Chapter 370: Orthodox Sect Gathering. (11)

It was just past noon.

Hanam was bustling with people as always, but…

Today felt particularly worse.

Each inn was packed to the brim, unable to fit even one more person.

People had even resorted to dragging chairs from who-knows-where to make space.

The waiters were also having an even busier time than usual.

-Another jug of Bamboo Leaf Green here!

-Yes! Coming right up!

Amidst the full crowd, murmuring voices were also abundant.

It was likely because far more people than usual had gathered.

Yet, what was different from usual was that a path had been cleared amidst the packed crowd.

Perhaps that was why it felt like even more people were flocking here.

It was a path cleared and prepared, allowing people or carriages to pass through the crowd.

And people were watching, keeping their distance, not daring to step into that path.

The reason for this seemingly complex yet neatly prepared scene was none other than…

-They’re here… They’re here!

Starting with someone’s shout, the murmuring voices instantly fell silent.

The path leading to the Murim Alliance.

Those who spotted something from the entrance turned their gazes to one spot.

Thump.

Someone was walking in the distance. Not just one person. A multitude of them could be seen entering in a group.

They were all wearing similar martial attire, with swords hanging at their waists.

Seeing that, someone said.

-It’s Wudang…!

The identity of the group that appeared first was people from Wudang Sect, one of the Nine Orthodox Sects.

They had come from Hubei for today’s Orthodox Sect Gathering.

That meant the person leading that group was none other than…

-The Wudang Sword Immortal (武当劍仙)…!

An old man wearing Wudang Sect’s distinctive Taoist robes, with long white hair neatly tied back.

He was a martial artist with sharp eyes and an exquisite, subtly emanating Taoist aura.

It was said he primarily used sword manipulation techniques.

He was always counted among the top five sword masters in the world.

The Wudang Sword Immortal passed through the crowd and entered the Murim Alliance, guided by the Alliance members already waiting.

Although the time it took for the Wudang martial artists to enter the Alliance from the entrance wasn’t long,

the people enjoyed watching it.

How often did one get to see the Sect Leader of Wudang Sect, a renowned master?

Moreover, there were still many more martial artists to enter the Alliance after the Wudang Sword Immortal.

That was precisely why so many people were keeping their distance and watching.

An Orthodox Sect Gathering meant the large-scale attendance of prominent figures,

and it meant seeing them up close like this.

Watching that from a distance, I couldn’t help but wear a bewildered expression.

“They could have just taken a carriage. They’re doing that on purpose, aren’t they?”

I wondered why they were acting like that. Wudang Sect wasn’t exactly short on money.

I wondered why they insisted on walking like that instead of using a carriage, but…

Since people were gathered like this…

it seemed the martial artists heading to the Murim Alliance were deliberately walking slowly for show.

Was it perhaps an unspoken agreement?

A performance for the people gathered to see them?

‘What a farce.’

I found it so absurd that I could only laugh.

If they were holding a martial arts tournament or some festival, I could understand such behavior.

Since that would be an event purely for enjoyment, I might think such actions were acceptable.

‘But is there a need to act like that at a gathering?’

At a meeting convened to decide the Murim Alliance’s future actions and schedule,

I wondered if there was really a need for such clowning around.

If that was also for public opinion, though…

I didn’t really have anything to say.

‘No wonder they told me to come to the entrance too.’

It was a stroke of genius that I didn’t go because it felt off.

If I had gone like that, I would have received all the attention, just like the Wudang Sword Immortal earlier.

‘They might not even know who I am.’

No, thinking that way was wishful thinking. My name was the most frequently heard martial artist’s name in Hanam.

This really sucks.

With a frown, I checked on the guy next to me who kept trembling.

“Hey buddy. Stop shaking. You’ll bring the roof down.”

“Hh… Hh… Hh… Uhh…”

Was that supposed to be an answer?

Seeing his pathetic state, I sighed.

The one trembling as if about to die was none other than Cheol Ji-seon.

