Chapter 061
The duel between Namgung Somin and the Peng Clan warrior gave Baek Sugyeong considerable inspiration. It was especially meaningful to witness firsthand the clash between the Hebei Peng Clan's domineering martial arts style and the Namgung Clan's harmonious mastery of light, swift, medium, and powerful sword techniques — something he had only read about in martial arts novels.
'The Murim Alliance's dissolution and reorganization into the Five Great Clans and Nine Major Sects, with the Heavenly Pole True Cult's advance and some forces from the Nine Heavens Secret Palace invading the martial world...'
From volume 11, the Chaos Era would enter a more intense phase. The world had already moved from Turbid Era to Chaos Era, and plans to advance from Chaos to End Times were being methodically executed by the Heavenly Demon, leader of the Heavenly Pole True Cult.
The story would depict how Jin Un and his True Martial Pavilion disciples would repel the Heavenly Pole True Cult's vanguard forces targeting the headquarters of the Five Great Clans and Nine Major Sects.
'The Hebei Peng Clan would make a good first target.'
He planned to develop the story with the Heavenly Pole True Cult beginning their assault on the Five Great Clans by targeting the Hebei Peng Clan first. While the Peng Clan stubbornly resisted at their stronghold in Tangshan, Jin Un would arrive like a comet, a hero who disregarded the friction between the Five Great Clans and Nine Major Sects.
Of course, building up to that point would require substantial development, meaning volume 11 would likely be quite thick.
'I should write down the plot outline.'
"Teacher, are you thinking about your work?" Namgung Somin asked.
Baek Sugyeong nodded. "I was thinking about how volume 11 will unfold."
"The shock from volume 10 will be significant enough... Are you sure this is alright, Owner?"
She looked concerned, wondering if this was the same So Ssanga who had read the draft of Wudang Sword Hero.
Her worry made sense — though he had written it as mere fiction, there was no guarantee that the events of Wudang Sword Hero wouldn't actually occur in the martial world.
The Sun Moon Cult, which occupied the same position as the Heavenly Pole True Cult in his novel, had already established itself in Xinjiang. Besides the Kunlun Sect near the Kunlun Mountains in Qinghai Province, there were no other sects to serve as a bulwark against them.
Since the Tianshan Sect had been annihilated during the Old Murim's battle against the Great Demon Cult, no other sect had established itself on Mount Tianshan.
Baek Sugyeong said, "I hope that 'Wudang Sword Hero' is read as a simple novel, not as some kind of prophecy."
That was his earnest wish.
If something like the dissolution of the Murim Alliance actually happened, the orthodox factions would fall into chaos. The Nine Major Sects and Eight Great Clans becoming so divided by internal strife that the Murim Alliance disappears?
Even a passing dog would laugh at such a story.
It was a fictional scenario possible only in fiction.
But if someone were to believe it like a prophecy and try to make it happen, it wasn't entirely impossible — and that was what Baek Sugyeong feared.
"It's just fiction. Nothing more. Taking it as reality would be strange."
"But still..."
Baek Sugyeong gave a bitter smile at So Ssanga's words.
"Of course, I understand. It's unlikely to happen that way. That's what makes it harder."
"Because your writing has too strong an influence on the Central Plains..."
"That's the problem. Issues crop up in places I never expected. It's giving me a headache."
Baek Sugyeong sighed and shook his head.
The success of Wudang Sword Hero was a good thing, but the side effects were worse than expected.
There were even people blindly worshipping the novel.
And since writing it, he had become entangled with the martial world.
For Baek Sugyeong personally, success had become something of a poison.
Even so, he had no intention of stopping his writing.
...
"Waaah!"
"White Cat Fairy! White Cat Fairy! White Cat Fairy!"
"She seems not even twenty, yet how can she be so strong?!"
Passing by the arena where the Dragon character group matches were being held, Baek Sugyeong stopped at these shouts.
White Cat Fairy — a title he hadn't heard before — piqued his curiosity.
Seeing Baek Sugyeong's gaze turn toward the arena, Namgung Somin smiled.
"There's still time before Lady Gal's match, so you can watch if you'd like, Teacher."
"A-ahem. It's not that I particularly wanted to see..."
"It's completely obvious, Owner."
Baek Sugyeong cleared his throat at So Ssanga's comment.
Since there was still plenty of time before Gal Yerung's match, watching So Seonha's match wouldn't be a bad idea.
Having already broadened his perspective at the Murim Alliance Tournament, this Dragon Gate Gathering would also be helpful to him.
