Day And Night (4)

After the meal.

Han Cheol-sang said he would look around nearby with Seol So-ha and Im Yeo-wol.

He stepped away of his own accord so as not to disturb Jin-hyeon, who wished to circulate his Qi quietly in the room.

Back in the room, Jin-hyeon circulated his Qi for over two hours, then opened his eyes.

Without breaking posture, he leaned his back against the wall and mulled over yesterday’s bout.

‘He was strong.’

The one called the Swordsman Mong. His martial arts were quite impressive.

Of course he could not be compared to the high masters who soared and prowled in the Eight Wastes Alliance Lord’s era. Comparison itself had no meaning. That was then and this is now.

Even so, he recalled the Eight Wastes Alliance Lord’s era because of the restrained spirit the man carried.

‘Not varied, yet he had faced enough real battles.’

Real combat comes in many kinds, too many to count one by one.

As Jin-hyeon saw it, Mong Hyeong was a man who had repeatedly experienced real fights fixed into a few patterns. In other words, he had gone through many battles of similar situations.

He likely had not experienced sudden arrow storms, ambushes by assassins in sleep, or fleeing through all kinds of terrain to break out of a trap. Jin-hyeon could tell that at a glance.

On the other hand, he had often fought one-on-one duels and battles that crushed foes with overwhelming force. Judging by his momentum, posture, and the traits of his swordsmanship, the analysis was almost exact.

‘Yet even that is not easy.’

In any kind of real fight a single mistake can cost a head. There is no reason to belittle Mong Hyeong because his battles lacked variety.

‘He was said to be from the Heavenly Will Alliance’s central headquarters.’

He had probably served as section leader or captain in some combat unit, then retired.

‘A unit of the headquarters, and yet much real experience…’

Jin-hyeon’s eyes sank deep.

‘That is considerable.’

In any state or organization, the closer to the headquarters, the stronger the power.

The Heavenly Will Alliance is the greatest body governing the whole Central Plains. Of course there are places beyond their breath, and regions they rule only in form.

Either way, if one enters the Alliance’s headquarters, even in a combat unit the chances to see real battle must drop. Few would try to strike the headquarters itself.

Yet his rich experience means the Alliance actively runs its combat units at the least.

‘A unit without real battle rusts quickly. At least they know well how to store up strength.’

His thoughts flowed to the Heavenly Will Alliance, then returned to Mong Hyeong.

‘It was a fine sword.’

He did not know the martial art’s name, yet the savagely surging swordplay stuck with him.

Of course, in sheer level it could not compare to the War-Sword Three Arts that hold battlefield sword principles in three forms.

The War-Sword Three Arts are outstanding by themselves, yet their true greatness lies in vast versatility. Anyone who truly learns them can walk a personal sword path according to later attainment.

As the Eight Wastes Alliance Lord drew forth the Hungry Wolf Sword Art from them.

‘That is the difference between me and that Swordsman Mong. Our kill moves are entirely different.’

The Hungry Wolf Sword.

The Alliance Lord’s strongest and vilest art, a sword art that could itself be called a demonic art.

Born from the War-Sword Three Arts, it is a ruthlessly practical killing sword. Each move hounds the foe like a starving wolf until it finally severs the breath.

Naturally it grants no room to counter, and since it never yields ground it is a secret sword art one cannot use carelessly.

More shocking, unless the Heavenly Wolf True Art reaches the fourth stage, it is hard to halt the Hungry Wolf Sword’s slaughtering instinct. At the third stage some control is possible, yet even that is imperfect.

Once unleashed, it can stop only after every living thing in the area is dead. It’s the worst demonic sword art in history.

‘As I am now, I can hardly touch it. The unrelated could be dragged in.’

Thus for Jin-hyeon, the Hungry Wolf Sword is a sure-kill art and also one he cannot draw unless it is the worst case.

Mong Hyeong, by contrast, unleashed his ultimate freely, because he could control it.

‘I need such a martial art too.’

The War-Sword Three Arts suffice for now. Yet Jin-hyeon wanted more.

To find his own path through the insight of the War-Sword Three Arts. A high-leveled sword art that is practical and powerful without being as cruel as the Hungry Wolf Sword, and that does not dip into slaughter lust.

‘His sword art cannot be compared to the War-Sword Three Arts. Yet the ferocity it draws and its linked-techniques suit me well enough.’

Jin-hyeon slowly raised his right hand.

‘Was it like this?’

Pararak, pararak!

His sleeve screamed behind the hand that sliced the air.

‘This could work.’

He remembered most of the forms of Mong Hyeong’s sword art.

‘Those forms. They were not the original shapes, but new shapes refined after battle to fit himself.’

Those savage yet perfectly controlled moves. Surely that restrained spirit was honed by plunging deep into sword studies.

In short, Mong Hyeong had forged his own martial art even without reaching the grandmaster realm.

‘It is not impossible for me. No, it is far easier for me than for others.’

His head encompassed countless martial arts. From the Eight Wastes Alliance Lord’s dream he had never forgotten the many manuals he had learned or memorized.

‘I am better at offense than defense. Partly due to the Heavenly Wolf True Art, and partly because I am used to going on the attack and cutting off the foe’s offense altogether.’

How else would he even use the defensive Tenfold Prison Wall to press the enemy.

