Chapter 38
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Journey to Cheongju
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Suddenly, Seo Mun-ha recalled the words of the Poison Bee King.
"The foolish live in yesterday, the ordinary live in today, and the wise live in tomorrow."
In other words, it meant one must prepare in advance for what was to come.
Of course, he hadn't said those exact words himself—it was an assessment of the later-generation talents.
The rising stars destined to shoulder the future of the murim.
They were people whose shoulders bore a heavy weight from childhood, thanks to the endless expectations and support poured upon them in preparation for that uncertain future.
Promising martial artists began with tempered inkstones and were granted all manner of spirit elixirs and exceptional masters.
Peerless martial arts were a given, and failing to surpass the pinnacle under such extraordinary conditions meant you weren't human.
"They called them beasts..."
In the Great Ming, where the empire was divided into prefectures, provinces, and counties, this gathering was led by the hegemons of at least the provinces and counties.
"Meaning most of them are pinnacle experts or higher."
Even if it was just the entry level, these were people who first and foremost shouldered the responsibility for their own clans and sects before the murim as a whole.
As befitting their status, they couldn't neglect their attire or demeanor—but Seo Mun-ha lightly ignored such formalities and rituals.
"Uh, um..."
Ha Eun-ye was at a loss for words at his truly simple garb.
"Wasn't there some kind of disturbance?"
The Seo Mun Clan was none other than the hegemon of the southern reaches.
The specific venue for the gathering was Cheongju Prefecture, where the influences of two massive clans overlapped, yet there wasn't a single ordinary servant by his side.
"It's a rule of the main house. Everyone in the clan must learn the basics."
Seo Mun-ha casually explained the absence of attendants.
"Besides, Cheongju's right next door anyway."
Ha Eun-ye was in a similar situation, though her circumstances differed.
She wasn't there for the gathering itself, so she traveled light with just a few escorts.
"Ahem."
The two guards he'd seen at the Blazing Glory Inn the other day looked awkward.
The Murim Alliance's Vermilion Bird Unit consisted of young experts, so these middle-aged escorts were dispatched separately.
One might think to call out his casual attitude as rude, but with Ha Eun-ye's silent approval and the rising fame of Ghost Flash, they held their tongues.
"You don't need to protect me too."
Seo Mun-ha signaled to the escorts through her.
"Oh, come now..."
She shook her head, subtly scanning him up and down.
"That aside, it suits you rather well."
Scale aside, Seo Mun-ha himself cut a fine figure.
It was just the bare minimum of propriety, but the plain long robe draped over his martial garb actually accentuated his looks even more.
"If only he kept that annoying mouth shut..."
She stared openly before clearing her throat with feigned composure.
They called him a scoundrel who made women swoon.
A refined young noble exuding princely charm, leading a fine steed uncommonly handsome himself.
"What are you doing?"
"Ah, yes!"
As they passed along the trail, she drew up beside him and asked.
"That's a horse with pretty eyes. Does it have a name?"
She tossed it out casually. Normally, that would earn praise in return, but he'd never once commented on her appearance, leaving her with a vague dissatisfaction building up.
She was a martial artist, but still a woman.
It stung her pride, subtly. A scoundrel should have honeyed words for every beauty, not that she craved sappy lines—but her thoughts spiraled downward anyway.
"Ugh, seriously."
She'd put even more effort into her appearance than last time, yet no reaction.
It even sparked a needless sense of inferiority compared to the women he passed by.
"What am I expecting from someone who's engaged anyway."
Pathetic, she quickly shoved the thought aside—only for an unexpected reply.
"So-so."
A familiar name.
"So-so?"
"That's her name."
The thought she'd just washed away resurfaced, naturally evoking the image of the woman from the Nine Dragons Seven Peaks who'd been injured before.
"Strange?"
"No, it's a pretty name..."
As if understanding human speech, So-so let out a low breath, tossing her mane proudly.
"She has a mate, but he couldn't adapt to the local climate."
Ha Eun-ye felt an inexplicable unease.
"We won't run into him or anything."
Among the Six Great Clans, the Sichuan Tang Clan was particularly insular.
They rarely participated in these later-generation gatherings, so it was probably needless worry...
Anhui's Nangong Clan. Ha-buk's Ha-buk Peng Clan.
Shanxi's Zhuge Clan. Liaoning's Moyong Clan.
Sichuan's Sichuan Tang Clan. And Shandong's Hwang Bo Clan—these six were called the Six Great Clans.
On top of that, second-in-command clans from various regions and numerous murim sects were traveling the same road as the pair.
"The Nine Great Sects and One Gang just go through the motions every time, right?"
"Yes, exactly. They participate just to see my grandfather, the Alliance Leader. They're rather distant from worldly affairs, after all. Still, I hear some heavy hitters are joining this gathering."
Shaolin, Wudang, Huashan, Zhongnan, Qingcheng, Emei, Kongtong, Dian Cang, Kunlun. And the Beggar Gang.
The participation of Kongtong in Gansu Province, Kunlun in Qinghai Province, and Dian Cang in Yunnan Province alone held great significance.
Just the fact they traveled a thousand li, even ten thousand li, spoke volumes about the gathering's importance.
"Whether it's worth that much effort..."
