The Appearance of a Master - 2
"Senior Nobak, can you help them out?"
"Hmm, it's not that I can't help... but there's a reason I can't step in. For those clowns to act all high and mighty as orthodox sect members, it's truly a sign of the times."
"Even so, you could help without making it obvious, couldn't you?"
"It's difficult. I could discreetly handle three of them, but the other five are different. Those guys call themselves the Five Heroes of Wushan, and they all possess considerable martial arts skills. Even though they cause trouble, no one dares to step in and stop them. If I were to face them, it would take over two hundred moves to settle the matter... Besides, even though they're ostracized by their own sect, if I were to kill them, it's uncertain whether Wudang would simply overlook it. Right now, among the Nine Sects and One Clan, Wudang is the strongest, and no one wants to become their enemy. That's why they run wild without opposition. I can't do much about it."
Mookhyang fell into thought for a moment. He couldn't just turn a blind eye. The orthodox sects' disdain for the unorthodox would only lessen if they were taught a lesson. So, he decided to address one of the troublemakers directly.
"Hey, you!"
One of the Five Heroes of Wushan, hearing the voice of a young man, looked at Mookhyang with a dismissive expression.
"Are you talking to me?"
"Yes. Don't you think you're being too much? There are many guests around here. How about keeping it quiet?"
"You brat... stop spouting nonsense and just sit there watching the adults."
"What did they do wrong? You don't need to provoke people who are just sitting quietly."
"Shut up if you don't know anything. These people belong to the unorthodox sects. Just sitting next to them makes the air stink, and I can't eat my food. Don't concern yourself with it and just eat your meal and leave."
"Hmm, since I'm also from the unorthodox sects, I can't just ignore this."
"Heh, is that so? Then you'll have to leave with them too."
As soon as Mookhyang mentioned being from the unorthodox sects, Nobak and Mureung's expressions subtly shifted. Mookhyang noticed it right away. They likely had some preconceived notions about the unorthodox as well.
"It can't be helped. I didn't want to resort to force, but..."
"What? You want to fight? Ha, you must be out of your mind."
The troublemakers drew their weapons. Mookhyang looked around and called out to the crowd.
"Those who have nothing to do with these men, please step aside. There's no need to lose your life over this. If anyone remains after I count to three, I will assume you are with them and attack. If there are any other unorthodox sect members here, please move aside as well. I don't want to send my comrades to the afterlife. Just step aside for a moment."
His voice, heavy with inner energy, echoed through the room, and most people quickly got up and left. Four tables still had people seated—members of the Five Heroes of Wushan, the six men sitting next to them, the unorthodox sect members, and Mookhyang's companions. The Five Heroes of Wushan flinched slightly at the sound of his voice, but they didn't seem overly concerned, likely confident in their numbers.
Mookhyang addressed those who had not yet left.
"Nobak, Mureung, please step outside as well. If you don't intend to fight, it's better to make clear who is friend or foe. The five of you over there, please leave too. You'll only be in the way."
The five unorthodox sect members shot Mookhyang a glare before reluctantly leaving. Nobak and Mureung also exited. The Five Heroes of Wushan didn't act as they watched two of Mookhyang's companions leave, waiting for the moment when their numbers reduced.
Once they left, the fourteen men leaped toward Mookhyang. Simultaneously, Mookhon was drawn. Mookhyang, recalling the advice of Nobak and Yoo Baek, decided to end things quickly with a strong attack. As soon as Mookhyang unsheathed his sword, the bodies of the fourteen men were swept into a vortex of powerful energy. One of them desperately shouted,
"This can't be… Everyone, be careful of his sword—"
Clang clang clang!
The rest of his sentence was cut off by the sound of clashing weapons. Almost at the same moment, the bodies of the fourteen men were severed into pieces. Weapons and bodies sliced in two scattered across the area, their faces frozen in shock and disbelief, as if they couldn't comprehend their deaths.
