Chapter 95 : Reunion (3)
"I have one more favor to ask."
Eun Seolrin, not expecting Tang Soso to even ask for a favor, tilted her head slightly and replied.
"What favor?"
"It's not a difficult favor. I just need to stop by the Martial Alliance and send a letter."
"We're heading to the Martial Alliance anyway, so it's not difficult, but can't you send the letter from here?"
"I have to stop by the Vermilion Bird Squad as well. Namgung Hui, you also have something to say at the Vermilion Bird Squad, don't you? Isn't that right?"
The Vermilion Bird Squad, in charge of intelligence.
And his friend, Jegal Geon, was staying there as a squad leader.
By now, the pursuit of the Blood Cult would be in full swing.
The Martial Alliance would be focusing on the resurrected Blood Cult, with the Hoicheon Association taking a backseat.
"I also have business there. Then, Eun Seolrin, can we head to the Vermilion Bird Squad first?"
"I have no problem with that. I had to go there anyway, so it's a good thing."
"Why are you going there?"
"Have you forgotten? What happened at our merchant guild."
"I know that, but you're using the Vermilion Bird Squad, not the Hao Faction?"
He couldn't bring himself to ask how he could trust them at the end.
After all, Tang Soso was a person of the orthodox faction.
And it wasn't a story to be brought up right in front of the Martial Alliance.
"I'll tell you about that separately later. If we're not going to stand here forever, let's move right away."
And so, Namgung Hui's group headed for the Martial Alliance, the pillar and center of the Central Plains.
* * *
"Wow. This Martial Alliance tournament seems to be held on a much larger scale than last time. There are more people than last time."
"By last time, do you mean two years ago?"
"Yes. The Eighteen Arhat Formation that the Shaolin Temple showed at that time, I still can't forget it."
Namgung Hui also nodded his head at the mention of the Eighteen Arhat Formation.
The eighteen arhats, the elite of the Shaolin Temple, all boasted a martial prowess beyond the super-peak level, and not only their individual martial power.
The arhat formation they unfolded in a performance boasted a truly magnificent momentum.
Was it just magnificent?
Starting with the pressure, there was an unprecedented great power that overwhelmed the surroundings.
One of the few martial arts that represented the Shaolin Temple.
'They played a significant role in the great war between the orthodox and demonic factions.'
He couldn't help but smile bitterly, thinking that innocent demonic cult members must have died miserably.
Even the high monks of the Shaolin Temple would not be able to accept it if they knew the truth, no matter how deep their training was.
Because as far as Namgung Hui had felt, the people of the orthodox faction were not only stubborn but also did not bend their own beliefs.
This was why, as Jo Seongho had worried, ignorance was bliss.
'Still, a day will come when the truth will be revealed. For now, let's deal with the matter at hand.'
Come to think of it, the Hoicheon Association, which had created such a situation, might be the culprit of everything.
Or there could be another huge conspiracy lurking, but if he unraveled the matter at hand step by step, there would be nothing he couldn't overcome.
As Namgung Hui's group arrived at the main gate of the Martial Alliance, it was chaotic with not only the bustling crowd but also the work of checking their identities.
"No! You can't enter because your identity is not certain. Next!"
Some presented their travel permits and identification tags, but since they were so crude and it was difficult to determine their authenticity, they were rejected.
It was a matter of course.
Since the timing was not good, it was right to refuse if even a slight suspicion was seen.
'But would the spies of the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance or the agents of the Blood Cult bring such crude identification tags? On the contrary, they would come thoroughly prepared.'
Well, it wasn't that checking their identities like that was bad.
Since there would be no harm in sticking to the principles.
As Namgung Hui was about to line up behind the long crowd, Eun Seolrin and Tang Soso nudged Namgung Hui and said.
"Are you really going to line up? Didn't you bring an invitation?"
"An invitation? What's that? It's the first time I've heard of it."
"...These people, really. They didn't even send an invitation to the Namgung family? I'll have to say something about this. They're looking down on our five great families."
"And you received one?"
