Chapter 413 : People Gathering (2)

Chapter 413: People Gathering (2)

Yong Hwarin checked on the escorts and the escort agency personnel before returning to Hoi Unkyung.

“With this amount of supplies, we’d have enough to wage war for an entire year and still have leftovers.”

Hoi Unkyung smiled as she replied.

“My father said that if it’s for Young Master Yong, he’s willing to tear out even the main beams and rafters of the Sky Ocean Merchant Union and sell them. He also said to tell you that if there’s anything else you need, don’t hesitate to ask. He said what you’ve done for the Sky Ocean Merchant Union and for my father is no small favor, so he told us to fulfill your every request.”

Yong Hwarin had known that Hoi Jongbaek was a man of loyalty.

Still, he hadn’t expected support on such a generous scale.

In truth, he had been feeling lately that the funds sent from the Sky Ocean Escort Agency alone were no longer enough.

Even if a small sect managed to win a war, they would still face destruction, having exhausted all of their resources in the process.

But now, with the Sky Ocean Merchant Union behind them, Heavenly Central Sect no longer needed to fear such financial collapse.

“Thank you.”

When Yong Hwarin repeatedly expressed his gratitude, Hoi Unkyung responded with a gentle smile.

Seeing that smile—something he had never witnessed even in his previous life—lifted Yong Hwarin’s spirits.

‘Seeing you look so at peace, it warms my heart. I truly hope you can be happy.’

Hoi Unkyung asked,

“Where are Sister Jeong and Little Brother Bukri?”

“You’ll find them at the Sect Leader’s Pavilion.”

Hoi Unkyung bowed respectfully to Yong Hwarin before heading toward the Sect Leader’s Pavilion.

Watching her leave, a flood of thoughts passed through Yong Hwarin’s mind.

Nan Myeonggwak was overjoyed, practically leaping with delight as military supplies poured into Heavenly Central Sect like a tidal wave.

“Haha! With this amount of stock, we could even go to war with the Three Demonic Heavens and still have enough!”

Nan Myeonggwak laughed like a madman as he watched the previously empty warehouse fill to the brim with supplies.

While everyone who was expected to arrive at Heavenly Central Sect had done so, the one person Seok Unjeong had been waiting for had yet to appear. Feeling disheartened, her training sessions were gradually growing shorter.

Even so, she was already deeply immersed in the Black Tortoise Supreme Yin Arts. At this point, even going a single si (two-hour interval) without training would drive her into withdrawal. So she grabbed her Black Tortoise Tail Sword and headed toward the training ground.

At the spot where she trained, several water jars had been placed.

Her control over water had improved significantly lately, and she was working on adapting it to her techniques.

She submerged the Black Tortoise Tail Sword into a jar of water and then drew it out in one swift motion.

As she did, water clung to the blade and rose with it.

When Seok Unjeong began to execute a form, water droplets sprayed in all directions, casting a brilliant rainbow in the air.

She began to perform Frozen Fluttering Dance.

She had recently realized that Frozen Fluttering Dance was not merely a technique, but a water-based manual art as well.

Pah-ra-ra-ra-ra-rak!

Water droplets forming a thick veil around the Black Tortoise Tail Sword lifted into the air, carried by the sword qi, and formed translucent butterflies.

The level of qi control was so intricate that one might mistake it for spiritual manifestation.

However, this was not spiritual qi but a condensed form created through Qi Clot, which she had manifested through her training.

Qi Clot was a level that typically required one to surpass the Three Gaps (삼 갑자) stage.

Yet she was wielding it with ease.

It was a level absolutely unattainable with only one and a half jiazi worth of cultivated internal energy.

And yet, Seok Unjeong was manifesting the Qi Clot realm with only one and a half jiazi of cultivated power.

This was all thanks to her unique constitution.

The Moon Yin Energy within her body harmonized so perfectly with the Black Tortoise Supreme Yin Arts that it compensated for over a full jiazi's worth of energy.

