Chapter 51: Facing the Demonic Master (4)
“That boy, I really like him. I’d love to make him my son-in-law.”
“No, look at how deeply Miss Cheollyeon is watching. It seems more likely he’ll become the Clan Head’s son-in-law than the Branch Lord’s.”
“Hahaha! You’d best make your move quickly, then.”
The noblewomen of the Pang Clan, perhaps due to their nature, watched the duel between the two young men with contented smiles.
In contrast, the noblewomen of the Seomun Clan grew increasingly bitter as the praises for the two youths continued, making their young lord seem even more insignificant by comparison.
The martial duel between Yong Hwarin and Pang Giyok only came to an end after two and a half hours had passed.
Both of their clothes were soaked in sweat, clinging tightly to their bodies.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a thrilling match.”
The martial artists who had been watching the bout each gave their own comment before dispersing.
“My blood was boiling so fiercely, I thought I’d go mad.”
“Hahaha, it’s always a delight to witness pure martial artists like this.”
Yong Hwarin and Pang Giyok stood facing each other.
“How was my Saber technique?”
Yong Hwarin hesitated.
‘Should I tell him, or not?’
He had witnessed the Five Tiger Sabers Technique become a peerless Saber art in the future, after it overcame its flaws.
However, if he pointed out the weakness that the Pang Clan had been struggling with for years after just one match, it could cause problems.
Among those present, excluding the noblewomen of the Pang Clan, the only one who knew about the Five Tiger Sabers Technique was Yong Hwarin.
The Five Tiger Sabers Technique had been reconstructed by fusing two Saber arts. One was the Forceful Single Saber Technique, and the other came from the demonic faction.
Because of this, the technique would later face criticism from other clans. But when the Five Tiger Sabers grew strong enough to surpass even the Emperor Sword Style of the formidable Namgung Clan, such voices disappeared completely.
In truth, the Pang Clan of Hebei had managed to avoid any serious backlash due to being one of the top three among the Twelve Great Clans. If it had been a lesser clan, they might have faced ruin under the pressure of Murim society.
The martial technique that had been combined with the Forceful Single Saber was indeed from the Hidden Saint Cult.
The Pang Clan’s Forceful Single Saber was unmatched in power and aggression. However, it lacked precision and showed clear weaknesses against swordsmen.
In the midst of this, they came upon a technique—one of the guardian Saber arts of the Hidden Saint Cult—called the Five Tiger King Sabers.
It boasted forms as intricate and detailed as any swordsmanship.
Having felt the limitations of the Forceful Single Saber, the Pang Clan invested years of effort into combining it with the Five Tiger King Sabers, ultimately creating the Five Tiger Sabers Technique.
The problem, however, was that while the forms had been completed, they lacked an appropriate internal technique to support them.
Thinking about it now, Yong Hwarin felt a sense of sympathy for Pang Giyok.
Since the martial arts of the Hidden Saint Cult were based on a one-to-one pairing of techniques and internal energy methods, using a different internal method meant the Five Tiger Sabers couldn’t demonstrate their full power.
It was the same reason why attaching the Nine Dragons Heavenly Ascent Technique to the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword would diminish its effectiveness.
Having come to understand even the secrets of the Heavenly Central Sect’s martial arts, Yong Hwarin was now also able to comprehend the secret behind the Five Tiger Sabers.
It seemed the Pang Clan had yet to realize that the Five Tiger Sabers suffered from an internal energy flaw.
This sparked several thoughts in Yong Hwarin’s mind.
‘In the future, the Dabie Sect attacked my family because of our martial arts. They condemned us as a demonic faction for learning techniques from the Hidden Saint Cult. Since the Five Tiger Sabers were created using their martial arts, the Pang Clan could end up becoming a shield for my family. But to do that, I have to get Pang Giyok to confess the origin of the technique himself. If I say I already know, it’ll seem suspicious. Once that’s done, I can explain why the Five Tiger Sabers aren’t performing at full power. If I do that, I might be able to gain the Pang Clan’s help in the future.’
He didn’t like owing favors to other sects, but his family was still too weak to even stand against the Dabie Sect.
“During our duel, I sensed a flaw I had seen long ago in my own family’s martial arts. We too struggled with it for many years.”
“Is that so?”
“It seems like something best discussed in private. There are too many ears around to speak of it here.”
Pang Giyok couldn’t hide his admiration at Yong Hwarin’s words.
“Could it be? Did you figure it out?”
Only Yong Hwarin understood the true meaning of those words.
When he nodded, Pang Giyok’s face lit up.
“Amazing! The reputation of the Flying Dragon Sword Hero was not earned in vain. I am truly in awe of your insight, Young Master Yong. Then when might I hear the rest?”
“I think it’d be best to talk tomorrow morning. I need time to gather my thoughts.”
“Hahaha. Then I suppose sleep is out of the question tonight. I’m dying to hear what you have to say.”
With that, Pang Giyok turned his back first. After all these years, he would finally learn the flaw that had eluded him.
Yet despite that, he remained calm—proof of the depth of his discipline. He was a true man and a true warrior.
“Then I shall see you tomorrow morning.”
Pang Cheollyeon approached Yong Hwarin and bowed her head.
“Thank you.”
Yong Hwarin simply stared at her, not understanding.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen my brother so happy in recent memory. And since you’re going to resolve a wish he’s carried for so long, I wanted to thank you on his behalf.”
Others, not knowing what they were talking about, looked on with curiosity, but Pang Cheollyeon didn’t say anything more.
“To meet a manly and warrior-like person such as Young Master Pang is a pleasure for me as well. And to have become acquainted with such a beautiful young lady as Pang Sojeo—only brings me joy.”
