Chapter 377

Chapter 377
## Chapter 377. The Overflowing Waves (2)

—

The fierce chill of midwinter had drifted away, yet the stubborn remnants of that frosty air still lingered in the atmosphere. Though the arrival of spring remained a distant promise, Wuhan was already bustling with a frantic energy unlike any prior year. This sudden wave of activity was driven entirely by the anticipation of a massive, peak-business season that occurred only once every four years.

The graduation ceremony of the Murim Academy, a quadrennial event, stood as the single most eagerly awaited period for the local merchants of Wuhan. During this specific time frame, it was standard practice for vendors to pay heavy premiums a full year in advance just to reserve a commercial spot along the main thoroughfares.

With hundreds of students preparing to graduate, every single individual represented the absolute pride and joy of their respective martial sects and noble clans. To celebrate their achievement, anyone possessing even a minor connection to the graduates traveled from every corner of the land to converge upon Wuhan—ranging from immediate in-laws to the most distant of cousins.

‘They successfully entered the Academy.’

In essence, achieving entry was equivalent to declaring oneself a disciple of an influential sect or the offspring of a prominent family. Consequently, these relatives never traveled light. They arrived accompanied not only by vast retinues of personal servants, but routinely surrounded by hired escort agencies and martial wanderers (*Nang-in*). Furthermore, because legions of hired baggage porters trailed closely behind them, the local tradesmen viewed the Academy’s graduation ceremony as the ultimate commercial windfall.

To capitalize on such a massive economic opportunity, vendors flocked from all territories, and major merchant guilds mobilized to supply them with an endless stream of commodities. On top of that, as the massive crowds swelled, casual tourists arrived in droves simply to witness and enjoy the spectacular grandeur of the gathering. It transformed into a literal human explosion, a phenomenon where a dense sea of people naturally drew even more people to the location.

“Wow…… I have never seen this many people gathered in one place before!”

Dong-ryong, his face noticeably flushed with excitement, leaped about eagerly, entirely unable to contain his high spirits. While he was undoubtedly thrilled about his official placement within the Alliance Leader’s Palace, his current joy seemed primarily driven by the prospect of reuniting with his mother and father after such a long separation.

“They must possess incredibly comfortable lives with absolutely nothing better to do. What possesses them to travel all this way just to stare at a graduation ceremony?”

Walking right beside him was Eun-ho, who radiated a strangely venomous, irritable aura, aggressively finding fault with everything around him as though the entire world existed solely to annoy him.

“Look at this poorly crafted toy. To think they actually expect to conduct business while offering merchandise of this quality. Do they even possess a genuine desire to earn money?”

“Hmph…… this candy lacks any sweetness whatsoever. It has completely ruined my appetite, damn it all.”

“Why are there so many people clogging the streets? Seriously, I wish every last one of them would just vanish!”

I reached out and firmly clamped a hand onto the shoulder of Eun-ho, who was huffing with solitary indignation like a teenager suffering from a severe case of ‘Fifteen-Year-Old Disease,’ and offered some perspective:

“Eun-ho, anyone can stumble and fail an examination.”

Naturally, I had never personally failed an exam in my life. Even so, acting in my capacity as a *Dae-sahyung* with a heart as vast and forgiving as the ocean, I suppressed the rest of my thoughts for the emotional well-being of my junior brother.

Eun-ho, who had been staring silently at the ground for a brief moment, gradually tilted his head upward. Within the gaze of the young fellow, which had been filled with fierce irritation just a moment ago, thick tears were already beginning to well up.

“*Dae-sahyung*…… what is going to become of me now?”

I wasn’t entirely certain of his exact thought process, but Eun-ho—who had constantly declared his ambition to become a ‘damn cool person’—had intentionally listed the Mantong-bu for his second and third choices as well. This decision was based entirely on his idiotic—no, his unique internal logic that ‘one isn’t truly cool unless you completely burn your bridges behind you.’ Naturally, stern reprimands from the administrative scholars at the Personnel Hall had been issued immediately, but Eun-ho had stubbornly refused to back down. I spoke up to offer him some realistic consolation.

