Chapter 146
In the end, bloodshed stems from greed.
How many people must have swarmed like a pack of dogs to obtain the Sword Emperor's legacy?
Where did they go, you ask?
You're asking quite a foolish question. If this matter weren't related to Wei Yan-ho, would I bother mentioning it?
Naturally, they all flocked to Wei Yan-ho.
What?
Ah, of course there was no reason. They just swarmed in that direction, and Wei Yan-ho happened to be there. By now, shouldn't you understand?
An accident?
Yes, you could call it an accident.
Under normal circumstances, if that many people had clashed with Wei Yan-ho, it would realistically have been a major catastrophe.
And you know this too, don't you?
The fact that the Sword Emperor's legacy—something that shouldn't exist—appeared means there had to be a conspiracy behind it. At the time, I didn't know Wei Yan-ho was a descendant of the Sword Emperor, so I couldn't think of it that way.
Hmm?
Yes, that's right.
There were those who orchestrated this from the shadows.
The problem arose when Wei Yan-ho got involved.
Hmm? Did Wei Yan-ho's involvement crush their conspiracy?
That's not quite how it went.
It's true that things went awry, but to say their plan was completely destroyed would be ambiguous. That's why I said this incident is too subtle to evaluate.
You want me to speak plainly?
Hmm, I've been talking constantly and my throat is getting dry. I feel like the words would flow if I had a cool drink.
There's a good tavern up ahead… if you're not too busy, why don't we stop by?
* * *
"How is the situation?"
His voice was extremely low, with a strange resonance added to it. Therefore, all who heard his voice invariably focused on his words.
"The secret manual has been excavated. Countless martial artists are now engaged in a battle for it."
"Have the rumors spread sufficiently?"
"Even Wudang and Shaolin have already moved. The Orthodox Alliance is trying to control the situation, but it will be insufficient. The Sword Emperor's legacy is that tempting."
"Indeed."
However, the man's voice didn't seem particularly pleased.
"We've wandered for over two hundred years searching for that person's legacy. Perhaps if we had given up on the legacy sooner and strived to reach that person's realm, this long humiliation might not have existed."
"That's correct."
The man fell silent for a moment, seeming to think about something, then slowly spoke.
"The grand plan has already begun. You must ensure there are no disruptions to this matter. The secret manual must fall into the hands of the strongest among the martial artists who have joined the battle."
"I will keep that in mind."
The man slowly nodded.
"What are those fellows doing?"
"Are you referring to the second and third young masters?"
"Yes."
"The second young master has abandoned the medical path and is currently taking a brief rest."
"Abandoned?"
"He only said the cost-effectiveness didn't match."
"That fellow pursues efficiency too much. But he's good at finding profitable opportunities, so it should be fine. What about the third?"
"The third young master is still focused on imperial palace affairs. The main family said they would summon the third young master once."
"Hmm…"
When the man let out a contemplative sound, the subordinate prostrating before him carefully asked.
"Does the third young master coming to the main family displease you?"
The man's thick eyebrows twitched.
"Do you see me as such a petty person?"
"That's absolutely unthinkable. Unless your subordinate has lost his mind, how could he dare think such a thing?"
The man smiled slightly and said.
"Even though he's illegitimate, I've never once made an issue of his birth. If someone has ability, they should be valued regardless of their origin."
"That's correct."
"Might makes right. That is the law and everything that has been passed down in our family. Origin or status mean nothing. What matters is whether that person is stronger than me or not. And that law exists solely for me."
The subordinate slowly nodded at the man's words.
"You may withdraw."
"Sir…"
"Hmm?"
The man looked at his prostrating subordinate with questioning eyes. Usually, he wasn't the type to add more words like this.
"What is it?"
"I'm very conflicted about whether I should report this or not… but I think it would be better to inform you."
"Speak."
"The information about the person who interfered with the second and third young masters' affairs matches."
"Hmm?"
The man's eyebrows twitched.
"It matches?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Report."
"Yes. That person's name is Wei Yan-ho. He's the second son of Wei Jeong-han of the Guangdong Wei Family. He went missing five years ago but recently reappeared. As soon as he appeared, he moved to Hanrim Grand Academy to block the third young master's great work, then immediately moved to Sacred Hand Hall and made the second young master withdraw. His martial prowess is at least at the pinnacle level. And…"
"And?"
"Um, I'm not sure how to interpret this, but…"
He seemed to contemplate whether he should say this or not, then reluctantly opened his mouth.
"He's called the greatest slacker under heaven."
"…"
The man's face contorted subtly.
"So…"
The man hesitated for a moment, then continued.
"Are you saying that because of this so-called greatest slacker under heaven, both of my sons' prepared plans came to nothing?"
"I'm sorry, but… it's an undeniable fact."
"Hmm."
For the first time in a long while, the man had to contemplate what orders to give. His greatest strength aside from martial arts was his quick decision-making without hesitation, but this matter was beyond his common sense.
