Reincarnated Sword Ghost-Chapter 9 : Five Star Gate

Five Star Gate
The day of the duel tournament dawned.
As the head of the household had stressed multiple times, it seemed to be an extremely important event.
Even the low-rank warriors wore resolute expressions since morning.
Rumor had it they had lost the previous tournament, so there was an even more somber air this time.
'Honestly, it's understandable.'
Jeong-un nodded, recalling the Yu household's Ascending Dragon Sword Technique.
It was hard to imagine defeating other martial artists with such a crude sword technique.
"Let's move!"
At Yu Geum-ryong's gesture, one of the warriors at the front shouted energetically.
As the main gate opened, everyone began moving forward.
The duel tournaments with Five Star Gate had continued for ten years, alternating locations each time at each other's training hall.
This time, it would be held at Five Star Gate.
Since they had lost the last tournament, that meant the Yu household had suffered defeat in their own home ground.
'So that's why they're all grinding their teeth.'
Although there were several mid-sized and small military halls in the area, Yu household and Five Star Gate were the largest.
Naturally, they had to compete for interests, but the Mount Hua Sect had mediated so that they resolved their conflict with an annual duel tournament instead.
'Mount Hua Sect...'
One of the nine great orthodox sects, a rival of Wudang and the world's greatest sword sect.
Whenever the name of Mount Hua came up, even Jeong-un's normally arrogant siblings bowed their heads as if meeting their ancestors.
Even the head of household, who was so strict with Jeong-un.
'I wonder how strong a disciple of Mount Hua would be.'
What Jeong-un actually looked forward to was meeting Mount Hua's elder, who was said to attend as a guest.
Of course, it was unlikely he would get to see even a fragment of the elder's martial arts.
However, even just witnessing a peerless master was said to give one insight.
"Don't get in the way. Move."
Just then, hearing a voice from behind, Jeong-un quietly stepped aside.
Yu Dong-ryong brushed past, almost bumping into him.
He clearly didn't like Jeong-un accompanying them to the duel tournament.
'I think he said he would participate in the tournament.'
Thanks in part to his claim of mastering the Ascending Dragon Sword Technique, Yu Dong-ryong was chosen to fight Five Star Gate.
Though he was thrilled by the head's decision, he also started to look visibly nervous.
Jeong-un thought Yu Dong-ryong's little outbursts were also due to nerves.
'Well, that's natural.'
Empty carts make the most noise.
Jeong-un nodded as if understanding.
'... But it feels like a waste of time.'
It would take about half a day to get to Five Star Gate.
The head and bloodline family members rode horses, which was convenient, but Jeong-un actually preferred walking.
At least walking would build stamina.
Just riding without being able to train felt agonizing.
'It's fortunate I learned One Illumination Movement Technique.'
One Illumination Movement Technique was gradually settling in his body.
Not only could he naturally circulate true ki, but his unconscious breathing itself became energy circulation.
Although his internal energy was still lacking, the pure quality of it gave his whole body boundless strength.
'By now, I would have swung my sword at least five thousand times.'
Since he learned to control internal energy, he'd begun training with energy embedded in his sword.
Though he repeated the Three Talent Sword Technique as before, his improvements were on another level.
The more he repeated it, the more elastically the true ki flowed through his meridians.
Moreover, imbuing energy into the sword was another story altogether.
A sword is more delicate than the human body.
Jeong-un realized that.
'Every moment is precious...'
Jeong-un accompanying them to this duel tournament was quite exceptional.
Though he wasn't participating, there was an order from the head to observe at his side.
Servants were gossiping that perhaps he was finally being acknowledged as a true family member, but Jeong-un only found such attention burdensome.
He just wanted to train quietly for now.
'Maybe I should have insisted on staying behind, even if I had to make a fuss.'
He shook his head at the fleeting thought.
He was already wary of the head's gaze.
For now, he had to quietly follow orders.
