Chapter 119

Chapter 119

A quiet tavern on the outskirts of Sangsan.

Deureureuek!

“I wondered where you were, and here you are wallowing in misery. Just like a widower.”

“Don’t you have anyone to drink with? Really now.”

“You’re killing the taste of the alcohol.”

Looking at Cheon Seoryeong, who suddenly opened the door and came in being mischievous, Baek Rigang frowned and let out a sigh as he stood up from his seat. However, seeing Baek Rigang like that, Cheon Seoryeong hurriedly waved her hands.

“No, sorry. Sorry. I said I’m sorry. I said that because I don’t have anyone to drink with. Pleasantries. Pleasantries.”

“Does Sword Pavilion use pleasantries as insults?”

“I do it that way. Anyway, don’t get up. There are so many people who recognize me that if not here, I can’t even drink comfortably.”

“May I sit?”

“Do as you please.”

“As expected of Sword Emperor. As expected of the Number One Family Head Under Heaven.”

Seeing Baek Rigang, who had an expression full of irritation as he covered his face and sat down, Cheon Seoryeong made an expression like she’d struck gold and sat across from him, picking up side dishes with her hands.

“It’s delicious. Didn’t they say the head chef changed?”

“His son took over, they said.”

“Chef Cheon had a really kind heart, but still, the son’s cooking skills are better. Very skilled hands. But anyway, what happened?”

“What.”

“On my way here, I saw Sani leaving. Your sister’s daughter. Pretty because she doesn’t resemble you.”

At Cheon Seoryeong mentioning Baek Risan, Baek Rigang maintained silence for a moment. Then, Cheon Seoryeong, seeing that appearance, jumped to conclusions.

“Looks like you fought again. Right?”

“No.”

“What do you mean no, it’s written all over your face that you don’t want to talk about it. You really can’t lie.”

“I said no.”

“Then what is it?”

“She said she’d go on a brief journey.”

“A journey? Where to?”

“Hwayonghyeon.”

“Hwayonghyeon? Ah.”

After thinking for a moment, Cheon Seoryeong clapped her hands making a sound. Something crossed her mind.

“Uicheonmun! Isn’t the sect that Uni established there? Why is she going? For training?”

“Didn’t you say you came to drink?”

“Does one necessarily need alcohol to get drunk? One can get drunk on stories too. Just tell me. Why is she going?”

“……She said they made a bet.”

“A bet?”

“Yes.”

If Mujeong Hall loses, she’ll live as a guest of Uicheonmun for three years.

Baek Risan told him that she had made such a bet with her older brother. It was a bet she absolutely couldn’t avoid, and she ended up losing.

If she had won, she probably wouldn’t have planned to tell him. But Baek Risan lost, and she had to fulfill the bet’s conditions.

Whether Baek Risan, who followed her older brother so much in the first place, even considers it a ‘penalty’ is ambiguous anyway.

“Three years?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t that too long?”

“It is long.”

“What about successor education…….”

“I decided to postpone it.”

“Is that okay? If it’s postponed too much…….”

“It’s fine. I won’t die or anything in just one or two years.”

Looking at Baek Rigang speaking nonchalantly, Cheon Seoryeong smiled bitterly and rang the bell placed beside her to order alcohol. And the idle chatter that followed.

“The more I see, the less I understand. If you’re sad about sending your children away, you should say you’re sad. Being so taciturn, saying it’s fine, it’s fine…… Doesn’t it get tiring living like that?”

“I’ve never thought it was sad.”

“As if you’ve never thought that, even during the examination you specifically pointed out things that didn’t need to be pointed out.”

Cheon Seoryeong deliberately imitated Baek Rigang during the examination, making a stiffly hardened expression and lowering her voice.

“The merit does not exceed the fault. Prepare more and come back. I thought you were going to devour someone.”

“It would have been good to speak honestly. If you don’t want to be torn apart later, handle it clearly. Why do you need to make yourself out to be the bad person? It’s advice you can give as a father.”

To avoid being checked by other sects in the Orthodox Martial World, it’s necessary to secure proper justification for every matter.

Baek Rigang, the Family Head of the Baek Ri Family, and Cheon Seoryeong, the Pavilion Master of Sword Pavilion, knew this better than anyone else. Though they call it the Orthodox Path, this place is no different from a battlefield where you get bitten if you show even the slightest gap.

“It’s not strange. A father giving advice because he’s worried his son might still be green as a sect master.”

“It’s not your concern.”

“You’re deflecting again. You’re just awkward. They say married couples grow alike, but strangely you don’t resemble my sister at all.”

“Do you want me to be affectionate?”

“As if. If you acted affectionately, that would be creepy in its own way.”

Looking at Cheon Seoryeong giggling and joking around, Baek Rigang sighed and quietly raised his drink. Because it was obvious she’d keep chattering noisily if he added more words.

‘……It’s not strange.’

A parent giving advice to their child is not strange.

Recalling what Cheon Seoryeong had just said, Baek Rigang savored the strong alcohol energy of the strong liquor entering his mouth and frowned. Even he thought it wasn’t wrong.

