episode_0258

A banquet only for the chosen reviewers who everyone admires and envies.

The banquet was certainly luxurious and splendid.

It was natural.

Because those here are the highest ranking figures in the martial arts world.

However.

Not all of them are like that.

These are review indices that are inevitably lacking in terms of being considered the best.

For example, among the mid-level factions such as Seomun Se-ga, Danmok Se-ga, and Soyo-pa, they were well-known, but they could never be placed on the same level as the prestigious factions.

They barely managed to get a foothold in the Yongbong branch, but they were thoroughly outside the mainstream.

In short, they are big names in the world, but are treated as mere squatters here.

That’s why I was just hanging around in a corner at the banquet.

Still, they shouldn’t have cared much.

Because it is something familiar.

But today.

“Um.”

“Ahem.”

For some reason, an uncomfortable groan escaped from them.

Is something going on today?

One look at their gaze and the answer is immediately obvious.

They glance somewhere with eyes of envy and jealousy.

Somewhere there was the Golden Dragon Master Bang So-woon.

It’s sad to say that money comes second, but in the world of martial arts where martial arts is revered, their status is considered lower than that of their family and clan.

However, the lord of that place was hanging out in the middle of the mainstream without any hesitation, as if he were a member of the Odaese or Gupaeilbang.

For those who thought of themselves as equals, or even inferiors, it was inevitable that they would feel bitter and filled with envy and jealousy.

“Oh, how is that possible?”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

They look like their alcohol tastes more bitter today.

The atmosphere was also gloomy and depressed.

Someone spoke coldly, either because they didn’t like the atmosphere or because they didn’t like Bang So-woon.

“Huh, it must be because he has a supporter named Jegalga.”

“Ha, well… … .”

“But there is nothing to be jealous of. No, rather, it is just pitiful. Even if a fox carries a tiger on its back and tries to run away, in the end, if you don’t know your place, you will end up like a stray dog. It is obvious that when its usefulness is over, it will be mercilessly thrown away.”

A phrase that pretends to be a cool-headed analysis but spews out malicious gossip.

“Oh, yeah, yeah. I thought that too.”

“What a sharp analysis! I can’t help but admire it.”

The response immediately poured in.

Because it was the perfect word to achieve a mental victory.

Anyway, thanks to that, the drinking party atmosphere started to get better.

“Sleep. Seomun hyung, who showed wisdom that no other wise man has, have a drink.”

“Hehe, thank you.”

They try to have a warm drink with bad gossip as a side dish.

That was when.

What I heard was extremely insulting and provocative language.

“If you want to bark, bark in front. Don’t bark in the back.”

“What?!”

Naturally, a surprised reaction was bound to come out.

However.

The movements of the big fish soon stopped as if they were embarrassed.

It had to be that way.

Because there was a person in front of me that I could never have imagined.

Geombong Yoo Seol-yeong.

She was staring at them with indifferent eyes that could not be read.

“You, you little sister… … .”

Even though they were not part of the same Gupaebang and Odaese, the positions they and Geombong stood in were different.

Their martial arts skills were different, and their social status was different.

Geombong was considered one of the two with unrivaled martial arts skills among the later ranks, to the point that he was called Ilryong Ilbong along with Hwasan Geomryong Baekmugyeol.

But now, I have just passed the age of maturity.

There were many who suspected that his fame was intentionally created by the swordsman and that his skills were exaggerated and inflated.

But every time, the swordsman showed it clearly.

By brutally destroying opponents who doubt their abilities or challenge them for fame.

The most recent match was when the Haenam faction’s most famous swordsman, Haenam Sword Dragon Sauvi, was brutally destroyed on Haenam Island, their home island.

Everyone here knew.

Sauvi is stronger than the world knows, and the reason Sauvi couldn’t even attend this Yongbongjihoe was because of one person.

A martial art that even intimidates the flying and crawling later indexes.

Is it just martial arts?

no.

She belongs to a secret investigation team called the Mysterious Inspection Team.

It is a sect with a short history, and its actions are secretive and strange, so many aspects are as unclear as fog, but neither the Gupaebang nor the Five Great Sects could treat Geomgak lightly.

why?

This is because in the Battle of Jeongma over fifty years ago, Geomgak stood on the side of the political faction rather than being neutral, and achieved brilliant results through his elusive actions.

It was also known at the time that Geomgak was a sect exclusively for women and that it was full of sword monsters.

In particular, Geom Gak Ju shook the world with his amazing martial arts skills by killing the fearsome archdemon, Chang Ma, who had slaughtered numerous masters of the sect, in a one-on-one bloody fight.

Who is Changma?

In the Jeongpa sect, he is an absolute master who has reached the realm of the ultimate demon, called Hwagyeong.

The fact that such an absolute master was killed after a bloody fight means that the sword master’s inaction has naturally reached a state of ruin.

