Chapter 186

Jin Wikyung and Wipeng.

The longer my story went on, the more openly their emotions showed.

Shock. Disbelief. Then shock all over again.

“Th-That’s really true?”

I’d been talking for so long that I was exhausted.

“It’s one hundred percent pure truth. Believe me.”

Wipeng, who had been sitting there in a daze, suddenly lunged at me.

“Third Young Master, if any of this is a lie, I swear one of us is going to die—and then the other one will too.”

“I told you, it’s one hundred percent true. One hundred percent!”

“No, but still…”

“Not a single speck of falsehood. One hundred fucking percent!”

“…”

Wipeng faltered, his face saying, Why do I suddenly feel so dirty?

I waved the sword and martial arts manual at him.

The last thing I could do was give him time to think it over.

“If you still don’t believe me, inspect them yourself. The Flame Divine Palm manual and a sword made of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron!”

“Gasp! Put those away. Now!”

A vampire wouldn’t have reacted that strongly to a cross shoved in its face.

“What’s wrong?”

Wipeng stared at me in horror.

“You’re telling me to inspect the Flame Divine Palm manual? Are you trying to get our entire family wiped out?”

“Oh, right. There was that.”

Anyone who stole a look at the Fire King’s signature martial art would get a taste of the heat—enough to set their entire body on fire.

“Anyway, it’s all true. There are witnesses right here. Isn’t that right?”

Hyuk Mujin, who had been sitting in the corner like a corpse, cautiously raised his hand.

“Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but it is all true.”

Cheongpung, busy cramming some unidentifiable snack into his mouth, spoke with a solemn expression.

“Uh-oh-wa-uh-oh!”

“…”

I doubted that testimony would carry much weight. More importantly, how long was that bastard planning to keep eating? Was his stomach some kind of bottomless jar?

“Wipeng, it seems Taekyung is telling the truth.”

At Jin Wikyung’s words, Wipeng nodded, his expression complicated.

“Yes. As difficult as it is to believe… I don’t see how we can doubt him.”

“The Fire King. The Fire King himself…”

Jin Wikyung let out a long breath. After a moment’s hesitation, he picked up the Unnamed Sword from the table.

Shing.

A pure-white blade slid free of its rough scabbard.

As Jin Wikyung studied the frost-sharp edge, he murmured, “It smells of blood.”

I had almost forgotten.

Before he was the Lesser Family Head of the Jin Family of Taiyuan, Jin Wikyung was a swordsman.

Without needing an Item description window like I did, he had accurately read the weapon’s condition. He slid the sword back into its scabbard.

“Taekyung.”

“Yes.”

I straightened.

If Jin Wikyung called me Taekyung instead of my youngest, it meant he was about to say something serious.

“Do you know what these objects are?”

“Precious treasures, aren’t they? The kind that would be difficult to obtain even for a thousand pieces of gold.”

A Supreme Peak martial art with the power to dominate the world and a peerless sword forged from Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron.

The Murim martial artists I knew would risk their lives to obtain these things.

Jin Wikyung shook his head.

“Wrong.”

“What?”

“These are ghostly objects. They take away a person’s soul and drive them mad.”

“Oh.”

“Do you know the name of that ghost?”

I muttered the answer.

“Greed.”

“Yes. Greed. A tenacious, dangerous creature that dwells in every human heart.”

I knew.

I had experienced it myself. How could I not know?

On that day several years ago, greed had taken root in my heart, and because of it, I had lost people close to me.

“I don’t know why the Fire King entrusted such dangerous objects to you, but… everything concerning them must be kept absolutely secret. Do you understand?”

His eyes and posture were directed solely at me, but the warning was meant for everyone in the room.

Me, Hyuk Mujin, and finally Cheongpung.

As though we had made a promise, we answered at the same time.

“Yes.”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Lesser Family Head.”

“Ah-uh-ah-hae-ho, ma-ah-hae-oh.”

…

That damn mouth of his. I ought to just—

Jin Wikyung drew back the heavy curtain. Through the lattice window, he watched Jin Taekyung’s retreating figure.

Sunlight struck the rough scabbard strapped across Taekyung’s back and shattered into fragments.

“The weather is fucking beautiful.”

“Didn’t you say it was fantastic earlier?”

“That was then. They mean nearly the same thing anyway.”

“This one sounds rather different.”

“Don’t nitpick when you know perfectly well what I mean. Come to think of it, why are you still here when you said you were leaving?”

Wipeng answered wearily.

“Don’t you start nitpicking either, my lord. My thoughts are tangled enough already.”

The same could be said for both of them.

Looking as if he had aged ten years, Jin Wikyung muttered, “What in the world is going on?”

“I would like to know that myself.”

Looking back on everything that had happened to the Jin Family of Taiyuan over the past year—no, barely half a year—it was enough to make a man wonder if some demon had descended upon them.

“After everything else, now the Fire King has appeared.”

