The Ju Family's Heavenly Tournament
The Ju Family's Heavenly Tournament lasts a total of ten days.
Two days have already passed.
The third day marks the official start of the tournament, offering a rare chance to witness the Ju Family's martial arts firsthand.
"Whoa! Those are the famous warriors of the Jeokryongdae, right? Man, they look incredible."
The Ju Family's Jeokryongdae.
The largest martial force in the family, primarily responsible for guarding the sect's borders and maintaining order in Jiangxi Province.
Led by Ju Yu-ran, the warriors in crimson uniforms marched into one side of the training ground in perfect formation.
Following them came warriors clad entirely in black uniforms.
"It's the Heukryongdae! I've never seen them in person before!"
"The Heukryongdae looks so cool! Wow!"
The Heukryongdae was one of the Ju Family's main forces, handling external missions and protecting business interests. Their average skill level surpassed that of the Jeokryongdae.
After training in the Jeokryongdae for a set period, many warriors earned promotion to the Heukryongdae through the tournament's martial competitions.
Right after the Heukryongdae entered, warriors in blue uniforms followed.
The Ju Family's Cheongryongdae.
A special operations unit composed of the most agile members, tasked with reconnaissance and disrupting enemy supply lines during conflicts with the unorthodox factions.
Next came the Baekryongdae and the Hwangryongdae.
The Baekryongdae served as the family's eyes and ears, boasting the strongest intelligence network in Jiangxi Province.
Because of this, only a tiny fraction of its members appeared openly today; the rest could not participate in the tournament to protect their identities.
Finally, the Hwangryongdae represented the family's elite. They undertook the most dangerous and difficult missions, and it was said that few tasks they accepted ever ended in failure.
Beyond these, the Ju Family possessed three hidden martial forces.
Of course, they would never participate in the tournament.
One of them was the Seungryongdae, which protected the direct bloodline of the family head.
The other two were the mysterious Cheonryongdae and Myeolryongdae.
"The martial competition begins!"
With Ju Yu-gyeong's shout, the tournament officially started.
* * *
I sat with my father and the elders on the highest platform, granting a clear view of the entire training ground below. Unfortunately, Ju Sang-jin was seated right beside me.
"You're dead."
Ju Sang-jin muttered threats while making a slicing motion across his neck, ensuring only I could see.
I ignored him completely.
I couldn't understand why a grown man would act so childishly.
Turning my gaze back to the training ground, I watched the matches unfold across divided sections.
Baekryongdae.
I paid particular attention to them.
As the family's eyes and ears, no one in Jiangxi Province could match their intelligence network.
Yet when the Demonic Cult launched its surprise attack, the Baekryongdae had done nothing.
They hadn't even detected the signs.
Why hadn't they known?
I had pondered this countless times.
Regardless of anything else, the Baekryongdae should have noticed events unfolding within Jiangxi Province.
Even the Beggars' Union, renowned for its intelligence, had to defer to them here.
The only possible explanation was betrayal.
There was a traitor among them.
This wasn't mere suspicion—it was near certainty.
At first, I had considered hunting down the spy within the Baekryongdae or dismantling the entire unit.
But I reached a different conclusion.
I'll create a new intelligence organization.
One that answered only to me, willing to use any means necessary to gather information.
Even without a traitor, the Baekryongdae had still failed to detect the Demonic Cult's movements.
I needed to establish a powerful new intelligence force in Jiangxi that surpassed the Baekryongdae.
Sometimes, building something new was better than trying to fix what was broken.
I believed that time was now.
While lost in thought, someone approached.
"Woo-jin."
I turned to see the Fifth Elder, my youngest uncle Ju Tae-hwi.
"Yes, Uncle."
"Come with me for a moment."
He led me off the platform to a secluded area. After checking our surroundings, he handed me a wooden box roughly the length of my forearm. Despite its size, it was surprisingly heavy.
"……?"
"Didn't I promise you a gift last time?"
"Ah, is this it?"
"Yes. Take a look."
I had forgotten, but he had remembered and prepared something for me.
Uncle always looked out for me like this.
"Thank you. I'll accept it gratefully."
I bowed and opened the box.
Inside lay a solid chunk of metal. The moment I saw it, genuine surprise washed over me.
"This is……"
"Haha, surprised? That's right—Baekrenjeonggang. You've heard of it, haven't you?"
Baekrenjeonggang.
One of the Eight Great Metals under Heaven, refined by hammering ordinary iron until no impurities remained.
It wasn't on the level of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron, but it was still an exceptionally durable metal.
"It must have been difficult to obtain. Why give it to me? You should use it yourself, Uncle."
He smiled and shook his head.
"I don't need it. I wanted to give you something even better, but as you know, I'm practically a beggar."
"……"
"So, do you like it?"
"Yes. Thank you, Uncle. I'll put it to good use."
This would be more than enough to help forge my sword.
It couldn't compare to Father's beloved Hobaekchomgeom, but it wouldn't break as easily as ordinary blades.
"By the way, I heard you're entering the direct-lineage martial competition this time?"