Surprisingly, Cheol Ji-seon’s name was among the younger disciples attending the Orthodox Sect Gathering.

Seeing that, I did harbor some doubts.

Namgung Bi-ah and Tang Soyeol weren’t called, but Cheol Ji-seon out of the blue?

“You’ve been like this since yesterday, haven’t you?”

“…N-No. I haven’t?”

“Don’t lie, you punk… Remember how much you were trembling when you were eating?”

“…”

Cheol Ji-seon’s eyes darted around, showing how nervous he was.

Bringing someone like this to the Murim Alliance…

It made my head spin.

‘Pae Woo-cheol or Gu Jeolyub would have been better.’

For this kind of situation, those two seemed more suitable.

“Haa.”

My head was throbbing.

As I was running my hand through my hair,

another cheer erupted from below.

-It’s the Tang Clan…!

Cheers had erupted a few times even after Wudang,

but not as much as now.

Of course.

The person who appeared was none other than the Clan Head of one of the Four Great Clans.

My gaze naturally turned towards the street.

The Tang Clan’s robes, which Tang Soyeol often wore, lined up as they entered.

The difference between a sect and a clan was evident here.

While Wudang, considered Taoist practitioners, were relatively unadorned,

the Tang Clan, known for being the Iron Clan holding the highest position in supplying weapons to various clans and sword guilds, clearly showed signs of having spent a lot of money.

Seeing that, I realized Tang Soyeol didn’t dress up as extravagantly as I might have thought.

‘That guy.’

I saw a middle-aged man walking at the very front.

A man dressed in deep green silk that seemed to shimmer.

Just looking at him gave off a pungent, tingling sensation that made my tongue ache.

‘The Poison King (毒王), Tang Cheon-gi.’

He was the Tang Clan Head, a man currently at the pinnacle of poison mastery.

That was until Tang Soyeol achieved immunity to all poisons and became known as the Poison Demon.

‘He looks kind, though.’

I wondered why Tang Soyeol looked so gentle, considering he was from the Tang Clan, famous for poison and the underworld, but…

I could see the reason in this man’s face.

His build was also smaller compared to other martial artists.

Just slightly smaller than me.

Considering I’m quite small myself, the Poison King must be truly petite.

‘Did I not get a good look last time?’

It was during the Tang Family Gathering a few years ago.

I think I avoided meeting the Poison King then, citing various busy excuses.

Remembering that made me chuckle wryly.

‘I was a crazy bastard.’

A member of a prestigious family visiting one of the Four Great Clans and not even meeting the Clan Head.

Back then, I didn’t know better because I was in a hurry, but even looking back, I must have been quite the lunatic.

‘It’s amazing Father didn’t get angry.’

My journey to Sichuan was forced, but it wasn’t like he sent me there for that purpose.

It’s truly astonishing, looking back now, that I just went, snatched up a fortuitous encounter, and ate it all up.

While I was thinking about that,

“Hey… Yangcheon…”

Cheol Ji-seon called me in a trembling voice.

“What?”

“Are you going to stay here…?”

“It’s kind of fun. You don’t like it?”

“…I think I’m gonna puke.”

“…”

Hearing that, I scowled.

Cheol Ji-seon flinched upon seeing my expression.

“Oh, no, it’s fine if you want to watch more.”

“Don’t chicken out, you punk. That’s not why I frowned.”

As Cheol Ji-seon said, there wasn’t really a need to watch.

‘Who else will come?’

As for the Nine Orthodox Sects that announced their attendance,

they were Kunlun Sect, Wudang Sect, and about Shaolin and Gaebang.

The remaining sects had stated they would not be attending.

‘What could be the reason?’

It was somewhat puzzling after hearing that.

If it’s called a gathering, it wouldn’t be strange for everyone to attend.

Above all, with Yeongpung and Geomhu attending, it was quite surprising that Mount Hua Sect stated they wouldn’t.

“Hmm…”

I was full of questions.

Since thinking wouldn’t provide answers, I stood up from where I was sitting and said to Cheol Ji-seon,

“Let’s go.”

