Chapter 430
## Chapter 430. Five Hundred Years of Waiting (5)
—
Gatherings hosted by Murim factions are traditionally arranged half a year beforehand. Such a timeframe is necessary to organize the schedule of activities, acquire resources, distribute invitations to confirm the presence of prestigious guests, and broadcast the news across the entire territory rather than just the immediate vicinity to guarantee a large turnout.
The volume of attendees who assemble reflects the reach and standing of that specific faction. In essence, a faction’s reach is synonymous with displaying its martial capabilities. From that perspective, the inauguration ceremony for the Tai-eul Sect was arranged far too rapidly, failing to gain traction beyond a few localized districts within Hefei. While a respectable contingent from the Murim Alliance made an appearance, the presence of regular citizens—the true gauge of a faction’s broader reach—was remarkably sparse.
Naturally, plenty of individuals chose to ignore the occasion entirely, even after discovering that the Tai-eul Sect was holding its inauguration. The location demanded a walk of half a day from Hefei, and moreover, the Tai-eul Sect itself was hardly considered an illustrious institution. Though nominally counted among the 108 Peaks—leaving many to wonder by what miracle they secured such a title—popular opinion ranked the Tai-eul Sect below a standard martial arts academy. Who would willingly abandon their daily work and travel all that way just to receive a free meal? It seemed entirely pointless.
And yet—
The entire population of Hefei suddenly fell into a state of intense excitement. Surprisingly, the catalyst for this uproar was none other than the “insignificant” Tai-eul Sect.
“Where do you think you’re going instead of running your shop?”
“How can you still be sitting here? Haven’t you heard about what’s happening at the Tai-eul Sect?”
“Why on earth would I waste my time there? There’s absolutely nothing worth seeing—”
“You fool! Truly legendary figures have just arrived at their gates!”
It began with Moyong Gang, followed closely by Namgung Tae-ha, then Chief Strategist Jegal So-myeong, and ultimately the supreme ruler of the Murim Alliance himself, Hyeok Mu-gang. Had even a single one of these titans graced the event, people would have dismissed it as an absurd rumor. Yet every last one of them was present. The news was so mind-boggling that it felt almost insulting to believe.
“Ha! Are you mocking me? Do you expect me to buy that nonsense?”
Why would grand masters whose reputations extended far beyond the martial world condescend to attend the opening of a minor, third-rate group?
“Good grief, you will invent any ridiculous story just to slack off!”
“I swear it’s true! The cargo haulers arriving from Hangzhou confirmed it. Those legendary figures headed straight for the Tai-eul Sect the moment they arrived, without even pausing to unpack their belongings!”
Hearing these concrete details, the skeptical merchant instantly gaped in shock.
“Could… could that actually be true?!”
Even ordinary citizens whose daily routines were disconnected from the world of warriors naturally nurtured a deep fascination for the martial path ($text{武}$). To actually witness absolute masters rumored to possess divine power—individuals capable of traversing the clouds and commanding the wind—was an opportunity of a lifetime. How often could someone hope to encounter such a legendary sight? Especially at the Tai-eul Sect, which lay a mere half-day’s journey away.
There was no longer any reason to hesitate. A massive wave of people from Hefei and the surrounding areas abandoned their daily businesses and travel plans, surging collectively toward the Tai-eul Sect.
Following the arrival of the Murim Alliance, the agitators who had barricaded the entrance of the Tai-eul Sect rapidly lost their nerve. An occasion marked by such monumental weight as the “unprecedented simultaneous presence of the Alliance Leader and the Chief Strategist” meant that displaying open malice toward the hosting Tai-eul Sect would look dangerously like a direct insult to the Murim Alliance itself.
“…Tsk.”
“…Ahem.”
Such a confrontation was the last thing the agitators desired. The blockading crowd begrudgingly cleared the central pathway, attempting to project a baseline level of decorum. They needed to make it unmistakably clear that their grievances were directed solely at the Tai-eul Sect, not the Murim Alliance.
Yet even this tense standoff quickly deteriorated.
“Who are all these newcomers? Are they also attempting to visit the Tai-eul Sect?”
“Huh? Is it possible they caught wind of the news before we did?”
Massive crowds were now pouring in, drawn by the incredible rumors of the illustrious figures visiting the Tai-eul Sect. These everyday citizens quickly grew irritated by the presence of the blockading agitators. Although initially unnerved by the threatening demeanor of the armed warriors, the sheer volume of the arriving citizenry soon eclipsed the number of protestors within a few hours. The moment the crowd’s size doubled, the dam broke.
“Hey! Why are you people blocking the middle of the road?”
“Why must you ruin someone else’s celebration?”
“Just because they know a few martial techniques, they act as if they own the entire world, honestly.”
Loud expressions of grievance began to echo through the crowd.
