Chapter 224

“I’m sorry, Senior Martial Brother!”

Daoist Master Sangjin bowed his head weakly, apologizing to Daoist Master Cheongjin.

He had taken the Seven Swords of Wudang with him, yet he had returned empty-handed, having failed to capture the assassin.

The series of events had dealt a great blow to his pride, and it became an opportunity for him to reflect on whether he had become intoxicated by his fame as the First Sword of Wudang.

Daoist Master Cheongjin looked down at the dispirited Daoist Master Sangjin and nodded.

“Raise your head.”

“I am sorry. Please punish me for failing to complete my mission.”

“Junior Martial Brother!”

“I cannot forgive myself as things stand. So please, punish me for failing to complete my mission.”

“Hmph!”

Daoist Master Sangjin was adamant.

It was clear he would not leave until Daoist Master Cheongjin punished him.

‘Perhaps this is for the better…’

While it was a great pity that they failed to retrieve the demonic art manual, the Devil Subduing Energy Art, Daoist Master Sangjin needed to develop further for the future of Wudang.

Intoxicated by his fame as the First Sword of Wudang, Daoist Master Sangjin had not made any progress in recent years. To truly take responsibility for Wudang’s future, he needed to become much stronger than he was now.

“Very well! I will sentence you to one year of wall-gazing training for your crime. Take the Seven Swords of Wudang who failed the mission and go to the Wall-Gazing Hall at once.”

“I accept the Sect Master’s command.”

Daoist Master Sangjin stood up and performed a Fist-Palm Salute.

Daoist Master Cheongjin patted his shoulder and said.

“I pray you will achieve great things.”

“I will surely live up to your expectations, Senior Martial Brother.”

“That is enough.”

“I will take my leave.”

When Daoist Master Sangjin came outside, the Seven Swords of Wudang, who had been waiting, approached him. Daoist Master Sangjin headed to the Wall-Gazing Hall with them.

A faint smile appeared on Daoist Master Cheongjin’s lips as he watched their retreating backs.

“When they finish their wall-gazing training and come out, Wudang will be even stronger.”

Daoist Master Cheongjin knew his own limits well.

Despite a lifetime of contemplation and devotion, his martial arts had not surpassed the level of an Elder.

His martial prowess was insufficient to lead a great sect like the Wudang Sect. Still, he had become the Wudang Sect Master because he had an eye for reading the world and the strong leadership to guide his disciples.

“If I can no longer become stronger, then I must make the other disciples stronger. That is the only way to protect the Wudang Sect in this turbulent world.”

For some time now, the Heavenly Opportunity had felt unstable.

It was maintaining its flow for now, but it felt as if it had reached its limit.

For decades after the Great Blood War, the Jianghu had been experiencing an unprecedented period of peace.

The Two Powerhouses, the Three Clans, and numerous other sects were exquisitely checking each other, maintaining a balance of power.

Thanks to this, the Jianghu had maintained its peace, but in Daoist Master Cheongjin’s eyes, it looked like a sandcastle that could collapse at any moment.

Having experienced its collapse several times already, the Wudang Sect had no choice but to react more sensitively than any other sect to the chaos of All Under Heaven.

“Huu!”

It was when Daoist Master Cheongjin let out an unconscious sigh.

“Sect Master!”

A disciple’s voice came from outside.

“What is it?”

“We have a guest.”

“A guest?”

“Yes! Someone has come from the Righteous Sword Manor.”

“Is that so?”

Jang Mu-yeon and the White Tiger Sword Unit had been killed at the foot of Mount Wudang. It was naturally the Wudang Sect’s duty to collect their bodies.

After collecting their bodies, the Wudang Sect had informed the Righteous Sword Manor.

Now that someone from the Righteous Sword Manor had arrived, they had to hand over the bodies.

When Daoist Master Cheongjin came outside, he saw a group of martial artists. They were the martial artists from the Righteous Sword Manor.

A disciple introduced Daoist Master Cheongjin to them.

“This is our sect’s Sect Master.”

“Jang Ho-yeon of the Righteous Sword Manor pays his respects to Daoist Master Cheongjin, the Sect Master of the Wudang Sect.”

A handsome young master with a gentle impression greeted Daoist Master Cheongjin on behalf of everyone.

