Chapter 36
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Gathering of the Rising Stars
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Seo Mun Young-ryeong was a heavenly martial artist.
It was only natural that she got along so well with Ha Eun-ye.
The rising stars of the era, destined to lead the next generation of the murim world.
Ha Eun-ye frequently made time to meet with Young-ryeong, sharing stories from beyond Shandong like an older sister doting on a little one.
As the granddaughter of the Murim Alliance Leader and one of the Nine Dragons and Seven Phoenixes, she showed not a trace of pretense.
Even so, Ha Eun-ye had helped Seo Mun-ha both within the clan and out in the world.
She'd provided financial backing and extended favors to Gu Chil when using the Cheon-eung Merchant Guild. Lately, the two women's main topic of conversation had been one person alone.
"Your brother?"
For some reason, the rumors hit closer to home harder than they did outsiders.
They'd all lived so intimately within the walls of the Seo Mun Clan.
No one pretended otherwise; every servant in the clan pricked up their ears at the gossip.
At first, they dismissed it as nonsense.
Public opinion shifted only after he defeated Elder Qingheo of the Qingcheng Five Swords.
No leader of one of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang would tarnish their own reputation, so the prodigal wastrel born in Shandong saw his fame soar day by day.
Along with the entire Seo Mun Clan.
"I might need to head back to headquarters for a bit. Ryeong-ah, if he comes back, could you pass a message for me?"
"Sure, of course."
There was no reason to refuse.
Ha Eun-ye had spiced up her monotonous days.
Thanks to her, there had been some progress, and though from different sects, the two women had always been thick as thieves, like sisters.
Their temperaments and circumstances aligned perfectly, so it hadn't taken long for them to grow this close.
'Hmm.'
After parting with Ha Eun-ye and returning to the clan, Young-ryeong fell into brief contemplation with a soft hum.
No matter what anyone said, Seo Mun-ha was her brother.
You don't favor one finger over another when you've bitten them all, but to her, he was the one that ached the most.
"Huh...?"
She liked Ha Eun-ye for caring about him like that.
The woman had seen his hidden worth before he even earned his nickname and maintained a barrier-free bond despite her lofty status.
'...Wait, then what about Sister Seol?'
Lost in thought, she swallowed her unspoken worries, vowing to ask someday.
But even today, she couldn't bring herself to speak up.
Her pitiable finger had transformed into one of pride, and she had mountains of questions about it.
First, she needed to verify the rumors.
Then probe how he'd reached the Three Peaks Realm.
Above all, it was buried under the urgent grudge with the Plum Sword Gang that needed resolving right away.
By displaying overwhelming might and issuing a stern warning in the end, he'd elevated the Seo Mun Clan's prestige yet another level, piercing the hearts of all who witnessed it.
Young-ryeong's worries were pushed thoughtlessly aside, and she was grateful just to remember the message.
"A gathering of the rising stars?"
"Yes, she really hopes you'll attend. Fourth Brother Jun-sang plans to go too."
It was simply that the date was drawing near.
"Father will probably mention it soon as well."
"Mm."
Wandering the grand compound like the main hall, Seo Mun-ha sank into thought.
The gathering of rising stars.
It was a convention he'd heard of even in his previous life.
Originally centered on the Five Great Clans, it was meant to build networks and bonds among the young talents, spar to test skills, and foster future alliances through exchange.
These days, its scope had expanded to include the Six Great Clans and even disciples of the Nine Great Sects.
It was no exaggeration to call it an event for the entire murim world, and with all the hot-blooded youths involved, this period always brimmed with incidents and mishaps.
"Brother?"
"Yeah?"
"You don't want to go? You seem reluctant."
He shook his head without a word.
"I'm nervous."
"Liar."
"It is true, but it's my first time."
Don't worry, Young-ryeong said with a bright smile.
His sister had attended once at a young age, so within the family, Seo Mun-ha was the only one without experience at this biennial event.
'The timing's no different.'
What nagged at him was the location.
When he asked why Shandong of all places, someone had pushed hard for it.
It tied into Ha Eun-ye returning to the Murim Alliance.
"After the Demon Cult War, it'll probably be the grandest event yet."
"Likely."
Seo Mun-ha held no official position or role.
But not all rising stars could leisurely drift about like him.
Regardless of willingness, new experts handling logistics would flock to Shandong in droves.
Headed by the Nine Dragons and Seven Phoenixes, who had never gathered in one place before.
'They're coming to uproot them.'
He caught the scent. The true intent beneath the guise of a routine event.
Demons were hiding in Shandong, after all. Not just one, but several.
Ha Eun-ye's movements proved it, aligning perfectly with his own concerns.
'I planned to search leisurely.'
While cultivating his skills, he'd monitor the Hwang Bo Clan and eventually track down an expert in the Weighing Hand Technique himself.
"No need to rush, I suppose."
In the end, time would resolve all three matters anyway.
Above all, with no word at all, he couldn't rule out any possibilities.
"Pardon?"
"Nothing."
"Brother, sometimes you say the most out-of-the-blue things."
"Do I?"
"It's like... you give off this master vibe?"
He let out a chuckle at her frank impression.
"You've improved your stance yourself."
