Chapter 053
In response to Baek Sugyeong's concerns, Yi Jonhyo stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Master Baek, I think you might be worrying too much…"
"I hope that's the case, sir. But isn't it better to be prepared?"
"You're not wrong. But if we make our movements too obvious, wouldn't our enemies simply go into hiding?"
"That would still be better than letting them raise their heads and disrupt the Dragon Gate Gathering."
Yi Jonhyo rested his hand on his chin, deep in thought at Baek Sugyeong's words. Of course, being prepared wasn't a bad thing. The Dragon Gate Gathering was about to begin. It would be unacceptable for spies from unorthodox sects or demonic cults to infiltrate. For something like that to happen in Luoyang, the territory of Luoyang's premier family, would wound Yi Jonhyo's pride.
"Hmm…"
"I understand your concerns, sir. But just this once, could you indulge my stubbornness?"
"Is this because of what happened at the Murim Alliance in Xuchang, Master?"
It wasn't that long ago. Looking back, it had only been three months. Baek Sugyeong had arrived in Xuchang and experienced that incident in September, and now it was December.
Baek Sugyeong nodded at Yi Jonhyo's words.
"Of course, there's no guarantee the same thing will happen again…"
"Hmm. Given your reputation across the Central Plains, it's not strange. For now, I'll follow your suggestion and strengthen security and make the inspections more thorough."
"Thank you, sir."
Yi Jonhyo responded to Baek Sugyeong's words.
"This directly affects our family's prestige. I was planning to gradually strengthen security anyway, since unorthodox sects or demonic cults might cause incidents to expand their influence, like they did in 'Wudang Sword Hero.' Your concerns are valid. So there's no need to bow your head so deeply."
"Thank you, sir."
"If anything, I should be thanking you. Thanks to you, that boy Ahwi is becoming a proper person. The Dragon Gate Li Clan won't forget your efforts."
Baek Sugyeong smiled and shook his head at Yi Jonhyo's words.
"Young Master Ahwi just needed motivation. I merely helped him find it."
"Even that is a great service. That wandering boy is now devoted to training and isn't hesitant to seek knowledge from others. As if he's realized his position. Isn't that all thanks to your efforts?"
"It's not my achievement. Lady Gal, Lady Namgung, and Guild Leader So did all the hard work."
Baek Sugyeong himself hadn't done much. He had only spent his time away from writing to teach Yi Jonhwi various miscellaneous things.
"My talents are insignificant. Everyone enjoys the writings I produce with those talents, which encourages me to work harder. That's all. All I can do is devote myself to writing."
The Huqiu tea, a specialty from Suzhou in Jiangsu Province, tasted a bit bitter. Baek Sugyeong was not a special person. In this dangerous martial world, he was just a powerless, inadequate scholar who could lose his life at any moment. He didn't possess the deep knowledge to truly call himself a scholar. Baek Sugyeong was far from being a martial scholar who deeply studied martial arts. That's why he lived each day with gratitude for his current life.
"…Master Baek."
"Yes, sir."
"Don't belittle yourself so much. You are special enough. Being loved is also a talent."
Yi Jonhyo said this with a hearty laugh.
"No one in the martial world would look down on you for lacking martial arts. That's because your understanding of martial arts shown in 'Wudang Sword Hero' is so profound."
"Sir."
"There are many hidden masters who conceal their martial arts. Even if you're not one of them, the Central Plains won't be disappointed in you. I guarantee it."
Yi Jonhyo put down his teacup.
"So don't belittle yourself too much. It's best to live by letting things go. I hope you won't take things too deeply to heart."
"I'll take your words to heart, sir."
"If my words have been of help to you, that's enough."
Yi Jonhyo finished his Huqiu tea with gusto and stood up. Baek Sugyeong also bid farewell to Yi Jonhyo and left the Dragon Gate Pavilion.
Snowflakes were gently swirling in the night sky over Luoyang, as if covering it.
...
"The Dragon Gate Gathering…"
It was a golden face. Not a human face.
A man with his face hidden behind a golden mask was lurking in the darkness, looking at the snowy sky.
"Yajeop, any news from that child?"
The name Yajeop was mentioned. The one who answered this reference to Gal Yerung was a man with his face hidden behind a blue mask. He was tall enough to look down on the man with the golden mask. But judging by how he was prostrating himself before the golden-masked man, their hierarchy seemed to be the opposite.
"Nothing specific. Though we did receive information from the Luoyang branch."
