“Ba... it is an honor. I look forward to serving you.”
Who would have thought the Green Forest Grand Emperor, the Flame Emperor, and the Sword Empress would all become one household?
Faces twisted in disbelief, but when they looked to Yeon Woo Jin, they slowly nodded.
The man they served was the one who unified the Central Plains.
Naturally, that meant even the heretical factions of the martial world would be within his fold.
In the end, everyone broke into pleased smiles.
Their gazes now shifted toward the unfamiliar faces standing nearby.
Who were they?
Even Gwangpung Shinga of the Beggars’ Sect tilted his head, clearly with no information at all.
“Lord, who are the ones beside you?”
Yeon Woo Jin replied.
“Introduce yourselves.”
One by one, they stepped forward to give their names.
“I am Ma Ryang, Lord of the Hell Darkness Shadow Unit of Martial Deity Heaven.”
At his introduction, Gwangpung Shinga cried out in shock.
“Th—the Hell Darkness Emperor!”
“I am Cheon Ho Seong, commander of the Heavenly Martial Unit.”
“The Heavenly Martial Emperor?!”
“I am Jeok Seong, Division Lord of the Life-and-Death Hall.”
“The Black Death God, too?!”
As Gwangpung Shinga shouted their epithets, the heads of the Five Great Clans reeled.
Each was a figure renowned throughout Martial Deity Heaven.
And the Black Death God was a living legend among assassins.
Mouths hung wide open in disbelief.
At last, all eyes turned to the final elder among them.
Who was this old man?
This time, it was Yeon Woo Jin himself who made the introduction.
“This is my grandfather.”
Grandfather?
All of them blinked.
Then Ma Ryang, his face solemn, spoke.
“This is the Martial Deity Heaven Lord.”
“Wh-what!”
“Urgh!”
The crowd staggered back in terror.
Il Mu Shin Yeon Cheon Baek.
The living legend ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) of the martial world stood before their eyes.
“B-but... his face looks different?”
When Gwangpung Shinga asked, Yeon Cheon Baek grinned.
“Kukuku. It’s a disguise.”
A chill swept through them.
To outward eyes, he looked like an utterly ordinary elder.
Yet that “ordinary” elder was none other than the One Martial God, said to be the strongest in all Murim.
Why would someone who should be presiding over Martial Deity Heaven appear here?
Reading their expressions, Yeon Cheon Baek laughed.
“Kukuku. I came to see my grandson. Think of me as someone who does not exist. But if my identity is exposed because of your loose tongues, be prepared. Since you are Woo Jin’s men, I will not kill you.”
A shiver ran down their spines—“I will not kill you” was even more terrifying.
“From here on, I entrust my Woo Jin to you.”
“H-how could there be any doubt!”
“With our lives, we will serve him faithfully!”
“You had best do so. Otherwise... I will personally visit your clans.”
Yeon Cheon Baek uttered the most terrifying threat in the world as casually as breathing.
They knew exactly what it meant if he personally came—he would uproot them, erasing their clan from existence without leaving a single foundation stone behind.
As silence fell, Yeon Cheon Baek chuckled.
“Hahaha! Don’t be so tense. So long as you obey my grandson’s word, nothing of the sort will ever occur.”
“H-hahaha... o-of course.”
“There is no chance of such a thing happening.”
And so they thought to themselves—thank the heavens Yeon Woo Jin’s temperament was not the same as Yeon Cheon Baek’s.
****
Two coalitions had been formed to oppose Martial Deity Heaven.
The Martial Alliance of the orthodox sects, and the Four Evils Alliance of the heretical sects.
Though they claimed to be created to stand against Martial Deity Heaven, in truth they were nothing more than frantic measures to keep their power from being siphoned away.
In reality, neither alliance possessed strength to rival Martial Deity Heaven.
They could not even unite properly among themselves.
Thus, their power was far weaker than their fame suggested.
