Train Valiantly. (1)

“What do you think that is? It doesn’t look like a martial arts manual.”

A shadow crossed Eun Hwa-rin’s face as she examined the parchment.

“You know this, elder, don’t you? This is a sacred language used in Tianzhu.”

“Of course, I had noticed at least that much.”

Eun Hwa-rin looked over the contents again and spoke cautiously.

“I’m not a specialist in the sacred language, so the words I can recognize are limited. But this is definitely…”

“I’m dying of curiosity. Don’t stall—tell me at once.”

Yu Jinsan was considerably surprised by her following answer.

“It seems to be a command document.”

“A command document? Who is ordering whom?”

“It appears the Cult Leader of the White Flower Blood Cult received orders from someone in Tianzhu.”

As far as Yu Jinsan knew, the Cult Leader had spent decades preparing in the shadows to conquer the martial world. That he would be someone who took orders from elsewhere was absurd beyond belief.

“Ridiculous. Like the warrior-long of Sea Dragon Island, was he likewise a lackey of Tianzhu (Old India)?”

“Based on the parts I can piece together, it looks that way. It’s difficult to verify the details from here.”

They would need someone specialized in decoding the sacred language.

Yu Jinsan leaned back in his chair with his arms folded.

“They are truly terrifying people.”

What on earth were they plotting? Their preparations were beyond imagination.

At that moment Eun Hwa-rin rolled the parchment into a tube again and asked.

“The command document your granddaughter seized is more precious than a thousand pieces of gold. May I take it to analyze?”

At that moment Yu Jinsan lowered his voice and whispered.

“A thousand pieces of gold? You can take it, but even as a joke you shouldn’t say things like that lightly.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that…”

A bewildered Eun Hwa-rin was suddenly startled.

Because the wooden window in the wall suddenly swung open with a bang.

Yu Seol, grinning broadly, poked her face through.

“I’ll sell it for five hundred gold. I’ll give you half off.”

Gold coins are the kind of luxury currency commoners never see even once in their lives.

Five hundred gold is a fortune that would ensure prosperity for generations.

“Th-that is…”

When Eun Hwa-rin was flustered, Yu Jinsan made a joke and explained.

“We were just joking among ourselves. Five hundred gold, indeed.”

Yu Seol blinked a few times to take in the situation, smacked her lips, and said.

“Long time no see, sister.”

“Ah… yes.”

Perhaps because she was nervous, Yu Seol smiled with a dimple showing.

“Hehe. See you again next time.”

The granddaughter closed the window and vanished, not to be seen again.

She had probably gone off to practice her Wind Heart Fist.

Only a moment later did Yu Jinsan exhale in relief and say.

“Why on earth did you say it’s more valuable than a thousand pieces of gold?”

“I made a mistake. But Master Yin Monster has remarkably sharp ears, it seems.”

“That’s true, especially when it comes to anything related to money, she never misses it.”

Eun Hwa-rin quietly laughed as if she found his joke amusing and replied.

“Still, the command document your granddaughter seized must indeed be that valuable.”

What could be in it that even someone so shrewd in calculation would say this?

Yu Jinsan couldn’t contain his curiosity.

“Why do you think so?”

“Because everyone’s fate is at stake. If my guess is correct, it contains information about Tianzhu’s invasion plans.”

“Hmm. I understand. Such a thing cannot be sold for money.”

“Thank you. I’ll have to decode it in detail, but it seems the invasion is a few years away.”

Yu Jinsan clasped his hands on the table and nodded.

“Our worries are becoming reality. I had hoped it was just an unfounded fear.”

“Elder, so…”

She trailed off, as if about to bring up something sensitive.

But he already understood well what she intended without her having to say it.

“Are you suggesting we postpone the confrontation with the Murim Alliance leader?”

“Yes. If a war breaks out, we’ll need many experts. The Murim Alliance leader’s martial skill is outstanding—can’t we make use of him until then?”

It was not a question that required long thought.

It was something he had already decided after discussing it with his granddaughter.

“I have no intention of that at all. I will never join hands with the family’s enemy, not even for a moment.”

“Ah. If that displeases you, I apologize. Please don’t misunderstand. I will unconditionally follow your will.”

Yu Jinsan gave a faint smile and waved a hand slightly.

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it. Have I not had the same worries as you?”

“Then is there some other reason?”

“As long as that wretched woman lives, the martial world will never unite as one.”

Eun Hwa-rin responded with a surprised expression.

“Could it be… you are thinking of uniting the martial world?”

“That’s right. It’s the only way to stand against those terrifying people.”

“But how could the Justice Faction and the Evil Faction ever become one?”

They criticize and cut each other down whenever they meet.

They were like water and oil.

The idea of the two forces merging was unimaginable.

But Yu Jinsan had not spoken thoughtlessly.

“Why do you think the Sword Marquis came to me asking to make the Yin Monster the Supreme?”

Eun Hwa-rin, after collecting her thoughts for a moment, smiled broadly and said.

“Now the pieces fall into place. He wants your granddaughter to become the Supreme, unify the martial world, and lead everyone. Isn’t that so?”

“You understand well without long explanations, that’s good.”

“If a leader beloved by all is born… perhaps uniting the martial world really could be possible.”

In any case, it was another reason why the Murim Alliance leader had to be eliminated.

But it remained only a plan. How could that be an easy matter?

No matter the outcome, they would only know by confronting it.

Then Yu Jinsan, as if remembering something, clicked his fingers softly and said.

“Ah. And there’s one thing I’m curious about regarding that Murim Alliance leader.”

“Please say it. If it’s something I know, I’ll answer.”

“It’s an old tale. He uses not only the Amipa martial art but also commands the Ninefold Technique with ease. Do you know how that came to be?”

