The Great Peng Waiting for the Typhoon (1)
Moyong Gang, who had descended between the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, me, and the ten thousand swords, looked at me and said.
“Keulkeulkeul. In my youth, I was called a madman many times, but even I never did anything as insane as you.”
Moyong Gang looked at the swords floating in the air and let out a small exclamation.
“I thought the stories left in the records were all complete lies…….”
Moyong Gang’s eyes looked like those of a child seeing the stars for the first time.
“……It feels like the records were lacking.”
Soon, he looked at me and said.
“The proof is already finished, so withdraw your sword. What do you even know about innate true energy that you use it so recklessly!”
I pointed at Jong Byeokgi.
“That man insulted me, my sect, and our great-grandmaster.”
“Are you planning to have a life-and-death feud here?”
“I will do exactly what the Diancang Sect would do if they were insulted. Jong Byeokgi! What would you do if your sect were insulted!”
“…….”
Moyong Gang, who smiled faintly at my appearance, turned his gaze to Jong Byeokgi.
“Long-faced Daoist brat. ……Apologize.”
Jong Byeokgi was filled with bewilderment at being told to apologize out of nowhere.
“……Who are you, elder, to interfere in the affairs of the Murim Alliance!”
“If you do not apologize now, neither you nor the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering will return whole. Do you not understand that?”
“Our Dragon-Phoenix Gathering is…….”
“Tsk, tsk. You really cannot be reasoned with.”
Moyong Gang reached his hand toward Jong Byeokgi and twisted it.
Crack.
Astonishingly, Jong Byeokgi’s arm, though he had been standing behind Ilmyeong, twisted in a direction it should not have bent.
“Kuaaaak!”
It was too destructive to be mere telekinesis, and if he had used remote force, Ilmyeong, who was using the rare divine art Vajra Indestructible Divine Art, had been blocking him.
No one present understood what method Moyong Gang had used.
“What is this! How dare you do such a thing and still…….”
Boom.
Jong Byeokgi had clearly been standing in the middle of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
Yet strangely, he alone flew into the wall as if tied to a rope and dragged away.
Thud.
“Keuheuk.”
“Is this enough?”
Moyong Gang looked back at me.
“Or shall I kill him myself?”
“…….”
“I find you interesting. I do not want to see you die or have your martial arts abolished. I am curious about both the sword art you use and you yourself.”
His eyes, visible through the human-skin mask, gleamed like a predator aiming at prey.
For a moment, chills ran down my spine, and I was at a loss for words.
“…….”
“If you want, I will kill that bastard even if it means going to war with Diancang. It would not be bad to cross hands with that long-faced Daoist brat of Diancang after so long.”
“!”
“!”
The faces of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering members turned pale.
They did not know his identity, but the way he spoke so plainly and calmly made it feel even more real and chilling.
I looked at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, now without Jong Byeokgi, and said.
“While Jong Byeokgi was speaking, no one from the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering stepped forward except Young Lady Moyong Seol. That must mean the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering also thinks similarly to Jong Byeokgi.”
Ilmyeong spoke as if wronged.
“……No! That is…….”
“Be quiet!”
Moyong Gang looked at me with a mischievous expression.
“I have met all sorts of people in my life, but this is the first time I have met someone as stubborn as you.”
“…….”
“Considering we only traveled together briefly, are you not taking far too great a payment?”
“If I am still intact after this matter ends, I will repay you.”
“Good. Remember those words.”
Moyong Gang nodded as if satisfied and spoke to the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
“Hey, you earthworm and chick-like riffraff. Do you truly have the inspection authority to investigate the origin of martial arts?”
“…….”
No one could open their mouths recklessly.
They held the fearless status of being the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering of the Murim Alliance, but after seeing a realm beyond the heavens, they could not speak carelessly.
“Mount Hua dust. You answer.”
Hwa Jeongsan furrowed his brow and said.
“As inspection envoys of the Murim Alliance…… we have the order of the murim world and…….”
“I asked if you have the authority, you rotten brat.”
“…….”
At Moyong Gang’s insult, Hwa Jeongsan’s face flushed bright red.
In the end, Ilmyeong intervened.
“Excuse me, but could you tell us who you are, elder?”
“Why? Are you weighing me up so you can press me down with Shaolin’s power if I seem easy?”
“…….”
Ilmyeong could not easily open his mouth at Moyong Gang’s attitude of mentioning Shaolin as if it were nothing.
“Young monk, if you have read through all of Shaolin’s Scripture Pavilion, you should know, should you not? That child’s martial art resembles the old records about the Taeul Sword Emperor.”
“…….”
Ilmyeong looked at the collapsed Jong Byeokgi.
“Were you planning to say you did not know? Shall I show you the records in our family?”
A strange light appeared in Ilmyeong’s eyes.
It seemed he had gained some clue from Moyong Gang’s words.
“Could you be……. Mo……!”
Then, as if he remembered something, he shook his head.
“……No. I know.”
