Chapter – 15
Episode – 4
“You really died a lot, Cheon Girin.”
Thinking this, Moyong Jin walked toward the Seok Family Estate.
The reason he thought he had ādied a lotā was because he himself was heading there.
When he was Cheon Girin, no matter who called him, he had never gone even once.
If they called, they calledābut he was never the type to go just because someone told him to come.
But now he was going willingly because if he didnāt go, the one who would regret it wouldnāt be the Seok Familyāit would be Moyong Jin.
“The Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Crystal. If I just have that, something like this Nine Yang Severed Meridiansā¦”
Imagining himself after his Nine Yang Severed Meridians were cured, Moyong Jin smiled broadly.
If he could just use internal energy again, explosive growth would be possible immediately.
His foundation was already completely prepared. Once cured, he would instantly reach peak-level mastery, and with just a little more training he would soon reach the Transformation Realm.
The moment he reached that realm, everything would be ready.
From then on, he could do everything he had ever wanted.
He hadnāt even been cured yet, but just imagining setting up the 108 Arhats and playing instruments with their bald heads already made him smile.
“Whatās life anyway? You just enjoy it and then leave.”
It was a little disappointing to think he would already be enjoying life if not for his conditionābut what did it matter?
Once he reached the Seok Estate, his condition would be completely cured and he could enjoy the rest of his life.
There was only one thing that worried him.
Moyong Hyuk.
They had only lived together for a few years, but Moyong Hyuk had truly become a real father to Cheon Girin.
At the Moyong Academy, Moyong Jin had been Moyong Hyukās teacher, but at home they were father and son, and he had received much comfort from him.
The man once called the Mad Demon had softened like this largely because of Moyong Hyuk.
“Father has already reached peak level. Wherever he goes, he probably wonāt get beaten.”
Though he said that, what truly worried him was something else.
If he did things as Moyong Jin that he never got to do as Cheon Girin, it might bring harm to Moyong Hyuk.
Even if he hid his appearance and name as much as possible, Moyong Jin knew better than anyone that life rarely went as planned.
Lost in such thoughts, he walked along the road, crossed mountains and rivers. Night came and passed, and morning arrived again.
Finally, he arrived at Namho City, south of Hebei, where the Seok Family Estate was located.
Namho City was originally a village called Namho Village, but after the Seok Family settled there, they paid enormous taxes, and the city was built with that money.
Some people said this was just a rumor, but it was true.
An even more frightening fact was that they didnāt just pay taxesāthey simply donated the money and requested the city be built.
Passing through the massive walls built with the Seok familyās wealth, Moyong Jin immediately saw streets filled with buildings of incredible scale, incomparable to Jeongso Village.
“Wowā¦ this place is even more impressive than before. Money really is somethingā¦”
Three-story buildings, rare in Jeongso Village, were basic here. Even five-story buildings, said to be rare even in Zhejiang and Hubei, were everywhere.
As he walked in admiration, he saw crowds of people, street performers, and gambling dens.
After passing festival-like streets, he saw dozens of food alleys filled with delicious smells, then streets full of clothing shops.
“So the saying that Namho City is the Luoyang of Hebei isnāt a lieā¦”
The deeper he went, the more impressive it became.
After passing taverns and the red-light district, he finally reached the cityās edge.
There, he saw a pillar bearing the sign:
Seok Family.
Beyond it stood enormous walls, as if there were another city inside the city.
This was the Seok Family Estate, said to be the richest family in the martial world.
After walking along the wall for quite some time, he finally found the main gate.
“Is this really a place where people live?”
Its scale resembled an imperial palace.
Usually even famous clans only had two gate guards.
The Seok Family had over twenty.
But something felt strange.
Many visitors were arriving, yet none were allowed inside and all were being turned away.
“Is something going on?”
As Moyong Jin watched curiously, one guard noticed him and approached with a respectful salute.
“Excuse me, young hero. We must conduct an inspection. What business brings you to the Seok Estate?”
“Ahā¦ I have an appointment with Lord Seok San-woo.”
“The Lord? May I have your name?”
“I’m Moyong Jin from Jeongso Village.”
The guard looked shocked and immediately bowed deeply.
“So you are Hero Moyong Jin! The Lord instructed us to treat you with the utmost respect.”
The guard began leading him inside.
