Chapter 139

Since there was no way to know the connection between Gwak Dan and Song Woojeol, the sudden mention of Gwak Dan’s name sounded extremely out of place to others.

Namgung Woo explained the events that took place at Manse Mountain but glossed over Gwak Dan’s final request.

Gwak Dan had only asked him to take care of things if they met, not to go out of his way to help.

Namgung Woo also had his own schedule, so he thought it would be enough to keep it in mind and help if the opportunity ever arose.

Who would have thought he’d hear that name again? Even for Namgung Woo, it was surprising.

“Gwak Dan?”

“Are you talking about the Commander of the Imperial Guards, Gwak Dan?”

“That’s correct.”

At Namgung Woo’s answer, both Paeng Ja-ryeong and Moyong Gyeongdo looked even more confused.

Gwak Dan and Song Woojeol? The idea that they had any connection was completely unexpected.

Even Song Chaeji, who was Song Woojeol’s niece, widened her eyes and strongly expressed that she knew nothing about it.

“Do you know anything, Star Net Group Leader?”

“I’m not very familiar with the situation in the Hebei region.”

“What are you asking, Ja-ryeong? The Great Master of Changcheon Pavilion will explain further.”

Namgung Woo was also a bit surprised by their reactions. It was unexpected that a peerless master like Gwak Dan, who had taught Dokmun Martial Arts, could remain so unknown.

Especially Paeng Ja-ryeong, who should have known. After all, Paeng Hu-sang was also present when Gwak Dan left his final words.

Judging from the situation, it seemed that Paeng Hu-sang had either just listened and let it go or had followed Gwak Dan’s will to not reveal his discipleship to the world.

‘Is it because he belonged to the Imperial Family, not the martial world?’

That must be it. Especially since Gwak Dan, as the Commander of the Imperial Guards, rarely left Beijing, so his martial arts likely remained unknown.

Moreover, his martial arts were more centered on Imperial Martial Arts than Dokmun Martial Arts.

“I was taught Dokmun Martial Arts by Gwak Dan.”

“Kang Yonghu’s Dokmun Martial Arts?”

“Ah… now I get it. Kang Yonghu passed the military examination, so he learned Imperial Martial Arts afterward. It makes sense that he would have Dokmun Martial Arts.”

“From the moment he passed the examination, he was already a top master. He had no interest in the martial world and went to the Imperial Family, but in Hebei, he and my father were practically splitting the fame.”

“So, when Kang Yonghu passed away, he entrusted his disciple to you?”

“That’s right. After he joined the Imperial Family, he cut off contact, so I didn’t even know he was in the Martial Alliance. He said it would be good to help if we ever met, but now that I’ve heard the name, I can’t just let it go.”

The connection with Gwak Dan was brief.

It was just one battle together.

But the intensity of that experience was extraordinary. The memory of standing at the crossroads of life and death for the first time was vividly etched in Namgung Woo’s mind. And Gwak Dan, who fought alongside him, was also preserved in that memory.

“If you say it like that, then I guess there’s no choice.”

“I won’t forget the Moyong Family’s help.”

“Help? I haven’t done anything yet. You can just forget about it.”

Moyong Gyeongdo laughed heartily and brushed it off.

“What are you talking about, Gyeongdo? How is there no help?”

“Huh? Then what did I do?”

Moyong Gyeongdo shrugged, saying that all he did was follow them here.

But Paeng Ja-ryeong’s words weren’t just empty compliments about how his presence alone was a help.

“Your caravan has a lot of horses, right? Lend us some. It’s a bit far to run there with qinggong.”

“…You called me here for this from the start, didn’t you?”

§

The rescue operation for Song Woojeol. Officially, it was planned to be called the Wind Chasing Unit’s support, and after the plan was finalized, Namgung Woo and Changcheon Pavilion immediately began preparations.

The war experience accumulated during the Unmong Great War eliminated wasted movement and maximized efficiency.

“Now, all that’s left are the hopefuls outside.”

The preparations for departure were completed in less than a day.

There was no need to go out of their way, as the Moyong Family’s caravan provided all the support.

As the saying goes, the Moyong caravan had everything, having amassed half the wealth of the world.

With the supplies ready, all that remained was selecting the personnel.

Namgung Woo expanded his senses to check outside the villa.

Although the numbers had decreased since moving from Changmu Inn to the Paeng Family’s Villa, there were still quite a few people remaining.

