Chapter 118: New Star Exchange Meeting (1)

The true strength of the Nine Sects is created by the senior officials, including the current sect leaders, and the reclusive masters who have retired from the front lines and are enjoying a life of leisure.

In particular, the divine authority of the reclusive masters who are said to be enjoying a life of leisure is truly close to the rank of immortals, so it could be said that it is nearly impossible to measure the true prestige of the Nine Sects in the current Murim.

If one thinks based on this standard, my thought of considering the decline of the Nine Sects based on the achievements of the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly is wrong, and Dancheon Hak’s words praising the grandeur of the Nine Sects would be correct.

I am also not in a position to wish for the decline of the Nine Sects.

However, it would be closer to the truth to say that I, who had experienced the Great War of Righteousness and Evil and returned, found it difficult to feel warmly toward the reclusive old masters of the Nine Sects.

* * *

“Don’t you have any thoughts?”

“About what?”

“The New Star Exchange Meeting.”

“Hmm.”

Although lacking compared to Dancheon Myeong, who had reached the Fifth Stage, Myeong-gae was also a martial artist without any shortcomings.

This was because at the age of twenty-three, he had become a branch leader of the Beggar’s Gang and had already set foot in the Peak Realm.

The attendance criteria for the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly, which is treated as the pillar of the Jianghu Murim, is to reach the Peak Realm before the age of thirty, which means he more than met the requirement.

And he also had the background of the Beggar’s Gang, which was no less than the Nine Sects.

“If you wish, I will try to use my influence to get you to attend the New Star Exchange Meeting.”

Chwipung-gae always bickered with me, but I knew that he cared for me.

“I have no need for it.”

“Hmm. Is that so.”

At that time, I was too busy arranging for the regression to have any thoughts of going.

“But why are they holding the New Star Exchange Meeting?”

However, just because I had no intention of going did not mean I was not curious.

“The strength of a sect should come from its active martial artists. But isn’t the strength of the Nine Sects becoming more and more reliant on the reclusive old masters?”

“Why is that?”

“Because they lock themselves up in the mountains and only train in martial arts.”

“Hmm.”

“Still, because the Nine Sects bastards are not complete idiots, they broaden the horizons of the young ones with things like the New Star Exchange Meeting.”

“Indeed.”

By nature, everyone is careful with their words when evaluating the Nine Sects, but the words of the Beggar’s Gang elder, Chwipung-gae, were unrestrained.

“Come to think of it, there’s no need for you to attend.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I will roll you around more than that. Isn’t real combat the best?”

“…….”

Anyway, that was Chwipung-gae’s assessment of the New Star Exchange Meeting.

His insight and knowledge were truly profound, so his words would not be wrong.

* * *

“Brother, have you finished your preparations?”

“Hmph. Isn’t that obvious?”

Both Dancheon Hak and I received invitations to the New Star Exchange Meeting from Wudang.

Considering the purpose of the New Star Exchange Meeting, it was inevitable that the prodigies who had won the titles of Dragon and Phoenix would be at the top of the invitation list.

“I got one too.”

Brother Chun-baek also waved a letter.

“Although this Sir did not obtain the title of Dragon, considering his martial prowess and fame, it is natural that he be invited to the New Star Exchange Meeting. The Wudang bastards must have some discerning eyes.”

Dancheon Hak’s attitude was quite, no, very different from when he dealt with me.

The fact that it was not uncomfortable was because I knew my elder brother Dancheon Hak’s temperament and true heart to begin with, and also because I was pleased that he respected my close friend, Brother Chun-baek.

Wouldn’t the fact that my brother, who would become the future Dancheon Clan Head, is skilled in social conduct also be a factor in judging the future of the clan positively?

Anyway…….

My elder brother Dancheon Hak’s words would be right.

Excluding myself, the person who had sparred the most with Brother Chun-baek was Dancheon Hak.

It was inevitable that the two martial artists of similar age, who had stepped over the threshold of the State of Harmony at a similar time, would recognize and compete with each other.

The martial fame that Brother Chun-baek had already made known in the Jianghu Murim was such that it would not be an exaggeration to place it below the title of Dragon.

“You, are you going to attend?”

My elder brother Dancheon Hak asked me.

Brother Chun-baek’s gaze also turned to me, as if curious.

Considering my nature, it would be right to lean toward the choice of not attending.

Since I was already struggling with the goal of preventing the Great War of Righteousness and Evil, I had no time to spare to build relationships with the new generation of masters.

But…….

“I must attend.”

I will attend the New Star Exchange Meeting hosted by Wudang.

It was because there, I would have the opportunity to acquire Wudang’s secret treasure, the Taecheong Pill.

