Chapter 470

Chapter 470
## Chapter 470. The Anxiety of Goodness (7)

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Following quietly in the footsteps of Mak Hyo-wol as we exited the pavilion, I pondered the nature of the conversation he intended to have. I contemplated his possible remarks and weighed how I ought to reply to unearth the secrets he kept closely guarded. In that quiet moment of reflection, it struck me how remarkably small Mak Hyo-wol’s silhouette appeared from behind.

“…Is something the matter?”

Noticing that I had ceased walking, Mak Hyo-wol turned to face me, his expression clouded with confusion.

“Ah, it is of no consequence.”

“We do not have much further to walk. It is close by, so please rest assured.”

Offering a gentle smile, he turned and resumed his pace. This impression did not arise merely from a contrast in our physical statures. To begin with, there was a significant height difference between us. It was not a feature that could be weighed against my own physique, which had been forged through rigorous external training.

Even so, the reason he seemed diminished when compared to individuals like Jegal So-myeong or the Tae-ul Sect Leader came down to… standing. The dynamic between the person under scrutiny and the one conducting the appraisal. It was this specific dynamic that made Mak Hyo-wol appear so small. Reflecting on how the Yong-bong Association of days past must have perceived the Tae-ul Sect under similar circumstances left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Furthermore, the lack of astonishment I felt regarding the proper decorum he maintained upon arriving at the Yong-bong Association’s lodgings—and my immediate suspicion that he was masking his true motives—stemmed from my own internal, instinctive awareness that I occupied the role of the arbiter.

‘I truly have transformed.’

The modifications within me were not limited to the depths of my internal energy, my mastery of martial arts, or my elevated position in society. At some point along the way, I had begun to mirror the very characteristics of the people I once despised with a passion.

‘…I have not fallen to their level yet. No, that cannot be.’

The mere fact that I possessed the self-awareness to question my own nature proved that I remained distinct from them, did it not?

“Here we are, I have set up a modest table for drinks in this spot.”

Mak Hyo-wol indicated a small pavilion with a wave of his hand, but I declined with a tilt of my head.

“Please ascend first, Sect Leader.”

“Oh?”

“I am mindful of proper decorum.”

“Ah… P-Please forgive me. I nearly caused you to appear lacking in proper manners.”

Arranged upon a small table for refreshments were simple delicacies accompanied by five vessels of wine. The moment Mak Hyo-wol raised one of the vessels, I matched his movement by swiftly lifting my own cup, keeping my gaze fixed on him until he brought it to his lips.

“Does… this location perhaps cause you discomfort?”

“It does not cause me any discomfort whatsoever.”

“My only intention in inviting you here was to share a cup of wine in a relaxed manner.”

“I understand.”

Observing my composed demeanor, he offered a somewhat self-conscious chuckle.

“In that case, could you perhaps allow yourself to relax a bit more while we drink?”

“This is simply my customary behavior.”

“…I-I see. I shall press the matter no further.”

The faint trace of irritation that had marked Mak Hyo-wol’s features began to dissolve progressively as we emptied a few measures of wine.

“Is the Tae-ul Sect Leader keeping well?”

“Indeed. He enjoys a peaceful existence.”

Though his inner disposition has undergone a massive shift.

“That is good to hear. I really ought to journey to offer him my regards at some point.”

“Did the two of you share an old acquaintance?”

“I once caught sight of him from a distance in times past.”

I locked away the sudden thought of ‘What nonsense is he spouting?’ deep inside, strictly adhering to the conduct expected of a well-mannered individual.

“Is that so.”

Hearing my brief reply, he let out a quiet huff.

“Do you suspect I am inflating an insignificant encounter into a meaningful bond?”

“Not at all.”

“Well, such a misconception would be entirely understandable. Given the nature of current circumstances.”

He attempted to puff out his chest to project an aura of authority, but the effort only served to make his frame appear more constrained. It was as though an immense burden was pressing down upon his shoulders.

“I have kept a close watch on the actions of the Tae-ul Sect. I found myself deeply struck by that incredibly courageous and unyielding display.”

He spoke highly of the current state of the Tae-ul Sect, an issue that members of the Orthodox Murim were viewing with profound apprehension. Raising my guard, I dedicated my full attention to the dialogue. Although the object of the official scrutiny was undeniably the Yong-bong Association, he was a man fully aware that our presence could not be ignored as long as Il-gak and I were involved.

“I am certain you did not achieve this level of success merely by reclaiming your forgotten inheritance. There must undoubtedly be an individual responsible for orchestrating this rise to prominence.”

Yet, even as I scrutinized his facial expressions, his vocal inflections, and the hidden context beneath his words, his true objective remained elusive. This was hardly an appropriate moment to simply foster camaraderie, and even if his goal was merely to form a private alliance, the respective predicaments we found ourselves in made it highly inappropriate. It mirrored the occasion when Kye Cheol-yeong attempted to present a golden toad to Namgung San during his visit to the Tae-ul Sect.

