Chapter 79
"Is there something wrong?"
"It's nothing."
Jeshin's Ten Variations True Art was not strange, but his heart was greatly shaken.
Jeshin was bewildered by the experience he was having for the first time, but he did not show it and slowly composed his emotions.
"The teacup..."
Hearing Daji's voice, he looked at the teacup, and a corner of the teacup that he had clutched without realizing it was broken.
As Jeshin put down the teacup in embarrassment, Daji bent down and picked up the broken piece.
"I will pay for the broken teacup."
Although it was unlikely that So Ho would try to get the price of the teacup from Jeshin, no matter how expensive the teacup was, Jeshin was just saying anything out of awkwardness.
"Pfft."
Jeshin's eyebrows furrowed when he heard Daji's short laugh.
Daji, startled, covered her mouth with both hands, but she bowed her head at Jeshin's expression, which seemed to be angry.
"I'm sorry..."
"What's so funny?"
"It's not that."
At Daji's bewildered voice, Jeshin suppressed his rising anger for a moment.
Strangely, seeing Daji laugh, he had the thought that he wanted to make her laugh one more time.
"I'm not angry."
At Jeshin's words, Daji hesitated and then carefully opened her mouth.
"It's just... my father said that Young Master Shen was a scary and cold person, but you seem a little different from what I heard..."
"Me?"
Although Jeshin had not paid much attention to what the common people thought of him, he could not help but to be interested when he heard that So Ho had evaluated him so.
"Yes, and the Sichuan martial world... that you are destined to become the master of the world..."
"Hahaha!"
Jeshin could not hold it in and laughed out loud.
He didn't know whether Daji was flattering him as So Ho had told her to, or whether she really thought so. Since it was clear that he would look like he was having a hard time just staying alive in his current situation.
This was because there was no law that his father, who was pushing him away for no reason, and his older brother, who was trying to separate him from the center of the Black Contemplation Fortress, would not aim for his life at any time.
"Then, what do you think of me?"
"What?"
"What I've said so far is all the thoughts of the young master of the So family, isn't it? I'm asking what you think of me."
"It's not much different from my father's words."
"A cold and cold-hearted person?"
"It's not that!"
Daji knew that Jeshin was enjoying her reaction.
Daji bowed her head again and said slowly.
"A hero of the world... you seem to be the one who will become the master of Sichuan."
"I will believe that there is no lie in your words and I will be grateful."
Jeshin felt a little relieved at Daji's words.
After Wenzhong had fallen, the situation of the Black Contemplation Fortress had changed for the worse, to the point where it was noticeable.
Jeshin, who was gradually being cornered, was doubting himself and was losing his confidence.
But Daji's one word had become a great comfort to him.
Daji gathered the broken teacup pieces and the teacup.
"I'll bring a new cup."
"That's alright."
Jeshin spread his palm and took the broken teacup back from Daji.
And then he handed back the part of the teacup that was still intact.
"I will keep this fragment."
"That is..."
He wanted to have a memento to commemorate his meeting with Daji.
Jeshin, without even listening to Daji's answer, put the fragment of the broken teacup in his pocket.
"The young master of the So family is late."
"...Yes."
No matter how urgent the matter was, to make him wait for so long could not be anything but a rudeness.
"It's for the better. Since it's boring to just wait, let's talk about the world with me."
"I... have been on a sickbed for a long time, so I don't know many interesting stories."
"Hmm... I've said something I shouldn't have. Then I will tell you my story."
Jeshin sorted out the miscellaneous things that were happening in the Black Contemplation Fortress and the stories that Daji might find interesting and told them to her.
Daji's eyes sparkled with curiosity, and she listened intently and was drawn into Jeshin's story.
In the end, she even showed a concentrated appearance, such as clapping her hands or shaking her shoulders.
"My lord. The young master of the So family has arrived."
Jeshin, who had been talking with Daji for a long time, stopped his story with regret at the voice of Huang Feihu that came from below the pavilion.
Daji, at the words that So Ho had arrived, let out a small cough and stood up from her seat and withdrew to a corner of the pavilion.
Jeshin, who saw her attitude, which had become much softer, change back to being as cold as ice, swallowed his regret inwardly.
Thump, thump.
So Ho, who had come up to the pavilion, had a small height and a small build.
But his eyes were sharp and his gaze was strong, exuding an atmosphere that overwhelmed the viewer.
Not only that, but the tall guard martial artist who was following him had narrow eyes and was maintaining a blank expression, and just looking at him from the front made one's skin feel cold and a sense of caution rise on its own.
"Young master of the So family. My name is Jeshin of the Black Contemplation Fortress."
"Welcome. My name is So Ho."
Jeshin, who had taken a fist-and-palm salute, exchanged greetings with So Ho.
The low and cold voice was strangely grating on his ears. Since it was a strong first impression for an ordinary master of a family, Jeshin instinctively knew that he was not an easy opponent.
Moreover, Huang Feihu had silently followed So Ho up into the pavilion and was standing guard in a corner.
Jeshin, who looked at Huang Feihu, who was holding his crescent moon saber and guarding the pavilion, could tell that he had moved in caution of So Ho and the martial artist who had appeared with him.
'How on earth were such masters hiding in Sichuan?'
Many masters that even the Black Contemplation Fortress, which gathered information on the numerous righteous and evil sects of Sichuan, had not been able to grasp were hiding in this So family manor.
What was even more surprising was So Ho himself in front of him.