"What's the possibility that he discovered our plans and deliberately interfered?"
"None whatsoever."
"Are you certain?"
"Yes. His move from Hanrim Grand Academy to Sacred Hand Hall was also because Grand Scholar Moon Yu-hwan wrote him a letter of recommendation. The only possibility would be if Moon Yu-hwan had grasped our side's information. But no such signs have been detected."
"Strange. So you're saying both sons became entangled with him and tasted failure? Once might be understandable, but twice? If they get entangled one more time, even if I said heaven sent him to obstruct this matter, I couldn't laugh it off."
"That's why I'm bringing this up…"
"What else?"
"Currently, the secret manual's whereabouts are following that person's trail."
"What?"
"…The secret manual's movement path is exactly following his trail. At this rate, they'll encounter each other within a day."
"Is that real?"
"How could I dare report falsehoods at any cost?"
The man raised his pot-lid-sized hand to rub his face. It was just a joke, but as the situation developed this way, he began to feel ominous.
"Strange, very strange."
The man stroked his beard.
"Every great undertaking inevitably has problems. But problems that are clearly visible are uncommon."
"I think it's coincidence, but…"
"Man proposes, but heaven disposes. That coincidence you speak of is the most frightening thing. You said he was the second son of the Guangdong Wei Family?"
"Yes."
"Righteous Hero Sword Wei Jeong-han is a fearsome person. I don't want to stir up trouble and face a venomous snake. When conducting secret affairs like now, I honestly want to avoid the Hao Clan, Beggar's Sect, and Wei Jeong-han. For now, let's just watch and see."
"…Yes, understood."
"Wei Yan-ho, you said?"
The man let out a heavy contemplative sound.
'He interfered with my sons' affairs?'
His younger brothers were strong enough to have no rivals among their peers. If he hadn't been born a few years earlier, he couldn't guarantee victory against them.
Yet they had to taste failure, which meant Wei Yan-ho's martial prowess and schemes far exceeded the level of later generations.
'Someone to watch carefully.'
The man firmly imprinted the name Wei Yan-ho in his mind.
"Sometimes it's better to wait rather than forcibly seek solutions. Let's observe. If your words are true, he'll soon encounter the secret manual. We'll see if he can preserve his life among those desperate for the secret manual."
"Understood."
The man quietly stroked his chin and leaned back in his chair.
"What about father?"
"Recently, he's been going to the garden frequently. He said seeing flowers bloom and spring arrive puts his mind at ease."
"Has he gained some new insight?"
The man's body trembled. Just how strong did his father intend to become?
"Don't worry about minor failures. What's important is not losing your center. As long as father exists and our sword exists, we have no failures."
"Yes, young master!"
The man's eyes grew coldly calm.
'Wei Yan-ho, Wei Yan-ho… '
Unlike his confident words, his chest was becoming strangely heavy.
* * *
"Aren't you going to eat?"
"…"
Gong Mu-jin's face turned red.
"Eat and sleep! Then eat and sleep again! Then again and again, eat and sleep!"
A strange cry burst from Gong Mu-jin's mouth.
"Do you do nothing all day but eat and sleep?"
It was a stern rebuke.
If someone else had heard such words, they would have straightened their posture in shame and protested otherwise. But unfortunately, Wei Yan-ho was different from ordinary people.
That was Gong Mu-jin's misfortune.
"Doesn't Master Gong eat and sleep too?"
"…Huh? I do eat and sleep."
"Master Gong does it, and I do it too, so I don't understand why you keep scolding only me."
"Because I don't only do that! Where in the world is there anyone with better fortune than you?"
"If fortune is good, isn't that good? It seems much better than bad fortune."
"Argh!"
If only he couldn't speak, he wouldn't be so hateful!
His body is lazy as anything, yet why is his tongue so smooth?
Moreover, there was another thing that turned Gong Mu-jin's insides upside down.
Lee Seol-hwa unpacked her belongings and quietly pushed some jerky from inside toward Wei Yan-ho.
Seeing that shiny grease, it was definitely high-grade jerky that cost much more than the jerky he had eaten earlier.
'Seol-hwa!'
Gong Mu-jin forcibly swallowed the tears that were about to spill. Now she was giving her master, whose teeth weren't even healthy, jerky harder than stone, while giving Wei Yan-ho obviously tender-looking high-grade jerky.
'Why him! Why!'
Until meeting Wei Yan-ho, she had shown some tomboyish and strong-willed aspects despite being a girl, but looking at her recent behavior, she was so gentle that it naturally warmed his heart… ah, that's not it.
Gong Mu-jin bit his lip tightly and shouted at Seomun Da-yeon.
"Is the inn far?"
"We'll arrive soon."
"Oh, but…"
Then, Wei Yan-ho opened his mouth with a slightly crooked expression.