Reincarnated Sword Ghost

Chapter 53 : Dragon-Phoenix Gathering

Dragon-Phoenix Gathering

Several more days passed.

During that time, Jeong-un had been single-mindedly focused on his training.

There was something he realized as he imbued his sword with true ki.

This foreign internal energy that filled his lower dantian, though faint, was certainly moving according to Jeong-un's true ki.

Just realizing that made his mind feel clearer.

How this energy had come to flow into his own body was still unclear.

His memories of that moment weren't vivid.

He definitely recalled, in his final moment, seeing the wooden box containing the Immortal Spirit Pill open right before his eyes.

Beyond that, however, things were very hazy.

'Did that guy use another trick?'

He was the one who had used that heavy technique on me, something I'd never experienced before.

Making someone lose consciousness right before their nose must be nothing to him.

However, after repeatedly introspecting his body, he became certain.

'It's not someone else's. It's mine.'

From then on, he stopped worrying about how he had obtained it.

No matter how many times he examined his body, there was nothing abnormal anywhere else.

Although this internal energy was different in nature from the one he had originally possessed, it was not an impure true ki.

If it had been, he would have instinctively felt repulsed.

Rather, it possessed an energy closer to natural energy.

The internal energy Jeong-un had wielded involved drawing in natural energy through the process of breathing and exhaling, then refining it in accordance with One Illumination Movement Technique's principles, making it so pure as to be close to nothingness, before sending it to the lower dantian and accumulating true ki.

But this internal energy seemed as if a vast amount of natural energy had been transferred to the lower dantian all at once.

'There must be a way to fully make it my own.'

However, for now, only a small part still moved according to Jeong-un's true ki, and it required deep concentration of his mind.

Still, even this much was satisfying. It made for excellent training on its own.

Most importantly, thanks to this, he'd even fashioned a new sword move.

Although he had yet to use it in actual combat, with a little more refinement, he was sure it would become a useful sword move.

Thinking thus, he stepped out the door.

Today was the day of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

Gratefully, Jin Seoyeon had prepared a fine silk robe for Jeong-un.

It seemed a way to keep him from being picked on by the other rising stars for his appearance.

"......"

Though he was thankful, he changed into the black uniform—a separate instruction to the attendant.

It was the most comfortable.

Besides, he also thought a martial artist should express himself through his martial force, not through looks.

Above all, wasn't it a gathering of the martial world's rising stars?

Wearing silk wouldn't take him to a higher level.

He picked up his black sword and fastened it at his waist.

Noticing, he saw the edge of the scabbard had worn considerably.

It had once been a treasured heirloom of his family.

He'd need to repair it once he returned.

In the yard, an attendant was waiting for Jeong-un.

Following him, he saw Jin Seoyeon, beautifully dressed.

"What happened to the clothing I prepared for you...?"

"It didn't fit."

"Ah..."

He made a quick excuse.

Jin Seoyeon's disappointed glance brushed over Jeong-un's black uniform.

Both the Huayeon Gate and Myriad Gold Merchant Guild were located within Jinyang Prefecture.

So, there was no need to ride a horse; it was within walking distance.

"As I mentioned last time, they'll openly try to provoke you."

"In what way?"

"I can't really predict. It's the first time an outsider has attended the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering..."

She turned to look at Jeong-un.

"But what is certain is that, like at the previous dinner, they won't just back down. Back then, it was our own house, so even if they acted arrogantly, they couldn't ignore the eyes around them."

"So that was because of the onlookers?"

"You don't understand, young hero. You'll see today. In the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild's main estate, he really acts like royalty."

At last, they arrived at the main estate of Myriad Gold Merchant Guild.

The gate was rather large, and polished so it gleamed as if lacquered.

"Where are you from?"

Two gatekeepers blocked Jin Seoyeon and Jeong-un, who came without attendants.

He found that somewhat amusing.

'At this rate, anyone with a sword is deemed an Evil Faction member.'

Even the two gatekeepers exuded a suspicious energy.

Like the others, they tried to keep it contained, but a trace still leaked out, and Jeong-un felt it.

Jin Seoyeon answered briefly.

"We're from Huayeon Gate."

"Ah."

The two gatekeepers looked between Jin Seoyeon and Jeong-un, exchanged glances, and nodded.

It seemed they had been informed in advance.

Creak.

The gate opened smoothly, and they followed the attendant inside.

Naturally, they ran into house members along the way, and as expected, most of those carrying swords had impure energy.

Without exception, their gazes as they sized up Jeong-un and Jin Seoyeon were openly unpleasant.

"......"

Perhaps it showed on his face.

Jin Seoyeon spoke up.

"They say the guards are wary because you've been living elsewhere for a long time."

"I see."

"Still, those looks are rather unpleasant."

Jin Seoyeon finished, showing her discomfort.

Jeong-un looked at her anew.

'Every time I see her...'

Jin Seoyeon had somewhat sensitive perception.

That was likely why she hadn't wanted to attend the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

She might not have realized it herself, but whenever she came here, she would unwittingly feel discomfort at her surroundings.

Such a sensitivity was a great asset for a martial artist.

Combined with good martial force, it's what makes a person a master.

Continuing on, they arrived at the inner estate of Myriad Gold Merchant Guild.

Opening the door revealed a wide open space.

