novelraw Chapter 9
Chapter 9
"Why the banquet?"
"It seems like it would be fun. I heard there's a lot to see and a lot of delicious food."
The guy looked at me with sparkling eyes.
"No. Didn't you hear what I've been saying?"
If he attended, all sorts of people would flock to him and strike up conversations.
"I can't keep looking after you. So, no."
"Do you not trust this one? Me, the noble of the night and master of a noble bloodline?"
"Yeah. I don't trust you."
The guy was careless. It was probably because he was born strong and never had to be careful. So, the banquet was an absolute no.
At those words, the guy became sullen.
"Instead, I'll treat you to something just as good."
"Like what?"
"I'll take you somewhere nice."
A place where I could be with him and look after him. And a place where we could have a time just as interesting and enjoyable as the banquet.
"I'll trust you since it's your word."
"You can look forward to it."
And so, Pyeon Jeoksu decided to stay at the annex, with the promise of a reward later.
* * *
By the time Mok Wigun arrived at the banquet hall, most of the people were already there. They were gathered in groups with people they knew, talking.
'About three large groups.'
Mok Wigun could see people from Wudang and Huashan, as well as people from nearby merchant guilds and families. But a group centered around Wudang and a group centered around Huashan had formed.
And the rest who couldn't join those groups.
But as Mok Wigun was observing the people, his eyes met with Mok Wipyong's, who was among the Huashan people. Mok Wipyong walked over to Mok Wigun with a look that said this was perfect.
"How did you get here?"
Mok Wipyong immediately started a fight. His face was very fierce, as if his previous feelings still lingered.
So what if he was? Was he more impressive than the Demon King? To Mok Wigun, this level of threat didn't even feel like a threat. Naturally, his answer came out bluntly.
"I walked."
"You crazy bastard."
Mok Wipyong's face turned red.
"You really don't seem to grasp the situation..."
Mok Wipyong tried to look as threatening as possible, but his actions had no effect.
'If I were the type to be intimidated by a guy like you, I wouldn't have even come here in the first place.'
Mok Wigun spoke quietly to his second brother.
"I came with Father's permission, so be quiet."
"You think you'll be safe after this? Did your head get messed up after almost dying?"
There was no need to continue talking with a guy who couldn't understand words. Mok Wigun uttered one more sentence and then turned and walked away.
"A scared dog barks the loudest."
Mok Wipyong, who had been standing there blankly for a moment, realized what the words meant and ran over. He then grabbed Mok Wigun's shoulder and spun him around.
"You really want to die."
He tried to draw his sword again. It seemed to be a habit of his to draw his sword at the slightest provocation.
"You'd better not."
Mok Wigun glanced around once. Mok Wipyong followed his action and realized the current situation.
The place was full of outside guests for the event. To cause trouble in a situation like this? Even for the second son of the Mok family, it would be hard to just let it slide. In the end, he had no choice but to lower the hand that had gone to his sword.
"You just wait."
"Anytime."
Mok Wipyong bit his lip. He was on the verge of exploding with frustration from being constantly on the receiving end. He glared and warned.
"Be careful. If you want to live out your full lifespan."
"Oh my."
Mok Wigun spread his hands in a slightly exaggerated manner and laughed.
"I'm so moved. A brother who worries about his younger brother this much."
"Yeah. Keep being so insolent."
Mok Wipyong snorted with a "tch" and turned away.
"Your mother also crossed the river to the underworld acting all high and mighty like that."
At those words, Mok Wigun's face hardened. But Mok Wipyong didn't see it and returned to where the Huashan people were.
"Looks like you haven't learned that you should respect the line."
In the distance, Mok Wipyong was laughing and chatting. Mok Wigun stared at him blankly and muttered.
"If you don't know, you need to be taught."
His mood, which had sunk so low, melted away like snow upon seeing a welcome face.
"Wigun!"
"So Jeonghak. It's been a long time!"
Mok Wigun grabbed So Jeonghak's hand. The memories of playing together in Zhongnan when they were young came flooding back. So Jeonghak was the same age, and their personalities matched well, so they used to hang out together.
Mu Wigun was worried he wouldn't remember his face since it was when we were so young, but he recognized him immediately. A lot of his childhood face remained.
Stories of how they had been, what had happened to Mok Wigun recently. The two of them talked, losing track of time.
"I was having a hard time because of my martial uncle, but seeing you is really great."
So Jeonghak ground his teeth as he talked about what happened yesterday. Complaining that he had suffered immensely because he was left behind.
"I mean, they're all adults with high seniority, how ridiculous must I have looked being the representative of Zhongnan?"
He shook his head, saying he was truly sitting on pins and needles.
"Daoist Master Pung was too much."
"Aigoo. Don't even mention it. Still, he came today, so I can breathe a sigh of relief."
When Mok Wigun turned my head, Pung Oksan was with people of similar seniority. It was obvious that he was being held there against his will. Pung Oksan, who had a reluctant expression, made eye contact with Mok Wigun.
A pleading gaze that said, 'please get me out of here'. But Mok Wigun slyly averted his gaze. Instead, he caught up with So Jeonghak.
