Where Did This Wind Come From? (2)
The next day, Yangso Bang sent out invitations to various martial arts sects.
The recipients were the top twenty sects in Shandong. Even without a clear standard for ranking, the nature of the martial world inevitably led to a hierarchy. This was true not only in Shandong but in other regions as well.
Naturally, our family received an invitation too. Despite our decline, we were still within the top twenty.
The invitation announced a banquet to be held at Yangso Bang in three days.
It emphasized the importance of attending, noting that a distinguished guest from Cheondo Mun would also be present. Given that Ma Bong-gi had become the leader of the martial alliance, it was clear that attendance was mandatory.
Father tilted his head, puzzled.
“I can’t fathom why they’ve invited us.”
Neither Yangso Bang nor Cheondo Mun were sects Father held in high regard. He sensed that something undesirable was brewing.
“It seems the key lies with the person from Cheondo Mun,” Mother suggested.
Father nodded in agreement.
“Indeed. Cheondo Mun has always been based in Guizhou. They’ve never ventured into Shandong before.”
“We’ll understand their intentions once we attend the gathering.”
Listening to their conversation, I finally spoke up.
“I’ll accompany you, Father.”
“You will?”
“I need to learn by observing.”
Father tried to hide his delight, but it was evident on his face.
“Very well, let’s go together.”
Mother looked at me with a pleased expression, then came over and hugged me tightly.
“You’re remarkable, my son.”
Though her enthusiastic displays of affection sometimes startled me, I cherished them. Mother’s embrace was always warm and comforting.
Three days later, Father and I arrived at Yangso Bang.
The leaders of the top twenty sects in Shandong were all present.
At the entrance to the main hall, the head of Yangso Bang, Jeong-yeo, was greeting the guests.
Jeong-yeo bowed respectfully to my father.
“It’s an honor to meet the esteemed leader of Byeokmun.”
Father returned the courtesy.
“I’ve heard your reputation as the new leader echoes throughout Shandong. Congratulations on your appointment.”
Though formal letters of congratulations had been exchanged, this was their first face-to-face meeting since Jeong-yeo became the leader.
“It’s just empty talk. I’m humbled by your congratulations. Thank you.”
Father was taken aback by Jeong-yeo’s politeness. Despite the unfortunate death of their previous leader, Yangso Bang remained the foremost sect in Shandong.
Of course, Jeong-yeo’s courteous demeanor was partly due to my presence. With me standing behind Father, he couldn’t afford to be disrespectful.
Jeong-yeo also addressed me.
“I’ve heard that your small sword group has been making quite a name for itself recently.”
“I’ve been fortunate to achieve a few successes.”
“Fortune doesn’t dictate the affairs of the martial world. No need to be overly modest.”
“Thank you.”
Jeong-yeo turned back to Father.
“You have a truly remarkable son.”
Father smiled, especially pleased with the compliment in front of the gathered leaders. What could be more gratifying than having one’s child praised in public?
Father and I entered the main hall.
Many guests had already arrived. Father pointed out each one, explaining who they were.
It was a chance to memorize the faces of the top twenty sect leaders in Shandong.
I made sure not to miss a word of Father’s introductions, committing each face to memory.
Song Woo-kyung from the Song family arrived a bit late.
“If I’d known you were coming, I would have brought Hwa-rin along.”
He expressed his regret, but I simply smiled.
With everyone gathered, the guests began to murmur, speculating about the purpose of the meeting. No one knew for sure.
After about half an hour, the doors opened, and Jeong-yeo entered, followed by four others.
Leading the group was a man in his mid-twenties, walking with confidence. Judging by his attire and demeanor, he was likely Ma Jeong-su. I was surprised by how young he was. How old was Ma Bong-gi when he fathered this child?
Among the three accompanying him, I recognized two.
First, there was the elderly man with white hair, known as Hwasun Nodae.
He wielded a flamboyant iron fan adorned with floral designs as his signature weapon. He had once attempted to join the elders of the martial alliance but was denied entry.
I had been the one to deny him, due to his nature. He was skilled in politics and manipulation, with a strong thirst for power. Despite his questionable character, his abilities were undeniable.
Many had underestimated his fan, only to meet their end with their heads cracked open. With twenty-four years of martial arts experience, he was not someone I could afford to underestimate.
Old ginger is spicy, as they say. Their hidden trump cards are truly fitting for a final move.
His association with Cheondo Mun was unsurprising. He had always pursued power, making this alliance seem natural.
Beside him was a man in his mid-forties, a master from within Cheondo Mun.
His name was Si Gon.
I remembered him from a friendly martial arts competition hosted by the alliance years ago, where he was one of two masters representing Cheondo Mun.
His impressive swordsmanship left a lasting impression. That was over seven or eight years ago, so his skills must have improved since then. Though younger, he seemed more formidable than Hwasun Nodae.
The third person was a woman whose age was hard to determine. At times she seemed young, at others, more mature.
One thing was certain: she was a skilled martial artist. She carried no visible weapons, suggesting she practiced martial arts without a sword or blade. There was something intriguing about her.
Ma Jeong-su’s presence was as remarkable as the three accompanying him.
He was clearly different from the young martial artists who had gathered at previous Shandong events. He stood apart from the local novices.
Yet, my first impression of him was unfavorable. His eyes were unsettling. Though he was around the same age as Gwang-du, his gaze was that of a man in his forties. It lacked clarity, reflecting the hardships of life.
