Why did the party stay in the palace instead of going with the Moyong Clan?
Well, sure, one reason was that they didn’t want to take the Bicheongmacha, but mainly they probably wanted to give Moyong Yeon-hwa and me some personal time. Even if it was a rough journey on the Bicheongmacha, they must have believed there would be some moments to create a good atmosphere.
However, the justification for needing to hurry and Tang Do-yeon’s rampage far exceeded the party’s expectations.
One week.
That’s how long it took for the Bicheongmacha, departing from Nangyang, to arrive at the Moyong Clan in Liaoning.
No matter how roughly they drove the Bicheongmacha, with the presence of a Hwa-gyeong Martial Artist, a Peak Expert, and a rat entity, Tang Do-yeon truly sped along like a storm.
In the midst of the chaotic shaking of the Bicheongmacha, how could anyone create a good vibe?
“We have arrived.”
Snap back to reality – we were already at the Moyong Clan.
Clank!
The satisfying voice of the lively Tang Do-yeon was accompanied by the opening of the carriage door, or rather, the prison door. Seo Gong bolted from the Bicheongmacha as soon as the door opened.
Squeak!
That guy was trembling all over as if he was in a fit. He shot me a resentful look, but the truth is, his riding in the Bicheongmacha was more due to his own behavior than me.
Not only did he wander beyond the palace precincts, but he also treated the residence of Hyeok Gi-rin like it was his own home. No matter how talented Seo Gong was, there’s a saying about long tails getting stepped on.
While I couldn’t stop Seo Gong from disappearing, the palace attendants noticed that he was roaming freely around the palace. So when I mentioned I was leaving the palace temporarily, they requested I take Seo Gong away.
Sure, “request” sounds nice, but it was more like they were saying, “Get this pet that’s going wild in the palace out of here already.”
“I’m sorry, Seo Gong. You’ve been through a lot because of me, haven’t you?”
Moyong Yeon-hwa apologized and gently patted Seo Gong. Maybe he liked her soothing touch, as he relaxed the fluff of his fur and wrapped his tail around her hand.
Clearly, he figured that since he was in a strange place, he should stick close to someone he knew.
With a smile, Moyong Yeon-hwa picked up Seo Gong, who leaned against her lush chest. Watching Seo Gong made me quite jealous, no, infuriated.
“I’m worried that the letter we sent when we departed has arrived.”
“Indeed.”
As I fretted about whether it had arrived faster than a flying bird, the tightly closed main gate of the Moyong Clan began to open.
“Shall we go?”
Nodding at Moyong Yeon-hwa’s words, we walked in unison.
The Moyong Clan.
My impression of the Moyong Clan could be summed up in one phrase.
A clan standing tall in the wide-open plain.
Given that the Moyong Clan is a well-known family in the Martial World, this was quite a peculiar sight. Famous martial sects nearly always have personal interests closely tied to them.
In fact, considering the characteristics of clans, this was only natural. Unlike sects that can accept gifted disciples without restrictions, clans must select their experts from the limited resource of blood relations.
The reason that people distinguish between sects and clans in the world is precisely this difference.
However, even if they are classified differently, what ultimately matters in the Martial World is real power.
Moyong clans in the Martial World, which lack both quality and quantity of talent compared to sects, shower money to make up for these differences. Thus, without substantial capital to invest heavily in each individual, a Moyong clan is hard to sustain, constantly thirsty for income.
This is also why strong clans form factions everywhere. Where there are people, there’s money to be made, so they set up camp and try to earn some cash.
Therefore, it’s natural for the main house of a Moyong Clan to be in an urban area or at least nearby enough to exert influence, making the appearance of the Moyong Clan seem strikingly different.
Standing tall in a desolate place, it resembled a venerable sect more than a clan.
As we entered the Moyong Clan, countless gazes were glued to us.
Along with those gazes came a myriad of probing energies – some cautious, trying to gauge my level, and others brimming with hostility, as if they were ready to pick a fight.
Feeling those stares and energies, I realized I was missing the most important thing. Gifts? Etiquette? Those are merely secondary factors for martial artists.
Power.
Martial Arts.
In the Martial World, the only thing that truly matters is that.
So now, I need to clearly let the Moyong Clan know who I am.
Rumble!
The brain wave swirling in my mind instantly repelled the probing energies. Most of those who felt the sharp sting of my aura withdrew with a “hot damn!” but some energies resisted even more.
I turned to face the ones who weren’t backing down. They were clearly full of competitive spirit, showing no signs of retreating.
Thus, I cut it off.
Slap!
“What…?”
“Keugh?!”
With the Nine Yin learned through Six Star Chen, I deftly severed the energy they were sending my way. I could’ve ascended through the connected aura and launched a brain wave instead, but there was no way I could attack the future family members.
In fact, subduing without injury is generally harder. Those who were forced to break off their connection looked utterly deflated, while others wore faint expressions of admiration.
Ultimately, in the Martial World, those who can use Martial Arts well are the best. If the one who wields Martial Arts excellently happens to be on our side, it’s only natural to develop fondness.
“Nice to meet you, everyone of the Moyong Clan. I am Brain Knife Outcast Ho Cheon-an.”
“Welcome to the Moyong Clan.”
And with that, I set my first foot into the Moyong Clan.
* *
The head of the Moyong Clan, Moyong Chang-cheon, welcomed Ho Cheon-an.
As expected, the first thing to catch the clan leader’s eye was Seo Gong, who was between Ho Cheon-an and Moyong Yeon-hwa. Even with the assembly of clan elders led by Moyong Chang-cheon, he was peeking around without a care in the world.