“Given your crime of showing open contempt, you will most likely be stationed at a remote branch hidden away in some forgotten corner at the very edge of the Central Plains. You’ll receive a brief vacation perhaps once every three years……. By the time your mandatory branch service finally concludes, I expect you will return to us as a completely broken shell of a man.”

“Waaaaah…….”

Eun-ho dissolved into a fit of ugly, weeping tears. You foolish brat, you really should have reined it in when I explicitly warned you to stop showing off. Regardless, there is an ancient proverb stating that if you actually heed the advice of your *Dae-sahyung*, you will receive delicious rice cakes even while you sleep…….

“*Dae-sahyung*! Please stop tormenting him. Lee-eun-ho! You need to pull yourself together as well! The official results haven’t even been released yet.”

“Well, is there truly any point in waiting for the final announcements? The conclusion is already painfully obvious—”

“*Dae-sahyung*!!”

By the time Eun-ho’s weeping finally subsided, largely due to Sa-ryeon’s gentle comforting, our group arrived at the Taepyeong Inn, where the representatives of the Tae-eul Sect were currently lodged. Since they had traveled in the company of Lord Wang-geum-san, I had fully expected them to secure a private, isolated courtyard. To my surprise, however, they were situated on the bustling second floor, which was teeming with regular patrons.

“Geum-pyo! Eun-ho! Dong-ryong!”

The moment we stepped up the stairs, the parents of the Geum, Eun, and Dong brothers, who had been sitting anxiously and stiffly around a table, brightened instantly and rushed forward to greet us.

“Father!”
“Mother!!”

The Geum, Eun, and Dong troublemakers instantly shed their mature fronts, reverting back to childish forms as they acted thoroughly spoiled within their parents’ embraces. The mother and father of the trio were dressed in pristine, brand-new garments just like everyone else in the city. While the sight felt incredibly unnatural and awkward, they looked far happier than anyone else in the room, causing a genuine smile to form on my own face.

“Hmm, let us see……”

Leaving the emotional family reunion behind, I navigated through the crowd toward the section where the members of the Tae-eul Sect were gathered.

“Oh?”

The size of the gathering was considerably smaller than I anticipated. Spotting the individual I assumed was entirely responsible for this sparse turnout, I approached him to voice my objection.

“Surely you didn’t leave the rest of the sect behind just to pinch pennies on an occasion as grand as this?”

“Why is this brat immediately throwing false accusations at me! It is entirely because of that Master Baek you insisted on introducing that nobody else was permitted to travel!”

My father huffed in indignation, feeling thoroughly wronged. Right at that moment, a thick, plump hand gently patted my father’s shoulder.

“Anyone looking at you two could instantly tell you are father and son. To think that the very first words out of your mouth involve complaining about finances rather than offering a proper greeting, haha!”

Amused by the hearty words of the wealthy Wang-geum-san, Jin-tae-san barked out in response.

“How can you say something so incredibly harsh!”

“…….”

Hold on, a harsh thing? Father, your own choice of words is far too severe. Am I truly an embarrassment to be seen with in public? Even as those thoughts crossed my mind, a quiet chuckle escaped me as I watched my father thoroughly inspect my face and body, checking to see if I had sustained any injuries during my time away.

“Why has a young man possessing so much personal wealth managed to lose so much weight?”

“What on earth are you talking about? Because my own father, who holds the titles of Outer Hall Master and Head of the Daicheon Merchant Guild, failed to send me adequate living expenses, I have been forced to barely scrape by from one day to the next……”

“Do you honestly believe I remain ignorant of exactly how much money finds its way into your pockets?”

In truth, even without me volunteering the information, my father had maintained a precise, intimate knowledge of my financial status for a very long time. Attempting to deftly steer the conversation elsewhere, I was grateful when Lord Wang-geum-san stepped in to provide an ideal diversion.

