bloodnovel Chapter 443 : Becoming the Supreme (1)
Chapter 443 : Becoming the Supreme (1)
Chapter 443: Becoming the Supreme (1)
What concerned me was that Namgung Yoo still hadn’t informed the Namgung Clan that she had become my woman.
If they found out we were living together without the elders’ approval, there would be no excuse, even if the heavens fell upon us.
Namgung Yoo had hastily sent word via flying pigeon, but that didn’t make the situation any less worrying.
The more prestigious the clan, the more they valued proper procedures and upheld honor and pride above all.
If the prodigy they had such high hopes for suddenly ran off with a man and refused to return, it was only natural they’d be enraged.
That’s why Namgung Yoo was planning to return to the Heavenly Central Sect first, then head to the Namgung Clan with me right after.
One way or another, she intended to explain the situation and ask for their blessing.
While Yong Hwarin was enjoying a cheerful moment with the women, a large group was suddenly approaching his deployment unit.
Yong Hwarin, unable to rule out the possibility of hostility, immediately ordered them into battle formation.
But once the approaching figures came within two hundred jang, he ordered the formation to stand down.
Then he turned to Namgung Yoo and said:
"Yoo Mae, the Elder has arrived."
"What? Grandpa?"
"Yes. It seems he heard I was living with you and came out of concern."
Namgung Yoo tilted her head in doubt.
"My grandfather wouldn’t come all the way out here just for that. He’s probably using me as an excuse to wander the jianghu. I heard he’s on good terms with the Greatest Sword Under Heaven."
Soon, Namgung Bi arrived, leading about twenty martial artists.
As Yong Hwarin stepped forward, Namgung Bi spurred his horse, leaping down gently in front of Namgung Yoo.
"Have you been well?"
Namgung Yoo rushed into Namgung Bi’s embrace.
Seeing her family again after so long stirred a deep longing in her.
"Hahaha! And here I thought you’d become a proper lady now that you’re a man’s woman—still clinging like a child!"
Namgung Bi gently peeled Namgung Yoo off and walked over to Yong Hwarin.
The four women bowed respectfully to Namgung Bi and then stepped aside.
Gazing quietly at them, Namgung Bi spoke.
"With beauties like those around, you’re not mistreating my granddaughter, are you?"
"I’d be lucky if Yoo Mae isn’t the one mistreating me."
"Hahaha, of course. She’s the granddaughter of the Sword King—she wouldn’t be easy to handle."
Namgung Bi patted Yong Hwarin’s shoulder.
"But what brings you here, Elder?"
"Ah, I came to lend strength upon hearing that my grandson-in-law was embarking on the Ten-Year Closed Training Expedition, but by the time I arrived, everything was already over."
He had rushed here from Anhui, yet Yong Hwarin had already wrapped things up.
Typically, a war against even one faction would take a month, but Yong Hwarin had settled things with five factions in that time—Namgung Bi wasn’t late at all.
"I was just about to head to the Namgung Clan with Yoo Mae to pay our respects."
"I figured as much. That’s why I came. There’s no need to go to the main house right away."
"What do you mean?"
"You haven’t heard yet, I suppose. Until recently, your Ten-Year Closed Training Expedition was the hottest topic in the murim, but now everyone’s talking about the Murim Composition Festival being held in Luoyang during the Spring Festival next year."
"The Murim Composition Festival?"
"Yes. And it’s said to be the largest one in history, which has the martial world in a frenzy."
"Please explain in more detail."
Namgung Bi shared the rumors he had heard on the way.
"This Murim Composition Festival is being hosted by none other than the Martial Flower Lord."
"Martial Flower Lord?"
"Yes. She’s offering enormous prizes and rewards."
Yong Hwarin simply listened in silence.
"Those who rise to the top in the festival will each be awarded ten secret manuals—considered advanced martial arts from the imperial palace—along with an enormous amount of gold and silver. It’s enough to live in luxury for a lifetime. Even participants are said to receive a secret manual each, so every notable martial artist is preparing to join."
After quietly listening, Yong Hwarin asked:
"Why Luoyang, of all places? Normally, the Murim Composition Festival is hosted by the Murim Alliance once it's formed. Shouldn’t it be held by the Baekjeong Alliance this time?"
"True. But the Martial Flower Lord’s family is based in Luoyang, so that’s why. From what I hear, it’s already been negotiated with the Nine Great Sects. Of course, all their prodigies will be competing. Names like Jeonghang, Unmang, Cheongmong, Seonja of Myeongok, and many clan prodigies are already abuzz with excitement."
Because of the Ten-Year Closed Training Expedition, Yong Hwarin hadn’t had a chance to hear any of this.
"What’s the Martial Flower Lord’s reason for hosting the Composition Festival?"
Namgung Bi replied.
"The murim has been chaotic lately. I suppose she wants to focus everyone's attention in one place. Likely, she intends to draw martial artists to her side in the process. She’s always had a keen interest in the murim, hasn’t she?"
Though Yong Hwarin was unaware, the murim was already boiling like a pot over fire with the announcement that the Martial Flower Lord would be hosting the festival.
Even martial artists who wouldn’t dare participate were flocking to Luoyang for a once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness legendary warriors in action.
"You should join the festival too and make a name for yourself. If you do, our clan will welcome you with open arms."
Namgung Bi finally revealed his true intentions.
He wanted Yong Hwarin to bring honor to the Namgung Clan.
"Well, if it isn’t the Sword King himself!"
The Greatest Sword Under Heaven, Jo Cheonsaeng, greeted Namgung Bi with a bright smile.
"Hahaha, it’s been too long. I rushed over because I missed you."
There, the Sword King and the Greatest Sword Under Heaven immediately sat down for drinks.
