The Return of the Sword God

Chapter 176: Rising Power. -03

“Your ages are similar. And you are both heads of your respective sects.”

“That must be why you get along so well. It is a good thing for me as well. I was worried you might suddenly leave again. You look healthy on the outside, but you are not exactly young anymore.”

“You are my only disciple, so you must take even greater care.”

“Yes.”

He answered, but Jeong I-ryung’s expression was like that of a lost child.

Thinking about his master’s marriage seemed to have complicated his thoughts.

However, it was a matter he had to consider at least once, so Ban Hojin quietly stepped away, giving him space to think on his own.

“Uiseong.”

“Ah, Hyungnim!”

“How is the family martial art? No particular problems?”

“So far, it’s fine. I only filled in the missing portions from what I already knew, so there have been no issues yet. I’ve been reviewing the other manuals whenever I have time, and they don’t seem to be forgeries.”

“That’s a relief.”

If one learned a martial art incorrectly, the body could be ruined in an instant, so one had to be cautious and cautious again.

There was a reason a master was necessary.

Moreover, Sama Uiseong had no family left to teach him, so Ban Hojin paid even closer attention.

Considering the war that would come, Sama Uiseong’s existence was essential.

“It’s all thanks to you, Hyungnim. You might as well have found the family’s martial arts for me.”

“As if I found them. It was just your luck. Fate guided things to turn out that way. I only lent a small hand.”

“If we hadn’t caught Thief Fiend, I would never have found them in my lifetime.”

“That means it was your blessing.”

“Truly, truly… thank you.”

His voice grew moist as if emotion had surged up.

Seeing his eyes glisten as though he might burst into tears at any moment, Ban Hojin hurriedly changed the subject.

“What did you decide about the household retainers? One of them was a true descendant of the Sama Family, wasn’t he?”

“After looking into it, he turned out to be a distant relative. Though from a collateral branch, the blood of the Sama Family still runs in him, so I assigned him separate duties. I’ve also passed down martial arts to him. For now, it’s a martial art permitted to collateral lines, but later I intend to teach him a supreme art that is also transmitted to the direct line.”

“In a way, he’s now the collateral branch closest to the direct line. And one of the few blood relatives left.”

“That’s right.”

Sama Uiseong’s expression hardened with resolve.

Perhaps because he was no longer alone—or because he now had family to take responsibility for—his gaze was firmer than before as he nodded.

“I’m really glad at least one of them was genuine. And congratulations.”

“It’s all thanks to you. If I had been alone, I would still be brooding in despair.”

“Don’t say things like a fanatic. It makes me uncomfortable.”

“Hehehe.”

Despite Ban Hojin’s brusque attempt to brush off the embarrassment, Sama Uiseong laughed.

Ban Hojin had called it fanaticism, but it could not be helped.

It was the truth, and Sama Uiseong did not think he was exaggerating at all.

“Is the reconstruction going well?”

“I’m proceeding step by step. Just because I declare it doesn’t mean it will be rebuilt overnight. For now, I’m distinguishing what I can do from what I cannot.”

“I knew you were wise.”

“I’m still young, so I don’t mind if it takes time. Rather than rebuilding hastily, I want to rebuild slowly but firmly. There’s still much I must prove in the Murim.”

“You’ll do well.”

Ban Hojin encouraged him.

He was already remarkable, but Sama Uiseong was someone whose future was even more promising.

Moreover, unlike his previous life in which he had trembled at the Central Plains Murim, this time he had chosen a completely different path, and Ban Hojin felt truly relieved.

“What are you all discussing so seriously?”

“Our future?”

“Ah, the Sama Family?”

“Yes. You’re not planning to keep him in check already, are you?”

“As if. Uiseong may be your younger brother, but he’s mine as well.”

At Seonwu Bang’s words, Sama Uiseong’s expression softened with slight emotion.

Knowing something and hearing it spoken aloud were different matters, and his face flushed faintly.

“Oh? What’s this? You can say things like that too?”

“I’m just stating facts. By the way, have you decided on a location? Wouldn’t it be better to return to your original grounds? It would carry the meaning of inheriting legitimacy.”

“I’m still considering it. There’s no absolute reason I must settle there. Someone else is already staying there, and quite some time has passed. Like the saying, ‘new wine in new bottles,’ I’m thinking of establishing myself somewhere entirely new.”

At Seonwu Bang’s question, Sama Uiseong answered without hesitation, as though he had long been pondering it.

Not only Seonwu Bang, but Murong Cheok and Seo Joun, who had gathered one by one, nodded.

“Moving somewhere with less competition is one option. Though it would likely be remote.”

“Considering the Murong Family, I don’t think location matters much. To establish oneself as a martial family, strength is what matters in the end.”

“That’s the most important thing. Though building that strength isn’t easy.”

“Still, I’m preparing one thing at a time. Compared to when I had nothing, this is a luxury complaint.”

Unlike Murong Cheok, who found it vague, Sama Uiseong answered vigorously.

The very fact that he could try—that he could begin—held meaning for him.

Compared to the time when he could do nothing, he was unimaginably happy now.

“If you ever need help, say so. Like Bang, you’re my younger brother too.”

“Thank you.”

“Just don’t make unreasonable requests. Only within what I can handle. You understand?”