Mookhyang calmly sheathed his sword, leaped outside, and headed for the stables. Mounting his horse, he galloped toward Luoyang. There was no reason to stay any longer, and the authorities might come after him if he lingered. Although officials usually stayed out of martial affairs, if someone from the martial world accused him, it could cause unnecessary trouble. The longer he stayed, the more likely it would be for people to remember his face, increasing the chances of a confrontation with Wudang.
As the second floor quieted down, people began to trickle back. What greeted them were the corpses of fourteen men. The precision with which their bodies were severed testified to the skill of the one who had killed them. Since many of the patrons were martial artists, they began speculating about the techniques used to dispatch the men. Nobak and Mureung were among them. Nobak, inspecting the cleanly cut bodies, turned to his granddaughter.
"That's truly an impressive skill. Look here, notice how cleanly they were cut? You can see the precision and refinement of the technique."
His granddaughter, grimacing in disgust, replied,
"How can you say that? It looks horrifying to me. Grandfather, considering how the weapons were cut into pieces, don't you think it was a broadsword?"
Nobak held up one of the broken weapons for her to examine.
"That doesn't seem likely. Look at this heavy blade. It's thick and large, weighing at least thirty jin. See how it was cut cleanly in one stroke? That's the mark of extraordinary strength. Also, notice the faint purple hue on the blade? It looks like it's made from an alloy. And over there, that iron rod, also an alloy—it's a dark reddish color, isn't it? It too was cut in one stroke. No matter how sharp the blade, it's unlikely it was done with a simple broadsword. This was cut using martial energy, most likely by an expert skilled in unleashing internal power. Moreover, all of them were killed in a single strike. This wasn't some advanced sword technique. He simply cut them. And to emit such powerful energy while still keeping the structure intact—none of the pillars or walls were damaged—that's the work of a true master. He may have said he's from the unorthodox sects, but he could very well be a disciple of an orthodox school. Only they have the training to control energy this precisely. I always thought I had a good eye for judging people, and I rated that man highly, but now I see I underestimated him."
His granddaughter frowned and responded,
"But couldn't he be from the unorthodox sects? Blood Demon is from the unorthodox side, yet he can use martial energy, right?"
"That's right, it could be the disciple of the Blood Demon. But even if the Blood Demon himself did it, it wouldn't be easy to handle things this cleanly. I should've watched from the corner... I underestimated him. I thought he would win, but I didn't expect him to finish this quickly, and using such advanced martial arts."
"But, Grandfather, is the release of energy really that amazing?"
"Of course. There are only a few masters who can release energy like that. I didn't expect it, but this one has already entered the Hwa-Gyeong level. Unless one reaches the state of 'Three Transformations Gathering at the Peak' and 'Five Energies Creating the Source,' it's impossible to create energy at will.
However, it's also possible to create energy through sword techniques, like the Cheongseong Sect's Blue Moon Sword Technique or the Namhae Sect's pride, the Blue Dragon Ascending Sword Technique. But those methods are on a different level. They can be used if you've accumulated a lot of inner energy, but the energy consumption is high, so it's not a very efficient technique.
On the other hand, the Jeongban Seven Forms technique is excellent because it solves the problem of high energy consumption, but while it allows for precise attacks, its power is limited, making it difficult to deal a significant blow to the enemy."
"Could this technique be the Jeongban Seven Forms?"
"No, it's not. Looking at the way things played out, it seems the group in the front was cut down first, and then, in an instant, he turned around and cut down the ones in the back. There was no technique, no form, nothing. Also, the Jeongban Seven Forms doesn't have such a strong destructive power. Do you think it's easy to chop down weapons made of high-grade alloy like this? If you don't believe me, draw your sword and strike this blade I'm holding."
With that, Nobak lifted the Gui-Do he was holding, making it easier for his granddaughter to strike. She drew a slender sword, about two and a half feet long, which emanated a cold energy, indicating it wasn't an ordinary sword. With a fierce shout, she swung the sword at the Gui-Do.