He was none other than the great young master of the Righteous Sword Manor, Jang Ho-yeon.

He was also the half-brother of the deceased Jang Mu-yeon.

“Oh! The great young master of the Righteous Sword Manor has come in person.”

“I apologize for the trouble my brother has caused the Wudang Sect. I sincerely thank you for recovering the bodies of my foolish brother and his disciples.”

“No! We only did what was natural.”

Daoist Master Cheongjin shook his head.

“Thank you. We will take care of recovering the bodies of my brother and the White Tiger Sword Unit.”

“Please do so.”

“And there is one more thing I would like to ask of you.”

“What is it?”

“I would like to obtain information about the one who did this to Mu-yeon.”

Jang Ho-yeon’s tone was exceedingly gentle.

He expressed no hatred or anger whatsoever. That made him feel all the more chilling.

‘So it was true that the great young master of the Righteous Sword Manor has a gentle appearance that doesn’t match his vicious heart.’

Opinions on Jang Ho-yeon were sharply divided.

Some said he was a truly good person, while others said he was a terrifying person the likes of which the world had never seen.

Daoist Master Cheongjin thought both rumors were probably true.

Jang Ho-yeon was a good person, and a terrifying person.

Infinitely generous to his allies, but infinitely terrifying to his enemies.

That was Jang Ho-yeon.

The reason he did not lose his composure at his brother’s death was that Jang Mu-yeon had been his potential rival and enemy. The reason he was searching for the fiend who killed his brother was that they were still brothers who shared at least half the same blood.

Above all, he had a duty to secure the Gongpo Sword.

This whole affair had happened because of the Gongpo Sword.

If he returned without obtaining the Gongpo Sword, the Righteous Sword Manor’s honor would inevitably hit rock bottom.

Daoist Master Cheongjin opened his mouth.

“I know almost nothing about him.”

“Our clan’s prestige is on the line. Please tell me what you know.”

Jang Ho-yeon’s gaze was still calm. But within it was an unshakeable, firm will.

The will to never back down until he heard the answer he wanted from Daoist Master Cheongjin.

“Huu! I am certain only that his destination is Henan Province. I know nothing more than that.”

Daoist Master Cheongjin answered vaguely.

He had deliberately spoken that way to protect Pyo Wol. In any case, the Wudang Sect had received Pyo Wol’s help, and Soma, who traveled with him, had been taken in by Daoist Master Ilgeom.

Even if his opponent was the Righteous Sword Manor, he could not reveal Pyo Wol’s whereabouts in detail.

Jang Ho-yeon nodded.

“That is sufficient. Thank you.”

“My apologies!”

“Not at all. I will be sure to repay this debt later. Then, I will take my leave.”

“Won’t you stay for a day?”

“I’m sorry. I appreciate the kindness, but I cannot allow myself to impose any further.”

Jang Ho-yeon performed a Fist-Palm Salute to Daoist Master Cheongjin and turned around.

Daoist Master Cheongjin’s face stiffened at the sight of him turning away without a hint of hesitation.

‘That man is also a great talent. To be able to maintain such composure even after coming here.’

No matter how much he was the great young master of the Righteous Sword Manor, it was by no means an easy feat to show not a flicker of unsteadiness even when visiting a great sect like the Wudang Sect.

That alone showed that he possessed an incredibly cool-headed personality.

Returning to his subordinates’ side, Jang Ho-yeon spoke in a low voice, so that Daoist Master Cheongjin could not hear.

“Put in a request to the Hao Clan. The bastard’s destination is in Henan Province.”

＊＊＊

Pyo Wol sat in a chair and looked at the Jin Clan.

Jin Si-woo had given Pyo Wol the sunniest residence in the Jin Clan.

Sitting in a chair placed in front of the door, he had a clear view of the Jin Clan.

Pyo Wol looked at the Jin Clan, bathing his whole body in the warm sunlight.

Inside the Jin Clan, things were moving urgently.

People were bustling about with some purpose, and impatience was clearly visible on their faces.

After the people from the Golden Mountain Manor had visited, the Jin Clan had not let down its guard for all twelve shichen of the day. But because they were so short-staffed, it was inevitable that they would be strained.

Because of that, Jin Si-woo had barely been able to pay any attention to Pyo Wol, practically neglecting him.

Knowing his situation, Pyo Wol had no particular complaints about it.

