Chapter 10 - A Third-Rate Warrior Defending His Sect's Honor (4)

Where and what had changed?

In my past life, even without me stepping forward, Gye Cheolyeong had dragged me along to attend the banquet.

Because he needed to boast about how much more outstanding he, a lay disciple, was compared to the true disciples of the Taiyi Sect.

What caused the change? Was it because I beat up Gye Cheolyeong? Or because I shut Seong Jutak's mouth?

Then will future events also change like this?

"What are you thinking about?"

On the way out of the accommodations, Jin Taesan had spoken a word of concern.

"Do not be hurt by wicked words."

He meant for me to let any words slide off me. But would that solve every problem?

"I was just wondering what kind of trap the Iron Sword Sect has laid out."

Seong Moran's face, which had been friendly all day, stiffened hard.

"Are you saying our Iron Sword Sect would invite a guest and lay a trap?"

"Do you truly know nothing? Or is your acting accomplishment higher than your martial arts?"

"Hah, just like during the day, it seems you have a massive inferiority complex toward the Iron Sword Sect."

"Inferiority complex?"

Seong Moran's face was filled with hostility.

"It's true that our Iron Sword Sect considers the Taiyi Sect a thorn in our side. But isn't that understandable even if our positions were reversed? However, that doesn't mean the Iron Sword Sect acts like market swindlers."

"Are you sure about that?"

"... You're crossing the line."

"I'll make one prediction. Perhaps during the 60th birthday banquet, the Taiyi Sect will eventually be dragged out by the Iron Sword Sect and slammed down in front of everyone."

"The Iron Sword Sect isn't that petty."

"I hope that is the case as well."

"..."

Seong Moran remained silent from then on.

The pavilion Seong Moran guided me to was one of the largest pavilions.

Upon stepping inside, unlike the place where we had eaten, large tables were spaced far apart, and people sat sparsely, elegantly enjoying their drinks.

"Oh! Lady Moran!"

The men sitting at the tables all stood up at once and began to make room.

Seong Moran looked at the scene dryly and spoke.

"This is Young Master Jin Sowoon of the Taiyi Sect."

Seong Moran naturally introduced me, and I also greeted them with a fist-and-palm salute, but rare were those who returned the salute.

Those who at least nodded their heads were the better ones, and there were also those who continued talking to Seong Moran as if they had no interest.

Seong Moran walked toward where two seats had opened up, but I split off from her and sat next to Saryeon, who was sitting beside Gye Cheolyeong.

"Why sit here when there are spacious seats available?"

"There needs to be someone to protect Saryeon from a drunkard."

"Did you not consider that I am sitting next to her to protect her?"

"If you intended to protect her, would you have even thought of calling Saryeon out at this late hour?"

"This bastard?"

Gye Cheolyeong's face turned red and blue, and Saryeon, who was sitting next to him with a stiff face, spoke quietly.

"Why did you come here?"

"Why did *you* come here?"

"I came instead because... I was worried Senior Brother would cause trouble if you came. The Kwaehwa Hall Leader told you to show restraint, didn't he?"

"When have I ever caused trouble?"

At my trivial remark, for some reason, Saryeon giggled.

"It seems the Taiyi Sect's senior and junior disciples get along without any formalities?"

A man dressed up in jade-colored silk spoke with a sneer.

Gong Chusim of the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor. He was someone I had met in my past life.

"We strongly observe etiquette, but we do lack strict formalities."

"There are many who mistake wavering etiquette for a lack of formalities."

Gong Chusim spoke while trying to make eye contact with the women around him. He wanted to gain their sympathy, but none of the women met his eyes.

"Just because a father and child have a comfortable conversation, it is not called disrespectful, and just because one demands etiquette from a person they meet for the first time, it is not called polite, is it not?"

"..."

On the contrary, when I spoke, there were women who giggled and laughed.

"Furthermore, I doubt whether the etiquette spoken of by someone who doesn't even offer a salute to a person they are meeting for the first time can truly be considered proper etiquette."