"Of course. Look. This is the Martial Alliance tournament invitation. With this, you can go in right away without waiting."
Namgung Hui frowned at the sight of the invitation he was seeing for the first time.
If even his brother had received one, there would have been a word, but it was an item that had really not arrived at the Namgung estate.
No matter how much the Namgung family had become the last of the five great families, the Martial Alliance should not have treated them like this.
In the first place, the decline of the Namgung family was also a sacrifice for the orthodox martial world.
'Could it be the work of a spy from the Association hiding in the Martial Alliance? This could be an opportunity in its own way. On the contrary, it's good.'
It was fine even if it wasn't the work of the Hoicheon Association.
Since it was a matter of the five great families, who should have been invited, not being invited.
He could just hold the person in charge responsible.
He resolved to let them know that the Namgung family had regained its status in that process.
Tang Soso and Eun Seolrin had invitations, and very fancy ones at that, so they immediately headed for the VIP entrance at the side gate of the Martial Alliance.
Namgung Hui looked around and asked Baek Seolhwa.
"Seolhwa. Did you also not receive an invitation?"
"No. I received one too."
"What? I'm the only one who didn't receive one? I'm starting to get angry."
To think that the Namgung family was being treated worse than the Moon Maiden Palace.
The power of the Moon Maiden Palace was not that great, now or in the past, so he was starting to get angry at being treated worse than this.
And so, Namgung Hui, fuming, arrived at the VIP entrance.
As expected, since this was a place where VIPs entered, even the guards standing guard had an exceptional momentum.
No, rather than momentum, the clothes they were wearing were so flashy that they looked like members of the wealthy five great families rather than disciples of the Nine Sects.
'Since the disciples of the Nine Sects enter the Azure Dragon Squad, those people must be martial artists of the White Tiger Squad.'
The Azure Dragon Squad, made up of disciples of the Nine Sects.
The White Tiger Squad, made up of members of the martial arts families.
As befitting the armed groups representing the Martial Alliance, they all possessed powerful martial prowess, and the threshold for entry was that high.
And that wasn't the only thing that was high.
They were endlessly arrogant, and their pride was exceptional.
The White Tiger Squad members in front of him now also had a triumphant expression along with their sharp eyes.
A young man among them saw Baek Seolhwa and Eun Seolrin, straightened his clothes, and said.
"Ahem! Where are you from? This is a place you can't enter without a Martial Alliance tournament invitation."
There was power in his voice.
It was because he had spoken with his internal energy.
Baek Seolhwa, as if she found the White Tiger Squad member's appearance ridiculous, turned her head away.
It seemed it would be better for Tang Soso, who was from the same martial arts family as the White Tiger Squad, to deal with them, so Tang Soso stepped forward, holding out her invitation.
"Here's the Martial Alliance tournament invitation. We can go in now, right?"
Still, as a member of the Azure Dragon Squad, he examined the invitation properly.
He not only determined whether it was real or not, but he also confirmed Tang Soso's identity.
"Are you the Young Lady of the Sichuan Tang family, Tang Soso?"
"Yes. I'm the Young Lady of the Tang family. Is there anything else to confirm?"
"No. You may enter."
"You heard that, right? Let's go, guys."
As Namgung Hui's group was about to follow Tang Soso in, a White Tiger Squad member suddenly blocked their path.
"Wait. Only the Young Lady may enter. The others can only enter after their identities and invitations have been confirmed."
"What did you say? I'm sure we could enter with our companions before."
"Since the timing is what it is, it's difficult to bring companions this time. Ahem."
Tang Soso's eyes were so fierce that the White Tiger Squad member avoided her gaze.
But since he had no intention of moving aside, his blocking attitude was firm.
"What should we do? Seolhwa and Miss Eun have invitations, but Namgung Hui doesn't."
"I have no choice. I'll have to line up and enter officially."
"Wait a moment. I'll go inside and..."
"No. It's fine. Let's just look at the people for a change."
"Goodness. You're a man, but you have no pride? Aren't you angry? If our Tang family had been treated like this, I would have!"