Although her cultivated power was merely one and a half jiazi, the latent Moon Yin Energy within her converted into the remaining one and a half jiazi needed to wield the Qi Clot.

Thus, whenever she executed the Black Tortoise Supreme Yin Arts, Seok Unjeong could unfold her techniques as though she were a master with three jiazi of power.

Ten Frozen Flutters soared through the air.

To test their might, Seok Unjeong drove the Frozen Fluttering Dance downward toward the ground.

Puh-puh-puh-puh-puh-PHUK!

A sound like firecrackers echoed as dust burst upward.

Moments later, a hole the size of an adult fist was left in the ground where the dust had cleared.

The training field’s earth had been compacted from constant use—it was tough beyond measure.

For her technique to gouge such a hole into such hardened ground, its destructive force was unimaginable.

Still, Seok Unjeong’s expression did not show satisfaction.

Once upon a time, she would have jumped in joy.

But now, there was no one to praise her achievement.

She hadn't realized how hollow the absence of someone dear could feel.

“You’ve progressed even further in the time I was gone.”

At the voice behind her, Seok Unjeong froze.

She slowly turned her head.

There stood Geum Yujin, smiling brightly.

“Ga… Master Geum.”

The moment she saw his face, her eyes welled up with tears.

He was someone she had missed dearly—seeing him again overwhelmed her with emotion.

“Your martial arts keep rising, and now your tears do too. That’s trouble.”

“Do you have any idea… how I feel right now?”

“What’s that?”

When Geum Yujin asked, Seok Unjeong suddenly plunged the Black Tortoise Tail Sword into the water-filled jar.

Then, raising the blade into the air, a tremendous column of water surged upward.

She had lifted nearly the entire volume of water in the jar into the air before she herself leapt into the sky.

Then she unleashed the Black Tortoise Supreme Yin Arts’ Profound Sky Fallen Soul.

The Black Tortoise Tail Sword blurred from rapid motion as it swept through the air with the surging water, stirring the sky.

A large rainbow bloomed above.

Gently landing on the ground, Seok Unjeong spoke.

“This is how I feel.”

Geum Yujin replied.

“If we judged martial prowess in the current murim by who can conjure a rainbow, then Sister Jeong might as well be the Greatest Under Heaven.”

The two shared wide smiles toward each other.

Geum Yujin had come knowing Heavenly Central Sect was on the verge of a major war, bringing along fifty elite warriors of the Geum Clan.

On top of that, they brought their own supplies for food and clothing, reducing the burden on Heavenly Central Sect.

“You didn’t have to go this far.”

To Yong Hwarin’s words, Geum Yujin replied.

“If my father were alive, he would have scolded me for making a fuss over something so small. Father never considered Heavenly Central Sect as strangers. If I, his son, can’t even offer this much help, I’d have no face to see him in the afterlife.”

Geum Yujin had grown into a fine young master, now mature enough to be presented proudly anywhere.

Even if he still lagged behind Seok Unjeong in martial skill, he now naturally carried the air of a chivalrous warrior.

That was what made Yong Hwarin most pleased.

‘I feel a little less ashamed before the late Sect Leader.’

Yong Hwarin had always felt indebted to Geum Myeongryeol, who had self-detonated to save the group.

But it didn’t take him long to realize that while there were people like Geum Yujin who had matured, there were also others who had become increasingly childish.

“Ohohohohohoho!”

At the sound of a classic villainess’s laugh, Yong Hwarin realized Heavenly Central Sect’s peace wouldn’t last much longer.

Jeong Suji and Jeong Daji had arrived at Heavenly Central Sect, together with Jo Gyeongmae, the Clan Leader of Jeong Family Manor.

Moreover, they had brought with them over a hundred elite warriors from Jeong Family Manor.

Upon seeing this, Jeong Minji spoke.

