Dragon-Phoenix Gathering (10)
Dragon-Phoenix Gathering (10)
"For now, since we've gotten into a quarrel with the Eight Trigrams Association, I recommend staying as close as possible to our own people."
After seeing Hong Ye, who had finished her bath, back to her room, Seon-go and I gathered in Zhuge Yeong-yu's room. An inn servant was bustling about in the hallway to clean up the traces of the lovemaking, and Zhuge Yeong-yu could not meet my eyes.
In contrast, I looked straight at Zhuge Yeong-yu and nodded. Even if the bastard was a pervert who wore women's underwear, right now he was an ally. There was no need to make things awkward by openly showing disgust.
"They're that dangerous? From what they did earlier, they seemed bothersome but not particularly dangerous. Since they picked a groundless fight, we have justification. How about we deal with them this time? Isn't our goal to pacify the sects that are disturbing the world?"
If we only had proper justification, there were many comrades who would deal with the Eight Trigrams Association alongside me. I could ask Hong Ye immediately, and Im Seo-ryeon would help if I explained it well. Moreover, Zhuge Yeong-yu right here had plenty of grievances against the Eight Trigrams Association. Zhuge Yeong-yu shook his head and answered:
"They're bastards with backing from the Murim Alliance."
"Who is it? Which one among the Nine Sects One Gang has joined hands with those scoundrels?"
Zhuge Yeong-yu shook his head. It meant he didn't know either.
"I don't know who. But it's certain that there is a sect that supports the Eight Trigrams Association under the name of the Murim Alliance."
"Is there evidence? Or are you just speaking from intuition?"
Zhuge Yeong-yu said this:
"The evil deeds they commit rarely get spread by rumor, and they always have overflowing funds despite not running any notable business. There's even talk that some great sect is clearly sponsoring them, so there's no need to poke the hornet's nest now. Figuring out their backing and purpose takes priority over eliminating the Eight Trigrams Association."
"And, before then, there's no reason to oblige them when they pick a fight."
After hearing the story, I roughly understood. Zhuge Yeong-yu's collaboration with the imperial household to keep the sects in check was a strict secret. There was no reason to bare our claws at the likes of the Eight Trigrams Association here and raise their wariness. Baring claws would only be sufficient after we figured out the Eight Trigrams Association's backing and had a situation where we could definitely root out the backer as well.
"Even if they have backing from the Murim Alliance, they won't pick a groundless fight with a sect allied with the Zhuge Family. We've come all the way to Hubei Province, so is there any reason to ruin the mood by getting involved with those bastards? After we part ways, pretending not to see each other, it's right to slowly find out their backing and uproot them from Hubei Province."
"Understood."
I agreed with Zhuge Yeong-yu's opinion. In truth, I didn't like fighting either. If they didn't pick a fight first, there was no reason to bother them.
********
A few days later.
The Dragon Phoenix Gathering announced its start with a grand opening ceremony. Many famous masters had been invited to the ceremony. The Beggars' Sect leader Mu Ji-gi Chu Wang Pae, the Falling Flower Sword Gwak Ryong of Mount Hua Sect, Wudang Sect elders, the Head of the Zhuge Family, and others. Even I, ignorant of the martial world, would be taken aback by the names of those who filled the VIP seats.
They were chatting with faces full of curiosity and anticipation for the rising talents. Thanks to the Zhuge Family's help, I was able to sit with Seon-go in quite a good seat. Hong Ye, seated far away in another section, recognized me and waved, while Im Seo-ryeon was focusing her gaze on the martial arena as if she hadn't noticed me.
After greeting Hong Ye, I asked Zhuge Yeong-yu, who was sitting beside me:
"Why did Mount Hua Sect send Gwak Ryong instead of the sect leader?"
If it were another event, he could have been treated as a top VIP, but since he was here as a representative of the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, he was seated in the audience.
"Not long ago, a major incident related to the Hao Sect broke out, as you know. I heard the sect leader couldn't come because he was dealing with that."
I clicked my tongue. Although Gwak Ryong was friendly toward me, it was still a bit uncomfortable to see his face in such a place. It felt like suddenly running into a workplace superior after coming all the way to Hubei Province. I had only exchanged a few words with him, but because he was an overwhelming master, I had to grovel as much as possible when I met his eyes. I didn't want to do that even in a place I came to relax.
"An elder should have come. Gwak Ryong, of all people."
"Though he looks young, I heard he's over forty, so he's next in rank after the elders. It's not strange for him to attend such an event on their behalf. The sect leader likely found it bothersome to come himself. Mid-level managers at a moderately high position always have a lot of annoying tasks."