Even though she knew it was a polite compliment, Pang Cheollyeon’s heart fluttered for a moment.
She had heard flowery words from many handsome men before, as if chiseled from jade, but they had never made her heart tremble—instead, they only left her uncomfortable. Yet, somehow, Yong Hwarin’s words struck her deeply.
‘Huh?’
Jaegal Yohye’s gaze subtly shifted in that direction.
She didn’t like what those two were doing one bit.
“Young Master Yong.”
She called out and approached him, even though she had nothing in particular to say.
The way the two were talking so intimately irritated her immensely.
“What is it?”
Now that she had called his name, Jaegal Yohye had nothing to say, so she quickly searched her mind for an excuse.
“I think Miss Seoseol from the Seomun Clan must have been hurt quite a bit by what happened earlier. It would be nice if Miss Pang could comfort her.”
“I was thinking the same. I was just about to go. Then I’ll see you later, Young Master Yong.”
Jaegal Yohye snorted inwardly.
‘Hmph, why would you be the one to go see Young Master Yong? As if I’d let that happen!’
While thinking that, Jaegal Yohye suddenly realized how deeply fixated she had become on Yong Hwarin.
She had come to the Shangguan Clan for a purpose.
‘It’s not like I came here to fall in love.’
Despite thinking that, she found herself increasingly drawn to Yong Hwarin.
‘Get it together, Yohye. You’re a daughter of the Jaegal Clan—a temptress in name, aren’t you?’
While she was trying to compose herself, Yong Hwarin suddenly asked, as if he had just remembered:
“By the way, I heard that Brother Jaegal Byeok came to the Shangguan Clan as well, but I haven’t seen him around.”
He had known but had been too busy to seek him out.
Since Jaegal Yohye hadn’t mentioned Jaegal Byeok, he had forgotten, but seeing the Pang siblings had reminded him.
“Took you long enough to ask.”
Jaegal Yohye clicked her tongue before continuing.
“Brother Byeok went to Shaolin.”
Hearing that, a certain thought immediately came to mind.
“Is it about what I’m thinking?”
“Most likely.”
“It makes sense that you visited Wudang as well. If you wanted to form an alliance of the martial clans, you’d have to seek the approval of Wudang, the top of the Southern Alliance, and Shaolin, the leader of the Northern Alliance. Even if they didn’t grant approval, it would still be wise to get their blessing to avoid unnecessary conflict.”
Jaegal Yohye was once again amazed by how Yong Hwarin could deduce so much from a few words. In truth, it might have been that cleverness and cunning that attracted her.
Feeling that things had settled down, Yong Hwarin now thought it was time to fully engage in conversation with the old man’s spirit.
“Then thank you for your efforts today.”
Yong Hwarin turned his back easily, but Jaegal Yohye found it difficult to do the same.
“Geez, this feels like parting with a lover. But... is this really what that feels like?”
Having never been in a proper relationship before, Jaegal Yohye thought this melancholy must be what it feels like to say goodbye to someone you love.
*
Nan Myeonggwak had spent the entire day preparing for the ritual, unaware of the commotion caused by Yong Hwarin’s martial duel.
“Is everything ready?”
“Thankfully, the Shangguan Clan prepared everything I asked for. When I told them it was for Young Master Yong, they complied without question.”
Various utensils and talismans were scattered all over the place.
“You’ve prepared quite a bit.”
“Well, it’s my first time performing this great ritual too. It’s an ancient art that’s long been lost, even in the Hidden Faith. That’s why I’m excited. Everything’s ready, but are you prepared, Young Master?”
“Of course. Then I’ll get myself ready too.”
Yong Hwarin went outside and told the servants not to let anyone in no matter what.
He warned them that it was a critical spiritual exercise and that any disturbance could be dangerous. In response, the Shangguan Clan immediately assigned three martial artists to stand guard outside the door.
Yong Hwarin could feel the difference in how he was being treated after the martial duel with Seomun Yuwon and Pang Giyok.
“Let’s begin.”
“Before you lie down, drink this.”
Nan Myeonggwak held out a red liquid that gave off a strong, fishy smell.
“What is it?”
“It’s chicken blood mixed with various ritual ingredients. Drinking this will prevent the spirit from harming your body.”
Yong Hwarin drank the red liquid in big gulps.
Nan Myeonggwak looked at him with a satisfied expression.
Until now, no one had ever trusted him enough to drink it just on his word alone—Yong Hwarin was the first.
‘He understands that to be trusted, one must first trust.’
Nan Myeonggwak found it admirable that this young boy had already grasped such a truth.
‘If he does this without knowing it, he’s fit to be the head of a sect. If he knows and still acts, he’s fit to govern a whole province.’
Once Yong Hwarin lay down, Nan Myeonggwak waved his ritual brush and began chanting in an incomprehensible tongue.
“This time, we need to find out who the spirit is. That has to come first. Only then can we know how to deal with it. I won’t be able to hear the spirit—it will only speak to you, Young Master. You’ll be able to converse with it now. Last time, I warned you not to because it was dangerous and you weren’t ready, but now you are. Just don’t obey its instructions. You can talk to it, but don’t follow commands like ‘move your energy here or there,’ things like that.”
After explaining what to be cautious of, Nan Myeonggwak resumed his chanting, and listening to the rhythm of his voice, Yong Hwarin felt sleep creeping in.
Then, without realizing, he drifted off.
It was the first step toward conversing with the spirit.
*
Yong Hwarin stood alone in an empty field, facing the wind.
No, he wasn’t alone.
“You’ve improved so much since our first meeting.”