Chapter 14
‘As expected… he was no ordinary person.’
‘Hong-ryeon? Isn’t that the Sword Empress?! And he calls Abbess Hong-ryeon “Grandma”?’
The hearts of the Tang siblings became complicated.
They had already guessed that So-ah’s background was not ordinary, but when So-ah actually acted familiar with Abbess Hong-ryeon, who was called the Sword Empress, surprise and curiosity arose simultaneously.
“Have you been well?”
“Yes, I have been well. And is the elder in good health?”
The ears of the Tang siblings perked up at Abbess Hong-ryeon’s question.
Who was the elder she was talking about?
Could it really be the God of War, Moyong Cheon?
If it was the God of War, Moyong Cheon, how did So-ah, who didn’t even use the Moyong surname, come to learn martial arts from him?
Various thoughts chaotically flashed through their minds.
“Yes, my grandpa is also still doing well.”
“But So-ah, what brings you to the Martial Alliance?”
“I stopped by the Emei Sect. I heard you and Im-yi went to the Martial Alliance?”
“Hoho, so you came to see Myo-seon?”
“Ah! You said her name changed, right?”
“Yes. Im-yi now uses the name Myo-seon.”
“It’s true I came to see Myo-seon… but I have one more piece of business.”
“What is it?”
At Abbess Hong-ryeon’s question, So-ah glanced at Tang Il-gi.
Tang Il-gi, thinking this was his chance, inwardly rejoiced and carefully approached Abbess Hong-ryeon.
“Are you perhaps the Abbess of the Emei Sect, one of the ten great masters of the Orthodox Martial Path, known as the Sword Empress?”
Tang Il-gi’s words and actions were very polite.
In fact, his heart was pounding as if it would burst as he spoke to Abbess Hong-ryeon.
“And you are…?”
“A humble junior of the martial world pays his respects to the great senior. I am Tang Il-gi of the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
Tang Il-gi performed a respectful cupped fist salute.
At that, Tang Hwa-rin and Seomun Sang also bowed their heads and spoke.
“I am Tang Hwa-rin of the Tang Clan. It is an honor to meet the renowned Sword Empress.”
“I am Seomun Sang of the Seomun Family. I am deeply moved to meet the Abbess of the Emei Sect, which is famous as a prestigious orthodox sect.”
So-ah, who was watching them, let out a laugh.
What kind of greeting was so long-winded?
Abbess Hong-ryeon, as if she also found it amusing, spoke with an interested expression.
“Young masters of prestigious families. It is a pleasure to meet you too. But, are you So-ah’s companions?”
At that, So-ah replied.
“Yes, Grandma.”
“When did you make so many friends in the martial world?”
“They’re not my friends.”
At So-ah’s words, the brows of Tang Il-gi and Tang Hwa-rin twitched slightly.
But they couldn’t refute it, so they just silently watched Abbess Hong-ryeon’s reaction.
“You’re not friends, but you accompanied him all the way to the Martial Alliance?”
“There were circumstances.”
“What kind of circumstances?”
“Hmm… I think it would be better for you to hear it from Young Master Tang.”
So-ah threw the topic to Tang Il-gi.
At that, the nervous Tang Il-gi wiped the sweat from his forehead and spoke to Abbess Hong-ryeon.
“Abbess. The reason we came to the Martial Alliance with Young Master Jin is to inform the esteemed masters of the martial world of a very important matter. Please help us.”
“What is it?”
“A Ghost Demon Jiangshi has appeared.”
Abbess Hong-ryeon’s face hardened coldly.
***
Seomun Sang wondered what on earth was going on.
He was currently experiencing the most glorious moment of his life, but at the same time, it was also the most dumbfounding moment.
‘Wow… I’m so nervous I can’t even breathe properly.’
And for good reason.
<Martial Alliance Grand Conference Hall>
This was a place that Seomun Sang would not have dared to enter.
The Grand Conference Hall of the Martial Alliance was a place that only masters representing at least one sect could enter and exit. To have entered by chance after meeting the Tang siblings, he couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude.