"Cheongpyo."
"Yes, Cult Leader."
"How long do you think it will take for Yajeop to seduce Baek Sugyeong?"
Cheongpyo answered the golden-masked man, Yanoe.
"If Baek Sugyeong has no resistance to women, he could be subdued with the Mind Confusion Technique."
"Without using something like the Bewildering Parasite Technique, how long do you think it would take?"
"If she naturally becomes close to him and leads it to a fait accompli, it would take at least a year, I believe."
"I see."
Yanoe's voice was low. But strangely, there was a slight laughter mixed in his voice. After removing that slight laughter, Yanoe asked.
"What about Red Tides?"
"He left for Mount Tianshan. The communication with our branch there, which was monitoring the Sun Moon Cult's movements, has been cut off."
"Must be the Sun Moon Cult's doing."
"The Government Office Hall has reached the same conclusion."
The Government Office Hall was the agency that oversaw Hao Sect's intelligence, and originally should have been led by Left Commander Yajeop. Now that she was away, Cheongpyo was in charge, but that didn't change the essence.
Yanoe ordered.
"Since Red Tides might be in danger, take the warriors from the Return Cloud Pavilion with you."
"You mean to support Red Tides?"
Yanoe nodded.
"We're dealing with the Sun Moon Cult. Moreover, beyond Mount Tianshan lurks the Blood Cult, remnants of the Old Murim era's Sun Moon Cult that broke away. We can't be certain it's solely the Sun Moon Cult's doing."
"Then perhaps we should request support from the Alliance…"
"They refused."
Cheongpyo bowed his head as he listened to his master and cult leader.
Yanoe said.
"Even among the Ten Unorthodox Sects, many look down on our sect. It's because of our humble origins. That's why we're trying to move from the shadows into the light."
"Master…"
"If you see any trace of the Blood Cult, retreat immediately. None of our elites would be a match for those blood-crazed demons. I won't permit engagement with the Sun Moon Cult either. Convey this to Red Tides as well."
"I obey."
"You may go."
At Yanoe's words, Cheongpyo showed his respect and withdrew.
Looking out at the falling snow through the window, Yanoe blinked inside his mask.
"A single person's presence shakes the world… Will that existence lead the martial world into chaos, or will it maintain peace while continuing the current tensions?"
Yanoe's voice faded away with the night wind. The golden mask fluttered in the night air.
...
A woman wearing a black hat gazed at the massive walls of Luoyang in the distance with a smile.
A girl with a sword on her back followed the green-robed woman with the black hat.
When the woman stopped walking, the child also stopped and brightened at the sight of the distant walls.
"It's Luoyang, Master!"
"It's not far now. We just need to hurry a bit."
The snow that hadn't fully melted made the ground muddy, but this wasn't a problem for the woman and girl who had trained in martial arts.
The girl easily kept up with the woman as she lightly kicked off the ground and soared through the air.
The woman glanced back at the girl following her well and smiled with joy.
'How can I ever repay this debt?'
Her only disciple.
The child whose martial arts progress had been slow, causing her much worry, had shown explosive growth after experiencing that incident, becoming almost unrecognizable.
Not only her lightness skills, but also the sword techniques she had taught her, and even the Object Seizing True Qi that could move distant objects with internal energy alone—her martial arts had improved rapidly.
After returning from the Northern Sea, she had even earned the nickname "White Cat Fairy."
Before leaping off the ground again, the woman—Bang Soran—cautioned:
"Seonha. The ground is muddy, so be careful where you step."
"Yes, Master!"
Her face, which once seemed to have some shadow, was now bright and without a wrinkle.
It had been that way since she obtained her own mental cultivation method through the same path as the Epiphyllum Rainbow Divine Art.
By the time she returned from the Northern Sea after all kinds of hardships, she had gained another mysterious connection, returning with an ancient sword that looked like it was made in prehistoric times and a white cat.
The white cat sitting on So Seonha's shoulder with no intention of getting off was clearly a spiritual animal.
'Should I say this child is followed by mysterious connections?'
"Master, when we get to Luoyang, will we be able to see Teacher Sugyeong?"
"Since he's staying in Luoyang, I think we'll probably be able to see him."
"Hehe, do you think Baekmyo will be happy to meet the teacher too?"
"Well, I'm not sure about that. They say cats do as they please."
So Seonha easily caught up with Bang Soran as she kicked off the ground and soared through the air.
Connections were gathering in Luoyang.