“Watch your mouth! We are conducting a legitimate protest, so back off if you have a problem!”
On occasion, some citizens backed down when confronted by the fiery tempers of warriors struggling to contain their rage.
“These citizens are invited visitors of the Tai-eul Sect. Any attempts to intimidate them will be met with force.”
When the Tai-eul Sect pupils hailing from the Murim Academy stepped forward to offer protection, the gathered citizens found their confidence multiplying a hundredfold.
“You claimed you came here for a Bimu! If you want to fight, then stick to the Bimu and stop ruining the festival!”
“Exactly! Do you think the Tai-eul Sect is a joke?”
“Unbelievable, they dare to act like this even with the Murim Alliance Leader standing right inside. Imagine how savagely these thugs behave when nobody is watching.”
As the relentless criticism from the onlookers intensified, the protesting warriors found their tempers reaching a boiling point.
“Those ignorant peasants don’t understand the first thing about what’s happening!”
“Control yourself! Do you truly want to resort to violence here?”
“Then you expect us to just stand by and swallow these insults?”
“Use your head! Look at the caliber of the individuals currently staying inside. Forgetting the Moyong Clan or the Namgung Clan for a second… we are talking about the Murim Alliance Leader and the Chief Strategist! If we provoke their wrath, how do you expect us to survive the consequences?”
The vast majority of those occupying the grounds shared deep ties with the Nine Schools and One Union. While the authority of the Five Great Clans was formidable, it wasn’t completely terrifying.
However—
When it came to the Murim Alliance, the stakes were entirely different.
“Grit your teeth. We will settle this properly during the Bimu.”
“Precisely. Let us bottle up our malice for now, let it fester, and unleash it all at once later.”
The agitators finally cleared the path. They cast one final, bitter look at the waves of visitors flooding into the Tai-eul Sect before retreating to So-eum-hyeon to drown their frustrations in liquor. Consequently, So-eum-hyeon enjoyed an unprecedented surge of business, causing Wang So-so’s face to beam with delight day after day.
“They have finally backed down.”
“With no other viable options, what else could those fools possibly do?”
Hyeok Mu-gang and Jegal So-myeong stood by the third-story balcony, observing the front gates of the Tai-eul Sect with faint, knowing smiles.
“What could have driven him to make such a choice?”
“To what are you referring?”
“As if you don’t already know.”
Hyeok Mu-gang gave a pointed look to Jegal So-myeong, who was stubbornly feigning ignorance.
“A simple congratulatory party from the Murim Alliance would have been more than sufficient to make his point. There was absolutely no reason to demand our personal attendance, was there?”
Attracting excessive admiration invariably breeds deep resentment. Though martial artists claim to pursue their training to attain ultimate enlightenment, their capacity for professional jealousy is remarkably fierce. The reason the Murim holds moderation ($text{中庸}$) as a core virtue is because an exceptional genius rarely survives intact when surrounded by the envious malice of their peers.
“I am eager to hear the Chief Strategist’s perspective on this.”
“…!”
A flash of admiration gleamed in Jegal So-myeong’s eyes. Even though Hyeok Mu-gang had long since ascended to the Absolute Realm and possessed no practical need to decode the machinations of others, he never failed to analyze his opponent’s strategy. While the public frequently lauded Jegal So-myeong as an individual uniquely gifted in both Literature ($text{文}$) and Martial Arts ($text{武}$), he privately believed that the true master of both domains was Hyeok Mu-gang. It was likely this exact quality that allowed him to retain his position as the Murim Alliance Leader longer than anyone else in history.
Shaking off his brief distraction, Jegal So-myeong focused back on the matter at hand.
“How could I possibly pretend to know the inner workings of that young man’s mind? If I were to make an educated guess, however, he appears to be operating under the principle of ‘Victory through Preemption’ (Seon-su-pil-seung).”
“Victory through preemption?”
In response to Hyeok Mu-gang’s questioning look, Jegal So-myeong shifted his gaze to look across the expansive grounds of the Tai-eul Sect. It resembled a magnificent bird (Geojo) just beginning to stir, preparing to unfurl its concealed wings while dangerous scavengers prowled directly beneath it.
“Should the Tai-eul Sect ascend, they will face constant opposition proportional to the heights they reach, enduring endless harassment along the way.”
“Hmm…”
“And yet, that young man Jin So-un seems completely unwilling to sit back and watch those minor nuisances trickling in one by one.”
It was precisely how he behaved during the promotional trials. He dragged his underprepared Sa-jes through an evaluation that most would struggle to survive individually, passing it with flying colors. It is as if that man is constantly fleeing a hidden threat, routinely placing massive wagers to resolve all his problems in a single stroke. From the viewpoint of Jegal So-myeong, who relied strictly on concrete data and reliable intelligence, such reckless behavior was utterly baffling. Had anyone else displayed such volatile patterns, Jegal So-myeong would have barred them from ever entering the Mantong-bu.