“According to the records I saw, that child’s martial art is indeed the martial art of the Taeul Sword Emperor. And everyone in the murim world also knows that the Taeul Sect inherited the tradition of the Taeul Sword Emperor.”
The story of the Taeul Sword Emperor and the Taeul Sect had echoed throughout the world mainly as a target of mockery, so there was no murim person who did not know it.
“Do you have any objection to my opinion?”
Everyone’s gaze gathered on Ilmyeong.
“……I do not.”
With Ilmyeong’s words, the entire Taeul Sect began murmuring.
Jong Byeokgi, who had been embedded in the wall, walked forward while clutching his dangling arm.
His two eyes were filled with resentment toward the other party.
“Just who are you, elder, to do something like this!”
“Why are you curious about that?”
“Diancang does not forget grudges.”
“Keulkeul. Is the best you can do hiding behind that puppy-like brat Umun?”
Jong Byeokgi’s face gradually hardened.
Baek Umun was the current sect leader of the Diancang Sect.
And he dared casually call such a person a puppy?
“You said you would not regret it.”
Moyong Gang’s hand moved toward the area around his neck.
“What are you…….”
When Moyong Gang’s face was revealed, the faces of Jong Byeokgi and the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering turned ashen.
“W-Wind Earl Breaking Sword……!”
Moyong Gang gave a bitter smile.
“You dared interfere with my eccentric act. You must have been prepared to pay the price for that, yes?”
And Moyong Seol shouted as if screaming.
“G-Grandfather!”
Whether Moyong Seol called him or not, Moyong Gang spoke to the people on the platform.
“I, Moyong Gang, the current family head of the Moyong Family and the one fellow comrades of the murim world call the Wind Earl Breaking Sword, guarantee this. The martial art used by that child Jin Sowoon is certainly the martial art of the Taeul Sword Emperor, which has been passed down as legend.”
From various places on the platform came sobs that sounded like groans.
“Uheuheuheok!”
“Sob, sob, truly…….”
“……For such a thing to happen.”
There was not a single adult who did not wail loudly.
Even Hong Mungi, despite Moyong Gang being right in front of him, had his eyes closed and his head raised so that he would not show himself crying.
“Now it is enough, right?”
Moyong Gang looked at me again with a mischievous expression.
I carefully withdrew all of my martial arts.
“Your innate true energy did not break or anything, right?”
“……Yes, thanks to you, my dantian is also fine.”
“Good, good. That is truly fortunate.”
The one who steadied me when I was about to give up all hope was Moyong Gang, whom I had only met once.
“…….”
I could not help but be moved by the fact that he, someone I had no connection with even in my past life, was acting this way.
If my grandfather had been alive, would he have looked like this?
Playful and ill-tempered, but at truly important moments, someone who stood on my side…….
“Then now you and I need to settle our own account too, right?”
“Pardon?”
A fist flew in an instant, leaving me no time to dodge, and struck my abdomen and neck.
“Keuheuk…….”
I gathered my fading consciousness and opened my eyes wide, staring at him.
“Why…… exactly?”
“Since ancient times, a beating is the medicine for madmen. How dare you touch innate true energy recklessly?”
“No…… that was…….”
With those words as the last, my eyes closed.
#
The elders and hall masters of the Taeul Sect all gathered in Daehyeon Hall.
The enormous incident of “Jin Sowoon has learned the martial art of the Taeul Sword Emperor!” had erupted, but what they were actually waiting for right now was Moyong Gang.
Wind Earl Breaking Sword Moyong Gang.
He was not only an absolute expert of the murim world, but also a renowned elder of the murim world whom anyone who used a sword wished to meet at least once.
When Moyong Gang, still dressed like an herbalist, entered, all the people of the Taeul Sect rose from their seats.
Hong Mungi yielded the highest seat to Moyong Gang, but Moyong Gang shook his head.
“Do not do that. Leaving aside seniority in the murim world, are we not meeting now as the heads of our respective sects? Sect leader, do not be too humble.”
At his words, Hong Mungi took the highest seat, and Moyong Gang sat beside him.
“I do not know how to repay this grace.”
The Taeul Sect had nearly clashed with the Murim Alliance over the origin of the Taeul Sword Emperor’s martial art, and Moyong Gang had mediated by guaranteeing it in his own name and the name of his family.
It was no different from the Taeul Sect owing him a great debt.
“I merely said that what originally belonged to the Taeul Sect belonged to the Taeul Sect. Still, I feel as if a little of the weight on my heart has been lifted since it helped the Taeul Sect.”
“……Pardon? What do you mean by that…….”
“Hm? You did not know? Your sect’s Jin Sowoon saved my son’s life.”
“Pardon?!”
“!”
Hong Mungi’s gaze naturally turned to Jin Taesan, but Jin Taesan knew nothing about it either.
‘That damned brat. If he does something, can he not tell me about it?’
How shocked had he been when he found out that the old herbalist’s identity was Moyong Gang?
“I apologize. I did not know in advance. I will educate him again.”
