Chapter 213: Approaching the Secret (1)
I suddenly missed Bukri Sogun.
‘Since people from the Bukri Clan are staying here, I’ll probably hear news about Sogun soon, right?’
I already knew.
The Sky Ocean Merchant Union had long backed martial households with under-the-table funds in return for guaranteed profits.
Among them, the two largest were the Bukri Clan and the Weiji Clan.
‘So Hoi Soyu finally roped in the Bukri Clan. That’s not a very wise decision. The Bukri Clan is not some kindhearted group. Even in my previous life, they were always eyeing the Sky Ocean Merchant Union like a hawk…’
Just by looking at Bukri So, the Chief Administrator of the Bukri Clan, one could get a sense of that.
If the Bukri Clan was assisting Hoi Soyu, it was because they wanted something in return.
‘If she took that into account and still involved the Bukri Clan, then the Sky Ocean Merchant Union is about to be deeply constrained.’
Even so, since it was the place I was involved with in my past life, I couldn’t help but worry.
I arrived at the place where Jin Pyeong was staying. It was a separate building next to Hoi Soyu’s pavilion.
That building was usually reserved for honored guests, so it was clear how much importance she placed on Jin Pyeong.
That in itself meant that the Sword Poison Sect was serving as a significant backing for Hoi Soyu.
Just as I focused my gaze and prepared to enter Hoi Soyu’s pavilion, someone suddenly tugged at the hem of my robe from behind.
“Do Pyo-du?”
When I turned around, Do Gye-gong was standing there with a grave expression.
“What is it? If it’s nothing important, let’s talk later. I’m busy right now.”
“Young Master Yong, just a moment. I have something urgent to tell you.”
‘He must know something important.’
Do Gye-gong had the face of someone holding onto critical information.
I took him with me to a secluded, deserted corner.
“What is it?”
“Young Master Yong, by coincidence, I came across a secret regarding Lady Hoi Soyu.”
“A secret? What kind of secret are you referring to?”
“I can’t say anything for certain yet, so I’m reluctant to speak. But I’ll bring the proof to your quarters tonight.”
Do Gye-gong was concerned that leaking uncertain information might put the informant in danger. So, he intended to secure evidence first.
“With that proof, the Vice Leader can protect the Sky Ocean Merchant Union.”
Thinking it might be something serious, I gave him a word of caution.
“If it’s that important, then finding the evidence will be dangerous.”
“That’s why I came to ask you a favor. If you can distract them, I’ll be able to retrieve the evidence.”
“Perfect timing. I was already planning to stir things up here. That should buy you enough time to extract the evidence.”
“What are you planning to do?”
“I’m going to challenge Jin Pyeong to a duel. Originally, I was just going to visit him quietly and settle things, but now I’ll have to make a show of it.”
“Ah, if you do that for me, I’ll be able to move around much more freely. Then, I’ll see you tonight.”
“I’ll wait for you at my place tonight.”
Do Gye-gong glanced around and then disappeared.
Once he was gone, I spoke into the air, as if talking to myself.
“Show yourself.”
Then, an assassin revealed himself from behind a tree near the Winter Gate.
Looking at his face, I began to explain.
“Once I give the signal, that’s when you move.”
The assassin gave a silent nod and vanished behind the tree again.
I hadn’t originally planned to deploy an assassin.
But after hearing Do Gye-gong’s words, I added a new layer to the plan.
Having collected my thoughts, I resumed walking toward the place where Jin Pyeong was staying.
“Jin Pyeong Daehyeop, come out!”
I deliberately shouted his name loudly.
The entire area around the separate building Jin Pyeong resided in was thrown into an uproar. Soon after, he emerged.
Jin Pyeong was the Left Protector of the Sword Poison Sect and a man in his early fifties.
Given his age and his position, his skills were evident.
In his youth, he might have been considered rather handsome, but now his beard was so thick it was hard to make out his features.
Despite his imposing physique, his gaze was blatant and cold—far from pleasant.
“Young Master Yong, what brings you to seek this Protector with such urgency?”
He came flanked by more than ten martial artists of the Sword Poison Sect.
His face carried a smirk, as if he had already guessed the reason I came.
I channeled my qi and shouted,
“I, Yong Hwarin of the Heavenly Central Sect, hereby challenge Left Protector Jin Pyeong of the Sword Poison Sect to a duel!”
My voice rang out thunderously, and the people of the Sky Ocean Merchant Union who were passing by all rushed over.
At that, Jin Pyeong’s brows furrowed.
Never in his wildest imagination had he thought I would come and issue a duel challenge like this.
He had planned to wait until they offered to negotiate in exchange for the antidote, and only then strike a deal on terms advantageous to him.
But he hadn’t expected them to come at him with such a crude approach. As a result, any intention he had of giving Yong Hwarin the antidote completely vanished.
“Young friend, you’re quite full of yourself. Just because you’ve gained a little reputation, you dare threaten me—a man who’s roamed the gangho for decades—with a duel? Let’s see how great your skills are, then.”
There was a gulf as vast as heaven and earth between Jin Pyeong and Yong Hwarin in terms of standing. It was already infuriating enough to have lost the clan’s elites to someone like that, and now being challenged in such a threatening manner sent Jin Pyeong into a rage.
Even so, he hadn’t accepted the duel out of mere emotion.