The crowd tensed at their arrival. The reality of someone from Cheondo Mun being present hit home.
Though each was a leader of their sect, none could match Hwasun Nodae or Si Gon in a one-on-one duel. The oppressive aura naturally made them uneasy.
After a brief introduction, Jeong-yeo presented Ma Jeong-su.
Ma Jeong-su ascended the platform.
“It’s an honor to meet the heroes of Shandong. I also extend my gratitude to the head of Yangso Bang for arranging this gathering.”
He gestured towards the head of Yangso Bang, prompting a round of applause.
Ma Jeong-su was confident and composed, even before the twenty sect leaders. He was also courteous.
“I’ve gathered you here today to share some news.”
After a pause to gather attention, he continued. What he said next was completely unexpected.
“I’m considering establishing a small martial arts school in Shandong.”
The room was filled with shock. A heavy silence followed.
Everyone was likely thinking the same thing.
Despite the many children of the martial alliance leader, he was still the leader’s bloodline.
The first thought was whether it would truly be a small school. Would the leader’s offspring come all the way to Shandong just to establish a minor school?
Even if we conceded that point, was it significant enough to gather everyone here?
It could be a pretext to establish a sect, marking Cheondo Mun’s entry into Shandong. Directly founding a sect would face opposition from local factions, so they proposed a school to consider public opinion. If not, there might be another hidden agenda.
“I hope you can assist me in this endeavor.”
The atmosphere grew even heavier.
Depending on how one interpreted his request for help, it could only mean he intended to extract money.
At that moment, Gwak Tae, the head of Cheongsong Mun, stepped forward.
“Haha, of course, we should assist you.”
His laughter broke the tension, and Seok Mun-do, the head of Guryong Bang, joined in to lighten the mood.
“If Ma Dae-hyeop establishes a foundation in Shandong, it would be a great blessing for us.”
“Indeed, well said.”
“We welcome you to Shandong.”
Gwak Tae and Seok Mun-do exchanged pleasantries.
I realized that before this gathering, the head of Cheongsong Mun had already met with Ma Jeong-su and pledged his support. Gwak Tae likely brought Seok Mun-do into the fold. Or perhaps it was the other way around.
Aside from those two, the atmosphere remained cold.
Ma Jeong-su scanned the room, fixing his gaze on our side.
Father and Song Woo-kyung wore the same grim expressions as the other leaders.
“Isn’t that the esteemed leader of Byeokmun over there?”
Ma Jeong-su suddenly addressed Father.
Though they had never met, Father was momentarily taken aback by his recognition.
“Yes, I lead Byeokmun.”
“You don’t seem well. Is something troubling you?”
Faced with such a polite inquiry, Father had little choice but to respond.
“I have some indigestion, so I’m not feeling my best.”
“Oh dear. I see.”
Ma Jeong-su descended from the platform and approached us with determined strides. A sense of foreboding washed over me.
As he approached my father, Ma Jeong-su pulled something out from his coat. It was a small vial, no bigger than a finger.
“If you drink this, you’ll feel better.”
My father looked taken aback.
Actually, I was even more shocked. How could he just drink something without knowing what it was?
Yet, it was hard to refuse when someone was offering help.
While my father hesitated, caught between options, I saw it clearly. In Ma Jeong-su’s smiling eyes, there was a glint of malice. It was something most people would never notice.
But having dealt with all sorts of villains, I could see it.
The emotion behind his smile was chillingly cold.
Ma Jeong-su suddenly exclaimed, feigning surprise.
“Oh dear! I’ve made a terrible mistake. In my haste, I grabbed the wrong vial. This one is a deadly poison. Without the antidote, it could have been disastrous if you had taken it.”
The atmosphere grew heavier, and my father’s expression mirrored it.
Ma Jeong-su continued, admiringly.
“As expected of the head of the renowned Byeok family. To survive in the martial world, one must always be cautious and prudent. I’ve learned a great deal today.”
His overly polite demeanor made it hard to tell if this was a mistake or a threat.
But it was clearly a threat.
A warning that he could poison us if we crossed him.
And his intimidation didn’t stop there.
He glanced at me.
“Is this your son? Handsome young man, isn’t he? Hahaha.”
My father’s expression hardened further, and his body trembled slightly. It was obvious why he mentioned me after talking about poison. A threat that he could harm our family too.
Song Woo-gyeong, standing nearby, quickly changed the subject.
“So, where do you plan to build the martial arts school?”
He must have judged that if my father lost his temper, it would only put us at a disadvantage.
Ma Jeong-su bowed his head to my father, apologizing politely.
“I apologize once again for my earlier mistake.”
Then he returned to his place and continued.
“I plan to build the school on the outskirts of Jinan. We’ll start on a modest scale and gradually expand…”
He began discussing the details of the school.
Under the table, Song Woo-gyeong gave my father’s hand a reassuring squeeze. It was a gesture of approval for holding back.
My father silently emptied his glass.
I understood. Ma Jeong-su had used my father as an example to intimidate everyone here, employing a despicable and dirty tactic. No matter what my father had said, the outcome wouldn’t have changed. He had come with the intention of making my father a sacrificial pawn to control the atmosphere.
My expression remained calm, but inside, my heart turned icy.
This bastard dared to threaten my father? And drag me into it too?