The Moon Religion's Shadow
The words felt true.
Why did the martial arts passed down through this family feel so familiar? Why was that mountain called Gwigok Mountain? He had no idea how such a thing had come to pass, but now it seemed he could guess why it had happened here.
The bonds spoken of in Buddhist scriptures... had it always been like this?
A hot surge rose in his chest as Gwak Yeon finally grasped the last missing piece that had once seemed so vague.
One of the countless documents piled on the desk.
The name written at the top.
[The Moon Religion]
If what the family head had said was true, that name was closely tied to the shadowy force that had once slipped from the lips of the Demon-Slaying Elder.
So.
Just as Gwak Yeon was about to turn his gaze away again—
“The reason I am telling you this now is simple. From today onward I will acknowledge you as the son of this family.”
At the family head’s light gesture the document bearing the name [The Moon Religion] was taken up.
“That means a chance has been given to you to hear the family’s long-cherished wish.”
“A long-cherished wish... is that what you call it, Father?”
“How do you think your grandfather managed to elevate this family to where it stands today in less than eighty years?”
“I am listening.”
“First, to spread the martial prowess of the benefactor across the entire land. To engrave the traces of the one who saved us and made this family’s prosperity possible in the hearts of the Central Plains.”
Gwak Yeon’s cheek flushed in an odd crimson.
Yet the feeling of shame did not linger.
Because.
“And second.”
A killing intent that bore no resemblance to the quiet voice filled the entire room.
“To hunt down those who kidnapped my father and betrayed the benefactor, to devour them to the bone.”
That was the purpose.
The document on the desk fluttered in the killing intent.
Gwak Yeon stared at the characters on it and quickly opened his mouth.
“When you say ‘those people’...”
“Your father spoke of the stories told during his captivity. He once told me that the Demon-Slaying Elder, who had died together with the benefactor, was little more than one pillar of a vast hidden force, he said in passing.”
“A hidden force...”
“And that if we do not uproot them root and branch, the meaning of the benefactor’s salvation will be lost.”
“Uproot them root and branch...”
“That means they are still active?”
“Yes.”
Gwak Yeon’s heart thumped heavily.
It was impossible.
The vague suspicions he had harbored had been true.
‘As I thought...!’
While a storm of emotions raged inside him.
Gwak Yeon finally managed to steady himself and opened his mouth once more.
“Then what is the true identity of this hidden force?”
The family head suddenly closed his mouth.
“Could the name written there—the Moon Religion—perhaps be their actual name?”
No answer came.
Only.
The family head, lips still sealed, gave an indifferent wave of his hand.
The papers on the desk and the entire mess of documents scattered across it straightened themselves in one smooth motion.
With crisp sounds, the countless documents arranged themselves flawlessly.
They looked as if someone had just taken a test.
The family head’s expression was strangely enigmatic as he fixed Gwak Yeon with his gaze and spoke slowly.
“Eliminating this hidden force is not only the final wish of my late father, the former family head, but also the long-cherished dream of our family made possible by the chivalry of the benefactor.”
“Which means that hidden force—”
“Enough.”
The family head cut off Gwak Yeon’s words with cold finality.
He gave Gwak Yeon a sharp look that brooked no rebuttal and continued at his own pace.
“If you still wish to know what comes next, win the upcoming duel and return.”
“A duel?”
“Why, afraid?”
He was.
Today’s duel between the second and third young masters had only been arranged to decide who would represent the family in the martial competition scheduled one month from now.
[The Baek Family of Zhoushan]
This duel between the Seoho Gwak Family and the rival major family of Zhejiang, called the twin pillars of the province, was no mere clash of pride.
It was bound up in a fierce battle over interests tied to the great merchant group of Zhejiang.
But.
In the family head’s gaze as he looked at Gwak Yeon now, something unfathomable lay hidden.
“...”
“...”
The silence did not last long.
Tap.
A precious spiritual pill box was placed before Gwak Yeon.
“Take this today.”
“Family head.”
“If you wish to learn more about the family, prove your worth and return.”
An odd gust of wind seemed to blow.
* * *
“...The Baek Family of Zhoushan will win without trouble, won’t they?”
During a break in the meeting someone flicked another cigarette.
This man spoke without flinching even as every eye in the room turned toward him.
“Why not? Of course they will. It’s not just anyone—Baek Jung-hyeok.”
The decisive tone made the discussion flare once more.
“Hmm.”
“What hmm? I agree. Honestly, even looking at the entire Rising Star level of Zhejiang, there isn’t a single person who can beat Baek Jung-hyeok in a duel.”
“There is Gwak Ho-shin.”
“Exactly. Don’t call him a genius for nothing. And honestly, the strongest one here is still the eldest son, Gwak Jeong-pal.”
“The one who hasn’t even returned to the family yet should be left out of this. He’s a madman, isn’t he?”
“True. And the two of them are only in Hangzhou.”
“What nonsense. Hangzhou is the most prosperous place in Zhejiang. In Hangzhou the strongest force is the Seoho Gwak Family, and if the genius label was given for holding a sword there, it’s meaningless.”