Ten paces away, Young-ryeong held a live blade.
"Still obsessed with martial arts, I see."
"This time it'll be different!"
Before, she never had time to show her skill. Channeling her qi, she unleashed a sword cry and went all out from the start, her well-honed energy flowing smoothly.
Ching—!
But she wasn't the only one who'd changed.
"Eek?!"
The unchanged part was the outcome.
Seo Mun-ha parried a full fifteen exchanges, leaving Young-ryeong both refreshed and seething with frustration.
"Lucky again."
"Liar!"
Seo Mun-ha promptly helped the pouting girl to her feet.
"If I'd known it'd be like this, I should've beaten you senseless back when you didn't know martial arts!"
"Ahaha."
"Are you really Ghost Flash, brother?"
"This makes nine times. Why not go for ten?"
"...It's just so amazing. Can I change like you did, brother?"
As Seo Mun-ha gazed steadily at her, she shook her head first.
"P-pretend you didn't hear that."
No one could be fully content with their own appearance.
After a brief rest, he left the familiar training ground behind. Meanwhile, Seo Mun-ha continued to etch himself into the minds of countless people, inspiring them publicly, bit by bit, slowly.
The gathering of rising stars was less than forty days away.
Dada-dot!
The Seo Mun Clan buzzed inside and out more than ever.
The Hwang Bo Clan, Shandong's foremost power.
And the Seo Mun Clan.
Both families welcomed an unprecedented flood of guests, as if hosting the event themselves.
In this neutral zone, a third-rate sect no one had heard of handled the actual organization.
A month remained, but with arrivals from all corners of the land at varying times, preparations were hectic.
The Seo Mun Clan's fourth young master.
Seo Mun Jun-sang hustled relentlessly from Qingzhou Prefecture, borrowing even the Black Wind Unit's hands amid his sleepless days.
For Seo Mun-ha, little had changed.
With his clingy little sister finally stepping back, he filled the void left by his attendants' absence with training, much like before.
Shiiik!
He simply swung his sword in silence.
As always.
His inner energy built steadily through diligent practice.
"Are you just going to watch?"
Brushing off sweat, he addressed the empty air.
"Insolent whelp."
An elder appeared abruptly.
"If you knew I was back, you should've come scampering over."
He'd sensed the man's presence naturally, and Seo Mun-gyeol's displeasure was evident.
"Didn't you say no need for formalities?"
"Did I?"
"You did. Besides, I don't know where you stay, great-grandfather."
"......"
"......"
He didn't dare mention senility.
"What do you think?"
Seo Mun-ha pointed to his sword.
"Worth dragging these old bones out."
"Glad to hear it."
"How far have you mastered it?"
"From the Fire Section to the Earth Section, I've got all 256 forms from the first basic style. The middle section starts feeling truly intricate."
"A monster's been born in the main house. You've already grasped that?"
"Just the early part."
"Heh."
Sighing in admiration, Seo Mun-gyeol extended his hand.
"Let me see it."
And offered a bit of guidance.
He began demonstrating five sword paths up to the midsection.
A dance without infused qi.
Too plain to call a blade dance.
"How is it?"
Yet it exuded such profound martial essence that it could steal one's soul.
Captivating the viewer, drawing them in deeper.
"It should be called the Soundless Sword."
Not even the sound of cutting wind.
It harbored tyrannical momentum yet flowed elegantly; incompatible traits seemed packed into a single stroke.
A gentle soul and a cold one.
A fiery temper and steadfast resolve.
Even brutality coexisting in harmony.
"If likened to people."
"Not coexistence—unity is needed to advance to the latter half."
"Thank you for the valuable lesson."
Handing back the steel sword, Seo Mun-gyeol smiled.
"No need. It's to stave off boredom in my later years. Glad you're keeping me entertained."
"I was embarrassed to show off just now."
The swordplay between grandfather and grandson showed a vast gap.
"Come to think of it, the mountain clans have been rowdy lately. Holed up at home isn't ideal for a young man."
"You mean the rising stars' gathering?"
Seo Mun-ha had already told Seo Mun Jeong-cheon he wouldn't attend.
"We're neither Daoist nor Buddhist. Sparring with peers your age has its benefits."
Exposure to diverse people and arts held no downsides...
"They're not kids without brains."
Borrowing Seo Mun-gyeol's stance, Seo Mun-ha voiced others' sentiments as straight talk.
"What could we gain from arrogant brats strutting at such a show-off event?"
"You sound different about this."
"Same reason—to prevent mishaps. Did the patriarch ask you to convince me?"
If so, it could be an order.
"Just passing comment."
His rebuttal softened Seo Mun-ha's resolve a touch.
"With no one else, even Heavenly Child worries me like my own."
The other two meant the first and second young masters of the Seo Mun Clan.
"I see."
"If that's the patriarch's view, I won't push. Still, think it over."
"Understood."
He'd never met Seo Mun Jun-sang, but he did worry a bit for Young-ryeong.
'All Nine Dragons and Seven Phoenixes gathering, huh.'
A few days later.
Ha Eun-ye visited personally to coax his iron-willed stubbornness ahead of the gathering, her face blank with disbelief.
"Not going? Then what are you doing?"
"...Pardon?"
"Let's go."