“Hehehe…”

After persisting with his compliments for a time, he caught sight of my countenance and broke into a soft chuckle.

“They say the strategic mind of a young man who has scarcely crossed twenty winters resembles a fathomless trench, earning him the title of the Black Flame Dragon (*Heuk-yeom-ryong*)… I am unaware of who bestowed that moniker upon you, but it represents an incredibly accurate description.”

Though the remark was clearly intended as a playful jab, his face radiated a deep sense of satisfaction. The stark contrast between the words slipping past his lips and the look on his face only served to deepen my bewilderment.

“The claim that I observed the Tae-ul Sect Leader… that man, rather, that individual, from afar. In truth, that was a fabrication.”

“….”

“The reality is that I was positioned extremely close to him. Near enough that the foul odor emanating from his person was unmistakable.”

The look of satisfaction quickly drained from his face, replaced by a cynical curve at the corners of his mouth.

“The memory remains vivid. Perhaps because he had retrieved them from storage for the first time in ages, his garments reeked of damp mildew, and because his arrival coincided precisely with the commencement of the gathering, he was drenched in the scent of perspiration. Naturally, he lacked even a single follower to accompany him.”

His brow furrowed deeply, as though he had been instantly transported back to that specific gathering.

“Being seated at the same table alongside him felt like a personal degradation. Even among those representing the One Hundred and Eight Peaks, few possessed any knowledge regarding the existence of the Tae-ul Sect. The individuals assigned to the same table as the Tae-ul Sect Leader insisted upon having their placements altered.”

He recounted how, one after another, the guests relocated to different tables. Hong Mun-gi could do nothing but keep his head lowered, lacking the courage to even meet their eyes as they departed without a single word of parting.

“In that case, did you remain alone at the table, Sect Leader?”

In response to my inquiry, he let out a dry laugh.

“My departure was merely delayed. I, too, was eager to relocate to a different seating arrangement.”

This particular account was preserved within my own recollections. Sect Leader Hong, who had taken part in the grand tournament of the One Hundred and Eight Peaks hosted by the Murim Alliance during my previous existence, had once mentioned to me that he had formed a valuable friendship there. I also recalled that when the Tang-hyeon Sect was subsequently wiped out by the Wang Family Manor, he had been struck with intense grief and had voiced his bitter objections to the Murim Alliance.

“The standing that the Tae-ul Sect Leader held in those days has now completely swapped places with my own.”

His eyes, which had been clouded with nostalgia, locked directly onto me.

“All because he crossed paths with an extraordinary pupil.”

Pulling himself back into the present moment, he tilted the vessel to fill my cup.

“The rest of the world might remain ignorant, but I see the truth. The reality that the Tae-ul Sect managed to achieve its current grandeur is entirely due to your efforts alone.”

He was laying bare historical facts that would have completely prevented me from viewing him in a positive light, had I not been privy to the deeper context of the situation.

“If a pupil of your caliber had been granted to me… would I have chosen a different path?”

His hollow query dissolved quietly into the ambient sounds of nocturnal insects.

“The purpose behind pulling you aside this evening was simply to extend my appreciation to you. Therefore, you may dismantle your defenses.”

Despite my efforts to maintain a perfectly neutral expression, he smirked as though he could see right through my facade. Nevertheless, to speak of appreciation…

“Some years back, a crisis arose where the young lady of the Wang Family Manor was seized. And were you not the individual who came to her rescue?”

“You praise me too highly.”

The Tang-hyeon Sect Leader deliberately brought his hands together in a respectful gesture.

“I am offering my sincere thanks regarding that specific event.”

I tilted my head slightly in confusion. The abduction of Wang So-so was an affair confined to the Namgung Clan and the Wang Family Manor. What reason could possibly compel Mak Hyo-wol to convey his appreciation?

‘Could it be…’

Ignoring my growing sense of apprehension, Mak Hyo-wol carried on speaking with complete casualness.

“One week following the abduction of the Wang Family Manor’s young lady, it is reported that a missive was sent to the Wang Family Manor from the Hefei outpost of the Murim Alliance.”

The statements spilling from his lips caused the surrounding atmosphere to grow perceptibly heavy.

“The document contained a inventory of organizations suspected of orchestrating the capture of the Wang Family Manor’s young lady. It is said that the Wang Family Manor enlisted mercenaries and petitioned the authorities to assemble combatants.”

That oppressive atmosphere began to bear down with such immense force that it felt capable of suffocating every living soul within the pavilion.

“One thousand regular troops and three thousand sellswords. Had you not intervened, the organizations recorded on that inventory would have been utterly eradicated, leaving nothing behind. And.”

The gleam in Mak Hyo-wol’s eyes turned more frigid than the beams of the moon overhead.

“Our own Tang-hyeon Sect was included on that inventory.”

“…!”

“We, who hold the rank of the eighty-fifth peak among the One Hundred and Eight Peaks.”

