Moon-Shadow Sword Emperor

Episode 470

“Thank you! Daehyup!”

“Please go back carefully.”

Early morning.

In front of the main gate of the Gangseo branch of the Murim League.

Baekhyun Dojang bowed his head and saw me off.

He decided to stay at the Gangseo branch for a while and wait for Hyeonsa-mun’s disciples to come out to meet him.

“It’s a shame. I can’t believe we have to break up like this. “I haven’t been able to repay my benefactor in anything yet…”

“It’s okay. Never mind. “If I visit Hyeonsamun later, you can welcome me with hospitality.”

“I will definitely do that.”

Although I said this, I really had no intention of taking the time to visit Hyeonsamun.

The Hyeonsamun is a Taoist sect that considers moderation and abstinence as virtues.

There was no way that the wise scholars, who were steeped in frugality, could treat their guests properly.

I did not want to visit the clan and tremble at the prospect of finding traces of my dead subordinate still there.

“Thank you for your consideration until the very end. “I will never forget what happened today.”

I was the one who made sure Baekhyun Dojang stayed at the Gangseo branch.

I thought it might be dangerous if news spread that he was in possession of a famous sword, so I went to the branch manager and asked for personal protection.

Even the finishing touches were done neatly, so Hyeonsamun’s treasure would be safely returned to its original place.

Now it was time to resume our journey to Anhui.

* * *

Inside the carriage running along the well-maintained highway.

Dojang Cheonwoo, who was looking out the window with a bored expression, spoke out loud.

“Boss.”

“……?”

“Are you worried about something?”

“What does that mean all of a sudden?”

“It seems like you’ve been thinking a lot since you passed Gangseo.”

I burst out laughing.

I thought he didn’t have any marks on the outside, but it seemed like he couldn’t hide it from those who had known him for a long time.

“It’s not something that can be said to be particularly concerning. “I just heard some interesting news and was thinking about it.”

“What news did you hear?”

“It is said that there is a group of people making a fuss while I am away.”

“yes?”

Not only Cheonwoo Dojang, but Changin Dojang and Namgung Geum also had stiff expressions.

It was a natural reaction.

Because it was not a story worth listening to lightly.

“There’s no need to overreact like that. “It was something I expected to some extent, and I was well prepared for it.”

“Complete preparation means that you know their identity. “Who is moving and for what purpose?”

“Several elders, including Youngseong Dojo, joined forces. The purpose… there is no need to explain it further.”

This was what was written on the information sheet given to him by Hao Wen-ju’s disciple, Cheon Seol-hwa, whom he met in Heuksi.

The person who wrote the information sheet was Cheon Ga-ryeong, a member of the Cheonan Inspectorate investigation team.

[The second is about the spiritual seal. Ho Jeong-gwon asked me to tell you the story.]

Ho Jeong-gwon warned me like this through Hwayang Sangdanju.

The Yeongseong dojo will be moving soon.

They said they would try to shake me up while everyone was busy preparing for an all-out war.

‘I thought that if they were going to do something, they would take advantage of the opportunity while I was away.’

This was the reason why Cheon Ga-ryeong was not accompanied on this trip to Anhui.

As a key member of the investigation team, she must remain in the department to properly monitor the movements of the elders.

“Hmm.”

Changin Dojang sighed.

Everyone knew whether it was a member of the Cheonan Inspectorate or even a member of the Murim League.

The bad relationship between me and Yeongseong Dojang.

What do you think of Cheonan Gambu?

“Are you really okay?”

“Didn’t I tell you? “There is nothing to worry about.”

“That’s good, but…”

“Everyone just needs to be faithful to their own roles. “There is no need for you to worry about what happens over there.”

By now, many people, including members of the Cheonan Inspectorate investigation team, must have been busy moving about.

There was a lot of work that needed to be done by Ho Jeong-kwon and Taeyeon Sword.

“By the way, what do you think about the seal?”

“What do you mean?”

“You were practicing whenever you had time during your trip. “Haven’t you gained some insight?”

“…Recently, I have gained a small feeling and am working hard to embody it.”

“Congratulations. “You took another step forward.”

“thank you.”

The growth rate of Changin Dojang was scary.

Basically, the members of Cheonan Gambu grew faster than other martial artists thanks to the help I gave them, but in his case, he was one of the best among them.

I thought that if this trend continued, I would soon join the ranks of the top 100 masters.

“If I had known this would happen, I would have brought another member. “So that the master can practice with peace of mind.”

“no. Rather, I am satisfied because I have more time. “If I had remained in meditation, I would not have been able to invest most of my time in meditation.”

Dojang Cheonwoo looked to the side with a surprised expression.

Same distribution for people of the same age.

It is difficult to distinguish superiority or inferiority from each other due to similar backgrounds.

Since there was a lot of overlap, Cheonwoo Dojo and Changin Dojo had no choice but to be in competition.

‘I guess it’s inevitable that Cheonwoo Dojang will feel impatient.’

While he was wandering in agony, Changin Dojang honestly worked on his training.

As a result, the gap widened, albeit slightly.

‘Even though it doesn’t seem that noticeable now.’

