Humans possess many emotions.
The most representative of these are called the Wu Yu Qi Qing.
They say the five desires and seven emotions are called the Wu Yu Qi Qing.
It is said that these are the fundamental emotions of man, and that completely transcending them leads one to the state of enlightenment, but…
Honestly, I do not know of such things.
I had no interest in that area whatsoever.
'What is important here is this.'
Whether it be lust that covets the flesh.
Or material desire that covets wealth.
Or the desire for fame that seeks reputation.
All of those can only be obtained while one is alive.
If so, then in the end, is not the most important thing the will to survive?
The heart that wishes to sustain life.
The craving of not wanting to die.
Perhaps that is the most important desire for a human being.
Looking at the middle-aged man kneeling before me, I thought as much.
For the proof was this very middle-aged man.
Meng Hu Jiu Quan, Hwangbo Yeolwi.
A Huajing martial artist who had risen to the ranks of the Central Plains' top hundred experts, and a fighter renowned for his single, heavy punch.
As the family head of the Hwangbo Family, he possessed nothing particularly lacking or outstanding.
He was simply the head of a prestigious family.
He was a man who displayed exactly that level of standing, but.
"Shaolin made contact, I heard."
Now, he was one who had Fallen and become a demon.
At my words, Meng Hu Jiu Quan cautiously continued.
"…That is correct. A few months ago, they attempted to approach within the family."
"The reason."
"They sought to request an invitation to the upcoming Martial Arts Tournament, and an officially certified letter of congratulations from the family head."
"An officially certified letter from the family head…."
I nodded slightly at Meng Hu Jiu Quan's words.
'Requesting attendance is one thing.'
It is a festival the Alliance is pouring its heart into creating.
Inviting a prestigious family like the Hwangbo Family there is only natural, but.
'The fact that they requested an officially certified letter of congratulations from the family head means…'
I stroked my chin, and my eyes gleamed.
'Does it mean the Sword Immortal is trying to solidify his position further?'
Since the Sword Immortal lacks standing compared to past Alliance Leaders, I suspected it might be an attempt to secure his position more firmly.
If other prestigious families or renowned sects sent official letters stating their congratulations, it was no different from them expressing support for the Sword Immortal.
'They might have requested it with that meaning in mind, but.'
What was strange here was.
'The fact that Shaolin moved directly.'
The point that Shaolin directly attempted to contact the Hwangbo Family to deliver such words.
It was not an inspector affiliated with the Alliance, nor even Wudang, the sect of the Sword Immortal.
The fact that Shaolin suddenly sought out a prestigious family to deliver the Alliance's affairs.
There, a sense of incongruity should be felt.
'Are they trying to show it clearly?'
That Shaolin was participating in the Alliance's affairs.
In other words, it was showing through action that Shaolin was fully supporting the Martial Arts Alliance.
'It must also mean they intend to step forward in earnest.'
Tian'an, the Shaolin Abbot who is said to see the future and read the tides of human relations.
Since he had declared that he would support the current Martial Arts Alliance.
"There were no other contacts besides this?"
"…None have been reported."
"Tsk."
I clicked my tongue after hearing that.
'Then this is not much different from what I heard before.'
It was no different from the information received through Nahi earlier. That was the problem.
'There should definitely be something more.'
Information coming from Shandong was already being received through Nahi.
I had wondered if there was some different information from then.
It seemed that was not the case.
"I understand for now."
When I spoke while hiding my disappointment, Meng Hu Jiu Quan bowed his head deeper.
I looked at him as if examining him.
'His constitution has stabilized greatly.'
A martial artist with a large frame is robust, not unlike his appearance.
The energy sensation within his body was the same.
Perhaps because he was a combat-type martial artist who had ascended to Huajing, his internal condition was brimming with stability.
However.
Something subtly unstable could be seen at a glance.
Only to the extent that one could notice if looking very carefully.
After observing Meng Hu Jiu Quan's energy here and there, I nodded slightly.
'Not bad.'
At first, it had not merely been unstable but completely shattered; now, it seemed he had finished recovering and entered a stable range.
"Your complexion is good. It is a pleasant sight."
"It is all… thanks to the blessing bestowed by the Cult Leader."
My eyes narrowed at those words.
'It seems he has almost finished absorbing the Dokcheon Dan.'
Seeing that the quantity of his energy had increased and solidified, it seemed to be the case.
'If he had not recovered after eating three of them, that would be insane.'
The Dokcheon Dan, said to be of similar value to Shaolin's Great Rejuvenation Pill.
