The Four Gods Assembly
Three days later.
At the pavilion in front of the Blue Dragon Squad headquarters in the Murim Alliance Qinghai Branch, the air hung heavy with expectation.
In the center of the pavilion, refreshments had been arranged with meticulous care.
Along the edges of the square table, the characters for the four directions—east, west, south, and north—were carved, one per side.
Men occupied the eastern and western seats, while a woman sat in the southern position.
Only the northern seat remained vacant.
They held their teacups and regarded one another across the table.
Yet none of them brought the tea to their lips.
A peculiar silence wrapped itself around the pavilion like a shroud.
As though maintaining that silence were some kind of contest, they kept their mouths firmly shut.
From the atmosphere alone, one might have thought they were strangers meeting for the first time.
But these three were the leaders of the Four Major Martial Units, people who had served the Murim Alliance Qinghai Branch for years.
The man in the east was Baek Mujin, leader of the White Tiger Squad.
In the west sat Hyeon-gok, chief of the Blue Dragon Squad.
The woman in the south was Hwarin of the Vermilion Bird Squad.
Though they belonged to the same organization, their expressions made it clear they were far from close.
In truth, they were not close at all.
Each unit possessed its own distinct character, and for years they had competed fiercely, each claiming supremacy.
The now-defunct Black Tortoise Squad was, of course, the exception.
Which meant the three seated here were, without question, rivals.
Hwarin was the first to break the silence.
“Why did you call us here, Squad Leader Hyeon-gok?”
She fixed her gaze on him. After all, he was the one who had convened this meeting.
Hwarin already knew exactly what he intended to say. She had read his thoughts clearly during the earlier events surrounding the Black Tortoise Squad.
But she was not his mouthpiece. There was no reason for her to speak in his place.
She had opened her mouth first for one simple reason: the Vermilion Bird Squad was already overwhelmed with work. She had no desire to waste time here.
Hyeon-gok, Blue Dragon Squad Leader, moistened his lips with a sip of tea before slowly speaking.
“The new Black Tortoise Squad Leader has arrived, has he not?”
“Anyone with eyes and ears knows that. Is that why you summoned us?”
Hwarin swept her hair behind her ear. Hyeon-gok looked at her with open disbelief.
“Didn’t I already tell you?”
“I don’t recall hearing anything of the sort.”
Hwarin flatly denied it. She had already decided to remain neutral in this matter.
As leader of the Vermilion Bird Squad, whose role was to gather and process information, she found it troubling that nothing about Jang Muhwi had reached her.
In her frustration, she had even contacted the Haomen leader she regularly dealt with. The reply brought nothing more or less than what she already knew. She had simply thrown away the squad’s operating funds for nothing.
She had visited the Black Tortoise Squad in person, yet still learned nothing of value. Aside from the fact that their training was brutally intense, everything appeared normal.
That the higher-ups were concealing something was as obvious as an awl in a pocket. And everyone knew it was wiser not to touch an awl in a pocket—lest you end up bleeding for your trouble.
Hyeon-gok continued with a distinctly displeased expression.
“Then I shall speak plainly. I request that we open the Four Gods Assembly.”
At those words, Baek Mujin, who had remained silent until then, tilted his head.
“Did you just say Four Gods Assembly?”
The Four Gods Assembly was an event unique to the Murim Alliance Qinghai Branch.
Until five years ago, it had been a customary friendly spar held whenever a new squad leader took office. It was not about establishing dominance or driving out newcomers. Rather, it was an opportunity for the newly appointed leader to display their skill.
The crucial point was that it was conducted under the banner of ‘friendship.’
Hyeon-gok looked at Baek Mujin.
“What is your answer? Will you participate?”
“Blue Dragon Squad Leader, the White Tiger Squad will decline to take part in this Four Gods Assembly spar. There would be little enjoyment in testing our strength against a newly arrived squad leader.”
At his declaration, Hwarin nodded while smoothing her ornate sleeves.
“The Vermilion Bird Squad feels the same. Friendly spar or not, there is no need to participate in a fight whose outcome is already obvious and risk damaging our reputation.”
Both leaders had spoken the same words, yet their true intentions were entirely different.
Baek Mujin simply saw no reason to expend unnecessary effort.