A parent giving advice to their child is natural in worldly affairs. Isn’t there even a saying that children are the mirror of their parents?

Most parents don’t spare advice in the hope that their children will become better people than themselves. So they won’t experience the hardships I experienced, so it will help them live in the world.

‘The path those children must walk is different from the path I walk.’

The world is changing drastically.

Monsters never before discovered are rampaging everywhere, and the Sado Alliance, which had waged countless wars with the Murim Alliance for twenty years, has declared a ceasefire. Unlike himself, who only needed to properly continue what the previous generation handed down, the path Baek Riyun and Baek Risan must walk will be like a thorny path.

Could he tell them about that? Could he tell them how to overcome adversity he himself has never experienced?

‘Bi. If you were here……’

Would it have been a little better than now?

Recalling the name of his wife, who unlike himself had walked a longer and harsher path than anyone, Baek Rigang sighed and shook the bottle. The alcohol that had already run out even though it seemed like he’d just started drinking.

“It’s bitter.”

“The alcohol is bitter? It’s nothing but sweet to me.”

At the strong alcohol scent tickling the tip of his nose, Baek Rigang frowned and sighed.

“You’re like that because you don’t have any hard times these days. I have a lot of hard times, so the alcohol just tastes like sweet beverage….”

“Shut up and drink. Before I kick you out.”

The alcohol he drank after a long time.

Still couldn’t be properly enjoyed.

The aftermath of the Exchange Competition was handled smoothly.

Seonwoo Gang was pardoned, and the negotiation with the Murim Alliance also ended without problems. The Sado Alliance Leader left saying he’d arrange another meeting sometime, and Baek Risan was also in the process of preparing to go to Uicheonmun.

Rumors came that all the Muryeongwando of this batch applied to Changcheon Corps, and from afar came news that Cheongryoo received punishment for leaking the martial theory of Two Minds Divine Art.

Since he didn’t directly leak the actual techniques but only leaked things related to the martial theory, he apparently didn’t get expelled but received a suspension measured in years.

Everyone said it was quite a light punishment for the crime.

All the loose ends from before the Exchange Competition started had been tied up. Though there are still unfinished matters, such things will also be tied up soon.

In other words, all the big matters are finished. Should I say it’s time to catch one’s breath now?

And now that all of that is over.

[Your sect’s direction has been decided!]

[Selected sect direction: Many Inherited Martial Streams]

I was staring blankly at the window that appeared before my eyes in the VIP room of Muryeon Hall.

Maintaining silence while looking at the translucent window in front of me, I quietly lifted my teacup. The explanation continuing below.

[Many Inherited Martial Streams]

A sect is meant to pursue one martial stream together in unwavering dedication.

There were those who rebelled against this rule that many have kept since ancient times.

Even if we don’t use the same martial arts, if what we want to do is the same, we can be the same sect, the same martial lineage.

Those who claimed this developed their own martial streams. That is Many Inherited Martial Streams.

The way of those who did not entrust their sect’s identity to martial arts.

Special Effect: When sect members learn martial arts suited to their individual characteristics, grants a ‘very large’ bonus to growth.

Sect members’ Comprehension increases by ‘30%’.

As long as balance between martial streams is not broken, ‘Martial Exchange’ occurs periodically. [Immediately after ‘Martial Exchange’, grants a ‘considerable’ bonus to the creation of combination techniques between martial streams.]

‘This is tremendous.’

Looking at the explanation, I wore a satisfied smile. Because it’s truly what Uicheonmun needs right now.

Though Uicheonmun is still only in its beginning stages, the disciples’ tendencies are all completely different.

For example, Seohwa needs to learn Yin Arts that can make good use of her Extreme Yin Body to display her talent to the extreme, and in Seonwoo Gang’s case, since he’s been handling Blood Energy and Metal Energy, he conversely needs to learn Yang Arts to adapt quickly.

Is that all?

When it comes to Wangpal, his Energy Sense ability itself isn’t outstanding, but instead his talent is concentrated in sword techniques, so it’s difficult to achieve great mastery if he learns martial arts that handle attribute energy.

Like this, since the talents and tendencies of the three disciples are all different, with Uicheonmun’s current martial arts, it’s actually difficult to raise everyone’s growth to the extreme. Because the strongest martial art in Uicheonmun right now is my unique martial art, and my unique martial art is based on Thunder Energy, which can only be entered after one can skillfully use both Yin Energy and Yang Energy.

So I was worrying about this.

‘Increasing the Comprehension that understands martial arts, and receiving a very large bonus to growth when learning martial arts suited to one’s individual characteristics.’

To put it simply, it means when they learn martial arts in a way that maximizes their talent, their talent is maximized.

With this structure, I can at least brush aside the concerns about uniformity of martial arts I was worrying about. If I just set the direction somewhat, they’ll develop their own paths.

“Satisfactory.”

“What is?”

“There’s such a thing.”