Moreover, in the hall were seated peerless masters who were truly shaking the martial world.
Including the Martial Alliance Leader, of course.
“Young Master Tang. Is what you say truly the truth?”
An old man with a white robe and snow-white hair.
The light flowing from his two eyes was so brilliant that it gave the illusion of seeing an immortal from the celestial realm.
It was the current leader of the Martial Alliance and the Grand Elder of the Great Kunlun Sect, Wol-ryeong Jin-in Ha Won-sang, who asked Tang Il-gi with a solemn expression.
Tang Il-gi’s hands and feet were trembling, but he mustered up his courage.
And he thought this was an opportunity.
At least he could imprint his name on the minds of the esteemed masters of the martial world once.
“How could I speak a falsehood? However, my knowledge is insignificant, so I cannot be certain if the monster I witnessed was truly a Ghost Demon Jiangshi. But the master of that field, the Taoist priest, said so, and in my personal opinion, I just thought that a jiangshi that could survive a fist-ki attack might be a Ghost Demon Jiangshi.”
“Hah…”
“This can’t be…!”
The figures in the hall let out a sigh at Tang Il-gi’s words.
They knew.
The rising star of the Tang Clan would not dare to speak a falsehood in front of them.
Wol-ryeong Jin-in Ha Won-sang asked again.
“Who is the master of that field you are referring to? And what do you mean by it survived a fist-ki type attack? Surely, there was a master among you or your companions who could emit fist ki?”
“The master of that field I am referring to is this person.”
Tang Il-gi pointed to Gu-yang Seon.
Then he continued.
“And the master who disposed of the Ghost Demon Jiangshi by emitting fist ki… is Young Master Jin.”
Tang Il-gi’s gaze turned to So-ah.
For a moment, everyone in the conference hall stared at So-ah.
‘That young friend used fist ki… is this the appearance of a young hero?’
Ha Won-sang was inwardly astonished.
So-ah had grown tall enough to be the size of an adult, but his cute face still had baby fat, giving him a youthful appearance.
He couldn’t believe that such a So-ah had emitted fist ki.
But the matter of the Ghost Demon Jiangshi was more important, so Ha Won-sang spoke to Gu-yang Seon.
“Seeing your robe, are you perhaps a disciple of a Taoist sect?”
“I am not a martial artist.”
“Then…?”
“I am from Sichuan, an exorcist Taoist priest who tells fortunes, reads people’s faces, and exorcises demons.”
“Hah, so you are not a martial artist. My apologies. I’m sorry, but I would like to hear your esteemed opinion. Is what you saw truly a Ghost Demon Jiangshi?”
Ha Won-sang, upon learning that Gu-yang Seon was not a martial artist, spoke respectfully.
At that, Gu-yang Seon felt overwhelmed with gratitude and began to speak.
“In my judgment, it is certain.”
“I would like to know the basis.”
“That jiangshi spoke human language. Normally, jiangshi lose their reason and behave like beasts, but that jiangshi had the ability to think for itself. It also did not react to my Demon-Sensing Bell, and it showed killing intent even with its head crushed and its brain flowing out. Seeing that it did not die easily even from Young Master Jin’s attack, which was like a thunderbolt, I can only think that it is a Ghost Demon Jiangshi.”
At those words, someone in the audience narrowed his brow, stroked his beard, and said softly.
“Hmm… don’t naturally born jiangshi also use human language?”
The one who asked was the head of the Zhuge Family, Zhuge Hyuk. The Zhuge Family, as a family renowned for having the broadest knowledge in the martial world, also had some knowledge of jiangshi and exorcism.
But Gu-yang Seon shook his head.
“In my experience, it was definitely a manufactured jiangshi, not a natural one.”
“By any chance, where did you learn your Taoist arts, Master Taoist?”
Zhuge Hyuk asked with a questioning face.
“I am the 12th generation disciple of the Udo-bang.”
At those words, Zhuge Hyuk’s eyes widened.