“Interesting. Where do you think Zhoushan is? From the seas crawling with pirates and criminals, the strongest force in the entire sea is the Baek Family of Zhoushan. They’re in a completely different dimension from land-dwellers.”
“Gwak Ho-shin hasn’t even caught a pirate, has he?”
“You’re really going after the tail again! If you’re going to argue that way, then Baek Jung-hyeok—Gwak Ho-shin’s blood is only worth the bounty Baek Jung-hyeok would put on him!”
The heated debate continued, even as the men’s spittle flew.
Yet the gleaming table retained its elegance.
Why?
Because it was a single piece of obsidian polished into a perfect circle.
Carved with the artist’s signature on every side, far more precious than gold of the same weight.
Not only the table.
Walking around the meeting room revealed countless rare treasures.
The wide floor was entirely marble, the chairs seated on them were made of pure wood from across the sea, and priceless paintings hung on every wall.
Nor was that all.
“Baek Jung-hyeok will win!”
“Gwak Ho-shin won’t!”
“This is annoying, really. If anyone had ever seen Baek Jung-hyeok fight, they wouldn’t be saying this. His aura is incomparable to ordinary people.”
“What? The man who can knock someone out just by frowning is Gwak Ho-shin?”
“Want to make a bet?”
“Sure, I’ll take it all.”
Look at the clothes of the men arguing.
From the glossy black-silk outer robes to the gleaming hats and shoes, the leather and craftsmanship were beyond words.
Every one of them had rings that sparkled with gold.
Yes.
This was a place where even dreams could be woven in gold once the ties were sealed.
Right here.
[The Cheonhae Merchant Group]
The Cheonhae Merchant Group, the greatest in Zhejiang.
With hundreds of magnificent courtyards and towering buildings, the colossal organization added more every time an envoy returned from a journey.
These high officials, planning the next grand journey, had one reason for mentioning the duel between the Seoho Gwak Family and the Baek Family of Zhoushan.
Because the victor of that duel would accompany the merchant group as escort for the journey.
This was, in a way, a test.
The Cheonhae Merchant Group, eager to step onto a wider stage, was using the duel to determine which martial family—among the two—would form a long-term alliance with them.
The Baek Family of Zhoushan or the Seoho Gwak Family.
One had grown alongside the sea, the other had risen rapidly from the back alleys of Hangzhou.
Right now the abacus was clicking as the two weighed which would yield greater profit.
“Everyone, quiet!”
A man with a goatee was organizing the situation.
“This issue is not about a bet, so if you want to wager, write your name on the ledger later. In my view Baek Jung-hyeok has the edge because of his experience in one-on-one duels... but some people only learn that fire is hot after being burned.”
His light remark brought scattered cheers and laughter from the members.
Yet the moment the chatter died, they all nodded.
“But remember this. The duel is only about the protection for this journey. We must never forget to pay attention to matters that could benefit the long-term growth of our group.”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
After hearing the replies he continued with a smile.
“If we look at this duel, there are several points. The process of choosing the representative, the murmurs that may arise among the family members, the outcome of the duel itself. But victory or defeat is only part of it; these other matters may be the ones the wise must examine.”
It was correct.
The Baek Family of Zhoushan had not wasted a single moment deciding who would fight in the duel one month from now.
The Seoho Gwak Family, however, had.
When everyone could clearly see who would go, why was this an internal duel?
Everyone now realized these differences marked the two families with distinct colors.
“Has the eldest son of the Seoho Gwak Family still not returned to Hangzhou?”
“Yes.”
“What a pity. If we were to choose by fighting, it would have been interesting to see the eldest and third fight.”
“Indeed.”
“And the second son is said to have run away? He was afraid to fight the third, Gwak Ho-shin.”
“That’s right.”
“They fought today, didn’t they?”
“Yes.”
Pfft.
The goateed man’s laughter spread to the others.
Everyone already knew the stories about Gwak Yeon, the second young master of the Seoho Gwak Family.
“They say Gwak Ho-shin lost to him in a one-on-one duel.”
“That idiot second young master won?”
From taverns and brothels to alley markets, gambling houses and cockfighting rings, the rumor of the Seoho Gwak Family—named the strongest in Hangzhou—spread like wildfire.
Yet even as shock and amazement rippled through the crowd.
“Don’t mess around.”
“Insane, that’s ridiculous.”
“For real?”
The one most astonished by Gwak Yeon’s victory was someone else entirely.
Midnight.
Many others slept.
One man lay under the covers, unable to sleep.
“......”
Within the pitch-black darkness his moonlight-like eyes glowed.
The man’s expression appeared cruel, yet the flash in his eyes was chilling.
He was the one everyone had expected to win today’s duel.
Yes.
His name was Gwak Ho-shin.
A genius who spoke little and acted arrogantly, yet capable of fainting someone simply by scowling.
A cold-blooded smile that occasionally flickered across his expression was said to be the precursor to an explosion...
Kill kill kill━━
...but the truth was entirely different.
In other words.
The timid youngest son of the great family, with an extremely dangerous appearance, was now smiling his own peculiar happy(?) smile.
“I lost to my brother... I’m glad.”