Chapter 118
“…This is the sword of Jongrimun.”
“Waaaaaah-!!!”
Dongryong received cheers from the spectators and the Zhongnan Sect disciples for a long time.
He must have felt good about it, as the corners of his mouth showed no signs of coming down.
I was also mixed in with the crowd watching him, and as I looked on…
“…It really pisses me off.”
…It pissed me off so much.
And rightfully so. Before that bastard went up, he was whining about what to do if he lost, but the moment he won, he started acting all high and mighty.
Of course, that line about the sword of Jongrimun or whatever was something we had decided on yesterday beforehand.
Because Dongryong’s current goal was to draw people’s attention instead of mine.
Thinking about it from that perspective, one could say Dongryong played his role very faithfully.
‘Yeah…, enjoy it while it lasts. You bastard.’
I clicked my tongue a few times at Dongryong, who was waving to the spectators, before leaving for my own sparring match.
* * *
“Ik So-Hyeon, Second Generation disciple of the So Sword Sect, requests a sparring match!”
“Ah…, yes. I am Mu-Yeong of Jongrimun.”
‘Dongryong’s first opponent was from the Moyong Family, right?’
Unlike Dongryong, who met quite a big shot from his very first match, my opponent was a complete novice.
Well, of course, that guy named So Ik-Hyeon must be a martial artist who had undergone training for over ten years, but whether this was his first tournament or he had absolutely no combat experience, his body was trembling immensely.
“Then, begin the sparring match!”
“Eiyah-!”
Clang-! Clang, clang-!
‘An opening.’
As expected, he had some power behind his strikes, but he was full of openings everywhere. Out of habit, I was about to blow him away in one hit, but I realized the surrounding gazes and stopped myself.
“Oh, a disciple of Jongrimun is having a sparring match here too.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Thanks to Dongryong, attention was even gathering on me, a fellow disciple of Jongrimun.
‘How annoying.’
I had no choice but to pretend to do my best in facing him.
“…Eiyah-! Eiyaaaah-!”
Clang-! Clang-!!
Paat-!
“Ah!”
Like that, I pretended to exchange a few blows with him before sending his sword flying out of bounds.
“Hmm…, the disciple of Jongrimun won here too.”
“But well…, compared to that disciple named Dong-Bong, it’s nothing special…”
Seeing the bland match that was neither overwhelming nor impactful, I saw the spectators leaving for other matches.
‘Okay, that’s done.’
For now, as planned, the attention was drawn to Dongryong instead of me.
But this wasn’t the end.
Today, the first day with the most survivors, I had to do one more sparring match.
I resolved not to let my guard down until today’s sparring matches were completely over.
* * *
“Remember the names of the Zhongnan Sect and Jongrimun.”
“Waaaaaah-!!”
Dongryong took down even his second sparring match opponent with a single strike.
“Zhongnan! Zhongnan! Zhongnan!”
“Jongrimun! Jongrimun!”
At this, the spectators cheered, chanting the names of the Zhongnan Sect and Jongrimun.
Empowered by this, the direct disciples of the Zhongnan Sect and the other lay disciples of the Zhongnan Sect also performed outstandingly one after another.
Before anyone knew it, the Zhongnan Sect had seized the atmosphere of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
And this was…
“…Hoh.”
…the same at the seating area where the sect leaders of each sect were gathered.
They showed slightly awkward reactions to the unexpected performance of the Zhongnan Sect.
If the Shaolin, Mount Hua Sect, Wudang Sect, Namgung Family, and others who were expected to do well had shown great performances, they could have shown their prepared reactions, but since the completely unexpected Zhongnan Sect was showing such a good performance, they couldn’t help but be a little surprised.
Still, since there was no sect that particularly had ill feelings toward the Zhongnan Sect, most of them sent words of congratulations to the Zhongnan Sect Leader, Jong Yeon-Myeong, without hesitation.
“Congratulations, Sect Leader.”
“You have raised your disciples very well.”
…Except for exactly one place.
“…Sect Leader. Congratulations.”
The Mount Hua Sect Leader, Myeonghwa, offered his congratulations to the Zhongnan Sect Leader, Jong Yeon-Myeong, but he couldn’t hide his bitter feelings, his eyebrow twitching.
“Pfft.”
Seeing that, Jong Yeon-Myeong couldn’t hold back and burst into a hidden laugh.
Jong Yeon-Myeong and Myeonghwa were childhood friends whose family elders had known each other since they were in the womb, and they were lifelong rivals who led the Zhongnan Sect and the Mount Hua Sect, respectively.
For decades, the two sects led by the two men had gone back and forth, showing neck-and-neck performances, but recently, the Mount Hua Sect had gained a clear advantage.
‘He caused me so much grief and acted so smug back then…’
It was funny to see him tuck his tail between his legs now that the disciples of the Zhongnan Sect were getting good results at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
At this, Jong Yeon-Myeong let out a dry cough before speaking to the Mount Hua Sect Leader, Myeonghwa.