“A disciple of the Udo-bang! Then, are you perhaps…”
“Yes, I am from Goryeo.”
“Ah…!”
Zhuge Hyuk exclaimed in surprise.
As a person of outstanding knowledge, he was the only one in the audience who had heard stories about the Udo-bang.
“Alliance Leader…”
As Zhuge Hyuk called Ha Won-sang with a dark expression, Ha Won-sang asked with a worried look.
“What is it?”
“I think we need to summon all the leaders and elders of the Orthodox Martial Path.”
“Why so…”
“If that Taoist priest is a member of the Udo-bang, his words are certain. The appearance of a Ghost Demon Jiangshi means a great bloody calamity in the martial world.”
“Hah… is it really a Ghost Demon Jiangshi! But where in the current martial world could a Ghost Demon Jiangshi be manufactured?”
“The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. There would be no other place.”
A shadow fell over Ha Won-sang’s face.
“I understand for now. But this old man has not resolved one question.”
At the same time, Ha Won-sang’s gaze was fixed on So-ah.
“Young Master Jin. Let me ask you a few questions.”
At that, So-ah nodded his head.
“Yes.”
“Honestly, it’s hard to believe that a young friend like you emitted fist ki. But heroes always appear in the martial world, so I can let that slide. However, simply emitting fist ki and disposing of a monster presumed to be a Ghost Demon Jiangshi are two completely different problems. As the master Taoist and the Zhuge family head said, if the monster was truly a Ghost Demon Jiangshi, at least the leader of a sect would be needed to dispose of it. I would like you to resolve this question for me. Please reveal your sect and your master.”
So-ah’s head throbbed.
He had somehow gotten himself into a rather annoying and complicated situation.
But judging that he could no longer hide his identity, So-ah said,
“I don’t have a sect or anything like that.”
“…”
“But if you are asking who taught me martial arts… I will tell you.”
“Who is it?”
“The God of War, Moyong Cheon.”
Murmur, murmur.
A streak of astonishment appeared on the faces of the people in the audience.
Moyong Cheon!
They had never even imagined that name would come up.
‘Moyong Cheon…!’
‘If it’s a child taught by the God of War, it’s entirely possible!’
Just then.
“Young Master Jin. Are you perhaps a member of the Moyong Family?”
“No.”
“You are not a member of the Moyong Family, yet you received instruction from the God of War? That doesn’t make sense. To use the name of the God of War in vain is an act of deceiving the entire Orthodox Martial Path.”
Ha Won-sang’s voice sank heavily.
His words carried a solemn warning.
So-ah was bewildered.
But in that moment, Abbess Hong-ryeon stepped forward in a timely manner.
“Alliance Leader. The boy’s words are true. I will vouch for it.”
***
The meeting was over.
But the end was full of questions.
Ha Won-sang decided to formally convene a meeting by gathering the leaders of the Orthodox Martial Path later and for now, brought the meeting to a close.
What was certain was that all the key figures of the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families who were currently staying at the Martial Alliance were unable to contain their surprise due to the sudden meeting today.
The appearance of a Ghost Demon Jiangshi.
The disciple of Moyong Cheon, who had gone into seclusion seven years ago and had never shown himself.
These two facts alone were enough to warrant it.
Thanks to this, So-ah’s group was able to stay at the Yeonghwa Pavilion, a place where only honored guests could stay within the Martial Alliance.
“Gu-yang hyung, are you really from Goryeo?”
“Hmm… it’s complicated to explain…”
So-ah, who was sharing a room with Gu-yang Seon, chatted with him about this and that.
Gu-yang Seon also had many questions for So-ah, so he chattered away without rest. Both of them were close to being chatterboxes, so the conversation never stopped.
In the midst of this.
—Knock, knock!
Someone knocked on the door of the room where So-ah was staying.
So-ah rushed to the entrance and threw open the door with a start.
He had been eagerly waiting for someone.
As expected, the person who had knocked on the door was,
“Im-yi!”
It was Myo-seon.
“So-ah!!”
It was a reunion after six years.
(End of Chapter)