The orthodox, tradition-valuing sects had transmitted Evil techniques to the Murim Alliance leader.

It was something he could not accept within his understanding.

It was a question that had puzzled him for some time.

“Hmm. Perhaps the Evil Sect Alliance Sect Leader might know something. She has been at odds with the Murim Alliance leader for a long time.”

Yu Jinsan also recalled hearing from Baek Gyu of the Defeating Blade Clan.

Evil Sect Alliance Sect Leader Yong-yong was also from Emei Sect and was a fellow disciple of the Murim Alliance leader.

In the past she had been bullied, ran away, and switched over to the Heterodox factions.

Since then the two had remained enemies in the jianghu, constantly at odds.

She likely knew the most about the Murim Alliance leader.

“But it’s not as if we can just go ask the Evil Sect Alliance Sect Leader a single question, is it?”

“There’s no need to fetch her. She came with me.”

Yu Jinsan asked with a puzzled look.

“She came with you?”

“After we joined the Evil Sect Alliance, we became fairly close to her. She’s waiting at an inn in a nearby village. She said she’d meet you if you came down.”

“That exalted person is just waiting there alone? Why didn’t she come along?”

“It was at her request. She said it would be improper for her to enter the orthodox Soyo Mountain Lodge uninvited and cause trouble.”

Who is the Evil Sect Alliance Sect Leader? She is the head who governs the Evil Sect Alliance, the coalition of the Heterodox factions.

Admiring her modest character, Yu Jinsan said.

“In any case, this works out well. The Soyo Mountain Villa also has business with the Evil Sect Alliance.”

“Yes?”

“Murim Alliance leader Mang requested that a meeting with the Evil Sect Alliance be arranged. And yet the Sect Leader herself came—what good news.”

“Why would the Murim Alliance’s Great Hero want to meet our coalition… Could it be?”

Eun Hwa-rin, as if she had a hunch, stopped mid-sentence and widened her eyes.

“Your guess is probably right. He’s contemplating switching to the Heterodox factions.”

“Then we should hurry and bring him here.”

Eun Hwa-rin hastily summoned her bodyguard.

Having overheard the conversation unintentionally outside, she knew what to do.

“I’ll go and fetch him right away.”

Yu Jinsan shook his head.

“No. It’s improper to summon the head of the Evil Sect Alliance like that. We’ll go to her instead.”

By his standards, she was someone worthy of respect.

So he rose from his seat without delay.

“Very well, then I’ll show the way.”

Yu Jinsan paused at the entrance of the Soyo Mountain Villa.

Before him stood Eun Hwa-rin and her bodyguard, composed and respectful.

“You go on ahead. I’ll settle a quick matter and follow.”

“Very well.”

He wanted to tell his granddaughter before leaving his spot.

After sending them off, Yu Jinsan moved toward the ridge near the top of the gorge.

Near the modest tomb standing tall under the moonlight.

There, Yu Seol was crouched, staring at something.

“Grandpa, you’re here?”

“Yes. You’re still researching the Wind Heart Fist, it seems.”

“Yes. I promised I’d complete it.”

“Yes, promises must be kept. I’m going down to the village—if you want to come, tell me.”

Yu Seol shook her head.

“No, not right now.”

This was unusual for the granddaughter; normally she would have excitedly followed.

She must be deeply absorbed in refining and studying the Wind Heart Fist.

At that moment Yu Jinsan’s gaze turned to the tomb behind his granddaughter.

A single white blossom had been delicately placed atop the tomb.

Staring at it absentmindedly, Yu Jinsan remembered something and asked slyly.

“By the way, child. Before, the Storm Rider used to call you ’ sister’—why was that?”

It had been a question nagging at him.

Why would a one hundred eighty-year-old Storm Rider address an eleven-year-old granddaughter as ‘sister’?

“Huh? Grandpa says the martial world is governed by hierarchy. Since I’m stronger, he might call me sister.”

“From my perspective, that didn’t seem like the whole reason.”

Yu Seol glanced at the tomb behind her and, shyly smiling, said.

“Honestly, he was so tiny and so cute. He was the one who first called me ‘sister.’”

“Oh dear. Who’s calling whom cute? He’s much older than me, after all.”

Yu Jinsan sighed.

At that sight, Yu Seol grinned and asked.

“Hehe. Grandpa, are you jealous? Honestly, our grandpa is cuter~”

To be teased like that, Yu Jinsan scolded loudly, wagging a finger.

“You brat!”

But the granddaughter had already disappeared from in front of him.

Her footwork was ghostlike—he couldn’t even see her move.

But he didn’t need to see where she went; she was clinging to his neck from behind.

Soon his granddaughter’s soft voice reached his ears.

“…Grandpa, actually I’m a little sad.”

“So our Seol has grown fond of the Storm Rider in that time, it seems.”

“Yes. It’s sad that someone you knew for a short time left, but how sad must you have been? How painful was it to send off our parents whom you spent your life with…”

Unbidden, Yu Jinsan felt a lump in his throat and his nose prick with emotion.

It seemed only yesterday she had been a baby—when had she grown so much?

He had never even dreamed he would have such thoughts.

“Yes, that’s right. It’s something I never want to experience again.”

“Don’t be sad anymore. I will never die, so there’s nothing to grieve over.”

“You little thing. You must keep that promise.”

“Mhm. I’ll become the supreme of the martial world and bring honor to our family. Then Mom and Dad will be happy up in the heavens, right?”

A faint smile appeared on Yu Jinsan’s face.

“It won’t be just that they’re pleased. They’ll be holding hands and dancing together.”

Suddenly uplifted, Yu Seol hugged her grandfather’s neck tightly from behind and laughed.

“Heeheehee.”

“Gah! G-Grandpa, you’re going to suffocate me!”