Even from the outside, Jin Si-woo was moving about so busily he barely had a moment to breathe.

Taking the lead of the Jin Clan alone in place of the suddenly collapsed Jin Wolmyeong, he wasn’t afforded the luxury of looking elsewhere.

Suddenly, a strange light flickered in Pyo Wol’s eyes.

He felt someone approaching from behind, hiding their presence like a cat.

The person was moving as cautiously as possible, trying to kill their presence, but every movement was clearly caught by Pyo Wol’s senses.

Without looking back, Pyo Wol opened his mouth.

“If you don’t intend to kill me, it would be better not to approach like that. It could cause a misunderstanding.”

“Tch!”

At that moment, with a click of the tongue, the one who had been approaching like a stray cat openly revealed themself.

The girl with a delicate frame was none other than Jin Geum-woo’s younger sister, Jin Seol-ah.

Jin Seol-ah placed both hands on her hips and glared at Pyo Wol.

She looked just like a cat with its fur standing on end. But no matter how fiercely she tried to act, she couldn’t draw Pyo Wol’s gaze.

Pyo Wol’s gaze was still fixed on the people bustling about inside the Jin Clan.

As if displeased by Pyo Wol’s demeanor, Jin Seol-ah’s eyebrows shot up even more fiercely.

She planted herself right in front of Pyo Wol, blocking his view.

Only then did Pyo Wol raise his head and look at Jin Seol-ah.

“What is it?”

“Are you really the idiot’s friend? I never heard that the idiot had a friend like you.”

“I also never heard that he had an idiotic sister like you.”

“What did you say?”

Jin Seol-ah’s body trembled as if she would pounce at any moment. But she posed no threat to Pyo Wol at all.

“If that’s all you have to say, then move. You’re blocking the sunlight.”

“Eek!”

“I think I know why your second Orabeoni is having such a hard time. Anyone would have a hard time with an idiotic sister like you.”

“Wh-what do you know to say something like that? How much do you know about the Jin Clan?”

“One doesn’t necessarily have to know something to speak. What you see before your eyes can sometimes be everything. I trust my eyes.”

“Hmph! You’re so annoying!”

Jin Seol-ah ground her teeth and glared at Pyo Wol.

Something welled up inside her.

She wanted to snap a sharp remark at the annoying man before her, but it didn’t seem like Pyo Wol would be emotionally scarred by it.

Rather, she had a premonition that the more she continued the conversation, the more she would be the only one getting hurt.

“Heuk!”

In the end, Jin Seol-ah burst into tears.

Once the tears started, they burst out uncontrollably.

“Hwaaang!”

Jin Seol-ah plopped down on the ground and wept sorrowfully.

Pyo Wol offered no comfort whatsoever to the crying Jin Seol-ah.

He didn’t even look at her.

In Pyo Wol’s complete indifference, Jin Seol-ah wept sorrowfully like a spurned wife.

It was a long while later that she collected her tears and stood up.

Wiping away the teardrops clinging to the corners of her eyes, Jin Seol-ah pouted at Pyo Wol.

“So annoying. Still, if a woman is crying, shouldn’t you at least try to comfort her?”

“It’s not like women don’t die when they’re stabbed by a sword.”

“What did you say?”

“I’m saying you should practice your martial arts so you don’t get stabbed, instead of waiting to be comforted.”

“What are you, really? How did my idiot Orabeoni become friends with someone like you?”

“Unlike you, he saw people with an open mind. That’s the difference between you and him.”

“Are you saying Orabeoni Jin Geum-woo recognized your worth? What are you, anyway?”

“At least better than you.”

“Really…”

Faced with Pyo Wol, who didn’t yield a single word, Jin Seol-ah gave up on arguing any further.

Jin Seol-ah brought a chair from nearby and sat down next to Pyo Wol.

“Tell me.”

“About what?”

“Anything. About the idiot.”

“Why?”

“Ah! Can’t you just do it? Do you really have to pry into every little thing to be satisfied? You’re so mean.”

Jin Seol-ah’s eyes shot up again. But it was clear her spirit had been dampened.

Pyo Wol briefly searched his memory.

“So, the first time I met him was…”

Jin Seol-ah squatted on the chair and listened intently to Pyo Wol’s words.

The hot sunlight shone down on their heads.