Kang Sogun

Kang Sogun was strangely calm. It felt as if a typhoon had passed and daily life had returned.

So Mo Sang was rather anxious.

'To be like this and that, he's definitely not normal.'

As if he knew Mo Sang's worries, Kang Sogun said.

"The crown prince has very large ears. He will not act recklessly just by listening to remonstrance."

"There is a saying that if there are three people, they can create a tiger that wasn't there. This is not a time to be so relaxed."

"The crown prince will call soon. Let's explain then."

As soon as Kang Sogun's words fell, a servant ran and said.

"A person has come from the Crown Prince's Residence."

Mo Sang looked at Kang Sogun with a dumbfounded face.

"How did you know?"

"The crown prince has entered the city, has taken care of his own business, and now that he has time, he is asking to see me, isn't that it?"

Kang Sogun said as if asking why he was asking something so obvious, and then went outside.

The person who had come from the Crown Prince's Residence read the message slip.

It was a content that a shooting competition was being held to celebrate the crown prince's entry into the city, and that Kang Sogun should also attend.

After the person from the Crown Prince's Residence returned, Mo Sang said with a bright face.

"As expected, the crown prince is a person who has both literary and martial skills. This is great. I think it will be good to have a good talk with the crown prince at this shooting competition."

"I don't know if there will be such an opportunity."

"What do you mean? Everyone knows that the previous emperor especially favored both you, Young Master, and the crown prince. Wasn't the relationship between you two also good? Please confirm your friendship on this occasion."

If Mo Sang knew that Kang Sogun had refused Zhu Zhanji's request and that they had parted on bad terms, he would faint.

Not knowing such a fact, Mo Sang said with a triumphant face.

"If you, Young Master, assist the crown prince by his side, who would dare to come between you two?"

"Well. I think this shooting competition will probably be a hunting competition where blood is shed."

"It is not a hunting, but a shooting ceremony. With your skill, Young Master, you will surely win first place."

Mo Sang stopped talking and stood up abruptly.

"This is not a time for me to be like this. There are more than one or two things to prepare."

Mo Sang disappeared in a hurry.

Kang Sogun watched Mo Sang's disappearing back and smiled gently.

"A shooting ceremony..."

After meeting Jang Yeongyeong, Kang Sogun had a fever for several days and was bedridden.

It was impossible for a master who had reached a certain level to fall ill just by being drenched in the rain.

It was a kind of inner demon. He had slept for several days in a daze with a high fever. Countless scenes, which he did not know whether they were dreams or reality, had passed by.

And he had awakened again. After the last rampage, he felt as if his mind had been coldly purified once more.

When Kang Sogun saw Jang Yeongyeong, he became convinced that Jang Seonbaek was also alive.

'It's enough that he's alive.'

Kang Sogun cleared his mind. He called the Cho siblings and delivered the news about Jang Yeongyeong.

"Jang Yeongyeong is alive."

"Is that really true? Where is she now?"

Cho Haran had a special relationship with Jang Yeongyeong. She was on the verge of running off at any moment.

"I don't know where she is. It seemed she did not want to let me know."

"Do you mean to say you met her in person?"

Cho Hagyeong looked at Kang Sogun with a puzzled gaze.

Since he knew the relationship between the two, it was strange that he had met her in person but had not asked where she was.

Kang Sogun skipped Cho Hagyeong's question.

"In my opinion, it seems she is related to the Dragon Slaying Society. I would like you two to go and find out."

"The Dragon Slaying Society? Do you mean to say the young lady has gone out into the martial world?"

After returning to the Kang Residence, Kang Sogun had deliberately caused a few incidents so that his return would be widely spread.

In fact, now Nanjing was abuzz with rumors about the arrogant young master of the Kang Residence.

But it was impossible for Jang Yeongyeong to have come to find him so quickly. This was impossible unless Jang Yeongyeong had been in Nanjing all along.

Kang Sogun, after thinking hard about how Jang Yeongyeong had found him, had presumed it was the Dragon Slaying Society.

When Kang Sogun had crossed the mountain pass, avoiding the masters of the Dragon Slaying Society, he had poured all his attention on the thatched hut. He had had to pay attention to the next move that the master who had sent the saber qi would unfold.

Fortunately, he had not used his hands again.

But at that time, he had heard a woman come out of the thatched hut and let out a low gasp. At that time, he had passed it by without thinking, but it had remained in his mind.

As he thought hard, he had a thought that that woman might be Jang Yeongyeong.