Hwarin, on the other hand, saw no benefit in engaging an opponent whose nature—whether tiger or wolf—she had yet to determine.
Hyeon-gok glanced between the two of them, concealing his inner thoughts behind a faint smile.
“Then am I to understand that both of you are willing to let me claim all the glory of this Four Gods Assembly for myself?”
“Glory, you say… What honor is there in defeating the weak?”
As Baek Mujin laughed, Hyeon-gok replied.
“Is that truly what you believe? Did you not witness what happened at the recent harmony banquet?”
“What exactly did I miss? I saw the well-prepared food, but nothing else caught my eye.”
“In that case, I will limit the Four Gods Assembly spar to an event between the Blue Dragon Squad and the Black Tortoise Squad alone. Does that satisfy you?”
“Do as you please.”
When Baek Mujin nodded, Hyeon-gok’s face brightened into a radiant smile.
A short while later, once the others had departed, a man stood alone in the empty pavilion with his arms crossed.
“How entertaining.”
It was Jang Muhwi.
After training, he spent his remaining time gathering information throughout the Murim Alliance. What amused him most was how the information came rolling in even when he simply sat still.
The low-ranking warriors who had received his gold bars had willingly become his eyes and ears. The details they casually passed to Galmu-ryang proved surprisingly useful.
Even today, one of the lower-ranked warriors who had prepared the refreshments had let slip whether the Black Tortoise Squad Leader would attend, allowing Jang Muhwi to learn of the meeting.
He drew a small booklet from within his robes. The names of the Four Major Martial Units’ leaders were recorded inside.
He had received it from the Haomen several days earlier. Their intelligence included concise character evaluations.
Baek Mujin, White Tiger Squad Leader, was described as arrogant and unconcerned with hiding his true feelings. More accurately, he had no need to hide them—he was one of the strongest experts among the squad leaders.
Hwarin of the Vermilion Bird Squad was characterized as thoroughly calculating. Jang Muhwi agreed with that assessment.
As for Hyeon-gok, the information claimed he was skilled in schemes but lacking in martial ability. On this point, Jang Muhwi could not agree.
In just one more year, Hyeon-gok would make his name resound across all of Qinghai. Of course, the Haomen’s observation that he excelled at schemes was undeniably accurate. Jang Muhwi had fallen for his tricks more than once in his previous life.
Hyeon-gok loved to flaunt his martial prowess before an audience. He would agree to fight an enemy together, only to appear at the last moment when his allies were cornered, rescue them, and then take all the credit.
Countless allies had lost their lives because of that habit. In short, Hyeon-gok was the sort of man who would abandon his own side if it meant raising his personal fame.
And in the final battle against the Demonic Cult, he had fled like a coward. Jang Muhwi could not view him favorably.
Though that event had not yet occurred, a person’s fundamental nature did not change easily. Hyeon-gok was surely plotting something grand this time as well—at least until he met his match.
Jang Muhwi quietly reopened the page containing information on Hyeon-gok.
His paternal family was an unremarkable martial clan. His maternal family, however, was another matter entirely: the Namgung Clan, one of the great powers of Anhui.
The former clan leader—his maternal grandfather—was said to have cherished Hyeon-gok above all others. The intelligence laid out every detail of his life, even recording when he had last visited his maternal relatives.
Jang Muhwi searched through his memories of the previous timeline. From what he recalled, this was roughly the period when Hyeon-gok had begun to distinguish himself.
By now, he would have perfected his new martial arts. And he was undoubtedly still concealing his true strength, waiting for the perfect moment to reveal it.
Jang Muhwi’s lips curved into a faint smile.
The next day, Jang Muhwi made his way to the office of the Murim Alliance Qinghai Branch Leader.
He had received an urgent summons from Wang Jimak.
Recalling the events at the pavilion the previous day, a faint smile touched his lips.
In any organization with multiple factions, rivalry and factional checks were inevitable. The Murim Alliance Qinghai Branch was no exception.
Until now there had been no significant movements, so Jang Muhwi had simply observed. But now that Hyeon-gok had chosen to act, only one response remained.
He would overwhelm them so thoroughly that the Black Tortoise Squad would not be dragged into pointless squabbles.
He’s even done me the favor of setting the stage like this.
Jang Muhwi opened the door to the now-familiar office.
“Branch Leader. You called for me?”
