Marriage.
In the Central Plains, a wedding is less of a ceremony and more of a prolonged banquet. Considering the times, this is only to be expected. In this vast land, arriving at a destination on the precise date and time one desires is usually quite a challenge.
Thus, when an appointment is set, it’s common to depart early, and if the journey goes smoothly, arriving days or even weeks in advance isn’t unusual. Conversely, if misfortunes stack up, it’s not rare to leave early and still not arrive on time.
So, what happens when the guests finally arrive? It would be utterly unreasonable to neglect the guests who have traveled far and wide under the pretext of ‘meal time’ to celebrate one’s own auspicious occasion. Once hosting begins, it’s as if the banquet opens before the ceremony does.
Weddings these days are far from easy, but in this martial world, a wedding ceremony is truly a grand event in one’s lifetime.
Therefore, those who are throwing a lavish wedding like mine must finish all preparations in advance, considering even the early guests, and must still be ready to concentrate solely on the wedding for about a month afterward.
Thus, all preparations were completed well ahead of the ceremony.
The Black Cat, who had stepped away to escort the parents, along with Hyeok Gi-rin and Dokgo I-seol, returned on time, and the mountain villa was also reconstructed in time.
But that’s not all.
A large number of short-term servants were hired, and preparations for the meticulous dining etiquette and guest hosting went into full swing. In particular, we coordinated the routes thoroughly to ensure no conflicts arose between the Righteous and Outcast factions at the guesthouse.
The preparations were absolutely foolproof!
“May I give the Lord some advice?”
However, the officials from the Ministry of Rites who came for a pre-check seemed to think differently, and quite a bit at that.
“I cannot say it’s obligatory for a noble like the groom to adhere to the imperial customs, yet shouldn’t the customs of the Central Plains at least be followed?”
After some discussions to rectify the issues pointed out by the officials,
“Phew, at least the essentials are in place.”
The officials stamped the approval reluctantly, as if they were awarding a passing mark to a student who barely scraped by on a driving test.
Rather than being a deserved approval, it felt like an unavoidable concession since the wedding was rapidly approaching.
At this point, with just about a week left until the wedding ceremony, all preparations were truly complete, and while I was petting Seo Gong, relaxing, it happened.
“Lord, the guests have arrived.”
The first guest had arrived.
“It has been a long time! Magician!”
Is it a law that the farthest traveler arrives first? That’s how it was here in the Central Plains as well; the much-anticipated first guest was none other than Rano Sara, who had hastily made the journey from far away.
Sara, who had grown into a stature beyond the point of being able to be patted on the head, had transformed from a body that hadn’t developed well for her age into a strong martial artist fit for the title.
“…Sara?!”
“Oh my, you’ve really grown a lot.”
“Sister! You can finally control your Qi! Congratulations!”
The Black Cat, Miss Yeo Il-ye, and Sara clasped hands, joyously expressing their excitement. It’s only natural to be happy since the Black Cat has gained control of her energies and Sara has fully overcome the side effects of the Nine Yin attributes.
“The magic shows are still ongoing in the western city! Hehe, it’ll take a while for me to catch up to the performance that you showed, but who knows what the future holds!”
As we ate dinner together for the first time, there was so much to talk about that the conversation flowed on and on.
Whap!
“Oh my!”
Interestingly, Seo Gong clung to Sara as soon as he saw her. Recently, Seo Gong had gotten used to being petted by others, but this was the first time he had actively sought out someone else.
I think it might be drawn to the pure energy of the Nine Yin technique.
“I can’t believe…”
I’ll just mention that Hyeok Gi-rin’s expression darkened as Seo Gong basked in the delight of Sara’s touch.
For a few days, I caught sight of Seo Gong following Sara around while Hyeok Gi-rin peeked from behind a pillar, nervously biting his sleeve.
Finally, guests began arriving en masse.
“Congratulations on your marriage, Great Hero.”
“Thank you.”
Martial sects, including Mukju Sect and Jeongyang Restaurant, were part of the Central Plains’ connections and began to show up, as did those I had never met.
“You! You’ve finally brought the Lord into the fold! I thought I’d be waiting forever!”
“Haha, it’s been a while, Du-hwi.”
“Lord! With your face on display like that, it makes me feel so much better!”
“Uhuh, thanks. It’s all thanks to everyone’s efforts.”
