Chapter 136

The Martial Alliance’s martial duel tournament always brought waves of excitement.

Sometimes it was a heartwarming tale of surpassing one’s master, other times a bittersweet story of youth filled with sweat and tears, and occasionally, it was a thrilling revenge story that sent shivers down your spine.

And the most legendary of all these tournaments, held five years ago, is still talked about to this day, with those who witnessed it teasing those who didn’t.

But this year’s tournament has rewritten all those proud memories.

The Namgung Family, thought to have been wiped out and lost to history.

If you didn’t see the glorious signal of their revival, what good were all the martial duel tournaments you’d seen before?

The shock and impact this tournament brought to people were so profound that it made them forget all previous tournaments.

Just the fact that a survivor of the Namgung Family mentioned their name at the tournament, the source of countless rumors, was shocking enough.

And to make that declaration in a duel against a direct descendant of the Dokgo Family?

As a martial artist, how could one not be moved by such a sight?

Those who don’t shed tears after hearing the declaration of loyalty are not loyal.

Those who don’t shed tears after hearing the declaration of filial piety are not filial.

And those who don’t shed tears upon hearing the name Namgung are not true martial artists.

The martial world has always been a realm of romance.

A place where those who live and die by romance wander the nine provinces and eight wastelands.

Even though the reality within it has chipped away at that romance, leaving only compromises with the times, that remaining sliver of romance still fiercely ignites their hearts.

The fervor, bordering on madness, engulfed Luoyang.

The attention toward Namgung Woo was akin to that of obsessive fans chasing a future celebrity. In fact, if you saw martial artists forming a blockade in front of Changmu Inn just to catch a glimpse of Namgung Woo, it wouldn’t seem much different.

Some even tried to sneak into the annex. Thanks to that, Myorin had a tough time.

The third mystical tattoo after “Nengshe Xuanxu Fenghuangbi” and “Treading Grass Without a Trace Kirin’s Step,” the “Observing Fate and Misfortune Spirit Ghost Flame.”

Its power lies in the blossoming of the sixth sense to discern fortune and misfortune. It wasn’t Myorin’s exceptional intuition that allowed her to predict the ambush by Seomun Pyo, the Heavenly Rain Sword, a master above her level, and signal Namgung Woo, but the effect of this Spirit Ghost Flame.

Of course, it only gives a rough sense of fortune and misfortune. Compared to the foresight Paeng Hu-sang displayed, it’s crude at best.

If Paeng Hu-sang’s foresight is finely woven silk, Myorin’s Spirit Ghost Flame feels like roughly stitched hemp.

But it performs admirably in detecting danger. The fact that Myorin has survived this long without being caught is largely due to the Spirit Ghost Flame. It played a crucial role even back when she was evading Namgung Woo.

However, now this Spirit Ghost Flame has become a burden, increasing Myorin’s workload.

“Do I look like a human alarm clock to you? I wake up in the middle of the night! Even the Great Master or Jegal Seon-a over there can do it, so why me…!”

“Seon-a finds it hard to use her Resonance Power when I’m nearby, and as the Great Master, should I really be doing tasks my subordinates can handle?”

“Am I really going to quit?”

For these reasons, Changcheon Pavilion relocated.

To the Paeng Family’s Villa.

“There was also the Jegal Family’s villa…”

“The Paeng Family’s villa is bigger, and there are more people to handle security, so what can we do?”

Paeng Ha-ryeong confidently explained the reasoning.

Faced with such a logical explanation, Jegal Seon-a was left speechless. Even if it weren’t logical, if Paeng Ha-ryeong had just said “Sigh—Father allowed it,” she would have found a reason to accept it.

“Ha-ryeong, why don’t we invite the Jegal Family’s people too? There must be things to discuss with them.”

Paeng Ja-ryeong, noticing the change in the relationship between Namgung Woo and Jegal Seon-a, suggested.

While others might not notice, Paeng Ha-ryeong, having lived with him as family, could sense the faint playfulness and concern in Paeng Ja-ryeong’s voice.

“Should we?”

“Yes. I’ll send someone. Ah, Benefactor, please rest easy. You too, Jegal Seon-a.”

As Namgung Woo tried to follow Paeng Ja-ryeong, he stopped him and left first.

With only Changcheon Pavilion remaining, Yang Jeong seized the moment to speak.

“Captain.”

“Hmm?”

“While things have already started, don’t you think we rushed a bit…?”

Yang Jeong’s words reflected the sentiments of all Changcheon Pavilion members.

There had been opinions to reveal the Namgung name, but with Dokgo Bin appearing and the Dokgo Family’s threat becoming clear, was it necessary to declare the revival of the Namgung Family now?

The past few days had been chaotic due to the aftermath of the martial duel tournament, leaving no time for proper discussion, but now that they were at the Paeng Family’s estate, it was different.

