Chapter 187 : The Sword King of Wudang. -01
Chapter 187: The Sword King of Wudang. -01
Murong Heesu assessed herself with cold objectivity.
Her talent was fairly decent.
Among the daughters of martial families, at least.
However, she was no match for Peng Hwayeong or Tang Seorin.
‘A weapon of my own.’
She needed to possess something that other women did not.
And it had to be a weapon that men—more precisely, Ban Hojin—would find appealing.
Murong Heesu focused intently on that very point.
What other men liked was of no use.
Only what Ban Hojin liked mattered most.
So that Ban Hojin would choose her, and her alone.
‘Men’s ideal type is usually someone pretty, kind, good at cooking. Hmm?’
As one thought led to another, Murong Heesu’s eyes widened.
A good idea had come to her.
At the same time, she believed it was competitive.
Among the daughters of prestigious families, few were skilled at cooking or household chores.
‘Cleaning can be left to the maids, but cooking is different. It would be far better if a wife prepared the meal herself rather than having servants do it.’
Although he was a Lay Disciple of Shaolin, Ban Hojin was not without wealth.
Through her elder brother, Murong Heesu had heard that despite not being born into a prestigious family, he had personally amassed a considerable fortune.
As such, the likelihood that he would be obsessed with money upon marriage was slim.
Even the Murong Family would never send their daughter off with a meager dowry.
‘For a start, the other women can’t do it.’
Murong Heesu’s eyes sparkled.
Though she had never once stepped into a kitchen in her life, she did not dislike the idea of learning to cook.
For the sake of someone she loved, she could get her hands wet as much as needed.
Moreover, she had some confidence when it came to handling a blade.
The Murong Family was, after all, renowned for the sword.
And considering the personalities of Tang Seorin, Namgung So-yeon, and Namgung Su-yeon, it was difficult to imagine them learning to cook.
‘There’s a chance.’
Peng Hwayeong still remained, but her strength lay in martial arts.
Moreover, it was hard to picture her—who wielded the Great Shield Saber—grasping a kitchen knife and an iron pot.
“Judging by that expression, it seems you’ve come up with a good idea?”
“It’s not bad. Still, just in case, keep gathering information for me. Quietly. You can do that, right?”
“Of course I’ll cooperate. It’s for the sake of the family. It doesn’t sit perfectly well with me, but you are my little sister.”
“What?”
Murong Heesu shot him a sharp look.
But having received such looks countless times before, Murong Cheok merely grinned.
“Anyway, do your best. I’m on your side.”
“You’ll have to help me a lot. One of my advantages is you, after all. Understood?”
“Just trust me. Ah, and this just came to mind—start screening some pretty younger sisters or friends around you.”
“Why?”
“Wouldn’t it be better to make more allies? Bang Yi is in talks of a marriage alliance with the Hebei Peng Family, so that’s difficult, but Seo Joun, Jeong Iryong, and Sama Uiseong are still unattached. There are many who aim for them, but nothing has been firmly decided.”
Murong Heesu’s eyes flashed.
She immediately grasped his meaning.
“Got it. I’ll look into it right away. Luckily, I have quite a few decent friends. Younger or the same age would be better than older, right?”
“It’d be advantageous to look into many for now, wouldn’t it? They might prefer older women.”
“Leave it to me.”
Murong Heesu nodded vigorously.
If handled well, she felt she could make use of it to her own benefit too.
Perhaps that was why a meaningful smile curved her lips.
Listening to the faint sound of Buddhist chanting, Ban Hojin looked toward the open clearing.
At first, it had truly been nothing more than an empty patch of ground, perhaps the size of a front courtyard, but over the past few days it had expanded considerably.
With the growing number of people, it would not have been an exaggeration to call it a training grounds now.
Even though Geum Hoyeon had departed yesterday with the Escort Unit because he could spare no more time, the numbers had not decreased—in fact, they had grown.
“Chahap!”
“Hup!”
Each group stood at an appropriate distance from one another, warming up, and the age range varied widely.
Not only the Rising Juniors, but martial artists from various sects and martial families had all gathered.
Since he had said that anyone who wished to participate could come, nearly all of them truly had.
Even though they must have heard of the notorious reputation.
“I’ll be participating today as well.”
“You too?”
“Yes. I’m a martial artist in my own right. I think it’s necessary to take part in order to fully engrain it into my body.”
“Sometimes it’s necessary to clear one’s head.”
At Sama Uiseong’s words, Ban Hojin nodded.
As long as he did not overexert himself, it was fine.
And as he himself had said, Sama Uiseong was undeniably a martial artist who had learned martial arts.
Besides, breaking a sweat occasionally was good for one’s health.
“My blood was boiling yesterday. If I had my way, I would’ve joined then too, but I had matters I had to finish.”
“No one’s forcing you. Just because you participate doesn’t mean your skills will necessarily improve. So take it easy. Your case is a bit different.”
“I know. Whenever I overdo it, you point it out instantly, don’t you, Brother? I’m sure everyone felt it yesterday—the true value of this training.”
“And you have other intentions as well.”
Ban Hojin smiled meaningfully.
He knew Sama Uiseong was not participating solely to cultivate his martial arts.
“As expected of you, Brother. Your insight truly is…”
“Insight? It’s just cunning.”
“Then I suppose I’m quite cunning myself. Heh heh heh!”
Sama Uiseong put on an unusually playful expression, deliberately trying not to seem displeasing.
But contrary to his concern, Ban Hojin did not think him shrewd in a negative way.