The Black Cat sent invitations to the members of the Wolbok-dang. Now that the problem of the Nine Yin attributes she had been carrying was resolved, it made sense not to keep the identity of the Wolbok-dang hidden anymore.
With the vagueness of regulations and rules, naturally, the intelligence of the Wolbok-dang would also diminish, but given that the restrictions imposed on the members had been somewhat severe, it was a compromise that would have to be endured for everyone’s sake.
Although the intelligence of the Wolbok-dang would decline, this was the best choice for the happiness of both the Black Cat and the members.
“Then we’ll go greet the Lady!”
As they were well acquainted with both me and the Black Cat, it seemed their curiosity about my mother-in-law, Son Mi-ok, was greater, and they soon disappeared.
“Hahahaha! It’s so good to see you! You wouldn’t have forgotten this Ak Gyeong-cheol, would you?”
“Hahaha! How could I ever forget my dear friend, the Great Hero Ak Gyeong-cheol! Thank you so much for gracing us!”
Meanwhile, the Benefit-seeker Ak Gyeong-cheol, who often took a nibble and then casually lost everything, appeared quickly as if he saw the opportunity presented by my invitation. Despite being able to reach this place in a day from Okgyo, he rushed over in advance.
With Podalap Palace and Inwon here, I was slightly worried if he would cause any trouble for Sara, but as he was not a foolish noble who would sell his resting place for a great loss, it would probably be fine.
Honestly, I just didn’t have time to pay attention to each and every guest.
More guests than I expected had arrived, particularly those invited under the names of Hyeok Gi-rin and Moyong Yeon-hwa, and every single one turned out to be a major player. The combined network of the two was such that invitations had gone out to all Nine Great Sects and Five Great Clans, not to mention the representatives of various famous sects from all around the world.
Furthermore, the nobles of the Imperial Family had begun arriving in droves, so I was left utterly overwhelmed.
As I was meeting representatives from groups that no one in the world would not recognize, it was all dizzying.
Amid this chaos, more familiar faces arrived to further boggle my mind.
“Hey! We’ve made it!”
“Ho Cheon-an has arrived!”
The Outcasts from Outcast Inn, including Yeo Sa-yeon, appeared, with two of the least mature fellows seeming to lose their senses despite my marriage stressing me.
“This is one overwhelming wedding, huh?”
Yeo Sa-yeon, feeling flabbergasted by being surrounded by bigwigs, likely understood all the glances from everywhere and felt even more so.
No matter how prestigious they are as esteemed individuals, their presence signifies a desire to patronize my marital affair. In that regard, the unassuming Yeo Sa-yeon would make a rather good stepping stone for them, someone who has connections with me yet holds a relatively lower position.
Though I pondered about checking in on Yeo Sa-yeon, I couldn’t manage to work it out as distractions from the other outcasts were too troublesome.
“Allow me to introduce you two. This girl is Moyong Yeon-hwa.”
“Oh! You are the renowned Chunpoong Soso, Moyong Yeon-hwa, aren’t you? I am the Whale-Blade Jo Yong-sang from Ho Cheon-an!”
“I am Jeong Sam, also known as a [Junior] from Ho Cheon-an. It’s truly an honor to meet you!”
“Could you guys please just eat and leave, please?”
The two fellows were being rather obnoxious.
“Can you feel it? I distinctly managed this through my own abilities.”
“You did well. So where do you stand against Da Jeryong?”
“…”
After several years of barely scraping by, Jaso-gyeong, who managed to reach the Peak Stage, boasted about his capabilities against Da Jeryong, who had reached realization—he ended up looking like a mute who had eaten honey.
“Seo Gong! Where’s Seo Gong?”
Seo I-ryeong, clutching three Seo Gong dolls, started searching for Seo Gong.
“Iryeong, just wait a bit…”
“Seo Gooong!”
Following suit was Jo Yong-sang, trailing closely behind I-ryeong. It was evident he harbored a crush on I-ryeong, so it seemed a good time.
After laboring to wrap up the Outcasts who required extra attention, I finally managed to welcome the next guest.
“Long time no see, Great Hero.”
“Have you been well? Governor Samayeom.”
The next guest, Samayeom, had arrived in the company of the Outcasts. Samayeom scrutinized me slowly and smiled.
“You’ve changed quite a bit.”
“Is that so?”
I suspect that change didn’t refer to my martial arts growth. Huh, have I truly matured? It feels more like I’ve just been focused on resolving crises rather than developing myself.