Seo Mun-ha couldn't quite fathom what drove these martial artists.
"We'll see when we get there."
Time was plentiful.
She'd expected a dull journey given his curt demeanor, but once the ice broke, the pair chatted steadily the whole way.
"Cheongju Bi Clan?"
"They're officially hosting the gathering."
It wasn't one-sided questioning.
"Probably called the Yak Clan back in the day."
"..."
"Shandong's Yak Clan. Not on par with the Six Great Clans or even the Seo Mun Clan, but quite renowned. Before the Demonic Cult War..."
Seo Mun-ha's expression darkened somewhat.
"I know."
"You do?"
Having crossed paths dozens of times now, she found him easier to read than before—but neither knew everything about the other.
"Heard about it once."
An old connection.
She saw the Seo Mun Clan as superiors, but in his previous life, the Shandong Yak Clan had stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the two clans dominating Shandong today.
"I heard they were wiped out."
For a survivor to remain stirred complicated feelings in Seo Mun-ha.
The Yak Clan had sent many talents into government service, so it made sense she'd find it unfamiliar—from records alone, at least.
"Surprising."
"That's my line. Didn't expect the Yak Clan to come up."
"Not that. Um. Do you have a hidden lover in the Yak Clan or something?"
He didn't know much, but that wistful look on his face felt utterly foreign.
"Really?"
Startled, she pointed accusingly and halted abruptly.
"No?"
Turning his head at her overreaction, he resumed walking.
"Not a lover, but I did have one subordinate."
She hurried to catch up, firing questions in rapid succession.
"The clan was wiped out before my lifetime, though?"
Unhelpful answers left understanding entirely up to her.
"Something like that."
Like a woman in her prime, Seo Mun-ha guarded many secrets.
"Anyway, can the Cheongju Bi Clan handle hosting?"
"The actual venue's separate. As even you know, Seo Mun young master, entrusting it to either the Seo Mun or Hwang Bo alone would be tricky."
It might not be proper to say in front of a Seo Mun, but it was common knowledge.
"Both clans are backing it too."
Clapping her hands, Ha Eun-ye added.
"Speaking of which, it'd be best if you avoid crossing paths with the Hwang Bo Clan."
"I don't plan on stirring up trouble."
If the clan couldn't act officially, an individual could step in just fine.
"Depends on them."
"They can't match your skills, Seo Mun young master, but things can escalate in an instant. Especially Hwang Bo Woo-jun, the Hwang Bo Clan's first young master—known for his fiery temper."
A polite way of saying hot-blooded, and the Hwang Bo Clan itself shared that bold image with the Ha-buk Peng Clan.
"Speaking of which, how exactly did you achieve such mastery in Moonlight Sword?"
"You're full of 'speaking of which' today."
Ha Eun-ye smiled faintly.
She could dig into his past if she wanted, but she didn't want to sour things.
Beyond friendly ties, she had no shortage of allies nearby.
She was the Sword King's granddaughter, after all.
Her position in the Murim Alliance and public status were impeccable, and among the later-generation talents, few matched her eye level.
Kindly put, exceptionally sharp; harshly, cunning.
Since he'd caught her eye, she wanted to keep things amicable if possible.
"I trained hard."
"If hard study made everyone a Hallym Academy scholar, the world would be full of them."
"Ah, one of my subordinates said something similar once."
"So, who the heck are these subordinates?"
"And didn't someone say a secret or two makes you more human?"
"Even you must think it's more than one or two..."
"The more, the more human, right?"
Exhausted like a weary soul, she raised her hands in surrender and shook her head.
Her refined lips then turned to other names.
Figures to watch out for besides the Hwang Bo Clan.
They couldn't slack on surface matters either, so as they wove through mountains with voice and transmission techniques, their conversation never lulled.
"W-Water..."
A voice intruded between the pair.
"Water, please..."
A parched voice cried desperately for aid.
"You've got plenty hidden too, Eun-ye. You're in no position to talk."
"Ag-Again with the name! And I haven't hidden anything from you, Seo Mun young master."
"Water, please..."
The pair ignored it coolly.
The beggar clutched his chest, his pitiful pleas continuing, but they remained unmoved.
"You've got tons you haven't revealed."
"You have to ask first. I can't just spill everything unprompted."
"Just one sip, please..."
"Can't help it if you're not curious."
"Wow, you're cold."
The man ground his teeth in frustration.
'Damn flirtatious bastards!'
A man dying right in front of them, and they didn't care.
If only they ignored him, fine—but to disdain and abandon him like this, then play lovers' games in broad daylight.
'Ah, the righteous path of the jianghu has truly fallen to the dirt!'
The beggar, lamenting endlessly, lit fires in his eyes.
Sabak.
As if summoning some burst of spirit from who-knows-where, the beggar swiftly blocked their path just as he opened his mouth to proclaim justice.
Sring.
The silent escorts reacted in a flash.
Blades drawn in an instant pinned him in place.
"Know him?"
"I thought he was your acquaintance, Seo Mun young master."
A mountain path and a beggar made an ill-matched picture. Polar opposites.
Not in the middle of a village, they'd spotted the man's crude act early. The prior indifference was simply because it wasn't worth a corner of their minds.
"...This humble one is U Hak-bong. Let's put down these blades first."