He simply believed he was doing his best in his position.
“You shouldn’t call it cunning. Our paths and goals were different from the start. At the very least, I don’t see it negatively. Effort and doing one’s best aren’t bad things. And it’s not like you’re using underhanded methods. So don’t be overly self-conscious.”
“Thank you. Ah, by the way, what happened to the Gongdong Sect Leader?”
Perhaps feeling slightly embarrassed, Sama Uiseong smoothly changed the subject to yesterday’s events.
“I only heard from Master that it was resolved properly. They left early this morning.”
“They didn’t come to see you?”
“He’s not the type to, is he?”
“That’s still too much. For someone who leads a sect.”
Sama Uiseong’s face filled with dissatisfaction.
Even if Ban Hojin was younger and of lower seniority, that was no excuse to ignore basic courtesy between people.
If one committed a wrong, one should at least apologize.
“We’ll meet again before long. Let’s see his reaction then. There might be personal circumstances we don’t know about.”
“Still, I think we gained something. Thanks to Sect Leader Bang, no one will question your strength anymore.”
“When you put it that way, you’re right.”
“To think the man I follow stands on par with the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven.”
“‘Follow’ is a strange way to put it. We’re just associating and learning from one another.”
Ban Hojin shook his head.
Though fallen, Sama Uiseong was still the head of a family.
The word ‘follow’ did not suit their relationship.
They merely lived and trained together; they were not bound.
“It was just an expression. I’m the youngest, after all.”
“Don’t overdo it. There’s a good word called moderation.”
“Understood.”
“Ahem! Hrm!”
As Sama Uiseong began loosening his body like the other Rising Juniors, a familiar forced cough sounded from behind them, as if announcing someone’s arrival.
Ban Hojin did not turn his head.
He saw no need to respond as the other wished.
“No matter how much you cough, Young Hero Ban won’t turn around.”
“Cold-hearted brat.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Namgung Ho spoke up, and Peng Mancheol puckered his thick lips as he muttered.
Tang Woo-hyeok and Zhuge Mungok, who had come along, frowned as though witnessing something unpleasant.
Seeing a grown man—moreover, the massive Peng Mancheol—pout was nothing short of grotesque.
“It’s unsettling.”
“Puhahaha! This is why I like you! So straightforward!”
Though he had only thought it inwardly and not dared say it aloud, Ban Hojin spoke the words plainly, and Tang Woo-hyeok burst into laughter.
He had not even said it himself, yet merely hearing it felt refreshing.
It was as though a blockage that had lingered for five years had cleared at once.
Namgung Ho and Zhuge Mungok said nothing, but the corners of their mouths twitched in equal satisfaction.
“Ugh! Even when you speak…”
“You said you liked honesty, Family Head Peng.”
“Right. I dug my own grave!”
Though displeased, he could not complain when the words had come from his own mouth.
To claim he was allowed but others were not would be the height of contradiction.
Thus Peng Mancheol could only accept it.
From the start, he was in a position where he had to be mindful of Ban Hojin’s feelings.
“You came today?”
“If you knew, you could’ve at least greeted us.”
“It didn’t seem like that was what you wanted.”
“It was a bit awkward to step forward.”
Namgung Ho smiled awkwardly.
Watching from the sidelines, he had missed his moment.
He could not ignore the Gongdong Sect either.
Yet revealing himself only after Damhyeon had left would have been inappropriate, so yesterday he had no choice but to avoid the scene.
“I understand.”
“Thank you.”
“Did you come to see the Young Lord?”
Ban Hojin’s gaze shifted to Namgung Gwang, who was warming up at one side.
His expression was entirely different from yesterday—beyond seriousness, it was resolute.
It was as though he had sworn not to show a pathetic side today.
Then again, the others were much the same.
“Not merely to watch.”
“We thought we’d step in as well.”
Taking over Namgung Ho’s words, Peng Mancheol spoke as he drew the Great Shield Saber from his back.
Ban Hojin looked at them with mild surprise.
“All three of you?”
“Not me. Heh heh.”
Zhuge Mungok shook his head.
Though he had learned martial arts, his level was relatively low compared to the other three.
With three among the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven present, there was no need for him to step forward.
“The three of us are more than enough.”
“What brought this on?”
“It seems like good training. And it feels wrong for us to simply sit by. In the bigger picture, this is for the Central Plains Murim.”
Speaking as though for the greater cause, Peng Mancheol earned a suspicious look from Ban Hojin.
The Peng Mancheol, Namgung Ho, and Tang Woo-hyeok he knew were not the self-sacrificing sort.
They disliked taking losses.
Naturally, suspicion arose when such men claimed they were stepping forward for the sake of the Rising Juniors.
“To be honest, we figured this way you’d agree to spar with us. If we impress you, you might pay more attention to us, no?”
Perhaps feeling the weight of his stare, Peng Mancheol smiled awkwardly and continued.
Yet it was not only Peng Mancheol who was watching Ban Hojin’s expression.
Tang Woo-hyeok and Namgung Ho were doing so as well.
“Understood. Let’s set aside a separate time.”
“Heh heh heh! Good!”
Though their intentions were not entirely pure, there was nothing disadvantageous for Ban Hojin.
It would raise not only his companions’ level, but also that of the Rising Juniors.
Nor was it a bad thing for the three of them.
It had likely been some time since they had moved their bodies to the point of exhaustion.
‘Enlightenment doesn’t come only from those stronger than oneself.’