Uncle asked in a casual tone, then suddenly grabbed my wrist and sent a thread of inner energy through my meridians.
Though it lasted only a single breath, the energy swept through my body before vanishing.
"Oh?"
His eyes lit up with interest.
"So the family head was telling the truth. This inner energy of yours… where exactly did you obtain it?"
I couldn't say I had cultivated it through training.
No one could amass this much inner energy in just one month without the aid of a rare elixir.
"I was simply fortunate."
"A fortuitous encounter? Something like that?"
"Yes, something like that."
"Hah, it seems the heavens are helping you."
I understood why he was so pleased.
He was the only elder in the family who openly supported me.
Uncle had occasionally hinted that he wanted me to become the young family head and help Father lead the clan properly.
In the entire Ju Family, he was the only one who cared for a good-for-nothing like me to this extent.
But truthfully, I had no interest in becoming the young family head.
Why would I willingly sit in such a troublesome position?
I had neither the time nor the ability to deal with administration and politics.
Sigh. If I told him that, he'd be deeply disappointed.
Of course, I didn't show it.
If I even hinted that I had no desire for the position, Uncle would be genuinely let down.
I would have to gradually convince him over time to look toward my eldest brother instead.
"I'll use it well, Uncle."
"Good. Now hurry back. The family head gave strict orders, so I can't stay away too long either."
"Yes, I'll return now."
I bowed and quickly made my way back to my seat.
Spotting Dan Hui standing in the distance, I waved her over.
"Did you call for me?"
"Ah, take this to my room."
"Yes…… ugh."
Dan Hui staggered slightly as she received the box.
Ah.
It was Baekrenjeonggang, after all.
And the size of my forearm.
Being both dense and highly refined steel, it was too heavy for a girl her age to carry easily.
"I'll return shortly."
In the end, Muyoung stepped forward.
He took the box and headed swiftly toward my quarters.
"Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm sorry, Young Master."
"No, as long as you're fine."
Dan Hui blamed herself for being unable to carry even that much.
Then, feeling a chilling gaze on the back of her head, she glanced over her shoulder and saw Ju Sang-jin staring in our direction.
More precisely, he was openly leering at her.
Dan Hui shuddered and quickly looked away.
"……"
Why did I suddenly feel so disgusted?
I quickly sent Dan Hui back to her original position.
Then, meeting Ju Sang-jin's eyes, I curled one corner of my mouth into a smirk.
As expected.
Ju Sang-jin flared up in anger, but with so many elders present, he couldn't act rashly.
I was truly looking forward to our match.
* * *
Deep within the Ju Family estate.
Several figures entered Namgung I-hwa's residence.
"We greet the Second Madam."
They bowed respectfully to her.
"Sit."
With a cold expression, she gestured for them to take their seats.
Once they were seated, Namgung I-hwa got straight to the point.
"Chief."
"……Please speak."
The man addressed as Chief wore a thin veil that only faintly revealed his face. From what little could be seen, his features were strikingly delicate.
In fact, anyone seeing him for the first time might mistake him for a woman.
"I heard the eldest young master is heading to the Zhushan Archipelago?"
"That is correct."
"Why was this report so late?"
"As you know, we've been busy preparing for the tournament. My apologies."
The Chief lowered his head.
When Namgung I-hwa's face flushed as if she were about to erupt, he quickly continued.
"The matter was relayed to us quite suddenly, so our investigation was delayed. But there's no need for concern."
"Do I look like someone with nothing to worry about? At this rate, the young family head position for Sang-jin is as good as gone!"
"On the contrary, this could be an opportunity. You're already aware of what happened at the Zhushan Archipelago, aren't you?"
"Well, that's true, but……"
At the word "opportunity," Namgung I-hwa's expression softened slightly.
The Zhushan Archipelago was currently in chaos.
Resolving the situation would take at least two months, even in the best case.
Moreover, the family head would be absent because of it.
He was heading into a dangerous region with no guarantee of return.
That meant she would have time to secure Sang-jin's position before he came back.
How?
Winning over the family elders while the head was away would be simple.
This really could be an opportunity.
Just as the Chief said, this was a golden chance.
Yet even though she had already secured the support of over half the elders, Namgung I-hwa couldn't feel at ease.
After all, in the Ju Family, the Sword Sovereign's will took absolute priority.
Suddenly, her gaze shifted toward the rear garden.
Damn it.
Of all times, Yu Ha-rin had to regain her senses and recover her health.
Regardless, she was still the official wife of the family head.
So it was still too early to relax.
"During the tournament, make sure Sang-jin stands out. If he makes a mistake or shows any sign of losing……"
"I'll discreetly adjust things. However, please remember that if the eldest young master intervenes, there's nothing I can do."
"Haha, the eldest young master is only one in name. He won't even participate in the tournament. He's far too weak for that."
"Everything will go according to your wishes, Madam."
The Chief bowed with a cold expression and left Namgung I-hwa's residence.
She didn't particularly like his attitude, but he was still of Namgung blood.
When choosing sides, it was safest to align with the stronger one.
That was how Ju Tae-san, the Baekryongdae Chief, had managed to keep his position despite lacking real ability.