Chapter 196

Chapter 196

A short while later.

“Welcome.”

Hmm.

After leaving my disciples at the inn and arriving at the pleasure house, I let out a low hum as I observed the person greeting me. A young courtesan bowed respectfully with both hands folded, attending to me.

“I am Hwaryeon, branch manager of Haomun’s Anhui branch. Uicheonmunju-nim, I’ve heard much about you.”

“For a branch manager… you’re quite young.”

When I heard from Lee Ryang that the pleasure house was a Haomun branch, I naturally assumed the house mistress would be the branch manager.

“I am the actual house mistress. I’m probably older than you think. Most likely.”

“I see.”

Perhaps my thoughts showed on my face, as Hwaryeon smiled faintly and shook her head. An indication not to ask further.

“I can guess the purpose of your visit. You likely want information about this Gaemun ceremony, correct?”

“That’s right.”

“May I ask exactly what information I should provide?”

“I’d like to hear about how the Gaemun ceremony will be conducted, first.”

“We don’t know that either.”

“There’s information Haomun doesn’t have?”

“This time, the main sect is also a test subject.”

Hwaryeon quietly covered her mouth with a laugh and shook her head.

“Although Igongja-nim and Munju-nim won’t be participating, Ilgongja-nim has decided to participate in this Gaemun. They took special care to prevent information from flowing to our side. In the first place, it’s something that only an extremely limited few would know about.”

“I see.”

Well, if that’s the case.

“Then can I at least obtain a list of those attending the Gaemun ceremony?”

“That much is possible.”

After briefly closing her mouth, Hwaryeon pulled a connected cord a few times, and the sound of pattering footsteps faded away before returning. Soon after, yellowed paper was handed through the paper door.

“Not everyone has arrived yet, so this isn’t exact information, but based on the main sect’s intelligence network, I’ve written down only those whose participation is likely. Would you like to check it?”

“I’ll gratefully look it over.”

Hmm. Let’s see.

I scanned the document from top to bottom, taking note of familiar names. First, it appears Shaolin, Wudang, and Baek Ri have announced their non-participation.

‘Father doesn’t intend to come.’

If it were an ordinary event, perhaps, but considering this is a situation where all the sects of the Central Plains are gathering, there must be a reason for deliberately staying away. In the current circumstances, nine times out of ten it would be an external problem rather than an internal one within the Baek Ri Family.

‘Moving on.’

Excluding those three, all of Gupailbang  and Odaesega , and from the black path side, everyone except Cheolhyeolmunju .

It’s fair to say all of the Central Plains’ forces have assembled. Though it won’t happen, if only those gathering here joined forces, they could erase any decent major sect overnight.

“Looking at the list, I’m getting a general sense of things.”

“This test will be conducted with sects divided up.”

“……How did you?”

Seeing Hwaryeon’s eyes widen slightly in surprise at my words, I chuckled. Isn’t it a simple conclusion?

“If this much power gathered in one place and a fight broke out, there would be no answer. If only the sect leaders were coming here alone, that would be one thing, but the elite of each sect are also arriving.”

“Anyone with sense would think to divide them up. Then what would be the criteria for division? That’s also simple. They must divide them by sect to prevent conflicts.”

Haomun must have suspected as much too. It’s a problem anyone could figure out with a little thought. The very ‘ordeal’ proposed by Sado Alliance Leader  is fundamentally no different from testing the capabilities of the sects that arrived here.

“The fact that they deliberately mentioned the Gaemun ceremony that Baekdo  held first, and considering everything, I thought Sado Alliance Leader seems to want to demonstrate Heukdo’s  capabilities. Not hoping for an alliance between Baekdo and Heukdo. If so, a venue where they can compete in strength would be good. Even better if it’s in a direction that prevents conflicts.”

“……To think you figured that out in such a short time, you truly have insight.”

“It’s still just speculation. Though a highly likely one. If it’s a deception, I’ll have been fooled spectacularly.”

However, there’s no reason to deceive this time, so it’s probably not a deceptive plan. I should consider it a mostly correct guess.

“There’s one thing that bothers me, though.”

“What is it?”

“The provocation is fine, but doesn’t this ultimately require each sect to decide to participate in the ordeal? It’s not as if you must break through the ordeal to enter Sadoryeon, so I wonder if the participation rate will be high.”

“Ah, that part should be fine.”

“Why is that?”

“Because the prizes Sadoryeon has put up are considerable.”

Hwaryeon continued with a bright smile.

“Sado Alliance Leader called them ‘delightfully charming prizes,’ but the actual level of the prizes is by no means delightfully charming. Do you know what the top prize is?”

“What is it?”

“Jeonryunpacheonjang . It’s Sado Alliance Leader’s exclusive martial art.”

“……That’s, significant.”

For Heukdo, an opportunity to obtain an absolute martial art that could immediately aim for being the best under heaven. For Baekdo, an opportunity to research methods to counter Sipcheon’s  martial arts that they might face someday.

Just hearing about it, it’s an attractive opportunity. Of course, it’s meaningless to me, but since they said ‘top,’ there must be other prizes below it.