It was only natural that Geom Gak-ju became one of the ten best swordsmen in the martial arts world and was nicknamed the Mysterious Sword Queen.

Even in that kind of swordsmanship, the swordsman is ranked fourth in the hierarchy.

And that too at an age just past the age of maturity.

It was only natural that the status of a swordsman like that was not on the same level as the small-time big shots.

“Well, there’s some misunderstanding… … .”

“Misunderstand. That’s typical of you. That’s the difference.”

“That, that’s what… … .”

Yoo Seol-yeong turned her back, leaving the bewildered big shot behind.

Because I’ve already said what I wanted to say.

I don’t think I understood it properly though.

The difference between these men who are no different from the other men who are spread around and around and the men who are different from others.

It feels more certain.

Since I’m here.

Bam.

Yoo Seol-yeong sat alone somewhere again.

Even though he sat alone as if he was being bullied, he didn’t look shabby at all.

That might be the level she has.

‘I proved it.’

An absurd test that borders on the impossible.

And yet he threw that test at that man.

why?

To be honest, it was a feeling that was hard to explain.

Maybe there was a small expectation in a corner of my heart.

I think that guy might be able to do it.

And he proved it, as expected.

That you are different.

no.

That’s not all.

Not only did he prove it, but the man also radiated a presence among the best reviewers without any hint of intimidation.

‘That’s pretty good.’

Yoo Seol-yeong stared blankly at Bang So-woon again.

With a gaze that cannot be read.

***

sniffling.

Bang So-woon took a quick sip of his drink as if taking a breather.

I have already exchanged ceremonial greetings with the attendees of the old file room.

From the Volcanic Sword Dragon, which is said to be the best among the later indices, to the Taegeuk Sword Dragon, which is said to be the genius that shamans are proud of, and other later indices such as Shaolin, Kunlun, Cheongseong, and Gaebong.

Among them, the one that particularly caught my eye was the late Eunyeon Cho, a member of the Amipa, also known as the Flying Red Sword Flower.

reason?

Of course, it was because she was a woman, not a man, and at the same time, she was an exceptionally beautiful woman.

A fierce prey that is second to none.

But Bang So-woon cut it off right there.

Because I know.

The important thing here is that it is not an old file room.

The five great generations.

Among them, the most important goal was the transformation of the Tang Dynasty into a Tang Dynasty.

There was no time to look elsewhere.

I had to calmly focus on attacking my goal.

Swish swish.

Bang So-woon’s hand quickly wrote something on the table in front of him.

It was a written conversation.

-Have you found out anything about tomorrow?

Who was this written for?

It was very easy to know that.

Because right now, the only person next to Bang So-woon was Jegal Cheong-ha.

Because he left the room pretending to have a private conversation.

-I’m sorry, but there isn’t, my lord. It seems that instructions have been given to keep it a secret from Dang Se-mun and Dang Se-hwa as well.

Zhuge Qingxia answered by voice, not by writing.

An extremely polite tone.

If this news were to be known at this moment, it would be a complete shock.

It’s shocking enough that there’s someone that Zhuge Qingxia of the Zhuge family regards as his master, but that person is the Golden Dragon Master?

The aftermath is beyond imagination.

-Hmm, that’s right.

Bang So-woon seemed lost in thought for a moment.

Executing the plan I just thought of.

I was worried about that.

If you decide that a quick decision is better, you can try today.

However.

‘No.’

Something was bothering me.

I feel like it’s not time yet.

A feeling that something is missing.

This feeling can never be ignored.

Because I feel like I’ve made the right decisions dozens of times so far.

then.

‘Let’s just watch the situation for now.’

That was when Bang So-woon thought so.

Zhuge Qingxia suddenly sent a cautious message.

-My master… … .

-Why is that?

-It’s just a feeling, but I feel like I should tell you, Master… … .

-What is it?

Bang So-woon’s expression changed.

This is because I had a gut feeling that if Zhuge Qingxia said something like that, it was definitely not something that could be just ignored.

-This is not my first time visiting the Tang Gate, but today it feels particularly sharp and solemn.

-Really? That’s right.

Bang So-woon’s eyes narrowed.

There is no way Zhuge Qingxia could have been mistaken.

Because she is a woman who put herself and Jang-il in danger with just one sharp intuition.

That is to say.

-There’s something.

Bang So-woon was confident.

There are good reasons for the party to maintain a more stringent stance than usual.

And the reason was most likely related to what the Poison King had said would happen tomorrow.

-Yes, the lowly daughter of the Zhuge family also thinks so…

-good.

Bang So-woon raised his head as if he had made a decision.

-Tell Namgung Hwa-ran that I won’t move today.

-The lowly daughter of the Zhuge family obeys orders, my lord.

-I’ll decide again tomorrow.

It’s still the first day.

There is no need to rush.

Because the opportunity will definitely come.

Bang So-woon’s eyes were as cold as ice.