“Haha, the fact that he achieved something so great and yet did not even tell his sect must mean he did not think helping someone was a big deal. Rather, it feels admirable, so sect leader, please do not worry too much.”
“T-Thank you.”
Everyone in the hall was probably the same, but Jin Taesan in particular was dumbfounded.
Even a hedgehog finds its own child pretty, and to him, Jin Sowoon was his precious son and eldest disciple like no other, but why was someone as great as Moyong Gang showing favor toward Jin Sowoon?
“In truth, my foolish son had gone to obtain an elixir for his son and fallen into danger. Jin Sowoon saved his life, and my son handed over the inner core of the fire tiger as repayment, but he refused it, saying how could he take away a father’s heart toward his son. How could I not take interest in someone who thinks that way?”
“?!”
“?!”
At the words “inner core of the fire tiger,” the expressions of the people became complicated.
They wanted to praise his boldness for not coveting another’s possession, while at the same time, they wanted to scold him for letting go of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Had he understood those feelings?
Moyong Gang chuckled and said.
“It is not exactly a replacement, but as a sign of gratitude, my son promised to give three Blue Clarity Pills to the Taeul Sect.”
“Ah……!”
“Huh!”
“How can we possibly thank you enough!”
The people of the Taeul Sect gradually began to show more relaxed expressions.
“There is no need for that. I also know well that the inner core of the fire tiger cannot be compared to Blue Clarity Pills. That is why I personally came to the Taeul Sect to express my gratitude.”
“…….”
Life was truly strange.
If Jin Sowoon had accepted the inner core of the fire tiger.
And because of that, if Moyong Gang had not come to the Taeul Sect.
If the conflict with the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering had made them enemies with the Murim Alliance.
Would the Taeul Sect have been able to purely rejoice right now that the martial art of the Taeul Sword Emperor had returned?
“In addition, I have something I would like to propose to the sect leader.”
“What is it?”
“Since we are at it, how about we commemorate the exchange between our two sects by trying an exchange disciple arrangement?”
“…….”
An exchange disciple arrangement was when two different sects sent disciples to each other and exchanged teachings for the sake of martial arts exchange.
Usually, it was a system practiced by places like the Nine Great Sects and One Gang or the Five Great Families, which already possessed powerful martial arts, in order to fill in the areas where they were lacking due to being too one-sided, or to give their disciples more experience.
However, that was only possible between sects of similar scale and ability.
Between the Moyong Family and the Taeul Sect, even if they exchanged disciples, there was nothing for the Moyong Family to gain.
This meant Moyong Gang intended to bestow grace upon the Taeul Sect under the name of exchange disciples.
“Would that be all right?”
“What do you mean?”
“From our Taeul Sect…… there does not seem to be anything to learn……. We have not even seen the Taeul Sword Emperor’s martial arts yet…….”
“Haha, what are you saying, sect leader? What I want the children to learn is not the martial arts of the Taeul Sect. If it is martial arts, the Moyong Family already has more than enough.”
It was an arrogant statement, but because Moyong Gang was the one saying it, it did not sound particularly conceited.
“Then what is it?”
“The spirit of the Taeul Sect.”
“Pardon?”
Moyong Gang erased his usual mischief and spoke with a benevolent expression.
“I heard that something similar happened at the Iron Sword Sect before.”
Jin Taesan and Kang Chaeseok recalled that day and nodded slightly.
“When one’s sect is insulted, it is a situation anyone would be indignant about. However, even when the opponent is far stronger than oneself, staking everything and becoming indignant is not something one can easily do.”
Hong Mungi nodded unconsciously.
“I think drawing up even innate true energy without considering what came after was wrong, but because of the single move that child Jin Sowoon made this time, from now on, no one from the Murim Alliance, including the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, will be able to insult the Taeul Sect without staking their life, will they not?”
“Ah…….”
“The Moyong Family has never received such an insult. However, that was possible because we are powerful. I want our children to always stand proudly like Jin Sowoon, even before those stronger than the Moyong Family.”
“…….”
The elders and hall masters all pressed their mouths shut.
It was because they found it difficult to control the emotions welling up from Moyong Gang’s praise.
Hong Mungi also felt tears rise as he thought of Jin Sowoon, so he quickly pointed at Jin Taesan.
“Ahem, if that is the case, that man over there, the hall master of the Outer Hall, would know well. He is Jin Sowoon’s father.”
At Hong Mungi’s words, Moyong Gang looked at Jin Taesan with strange eyes.
“Hehe, I know.”
A mischievous smile appeared on Moyong Gang’s lips.
“Just what kind of education does one give for a child to grow up like that?”
“……Senior’s praise is far too generous. I do not know what to do with myself.”
“I am asking because I am truly curious. I happened to travel with that child and played a few pranks, but did he not ask this Wind Earl Breaking Sword whether I wanted to taste a warrior’s fist? Please tell me the secret to raising him so fearlessly.”
“Pardon?!”
Jin Taesan was shocked.
The expressions of the others were not much different from Jin Taesan’s.
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