Chapter 97

The request was understood.

Namgung Woo’s martial prowess had already far surpassed the level of his age group. Even if he participated in the martial duel competition, what more could it be than twisting a child’s wrist?

Although there was no age limit for participating in the martial duel competition, the reason why middle-aged masters over forty didn’t participate was also for that reason. If they went out for no reason, they would be accused of muddying the waters of the competition and would bear a greater stigma than the honor of victory.

However, it was a highly controversial issue to prevent young masters in their 20s, full of vigor, from participating in the martial duel competition.

There would be people arguing, “The martial duel competition is intended to discover late-blooming prodigies, so criticizing the participation of the most important youth is outrageous!”

On the other hand, there would also be those who retorted, “What kind of late-blooming prodigy is that? That’s already a top master who is no different from the core of the martial world!”

Gakwon must have belonged to the latter group. If not, at least those around him judged so, and Gakwon would have followed their opinion.

But was that all? Of course, there was no more suitable person than Gakwon to make such a proposal to Namgung Woo.

There was no one in the Martial Alliance who had a separate friendship with Namgung Woo, and it was something everyone disliked doing, just watching the situation, to go up to someone presumed to be a peerless master and say, “You’re too strong, so please refrain from participating in the martial duel competition out of conscience.”

What good would come from clashing with a peerless master?

The risk was too great to expect to be recognized and build a friendship by admiring their boldness. The only person who could bear that risk was Gakwon, a peerless master like himself.

“If that’s all the reason you called me, I’m afraid I can’t give you a very good answer.”

Namgung Woo needed fame.

The incident in Beijing was now too old to bring up, as the Imperial Family’s follow-up work had long been completed.

His exploits in the Unmong Great War and the killing of the Oumma Emperor, which marked the end of it, earned him great fame in the Huguang region and the title of Blue Sword Emperor.

Blue Sword Emperor. It was a grand name. The blue color of the mixed aura energy of the Three Thousand Divine Techniques that manifested in the fight with the Oumma Emperor, the “blue” derived from Namgung Woo’s young age, and the title of Sword Emperor that followed under the argument that since he killed the Oumma Emperor, he deserved an equal title.

Namgung Woo didn’t know it, but he was inheriting the title of a peerless master produced by the Namgung Family fifty years ago.

But it was still not enough.

Just looking at the Luoyang initiation ceremony, there were those who doubted Namgung Woo’s exploits and came at him without reason.

Beyond Hebei and Huguang, Namgung Woo wanted a name that would encompass the world.

The martial duel competition held by the Martial Alliance was the perfect stepping stone for him.

If Gakwon tried to force him with his background as an excuse, Namgung Woo waited for Gakwon’s next words with the intention of bringing up the Five Tigers Token and the Danryeongju.

And the words Gakwon brought up were quite different from what Namgung Woo had been waiting for.

“Instead, I want to entrust you with a request.”

“A request, you say?”

“I heard that you and the Changcheon Pavilion you lead are a group of wanderers. Helping the Jegal Family also started with a request from the daughter of the Jegal Family.”

That much was information that could be easily found out even without Jegal Chong informing him by letter.

There was no need to mobilize the Intelligence Bureau, the Martial Alliance’s information organization. Gaebang, which was said to be faster than anyone in the world in delivering information, shared information about the Unmong Great War with the Martial Alliance as soon as it was obtained.

“Do you remember the name of the child from earlier?”

“Of course. It was Sol, right?”

“Yes. Sol, what that child is asking for is to participate in the martial duel competition. For some reason, we, no, I am blocking it. But the will of someone who wants to do something is not something that easily stops just because those around them block it. You must also know well the power that a person’s will holds.”

Gakwon’s voice slightly sank.

It was a very subtle difference, but Namgung Woo noticed that Gakwon was feeling sadness. And even a faint sense of guilt.

“Even if we block it, the child will try to participate in the martial duel competition under a pseudonym.”

Although it was an explanation to Namgung Woo, for some reason, Gakwon’s words sounded like a monologue to himself.

It probably wasn’t just a mood. His emotions were definitely not feigned.

“I want to entrust you with a bodyguard request.”

Namgung Woo intuitively realized that the reason Gakwon had initially asked him not to participate in the martial duel competition was not for the sake of other late-blooming prodigies but for this request.

He must have intended to entrust me with the request from the beginning.

If Namgung Woo participated in the martial duel competition, it would be difficult to entrust him with the bodyguard request, so he brought it up first.

“Let me ask one thing.”

“Go ahead.”

“If I refuse the request, what do you plan to do with the child named Sol?”

§

After Namgung Woo left the fifth floor of the Central Heaven Pavilion.

The Sangpyeon Hall Master, who had been waiting on the fourth floor, rushed up to the fifth floor to find Gakwon.

“Alliance Leader, how did it go?”

“Gyeongcham, it turned out as you worried.”

The title Gakwon used to call the Sangpyeon Hall Master was not his name but his courtesy name. The Sangpyeon Hall Master’s real name was Woo Myeon, and his father was Woo Gyeom, who had borne the burden of a traitor during the Tumu Crisis and saved the Ming Dynasty.

Since he came from a family that had ties to the government rather than the martial world, Woo Myeon was more familiar with his courtesy name than a nickname.

Although he received a pardon for the crime of treason and was offered a government position by the Seonghwa Emperor, Woo Myeon, who was already disappointed with the Imperial Family, chose to remain in the Martial Alliance.

