“Jeomsoi! Bring me some alcohol!”
“Yes!”
I flashed a friendly smile at Moyong Mo, who was looking at me with a confused expression.
Well, it’s understandable that Moyong Mo would be confused.
I might not be as prestigious as the official disciples of the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Clans, but being from the branch of the Moyong Clan doesn’t mean my social status is low.
Especially in this Sacheon City, the influence of the Moyong Clan’s branches would be enormous, so considering that disciples from notable clans tend to avoid the Moyong Clan’s branches, it’s highly likely that I’ve been treated decently while moving around Sacheon like I own the place.
If you’re not a renowned martial artist from the Martial World or from one of the big factions, the branch clans like Moyong Mo just seem like a minor power—so he would have been treated accordingly.
So where would Moyong Mo have been subjected to something like this?
On top of that, to be overpowered.
Even if it’s just the very beginning, peak stage is still peak stage.
Being classified as peak stage at this age often means being recognized for the potential to lead the next generation of the Martial World.
Where could Moyong Mo have experienced being overpowered?
It was only natural to be dumbfounded.
“Okay, let’s have a drink!”
“Me, I…”
“Hahahahaha!!!”
I grabbed Moyong Mo’s wrist and forced him to hold the cup. He flinched and tried to pull his hand away with all his might, but who am I?
Hwa-gyeong Martial Artist Ho Cheon-an.
I suppressed his flailing arm easily and poured wine into the cup against his will.
Moyong Mo’s pupils shook as if there was an earthquake.
No matter how bewildered he might feel right now, it was enough of a sign for him to notice my martial arts level.
“Cheers!”
“C-Cheers.”
With a pale face, Moyong Mo cautiously emptied his cup while glancing at me.
“Kraaaah!!! Drinking with a great man feels so refreshing! Hahahaha!!!”
“Haha…”
“Hey! How can a guy drink so timidly! Down it like a man!”
As I refilled his cup again, Moyong Mo shut his eyes tightly and drank a bit more boldly than before.
“Hahahaha!! It seems I have a good eye for people!”
“H-Haha…”
“Younger brother! One more drink!”
“Uh, younger brother?”
“Hey! Isn’t it common for men to become brothers when they bond? Come on! Drink up! I might just lose an arm here!”
He downed another drink cautiously and then asked,
“Uh, may I ask what your honorable name is?”
“Honorable name? Yours?”
Ugh. Is he really calling me ‘yours’ right now?
Is this brat completely lost? Hmm? I’m promoting you to younger brother, and you’re pulling a stunt? Want a smack or something?
I gave him a look with that intent, and Moyong Mo’s face turned white immediately.
“I-I’m not familiar with your name…”
“Hahaha! What else would I be talking about! Almost had a misunderstanding!”
I boldly revealed my name.
“This brother’s name is Ho Cheon-an!”
The reason I could reveal my name so easily was simple—very few people knew that the Brain Knife Outcast’s real name was Ho Cheon-an.
Unless I brandished my great sword, making a big scene, nobody would possibly connect me with the Brain Knife Outcast, so there was no reason to hide my name.
“Ho… Cheon-an, you say?”
A deep confusion appeared on Moyong Mo’s face.
Given that I had overpowered him with ease, he clearly recognized my status as a Hwa-gyeong Martial Artist, but it was a name he surely hadn’t heard before.
I stiffened my expression.
“Have you… not heard of me?”
Even if some random top talent or peak martial artist popped up and asked who I was, they wouldn’t have an idea, but if it’s from a Hwa-gyeong Martial Artist, it would be an entirely different story.
Just mentioning my name should prompt them to instantly recall a nickname.
If you’re claiming to be a prominent figure in the Martial World, you should at least have that level of industry knowledge in your head.
Don’t you know me? Me? Ho Cheon-an?
I pressed him with that gaze.
“I-It’s…”
He started sweating profusely. Just when he looked like he was about to bow down and apologize,
“Hahahaha! Who cares if you don’t know! Now that we’re brothers, just get to know each other from here on!”
