“Hmmm! Your stance during the drawing of your sword is well balanced! This isn’t something achieved in just a day or two of training!”
“Your physical development is also excellent! Truly amazing!”
“A talent! I can’t believe such a talent exists! Why has it only appeared now?”
A sudden onslaught of compliments!
“You look to be in your early twenties, and with this level, you could grow to be a martial artist representing Sacheon City in the future!”
“Though I can’t see your face due to the mask, from the atmosphere, it’s clear you must be quite handsome!”
“You will surely be popular with the ladies!”
So this is… recruitment from the sects? But why are all these recruiters only flocking to me? There’s that Black Cat and the magnificent Hyeok Gi-rin over there, after all.
“Truly impressive!”
“Anyway, I’m envious!”
“So I want you!”
“Hey, wait! Hold on!”
I raised my hand to stop them, but the recruiters from each sect didn’t pay me any mind and continued showering praises, spouting their lines.
“Calm down, everyone!”
“Why not join our Cheongwoon Hall? Cheongwoon Hall is a historic martial hall that received a silver rating during the bandit-subjugation competition!”
“Sangil Sect has a gilded reputation! With your skills, you’d fit perfectly as a disciple of our Sangil Sect! Sign up now and accommodations will be provided!”
“Our Daoist Sect is currently inviting esteemed external masters! Of course, accommodations and relocation support are included!”
This is a disaster. I felt a strong intention to bombard me with compliments like an insurance salesperson, preventing me from even thinking about refusing. And the endless requests for handshakes… I mean papers!
“Alright, alright! Give them to me!”
One person stepped forward to gather the papers, and the first page caught my eye; it read [Sangseowon Recruitment Proposal].
“Wow, I haven’t been in this street for long, but it’s my first time seeing so many recruitment proposals stack up like this! I might even brag about it at a drinking party later.”
“…Um. Thank you.”
I had no intention of joining a sect in Sacheon City, but still, I was curious about the contents of the recruitment proposals. Reading a proposal was something I could easily do.
“Don’t forget about our Daoist Sect!”
“The conditions from Sangil Sect can be adjusted, so please visit the main text!”
The recruiters took their proposals and left, each leaving a parting line.
Honestly, I was prepared for a physical confrontation, but looking back, that was a ridiculous assumption.
They were people trying to recruit me into their respective sects. Given that I was already making a good impression, there was no way they’d resort to coercive measures.
After sword fighting with the martial artists of Sacheon City for seven years… I almost reflexively drew my weapon when they approached.
Perhaps it’s a job-related condition.
The three of us quickly escaped from the recruitment area.
“Phew, what was that commotion all about?”
“I’m just glad it ended without any conflict.”
“Seems there’s a big change in Sacheon. It’s rare for the righteous factions to actively recruit external martial artists like this.”
“Indeed.”
I folded the recruitment proposal in half and tucked it away, then bought some skewers at the grilled skewer stall, thinking that a merchant selling in front of a monument would know the local rumors well.
“What’s all this commotion about? Is something happening in Sacheon City?”
The stall owner, who had been watching the earlier ruckus, chuckled and replied.
“Are you asking about the recruiters?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s been quite chaotic in the Sacheon Martial World since the bandit subjugation! Do you know about the factions in the area?”
“Yeah, I’ve heard about the platinum sign being set in place for matches later on. What I want to know is, why are those recruitment folks out there in front of the monument?”
“Haha, it’s because these days, external martial artists have been visiting Sacheon after hearing the rumors about it.”
“…Oh?”
“What’s currently happening in Sacheon is no ordinary matter! The martial artists of Sacheon united to subjugate the bandits. How the great heroine Yeo Il-ye of Red Bamboo Swordswoman sought revenge and promoted righteousness! The downfall of the Jambong Clan and the Hwang Gold Clan!”
He paused while rubbing his fingers, leading me to buy more skewers.
This guy really knows how to work the crowd.
“That’s enough news to excite any martial artist. Many external martial artists have come to Sacheon to seek out the heroes of the city and absorb some of their spirit.”
“Hmm.”
This was unexpected; thinking about it, it made perfect sense.
In this martial world, is there a colossal stone monument for the martial artists? There is none. In fact, there has never been anything made to honor martial artists.
“Indeed… I understand. The lives of martial artists often dissolve into mere tales.”
Hyeok Gi-rin nodded in agreement, as it seemed he understood. Well, he was right. The names of past experts? Gone if they just die or lose contact for a long time. Only figures like Bodhidharma from the Shaolin or Zhang Sanfeng from Wudang remain in people’s minds.
99.99% of martial artists just vanish without leaving anything behind after a brief mention.
The obsession martial artists have with passing down their skills and training disciples likely stems from such influences. It’s human nature to want to leave something behind.
“…I see.”
To pass down one’s martial arts and train disciples, there needs to be a certain level of credibility. After all, those capable of teaching are only a handful in this world.
Being in Sacheon might offer a chance to make a mark. That’s how the rumor of martial artists flocking here began.
So where would they go first?
To the monument, of course!
“That’s why there were so many recruitment agents in front of the monument.”
Sacheon City had become an environment enticing enough to attract martial artists. The Hero Badge was reserved for the bandit slayers, but for martial artists who love to show off, even a ranked waist belt would be appealing.
Add to that the recruitment wars waged by sects trying to jump to platinum rank and boost their power.