“I hear he is extraordinarily eccentric. I’m worried his wrath may fall upon our family.”

“Then we’ll have to turn that danger into an opportunity.”

Jin Wikyung ran his fingers over his teacup. To anyone watching, he would have appeared lost in thought, but his lips were moving almost imperceptibly.

How is that matter progressing?

Recognizing the Sound Transmission, Wipeng played along naturally.

“The tea has gone cold. Shall I have them bring you another cup?”

We haven’t discovered anything yet.

“It’s fine. This is still drinkable.”

What about the surviving remnants?

“You’ll ruin your health if you keep doing that.”

Most of them died during the interrogation.

“You’re the only one who worries about my health.”

How many remain?

“Shouldn’t I at least look after you, with the Lady of the House not here?”

Three.

Jin Wikyung’s fingers went still.

The news was so unexpected that, for a moment, he forgot to continue the spoken conversation.

Only three?

Wipeng sighed and nodded.

They had a far more powerful restriction placed on them than expected. I’m sorry to say this, but… my abilities aren’t enough.

It isn’t your fault. Our family simply lacks the necessary capabilities.

Give me your orders.

Jin Wikyung’s throat went dry.

Stop the interrogations. Keep them alive by any means necessary. For now, those men are our only physical evidence.

As you command.

Jin Wikyung closed his hand around the cold teacup.

The trembling surface of the tea reflected a distorted, featureless face.

Just like them.

Dark Heaven…

He didn’t know where, how, or why they had done such a thing.

He was flailing at empty air without learning a single thing.

Yet one suspicion in Jin Wikyung’s mind was steadily hardening into certainty.

They are extremely dangerous. Targeting Shanxi Province was only the beginning.

The Head Elder had endured for years, biding his time. Yet the outcome was far too paltry for a grand design decades in the making.

Jin Wikyung had realized that only after the thrill of victory faded.

This was… too easy.

It had been the perfect opportunity to seize an entire province.

Yet Dark Heaven had never shown themselves, as though this alone had been enough for them.

What in the world are they after?

For now, there was no way to know.

He could only hope he had overestimated them.

“My lord?”

“Ah.”

“You’ve been away from your seat for too long. The guests are waiting.”

“…Is that so?”

At Wipeng’s prompting, Jin Wikyung drained his teacup in one gulp and rose.

“Let’s go.”

The gathering was for the Jin Family of Taiyuan.

For now, they could allow themselves to savor the joy of victory.

Winter days were short. I had only just returned to the Jin Family of Taiyuan, but the sun was already beginning to set.

Come to think of it, I haven’t trained properly in days. Not unless circulating my qi counts.

I was loosening up by practicing martial arts in the training ground attached to my pavilion when some unexpected guests arrived.

“Benefactor!”

“Benefactor!”

“…?”

What was that, an echo?

I turned toward the voices.

“I’m here!”

Cheongpung was smiling brightly, his mouth covered in a thick layer of some mysterious sauce. And then there was…

“Benefactor! It’s me, Socheon!”

“It has been a while, Young Hero Jin.”

“Huh?”

They were Gong Yacheong and Socheon, survivors of the Sakju Branch.

A sudden rush of happiness swept over me at the sight of those familiar faces.

It feels like someone’s missing, though.

As I tilted my head, a whining voice rose from below the stone wall blocking my view.

“Me too! Soyul wants to see Uncle too!”

“Wait a moment.”

Gong Yacheong bent down, scooped something up, and hoisted it onto his shoulders.

It was Soyul. The little girl beamed and waved at me.

“Uncle!”

“Oh, you’ve grown a lot.”

“You’ve grown a lot too, Uncle!”

“Thanks. But I’m not an uncle.”

“Anyone can tell you’re an uncle!”

“…Right.”

What did it matter whether I was an uncle or not?

Chuckling, I walked over to them.

“Has everyone been well?”

Gong Yacheong answered with a faint smile.

“Of course.”

He still looked somewhat gaunt, but there was color in his face. He was clearly doing far better than when he had been poisoned and hovering at death’s door.

The kids seem to be doing well too.

Socheon was at the age when children shot up, and he had grown another half a handspan¹ since I’d last seen him. Soyul’s cheeks were nice and plump.

And Cheongpung’s stomach had swollen into a round little belly from all the food he’d eaten.

“…”

Right. Eat well and grow big.

Twenty was still a growing age, after all.

“What brings all of you here?”

Socheon answered as though he’d been waiting for me to ask.

“Martial Artist Hyuk requested it. The banquet is about to begin, but he has to report for guard duty, so he asked us to deliver the message in his place.”

“Oh, the banquet.”

I vaguely remembered hearing about it earlier. There was supposed to be a grand banquet that evening.

Cheongpung, who had been licking the sauce from around his mouth, suddenly looked shocked.

“Gasp! Really?”