It was only the names of the sects within them that sustained their reputation.
In truth, the alliances existed to preserve the prestige of those famous sects.
The Martial Alliance Leader, Eon Ho Baek, had risen to his position despite not belonging to the Nine Schools and One Gang or the Five Great Clans.
But taking the seat was not the end.
With little support, every initiative he attempted was blocked.
Eon Ho Baek longed to strengthen the Martial Alliance.
To do so, he sought to divert support from the Nine Schools and One Gang and the Five Great Clans, spreading resources equally among the mid-tier sects.
His plan was to build a stronger foundation by empowering the very sects that upheld the Alliance.
But each attempt was crushed by the opposition of the Nine Schools and Five Great Clans. After that, every effort was sabotaged.
It was a silent pressure to step down from the position.
Though called “Alliance Leader,” he was never treated as one.
Truthfully, he hadn’t wanted to attend the Divine Dragon Tournament at all.
Especially since the sect that most despised him was Huashan Sect.
In any case, either the Nine Schools and Five Great Clans, or else someone from the heretical Twelve Celestial Halls, would surely win.
Just look—
Even though the Martial Alliance Leader had arrived, not a single figure from the Nine Schools or the Five Great Clans had appeared before him.
Only a few mid-tier sect members came to exchange greetings.
Huashan Sect ignored him entirely.
Still, out of formality, they lodged him in the finest pavilion.
Frustrated, Eon Ho Baek stepped outside.
Not far away, he saw another man sighing heavily—the Four Evils Alliance Leader, Su Cheon Kang.
Eon Ho Baek approached.
Sensing his presence, Su Cheon Kang turned his head.
“What causes you to sigh so deeply?”
“So it is the Martial Alliance Leader.”
“It seems the Alliance Leader of the Four Evils is enduring much the same as I.”
“The same?”
“An Alliance Leader in name only.”
“Ah...”
Understanding dawned, and Su Cheon Kang gave a bitter laugh.
“Is it not laughable? When I first became Alliance Leader, I felt as though I held the world in my hands. Yet the reality is not so forgiving.”
“I feel the same.”
“At least the Martial Alliance’s lot must be somewhat better, no?”
“When I declared that I would reduce support to the Nine Schools and the Five Great Clans, they all turned their backs. Now I am a puppet in name alone.”
“Much the same. When I sought to raise talents from the mid-tier sects rather than from the Twelve Celestial Halls, they scorned me completely.”
“So everywhere, it is the same.”
“Hah... this damned position. Work piles upon work, yet no recognition. No time for training, and the body grows weaker.”
“I suffer likewise.”
The two looked into each other’s eyes.
They felt a kinship born of shared affliction.
Both sat in chairs that others envied, but reality was hollow.
They ought to be enemies, snarling at one another upon sight. Yet now they did not.
Instead, it felt as though they were long-lost friends reunited.
“Shall we have a drink?”
“A drink... heh. I wonder what people would say, seeing the Martial Alliance Leader and the Four Evils Alliance Leader sharing wine.”
“What of it? The Divine Dragon Tournament itself is for fostering fellowship. Should the Alliance Leaders not foster some of their own?”
“And if the people rebel and strip us of our posts?”
“Let them. I have no attachment to the position.”
“Indeed... nor I.”
“Then let us go.”
“Good. I know a place I passed along the way.”
****
At the lakeside of Xi’an, where moonlight lingered, there stood a pleasure house.
The Moonlight Pavilion.
The most renowned establishment in Xi’an.
There, Yeon Cheon Baek arrived with Yeon Woo Jin.
“Take us to the chamber with the best view.”
At his words, the attendant looked troubled.
“My apologies. The top floor is already occupied. The floor just below also has a fine view—shall I lead you there?”
As Yeon Cheon Baek’s brow twitched, Yeon Woo Jin stepped in.
“Yes, please guide us there. Grandfather, is that all right?”
