Hefei, Anhui Province.
The Huai River flowed to the north and the Yangtze River flowed to the south, and the breathtaking scenery of Chao Lake could be seen from atop the city walls—it was the largest city in all of Anhui.
Befitting its renown, countless powers and families were arrayed throughout the city, and foremost among them was the Namgung Clan.
But now.
Strange rumors were flowing out of Hefei's inns and taverns.
"I hear the Azure Sky Sword King was defeated."
"Is that true? The head of the Namgung family, who has never been bested by anyone, was defeated?"
"That is what they say. And on top of that, word has it that the Martial Alliance has begun the process of dissolution."
"The Martial Alliance? What on earth—how?"
"Well, you see......"
Stories one could scarcely avoid hearing while walking through the market streets.
The listeners and the tellers came in all shapes and sizes, but the substance of what they said was largely the same.
As the people of Hefei were thus learning firsthand the power of rumors that traveled without feet.
The Namgung Clan's estate was enveloped in a heavy silence.
"......"
"Hmm."
A meeting hall set up in a side wing.
Representatives of both the Inner Hall and Outer Hall of the Namgung Clan had gathered together in silence.
Those who bore the Namgung name and those who had devoted their lives to the clan.
What bound these people—close as family—in uncomfortable silence was, of course, the rumors that had blown in from Shaanxi Province.
"Can that story really be true?"
"Fool! Do not ever let such drivel pass your lips again!"
The moment someone broached the subject, a thunderous rebuke crashed down.
The young warrior who had spoken up flinched, but a rebuttal came from an unexpected quarter.
"We cannot do that, Brother. The very reason we have all gathered here is because of those rumors, is it not?"
"Jahwan! Do you truly believe that nonsensical hearsay has even a shred of merit?"
"Brother Jachun."
A man with the countenance of a glacier spoke evenly.
Song Jahwan, the Wind-Crossing Sword Hand.
He was the chief steward who commanded the Namgung Clan's Outer Hall.
"I, too, find those rumors distasteful to even speak of. But there is always the possibility of the unexpected in the affairs of the world, is there not?"
"So you truly believe—you actually believe—that our lord was defeated!"
The one roaring as though ready to strike Song Jahwan at any moment was a man with the bearing of an active volcano.
Im Jachun, the Light Wheel Blade—Namgung Un's foremost right hand and the man known as Hefei's Greatest Bladesman.
"Brother Jachun, anything can happen in the martial world. And furthermore......"
"Furthermore, what!"
"If the stories surrounding this incident are all true, then our lord's defeat is not entirely out of the question."
"You......!"
"Brother Jachun, if all the accounts are true, then that man took the life of the Blood Sky Demon, Cheon Muyeol."
At Song Jahwan's words, the air in the hall grew heavier still.
Even Im Jachun, his face twisted with displeasure, could only grind his teeth. He could not bring himself to argue that such a thing was trivial.
"That man reportedly used the late Alliance Leader's dying will as a pretext to demand that Yellow Dragon Fortress be handed over in its entirety. Our lord objected and requested that the matter be settled by the sword. And then......"
"Jahwan, that is enough. The young lord is listening as well."
"No, it is fine."
A voice cut in the instant Im Jachun finished speaking.
The weight of the conversation shifted to the young man in the blink of an eye.
"Young Lord......"
"Chief Steward Song has summarized the key points well. If all the circulating accounts are true, then it is certain that Father was defeated in his duel with that man."
"Mmm......!"
Im Jachun let out a pained groan, his face a mask of discomfort.
Namgung Jin, heir to the Namgung Clan, continued with a hardened expression.
"Then what we must do is clear. First, we must confirm Father's safety."
"The Young Lord is right."
"Therefore, I will depart for Shaanxi Province at once."
Song Jahwan, who had just agreed with Namgung Jin, suddenly looked troubled.
"Young Lord, that is somewhat......"
"The Namgung Clan is the Azure Sky Sword King, and Father is the Namgung Clan. What not only all of you but every member of the family must always prioritize above all else is Father's safety."
"You are absolutely right, of course, but at times like these, should not someone remain to guard the household?"
"That is also correct. Which is why I would ask you to do so, Chief Steward Song."
"Young Lord......!"
Song Jahwan broke into a cold sweat, his face fraught with difficulty.
Only now did he realize that Namgung Jin had intended this from the very start.
'At first glance he seems cool and composed, yet within he harbors an explosive intensity. He truly is the spitting image of our lord.'
Meanwhile, Im Jachun—who had been scowling—seemed pleased with the young lord's resolve and erupted into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha! As expected of the Young Lord! Of course you should go in person, confirm our lord's well-being, and take vengeance on that damned wretch!"
"Brother Jachun......!"
"Shut your mouth for once, Jahwan. In our lord's absence, the Young Lord's will is the will of the clan. No one here has the right to stand in his way."
In truth, that was not entirely accurate.
Setting aside Clan Lord Namgung Un, there was one other person who could overrule Namgung Jin's wishes.
'But......'
Inevitably having to inform her of her husband's defeat and asking her to dissuade her own son—that was something Song Jahwan simply could not bring himself to do.
Having read Song Jahwan's thoughts, Namgung Jin preempted him.
"I would prefer that nothing be said to Mother, Chief Steward Song."
"......"
