An Unwelcome Encounter
Our journey to the main headquarters of the Martial Alliance had begun.
The distance from Cheongwol Gate to the Alliance headquarters wasn't very far.
At most, it would take two days.
Even though they were both in Henan, there was a difference in distance, but we were guaranteed to arrive within two days at the absolute latest.
A day had passed, and it was now the second day of our journey.
"Elder, when do you think we will reach our destination?"
I asked Chu-dong. In the past, I wouldn't have had the guts to ask him such a thing. But after spending a few months together, I had grown comfortable enough to ask at least this much.
Sitting on the driver's seat, Chu-dong chuckled and replied, "I believe we have about four to six hours left, young master."
"Hmm..."
Four to six hours. That wasn't much time at all. Calculating the time, I leaned back against the carriage seat.
To think I'd end up coming all the way here.
The headquarters of the Martial Alliance was located in the heart of Henan, the same region as the Shaolin Sect, one of the pillars of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang. I was currently heading to the very epicenter of the Orthodox faction—a place where only the elite of the elite within the Martial Alliance were permitted to go. Realizing that fact made it sink in.
[Are you excited?]
I suppressed a smirk at Yoo Chun-gil's voice. Excited?
Like hell I am. I'm nervous out of my mind.
Am I really going to the main headquarters?
Back when I was in Anhui, I felt a sense of relief just being a low-ranking member of the Martial Alliance. Even though I had gotten in through connections, I was still part of the Alliance, which was hailed as the present and future of the Orthodox faction. I figured that if I just took what I could get here, the rest of my life would at least be comfortable.
I wish it had stopped there.
I never asked for any of this. I was suddenly caught by a crazy ghost who dragged me around, insisting I had to become the world's greatest. I was told I'd die if I didn't learn martial arts, and my realm was practically forced upward. And now, to top it all off, I was heading to the main headquarters, a place I thought I'd never set foot in.
Is this really happening?
How did my life end up like this?
Tsk.
I had only wanted to live a decent, quiet life, but I never imagined things would turn out this way.
Will this go well?
I frowned as I thought about the Yongbong Association—the very reason I was heading to the headquarters, and the source of my current anxiety.
What is Sinchang thinking?
He was the current Alliance Leader and one of the few active members of the Heavens Beyond Heaven. I couldn't help but wonder what the 'Trustworthy Spear' intended by summoning me.
Surely...
He isn't trying to screw me over, is he?
It seemed unlikely that an absolute master who had reached the peak of martial arts would use his authority to summon me just to mess with me, but...
Considering what that old man has done, it's entirely possible.
The probability was high enough. That was why I was so anxious.
Sigh...
Just as I swallowed my groan of worry and tried to close my eyes, a voice spoke.
"Are you nervous?"
I shifted my gaze. A handsome face appeared right in front of me. It was Cheon Ui-jin.
"...It would be a lie to say I'm not. It's my first time participating in such a massive event."
"Hahaha. It's nothing, really. They call it a grand festival, but there's absolutely no need to be so tense."
"Ah, right..."
I muttered, my eyes drifting down to Cheon Ui-jin's legs.
"...I assume those words apply to you as well, Young Master Cheon?"
"Yes? Oh, of course."
Cheon Ui-jin answered confidently. Hearing that, my expression turned sour.
Then stop shaking your leg, you bastard...
Despite his calm facial expression, Cheon Ui-jin's leg was shaking like crazy. It was a dead giveaway that he was extremely nervous, contrary to his words. He was telling me it was fine, but I knew the truth.
He's just trying to reassure himself.
Indeed, the most nervous person in this carriage was Cheon Ui-jin. As for the others...
Everyone else is so calm.
The rest of the passengers showed no reaction whatsoever.
Do-hyeong rested his arm on the window frame, keeping watch outside.
Cheon Hye-in sat perfectly upright with her eyes closed.
As for Dang Cheon-il, he was just biting his tongue with his usual disgruntled expression. We had traveled in this carriage for a full day in this state.
Hmm.
I looked at Cheon Hye-in. She had closed her eyes the moment she boarded the carriage and hadn't uttered a single word since. She hadn't even spoken to Cheon Ui-jin, whom she had personally recommended. It was Cheon Ui-jin who was constantly walking on eggshells around her.