“And of course, Sacheon is tightly held by the Hwangbo Clan and the Nine Great Sects, right? With the public opinion about the Hwang Gold Clan, who partnered with the Hwangbo Clan and the others, turning sour as a result of this incident, it’s now seen as a land of opportunity for martial artists.”
The Jeomchang Faction had faced outright conflict due to their involvement with the merchant coalition, meaning they cannot shake off accusations of being allied with the Hwang Gold Clan, thus harming their reputation significantly.
For those trapped beneath the ceiling of the Five Great Clans and the Nine Great Sects, Sacheon City may have appeared as a land of freedom.
“Hmm. Thanks for the info.”
“Definitely, good luck during your visit, Martial Artist!”
Hyeok Gi-rin stroked his chin, deep in thought.
“Hmm. Sacheon will likely progress significantly in the future. They had a solid foundation, but the quality of martial artists had been lacking… If external martial artists keep flocking in, then in five or ten years, we wouldn’t be able to ignore the martial artists from Sacheon.”
“Now that they’ve tasted the benefits of inviting external masters, sects will surely start seriously recruiting them! This could get interesting.”
As Sacheon’s ecosystem evolves, many masters will find themselves captivated by its unique allure and choose to settle here.
“The upcoming martial arts tournament with the platinum sign should be quite the sight.”
“Hehe, indeed. It wouldn’t be bad to come and watch then.”
“Oh, so you’ll be returning at that time?”
“Yes. Unless something special happens, I’d like to attend the tournament.”
“Remember that, Senior. If you try to skip out under the pretense of practicing martial arts, I won’t let it slide!”
“Ah, okay, I got it.”
What started as a casual outing had accidentally turned into a promise to go out again. The Black Cat seemed excited, pulling on Hyeok Gi-rin’s arm and leading the way.
“Slowly, slowly now!”
“Hey, look at that unfamiliar fried rice stall!”
Hyeok Gi-rin was tossed about by the rampaging Black Cat. While it looked troublesome, he appeared much more relaxed than when he was at Samayeom’s residence.
Hmm. As long as they’re both enjoying themselves, that’s what matters.
“Senior, hurry up!”
“Ah, yeah, I’m coming!”
I should be calling him a martial artist, not some grand title.
I quickened my pace, grumbling inwardly.
* *
At the Emperor’s summons, Hyeok Gi-rin’s concerns shifted to Ho Cheon-an.
Qi Person.
To Hyeok Gi-rin, Ho Cheon-an was the very definition of a Qi Person. Full of talent, but rather than pursuing power or wealth, he lived freely for his interests.
From Hyeok Gi-rin’s perspective, Ho Cheon-an was indifferent to honor or power.
Yeo Il-ye from the Jeomchang Faction, one of the Ten Prodigies. There was no need to mention the value of her Gratitude Plaque. However, he unhesitatingly threw it away to stop Yeo Il-ye, then didn’t even bring up the matter of the Gratitude Plaque afterward.
The same went for when he received a reward from Samayeom. Given his contributions, he should have received the weight of a thousand gold pieces, yet he only took what he needed.
Even when Master Un-jong gained enlightenment, Ho Cheon-an showed no greed despite being able to gain much more.
He liked children and genuinely worked to bridge the gap between the Masters and the kids.
As a result, Jeomchang has developed positively and continues to grow.
To Hyeok Gi-rin, Ho Cheon-an was a greatly appreciated person in many ways.
But now, he was on his way to the imperial palace because of him.
While Ho Cheon-an seemed happy about his forthcoming rewards from the emperor, Hyeok Gi-rin couldn’t take that at face value.
At a time when his martial arts skills were flourishing, he had turned his back on a stable environment and set out on a journey. For someone like Ho Cheon-an, who had little interest in wealth, this situation had to be unwelcome.
Maybe it was just the summons of the Emperor, allowing him to maintain a positive outlook.
‘I hope nothing happens in the palace…’
It had been ages since Hyeok Gi-rin had shown himself in any official events of the state. While enough time had passed for those seeking to manipulate him to grow weak, they still hadn’t been entirely eradicated.
‘What could my brother be thinking…?’
Even if they had lost power, they were still at the center of that power. As soon as they entered the imperial palace, they might start plotting to restore their strength.
This could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them.
A disturbance was bound to arise… and the likelihood of Ho Cheon-an getting caught up in it was high. No, what Hyeok Gi-rin was worried about wasn’t Ho Cheon-an getting caught up.
He was worried about Ho Cheon-an stirring things up.
If he caught the eye of the Emperor and ended up with an official position, Ho Cheon-an’s carefree life would come to an end.
‘That cannot happen!’
Getting back at kindness with vengeance would never do. No matter what happened, this was a situation to be avoided, especially considering they planned to visit the martial arts tournament.
“Senior Ho.”
“Yeah?”
“Just trust me in the palace.”
Hyeok Gi-rin made up his mind as he saw Ho Cheon-an looking at him with a bewildered expression.
There’s an idiom about a pin being stuck in a leather pouch. An awl will eventually break through. If that’s the case, a pin must be hidden in a steel box.
“You understand, right? Just trust me! Stay still, don’t move! Just be there!”
“…Ah. Yes.”
Seeing Ho Cheon-an reply hesitantly, Hyeok Gi-rin snorted.
‘Just trust me, and I’ll ensure you get out safely from the royal palace, allowing you to live your free life thereafter!’
Hyeok Gi-rin resolved to make it so.