“You…… have altered significantly.”

Wang-geum-san was observing me with intense focus, a peculiar gleam apparent in his eyes.

“I can naturally perceive the unmistakable aura of an accomplished master radiating from you now.”

“Hmm, is that truly the case?”

However, before I could even exchange a proper conversation with him.

“*Hyung-nim*!!!!!!!!”

An individual charged directly toward me with the momentum of a runaway bull. The source of this incredibly intense demonstration of affection was none other than Zhuge-cheon-gi.

“Ugh, *Hyung-nim*! I was almost prevented from coming entirely. Happily, because you specifically requested my presence, I am profoundly moved to be capable of witnessing your magnificent and dazzling splendor with my very own eyes……”

A torrent of wildly grandiloquent praise spilled from his mouth at rapid speed. Yet, it appeared that Master Baek-hae-gwang was pushing the remaining disciples exceptionally hard back home. For some strange reason, the only fellow students who had managed to journey here were Yu-seong and Wang-so-so. Considering Yu-seong’s circumstances, the requirements to secure a trip to Wuhan must have been incredibly demanding…… which left me wondering how So-so had managed to attend.

“*Oppa*…… have you been keeping well?”

So-so, who seemed to have matured remarkably during the period we spent apart, carefully adjusted her hair while a pretty blush crept across her cheeks. Even throughout her childhood, her natural beauty had been remarkable, but now that she had fully stepped into adulthood, she radiated a truly breathtaking level of loveliness. I reached out and gently patted the young woman’s head.

“Yes. You have also changed so much I almost didn’t recognize you.”

“*Oppa*, during the time we were apart, you have somehow become even more handsome than before……”

Right at that exact second.

“*Dae. Sa. Hyung!*”

A piercingly cold voice sharply cut off Wang-so-so’s sentence. The individual responsible for the interruption was Sa-ryeon. The young So-so hesitated for a fraction of a second before maintaining her gentle, sweet expression and pressing on.

“*Opp—*”

“*Dae. Sa. Hyung!*”

Wang-so-so shifted her gaze toward Sa-ryeon, offering a bright, radiant smile.

“*Sajeo* Hong……?”

“If you claim status as a disciple of the Tae-eul Sect, you really ought to exercise greater caution with the honorifics you use, shouldn’t you?”

“*Oppa* and I share a bond that transcends that sort of rigid formality……”

“*Dae. Sa. Hyung!*”

Sensing the thick, uncomfortable tension rapidly spreading through the air, I quietly slunk away from the immediate area. In any case, as the primary disciple, paying my respects to the Sect Leader was a duty that demanded absolute priority. Yes, that was undoubtedly the right thing to do.

Slipping safely outside the confrontational territory of the two women, I scanned the room to locate the Sect Leader, but he was nowhere to be found. Just then, my father’s voice cut through the noise to find me.

“What do you think you are doing? Why haven’t you stepped forward to properly greet the Sect Leader yet?”

“Where exactly is the Sect Leader?”

“Haha, has this foolish boy completely lost his wits? Are you truly incapable of recognizing him when he is standing directly in front of your eyes?”

I adjusted my line of sight to match the direction of my father’s pointing finger. Standing right there.

“…….”

A rough-looking wanderer (*Nang-in*) who exuded a harsh, weathered presence—as though he had endured every conceivable tribulation across land, sea, and sky—was staring back at me with gleaming eyes. No, who in the world are you supposed to be? I turned my head to look at my father once more.

“Who is this gentleman……?”

“What is wrong with you? Why aren’t you bowing to him? Have you managed to completely forget the appearance of your own Sect Leader?”

“…….”

This individual was supposed to be the Sect Leader I remembered?

“It has been quite a while. So-un.”

The weathered wanderer, whom I was certain I had never laid eyes on before, greeted me with the familiar ease of an old acquaintance.

