Threads Of Ill Fate (3)

The man who guided Jin-hyeon away from the center of the festival toward the outskirts went straight up a small wooded hill.

The straight-line distance from the lodging to this hill was over two and a half kilometers. On top of that, the sky had darkened and the forest path on the hill was filled with a darkness that even moonlight struggled to enter.

Jin-hyeon followed the man in silence.

By the time they reached the middle of the hill,

“Impressive.”

“Hm?”

Without even turning to look back at Jin-hyeon, the man spoke.

“It is impressive. The fact you have not spoken even once on the way here.”

“Is that so?”

“Are you tense?”

To a proud martial artist, it was a remark that could sound rather provocative.

“Of course.”

Conceded so easily, the man had nothing more to say.

Smiling, Jin-hyeon asked,

“What do you think? The one who called me, you surely know far better than I do?”

“I do not.”

“For that, your martial arts are hardly ordinary.”

“…”

“It seems the Patriarch favors you more than anyone.”

The man did not answer. Jin-hyeon likewise closed his mouth as if it did not matter.

After walking like that for a time,

“Over there.”

Below the summit was a two-story building cleverly hidden.

It was large for a residence, yet small to be called an inn or tavern. Many lanterns were lit inside.

With interested eyes, Jin-hyeon looked around the building.

Save for beasts, it was not a place people would pass through. Mysterious if you called it so, suspicious if you called it that.

Laughter did not cease from the building.

“Not coming along?”

“I will patrol the area here.”

“Seems you have sinned quite a lot.”

Even though the words were provoking, no killing intent, anger, or displeasure showed in the man’s eyes as he looked at Jin-hyeon.

“Please go.”

Leaving the man, Jin-hyeon walked on.

After a moment, the building came fully into view.

From afar it seemed built in the middle of the woods, but up close it sat at the center of a fairly large clearing. Around the clearing stood about thirty warriors on rotation, holding spears.

As Jin-hyeon walked, a warrior whose face was half-covered by chestnut-burr-like whiskers came up.

“Who are you?”

He silently produced the letter and showed it, and the warrior nodded.

“They are waiting inside.”

“Understood.”

“Leave your sword here.”

“No.”

The answer was calm to the point of excess. It was so natural that even the warrior only blinked.

More surprising was that Jin-hyeon was already walking past the warrior toward the building.

“Stop!”

Jin-hyeon glanced at the warrior.

The captain of the guards, Hwang Oh-san, spoke in a stiff voice.

“You may not bring weapons in. Entrust them to us.”

“Are you people of Murim?”

“?”

“If you are people of Murim, you should at least know that one does not hand one’s weapon to just anyone.”

Hwang Oh-san’s voice sank threateningly.

“We are not just anyone. You may trust us with it.”

Jin-hyeon took out the letter again and waved it.

“Was this not an invitation?”

“What do you mean?”

“Anyone can see this calls me as a guest, yet I do not see why you make the guest feel this stifled.”

A vein rose on Hwang Oh-san’s forehead.

He was clearly angry, yet his voice remained calm.

“This place has its own rules. It is common sense that even an invited guest must not ignore the owner and act as he pleases.”

“What you say is very right. But there are two problems.”

Jin-hyeon matter-of-factly raised his index finger.

“First. Anyone can see this is not a ‘home.’ It is a mountain lodge built on an ownerless hill for someone to secretly make merry.”

“!”

“Second. If the lodge is likewise the owner’s, it is proper to show courtesy as a guest, but unfortunately I have nothing to lose with this meeting.”

Jin-hyeon immediately turned his body and passed Hwang Oh-san. He was returning the way he came.

It was an exit as clean as could be. Staring blankly at Jin-hyeon, Hwang Oh-san shouted without thinking.

“Stop!”

Jin-hyeon looked back at Hwang Oh-san.

The faces of the patrolling warriors grew rather grim as well. Of course, only their expressions, while their Qi was well controlled.

“What is it?”

About to speak, Hwang Oh-san suddenly felt his words stall.

The young man had said he did not wish to surrender his sword, and entrusting weapons was their procedure. Yet the other had the right to refuse the procedure and leave.

Bluntly speaking, what can you do if he dislikes it? All the more when his master had only issued an invitation and had not given orders to that nameless youth.

But in that, Hwang Oh-san felt it absurd.

