Chapter 378: The Gathering
Amidst the laughter and chatter, the main hall of the Namgung family remained eerily silent.
After a long, tense pause, Namgung Myung finally spoke again.
“Could you tell us what happened?”
His voice was calm, as expected of the head of a great family who must master his emotions and maintain composure. During this exchange, Tang Mujin realized that Namgung Myung had matured.
Of course, his calmness wasn’t solely due to personal growth.
Namgung Myung had heard stories about his father from friends and learned the full details from his uncle upon returning to the Namgung family. He had known for some time that his father intended to confront the Demon Sect.
Thus, he had anticipated this day would come.
His father would never surrender to the Demon Sect, nor could he single-handedly bring it down. The outcome had been inevitable from the start.
A monk from the Kunlun Sect cautiously replied.
“Your father often engaged in life-and-death battles between the Demon Sect and Kunlun Mountain, in the wilderness and grasslands. He never shied away from difficult fights and always emerged victorious, honing his skills relentlessly.”
“Did he achieve his goals?”
“Without a supreme master in the Kunlun Sect, it’s hard to measure his accomplishments precisely. Moreover, your father wasn’t one to boast about his achievements. But I firmly believe he achieved something great. Otherwise, the Demon Sect’s warriors wouldn’t have struggled against him.”
The response was somewhat vague but undoubtedly positive.
As Namgung Myung nodded, Hyun Gong posed another question to the monk.
“How did you recover the sword and his body? The Demon Sect’s warriors wouldn’t have left them behind.”
“Recently, the Demon Sect has been expanding its territory, leading to frequent clashes near Kunlun. The final battle took place not far from the mountain.”
“I see.”
“Yes. The former head of the family couldn’t retreat from the fight, as he was protecting both the Kunlun Sect and innocent people. He sustained life-threatening injuries, but thanks to the Kunlun monks who fought alongside him, they managed to drive off the remnants of the Demon Sect and recover his body.”
So it wasn’t a futile death.
Yet, the death of a person always leaves a bitter aftertaste. The expressions of those present darkened slightly.
Namgung Myung asked again.
“Did my father leave any last words?”
“Yes. He predicted that the Demon Sect would soon rise and attack the central plains. He instructed us to return to the Namgung family with the sword and deliver this news before it’s too late. He believed it was right to strike the Demon Sect before they could attack.”
”…Understood.”
The conversation paused again. As the Kunlun monk seemed ready to leave, Hyun Gong asked him another question.
“May I ask your name, sir?”
“Ban Yeop.”
“Which temple are you affiliated with?”
“Suhwe Temple.”
“I see.”
“Do you know of Suhwe Temple?”
Hyun Gong shook his head.
“No, I’m afraid my knowledge is limited. I’ve never heard of it.”
“That’s understandable. Suhwe Temple is quite small.”
The Kunlun Sect is unique.
The countless peaks of Kunlun Mountain are dotted with numerous temples, large and small. Collectively, these temples and their monks are referred to as the Kunlun Sect. Strictly speaking, it’s not a single sect.
Naturally, the atmosphere of the Kunlun Sect differs from other sects. Unlike other sects or families with clear hierarchies, it’s not uncommon for Kunlun monks to never meet each other.
The martial arts of the Kunlun Sect are somewhat indistinct. While the monks share a few common techniques, their martial arts vary widely.
Some monks, like Daepunggae Paengcheon, the master of Hong Geolgae, aren’t even focused on martial arts. Instead, Paengcheon was interested in Taoist magic, reading the heavens and predicting the future through physiognomy.
Namgung Myung addressed Ban Yeop.
“You’ve traveled a long way. Please rest for a few days and recover from your journey.”
Ban Yeop shook his head.
“I’ve brought sad news, not good tidings. It’s only right to leave quickly, especially since I’ve delivered such news on a day of celebration.”
Staying at the Namgung family wouldn’t bring him peace.
Though unintentional, he had cast a shadow over the festivities, and it was only natural for him to feel uneasy.
Instead, Namgung Myung handed Ban Yeop some money for his journey.
“Then please accept this.”
It was more than enough for his return to the Kunlun Sect. Ban Yeop didn’t refuse the travel expenses.
After bowing respectfully to Namgung Myung, Ban Yeop left the main hall.
It seemed he intended to travel through the night without waiting for dawn.
Tang Mujin, Hong Geolgae, and Jeong Okryeong gazed at the bloodstained sword of Namgung Jinchun.
Warriors often lead glorious lives, but most don’t live to old age, meeting sudden deaths instead. Even Namgung Jinchun, a supreme master renowned throughout the land, was no exception.
Tang Mujin asked Namgung Myung.
“What will you do?”
He was asking about when to inform the others of the news.
Namgung Myung had two choices.
First, wait until the celebration ended to slowly inform everyone.
Second, announce the news immediately.
Namgung Myung didn’t decide on his own but looked to Jeong Okryeong.
The person who had eagerly awaited this wedding wasn’t Namgung Myung but Jeong Okryeong. It wouldn’t be right to make a unilateral decision without consulting her.
Namgung Myung spoke.