At my words, even the women who had been holding back their laughter burst into giggles, and Gong Chusim's face flushed bright red.

At that, the expressions of the men sitting at the tables began to change strangely.

They exchanged glances with one another and began to set down their cups of liquor.

'Is it beginning?'

The exact same thing had happened in my past life.

Only, at that time, my attention was so focused on Namgung San that I hadn't realized what this meant at all.

I gave them time to attack as I looked at Namgung San.

Genesis Divine Dragon Namgung San.

As the eldest son of the Namgung Clan and a member of the Dragon-Phoenix Summit, he was known as one of the hidden dragons of Anhui Province.

That also meant he was the person with the most speaking authority in this room.

It could be seen from how the Blood Wolf Iron Sword, who was hard to distinguish from a complete ruffian over there, was acting uncharacteristically dignified.

"Come to think of it, it is truly strange. I know that the Gyeryong Merchant Group has had a close relationship with the Iron Sword Sect since ancient times, but seeing them ultimately go to the Taiyi Sect makes me think the halo of the '108 Peaks' is truly remarkable."

"..."

Young Master Juk-yeom of the Cheongjuk Fortress, Guyang-sa. He was the one who had picked a fight with us during the day.

He glanced at Seong Mohyeon once before continuing his words.

"Actually, we are in a similar situation, but the selection criteria for the 108 Peaks... aren't they quite ambiguous? There is an outstanding orthodox sect called the Iron Sword Sect in Hefei, but seeing that the Taiyi Sect is still included in the 108 Peaks, it seems the Murim Alliance still has a long way to go."

As soon as Guyang-sa finished speaking, the other men agreed with his words.

"Indeed, that is true. The Murim Alliance needs to awaken. How many unqualified sects commit atrocities under the title of the 108 Peaks?"

"Right."

Seeing how they looked at Seong Mohyeon after every word, they must have been thoroughly instructed by him.

On the other hand, Seong Mohyeon was gulping down his drink as if it had nothing to do with him.

"The Taiyi Sect is also here. Everyone, please restrain yourselves."

Seong Moran spoke coldly with a flustered expression, but no one was afraid of her.

Because it was likely something they were already doing with Seong Mohyeon's permission.

"Honestly, doesn't Lady Moran also feel it's a bit unfair? Even looking at all of Anhui Province, the rising new talents are all gathered in the Namgung Clan and the Iron Sword Sect. Yet, the one that comfortably goes to the Murim Academy is the Taiyi Sect. I think such things need to be changed."

"That's right."

"How many talents die every time just to take the exam for the Murim Academy?"

At the sight of everyone nodding their heads, Saryeon's expression darkened even further.

"Let's hear the Taiyi Sect's stance on this."

At Guyang-sa's pressing words, Seong Moran interjected once again.

"Please stop. They are guests who have come here."

There was no way the clever girl wouldn't know that the atmosphere in this room was revolving around Seong Mohyeon.

Since Seong Mohyeon wasn't enough of a scumbag to throw a tantrum on his own at his grandfather's 60th birthday banquet, this meant that everything had ultimately been discussed with the higher-ups as well.

Thinking that her sect couldn't be such thugs, Seong Moran fervently defended me.

Yeah, no. Your sect is inherently like this.

"Moran. Stop interrupting. Isn't this a gathering for having such constructive discussions?"

Just then, Seong Mohyeon, who had been downing his cup of liquor while pretending to be dignified, furrowed his brow and spoke, and Seong Moran replied with a dumbfounded expression.

"You think this is constructive right now?"

Given her status as a woman, having been distanced from the major and minor affairs within the sect, she probably wouldn't know the inside story.

"Shall we hear what the Taiyi Sect has to say?"

At Seong Mohyeon's words, Saryeon tried to say something, but her mouth wouldn't easily open.

I set down the chicken in my hand and spoke up instead of Saryeon.

"I agree with that opinion. Fresh water must flow in for a pond to maintain its clear water."

