Chapter 24
“So-ah… where is he now?”
The three who had returned to the Moyong Family residence from the hero tournament venue.
The Tang siblings and Myo-seon, upon hearing that So-ah had regained consciousness, asked urgently.
“He is resting in his room. I will guide you.”
The chief steward guided them with a pleased expression.
‘Young Master Jin has made good friends. Hoho.’
***
“You’re here?”
So-ah raised himself from his bed at the visit of his friends.
“You’re still in a lot of pain, right?”
“I’m fine. When I lived with my grandpa, I trained my body by being beaten with a green tree every day. So, this much is no problem.”
But contrary to his words, So-ah’s external injuries had not yet completely healed, and he flinched every time he moved his body.
The Tang siblings and Myo-seon also noticed it but did not show it.
It would be better for So-ah to let it pass like this rather than creating a gloomy atmosphere.
“Anyway, what happened? Today is the last day of the martial arts tournament, right?”
The three fell silent at So-ah’s question.
But So-ah witnessed the corners of their mouths twitching very slightly.
“Hmm… seeing that your bodies are intact… as expected, you won?”
Only then did Myo-seon smile brightly and answer.
“Yeah. According to the tournament rules, victory or defeat is decided before serious injuries occur, so there’s no way to get hurt. Anyway, I’m the winner! Hehe.”
At those words, So-ah’s expression brightened even more.
“Hey, Young Lady Myo-seon! I believed in you! Haha.”
Just then.
Tang Hwa-rin also spoke.
“Brother Il-gi also got second place. It’s a pity, but his opponent was Young Master Namgung, so what a great achievement, right? When we return to the family, Father will give him a reward!”
Tang Hwa-rin was as happy about Tang Il-gi’s second place as if it were her own.
Although she was a tomboy, she seemed to have a special affection for her cousin.
“That’s great. Young Master Tang, congratulations.”
“It’s nothing to brag about. Haha.”
“Aww, you’re being too modest.”
“By the way, Young Master Jin. What happened? I heard roughly, but please tell me in detail.”
“About what?”
“How you ended up in such a predicament.”
The children had heard the story about So-ah roughly, but since it was such a serious matter, they couldn’t pry into the details and didn’t know the whole story.
So-ah nodded his head and began to unravel the story about the Right Heavenly Demon Sword, No Yeong-myeong, and the Beggars’ Sect Chief, Hong In-geol.
His explanation was so detailed that the Tang siblings and Myo-seon were surprised as if they had been there, then breathed a sigh of relief, then were surprised again.
It was a moment when So-ah’s talkative disposition shone once again.
“Aha. So that’s why the adults told you to keep quiet about your story, So-ah.”
“Of course, the entire Orthodox Martial Path will soon find out, but since the matter is what it is, they probably plan to make an official announcement after a meeting, Hwa-rin.”
The Tang siblings muttered.
Myo-seon, who had already heard the details from Abbess Hong-ryeon, gently massaged So-ah’s shoulder without any particular expression and,
“I was worried, you rascal!”
She let out an uncharacteristic grumble.
“You were worried, but you seem to have done well in the duel. You even won?”
“Work is work, and personal life is personal life. Don’t you think?”
“Hmm… I’m not so sure.”
“What?”
“I can’t hear you.”
So-ah and Myo-seon exchanged jokes.
Whenever So-ah bickered with Myo-seon like this, his mouth would break into a wide grin.
Every time, Tang Hwa-rin would puff out her cheeks and glare at So-ah with narrowed eyes, but So-ah didn’t notice.
***
The Hwaryong Inn, revisited…
The inn was bustling with noise.
It was because the after-party of the Young Heroes Tournament was taking place.
So-ah had no intention of attending since he was not a participant in the first place, but he couldn’t resist Tang Hwa-rin’s pestering and joined them.
“Young Master Namgung! Congratulations on your victory!”
“Young Lady Myo-seon! You are truly amazing. As expected of the successor to the esteemed Sword Empress, kya!”
About thirty rising stars had attended the after-party, and since they had rented out the entire spacious inn, everyone could sit comfortably.
They were currently flattering Namgung Mun and Myo-seon until their mouths went dry.
It was because Namgung Mun and Myo-seon would be the driving forces that would lead the martial world in the future, so they wanted to make a good impression in advance.
In the midst of this, So-ah was inwardly impressed.
