Chapter 64

For the Four Seasons Brew, Gyeonghyeon, where all sorts of people gathered from all over the world, could be considered a small world in itself.

Those who had no connection to the martial world at all. Representatively, government officials and merchants.

Those belonging to the White Path Orthodox faction. Currently leading the Orthodox faction in Gyeonghyeon, in the absence of the Nine Sects and One Gang and the Seven Great Families, were the martial artists of the Hwang Mountain Sect.

Those belonging to the Black Path Unorthodox faction. Dokgo Bin, the eldest daughter of the Dokgo Family, the foremost of the Black Path’s Four Great Families, had been present but left Gyeonghyeon the day before, naturally passing the leadership to the Shin Eung Bang.

Lastly, those who had enemies in the martial world but did not belong to either the White or Black Paths.

This group included wandering warriors who had come for escort missions or martial artists who had independently sought out Gyeonghyeon.

People of various backgrounds with different purposes and affiliations. If not for the inviolable presence of Guyajang, this combination would have turned into chaos immediately.

However, the name of the Jegal Family had the influence to bring them all together.

Guyajang was located in Saje Village, a small village among the many in Gyeonghyeon. And within Saje Village, there was only one place where so many people could gather.

It was the largest shrine in Saje Village, called Bogong Shrine.

As it was also the place where the person who had warned of the Jegal Family’s danger was staying, people naturally flocked to Bogong Shrine.

“Let’s go too.”

And among them were Namgung Woo and his companions.

Entering the main hall of Bogong Shrine, they saw those who had already arrived. Although more than half had left after the results of the Four Seasons Brew were announced, there were still hundreds remaining.

The shrine was filled with people. Everyone was whispering in small voices, but with so many people, the shrine was filled with the sound of voices.

As Namgung Woo’s group entered, the voices momentarily stopped and then resumed. Glances were cast towards Namgung Woo.

Even without straining to hear, voices like “That person is…” or “From the master of Guyajang…” could be heard.

But the main focus of this gathering was not the results of the Four Seasons Brew.

“Thank you all for gathering here. I am Hangwi from Hwaseong Temple.”

At the words of the person who had come to warn of the Jegal Family’s crisis, murmurs spread through the crowd.

“Hwaseong Temple? Isn’t that the temple of martial monks on Guhwa Mountain?”

“Monk Hangwi. He seems injured, but his breathing is steady. Just as the rumors say.”

Those who knew about Hwaseong Temple and Hangwi proudly shared their knowledge.

“As you have already heard, the Jegal Family, in dire straits, has sent a request for help. So, from Hwaseong Temple, I and a few other martial monks went to assist… but shamefully, only I managed to escape.”

It was the result of selecting someone with excellent protective divine technique who would attract less attention to send the rescue request.

“Strange. Who is the villain that can threaten both the Jegal Family and Hwaseong Temple?”

In response to someone’s question, Hangwi answered in a heavy voice.

“It is presumed to be the Bokmang Association.”

“The Bokmang Association?”

“What audacity do they have to mess with the Jegal Family?”

The interior of Bogong Shrine buzzed with speculation about the villain’s identity.

Namgung Woo recalled the second reason he had heard before for why the Bokmang Association had not been eradicated.

‘They disguise themselves as the Bokmang Association to eliminate late-blooming prodigies of hostile forces, so they are not actively eradicated.’

Then the real villain is someone else disguised as the Bokmang Association.

Namgung Woo wasn’t the only one who seemed to have reached this conclusion.

Amidst sneers, someone’s sarcastic remark echoed.

“The Bokmang Association? It must be the Banunbang.”

Namgung Woo, now fully aware of the major factions in the martial world, nodded upon hearing the name.

Banunbang. One of the Black Path Seven Gates of the Black Martial Alliance. In terms of pure martial power, it was a massive faction comparable to the Nine Sects and One Gang.

Based in Cheonjasan Mountain in Hunan Province, Banunbang’s sphere of influence partially overlapped with the Jegal Family’s in Wuhan, Hubei Province.

“It could also be the Gangseohwan Family.”

The Gangseohwan Family, based in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, was also one of the Four Great Families. Considering the Jegal Family’s route and geographical location, the Gangseohwan Family was more suspicious.

“The Gangseohwan Family doesn’t have a bad relationship with the Jegal Family. Recently, tensions between Banunbang and the Jegal Family have been rising, so it must be Banunbang.”

The discussion about the villain ended there.

“Then where is the Jegal Family now?”

Hangwi’s gaze turned to a certain spot. It was where the Unorthodox martial artists were gathered.

Seeing this, the Orthodox martial artists began to pressure the Unorthodox martial artists.

“Please step aside.”

“There’s no need to shed blood, is there?”