His tone, completely devoid of any emotional variation, delivered every single word like a striking blade.

“Ever since we aligned with the One Hundred and Eight Peaks, throughout multiple generations, we have never once failed to comply with a directive from the Murim Alliance. We routinely exerted our utmost efforts to satisfy our obligations as a loyal partner.”

The words he wielded as weapons turned inward, striking deep into Mak Hyo-wol’s own being. As if the agony were of no consequence, he permitted no sentiment to breach his icy stare and monotone delivery.

“To speak accurately, it ought to be characterized as a bond between a master and a servant. We were never viewed as peers.”

“….”

“They undoubtedly concluded that sacrificing the Tang-hyeon Sect would serve as a grand enough offering to soothe the fury of the Wang Family Manor. Is that not the reality?”

Because the deepest wound he carried was inflicted by his own past blindness, he felt no reluctance in tearing open his own scars.

“When confronted with irresistible might, the allegiance forged over countless seasons turns entirely hollow.”

His piercing gaze appeared to strike right through my posture.

“Fully aware of that truth, I dragged myself through life willfully ignoring it. Constantly assuring myself that my circumstances would prove different.”

I found myself unable to offer a reply. It was a harsh reality that I had also experienced with agonizing clarity during my past life. The reason he offered such high praise for the rebellious stance of the Tae-ul Sect—an action that the rest of the world would roundly condemn—was that he had intimately shared the very same grievances that haunted me.

“Above all else, my gratitude rests with you. Because of your actions, we managed to escape the brink of total destruction. Furthermore, I was granted the opportunity to comprehend the brutal reality of our situation.”

He allowed the intense hostility he had displayed moments before to dissipate like melting frost, returning to that initial state of quiet satisfaction.

“I find myself deeply envious of the Tae-ul Sect Leader.”

To my eyes, that particular smile appeared incredibly sorrowful.

There was a complex tapestry of sentiments woven into his speech. It ranged from the fury born of betrayal to a profound self-loathing. The reason I had failed to decipher the true meaning behind his compliments was that he had cloaked his intense jealousy of his counterpart within those shifting layers of emotion.

The exact sentiment he was currently experiencing mirrored what I had endured at the hands of the Murim Alliance during the twilight days of the Great War between Justice and Evil in my previous existence. Knowing full well the kind of malice that such a profound sense of abandonment and self-loathing could breed within a person’s soul, the vulnerabilities he exposed left me in a state of deep inner conflict.

“You have returned.”

Though a significant portion of the night must have slipped away, not a single member of our party had abandoned their positions.

“What was the nature of the matter you discussed?”

I silently observed the expressions of Il-gak and the gathered companions from the Yong-bong Association. I questioned whether they possessed the capacity to comprehend such realities, given their privileged backgrounds, their life experiences, and the sheltered environments in which they had been raised. The conclusion was already readily apparent.

“We spoke of nothing of great consequence.”

Mankind possesses the ability to form vivid mental images regarding favorable scenarios, yet they struggle immensely to envision bleak realities within their thoughts. It functions as an internal defense mechanism designed to shield one’s own sanity.

“Could you… conclude the account you were sharing earlier?”

The Tang-hyeon Sect reflects the person I used to be in my previous life. Deceived and wounded, their minds are consumed by resentment. This unexpressed fury, this sorrow that has been denied a path to release, must be tearing their inner beings apart.

“Where did I pause?”

In that past life of mine. Precisely as I had experienced it.

“You remarked, ‘There exists a highly questionable element.’”

“Did I say that?”

*Hinch.*

At my brief utterance, Gwak Su-san rapidly traded glances with the rest of the companions.

“Has… your perspective shifted?”

He posed the question with extreme care. It was as though he foresaw that an additional complication had been introduced to a situation that was already fraught with difficulty.

“Indeed, it has shifted.”

Gwak Su-san, who had initially merely shifted his eyes, now turned his entire head to lock eyes with Il-gak.

“It is no longer a matter of mere questionability.”

Il-gak maintained his intense gaze upon me, silently demanding a more explicit explanation.

“They are actively orchestrating a scheme. It is an absolute certainty.”

“…?”

The resentment and sorrow harbored by the Tang-hyeon Sect Leader are not superficial feelings that can be mastered through simple endurance or acts of clemency. The terror he carries presses a sharp edge against his throat and restricts his very breath.

“…Have you uncovered absolute proof?”

“In all likelihood.”

When an individual consumed by fury ceases to voice even a basic grievance, it serves as a sign that they are quietly honing their weapon.

“What exactly do you mean?”

“You mentioned previously that the entire roster of the Tang-hyeon Sect amounts to four hundred and eighty-eight individuals, correct?”

“That is accurate.”

Grinding the edge of the blade with absolute dedication, without making a single sound.

“Out of that number, ten specific individuals are entirely different from the ones we observed yesterday.”

For such is the desperate fury of the powerless.