"Yah!"
Clang!
Sparks flew as her sword struck the Gui-Do, leaving only a slight dent. From this, it was clear that her sword was a considerable treasure. She observed the slight damage closely and said,
"Grandfather, just as you said, it's incredibly solid."
"Of course. As I've mentioned before, these aren't just ordinary soldiers. The Five Heroes of Wushan and those three over there are formidable masters. Even I would need five hundred moves to subdue them all. But the real issue is... how Wudang will handle this. I hope no bloodshed follows. You should take this as a reminder that there's always someone stronger above, so don't act carelessly and focus on your martial training."
The Assignment
Mookhyang entered Luoyang. Luoyang was an ancient capital city, still a central hub for transportation, commerce, culture, and military affairs in the region, serving as the eastern gateway to the central capital where the emperor resided. In Luoyang, the North Marshal's Office was established, responsible for defending the outskirts of Luoyang and the border against the Mongols using 200,000 elite soldiers. It was also a beautiful city with the villa of one of the four kings residing in the central capital, King Yingyang.
Mookhyang decided to explore the city of Luoyang first and then head to Tianlingyuan. Entering through the southern gate, he saw the guards stationed at the city gate. The guards' attire, unlike the local militia responsible for civil peace and mobilized during emergencies, indicated they were elite soldiers from the Central Army, dedicated solely to combat. Their sharp gazes and well-developed muscles silently showed they were thoroughly trained soldiers.
Unlike the local militia, the Central Army was commanded by various generals and existed purely for battle. They were stationed to defend crucial strongholds in various provinces and the outskirts of the capital. The Central Army received commands solely from the central government led by the emperor, with a total of 1.12 million soldiers. Within the Central Army were around 100,000 professional soldiers and about 50,000 mercenaries, whose combat power was stronger than the regular Central Army.
The Central Army was stationed at the most important military strategic points or border fortresses of each province. Additionally, following the principle of using barbarians to eliminate other barbarians, a cunning diplomatic policy was employed to manage the neighboring tribes, preventing them from uniting and ensuring they remained in conflict, thereby suppressing the growth of their power.
The highest ranks of the Central Army were divided into four levels: Marshal, Grand General, Senior General, and General, with five Marshals each commanding 200,000 soldiers. However, during a direct large-scale war, the local militia and reserve army, which consisted of officials who only trained during the off-season and were mobilized during conflicts, would be commanded alongside troops from other regions, sometimes resulting in a single Marshal commanding nearly a million soldiers.
Though the title of Grand Marshal existed, it was usually appointed during wartime for coordinated operations and became almost meaningless once the war ended. Since a successor was not chosen upon retirement, the position of Grand Marshal did not exist during peacetime. Concentrating military power in someone other than the emperor posed significant risks.
After touring Luoyang, he exited the city and headed west. On the western outskirts of Luoyang lay Tianlingyuan, a large estate. This Tianlingyuan owned a significant amount of land in the vicinity and rented all its farmland to tenant farmers. The owner of Tianlingyuan, Lord Pang, was relatively generous towards the tenant farmers, earning a good reputation among the local residents. Lord Pang also possessed immense financial power, controlling 30% of the local commerce, employing many artisans to produce various goods, and enjoying considerable profits.
Recently, he even established Tianling Post to engage in the transportation of local goods and military supplies, seeing substantial gains from it. Meanwhile, he also engaged in illegal businesses, such as running gambling houses and loan sharking, amassing enormous wealth through underhanded methods.
Mookhyang slowly approached Tianlingyuan on horseback. As he drew near, the guard stationed at the main gate stopped him.
"Stop! What brings you here?"
Contrary to the guard's sharp gaze and atmosphere, his words were quite polite. It seemed he had received considerable training in guest reception. Mookhyang replied to the guard.
"I have come to see Lord Pang."
"Do you have an appointment?"
"Yes, if you mention I am from Dae-san, they will know."
