Chapter 19

System

Quest

War

A war that will decide the fate of two families has begun.

In Murim, strength is the only way to prove yourself! Those who survive are strong, and only the strong will survive.

May fortune favor you in battle.

Grade: Main Quest
Restriction: Jin Taekyung
Mission: Surrender or destruction of the Mount Heng Sword Sect (Incomplete)
Reward: ???
Failure: ???

Jin Wikyung spoke as I stared fixedly at the Quest Window.

“You look very tired.”

Tired? I was amazed that my current state of mind could be summed up in such a simple word.

Instead of answering, I looked at the steaming teacup.

The water’s already been spilled.

I had done my best, but I hadn’t been able to stop the war. The family council had turned into a war council, and with the Head Elder’s full support, Jin Wikyung had taken command without hesitation.

Martial artists of the Jin Family of Taiyuan, assemble at the main family residence immediately!

Around daybreak, dozens of messenger pigeons took to the sky and messengers rode hard on horseback. A tight security net spread across the area.

When the family council finally broke up amid that tense atmosphere, Jin Wikyung, Wipeng, and I moved to the Lesser Family Head’s office.

“It was bound to happen someday. This isn’t your fault, Taekyung.”

Jin Wikyung’s warm words almost brought tears to my eyes. Not because I was moved, but because I felt so wronged.

Of course it wasn’t my fault!

And while we were on the subject, why the hell did that “bound to happen someday” have to happen now?

While I fumed inwardly, Wipeng suddenly spoke.

“My lord.”

“What is it?”

“The Head Elder… I simply cannot fathom his intentions.”

The Head Elder. The instant I heard that name, every other thought vanished. Of all the NPCs I had encountered in this game, he was the most unsettling.

At times, he seemed genuinely devoted to the family. At others, he reeked of a politician maneuvering for his own benefit.

I cautiously asked, “What kind of person is the Head Elder?”

“He is a martial artist of a high realm, and his schemes run deep. You could call him one of the most dangerous kinds of people in Murim.”

“He’s that dangerous?”

Jin Wikyung nodded gravely.

“Even the other Elders are little more than the Head Elder’s hands and feet. He rarely reveals himself, yet he has used the Council of Elders to win over influential members and bring them under his command. He has been doing so for decades.”

“Then his supporting us at the family council…”

“We cannot know for certain, but he must have some ulterior motive. Of that, I am sure.”

“We should have killed them all.”

Wipeng cut in abruptly, his voice cold.

“They are disloyal rebels. When the Head Elder proposed killing them, I honestly hoped you would accept.”

I had felt the same way. But that had merely been the Head Elder’s clever way of speaking—a suggestion that perhaps we should back down at this point.

If Jin Wikyung had pretended to be insane and accepted that proposal, the result would have been obvious.

“A bloodbath would have followed.”

“I know. That’s why I held back.”

The Jin Family of Taiyuan’s leadership would have split in two and continued fighting until they killed one another. If we lost, we would die. Even if we won, we would suffer tremendous damage.

Maybe that was exactly what the Head Elder wanted.

The Head Elder. An invisible hand.

The thought sent a chill down my spine. It fit the image I had formed of him perfectly.

A hyena of a politician, stepping back and waiting for his moment.

Jin Wikyung tilted his teacup.

“But that is only a guess. We do not know what the Head Elder truly intends. He is still one of the family’s elders, and a powerful ally. Be wary of him, but do not make an enemy of him. For now, we need to overcome the situation rather than distrust everyone around us.”

He was telling me to see the forest, not the trees.

The problem was, the forest itself wasn’t exactly in good shape.

As if he had read my thoughts, Wipeng brought up that very subject.

“The situation is grim as well. According to our outside sources, rumors that Lee Seogeun was poisoned to death are spreading, and our family’s reputation is plummeting.”

“In only half a day?”

“Yes. All of Shanxi Province is in an uproar.”

Concern clouded Jin Wikyung’s face.

“That is fast. Far too fast. Someone is definitely behind this.”

There was no internet here, and yet rumors had already spread across this vast land. It was certainly strange.

