The Lazy Young Master of the Jin Clan

Chapter 129

Clatter— Clatter—!

Eight carriages moved diligently along the main road.

Each carriage carried disciples from the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple, and the instructors, now serving as coachmen, held the reins tightly, remaining vigilant of their surroundings.

The carriages, carrying twenty-nine disciples, were headed for a city called Jingmen, located in the heart of Hubei Province.

That was where the venue for this year's Four Daoist Assembly was located.

The Four Daoist Assembly was scheduled to be held in a massive estate purchased by the Martial Alliance.

“Ugh…”

As they neared the venue, Yu Oseon fidgeted with his hands, trembling with anxiety.

Unable to watch any longer, Jong Ryeo'ak snapped in anger.

“Just stay still!”

“Y-yes!”

Jong Ryeo'ak, having vented his frustration, opened the closed window and looked outside.

He could see the surrounding scenery passing by quickly.

‘Shit.’

Unconsciously muttering a curse, Jong Ryeo'ak irritably closed the window.

‘That bastard!’

Looking at the trembling Yu Oseon, Jin Sohyun’s face inexplicably came to mind.

‘If you were going to leave like that, you should have fought me one more time before you left!’

Jong Ryeo'ak felt wronged.

With a single defeat, he had to call Jin Sohyun ‘big brother’, and now even the chance for revenge was gone.

Because of the Nameless Pavilion’s attack, Jin Sohyun could no longer be called a martial artist.

“Tsk!”

Jong Ryeo'ak let the blowing wind carry away the thoughts of Jin Sohyun that filled his head.

Right now, he needed to focus his mind and prepare for the Four Daoist Assembly.

‘Whoever comes… my goal is to win.’

With Cheon Gaseong and Jin Sohyun out, there were only two rivals to consider within the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple.

Hyeok’ugun, whose skills had skyrocketed as if he had gained a new enlightenment, just like himself.

And Cheon Yerang, who had defeated him one-sidedly in the sparring competition.

‘I can take them both on now. The problem is the ones I don’t know.’

The White Tiger Daoist Temple had Shaolin and Namgung. The Vermilion Bird Daoist Temple had Qingcheng, Kunlun, and Emei.

The Sichuan Tang Clan was also part of the Vermilion Bird Daoist Temple, but he wasn't too worried about them.

‘Since they can’t use poison, I don’t have to worry about the Sichuan Tang Clan.’

Finally, the Black Tortoise Daoist Temple.

The Diancang Sect and the Beggars' Sect belonged to it, but they didn't worry him.

There was only one sect that Jong Ryeo'ak was concerned about.

“Wudang…”

The Sword Sect that represented the Nine Great Sects along with Shaolin.

The Wudang Sect.

Their swordsmanship already had a long history and strength, enough to be called the best among the Nine Great Sects.

In particular, Wudang's sword, which contained the subtlety of striking after the opponent, was a sword of integrated offense and defense, lacking in neither attack nor defense.

“I will… definitely win.”

The carriage carrying Jong Ryeo'ak continued toward Hubei without rest.

Meanwhile, at the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple.

“Where are you going?”

“To feed the ox.”

“That one called Hwanggu? You’re still taking care of it? Its owner, Disciple Jin, already went back to his clan, didn’t he?”

“What can I do? It’s not like I can just eat it.”

“The Master isn’t here, so how about we eat it? We can just say it ran away while we weren’t looking.”

Anger could be felt on the face of the instructor who was preparing the feed.

“You barbaric bastard. Just you try laying a single finger on him! I’ll report you to the Master immediately!”

Was it true that even dislike could turn into affection?

After building a shed by hand and feeding it, he had somehow grown fond of Hwanggu.

Today, too, the instructor took the feed and went to the stable, calling Hwanggu’s name in an affectionate voice.

“Hwanggu! Food’s here!”

The instructor entered the stable with a bright face.

But Hwanggu, who should have been there, was nowhere to be seen.

All that was there was Hwangpal, the other ox Jin Sohyun had brought back from Gansu.

“Hwa… Hwanggu?”

The instructor, looking around the stable, realized that Hwanggu, who should have been next to Hwangpal, was gone and started searching frantically.

But Hwanggu was nowhere to be seen.

“Hwangpal! Where did Hwanggu go!?”

Moo—!

Hwangpal, who only knew how to moo, just let out a cry.

The instructor’s mournful cry, having lost Hwanggu overnight, echoed through the stable.

“Hwangguuuu—!!”

Trudge— Trudge—!

Rattle! Rattle!

Hwanggu, who had left the temple for the first time in a long while, diligently pulled the cart.

