Chapter 255. I Won Again Today.

The Mohists were a faction of the Hundred Schools that aided weak states in defending themselves against powerful nations. That was what it meant to oppose wars of conquest. If applied to the logic of the jianghu, they would be people who could not tolerate the Demon Cult or the Murim Alliance ruling over the entire jianghu.

In any case, I learned one more thing.

It seemed all the scholars knew me now. Fame was frightening like that. Moreover, in my position as the one leading Haomun, I felt I could not turn all scholars into my enemies.

Making enemies of everyone was far too foolish.

To begin with, the Hundred Schools were independent sorts, so wouldn’t it be better to grasp their varied traits and make some allies, leave some as bystanders, and beat some to death?

Even so, I changed the direction of the conversation.

“What will you do if you don’t get an explanation from me about how the Blind Scholar died?”

Yeo Unbyeok gave an answer befitting a Mohist.

“What I want to know is simple. There is no way you attacked the Blind Scholar first. You must have joined in to help the Beggar Sect Leader, and the Blind Scholar died in the process.”

“That is true.”

Yeo Unbyeok looked at me.

“If that is not a lie, then what is visible cannot be everything. It seems your schemes were stronger than the Blind Scholar’s martial arts. If you fought while trying to protect the Beggar Sect Leader, there is nothing we can do about it either. However, because it was the White-Robed Scholar’s word, I could not readily believe it all this time. In other words, I had reason to see you for myself.”

At this point, it looked as if he had deliberately caused trouble by not paying Yongdu Ironworks.

Instead, I asked what I was curious about.

“Do the scholar factions have a leader as well?”

Yeo Unbyeok looked around at us and said,

“Are the three of you divided into subordinates and a captain?”

The youngest, the Lust Demon, answered.

“As if.”

Yeo Unbyeok nodded.

“We are the same. We merely know what each of us excels at. Who is particularly outstanding in martial arts, who is exceptional in lightness arts, who makes weapons well...”

Only now did I understand why they had commissioned weapons.

“...You people would make weapons better.”

Those who belonged to the Mohists were all craftsmen. In that sense, it seemed Uncle Geum’s skills still did not reach those of the Mohist artisans.

Yeo Unbyeok nodded and admitted it.

“We do put quite a bit of effort into it. Scholars also have different fields of interest. Some still covet power. Some live lives desiring nothing, like the old Daoists. In truth, that is probably what the Hundred Schools look like. Each living according to his own thoughts. However, with the passage of time, anything can become distorted.”

At this point, Yeo Unbyeok had told me a great deal about their internal affairs.

I quickly sorted out Yeo Unbyeok’s words.

The scholar outstanding in martial arts was Cheonak, or perhaps including the man who could compete with Cheonak.

The scholars who lived lives desiring nothing were of the Daoist lineage.

The person outstanding in lightness arts was Hall Master Kwae.

The person who still coveted power was presumably the White-Robed Scholar.

The part about being distorted by the passage of time seemed to refer to a portion of the scholar factions. By that standard, it also meant Yeo Unbyeok had not lost the original direction of the Mohists to some degree.

Since I had received information about the scholars, only then did I repay the favor.

“Sect Leader Yeo may not agree, but the Blind Scholar was an arrogant man.”

“Was he? In what way?”

“Losing his sight was a great weakness, but because of his own arrogance, he did not recognize it. He probably thought he had overcome it through long training. That pride was something like, even though I have lost my sight, I am equal to the other scholars. I am strong. That sort of feeling.”

“Did you exploit that weakness?”

“Exploiting weaknesses is the foundation of fighting. From beginning to end, I thoroughly attacked the fact that he had lost his sight.”

Of course, it had begun with running away.

Yeo Unbyeok assessed me.

“You are a frightening and cold-hearted man.”

Yeo Unbyeok stroked his chin for a moment, then spoke in a tone that suggested he had realized something.

“If you considered that a weakness... then the Blind Scholar’s subordinates must have hindered him instead. It would have been more powerful for him to fight alone. If you drove him even into that situation, then he was utterly defeated. Martial arts alone cannot be the measure of strength.”

At Yeo Unbyeok’s words, the Lust Demon and the Ghost Demon also nodded.

This time, the Lust Demon picked up the wine bottle.

“Let’s have a drink.”

We received wine from the Lust Demon. Wine that carried a slightly different atmosphere from before fell with a trickling sound.

After receiving his wine, Yeo Unbyeok said to me,

“From what I hear, you are watched by the Demon Cult, and now you have come to be watched by the scholars as well. How do you intend to survive from now on? It has been a long time since I have seen a man with as many enemies as you. Even when I visited Unhyang Sect earlier, you nearly made even me your enemy.”

The little wine I had drunk instantly left me.

