesn't strike me as someone likely to ask for anything strange."
Indeed.
A rational judgment.
I nodded and said to him,
"Good. Then let's consider the agreement made."
"Now tell me why you used the final three forms that way."
"Because I believed each form should have a different use."
"A different use..."
Moyong Hyeon-rak fell into thought.
I elaborated for his sake.
"For example, the first of the final three forms I showed you is one meant for facing many opponents alone. Considering the chain of forms that came before it, I thought there had to be one broad sweeping move capable of clearing out everything around you."
"I see. Then the second?"
"The second form, unlike the first, seemed to me something to be used in a one-on-one situation. That's why I showed you a form specialized for dealing with a single enemy."
"And the third?"
"A hidden trump card. The final ultimate move, used when facing an opponent you cannot defeat—one executed with the resolve to perish together."
In other words, the finest strike one could unleash against an enemy too great to handle.
Personally, I thought it was far too dangerous a move, but...
"Good."
Apparently, it suited Moyong Hyeon-rak's tastes perfectly.
That was only natural.
After all, I had heard the explanation for these martial arts from Moyong Hyeon-rak himself.
There was no way he would dislike the result of years of his own painstaking thought.
So of course he approved of the form I had shown him.
"I like that the final three forms are not linked together, and that each serves a different purpose. I especially like the purpose of the last one."
"I'm glad it pleased you."
"Of course, if I'm to refine the forms you showed me and absorb them into my martial art, I'll have to go through countless trials and errors... but I think I can at least see the path now. Thank you."
Moyong Hyeon-rak thanked me openly.
Now he would complete his Thirteen Heaven and Earth Swords years sooner than before.
Unexpectedly, he was a man of deep feeling. He would no doubt think he owed me a debt.
And in fact, he was already treating us very differently from when we had first met.
"Then may I ask my favor right now?"
"What is it?"
"Please investigate an orthodox sect called the Ojuk Sect in Yangchen, Shanxi Province. Of course, as I said earlier, you may refuse."
"Ojuk Sect? Never heard the name. And why would you want an orthodox sect investigated?"
"Though they wear the face of an orthodox sect, they're involved in filth behind the scenes. But one of the elders of our main house is tied to their corruption, so we can't move against them easily."
"Aha. So you want me to bring back information that can pressure that elder?"
"Exactly."
Even with only a rough explanation, Moyong Hyeon-rak understood at once.
He thought for a moment before answering.
"I'll accept. Ordinarily I'd have refused, but the later forms you showed me have been of great help. If I've received something, I should do my share in return."
"Thank you. But please, be careful."
"Ha. Why speak as if it were so difficult to investigate some nameless sect?"
"They pose as a third-rate orthodox sect, but they have backing. I can't tell you who it is yet, but it's an enormous power. If things go wrong, even you could end up in danger, Great Hero Moyong."
"Hearing that only makes it more interesting. Sounds like some grand conspiracy is involved, doesn't it? Fine. I'll be careful, as you say."
After hearing my explanation, Moyong Hyeon-rak seemed even more eager.
Was it the mention of the Ojuk Sect being backed by some vast, unknown power that had stirred him?
It didn't matter.
What mattered was that he had agreed to help. I had no reason to refuse that.
"Then I leave it to you."
"I will. But I won't begin the investigation immediately. I need time to think over the clues I gained today."
"Of course. Just don't delay too long."
"I'll contact you when I move. Now, if you'll excuse me, leave me be."
"Until next time."
We exchanged farewells and headed back down the mountain.
On the way, Sagong Cheon asked in a curious voice,
"The Ojuk Sect... is that another sect connected to Black Night Castle?"
"Sharp as ever. It is."
More precisely, the Ojuk Sect was one of the many subordinate sects Black Night Castle had scattered throughout the Murim.
And a few years from now, they would join hands with one of the elders of our clan and inflict severe damage on us.
It was to prevent that in advance that I had asked this of Moyong Hyeon-rak.
Of course, if the full truth of this matter comes to light, people may begin to suspect me...
But for all his appearance, Moyong Hyeon-rak was a very thorough man.
Once he took something on, he saw it through properly.
So I didn't need to worry about my identity being exposed.
And even if suspicious eyes did turn toward me, I had already prepared a way to deny everything.
"If the Head of the Elders' Council asks where I went and what I was doing, tell him plainly that I came here to recruit the Blue-Eyed Sword Demon. But add that he was too eccentric, so I failed."
