Chapter 4 : Chapter 4

Chapter 4. Favored by All

Let's set aside the incomprehensible talk about saviors and whatnot for now. No amount of pondering would give me an answer anyway.

What followed was a life at the Murim Alliance that wasn't bad at all. If anything, the treatment was suspiciously generous.

The food, especially.

"Wow! Kung Pao Chicken! Wow! Roast goose!"

Beyond that, there were seafood dishes like shark fin and sea cucumber–a veritable feast of delicacies from land and sea. To eat food like this in the modern era, Korea wouldn't cut it–you'd have to go all the way to Hong Kong.

This may sound odd, but it wasn't the kind of food you'd serve to a mere waiter. That was precisely the part that made me uneasy.

'Whatever.'

But what good would it do to agonize over their intentions? Just eat what they give me. Why? Because they say a ghost who died well-fed has a fair complexion, don't they?

Besides, they surely wouldn't feed me this well right before doing something harmful.

If I had to guess, they were probably greasing my belly before putting me to work. In that case, I should accept without reservation. The more eagerly I gobbled up the food, the happier they'd be.

"Any alcohol?"

"I'm afraid we cannot serve you alcohol. You are not yet of age."

The attendant looked a bit flustered at my request. I gave him a reassuring smile.

"Then could I have some cold water?"

"Of course."

Can't be helped. The truth was, my harping on about alcohol wasn't really about wanting to drink–it was that eating without a carbonated beverage felt incomplete. A single glass of Coke would be the perfect palate cleanser. I was absolutely not an alcoholic.

'I haven't even touched alcohol since coming here.'

My daily routine lately had been simple. Wake up early, bathe, eat, exchange greetings with Cheonggwang and the other Daoists, take a walk, eat again, bathe again, and sleep.

The life of a wealthy idler, perhaps? Monotonous, but not bad. Since I didn't know how long I'd get to enjoy it, I planned to milk it for all it was worth.

Then one day, during a walk, Cheonggwang broached the subject.

"Yul, are you aware that the sword you carry caused quite a stir in the south?"

"Roughly. Didn't you say the ones who fought over it were thugs from the Sinister Alliance or something?"

"Haha, thugs…… you're not wrong."

Cheonggwang smiled wryly and told me about the Blood Demon Sword.

Traditionally, northern China was Murim Alliance territory, while southern China belonged to the Sinister Alliance. Then the Blood Demon Sword was discovered in the south, and a scramble to seize it erupted.

The competition escalated gradually, until internal strife broke out within the Sinister Alliance. Countless Blood Calamities followed, and I'd gotten swept up in one of them.

'Just my rotten luck.'

Actually, looking at it now, should I call it good luck? A blessing in disguise? Well, what was done was done–no point overthinking it.

In the meantime, changes were afoot at the Murim Alliance. I'd thought things seemed unusually bustling, and sure enough, guests were arriving at the Murim Alliance.

"Welcome, Clan Head Namgung."

"Have you been well?"

"It has been a long time. The presence of Mount Hua is always impressive."

"Haha, I do hope this old man is not simply radiating intimidation."

"Ah, representatives from the Kongtong and Kunlun Sects have come as well. We are grateful that you answered the summons together."

"Given the nature of the agenda, how could we not come……"

Heavyweights whose names alone spoke volumes were gathering. I'd heard about all of them from Cheonggwang.

The Namgung Clan was a great house based in Hefei, and places like Kongtong, Kunlun, and Mount Hua were Daoist sects of formidable influence. Members of the Nine Sects and One Gang, as they called it.

At any rate, impressive figures were converging on the Murim Alliance, and among them were some who caught my eye.

The Eon Clan of Jinju.

'Wow, the Eon Clan of Jinju is here too.'

Why belabor the point? The Eon Clan of Jinju was a notoriously infamous Formation clan even in the modern era I'd lived in.

They were the bastards who published Formation texts and sold them at exorbitant prices–and the books were anything but cheap. On top of that, they churned out so many revised editions that the wailing of shamans never ceased.

When shamans eventually started copying and binding the books themselves instead of buying them, the clan went and monopolized the Formation tools, jacking up the prices.

Most Formation materials could be sourced within Korea, but the ones that clan monopolized had to be imported no matter what.

I could still vividly picture Mom's expression as she pounded on a calculator and lamented the material costs.

Looking back, she might have been putting on an act to justify freezing my wages, but I'd readily admit that the Eon Clan's Formation materials were expensive. The invoices had one extra zero tacked on to every figure I'd expected. There wasn't a bigger crook around.