As Yang Jeong spoke, Geumshin and Yang Kwae nodded, prompting the recently sharp-tempered Myorin to interject.

“Are you asking this now? Well, I guess there was someone who got a bit popular and started slacking off.”

“Hey! Intelligence gathering!”

At Yang Kwae’s shout, Myorin responded by blowing out a puff of cannabis smoke.

Myorin’s retort had some merit, but it was a point that needed addressing.

“It’s not like I acted without any thought.”

The original plan.

Compete in the martial duel tournament, win, and then recruit talents to join Changcheon Pavilion (effectively the Namgung Family’s revival force).

The Dokgo Family’s interference was unexpected.

But just because Dokgo Bin intervened didn’t mean the plan needed to change.

“If the Dokgo Family wants to capture me, they’d have to send all three of their Supreme Peak Masters or have the family head come personally. But that’s impossible.”

If three Supreme Peak Masters who have mastered the “Joint Water Harmony” technique unite, even a Peerless Master could be cornered.

One would definitely die, one would definitely be crippled, and the other… who knows.

There are records of monsters created by the Blood Sect during the Blood Sect Rebellion using all sorts of dark arts to kill Peerless Masters, or during the Jeongsa Great War, the three Jiangxi Ghost Brothers, all Supreme Peak Masters and known as the strongest in the unorthodox martial world, killing one of the Peerless Masters, the head of the Huangbo Family, known as Quanzun.

“The reason is…”

Namgung Woo trailed off, glancing at Jegal Seon-a.

When it was her turn, Jegal Seon-a straightened her small frame and stood up.

“Ahem! Let me explain that!”

As if to finally show her true worth, Jegal Seon-a began her explanation with a cough.

“There are three reasons why the Dokgo Family can’t immediately send an assassination squad after you.”

Jegal Seon-a clenched her small hand into a fist and raised her index finger.

“First. Preparing for the Ghost Gate Sealing Battle. The Dokgo Family is friendly with the Imperial Family. That’s why the Imperial Family turned a blind eye when the Dokgo Family expelled the Namgung Family and became the leading martial force in the Southern Directly Administered Region. Maintaining this stance, the Dokgo Family has been more dedicated than anyone in the unorthodox martial world to closing the Ghost Gates that harm the nation. To prepare for the Ghost Gate Sealing Battle, they must keep one Supreme Peak Master and a third of their military strength in reserve.”

In all of the Central Plains, only three or four Black Ghost Gates appear each year. White Ghost Gates are so rare in the 50-year history of Ghost Gates that they’re not even worth considering.

The least dangerous, Yellow Ghost Gates, can be handled by ordinary soldiers without martial arts, so the real threats are the Red and Blue Ghost Gates.

To stably close a Blue Ghost Gate, a Supreme Peak Master is needed, so one is deducted here.

Jegal Seon-a raised her middle finger.

“Second. It’s a clear fact that the Dokgo Family is the largest force in the Southern Directly Administered Region. But the martial forces in the Southern Directly Administered Region aren’t just the Dokgo Family; there are orthodox martial forces too. Not to mention the Mosan Sect, one of the Nine Sects. To keep the Southern Directly Administered Region under the Dokgo Family’s, and by extension, the unorthodox martial world’s influence, they need forces to control it. So another third is deducted.”

Even if the Mosan Sect isn’t very active externally, it’s still one of the Nine Sects.

The Hyeong Mountain Sect, led by Taemun Jinin, who achieved great feats during the Unmong Great War and defeated the Five Yin Demon Emperor alongside Namgung Woo, isn’t even part of the Nine Sects.

The Hyeong Mountain Sect’s pure martial power isn’t much weaker than the Jegal Family’s, yet it still didn’t make it into the Nine Sects.

That’s how prestigious the Nine Sects are.

To keep the Mosan Sect in check, at least one Supreme Peak Master must stay at the main family. Preferably the family head.

“That leaves only a third of their forces available externally. Of course, that alone is enough to match several Changcheon Pavilions. But how long would it take to get from Hapbi to here?”

The distance from Hapbi, where the Dokgo Family is located, to Luoyang is over a thousand li in a straight line.

Following the roads, it’s about 1,500 li (600 km).

Even if martial artists cover 100 li a day, it would take half a month.

“Distance and time. That’s the third reason.”

Jegal Seon-a raised her ring finger, emphasizing the three fingers she had raised.

“Let’s exclude the time it takes to send news from here to Hapbi. There are spells, and even without something like the Cheongdangon spirit beast, there are many ways to quickly deliver messages, like messenger birds. But considering the time it takes to hear the news, assemble an assassination squad, and send them, we have a comfortable month.”

In that month, Changcheon Pavilion will absorb useful individuals from those desperately trying to meet Namgung Woo outside and grow their forces.

If that happens, the balance of power will reverse.

“We are the ones in the offensive position.”