Chapter 328: Murim Alliance Meeting (2) |
Something felt off.
Hugo analyzed the situation, his expression serious.
‘Let’s think objectively. About me, Ha Seung-hoon.’
He was currently a guest of the Zhuge Clan, trusted enough to accompany them on this important mission.
‘Early peak of the Master Realm. Quite impressive for someone in his early twenties.’
Most martial artists didn't reach that level until their thirties, and some never reached it at all.
Was that the reason for their reactions?
‘…It doesn’t seem like enough.’
While rare, there were other prodigies in the world.
He was also secretly treating Zhuge Hyemi and the imperial descendant, but he had been careful, so it shouldn't have been revealed yet.
Then the reason for their reactions…
‘…They know.’
As they walked towards the main hall where the opening ceremony would be held,
Hugo averted his gaze, a wry smile on his face, as he felt the curious stares of the others, their eyes sparkling with anticipation.
It wasn't just admiration for a talented young martial artist.
If it was just that, he could have dismissed it as simple curiosity…
‘But their reactions…’
Namgung So-ran, her eyes shining with a strange mixture of excitement and interest, was practically glued to his side, her brother, Namgung Hwang, barely managing to restrain her.
The Young Lord, as expected of the future Clan Leader, was maintaining a calm and composed facade… but he couldn't fool Hugo’s enhanced senses, which far surpassed that of an ordinary peak Master Realm expert.
‘He’s wary of me. Excessively so.’
It wasn’t jealousy or competitive spirit.
It was the kind of vigilance one would display towards a dangerous and unpredictable individual.
He was tense, ready to react to any sudden movement or attack.
They knew something.
‘…I have a feeling…’
Hugo sighed softly, recalling a previous encounter.
Namgung Woo, the retired Grand Elder of the Southern Palace Clan, one of the legendary masters of the previous generation.
He had felt a strange, probing gaze from him, as if he was being dissected and analyzed.
He hadn’t sensed any unusual energy fluctuations at the time, as it would have been rude to unleash his aura during their first meeting… but considering the vast difference in their levels, it wasn't strange for the Mysterious Realm expert to have some method of discerning his true nature.
‘I was careful, but it wasn’t enough against a Mysterious Realm expert.’
Harley had once identified an awakened individual just by shaking their hand. He had always been aware of the possibility of being exposed.
He just hadn’t expected it to happen like this.
“Young Master Ha, are you alright? Is something bothering you?”
“Ah, I’m sorry. I was just lost in thought.”
“You can rest in your quarters if you’re not feeling well.”
“Haha, I can’t do that on the first day. And when else would I have the chance to meet so many important people?”
“…There’s plenty of time…”
“But the opening ceremony is important.”
Hugo chuckled, dismissing Zhuge Junghyeok’s concern.
The meeting wasn’t a grand assembly or a lavish banquet. It was mostly informal discussions and information exchanges between the representatives of each faction.
It was simply a platform for socializing and building relationships.
‘Well, it’s a Shaolin Temple event, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to have a party.’
The opening ceremony was just a formality, but it was a tradition, so they couldn't ignore it.
And it was the first day, so everyone who was participating in the meeting would be gathered in one place. It was a perfect opportunity to assess the current situation in the Murim world.
‘I’ll focus on this for now. It doesn’t seem like the Southern Palace Clan is planning to expose me. …Well, it doesn’t really matter if they do.’
The Zhuge Clan already knew, so it wasn't a secret anymore.
And the Shaolin Temple might have also guessed something after his treatment of the imperial descendant.
If he had been truly concerned about secrecy, he would have made sure Harris and Harley were more thoroughly disguised.
He shrugged, feeling a bit more relaxed, then turned his head… and his gaze met Zhuge Junghyeok’s.
The young master of the Zhuge Clan seemed flustered, subtly observing him with a strange expression.
“Is there something you want to say?”
Hugo asked, feeling a bit uncomfortable, and Zhuge Junghyeok hesitated for a moment, then cautiously spoke.
“…Um, when did you become so close with Young Miss Namgung?”
“…”
“I mean… I don’t think you two had much interaction before. You seem to have become quite friendly since the first day… Ahem, I don’t mean anything by it. I was just curious.”
Hugo’s eyes narrowed at his rambling.
‘I don’t know either.’
He was starting to doubt Zhuge Junghyeok’s competence.
____________________
As expected, the opening ceremony was a simple and uneventful affair.
The leaders and representatives of each faction exchanged greetings and then dispersed, disappearing into various parts of the temple.
The remaining participants were free to roam the grounds, socialize, and interact with each other.
They could chat, spar in the designated training grounds, or just return to their quarters and rest.
It was a casual gathering, its purpose to promote harmony and understanding through informal interactions.
Of course, with such a diverse group of people, with different ages, personalities, interests, and martial arts styles, there was a chance of conflict and friction…
But the fact that this meeting had been held regularly for so long meant that the benefits outweighed the risks.
And one of the main benefits was the networking opportunities for the younger generation, the future leaders of their respective factions.
“Amitabha. I am Gongjin. I would like to express my gratitude to all of you for making this long journey.”
“Don’t mention it. When else would we have the chance to visit the Shaolin Temple, a pillar of the Murim world?”
“Indeed. Having ventured out into the wider world, I realize how narrow-minded I’ve been. I now understand why our elders emphasized the importance of broadening one’s horizons.”