If time continued like this, the story would change.

The reason I suddenly encouraged Changin Dojang was to change the topic, but it was also for the purpose of stimulating Cheonwoo Dojang.

“I look forward to the day when you can overcome the wall.”

“We will do our best to meet your expectations.”

* * *

Hefei, Anhui Province.

When we arrived at Namgung House, a young man with a familiar face greeted me and my group.

“It’s been a while, Namgung Sohyeop.”

“I don’t know how long it’s been since I last saw you.”

“I never thought that the Sohyup would personally come to the front gate to meet me.”

“You have invited an important guest, but should you treat them poorly?”

Namgung Seonghun, Sword Dragon.

A person who will become the head of the Namgung family in the future.

I sighed inwardly.

It seemed like his skills had improved since the last time I saw him.

I’ll have to try my hand at it to know the exact level, but I figured that I would be able to rank at the top of the best.

Should we really say that he is a worthy successor to the progress of the King of Swords?

As the political war dragged on, many vacancies arose in the position of Baekdae Master, so I thought he would soon take one of them.

“The head of the family is waiting. “Please follow me.”

Under the guidance of Namgung Seonghun, we headed to the family hall.

As I entered the living room, an elderly man came into view.

Hair combed neatly.

An angular face and a slightly visible scar above the nape of the neck.

Stubborn lips contrast with softly drooped eyes.

Namgung-ho, the head of the Namgung family, offered me a seat with a wave of his hand.

“Welcome.”

“See you, matriarch.”

“It must be a very busy time, but thank you for taking the time and not rejecting my request.”

“no. Isn’t this a request from the head of the family, not from anyone else? “I have to make time to come.”

As I was handed the steaming glass, I drew a soft smile on my face.

Namgung-ho, who looked at the maids with a glance, placed his clasped hands on his knees and said.

“The Namgung family will respond to Meng’s request for support.”

“yes?”

Not only I, but even the members sitting on both sides of me opened their eyes wide as if they were surprised by the sudden remark.

In particular, Namgunggeum was very upset.

Since he was a blood relative of the Namgung family, he seemed to not understand the decision of the head of the family.

“Why that reaction? “Isn’t that why you came here?”

“To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much.”

“Because you know what kind of situation the Namgung family is in?”

“…….”

“I hope you don’t ignore me too much. Even though the elder passed away and the Changgung Sword Corps suffered near-destruction damage, the Namgung family remains the Namgung family. “My family is not weak enough to cause others to worry.”

“Who would dare to ignore the Namgung family?”

I couldn’t read Namgung-ho’s intentions.

I never expected that he would announce his intention to participate in the war like this from the beginning.

‘I don’t understand.’

I thought they would most likely stop by to negotiate, offering various conditions.

Otherwise, there would be no reason to invite me to the Namgung family.

“May I ask why you would go to such lengths to head to the battlefield?”

“Until now, the Namgung family has never hid or run away out of fear of external enemies. “Gasols have pride and pride in that fact.”

“Even if the Namgung family does not participate in the final battle, the people of the world will understand it.”

To put it bluntly, the Namgung family has already set a sufficient example as a member of the martial arts faction representing the political faction.

Thanks to the sacrifices they made, the Wulin forces in Hubei, which were in crisis, were saved.

It seemed unlikely that there would be people pointing fingers at them just because they showed some restraint in the end.

‘Are you thinking about the post-war period?’

Did he feel that he had to participate in the final battle for the sake of the end of the Great War?

For that to be the case, the risk to take was too great.

To put it bluntly, if you put the speaking power you will gain in the future and the downfall of your family on a scale and compare it, isn’t it clear which way the weight will lean?

After clearing his throat once, Namgung-ho put down his teacup and parted his lips.

“At the moment you appeared here, the dispatch of the Namgung family’s troops was decided.”

“……?”

“From the beginning, I was trying to decide the matter based on whether you would visit Sega or not.”

“I don’t know why you attach such significance to it. “What did I say?”

I felt burdened.

How on earth does Namgung-ho view a human being like me?

Even though I am the hero of the political faction and all, in the end, from the perspective of the Namgung family, I am nothing more than an outsider.

“I’m not specifically trying to place a burden on you by asking you to take responsibility for Sega’s future. “I have no intention of leaving Sega’s fate to an outsider.”

“…….”

“The reason I invited you to Sega was because I just wanted to check. “Would he be suitable as a comrade in arms whom I could trust and have my back?”

To put it simply, it meant that they were testing me.

Of course, I wasn’t naive enough to believe that literally.

Should he really be called the head of a huge martial arts family?

I knew very well how to entangle people with words.

“I apologize if I feel uncomfortable.”

“it’s okay. “I wasn’t offended.”

“I’m glad that’s the case.”

Namgung-ho tilted his teacup again to quench his thirst and narrowed his eyes sharply.

The air in the room became cold.

“Instead of accepting the request for military support, the Namgung family has only one condition to ask of the Murim Alliance.”

“What is that?”

“If we capture the Hundred-Faced Death God, we will hand over the subject’s recruitment and disposition authority to the Sega.”