Chapter 164 : Return

Return

Four ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍gold stripes.

This was the highest rank attainable by the martial artists of the Heavenly Martial Hall.

Though it wasn't exceedingly rare since the Hall's establishment—after all, even the Blue Scale Corps leader, Yeom Baek, was a four-stripe graduate—the fact that someone had accumulated four gold stripes carried profound significance.

It was said that even graduating with just one gold stripe would let a person return home adorned with honor.

Two stripes meant that wherever you went in the Central Plains, even the local sects would welcome you as an honored guest.

It was well known that most of the Plum Blossom Swordmasters of Mount Hua Sect were three-stripe graduates of the Heavenly Martial Hall.

But four gold stripes were in a league of their own.

The martial world often described the Hall's warriors as martial artists whose status transcended age, and it wasn't wrong.

Just the fact of joining the Hall was enough to be called an expert, and thus, the rising stars who joined the Hall were no longer called that—they were naturally seen as new masters.

And the ones who passed everyone and reached the summit were the four-stripe masters.

The Heavenly Martial Hall was not a place where seniority made promotion easier.

Advancement was judged entirely by one's martial skills and accomplishments.

Even now, their numbers were small—barely ten four-stripe masters resided in the Hall.

Such a status deserved special treatment.

Not only were they afforded unlimited access to expensive gold restorative elixirs and other medicines, but they were even given an entire pavilion for private training.

It was only fitting.

Even with three stripes, your name would become renowned throughout the martial world.

Four stripes, needless to say, would attract the patronage of even the largest merchant guilds, and you could establish a sect and dominate a region wherever you went.

Everyone knew that, on the day of graduation, people flocked to the Hall in droves.

Those who were already members of other sects had it easier: only those seeking to make connections approached them.

But what if someone had no ties, belonged nowhere, and wasn't just a one- or two-stripe, but a four-stripe master?

'It'll cause a sensation.'

Baek Il-gang looked at Jeong-un and grinned. What he'd said before hadn't been a joke.

Everyone in the battlefield had seen him wield lightning instead of a sword.

Not only himself—everyone must be talking about Jeong-un.

Just then, Jeong-un hesitated for a moment and slowly spoke.

"To be honest, I'm not sure. Even if I really do become a four-stripe, I don't think it'll change anything."

He genuinely questioned what it all meant. Even now, he was already being treated beyond his station.

He knew the Hall had been systematically established out of need for the Murim Alliance, but to Jeong-un, this place was simply the perfect place to hone his martial arts.

He'd never felt he needed anything more.

"Nothing will change?"

At that, Jo Gwang's eyes widened and he asked again, his face reacting as if he'd just heard utter nonsense.

"That's four gold stripes. Most sects wouldn't dare invite such a person as even an honored guest."

"I'm not disregarding the weight of four stripes. Of course, it's amazing. But for me, it doesn't feel real. Nothing's decided yet, so talking about it first feels a bit awkward."

"Nothing's decided, you say......."

As Jeong-un answered with a faint smile, Jo Gwang looked at him steadily and muttered.

He could still picture Jeong-un grasping lightning on the battlefield.

It was the kind of feat that single-handedly changed the tide of war.

'How can a person do that?'

Jo Gwang murmured, gazing at Jeong-un.

If he—or anyone else—had displayed such martial prowess, they'd naturally want the rewards that came with it.

It made sense.

No one risked their life, passing grueling tests to roam the martial world, just out of pure heroism.

They were all dreaming of a life five years later.

'Didn't he say he never set foot outside his own room?'

Jeong-un had once briefly spoken about his past in response to questions about whether he might secretly be the hidden heir of a great martial house.

He'd come here simply to wield his sword without restraint.

At first, Jo Gwang had dismissed it as idle words.

Of all the martial artists to join the Hall, was there truly anyone who came purely to train?

Everyone came seeking fame and fortune, to leave their name in the martial world.

But living with him, he'd realized—Yu Jeong-un truly had no such ambitions.

He lived only to sharpen his sword and had an instinctive integrity that couldn't abide evil.

That was the entirety of the man Jo Gwang had come to know.

'...... Without a doubt.'

Jo Gwang kept muttering inwardly as he looked at the young man before him.

That kind of quality was what defined the finest of the martial world—a pure-hearted martial soul that he himself lacked.

Honestly, he hadn't expected Jeong-un to leap straight to four stripes.

As far as he knew, no one had ever advanced by two ranks at once.

Still, it was just a matter of time. Anyone could see Jeong-un wouldn't remain at two stripes.

He would ascend as soon as he returned, and in no time, would surely gain yet another stripe.

'So......'

Reaching that thought, Jo Gwang's eyes sparkled as he looked at Jeong-un.

"We're friends, right?"

"... Yes."

To that slightly abrupt question, Jeong-un nodded a little awkwardly, and Jo Gwang beamed and spoke again, this time with even more resolve.

"Let's continue to get along well from now on."