Even if my experiences led to my growth through those moments, should I really consider that growth?
“Knowing is good, but ignorance can also be bliss. What’s important is to advance along the righteous path.”
The righteous path, huh.
What could Samayeom’s interpretation of that path be?
I intended to ask, but it was already too late.
“Governor! You’ve come!”
“Princess!”
Hyeok Gi-rin, who had been welcoming guests at the Mu-dang Sect, joined in as Samayeom’s expression changed sharply while he pulled out a brush and book from his robe and shouted.
“First, please sign at this Golden Myeong-wol!”
“…Excuse me?”
“It’s the audacious Suns’ Guardian! How dare they rank followers while trying to elbow me out of the way! They must be taught a lesson!”
“Ah…”
Of course, I guess Samayeom is practically like the fan’s #1 among Hyeok Gi-rin’s followers. I could imagine that it might be embarrassing for him not to be recognized by the Suns’ Guardian, making it understandable if his pride got offended as well.
“In particular, let’s write that this is Samayeom, my lifelong friend and companion since childhood…”
“Yes, yes.”
Seems like Samayeom was indeed doing well. Though his expression looked a bit sour, it appeared Hyeok Gi-rin was genuinely glad to see him.
“Wa hahahaha! Instructor!”
“Instructor, it’s such a long time!”
Following behind, leading a group of trainees were the officials, Jae Sang-hae, Gwang Jae-ryeon, and Jo Ga-ju. Now it seemed Gwang Jae-ryeon was dressed in that lavish silk attire announcing he was clearly a rags-to-riches man and Jo Ga-ju, with a rather transformed demeanor.
“Haha, do not just fool around, gain something useful while you’re here.”
There should be plenty of rich people interested in the bars forged in the Iron Creation workshop, so for Gwang Jae-ryeon, this place could be a trade spot; while for Jo Ga-ju, who had numerous martial experts around, it could be an opportunity for improvement.
“Ah, Instructor, you should extend a way for us to earn some benefits,” Gwang Jae-ryeon and Jo Ga-ju nodded, while Jae Sang-hae boldly sought my connections. I turned to see Samayeom conversing with Hyeok Gi-rin. It seemed like Jae Sang-hae wanted connections within the local nobility.
“There’s a chance that I’ve grown too complacent as well. I’m simply eager to escape the scrutiny upon finding some common ground.”
With the Power Faction out of the way, there had to be many vacant offices. Now Jae Sang-hae would likely face some restrictions because he was hitting those opportunities too well.
I silently nodded. While I didn’t think Jae Sang-hae and Samayeom, who are fundamentally different, would mesh well, I was confident that Jae Sang-hae wouldn’t be talent that would invite ridicule.
Next, Moyong Mo and Moyong Seo appeared.
“Hahahaha! Brother!”
“Hahahaha! Little Brother! How have you been!”
“Yes. I’ve been busy looking after the mines lately!”
Seems like Moyong Mo’s little brother is doing well.
Bumping shoulders with Moyong Mo while passing by, I introduced him to the martial artists around us.
While the Shengsu faction chose to maintain the status quo, there was no remedy for their dropping reputation. However, regardless of the head of the Shengsu faction’s state of affairs, the havoc caused by the Blood Sect has harmed everyone in the world, so it’s only natural for the Shengsu faction, which had been used by the Blood Sect, to incur a bad reputation.
The rumor that the Martial World Hero and a member from the Shengsu branch were close won’t yield tangible benefits, but it might serve as a small benefit.
“Hahahaha!”
Moyong Mo remained oblivious to my intentions, happily treating me like a sworn brother.
Indeed, if he’s unaware, does it matter? Like Samayeom said, what’s important is walking the right path.
And as they say, even dung has its uses; it seems Moyong Mo does too.
“Oh, are you the sworn brother of Ho Cheon-an? I’m Jeong Sam.”
“Hahaha! Great Hero, feel free to speak. If our older brothers share a bond, then I must be yours as well!”
“Wa hahahaha! Little Brother, you truly charm me!”
Just like that, Jeong Sam and Yeo Jin-sang departed for the drinking den, annoying me in the process.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
For that, I could converse calmly with Moyong Seo.
“What do you mean, we’re family now.”
“Haha! That’s right. I’ll be counting on you.”