A right is only a right as it is. He had until now never seen any among the Murim people of Sichuan invited by their master who did not enter with a bowed waist.

‘Is that fellow in his right mind?’

It was no less than a leader of the Sichuan Eight Martial Houses who had invited him. It was only common sense to offer up his sword or whatever else.

Absurdity was followed by displeasure. The master he served was a top expert in Sichuan’s Murim with no equal in spear arts. To forsake such a great martial master’s invitation over one sword?

“You are discourteous. The Patriarch is of the Sichuan Eight Martial Hou—”

“I know he is a leader of the Sichuan Eight Martial Houses. So what?”

“…”

“The air is chilly. Do your best.”

Killing intent finally gathered in Hwang Oh-san’s eyes.

Just then.

“Oh ho, how can you be rude to a guest? Captain Hwang, escort the honored guest up.”

The voice flowing from a second-floor window was clear enough to be heard distinctly by Hwang Oh-san and Jin-hyeon.

Jin-hyeon’s eyes glinted.

‘Not bad.’

The internal energy was very correct. From the voice alone, one could tell he was a warrior who did not neglect training.

The boisterous chatter lessened. Which meant that even while carrying on lively conversation, they had heard all that was happening here.

Face flushed red, Hwang Oh-san bowed his head and said,

“We have been discourteous to the guest. You may carry your sword, so please come up to the second floor.”

Jin-hyeon snorted.

“You make the situation complicated. Fine, let’s go.”

Hwang Oh-san’s face reddened further. He wanted to shout that it was he who had made things complicated, but he forcibly set his expression.

Ascending to the second floor with Hwang Oh-san, a splendid drinking table came into Jin-hyeon’s sight.

At the head seats sat two men of advanced age. From disposition to looks and build, all were different, yet if one spoke of a commonality, it was Qi perfectly and finely arranged.

At a glance, Jin-hyeon could tell the man on the left had stronger martial arts. At least by the depth of internal energy.

To the left and right of the head seats sat young men and women exchanging words. Three were on the left row, two on the right.

“Welcome.”

The man with a tiger-like face seated at the right head seat spoke with a smile.

“You have labored to come a long way. I am one called Song Cheol-gwang of the Divine Spear Sect.”

Song Cheol-gwang, Sect Master of the Divine Spear Sect.

One of the leaders of the Sichuan Eight Martial Houses and a master counted among Sichuan’s best in spear arts. Long spear, short spear, nine-section spear, halberd, there was nothing he could not handle among polearms of the spear school, one who had truly founded a house upon the spear.

Jin-hyeon formed a fist-and-palm salute.

“I am Jin-hyeon.”

It was a brief greeting. It was hard to pick a fault, yet hard to call courteous.

Displeasure spread over the faces of the two young men seated on the right. They did not bother to hide it, and naturally the room’s atmosphere grew heavy.

Unexpectedly, Song Cheol-gwang did not scold the youths, his own children.

“I did not expect you to come so quickly. I will have the servants set a separate table, so for now will you sit there?”

The end of the table. It was not a seat to offer to one called as a guest.

He might have expected a rather entertaining reaction, but Jin-hyeon unstrapped the Indestructible Sword, sat formally there, and laid the sword across his knees.

“Did you not invite me because you had business. I have no need of drink, so conversation alone should suffice.”

The youths’ faces twisted sharply. It was too rude a remark to simply let pass.

“Hey, you…”

“Ha ha ha.”

The laugh cutting off his son’s words was truly well-timed.

Song Cheol-gwang nodded with a smiling face.

“You are very forthright, young hero. Boldness is a privilege of youth. I am one who loves talents brimming with boldness.”

The two young men had to force down their anger.

Meanwhile, the men and women on the left did not get angry at all. Rather, they looked refreshed. The young man seated closest to the head seat glanced at Jin-hyeon, and the two women in the remaining seats stared at him as if at something curious.

Attitude aside, they kept looking at his hair, as his white hair in particular seemed curious. In truth, Jin-hyeon’s white hair, unlike hair whitened with age, was thick and lustrous.

Setting down his cup, Song Cheol-gwang spoke.

“First, let me make introductions. The people here are…”

“Patriarch Song.”

“?!”

“I came by your invitation. My apologies, but I wish to know what conversation you desire to have with me.”