“Ah, was that so? But there is nothing to be done about me having many enemies. I am not one of the Hundred Schools, but it is a difficulty I am aware of because of the direction in life I believe in.”

Yeo Unbyeok raised his cup.

“May I hear that as something to accompany my drink?”

We looked at each other, then drank another cup. At some point, a waiter had set down food to go with the wine, but no one picked up their chopsticks.

This moment, when I had to reveal my intentions to one of the scholars, was like the days when the leaders of the Hundred Schools traveled throughout the realm, lobbying and expounding their views.

Such persuasion was, in truth, no easy task.

I held out my hand and vaguely indicated the merchants, travelers, and laborers belonging to Yeo Unbyeok’s group.

“The reason I have many enemies is probably because I am on the side of people like them. It is nothing special, but it is because I was a waiter. Making a living was not easy. More was taken from me than I earned by working. What sort of confidence was it, I wonder? I thought that if I learned martial arts, I could beat to death those who had learned martial arts before me. It was not revenge against an unspecified multitude. I only beat to death similar bastards. For example, bastards who slap a waiter across the face without a thought? Sect Leader Yeo, have you ever been slapped?”

Yeo Unbyeok shook his head.

“I have not had such an experience yet.”

“What if you imagine it?”

Yeo Unbyeok touched his own cheek.

“Since there would be no reason to endure it, I would draw my sword.”

“What if the other man were a greater master than you?”

“I would cross blades with him. Victory or defeat is merely the result.”

“You would have no regrets even if you died?”

“I would have no regrets.”

“What if your elderly parents were lying at home? You have to go back to prepare their dinner.”

Yeo Unbyeok answered with a flustered expression.

“In that case, I would try to hold back my anger for the moment.”

I nodded.

“Most people in the world are like that, so they live being treated that way a great deal. That would be the reason I have many enemies. It feels like I am beating them up in their place.”

As I spoke, I looked at the Lust Demon.

“You know what it feels like to beat someone up in someone else’s place, don’t you?”

The Lust Demon grinned broadly.

“I know. Not bad.”

Yeo Unbyeok smiled faintly as well.

“So you stormed all the way here in one breath because of the matter with Yongdu Ironworks?”

“Exactly. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“And what if you’re defeated by an expert you can’t handle and die? No, let me ask the same question. If you had an elderly mother at home, would you still be able to act as you do now?”

As I poured drinks for the three of them, I answered.

“Sorry to say, but I have no family now. I have no intention of making one for the time being, either. I’m alone. To be honest, that’s partly why I sometimes go off the rails. And if I’m defeated? I don’t know. If something like that happens……”

I pointed at the Pervert Demon and the Ghost Demon.

“These two will take over my work.”

The Pervert Demon glared at me.

“Why would I?”

I pointed only at the Ghost Demon this time.

“Being the fourth, you’re still immature. Master Yukhap will take it on.”

The Ghost Demon said nothing.

Then Yeo Unbyeok asked the Ghost Demon.

“Will you take it on? The will of the Hao Gate Master.”

The Ghost Demon looked at Yeo Unbyeok, then nodded.

“If I am asked, I will take it on.”

“No regrets?”

The Ghost Demon smiled faintly and answered.

“Sorry to say, but I have no family either. My master and my fellow disciples, whom I considered family, have all gone before me. Which means I, too, can go off the rails if it’s to see my will through.”

True. That was how the epithets Ghost Demon and Mad Demon had been born in my previous life.

Of course, this time, the direction was different.

Yeo Unbyeok asked me.

“Is the story you just told us the reason the Hao Gate was created?”

“It is.”

After drinking his wine, Yeo Unbyeok looked at me.

“……If Mozi had spoken with you, he would have been pleased.”

“Mm.”

I wondered what he meant, then realized it was the highest praise Yeo Unbyeok could offer me. Mozi was the ancient man who had founded the Mohist School.

Yeo Unbyeok, who had been looking at me, spoke to those around us.

“Those who aren’t busy, come and pay your respects. This is Hao Gate Master Yi Jaha. These are his friends, Young Master Mong Yeon and Master Yukhap.”

People gathered from here and there, then clasped their hands toward us.

“Gate Master, Young Master Mong, Master Yukhap. It is an honor to meet you.”

Since we were exchanging greetings with members of the Mohist School, we awkwardly rose to our feet as well. Compared to swinging swords and spilling blood with these people, clasping hands and exchanging greetings was far easier. It was somewhat awkward, but we looked around, met their eyes, and nodded. I thought there would be no end if we greeted each person one by one, but fortunately, they paid their respects as a group and then quietly withdrew.

When we sat down again, Yeo Unbyeok said,

“……If there is anything we can help with, ask. We are people who have always defended fortresses. When it comes to values that must be protected, we do not begrudge our lives. It has been so since long ago.”

This was the Mohist School as it originally was.