Following that, the disciples from Jeomchang faction led by Master Cheongheo and Master Un-jong arrived. While exchanging warm greetings with Miss Yeo Il-ye, a bizarre scene unfolded between Hyeok Gi-rin and I, exchanging pleasantries…
Yet the bond between teacher and students appeared strong.
“You’ve taken away two disciples from the main sect.”
Miss Yeo Il-ye switched from being a formal disciple to a inner disciple for the sake of our marriage. As for Hyeok Gi-rin… it’s a bit complicated, but the concise conclusion is he’s now an inner disciple. So from Jeomchang faction’s perspective, two slots amongst the Ten Prodigies were left vacant.
Both Yeo Il-ye and Hyeok Gi-rin couldn’t simply be regarded as mere disciples, which would mean a considerable loss for Jeomchang faction. This of course would be the standard martial world perception.
The Jeomchang faction, notable for cherishing its true disciples, would probably view things differently.
“I apologize, Masters.”
“Hoho, no worries. How can destiny’s flow be hindered by a mere name?”
“I plan to come by when able, so please don’t treat me poorly.”
“How could I mistreat the family of Jeomchang faction? Just come whenever you feel free.”
The Yeo-ga Mountain Villa and Jeomchang faction aren’t that far apart. They are indeed friendly neighbors, so there’s no reason to hold back on exchanges. The Masters appeared satisfied with my response as they followed Yeo Il-ye.
Though it was quite the chaotic situation filled with guests, reuniting with old connections was exceptionally delightful.
Of course, it wasn’t only delightful guests that arrived. Some who received invitations arrived with blatant suspicion or hostility.
“You should be cautious regarding your future endeavors.”
“Don’t forget we’re watching you.”
These types were actually the average populace of the martial world. People who wouldn’t hesitate to whip out their weapons, ruining a guesthouse and causing trouble at a banquet, barely caring for the personal affairs of others.
Regardless, I felt no concern about them.
These nuisances were just like flies buzzing around a banquet. The very act of making a scene to garner attention or raise their fame reflects that they don’t carry much weight. Certainly, they might be considered notable within the martial world, but who are all these people gathered here? To my left sat the elders of the Nine Great Sects; to my right, the major officials assembling.
No matter how much buzz these flies create, they stand no chance of knocking over the banquet; it’s merely a matter of whether I can handle their incessant buzzing.
Of course, it wasn’t that only unwelcome guests showed up.
“Tsk, coming to watch this brat’s wedding? This SOB Sabok Seol is really braindead.”
The notorious Sabok Seol made his entrance, renowned for brandishing his sword against the Heavenly Demon on behalf of Yunnan. Considering his temperament, it wouldn’t be surprising if he sparked a battle within our guesthouse.
Even though paths were laid out to avoid conflicts between the Righteous and Outcast factions, he would likely start some trouble regardless.
“Thank you for gracing us to illuminate this occasion. Please enjoy the banquet at your convenience.”
“Hmph, what I choose to enjoy is up to me.”
“Yes, as long as it doesn’t stain my reputation, I trust you’ll keep it within bounds.”
In response, Sabok Seol gave me a look that said, “Look at this kid?”
“Hoh, you’ve got some guts for a brat. You really think I’d be intimidated by the Heavenly Demon Sect or the Dark Dragon Sect?”
“No need to look for backing. While it’s true I may not compare with you, I don’t think it’s impossible for me to defeat you either.”
Sabok Seol’s expression turned icy while the faces of those who arrived with him went pale, but I stared back calmly.
My confidence isn’t an empty boast.
I’d lose in a direct confrontation. In this martial world, there’s no need to argue over distributions, is there? The time spent living, along with the disparity in experiences, naturally leads to differences in abilities—and that’s nothing to be ashamed of.
Thus, for a battle between Sabok Seol and me to even constitute a match would be a disgrace to him. It’s embarrassing for a seasoned expert to struggle against a fledgling who has barely made it through his twenties.
Even if it escalated to a duel, would Sabok Seol easily subdue me? While defeat may be inevitable, even merely exchanging blows would lead to my victory in terms of perception.
If Sabok Seol truly wanted to take my life, he could just call his followers together and form the Six Star Chen. Now that the Black Cat had also ascended to Hwa-gyeong, it would be feasible to win against someone like Sabok Seol.
“…Hehe! This is amusing. Quite amusing.”
As we faced off for what seemed like an eternity, I seriously considered summoning my crew, when Sabok Seol burst out in laughter and distanced himself.