An invisible enemy.

Who could it be? A third faction? A scheme staged by the Mount Heng Sword Sect itself?

I hoped it was the latter if possible. Nothing was more dangerous than an enemy who remained unseen.

“The public still seems unsure what to believe, but the other sects…”

“Still no replies?”

Wipeng lowered his head instead of answering.

As soon as Jin Wikyung learned of Lee Seogeun’s poisoning, he had sent requests for aid to the other small and mid-sized sects in Shanxi Province. Apparently, every last one of them had come to nothing.

This just keeps getting worse.

Do I really need to run?

I was looking out the window, thinking that, when—

Flap, flap.

A pigeon landed on the windowsill with a flutter of wings.

“…Looks like we got a reply.”

The Jin Family of Taiyuan.

As the carriage approached the grand signboard emblazoned with majestic calligraphy and the martial artists guarding the main gate with stern auras, the coachman slackened the reins.

“Stop! State your identity and purpose!”

The gate guard called out loudly and blocked the carriage. Given the circumstances, there was tension in his voice.

And there was something else.

They’re no ordinary visitors.

The coachman holding the reins gave off the unmistakable air of a trained martial artist, while the four-horse carriage was both lavish and dignified.

But why do they look familiar?

The coachman and the carriage alike. Where had he seen them before?

The question vanished the moment he saw the coachman’s sharp eyes. That aura, that gaze. This was certainly no ordinary visitor.

The gate guard swallowed and spoke again.

“Please state your identity and purpose.”

The carriage door opened, and a red silk slipper touched lightly to the ground.

Then a voice as gentle as a spring breeze drifted into the guard’s ear.

“I’m from Honghwaru. My name is a secret.”

Her face appeared along with her voice.

The gate guard’s eyes went glassy. He wasn’t the only one. Everyone who saw the woman reacted the same way.

A vacant voice escaped the gate guard’s mouth.

“Ah, a secret… Then what brings you here?”

The woman—Wolhwa—answered with a bewitching smile.

“Hmm. To collect an unpaid tab?”

“How have you been? Didn’t you miss me?”

I froze halfway to my feet.

A face I could never forget. And one that had no business being here.

“Wolhwa?”

The first NPC I had met in this game. A courtesan at Honghwaru and my—Jin Taekyung’s—pinky.¹ That thing.

Why is noona² coming out of there…?

“So you do remember me. Our Young Master Jin.”

Wolhwa giggled. She was pretty, her laugh was pretty, and when a pretty girl laughed, she looked even prettier…

No, this is not the time for that.

I whispered in a hushed voice.

“What are you doing here? No, forget it. Leave. Get out.”

I nudged Wolhwa repeatedly with my elbow.

This is driving me insane.

Of all times, she had to show up now.

The entire family was on high alert. If word got around that I had summoned a courtesan, I couldn’t even imagine what would happen to my reputation. Just thinking about it made me dizzy.

“Stop poking me. It tickles.”

“Fine, so hurry up and leave. There are other people here. What are you trying to pull, barging in all of a sudden? We’re expecting an important guest, too.”

The timing was goddamn awful. I was in the Lesser Family Head’s office, waiting for a guest from a sect called the Lower District Sect.

Naturally, Jin Wikyung and Wipeng were there with me.

“Taekyung.”

Jin Wikyung called my name. Without even turning around, I hurriedly waved my hands.

“Ah, it’s not what you think. I didn’t call her. She says she’s leaving now. Right?”

Wolhwa’s laughter rose in pitch.

“Our Young Master Jin is as adorable as ever. But you’ve got it wrong. I came here on business.”

“Hey, none of that ‘our Young Master Jin’ stuff. I’m going to live chastely from today onward. I won’t have any business with your side anymore, so hurry up and leave.”

“Hmm. No.”

Then there was no helping it. I would have to move her by force.

In desperation, I wrapped my arms around Wolhwa’s waist and hoisted her up—

“Huh?”

What the hell? Why couldn’t I lift her?

Wolhwa looked slender, but was she so big-boned that she weighed a lot?

