Chapter 113
Following the Tang Clan, the next to appear was the Jegal Clan, known as the Divine Machine Jegal.
The warriors of the Jegal Clan, who went by the name of the Young Dragon Sword Squad, possessed a calm atmosphere, unlike the warriors of other martial units who exuded an intimidating aura.
But just because it appeared so on the outside did not mean the Young Dragon Sword Squad was in any way inferior to the martial units of the other families.
On the contrary, once a battle began, their demeanor would turn sharp, as if they had become different people, and their combined attacks, which closed in meticulously from all directions to the point of suffocation, were renowned for being incomparably superior to those of other martial units.
It was a strength befitting the martial unit of the Jegal Clan, which could seize and constrict the battlefield in the palm of its hand.
Among the group from the Jegal Clan, who exuded an atmosphere so distinct from the other families, there was one who stood out: a middle-aged man dressed in the style of a scholar.
He was the current head of the Jegal Clan, Heavenly Brain Jegal Sung.
He was the eldest brother of Jegal Mun, the Grand Strategist of the Murim Alliance, and Jegal Gil, who had made a name for himself as an investigator for the Alliance.
A young man who resembled him followed behind him, gently smiling.
Hidden Dragon Jegal Woojin.
He was a rising star with a brilliant mind that was no less than his father’s, Heavenly Brain Jegal Sung, and it was not just the Jegal Clan that held high expectations for his future in the current Murim.
Before long, the people filling the streets were chattering away, each with a flushed face.
They had just seen the incredible titans Gale Divine Fist Hwangbo Gyun, Poison Rain Tang Jin-woo, and Heavenly Brain Jegal Sung with their own eyes.
Moreover, with their successors, who were making names for themselves in the Murim despite their young age, and the representative martial units of each family, it was more than enough to warrant such a reaction.
“This is incredible. To think all these titans have gathered here.”
“Indeed. Where else would people like us get to see such a sight?”
“By the way, they all have different atmospheres, but they’re all equally impossible to look away from.”
Though they weren’t deliberately showing off their power, one could certainly feel an extraordinary aura from each and every member of the Five Great Families.
They were truly worthy of being the clans that placed their names at the very top of all the renowned families under heaven.
It was then.
The last of the Five Great Families finally arrived in Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province.
*Kuuuung.*
An overwhelming atmosphere that seemed to make the very space taut emanated from those who had just appeared.
*Gulp.*
Those who recognized them each swallowed a nervous gulp of saliva.
Someone, unable to tear his or her eyes away from them, muttered.
“This is... the Peng Family.”
It could only be described as truly tremendous.
Of course, each family had its own distinctly prominent atmosphere.
But if someone were to ask which among them was the most hegemonic, a hundred out of a hundred would answer thus.
Naturally, the Peng Family.
Even from a great distance, the force emanating from them made one’s skin tingle.
The head of the Peng Family, who appeared at the very front, the roaring tiger Hebei Hegemonic Blade Peng Mugang, exuded an overwhelming pressure so great it felt as if a massive tiger were snarling right before one’s eyes.
His son, Mad Dragon Peng Seo-jin, overwhelmed the crowd with a strange atmosphere completely different from his father, Peng Mugang.
What was most surprising was the martial unit of the Peng Family.
Even someone who knew nothing of martial arts could feel it at a glance.
They felt a strength completely different from the martial units of the other families they had seen so far.
Their presence was like that of a single, perfectly forged blade.
*Waaa!*
A murmur incomparably greater than before erupted from among the crowd.
Admiration for Peng Mugang and Peng Seo-jin was the main theme, and the crowd chattered excitedly, sharing their astonishment at each and every member of the White Wolf Unit.
But in their midst,
There was a man who received no gazes and was not mentioned on anyone’s lips.
The man standing at the very front of the martial unit was the only one in the Peng Family with a different atmosphere.
When an entire group drew this much attention, even a luggage bag on someone’s back or a stone held in a hand would normally catch a sliver of a gaze.
But strangely, no one gave the man a single glance.
It was as if the man’s presence was so insignificant. No, it was as if his very existence could not be felt.
However, ...
Not a single person there realized that it was because the reality was the exact opposite.
The man’s aura was like a vast, calm, and tranquil sea.
It was like the air that already enveloped their entire bodies, its end unknowable.
Paradoxically, because it was so immense, they felt nothing at all.
“Hefei. This is my first time here.”
A smile graced the lips of the man, Yeo Un-hwi.
And so, all the families of the Five Great Families arrived in Hefei, the provincial capital of Anhui.
“Welcome, everyone. It must have been a long journey.”
A great number of people from the Namgung Family had come out to greet the four families that had just visited.
Among the Namgung warriors, who were more spirited than ever, the current head of the Namgung Family, Sword Emperor Namgung Hwan, was the one welcoming the visitors at the very front.
He spoke with an expressionless, blunt face.
“I welcome you all to the Namgung estate. I hope that your time here is filled with nothing but pleasant moments.”
The content was warm, but his expression and voice were anything but.
Anyone who didn’t know him might have suspected he was greeting an unwelcome guest.
However, those gathered here already knew each other well.
They could already tell that Namgung Hwan was sincerely welcoming the other families of the Five Great Families, without any need for further explanation.