As I nodded contentedly and smiled broadly at Seohwa who asked casually, Seohwa, who had been munching on refreshments beside me, tilted her head and then picked up refreshments again and ate them, going nom nom. Crumbs around her mouth.

“Do you like those refreshments? You’re eating them deliciously.”

“Mm. They’re reasonably edible.”

“You’re eating them that deliciously though?”

“They’re free, so I’m trying to eat a lot. Hehe. We don’t have an income source, so I have to be thrifty.”

You could just buy that much anyway.

Looking at Seohwa patting her own belly as she answered, I smiled bitterly and nodded. Rather than scolding her for trying to be thrifty, I just need to buy her a lot from next time.

“But more importantly, Sect Master. What happened with that?”

“What are you talking about?”

“The story about Seonwoo Gang Sohyeop…… our junior martial brother. You agreed to do something for the Murim Alliance in exchange for pardoning his crimes.”

“Ah, you mean that.”

At Seohwa’s story, I nodded recalling the conversation. There certainly was such talk.

“The discussion with the Murim Alliance went well.”

“Does that mean……?”

“For twenty years, once every two years, we agreed to select several trainees from among the Muryeongwando and Mujeongwando and send them to Uicheonmun. Except when we’re in seclusion due to natural disasters or other reasons.”

“Ah…… Is that good?”

“Mm.”

It’s on the good side.

Looking at Seohwa staring at me with a puzzled expression, I nodded.

“This is a good deal for both the Murim Alliance and Uicheonmun. Do you know why it’s a good deal for both sides?”

“Umm, for the Murim Alliance, of course it’s good because the trainees become stronger…….”

At my question, Seohwa furrowed her brow and fell into deep thought for a moment, then fell silent before opening her mouth again. Seohwa’s eyes shining with intelligence as if she’d realized something.

“Perhaps…….”

“Go ahead.”

“Is it because our Uicheonmun is still a small sect?”

“Correct.”

I smiled broadly and affirmed Seohwa’s words. Because Seohwa grasped the core exactly as I intended.

“Seohwa. As you know, our sect is still a newly established sect that was only just founded.”

“Yes. It’s only been three or four months since we were founded, hasn’t it?”

“That’s right.”

Smiling broadly while looking at Seohwa, I continued speaking.

“It’s true that our sect raised its reputation quite a bit through this Exchange Competition. We raised disciples who defeated the Mujeongwando called the Golden Generation, so our reputation will spread through the martial world.”

“But that’s a one-time reputation. It means it’s a story that can be dismissed as ‘something from the past’ at any time.”

Uicheonmun’s skill in raising disciples is extraordinary.

Right now, when such rumors circulate through the martial world, most who know the truth will nod. Because we have actual proven results. Because we already proved it at Baekgeommun, at the Academy Exchange Competition.

But what about after two years, three years, four years? Will the reputation still be the same then?

Of course not.

“People like topics to talk about. If you ask whether a former prestigious sect is still strong now, most will have doubts unless there’s solid proof. However.”

I twirled my finger and continued speaking.

“That’s only the story if Uicheonmun’s activities are one-time. What if the Murim Alliance continues sending trainees to our Uicheonmun, and those trainees show outstanding performance?”

“……The reputation will keep rising!”

“That’s right. In other words, the Murim Alliance is guaranteeing Uicheonmun’s reputation.”

It’s a deal where no one loses. I’m good because I can increase the sect’s reputation, and the Murim Alliance is good because they can entrust the training of newcomers to an instructor with proven skills.

“If things continue this way, it won’t be difficult for our Uicheonmun to gain wings. Hahaha. Disciples will come in quickly and the place will be crowded with visitors!”

“Really?”

“Haha. Yes. Of course, it’s something that’s only possible if both you all and I work hard.”

Laughing softly and turning my gaze at the presence I felt. Beyond the wooden floor, Wangpal and Seonwoo Gang walking this way while wiping their sweat from far away.

“You’re coming right on time. Good. Seohwa. Do you remember what I said last time?”

“Last time…… which one?”

“What I said when we had the first training with the Muryeongwando.”

“When we had the first training…… Ah!”

At my words, Seohwa, who had been thinking for a moment, opened her eyes wide as if something had occurred to her. And the question that followed.

“You mean…… that?”

“Yes. That.”

The promise that if fewer than eight of the Muryeongwando didn’t pass the test, I’d make them signature weapons.

They say starting is half the battle. New wine in new wineskins—wouldn’t it be good to inscribe a new heart when starting something?

“A promise is a promise, so let’s go.”

Looking at Wangpal gradually approaching, I smiled broadly.

“To make your signature weapons.”

“……Yes!”

And looking at Seohwa answering energetically to my words, I nodded.

I also received the training fees from the Murim Alliance.

While determining not to spare any amount of money no matter how much it costs.

……That was my intention.

“I won’t make them.”

“Pardon?”

“Are you deaf, young man? I said I won’t make them no matter how much you pay. You fool!”

Looking at the old man stubbornly not even glancing at me, I scratched my head.

This isn’t a matter of money?