“…What? Didn’t you come here because you already knew?”

“No. If I’d known, I would’ve eaten less!”

Soyul also opened her eyes wide in shock. The candied treat in her hand slipped to the ground.

“No! Soyul’s full too!”

“…”

From their reactions, I could make a pretty good guess where the two of them had met.

“So, when does it start?”

“Less than half an hour from now, Benefactor.”

“Benefactor, hurry! I’ve never been to a banquet before!”

“Where is it?”

“In front of the new Grand Training Ground, Benefactor.”

“They said it’s in front of the Grand Training Ground, Benefactor!”

“Oh, there.”

I set down the practice spear in my hand and firmly secured the bundle beside me across my back.

The bundle, of course, contained the sword entrusted to me by the Fire King.

“Let’s all go.”

I started walking, only to stop short. I’d just remembered something I’d been meaning to say.

“Oh, and one more thing…”

“Please speak, Benefactor.”

“What is it, Benefactor?”

I heaved a deep sigh.

“Only one of you should call me Benefactor. It’s confusing.”

They were like a pair of parrots.

Without taking even a second to think, the two Benefactor parrots nodded.

“I’ll remember that, Benefactor.”

“Okay, Benefactor.”

“…”

No, think before you answer.

The Grand Training Ground.

True to its name, it was the largest training ground in the family, and it was packed shoulder to shoulder with people.

“What the hell? Why are there so many?”

I thought only invited guests were allowed in.

Cheongpung answered my question.

“I heard from the cook earlier that the Lesser Family Head said everyone should celebrate together on such a wonderful day, so he ordered them to let in all the people waiting outside too.”

“All of them?”

“Yes. The cook got really angry. He said the Lesser Family Head didn’t have any sense and shouldn’t run his mouth when he wasn’t going to help with the cooking.”

Soyul, happily sucking on a candied treat, chimed in.

“That’s right! He even gave Soyul a candied treat and told her not to tell anyone!”

“…Then why are you telling us?”

“Gasp!”

I shook my head and kept walking.

Before I had gone more than a few steps, a martial artist from the Jin Family approached.

“We will escort the two Young Masters to their seats.”

“I don’t mind watching from anywhere. I suppose that isn’t allowed?”

“No, Young Master. It is the Lesser Family Head’s order.”

Given the occasion, there was no helping it.

I exchanged brief farewells with Gong Yacheong and the others, then followed the martial artist to the seat prepared for me.

Mine was one of the places of honor reserved for a select few distinguished guests.

Which, of course, meant…

“Martial Uncle Cheongpung, Young Master Jin. We meet again so soon.”

The Three Plum Blossom Elites were among them.

Baek Museong had his junior disciples seated on either side of him. He greeted us with a fairly friendly expression.

“We didn’t get a proper chance to introduce ourselves earlier, did we? I’m Eunhyang.”

System

Level: 75

Eunhyang

She was probably around the same age as my younger sister, Hayeon.

No sooner had I finished greeting her than a sullen voice cut in.

“Damn it. You’re sitting next to me?”

It was Chulwoo, a massive man whose bulk made the seat itself look cramped.

“Why? Don’t like it?”

“Would you?”

“I don’t like it either. That’s why I said it. Guess we agree on something.”

“Don’t say something so disgusting!”

“Then switch seats.”

“With whom?”

“Lots of people besides you would love to sit there. Switch with anyone standing down below.”

“You son of a bitch!”

“Did you just insult my parents? In the Jin Family of Taiyuan? Are you trying to pull a Jin-rula here?”

Chulwoo trembled with rage, but Baek Museong immediately rebuked him.

“You fool! What kind of outrageous language is that?”

“No, Senior Brother. It’s just…”

“Quiet. Young Hero Jin, I apologize on behalf of my Junior Brother. I also offer my apologies to Martial Uncle Cheongpung.”

Cheongpung, who had been hiding behind me, cautiously poked his head out.

“I’m fine, Martial Nephew.”

I smiled gently as well.

“I’m fine too. His blood is bound to run hot at that age. We should be understanding.”

“You’re five years younger than me, you little punk! What did you just say?”

“Young Hero Baek, if it isn’t too much trouble, could you switch seats with me? I’m a little afraid to sit beside him…”

“Second!”

“Whoo. Whoo-hoo.”

I dropped into the seat beside the snorting Chulwoo.

Chulwoo to my right, Cheongpung to my left.

What a spectacular arrangement.

Where is Jin Wikyung?

I looked around, but there was no sign of Jin Wikyung or Wipeng.

Then—

Boom!

The martial artists of the Jin Family surrounding the Grand Training Ground began striking their weapons.

There were more than three hundred of them. A blade-sharp aura and wave-like spirit surged from their ranks.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Like drums pounding across a battlefield, the sound grew louder and louder until it swallowed every other noise.

And then…

BOOM!

With the loudest thunderclap yet, the human curtain split apart.