I didn't tell him, just as she asked. But what is her reason?
Cheon Hye-in had requested that I not mention she was the one who recommended Cheon Ui-jin. She said that was part of the deal. So, I hadn't explained anything to Cheon Ui-jin.
But it's not like they get along.
It was a well-known fact that the relationship between the two siblings was a complete mess. Yet, I couldn't fathom why Cheon Hye-in wanted to bring Cheon Ui-jin to the Yongbong Association.
Is there some hidden motive?
I wondered if there was a deeper meaning behind it.
But now isn't the time to worry about that.
I was too busy to dwell on their family dynamics.
I looked away from Cheon Hye-in and stared down at my hands. I was holding a thick stack of letters. This was something Wolseongeom had sent me before we departed. It was also something I had specifically requested from him.
Information obtained through the Beggar Alliance.
It contained detailed profiles of the Seven Great Talents, the most prominent young geniuses in the Central Plains today. Moreover, it was information that ran much deeper than what was commonly available. I was reviewing the documents page by page.
Four to six hours left.
That should be enough time to commit all of this to memory. With that thought, I was about to resume reading when—
[Kid.]
Yoo Chun-gil's voice echoed in my mind.
[Look out the window.]
I frowned at his words.
The window?
Why suddenly look out there? I turned my head to look outside.
There's nothing there.
There was nothing unusual to be seen. What was he talking about? Thinking he was just playing a prank, I was about to pull my head back inside when—
"As expected, you noticed it too."
"Pardon?"
Cheon Hye-in's voice rang out.
Noticed? Noticed what? Confused, I looked at Do-hyeong, who had already been staring out the window for a while.
Clack.
He placed his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
What was going on? I wondered if I was the only one out of the loop, but fortunately, Cheon Ui-jin and Dang Cheon-il seemed equally clueless.
"It's coming," Do-hyeong said.
And then—
"Young masters...! There is something ahead!" Chu-dong shouted.
At his cry, I peered out the window again, focusing my gaze. Only then did I see it.
What is that...?
There was a carriage ahead. And it was massive.
...Why is it so huge?
The carriage provided by Cheongwol Gate was already exceptionally large, but the one ahead was on another level. It was a pitch-black carriage drawn by three black horses.
And... That crest.
A flag fluttered above the carriage. It depicted a black dragon on a white background. It was a crest that no one in the Central Plains could possibly fail to recognize.
That was...
...The Paeng Clan?
The absolute rulers of Hebei. One of the Five Great Noble Families of the Orthodox faction. It was the crest of the Hebei Paeng Clan.
The Hebei Paeng Clan. A prestigious family of the Orthodox faction located in Hebei, and one of the Five Great Noble Families considered the pillars of the Murim. Their patriarch was Paeng Woo-sung, the 'Blade Absolute', a master comparable to the Five Kings of the Realm. As his title suggested, it was a martial family that favored the saber. They were known for their massive physiques and their deep understanding of external martial arts over internal energy. But their most defining trait was...
They are simple-minded.
Or rather, violent. Despite being a noble family, they carried a reputation for being rather brutish.
...Why are they here?
Why on earth was the Paeng Clan blocking the road? As I stared out the window in confusion, our carriage gradually slowed down as it approached them. I could sense their presence. There were people inside, which meant...
They know we're approaching, but they're deliberately blocking the path.
What was this? A bad premonition washed over me.
[The Paeng Clan, huh?]
Yoo Chun-gil remarked, sounding amused.
[So it's the family of that 'Blade God' fellow.]
I swallowed hard at Yoo Chun-gil's words. The 'Blade God' Paeng Seol-hyeok. He was a master from the Paeng Clan, one of the Heavens Beyond Heaven, who had died during the war against the Demonic Cult.
With a loud neigh, our carriage finally came to a complete halt. The moment it stopped, Chu-dong climbed down and dragged his frail frame toward the Paeng Clan's carriage.
"Excuse me... We need to pass through. Would you mind clearing the road?"
Just as it seemed his polite request would go unanswered, the driver sitting on the other carriage spoke.
"Apologies, but our master has not given permission, so we cannot move."
