Sword God Reborn

Chapter 203

The scholar was firm and upright in his tone, but it was so polite that it did not feel rude in the slightest.

Although it was a clear refusal, his attitude and voice were so clean that it did not make the listener angry.

"When this World Debate is over, the head of the family has asked me to tell you that he will meet you then."

"A World Debate..."

The World Debate.

It was a major event that was currently taking place in Qufu.

"So that's why there were so many scholars. And not a single martial artist like us."

Perhaps because the swordsmen in the inn were out of place, she could feel the innkeeper glancing at them. Because of that, Zhuge Seola lowered her voice.

"It's my first time seeing this. Scholars gathering like this to hold a debate."

"Come to think of it, there was a rather stubborn-looking scholar among the hostages the pirates had captured. I was wondering why he was going to Shandong from the distant Guangxi, but I guess it was because of this."

The World Debate was just as it sounded.

The renowned scholars of the world gathered to hold a debate.

Cheon Mubaeck was also quite interested. Because he had never even heard of a World Debate during his numerous reincarnations.

It was not a simple gathering of scholars.

No matter how much academics and the martial world did not feel favorable towards each other, Cheon Mubaeck had left the mark of the Shandong Sword Hero on the letter.

When he recalled the face of the scholar who had delivered the letter, he was sure that he knew about the mark.

It was certain that it had been delivered to the current head of the Kong Family Mansion.

So the fact that the head of the family had refused entry was clearly not a lie.

It was a rather embarrassing situation.

"Wow. This is the first time I've seen something that the lord has confidently stepped up for not work out."

It was to the extent that Neung-heo said so with a curious look. Neung-heo, who had been quiet all along, seemed rather relieved that he could not enter the Kong Family Mansion.

'Did he really hit someone and commit robbery in the Kong Family Mansion?'

As Cheon Mubaeck was silent, Zhuge Seola patted his shoulder as if to comfort him.

It seemed as if he was heartbroken because things had gone wrong after he had stepped up confidently.

"I heard that people with swords are absolutely not allowed to enter the Kong Family Mansion."

People with swords.

In other words, martial artists were strictly forbidden from entering.

And it was not just martial artists.

"It's to the extent that even the imperial guards, generals, and officials of the imperial court cannot be accompanied by armed warriors."

The Kong Family Mansion was a place with that much authority.

The center of all learning in the world.

There were very few ways for a martial artist to approach such a place in the first place.

"Perhaps the sect leader of Wudang or the abbot of Shaolin can. Or my grandfather."

"It's not just a martial artist, but they can be seen as an authority in academics, so that's probably why."

The sect leader of Wudang was the highest authority in terms of Taoism. The same went for the abbot of Shaolin. Because he was the number one authority in the Central Plains in terms of Buddhism. Not to mention Zhuge Seon, who was outstanding in all studies.

"Anyway, he allowed the meeting, right? He said he would meet you after the World Debate is over."

Zhuge Seola raised her voice as if to say, wasn't that even more amazing?

Neung-heo looked at that scene with narrowed eyes.

'What. Why is she comforting a person who is not heartbroken at all with such passion?'

Neung-heo knew. That Cheon Mubaeck was not heartbroken. What had appeared on his face was just a deep question. He was just curious.

And yet, she was acting as if she were comforting a heartbroken person.

At that kindness, Neung-heo felt a sudden envy, and at the same time, he missed Henan. To be precise, Seolyeong of the Lotus Pavilion.

'I miss you, Seolyeong...'

Somehow, his side felt cold.

"Hey, owner."

Cheon Mubaeck called the innkeeper.

In any case, he needed more information.

Qufu was a small city, had no connection with the martial world, and had no brothels or pubs, so there was no Hao Faction or Beggars' Sect.

To get their information, he would have to go to another city.

It would be much faster and more accurate to get information from the locals.

The owner, who had flinched a little at the appearance of the rare martial artists, put on a business smile and bowed his back.

"By any chance, did the food not suit your taste?"

"That's not it, but I have something to ask. What on earth is the World Debate?"

"Ah, you mean the debate?"

The innkeeper thought for a moment and then said.

"What would an ignorant merchant like me know, but I heard that something big happened among the scholars, and a fight broke out..."

His words trailed off. Seeing his rolling eyes, Cheon Mubaeck couldn't help but laugh. It was not that he was not speaking because he did not know.

Cheon Mubaeck smiled and took out a silver coin from his bosom.

"I'll be staying for a few days. Give me the three largest rooms, and the most expensive dishes. I don't need the change."

The innkeeper's eyes widened. Even if he added up all those orders, it would not even amount to one silver coin. The innkeeper bowed his head deeply.

"Ah, from what I've heard..."

A detailed explanation followed. Of course, since he was an ordinary commoner, not a scholar, there were no more accurate or certain facts, but he could grasp the general outline.

After the story was over and the innkeeper had left, Zhuge Seola looked at him with a strange gaze.

"Young Master, you seem to have a lot of experience in the martial world."

"It's because I grew up in an escort agency. I know the power of money."

Although he waved his hand as if it were nothing, Zhuge Seola was purely impressed.

'How many years has it been since he entered the martial world... Has it been four years?'

His mind was deep, and he was as natural as if he had a lot of experience in the martial world.

What was so great about getting information by giving just one silver coin, but considering his age, it was so. Moreover, Zhuge Seola had the children of famous families as her friends, and most of them had their servants or guards handle things, and did not persuade people like that themselves.

"But didn't you give too much money?"

One silver coin was quite a lot of money. At least for that innkeeper, it was enough to not have to open the shop for three or four days.