On the cart, a man was lying on a bed of straw.

He tapped his foot and hummed a tune.

Of course, it was closer to a monstrous noise than what could be called a song.

“Hwanggu. You don’t have to hurry, but you shouldn’t dawdle too much either. We need to arrive at the right time, at an appropriate speed. You get what I’m saying, right?”

Moo… moo…oo.

There was no strength in Hwanggu’s cry.

“Don’t worry. I’ll control the speed for you.”

Hwanggu spotted the flying dagger circling around its rear and pulled the cart, crying mournfully.

With its wiggling rump and four sturdy legs, Hwanggu diligently pulled the cart.

Hoping that the mischievous needle wouldn't poke its rear.

The ox-cart carrying the man headed south along the main road toward Hubei.

“Wow, the weather is great.”

***

The massive estate where the Four Daoist Assembly was being held was heating up with the fervor radiating from the three hundred and thirty late-stage prospects gathered in one place.

The disciples representing each Daoist Temple were inwardly comparing each other’s skills.

‘As expected, the representatives of each temple are from the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Clans.’

As if to prove the value of their prestigious names, the representatives of each temple were all disciples from renowned sects and martial families.

Of course, there were exceptions.

“Is that all the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple has?”

“I heard they were attacked by a heretical faction in Guizhou during their external training. A lot of late-stage prospects left the temple because of that.”

“Hmph! Cowards. I guess we don’t need to worry about the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple? The real problem is the White Tiger Daoist Temple and the Black Tortoise Daoist Temple. The Namgung Clan, Shaolin, and the Wudang Sect are there, aren’t they?”

“You can’t completely ignore the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple either.”

“Why? Their numbers are much smaller than ours, and none of the guys in the group competition look strong.”

“Idiot! That’s why people call you dull.”

“What!?”

“The Blue Dragon Daoist Temple has the White Moon Palace. And one of the martial artists representing the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple in the group competition is the famous… Cheon Gaseong of the White Moon Palace.”

“Then that person is!?”

“Yes! Moreover, that young lady in the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple’s individual competition is…”

Gulp—!

The two disciples from the Vermilion Bird Daoist Temple swallowed hard.

There are many beauties in Sichuan.

Whether it was a regional characteristic or pure coincidence was unknown, but what was important was that Sichuan had many beauties.

Perhaps that was why.

Sichuan was considered the best among the regions representing beauties.

Thanks to that, the woman who earned the title of the number one beauty of Sichuan was often considered the number one beauty of the Central Plains.

But.

The two men realized just how insignificant their knowledge was.

‘At that level, even the prettiest women in Sichuan would have to concede.’

Cheon Yerang.

Although she wore no makeup and was dressed in the plain blue uniform symbolizing the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple, her unveiled face was radiant enough to shine.

It was so much so that most of the gazes in the venue were fixed on the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple, which had the fewest people.

It was all to sneak a glance at Cheon Yerang.

“That person is Cheon Yerang…”

Namgung Seoru, who became the representative of the White Tiger Daoist Temple, clenched her fists tightly upon spotting Cheon Yerang.

The skills of the White Moon Palace warriors had never been revealed to the outside world.

However, no naive person among the martial artists believed that a warrior of the White Moon Palace would be weak.

Especially the child of none other than the White Moon Divine Lord.

She must have inherited the talent and surely received his teachings.

“…”

Namgung Seoru quietly looked down at her hand.

There was a faint scar that had healed long ago.

A wound made by the assassin from Gyoho.

And the memory of an overwhelming defeat.

From that day on, Namgung Seoru trained in martial arts without a single moment's rest.

The Gyoho assassin, whose fate was uncertain, had long been forgotten from her mind.

Her goal was solely Jin Sohyun.

‘He can’t come now.’

How she had despaired upon learning from the news delivered by Namgung Muhyeok that Jin Sohyun could no longer live the life of a martial artist.

Having lost her goal overnight, Namgung Seoru set a new one instead of wandering aimlessly.

That was to win the Four Daoist Assembly.

“I must.”

Namgung Seoru’s fervent eyes stared at the platform.

A middle-aged man walked onto it.

At his appearance, the noisy surroundings instantly fell silent.

The man standing before the platform scanned the three hundred and thirty disciples gathered for the Four Daoist Assembly.

‘Ugh!’

The late-stage prospects who felt the man’s gaze trembled, feeling as if they had been stripped bare.

The man, who had scanned over three hundred disciples in an instant, opened his mouth.

“It’s a pleasure. Seeing such excellent juniors who will be responsible for the future of the righteous martial world and will one day become the greatest under heaven, my blood feels like it’s boiling.”