When Jang Muhwi offered a respectful greeting, Wang Jimak looked up from his documents.
The branch leader greeted him with a broad smile. His eyes shone with such enthusiasm that he looked ready to leap up and embrace him. Fortunately, Wang Jimak remained seated and simply gestured.
“Squad Leader Jang. Come in, come in. We should at least share a cup of tea first. How does snow lotus tea sound?”
“Please save the expensive leaves and speak comfortably, Branch Leader.”
“The truth is, the Blue Dragon Squad Leader came to see me yesterday.”
“Blue Dragon Squad Leader?”
“One of the heads of the Four Major Martial Units. He proposed holding the Four Gods Assembly. As you know, it is a tradition of our branch to hold the event whenever a new squad leader assumes his post.”
Jang Muhwi nodded without a word. Of course, he already knew everything.
Wang Jimak continued.
“However, both the White Tiger Squad Leader and the Vermilion Bird Squad Leader have declared they will not participate in the spar. They gave no reasons. I wanted to hear your thoughts first. You have been swept up in far too many major incidents lately. You will need time to reorganize…”
Wang Jimak spoke his mind openly. After the affairs at Paryun Valley and with the Jangryong Merchant Group, he believed rest was necessary. If possible, he wished to postpone the Four Gods Assembly until the end of the year or even next year.
“If you are delaying it on my account, there is no need for concern. It makes no difference to me.”
“Hmm. Are you truly fine with this?”
“I consider it part of my duties.”
“Part of your duties… Very well. I will accept it as you say. And there is one more matter.”
Wang Jimak paused. Jang Muhwi smiled.
“Speak freely.”
“The Blue Dragon Squad Leader mentioned he would invite a distinguished guest.”
“Would it happen to be someone from the Namgung Clan?”
“You already knew.”
“Then it must be the Thunder Power Sword elder, the Blue Dragon Squad Leader’s grandfather.”
“Hah, exactly right. Will that be acceptable?”
“I have no objection. If the Thunder Power Sword elder attends, other suitable distinguished guests will surely appear as well. Is that not beneficial for the Qinghai Branch?”
“You won’t find it burdensome?”
“It doesn’t matter to me.”
When Jang Muhwi smiled brightly, Wang Jimak nodded, visibly relieved.
After accepting the arrangements for the Four Gods Assembly and leaving the office, Jang Muhwi now understood the entire situation perfectly.
The visitors were not coming from Anhui specifically to see Hyeon-gok. They were stopping in Qinghai on their way to handle business with the Kunlun Sect and would make time during their visit.
Hyeon-gok clearly intended to use this opportunity to his advantage. It seemed he had chosen the Four Gods Assembly as the stage to unveil the martial arts his maternal grandfather had bestowed upon him.
The assembly was scheduled for exactly fifteen days from today—a date Hyeon-gok had likely set himself.
Jang Muhwi considered it a fortunate development. Wang Jimak, for his part, had thanked him repeatedly, believing once again that Jang Muhwi was sacrificing himself for the sake of the Qinghai Branch.
A short while later, upon returning to the Black Tortoise Squad headquarters, Jang Muhwi ordered Ma Uiryong and Galmu-ryang to guard the gates with absolute vigilance.
He then entered his private training room within the building and unfolded a single sheet of paper.
It was a page of hanji onto which he had transcribed the second chapter of the Nameless Sword Art.
Countless dots covered the surface.
The Nameless Sword Art was difficult to decipher. Yet its power was extraordinary.
Had he not overcome the crises at Paryun Valley and against the Jangryong Merchant Group using only the first chapter?
It was time to move on to the next.
For the sake of the Four Gods Assembly, if nothing else.
Of course, it was not only to face Hyeon-gok. He had instinctively realized that the time had come to advance to the next stage of the Nameless Sword Art.
In a sense, the Four Gods Assembly was merely a milestone along the path.
Jang Muhwi drew a deep breath.
Then he began to stare at the countless dots on the hanji.
He did not blink. It was as though he were pouring his entire consciousness into each individual mark.
How much time passed? The dots remained nothing more than meaningless traces of ink. No change occurred.
Yet Jang Muhwi never once took his eyes from the sword art.
In the gangho, it was said that to master martial arts, one first needed a heavy backside. Attempting to take shortcuts here would only lead to ruin.