The reasons were likely varied.

Some came out of curiosity after hearing there were survivors of the Namgung Family.

Some came hoping to join, believing the rumors spread by Yang Kwae and Yang Jeong that Changcheon Pavilion would soon recruit members.

Some were just wandering around, wondering what was going on because people were gathering, or simply following the spectacle.

There might even be a few who came out of interest in the Paeng Family rather than Namgung Woo or Changcheon Pavilion.

Regardless of why they gathered here, there was one thing that mattered to Namgung Woo.

‘They could be of use.’

Namgung Woo opened his senses.

The voices coming in were like angry waves, overwhelming his mind.

“Is it true they’re recruiting?”

“I definitely heard it.”

“Hey, what are you all doing here?”

“I heard the Martial Alliance is planning something.”

“Do we even have a place there? The Eight Units will handle it.”

“Friend, think again. If you help the Namgung Family, you’ll be on Dokgo Family’s hit list!”

“The Dokgo Family? After seeing the Blue Sword Emperor, I think he could even beat the Sword Sovereign.”

The reactions weren’t bad.

The interest in Changcheon Pavilion and the general expectations and goodwill toward him.

Namgung Woo began to move.

“Ah… Blue Sword Emperor.”

“Open the gate.”

Paeng Ja-ryeong had already given the order to treat Namgung Woo’s words as his own. The Paeng Family’s martial artists quickly followed the instruction to unlock the gate.

Creak.

The sound of the gate opening instantly silenced the chaotic scene outside.

And what emerged from the gate was just Namgung Woo.

But that was enough.

“It’s the Blue Sword Emperor!”

“That’s the Namgung Family’s…”

“Hey! Is it true that Changcheon Pavilion is recruiting more people?”

“Hey! Don’t push! No, there’s space… Ah! Then you go!”

Amid the flood of voices, the area around Namgung Woo remained as calm as if under the shade of a large tree.

In other words, people were frantically gathering, but no one dared to step into a certain radius around Namgung Woo.

That was Namgung Woo’s domain. You could call it the domain of the sword.

Martial artists instinctively avoid entering such a domain, and the owner of this domain was a peerless master.

The existence of this small clearing, as if surrounded by an invisible wall, shocked those gathered and naturally silenced them.

As the commotion died down and a calm settled, Namgung Woo’s lips parted.

“Among those here, there may be some interested in me and some not, but I will speak to all of you. And you may spread my words to others. In fact, I hope you do.”

Namgung Woo paused here.

The brief silence was to heighten their focus.

In the quiet space, Namgung Woo’s voice, infused with profound internal energy, resonated.

“Some may know, and some may not. Currently, the Wind Chasing Unit is in trouble while tracking a certain social group. From now on, I and Changcheon Pavilion will depart to rescue them.”

There might be questions about why Changcheon Pavilion was getting involved in the Martial Alliance’s affairs, but the people silently waited for the next words.

“And with that, I will begin my journey to rebuild the Namgung Family.”

Finally, the name was spoken.

After the martial duel with Dokgo Bin, who had revealed the Namgung surname, this was the first time Namgung Woo’s ambition was revealed.

Rebuilding the Namgung Family was no simple task. There was a massive wall to overcome—the Dokgo Family.

Namgung Woo knew this.

Compared to the colossal power of the Dokgo Family, Changcheon Pavilion was but a small force.

But Namgung Woo had no intention of sugarcoating it or downplaying it with empty words.

Instead, he acknowledged and accepted it honestly.

“This will be a dangerous journey. The odds are not high. As you all know, the Dokgo Family is the top family of the邪派, and their strength can move mountains and split rivers. There’s no telling when it will end. It will be a long and arduous struggle. Danger will constantly loom, and safe survival cannot be guaranteed.”

Namgung Woo was not a god.

There would inevitably be sacrifices.

He had seen and experienced too much to indulge in the shallow fantasy of rebuilding the Namgung Family without anyone getting hurt.

“But one thing. Just one thing, I promise.”

Yet, they could move forward because there was hope.

“At the end, if we succeed, there will undoubtedly be glory and honor that will shake the world.”

When Namgung Woo finished speaking.

The area around him was no longer his alone.

While everyone was focused on his words, Changcheon Pavilion had gathered behind him.

“Those who wish to walk this path, follow me.”