The middle-aged man grinned.

“I am Gwak Doyeop, the Alliance Leader of the Martial Alliance.”

“Alliance Leader!”

“F-for the Alliance Leader himself to come!”

The disciples stared at the platform with surprised faces.

The Alliance Leader of the World Martial Alliance.

Gwak Doyeop, the representative of the righteous martial world, had appeared at the venue in person.

“I didn’t just come to give a speech. I came here to witness with my own eyes the talents who will lead the righteous path for the next hundred years.”

From the beginning to the end of the Four Daoist Assembly.

As the Alliance Leader declared that he would watch it himself, the disciples’ gazes changed completely.

In particular, flames erupted in the eyes of the disciples participating in the Four Daoist Assembly as representatives of their respective temples.

‘I can show my skills in front of the Alliance Leader!’

‘This is an opportunity. I will definitely win!’

Next to Gwak Doyeop, who was watching the enthusiastic disciples with a pleased expression, martial artists of the Alliance brought a long box.

The box, which had an unusual presence from its appearance, was decorated with a dragon carved from gold.

When Gwak Doyeop opened the box, a single sword appeared from within.

The sword had clouds and a dragon engraved on its white scabbard, and the sword’s hilt and ornaments were also a brilliant white, like white clouds.

“The name of this sword is White Heaven Sword. It can be called a masterpiece created by the famous master craftsman of the world, Master Danya, with his entire soul.”

“If it’s Master Danya… isn’t he one of the Three Great Craftsmen of the World?”

“A sword made with his soul…”

“I’m so jealous!”

At the appearance of a famous sword made by a master craftsman that any swordsman would covet, the atmosphere of the venue, which had just calmed down, heated up again.

“I’m sure you all have guessed the reason I’ve shown you the White Heaven Sword here.”

There was no answer, but every disciple gathered here knew.

That the winner of this Four Daoist Assembly would become the owner of the White Heaven Sword.

“Then, everyone, I hope you will all display the martial arts you possess to your heart’s content. Let the Four Daoist Assembly… begin!”

“Waaaah—!!”

The three hundred-some disciples sent up fervent cheers.

The disciples participating in the Four Daoist Assembly tried hard to calm their strange tension and rising excitement.

The disciples who couldn't participate cheered in anticipation of the sparring competition of the righteous path's late-stage prospects, something they couldn't see even for a fortune.

The grand curtain of the Four Daoist Assembly had finally been raised.

“Which temple do you think will win this Four Daoist Assembly?”

“Are you asking us that?”

“It’s not like I can’t ask, is it?”

Four people sat together, looking down at the late-stage prospects who were cheering for the Alliance Leader.

They were all the masters of the Four Divine Daoist Temples.

Gwak Myeong of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple.

Yeom Yoa of the White Tiger Daoist Temple.

Heonwon Hu of the Black Tortoise Daoist Temple.

Beom U of the Vermilion Bird Daoist Temple.

Among them, Yeom Yoa, who could be called the only woman, swept her curly bangs to the side and spoke with her red lips.

“Right now, rather than deciding which temple will win… shouldn’t we be concerned about something else first? Great Warriors?”

At her words, Beom U laughed heartily.

“No matter how much those heretical faction bastards like to act recklessly, they won’t be able to do anything to this place.”

“Why are you so confident?”

When Yeom Yoa asked, waving her red folding fan, this time the silently sitting Heonwon Hu answered in a stiff voice.

“Over five hundred Alliance warriors are guarding the estate, and only those with confirmed identities can enter this place. Not even a fly will be able to buzz around.”

“Hmm…”

Yeom Yoa’s gaze now landed on Gwak Myeong.

“Do you think so too, Master Gwak? The Blue Dragon Daoist Temple is special, isn’t it? They were a special unit from the beginning, and they must have been watching the movements of the Heretic Path's Alliance more closely than anyone…”

Gwak Myeong unfolded his crossed arms and replied softly.

“I don’t know either. The Heretic Path's Alliance has always used unexpected methods at unexpected moments… there is only one thing I can say right now.”

His gaze fell upon the young disciples filling the venue.

“That we must protect those children from the clutches of the Heretic Path's Alliance, no matter what it takes.”

After finishing his words, Gwak Myeong crossed his arms again and looked around the wide estate.

In that place where a festival was taking place, only Gwak Myeong’s gaze was coldly subdued.

‘They always come for us at unexpected moments, in unexpected ways.’

The Heretic Path's Alliance might be among them.

Perhaps this time too.

(End of Chapter)