It meant, aside from you the inviter, I have no wish to know of anyone, so stop the nonsense and get to the point.

The smile vanished from Song Cheol-gwang’s face. His two sons looked ready to overturn the table, and the three men and women opposite also knit their brows.

Only the man seated at the left head seat showed no discomposure here.

Song Cheol-gwang glared at Jin-hyeon with chilly eyes.

Receiving his gaze, Jin-hyeon still smiled.

“If you wanted a leisurely sitting, let us meet again another time.”

“No, there is no need.”

The voice gone a degree harder.

It was fortunate no curses flew out. Of course, it was not because Song Cheol-gwang’s patience was great. It reflected his wish to keep the conversation as quiet as possible, given the setting.

“Very well. Since you desire the point, let us speak directly.”

Song Cheol-gwang leaned forward.

“I do not know if you are aware, but in Sichuan Murim your name has spread, openly and quietly. At least among the Eight Houses’ leadership, none will be unaware.”

“Of course it would.”

A curious answer.

Song Cheol-gwang nodded. Jin-hyeon’s sharp eyes saw that the joints of his neck creaked somewhat.

“You, at a young age, possess remarkable boldness and strong influence. I hear it was you who covertly led the investigation of the recent murder case.”

The information was quick.

Jin-hyeon thought it natural. The Sichuan Branch was broad and the Eight Houses had many tubes stuck in. Even if the Investigation and Defense Court had muzzled mouths, it would have spread in ways.

“I only lent a hand. Others did the hard work.”

Even so, knowing to show modesty meant social sense. Song Cheol-gwang’s face loosened again.

“I also hear your martial arts are formidable.”

“Enough to guard one body.”

“Ha ha ha, your modesty is great.”

He said so, but Song Cheol-gwang did not see Jin-hyeon’s martial arts as that great.

That a master suddenly burst onto the Kangho, defeated renowned experts, and stood at the peak was the sort of tale children would like.

Of course, in the past there had been a monster like the Eight Wastes Alliance Leader, and the three absolute masters who led the Three Demons’ Turmoil.

But those were extremely special cases. There was talk the Eight Wastes Alliance Leader had obtained an absolute demonic art by chance, and talk the Three Demons were traitors of the Nine Sects as well.

In short, there is no branch without a root. Naturally, this fellow named Jin-hyeon could not be seen as an awl with such firm roots.

If he had ability of that level, he would hardly enter as a mere honored guest of the White Sword Seol Clan.

‘Yet it is odd. It is hard to gauge his internal energy’s level.’

He had had some drink, but it was not hard to see through internal energy at the late-generation prodigy level.

Song Cheol-gwang thought Jin-hyeon had learned a martial art specialized in internal-energy control, a style whose forte was concealment.

There were more such arts than one might think. In the dusty Kangho, hiding one’s ability was quite an important virtue. It was also a trait of rootless strongmen.

By common sense, it was stranger to think him a leader-level powerhouse of the Eight Houses at that age.

“Now then, let me make my proposal. Our main house is superior to the Seol clan in force, power, wealth, influence, by any measure. You may doubt it, but our treatment of talent is also firm.”

“…”

“Would you consider entering as an honored guest of our main house?”

“I would not.”

“?!”

“If that is all there is to the point, I will take my leave.”

Rising from his seat, Jin-hyeon immediately slung on the Indestructible Sword and walked toward the door. At his calm yet swift words and actions, all were greatly disconcerted.

Just before Jin-hyeon opened the door, Song Cheol-gwang came to his senses and cried out in a somewhat raised voice,

“Look here. I have not finished speaking.”

“No matter what proposal you make, I will not go. Is that clear?”

Song Cheol-gwang’s face flushed hot.

Ordinarily he would have endured once more without trouble, but he had drink in him and another leader of the Eight Houses was present. He held back no longer.

“What is the reason? Do you owe the Seol clan a debt? What is our main house lacking that you persist in stubbornness.”

“Of course, there is a debt as well.”

“Whatever that debt is, we will pay it. As I said, the Divine Spear is certainly second to none in treatment of…”

“A debt is not something to foist on others. One must shoulder it oneself. Besides that sort of thing.”

Jin-hyeon glanced at Song Cheol-gwang.

“How could a wolf place itself beneath a dog?”