"It's money that the pirates earned by squeezing the common people, so what's the problem with it going back to the common people?"

"That's true."

Although it seemed like a sophistry, it was not a wrong statement.

"But how are you going to enter the Kong Family Mansion? From what I've heard, it seems impossible to enter."

The fact that the World Debate was being held meant that a topic had arisen for all the scholars to gather and discuss.

"Seeing that the diary left by Confucius's disciple became the fuse..."

It was none other than a record left by a disciple of Confucius that had been discovered.

A book had appeared, written in a calm handwriting as if he were writing a diary about Confucius, whom he had seen while traveling the Central Plains with him.

The problem was that there was a very strange part about Confucius.

There were countless room for different interpretations of the content that had been passed down in the academic world.

The innkeeper did not know the details. But in any case, starting from the authenticity of the book, a fierce debate arose about its content.

As if it were a rather serious problem, the Kong Family Mansion had opened something called the World Debate with the main point of having all the scholars of the Central Plains gather and discuss.

"The scholars of the world gather to hold a debate..."

"In terms of the martial world, it would be a place where the masters of the world gather to choose the number one in the world, right?"

"So it's difficult to meet him right away."

Perhaps the Kong Family Mansion also had to prepare for the debate with all its might.

No matter how much Cheon Mubaeck had brought up his connection from his days as the Shandong Sword Hero, the priority of the work was different.

Cheon Mubaeck stroked his chin.

"It seems like it will take a long time to just wait."

Zhuge Seola agreed.

"Right? How many logics, and new logics that refute that logic again. It's not like a martial artist's match where you can just cut it off and prove who won and who is strong."

The time that Cheon Mubaeck had thought of was one month.

Within that time, he would take the sacred object, and return to Henan with the repaired Iron God Ancient Sword.

That was the original plan.

Since there was no promise of when the World Debate would end, Cheon Mubaeck was worried.

If the opponent were some martial arts sect, he would just throw himself in with a sword in a dojo-breaking style.

But it was the Kong Family Mansion.

As he was silent for a long time, Zhuge Seola asked, as if to change the stuffy atmosphere.

"By the way, what were you going to do after meeting the head of the Kong Family Mansion?"

Zhuge Seola also knew that Cheon Mubaeck was looking for a sacred object in the Kong Family Mansion.

The problem was how to receive it.

If he met him and asked for it, would he just give it to him?

The Cheon Mubaeck that Zhuge Seola had watched had a deep mind. Whatever he did, it seemed as if he were doing it roughly, but he always looked one or two steps ahead and acted.

How many times had she gotten goosebumps when she thought about it later and saw the cleverly intertwined process?

So she waited for Cheon Mubaeck's answer with a gaze full of anticipation.

But the following answer was completely unexpected.

"Well, I was going to have a match."

"...What?"

"I was going to have a match, and if I won, I was going to ask for the sacred object."

In an instant, a silence fell. Even Neung-heo looked at Cheon Mubaeck with a gaze that said, 'What kind of nonsense is this?', and Zhuge Seola had a confused expression.

"Ah... so you mean you're going to have a debate with academics?"

There was nothing else.

'So that's why he asked me if I had any achievements in Confucianism?'

In an instant, an embarrassed feeling arose. Even her grandfather, Zhuge Seon, had lost in a debate. Although it was true that she was proficient in Confucianism, how could she be ahead of the head of the Kong Family Mansion?

Although she was moved by the deep trust he had in her, Zhuge Seola felt a great burden.

But at the following answer, bewilderment arose instead of a burden.

"I am a martial artist and a swordsman. Then I should fight with a sword."

"...Uh, the head of the Kong Family Mansion is a scholar."

"I'm a martial artist."

"..."

Zhuge Seola was momentarily confused about what conversation she was having.

Looking at Cheon Mubaeck's calm expression, it was not that he was joking in a way that did not suit him.

Her mind was in a state of confusion, and Zhuge Seola closed her mouth firmly. She hurriedly turned her head and looked at Neung-heo.

Although Neung-heo also had a dumbfounded expression, unlike Zhuge Seola, he was not confused, but rather...

'Resignation?'

That was right. It was a face of resignation, as if he were just sighing.

Zhuge Seola tried to suppress her bewilderment and was about to ask Cheon Mubaeck more.

But she stopped at the attempt.

From some point on, a young scholar who had come into the inn had been looking at them intently.

The scholar in clean attire had not taken his eyes off Cheon Mubaeck since he had entered the inn.

At first, she had thought he was looking because he was curious about the martial artists, but it was a gaze that was so blatant that it was almost rude.

The gaze was so hot that Zhuge Seola could not continue her conversation with Cheon Mubaeck and glared at him.

But the scholar did not care, and after looking at their table for a long time as if he were dazed, he approached hesitantly.

"Do you know him?"

When Zhuge Seola asked Cheon Mubaeck while glancing at him, Cheon Mubaeck shook his head.

"No. I don't know him."

"Then why is he coming this way?"

The scholar approached hesitantly, and then opened his mouth with a pale face.

"...Hyung-nim?"

"Huh?"

"Huh?"

So the shoulder on which the scholar's hand was placed was none other than...

"Neung hyung-nim? Is that you, hyung-nim? Really, is that you, hyung-nim?"

It was Neung-heo.

Neung-heo looked at the young scholar with an astonished face. Tears welled up in the scholar's eyes.

"Hyung-nim! Why don't you recognize this younger brother?"

"..."

Cheon Mubaeck's eyes narrowed.

What was this mess?

(End of Chapter)