That’s bullshit.

How high was my Strength stat? With pure physical strength alone, I could grind a rock into powder. And yet I couldn’t lift one female NPC, which meant—

“Taekyung?”

Ignoring Jin Wikyung’s second call, I furtively let go and heightened my Qi Sense.

“Ahahahahaha! This is driving me insane!”

As Wolhwa laughed herself to death, a Level Window appeared above her head. At the same time, I heard Jin Wikyung call my name for the third time.

System

Lv. 50 Eun Sowol

“Taekyung, greet her. She is the Branch Leader of the Lower District Sect’s Shanxi branch…”

Ah. Ahhh.

I want to die.

“Greetings. I am Wolhwa, Branch Leader of the Lower District Sect’s Shanxi branch.”

Eun Sowol.

No, for now, let’s just call her Wolhwa.

She was different from how she had acted until now. Every movement carried the grace and elegance of a noblewoman.

“I am Jin Wikyung of the Jin Family of Taiyuan.”

“I’m Wipeng.”

I kept my mouth shut like mute Samryong,³ and Wolhwa flashed me a grin.

It was an ominous grin.

Don’t. Don’t smile.

Don’t talk to me. Please don’t.

“It seems there is still one person I haven’t been introduced to.”

Her gaze stung. Someone stepped on my foot beneath the table.

Feeling as though I were coughing up blood, I forced myself to speak.

“…I’m Jin Taekyung.”

“Yes. I look forward to getting along with you too, Young Master Jin.”

“Ahem.”

With a cough, Jin Wikyung glanced at me.

“I didn’t realize you were acquainted with my younger brother.”

“He’s a regular at our establishment—the Honghwaru in Taiyuan. It also serves as our sect’s Shanxi branch.”

“Ah. A regular…”

I avoided everyone’s gaze. Wolhwa let out a burst of laughter, then brought up the real subject.

“Shall we talk business now?”

I had felt it several times before, but she really was a refreshingly direct woman. Jin Wikyung and Wipeng also turned their attention away from me and joined the conversation.

“First, allow me to offer my sincere thanks for the Lower District Sect’s assistance.”

“Think nothing of it.”

“But may I ask why you wish to help our family?”

Wolhwa smiled sweetly at Jin Wikyung’s question.

“The reason… I will tell you if necessary. First, we are doing this for our sect’s benefit.”

“Benefit. What specific compensation do you want?”

“Half of the shops and assets owned by the Mount Heng Sword Sect.”

“Good.”

“My lord!”

Wipeng hurriedly stepped forward, but Jin Wikyung paid him no heed.

Even Wolhwa looked slightly surprised.

“That was quick.”

“I have wagered everything our family has.”

“Has this already been agreed upon?”

“I am the Lesser Family Head. With Father absent, I hold the authority of the acting Family Head.”

“I hear the opposition within your family is considerable. The Council of Elders, for example?”

“As expected of the Lower District Sect. Your information travels fast.”

“It cannot be helped. Information is essential if one hopes to survive in this harsh Murim. We need at least this much savvy to make a living, don’t we?”

As I watched Wolhwa smile, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

That information. Did I—or rather, did Jin Taekyung—let it slip?

I had been wondering where I had heard the name Lower District Sect before. It was one of those information-gathering sects that appeared all the time in martial-arts novels. In other words, Wolhwa, its Branch Leader, was a veteran information broker.

On top of that, she was an outstanding Level 50 martial artist. A woman like her had disguised herself as a courtesan to meet a guy like Jin Taekyung?

Even a dog would laugh at that.

I stared at Wolhwa.

She was dazzling enough to make me wonder if a goddess had descended from heaven. Every time she smiled, I thought of a rose. Only now could I see the sharp thorns hidden beneath all that splendor.

Jin Wikyung spoke, his expression stiff.

“Then tell us the second reason.”

Wolhwa answered with her usual radiant smile.

“Because I like Young Master Jin.”

“Excuse me?”

“He’s young, handsome, well-built, and has such a cute personality.”

“…”

“…”

How much of that was sincere, and how much was a joke?