“Hahaha! I feel the same way. I thought my brother was the greatest prodigy in the Central Plains, but now… I’ve changed my mind! By the way, I’m Peng Yuanshao from the Peng Clan! It’s a pleasure to meet you all!”
There weren’t many young martial artists among the mostly mature and experienced participants.
Naturally, they gravitated towards each other, exchanging greetings and getting acquainted.
“It seems the Murong Clan and the Kunlun Sect are absent. It would have been nice to meet them.”
“Ah, I know about the Murong Clan’s situation. Our Peng Clan is relatively close to them, so we occasionally hear news from them. They’re currently dealing with a large-scale bandit raid in Liaoning. Hebei is also busy preparing for potential attacks.”
“The distance is too great for us to offer any assistance. We can only pray for their safety.”
Some of them were acquainted, their territories close to each other, but most were meeting for the first time, so their conversations were polite and cautious.
The Murim Alliance meeting was held every four or five years.
It was a rare opportunity for those from distant locations to meet and interact, so they were all eager to make new connections.
But there were always exceptions.
“It seems the barbarians in the border regions are too busy fighting amongst themselves. I hope they stay there and leave us alone.”
A sudden, dismissive voice silenced the room.
But the culprit, Dang Hagi from the Sichuan Tang Clan, simply smirked and looked around the room, his chin held high, as if challenging them to react.
“…And the Beggars’ Sect is also absent. I heard their successor came personally last time.”
“It’s understandable, considering their current situation.”
“…Indeed.”
The others ignored him, pretending not to hear.
They had been instructed to avoid unnecessary conflicts, and they didn’t want to give him any excuse to start a fight.
“Good riddance. Those beggars would only stink up the place. There are plenty of beggars outside, why would they even bother learning martial arts… Tsk.”
But the immature brat, who had been dragged to this meeting against his will, didn't care.
His words and actions were a slap in the face to his clan, who had hoped that he would mature and broaden his horizons through this experience.
He had been relatively well-behaved while traveling with the elders…
‘A classic cliché. This type of character always causes trouble later.’
Hugo, observing the scene from a distance, stroked his chin thoughtfully, a serious expression on his face.
His cliché detector was buzzing.
It felt like foreshadowing.
‘This is unsettling. I have a bad feeling about this.’
His main objective for this trip was to gather information and assess the current situation in the Murim world.
And to build relationships with the various factions, expanding his influence.
But a sudden premonition, a chilling sense of unease, made him hesitate.
His physical abilities weren't particularly impressive, but his mental fortitude, honed through countless experiences, was far beyond ordinary. He couldn’t ignore his instincts…
“Young Master Ha! What are you doing here all alone?”
And as he was thinking that,
His unease turned into reality as Namgung So-ran, a bright smile on her face, approached him.
All eyes turned towards them as she spoke.
A beautiful woman was naturally the center of attention in a gathering of young martial artists, and the men in the room had been subtly observing her.
After all, women were a minority in this gathering, and she was the center of their social circle.
They had been waiting for an opportunity to approach her, but they hadn’t dared to intrude on their female-dominated group… and now, she had approached him.
‘Oh no.’
And among those watching them was Dang Hagi, the troublemaker from the Sichuan Tang Clan.
Hugo sighed inwardly and closed his eyes.
“Oh, you haven’t met everyone yet, have you? This is Lady Hwangbo Yoon from the Hwangbo Clan, and this is…”
“I-it’s a pleasure to meet you, Young Hero.”
“Amitabha.”
She introduced him to the other women she had been socializing with.
He appreciated the gesture, but he wished she had chosen a better time… He smiled awkwardly, and then his eyes met hers.
‘Ah, she did it on purpose.’
Her eyes, sparkling with amusement, were fixed on him.
Those beautiful, obsidian-like eyes held a strange mixture of kindness and… a mischievous glint, a promise of future… entertainment.
‘This actually works in my favor.’
As a mere guest of the Zhuge Clan, it wasn’t easy to interact with these influential figures on equal footing.
But now, she was introducing him to her connections, drawing attention to him…
‘Right, this is more efficient.’
Dealing with the immature brat from the Tang Clan wasn’t a problem.
Hugo smiled at the others, his expression friendly and approachable.
“And you are…?”
But before Dang Hagi could finish his sentence, his tone clearly hostile,
Murmur—
…a commotion erupted outside.
And an unexpected announcement followed.
“The Kunlun Sect has arrived!”
Everyone’s attention, not just the young martial artists’, shifted towards the entrance.
“Kunlun?”
“How did they get here?”
“They must have faced countless dangers on their journey. Why would they go through all that trouble?”
It was understandable.
The Kunlun Sect was one of the Nine Sects and One Gang, but they were located in Qinghai, a remote province far from the Central Plains.
Considering the treacherous terrain, the distance from Kunlun to Shaolin was over ten times the distance from the Zhuge Clan’s territory.
And Qinghai was on the front lines of the conflict with the Demonic Cult, a constant battlefield.
‘Wait.’
As he heard the news, the unsettling premonition that had been nagging at him intensified.
And then he realized his mistake.
‘Why did I assume it was just because of those petty rivalries?’
Their jealousy was meaningless to him. They weren’t a threat.
There was no reason for him to feel uneasy.
‘Then this is…’
The source of his unease was something else.
Something like…
[“Prepare for battle! All Arhats to your positions!”]
A voice, amplified by internal energy, boomed through the temple grounds.
And at the same time,
Kaboom—!
…A deafening roar shook the air, and a monstrous demonic aura, like a raging inferno, erupted, sending a chill down Hugo’s spine.