* * *

Late at night, I sought out my elder brother, Dancheon Hak.

Although I was on my way to find him, my steps were headed not toward his residence but toward the training ground.

It was late at night with the sun long set, but it was because I was certain that my elder brother Dancheon Hak would be at the training ground, not his residence.

It wasn’t something like intuition; it would be right to say it was an objective fact proven by cases accumulated over time.

Fwoong- Pat! Swat-!

There was a martial artist there, performing a sword dance, scattering beads of sweat that reflected the light in harmony with the moonlight.

Even to my eyes, which had mastered the Dancheon Sword Art through harsh training with Uncle Yeo Baek, a near-perfect Dancheon Sword Art, without a single flaw, was unfolding.

Fwoong-!

I could see how serious my brother’s training was.

It was because he, who was performing the Dancheon Sword Art, was not just swinging his sword.

Because Dancheon Hak’s sword forms were so exquisite, the mental image he was drawing was vividly visible even to my eyes.

Swat!

In front of Dancheon Hak, who was performing the Dancheon Sword Art, was Brother Chun-baek.

Tat!

My elder brother Dancheon Hak fought a truly fierce battle with the mental image of Brother Chun-baek.

Although it was a mental image, he was not pushed back by Brother Chun-baek’s sword, so I had no choice but to acknowledge my brother’s achievement.

After a struggle of a quarter of an hour.

“Hoo-”

Catching his breath and gripping his sword again, in front of my elder brother Dancheon Hak was the mental image of Uncle Yeo Baek.

Continuous fighting.

His mental image training resembled the training I had been doing recently.

The battle with the mental image of Uncle Yeo Baek did not become a fierce battle like the one with Brother Chun-baek’s mental image.

“Keuk.”

It seemed that the timing of Uncle Yeo Baek, which repeatedly cut off his own fighting style, was still difficult for him.

Although it was clearly my elder brother Dancheon Hak’s mental image, it seemed like I could see Uncle Yeo Baek’s characteristic expression of a mischievous smile as he cut off the fighting style.

“……Tsk.”

Seeing him reflect his own disadvantage even in mental image training, his training must be no different from real combat.

“Heok, heok.”

But my elder brother Dancheon Hak managed to endure for a quarter of an hour even against the mental image of Uncle Yeo Baek.

And then, another mental image appeared before him.

The Clan Head of the Dancheon Clan, my father, Dancheon Gang.

A fierce exchange of offense and defense came and went…….

“Keuk.”

Dancheon Hak knelt.

Unable to endure for even half a quarter of an hour, the mental image of my father Dancheon Gang disappeared.

I guessed it was right after the mental image of Dancheon Gang had pierced Dancheon Hak’s heart.

Still, to have exchanged over a hundred moves, even if only in a mental image, against my father Dancheon Gang, who was listed among the top hundred masters in the world, it was not a factor to belittle his achievement.

Dancheon Hak, who had knelt, raised his body again.

Squeeze-

In front of Dancheon Hak, who gripped his sword hilt so strongly that a sound could be heard, the mental image of an enemy began to take shape again.

‘Hmm.’

The final imaginary opponent he drew seemed to be me.

.

.

.

Because I did not want to disturb his training, I chose to observe while concealing my presence.

It is a discourtesy to secretly watch another person’s training, but since a long time has passed since we started training together, there would be no problem.

Shing- Thud.

Only after swinging his sword with all his might for well over half an hour did my elder brother Dancheon Hak sheathe his sword.

“Brother.”

Only then did I call out to Dancheon Hak.

Flinch.

As if he had just noticed my presence, Dancheon Hak was slightly startled.

“Wha-what is it?”

“What are you doing here?”

“I just couldn’t sleep, so I was taking a walk.”

“Is that so?”

Dancheon Hak answered calmly without wiping his sweat.

For a martial artist to hone his own martial arts is something to be proud of, but since I knew that Dancheon Hak wanted to keep this a secret, it would be right to pretend I didn’t know.

“What about you, what brings you all the way here?”

This training ground was far from my residence and close to Dancheon Hak’s, so his question was reasonable.

“I came looking for you, brother.”

“For me?”

A question mark appeared on Dancheon Hak’s face.

In truth, even though our relationship had recovered, it was rare for me to seek him out first.

I think there is no problem, because I know that’s how brothers are.

Hadn’t it been said that an affectionate brotherly relationship is a product of imagination, like a Qilin or a Haetae?

“Why were you looking for me?”

At his repeated question, I finally revealed the reason I had sought out Dancheon Hak.

“This, would you like to have it, brother?”