“What other prizes are there?”

“Weapons made by the legendary blacksmith ‘Amju ,’ robes woven from Cheonjamsa . Martial arts from previous generations that are now lost. Elixirs, poisons…… there are so many I can’t list them all. Taoist sects like Hwasan  or Qingcheng will want to recover the legacy of Jeonjinpa , and among those participating individually, those confident in martial arts will turn their attention toward weapons.”

“A structure where many people have no choice but to participate.”

“That’s right. Especially since Sado Alliance Leader declared there would be no deaths inside.”

“No deaths, he said.”

Then does that mean anything except death could happen?

“Will you be participating?”

“I have no choice but to participate, don’t I?”

“I apologize for saying this, but it appears Uicheonmun will have difficulty achieving good results there.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Because Uicheonmun’s forces are too weak.”

Hwaryeon asserted, looking directly at me.

“I heard the news. About what happened at Namgung Sega. They say you defeated Geomwang .”

“……Your information really is fast.”

“Munju-nim is outstanding. If Geomhu  had accompanied you, you could have taken the advantage against most Sipcheon. But that’s not the case now, is it?”

That’s right. Geomhu left the group.

“If Geomhu had accompanied you, of course you could say you had excellent forces, but Geomhu has declared she’ll participate alone. Then Uicheonmun’s forces currently consist of Munju-nim and four Uicheonmundo, one retainer, and two Hugijisudeul  from Namgung Sega.”

“With these forces, you fall far short of other sects’ strength. Even places that aren’t particularly outstanding like Hwasan or Cheolhyeolmun—in terms of forces, you won’t even make the middle ranks.”

“Cold words.”

“Isn’t it the truth?”

I nodded slowly at Hwaryeon’s words. Certainly, it’s not wrong.

Though they underwent hellish training for two years, my disciples are still inexperienced. Anyone could praise them as ‘geniuses!’ but they haven’t become strong enough to suppress all mid-level masters.

To match forces with other sects, they’d need to at least reach a level where all five together could buy time against me. Though I’ve also become much stronger than before, I still fall short compared to Sipcheon. I’d say it’s at a level where I’d have a good match against Myeolakdaeju .

So there is indeed danger in participating. If conflicts arise with other sects, Uicheonmun absolutely cannot win. However.

Isn’t that only from a conventional perspective?

“It’s fine.”

“……Did you even hear what I said? This isn’t an exchange tournament between Baekdo sects. Even if you don’t kill each other, it’s a place where Danjeon  could be crippled or limbs and meridians severed.”

“Even so, it’s fine.”

“Why is that?”

“Because they must have properly prepared remedies.”

Unlike last time, they’re gathering all the Central Plains’ sects for a conference. Naturally, there must be significant agenda items.

However, if casualties occur in front, that resentment will inevitably remain. If it’s simply resentment from conflicts, it could be brushed off, but if one’s relatives or martial siblings become crippled, could that resentment not be brought to the conference?

“They must have created a way to escape when it’s dangerous. They must have made it possible to surrender, that kind of structure.”

“If that’s the case, no resentment can accumulate even if someone is crippled. The fault lies with the opponent who lost but didn’t surrender. Emotions will remain, but they can’t be displayed.”

The remedy is certain. No deaths, no crippling.

If that’s the structure, this Gaemun ceremony is undoubtedly an absurdly good environment for Uicheonmun. It’s not just gaining experience through one-on-one Bimu , but fighting team battles where we can coordinate together several times, and we can gain experience without distinguishing between Baekdo and Heukdo.

“……It seems you have no intention of reversing your decision.”

“The more dangerous it is, the sweeter the fruit gained. And it’s not that dangerous.”

“Truly as Igongja-nim said. They said you never deliberately avoid any adversity. Haah.”

Hwaryeon let out a deep sigh and bowed her head.

“Then we will do our utmost to help.”

“Good. More than that.”

“Yes.”

“Was there no message from Sangdanju  Lee Ryang? Something that might be helpful, or something we need to do?”

“I was just about to tell you. He said if you participate, please obtain the Birok .”

“Birok?”

“Yes. I don’t know exactly what it is either, but he said it’s a book with important things written in it.”

“Hmm.”

Just ‘Birok’ with no explanation—it must be an unusual book. Even if I can’t guess what’s written in it.

“Understood. Anything else?”

“It wasn’t something to obtain, but there was one more thing that would be helpful if you acquired it.”

“What is it?”

“Cheonryeonbun .”

“……Cheonryeonbun?”

Powder that refines heaven?

“It’s the first time I’ve heard that name. What is it?”

“I don’t know exactly either, but Sangdanju-nim said this.”

Hwaryeon paused briefly, seemingly organizing her thoughts, then spoke. The following statement.

“Powder that makes divine weapons even stronger.”

“He said Munju-nim would definitely need it. He said there might even be a great leap forward.”

“……Just as he said.”

Powder that strengthens divine weapons.

I quietly looked down at my Uicheongeom  and closed my eyes. That.

It might even apply to Uicheonmun.