Chapter 65 : Hidden Dragons. -02
Chapter 65: Hidden Dragons. -02
At a glance, the young man who looked like a farmer politely performed a fist-clasp salute.
At the sight, the other members of the group hurriedly returned the greeting as well.
“Nice to meet you. I am Seonwu Bang of the Seonwu Family.”
“Hello. I am Seo Jo-woon of the Seo Family Estate.”
“Haha. I am Murong Cheok of the Murong Family.”
The gazes of the three distinctive individuals gathered on Jeong I-ryong.
The Ban Hojin they knew was never a man who moved without reason, and judging from the conversation so far, it was clear that he had come looking for the Bangcheon Sect.
That was why, despite their smiling faces, the three examined Jeong I-ryong with sharp eyes.
“Pleased to meet you all.”
“Thank you for welcoming us even though we arrived so suddenly.”
“May I ask what brings you to the main sect?”
“Broadly speaking, it is for exchange. Although the Bangcheon Sect is said to have withdrawn from the secular world, it is not a Buddhist or Daoist sect, is it? So we came to exchange greetings and build some familiarity. I also wished to meet the Sect Leader once.”
“You seem to know our sect in quite some detail.”
Jeong I-ryong’s eyes widened slightly.
As far as he knew, the last time the Bangcheon Sect had been active in the Jianghu was a full hundred years ago.
Of course, that did not mean they never met anyone at all, but they had never formally revealed themselves in the Jianghu.
Yet, seeing that he knew their lineage rather well, Jeong I-ryong was surprised.
“I do not know that much. I only heard about it.”
Ban Hojin smiled meaningfully.
In truth, he had heard it directly after meeting them in his previous life, but there was no need to mention that.
Even if he did, they surely would not believe him.
‘Sometimes it feels a bit bitter. They were all good connections.’
Like Seonwu Bang, there were cases where he became friends again this time, but conversely, they could also end up in completely different relationships.
That was why Ban Hojin felt a strange mood stir within him.
“Still, strangely enough, I feel good. Knowing that there are people who know about us. Ah, for now, let us go. I will guide you to my master.”
“Thank you.”
Among the group, only Ban Hojin knew about the Bangcheon Sect, so handling the conversation naturally fell to him.
Instead, the other three focused not on the conversation, but on the man named Jeong I-ryong.
-What do you think, hyung?
-About what?
-Come on. You know what I’m asking.
As he followed behind Ban Hojin and Jeong I-ryong, Seo Jo-woon quietly sent a voice transmission.
It was because it was obvious that Seonwu Bang was thinking the same thing, as if their minds were in sync.
-Judging by the subtle aura leaking out, he’s a considerable master.
-Right? I wasn’t mistaken, was I?
-Yeah. Even I can’t be confident of winning.
-Huh. That much?
-At least from what I can feel. To be certain, I think we’d only know after actually crossing hands.
Seonwu Bang was the type to joke around at times, but he never spoke empty words.
Because of that, Seo Jo-woon was genuinely shocked.
Moreover, Seonwu Bang’s eye for judging people was at a very high level.
In terms of experience in the Jianghu alone, Seonwu Bang had the most among the four.
‘It’s strange. No matter how much he heard about it, finding this place so easily should be impossible.’
Meanwhile, Murong Cheok, who was following behind, deeply furrowed his brow.
It was not that it made no sense, but his doubts were far from completely resolved.
Swoosh.
As he followed the four ahead, Murong Cheok slowly surveyed the surroundings.
No matter where he looked, there was not even a path, let alone traces of humans.
It was a dense forest where even seasoned herbalists and hunters would find it difficult to find their way.
Yet Ban Hojin had arrived at the Bangcheon Sect far too easily, and with perfect accuracy.
‘And the biggest reason is the purpose. From coming to look for me to this Bangcheon Sect. There must clearly be a reason he came, but I can’t figure out what it is.’
To be blunt, even Murong Cheok himself could be explained away, albeit suspiciously.
Martial artists sometimes sought out strong warriors to engage in sparring journeys for their own growth and development.
