Reincarnated Sword Ghost

Chapter 48 : Wei Sword Clan

Wei Sword Clan

Overhearing someone else's conversation was impolite.

It was an unspoken rule that any decent person should inherently know, even if no one had to teach it.

Moreover, at this moment, he was a guest relying on this house for shelter.

That made it all the more inappropriate for him to eavesdrop on the private discussions of its residents.

'But what can I do when it's impossible not to hear?'

A booming voice resonated through the wall separating the women's quarters from the guest room.

He already had sharp hearing as a martial artist.

And if that were all, it might be excusable.

But even more, the subject of that conversation was none other than himself.

"How could you let in an outsider whose origins are unclear? And a man, at that!"

One didn't need to guess to feel the naked displeasure in those words.

Still, since he hadn't even stepped over the threshold of the small side gate leading out of the guest room, he couldn't begin to guess who it was.

He could only assume the speaker was someone from the Huayeon Gate.

'Perhaps I stayed too long.'

Jeong-un reflected inwardly.

The Huayeon Gate seemed prosperous, its household generous. Perhaps he'd let himself get a bit too comfortable.

He'd only intended to recuperate enough internal energy to make it back to the Heavenly Martial Hall, if not to perfect health.

Now, it felt somewhat embarrassing.

'I should go.'

He unfolded his legs from the meditation posture, rising slowly.

Though not completely satisfied, he could now circulate a faint amount of energy with ease.

Thankfully, it was still midday, and there wasn't much luggage to speak of.

He planned to wait until the commotion in the inner quarters died down, then leave with a simple farewell.

Just then, he sensed with his sensitivity that a group of people was drawing near.

Jeong-un slowly turned his head to look at the door of the guest room.

Bang!

The door flew open noisily as a group of people entered.

Led by a young man, there were about a dozen in all.

Among them were the Huayeon Gate Leader Jin Namjung and Jin Seoyeon, both bearing troubled expressions.

"Well, let's have a look at that brazen face of yours!"

The young man at the front raised his voice.

The moment Jeong-un saw him, he recognized it—the owner of the voice he'd heard through the wall earlier.

He seemed fond of adorning himself in smooth silk martial attire, with a blue hero's headband tightly wrapped around his head.

The others appeared to be his attendants.

Jeong-un glanced at the swords hanging at their waists.

'Martial artists.'

He then scanned them briefly with narrowed brows.

"......"

At that moment, the young man spotted Jeong-un and strode closer.

Before he could say more, Jeong-un stepped forward and spoke first.

"It was thoughtless of me. I grew too complacent relying on your hospitality. I apologize to the Gate Leader."

As he bowed respectfully, the young man who had been approaching with wide, glaring eyes suddenly looked flustered.

He coughed awkwardly a few times, glanced at the Huayeon Gate Leader standing beside him, and reluctantly lowered his voice.

"Are you unaware that uninvited guests do not receive the host's hospitality? How could you presume to linger here for so long?"

"I apologize for overstaying and causing trouble due to my lack of tact."

Jeong-un gave a martial greeting and bowed again.

Jin Namjung, looking troubled, waved his hand awkwardly.

"A-ah, no, it's alright. After all, your body still hasn't recovered...."

"Gate Leader!"

The young man's voice cut in, growing louder.

"Isn't it your leniency that lets people like this act with such impudence? Are you truly so proud of your title 'Virtuous Sword'?"

"...!"

He was being incredibly disrespectful, especially considering the age gap.

Sure enough, Jin Namjung couldn't completely conceal his discomfort.

Standing beside him, Jin Seoyeon's pale cheeks were now flushed bright red.

'He doesn't seem to be a member of the Huayeon Gate.'

Jeong-un's thoughts turned to the Yu household.

The Yu household was also a wealthy local power, much like the Huayeon Gate.

Typically, martial forces that dominated rural villages grew wealthy through their strength.

Over time, they became akin to regional gentry.

The Yu household, already being rich landlords, was a bit of a different case.

Jeong-un quietly observed the well-bred young man.

"......"

His own brothers had carried themselves as if they were children of some powerful martial household.

But when a Mount Hua elder once visited, they bowed their heads deeply with trembling respect.

Did that mean, for the Huayeon Gate, this young man was the equivalent of a Mount Hua elder?

'At the very least, Cheong Jin was a supreme master.'

Every province had its own world. Especially the farther away from Beijing, the truer this became.

This place would surely have its own order and hierarchy.

Jeong-un didn't wish to upset its balance.

After all, he was someone who slipped into this place like water and would leave again like the wind.

'However...'

As Jeong-un studied the young man and his retainers, the mood subtly shifted.

The young man met Jeong-un's gaze.

"So, who are you and where do you come from?"

"I've already introduced myself to the owner of this house."

"What?"

The young man's expression twisted.

Did this person dare talk back to him? He was plainly taken aback.

"How dare you...!"

Just then, Jin Seoyeon stepped forward.

Her cheeks still carried a flush, as if she'd been holding herself back all this time.

"... He is a guest from Shaanxi. A drifter traveling the martial world."

"A drifter? Isn't that just a fancy way of saying he has no roots?"

"Young Master Wei!"

Jin Seoyeon's eyebrows shot up.

Then she strode forward, positioning herself in front of Jeong-un.

"No matter your status, Young Master Wei, you cannot be so rude."

"Rude?"

The young man scoffed.

"I'm simply saying what the Huayeon Gate is too polite to verbalize, am I not? You ought to be grateful!"

"When did we ever ask you to speak in our stead?"

"How could you say that directly? I can act with discretion, so you need not interfere."

At that, Jin Seoyeon's voice rose.

"In any case, this person is a guest of our house! For Young Master Wei to insult our guest is as good as insulting the Huayeon Gate itself—do you not realize that?"