'Those bastards were the real thugs. Corporate gangsters. They've got to be just as rotten in this era.'

Or maybe not.

In any case, these important figures all made a point of coming to see me at least once, though whether that was coincidence, I couldn't say.

None of them engaged me in conversation directly; they simply made eye contact from a distance. Whenever that happened, I felt self-conscious and gave them a polite bow.

Most of the Daoists returned a light nod or a smile, but the young noblemen in their fine silk robes either scoffed and ignored me or avoided me like I was a bug, breezing past without a word.

'Won't it hurt when they get smacked for that?'

Judging by those atrocious manners, their mothers must have been too busy to properly educate them. Nothing else could explain such appalling behavior.

But the Namgung Clan Head–even from that distance–smiled warmly and accepted my greeting. Cheonggwang had called the Namgung Clan the Greatest Sword Clan Under Heaven, and their courtesy certainly matched the reputation. And I'm certifying that as someone who knows his manners, so there's no mistake.

***

The Murim Alliance meeting hall was packed with heavyweights.

It was rare for this many sect leaders and clan heads to gather in one place. The Murim Alliance was a coalition of the Orthodox Faction, not their overlord.

But the matter that had been brought before the Murim Alliance was enough to compel them to make the long journey to Henan Province.

"Cheonggwang, is what was written in the letter truly the truth?"

"It is. I swear on the name of Wudang."

"Goodness, how can such an extraordinary thing be?"

"That is precisely why the Murim Alliance summoned all of you. Do you think the Alliance Leader moves on a whim?"

"Fair point……"

Azure Heaven Sword Emperor, Jin Taegwang.

He was renowned for his fairness and benevolence, and despite carrying the title of Sword Emperor, he was famous for never drawing his blade recklessly.

A man of utmost caution in all things, he was especially celebrated for the fact that his judgment had never been wrong.

When, for example, refugees came pouring out of the north during the Northern Yuan invasion and the government was occupied with accommodating them, the Murim Alliance lent a hand as well.

Only Jin Taegwang saw through the Northern Yuan pursuit, and when everyone dismissed his warning, he rode out alone and repelled the northern army.

The epithet he earned for that exploit was the Azure Heaven Sword Emperor. His martial prowess, his love for the people, and his judgment–all without equal.

Having earned both the respect of the martial world and the regard of the court, he seemed born to be Alliance Leader, and sure enough, he had risen to that very position.

Even after becoming Alliance Leader, his judgment had never missed the mark. So much so that even Jegal Yun, the Murim Alliance's Grand Strategist and head of the Jegal Clan, would not offer counsel unless asked.

Given that record, questioning or challenging something he had personally vouched for was an exceedingly delicate matter.

"Thank you all for gathering here."

When this Alliance Leader opened his mouth, the slightly restless atmosphere settled at once.

Even the most formidable figures in the world had to defer in Jin Taegwang's presence.

"As stated in the letter, this matter concerns a child who came up from the south."

"Alliance Leader, I have read the letter and heard it from Cheonggwang, but I still find it hard to believe. A child who cannot be bewitched by Cursed Objects–by the Blood Demon Sword, no less. Is it really true?"

"It is."

"And the possibility that the Blood Demon Sword is not genuine?"

"None. I held the Blood Demon Sword myself."

Jin Taegwang's calm declaration left the entire room aghast.

"The Alliance Leader himself?!"

"How could you do something so reckless?!"

What was the Blood Demon Sword? An absolute Cursed Sword that, by its mere appearance, engulfed the entire martial world in a Blood Massacre, granting limitless power to whoever held it–while stripping them of their sanity.

Even someone of Jin Taegwang's caliber could fall under the sword's spell if he gripped it carelessly.

And yet, Jin Taegwang had held the Blood Demon Sword and emerged unscathed. Everyone present could only murmur in awed silence.

'It must be genuine, then. If the Alliance Leader vouches for it.'

'Setting that aside, how deep must his Internal Energy be? The Alliance Leader hasn't lost his edge.'

'Bold, truly bold. He is indeed the pillar of our Orthodox Faction.'

They cleared their throats awkwardly and continued.

"If the Alliance Leader has confirmed it himself……"

"We are glad you are unharmed."

"Then what of the child? Are you truly saying the Blood Demon Sword could not bewitch him?"

Jin Taegwang nodded.

"Indeed. He even appears capable of communicating with the Blood Demon Sword."

"Impossible!"

"How can that be?!"