“He acts like a madman willing to stake his very existence on a single roll of the dice. The real absurdity, however, is that he somehow emerges victorious every single time.”
That was the crucial detail: he never lost. And when a person wins a high-stakes gamble of that magnitude, the rewards are predictably massive.
“This entire gathering is proof of that strategy. Forced by external pressure to open his gates, he responds by declaring an unrestricted Bimu challenge. Extraordinary!”
“…I see your point.”
Reflecting on the Chief Strategist’s assessment, Hyeok Mu-gang spoke softly.
“In that case, if he manages to seize victory this time as well, his rewards will be immense.”
“…That remains to be seen.”
The moment the concept of ‘rewards’ was raised, Jegal So-myeong fell into silent contemplation. He found himself questioning what tangible benefits Jin So-un and the Tai-eul Sect could genuinely extract from this situation. Greater dominance within Anhui Province? No matter how rapidly they advanced, they could never eclipse the Namgung Clan. Vast riches obtained via the Daicheon Merchant Group? They already maintained an alliance with the Wang Family Manor, one of the premier Four Greats merchant empires.
“What exactly is he trying to win?…”
When trying to identify the pragmatic advantage, the logic fell apart. If his goal was simply to navigate the Bimu challenge, he could have easily selected a few champions from among the agitators to fight limited duels, rather than issuing an open invitation to every challenger alive. Is such an overwhelming undertaking not a guaranteed recipe for disaster? If ultimate defeat was inevitable, what was the point of dragging Moyong Gang, Namgung Tae-ha, and themselves out here?
The riddles simply multiplied without answers. What could that enigmatic young man possibly be plotting?…
“This is highly entertaining.”
“…Pardon? What is?”
Hyeok Mu-gang offered a wide grin as he noted the intense focus on Jegal So-myeong’s face.
“It has been an incredibly long time since I’ve watched the Chief Strategist strain his intellect so thoroughly over the actions of a single individual.”
“…”
Jegal So-myeong’s expression instantly soured.
“That is solely because that lunatic risks everything on the most irrational schemes. I possess a sound mind, so how could I possibly decode the logic of a madman?”
“Haha, fair enough.”
Amused by Jegal So-myeong’s irritation, Hyeok Mu-gang simply chuckled and nodded in agreement.
“The journey to this place was tedious, but my anticipation is growing. I am eager to see exactly how this unfolds.”
“Where has that man vanished to?”
“Come now, regardless of your frustration, he is still our Dae-sa-hyeong…”
“I demanded to know his location!”
“…”
Cowering before the terrifying intensity radiating from Eun-ho, who looked like a vengeful spirit, Geum-pyo involuntarily recoiled. He was experiencing firsthand, through his own sibling, the martial truth that sheer momentum can dominate a confrontation. The strict orders left by their Dae-sa-hyeong to keep his location absolute secret quickly dissolved into nothingness.
“He’s up on the roof of the Old Jade Bu-saeng Hall…”
The moment the words escaped Geum-pyo’s lips, Eun-ho vanished from sight like a passing shadow. It was a flawless display of movement technique.
“Brother… will everything turn out alright?”
A quiet, anxious voice spoke up from the side. The question was heavy with apprehension that a massive disaster was brewing.
“Dong-ryong.”
Geum-pyo placed a heavy, solemn hand on his sibling’s shoulder, adopting an expression of utmost gravity.
“What is it, Br…”
“Whatever happens… you must never let the Dae-sa-hyeong know I was the one who talked! Understood?”
“…”
“Do you understand me? I have absolutely no desire to have my skin flayed off by our senior brother.”
Darting like an arrow over the roofs of the freshly built structures, which were illuminated so brightly they put the daylight to shame, Eun-ho pushed his sensory awareness to its absolute limits to pinpoint Jin So-un. Tracking a presence that was deliberately cloaked like a specter proved exceptionally difficult. Only after sprinting across the rooftops like a possessed man did he finally catch sight of his target.
“Ah! There you are! Come join me, let’s share a drink.”
The entirely careless individual was currently lounging comfortably on the roof tiles, thoroughly intoxicated.
“…What on earth do you think you are doing right now?”
“Senior Moyong Gang insisted on matching me drink for drink until morning, so I fled up here out of sheer terror.”
“No, I am not talking about the wine!”
“Then what?”
Eun-ho fought to control his rising temper, pressing his fingers against his throbbing temples to ease a sudden headache.
“What could possibly possess you to summon the Alliance Leader and the Chief Strategist here… that is what I am asking.”
“Oh, that matter?”
*Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.*
One, two, three, four. Four discarded clay wine jugs already littered the roof around his feet. Eun-ho found himself questioning if this relaxed man was truly the architect of the perilous, unrestricted Bimu tournament scheduled for the following morning.