As Baek Sugyeong moved to a spot with a better view of the arena, Namgung Somin and So Ssanga followed behind him.
...
In the VIP section, Ju Geumye was looking down at the arena with somewhat dissatisfied eyes.
It wasn't difficult to notice the displeasure in the gaze of the Tang Dynasty's only imperial princess, the Luofeng Princess.
Her uncomfortable mood was openly displayed, evident just from her expression.
Sometimes silence can be as sharp as a blue-tinged blade.
This was one of those times.
What was she pondering?
What was making her so displeased?
When someone like Princess Luofeng Ju Geumye was displeased, it meant unwanted trouble could spark.
Because of this, both the Dragon Gate Li Clan warriors guarding the VIP section and the Embroidered Uniform Guard warriors responsible for her protection couldn't help feeling anxious.
"I don't like this situation."
Was it because the tournament's level was too low?
No, that wasn't it.
The warriors gathered at the Dragon Gate Gathering were excellent.
There were talents here and there that she would have liked to recruit immediately for the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
The only regrettable thing was that most of these warriors belonged to the Nine Major Sects or Eight Great Clans.
It wasn't easy to persuade people from what the martial world called prestigious factions.
Even Gyeong Joyeom, the Peerless Sword Marquess who oversaw the imperial guards and served as the imperial martial arts instructor, despite being a renowned master in the martial world, was somewhat looked down upon due to her background as a wandering warrior.
Officer Jin, the leader of the Embroidered Uniform Guard warriors, heard Ju Geumye's voice.
"Officer Jin."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Why do you think Baek Sugyeong is avoiding me?"
The mystery was solved.
So her interest was directed at Baek Sugyeong after all.
Officer Jin felt deep relief that her displeasure wasn't about the tournament or the Dragon Gate Li Clan's hospitality.
When royalty becomes dissatisfied and starts finding fault, there's no end to it.
"He seems to feel burdened."
"Is it because of my status?"
"Princess."
Ju Geumye gave a bitter smile.
She was thinking that being a princess of the Tang imperial family was such a great shackle.
"The imperial court should have more to offer Baek Sugyeong. I don't understand why he wants to remain a hermit in the martial world."
"Those who belong to the martial world are difficult to understand."
The Embroidered Uniform Guard was an elite group of masters who protected high officials and nobles while learning various martial arts originating from the imperial court.
Their duties extended beyond mere protection to include arrest, investigation, and supervision.
They were essentially the emperor's personal guard and a police organization protecting the imperial family and court.
Because of this, they couldn't help but deeply question the actions of martial world figures.
Ju Geumye turned her gaze to the wide arena.
"Is that so..."
Officer Jin said, "I don't understand why you're so intent on bringing him to the palace."
"Hehe..."
Ju Geumye gave a soft, bitter smile.
It was something only her father, Emperor Myeongjeong, would understand.
There's no great reason why one person is drawn to another.
Of course, Ju Geumye's feelings were at the stage of goodwill rather than affection.
Certainly, bringing Baek Sugyeong to the palace could change the dynamics between the imperial court and the martial world through his strong influence.
While such calculations were indeed part of it, the truth was that she simply wanted to read the next volume quickly.
"It's a secret."
Officer Jin closed his mouth.
What was the point of saying more?
His counterpart was royalty.
If they say something is so, then it is so.
..
"However, considering Baek Sugyeong's personality... bringing him to the palace would be difficult."
What was clear was that once Baek Sugyeong had rejected Ju Geumye's offer, the result wouldn't change no matter how many times she asked.
That's what the Eastern Depot's investigation had reported.
He was a peculiar person who was strong against the strong and gentle with the weak.
In other words, the report proved that Baek Sugyeong's heart couldn't be won through authority or force.
Ju Geumye rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.
'They said he appears to be someone who hasn't learned martial arts...'
Since it was the Eastern Depot's report, it was unlikely to be wrong.
If so, had he never learned martial arts, or had he lost his martial arts?
That was quite an important question.
If he had lost his martial arts, she could use helping him recover as an excuse to keep him close, but if not...
Deep in thought, Ju Geumye suddenly raised her head.
With a terrifying sound cutting through the air, a spear flew toward her.
It was shattered into pieces by her hand, which was infused with crimson Astral Energy.
The object that had been a spear scattered in all directions as metal fragments and wooden splinters.
As Ju Geumye rose to her feet, screams reached her ears.
Following the belated screams, people's shouts flowed in.
"It's the Blood Cult!!"