Chapter 197

Chapter 197

Anhui. A small inn attached to the outskirts.

“Seohwa unni. What happened to those eyes? Huh? A fortuitous encounter?”

At the sight of Namgung Yeon pestering her annoyingly, Seohwa let out a deep sigh and shot a pleading look at Baek Risan asking for help. However, Baek Risan just quietly turned his head away, ignoring her.

-Please save me.

-Sorry. I can’t handle her either.

Not knowing the content of the voice transmissions going back and forth, Namgung Hyeon shook his head at Namgung Yeon’s eyes sparkling and stepped forward, grabbing Namgung Yeon by the scruff of her neck.

“Don’t bother others.”

“I wasn’t bothering them.”

“It looks bothersome to me. Sit quietly in your seat. You’re being a nuisance.”

“Aw.”

At Namgung Hyeon’s words, Namgung Yeon pouted and sat down. Watching this, Seohwa let out a sigh of relief and moved her stiff neck around. Then, seeing this, Seonwoo Gang spoke up.

“Sajeo.”

“Uh, yes?”

“What do you think about this Opening Gate ceremony? It seems like there will be some kind of trials.”

“Ah…… How so?”

“Well, we don’t know the method yet, but I’m wondering if we’ll be able to do well.”

After thinking for a moment, Seohwa hummed and carefully voiced her speculation.

“Won’t it be manageable?”

“You think so?”

“Yes. From what I’ve heard, this gathering has most of the major sects of the martial world participating.”

The Nine Sects and One Gang  of the Orthodox Path, and the Five Great Families . The Seven Gates and Two Families  of the Unorthodox Path.

Not only that, but all the notable major sects had announced their participation in this gathering. Currently, Anhui could be considered a gathering place for all martial artists.

“When this many gather, sects with grudges against each other are bound to encounter one another. Especially among major sects, I know such things are severe. Isn’t that right?”

“That’s true, but does that have anything to do with us?”

“It does. While they’re fighting each other and exhausting themselves, we can grow steadily. There shouldn’t be anyone who would bother going out of their way to check a newborn sect that just formed, right?”

A sect that was just created couldn’t have hostile or friendly relationships. Even if they were competing with each other, there would be no reason to pay attention to a newborn sect, and if they weren’t competing with each other, they would only need to look at individual capabilities, so it wouldn’t be difficult.

“We should be able to do better than expected. The question is just how well we can do.”

“I see……”

At Seonwoo Gang’s momentary silence, Seohwa blinked and glanced at Seomun Cheok with a questioning look. Then Seomun Cheok moved his lips in voice transmission.

-It seems he’s concerned about Hyeolgeommun .

-Ah…… The sect Seonwoo Gang sajae originally belonged to?

-Yes. If all the sects of the Central Plains are gathering, Hyeolgeommun would surely come as well.

Although he had settled things with Daesageom , his connection with Hyeolgeommun hadn’t been completely severed. From Seonwoo Gang’s standpoint, there must still be subtle feelings remaining.

‘It would be good if he could shake it all off with this opportunity.’

She wanted to help, but this was something Seonwoo Gang had to handle himself. Emotions weren’t something that could be easily shaken off.

Having organized her thoughts, Seohwa opened her mouth to encourage Seonwoo Gang. And at that moment, a loud voice burst out.

“Didn’t you hear me? I said I’d pay more, so vacate the inn.”

The group that casually turned their gaze captured the other party in their eyes. A young man wearing martial robes mixed with red and black, scattering killing intent toward the innkeeper.

‘……He’s a master.’

Even while shuddering at the killing intent that surged the moment they saw him, the group frowned. That was because the martial artist’s behavior didn’t look very good.

“Ah, aigo, Great One……! We’ve already accepted guests, so asking us to vacate the inn. That won’t do……!”

“I said I’d add more money, so what’s the problem? I’ll add double the deposit. Even after returning all the money, there’ll be plenty left over.”

“But that wouldn’t be courteous to the guests who’ve patronized our inn…… Business lives on trust. Unless it’s an unexpected situation, we can’t ask them to vacate the inn.”