"Please do not worry too much. As Captain Im says, I am not going to seek vengeance against that man. And besides...... as I mentioned, there is still a possibility that the rumors themselves are false."
"......Yes, Young Lord."
Song Jahwan answered in a deflated tone.
He knew the truth as well.
While the martial world was rife with all manner of absurd rumors, ones this consistent and this specific were more often than not true.
But how could a retainer bring himself to say such a thing aloud?
All he could do was pray that Namgung Jin would act wisely.
It was precisely at that moment that an uninvited visitor burst through the doors in a frantic rush.
"Young Lord! The men who accompanied our lord to Yellow Dragon Fortress have returned!"
"......!"
The hall erupted into agitation.
Namgung Jin raised a hand to calm his retainers, then spoke with a composed expression.
"Bring just one of them here as a representative."
"Yes, sir!"
Before long, the man who entered the hall was none other than Sim Sohwan, the Lightning Wheel Sword.
Upon seeing him, Im Jachun's eyes blazed with fire once more.
"Sohwan! What in the world happened? Is our lord safe?"
"Fortunately, there is no threat to his life."
An answer laden with implications.
With that, the street rumors were confirmed as fact.
Im Jachun's face crumpled accordingly.
"Damn it all! You were at our lord's side—how could you let this happen?"
"I have no words to offer."
Sim Sohwan's answer was directed not at Im Jachun but at Namgung Jin.
Silencing Im Jachun with a look, Namgung Jin replied with a stony expression.
"Was the duel something Father insisted upon?"
"It was. However, I believe there was a degree to which that man covertly steered things in that direction."
"That man—you mean......?"
"Dan Sahyeok."
Sim Sohwan's voice spread through the silence like a tremor.
"First-Class Warrior of the Martial Alliance's Gansu Province branch, the man who took the life of the Blood Sky Demon Cheon Muyeol, master of the Blood Dragon Blade, and Lord of Yellow Dragon Fortress."
"Dan Sahyeok......!"
"He truly defeated the Blood Sky Demon? A mere First-Class Warrior?"
"He did, Light Wheel Blade. And as you well know, concealing or misrepresenting one's true level is an everyday occurrence in the martial world."
"Hmm!"
"I am told he demanded that Yellow Dragon Fortress be surrendered entirely. Is that true as well?"
"It is, Young Lord."
Sim Sohwan answered.
"He said he would grant a period of grace, and that all current members of the Martial Alliance were to vacate Yellow Dragon Fortress."
"All members of the Martial Alliance......"
"Were to vacate?"
The people exchanged horrified glances.
They had already heard about this through the rumors, but having it confirmed in person struck like a hammer blow.
"But...... why?"
"That I cannot say, Chief Steward Song. He was not inclined to explain."
"If Father is safe, that is enough."
At Namgung Jin's words, everyone in the hall snapped to attention.
The revelation was shocking and the questions it raised were inescapable, but as he said, what mattered most in the end was the safety of Clan Lord Namgung Un.
"You have worked hard running here at full speed, Captain Sim."
"I am deeply ashamed, Young Lord. If there is any consolation, our lord's condition had improved to some extent by the time we departed. He may well have awakened by now."
"I see. Understood. You must be exhausted from racing here. Please go and rest."
"Understood."
One might have expected a polite refusal or two, yet Sim Sohwan complied immediately.
A testament to the fact that he had wrung out every last ounce of his strength to get here.
Indeed, the spot where he had stood was faintly damp with fallen sweat.
"Young Lord, what will you do now?"
"What do you mean, what will he do, Brother?"
Song Jahwan cut in, knowing full well it was no way to address the heir.
Im Jachun glared at Song Jahwan, making his displeasure blatantly clear.
"What do you mean? Obviously, he must go to our lord!"
"You still insist on going to Xi'an, even knowing our lord is safe?"
"Of course! Is that not the duty of a son?"
"In that case."
Namgung Jin's voice drove itself between the two.
"If I chose to stay and guard this place, I would be a worthless wretch who abandoned his filial duty. Is that what you mean?"
"Th-that is......!"
"That is what you are saying, Captain Im."
At Namgung Jin's cold and measured words, Im Jachun's face broke out in a cold sweat.
"I-I am sorry, Young Lord. That was not what I meant. I was merely......"
"I agree with you."
"Pardon?"
"If I sat on my backside here in Hefei after hearing this, I could not even call myself a son. I will go to Father at once."
"Y-Young Lord!"
This time it was Song Jahwan's turn to be flustered.
Namgung Jin turned to him with an apologetic smile.
"Please understand, Chief Steward Song. I give you my word that I will exercise the utmost caution."
"Splendid, Young Lord! That is precisely what the heir to the Namgung Clan should do!"
"Brother Jachun!"
"Do not worry so much, Jahwan. I will protect the Young Lord with my life."
"No. I will not be taking Captain Im."
"Pardon?"
When Im Jachun balked yet again, Namgung Jin spoke firmly.
"The party will be limited to the minimum number of people. The rest of you will remain here and assist Chief Steward Song with your full effort."
"B-but......"
"My mind is made up. If you wish to overrule me, you will have to bring Father himself."
When Namgung Jin declared this in no uncertain terms, everyone in the hall had no choice but to acquiesce.
Song Jahwan let out an inward sigh and asked carefully.
"Then who do you intend to take with you, Young Lord?"
"That would be......"