Perhaps because they were the same age, or perhaps because they shared happy memories from the past, it was a truly comfortable and pleasant time. Being with So Jeonghak or Pung Oksan made his heart feel at ease.
"What about the other guys? How are So Gun and Wol? Is that bastard Deung Roe doing well too?"
"Those guys, you mean? As for how they're doing."
* * *
Observing people is quite an interesting thing. Especially when a diverse group of people like this is gathered.
Figures of the Martial World, people belonging to the merchant world, local powers, those connected to the government. Truly, a colorful cast of characters was walking around.
"Interesting."
Since there were people from all walks of life, would their actions also be different? That was not the case. They were all showing similar movements.
At first, they gathered with people they knew. That was when he saw the three large groups. After that, they dispersed and began to greet people other than those in their groups.
"First, they solidify their base, then they expand their territory."
It was interesting that most of these diverse people showed similar behavior. Mok Wigun walked among the people and listened to what they were talking about.
There were times when he had to greet people, but Mok Wigun was a relatively unimportant figure to them. He was an outcast in his own family, after all.
So, not many people struck up a conversation with him first. Thanks to that, he was able to listen to various stories without any particular interruption.
"What happened yesterday?"
Daoist Master Cheongun of Wudang said to Pung Oksan. Sa Hongmyeong also approached and chimed in.
"It must have been a very important and urgent matter. To the point of sending a young disciple in your place."
Pung Oksan was annoyed with Sa Hongmyeong, but he couldn't show it in a place like this.
"I apologize. It was a very important matter for me."
Pung Oksan cupped his fists to the two of them and asked for their understanding.
"Haha. It can happen."
Daoist Master Cheongun didn't seem to mind much, but Sa Hongmyeong of Huashan didn't seem to think so.
"How is Zhongnan doing? It seems to have been very difficult since the bloody incident ten years ago."
"It's about the same. How can an incident like that be easily recovered from?"
Pung Oksan replied with a bitter expression. He didn't forget to glare at Sa Hongmyeong as he did so.
"Oh my. That is truly unfortunate."
"Indeed. From the perspective of Huashan, which is close to Zhongnan, it is truly pitiful."
Pung Oksan was about to leave it at that and depart, but Sa Hongmyeong didn't let him go.
"Zhongnan needs to get back on its feet soon."
"Everyone is trying their best in their own way, so there will be good results."
"No. This is not the time for such leisurely talk."
Sa Hongmyeong of Huashan brought up a shocking story.
"Didn't the topic of re-evaluating the Ten Great Sects come up this time?"
The commonly referred to Nine Sects One Alliance. The ten most influential sects in the Martial Alliance. To re-evaluate that? To put it simply, it meant to remove Zhongnan, whose power had weakened.
Pung Oksan almost said, 'what kind of nonsense is that?'. But Daoist Master Cheongun also said he had heard such a story.
"I heard that such a topic came up in the Martial Alliance this time."
"Is that true?"
Pung Oksan felt his heart sink.
There were 15 factions that received special treatment in the Martial Alliance. The Nine Sects One Alliance and the Five Great Families. Those 15 factions had the authority to govern their respective regions.
To govern meant that it was closely connected to various interests. The fact that Zhongnan could aim for a comeback was also greatly influenced by that.
How could it be easy to revive a sect? It required an endless amount of money. But to be excluded from the Nine Sects One Alliance? That meant not only a blow to their pride but also a huge economic hit.
"So shouldn't Zhongnan quickly regain its former glory? So that such talk doesn't come up."
To Pung Oksan, Sa Hongmyeong's words sounded like, 'You guys are ruined now.' But he couldn't say anything back. He was too shocked.
Mok Wigun, who was listening nearby, got the picture.
'Someone played a trick.'
In the Martial World, they say that being weak is a fault. It means that if you are weak, you can't do anything even if you are taken advantage of. But just with that, the justification for changing a member of the Nine Sects One Alliance is weak.
Moreover, isn't the Martial Alliance one that values justification? But for such a story to come out meant that some faction had made a move.
'Well, if they succeed, the interests will be enormous.'
There was a murmur from the surroundings, as if Sa Hongmyeong's story was shocking. But the hall was organized as the host of today's event, the Mok Family Head, came out.
* * *
The Mok Family Head stood up, cupped his fists in greeting, food was served, and music and dance flowed gently.
It proceeded like a normal banquet.
The Mok Family Head and his two wives sat on a slightly elevated seat in the center. On the left side sat the family and the Mok family's retainers, and on the right sat the guests.
The seats were strictly arranged in order of rank. The closer to the Family Head, the higher the rank, and the farther away, the lower.
"Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"
General Manager Jang Baekmun, who was sitting next to Mok Wigun, quietly struck up a conversation.
"This is my first time at a place like this, so it's interesting."
"That's a relief. How is your body?"
"I have Physician Pyeon, don't I? I'm all better."
The Protector kept making small talk. It seemed he was trying to look after me in case I felt awkward. There was someone who was looking at Jang Baekmun with a displeased gaze. It was the Protector Jin Jaryun, who was right next to him.
(End of Chapter)