Fortunately, even among the scholars, Yeo Unbyeok was a man who had not lost the Mohist School’s original values. If I had assumed that all scholars were enemies, he was also a man whose true worth I would never have discovered because we would have been too busy fighting.

But I am who I am.

“I don’t know whether there will be anything to ask of you. On the other hand, I will make a proposal as well. If you are oppressed by scholars with different views, or if you end up fighting the Demonic Cult, ask the Hao Gate for aid. I am a man who originally seeks to protect those who work for a living. Every member under Gate Master Yeo is engaged in their livelihood, so they are more than worthy of the Hao Gate’s protection. I am not the leader of some great power either, but if nothing else, I will come.”

Rather than receive help from the Mohist School, it would be better for me to help them. I did not know what kind of force had protected the Mohist School in the past.

Yeo Unbyeok clasped both hands and looked at me.

“I will accept that goodwill in spirit alone.”

It wasn’t empty talk, but with him answering like that, I found myself with little to say. I considered letting it pass, but true to my nature, I did not.

“Gate Master Yeo, only by giving help and receiving it can you come out into the world. That is not corruption.”

Now that I looked at it, the Mohists seemed like people who, because of their identity as masters of fortress defense, did not ask others for help even when they themselves were attacked. That was their pride. In some ways, they were prideful men who lived collectively like the Sword Demon.

But now that they had crossed paths with me, I could not let them do that.

After pondering for a while, Yeo Unbyeok answered.

“To be honest, I don’t know whether there will ever be a time we need to ask someone for help. But refusing outright is not proper etiquette either. Instead, as an apology for this matter with the weapons, we will first forge one Mohist Sword and present it as a gift. If the Mohist Sword is to your liking afterward, help us when we ask. Which of you three will use it?”

I felt a slight chill run over me.

I already had my wooden sword, so I did not need it, and the Pervert Demon focused on palm techniques based on ice arts.

But the Ghost Demon was, from the start, the type to deploy an iron-wall defense, so his defensive principles aligned with the Mohists, the masters of fortress defense.

I looked at the Ghost Demon.

“Master Yukhap is…… the last survivor of the Yukhap Gate. He has completed his revenge, but a knot remains in his heart. If Gate Master Yeo is willing to gift him a Mohist Sword, please give the blade the name Yukhap Sword.”

The Ghost Demon looked at us with a startled expression at the unexpected proposal.

“Me? What about the fourth?”

The Pervert Demon shook his head.

“I don’t have time to train in the sword. It’s not my main strength. The third already has a sword, so it’s right for the second to receive it.”

Seeing that bastard Pervert Demon speak informally to his elder brothers in Yeo Unbyeok’s presence felt rather refreshing.

Yeo Unbyeok asked the Ghost Demon.

“May we engrave the blade name Yukhap Sword on it?”

When the socially inept Ghost Demon grew flustered and could not say a word, the Pervert Demon grabbed both his hands and made him perform a cupped-fist salute as if teasing a child.

“……Let’s do that. Thank you.”

The Pervert Demon spoke to Yeo Unbyeok on his behalf.

“It seems he agrees, so please do so.”

Only then did the Ghost Demon perform a cupped-fist salute on his own and speak to Yeo Unbyeok.

“Gate Master Yeo, thank you. To a man of the jianghu, a sword is……”

I cut off the Ghost Demon.

“Shut up.”

“…….”

“Just say thank you and be done with it. Of course a sword is precious to a man of the jianghu. What, would it not be? It’s the most precious thing. You were about to say something like, ‘It is like life itself,’ weren’t you?”

The Ghost Demon closed his eyes and slowly drew in a breath.

“…….”

After exhaling at length and steadying his breathing, the Ghost Demon opened his eyes.

“……Because of the third, my mental cultivation deepens day by day. I must think of it positively.”

The Pervert Demon nodded beside him with a serious expression.

“Congratulations. It’s good for your cultivation to deepen.”

Suddenly, the three of us looked at Yeo Unbyeok. I did not know why, but compared to earlier, he was clenching his teeth a little harder.

I clicked my tongue inwardly. When a man sees a pathetic sight, all he has to do is laugh, yet he was even holding that in. What a pitiful fellow.

I took hold of the liquor bottle.

“Let’s just drink.”

This is how I see it. In any case, I managed to obtain a famed sword, so I won again today.

I poured celebratory drinks for the three of them.

For Yeo Unbyeok, a celebratory drink for the fortune of not having made me his enemy.

For the Ghost Demon, a celebratory drink for obtaining a famed sword worthy of being passed down to his disciple for generations.

For the Lust Demon, a tagalong celebratory drink.

And into my own cup as well, I personally poured a celebratory drink.

...With a very small bit of praise for not smashing everything apart without thinking.

Drip, drip…….