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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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Luoyang.
All sorts of joys and sorrows were embedded in that city with thousands of years of history.
Nicknames that usually followed when its name was called.
Ancient Capital of Nine Dynasties.
Center of the Earth.
City of Peonies…
Sima Guang, the historian of the Northern Song Dynasty who wrote the Zizhi Tongjian, described Luoyang thus:
He who wishes to know the rise and fall of ages past and present, go to Luoyang.
Like the various labels that followed Luoyang like a tail, Luoyang was a place that had experienced all the ups and downs a single city could endure.
And now, Luoyang was enjoying a new prosperity, having overcome the decline caused by the neglect of the Yuan and Ming dynasties.
Luoyang, where the power of the state and officials had always been absolute, leaving no room for Murim forces to intervene.
However, as the officials neglected Luoyang, a vacuum was created.
Just as air rushes in to fill a vacuum, Murim forces did not miss that void and filled it.
It was called the Murim Alliance.
The general headquarters of the Jianghu Murim, established 50 years ago in the wake of the calamity caused by the Blood Cult.
“Though that became an old tale with the emergence of the Black Martial Alliance.”
When Dan Un-ak appeared and founded the Black Martial Alliance, the Murim Alliance, which had encompassed the entire Jianghu, lost its influence over the Black Path and was reduced to a federation of only the White Path Murim.
Even so, the Murim Alliance was the Murim Alliance, and Luoyang was Luoyang.
Sucheon County, where the Black Martial Alliance, comparable to the Murim Alliance, was based, had also achieved growth that was like a sea change compared to its original state, but it was not on a level to be compared with Luoyang.
Doong-! Doong-! Doong-!
When Namgung-Woo and his party entered Luoyang, majestic drumbeats began to resonate.
Namgung-Woo turned his head and looked at the source of the sound.
A huge pavilion erected in the middle of the busiest central street.
It was the Drum Tower.
The Drum Tower, which announced the time by sounding drums installed at regular intervals, was a landmark of the era, like a symbol of a large city.
“It feels like the city itself is welcoming us.”
Yang Jeong, whose gaze was captivated by the splendid streets of Luoyang, said while looking around like a country bumpkin who had come to the capital for the first time in his life.
Was it because he had just entered the Peak Realm?
It seemed Yang Jeong hadn’t felt it yet.
“For a welcome, the gazes aren’t exactly friendly, though.”
The gazes, quiet yet persistent, observing their Azure Sky Group.
Only after hearing Geum-shin’s words did Yang Jeong seem to notice them and hastily straightened his posture.
His hand, which had unconsciously tried to grasp his sword hilt, stopped awkwardly at his waist as his conscious mind caught up belatedly.
Namgung-Woo, walking at the very front, stood still and spread his Qi sense widely.
Amidst the presences of ordinary commoners, the Qi waves of martial artists were felt.
Teobeok. Jeobeok. Tak, tak. Sabak. Cheoeok.
Different footsteps approached from all directions as if tightening around them.
Their attire was all different.
Some wore proper martial attire, while others were bare-chested, or conversely, wore armor patched to their chest or shoulders.
Not only their clothes but also their weapons were diverse.
Swords and sabers were basic, and there were even some carrying spears, which were quite strictly managed due to government restrictions.
There were also those carrying wooden staffs or short staffs like Geum-shin, and one or two were mixed in with unusual weapons like nine-section whips or qiankun rings.
Maces, guai, battle-axes, one-handed sabers and shields, etc.
It was truly a feast of all sorts of weapons in the world.
However, there were also martial artists with empty hands, carrying no weapons at all.
Perhaps not a single unified organization, they all appeared from different directions and then glanced at each other.
It felt as if they had accidentally encountered each other while pursuing the common goal of Namgung-Woo and the Azure Sky Group.
During the short standoff, as if the underlying power struggle had ended, a middle-aged martial artist with a spear that had blades on both ends of the shaft slung across his back walked forward.
Even in Namgung-Woo’s eyes, he was one of the strongest martial artists among those surrounding them.
At least among those treading the same ground.
“Are you the young hero Nam Woo?”
Namgung-Woo replied lightly to the martial artist’s question.
“You lack manners.”
Arrogant?
Not so.
Namgung-Woo had to be like that now.
He was not a weakling who had come to beg for help obsequiously.
He was the leader of a group called the Azure Sky Group, and a prospective Family Head who had decided to rebuild the Namgung Family in the future.
In that case, Namgung-Woo himself must never be looked down upon.
The middle-aged martial artist’s eyebrow twitched at Namgung-Woo’s words and actions.
The middle-aged martial artist, who had been narrowing his brow and slowly raising his Qi wave, let out a scoff as if finding it absurd.
“Fine. A rising talent should have that much spirit. Cheok Mu-hong of the Iligeumyeong Sledgehammer. Satisfied?”
Although Cheok Mu-hong revealed his name, Namgung-Woo, rather than replying in kind, took his gaze off him and scanned the surroundings.
Even without doing so, he could confirm the movements of everyone around with the ability of Ever-Clear Vision and his delicate Qi sense, but Namgung-Woo deliberately moved his head.
It was an act for show.
“You couldn’t have come just because you were curious about my name.”
They were people who had gathered knowing Namgung-Woo and the Azure Sky Group from the start.
To say they came just to hear a name would be too naive a thought.