Upon hearing the name "Dae-san," the guard hurriedly went inside to notify others. Dae-san referred to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, the stronghold of the Demonic Sect. While it didn't have a hundred thousand peaks, it was a majestic mountain range where the Demonic Sect was rooted. The term "Ten Thousand Great Mountains" was well understood by anyone not particularly foolish, as it signified the Demonic Sect. The rugged mountain terrain and the fortresses built utilizing that terrain had preserved the ancient traditions of the Demonic Sect.
The guard who had gone inside quickly returned and said to Mookhyang, "Please hand over the reins and come inside. Hurry, Lord Pang is waiting for you."
He hurriedly called a servant inside to guide Mookhyang and directed another servant to take care of the horse in the stable with great care. Mookhyang, unable to bear the guard's fuss over his horse, said, "That horse isn't even my prized steed; it's just a mount I bought for travel. So there's no need to worry so much. Please send my belongings to my room later. Thank you for your trouble…"
"Understood, my lord."
Lord Pang welcomed Mookhyang warmly as he entered. "Welcome! I've been waiting for you."
"Greetings. I am Mookhyang. Could you please clear the area?"
Upon hearing his request, Lord Pang replied, "Chuiwol, bring the tea quickly. Please wait a moment. After the tea is served, we can have a discussion."
Mookhyang and Lord Pang passed the time chatting about events from the journey and other trivial matters until the maid brought the tea. He instructed her, "I have something to discuss privately with the guest, so ensure no one approaches."
"Yes, my lord."
Once Chuiwol left, Mookhyang began, "I come from the General Headquarters. Here are the official seal and appointment documents."
After reviewing the documents and the seal that Mookhyang presented, Lord Pang spoke. "This time, the headquarters has initiated a new project. They've established a Post Office, which is an important project that has garnered considerable interest from the upper echelons of the school. Do you happen to know anything about the Post Office business?"
"I do not know about the Post Office, or any commercial activities for that matter. My knowledge lies only in swordsmanship."
"Hoh, hearing that gives me confidence. The business of transporting goods fundamentally prioritizes trust. The items entrusted to us must be sent safely and swiftly to their desired locations. However, there are many bandits in the deep mountains, and since this area is a border region, security is relatively weak. Thus, I requested the General Headquarters to send some skilled experts. Recently, about thirty arrived, but they didn't quite meet my expectations. By the way, how old are you, and what have you done previously?"
"I am now forty-three years old. I worked as an assassin in the Black Death Squad for a time, then was selected as a swordsman twenty years ago and have been receiving training since. It has been twenty years since I stepped into the world, so I'm somewhat out of touch with current affairs. I hope you will bear with me."
Upon hearing the name "Black Death Squad," Lord Pang's demeanor, which had been slightly arrogant, changed drastically. The Black Death Squad was the assassination unit directly under the General Headquarters. It was composed only of outstanding individuals, and he had heard rumors about their immense capabilities.
"Hmm… did you say Black Death Squad?"
"Yes."
"What did you do in the Black Death Squad?"
"I worked as a first-class assassin for about three years."
"First-class assassin…."
He took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead. After that, he lifted his teacup to quench his thirst and continued, "If you were a first-class assassin twenty years ago… that's impressive. Ha ha… I underestimated you and made a mistake, so please forgive me."
Lord Pang, having initially assumed Mookhyang was just a lower-ranking guard or an administrative figure sent by the headquarters, felt his heart sink upon learning about Mookhyang's true background. While he had requested skilled experts for the safe transportation of goods, now he had received someone far too powerful. If Mookhyang had been a first-class assassin twenty years ago, it was clear to him what that entailed. The Demonic Sect ranked its members according to their martial prowess, making Lord Pang increasingly anxious.