Zhuge Yeong-yu spoke in a tone that oddly sympathized with Gwak Ryong. Indeed, Gwak Ryong, sitting among the old men, looked very uncomfortable. Whenever anyone spoke to him, he would awkwardly return the greeting; his carefree, immortal-like gait was nowhere to be seen, and he maintained a rigid posture.
No matter how great a master, age and rank were merciless. Seeing him flustered made me feel better.
"Anyway, he's past forty—quite old. I thought he was around thirty."
He was older than I thought. That meant he had been at least in his late thirties when I first met him. Thinking back to how arrogant he acted then, I could tell what the average moral character of Mount Hua Sect was.
"Because he has such a youthful face, many people thought that. I've heard that although he has aged, back when he was younger, people often mistook him for a boy who had just come of age."
"Enviable looks."
"Many envied him for having it all. For all his blessings, though, he's unlucky with women, as he hasn't married yet."
Come to think of it, at that age he should have already married and had a child, but Gwak Ryong had never mentioned such things. Of course, his relationships with women were none of my concern. Asking wouldn't have gotten a pleasant answer, so it was easier to just not care.
While the conversation was going on, two people stepped into the center of the arena. The host of the Dragon Phoenix Gathering shouted:
"Before the main tournament tomorrow, there will be a preliminary match!"
"Preliminary match?"
Zhuge Yeong-yu said:
"The Murim Alliance selects two rising talents and has them compete at the opening ceremony. Usually, rising talents from famous sects step forward to briefly showcase the caliber of this year's Dragon Phoenix Gathering."
Along with his explanation, the host introduced the competitors.
"Red! A chivalrous hero famous in Hubei Province for outstanding skill and loyalty! The direct disciple of Blue River Sect! Jang Geon!"
A name I'd never heard before came out. But those from Hubei Province seemed to know who it was. Amidst the bewildered crowd, exclamations burst out, and murmurs of approval and conversation were heard. As I looked at Zhuge Yeong-yu with a perplexed face, Zhuge Yeong-yu instead laughed and said:
"Ah, I know who it is. He's a fellow from a small sect in Hubei Province, talented in martial arts, and his character is so righteous and outstanding that many people like him. He's a man who speaks his mind even to a great sect if something is unjust, so I thought he had no connections with the Murim Alliance, but to be invited here... it's unexpected."
Zhuge Yeong-yu said that while biting his nails. He was refraining from speaking ill of the person who had stepped onto the arena, but his silence betrayed an underlying worry and anxiety. Even from just hearing the explanation, I could tell something was strange.
'They were putting up a rising talent who wasn't on good terms with the Murim Alliance at the opening ceremony? Was this really an act for a promising prospect? Did the Murim Alliance really think highly of Jang Geon's skills and put him here despite his unyielding character?'
"Blue! A skilled warrior recognized by the Murim Alliance! A new star who recently appeared suddenly in Hubei Province and caused a sensation in the martial world! The leader of the Eight Trigrams Association! Hwang Ryong-seong!"
"The name is Hwang Ryong-seong?"
Strung together with three fancy Chinese characters, it was a fucking annoying name to pronounce.
As befitting an Eight Trigrams Association leader, even his name had no class.
He appeared in a black robe with a large character '八' emblazoned on it, fluttering it proudly. Zhuge Yeong-yu frowned, and the audience split into those who knew the Eight Trigrams Association's reputation and cheered them, those who looked on with disapproval, and those ignorant of the rumors who stayed silent.
Zhuge Yeong-yu said:
"This is not good. Hwang Ryong-seong is a considerable expert. Even if his reputation is filthy, no one denies his skill. Not good. To pit someone who's not on good terms with the Murim Alliance against someone the Murim Alliance is backing."
Along with Zhuge Yeong-yu's lament, I recalled an incident I experienced in Shaanxi. That situation where they brought the Tournament Killer to try to kill me in the arena. If the opponent died in an unavoidable accident, no one would be held responsible.
As Jang Geon took the fist-and-palm salute, somehow that image kept flickering before my eyes.
"I will learn from you."
Hwang Ryong-seong also took the salute and said:
"It is I who asks for your kind guidance."
Zhuge Yeong-yu bit his nails. I recalled a conversation I had with Zhuge Yeong-yu.
"Even in these busy times, the purity of the Dragon Phoenix Gathering remains—that's rather surprising. I thought it was the place most likely to be corrupted first."
"In truth, I hope the purity is maintained, but I don't know what the reality is. Since it's an irregularly held event, it's not easy to gather internal information. I can only hope. As they say, wishing is free. Just as one does not touch the seed grain even in a famine, the decline should stop with our generation."
Wishes are not easily granted.