Chapter 185: The Rising Stars of the Great Clans (2)

“Um, about that…”

Murong Gun glanced at me with a subtly nervous look.

Just like with Bloodgrave Sword, the notoriously troublesome visitor at the Life-Extension Hall before—

The duplication of nicknames among martial artists was a serious matter, sometimes warranting a fight to the death.

“It’s not a widely known story, actually.”

“That’s fine. Please, go ahead.”

“Ahem, well! This is just something we at the Murong Clan happened to hear due to our not-so-bad relations with Mount Wudang.”

Murong Gun gave a slight cough before beginning his explanation.

“Are you perhaps familiar with the Taiji Sword Lord, Gwan Hyun?”

“Of course. Isn’t he the current Sect Leader of the Wudang Sect?”

Though there were absolute experts in Murim like the Three Venerables and the Five Kings—

There were also superlative masters who stood just below them, representing entire sects or regions, such as the Eight Lords, Six Devils, or Ten Talents.

The Taiji Sword Lord was one of the Eight Lords, just beneath the Five Kings.

And… he was also one of the people I absolutely had to kill.

‘In twenty years, he will be called the Sword Supreme. He must be eliminated.’

Unaware of my dark thoughts, Murong Gun continued speaking.

“It must have been about a year ago? The Taiji Sword Lord accepted a direct disciple.”

“Huh?!”

“You mean he did?”

Others around us reacted more strongly than I did.

For the leader of Wudang to disregard established rules and take on a disciple—that was an earth-shaking event in Murim.

“However, even though he was made a direct disciple, I heard he wasn’t taken in as a formal disciple of the main sect, but rather as an external family disciple. So there was a lot of internal conflict within the Wudang Sect at the time.”

“An external family disciple…?”

“But why go that far?”

Murong Gun shook his head slowly.

“That much, even I don’t know… Honestly, that’s probably why the rumor didn’t spread widely. I just happened to hear it by pure chance from an elder of the Wudang Sect who visited our main house.”

“Do you happen to know that person’s name?”

At my question, Murong Gun hesitated briefly.

“I think… the name was Han Baek. Since he’s from the external family, he didn’t receive a formal Daoist title.”

My eyes snapped wide open.

‘Han Mubaek!’

That nearly confirmed it.

‘So that’s where he was—he was with the Wudang Sect!’

I’d scoured all of Murim for traces of him but had found nothing—until now.

“Then, are you saying that this external family disciple named Han Baek was given the nickname Heavenly Divine Dragon?”

At Jegal Eun’s question, Murong Gun glanced at me again and replied in a crawling voice.

“I heard that Gwan Hyun personally bestowed the title on him.”

“Ah…”

“Uh…”

The other rising stars fell into awkward silence and began casting glances my way.

I raised my cup and smiled faintly.

‘Yeah, I get it.’

They were hoping to witness a fight between me and Han Mubaek.

But with the Sect Leader of Wudang involved, it no longer remained a personal duel.

This had become a matter of pride between the Namcheon Hundred Families and the Wudang Sect.

Murong Gun subtly attempted a compromise.

“Th-that is, Master Jin’s sword qi was so dazzling and resplendent… Perhaps the nickname Golden Heavenly Dragon suits you better than *Heavenly Divine Dragon*…?”

The others nodded in agreement.

Certainly, golden suited him more than the blue hue suggested by “Heavenly Divine.”

However—

“No.”

“……”

“……”

I looked around at the rising stars and grinned.

“I like the nickname Heavenly Divine Dragon better.”

Once again, the group fell silent.

If the person himself liked it and had proven worthy of it, what more could anyone say?

“R-right, of course.”

“Ah, by the way…”

Originally, I’d planned to shake these people off.

But I’d had a change of heart.

“If, by chance, you happen to meet ‘him’ in Luoyang… would you all, as esteemed young heroes, serve as witnesses?”

“……”

“……”

Everyone else gaped at me.

Because what I just said was basically a direct challenge to the Wudang Sect.

Jegal Eun tugged urgently at Baek Sang-ah’s sleeve.

“S-Sang-ah unnie? Is this really okay?”

