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[Pacheongeomje]
After the Yongbongbimu, the Murim Alliance A large banquet was held for the participants.
The lords of the nine families, the heads of the five major families, the magnates of the commercial world, and influential figures from each region attended the banquet.
This is where most of the famous people in Moorim gather.
But today’s protagonist was different.
“sorry. “It took some time to heal my internal injuries.”
When Daein entered the banquet hall with a pale face, everyone’s attention immediately focused on him.
‘Huh. Looking closer, you look younger.’
‘To be a top expert at that age….’
‘I will become the best expert in the world within 10 years.’
‘I’ll definitely have to get my face stamped today.’
People attending the banquet whispered or shared a toast with the people next to them.
Moorim is a world where the strong are ultimately recognized.
Countless martial artists practice cutting bones every day to become stronger, sometimes even risking their lives.
The best in the world.
To take that title.
And the winner of Yongbongbimu was the young man closest to the future best man in the world.
‘Look at how their eyes have changed.’
Daein felt that the eyes looking at him were like fans looking at an idol at a concert.
Of course, it wasn’t that he didn’t feel disapproval from time to time, but most of the time, he seemed anxious to say a word to the person in question.
Jump and jump.
The great man slowly walked to the center of the banquet hall. I straightened my back and hung the Changcheon Shingeom that I received as the winning prize on my waist.
‘That’s the Changcheon Shingeom.’
‘The treasured sword used by the Emperor of Swords…’
Originally, weapons were not allowed in the banquet hall, but the Murimmaeng thought of the symbolism of the Changcheonshingeom and deliberately asked Daein to bring a sword.
The Murim lord Yayulgi greeted the great man.
“How are your internal injuries?”
“Thanks to the elixir you gave me, I have improved a lot. Thank you again.”
The great man politely took the gun.
The role of political faction reviewer, which I can no longer do because I am too tired, is over in just a few days.
Yayulgi smiled happily. He also smiled and treated people more warmly.
“Would the elixir be such a waste for the divinity of the martial arts group?”
“That is an undeserved compliment.”
“Excessive humility is just as bad as not doing anything. “Is there anyone here who doesn’t admire this young man’s martial arts skills?”
When the Murim Lord asked while looking around, everyone smiled and shook their heads.
The great man just smiled sheepishly. However, the great man’s face looked quite pale from earlier.
After examining the great man’s complexion, Yayulgi sent a message.
[It looks like the internal injuries are worse than I thought. Is it okay?]
[Yes. It’s bearable….]
Even Jeonum looked difficult, so the Murim Lord looked worried.
However, he did not tell me to go in and rest right away.
Because the main character of the banquet must not be left out.
[It may be difficult, but please honor this occasion for just a few minutes. I will give you another elixir later.]
[Thank you.]
The great man answered with difficulty. Thanks to this, I was able to take one more free elixir in addition to the one I had in my pocket earlier.
“I guess I’ve been holding on to you too long. “The people around you are giving me unusual looks… so please enjoy the banquet.”
[And I’ll give you another gift later, so look forward to it.]
‘A gift?’
Yayulgi stepped away with a subtle smile.
As soon as the Murim Lord retreated, the people who had been waiting for their turn approached Daein one by one and offered greetings.
“Chief sword! “I saw it well.”
“When did you start learning martial arts?”
“Are you seeing any woman?”
In the martial arts world, all the people who fart a lot do so in an attempt to win the public’s favor.
Even though my insides were clearly visible, it didn’t feel too bad. On the contrary, the great man felt quite good.
‘Now that I think about it, this is the first time I’ve won first place in a competition.’
The great man internally enjoyed the feeling of being the winner and maintained a humble and polite attitude on the outside.
As the martial artists passed by in droves, the late exponents came rushing in.
“Im Daehyeop. “Would you like to have a drink?”
“Uh-huh! “I came first!”
“Hey, can I call you brother?”
Later exponents looked up to Daein like idols.
The men had already treated Daein as their leader, and some women were subtly coquettish.
“Brother!”
I heard a sharp voice and turned my head to see Namgoong Hyun walking towards me with twinkles in his eyes.
As Namgung-hyeon approached, the women quietly retreated.
Unfortunately, Namgoonghyeon met Cheongwoon in the quarterfinals of Yongbongbimu and was eliminated.
However, based on the skills she showed at that time, she was evaluated as the strongest among female reviewers.
She attended the banquet before Daein.
“Are you having fun?”
At Daein’s words, Namgoonghyeon shook his head and sighed.
“I’m out of my mind. “It’s hard to even remember people’s names.”
Although not as much as Daein, Namgoonghyun also received a lot of attention. This was not only because of his skill, but also because of his status as the successor to the extinct Sword Emperor Gate.
The Murim League did not officially acknowledge the fact, but it also did not deny it.
The great man sent her a message.
[As I said before, you stay here and rebuild the Sword Emperor Gate.]
[Brother…]
After much deliberation, Daein decided not to take Namgunghyeon and Old Man Jin to Earth.
They will remain here and rebuild the Geomwangmun Gate.