I burst into hearty laughter.
“Y-Yes! Yes! Haha…! Ha..!”
Moyong Mo’s face was riddled with despair as he looked at me. He displayed a hint of not knowing who I was, but instead of getting angry, I embraced him.
That was how circumstances turned; Moyong Mo had no choice but to mix with me now.
“Come, drink! Your cup is empty!”
“H-Ha… Ha…!”
I kept offering drinks to Moyong Mo.
He was completely subdued by me and couldn’t say a word as he kept downing the strong liquor until he was nearly gone.
“Hahahaha! Looking at the state of you, it seems it’s time for you to leave.”
“H…H..Wook…Wook..!”
“Off you go then~”
As I waved goodbye to Moyong Mo’s retreating figure, whether he was running to the restroom or making a getaway, my companions descended with smiles on their faces.
“Haha, well done, Honorable Person.”
“If that guy has some sense, he won’t be back.”
Yeo Il-ye and Tang So-yeol were grinning as if a decade’s worth of pent-up frustrations had been released. Tang Do-yeon also showed a relieved expression.
Just then,
“Haha, no wonder the inn is lively; it’s because of Senior Ho.”
Hyeok Gi-rin appeared.
The group cheered, delighted after witnessing Moyong Mo’s defeat. Immediately, the Black Cat rushed over to Hyeok Gi-rin and hugged him, while Tang So-yeol crept in and playfully touched Hyeok Gi-rin’s cheek.
After being harassed by Black Cat and Tang So-yeol, Hyeok Gi-rin finally managed to sit down.
“Finally, everyone is together.”
“It’s great to see everyone improving. Especially… senior Ho’s progress is truly remarkable.”
Hyeok Gi-rin looked at me with half surprise and half admiration.
I laughed back at him as well.
With Hwa-gyeong Martial Artist Hyeok Gi-rin joining, my worries about Jeong Cheol’s attacks were greatly alleviated.
It was only natural to feel glad seeing Hyeok Gi-rin’s face after such a long time, so there was no need to say that out loud.
“Goodness! How can you get cuter?”
“To tease me just by seeing my face is too much.”
“Ugh, but you really have gotten cuter.”
Hyeok Gi-rin puffed up his cheeks at Black Cat’s remarks, making everyone chuckle.
With Hyeok Gi-rin’s arrival, it seemed the unpleasant memories of Moyong Mo had been washed away completely.
Well, considering Moyong Mo had his share of suffering, he wouldn’t dare approach casually.
“Hahahaha!”
“Indeed!”
I thought the same and joined in with laughter and chatter with my companions.
* *
The next day.
Tang So-yeol handed me a sword.
“Use this.”
“O….”
Is this what they call a legendary sword?
Every weapon Tang So-yeol crafted had a unique flair, but this one was truly on a different level.
It felt alive, brimming with energy.
“Wow…”
As I gripped the hilt and let my Qi flow, a gasp of awe escaped me.
After breaking my previous sword, I had been using the great swords available at the Heavenly Demon Wi Seoryeon’s training hall.
The great swords there were certainly high quality, but they weren’t satisfying at all. Being great swords, they naturally felt inferior compared to other weapons.
But this sword made by Tang So-yeol was different.
The moment I channeled my Qi into it, the energy flowed smoothly and filled every corner of the blade.
“Have you named the sword?”
Tang So-yeol replied with a frown.
“I don’t do that.”
“Then I’ll have to think of one.”
I wasn’t the only one receiving a sword; Yeo Il-ye already had one, and so did Hyeok Gi-rin.
In addition, I gathered various tools made by Tang So-yeol into my arms.
After collecting all those tools, Black Cat spoke up.
Being within the territory of Wolbok-dang, she seemed to have some information.
“Jeong Cheol’s whereabouts are currently unclear.”
“Hmm.”
“It can be said he has vanished. I will keep checking, but… unless he shows any special movements, it will be tough to know where Jeong Cheol is.”