Namgung San, who had been drinking his liquor, also briefly set down his cup.

"Oho, then that means the Taiyi Sect also agrees that Hefei's Iron Sword Sect should be included in the 108 Peaks."

Guyang-sa spoke with a sneer, and I immediately rummaged through the Archive in my mind to gather information about the Cheongjuk Fortress.

Within the Mantong Bureau, there was an organization that gathered information on sects all across Jianghu, and since the Cheongjuk Fortress, which had experienced many eventful incidents, had its information recorded relatively recently, it didn't take long to find.

"Of course, that is on the premise that the fresh water is clean water."

"Huh?"

"Well, for instance, there's the Cheongjuk Fortress here. Emerging as a new powerhouse in Anhui Province, the Cheongjuk Fortress is more than qualified to enter the 108 Peaks already. But why haven't they been able to enter the 108 Peaks?"

"That must be because the existing 108 Peaks have been flattering the Murim Alliance so much."

At Guyang-sa's words, the men burst out laughing all at once.

"I wonder. If the Murim Alliance were such a trivial organization, it would have been ruined long ago."

"Then are you saying there's a reason our Cheongjuk Fortress hasn't been able to enter the 108 Peaks... is that it?"

"The Blood Tragedy of Cheongjuk that occurred sixty years ago."

"..."

Those sitting at the tables tilted their heads as if they didn't know.

Well, it was an event from before they were even born, and since the Cheongjuk Fortress had desperately suppressed the rumors, it was inevitable that they wouldn't know.

"Do the people here not know well? There was a bloodshed among brothers within the Cheongjuk Fortress over the seat of power."

The noisy atmosphere of the room sank in an instant, as if cold water had been poured over it.

"To be exact, the Fortress Master's second son, who failed to inherit the sect, harbored wicked intentions, killed his older brother, and took the position of Fortress Master, right? And in the process, half of the Cheongjuk Fortress's warriors could not avoid death."

"This bastard!"

CRASH!

Guyang-sa's grandfather, Gu Jeong-gi, had killed his older brother and ascended to become the Fortress Master.

To eliminate future troubles, he killed all of his brother's bloodline and those who followed him.

The funny thing is that after that, the Cheongjuk Fortress continued in the form of primogeniture succession again.

This shameful past was one of the disgraces that the Cheongjuk Fortress hated the most.

"The Cheongjuk Fortress is a very excellent and strong sect. But if you were to ask me to entrust my back to the Cheongjuk Fortress in a battle against the Underworld... well. I'd hate that, even if it meant going to the battlefield alone. Wouldn't the Murim Alliance also feel uncomfortable accepting such people as blood allies?"

"Come out! Did you think you could survive going back after daring to insult our Cheongjuk Fortress!"

"Look at this. I just stated my opinion, yet you end up trying to draw your sword."

Guyang-sa's face was beyond bright red; it was on the verge of exploding.

"It's not that the 108 Peaks are currently not being replaced, nor is the Murim Alliance just leaving the stagnating 108 Peaks alone. But harboring dissatisfaction over such things means the problem lies in not properly seeing one's own faults, rather than the system being wrong, doesn't it?"

"I'll kill you!"

As Guyang-sa tried to lunge at me, Seong Moran stood up from her seat and pressed his paralysis acupoint from behind.

With things happening before anyone could realize, the atmosphere in the room was an absolute mess.

"... What are you doing right now? Cheongjuk Fortress's Guyang-sa is a guest who came here at the invitation of the Iron Sword Sect. Are you disrespecting the Iron Sword Sect?"

Seong Mohyeon, who had been spacing out, spoke coldly, and I said with a dumbfounded feeling.

"Is our Taiyi Sect an uninvited guest who came to ruin the Iron Sword Sect's banquet?"

"..."

"Forcing the Taiyi Sect, who specifically said they wouldn't come, to come through this Gyeryong Merchant Group and then insulting them... I suppose that's how the Iron Sword Sect treats its guests?"

"What did you...!"

