Chapter 50 : She is My Person
A high mountain and a huge waterfall that cuts through it.
Hyeongwang Mountain, which has a natural scenery that humans cannot dare to imagine and that nature has created.
In an old pavilion, whose builder is unknown, a man was enjoying the scenery of Hyeongwang Mountain and smiling.
"A place where immortals play, poets sing, and painters resemble nature. If I could have a glass of wine here, there would be nothing more to wish for. Don't you think so? Alliance Leader."
A middle-aged man with a thick, grayish beard slowly revealed himself in front of the man who was sitting alone like an immortal and enjoying the scenery.
Next to him was a middle-aged man with a solid build and full of dignity.
"You are the famous master of the Heretic's Path Alliance, Ju Cheon. To think you pacified the unorthodox faction by yourself, your reputation was not an empty boast."
The Martial Arts Alliance Leader of the world, Gwak Doyeop, sat facing Ju Cheon in an old pavilion whose builder was unknown.
"The one next to you must be the family head of the Namgung Family, the backbone of the Five Great Families."
"I am Namgung Muhyeok."
"The head of the Orthodox Martial World and the head of the Five Great Families have gathered together."
"Since the head of the unorthodox faction has gathered here, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the martial world has gathered in one place."
Ju Cheon smiled brightly and handed the cups he had prepared in advance to the two, then poured wine over them.
Ju Cheon, who had also filled his own cup with wine, held it up and said.
"This is also a connection... would you like a drink?"
"There's no harm in it."
Gwak Doyeop drank the cup of wine that Ju Cheon had poured without hesitation.
At his magnanimous appearance, who did not even have a shred of suspicion that there might be poison, Ju Cheon laughed out loud.
"Haha! As expected, one must have this much courage to be the head of the Orthodox Martial World."
"Because there is no reason for you to poison me, nor is there a need to."
Through these words, Ju Cheon could see Gwak Doyeop's confidence.
It meant that Gwak Doyeop, as well as Ju Cheon, would know that he could not be poisoned with ordinary poison.
And as he had said, there was no poison in the wine that Ju Cheon had brought.
"You don't seem to have ordinary courage either. To think the head of a group would come all the way here alone."
In fact, the martial artists who had come from the Martial Arts Alliance and the Namgung Family were waiting around Hyeongwang Mountain, hiding their presence.
Their number was so large that it could fill Hyeongwang Mountain.
A scale that could be said to be able to fight a war.
Despite being in a situation where he was surrounded by a net, Ju Cheon's face was not just relaxed, but calm.
"Because neither of us intends to fight a war."
"Hmm."
At Ju Cheon's tone, as if his death could lead to a war, Namgung Muhyeok replied coldly.
"I know that it was the Heretic's Path Alliance that threw the assassins first, so how will you explain that?"
"Are you talking about the unfortunate incident that happened at Jiao Lake?"
"What else could it be?"
Because of that incident, Namgung Muhyeok had almost lost his two beloved children.
Was it because of that?
Namgung Muhyeok's tone and gaze towards Ju Cheon were as sharp as a well-honed sword.
"If a hunter sets a bait to lure his prey, shouldn't he be prepared to lose the bait?"
At Ju Cheon's sharp remark, Namgung Muhyeok did not lose and retorted.
"A wolf that should be quietly eating rabbits in the mountains dares to harm humans... so isn't it that we have stepped up ourselves?"
"Haha. That's also true. But for the sake of our friendship, I will tell you the truth. The unfortunate incident that happened at Jiao Lake and all the tragedies that happened before that were not committed by the Heretic's Path Alliance, but were the sole discretion of an assassin organization called the Silver Signpost."
"Do you think that makes sense now? A mere assassin organization threw a kill at the Orthodox Martial World? And that, by their own will?"
"If you're curious about that, how about you ask them directly?"
As Ju Cheon gestured, the martial artists of the Heretic's Path Alliance, who had been waiting, hiding their presence, as if they had been waiting, appeared, holding a man on both sides.
The faces of Gwak Doyeop and Namgung Muhyeok, who had noticed that he was the head of the Silver Signpost, hardened slightly.
"Let me introduce you. The Pavilion Master of the Silver Signpost, Gihyeol."
The man called Gihyeol was forced to his knees.
"Now, Pavilion Master Gihyeol. Will you tell your story?"
Gihyeol glared at Ju Cheon with murderous eyes, but he soon remembered that there was nothing he could do.
—If you want to save the Pavilion, make a decision.
At Ju Cheon's telepathic message that followed, Gihyeol gritted his teeth.
He bit so hard that his molar broke, but now was not the time to worry about such things.
'He's finally getting rid of me.'
Since the hunting dog could no longer hunt, his end was set.
If he died like this, and if he died like that, Gihyeol had to protect the Silver Signpost even in an unjust death.