The fact that she was wearing a mask meant that she was concerned about her identity being exposed. Since Nanjing was the territory of the Great Righteous Martial Hall, it would be natural for the Dragon Slaying Society.

But he could not be sure.

"We will go and confirm."

Kang Sogun just nodded.

His heart was empty.

What would he do after confirming? The fact that she had not even taken off her mask meant that she had declared that they were now strangers.

Still, he had to deliver the news of Jang Yeongyeong to the Cho siblings.

***

"The reason the sword is called the king of all weapons is there. Just by looking at the sword arts of you two. Isn't it strange that it came from one sword art, but it is so different depending on the interpretation?"

As soon as Yu Mungwang returned to the Clear Lotus Pond, he had a duel with Jungrang.

Although Jungrang had entered the realm of the super peak, Yu Mungwang had lightly deflected it.

Next, Yu Mungwang also had a duel with Yeon Hwasim.

After having a duel with the two in succession, Yu Mungwang said.

"You said it was the Heavenly Star Sword Art? In my opinion, it seems to be a school of Wudang."

Jungrang thought that might be so.

The Blood Flute had said something similar.

"The sword of Wudang is clearly different depending on the enlightenment. The sword of the Taoist school is usually like that. So it must be that you two can express the same sword art differently."

"Your sword, senior, seems to have surpassed the peak."

Jungrang's words were sincere. He had never seen a master of the sword art like Yu Mungwang before.

"My face is getting hot for no reason. My sword is the sword of the Confucian school. The sword of the Confucian school is simple, but it follows a certain dignity."

Yu Mungwang slowly raised his sword as if to show off. Next, he thrust it long and then pulled it back. One move was so slow that it was as if it were not moving.

The sword art, which had been unfolding so slowly, suddenly became faster.

A sword wind began to rise, and later, the sword could not be seen.

-Swish!

At some point, Yu Mungwang's sword stopped again. Although he had performed a fierce sword dance, Yu Mungwang's breathing was as natural as it had been at the beginning.

It was extremely rare for a master to show his sword art as it was. No matter how great the sword art was, if the forms were exposed, the opponent could aim for the weaknesses.

Nevertheless, Yu Mungwang had shown his sword. It meant for him to feel the sword understanding contained in it.

"To abandon the forms means that you have mastered the meaning contained in the sword forms. Jungrang, if you want to completely abandon the forms, you will have to know the meaning of one sword."

Yu Mungwang said to Jungrang, who had performed the proper etiquette. Next, he gave his gaze to Yeon Hwasim.

"Miss Yeon's sword pursues the perfection of the forms. When it becomes perfect, the forms will also disappear. Only then can you meet the sword."

Jungrang and Yeon Hwasim performed the proper etiquette. Although they had not formed a master-disciple relationship, it was no different from Yu Mungwang having taught them directly.

The days in the Clear Lotus Pond were simple.

Sim Mabaek could now move on his own.

"I'm ashamed. To have been in this state, unable to handle just one lecherous villain."

"Who would have known that the Blood Flute's internal energy was so strong?"

Jungrang comforted him.

As Sim Mabaek grabbed his spear, Yeon Hwasim stopped him.

"Your internal energy has not yet recovered, so if you overdo it, you will get sick."

"A spear is a skill. If you don't constantly train a skill, it will regress."

Sim Mabaek had lived as a chef at the Mohong Inn for the past five years. Then, recently, he had fought a series of life-or-death battles.

His pride that there was no one who could face him with a spear had been broken when he had seen Kang Sogun's spear.

Moreover, he had almost died, unable to handle the internal energy contained in the Blood Flute's small flute.

Sim Mabaek gritted his teeth.

"I will go my own way."

Sim Mabaek did not let go of his spear even while sleeping.

Although he had lost his internal energy, his skill in handling the spear had rather become more meticulous.

The three devoted themselves to training in the Clear Lotus Pond like that.

***

The shooting ceremony was held at Mount Jo, ten li from Nanjing City.

Kang Sogun stopped Mo Sang, who was about to follow, and went to the shooting ceremony venue alone.

The shooting ceremony venue was crowded with many people. Five or six tents were set up, and the guards of Nanjing were strictly on guard.

Zhu Zhanji was in a large tent. In the tent, all the leaders of the powerful families of Nanjing, including Bang Yeonso, were gathered.

"Although I sent an invitation, I didn't know you would come."

Unlike when he was being chased, Zhu Zhanji was at ease.