‘It’s a pity that I can’t take the martial arts teacher, but if I think about the future, this is better.’
Instead, Geomhwangmun will cooperate with the Whitehouse Guild and serve as a martial arts branch.
[Brother…]
Namgoonghyeon, whose eyes were moist, looked at Daein. She knew that Daein would leave the Murim Alliance sooner or later.
[Even if it takes a lifetime, I will never be able to repay the favor I received from my brother.]
The great man gave her a new life and restored her true name, which she had been hiding.
Namgoonghyeon was able to grant anything that Daein asked for.
‘But my brother won’t ask for anything….’
Sure enough.
[Then, grow your faction big. That way, we will continue to do business here in the future.]
[Yes. I will definitely revive the Sword Emperor Gate with my own hands!]
Daein chuckled and stroked Namgunghyeon’s head. Compared to when we first met, his face had gained a lot of weight and his complexion had improved.
‘This is how I raise my children.’
The great man suddenly thought of something like that, and then lowered his hand, wondering what this meant.
‘The little boy has developed a strange habit.’
Namgoonghyeon looked at Daein’s hand with a look of regret.
It was then.
“you! “Are you feeling okay?”
The bright voice heard from behind was the shaman Jamryong Cheongun.
The future best man in the world who will later be called Taegeuk Sword Emperor.
Cheongwoon, who had come to the banquet before Daein, made his way through the crowd and approached the two.
Cheongwoon said with a mischievous smile.
“The two of you standing together make a picture. “Did I perhaps disturb you?”
After the finals, Daein and Cheongun decided to stop talking and become friends. It was a suggestion from Cheongwoon, who was a few years older.
As we approached Namgunghyeon and then Cheongwoon, the other late indexes quietly moved out of the way.
Cheongun looked at Daein’s face and frowned.
“I was the one who lost in the competition. “Why does your face look worse?”
The great man shrugged his shoulders and said.
“It looks like the internal injuries were worse than I thought.”
“…Oh my. “Are you okay?”
“I think I need to get some rest. As you can see, that’s not the case right now.”
As the great man said that, he glanced around briefly.
His gaze stopped for a moment in one place.
A place where the heads of the five major families, including the Namgung family, gather.
The general of the Namgung family was standing next to Namgung Jeongcheon with a serious expression. The way he moved his lips seemed to send a message to Namgung Jeongcheon.
At the same time, Namgung Jeongcheon’s expression also became serious.
‘I guess you went home.’
Daein, who chuckled, looked back at Cheongwoon and said.
“Your last attack must have been so brutal.”
Cheongun scratched his head.
“I am sorry. “It’s my first time handling strong energy, so I guess I’m not good at controlling my strength.”
If misheard, the words could be interpreted to mean ‘I am stronger than you.’ So Cheongwoon immediately corrected the misunderstanding.
“If you hadn’t been so considerate, one of my limbs would have fallen on the off-stage.”
People who were listening around said ‘Oh!’ I was amazed. The reputation of the chivalrous swordsman was growing with no end in sight.
‘He even does pretty things that his children didn’t ask him to do.’
The great man said, suppressing the corners of his mouth that kept rising.
“If you’re sorry, please take better care of Hyun from now on.”
“haha. Isn’t that what I should be asking for? “Have you not heard the rumor that there are men waiting in line outside the box office who are desperate to exchange a word with Namgung Sojeo?”
Namgoonghyun blushed at those words.
“…You’re too loud.”
“haha! “It’s not excessive at all.”
The other reviewers looked at the three people who already seemed close, as if they were envious.
The great man thought.
‘I’ve built up a reputation that’s overflowing, and I’ve become friends with Cheongwoon much faster than I expected.’
He did not attend this banquet simply to have fun.
I decided to use this as an opportunity to build my reputation as much as possible for the future and build connections with people who would become big figures in Moorim in the future.
Oh and one more thing.
Tingling.
The great man felt the stinging gaze on his back and chuckled. It was obvious even without looking who it was.
‘You’re probably going to get sick soon.’
***
While attending the banquet, Daein acted as if he had serious internal injuries.
And there was someone who was constantly watching it.
“Congratulations. “It was a great skill.”
The great man turned when he heard a voice coming from behind him.
A middle-aged man with a benevolent expression and a kind smile.
Namgung Jeongcheon was walking.
“thank you. “Namgung Daehyeop.”
When Daein greeted him with a polite bow, Namgung Jeongcheon poured a drink for his junior like a martial arts senior.
Changcheon Shingeom Namgung Jeongcheon, one of the top ten masters.
A swordsman who will win the Yongbongbimu and spread his fame throughout the world.
The sight of the two standing together seemed like the most ideal image that the martial arts faction members thought of.
But in reality, two beasts were growling as if they were about to bite each other.
[Where did you hide the stolen items?]
[It looks like the commander-in-chief has gone home, right? Or did you just run and get your feet sweaty?]
[You guy…]
Okay.
The sound of Namgung Jeongcheon biting his molars was heard. However, Daein did not stop his provocation with Jeonum.
[I heard you did more dirty things than you could imagine. So much so that it should never be known to the world.]
[…….]