That was his role as the Pavilion Master.
"This Pavilion... it is true that we personally executed Bud Crushing and attempted to assassinate the next-generation talents of the Five Great Families at Jiao Lake. I will not deny it."
"You mean the Heretic's Path Alliance did not intervene at all?"
At Gwak Doyeop's question, Gihyeol nodded his head up and down.
"That's right."
"That's not even funny! Heretic's Path Alliance Leader, is the only thing you could think of cutting off the tail? And that, by bringing a man I don't even know and introducing him as the Pavilion Master!?"
At Namgung Muhyeok's angry voice, Ju Cheon nodded and then stood up from his seat.
"This person is the Pavilion Master of the Silver Signpost. I can swear this on my name, my honor, and this Alliance."
"But!"
"I know. That this is not enough to appease your anger."
As soon as his words ended, the palm force released from Ju Cheon's hand blew off the back of Gihyeol's head.
At the sight of Gihyeol, who had died in an instant, Gwak Doyeop and Namgung Muhyeok shot up and drew up their internal energy.
In the meantime, Ju Cheon wiped the blood of Gihyeol on his face and said.
"The total number of assassins belonging to the Silver Signpost is one hundred and fifty. And the number of those who serve them is two hundred."
Ju Cheon pointed to the waterfall of Hyeongwang Mountain.
"Check it."
At his words, Gwak Doyeop called a martial artist of the Martial Arts Alliance and had him check the waterfall.
After a while, the martial artist who had finished his confirmation returned with an ashen face and spoke to the Alliance Leader.
"Hundreds of corpses... are submerged with their whole bodies tied up. Their number is roughly... over three hundred."
At the martial artist's answer that three hundred corpses had been found, Gwak Doyeop stared at Ju Cheon with a fierce momentum as hot as lava and said solemnly.
"Heretic's Path Alliance Leader. What have you done?"
"In the martial world, isn't it the law to repay a blood debt with a blood debt? Since you couldn't do it, I just repaid the blood debt myself."
"I don't think I ever wanted this."
"Then it's a pity."
Gwak Doyeop and Namgung Muhyeok sincerely wanted to kill the person named Ju Cheon.
It was not just because of the evil deeds he had committed.
'He's a dangerous person!'
A coldness and decisiveness that could kill even his subordinates at any time if necessary.
Because of this, the Martial Arts Alliance and the Namgung Family, which had been trying to pressure the Heretic's Path Alliance, had lost their pretext.
It was because over three hundred people had already been killed under the pretext of a blood debt.
It was a situation where if they pressured the Heretic's Path Alliance further, the orthodox faction's justification might disappear.
"Do you need more blood debt?"
Ju Cheon, who knew this, asked, shrugging one shoulder.
"...I don't think we need any more."
Gwak Doyeop knew it was time to take a step back.
"Would you like another drink?"
"I don't need it."
At Gwak Doyeop's refusal, Ju Cheon sat back down, poured wine into his own cup, and said.
"Since today is a meaningful occasion where the Martial Arts Alliance and the Heretic's Path Alliance have cleared up their misunderstandings, I will give you one more gift."
A strange sense of anxiety crept up on the two who were watching Ju Cheon drinking.
Soon, Ju Cheon, who had put down his cup, smiled slyly.
"If my enemy has a grand plan that spans 100 years, what should I do?"
"..."
The two were silent, but they realized that what Ju Cheon was talking about was the Hundred-Year Plan of the Orthodox Martial World.
And soon, they felt their anxiety becoming a reality.
"The answer to that question is... to prepare a 10-year plan."
A blood-red light shone in Ju Cheon's pupils.
"A 10-year plan to destroy the Hundred-Year Plan."
***
That day, numerous crows flew up in the Central Plains.
The black wave, whose origin and how it had come this far was unknown, flew around in all directions, making an ominous cry.
And that day, numerous wails were heard throughout the Central Plains.
"A fire broke out at the Hongmen Sect, and several young disciples were burned to death!"
"The news is that the eldest and second sons of the Ximen Family were poisoned at the same time!"
"A thunder bomb exploded, and an entire family was annihilated..."
Gu Yong was completely out of his mind at the news coming from all over the Central Plains.
It was an incident that had occurred simultaneously to be a coincidence, and the victims of the incident were mostly the young next-generation talents of the Orthodox Martial World.
And the ones who were killing them were not assassins or demons, but young children who had lived and shared joys and sorrows with them for at least 10 years.
Gu Yong was dumbfounded at the news of the deaths of the young martial artists, which was being delivered without a break.
It was now out of control.
"Bud Crushing... is just beginning now."
***
The ominous news coming from all over the Central Plains also reached the ears of the Jin Family.
"What should we do?"
As Yu Seoheung trembled in anxiety, Jin Seomok gently hugged her shoulders.