However, the Bangcheon Sect did not fall under that category at all.
Although one might hear about the Bangcheon Sect, not everyone would go so far as to seek it out in person.
‘Well, I’ll find out if I just watch.’
Murong Cheok’s gaze settled on Ban Hojin’s back.
The man who had shocked him from the very first meeting continued to stir his curiosity.
Moreover, Jeong I-ryong, walking alongside him, also piqued Murong Cheok’s interest.
Since he was well aware of what Seonwu Bang and Seo Jo-woon had sensed, Murong Cheok alternated his gaze between the two men with a meaningful look.
‘Huh.’
Sang Il-gi, the current Sect Leader of the Bangcheon Sect and Jeong I-ryong’s master, widened his eyes.
It was surprising enough that someone had come to such a remote place, but even more shocking was the guests’ skill and talent.
All of them possessed extraordinary martial prowess, and for the first time in decades, Sang Il-gi was greatly astonished.
In particular, once his eyes landed on Ban Hojin, they did not leave him.
“Nice to meet you. I am Ban Hojin of Shaolin.”
“Pleased to meet you. I am Sang Il-gi of the Bangcheon Sect.”
“You are much older than me, so please speak comfortably.”
“Heh heh. I am more comfortable this way.”
Ban Hojin opened the way so that he could speak casually, but Sang Il-gi shook his head.
Instead, he examined Ban Hojin even more closely.
As the saying went that one sees only as much as one knows, fragments of Ban Hojin’s martial understanding flickered before his eyes.
‘Is that even possible?’
Because he could glimpse, even slightly, the true martial understanding Ban Hojin had accumulated—not a level deliberately revealed—Sang Il-gi could not believe it.
That someone who looked to be only of coming-of-age age had built such a realm was unbelievable.
His own disciple and the Bangcheon Sect’s successor, Jeong I-ryong, possessed outstanding talent, but he could not dare compare him to Ban Hojin.
‘And the others aren’t inferior to I-ryong either.’
Sang Il-gi wore a hollow expression.
Ban Hojin’s existence was shocking enough, but the three who came with him were no less impressive.
Each of them lacked nothing to be called a genius, making Sang Il-gi curious as to how such a combination had come together.
“If you become comfortable later on, feel free to speak comfortably.”
“Understood.”
“These are my companions.”
Naturally easing the awkward atmosphere, Ban Hojin introduced his companions.
At his gesture, starting with Seonwu Bang, Seo Jo-woon and Murong Cheok greeted him in turn.
“Hello. I am Seonwu Bang of the Seonwu Family.”
“Nice to meet you! I’m Seo Jo-woon of the Seo Family Estate!”
“I am Murong Cheok of the Murong Family.”
Although he had not explained at all why they had come all the way here, the three first exchanged greetings.
It was because they believed that if Ban Hojin had brought them, there must be a reason.
“Thank you for coming all this way. Shall we go inside for now? It is a bit cramped since it’s just the two of us living here, but it will still be better than staying outside.”
“Yes.”
Since he could not leave guests standing outside, Sang Il-gi turned around.
There was a pavilion near the house, but it was not large enough for everyone to sit, so Sang Il-gi led the group inside.
‘Looks like I’ve caught his interest for now.’
Following Sang Il-gi inside, Ban Hojin broke into a grin.
Fortunately, it seemed he had buttoned the first button correctly.
Clink.
Since it was a wooden house where only two people lived, there was no such thing as a guest reception room.
Instead, they all crowded together in a circle in Sang Il-gi’s room, the largest one available, and each received a cup of tea.
“It’s chrysanthemum tea that I personally grew and dried. I’m not sure if it will suit your tastes.”
“The aroma is incredible.”
“Of all the chrysanthemum teas I’ve had, this one has the strongest fragrance.”
Unlike Sang Il-gi’s modest words, the reaction was enthusiastic.
Murong Cheok and Seonwu Bang, both of whom had a discerning eye for tea, looked genuinely surprised.
On the other hand, Seo Jo-woon, who usually drank medicinal decoctions rather than tea, simply went along with it and drank when the other two spoke that way.