And above all, an undisguisable fighting spirit, eager for a contest, emanated from them.
“Want to confirm it yourself? If it’s real?”
Namgung-Woo had heard on his way that the Murim Alliance had announced the hosting of a league meeting.
He had also expected that many martial artists would gather.
However, even if there were no league meeting, something like this would have happened.
After the Murim Alliance established itself in Luoyang, Luoyang gained one more nickname.
Martial Hometown.
A village of martial arts where all sorts of martial artists from the Nine Provinces of the world gathered.
Here, martial prowess was like one’s identity.
Even those from proper sects could not avoid this rite of passage when they first set foot in Luoyang.
Any martial artist had to prove their martial prowess before entering Luoyang.
Those with strong sects or families as their background would gather among themselves and perform the initiation ceremony, as like attracts like, but the Azure Sky Group was, after all, just a wanderer group.
Even if there was someone from the Hebei Peng Family, as long as they belonged to another organization, they were merely a member of that organization.
Harming Peng Ha-ryeong personally was burdensome, but touching the group called the Azure Sky Group was a separate matter.
If the Hebei Peng Family stepped in because a fight broke out with the Azure Sky Group, even if Peng Ha-ryeong wasn’t injured, it would be an act of tarnishing their own face.
A renowned wanderer group that didn’t have to worry about repercussions.
How appetizing must the Azure Sky Group have seemed to those who flaunted their martial arts and chased fame?
“Ptooey! No wonder. There were strangely many open spaces…”
“They lack a sense of reality. Or perhaps there are people instigating them from behind.”
Yang Kwai muttered, spitting roughly, unable to shake off his wanderer habits.
And Myorin, beginning to reveal her original rough nature.
As the two began to build up their Qi waves, rough Qi waves also sprouted from the martial artists surrounding them.
The open spaces created throughout Luoyang were like sparring grounds for them.
Those who enter Martial Hometown Luoyang shall prove their skill.
“I heard there’s an initiation ceremony when you go to Luoyang, but it seems quite rough.”
“It’s a very good culture. Yes. This is Jianghu.”
Peng Ha-ryeong and Geum-shin also stood firm without any sign of backing down.
Geum-shin was even looking forward to it, ready to draw his staff at any moment.
“Let’s move. Doing this on the main road doesn’t look good.”
When Namgung-Woo suggested it, Cheok Mu-hong accepted and said.
“There’s a decent training ground nearby. I’ll guide you there.”
The training ground they arrived at was already crowded with spectators.
They must have intended to bring them here from the beginning.
A quick scan of the surroundings revealed it was like a festival.
Stalls were set up selling food, and betting pools seemed to be open as people clamored about who to bet how much on.
“So this is Luoyang.”
A city where martial artists could be seen more commonly than anywhere else.
A city where the common people had completely assimilated into the Murim, and the lives of martial artists had become their daily lives.
Namgung-Woo clearly realized that this place was Martial Hometown, Luoyang.
“That’s right. Well then, shall we see that great skill that supposedly slew the Five Yin Demonic Emperor?”
As if intending to be the first to step forward, Cheok Mu-hong climbed onto the training ground and stood there.
However, Namgung-Woo had no intention of stepping forward himself.
If he personally stepped up to deal with such mere opponents, the reason for creating the Azure Sky Group would be rendered meaningless.
“Geum-shin, itching for a fight, aren’t you?”
“I’ve been waiting.”
“Go enjoy yourself.”
Namgung-Woo’s command.
It was the moment the Azure Sky Group announced its arrival in Luoyang.
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Near the training ground where the Azure Sky Group’s Luoyang initiation ceremony was taking place, a group of people were looking down at the training ground from the window side of an inn.
“Cheok Mu-hong of the Iligeumyeong Sledgehammer. I heard he’s a quite strong martial artist, who do you think will win?”
“Of course, that Geum-shin fellow. His fighting spirit is extraordinary. His hair is short, is he from some military unit?”
“Don’t you know? Geum-shin of the Azure Sky Group. He’s a warrior monk from Hwaseong Temple.”
“A warrior monk? That guy? Heh, the Buddha’s teachings have truly fallen to the ground.”
Neat green martial attire, unified in the same style.
And the character ‘맹 [Maeng – Alliance]’ embroidered on the left chest.
They were martial artists belonging to the Murim Alliance.
“But is it really true? About that fellow… Nam Woo. He looks so young. Did that fellow really kill that Five Yin Demonic Emperor?”
“I don’t find it easy to believe either, but the Zhuge Family says so, and there are so many witnesses who saw it directly, so it’s not something we can just disbelieve.”
“The Five Yin Demonic Emperor must be older than the Heonwon Family Head, wasn’t he weakened by old age?”
“Don’t judge by age alone. Have you forgotten the case of True Man Ha Gyeong?”
“True Man Ha Gyeong is from the Nine Great Sects, isn’t he? And he was taught by the former Cheongseong Sect Leader, a treasured sword the Cheongseong Sect deliberately forged. But that fellow…”
The Murim Alliance martial artists spoke without lowering their voices, and naturally, the content of their conversation reached the seats inside.
And someone, drawn by that conversation, rose from their seat and approached the martial artists who were exchanging thoughts among themselves.
“Excuse me, who did you say? I’d like to share my thoughts on that story too.”
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