She was asking why her bodyguard was acting on his own without being stopped.

“…It should be fine. Probably.”

“…??”

Jegal Eun couldn’t understand the serene expression on Baek Sang-ah’s face, as if she had already attained enlightenment.

This could stir up serious trouble between clans, and yet she looked completely unconcerned!

“Wudang Sect, huh. How intriguing.”

Naturally, Cheon Yura, with her chin propped on her hand, showed intense interest.

If one were to list the most renowned sword sects of any era, Wudang always made the top three.

“Fufufufu…”

“Hehehe…”

“……”

As the atmosphere grew stranger, Murong Gun hurriedly tried to change the subject.

“A-ahem, by the way… this young lady here, who exactly is she…?”

“Ah…”

So far, the conversation had revolved around me so much that, despite her striking presence, she hadn’t drawn much attention.

Cheon Yura introduced herself proudly.

“Moonlit Sword Blossom, Cheon Arang.”

Naturally, the expressions of the rising stars turned peculiar.

“M-Moonlit Sword Blossom?”

“Was there… someone like that among the Four Peaks?”

And the nickname sounded… well, a bit too old-fashioned.

Reading the room, Baek Sang-ah quickly stepped in to support Cheon Yura.

“She’s the inheritor of the Moon Maiden Sect, which was believed to be extinct.”

“All, the Moon Maiden Sect!”

“The legendary martial lineage said to have been annihilated by the Demonic Cult hundreds of years ago!”

While the younger martial artists expressed their admiration, Baek Sang-ah chimed in with her own reinforcement.

“She wears a mask because, even with just a sliver of a chance, her identity must never be revealed to the Demonic Cult. If you wish to join forces with us, you’ll need to respect that.”

“Indeed…”

“If Lady Baek guarantees her identity, then we have no reason to object.”

The younger martial artists nodded in agreement.

Given Baek Sang-ah’s status, her credibility was beyond doubt.

Just then, Paeng Yunho, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke.

“If she’s truly from the Moon Maiden Sect, wouldn’t it be better to bring Lady Cheon into our Cloud Dragon Society?”

Cloud Dragon Society?

“That’s a great idea!”

“If Master Jin joins as well, the prestige of the Cloud Dragon Society will be unshakable!”

I turned to Baek Sang-ah and asked, “What is this Cloud Dragon Society?”

“It’s, um, a private gathering of descendants from prominent clans across the Gangnam and Gangbuk regions.”

The group had roughly fifty members.

It wasn’t exclusive to just the Five Great Clans; heirs of semi-prominent clans could also join.

Within the Orthodox Faction, it held considerable influence.

Even Baek Sang-ah had her name on the roster, making it essentially a gathering of blue-blooded elites.

“If Master Jin, who has reached the Master Level Realm, joins, we can finally crush those bastards from Hidden Dragon Society once and for all! Hahaha!”

Hidden Dragon Society was said to be composed of younger martial artists from the Nine Great Sects and their associated families—known rivals to the Cloud Dragon Society.

“Hm, then would someone named Han Baek happen to be a member of this Hidden Dragon Society?”

“There’s a high chance. The Wudang Sect’s Head surely had the Orthodox Six Divine Dragons in mind when bestowing that title. To my memory, not one of the past Six Divine Dragons ever didn’t belong to the Hidden Dragon Society.”

“Hooooh…”

So, even if I didn’t run into Han Mubaek in Luoyang directly, joining these folks would eventually lead me to him?

‘Han Mubaek gained the Cult Leader’s trust by exploiting the Orthodox Faction for enormous gains. The likelihood he’s active in the Hidden Dragon Society is quite high.’

Having finished my calculations, I stood up and cupped my fists to everyone around me.

“To think you’d extend such a generous offer to a lowly escort warrior like myself—I’m truly overwhelmed. If you’ll have me, I shall devote my entire being to the prosperity of the Cloud Dragon Society!”

“Ooooh!”

“The birth of a new Six Divine Dragon isn’t far off!”

Talented young martial artists often stirred jealousy.

Namgung Cheong’s expression clearly darkened, standing in contrast to the cheers around us.

But if that person was on your side—and you had common enemies—it was something you could tolerate.