Moyong Chang-cheon was briefly distracted by that sight but quickly returned his focus to Ho Cheon-an.
Ho Cheon-an.
A person who reached the Hwa-gyeong level in his twenties. Though young, his unparalleled level and position made it impossible to attach the term ‘later stage’ to him.
He had proved himself multiple times, yet he was still an entity hard to believe was real.
Moyong Chang-cheon’s simple evaluation upon meeting the real Ho Cheon-an was straightforward.
‘What a monster.’
It was as clear as day, no need for any testing. If one had to nitpick, he could point out that Ho Cheon-an was lacking in disguising his level, but that would be a baseless critique.
Once someone reaches a level, it usually doesn’t decline, and as time passes, one naturally becomes accustomed to their power.
Moyong Chang-cheon shifted his gaze to the elders to gauge their opinions on Ho Cheon-an.
And upon meeting the elders’ eyes, he easily grasped their consensus.
With delighted faces nodding, what more was there to ask?
Moyong Chang-cheon made a swift decision and jumped to his feet.
Ho Cheon-an, witnessing this, steeled his resolve inwardly.
It seemed that a confrontation was inevitable.
From Ho Cheon-an’s perspective, it was clear the Moyong Clan could not be friendly toward Moyong Yeon-hwa.
For the Moyong Clan, the Shengsu Faction was akin to a family disgrace. After exploiting iron ore, they masqueraded as the main house and caused a ruckus, ultimately being used by the Blood Sect, tarnishing the family honor. Naturally, the main house would want to eradicate the Shengsu Faction.
However, Moyong Yeon-hwa boldly defied the main house’s decision.
But that wasn’t all.
Having insisted on preserving the Shengsu Faction, she was dispatched to the Martial Forest Alliance to atone for their mistakes, only to run away midway to follow Ho Cheon-an.
What family would take such behavior positively?
Therefore, it wouldn’t be strange for discussions of Moyong Yeon-hwa’s punishment to arise before the topic of marriage, so Ho Cheon-an determinedly resolved to protect her no matter what happened in the future.
With that thought, Ho Cheon-an keenly observed.
A bright smile appeared on the stern face of Moyong Chang-cheon.
“Yeon-hwa, why have you arrived so late! Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting for you!”
“I’m sorry, clan leader.”
…What is going on?
Just as Ho Cheon-an was lost in confusion, Moyong Chang-cheon’s gaze shifted back to him.
“You too! Ah, I’ve been looking forward to meeting you! How could people be so inconsiderate!”
“…Yes? Ah, I’m sorry?”
Ho Cheon-an was taken aback by Moyong Chang-cheon’s casually friendly pat on the shoulder. But the confusion was merely beginning.
“Oh! Clan leader! You’re being too familiar with our future family member, and it’s making him uncomfortable!”
“Exactly! No matter how happy you are, you must uphold etiquette!”
The elders sided with Ho Cheon-an. While they reproached Moyong Chang-cheon for his lack of formality, them slyly slipping in the term ‘future family member’ made Ho Cheon-an swallow dryly.
“Hahaha! I’m sorry! I was just so happy…”
“Shouldn’t we prioritize comfortably accommodating our honored guest first!”
“Oh! What nonsense! He’s family!”
What is happening right now…?
Ho Cheon-an was lost in confusion, but in reality, the Moyong Clan’s reaction was quite normal.
What is Ho Cheon-an’s current standing in the Martial World? He is the very essence of a new force leading the future of the Martial World. And how significant is that influence? Friendly relations with famous sects like the Nine Great Sects, Jeomchang Faction, and Dark Dragon Sect, and a solid connection with the Heavenly Demon Sect, which might emerge as the next ruler of the world.
And it didn’t stop there.
According to the recent letter, Geum Myeong-wol was Princess Yuya, meaning that he could also exert influence in the imperial palace.
Ho Cheon-an was someone worth tying familial bonds with, even uprooting the roots of the clan. So, what was the big deal about acting friendly to win his favor?
Moyong Yeon-hwa?
Moyong Yeon-hwa was not a sinner of the family but rather a blessing from the clan bringing Ho Cheon-an as a suitable son-in-law. Who would dare criticize her in the Moyong Clan?
“Ah, what a handsome man! You’ll make a fine match for Yeon-hwa!”
“It’s truly a pity you’ve hidden that face all your life!”
Amidst the elders’ praise of the family’s blessing, Ho Cheon-an, caught off guard, had a strange smile.
‘It seems that Master Ho Cheon-an didn’t foresee such a situation at all.’
As she recalled the journey from Ak-yang to the Moyong Clan, Moyong Yeon-hwa couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
Upon thinking of how Ho Cheon-an, who was like a rare gem, had been treated elsewhere, she couldn’t help but feel amused.
At the Soga Pomok shop, he was regarded as a crazed investor pouring three hundred gold into the wrong places, lacking even a stable home. To marry Hyeok Gi-rin, he had endured all sorts of hard work while traversing the world. At the Dark Dragon Sect, he had engaged in a battle of wits with Dokgo Yeongcheon to extract profit.
Everyone desired him as a son-in-law, but the actual treatment he’d received had never been appropriate. Naturally, she thought he would struggle in the Moyong Clan as well.
“Alright! Let’s kick off the feast!”
“Great! Gather everyone from the Moyong Clan and let’s hold a grand banquet!”
A chaotic celebration that Ho Cheon-an had never experienced before was about to begin.
