There is a saying that officials and martial artists should not interfere with each other’s domains.
This means that the bureaucrats and the martial artists must not intrude on one another’s territories. However, from a national perspective, there was no reason to let the enormous martial force of the martial artists slide.
Thus, during the reign of Emperor Hongwu, the orthodox sect martial artists made a peace treaty with the government and established the Murim Association in Chang’an, a strategic defense point and the starting point of the Silk Road, to act as a bulwark against foreign invasions.
The result is the enormous Murim Association we see today.
Key talents from the Nine Great Families of the Murim gather in one place to devise policies, and in times of crisis, they form a force to block foreign invaders.
And the leader of this vast organization is none other than Weijichun, the final boss of the novel “Cheondokmaonyeo.”
*
“Come! It’s cheap! Really cheap!”
“If you buy one piece of silk now, we’ll throw in another for free!”
“Fruits are cheap and delicious! Taste one and decide!”
As expected from the largest city in the western part of the Central Plains, the bustling marketplace of Chang’an was filled with people coming and going.
Our party was exploring the market as we headed toward the estate where the birthday banquet of the Murim Association leader was being held.
“There are so many people.”
I felt the same when I visited Hanzhong last time, but Chang’an, being a much larger city, was truly bustling with a city-sized population.
“Regardless of what anyone says, this place is the stronghold of the 100-year-old Murim Association and has served as the capital of numerous nations in the past.”
Dokgoseok said this while pointing north with his fan.
“In the past, the founder of the Ming Dynasty, Hongwu, attempted to move the capital here, but after being shocked by the sudden death of Prince Zhu Biao, who came to inspect the area, he abandoned the plan. If not for that incident, the capital of the Ming Dynasty might have been Chang’an, not present-day Shuntianfu.”
“Wow…”
Honestly, I didn’t really understand what he was saying, but I casually added a comment to keep the conversation going and glanced around to change the topic.
“By the way, Young Master, don’t you think there are more people with swords around?”
It seemed Dokgoseok caught on to my intention, as he clicked his tongue and tucked his elegantly folded fan into his robe.
“Everyone from the martial world scattered around the Central Plains gathered here to participate in the Murim leader’s birthday banquet, so it’s only natural for there to be more.”
At this, Kyungah, who was listening beside us, asked curiously.
“But Young Master, what exactly did the Murim leader do to earn such reverence from the orthodox sect?”
“To think you don’t know that, you really are naïve about worldly matters.”
“…I’m asking because I don’t know.”
When Kyungah said this with a pouting face, Dokgoseok shook his head and replied, “Oh dear, oh dear.”
“You must have heard of the Zhengshi War that happened thirty years ago?”
“Yes, that much I know.”
“At that time, the leader of the Shihong Alliance, the Iron-Blooded Demon, Gu Yangcheol, was such a formidable force that no orthodox sect could match him. It was Weijichun, who emerged and subdued Gu Yangcheol, the current leader of the Murim Association. Once known as the top talent from Cheonmuhakwon, he had been out of sight for about ten years after graduation, but he returned to the martial world and easily defeated Gu Yangcheol.”
Due to this, Weijichun was revered as the greatest hero of the Zhengshi War and, after the war ended, was brought to the position of Murim Association leader by the Nine Great Families.
“He’s even more incredible than I thought. This Murim leader.”
“That’s why he has maintained the top position for thirty years.”
At that moment, as I quietly listened to their conversation, Dokgorin suddenly asked:
“Then Big Brother, where was Weijichun during those ten years?”
“No one knows.”
“Why not?”
“Even Weijichun himself is reluctant to answer, and it’s common for martial artists to seclude themselves in a specific place for long-term meditation to attain enlightenment.”
After hearing Dokgoseok’s answer, Dokgorin seemed to ponder something deeply before shrugging her shoulders and saying,
“You seemed to be so knowledgeable, but it turns out you don’t know everything either.”
In response, Dokgoseok, looking a bit embarrassed, replied,
“I don’t know everything. I just know the things I know.”
“By the way, we should be arriving soon.”
Noticing a good opportunity to interject as I watched the exchange between the two siblings, I spoke up, causing Dokgorin to shift her gaze forward as well.
Up ahead, we could see the grand mansion, distinguished by its high walls, that belonged to Murim leader Weijichun.
“It looks like we have to line up to get in, so let’s hurry.”
As Dokgoseok urged us to quicken our pace, we all felt a sense of urgency.
“Let’s go together!”
*
Tall walls, grand pavilions, and even in the morning, people were flocking in as though it were a festival.