Murong Cheok grinned mischievously.

Whether he was joking or serious was unclear—that was his charm.

“Of course.”

“Hyung, what about me?”

“You said it would take you a long time before you become independent. Isn’t the Seo Family Manor first?”

“That’s true.”

“Then choose one or the other. You can’t have everything. Unless you’re someone special like Hyungnim here.”

Murong Cheok glanced at Ban Hojin.

At the very least, one had to be someone like Ban Hojin to be greedy.

“My goal is to become one of the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven in my twenties.”

“Is that possible?”

“There’s precedent. That means it’s not impossible.”

“Oh? That makes sense.”

Murong Cheok’s ears perked up.

In the past, he would have dismissed it as nonsense, but now things were different.

The example stood right beside him, and Murong Cheok clenched his fist.

It wouldn’t be easy, but it wasn’t impossible either.

“Why does it feel like everyone has the same goal?”

“We all received the Dragon Title within a year. So within ten years, we should aim for the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven. If things go well, we become one of them; if not, at least we’ll reach somewhere near.”

Seonwu Bang and Seo Joun wore identical expressions.

They even looked at each other with the same gleam in their eyes.

“All our rivals are right here.”

“Uh, I’m not included, am I?”

“Your path is a bit different, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. You could rise through Formation Arts.”

At Murong Cheok’s words, Sama Uiseong blinked silently.

He had never considered it, so he was taken aback.

Yet, the more he thought about it, the less impossible it sounded.

There had been figures in Murim history who gained fame through Formation Arts.

“You have the longest time until you turn twenty-nine. Along with Joun.”

“That’s why I have the advantage. You had a long blank period, didn’t you, Hyung?”

“Ah.”

At Seo Joun’s remark poking at a sore spot, Murong Cheok flared up for a moment.

But since it was true, he reluctantly acknowledged it.

“Ah, I have something to tell you, Hyungnim.”

“To me?”

“Yes.”

As if he had just remembered, Sama Uiseong spoke, and everyone’s attention focused on him.

They were all curious what he would say.

“I think everyone has forgotten. About the bandits.”

“Ah!”

“We really did forget. Those bastards who stabbed us in the back.”

Murong Cheok—and even Jeong I-ryung—had cold expressions.

In the end, they had been swept away by Ban Hojin’s hand, but at the time they had certainly been threatening.

If Ban Hojin had not remained, they would have suffered considerable damage, and everyone’s gaze turned icy.

“They’re harmful with no benefit anyway. There’s no such thing as a good bandit. A good person would be doing something else.”

“Right. Bandits… I completely forgot.”

Even Seo Joun’s gaze grew chilling, and Ban Hojin muttered.

He had only been thinking about raiding Thief Fiend’s hideout and had entirely forgotten about the bandits.

And that meant the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds had not even registered in his mind.

“Considering your position, Hyungnim, you could overlook it. But I think it would be better to give them at least one warning. That way, they won’t dare attempt something like this again. It would plant a form of deterrence.”

“We should look into it. Back then, I just beat them down without much thought.”

At Sama Uiseong’s words, Ban Hojin nodded.

There was no harm in settling it thoroughly.

He was human too—he disliked being stabbed in the back.

And he disliked even more the thought of it happening again.

“If uprooting them entirely is difficult, at least cutting off all their sprouts wouldn’t be bad.”

“It would also be good for Murim. And given the times, we need to clean up internal matters.”

Seo Joun and Seonwu Bang spoke up.

It was revenge, yes, but in a broader sense, it was also for the good of Murim.

Bandits caused countless unseen harms, and if a location were decided, they looked ready to depart at once.

“They’re like weeds. Even if you kill them, they’ll sprout somewhere again. But the warning will be clear.”

“I agree.”

Murong Cheok and Jeong I-ryung added their voices.

If they lacked the ability, that would be one thing, but since they had the strength, there was no need to endure it.

And it was for the greater good.

“Then let’s move together.”

“Yes!”

“Understood!”

With the conclusion reached, Ban Hojin wrapped up the conversation.

Thinking they had rested enough, he began sparring with each of them one by one.

The heads of each sect began gathering at Shaolin one by one.

It was not a planned meeting, but somehow the heads of the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families had assembled.

The Nine Heavens Gate had already returned to Miaojiang, so after a long time, the Poison King Tang Woo-hyeok also visited Songshan.

“It feels like it’s been quite a while since we gathered like this.”

Looking at the fourteen people gathered in the Abbot’s Quarters, the Beggar King grinned.

The others nodded.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Yes. Fortunately, I was treated well.”

Thanks to the Beggar King opening the conversation, Damhyeon also spoke comfortably.

He carefully asked while looking toward Ilwoo of the Mount Hua Sect.

“I heard the Namgung Family Head also suffered serious injuries.”

“I have fully recovered as well. Compared to Great Hero Ilwoo, it was nothing severe.”

Namgung Ho answered Damhyeon respectfully.

Not only as a senior in the Jianghu, but as a martial artist, Damhyeon was worthy of respect.

And for another reason as well, Namgung Ho maintained courtesy toward him.

“In truth, both the Namgung Family Head and Sect Leader Ilwoo were practically saved by Hojin.”

“Ahem!”

“Hmm!”