At Tang Soso's fierce expression, the Azure Dragon Squad member unknowingly took a step back.
And Baek Seolhwa's cold ki also sent a chill down his spine.
Of course, since the Azure Dragon Squad member was acting according to the rules, there was no problem with him.
However, since he didn't like the way he was glancing at Baek Seolhwa, he had exuded his momentum.
"Then, Namgung Hui. I'll be at the Vermilion Bird Squad, so take your time."
"Young Master. By the time we finish our business, you'll be able to come inside."
"Yes. You all have a good trip. Since Seolhwa doesn't know the way here, take good care of her."
"Am I a child? You're the one who should come in without getting lost. I'll be waiting."
"Alright. See you all later."
Namgung Hui parted with his group and returned to the main gate.
The reason he had refused Tang Soso's help and lined up was because he had another plan.
Was it to find a pretty young lady passing by?
Or was it to find a fated partner he might happen to meet?
It wasn't that, but it was to find the disciple of the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance leader, whom he had promised the Hao Faction Head.
'The VIP entrance just now confirmed their identities for sure. Not to mention the invitations. They probably can't enter with a forged identity.'
It wouldn't be impossible if one assassinated a VIP and disguised themselves as them, but he didn't think the disciple of the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance leader could go that far.
With the security tightened, to assassinate someone with an invitation?
On the contrary, since he could make the mistake of alerting the enemy, he would enter through the main gate like Namgung Hui.
Namgung Hui, while lining up, began to look around.
He awakened his super-sense with the Purple Thunder Ki and expanded his ki sense.
As time passed slowly, things that were not visible in ordinary times were captured by Namgung Hui's senses.
A person picking their nose.
A person looking around like a country bumpkin.
Even a person who was slyly snatching the purse of the person in front of them.
Everything was captured in his mind in three dimensions.
Namgung Hui did not stop there, but he examined each person's face for traces of face change.
'It seems there's no one who has used a face change technique like the Hao Faction Head...?'
And he also couldn't see the disciple of the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance leader, who was drawn in the portrait that the Hao Faction Head had given him.
Was it a bust?
Or he might have entered early.
Namgung Hui, without being disappointed, withdrew his senses.
Still, since his super-sense had been properly utilized, he thought he could just wait for the next opportunity.
But at that moment.
As soon as he withdrew his ki sense, a huge presence was caught in Namgung Hui's ki sense.
It was a momentum reminiscent of a large bear.
Namgung Hui's gaze naturally turned in that direction, and Namgung Hui was faced with an unexpected sight there.
'He looks like a country bumpkin. It's like when I first came out to the martial world.'
And unlike the bear-like momentum, the man's face not only looked simple, but his physique was also not that big.
Nevertheless, to exude such a presence meant he was a possessor of tremendous internal energy.
To the point where it would leak out even if he suppressed it.
Namgung Hui didn't think he was the disciple of the Heretic Practitioners' Alliance leader, but since he might be, he slyly applied the Thousand-Li Tracking Incense to the man's body.
"Huh? Did you just touch my body?"
As expected of a master of internal ki, he had noticed that Namgung Hui had touched his collar.
But it was fine.
In the bustling main gate of the Martial Alliance like this, such a physical contact was a common thing.
"It was too crowded, so I was rude. If you were offended, I apologize."
"I thought you were saying something else. Since you're such a pretty man, I thought you were a homosexual. I thought you touched my body on purpose. Hahaha!"
"...I'm sorry, but even homosexuals have eyes."
"Well, I was just joking. They say even a brush of collars is a connection, so isn't this also a connection? My name is Yelu Guang. What is your name?"
Namgung Hui looked at Yelu Guang's clear eyes for a moment and then readily told him his name.
"My name is Namgung Hui. The youngest son of the Namgung family that just came to your mind."
As soon as Yelu Guang heard Namgung Hui's name, his attitude suddenly changed, and he extended his fist towards Namgung Hui.
(End of Chapter)