Chapter 072
After taking some rest, Baek Sugyeong finally began receiving visitors.
People had gathered in such numbers that the martial arts tournament was essentially abandoned. So many warriors wanted to meet him and hear even a single word from him that martial contests broke out in front of the Luoyang secondary palace over who would get to see him first.
Of course, when Namgung Somin told Baek Sugyeong about this, his face took on a half-dazed, enlightened expression.
"What sins did I commit in my past life...?"
He had no idea how far the influence of his writings—which he had started because he was sick of seeing orthodox factions acting like thugs with swords and demonic cults acting like actual bandits—had spread.
People were fighting duels to determine the order to meet him?
The fact that the Dragon Gate Gathering had been pushed aside was enough to give him a headache.
It meant Baek Sugyeong's status had risen to the point that even a prestigious martial arts tournament was being overshadowed, but for him, who already had many things troubling him lately, this was truly a fatal blow.
"Ah, my head..."
"Teacher!"
As Baek Sugyeong staggered, Namgung Somin supported him.
He truly felt dizzy.
He couldn't understand how he had ended up in this situation.
Feeling like he wanted to cry, Baek Sugyeong sat down on a nearby chair with Namgung Somin's help.
"...What do you think of the current situation, Lady Namgung?"
"I think it must be very uncomfortable for you, Teacher, but..."
Namgung Somin continued.
"Looking at it differently, couldn't it mean that many people seek your wise counsel?"
Baek Sugyeong gave a weak smile.
It was giving him a headache.
"To think the Dragon Gate Gathering would be pushed aside—it doesn't make sense."
"The unsettled atmosphere is probably the main reason."
"Hmm."
Indeed, that wasn't wrong.
The Blood Cult's attack had completely ruined the atmosphere, and the reduced number of participants in the tournament had a significant impact.
When such a major incident occurs in the middle of a tournament causing it to halt, it's difficult to resume—that's the reality.
Even if they tried to continue somehow, it would be hard to settle the chaotic atmosphere, so this was the natural result.
"How does it feel to be called the Sword Phoenix?"
"I think it's an honor I don't deserve."
Namgung Somin turned her head slightly as if embarrassed, avoiding Baek Sugyeong's gaze while touching her High Castle Sword.
Sword Phoenix.
When the Sun-Moon Cult Master said that a phoenix suited her better than a flower, someone jokingly called her Sword Phoenix in reference to her sword skills, and it seemed to have become her title.
Because of this, there was even talk about whether she should be removed from the Four Flowers and the Thirteen Elites reorganized.
"It's a title that suits Lady Namgung well."
"N-no way."
"Don't belittle yourself too much. You certainly have the skills to deserve such a title."
Namgung Somin blushed at Baek Sugyeong's words.
Perhaps because it was praise—and directly from Baek Sugyeong whom she respected—it was especially meaningful to her.
As she turned her slightly reddened face away and fanned herself, Baek Sugyeong looked away and stood up.
Starting with Cheongmyeong, he had appointments scheduled with numerous martial artists.
Of course, he couldn't meet all of them and planned to see only a select few.
Meeting everyone would be more mentally draining than expected.
'I wonder when the Sun-Moon Cult Master will appear again.'
Thinking about it made his mind complicated.
As Baek Sugyeong walked, Namgung Somin naturally followed beside him.
...
The meeting with Cheongmyeong was guarded by Embroidered Uniform Guard soldiers.
This was due to Ju Geumye's order to protect him.
Among them, warriors from the King of Hell Unit, dressed in black martial uniforms, looking like wax figures, could be seen here and there.
The King of Hell Unit warriors, ordered by the Sun-Moon Cult Master to closely guard Baek Sugyeong, appeared like emotionless machines despite being among orthodox faction members.
The orthodox warriors disliked them, but there was no way to separate the King of Hell Unit from Baek Sugyeong.
"Tch. Filthy cult bastards."
"Stop it. They're Teacher Sugyeong's guards. The Sun-Moon Cult Master has entered the Central Plains. Let's not provoke them unnecessarily."
"To think Teacher Sugyeong's protection would be entrusted to cult scum. The world is ending."
"The Blood Cult was bad enough, but now we have to watch demonic cult members brazenly walking around the Central Plains with their heads held high. How humiliating!"
"Argh, Teacher Sugyeong is surrounded by those bastards!"
"To think even the Embroidered Uniform Guard has taken over Teacher Sugyeong's protection—the orthodox faction has lost all face!"
The orthodox warriors all expressed their indignation at seeing Baek Sugyeong guarded by both the Embroidered Uniform Guard and the King of Hell Unit.
"But looking at it differently, there's a possibility that Teacher Sugyeong has actually been working with the imperial palace or the demonic cult all along..."
"Hey!"
"How dare you spout such nonsense!"
"Get him!!"
Some warriors who tried to offer what they thought were logical opinions bordering on conspiracy theories ended up getting beaten.
"But seeing how Teacher Sugyeong has gained favor not only from the imperial palace but also from the demonic cult master, it's not such a strange idea..."