“Huh? Huh? Really?”

“Yeah, it’s weird for a junior disciple like you to be late.”

“Uhh-huh.”

With such prominent figures arriving, it would be quite awkward for us, much younger disciples, not to attend.

It couldn’t be helped, as it was a world that cared so much about such things.

‘Whatever, I don’t like it.’

That wasn’t the only thing bothering me.

If I go, I’ll probably have to face Baekcheon Geomju again,

and that bothers me quite a bit.

This was also unavoidable, so after biting my lip once,

I moved my feet and jumped off the building.

Then.

Cheol Ji-seon, left on the roof, looked at Gu Yangcheon who had suddenly disappeared and said.

“…What about me?”

His voice was filled with panic.

It was understandable.

Gu Yangcheon was the one who dragged Cheol Ji-seon onto this roof,

and he didn’t have the ability to descend from here in one go.

---

A waiting room prepared inside the Murim Alliance.

The waiting room, prepared for important guests, was filled with an unknown heaviness.

It wasn’t the interior itself,

but the unique aura emanating from the people gathered there was uniformly heavy.

This was a place prepared for the clan heads of the great clans to wait,

and the gathered individuals were, naturally, the masters of the great clans known as the prestigious families.

Among them, near the seat that appeared to be the head seat, a man of rather petite stature was calmly sipping the tea placed before him.

He was the Tang Clan Head.

The Poison King, Tang Cheon-gi.

The clan heads around him had to be tense with his every action.

Such was the position held by the masters of the Four Great Clans in the Central Plains.

Tang Cheon-gi, knowing this well, was simply spending his time quietly drinking tea.

The moment he took a sip of tea,

someone opened the door and entered.

BANG-!

The sound of the door opening was unusually rough and loud.

“Ah, darn it. I’m quite late, aren’t I?”

Unlike the petite Tang Cheon-gi, the man who entered was enormous.

He was a giant clad in dark martial attire, his face covered in scars.

Tang Cheon-gi sighed inwardly upon recognizing the man.

It was because he didn’t want to converse with that brutish fellow.

However, now that they had met, he couldn’t act childishly.

Tang Cheon-gi forced a smile and greeted the man.

“It’s been a while, Clan Head Peng.”

“Good to see you, Clan Head Dang. Have you been well?”

The giant’s identity was the Peng Clan Head of Hebei, the Sword King (刀王), Peng Zhou.

“Of course. I’ve been well, as always.”

“That’s truly fortunate.”

After the brief exchange, which carried a pungent atmosphere,

Peng Zhou naturally walked over and sat opposite Tang Cheon-gi.

“Clan Head Dang. I heard you arrived yesterday.”

“That’s correct.”

“Why did you come so early? You traveled from afar, you could have come more leisurely.”

It meant, ‘What was the rush to come so early?’

Tang Cheon-gi chuckled knowingly and replied.

“As one travels from afar, one must be careful not to be late, so I simply made a bit of an effort.”

This was a response implying, ‘That’s basic courtesy. You ignorant fool.’

After exchanging these veiled remarks, the two shared a brief moment of silence, and then…

“Hahaha!”

“Hahahahaha!”

As if they had been waiting, they burst into laughter, looking at each other.

“Even after seeing you after so long, Clan Head Dang, you haven’t changed.”

“Nor have I. Clan Head Peng, you are unchanged as well. Ah, though I do sense a slightly more seasoned demeanor.”

-So much time has passed, yet your cultivation remains utterly unchanged.

-Look in a mirror. Your face is melting away.

With every exchange of words carrying hidden meanings, the imposing aura emanating from the two intensified.

The Murim Alliance members watching them from the walls, wondering if swords might be drawn, as well as…

the clan heads of the prestigious families waiting alongside them, were having a terrible time.

Just then.

Creak.

The door opened once more, and another person appeared.

Unlike his previous appearance in rags, Moyong Tae, fitting for the master of the Moyong Clan famous for its trade guilds, looked quite flamboyant.