There was a sting in Zhu Zhanji's words.

It was clear that he remembered that Kang Sogun had said he was no longer Kang Hwi.

"Since His Highness the Crown Prince has called, is there anyone who would dare not to come?"

Kang Sogun performed the proper etiquette.

"The rumors I hear are not good."

Zhu Zhanji said, looking left and right. The gazes of the members of the powerful families, including Bang Yeonso, who were looking at Kang Sogun, were cold.

Although it seemed Zhu Zhanji had many things to say, there were also many people gathered in this place. He could not just pay attention to Kang Sogun.

"Since today is a good day, let's talk later. Sit here."

"No. It seems it is not a place for me, who has no official position in the Nanjing government office, to be."

Although Zhu Zhanji had told him to sit, Kang Sogun refused flatly and went out of the tent.

The people who were in the tent all remonstrated at once.

"Oh dear, to dare to defy His Highness the Crown Prince's words, you must severely reprimand him."

"I have heard so much that my ears hurt that the young master of the Kang Residence was intelligent since he was young. But I did not believe the rumor that he had gotten a madness on the battlefield, but seeing him today, I am really worried."

"For the future of the Kang Residence, His Highness the Crown Prince should look into it carefully."

Although it was disguised as good words, in fact, most of the words were to belittle the Kang Residence and Kang Sogun.

Zhu Zhanji's complexion was also not good. He had not known that Kang Sogun would ignore his words in front of the officials of the Nanjing government office.

As Kang Sogun came out of the tent, a group of young masters blocked his way.

"Are you Kang Hwi?"

The martial arts uniforms that they were all well-dressed in were not of ordinary expensive fabric.

It was fitting to call them ceremonial robes, not martial arts uniforms. There was even a person who had a decorative ornament on his waist.

Kang Sogun glanced at the young masters and then asked.

"What?"

"What? You are as arrogant as I have heard."

The one standing at the very front frowned and glared at Kang Sogun.

"I am Ho Ildo of the Ho Residence. Ho Geukgeom is my uncle."

Although Ho Ildo was a direct descendant of the Ho family, and his rank was lower than the collateral Ho Geukgeom, his social status was extremely noble.

"So?"

"Since my uncle was insulted when he went to the Kang Residence, how can I, as a nephew, just stand by?"

Ho Ildo did not believe the words that Ho Geukgeom had been defeated in one move. Also, he had been confident that he was a cut above Ho Geukgeom in terms of martial arts.

He had learned the sword from the Namgung family, with which his family was particularly close. The sword of the Namgung family was renowned in the world.

Just then, a general of seven feet in height approached from one side.

"What is the matter?"

Zhu Zhanji's captain of the guards, Yi Jeongmu, was in a state of extreme nervousness.

He could not let the thoughtless young masters of the prestigious families of Nanjing ruin the shooting ceremony hosted by the crown prince. But he could not treat them recklessly either.

"The shooting ceremony will be held soon. Please take your seats."

A unique momentum that only a general of the battlefield has flowed from Yi Jeongmu's entire body.

Ho Ildo was inwardly disappointed and said to Kang Sogun.

"Let's see each other again."

Kang Sogun silently went to the seat prepared next to the shooting platform and sat down.

Soon, Zhu Zhanji, the officials of the Nanjing government office, and the members of the powerful families came out of the tent and sat down in the seats prepared next to the shooting platform.

"Hwi! Come and sit here."

Zhu Zhanji called Kang Sogun, who was far away.

This time, he did not refuse and sat down in the seat next to Zhu Zhanji. The complexions of those who saw that scene changed uncomfortably.

The targets for the shooting were placed at one hundred, three hundred, and five hundred paces.

It was a method where anyone could go up to the shooting platform, shoot five arrows per target, and the one with the highest score would win.

"Begin!"

As Zhu Zhanji waved his hand, Ho Ildo went up first.

"I am Ho Ildo of the Ho Residence. I will dare to take the lead."

Ho Ildo grabbed the bow with an elegant motion and then placed an arrow on the string. Next, he shot fifteen arrows in succession.

"Oh!"

The arrows all accurately hit the center of the targets. Although it was surprising that he had hit all fifteen arrows, people were impressed by his speed.

"As expected of the eldest son of the Ho family. Isn't he also a master of the sword art?"

Ho Ildo came down from the shooting platform with a triumphant face.

"Hmph!"

One person snorted and then went up to the shooting platform.

(End of Chapter)