I had fed him three of them.
The reason was none other.
'I had to feed him that much.'
Because Meng Hu Jiu Quan's body had been broken beyond repair.
This was also the reason he had Fallen into my hands.
For several years, rumors circulated that the Hwangbo family head was in poor health, and he did not appear at official occasions.
Having hidden away like a dead mouse, he began to reveal himself again a year ago.
With a very healthy appearance, unlike the rumors.
Thanks to this, the Hwangbo Family, which had been gradually shaken, grew firm again, but.
Speaking of which, first, the rumors were true.
In reality, Meng Hu Jiu Quan had been dying at the time.
'And that was due to the Hwangbo clan's special trait.'
Clan.
The problem lay with a special martial art only the direct line could inherit.
Due to the nature of the Hwangbo Family's martial arts, which intensely trained external arts and used tyrannical martial techniques, as they aged, their vitality was gnawed away.
In this process, some contracted external illnesses where their bodies collapsed.
Their muscles would break down, their internal vessels would be affected, and their life would approach its end.
That was his weakness.
'The thirst for life.'
Fall.
Then I will save you.
That was the condition I presented to Meng Hu Jiu Quan.
Meng Hu Jiu Quan, who had been gradually dying, accepted it all too easily.
The regenerative power he would gain by becoming a demon.
On top of that, the Dokcheon Dan that would repair his broken energy.
There were a few other processes to go through, but the decisive reason Meng Hu Jiu Quan ultimately Fell and became a demon was this.
—I would place him in the seat of the Four Great Families he so longed for.
That I would raise the Hwangbo Family to the position of the Four Great Families.
His heart must have wavered at that.
The primal desire to survive.
Coupled with the desire for honor he held as family head.
I dug into that, and more easily than expected, Meng Hu Jiu Quan Fell and became a demon.
'Until now, the Hwangbo Family had been in the back ranks.'
A prestigious family most suited for the Four Great Families, yet falling slightly short.
That was the perception of the Hwangbo Family.
This was surely the karma of the successive Hwangbo family heads of old.
To end that karma in his own generation.
And thereby, become the greatest Hwangbo family head in history.
That must have been Meng Hu Jiu Quan's greatest wish.
I said I would restore his health and simultaneously make this happen.
Meng Hu Jiu Quan merely shook hands on it.
'I simply dug into that gap.'
The expenditure seemed somewhat large.
But since I had gained a useful chess piece thanks to it, it was not that great an expenditure.
'After all, you simply have to make Dokcheon Dan.'
I already possess the manufacturing method.
And based on that, production was already underway.
Naturally, the Tang Clan was handling this production.
In utmost secrecy.
'The Tang Clan Young Lord said… even at the longest, it seems there will be results within this year.'
Since it was lost centuries ago, I was not expecting them to make it exactly like the original.
As long as it was produced, that alone was not bad.
"What of the other matters I requested?"
"The measures regarding the collateral branch have been resolved as you ordered."
The Hwangbo Family's collateral branch.
It was regarding the Silent Fist.
"Although it is not direct-line martial arts, the injustices he had suffered until now have been reduced…."
I had taken some measures so that he could live more comfortably.
"Also."
Meng Hu Jiu Quan continued speaking with a smile.
"We have prepared to convene the elders' council to nominate the Second Young Master as the young family head, as you commanded."
The Hwangbo Second Young Master.
He was referring to Hwangbo Cheolwi.
'I had said so once.'
That the First Young Master, Hwangbo Cheok, was trash so he should be disposed of, and Hwangbo Cheolwi would be raised to family head.
Preparations to carry this out were also underway.
"Not bad. You have worked hard."
The corners of my lips rose slightly.
Not bad.
The plans seemed to be connecting step by step.
So I spoke to Meng Hu Jiu Quan.
"Prepare the rest as well. The time will soon be upon us."
"…!"
"Should you not be going now? To the Four Great Families, that is."
The time: after the Martial Arts Tournament.
Or.
'During the Martial Arts Tournament.'
I would prepare according to the situation, but the most fundamental time would be then.
It was the time to establish a firm foothold.
"…I will dedicate this worthless life entirely to the Cult Leader."
At this, Meng Hu Jiu Quan bowed his head as if to touch the floor.
I looked at Meng Hu Jiu Quan with eyes containing a cold gleam.
Then, you must dedicate your life.
'For that is why I use you.'
There were no problems with the plan.
If there was a variable, it was merely the reason for Shaolin's intervention.
'I should have this part conveyed more clearly to Jegal Hyeok.'