“So if it’s an unexpected situation, that’ll do.”

“……Pardon?”

“Hey.”

Thud! Clattering!

As soon as he heard the innkeeper’s words, the young man who twisted his head crookedly approached the group that was sitting and chatting, placing down a money pouch. Silver coins pouring out from the open mouth.

“What’s this?”

“What do you mean what is it. It’s your room fee. I’m going to rent out this entire inn, so vacate. I’ll pay double the room fee.”

“I appreciate the generous offer, but.”

Seohwa cut in briefly and shook her head.

“We also have nowhere to stay if we leave here. The inns inside Anhui are currently full.”

“Is that my concern?”

“……Pardon?”

“I said it’s not my concern. You only have two choices. Take the money and leave, or get beaten by me and get kicked out.”

“What in the world is that…….”

At the young man’s words that cleanly abandoned common sense and reason, Seohwa was at a loss for words and stammered. However, the young man continued without caring.

“You have skill considering your age, but you lack discernment.”

“From the looks of it, you seem like disciples from some minor sect who came hoping to pick up some crumbs, but it would be better to yield your position. This is the territory of the Unorthodox Path, not the Orthodox Path. Sado Alliance  doesn’t mediate even disputes between martial artists like this.”

“You’re talking as if you alone can handle everyone here.”

“Does it not seem that way?”

“It doesn’t seem that way to me.”

At Baek Risan’s response as he slightly pushed his sword out of its sheath, the young man who had been wearing a thick murderous smile gripped his sword hilt. The following remark.

“Shall we test it?”

A hair-trigger situation.

The tightly drawn atmosphere seemed to be waiting to explode like a burning fuse. And.

Just as Baek Risan, unable to endure the momentum pressing down on his shoulders, was about to draw his sword.

“Stop.”

At the low voice, everyone’s gaze turned to the entrance.

“Munjunim!”

“……Mm.”

At Seohwa’s exclamation, the young man who hummed with a wild look in his eyes directly stared at Baek Riyun who was now entering. At the same time, the young man released his hand from the sword hilt.

“So it wasn’t a minor sect. Who are you? I haven’t seen your face before.”

“You may not know who I am, but I think I know you.”

“Dokgo Cheon . The greatest prodigy of the Unorthodox Path. The family head of Dokgo Sega  participating alone in this gathering. Am I right?”

“……Dokgo Sega?”

At Baek Riyun’s words, the shocked group directly stared at Dokgo Cheon. The prestige that Dokgo Sega carried was by no means light.

“Chilmun-iga ……?”

“Correct that. It’s the main family and Chilmun-ilga . The rest are all riffraff.”

Dokgo Cheon clicked his tongue as if chewing. His displeasure was evident.

“Even knowing that I’m the head of Dokgo Sega, you don’t show respect. Who are you?”

“I am Baek Riyun, Sect Master of Uicheonmun .”

“Baek Riyun…… Are you from Baek Ri Sega ?”

“I was in the past. Not now.”

“Are you playing word games?”

“Does it seem like I am?”

At Baek Riyun’s clarification that it was purely in the past, Dokgo Cheon frowned and turned away. Seeing this, Baek Riyun spoke with a slight smile.

“Dokgo Cheon. Where are you going? Weren’t you going to stay at this inn?”

“There’s no one more foolish than someone who can’t accurately gauge their own capabilities. If I faced you, I’d suffer great losses, so I’m thinking of finding another inn.”

“With that money, couldn’t you just ask to rent another room? Even if it seems insufficient to rent the entire inn, it doesn’t seem difficult to rent one room.”

“How could I stay in the same place as trash.”

If it’s not the whole thing, it’s meaningless.

Thud!

Watching Dokgo Cheon roughly spit out his words and leave, Baek Riyun wore a bitter smile and opened his mouth to the dumbfounded group.

“That was dangerous. Good thing I wasn’t late.”

“What do you mean dangerous?”