“I’ll respect your decision, whatever it is.”
Jeong Okryeong answered without hesitation.
“Of course, we should tell them right now.”
“Are you sure?”
Namgung Myung felt a pang of guilt.
A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Jeong Okryeong had waited over ten years for this day.
Was it right to end the wedding so abruptly?
Wouldn’t it be better to wait until the wedding was completely over before revealing the situation?
But Jeong Okryeong was resolute.
“With so many people here, the news will spread faster if we tell them now.”
“I know that. But are you okay with it?”
Jeong Okryeong smiled faintly.
“Do you think only the Namgung family is a martial family? Bowonmun is a martial sect too. I was born into a martial family, and now I’m the mistress of the Namgung family. I’ve been prepared for this for a long time, and the outcome was decided from the start. The wedding isn’t what’s important right now.”
Seeing Namgung Myung still troubled, Jeong Okryeong added.
“If it bothers you, let’s go on a trip together once everything is settled. We can visit Dongting Lake or Poyang Lake. There are many places I want to see with you.”
”…Alright, thank you.”
Namgung Myung picked up the sword and stood. Jeong Okryeong, Tang Mujin, and Hong Geolgae also rose.
But Hyun Gong remained deep in thought.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Hyun Gong stood as well. The five of them headed out of the main hall.
They hadn’t spent long in the main hall.
Though dusk had fallen, the festive atmosphere was still in full swing. If anything, the guests seemed even more excited.
The guests were still engrossed in laughter and conversation.
They had come to celebrate the wedding, and maintaining a lively atmosphere was part of their duty as guests.
When Jeong Okryeong and Namgung Myung appeared together, a few guests spotted them and shouted enthusiastically.
“The bride and groom have arrived together!”
“Ha ha, they look great! A perfect match!”
“Namgung head! How do you feel? Say a few words!”
Under normal circumstances, such behavior might have been considered rude. But the guests, and even the Namgung family’s servants, burst into laughter.
Even emboldened by alcohol, it wasn’t easy to be so informal with the head of the Namgung family.
The main hall was slightly elevated, allowing everyone to see Namgung Myung.
He smiled and, using his inner strength, projected his voice loudly.
“First, I want to thank everyone for traveling from afar to celebrate my wedding!”
“Ooh!”
The guests were ready to cheer for anything Namgung Myung said.
They clapped loudly, the sound almost deafening.
Then, Namgung Myung continued in a more subdued tone.
“And I also want to thank my father for attending my wedding, even if belatedly.”
The guests looked around in confusion. When had Namgung Jinchun arrived?
Even in the chaos of a crowded wedding, it was impossible not to notice such a prominent figure.
As the guests paused their conversations to look around, the Namgung family grounds grew quieter.
Only then did Namgung Myung raise the sword in his right hand above his head.
Most didn’t recognize the sword, but the Namgung family members did.
“Chamyeong…”
And they remembered that Namgung Jinchun had left with Chamyeong.
The martial artists, with their keen eyesight, could easily discern that the sword the groom held aloft was stained with dried blood.
Just moments ago, the Namgung family estate had been bustling with noise, but now it was as silent as a grave.
After a few tense breaths, Namgung Myung finally broke the silence.
“Lastly, I want to thank all of you who are willing to take up the sword for my father’s vengeance.”
Namgung Myung’s words were devoid of lengthy explanations.
There was no way to know what had transpired between Namgung Jincheon and the Demonic Cult, where that sword had come from, or why he chose to bring this up on his wedding day.
Even if one knew of Namgung Jincheon’s actions, the situation would still seem somewhat strange.
Though the Demonic Cult was on the verge of rising, it was clear that Namgung Jincheon had been the one to provoke them first.
Otherwise, his remains wouldn’t have been buried far away in the distant Kunlun Mountains, away from the Namgung estate.
But martial artists didn’t concern themselves with such details.
They didn’t ask who struck first, nor did they compare the magnitude of wrongs.
Anyone who thought such things were important wouldn’t have chosen the life of a martial artist.
In the grand conflicts between the righteous and the demonic, it never mattered who shed blood first.
As blood begets more blood, the origins of conflict fade from everyone’s memory.
In the end, what remains is how much blood the enemy has spilled. That’s all that matters.
For martial artists, life was nothing but blood and blades.
No matter what life they had led to reach this point, martial artists ended their days amidst the blades of the battlefield. And they knew the time had come.
The heady intoxication, the infectious anger and hostility, the scent of blood that couldn’t be smelled but was undeniably present—all of it stirred the hearts of the martial artists.
However, unlike the pure martial artists, Dang Mujin, who was both a warrior and a healer, couldn’t help but feel a slight unease.
Finally, Namgung Myung spoke again.
“Stand with me, everyone. Let us march to Mount Tian and demand justice from our enemies.”
His voice wasn’t loud, but no one failed to hear Namgung Myung’s call.
“Ooooh—!”
At last, a thunderous roar erupted, shaking the Namgung estate. The cheers seemed endless.
The wedding celebration concluded a bit earlier than planned.
And a new gathering of martial artists began.