"Don't worry. The bad news we're hearing now is mostly happening in sects or martial families. According to a reliable source, it seems to be targeting the young next-generation talents of the martial world."
"We would have been irrelevant, but didn't Sohyun learn martial arts?"
"Although he learned martial arts from Elder Kang, Sohyun is a lazy bum of the world that everyone knows, isn't he? They won't go to the trouble of threatening Sohyun."
Jin Seomok comforted Yu Seoheung with the gentlest voice possible.
However, the anxiety in Jin Seomok's heart did not easily subside.
'Someone might be aiming for Sohyun's life. It wouldn't be surprising if it were Siu.'
Jin Seomok tried to calm his confusion and caught his breath.
It was time to make a decision to protect his family.
"What happened?"
"I don't know either."
Mo Yeohak, who had held the position of head servant in the Jin Family for over 20 years, had gathered the servants who had been in the family estate for less than 10 years in one place, as per the order of the family head, Jin Seomok.
Among them were Cheongi, Songi, and Siu.
"Is everyone here?"
At the appearance of Jin Seomok, who was wearing a long robe, the servants bowed their waists.
"We greet the Family Head."
Jin Seomok looked down at the young servants gathered in one place with a complicated gaze.
Most of them were young servants who had not even reached adulthood.
And for good reason, because all the servants gathered in this place were those who had been employed in the family estate for less than 10 years.
"You all must be well aware that unfortunate incidents are happening in the Central Plains right now."
The assassination incident of the next-generation talents, called Bud Crushing.
Since it was a tragic tragedy that had occurred over a wide range, the servants of the prestigious Jin Family were also somewhat aware of Bud Crushing.
"Yes."
As the servants answered in unison, Jin Seomok nodded and gestured.
Soon, the escort guards of the Jin Family, led by Mu Yonghu, handed heavy money pouches to the young servants.
The servants, who had received the money pouches with bewildered faces, soon realized their fate.
"This is a consolation and severance pay for you who have worked for the Jin Family so far. I've put in a generous amount, so there will be no shortage, and there will be no problem in settling down after leaving the family estate."
The servants silently bowed their heads.
"...I'm sorry."
The servants, who felt the sincerity in Jin Seomok's voice, bowed on the spot for the family head of the Jin Family, who had done his best as their employer so far, and left the family estate one by one.
"You've worked hard."
"Young Lady... thank you for everything."
"Sob... Young Lady..."
Jin Gahyeon, who had come out to see off the maids, extended the jade rings she had prepared for the crying Cheongi and Songi.
"Don't sell them to just anyone, check carefully and sell them. Then you'll be able to get quite a lot of money."
"Something like this... thank you."
"We'll definitely come back! Young Lady!"
"Yes. Take care of yourselves."
Yu Seoheung, who had come out with Jin Gahyeon, also saw off the servants who had worked hard.
But even after everyone had left, only one person did not move from her spot.
She, who loved money more than anything else, stayed in her place, even putting down the heavy money pouch.
"Siu."
At Mu Yonghu's call, Siu knelt.
"I have dedicated my everything to the Jin Family. And I will dedicate my future to the Jin Family as well. So... please give me a chance, Family Head."
At the sight of Siu, who was pleading earnestly with a tear-stained face, Jin Seomok's heart ached.
It was because he could by no means deny Siu's devotion to Jin Sohyun so far.
"I will call you again when the unfortunate incident called Bud Crushing has subsided to some extent, so think of it as a vacation for the time being."
"I can never leave the Young Master's side. If I'm not there, who will take care of the Young Master?"
"The head servant has decided to place a reliable maidservant by his side..."
"Please, I beg you! Family Head! I can never leave!"
As Siu did not back down, Jin Seomok also hardened his heart.
He could not make an exception.
Moreover, there was no guarantee that Siu was not included among the young assassins called the Little Killing Ghosts, who were leading Bud Crushing.
"I'm sorry. There are no exceptions. Yonghu."
"Yes!"
Mu Yonghu forcibly lifted the kneeling Siu.
"I'm sorry. Please understand this time."
"I... I...!"
It was when Jin Seomok, Yu Seoheung, and Jin Gahyeon were all seeing off the dragged-away Siu with pitiful gazes.
"I was wondering where Siu was, and she was here."
Jin Sohyun, who would not move from his room unless it was a big deal, appeared with a face that was not fully awake.
"Sohyun."
As Jin Seomok was about to say something, Jin Sohyun raised his hand.
"Siu is fine. If Siu had tried to kill me, I would have been dead already."
"Young Master..."
"But that is!"
"I know well what you are worried about, Father. But, Siu is not allowed."
Jin Sohyun, who had approached Mu Yonghu's side, wrapped his arm around Siu's shoulder.
"Siu is my person."
(End of Chapter)