In fact, the Sword Emperor was the one among the Five Great Families who valued righteousness and etiquette the most.
It was just that he was a blunt person by nature, far from being warm, so this welcome was the best he could offer.
Well, and so, since everyone already knew his personality, there was no reason to take issue with his stiff expression now.
After a few exchanges of greetings from the other family heads in response to Namgung Hwan’s welcome, the gathering proceeded.
“Then I will leave the various other matters to Sanghyeok. The family heads, please follow me.”
After saying so, Namgung Hwan briefly glanced at the Peng Family, more precisely, at Yeo Un-hwi and the White Wolf Unit warriors standing behind Peng Mugang, before turning on his heel and leaving first.
As if accustomed to Namgung Hwan’s departing figure, Peng Mugang let out a short laugh.
“My, he’s as cold as ever. Well then, I’ll be off.”
“Yes, Father.”
The reaction of the other family heads to Namgung Hwan was the same.
Soon, the five family heads left.
Then, a man with a tall, well-built frame and neat, sharp features stepped forward.
He was the Great Young Master of the Namgung Family and one of the Six Dragons, known as the Heavenly Dragon, Namgung Sanghyeok.
“Now then. Until the banquet, please follow my guidance.”
Namgung Sanghyeok showed a cool smile.
He then quickly began to assign lodgings to the large number of people.
Before long, having been assigned their lodgings, all the members of the White Wolf Unit were unpacking their belongings in their respective rooms.
The quarters of the White Wolf Unit members were soon filled with a boisterous atmosphere.
Perhaps it was because they had seen the other martial units on the way.
Their hearts were burning, and the faces of the members were all flushed with excitement.
The emotion was the fighting spirit that no martial artist could escape.
From among the White Wolf Unit members, talk of the families or warriors that had caught their interest erupted.
There were those who moved their bodies lightly, as if unable to contain their boiling blood and itching bodies, and those who were already trying to find out the location of the training grounds.
Well, in other words, it was noisy.
However, as long as they weren’t being rude to others or causing trouble, Yeo Un-hwi thought this kind of fighting spirit was a good thing, so he didn’t add any particular warnings or words to the White Wolf Unit.
They were no longer the same men who used to let their hot blood get the better of them and cause trouble without a second thought.
And since the White Wolf Unit had reliable people like O Chae-mu, Gu Tae-san, and Peng Do-hwan, there was no need for Yeo Un-hwi to step in.
Rather than that,
“A banquet?”
Yeo Un-hwi and Peng Seo-jin, who happened to be assigned to adjacent rooms, were having a conversation.
Peng Seo-jin nodded at the questioning Yeo Un-hwi.
“Yes, Brother-in-law. Starting today, we will gather every evening for a banquet for three days. It’s to strengthen our harmony. It would be just right to think of it as just relaxing and eating delicious food.”
“The atmosphere is different from what I expected. I thought a gathering would be a very serious affair.”
“Haha. On the surface, it appears so. No, it has to appear so.”
Peng Seo-jin continued with a smile.
“This is a gathering for appearances.”
“For appearances.”
“Yes. In other words, it’s a way of showing the world that the bond of our Five Great Families is still strong.”
As the gathering of the Five Great Families was created to keep the Murim Alliance and the Nine Sects One Alliance in check, such appearances were more important than anything.
Regardless of the actual content of the meeting, the fact that this gathering took place was the key point.
“I see.”
“In fact, at the gathering of the Five Great Families, you will have surprisingly little to do, Brother-in-law. Rather, it will be the family heads or successors like me who will be busy.”
“Hmm? Why is that?”
“Well, no matter how much of a gathering it is with no real substance, it’s still the first one in two years, and there will be various agendas to discuss. Haha.”
The progression of the meeting was always handled by the Jegal Clan, he said.
That certainly seemed to suit them.
A meeting of the family heads.
Perhaps because it was something he would have to do in the distant future.
For some reason, Peng Seo-jin’s smiling face looked very sad.
Letting out a small laugh, Yeo Un-hwi patted Peng Seo-jin’s shoulder and then looked out the window.
The lodgings were nice, but the scenery outside was quite beautiful.
“The Namgung Family.”
It was a strange thing.
To think that he, who had been the Blood Demon, would come to the Namgung Family like this.
In any case, as the Namgung Family was the representative family of the Five Great Families, its influence in the Murim was immense.
Although the Peng Family and the other families are not far behind in the present day, the perception that the head of the Five Great Families was always the Namgung was strong.
The current family head, the Sword Emperor, was also evaluated as a figure who was in no way inferior to the successive family heads who had brought glory to the Namgung Family.
“Hmm, then there’s plenty of time until the evening banquet.”
“That’s right, isn’t it? I have to assist my father, but the White Wolf Unit and you can rest, Brother-in-law.”
“Is that so? Well, in that case, I should go out for some fresh air.”
“Fresh air?”
Yeo Un-hwi pointed out the window toward the tilting head of Peng Seo-jin and showed a grin.
“It’s a fine day, isn’t it?”
...Yes, it is a fine day. Though I was the one who said you could rest, I’m really envious, Brother-in-law.”
Peng Seo-jin’s shoulders drooped, and Yeo Un-hwi burst into laughter once more.