On the day he first visited the Namgung House to receive a letter of recommendation, Daein installed wiretaps and cameras throughout the Namgung House, including Namgung Jeongcheon’s room.
And a few days later, Namgoong Jeongcheon was filmed entering a secret space in his room.
What happened next was simple.
Using the camera, King Namgung captured the warriors’ movements and easily climbed over the wall and robbed the secret safe.
In this way, Daein took control of Namgung Jeongcheon’s weakness.
[What would the martial arts people think if they found out that you, who are famous as a great thief, had committed so much injustice and corruption to grow the family?]
But Namgung Jeongcheon was not someone who would be easily intimidated by threats.
[Do you think you can take me down with just a few pieces of paper?]
[Then shall we try it?]
[Try it. I will use all the power I have to bury you.]
The eyes of the two men collided in the air. Fierce hostility clashed with eyes that seemed gentle to others.
At that time, Daein first proposed a compromise. That was the last bait.
[Because neither you nor I are smart. I think we can try to negotiate with each other.]
[…What do you want?]
After calmly choosing what to say for a moment, the great man sent a message.
[All support necessary for the reconstruction of Geomhwangmun Gate. and a 10-year non-aggression pact. I will return all the evidence if all five generations stamp it and write it down.]
The Namgung family was the center of the five generations along with the Moyong family. It wasn’t a document that Namgung Jeongcheon couldn’t have made if he worked hard.
However, Namgung Jeongcheon answered bluntly.
[What if I refuse?]
[The mud fight will begin tomorrow. As you can see, I’m pretty famous now. It won’t be easy to extinguish rumors.]
The great man smiled and poured a drink into Namgung Jeongcheon’s empty glass.
“Daehyup. “I’ll give you another drink.”
“haha. “Thank you.”
Namgung Jeongcheon passed the drink down his gullet and thought about the great man’s proposal.
In fact, it wasn’t even worth thinking about.
‘If you refuse, it will be a mud fight like he said. For now, I guess I’ll just have to do what he says.’
[I will do that.]
But Nangong Jeongcheon laughed at the great man in his heart.
‘You won’t survive tomorrow anyway, so why can’t you promise something?’
The man’s expression seemed to have relaxed a little, as if he completely believed in that promise.
[good. Then, tomorrow morning, take a seal and come to the guest house where I am staying. I’ll write the content, so leave it blank.]
[You should keep all the stolen items.]
‘That way, I can kill you with peace of mind.’
Namgung Jeongcheon planned to kill the great man. Now that it has suffered deep internal injuries, it would be easy to kill it.
He said with a gentle smile.
“Then see you next time. “I’m tired so I guess I’ll go in first.”
“yes. Please come in.”
The banquet continued even after Namgung Jeongcheon left.
***
Daein met and talked with martial arts masters and became friends with later leaders. We also met with some of the biggest names in the commercial world.
It was when the banquet atmosphere was at its peak.
“Please pay attention for a moment!”
The Murim Lord Yayulgi, who had everyone’s attention, walked to Daein’s side with great strides.
“We would like to give a new nickname to the winner of Yongbongbimu. What do you think?”
Daein’s eyes widened at the sudden suggestion.
However, the others nodded as if it was fun and agreed with the Murim Lord’s opinion.
“great!”
“The sword of the medical profession is a bit boring.”
“Please give the lord a nice nickname!”
At that moment, the man’s expression hardened slightly.
If Haengyeo or Yayulgi chooses a strange nickname, he may have to use it for decades.
‘Aren’t there going to be strange nicknames again?’
But fortunately, the Murim Lord’s naming sense was not bad.
“Pacheon (破天) himself volunteered to be the successor to the Emperor of Swords with the intention of taking the lead in subduing the Demon Cult and defeating the Heavenly Demon. How about combining the Geomje (劍帝) into the Pacheon Geomje (Pacheon Geomje)?”
Pacheon Geomje.
The great man rolled the word around in his mouth a few times. Voices of approval were heard from all directions.
“Pacheongeomje! “It’s a great star title!”
“It suits you very well!”
Before we knew it, everyone was chanting and congratulating Daein on his new nickname.
“Pacheongeomje! Congratulations!”
“Congratulations!”
It may seem like a big deal, but for the Murim people, the nickname was their identity and symbol.
In other words, getting a special name meant proving yourself as a military person and being recognized.
Moreover, it was a great honor to be given a star title by the Murim Lord.
“It’s a nickname that suits you very well!”
“Congratulations! “I’m jealous that you have such a cool nickname.”
Namgung-hyeon and Cheongwoon also came and congratulated him with joy as if it were their own.
The great man looked a little dazed. It was because of the two letters in front of the star sign.
“I am a ‘Pacheon’ swordsman…”
Never would I have thought that he would receive a star title containing the name of the martial art he learned.
Of course it was a coincidence, but it didn’t feel too bad.
Actually, isn’t it a pretty cool nickname?
“…thank you.”
The great man smiled a little embarrassedly. It was the first kind of smile he showed after entering the banquet hall.
[Pacheongeomje] End
ⓒ Ganjjajang