Smiling, he asked. For a moment, Yeon Cheon Baek stared blankly, then laughed heartily.
“Hahaha, very well. Do as you please. For me, anywhere is fine, so long as I am with you.”
“Thank you, Grandfather.”
Yeon Woo Jin said to the attendant:
“Lead the way, please.”
“At once, honored guests. This way.”
He guided them into a chamber just beneath the top floor.
Yeon Cheon Baek tossed him a pouch heavy with gold.
“Bring the finest wine and dishes. No women—do not send them in.”
“Yes, sir!”
“The remainder is yours.”
“Thank you! I will serve you with all my heart!”
Beaming, the attendant hurried away.
“This view truly is beautiful.”
“Indeed. I have long heard that the moonlit lake seen from the Moonlight Pavilion is the finest in the Central Plains. This is the first time I behold it myself.”
“It is even better seeing it with you, Grandfather.”
“Hahaha. As it is for me.”
The two smiled warmly at one another.
Yet inside, Yeon Cheon Baek worried.
This grandson was so precious—what if he discovered the truth, that he was not truly his blood? Would he be crushed with disappointment? Would he refuse to see him again?
Such thoughts gnawed at him.
Unaware of his grandfather’s anxiety, Yeon Woo Jin gazed at the moonlit lake.
“This reminds me of something.”
The words struck Yeon Cheon Baek’s heart like a blow.
“W-what is it?”
“My father. He came to mind.”
“What?”
His father? That could be disastrous.
“I-it is so? How fortunate. You had no memory of your parents at all, had you?”
“Yes. But seeing this moonlight over the lake, I remembered. Father always sat gazing at such a view, drinking wine.”
“I... is that so.”
“Yes. And now that I think on it, Father resembled you so closely.”
“What?”
Impossible. How could he resemble a man unrelated by blood? Yet he feigned composure.
“Of course. Fathers and sons do look alike.”
“Father always spoke of you when he drank.”
“What?”
Yeon Cheon Baek’s heart sank again.
“He said you were the strongest martial artist in the world.”
“Oh?”
“He said he was proud of you. But he was weak, he said, and could not meet your expectations.”
“What do you mean?”
“You wouldn’t know. Father realized he could not live up to your hopes. So he left. He said that was the path for you.”
“What are you saying?”
Yeon Woo Jin looked into his grandfather’s eyes.
“The name engraved on this necklace really is mine.”
“Y-yes.”
“It was given to me by my father. His name was... Yeon O Rang.”
Thump—
Yeon Cheon Baek’s body swayed.
Yeon O Rang.
How could he forget that name?
It was the name of the son he had long searched for in anguish.
His pupils trembled violently.
Could it be?
“Some of my memories have returned. To be honest, at first I wondered if you truly were my grandfather. But now I know. You are my real grandfather.”
“Y-you mean... your father’s name truly was Yeon O Rang?”
“Yes. And my mother’s name was Yu Ji Ha.”
“Y-yes. Ji Ha—that was her name. It’s true... You are truly my grandson!”
“What? What do you mean, ‘truly’? Did you... doubt me as well?”
“Eh? No, no. I mean only that you are my grandson, without doubt. Do not think otherwise.”
“Ah, of course! I never doubted you.”
He tried to keep calm, but Yeon Cheon Baek’s body trembled uncontrollably.
So that was it! It was not chance my heart was drawn to him. He is of my blood!
Now he understood.
Blood is thicker than water.
For the first time in his life, Yeon Cheon Baek gave thanks to the heavens.
Yeon Woo Jin was truly of his lineage.
“S-so then. Since your memories of your father have returned, do you also recall where he is now?”
“Well... not that far. I can’t remember that.”
When Yeon Woo Jin grimaced, straining, Yeon Cheon Baek stopped him.
“Do not force it. Enough.”
“Yes. If it comes to me, I’ll tell you.”
“Good. If you recall, you must tell me.”
“Yes.”