The tense atmosphere lowered the temperature inside Bogong Shrine. In the silence where it seemed weapons could be drawn at any moment, a voice came from the Unorthodox side.

“Let’s go.”

The words of the martial artist leading the Shin Eung Bang were the consensus of the Unorthodox martial artists.

With the Shin Eung Bang, the strongest force among the Unorthodox factions present, declaring their withdrawal, the remaining Unorthodox martial artists had clear limits even if they united.

As the Unorthodox martial artists left in droves and those in between followed cautiously, Namgung Woo remained in place.

Jeonggwang Doin, the representative of the Orthodox martial world from the Hwang Mountain Sect, spoke to the remaining neutral martial artists in a more polite tone than he had used with the Unorthodox martial artists.

“Please step aside for a moment. We are all about to leave to rescue the Jegal Family. However, if any of you wish to join us immediately, you may stay.”

These words were a fresh shock to Namgung Woo.

Going to help the Jegal Family? Could it be a trap?

But they are going. Because they are the Jegal Family. Risking danger.

‘Is it because they are the Jegal Family, or because they are of the same Orthodox faction?’

Namgung Woo substituted the Jegal Family with the Cheongsu Gate. If the Cheongsu Gate were in crisis, would they have driven out the Unorthodox martial artists and immediately set out to rescue them like this?

Probably not. There would certainly be those who would step forward to uphold the Orthodox path, but they wouldn’t move on such a large scale or so immediately.

If even the Cheongsu Gate wouldn’t, what about the Changcheon Pavilion? Such a wandering group, unless directly connected, who would help them?

‘In the end, it’s because they are the Jegal Family that they are stepping forward.’

The power of a prestigious family. Even without promising any immediate reward, they have the power to make others voluntarily step forward to help.

It was the same when they first saw the Hapbuk Paeng Family. The Hapbuk Paeng Family and the Jegal Family. The situations of the two families were opposite, but each showed the power of a prestigious family in different ways.

When the Hapbuk Paeng Family joined in Muan County, people felt reassured just by their presence.

Here, when the Jegal Family asked for help, people rose willingly just at the mention of their name.

‘A prestigious family….’

When he decided to live in this world, Namgung Woo had created the Changcheon Pavilion to establish his place. But the Changcheon Pavilion was only a temporary residence.

It was meant to be naturally disbanded if a way back was found.

But what if there is no way back? Or if, even after finding a way back, he chooses to stay?

As the time spent living in this world increased and the number of people he connected with grew, Namgung Woo’s determination to return grew fainter.

‘I should also think about the path of staying.’

The two prestigious families Namgung Woo had seen, as if showing model answers for the path forward, left a strong impression on his heart.

Therefore, Namgung Woo chose to cooperate in this rescue. To observe more closely why they were stepping forward and to see how a prestigious family would react.

“There’s one thing I want to ask.”

While Namgung Woo was contemplating the future, Paeng Ha-ryeong raised her hand lightly and spoke.

“Who from the Jegal Family is here?”

“Before that, can we take your staying here as a sign that you will join us?”

Paeng Ha-ryeong looked at Namgung Woo. The decision on how the group would move rested with him.

As a member of the Paeng Family, she wanted to help the Jegal Family, but if Namgung Woo opposed, she intended to follow his decision.

“I want to hear the answer first.”

“That is…”

“Jeonggwang Doin, it’s fine. They will find out eventually anyway.”

Hangwi stopped Jeonggwang and answered.

“The person in charge of this mission from the Jegal Family is Great Master Jegal Pan of the Biun Unit and Jegal Seon-a.”

“Seon-a?”

At the name mentioned by Hangwi, Paeng Ha-ryeong unconsciously repeated it.

“Do you know her?”

“Yes, she’s a friend. But if it’s Seon-a, it’s hard for rumors not to spread…”

“That just means the Jegal Family has hidden her well.”

The conversation between Paeng Ha-ryeong and Namgung Woo was casual, but to others, the content was anything but.

“Honored patrons, do any of you know Jegal Seon-a?”

“I don’t, but…”

As Namgung Woo trailed off, yielding the floor to Paeng Ha-ryeong, she revealed her identity.

“I am Paeng Ha-ryeong of the Hapbuk Paeng Family.”

No further explanation was needed.

That name, that surname, that origin resolved all doubts.

Paeng Ha-ryeong’s presence completely erased the faint distrust towards the Changcheon Pavilion, and unlike other wandering warriors, she was fully accepted as one of their own.

Given the vast area to be searched, the Orthodox martial artists divided into five groups.

When Jeonggwang Doin of the Hwang Mountain Sect and Hangwi finished organizing the groups, five search teams of about 20 people each were formed.

“Let’s set out!”

The goal was to find and rescue the Jegal Family.

And to eradicate the villain.