"Understood. I will."
"Then the Head of the Elders' Council will think I'm merely stretching my hands everywhere in an effort to build my own power. Let him misunderstand all he likes."
That misunderstanding would one day tighten around his throat.
The thought of that day filled me with anticipation.
"Come. Let's head back."
"Yes."
We descended the mountain, mounted our horses, and returned to the clan.
It didn't take long.
About a month passed after that.
I had been busy the whole while.
I handled work as acting patriarch, trained whenever time allowed, and took breaks now and then so I wouldn't wear myself down completely.
There had been no word from Moyong Hyeon-rak.
He was probably still pouring his time into creating something of his own from the forms I had shown him.
He was a man with a strong sense of responsibility. I never once thought he would simply ignore my request.
It's only taking a little time.
One way or another, he would honor his promise.
It was while I was thinking that—
"Young Lord. A letter has arrived for you."
While I was in the middle of my work, Sagong Cheon brought me a sealed letter.
"It's from the Shanxi Yoo Family. Why would they be contacting you, Young Lord?"
"Who knows."
I answered vaguely, but in truth, I already knew.
In my first life as well, word had come from them around this very time.
And as expected—
They are asking for aid.
It seems someone is threatening the Shanxi Yoo Family.
They request that an escort be dispatched for several days while they prepare a secret family elixir.
The Shanxi Yoo Family was a prestigious medical clan, widely respected even here in Shanxi Province, where the Northern Heavenly Sword Sect stood.
It was, after all, the main family of the Medicine King, one of the Five Great Doctors under Heaven.
But being a family of physicians, they lacked much in the way of martial force of their own.
So if a martial clan truly set its mind to pressuring them, they had no choice but to seek help from outside.
And the one they had chosen was the Northern Heavenly Sword Sect.
Even if we were on the decline, we were still the overlord of this region.
It would not be an exaggeration to say there was no sect in Shanxi Province stronger than the Northern Heavenly Sword Sect.
That was surely why the Shanxi Yoo Family had asked us for aid.
But I knew how this would end.
The Northern Heavenly Sword Sect would send support—and fail utterly in giving any real help.
And in the process, the Medicine King's granddaughter will be badly wounded. The relationship between the Shanxi Yoo Family and us will collapse into disaster.
Fortunately, she would not die.
But the incident would be more than enough to drag our clan's reputation in Shanxi through the mud.
In fact, after this affair, the influence of the main house had plummeted sharply.
I intended to set that right.
"We need to convene a clan council at once."
At my summons, the senior figures of the clan gathered in one place.
The topic, naturally, was how to support the Shanxi Yoo Family.
There, I put forward my own opinion without hesitation.
"I want to go myself."
"Young Lord?!"
"What are you saying?"
The elders and executives were flustered.
Their reactions made it plain—they had never expected me to step forward so aggressively.
Which was understandable. Normally, it was rare for the Young Lord himself to answer a request like this in person.
But I had a sound reason.
"The Shanxi Yoo Family is the main house of the Medicine King. That means they are respected by countless people. In influence alone, they can be counted among the greatest families in this region."
"Which is why we must send someone carefully chosen—"
"Which is exactly why I must go myself. If the main house dispatches me, the Young Lord, what do you think the Shanxi Yoo Family will think? They'll believe we sincerely value them, and they will be deeply moved."
If I could make the Shanxi Yoo Family owe us a debt, then later the chances of receiving the Medicine King's help would only rise.
So if there was even the slightest risk, it was better to send someone of sufficiently high rank that they could not possibly disregard the gesture.
At my words, the senior members fell into thought.
"It's true enough... but are you confident?"
"If this matter goes wrong, it could become a serious problem."
"I am confident."
I answered firmly.
The senior members exchanged a few quiet words, then looked back at me with meaningful eyes.
"Very well. We'll leave this matter in the Young Lord's hands."
"Understood. Then I'll prepare to depart at once."
So saying, I immediately began making preparations to leave for the Shanxi Yoo Family.
But just as I was doing so—
"Brother, do you have a moment?"
Someone came to see me while I was gathering what I needed for the journey.
The moment I saw who it was, I couldn't help but be surprised.
It was someone I had not expected at all.
"Cheon-hwi."
His name was Jin Cheon-hwi.
My younger cousin—and the man who would one day be called the First Sword of the Jin Family.