“Hmm… He really is a peerless master. Even the Alliance Leader’s Six Divine Powers didn’t work on him…”

“You’re overestimating this old monk again. This humble monk just moves faster, hears farther, and has a brighter eye for people than others. It’s not as grand as to be called the Six Divine Powers, as you can see from this incident.”

Being able to be where he wants to be, he has the Divine Foot Power; hearing sounds others cannot hear, he has the Heavenly Ear Power; and reading others’ minds like his own, he has the Mind-Reading Power.

However, Gakwon modestly assessed that his abilities were not great.

Moreover, they don’t work well on other peerless masters.

Since the Six Divine Powers are a force that progresses step by step towards the final Power of Exhaustion.

Gakwon still thought he had a long way to go.

“But even among peerless masters, not all are good, right? It worked on the Martial Governor and the Sword Marquis…”

“That was a fluke possible because of the compatibility with the abilities contained in their Upper Dantian. It was powerless against Hagyeong Jinin and Jayang Jinin. And this time, it was the same.”

That meant Namgung Woo also had a mental defense centered on the Upper Dantian like them.

But Gakwon didn’t know its identity. It was different from the cases of the two peerless masters who had blocked Gakwon’s Mind-Reading Power like Namgung Woo.

At least in the cases of Hagyeong and Jayang, the two peerless masters, Gakwon could figure out what kind of power they used to block it.

Namgung Woo was not like that. He could only read clues to guess, but that was it. He only licked the surface, not reaching the essence.

“He might have the Heavenly Eye.”

“The Heavenly Eye… Are you talking about the Blue Sword Emperor?”

Among the Six Divine Powers, the Heavenly Eye Power, the Power of Knowing Fate, and the Power of Exhaustion are called the Three Brightnesses and are considered higher powers.

Among them, the Heavenly Eye Power allows one to see beyond time and space.

“It’s just a guess. Don’t get too caught up in my words. Even if we clumsily try to deduce, that young pillar will advance faster than we can follow.”

Woo Myeon also strongly agreed with Gakwon’s words.

A peerless master before even establishing himself.

He is one of the rare geniuses of all time. Such a person will surpass himself and make even the phrase “remarkable progress” insufficient.

But that is only a matter of the future. As the Sangpyeon Hall Master, as a supporter of Gakwon who opened a new path for him, and with the sympathy of someone whose family had also reached a state of ruin, Woo Myeon asked.

“What about Sol? Did he accept the request?”

“Well…”

Perhaps frustrated by Gakwon’s evasive answer, Woo Myeon urged him.

“Alliance Leader, you were the one who took Sol into the alliance. It’s not an issue to be passed over lightly. The Namgung Family could become the spark of the Jeongsa Great War. If the Blue Sword Emperor refused the request, we should immediately find another…”

“He said he wouldn’t accept the request.”

“I thought so. Sigh… I had hoped since the Jegal Family Head guaranteed him. Young vigor is not easily controlled. The martial duel competition will be very difficult…”

“He also said he wouldn’t participate in the martial duel competition.”

“Huh?”

“He said he would watch for the time being.”

Gakwon recalled the attitude, demeanor, and gaze Namgung Woo had shown.

Somehow, it felt strangely familiar. Those eyes seemed to see through Gakwon’s inner thoughts as he tried to read Namgung Woo’s mind.

“He reminded me of an old friend.”

“An old friend of the Alliance Leader…?”

As far as Woo Myeon knew, there was only one person Gakwon called an old friend.

The war between the Namgung Family and the Dokgo Family, the Sword Family Blood Feud.

And the Namgung Family Head, Namgung Hyu, who died in a life-and-death duel between family heads.

Gakwon’s old friend meant Namgung Hyu. That was the reason Gakwon took in Sol despite the risks.

Gakwon accepting the position of Martial Alliance Leader was also an expression of guilt towards Namgung Hyu. Regret and atonement for not being able to help his close friend due to following the sealed gate of Shaolin.

With the determination to prevent others from becoming discarded pawns due to the Martial Alliance’s misjudgment like the Namgung Family, Gakwon accepted the position of Alliance Leader.

“Let’s wait. There’s still some time before the martial duel competition.”

“…Sigh, understood. If the Alliance Leader says so…”

“Stop sighing, man. You’ll lose your luck.”

Although he couldn’t explain a clear reason, Gakwon had a vague feeling.

“It will work out.”

§

As soon as they left the Martial Alliance, Paeng Ha-ryeong clung to Namgung Woo and said.

“Brother, right? My thoughts are correct, right?”

“Yes.”

“As expected! There must be quite an age difference between you and her, right? She seemed young, so she must be like a cousin to you, Brother. But why didn’t you accept the request?”

“I’ll explain it to you later when we’re alone.”

“Ah… Okay!”

After walking a bit more, Yang Jeong, who was waiting for them at the prearranged place, approached them as if he knew them.

Yang Jeong had also become quite a famous figure, as there were quite a few eyes following him. They were probably those who wanted to see Namgung Woo through Yang Jeong.

Ignoring the surrounding attention, Namgung Woo asked Yang Jeong.

“The lodging?”

“Got it. But, Captain.”

Yang Jeong asked back in a tone of half-doubt, half-belief.

“There’s someone who says they know you well and came looking for you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. A young woman…”

At that moment, a strong light flashed and disappeared in Paeng Ha-ryeong’s eyes.

Yang Jeong felt it. If it was someone trying to cling to them with lies, Paeng Ha-ryeong’s determination not to forgive.

But Yang Jeong steadfastly continued.

“Her name is Song Chaeji.”