"Ah! Finally, you're here!"

A familiar voice rang out at once.

Wei Jinmyeong rose in a seemingly friendly manner to greet them, a broad smile on his face, arms spread wide.

"I was about to send someone for you, since you two were late. I thought maybe you weren't coming."

At long tables placed left and right, young men and women sat.

They whispered among themselves as they looked at Jeong-un and Jin Seoyeon.

"As expected, lady Jin really did come just as Young Hero Wei said. So those marriage talks were real, huh."

"Who's the guy next to her? Looks like some Young Master from another house."

"Young Master? I heard he's just a rootless vagabond."

"Heh, looks silly toting a sword like that."

Their poorly-muted words were clearly audible.

You could tell they were all intoxicated with their own status at such a gathering.

Jeong-un, however, was looking at something else beside him.

Right next to the long tables was a wide sparring stage made of solid gray stone.

So they really would exchange moves as rumored, perhaps even dueling.

"Come, have a seat!"

Wei Jinmyeong naturally gestured to the seats beside his own at the seat of honor.

The two occupants there vacated without complaint.

So the rumor that he'd seized all of Jinyang Prefecture's rising stars seemed true.

Jeong-un and Jin Seoyeon sat together.

Next to them at the seat of honor were Wei Jin-cheon and an unfamiliar man.

Jeong-un looked over the martial artists seated around him.

No one stood out as a particular master.

It seemed what Jin Seoyeon had said wasn't wrong.

'So this is the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.'

It felt like a collection of all sorts of rabble.

"Well, since everyone's here, let's begin."

Wei Jinmyeong clapped with a satisfied look and sat down.

Then the room became noisy as if on cue.

Everyone laughed and talked loudly, but nothing seemed worth paying any attention to.

At that moment, Jeong-un locked eyes with the man sitting at the seat of honor.

"......"

He was the one seated right next to Wei Jinmyeong, persistently attempting to engage Jin Seoyeon.

He had black hair and an unnaturally pale face.

Jeong-un immediately realized who he was.

'That must be the merchant guildmaster's son.'

Unlike the other martial artists here, he was not radiating impure energy.

He was someone who could manage his energy rather well.

However, a trace of impurity, not entirely contained, slipped out.

Such people could never fully hide their nature from Jeong-un.

Jeong-un had vaguely sensed this already but remained on guard.

Had there not been the cult leader from the Demonic Cult, who fooled even him completely?

As their eyes met and he didn't avert his gaze, the man cocked his head and spoke.

"So the rumors were true."

"......?"

"I'd heard your eyes were exceptionally arrogant."

Instinctively, the room fell silent.

Although everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves, they must have all been paying close attention to this side.

"I'd heard you're a wanderer, but just look at that pale neck. Looks like someone who's never suffered a day in his life."

"I didn't know the hardships of the world left their mark on your skin."

With a simple reply, the man smirked.

"I see you're wearing a sword."

"Nowadays, it's rarer not to."

"Where are you from?"

"Hanzhong."

"You came from far away. And some rural backwater, at that."

"Didn't you also make quite a journey? I heard you moved from Hangzhou."

"......"

Jeong-un's tone naturally shifted.

The man grinned oddly and took a sip from his cup.

A strange tension filled the air.

Even Wei Jinmyeong sat in silence, but a faint satisfaction showed in his eyes.

It seemed this was exactly what he'd invited Jeong-un to see.

The one presumed to be the merchant guildmaster's son slowly set down his cup and spoke.

"Our merchant guild came here for my father's great ambition."

"Such a grand design? Then you should be in a big city like Hangzhou all the more."

"What could you possibly know about the way of commerce?"

"I just know those who spend money like water to gather followers rarely have good intentions."

"......"

The man, straightening his posture from a lazy slouch, released a strange wave of vital ki that spread out around him.

"This, look at that."

"As expected of Jinyang's top rising star."

"That guy's made a bad move. He can't handle Young Hero Baek."

'Are these people blind?'

None of them noticed the impure nature of the vital ki that this man was releasing.

And yet, this was a gathering meant to celebrate "dragons and phoenixes"?

On top of that, he learned the man's surname: Baek—needlessly.

"......"

Beside him, Jin Seoyeon was trembling unconsciously.

She was the only one sensing the malaise.

"I've heard there's a lot of martial exchange in this place."

Jeong-un spoke nonchalantly.

At that, the man's eyes glinted.

"Don't tell me..."

Jeong-un stood and strode to the sparring platform right beside them.

Everyone stared in stunned silence.

"Come."

Reactions erupted instantly.

"T-this madman!"

"How insolent!"

He ignored them.

Everyone here calling themselves martial artists were just like Yu Dong-ryong.

What mattered was the one in front—clearly the one with real strength among these Evil Faction types.

"You're issuing me a duel? You...?"

The man's face, which had always carried a sneer, flushed with rage.

He apparently felt gravely insulted.

"Wandering the martial world with just a sword, got lucky, and now you imagine you're some great master. I can see clearly how trivial your energy truly is."

"You talk too much."

Jeong-un dismissed him curtly.

Then he unfastened and set aside his sword at his waist.

"I heard you only use fist-and-palm arts."

"......?"

Jeong-un slowly beckoned to him.

"Come. I'll face you in kind."