At those words, even the young man's brows twitched.

"Are you really protecting him in front of me?"

"I'm not protecting—..."

Jin Seoyeon trailed off, letting out a thin sigh.

Clearly, things like this had happened before.

"... I'll participate in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering this time. Is that good enough?"

"Heh."

The young man broke into a smirk.

'Dragon-Phoenix Gathering?'

He'd heard about this from Baek Il-gang.

It was once a gathering where promising young rising stars from the martial world would meet and interact.

But as times changed and the prodigies gathered at the Heavenly Martial Hall, it had naturally disappeared.

Could it be that such traditions persisted here?

While Jeong-un pondered this, the young man, known as Young Master Wei, raised the corners of his mouth and spoke.

"From the way you put it, anyone would think this was my goal all along."

"..."

"Of course, as the host of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, I'm pleased to accept Lady Jin's intent to participate. Then, I'll see you there."

How infuriating. That was Jeong-un's honest impression.

The young man now looked considerably more cheerful than before.

He even gave the Huayeon Gate Leader a proper martial salute, as if the earlier arrogance had never happened.

And he didn't forget to glance at Jeong-un as he spoke.

"As for the Huayeon Gate's guest, I suggest you pack your things and leave as soon as possible. I'll be watching till the end, so keep that in mind."

Jeong-un didn't bother answering.

Although he'd been holed up in his room, he'd been raised in a well-known martial family back in his own rural village.

He knew better than anyone just how rude the young man before him was being.

"Let's go."

With that, he left with his attendants.

It was a truly arrogant attitude for a guest in someone else's house.

Jeong-un watched their retreating backs in silence.

"Ha, young hero."

Jin Seoyeon looked at Jeong-un with an apologetic face.

Jeong-un hadn't revealed his real name.

Instead, he went by the alias "Ha-un".

Even as he wondered if it was necessary to go this far, after recently witnessing the cruelty of the Dark Path and Evil Faction, he thought it best to play things safe.

Jin Seoyeon called him "young hero".

She hadn't sensed powerful energy from him.

But when she first discovered him in the valley by the waterfall, she had been impressed that, even unconscious, he didn't let the sword slip from his hand.

For his attitude alone, Jin Seoyeon respected him.

"Are you alright? I'm embarrassed that you had to see such a display, especially when your health is yet to recover."

"I seem to have shown you an unpleasant sight. My apologies."

The Huayeon Gate Leader also apologized, looking quite troubled.

"There's nothing for you to apologize for. If anything, it's my fault for overstaying due to my lack of sense."

But the Gate Leader quickly shook his head.

"No, it was I who said you could stay as long as you liked. Moreover, I sense a very clear energy in your eyes. Although your energy flow is somewhat weak..."

"Father."

Jin Seoyeon frowned slightly.

The Gate Leader added sheepishly,

"I meant nothing bad by it."

At that, Jeong-un gave a faint smile.

He watched them for a moment, then opened his mouth again.

"So, if I may ask..."

"...?"

"Would you mind telling me what's going on?"

* * *

Clink.

The sound of a tea cup being set down rang in the study.

Jin Namjung sat at the seat of honor, and opposite him, Jeong-un and Jin Seoyeon faced each other.

Both Jin Namjung and Jin Seoyeon wore somewhat awkward expressions.

No one seemed to know quite how this meeting had come about.

'Somehow, I found it difficult to refuse.'

Jin Namjung cast a subtle glance at the young man before him.

Seventeen, perhaps?

Just now leaving boyhood and stepping fully into the world as a young adult.

Jin Namjung recalled his first impression.

To have come down from a waterfall deep in the mountains was unusual enough, but meeting him in person, he felt a strange "breath".

It was as if a fresh breeze had taken human form and stood before him.

It was a hard-to-describe sense of mystery.

And his looks were something else.

Despite wandering the harsh martial world, his comportment was dignified and naturally refined.

His appearance was chiseled—the forehead straight, facial features vivid—almost dazzlingly handsome.

When Jin Seoyeon first brought him, he'd even wondered if he wasn't a scion of some eminent martial family.

'But what a pity that his martial aptitude is lacking.'

The aura he sensed was terribly faint.

Martial artists of this age usually managed their energy so it naturally showed, but despite how perfect he seemed otherwise, this part was lacking.

Moreover, he always kept a single black sword by his side, which only stirred more concern.

'If his energy is only at that level at his age...'

He must have started training late.

Otherwise, such a small amount of energy at his age would be hard to explain.

He'd even felt like trying to dissuade the youth from wandering the martial world alone.

Jin Seoyeon snapped him out of his thoughts.

"It's the Wei Sword Clan."

"The Wei Sword Clan?"

"They're the largest martial household in the region. The young man you saw today, wei Jinmyeong, is their successor."

"I see,"

Jeong-un nodded.

He could picture the factional strife among the local sects.

Especially since one side was overwhelmingly dominant, today's scene made sense.

Regardless of whether their arrogance was justified, such things weren't uncommon.

"The Wei Sword Clan wasn't always so powerful. Several sects reside around Jinyang Prefecture, so the forces were balanced. The Wei Family was just one among many, until..."

"They suddenly gained power recently?"

Jin Seoyeon nodded.

"A merchant guild called Myriad Gold Merchant Guild from far-off Hangzhou set up shop in Jinyang Prefecture and began pouring money into the Wei Family. They've increased their numbers dramatically and even acquired rare martial secret manuals. Now, they've grown to an uncontrollable size."

It was common enough for an outside merchant guild to partner with a local sect and dominate the region.

For Jeong-un, it wasn't unfamiliar.

He decided to ask the most pressing question first.

"Is the Wei Sword Clan a righteous sect?"