What kind of nonsense is that?
What a ridiculous excuse. They couldn't clear the road because their master hadn't permitted it? Who did they think they were, mountain bandits? I frowned. Just as I was about to step out of the carriage to intervene, the door of the Paeng Clan's carriage creaked open. And then—
Thud!
A massive foot stepped out of the carriage and stomped onto the ground.
"Phew."
With a heavy sigh, someone squeezed their way out of the carriage.
Crack.
"Ah, damn it."
A splintering sound echoed as he ducked his head to step out. The carriage door frame cracked.
"...Good grief. Broke it again."
The figure muttered as he emerged. My eyes widened as I looked at him.
He's huge.
He was massive. Too massive. In terms of sheer bulk, he was on par with Yoo Chun-gil. And he wasn't just tall; he was simply giant. His entire frame was colossal. A young man clad in black martial robes, whose sheer size made the already large carriage door look tiny.
"Pardon the intrusion."
The young man had sharp, ruggedly handsome features. Broad-shouldered and imposing, he addressed Chu-dong.
"I have some business over there, so I had no choice but to block the road."
...That guy?
Looking at the young man speaking to Chu-dong, a realization struck me. I knew who he was. His appearance matched the description in the dossier I had just been reading. He was definitely...
"The Black..."
"Black Great Saber!"
"Huh?"
Before I could even finish my sentence, someone beside me kicked open the carriage door and bolted out. It was Dang Cheon-il. What was wrong with that bastard? I stared in bewilderment, but he had already rushed outside.
"You...!"
"Huh?"
The young man reacted to Dang Cheon-il's sudden appearance.
"Oh, look at that."
He grinned as he recognized Dang Cheon-il.
"If it isn't the Tang family's dumbass. Didn't expect to see you here. Good to see you."
...Wow.
He just casually dropped a slur right off the bat. Calling him a dumbass.
What brutal honesty.
I felt a sudden surge of respect for him.
"...You bastard...!"
Dang Cheon-il's face contorted in rage at the young man's words. The giant was a highly famous figure from the Paeng Clan: Paeng Do-jin, the 'Black Great Saber'. He was one of the Seven Great Talents who had captured the attention of the Central Plains.
No wonder Dang Cheon-il is throwing a fit.
He had a history with the Poison Dragon. And for good reason.
...Didn't they say he was defeated in a single blow?
The giant standing before us was the very man who had utterly crushed the Poison Dragon at the previous Yongbong Association.
"How fascinating. What are you doing here?"
"...You son of a bitch. I'll kill you...!"
"Oh?"
Seeing Dang Cheon-il flare his energy, Paeng Do-jin tilted his head in amusement. In that instant—
Boom!
Dang Cheon-il cloaked himself in energy and lunged forward like an arrow. His presence grew faint. He was charging with his clan's poison arts enveloping his body. They're fighting just like that? Just as I was reeling from the sheer absurdity of the situation—
"Well, now," Paeng Do-jin muttered as if troubled.
"You are still..."
Whoosh!
He clenched his fist.
"...a dumbass."
And then—
Crash!
"Gah!"
His fist slammed directly into the charging Dang Cheon-il's face. Taking the blow head-on, Dang Cheon-il was driven straight into the dirt. Holy crap.
Did he just die?
His cheek looked completely caved in. He was face-down in the dirt, twitching pitifully. Furthermore...
He crushed him in a single blow...?
The Black Great Saber had pulverized the Poison Dragon in one strike. The difference in their strength was staggering. It couldn't even be called a clash. In the sudden silence that followed the instantaneous conclusion—
Thud.
Stepping right over the collapsed Dang Cheon-il, the Black Great Saber walked toward our carriage.
"I have a question for you all."
He didn't seem to care in the slightest about the fight he had just finished.
"This appears to be a carriage from Cheongwol Gate. I was wondering if the person I am looking for is inside."
My brow furrowed as he drew closer. His presence was formidable. But the real problem lay in his next words.
"What was... his name again? Ah, right."
"Bang Seong-yeon."
Huh?
"The Young Sword Saint, Bang Seong-yeon. Is he in there?"
The Black Great Saber, who had just obliterated Dang Cheon-il in a single blow, was looking for me.