Jeshin, as he exchanged greetings with So Ho, immediately raised the Ten Variations True Art of the fifth stage.
Since he had reached the sixth stage of the Ten Variations of the Ten Variations True Art, he had never been so nervous meeting an opponent.
Even when he had competed with Huang Feihu, who was one of the top masters in the Black Contemplation Fortress.
The sixth stage of the Ten Variations was the state of a peak master.
Although the martial artist who was guarding So Ho's side also looked great, So Ho's martial prowess was clearly a state of a heaven beyond heaven that Jeshin could not even guess.
'How surprising. Was there another person like this besides my father and my uncle?'
It was truly the state of an absolute being.
Moreover, So Ho was not even hiding his energy.
"Please sit down."
So Ho offered a seat and sat down in a chair.
Jeshin also accepted the suggestion and sat down, facing him.
It was clear that there was a reason for such a master to help him and also to meet him.
Since Jeshin had come to ask for his help today, if he were to get his martial prowess in his hands, it would be a greater help than anything else at this time when Wenzhong had fallen.
"I was busy, so I sent my daughter instead. I have committed a rudeness."
"No. Thanks to her, I was able to wait for you, young master of the So family, without knowing that time was passing."
Jeshin, who saw the red energy flowing in So Ho's eyes, clenched his fist under the table.
The fact that he was not hiding his strength was clearly an intention to intimidate him.
Especially since to display his energy secretly was an act of testing him.
Jeshin stopped Huang Feihu with a gesture, in case he were to use his hands.
If this was a test, he would not back down, and he would go further and get his help.
The red haze that was rising around So Ho was gradually making the surroundings hot and stuffy.
Jeshin circulated the Ten Variations True Art without blinking an eye.
No matter how great his skills were, if he did not use his hands with the intention of killing him, he was confident that he could endure it even if the opponent was Wenzhong.
As Jeshin endured by circulating the Ten Variations True Art, a strange light flowed in So Ho's eyes.
'Hmm... as expected, was he called the Little Light Emperor?'
So Ho, who was watching Jeshin endure his test, was in a strange state of feeling a small displeasure and satisfaction at the same time.
It was unpleasant that a mere human was sitting with his head held high in front of him, and the fact that he was a vessel worthy of realizing his plan was satisfactory.
One thing that bothered him was that, unlike his initial thought, Jeshin was not such an easy opponent.
'He is too strong-willed to be a puppet.'
It was clear that this young child, Jeshin, was also learning the technique of training himself, just like the humans of the Hermit's Valley.
Sheng Wang, who had collected information on the martial world while wearing the mask of So Ho, could be sure that the humans here were not all as strong as the people of the Hermit's Valley, beyond common sense.
But since the land was wide and there were many people, there were also those who had skills that could match them.
This was surely something that needed attention.
The power of their martial arts, which they called martial arts, also had a large difference depending on the person, and what Jeshin was learning was surely a supreme martial art that was also spoken of in the martial world.
That was why he had not been subdued by his spirit even after meeting Daji, whom he had sent first, and he was enduring even while facing him.
"What is the reason you wanted to see me?"
"Then what is the reason you are helping me, master of the family?"
At Jeshin's question, So Ho's face was distorted.
"Is my reason important to you now?"
"I am grateful for the help, but I have no intention of becoming a puppet."
Jeshin answered bluntly.
If So Ho had been a tycoon who was simply overflowing with wealth, he might have expected his full support.
But the man in front of him was a master of unknown identity whose martial arts and heart he could not know.
No one knew what he would demand of him, using his current help as a security.
"A puppet... why would I want a puppet?"
"Then what do you want from me, young master of the So family?"
"The chaos of the world."
At So Ho's one word, Jeshin doubted his own two ears.
The red demonic energy that was lingering in So Ho's eyes seemed to be brushing against Jeshin's chest.
"Chaos, you say?"
"Since Jejeong of the Black Contemplation Fortress is not a worthy vessel and will not be able to face the Sichuan Alliance, you must become the master of the Black Contemplation Fortress for the sake of the dispute in Sichuan. You have that much skill, don't you?"
"What nonsense is this impudent person saying?!"
In the end, Huang Feihu, who could not bear it, let out a roar.
Although he was a master of unknown identity, the opponent was the lord he served.
Since he had uttered an insulting remark in his presence, he could not just let it pass as a subordinate.
"You've been very annoying since a while ago... you should step back for a moment."
As So Ho lightly stretched out his hand, a huge flame flickered in the air and flew towards Huang Feihu.
Huang Feihu, who was startled by the ball of fire that had suddenly flown in front of him, swung his crescent moon saber and hurriedly protected his body.
Crash!
At the same time as a blue flame exploded in a corner of the pavilion, Huang Feihu's body flew away.
"How dare you!"
Flap, flap!
As Jeshin raised his right hand, seeing Huang Feihu being attacked, the clothes of the subordinate who was behind So Ho became loose, and hundreds of crows came out of his body and scattered around, beginning to surround the outside of the pavilion.
"If you face me now, I will have no choice but to find another person. That's not what we both want, is it?"
In the place where So Ho's subordinate had been, the robe he had been wearing was flowing down on the floor, and around the pavilion, hundreds of crows were glaring at Jeshin with their eyes wide open.
Jeshin, feeling a murderous intent at the strange sight he was seeing for the first time, slowly moved his fingers.
(End of Chapter)