Accompanied by a raucous, joyful noise, a grand feast that resembled an outright festival quickly commenced. An array of rare delicacies and fine wines was brought out continuously, but because the guests were reuniting after a lengthy separation, everyone was far too preoccupied with conversation to focus solely on the food.

The individual displaying the most overwhelmed emotional state was Mr. Lee, the local mill proprietor.

“No, I am merely a simple mill owner…… how are my boys……?!!”

Whether his voice carried pure jubilation or utter shock was difficult to tell, but he appeared to be experiencing a profound, overwhelming wave of emotion regarding the fact that his three offspring had successfully completed their tenures at the Academy alongside one another. If he was already weeping this intensely now, how on earth was he going to handle the actual graduation ceremony tomorrow?

The dining session that had started in the early hours of the evening showed absolutely no signs of winding down even as the night deepened significantly. Nonetheless, because they needed to prepare for the upcoming graduation events the following morning, the guests gradually retired to their respective quarters one by one. Sa-ryeon, along with the Geum, Eun, and Dong brothers, also elected to remain at the establishment for the night.

In the quiet depths of the night when the rest of the occupants had surrendered to sleep, the Sect Leader, my father, Lord Wang-geum-san, and I relocated to a secluded area.

“……And because of that, I turned them down.”

I sought their counsel regarding the confidential discussion I had recently held with the Jeongdo-hoe. Even though my recount of the events was concise, the three men found themselves unable to respond immediately due to the sheer weight and gravity of the matter.

“So the Jeongdo-hoe has officially made an approach……”

The first individual to let out a heavy sigh was Lord Wang-geum-san. As a prominent merchant who was constantly forced to navigate a neutral, balanced path through various factions, he likely possessed significant personal experience with these types of situations, allowing him to sympathize with my dilemma on a deeper level than the others.

“This clearly demonstrates that both you and the Tae-eul Sect have attained a substantial level of influence.”

This development wasn’t merely the result of my individual exploits. The reality that the wealth and influence of both the Tae-eul Sect and the Daicheon Merchant Guild had been expanding at an unprecedented rate played an undeniable role in prompting this move.

“However, intense interest can instantly warp into bitter animosity.”

Throughout my previous existence, not a single soul had spared a glance toward the Tae-eul Sect. Because of that indifference, I had been forced to battle entirely on my own just to carve out a safe haven where the Tae-eul Sect could survive amidst a devastating, chaotic era. This life was entirely different. The Tae-eul Sect, which was steadily transforming into a massive, deeply rooted tree, was required to anticipate the envy and deliberate obstructions of rival factions long before the true chaos arrived. Only by successfully dodging their sharp blades could it hope to withstand the eventual storm.

A heavy, enduring silence settled over our small gathering long after I finished explaining the situation.

“Do any of you believe I made the incorrect decision?”

My father did nothing but silently drain his wine cup over and over, while the Sect Leader remained locked in profound contemplation, leaving his own drink untouched. I could only guess how much time slipped past in that quiet room. Supposedly weary of consuming more alcohol, my father eventually shifted his gaze toward the Sect Leader. Lord Wang-geum-san similarly maintained his silence, recognizing that it was not his place to interfere in this internal sect matter, until the Sect Leader finally broke his long meditation to ask a question.

“Did you arrive at that conclusion solely out of stubborn pride?”

“…….”

While it was certainly true that I had fought fiercely to avoid compromising my personal dignity, pride was not the underlying motive for my ultimate decision. I shook my head resolutely.

“No, sir.”

The Sect Leader’s focus remained locked squarely onto my eyes. That particular gaze, smoldering with an intensity that resembled a quiet fire, was an expression I had never witnessed from him in either this current life or my past existence. While I was briefly taken aback by this unfamiliar intensity.

“Even if you had settled on that path purely out of stubborn pride, I would not have offered a single word of criticism.”

“……I beg your pardon?”

I found myself entirely stunned by his unexpected response. In all honesty, I had fully expected him to cast blame upon me or deliver a stern lecture……. I suddenly felt somewhat ridiculous for having spent so much effort preparing a detailed list of justifications and contingency plans to handle their rejection. As I sat there dazed by his reaction, the Sect Leader continued to speak.

