31 – 03# Nangjungjichu (2)

Moomyung was not a man easily swayed, but he could not disagree with the suggestion to relocate their base, given all the commotion they had stirred.

From the Moryong Clan to the Black Snake Brigade of the Black Underworld Sect. They had effectively provoked both the Righteous and Unrighteous factions of the martial world. And they still hadn’t figured out who the infiltrator from the Demonic Cult was!

In contrast, the enemy very likely had a solid grasp of Moomyung’s location. That meant they could be ambushed by Demonic Cult masters at any time, out of the blue.

‘I don’t relish the idea of running from the enemy… but pride won’t fill an empty belly.’

Moreover, Moomyung was not alone now. And so, he had no choice but to take Muwol’s advice and relocate, to the vicinity of the Righteous Seonmu Academy in Henan.

‘Even the head of the Moryong Clan was at least an ultra-expert. There’s no way I, barely at the level of a supreme, could possibly handle masters of the Demonic Cult.’

That was the decisive reason why Moomyung had embarked on a journey with the children. He never imagined he would enter the martial world this way, but still, being a supreme wasn’t so bad.

His original plan was to enroll Sua and Seolhwa as students at the Seonmu Academy. But the children’s vehement opposition had foiled that plan. Sua, in particular, was greatly opposed.

“There’s nothing to be learned from the hypocrisy of the orthodox sects, Master.”

“Aren’t you also affiliated with an orthodox sect?”

“I only follow the path you walk, Master. Affiliation means nothing to me.”

“I like Master best! I don’t like anywhere else!”

Their devotion to him was both admirable and resolute, so much so that even the master, Mumyeong, couldn’t break their will. But of course, there was good reason for it.

‘I only wish to learn from Master. I have no time to waste elsewhere.’

‘I like Father the most. I don’t need anyone else!’

Sua had been receiving instruction from the Moryong Clan, one of the Five Great Clans, since she was a child. Of course, the process wasn’t exactly normal, but she had at least directly experienced the essence of the Moryong Clan.

Comparing that to now, she determined that Master’s teachings were the most helpful to her. Honestly, she had heard of the Seonmu Academy long ago.

Even considering that, she didn’t think it could surpass Master’s teachings. Moreover, Sua held pride in her position as Mumyeong’s foremost disciple and head senior sister.

Even if Master’s appearance was tattered and worn. He was undoubtedly a martial artist who had reached the pinnacle of skill, so whether they liked it or not, many people would eventually follow him.

‘I don’t even want to lose this small pride – that I was the first to follow Master.’

Still, now that they were here, they might as well find something to eat. They concluded their discussion by deciding to casually look around the Seonmu Academy. However, the Academy’s security was far too strict.

They weren’t even trying to enter the Academy itself; they were being asked to vouch for their identity just to enter the city where the Academy was located. It caught them slightly off guard.

Fortunately, thanks to the letter of recommendation they had received from Muwol, they were able to avoid an awkward situation. Though it was strange how the expression on the face of the guard at the city gate turned deathly pale during the process.

Mumyeong didn’t dwell on it and simply moved on. With the help of the Geumhyeon Escort Bureau, they arrived in Hanam province after the sun had completely set.

“Then, this humble one will take his leave! If you ever need assistance, please come to the Geumhyeon Escort Bureau!”

“Much obliged. Let’s meet again if we have the chance.”

“It would be an honor, Grandmaster!”

After seeing off the head of the Geumhyeon Escort Bureau, Mumyeong led his disciples into Hanam. Hanam was a place that had been steadily prospering ever since the Seonmu Academy was established under the protection of the orthodox Martial Alliance.

Indeed, befitting its name as the true center of the Central Plains, it was a city boasting a truly enormous scale. As a result, Mumyeong was forced to wander from inn to inn, seeking lodging as a higher priority than sightseeing.

However, contrary to expectations, finding a place to stay wasn’t easy. There were quite a few inns, but the innkeepers would show a troubled expression and refuse them as soon as they stepped inside.

“I apologize, the inn is full…”

“We are completely booked. I’m sorry.”

“If, if it’s alright with you, would you consider using another inn?”

“……”

At first, they thought it could happen, but after being turned away from three inns in a row, they couldn’t help but notice that something was wrong. They just couldn’t guess the reason.

“It doesn’t seem to be because of our clothing. Did they receive some kind of message?”

“No, Master, you haven’t done anything wrong!”

“That’s right, I like Father the way you are!”

“From the start, it’s absurd to expect decent treatment from those whose attitude changes based solely on appearance, Master.”

