That’s What The Murim Is For, Isn’t It?

Leaving the Yu Family Manor, the party headed into the mountains.

Beast cries sounded here and there. From time to time, they felt eyes checking on the group.

But none were afraid of this.

The three’s level was not so low as to fear wild beasts.

Seeing the three following calmly, Yun Heo clicked his tongue.

“From now on you must be wary at night. The nights ahead won’t be the same as before.”

Even for first-rate warriors.

“…What if we request help from other sects instead?”

Shouldn’t we reclaim Mount Kunlun before things grow worse?

“No.”

But Yun Heo shook his head.

“Wudang or Shaolin would send people, yes. But even they wouldn’t send their true elites.”

At best, third-generation disciples.

They know Kunlun’s burden, but they don’t grasp its weight.

“In that case, we’d only fatten the enemy’s strength. Better to leave it as is.”

“But then innocent people will…”

Suffer harm. At Seo Jong-dae’s words, Gyo-ha and Moon Ryang looked over.

“That’s what the Murim is for, isn’t it”

“Huh?”

“Why does the imperial court tolerate the Murim to begin with?”

“…To protect where the officials’ gaze does not reach.”

“Correct.”

Orthodox or Unorthodox. Through the imperial court’s eyes, they’re all the same.

Such a force is left alone because it is useful.

“But today’s Murim, blinded by self-interest, ignores common folk. Yet because of that, it’s grown stronger than ever before.”

At that point Yun Heo wore a cold smile.

“So strong they can’t contain it. Then let that strength be spent in a proper direction. Meanwhile, we prepare to retake Kunlun.”

Yun Heo spoke coldly. Seeing his ice-cold face, the three swallowed.

“Our ancestors were too soft. They should have let the Murim turn by itself.”

Bitterness showed on his face. Then his eyes cooled again.

“As the Murim once used us at will, this time we will use the Murim. Of course, if you don’t grow strong enough, it’s meaningless. The realm will fall to chaos, and the masters of this land will no longer be human.”

“…”

“…”

Yun Heo spoke the chilling tale as if it were nothing.

“So I have no time to explain gently until you understand, like other sects. If you can’t keep up, I leave you.”

At his words, the three’s eyes changed.

Yun Heo looked to Moon Ryang.

“The inner cultivation method I’ll teach you is the Jade Heart Return-to-One Art. It’s not great for storing Qi, but as a mind-cultivation art nothing equals it. You need not learn extra techniques. Your saber is a rare treasure, and your martial arts fit that blade. If you can fully wield it, few under heaven will match you.”

At his words, Moon Ryang gazed silently at his saber.

The Jade Heart Return-to-One Art was closer to Buddhist arts than Taoist arts.

It prized the Immovable Heart.

While Moon Ryang pondered, Yun Heo looked to Seo Jong-dae.

“The inner cultivation method you’ve learned is fine. There’s no need to discard it. Our sect’s Great Clarity Qi Art will contain your internal energy well.”

Seo Jong-dae nodded quietly.

He, too, stood in Taoism’s line and understood.

“And the Cool-Breeze Fan. I’ll teach you the proper way to use a fan. Swinging it like a crude sword won’t do.”

At the dissatisfied tone, Seo Jong-dae quietly averted his gaze.

“And lastly.”

Yun Heo’s eyes turned to Gyo-ha.

Gyo-ha looked at him with bright eyes.

Yun Heo clicked his tongue.

“From now on you relearn your fundamentals.”

“Eh?”

“You’ll start by memorizing all of these.”

Yun Heo poured out the secret manuals he had.

Gyo-ha’s face went pale at the sight.

“No matter how close, imitation is imitation. Your martial principles lack depth.”

“…But.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not saying you won’t spar.”

Yun Heo’s lips lifted as he looked at him.

“So you’ve at least learned to emit Qi, however roughly.”

Flinch.

Gyo-ha’s ear twitched. The technique he’d shown of late.

He had moved internal energy by his will.

“Congratulations. At last you’re a proper third-rate warrior. You shouldn’t have headaches over internal energy for a while.”

It wasn’t Gyo-ha who was startled; Moon Ryang and Seo Jong-dae stared at him in disbelief.

A third-rate martial artist with that skill?

They couldn’t believe it.

More shocking was that he hadn’t known how to emit Qi until now.

But if Yun Heo spoke true, Gyo-ha was indeed a third-rate martial artist.

That was how today’s Murim classified it.

‘…By internal energy, third-rate fits.’

A third-rate martial artist who lightly suppressed most first-rates.

In truth, Moon Ryang and Seo Jong-dae were at the wall’s threshold.

The very edge of first-rate.

And Gyo-ha had defeated them.

They felt what it meant for common sense to crumble.

But Seo Jong-dae soon shook his head.

‘…With yokai appearing besides.’

It was hardly the biggest concern.

“Now then, let’s begin.”

Thus their training began.

Mornings at the Yu Family Manor are busy.

Noh-sam headed straight to the Stewardry upon waking. Grand name or not, there were only five of them, but the work fit the name.

“Oh, Noh-sam. You’re here?”

“Yes.”

The elder Chief Steward greeted him warmly.

At his desk, bamboo slips were stacked high, with neatly cut fruit set out.

A senior middle-aged clerk winked from the side.

Noh-sam could only smile awkwardly.