“Appointing you to the position of primary disciple was never meant to simply mean you would shoulder the burden of supervising the other students during my absences.”

Following that statement, his deep, resonant voice washed over me.

“The individual entrusted with guiding the destiny of the Tae-eul Sect whenever I am away is you.”

“……!”

[Guiding the destiny of the Tae-eul Sect.]

Hearing those words drop from the Sect Leader’s mouth caused a strange, sudden tightness to constrict my chest.

“Because of that reality.”

His unyielding, direct gaze bored straight into my own eyes.

“Is it not my fundamental duty to stand behind whatever path you choose to take, and to shoulder the consequences right alongside you whenever complications arise from it?”

Displaying his very first smile of the evening, the corners of his eyes softened as he raised his wine cup toward me. I silently watched him maintain a perfectly straight posture as he slowly allowed the liquid to soothe his throat. Reflecting on everything, despite all the hardships that had transpired in my previous life, I realized I had never once harbored bitterness toward the Sect Leader. He had consistently remained an honorable, magnanimous figure, always prioritizing the welfare of others regardless of how much personal suffering he was enduring.

No matter how drastically his physical appearance had shifted, the Sect Leader remained undeniably the Sect Leader. Witnessing him in this state, a profound wave of comfort washed over me as I confirmed he was truly the exact same leader I had always known.

“I most likely would have adopted the exact same stance had I been standing in your shoes. After all, I am well aware of how perilous it is to bind oneself to a single faction in the current climate of the Kangho.”

“You have my gratitude, Sect Leader.”

Once the gravity of the serious discussion cleared away, the atmosphere lightened, and everyone began to share the remaining wine with much brighter spirits. It was during this relaxed moment that Lord Wang-geum-san offered a soft, grumbling warning.

“Even so, it would probably be unwise to grow overly complacent. Since you chose to reject their overtures, they will undoubtedly utilize their substantial influence in some devious, underhanded manner……”

An unusual, somber expression settled across Lord Wang’s features.

“The Wang Family Manor has been forced to endure those exact types of schemes on countless occasions in the past. Today, because our operational scale has expanded to a point where they can no longer easily disrupt us, their strategy has shifted toward cooperative coexistence rather than open malice…… but there were multiple critical instances where our entire lineage was pushed to the very brink of ruin due to their shadow plays.”

To hear that the powerful Wang Family Manor had faced such desperate struggles, and to see the legendary Great Merchant Wang-geum-san openly voicing such deep concern, made it impossible for me to even fathom how genuinely sinister their methods truly were. When nobody offered an immediate response, the look of apprehension on Lord Wang’s face visibly intensified.

“They might go so far as to launch direct, physical attacks against the Tae-eul Sect. Such violent occurrences have been happening with alarming frequency throughout the land lately……”

Right at that precise moment.

*Rumble, rumble, rumble.*

Before Wang-geum-san could even finish uttering his warning, the wooden table began to shudder faintly. In rapid succession, the wine cups and various side dishes arrayed across the surface began to rattle in unison. Startled by the sudden development, I immediately traced the origin of this powerful energy. Seated right there.

“Hmm……”

There sat Sect Leader Hong-mun-gi, projecting an aura of lethal intent that felt utterly raw, unrefined, and terrifyingly violent. He spoke in a tone that was distinctively colder and more calculated than any voice I had ever heard from him before.

“Let them step forward and try it, if that is what they truly desire.”

His expression did not suggest a man merely steeling his resolve; rather, it looked like someone genuinely hoping his adversaries would foolishly cross the line first to provide him with the perfect justification to annihilate them. The sheer foreignness of the sight left me completely speechless.

“Because I will personally ensure they understand what it feels like to be savaged until they thoroughly regret ever opening their mouths.”

“…….”

Seriously, who on earth are you supposed to be?