Jo Cheonsaeng, having felt lonely at the Heavenly Central Sect after parting with Masa and Ha Deokgong, was delighted to see his old friend.
Thanks to that, Yoo Maelim pouted her lips in a jealous sulk.
“This child, who is she to be scowling at me like that? Is she your granddaughter?”
At those words, the Greatest Sword Under Heaven shook his head.
“No, she’s just a girl who serves me.”
“For someone like that, she’s quite the beauty. Be careful of that Yong brat over there. That fellow has a thing for pretty women.”
“Hahaha! Is the Sword King of the World jealous of a mere junior?”
As the two exchanged nonsensical banter, Yu Maelim chuckled softly.
“Men, whether boys or grown-ups, really are all the same.”
As she said that, Yu Maelim was setting the table for drinks.
While Yong Hwarin was heading to Dongwolru in search of the Rogues’ Guild’s base, Eungjo was at the Heavenly Demon Sect.
He was having a meeting with five elders of the Rogues’ Guild and the elders from the Heavenly Demon Sect’s Elder Council.
Eungjo originally planned to deploy elite forces from both the Dabie Sect and the Heavenly Demon Sect to the coalition front.
However, for some reason, there had been no replies to the letters he sent to the Great Young Master and First Young Master.
That was why he had come to the Heavenly Demon Sect himself.
And upon arriving, he discovered that a major upheaval had occurred.
He was dumbfounded to learn that Yang Gwak had attempted a mutual destruction with Yi Taegong to eliminate the First Young Master and the Great Young Master.
And even more stunned to hear that the only one who survived was the Third Young Master, Eum Sajeok.
At this rate, the Heavenly Demon Sect was about to fall into the hands of an unexpected party.
Eungjo decided that rather than remaining in the background, he would now step forward and directly take the reins himself.
So he contacted the elders who had cooperated with him from long ago and convened the Elder Council.
He believed that if he could secure the Heavenly Demon Sect, he would be able to annihilate the Heavenly Central Sect.
However, upon meeting Eum Sajeok in person, he realized this was no ordinary youth.
Somehow, the boy had already won over the elders of the Elder Council to his side.
Eungjo acknowledged that, for his age, the boy had remarkable political skill — but that was as far as he’d go.
If needed, he could simply suppress him with martial might.
And in fact, he was already subtly working toward that end.
“The leaders of the Heavenly Demon Sect have all perished under unfortunate circumstances, leaving a major power vacuum. Therefore, we — who have supported the Three Taegongs for a long time — intend to assume leadership of the sect. What do the elders think?”
As Eungjo stood to speak, Elder Masa responded.
“This is the first I’ve heard of it! I’ve never heard that your group supported the Three Taegongs, nor can I understand why you suddenly appear and claim the Main Division for yourselves. Until now, I remained silent out of respect for the elders speaking — but at this rate, the sect is about to be handed over to complete strangers, so I must speak out.”
Though some of the elders knew there was a group backing the Three Taegongs, few knew who they actually were.
Eungjo’s group had deliberately hidden their identity, and with the leadership gone, there was no one left to vouch for them.
They tried to leverage their network with a few connected elders to take control of the Heavenly Demon Sect, but Elder Masa’s resistance complicated things.
“But didn’t these ten elders here vouch for our identity? Shouldn’t that be enough?!”
To Eungjo’s protest, Masa gave a bitter smile.
“If you suddenly claim to be the backers of the Three Taegongs — especially when none of us have even heard your names before — who would believe that? I’m holding back only out of respect for the elders you mentioned.”
When Masa spoke with such dignity, Eungjo looked at him with surprise.
‘According to the intel, he was just a fledgling… clearly not!’
Contrary to the reports, Eum Sajeok was someone who could articulate his position clearly and win over the hearts of those around him.
“With the Great Young Master, the First Young Master, and the Three Taegongs all dead, I have stepped up. Had my seniors been alive, I would have supported and assisted them — because they are more rightful successors than I. But how can I sit idly while outsiders who’ve never even eaten from the Heavenly Demon Sect’s rice suddenly come in and claim ownership of our Main Division? Did you think the elders here would cheer and welcome you with open arms? Perhaps you aided the Three Taegongs in some way — I acknowledge that. But I hope you leave it at that!”
At Eum Sajeok’s words, Eungjo’s cheeks twitched.
It was clear that words would not persuade him.
‘In the end, I’ll have to suppress him with force.’
Anticipating this possibility, Eungjo had brought along five top-tier experts who could hold their own against anyone.
He believed that with these five, they could overpower even the strongest elder in the Heavenly Demon Sect.
These five were loyal retainers of Eung’s family, all already at the Transcendent Stage.
At Eungjo’s signal, one elder stood up.
He was the representative of the faction supporting Eungjo.
“Then let us do this. Whenever there’s been a dispute in the Main Division, the outcome has always been settled by force. Let us decide this too with a martial duel between Young Master Eung and Young Master Eum. Though I believe the Three Taegongs would have supported Young Master Eung had they lived, Young Master Eum’s argument cannot be dismissed either. So why not decide with a duel?”
At that, Hyang Byeok stood up and declared,
“That’s utterly disrespectful toward Young Master Eum! Are you saying that the Third Disciple of the Main Division is of lower succession than an outsider? As the Manor Master, I still don’t understand why this meeting is necessary!”
Hyang Byeok was the representative of the faction supporting Eum Sajeok.
Other elders also agreed, asserting that a duel would be a blatant disregard of the Heavenly Demon Sect’s rightful lineage.
Though Hyang Byeok was aware that Eung’s faction intended to use force to control Eum Sajeok, he hadn’t given Eum any warning about the faction behind it.
But once Eungjo began hinting at turning the Heavenly Demon Sect into a direct subordinate of the Eung family, Hyang Byeok made up his mind to fully support Eum Sajeok.