“Ahem, well…, it seems the Mount Hua Sect is a bit less than expected?”
“…”
Of course, the Mount Hua Sect was also getting very good results, but outwardly, it was doing worse than the Zhongnan Sect, so the Mount Hua Sect Leader, Myeonghwa, kept his mouth shut.
And toward such a Myeonghwa, Jong Yeon-Myeong took another jab at him as if talking to himself.
“Where did the Mount Hua Sect that said it would trample the Zhongnan Sect at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering go? Did it go home?”
“No, but…!”
And at that cheeky voice, the face of the Mount Hua Sect Leader, Myeonghwa, who usually looked like an immortal, distorted.
“It’s the first day! It’s only the first day! But why are you wagging your tongue as if you’ve already won?”
“Hoho, then why are you jumping around like an angry foal? It’s only the first day.”
“What? You old geezer!”
“What old geezer? You, old man!”
In the end, the two couldn’t hold back their emotions and started a childish fight.
“Hoho…”
“There they go again…”
Even though two great elders, sect leaders of the Nine Great Sects and One Alliance, were raising their voices and fighting like snot-nosed kids on the street, no one showed any signs of stopping them or being surprised.
The anecdotes of the two were very famous.
Jong Yeon-Myeong and Myeonghwa usually had benevolent personalities like immortals, but when they were together, they were always itching to tear each other apart like that.
People evaluated that if they had been born as a man and a woman, they would have definitely formed a marital bond, so it was to the point where that said it all.
However, when their fight reached its peak and became truly hard for fellow sect leaders to watch with open eyes, the Shaolin Abbot, Hae-Hyeon, stepped forward to stop their fight.
“…Amitābha Buddha. The two of you should stop now.”
“Hmph!”
“…Since it’s for the Abbot’s sake, fine.”
When Hae-Hyeon, who was of the same generation but much older than the two, intervened, Jong Yeon-Myeong and Myeonghwa stopped fighting and returned to their respective seats.
Hae-Hyeon let out a low laugh to refresh the dizzying atmosphere and asked the Zhongnan Sect Leader, Jong Yeon-Myeong.
“By the way, Sect Leader, I was also surprised. Your disciples' achievements are showing rapid progress. What is the secret?”
“Hahaha, what secret could there be? It’s just that those children are outstanding! Haha!”
Before anyone knew it, Jong Yeon-Myeong had thrown away all modesty and accepted the praise with a bright smile. He was in such a good mood that he didn’t even care about his dignity as a Sect Leader.
At this, Hae-Hyeon also smiled back and asked another question.
“…Is that so? If so…, setting aside the direct disciples…, how can even the lay disciples have such outstanding achievements?”
The disciple of Jongrimun receiving the cheers of the people was at the end of Hae-Hyeon’s gaze as he spoke.
‘Did they say his name was Dong-Bong…’
His aptitude was certainly far too outstanding for a mere lay disciple.
‘Could it be that they distributed elixirs to the affiliated families or passed down an advanced martial art…’
However, when the topic of the affiliated families came up, Jong Yeon-Myeong just gave a similarly pleased smile and answered like this.
“I haven’t really done anything for the lay disciples either. It’s just that those children are outstanding.”
In truth, even Jong Yeon-Myeong, who said so, didn’t know the reason why the affiliated families were so outstanding this time.
Of course, he had caught a glimpse of the essence of the Zhongnan Sect in the sword of the Jongrimun disciple, Mu-Yeong, whom he had faced before the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
But wasn’t the one actually performing outstandingly the other disciple of Jongrimun, Dong-Bong?
‘It seems the Jongrimun leader is teaching his disciples very well.’
As Jong Yeon-Myeong, he had no choice but to think of Jongrimun’s strength that way. “I see. Haha, it seems all the lay disciples of the Zhongnan Sect are outstanding talented individuals as well.” “Because of tho-Myeong, he had no choice but to think of Jongrimun’s strength that way.
“I see. Haha, it seems all the Lay Disciples of the Zhongnan Sect are outstanding talented individuals as well.”
“Because those children are all disciples of the Zhongnan Sect too. Haha.”
Jong Yeon-Myeong answered like that and simply enjoyed the current moment.
But it was then.
“Sect Leader.”
“…?”
Hearing a gruff voice, he turned to the side to see the family head of the Hebei Peng Family, Paeng Cho-San, standing next to him with a somewhat stiff expression.
At this, Jong Yeon-Myeong couldn’t help but pause for a moment. Originally, the Zhongnan Sect and the Peng Family didn’t have deep ties, so this was the first time the two had even spoken.
“Yes, Family Head Paeng. Please speak.”
“It’s nothing else but…”
Paeng Cho-San pointed at Dong-Bong on the Sparring Stage and continued his words.
“That guy…, no, is that child also a disciple of the Zhongnan Sect?”
Paeng Cho-San’s finger was trembling as he spoke, like someone who had seen something completely unexpected.
At that, Jong Yeon-Myeong felt a sense of wonder and nodded.