"You said he was a waiter? How is such a thing possible?"

Commotion erupted among the assembly once more.

Capable of communicating with the Blood Demon Sword and yet not bewitched by it–what manner of divine intervention was this? They simply could not comprehend it.

"Well, I cannot explain it either. But is it not heaven's design precisely because it is beyond human understanding?"

At the Alliance Leader's words, everyone fell silent. He was right. This was heaven's will. How could mere mortals fathom the workings of the heavens?

A hush fell over the meeting hall as they each struggled to make sense of the situation.

"In that case, Alliance Leader, there is something I wish to ask."

"Speak, Clan Head Namgung."

All eyes turned when Namgung Gwang, Clan Head of the Sword King Namgung Clan, opened his mouth.

Whenever the question of the greatest swordsman under heaven came up, two names were invariably mentioned: Azure Heaven Sword Emperor Jin Taegwang and Sword King Namgung Gwang. There was always a subtle tension between them, mostly stemming from Namgung Gwang's competitive streak.

But this time, there was no trace of that rivalry. His eyes burned with nothing but fierce resolve.

"You said the child's name is Jang Yul?"

"That is correct."

"Is it possible that this Jang Yul possesses not just immunity to the Blood Demon Sword, but to all Cursed Objects?"

Jin Taegwang did not deny it.

"I cannot say with certainty, but Cheonggwang and I believe so."

"In that case!"

Namgung Gwang's eyes lit up.

"Would you permit our Namgung Clan to take in the child?"

"Wait!"

"What is the meaning of this?!"

The moment Namgung Gwang finished speaking, objections erupted.

Under normal circumstances, everyone showed Namgung Gwang due respect, but not this time. This was nothing short of claiming the prize for himself.

The first to step forward was Mount Hua Sect.

"A child immune to Cursed Objects, and you want the Namgung Clan to have a monopoly?"

Shaolin Temple was not about to stay silent either.

"Amitabha. This temple also wishes to take in the child, but Patron Namgung seems to be getting ahead of himself."

Namgung Gwang scoffed at them.

"Ha, so you would forcibly ordain the child and make him a Daoist or a monk?"

Several fell silent at Namgung Gwang's words. It was true–forcing the child called Jang Yul into religious life would go against all decency.

But others refused to yield.

"And what about you? Are you not scheming to take the child to the Namgung Clan, use him, and discard him?"

"As if the great Namgung would stoop to such a thing."

"Then what? What are your intentions? Our Mount Hua Sect will formally accept the child as a disciple. A life as a disciple of Mount Hua would surely be better than a waiter's!"

"Haha, I believe Mount Hua is the one getting ahead of themselves. Since it was the Wudang Sect that brought the child here, would it not be proper for Wudang to take him?"

When Cheonggwang, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up, the room started in surprise. His argument was so reasonable that no one could refute it.

"He makes a fair point."

Alliance Leader Jin Taegwang nodded and added his agreement. The Wudang Sect had always been an active supporter of the Murim Alliance. If Jang Yul became a Wudang disciple, it would be no loss for the Murim Alliance either.

But Namgung Gwang would not concede. The fierce resolve in his eyes had not dimmed in the slightest.

"Wudang would take him?"

"Indeed. The child's own wishes are paramount, of course."

"Heh, so that is how you wish to play it?"

Namgung Gwang saw through Cheonggwang's plan. Having spent so much time together, Cheonggwang was confident that Jang Yul would choose Wudang.

But to back down here would be beneath the Sword King.

"Very well, then. Let us see which the child chooses."

A full-fledged contest had been declared.

Greed glimmered in every eye. A child immune to Cursed Objects. That child could potentially resolve the headaches that each sect and clan was burdened with–a priceless asset.

No one wanted to let him slip away. They began calculating how to lure the child to their respective factions.

"But let me make one thing clear."

Before the meeting adjourned, Namgung Gwang laid down his ultimatum.

"I intend to take the boy called Jang Yul as my Adopted Son."

The bombshell no one had anticipated left the entire assembly reeling.

"What?!"

"Are you serious?"

"I am."

Every jaw in the room dropped. Azure Heaven Sword Emperor Jin Taegwang and Cheonggwang were no exception. The Shaolin Abbot, who had challenged Namgung Gwang earlier, muttered "Amitabha" under his breath and fingered his prayer beads.

Seeing their reactions, Namgung Gwang drove the final nail in with the utmost gravity.

"I will make the child not a member of the Namgung Collateral Lineage, but of the Main Lineage."