'Still, I should avoid ending up living with my wife's family.'
* * *
Even though it was obvious they were from the Yu household, the Five Star Gate gatekeeper kept them waiting in front of the gate for quite a while.
Naturally, it is proper for a sect's gatekeeper to handle outsiders strictly.
But not opening the gate quickly despite knowing it was a planned visit was something else.
"These rude bastards!"
"... Don't make a fuss over trifles."
Unable to stand it anymore, Yu Eun-ryong ground his teeth and shouted,
but Yu Jungho, expressionless, raised a hand in restraint.
His demeanor suggested he had expected something of the sort.
Yet even in Yu Jungho's eyes, there was a simmering fury.
Jeong-un even sensed the energy field around Yu Jungho flickering ever so slightly.
It was something he had come to notice after learning One Illumination Movement Technique.
'To hide one's emotions, you have to thoroughly control even your energy.'
Or just not let it leak out at all from the start.
He had learned something new. From behind, Jeong-un quietly nodded.
Creak—
"Please come in."
At last, Five Star Gate's gate swung open and the gatekeeper appeared, extending his palm to motion them inside.
There was no hint of apology for making them wait so long.
Jeong-un overhead Yu Geum-ryong quietly whispering to a bristling Yu Eun-ryong.
"They're just trying to play childish games of psychological warfare. Don't let it shake you."
"Hmph, I know that much."
Beyond the gate, a wide training hall came into view.
They passed through the training hall and into the inner quarters, where Five Star Gate's sect leader stood, arms clasped behind his back, smiling broadly as though he had been waiting a long time.
"It seems my disciple erred. I ordered him to alert me when distinguished guests arrived, but it seems you waited until I finished my business."
"No harm. It's right to finish pressing matters first."
"Just recently, I obtained some rare tea leaves. The aroma is good, with a pleasant bitterness—truly exquisite."
In short, he was saying he'd kept them waiting to drink tea.
The gatekeeper's 'mistake' was an obvious excuse—he had clearly been baiting them on purpose.
"....."
Glancing over at Yu Eun-ryong trembling in rage, it seemed his ploy worked.
Yu Jungho stared at Five Star Gate Leader for a moment, then slowly replied.
"... I'm curious what leaves are so precious they're worth setting aside time to drink."
"Would you care to try some at the evening banquet?"
"I won't decline."
"Ha ha, then I'll prepare in advance..."
"But I think it would be better to drink it tomorrow. The taste felt as though it would go nicely with the sweetness of victory."
"...."
"Then, I'll see you at the banquet."
With Five Star Gate Leader speechless and a crack appearing on his face, Yu Jungho simply turned away.
Just then, Five Star Gate's chief steward, who had been watching, hurried over as if he had been waiting for this moment.
It was clear he wanted to prevent the atmosphere from freezing over before the duel even started.
"I'll show you to your quarters."
The guest lodgings prepared for them were quite spacious.
They were given an entire large pavilion—enough for the whole Yu household and tastefully decorated too.
"I thought they would purposefully put us somewhere shabby."
"There's no way. They probably gave us the best place to show off that they're better off than we are."
Yu Geum-ryong responded gently to Yu Dong-ryong's muttering.
As Yu Dong-ryong flushed in embarrassment and tried to say something else, no one listened.
At that moment, Yu Jungho, leading the way, suddenly turned sharply.
"We must!"
His voice was cold as ice.
"... Win. Remember, this is no mere contest."
Jeong-un felt the energy field surrounding him burn like fire.
As expected, Yu Jungho was seething inside.
Just then, the voice of a servant called from outside.
"The Gate Leader asks that the honored guests be brought to the banquet hall, as preparations are complete."
* * *
Despite darkness already having fallen, the banquet hall was as bright as day, so many lamps had been lit.
Three seats of honor stood at the head table: Five Star Gate Leader and Yu Jungho sat on either side, leaving the central seat empty.