As Moyong Jin approached the gate, the guards suddenly lined up and told everyone else to leave.
“Hm? Why are you turning everyone away? Did something happen?”
“No, Hero. Today the Lord ordered that no one except you be allowed inside.”
“…What?”
Seeing Moyong Jinās confusion, the guard smiled warmly and opened the gate.
“It just shows how highly he values you. Even when the Martial Alliance Leader visited, this never happened.”
Moyong Jin had never visited the Seok Estate when he himself had been the Martial Alliance Leader.
So the guard must be referring to the current one.
“Come to think of it, who is the current Martial Alliance Leader?”
“It changed recently. The current leader is Master Gongseong of Shaolin. Before him it was Daoist Guyoung of Kunlun.”
“Oh, that balā I meanā¦ I see.”
He almost said “bald bastard” but stopped himself.
He tried to recall their faces.
But honestly, he couldnāt remember well.
One was just an ugly bald pig, and the other was a bald man with a long beard under his chin.
“Those two bald guys became leaders after meā¦ I should’ve made a rule that only people with hair could become leader.”
Either way, he disliked both.
The Kunlun one nagged too much.
The Shaolin one was weak but acted important.
“This way.”
After crossing a large courtyard, they reached another gate where three female attendants stood waiting.
“These ladies will guide you from here.”
“Welcome, Hero Moyong Jin. We’ve been expecting you.”
They bowed and led him onward.
Moyong Jin was honestly a bit shocked.
The three attendants looked barely twenty, yet all were above first-rate martial artists.
Even at Moyong Academy, first-rate fighters were commonābut in reality they were rare.
Yet these young attendants were beyond that?
Unless from a major sect, this was impossible.
“The Seok family’s power truly reaches the heavens. Even their attendants are this strongā¦”
But the moment the door opened, he realized everything he’d seen so far was nothing.
A vast estate.
A waterfall cascading over rock formations.
Grand buildings and dazzling decorations.
Many decorations were made of gold, with giant stone statues placed throughout.
It looked like an imperial palace.
Noāeven without seeing one, he felt this might be greater.
As he stood amazed, attendants led him through multiple gates.
Each gate revealed a different magnificent space.
The beauty was almost otherworldly.
Finally they reached the main hall.
Standing beneath the massive structure was Seok San-woo, arms open.
“You have come, Hero Moyong Jin. I’ve been waiting.”
“Thank you for the invitation. I never imagined your estate was this impressive.”
“Hahaha. It’s nothing special.”
But it definitely was.
Though Seok San-woo appeared alone, over a hundred hidden experts were actually present.
Experts hidden so well only someone of Moyong Jinās level could detect them.
Even hiring one proper expert was difficult in the martial world.
Finding a hundred trained in stealth was harder than reaching the stars.
“Please come inside. I’ve prepared a modest banquet for you.”
Inside, things were even more astonishing.
Here, gold wasnāt gold.
It was just another stone.
Even luminous pearls lay around like pebbles.
“Greetings, Hero Moyong Jin.”
Dozens of servants greeted them.
At least thirty people began working quickly.
“Incredibleā¦”
He wasnāt impressed by their number.
He was impressed because they were all martial artists.
“You noticed? As expected of you. Please sit.”
A luxurious table carved from fine wood and gold.
An attendant quickly pulled out his chair.
Seok San-woo sat at the head. Moyong Jin sat to his right.
Soon dishes began arriving.
Over twenty.
He didnāt recognize a single one.
Strange shapes, enticing smells.
He had thought he’d tasted everything as Cheon Girin.
He was wrong.
As he reached for a thick piece of meatā
An attendant placed a covered tray before him.
“Hero Moyong Jin, this appetizer was personally prepared for you. Please try this first.”
He casually lifted the cloth.
And thenā
“Do you like it?”
Seok San-woo asked.
But Moyong Jin froze.
After a moment, he spoke with killing intent in his voice.
“…What are you doing, Seok San-woo?”
Crack.
His chopsticks shattered in his hand.
Seok San-woo only smiled.
“What’s wrong, Hero? Isn’t this something you like?”
“Seok San-woo!”
Boom!
Killing intent flooded the room.
On the tray before Moyong Jinā
Was the severed head of Jeon Ak.
Its eyes wide open, staring directly at him.