“Yes… He is a lay disciple of the Zhongnan Sect.”
“That guy is a lay disciple of the Zhongnan Sect…”
Paeng Cho-San’s tone didn’t sound good, so Jong Yeon-Myeong raised his guard and asked.
“Do you have any business with our disciple?”
“…”
At Jong Yeon-Myeong’s question, Paeng Cho-San answered without taking his eyes off Dong-Bong. “No…, it’s nothing. It’s just that he looks like someone I know.” “…” Even though he said no, his eyes were burning.
“No…, it’s nothing. It’s just that he looks like someone I know.”
“…”
Even though he said no, his eyes were burning.
‘Are the disciple of Jongrimun and Family Head Paeng acquainted…?’
Jong Yeon-Myeong couldn’t help but express his doubts.
* * *
After safely finishing the first day of the preliminaries and having dinner outside today, we were on our way back to our lodging just the two of us.
Dongryong, with an unusually serious expression, said a word to me.
“Leader. I think I’m actually quite strong.”
“…”
This bastard really…
He has no middle ground, no middle ground at all.
When he lacked confidence, he shrank so much, but now that he had won two Sparring Matches in a row, his nose was practically touching the sky.
Seeing Dongryong’s arrogant face made the urge to smack him surge up, but I barely held it in and advised him.
“…Dongryong, it’s fine to be narcissistic, but don’t get too carried away. You’ll slip up if you keep that up.”
“Haha, their levels were all about the same, seeing them today, so what could possibly happen?”
“No, but this Bastard…!”
Arrogance always invites great disaster.
It was when I was about to say one more word to set his mind straight.
“…!”
Suddenly, I felt a presence heading toward Dongryong and me. Just as I was about to react…!
“Dongryong.”
…Someone called Dongryong from behind.
Not by the name Dong-Bong, but Dongryong.
“…!”
The guy was hiding his figure among the crowd and projecting his voice to us.
‘A Master.’
However, since he wasn’t emitting any particular hostility, I didn’t take action for now.
And…
“The Family Head wishes to see you. Come to Hoangru Downtown right now.”
Paat-!
As if his only purpose was to deliver those words, he disappeared immediately after finishing his sentence.
“What the…, fuck.”
As I muttered in confusion, Dongryong spoke from beside me.
“…It seems to be the Peng Family.”
Dongryong’s body was trembling slightly as he spoke. However, he didn’t look that surprised, as if he had expected something like this to happen.
“The Peng Family?”
“…Yes, the one who just delivered the message and left is the Right-hand Man of the Hebei Peng Family Head. I didn’t expect to see him again like this.”
“No…, the Family Head of the Peng Family then called for you directly?”
“…It seems so.”
“…”
I opened my mouth at the sudden situation and examined Dongryong’s expression, finding resolve etched on his face.
“…Are you going?”
“…Yes.”
“Huu…”
Seeing that face on Dongryong, I sighed and nodded.
“Then let’s go together. Did he say Hoangru?”
When I said that, Dongryong’s eyes widened and he shouted.
“Leader! This is my personal matter! Even if I go alone…!”
“Enough, we’re going together.”
Personal matter my ass. If the family head of the Hebei Peng Family called for him, it was absolutely no small matter. How could I send Dongryong alone when I didn’t know what might happen?
“…”
Since I asserted it, Dongryong must have thought he had no choice, as he quietly nodded.
I spoke to Dongryong.
“Dongryong, still, with our relationship, we have a certain bond, don’t we?”
“…That’s right.”
“So stop hiding it and reveal the truth now. You’re actually…, Peng Dong-Ryong, aren’t you?”
“…Excuse me?”
Dongryong’s physique was too small to say he had the blood of the Peng Family mixed in him. That was why I had never once thought that Dongryong was of the Peng Family’s bloodline.
But the other day, when Dokgoyeong invaded our Green Forest…
‘At that time, the deputy leader’s skin turned bronze, and he didn’t die even after being hit by that bastard Dokgoyeong’s sword.’
…I heard such a story from the Youngest.
And hearing those words, I could immediately recall a certain martial art.
The Hebei Peng Family’s Self-Defense Technique, Hohyeolgeumche.
However, Hohyeolgeumche is only passed down to those with the blood of the Peng Family. It wasn’t like Dongryong stole the martial art, so if he hadn’t been of their bloodline, he wouldn’t have been able to learn Hohyeolgeumche.
If so, there was only one answer.
“I know everything…, Dongryong. No, Peng Dong-Ryong…”
“No…, Peng Dong-Ryong? What are you talking about…”
“Hmm? You’re not Peng Dong-Ryong? Then are you just Paeng-Ryong?”
“No, that’s not it…, Huu… Let’s just go for now.”
Hmm? Is he not?
The abandoned youngest son of the Peng Family, an illegitimate child pushed aside by the legitimate children - wasn’t it something like that?
I tilted my head, but Dongryong never answered me in the end, so I had no choice but to follow behind him for now.