“While I appreciate your concern for me, it seems there’s more to this than meets the eye.”

If it were truly due to clothing or demeanor, they would have acted accordingly. But none of the inns we visited turned us away outright.

Rather, they attempted to politely direct us elsewhere. Towards the end, they even seemed frightened. Could there be something else behind this?

“Oh dear… and the night deepens. Do you have no place to rest your weary bones?”

“…?”

At the sound of the refined woman’s voice, Mumyeong instinctively turned his head. A beauty adorned in elaborate finery, her hair secured with a hairpin, her face powdered white, stood there.

“The people of Henan are not usually so stingy when it comes to hosting travelers, but these days, unsettling rumors have made them anxious. I humbly implore the Grand Hero to understand their trepidation.”

“I’m not so petty as to hold such a trifle against them. However, your sudden, convenient appearance troubles me more.”

“How could this humble girl possibly scheme against a Grand Hero? I am simply a lowly courtesan who wishes to personally serve you.”

Ah, what is this? Something feels intensely off.

Genuine hospitality radiated from her, yet he couldn’t shake off his wariness. And it seemed Suah and Seolhwa felt the same, as they stepped directly in front of him, blocking her path.

“It seems my adorable disciples are wary of me.”

“Is there any reason we shouldn’t be?”

“That’s right, we don’t want any pretty ladies.”

“…Seolhwa. Leave this to me, your elder sister.”

Unable to hide her true feelings, Seolhwa blurted out her thoughts. Suah sighed, gently pulling her back. The woman chuckled in response.

“My introduction was remiss, so I understand your apprehension. I humbly request permission to offer a greeting to the Grand Hero and the young ladies.”

“Do as you please.”

Mumyeong, starting to feel a headache from the elaborate introduction, reluctantly agreed. The woman maintained her smile and bowed elegantly. Her beauty was like that of a flower.

“I am Yang Miyeon, manager of the Cheongok House, though my talents are lacking.”

◇

Henan, a major city in the Central Plains, was protected by the righteous Murim Alliance and boasted numerous merchant guilds and street vendors, second only to the Seonmu Academy. Of course, the academy was at its heart.

That is not to say that pleasure houses were entirely absent. Though subject to stricter regulations than elsewhere, they did exist. Of them, the Cheongok House was the pinnacle of Henan.

And Yang Miyeon, the owner of the house, possessed the knack for growing her wealth and influence through the numerous pieces of information flowing through the city. Thanks to that, even at the tender age of not even thirty.

She was able to rise to the rank of owner of the Cheongok house. It was, perhaps, inevitable that the ‘special’ event at the city gates reached her ears.

“An old man with a letter of recommendation stamped with the seal of Lyeonju Muwol of the Evil Faction?”

“Yes, but his aura was… extraordinary. He seemed to be a martial artist at least easily in the first rate.”

“There is no reason to doubt you who has reached the level of first rate rather than second rate.”

It was certainly an unusual occurrence. Lyeonju Muwol of the Evil Faction had never recommended anyone to anyone else in decades. But at that moment, a thought crossed her mind.

“Did you, by chance, inquire after his esteemed name?”

“That is precisely why I sought confirmation of the recommendation. His insistence on being nameless aroused suspicion, so I requested something to verify his identity…”

‘Nameless… could it be the legendary Sword Demon of the Demonic Sect?!’

Though he had vanished before she was even born, the name of that martial artist, a master who transcended even the Demonic Sect to be spoken of in whispers within the Righteous Sect, was one Yang Mi-yeon could hardly be ignorant of.

‘Of course, the possibility of it truly being the Sword Demon is slim. After all, the prevailing theory is that he perished for some reason thirty years ago. But a recommendation penned by Sect Leader Mu-wol herself, for the first time ever…?’

Seeing sufficient cause to investigate personally, Lodge Master Yang Mi-yeon gathered her martial artists and set out to find Nameless. And the instant she stood before him, she was certain.

Unkempt beyond measure, with a coarse beard and snow-white hair, not to mention the scar that bisected his face and the deep furrows etched by time. Outwardly, he seemed a paltry old man.

Yet, merely by existing, he exuded a presence like a mountain, crushing the shoulders of those nearby. Without a doubt, such force could only be felt from the leader of the Righteous Sect’s Martial Alliance.

‘It must be the Sword Demon, believed to have died a full thirty years ago!’

A presence rivalling the Alliance Leader, an appearance suggesting he was well past sixty… Under such circumstances,

How could Yang Mi-yeon, who held Hanam firmly in her grasp, not be mistaken?