Fortunately, the good news was that Mookhyang was almost a complete novice when it came to commerce. Perhaps that was why he had been assigned to a position within the branch. Additionally, as someone sent directly from the General Headquarters, Lord Pang believed Mookhyang also had some role as a monitor over him. Thus, he began to treat Mookhyang, dressed in simple clothes and carrying a black crescent-shaped sword, with utmost caution to avoid any missteps. If he were to return to the General Headquarters later, it was likely that Mookhyang would occupy a position much higher than his own. Treating him well and leaving a good impression could potentially help Lord Pang's dream of promotion to the General Headquarters and possibly lead to a powerful patron in the future.
"The Post Office has recently started and is doing quite well, so we're opening new branches here and there. There are issues with managing the numerous experts scattered around, and I have many matters to attend to, making it difficult for me to directly operate the Post Office. This time, about fifty skilled individuals have been dispatched from the General Headquarters and branches, but it's still insufficient. For large-scale transportation of goods, I had to request a superior expert."
"There's no need to say that. I have officially come as a branch representative. Please treat me with less formality. Speaking that way makes it uncomfortable for me. Besides, my subordinates will find it strange. Just tell them I brought a skilled person with me, and my name is Yu Hyang."
"Is it necessary to keep your arrival a secret from everyone?"
"Please do so. In your case, Lord Pang, I trust you, but the others… especially your family, must also be kept in the dark. Additionally, since I possess martial skills, it would be best to act as a courier leader among the subordinates to avoid suspicion. This way, I can also participate in the transportation of goods. How many skilled experts from the headquarters are currently here?"
"The branch itself has around a thousand members. Additionally, there are about a hundred skilled experts dispatched from various branches and the General Headquarters. Among them, about fifty are newly arrived experts. They are assigned to various tasks everywhere, including the frontlines, the stables, and the pawnshops. There are both legal and illegal businesses, and particularly for the illegal ones, a lot of muscle is required. Currently, we control about thirty percent of the market in Luoyang, and once the Post Office operations normalize, that percentage will likely increase. As the credibility of the Post Office rises, we can engage in transporting military supplies to the border, which will earn us even more money. Most general military supplies are overseen by the army's transportation department, but military funds could attract bandits blinded by greed, making the Post Office a viable option."
"Is there anyone else operating a Post Office here in Luoyang?"
"There are five other Post Offices. Three of them are small, but two are quite large. In any case, we have to compete with them. However, even if we receive almost no external consignments, the amount of goods circulated by the Luoyang branch is enormous, so that alone is significant. Additionally, I plan to import many goods like horses, sheep, and furs from the border. Once the passage to that area is developed, a trade route to the border will open, providing tremendous profits. With enough manpower and money, we can also earn a lot of money through legitimate means."
"What about the servants in the household? Are they from the headquarters?"
"No, not at all. We've expanded the business to such an extent that we can't afford that. Confidentiality is important, but only those who enter very crucial places and those planted as informants are from the headquarters."
"In that case, please keep my secret strictly. I don't want to lose my life to assassination. No matter how skilled one is, falling to an assassin means you won't even get to demonstrate your abilities before leaving this world. Additionally, there's something you should know… I have cultivated the art of the boy monk, which means I cannot engage with women. If one day I suddenly request a woman, it would be right to consider that a deception. Also, if you were to assign a woman to me, it would be you who is the false one…"
"I understand; it's wise to be cautious. But can I not inform my family?"
"Yes, the more people who know, the higher the chance of the secret leaking."
"It can't be helped. But I'd like to mention in advance that some of my children have very poor manners… because of that, they might inadvertently cause a scene."
"That much is fine. I can simply ignore them. Also, I would prefer my room to be somewhat small and located away from the main house… Is there a suitable place?"
"Hm, there's a house that one of the Post Office staff used to occupy. It's old, but it could be usable with repairs. However, it is quite small…"
Lord Pang glanced at Mookhyang, finding it difficult to gauge his preferences.
"Even if it's small, it doesn't matter. I will find a maid to cook for me, so don't worry about that. Then, I'll take my leave for today."