The quality of his clothes, clearly exceptional at first glance,

along with the ornaments worn on his waist and arms, were remarkably beautiful.

At this, Tang Cheon-gi stood up.

“It’s been a while, Clan Head Moyong.”

His voice and expression were entirely different from when he met Clan Head Peng just before.

It couldn’t be helped. Currently, the Tang Clan was collaborating with the Moyong Clan’s trade guilds,

and the results were quite favorable.

Therefore, Tang Cheon-gi had no choice but to welcome Moyong Tae.

Seeing Tang Cheon-gi express his pleasure, Moyong Tae also offered a gentle smile.

“Have you been well, Clan Head Dang?”

“Come in quickly and have a seat.”

Following Tang Cheon-gi’s words, Moyong Tae naturally took a seat.

Seeing this, Peng Zhou let out a snort of derision.

“It’s been a while.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Clan Head Peng.”

Despite Moyong Tae’s greeting, Peng Zhou’s gaze was rather cold.

Moyong Tae said nothing in response to that gaze, merely offering his greeting.

Perhaps Moyong Tae’s reaction displeased him somehow.

Peng Zhou frowned and moved his lips.

“Clan Head Moyong.”

“Yes.”

“I heard you were here seven days and nights ago. Is that correct?”

“That is correct.”

Peng Zhou chuckled briefly at Moyong Tae’s nonchalant reply.

It was an obvious smirk.

“What was the rush that brought you all the way to Hanam so quickly?”

“My daughter suffered a terrible ordeal. I had to come immediately. As a father, I believe it’s only natural.”

Peng Zhou’s eyebrows twitched at Moyong Tae’s words.

“Does that mean we are lacking as fathers?”

At Peng Zhou’s words, which seemed to grasp at straws,

Moyong Tae looked at Peng Zhou with a peculiar gaze.

Anyone could tell it was a confrontational tone.

However, despite such provocation, Moyong Tae, contrary to his cold features, smiled gently and replied.

“It wasn’t my intention to imply that, but if Clan Head Peng took it that way…”

Trickle.

The sound of tea being poured into Moyong Tae’s teacup echoed particularly loudly.

“Then I suppose that’s how it is.”

Grind.

Hearing Moyong Tae’s response, killing intent radiated from Peng Zhou’s shoulders.

Knowing that chaos would ensue if this continued,

Just as Tang Cheon-gi, realizing this, sighed and started to rise to mediate between the two,

Whoosh-!

“…!”

The heads of the clan leaders inside the waiting room simultaneously turned towards the door.

An unknown, powerful presence could be felt emanating from the door.

Thump… thump.

Perhaps because of the presence felt,

the approaching footsteps sounded unusually loud.

Even though it wasn’t a loud sound, it was heard with extreme clarity.

Finally.

Screeeech.

The door slowly opened, revealing the owner of the presence.

Was it an illusion?

The moment the door opened, it felt as if heat flooded into the waiting room.

Peng Zhou’s eyes widened upon seeing the being who entered after opening the door.

It was an unexpected figure.

‘That guy… Really.’

The reason for his surprise was simple. He had heard the news of his arrival, but…

it was astonishing that he had actually left Shanxi, and…

it was remarkable to feel such tension towards him.

The man who entered through the door scanned the room with his characteristically fierce eyes.

The clan heads whose gazes met his couldn’t help but flinch involuntarily.

It was because his gaze was so chillingly cold.

“…”

Had he finished his assessment?

The man moved forward amidst the uncomfortable silence.

His steps were directed towards where the heads of the Four Great Clans were gathered.

One might expect him to pause upon seeing them, but…

the man walked on as if nothing was amiss,

and then.

Scrape.

Casually, he pulled out the chair at the head seat and sat down.

Although the situation unfolded in an extremely short moment,

everyone gathered in the room couldn’t utter a single word until it happened.

Perhaps enjoying the silence, the man calmly observed the situation and then uttered a single sentence.

“Greetings.”

It was a deep, heavy voice.

“I am Gu Cheol-un.”