‘He is truly a person worthy of the title of a dragon among men!’
So-ah’s gaze was fixed on Namgung Mun.
So-ah had thought that Wi-ji Chan was the most handsome person in the world until now.
But his thoughts changed when he saw Namgung Mun.
If Wi-ji Chan had a profound impression with a hint of melancholy and loneliness, Namgung Mun’s face gave the impression of being perfect and sculptural, without a single flaw, overflowing with nobility.
Moreover, the firmness of will felt from his tightly closed lips and manly jaw exuded an aura like that of a great master of the martial world, so he could understand why the rising generation praised him, calling him Young Master Namgung.
Just then.
Namgung Mun’s gaze also turned to So-ah.
Their eyes met.
In that moment.
For the first time, So-ah had the strange experience of feeling intimidated by someone for no reason.
“And you are?”
The noisy room became quiet.
It was because Namgung Mun’s question was directed at So-ah.
“My name is Jin So-ah.”
As the answer followed, Namgung Mun carefully examined So-ah from head to toe.
In the midst of this, his eyes held a very slight surprise but quickly regained their composure. It was such a fleeting moment that no one in the audience noticed it.
“A name I’ve never heard before.”
Namgung Mun muttered.
At the same time, the expressions of So-ah’s group crumpled.
Anyone could see that Namgung Mun’s words just now were rude.
In particular, Tang Il-gi was flustered, thinking that something similar to the Paeng Seong-un incident might happen again.
Just then, surprisingly, Paeng Seong-un interjected and introduced So-ah.
“So Young Master Namgung doesn’t know Brother Jin either. Well, I didn’t know him either. Brother Jin is an external disciple who has just entered the Moyong Family, and he is the owner of a heaven-shaking martial art. If Brother Jin had participated in the tournament, the list of winners would probably have changed, you know? Hahaha!”
For a moment, the atmosphere in the room turned cold.
The rising stars who didn’t know So-ah were making faces that said, ‘What kind of nonsense is that stupid bastard spouting?’, while So-ah’s friends were anxious that an unnecessary fight might break out.
But the situation was getting worse and worse.
At Paeng Seong-un’s words, Seok Won and Eon Yeong-je also chimed in without any sense.
“What’s there to say? If Brother Jin had participated, winning would have been a matter of course, and the entire martial world would have been turned upside down.”
“Of course, that’s right. Brother Jin’s martial arts have already surpassed the level of the rising generation.”
At that, Namgung Mun’s eyebrows twitched.
‘Oh no…’
Tang Il-gi frowned and thought that the after-party might turn into a battlefield.
But surprisingly, Namgung Mun’s voice flowed out dryly.
“Among the current martial arts of the Moyong family, the ones that are most highly regarded by the people of the world are the Heaven and Earth Hundred Severing Sword Sea, the Holy Light Soul-Chasing Sword, and the Twin Dragon Whirlwind Sword. They are also the ultimate arts of the current Moyong family head. Did you learn the family head’s martial arts?”
‘As expected!’
‘Young Master Namgung, as befitting a genius of martial arts, has outstanding knowledge!’
The people in the room felt a sense of awe once again upon hearing Namgung Mun’s words.
It felt as if they were looking at an experienced key figure of the martial world.
But their excited hearts were soon hardened with astonishment.
“No.”
So-ah’s gaze and voice had changed before they knew it.
At first, he had been overwhelmed by Namgung Mun’s aura, but when he showed a high-handed attitude, his eyes blazed as if he would start a fire at any moment.
“No? Huhu, you’re not even a top disciple who has inherited the ultimate arts of the Moyong family head, yet you talk of heaven-shaking! Brother Paeng, Brother Seok, and Brother Eon, why are you disturbing the atmosphere with such falsehoods?”
Namgung Mun’s question was directed at the Paeng trio.
“Ah… that’s…”
“Young Master Namgung…”
“Young Master Namgung…”
The trio, pressed by Namgung Mun’s aura, stuttered.
Just then.
“The Ten-Second Invincible Arts.”
So-ah’s lips moved.
“What did you say?”
Although it was a small voice, Namgung Mun could hear it clearly.
He asked back with surprised eyes, as if he had misheard something.
“I said, I learned the Ten-Second Invincible Arts, not the family arts of the Moyong family.”
—Murmur, murmur…
‘The Ten-Second Invincible Arts?!’
How could the rising stars who were interested in the history of the martial world not know?