Steward work needed literacy, quick calculation, and above all, trust.

Those were demanding conditions in times like these.

Naturally manpower was short. Talents like Noh-sam were rare.

A month had passed since he began at the Stewardry.

And his colleagues’ courting grew more blatant.

They wanted him to stay rather than leave.

Knowing their intent, he couldn’t simply rejoice in their kindness.

After greeting people, Noh-sam spoke.

“Everyone’s busier than usual—what’s going on?”

“The young master returns today.”

The young master.

There was only one they called by that title.

No sooner said than a commotion rose outside. Faces lit up and they rushed out of the Stewardry.

Noh-sam followed after.

‘…So that’s what she meant by ‘this wouldn’t have happened if her brother were here.’’

He understood now.

A man in Taoist robes stood in the manor, smiling brightly.

The Yu family’s eldest son.

Yu Hee-myeong, Yu So-ha’s elder brother.

He was now a Taoist with the name Jeon Pyeong.

He wasn’t alone; several in the same robes stood behind him.

A plum blossom emblem was stitched at their sleeve ends.

Taoists of the Mount Hua Sect.

Everyone working at the manor had a word for them.

And Yu So-ha welcomed Jeon Pyeong with a bright face.

“Brother!”

“Sorry I’m late. The message reached me late.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Yu Hyeop, head of the Yu family, is a notable known to all in Lanzhou.

And his eldest, Jeon Pyeong, was a promising talent of the Mount Hua Sect.

Assigning other warriors to his private matter alone showed what Mount Hua thought of him.

‘…What nerve did the Yeo-un Merchant Guild have, to do what they did?’

Noh-sam shook his head.

But it wasn’t that he couldn’t see their side.

Even if it was the Yeo-un Merchant Guild, they couldn’t know what went on inside the Mount Hua Sect.

The Yu Family Manor would have been just as unaware, had Jeon Pyeong not sent word from time to time.

And with Justice Gate behind them, it was hardly strange that they became ambitious.

“By the way, have those young heroes you mentioned already left?”

“No. It’s just that…”

Yu So-ha’s gaze went to Noh-sam.

Naturally, the Mount Hua disciples’ eyes followed.

Suddenly the focus, Noh-sam could only give an awkward smile.

“Huh. Disciples of Kunlun?”

Hearing the situation, Jeon Pyeong let out a sigh.

He hadn’t gotten the full details on the way and couldn’t hide his surprise.

“So there was a reason you couldn’t put it in the letter.”

Nodding, he looked to Noh-sam.

The two Taoists introduced as his fellow disciples also watched him.

“…”

For some reason dragged into this, Noh-sam could only smile awkwardly.

“At least they haven’t left for good. That’s a relief. With luck, we can meet them.”

At the sudden remark, Yu So-ha tilted her head.

Jeon Pyeong gave a gentle smile.

“The Sect Leader granted me time to settle the family’s affairs.”

“Ah.”

Joy rose on Yu So-ha’s face.

“But I can’t just stay at home. He also gave me another mission.”

“A mission?”

As Jeon Pyeong glanced around, the ill-at-ease Noh-sam quickly spoke up.

“If this could be a problem, I can step out.”

“No. It’s not particularly secret. Besides, we can’t call you an outsider now, can we?”

Jeon Pyeong smiled amiably.

It was a fresh smile, but thinking of Seo Jong-dae, Noh-sam couldn’t smile easily.

‘Though inside they’re nothing alike.’

Seo Jong-dae merely played the dashing gentleman, Jeon Pyeong was the real thing.

“I was ordered to investigate troubling Unorthodox movement of late.”

Saying so, he glanced around, then spoke with a serious face.

“Recently, contact was lost with Murim Alliance personnel dispatched to Qinghai. Among them were Mount Hua disciples. The main sect suspects the Evil Heaven Alliance.”

Qinghai Province.

Where Kunlun once stood.

Noh-sam and Yu So-ha traded a furtive look.

“I was at a loss where to start the inquiry, but it’s good to know that Kunlun’s line isn’t broken yet. We can get information from them.”

Yun Heo’s words surfaced in their minds.

By his account, the area around Mount Kunlun was little different from a death ground.

They couldn’t believe it all, but the danger at least had not changed.

Moreover, Yun Heo’s stance toward the Nine Sects, One Union was negative.

They couldn’t even be sure they could accept help.

As Yu So-ha looked worried, Jeon Pyeong smiled fresh and bright.

“Don’t worry. It’s only an investigation. If I judge it dangerous, I’ll call for support.”

He said so, yet her worry did not fade.

Finding her endearing, he patted her head, and she pouted.

“Brother, I’m not a child anymore.”

“Oh my, I’m sorry.”

Despite his words, his hand stayed on her head.

And she didn’t seem to mind, not brushing it away.

After a good while of stroking, Jeon Pyeong rose.

“I hear Elder Straight-Edge Sword has retired?”

“Brother?”

“Still, since I’ve returned home, I should pay my respects. We’re not strangers.”

It was the Yeo-un Merchant Guild that caused trouble, but the Justice Gate let it fester.

Yet there had been no word from the Justice Gate.

Internal disorder or not, it was still a slight against Yu Family Manor.

In the past they might have let it slide, but not now.

At the hilt of Jeon Pyeong’s sword hung a tassel of plum blossoms, the mark of the Plum Blossom Swordsman.