The children of Five Star Gate and the Yu household sat facing each other,
while Jeong-un quietly took a seat at the end of Yu household's group.
Jeong-un glanced at the empty seat in the center.
It was clear it was reserved for Mount Hua's elder.
"But there's an unfamiliar face this time."
Five Star Gate Leader smiled as he spoke.
He was looking at Jeong-un.
"I am Yu Jeong-un."
Jeong-un lowered his head slightly and gave a polite martial salute from his seat.
Five Star Gate Leader nodded quite pleased and said to Yu Jungho,
"I've heard that the Yu household's youngest master achieved great attainment from ten years of closed-door training—is it true?"
"...."
It was public knowledge that Jeong-un had just lazed around in his room without coming out.
Yu Jungho's face twitched at the blatant mockery.
Yu Dong-ryong scowled and even shot a glare at Jeong-un.
'It's not like I came here by choice.'
Jeong-un calmly turned his head.
Letting every little word hurt you didn't seem very martial artist-like.
"I only brought him along to broaden his horizons. He won't be participating in this duel."
"Haha, I see."
The conversation then proceeded smoothly enough.
Several hollow remarks and formalities were exchanged before talk turned to the Murim Alliance, the Evil Faction, and similar affairs.
"There has been an increase in banditry. Despite merchant guilds hiring guards, their strength and numbers are lacking."
"It's not just the merchant guilds—the ordinary populace is also threatened. The foundation of the nation is its people."
"Therefore, our role is vital. The authorities are far too short-handed. Our Five Star Gate views this especially seriously."
These were important matters.
In fact, that was the reason this duel tournament started in the first place.
Two similarly-sized sects existing not far from one another.
A time when, due to constant bad harvests, the line between people and bandits was blurred.
Big and small merchant guilds hired guards for protection, but sometimes martial artists beyond their means would attack.
If you can't tell bandit from villager, a martial artist can become a bandit at any time.
As a result, countless individuals and groups needed guards,
which led military halls like Five Star Gate and Yu household to wield strong influence.
Naturally, the two became archrivals.
It was widely accepted that without Mount Hua's mediation, one sect would have disappeared already.
Right then, the banquet hall doors swung open and a servant burst in without decorum.
Five Star Gate Leader's face twisted in annoyance as he began to speak, but the servant shouted hastily.
"Th-the Elder of Mount Hua has arrived!"
"What?!"
The banquet hall was thrown into an instant uproar.
Nearly everyone except Jeong-un jumped to their feet at once.
'... He hasn't even come in yet.'
Jeong-un gazed around at the others with a somewhat bored expression.
He wondered where all the posturing about the nation and its people had gone.
He was also curious.
Everyone here was vividly discernible to Jeong-un's senses.
With every little word or gesture, their bodies and the subtle energy around them wavered, as if their emotions were shaking.
To be honest, it seemed almost embarrassing.
'It's practically like being naked.'
That's why, since he started cultivating his energy, Jeong-un had strived to keep his own aura in order.
He wondered just what it would be like to stand before an elder of a great sect.
At that moment, the elder of Mount Hua finally entered the banquet hall.
"It's been a long time. I'm deeply moved and at a loss for words that you would grace such a lowly place with your presence."
Five Star Gate Leader promptly stepped forward, saluted, and bowed his head,
followed by everyone else bowing in unison.
'... Wow.'
The Mount Hua elder appeared about the same age as Five Star Gate Leader or Yu Jungho,
but his face was smooth and radiant.
His robes, while not flashy, were clearly high-quality.
But what astonished Jeong-un was something else.
'So this is a master's aura.'
He could see that the elder maintained his energy in perfect order, just as Jeong-un did.
Yet, that energy was so vivid Jeong-un could feel it as if he were seeing it.
Just witnessing it made him feel reverent.
At that moment, as the Mount Hua elder, with a faint smile, surveyed the room, his eyes met Jeong-un's.
"... Hm?"
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】