"There are people jealous of Teacher Sugyeong! Get them!!"
"There are conspiracy theorists here!!"
"Teacher Sugyeong is someone the Sun-Moon Cult Master personally certified as a treasure of the Central Plains!! How dare you insult Teacher Sugyeong—as a fellow orthodox warrior, I cannot forgive this!"
Those who tried to continue such talk were indiscriminately attacked for being perceived as hostile toward Baek Sugyeong.
At some point, the Central Plains people's perception of Baek Sugyeong had changed to someone who absolutely could not be lost to foreigners or demonic cults.
Even at the Dragon Gate Gathering, there were people who participated because of Baek Sugyeong.
That's how much Baek Sugyeong's status had risen—perhaps excessively so.
"An insult to Teacher Sugyeong is considered an insult to the Central Plains!!"
"In that case, let's formally establish a guard unit for Teacher Sugyeong right here!"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!"
"Gathering the will of all martial brothers present, I propose the formation of the Sugyeong Society right here and now!"
Cheers erupted from all directions.
And so, unexpectedly, Baek Sugyeong came to lead the Sugyeong Society, a protective group formed by some of the warriors who had gathered to participate in the Dragon Gate Gathering.
Without his knowledge.
Had Baek Sugyeong known, he would have grabbed the back of his neck in exasperation.
...
"I am Cheongmyeong of Mount Wudang. Though unworthy, I am known by the title Clear Wind Sword."
"I am Baek Sugyeong."
As always, Baek Sugyeong's introduction was brief.
He didn't have any special title to mention, and although he was famous in the martial world, he was more often called Teacher Sugyeong with respect rather than by any title, so there was no need to mention one.
Originally, why would martial artists give a title to someone who was merely a scholar like Baek Sugyeong?
In any case, with such self-deprecating thoughts, Baek Sugyeong faced Cheongmyeong.
'A talent that actually embodies the Three Pure Ones Limitless Sword...'
His thoughts deepened.
Many people had admired Cheongmyeong's talent for manifesting Jin Un's Three Pure Ones Limitless Sword Wisdom.
Baek Sugyeong still remembered the thrill when the Three Pure Ones Limitless Sword Wisdom was actually displayed at the Xuchang tournament.
'Is that what it means to have the qualities of a grandmaster?'
It was a slight musing.
A feeling of envy for something he couldn't possess.
But Baek Sugyeong quickly dismissed the thought.
Envying what one cannot have tends to intensify into useless emotions.
Having already come so far, what was the point of looking back now?
What cannot be had, cannot be had.
No matter how much one covets it, nothing changes.
'Lady So, Master Cheongmyeong—there are too many people who surpass my expectations.'
Learning martial arts by reading books I gave as gifts?
If such a thing were possible, the martial world would be overflowing with masters.
Becoming a peerless master just by reading secret manuals was only possible in old martial arts novels, where geniuses with five-star talents were often the protagonists.
Of course, even in those old novels, the protagonists usually had outstanding talent and teachers of matching caliber.
Getting stronger just by reading novels?
If I wrote a novel with such a title, it would be canceled before long.
"Teacher Sugyeong?"
"I apologize. I was just thinking about something."
Putting aside his thoughts, Baek Sugyeong looked at Cheongmyeong.
"I heard you learned the Three Pure Ones Limitless Sword."
"Somehow I was fortunate enough to..."
"Have you also mastered the Twin Spirit Limitless True Qi?"
"Yes."
"My goodness."
Baek Sugyeong made a sound of genuine surprise, as if dumbfounded.
With only vague descriptions and no detailed explanation of internal energy cultivation methods, Cheongmyeong had actually embodied and learned the Twin Spirit Limitless True Qi?
What kind of ridiculous talent was this?
It was absurd.
No, even talent should have its limits.
He could somewhat understand the Three Pure Ones Limitless Sword since it was a sword technique, but he never thought Cheongmyeong would have learned the Twin Spirit Limitless True Qi as well.
After all, what he showed in Xuchang wasn't even an exact replication of the Blue-Red Invincible Sword that Jin Un had demonstrated.
"So when you showed it in Xuchang, it was still incomplete?"
"Yes. To be precise, there was no problem with the sword technique, but my achievement was low..."
And with such a thing, he had reached the finals of the Murim Alliance tournament and achieved an undefeated record.
What kind of monster was he?
As Baek Sugyeong made a disgusted expression, Cheongmyeong said with a shy face:
"If it's not too presumptuous, I would like to take Teacher Sugyeong as my second teacher. Would that be acceptable?"
What was he saying now?
Baek Sugyeong's face froze like stone.
It felt like thunder was striking in his head.
"Did I hear you wrong, Master Cheongmyeong?"
"No."
Once again, with a face full of firm resolve, Cheongmyeong said:
"I would like to stay by Teacher Sugyeong's side and refine my martial arts further. Would you grant me permission?"
For Baek Sugyeong, it was like a bolt from the blue.