The vast estate built on one of the most coveted pieces of land in Chang’an clearly demonstrated the overwhelming authority of the current leader of the Murim Association, who could move even a bird with a single word.
We lined up to enter the estate behind Dokgoseok, who was the representative of our party, chatting as we waited.
“Young Master, are all the people here martial artists?”
“Not necessarily. In addition to martial artists, there are merchants and bureaucrats, or even nobles who want to curry favor with the leader.”
Dokgoseok, fluttering his fan adorned with plum blossoms, indicated the people in line as he explained.
“By the way, that group over there in black robes is the famous Mount Wudang sect. They are a faction of Taoists active from their base on Wudang Mountain.”
As I turned my gaze following Dokgoseok’s words, I noticed Taoists in black clothing, wielding longswords, registering their names at the entrance of the estate.
“And behind them are the sword masters of the Hwasan sect. A group of crazy practitioners who train their Plum Blossom Sword Technique in a hwasan where not even a single plum blossom blooms.”
“…Isn’t that a bit harsh?”
“I don’t have very fond memories of those Hwasan fellows.”
As he continued to observe, Dokgoseok suddenly exclaimed in admiration upon noticing another group.
“Oh, that girl over there…”
Curious about what could have elicited such a reaction, I turned my head only to spot a girl with rare blonde hair and red eyes among a group of people in blue martial attire.
“If my eyes aren’t deceiving me, those must be members of the Namgoong clan. That girl is likely Namgoong Ruby, who’s recently gained fame as the pride of the Namgoong family.”
“…Eh? Namgoong who?”
“Namgoong Ruby, I said.”
“No way, how is that even a name? Isn’t that a foreign name?”
“I’ve heard her mother is from the western regions. The martial world has become quite multicultural these days, so it’s entirely possible.”
“Oh… So that’s how it is.”
Feeling a sudden solemnity from an unintended discussion, I quickly tried to change the subject.
“Then those monks over there, are they from the Shaolin Temple?”
“You’ve got a good eye.”
“Really?”
Could it be that this is the right answer?
“The old man in the middle with the white beard is Jinmok Daesanim, the deputy head of the Shaolin Temple. We’ve met before at the academy, and the ones around him all seem to be monks.”
I had guessed correctly, but I never expected it to be true.
“Oh, I see.”
As I expressed my surprise with a blank expression, Dokgoseok smiled subtly and said,
“Why? It seems you’ve run out of questions to ask?”
“…Yes.”
“There are many unique names in the martial world, so it’s best not to be surprised at every one of them. For now, as long as it’s just us, it’s fine, but later, if you say something like that in front of the person themselves, they might carry a grudge against you for life.”
“I’ll reflect on that.”
As I bowed my head in response, Dokgoseok merely shrugged.
After a while, when it was our turn, Dokgoseok filled out the guestbook as the representative, and only after signing the guestbook were we finally allowed to enter the estate of the Murim leader.
*
“Just as I thought when I saw it from outside, it’s quite a splendid place.”
As I looked around the buildings within the estate and murmured, Dokgoseok, walking beside me while waving his fan, remarked,
“It seems the second wife of the Murim leader loves luxury. Just building this estate must have cost an exorbitant amount.”
As we walked and chatted, we found ourselves in an open courtyard filled with long wooden tables lined up.
It appeared the birthday banquet was being held outdoors.
Numerous notable figures from the martial world were gathered in groups, chatting amongst themselves, prompting Dokgoseok to excuse himself to greet them.
Naturally, this left just me, Dokgorin, and Kyungah, and since we didn’t really know anyone, we stood in the corner of the courtyard, watching the people go by.
“I hope this ends soon.”
Hearing Dokgorin mumble this, I cautiously asked,
“Do you dislike gatherings like this, Miss?”
Dokgorin looked at me and shook her head.
“More like, I dislike the crowds.”
“Why’s that?”
“Well, everyone just stares at my face.”
“…That’s true.”
If someone else had said that, I would have laughed at them for having a princess complex, but coming from Dokgorin, who would one day be known as the most beautiful in the martial world, it was quite convincing.
Nodding in acknowledgment, Dokgorin stood up and extended her right hand to me.
“Chilbok, let’s go.”
“Where to?”
“We’ve come all this way; it would be boring to leave without doing anything. Let’s take a look around.”
“Can we really move around without a guardian?”
As I said this, glancing at Kyungah, who was slightly distracted, Dokgorin gave a mischievous smile and replied,
“We’ll be back in no time.”
That makes sense…!
With such blatant flattery, I was lured into sneaking out of the courtyard where the birthday banquet was held, alongside Dokgorin.