“Mother, if you brought all of the manor’s elites, who’s left to guard it?”

Jeong Daji replied.

“I tried to stop her, worried about the same thing. But she insisted that if the manor disappears, she’d just settle down here at Heavenly Central Sect, so she brought everyone.”

Jo Gyeongmae had resolved to sacrifice everything for her daughters. This event was just another example of that resolve going too far.

Still, once the three sisters realized how deeply their mother cared, they were overjoyed.

It finally felt like she had truly returned to being their mother.

“It’s fine, Unnie. We have our brother-in-law—what’s there to worry about?”

Jeong Suji had played a big part in bringing Jo Gyeongmae around.

‘If we’re going to help, we might as well go all-in and earn a bigger piece of the pie later.’

It was Jeong Suji who had pushed Jo Gyeongmae to go all out.

But Jeong Minji didn’t care about all that—she was simply happy their family was all together again.

Yong Hwarin provided a separate annex just for their family.

The arrival of the Three Chivalrous Sisters once again stirred the guests and warriors of Heavenly Central Sect.

Already, many chivalrous guests had gathered due to the renowned beauties known as the Sword-Wielding Trio, who had come to assist Heavenly Central Sect. Now that the equally stunning Three Chivalrous Sisters had arrived, many young masters began hovering around, hoping to catch a glimpse.

Aware of this, Yong Hwarin arranged for the Three Chivalrous Sisters to stay in a separate annex to avoid any clash with the Sword-Wielding Trio.

At present, the young warriors of Heavenly Central Sect idolized the Sword-Wielding Trio.

If the proud Jeong Suji and Jeong Daji were to learn of this, who knows how they might react.

This situation made the most favorable group the prodigies of the prestigious clans.

With more people their age now present, they had no thoughts of leaving Heavenly Central Sect.

“Giyok, how long are you going to stay here? Shouldn’t you head back to your clan?”

At that, Pang Giyok opened his eyes wide.

“Why would I?”

His response was so absurd it begged the question.

“What do you mean ‘why’? Your family must be worried.”

Pang Giyok grinned.

“It’s fine. I already sent a flying pigeon. Got word yesterday—they’ve dispatched reinforcements to Heavenly Central Sect. Said they’re sending a hundred elite warriors. I’ll need to command them, so there’s no way I can go back.”

“What? Reinforcements?”

“Hwarin, isn’t it obvious to help a friend in danger?”

Namgung Yoo, who had been listening nearby, chimed in.

“That’s right. I couldn’t just walk away when my friend was in trouble. I asked my clan for help, too.”

“What?”

“Grandfather said he’d send the Heavenly Palace Sword Unit from the main family.”

“Huh…”

If Sword King Namgung Bi had stepped in, then it meant the Namgung Clan had truly dispatched their finest elites.

“But there’s no place here to house so many people.”

“Don’t worry about that. We’ll handle our own lodging and meals. We’re thinking of building barracks beside Heavenly Central Sect.”

Just as he entered and overheard that, Dang Cheolgi spoke up.

“I also requested that the Fifty Venoms of the Tang Clan be sent here. But I forgot to tell them to bring food…”

At some point, Dang Cheolgi had become friends with Namgung Yoo and Pang Giyok.

“Don’t worry. What money does the poor Tang Clan have anyway? I’ll lend you some.”

Even at Namgung Yoo’s teasing, Dang Cheolgi just laughed it off.

“Haha, then I’ll gladly accept.”

Yong Hwarin was left speechless by their actions.

Meanwhile, Hwangbo Mak, Seomun Yuwon, and Jaegal Yeongcheon, who had been quietly listening, realized they hadn’t sent any requests at all and glanced at one another.

“Wait, where are the messenger birds again?”

As they slipped away to find them, Yong Hwarin shouted.

“W-wait! Hold on a second!”

As Yong Hwarin rushed out to stop them, the three burst into laughter.