There was an outstanding strategist on this side who could grasp this, so I would trust him.
Though it was unknown whether that fellow would move as I wished.
Just as I was organizing things in my head.
"Yangcheon-ah."
I heard a voice calling me from the side.
It was Cheol Jiseon.
When I shifted my gaze, he took something from his bosom and handed it to me.
"…It's a delivery from the strategist's side."
"Hm?"
Since Cheol Jiseon seemed somewhat uncomfortable, I wondered what it was; it was a letter from Jegal Hyeok.
'He still seems bitter about it.'
Sin Ui was like that too, and Cheol Jiseon also did not seem to have good feelings toward Jegal Hyeok.
He had been like that since learning Jegal Hyeok was Sin Ui's grandson, so even though they shared the same surname, there was clearly some issue.
'He will handle it himself.'
I was not getting involved in that.
Because I was too busy to have the leisure to care about such circumstances.
Rustle.
I immediately unfolded the received letter.
Inside, a few lines were written in brief phrases. All of them were solutions to the information and commands I had requested.
—Confirmed the child of the Flying Dragon Lord. Deployed as ordered.
It seemed they had properly found Beomdong's daughter.
Since I had ordered them to only keep watch afterwards, he must have deployed personnel.
Furthermore.
—Confirmed suspicious activity on the Wudang side.
An unusual piece of information was written there.
—It appears they are secretly collecting valuable items, as far as can be determined.
'Collecting valuable items?'
From Wudang?
If Jegal Hyeok had written it, it must be correct information. But I wondered if there was any reason for Wudang to collect valuables.
'What are they trying to do?'
It bothered me.
I could tell instinctively.
'What kind of dirty trick they are trying to pull.'
That Wudang was trying to commit something unusual.
'Tsk, and it had to be while the Dark King is absent.'
In this case, sending someone to Wudang to obtain information would be fastest, but.
Because of the incident I caused last time, and since the Sword Immortal is in Hanam at this point, Wudang's vigilance would be several times more severe than usual.
The only person capable of breaking through and obtaining information right now was the Dark King.
'I had sent word for him to return, yet seeing as he has not come, it seems he also has some business there.'
What should I do.
After pondering for a moment, my eyes gleamed.
'…There is one thing.'
A way to obtain information on Wudang.
Though I did not know if it was as certain as the Dark King, there was one thing.
I would order this to be prepared within the near future.
'The last item.'
The last line written in the letter, the moment I read it.
I froze—!
I had to stiffen momentarily upon seeing it.
"Huh. Look at this?"
Laughter flowed out involuntarily.
It could not be helped.
The last line of the letter Jegal Hyeok sent was precisely this.
—The probability is high that the Blade King will 'personally' attend the Martial Arts Tournament. Keep a close eye on this.
It was information I had thought absolutely unlikely.
Moreover.
'Things keep working out so smoothly it's unsettling.'
Because it was something I had been hoping for more than I let on.
Right after finishing the matter and sending Meng Hu Jiu Quan back.
The place I headed was where Sin Ui was.
Meeting Namgung Bia was part of the reason, but more than that, it was to meet someone who had come looking for that place.
"It has been a while."
A middle-aged man with a cold impression and handsome features.
Seeing this person who gave off an eerie feeling whether one knew him or not, I nodded slightly.
"Yes. It has been a while."
The middle-aged man's identity was the current Sword King.
The family head of the Namgung Clan, Cangtian Sword King Namgung Jin.
He was just coming out of Sin Ui's quarters, and seemed to have been seeing Namgung Bia.
"Have you been well?"
The slight smile he showed while looking at me felt strangely unpleasant.
He had a smile resembling Namgung Bia's, as if proving he was her father.
But separate from that, there was something that instinctively made one keep one's distance.
"…Yes. I hope the family head has been well too."
"That stiff form of address is still the same."
"…"
Then what else should I call him?
There were a few addresses that came to mind, but none I could utter out loud.
If forced, something lewd? That was something I could not bear to do, so I held it in.
'The last time I saw him… was that a year ago?'
There was a time when I had gone to the Namgung Clan on business.
That matter was probably.
'Delivering the Tianzun's letter.'
I did not know what was written, but I remembered delivering it since I was going out anyway.
'…And I had also taken measures to prevent him from clinging to me needlessly while I was at it.'
The sword of Namgung Myeong that the Namgung Clan had lost.
Namgung Jin had clung to me to obtain it.
It was a time when I had laid groundwork in advance to deal with this.