Jin-hyeon closed his eyes.

‘Following the path the Eight Wastes Alliance Lord made will not let me reach him. With what he left me, I must carve my own road. Only then will it truly be mine.’

He was ignorant of the present Murim.

Yet he did not think this age was worse than the upheaval a century and more ago. The past may have been harsher, but with time martial arts should have advanced.

Without change there is no growth, and the moment growth stops, decline begins.

Before he knew it, Jin-hyeon had shed his past self as a blacksmith and become a warrior awakened to pure force.

Time passed, and evening came.

“Patriarch. It is time.”

“Mm.”

Jin-hyeon broke from thought and rose.

Outside, Seol So-ha and Im Yeo-wol were already standing with the man called Baek San.

“If all are gathered, let us depart.”

Baek San led them to a village some four kilometers from the center of the Radiant Sword Festival.

There stood a large manor, and within it the air was already merry. Laughter seemed to spill over the walls and shake the whole village.

Baek San knocked on the gate.

“Who is it?”

“It is Baek San. I have brought the Seol clan’s eldest daughter and her party.”

Kkii-ik.

The door opened and the servants bowed their heads.

“Please, come inside.”

Entering with Baek San, the party was quite surprised by the manor’s scale.

It looked like the estate of a great magnate, from the materials and solidity of the buildings to every ornament.

A courtyard the size of four or five festival platforms lay spread, and cooks were hard at work in many spots.

Large tables before the cooks were heaped with dazzling dishes and liquor. It was a feast beyond compare.

“Please wait a moment.”

Baek San quickly headed to the main hall.

After a little while.

The door opened and someone came out into the yard.

“The Seol clan’s eldest daughter has come.”

The man who appeared was a tall young gentleman with striking features. He would be called handsome anywhere, and the aura harmonizing from his whole being lent him a touch of mystery.

Seol So-ha offered a cupped-fist salute.

“I am Seol So-ha of the Seol clan.”

“It seems this is our first time meeting.”

With a charming smile, the youth returned the salute.

“I am Ha Jun of the Cheongyang Society. It is an honor to meet you, Lady Seol.”

“The honor is mine to meet Cheongyang’s Second Young Master.”

As always, Seol So-ha’s voice had little inflection and was rather overly cool.

Yet it did not trouble Ha Jun at all. He even chuckled.

“Thank you for accepting a sudden invitation. Though we are both among the Eight Houses, we rarely cross paths with the Seol clan, so I wished to meet you this time.”

“I see.”

“Rather than stand here, shall we go inside. The young ladies of the Eight Houses who are participating have all gathered.”

“Ah.”

Seol So-ha glanced at Jin-hyeon.

Jin-hyeon gave a small smile.

‘Why do you keep looking at me?’

His expression seemed to say so, and in truth that was how he felt.

Seol So-ha spoke.

“Is there one gathering for the Eight Houses’ young scions, and another for those who came with them.”

“Yes.”

In fact most who filled the yard were attendants such as escorts. Among them were masters not to be ignored, and some were already weaving drunkenly.

Seol So-ha shook her head.

“I came to pay respects as a fellow of Sichuan. I will greet you, then stay with my party and take my leave.”

“Oh?”

Ha Jun looked a little taken aback. It was only natural, since she said so before the host himself.

Just then.

“Why.”

Seol So-ha looked at Jin-hyeon.

“Huh?”

“Why stay with us? Go and enjoy yourself, then come back.”

She was flustered. She had not expected Jin-hyeon to push her along.

Jin-hyeon spoke with a smile.

“Whatever the event, if you accepted the invitation, you should not embarrass the host, am I not right?”

Of course there are times when that is fine.

But not now. Whatever their aim, Ha Jun and Baek San had shown full courtesy, and they had accepted gladly, so exchanging a few words was only proper.

In a low voice Seol So-ha asked,

“Will this be alright?”

“We came to drink free liquor under Lady Seol’s wing. There is no question of alright or not.”

“…Then, I will go.”

“Do so.”

Ha Jun looked at Jin-hyeon with a curious eye.

A young man with white hair. He looked even younger than Ha Jun. Yet Seol So-ha treated him politely, like an elder.

Of course he knew who this man was. A guest of honor of the Seol clan, one who had played a decisive role in the Mighty Tiger affair and in resolving the recent murder case.

And that fact was not all that important to Ha Jun.

“Then.”

“Ha ha, let us go.”

Thus the two went into the main hall.

Watching Ha Jun, Han Cheol-sang tilted his head.

“He is a curious one.”

“Mm?”

“From Lady Seol’s attitude he should know you are no ordinary man, yet he does not offer a greeting.”

“Youngsters these days are famous for lacking manners. It’s nothing new.”

“You are young too, Patriarch.”

“Maybe that is why my manners are terrible as well.”

Jin-hyeon asked Im Yeo-wol,

“Are you very uncomfortable?”

“I am fine.”

Unexpectedly, she did not seem greatly ill at ease, though she was still stiff.

Han Cheol-sang asked.

“You did not truly come only for free liquor. What bothered you enough to come all the way here?”

“Would it not be a good experience for Lady Seol?”

“And?”

“And, well, while we are at it…”

Jin-hyeon’s eyes, as he looked around, were calmly lowered.

“Because we can also look for an informant.”