“That makes sense.”
Finding a Hwa-gyeong like him who has disappeared somewhere in the world would be impossible, even for Wolbok-dang.
Unless Jeong Cheol makes some moves and drops clues…
As those thoughts crossed my mind, suddenly Hyeok Gi-rin spoke up.
“Does Jeong Cheol really have something planned?”
“Hmm?”
“Actually, if Jeong Cheol was scared of the Unknown Elder, it would make sense for him to stay away from Senior Ho. However, Jeong Cheol has reorganized the Sadoryeon and vanished, stirring chaos in Sacheon City.”
“That’s right.”
“It’s likely he didn’t plan to meet Senior Ho. If he had the opportunity to target you, then it would be a golden chance, but given the safeguarding of the sect’s master, that was impossible.”
“However, wouldn’t running into us at that place have given him plenty of chances to attack?”
“If I were Jeong Cheol, I wouldn’t even think to put that plan into action.”
Hyeok Gi-rin said with a bitter smile.
“You two have come to understand the sect leader thoroughly, and you might be confident that the sect leader wouldn’t intervene in the battle between Jeong Cheol and the martial artist, but… from my perspective, it’s different. If their guest gets killed right after leaving the house? That’s a huge insult. Given the sect leader’s reputation, he wouldn’t ignore the repercussions.”
“Umm…”
After listening to Hyeok Gi-rin, I began to feel his conclusion was more sensible.
To us, the Heavenly Demon Wi Seoryeon seems friendly, but to Jeong Cheol, she embodies the icy reputation suggested by that name.
Jeong Cheol wouldn’t ignore her presence.
“So, Jeong Cheol must be hiding somewhere, training, right?”
“I think so.”
“How bothersome. So annoying.”
Tang So-yeol grumbled as he leaned back in his chair.
“It would take a decade for a gentleman to take revenge. But for that guy Jeong Cheol, he seems to have incredible patience.”
Hyeok Gi-rin chuckled bitterly.
“Ever since he went missing in the Martial World, he has been grinding himself. It wouldn’t be weird if he can endure that much time to regain his strength and resilience.”
“Umm. What do you think, senior?”
“I think this conclusion is right.”
Reflecting on it, Jeong Cheol indeed has patience mastered. After losing to Chun Yeo, one of the Ten Prodigies, he held out until the winds of change blew through Sacheon City.
From my point of view, that was not good news at all.
“Once a fortuitous chance arises, I should aim for the moment when the difference in levels narrows.”
Yeo Il-ye’s murmuring echoed my thoughts.
Due to the Brain Crystal, the gap between Jeong Cheol and me had narrowed significantly. I didn’t know exactly to what level I’ve reached as a Hwa-gyeong, but I was certain that I could contend with Jeong Cheol.
If I gave Jeong Cheol time, and he unexpectedly advances to the Hyeong-gyeong level, it would create a huge disparity between us again.
While I wasn’t just sitting idle either, thinking I could catch up to Jeong Cheol before he leaps ahead to Hyeong-gyeong level was too much of an assumption.
So, there was only one answer.
“I must make Jeong Cheol, who is hiding somewhere, unable to resist and force him to come out.”
As Black Cat spoke, everyone nodded in agreement, although soon their brows furrowed.
“But how do we entice a determined Jeong Cheol out?”
What kind of trick would it take to lure that mole Jeong Cheol from his burrow? While we pondered that, a voice interrupted us.
“Excuse me.”
A young lady approached us and spoke.
I turned my head and was surprised twice.
Firstly, because of the soft smile on the beautiful woman’s face.
Secondly, because of the white orchid embroidery on her chest.
“In the past few days, we heard that a member of our clan behaved rudely, so I came to find you.”
“May I ask who you are…?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I should have introduced myself sooner.”
The woman smiled gently and performed a curtsy.
“I am Moyong Yeon-hwa.”
Here appeared an actual key figure from the Moyong Clan, different from the self-proclaimed direct descendant Moyong Mo.