The invincible brawling art that had never been defeated since its debut.
The strongest martial art of the Orthodox Martial Path that had made the God of War, Moyong Cheon. When it flowed from So-ah’s mouth, everyone was utterly aghast.
“I believe the Ten-Second Invincible Arts was not passed down to anyone by the God of War.”
“I am the successor to the Ten-Second Invincible Arts.”
“……!”
Only then was Namgung Mun astonished.
With a desolate and despairing face, as if he had looked down on the world with arrogance and had come face to face with a huge wall that he could not possibly overcome.
“And one more thing.”
So-ah spoke again in a solemn voice.
It was a voice that seemed to contain a will that must be conveyed.
“You talk so freely about the Moyong family head and the God of War.”
“…”
“I hope you will not utter the names of my uncle and my grandfather in that mouth of yours so carelessly.”
“What did you say?”
“Because I won’t forgive you then.”
Ah…!
The Tang siblings and Myo-seon squeezed their eyes shut.
They thought they had crossed a river they could not cross.
But their worries ended in vain.
Just in time, the heads of the Liaoning branch of the Martial Alliance, the masters of the Wudang and Qingcheng Sects, Moyong Baek, and Abbess Hong-ryeon entered the room.
At the appearance of the key figures, So-ah and Namgung Mun had to unclench their fists.
Instead, So-ah received a telepathic message from Namgung Mun.
[I will not forget your name.]
So-ah ignored him.
Because he had a hunch that he would have to settle things with Namgung Mun in some way someday.
Of course, So-ah was confident.
***
The next day.
So-ah had made up his mind right after he regained consciousness.
But the warmth and attention of many people, which he had felt for the first time in his life, had been holding him back until now.
‘My Ten-Second Invincible Arts is still incomplete.’
So-ah thought.
No matter how much of a peerless master and a sorcerer with supernatural powers the Right Heavenly Demon Sword, No Yeong-myeong, was, he had still been defeated by him.
So-ah believed that if he had perfectly learned his grandfather’s Ten-Second Invincible Arts, he would never have been defeated.
‘I will watch the numerous fights that happen in the world. And I will interpret the Ten-Second Invincible Arts in my own way. Three years, I will not waste them and will definitely complete it and return!’
So-ah, who had made up his mind, did not hesitate.
At the breakfast table, he boldly threw down the gauntlet of his firm resolve to the people.
“Thank you for everything. I am leaving.”
***
Moyong Baek, Abbess Hong-ryeon, and others, knowing that they could not hold So-ah back, obediently nodded their heads, but his friends could not.
It was because they did not want to part with So-ah.
Even on the way to see him off, they each spoke with a sense of regret.
“Young Master Jin. Is this really goodbye? This is really…”
“I was happy to have made a good friend like you, Young Master Tang. Take care!”
As the two shook hands, Tang Hwa-rin also added a word.
“Are you going to Sichuan? Then can’t we go together?”
“No. I’m not going back to Sichuan yet.”
“Hmph… when will we see each other again?”
“Someday.”
—Hugs!
A ridiculous scene unfolded.
Tang Hwa-rin suddenly hugged So-ah.
“Haha, why is the young lady of the Tang Clan showing such disgraceful behavior?”
“Come visit the Tang Clan anytime. Got it?”
“Okay.”
And so, So-ah and Tang Hwa-rin smiled brightly and comforted each other.
And Myo-seon gently held So-ah’s hand and said softly.
“Jin So-ah. You have to keep your promise this time.”
“Huh?”
“The promise that you will definitely come to see me.”
“I’ll definitely keep it, Im-yi… no, Myo-seon.”
So-ah, after saying goodbye to Myo-seon, glanced at Moyong Hwa.
For some reason, she was just avoiding his gaze without saying anything.
So-ah smiled bitterly, waved his hand at Moyong Hwa, and turned away.
—Thud, thud.
So-ah was also sad.
The days he had spent bustling with friends of his age. Those warm days would now become faded memories.
Just then.
Moyong Hwa’s cry was heard from behind.
“I’ll be waiting! Senior Brother!!”
For the first time, the words “Senior Brother” came out of Moyong Hwa’s mouth.
So-ah did not bother to look back, but he answered in his heart.
‘See you again, Junior Sister.’
Moyong Hwa must have heard So-ah’s answer with her heart.
(End of Chapter)