I asked, untying the legacy of the master craftsman Heavenly Artisan, the Dancheon Sword, which was tied to my waist.

It is the sword that Dancheon Hak, in his twenties, had scoffed at, asking why I was carrying around such a relic. It must be because the twenty-year-old Dancheon Hak had an eye no different from a knothole.

But now, five years later, I know that Dancheon Hak has an eye that befits his realm.

It means that he is one of the few people who know the true value of the Dancheon Sword.

Gulp.

“That, why are you giving it to me?”

My brother’s voice, which had always been bold, shouting ‘no questions asked,’ trembled slightly.

Nevertheless, not a trace of greed could be felt, so I knew that my elder brother Dancheon Hak had never coveted my treasures.

“I no longer have a need for it.”

That’s not wrong.

Now that the art of the Formless Sword has stabilized, it is because I have truly reached a realm where I do not need to rely on external things.

I know that this Dancheon Sword will be used much more valuablely in my brother’s hands now.

As I nodded slightly, my brother gripped the hilt of the Dancheon Sword.

Woooong-

At the same time, Dancheon Hak’s sword flux enveloped the Dancheon Sword.

“Hmm.”

As if he hadn’t known it would materialize so quickly, Dancheon Hak’s eyes widened slightly.

As it is a divine object of the master craftsman Heavenly Artisan, its ability is indeed legendary.

Although a martial artist of the State of Harmony can be said to be free from weapons, I couldn’t be unaware that it’s different when it comes to a divine object of the master craftsman Heavenly Artisan.

“……Why are you giving this to me?”

To Dancheon Hak’s question, I recited the answer I had prepared in advance.

To be precise, it was a thought t

hat came to me when Baekmyeon was handing over the divine object of the Rogues’ Guild to Yeo-wol.

“When you become the Clan Head, brother, I would like you to make that sword a divine object of the clan.”

The legacy of the master craftsman Heavenly Artisan, the Dancheon Sword.

Whether by its name, its rarity, or its function, it is a sword that is not lacking to be made a divine object of the clan.

“…….”

Dancheon Hak’s gaze could not be torn away from the Dancheon Sword.

By nature, martial artists are a race that cannot refuse peerless spirit herbs and divine weapons.

Since my elder brother Dancheon Hak still cherished the famous sword he had seen at the time of the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly, there was no room for doubt that he would handle the Dancheon Sword with care.

“Are you really giving it to me?”

Dancheon Hak asked in a voice that seemed unable to believe it.

I decided not to give an answer.

It was because I knew that sometimes, time is needed for something to feel real.

“My business is done, so I’ll be going.”

A small voice was heard from behind my departing figure after a glance at Dancheon Hak.

“Thank you.”

I knew that if I pretended to hear, he would be even more embarrassed, so I decided to pretend I didn’t hear.

* * *

The Clan Head’s Chamber of the Dancheon Clan.

“Tsk.”

In that space, which always maintained its solemnity, the sound of a tongue clicking echoed loudly.

Normally, it would be an unimaginable event, but no one could reprimand the one who had clicked his tongue.

It was because the one who had forgotten his dignity and was repeatedly clicking his tongue was none other than the master of the Dancheon Clan, the Clan Head Dancheon Gang.

As the Clan Head Dancheon Gang, who always maintained a poker face and solemnity, wrinkled his face and repeatedly clicked his tongue, a sense of tension appeared on the faces of the family members.

It was because when someone who doesn’t usually act that way does, it’s even scarier.

“Please relax your expression. Can’t you see the family members are on edge?”

Just in time, a savior for the family members appeared.

It was the personal guard of the Dancheon Clan Head and the captain of the Dancheon Clan’s escort squad, Bang Yeo-baek.

He was one of the few people who could speak his mind frankly to the Clan Head.

“You’re here?”

Only when Bang Yeo-baek appeared did a little color return to Dancheon Gang’s face. It was because he finally had someone to talk to.

“Yeo Baek.”

“Yes.”

“I ask you, which clan sends out its only two successors into the turbulent Jianghu together?”

“Pardon?”

Bang Yeo-baek, who did not understand, asked back, but Dancheon Gang did not give an answer.

Since it was not a question seeking an answer to begin with, Dancheon Gang continued speaking with a heated intensity.

“To invite the clan’s only two direct descendants to the same event, doesn’t this mean that the superiority complex of those Nine Sects bastards has gone too far? It would be right for me to cut off the beards of those Wudang bastards.”

“Hahaha…….”

Bang Yeo-baek, who finally understood, let out an awkward laugh.

That’s right.

Dancheon Gang was not pleased with the current situation.

In a word, it was the heart of a father worried about his children.

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