Seong Mohyeon and everyone who had colluded with him showed hostility, but there was nothing in particular they could do.

Because anyone could see that the starting point of this incident was the Iron Sword Sect and its gang, and to blindly subdue their opponent, there was the insurmountable wall named Namgung San of the Namgung Clan sitting right there.

"... How dare you insult the Iron Sword Sect right in its own territory?"

"Pfft."

The words Seong Mohyeon spat out after a long time of thinking were ridiculous, and ultimately, my laughter burst out.

Just look at Seong Moran's bewildered expression.

"You bastard!"

Seong Mohyeon, his face ripening like a ripe persimmon, slammed his hand down on the table.

The food on the table bounced up a handspan.

"Rather than acting so sordidly, why didn't you just request a friendly sparring match instead? You would have at least been able to prove that the Iron Sword Sect is stronger than the Taiyi Sect, anyway."

A lack of logic inevitably draws out feelings of anger.

"How dare you! Do you think you can say such things in the Iron Sword Sect and leave unscathed!"

"Ah! By any chance, did you consider a friendly sparring match too insufficient for throwing insults, finding fault to dish out a severe beating, and stripping us of our position in the 108 Peaks?"

"..."

The atmosphere had become a complete mess, utterly out of hand in every direction.

Seong Mohyeon tried to somehow salvage the situation, but it was impossible, and I explicitly refused to play along with their games.

"... W-Whatever the reason, it is a fact that you have disgraced the Iron Sword Sect. I request a duel with you."

"..."

Seong Moran's expression was not good.

She had realized that Seong Mohyeon had made a bad move.

"Hahahahahaha."

"..."

An unknown fear lingered in the eyes of the people in the room who had been looking at us with contemptuous gazes, and that wasn't too bad.

I abruptly stopped my laughter and stared at Seong Moran.

"In the end, my words were right, weren't they?"

"..."

Seong Moran could not bring herself to raise her head.

"Tomorrow at the Hour of the Horse. How about the central training ground? The most people will come when the banquet reaches its climax, after all."

"... *Grind. * Fine."

As I stood up from my seat, Saryeon followed along. Gye Cheolyeong remained seated without moving, as if declaring that he had nothing to do with us.

"Come to think of it, seeing how you didn't place banquet tables in the central training ground even when it was bursting with people, it seems the Iron Sword Sect foresaw that a bloody battle would occur at the 60th birthday banquet."

"..."

Everyone kept their mouths shut tight and looked at Seong Mohyeon.

* * *

Namgung San had not moved.

No, he was merely observing while calmly drinking his liquor as if it had nothing to do with him.

The fights of the 108 Peaks were ultimately turf wars between underlings.

He must have thought it was a matter unrelated to them. Still, it was a bit questionable that he hadn't said a single word.

For someone who supposedly attended purely out of friendship, wasn't he being too blunt?

"What on earth are you thinking?"

Saryeon's face was deathly pale.

"Then... should I have just held it in while they insulted the Sect Leader and our Taiyi Sect?"

"But..."

"Even if I had held it in, it wouldn't have ended with today's gathering. We have to stay here for several more days, and we would have continued to be insulted tomorrow, and the day after that."

Since I had ultimately exploded on the third day, this was a destined outcome in the end. Anyway, it wasn't my fault, but I still comforted Saryeon so she wouldn't worry.

"Don't worry. It'll be over cleanly after I just take a few good hits."

I patted Saryeon on the head. During her childhood, Saryeon had liked having her head patted.

"... Don't do that."

"I'm telling you, it was bound to happen anyway."

"I told you not to mess up my hair..."

Come to think of it, her finely combed hair had become a little messed up by my touch.

"Ah, my apologies for this."

Saryeon suddenly lowered her head and her shoulders heaved.

"Huh? A-Are you crying?"

I smoothed out her messed-up hair again, but Saryeon still did not raise her head.

"D-Don't cry. Here, look, it's back to its original state."

"I told you not to do it... Seriously..."