“The opponent. Dokgo Cheon. He was an opponent too difficult for you all to handle.”

“……What? Even if we all charged at him together, it would be difficult?”

“Yes.”

Dokgo Cheon.

If in the previous generation Baek Riyun and Cheongryoo  competed for the title of the Orthodox Path’s greatest prodigy, then Dokgo Cheon could be considered the person who alone seized the title of the Unorthodox Path’s greatest prodigy. There were widespread rumors that as he aged, he would definitely secure one of the positions among the Ten Heavens .

“His temperament is explosive, but his skills are certain. He’s at a level where he can participate alone in a gathering without escorts, so if you had clashed with him, you probably would have suffered a major setback.”

“But he withdrew when Munjunim came, didn’t he?”

“Well, that’s because I’m stronger.”

Baek Riyun chuckled and pulled out a chair to sit down before speaking.

“You all know this too, but in this area right now, all sorts of major sects have gathered. Always be wary of your opponents. There might be more incidents like what just happened.”

“I won’t cause trouble of course…… But are there really that many gathered?”

“Yes. The most recent arrival was Jeokhajinin  of Hwasan . Besides that, the Nine Sects and One Gang, Chilmun-iga. Even sects from beyond the borders . Many have gathered. Is that all?”

Baek Riyun smiled slightly and continued.

“From what I just heard, three of the Ten Heavens are here.”

“……Ten Heavens? Three of them……?”

“Yes.”

Geomhu  accompanied them, so that’s understandable, but who were the other two?

At Seohwa’s wide-eyed expression, Baek Riyun smiled slightly and continued his explanation.

“Geomhu has decided to participate in the gathering alone, representing Geomgak . You could have guessed that, right?”

“Yes. Then the other two are……?”

“One from the Unorthodox Path. One from the neutral territory. Daesageom and Bulgoe .”

“……Bulgoe?”

At the unfamiliar name, Seohwa blinked. Then Namgung Hyeon explained from the side.

“You must not have deeply accumulated knowledge about the martial world while training. He’s the oldest among the current Ten Heavens.”

“Is that so……?”

“Yes. Originally from Shaolin , he was expelled due to his explosive temperament constantly breaking the killing precepts. He’s famous for killing anyone who doesn’t meet his standards, regardless of whether they’re good people, evil people, or yokai .”

“……He sounds scary.”

“Mm. How many of the Ten Heavens aren’t scary, but he’s especially so.”

Baek Riyun, accepting Seohwa’s words, slowly continued.

“It seems Sado Alliance has put quite a lot of effort into this Opening Gate ceremony. Do you remember what Sado Alliance Leader wrote about ‘there being prizes’?”

“Yes. That there would be delightful prizes…….”

“It seems they notified famous individuals and major sects of those items in advance. That’s why they’re so desperate to visit Sado Alliance.”

“Ah……?”

After thinking for a moment, Seohwa looked at Namgung Hyeon as if asking whether he had heard such things. However, Namgung Hyeon shook his head.

“I haven’t heard anything.”

“It would have gone to the family head. However, since there was nothing to obtain, he probably didn’t mention it specifically. If he told you to obtain something, you could be put in danger.”

“Is that so……?”

“Yes. The family head sending you along was intended for you to gain experience, not for you to earn something for Namgung Ga.”

When swayed by material desires, one forgets the essence.

Baek Riyun cut off briefly and continued.

“Anyway, this test has prizes at stake. Even major sects are drooling, and prizes so attractive that even the Ten Heavens would be tempted are largely at stake. Seohwa. Do you understand what this means?”

“……Wait a moment. Hmm?”

At Baek Riyun’s question, after thinking for a moment, Seohwa’s eyes widened as if she understood something. Then Seohwa spoke.

“Could it be…… Munjunim.”

“That ‘could it be’ is correct. This entrance ceremony is a competitive system.”

“And that means one thing.”

Baek Riyun smiled slightly and finished his words while glancing toward where Dokgo Cheon had left.

“We must fight against the notable major sects. With this many people.”