“If your sole objective was to project a sense of authority, displaying the standard of the Murim Alliance would have achieved that perfectly.”
Instead, both the Alliance Leader and the Chief Strategist were personally present. Because of this extreme escalation, every rival faction would view the Tai-eul Sect with profound suspicion and bitter envy going forward. Furthermore, if the upcoming Bimu ended in disaster after inviting guests of such monumental status, what would happen then?
‘—The mere thought of it is terrifying.’
The faction’s wings would be violently severed before they ever had the chance to catch the wind. Yet the man holding the title of Dae-sa-hyeong was sitting here without a care in the world, guzzling alcoh—
“A simple banner lacks proper theatricality, does it not?”
“What???”
Was this entire high-stakes gamble orchestrated simply to watch people gawk in astonishment?
“If I launch this endeavor with half-measures and proceed with caution, we will be suppressed before we can even establish momentum.”
“What logic is that? If anything, you are inviting immediate destruction.”
Assessing the chess board pragmatically, the current strategy looked exactly like steering the Tai-eul Sect straight off a precipice.
“And besides…”
Yet, Jin So-un’s eyes remained incredibly calm, devoid of any panic…
“I simply wished to behold it. The Tai-eul Sect radiating at its absolute pinnacle.”
“What are you…”
His expression carried a profound, isolated melancholy, as if he were reliving a distant memory.
“Not a broken, shattered remnants of the Tai-eul Sect, but a living institution brimming with vitality and boundless prospects for the days ahead.”
In an instant, the frustration consuming Eun-ho’s heart melted away, replaced by a strange wave of emotion.
‘Shattered? When did that happen?’
The person sitting before him was undeniably the same Jin So-un he had known his entire life, the reliable Dae-sa-hyeong who had always been by his side. Yet behind the casual, playful facade the man wore so naturally, there hung an inexplicable weight of profound grief and enduring pain.
“…What are you truly trying to say?”
Jin So-un offered no explanation. His eyes remained locked on the sprawling grounds of the Tai-eul Sect, which remained bathed in brilliant illumination. Like a man attempting to permanently imprint a fleeting reality before memory failed him, he stared intensely ahead, struggling to anchor the present moment in his mind. He looked exactly like someone who had once endured a devastating loss, fighting desperately to ensure it never occurred again.
“Dae-sa—”
“Haha.”
That heavy, sorrowful aura evaporated in a flash. Before Eun-ho could even register the shift, the man had slipped back into his familiar, mischievous persona.
“Since we are going to smash their skulls anyway, the caliber of the audience watching the spectacle matters immensely, does it not?”
“…Dae-sa-hyeong!”
“Five centuries.”
“?”
“That is precisely how long the Tai-eul Sect has waited for the return of Tai-eul-geom-je-nim.”
The playful facade dropped once more, leaving no trace behind. Standing on the roof now was someone entirely different.
“It represents the exact duration our faction has bided its time to truly Open its Gates (Gaemun).”
Only an unyielding, resolute leader anchored by absolute solemnity remained. And then—
The quiet warrior finally voiced the conviction he had guarded in the deepest recesses of his soul.
“I view this event as far more than a simple opening of our doors. This is…”
While everyone else focused entirely on the immediate hurdles of the coming dawn, this man’s perspective spanned centuries. He acted as though the validation of the world was entirely secondary.
“Is it truly such an outrageous demand for the Murim Alliance Leader and the Chief Strategist to witness the rebirth ceremony of a faction founded by the legendary master Tai-eul-geom-je?”
Confronted by the absolute certainty in the man’s casual question, Eun-ho ultimately couldn’t help but chuckle.
“…Sigh. You are truly unbelievable.”
He dropped his shoulders and sat down heavily right beside his senior brother.
“No, it is not an outrageous demand at all.”
“Haha. I knew you would understand.”
An unbending spirit masked by a careless laugh.
“In all honesty, Dae-sa-hyeong possesses a unique talent for leaving everyone around him completely speechless.”
“Is that a fact?”
And despite everything, they respected him implicitly. They trusted him to the point where they would willingly forfeit their own lives for his vision.
“It’s the absolute truth. There are moments when you make my blood boil.”
“And if your blood boils, what do you plan to do about it?”
“There isn’t a damn thing I can do… I’m merely stating that you infuriate me.”
Naturally, Eun-ho lacked the sentimental temperament required to voice his deep loyalty openly. He reached out and accepted the cup offered by the man who was currently shaping the destiny of their sect.
“Come, let us drink.”
Side by side, they gazed down upon the brilliant expanse of the Tai-eul Sect, swallowing the wine in a single draught. The flavor of the alcohol felt richer and sweeter than anything they had ever tasted before.