I observed Namgung Jin briefly before speaking.
"Your training… seems to be going well."
"It is pleasant to hear that it looks so."
Namgung Jin smiled slightly at my words.
It was not lip service.
In truth, Namgung Jin's realm had changed firmly unlike before.
'When I first saw him, he was half a step into Huajing.'
In merely three or four years.
Namgung Jin had been reborn into a perfect Huajing.
It still seemed insufficient to be called Sword King, but enough to be called a strong expert.
'Could that trivial talk really have been useful?'
First, Old Man Sin had done it.
The second time, I had spoken in jest.
The third time, I borrowed the Tianzun's authority.
I had asked him to help a little in exchange for writing the letter.
'For him to have reached that level with those three pieces of information…'
In the end, it meant Namgung Jin was innately talented from the start.
Well, as Namgung Bia's father, perhaps it was only natural?
"…It seems you have come from meeting your daughter?"
Namgung Bia had suddenly come to mind, so I asked. At that.
"Hm, something like that. The daughter is the daughter, and…."
Namgung Jin's eyes grew coldly subdued as he spoke.
The moment I wondered why.
'Ah.'
I realized who was inside.
'Guai Xian.'
Wudang's Guai Xian, Namgung Hyeong.
He had been there too.
One could tell their relationship was not good just by looking at the Guai Xian's current affiliation.
Namgung Jin, who had momentarily changed expression, soon smiled again and addressed me.
"Come to think of it, I wonder if your grandfather is doing well."
It was a question about the Tianzun.
Having heard through the letter, he knew the Tianzun was staying in Shanxi.
"He is probably doing well."
Perhaps so.
'I wish this would not become known if possible.'
Thinking of the Tianzun made my head ache slightly.
The Three Venerables, called the pinnacle of the orthodox sects. If it were known that all three of them had previously stayed in Shanxi, what would happen?
'They would see it as practically a demonic lair.'
It was obvious. Because I had accomplished something no clan in the world had done.
"…He still shows no intention of returning to the clan?"
"You should ask him directly. That is something I do not know well either."
"I wish to do so as well… but unfortunately, he does not receive contact."
After delivering the letter to the Namgung Clan, the Tianzun received no contact whatsoever.
If something came from the clan, he would often return it unread.
'The fact that he has not come to find me directly amidst all this…'
Was probably thanks to the Tianzun having done something to tell him never to come.
"So if possible…."
Namgung Jin was about to add something to this.
"Before that."
I had something to say before that.
"I heard the First Young Master came as well. Where is he?"
Nyoryong Namgung Cheonjun.
I had come here looking for him.
Namgung Bia had said they came together, so I had come assuming he would be here, but.
"Hm?"
Namgung Jin answered my words.
"The First Young Master did not accompany me. He had some separate matters to attend to, so unfortunately he could not come to Hanam."
"…What do you mean."
He gave an answer somewhat different from my expectations.
'He could not come?'
Namgung Bia had definitely said he was coming; had he dropped out midway?
'This makes things a bit ambiguous.'
For Namgung Cheonjun to come to Hanam, and moreover to where Namgung Bia was.
This was something contrary to the restriction I had placed, and if this was possible, I had wanted to find out what had happened, but.
'If Namgung Cheonjun did not come.'
It became somewhat ambiguous to verify.
If things turned out this way….
'There is a probability he did not come because the restriction was in place.'
Along with the possibility that he tried to come but it was impossible.
'But there is also the possibility that is not the case.'
The possibility arises that he could have come but did not.
What I could sense was that the restriction still seemed to be firmly in place, but this was uncertain.
'I need to verify this clearly.'
I thought I would have to call Nahi and check.
'Originally, I should do it myself.'
The Martial Arts Tournament was in two days.
It was too much to verify this as well.
'Tsk.'
It was regrettable but unavoidable.
Let us postpone what should be postponed.
Having judged so, I bowed my head to Namgung Jin.
"Thank you for your words. Then, since it is late, I will come again later to greet you."
"It is not that late yet…. Perhaps, a brief spar…."
Namgung Jin subtly revealed he wished for instruction, seizing that opening.
But.
"I am sorry, but I have a prior engagement."
It was out of the question.
"As I have a schedule today… I will formally visit you next time."
Of course, I had no intention of visiting Namgung Jin.
I ignored the disappointed Namgung Jin and returned to my quarters as if fleeing.
I spent my time organizing my upcoming schedule while training.
And so two days passed, and before I knew it.
The day of the Martial Arts Tournament had arrived.