As for Ban Hojin, he was not the type to be picky about food or tea in the first place.
“I like it as well.”
“That’s a relief. To be honest, aside from when I brought I-ryong here, it’s been a long time since I last met other people, so it feels a bit unfamiliar, yet pleasant.”
At Sang Il-gi’s words about meeting others after such a long time, Ban Hojin nodded.
Having come all the way here themselves, Ban Hojin and the others also knew the reason.
There were no villages anywhere near this place.
At the same time, Ban Hojin grasped the underlying intent contained in Sang Il-gi’s words.
“First of all, I apologize for coming so suddenly. If it were another place, we would have contacted you formally, but as you know, Sect Leader, this is not somewhere that can be easily found, so we had no choice but to come directly like this.”
“I understand. Even if you asked the Beggars’ Sect, it would be difficult for them to find it. It was chosen as a place of seclusion from the start. In fact, that is precisely why I find it even more puzzling. This is not a place one can come to just because one knows about it.”
“It’s not as though a maze formation has been set up, is it?”
“That is true.”
Sang Il-gi smiled and nodded.
It was difficult to find, but if one truly tried, it was not impossible.
He was simply curious as to the reason that would justify such an effort.
“The reason I came is because I wish to learn a move from you, Sect Leader.”
“You mean you, Young Master Ban?”
“Yes. I believe you already know the reason, Sect Leader.”
“Hm.”
Sang Il-gi’s expression grew complicated.
In truth, it was not something he had not anticipated.
It was never strange for a martial artist to seek out a master.
And Ban Hojin’s skill was more than sufficient for him to request a sparring match.
“Would that be difficult?”
“Not at all. I, too, am a martial artist—how could I not understand your 마음, Young Master Ban? Rather, I am only grateful that you came all this way. It also makes me happy simply knowing that there are people who remember our sect.”
“The noble will of the Bangcheon Sect is still flowing through the Murim.”
Sang Il-gi’s and Jeong I-ryong’s pupils dilated.
They had never expected that Ban Hojin would know even this much, and the master and disciple were truly shocked.
However, Ban Hojin stopped at just that.
“What does that mean?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
“Some kind of mysterious sect or something?”
“Something like that.”
Ban Hojin gave a short answer to Seonwu Bang, who had asked casually.
Even so, that alone eased Sang Il-gi’s and Jeong I-ryong’s curiosity to some extent.
Instead, a new question arose.
They became curious about who it was that had told him such detailed things.
“Thank you for saying that. When would it be convenient for you to spar?”
“I am the guest here, so please decide, Sect Leader.”
“Since it’s come up anyway, shall we do it now? You don’t seem particularly fatigued.”
“I would be grateful if you did.”
“Then let us do it now.”
Sang Il-gi rose to his feet with a gentle smile.
The room being small was part of it, but the biggest reason was his curiosity.
Among everyone present, he alone had glimpsed even a fraction of Ban Hojin’s martial understanding, so Sang Il-gi took the lead and exited the room.
However, Sang Il-gi did not know.
That Ban Hojin had deliberately let a slight aura leak out to stimulate his curiosity.
As the situation unfolded exactly according to the grand design he had drawn, Ban Hojin followed behind with a smile.
-Bangcheon Sect, huh. Have you ever heard of it?
-I haven’t heard of it either.
Coming outside after Ban Hojin and Sang Il-gi, Seonwu Bang asked Murong Cheok.
But as expected, Murong Cheok did not disappoint.
He confidently said that he did not know.
-I shouldn’t have expected anything.
-Most people probably wouldn’t know. Before leaving, I checked the most recent Jianghu Directory of Notables, and the Bangcheon Sect Leader wasn’t listed there.
-Jianghu Directory of Notables? The one sold by the Hao Sect?
-Yes.
Seonwu Bang’s pupils widened.
It meant that he had left home thoroughly prepared, which was unexpected.
Moreover, the Jianghu Directory of Notables, published annually, varied greatly in price depending on the number of entries.