“A rough and brash one, I see. You’re rather respectable for a brat.”
In the end, while Sabok Seol never stated he wouldn’t cause any problems, he must have acknowledged my presence. However, since he only felt slighted by being regarded as the underdog, he wouldn’t likely stir up any real trouble.
That’s just the problem with someone like him, who’s acknowledged in the lower rungs; he wouldn’t hold himself back should things escalate.
Then the Tang Clan members arrived.
“Great Hero, congratulations.”
“Ah, my disciple.”
“Senior Ho, congrats.”
“Chuckle, we haven’t seen each other in ages.”
“Older Brother! Sisters! Congratulations!”
From the Tang Clan, the Poison Doctor, along with Tang Do-gyeong, Rye-ah, Tang Do-yeon, and Tang So-yeol joined us. It had been quite some time, and while Tang Do-yeon seemed a bit haggard, perhaps due to the thwarted runs on the Bicheongmacha, she ought to be ready to settle down for a bit, having enjoyed herself over the years.
After engaging in heartfelt chatter with Rye-ah, praising each other’s beauty, the sisters naturally launched into a flowery discussion overflowing with girl talk while I finally took time to greet the Poison Doctor.
“It seems the Black Cat’s condition has been entirely rectified. That’s truly wonderful.”
“Don’t forget about the herbal tonic you promised.”
“Indeed. I’ll make sure to fetch you only the best.”
The Poison Doctor was quite the knowledgeable fellow. As we exchanged secret smiles, a commotion caught my eye, revealing Maki loitering around.
Clad in the garb of a physician, it seemed that my old master had indeed taken Maki as a disciple.
Given how evidently robust Maki’s lower body had grown, he was practically like an herbalist now, yet…
“Are you keeping well?”
“Yes? Yes. Great Hero… I’m doing well.”
It seems he felt a bit overshadowed by my burgeoning reputation. It’s understandable; I no longer match the tone of a lowly Outcast, having risen up in stature.
Although my recent renown was indeed remarkable, Maki also held equal status as the Poison Doctor’s disciple, so he couldn’t exactly lower himself. He didn’t need to take a humble stance, after all.
“Did you eat something strange?”
“Uhh, I’m getting smacked around.”
“What! What does that mean?”
The uproar over the remarks made to Maki by me and the Poison Doctor prompted him to bristle in indignation before quickly clamping his mouth shut, all while glancing around nervously.
Seeing Maki’s expression, the Poison Doctor seemed to genuinely feel concerned. In a flash, he swiftly yanked on Maki’s ear.
“OW! OW! It hurts, Master!”
“You little brat! Just shut up and follow me!”
The two of them left; it seemed they were both doing well.
“Congratulations on your marriage. Senior Ho.”
“Thank you. Brother Tang. Have you received any news?”
“Hahaha! I never thought I’d hear such a thing from you, Senior Ho! I suppose I should keep my own guard up!”
Why would I be…
That thought crossed my mind as a chuckle escaped my lips. Perhaps it’s because Brother Tang felt more like a friend to me.
“Just don’t forget to send your invitation when you get successful.”
“I’ll decide based on how this one goes.”
“Haha!”
As we laughed, I quickly noticed the surrounding atmosphere growing quieter. The Yeo-ga Mountain Villa was filled to the brim with numerous people: invited guests, many short-term servants hired to accommodate them, and dozens of merchants carrying supplies.
In such a bustling environment, a lull of noise settling was unusual.
Evidently, that person had arrived.
Swish! Swish!
Gradually, ominous energy crept in from the mountain villa’s entrance. As someone approached, it was as though this dark aura consumed the space beyond the gates and walls.
Gulp!
A familiar figure emerged along with the sound of someone swallowing thickly. Beneath the blazing sun, a visage devoid of luster appeared—shiny, jet-black hair obscured a face marked with pride, contrasting against glowing red eyes that emanated a keen radiance.
And, of course, the ever-familiar twisted smile full of arrogance and self-assuredness.
It was the Heavenly Demon Wi Seoryeon.
“Fortunately, it seems my lady isn’t running late after all.”
The villa fell silent, an aura of vitality rushing in. With the entire atmosphere shifting, Wi Seoryeon casually remarked, as if her calm demeanor was entirely expected.
That was truly a classic Wi Seoryeon moment.
“Do join us.”
The day before the wedding ceremony. All invited guests had arrived.