“Hahaha! Brother Jin, let us share a drink!”

“What an honor, Brother Hwangbo!”

Hwangbo Mun, who had previously lost to me, laughed heartily as he refilled my empty cup.

In that festive atmosphere, Baek Sang-ah quietly covered her face with her palm and muttered so softly it was almost inaudible.

“That’s not it, you idiots…”

How long had it even been since we met, and already we were calling each other brothers?

This was no different from opening your heart and showing your enemy your very soul.

The problem was that Baek Sang-ah was in no position to stop what was unfolding before her.

*Pat, pat.*

“……”

Cheon Yura gently patted Baek Sang-ah, as if to say she understood.

Which only irritated her more.

***

And so, the wild drinking party came to an end.

Somewhere within the guest inn, our group reconvened.

“Lady Baek, are you feeling unwell? Did you drink too much…?”

“No, that’s not it…”

Clutching her stomach, Baek Sang-ah waved her hand dismissively, signaling she was fine.

Cheon Yura looked at me quietly and asked,

“So, it seems like you suddenly changed our schedule. Are you planning to confront the Wudang Sect in Luoyang?”

“That’s not my intention.”

“Then what?”

“There’s someone in the Wudang Sect whose identity I must uncover. It’d be best if I could eliminate him, but even if I can’t, I at least need to know where he is.”

“You mean this Han Baek?”

“…Yes.”

“Hmmm…”

I watched Cheon Yura closely, trying to mask the pounding in my chest.

Even if he was a past-life connection, Han Mubaek was once her husband.

Though that relationship no longer continued in the present, she might still feel something for him.

Cheon Yura suddenly trailed off.

“For some reason… it’s just…”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“His name sounds like it’d feel satisfying to beat the crap out of.”

“……”

“Well, that kind of guy is your problem. As long as it doesn’t interfere with our plans, I don’t care.”

“Of course. I’m not foolish enough to confuse personal matters with our mission.”

“Then it’s fine.”

I stroked my chin and tilted my head.

“There’s just one thing that bothers me.”

“What is it?”

“Why would the Wudang Sect go to Luoyang at this time of all times?”

Among the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Clans, only the Zhongnan Sect and the Shared Sect near Sichuan—those adjacent to the Cult’s territory—had made formal moves.

The rest were watching the overall situation cautiously.

“There must be a reason. If they’re going to Luoyang instead of westward to Xi’an, it clearly suggests another motive.”

“…That makes sense.”

Both women nodded in agreement.

‘What could it be? In my past life, what happened in Luoyang around this time…?’

No matter how hard I thought, I couldn’t come up with an answer right now.

***

“Sect Leader, we’re nearly in Luoyang.”

“Are we now?”

A middle-aged man with a mix of black and white hair.

Everything about him radiated the aura of a Daoist master—he was the current Head of the Wudang Sect and a master of the Realm of Transformation, the Taiji Sword Sage, Gwan Hyun.

“The remnants of the notorious Soul-Cleansing Hall are said to be hiding here.”

“Indeed. We must take this opportunity to raise the banner of purging the demonic.”

“As you say, Master!”

“Truly worthy of the man who annihilated the Blood Sect decades ago!”

The younger masters of Wudang looked at Gwan Hyun with deep admiration.

But inside, Gwan Hyun felt quite differently.

‘…Sigh, and now they’ve got me cleaning up some lingering trash.’

Soul-Cleansing Hall.

As the name suggested, they were a group of hedonistic degenerates considered heretical outcasts in the Central Plains.

The problem was, they were followers of none other than the Colorful Flower Lord. Lord—one of the Ten Evil Lords.

‘What kind of information do they have that’s leading them to throw themselves into the Demonic Cult?’

Even if he was only among the lower ranks, the Colorful Flower Lord had once held a seat among the Ten Heavenly Lords.

What kind of intel his subordinates might hold was beyond Gwan Hyun’s grasp.

All he had been told was that it was information too dangerous to ignore.

‘If only First Order were here, we could have captured them easily. Such a shame he’s defected to the Demonic Cult.’

Gwan Hyun shook his head in frustration.

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