Then, Baek Il-gang, standing beside them, interjected to Jo Gwang,

"Your heart is not just black, it's burnt to a crisp."

"W-What nonsense!"

"Watching you is embarrassing. I always think this—your transparency is remarkable, in its own way."

"Shut up! You're just jealous of my relationship with Young Hero Yu!"

"I can still see you fawning over Lee Si-geon while ignoring us."

"T-That was ages ago, what are you talking about...!"

At this, Jeong-un chuckled quietly. Scenes like these had grown familiar and dear.

In fact, Baek Il-gang wasn't wrong. Even to Jeong-un, Jo Gwang's intention was clear as day.

As Jeong-un racked up achievements and grew more skilled, Jo Gwang just wanted to cling to that connection.

'Well...'

But Jeong-un didn't mind.

That was just human nature.

And besides, Jo Gwang didn't hide his motives—he was utterly transparent, and you couldn't hate him for it.

Baek Il-gang and Tang Yerin were the same.

They were comrades with whom he'd rolled in the dirt since his earliest days at the Hall.

They were among the few precious friends he could trust his back to in the treacherous martial world.

After all, Jeong-un had never even confided in his own clan as a child.

Watching them, Jeong-un finally spoke:

"For me, I like times like this more than anything else."

"...?"

"I'm just happy that we can sit and talk like this after finishing our mission safely. Honestly, that's enough for me."

"......"

Jeong-un simply smiled, the corners of his lips serenely upturned.

Baek Il-gang grinned and said,

"Hmph, that's quite modest of you."

* * *

After a few days of recovery, Jeong-un finally stepped outside the main gates.

He needed to borrow a horse from the Murim Alliance's relay station for his return.

The weather on the way back was bright and clear.

The sunlight on his skin was pleasantly warm. It reminded him of coming down from Mount Song.

"So bright and pure! It's like heaven is showing me the path ahead!"

Jo Gwang, several steps ahead, exclaimed loudly, his voice echoing through the air.

Next to him, Baek Il-gang shot back another retort. Jeong-un just smiled wordlessly at their antics.

At that moment, walking side by side, Tang Yerin spoke.

"Are you really alright?"

"Sorry?"

Jeong-un turned at her words and met Tang Yerin's pale face with his eyes.

The sunlight falling on her delicate features deepened the shadows and seemed to break into fragments.

Her long black hair fluttered gently in the breeze, and it suited her perfectly.

'......'

Jeong-un thought once again how well it fit her.

Of course it did—Tang Yerin was famous not only for her noble lineage but also for her beauty.

Even across the vast Central Plains, she was counted among the most beautiful.

"You faced those formidable foes in one battle after another. Even the corps leader said there was no need to rush back. Honestly, I thought it would be good for you to rest a bit longer."

"I really am fine. I wasn't seriously injured."

Jeong-un turned forward again and answered calmly.

It wasn't a lie.

Even after facing both the High Priest and Blood Lord in succession and unleashing bursting energy several times on the battlefield, he'd recovered not just his depleted internal power but even his battered body after pushing past his limits.

He had realized—again and again—how miraculous the efficacy of internal energy truly was.

At that, Tang Yerin spoke again.

"What you said a few days ago, I feel the same."

"...?"

"To be honest, I never felt this sense of kinship at home. The feeling of running free across the martial world with comrades... I think about it before I sleep every night. I'm really glad I came to the Heavenly Martial Hall."

"... Ah..."

Jeong-un trailed off. Honestly, he hadn't expected that.

With Tang Yerin's standing, she must have grown up wanting for nothing.

Everyone must have treated her as precious.

As an heiress of the mighty Tang Clan of Sichuan, she probably lived as well as a princess.

Besides, she'd inherited even the clan's masterful secret skills. She should have lacked nothing.

'I'd thought she'd only come here to suffer for no reason.'

Subconsciously, Jeong-un had always thought so whenever he saw Tang Yerin.

There couldn't be much for her to gain here—surely, she must regret it a little.

He never expected to hear such words from her.

"I just wanted to say I hope we continue to get along."

"I see."

As Jeong-un awkwardly replied, she responded in a low laugh.

"Once we return, things will be noisy for a while. Even a casual stroll down the main street will draw attention. There must be so many now watching Young Hero Jeong-un's every move."

"I'd better get used to it."

Before long, they reached the relay station.

Several martial artists of the Murim Alliance, seemingly prepared in advance, stood ready with horses, having heard the news.

By their side, for some reason, stood the area magistrate and his subordinates, who, upon hearing the rumors, appeared to have come to see them off.

"Y-You're here. Are you really leaving now?"

Jeong-un silently nodded.

That person would, before long, be dealt with by the law.

There was no need to be polite anymore.

Mounting his horse, Jeong-un said,

"Thank you as well."

"Sorry?"

"For everything from now on, too."

After a moment's surprise, Tang Yerin beamed brightly and replied.

"Of course."