He was confident. He believed he had mastered a sword art based on the Sword Poison Sect’s poison arts.
‘If he thinks I’m on the same level as an ordinary martial artist from the main clan, he’s gravely mistaken. I’ll just kill him today.’
As the murderous intent surged, the poison qi that had been gathering in his dantian began to writhe.
With a mind to kill Yong Hwarin through this opportunity, Jin Pyeong spoke.
“In this duel, let’s agree that no matter who dies or is injured, there shall be no resentment.”
“Hahahahaha! That’s a fine proposal!”
At Jin Pyeong’s words, I calmed my killing intent.
Looking at the crowd that had gathered, I spoke.
“These people here are all witnesses!”
Hoi Soyu, who had rushed out belatedly, scolded me upon hearing that I was dueling Jin Pyeong.
“Young Master Yong, this is the Sky Ocean Merchant Union, the place where I was born and raised! How could you commit such a rude act? Daehyeop Jin is my invited guest! How could a guest behave so disrespectfully toward the host’s guest!”
What she said wasn’t wrong. But I smiled slightly and replied.
“Lady Hoi, we are not merchants. Daehyeop Jin and I are martial artists! And when martial artists settle emotions, we cross blades.”
Hoi Soyu looked at Jin Pyeong with worried eyes and spoke.
“Daehyeop Jin, please calm yourself. Why must you respond to someone recklessly charging in, blinded by youthful arrogance?”
I found this whole situation amusing.
To an outsider, it would look like I was the villain, and they the righteous.
They were making it look like they were the ones suffering because of me.
‘They say good and evil are always relative. From their perspective, I must look like the villain always causing trouble.’
“It’s already been decided, Lady. Once a duel has been accepted, there’s no taking it back. That would be no different than admitting defeat.”
When Jin Pyeong spoke seriously, Hoi Soyu let out a long sigh and glared at me as if she wanted to kill me.
“Fine. No matter who dies, let this duel be the end of it.”
Hoi Soyu didn’t believe I could defeat Jin Pyeong. She was merely worried because fights often involved unpredictable variables.
Jin Pyeong drew his sword and immediately raised his sword qi.
“Our clan’s Five Poison Blood Shadow Sword has never let a duel opponent live until now! We have a strict principle that if a fight is initiated, retaliation must be thorough! I hope you understand!”
He spoke while treating me as a man already dead.
“Our clan’s Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword is an all-offense sword art! Even if the skills of a so-called Final Flame of the Martial World are too low to control the force, I ask for your understanding, Senior!”
Mocking in the same tone, I grinned at Jin Pyeong.
In a way, Jin Pyeong looked like the dignified master, and I the stereotypical villain.
When I turned my head to the right, I saw Bukri So and Bukri Haeng. They had also come out to see if my martial prowess was as great as the rumors said.
As all eyes focused on me, I smiled with satisfaction.
‘With a commotion this big, Do Pyo-du should be able to move freely. He might even steal Hoi Soyu’s undergarments. Now it’s time for me to get to work.’
Srrrng!
I drew my sword and assumed the lower stance.
It was a posture that conveyed yielding the first strike.
“You arrogant brat!”
Jin Pyeong tried to endure it, but my antics made his rage boil over.
Unable to hold back anymore, he charged in and unleashed a crimson-tinged sword qi at me.
Since it was mixed with poison and sword qi, it was not something that could be countered recklessly.
The frightening thing about poison was that even a brush or a single breath could be fatal.
I focused on buying time for Do Gye-gong.
I went on the defensive instead of attacking, and perhaps thinking I was overwhelmed by his aura, Jin Pyeong muttered.
“Hehehe, I’ll show you just how big a mistake you’ve made! You dare insult someone who has mastered Five Finger Link?”
This time, a green-colored sword qi extended from his blade, and a minty scent drifted to my nose.
I could already guess how potent that poison was.
“Fall back!”
As the green sword qi surged forth, the people gathered within five jang scattered backward in a rush.
Hearing Jin Pyeong’s muttering, I watched his fingers carefully.
Each of the five fingers was a different color.
‘Ah, so that’s why he said he’s mastered Five Finger Link. Turns out he also reached the realm of the Dragon Claw Five Fingers. No wonder he’s so confident. He must believe he’s reached a level of martial mastery unknown to others.’
I was right.
The Five Poison Blood Shadow Sword was an exceptional sword art that infused a different poison into each finger, then fused each poison with sword qi through inner energy.
Whereas the Tang Clan had tried to achieve this with poison swords, the Sword Poison Sect had accomplished it with martial arts that fused poison and sword qi.
‘He has every right to be cocky.’
Jin Pyeong had, like me, grasped the mysteries of the Dragon Claw Five Fingers.
‘If it were the old me, I’d have been helpless before him.’
But I had already mastered the Dragon Claw Five Fingers and even awakened the Protective Energy that made me immune to poison intrusion.
Jin Pyeong became enraged when I continued to dodge like a slippery eel, refusing to engage him directly.
“Come at me, you bastard! Or admit defeat!”
I saw Do Gye-gong exiting from Hoi Soyu’s pavilion.
‘He pulled it off.’
I didn’t know what he had stolen, but since he’d come out of Hoi Soyu’s pavilion, I assumed he’d succeeded.
“Until now, I’ve yielded the first strike out of respect for you as a senior. But from now on, this junior will go on the offensive.”