〈 Murim Alliance Meeting (2) 〉
No matter how you look at it, it’s strange.
Hugo seriously analyzed the current situation.
‘Now—let’s think about it objectively. About a person named Ha Seung-hoon.’
First of all, his current status was that of the Zhuge Dynasty’s gourmet.
He is trusted enough to come to this place to help the family he is indebted to.
‘The realm is at the peak of its peak. It’s an incredibly high level compared to someone in their early to mid twenties.’
Considering that even those with martial arts qualifications usually reach their peak in their thirties, and that it is a level they cannot reach in their lifetime if they do not have talent, I was able to see how amazing it was.
So is that the cause?
‘…I think it’s a little weak to that extent.’
Although it is extremely rare, the world is wide and there are many geniuses, so it is not a case of non-existence.
Didn’t the Namgung family’s Sogaju reach the same level in his mid-twenties?
In addition, they were secretly treating the rare disease of Huang Sun, who was entrusted to the Zhuge family’s Jin Jade Leaf and Shaolin Temple, but since they were very concerned about security, it would not have been known already.
Then, of course, that reaction is…
‘I guess this got caught?’
The road to where the opening ceremony of this meeting is held.
Hugo smiled wryly, turning his head slightly to avoid the expectant gaze of something observing him with bright eyes from a little distance away.
No matter how you look at it, those curious eyes were not simply given to talented people with better skills for their age.
No, if it were just that, you could think of it as an interest in someone who is more talented than your brother, but…
‘If you add that kind of reaction to it.’
By the side of Namgung So-ran, who is still looking at her with interest as if her head is full of flowers, is the So-ga-gwang of the Namgung family, who is restraining her from running wild.
As if he had been properly educated as the next head of the family, he didn’t show it on the outside and was feigning calmness, but he couldn’t fool Hugo’s senses, whose perception ability was far beyond the normal peak level.
‘They’re on guard here. ‘That’s quite excessive.’
It was not a soft emotion like jealousy towards someone who was better than oneself or a desire to win over a rival.
Rather, it could be said to be closer to the attitude one would have when dealing with a dangerous molecule whose actions are unknown in the future.
I was able to be certain as I watched him stay alert so that he could respond immediately no matter where and when something unexpected happened.
That they already know something about themselves.
‘…It’s not like there are no guesses at all.’
Hugo sighed softly and recalled a previous meeting.
The head of the Namgung family and one of the absolute masters who made a name for themselves in the past.
Immediately after meeting the swordsman Namgung-woo, I met his gaze as if he was dissecting me piece by piece.
Since it was rude to carelessly show off your energy to someone you were meeting for the first time, I didn’t feel any special movement of energy at the time, but considering the difference in level between him and Hugo, it wouldn’t have been surprising if they had discovered his identity through some unknown method.
No matter what anyone says, isn’t the other person a warrior of the Hyeongyeong, a state that transcends humans?
‘I took that into account and tried to be as careful as possible, but I guess that wasn’t enough for Hyeon-kyung.’
In the past, Harley had a history of identifying awakened people just by shaking hands, so he always kept in mind the possibility of his identity being revealed to Go Soo.
I didn’t know it would come out this way, but…
“Ha, Confucius, are you okay? “Is there anything you’re worried about?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. “I was thinking about something else for a moment.”
“If you’re not feeling well, you can go in and rest.”
“Hahaha, you can’t do that from day one. “When else would you meet such great people if not in a place like this?”
“…There is a lot of time ahead…”
“But there is something called symbolism.”
Hugo shook his head and joked at the words of Zhuge Junghyuk, who was accompanying him.
In fact, even though it was a meeting, the people in charge of each force separately exchanged information and discussed important issues, and it was not a meeting with everyone in one place or a grand banquet.
All it did was provide a place where each person could interact and socialize with the people they wanted for a certain period of time.
‘Well, it’s an event hosted by a famous temple, so why even hold a party?’
So, the holding ceremony was just a formality, but since this was also a tradition in its own way, it could not be completely ignored.
Moreover, since it is the first day, everyone who participated in this meeting will be gathered in one place, so what better opportunity could there be to understand the current situation of powerhouses?
‘Okay, let’s focus on this work first. It seems like the Namgung family has no intention of making my identity public right now. … Well, even if it turns out to be true, it doesn’t really matter.’
In the first place, there could be no perfect secret in the world as long as the Zhuge family already knew about it.
With this treatment, Shaolin Temple may have gained some insight.
If they had been worried about that in the first place, not only the high elf Harris but also the barbarian warrior Harley would have entered with more thorough camouflage.
After rationalizing himself like that, Hugo turned his head with a much more at ease and made direct eye contact with Zhuge Junghyuk, who was looking at him with strange eyes.
The master of the Zhuge family flinched as if he was embarrassed by something and began to carefully look around.
“Is there anything you want to say?”
Hugo, who felt uncomfortable for no reason, asked a question first, and Jegal Jung-hyuk, who hesitated for a moment, then spoke carefully.
“…When did you become friends with Namgung Sojeo?”
“…….”
“No, as far as I know, I don’t think the two of you had much contact. It seems like you suddenly became very close after the first day… hmm. There is no particular meaning. “I was just wondering what happened.”
Hugo’s eyes narrowed at the sight of him rambling to himself even though he didn’t say anything.
‘I don’t know, man.’
Somehow, he was becoming more and more unsavory.
***
As I had first guessed, the ceremony ended simply and without anything special.
Leader-level workers from each faction disappeared somewhere while conversing among themselves, and those who remained freely roamed around the prepared area and spent time interacting with each other.
You can just talk, compete against each other in a separate sparring hall, or just go back to your dorm and rest.
It was literally a situation where a place was prepared just for social gathering.
This policy was decided after determining that simply understanding each other through various methods would help achieve harmony.
Of course, since a group of people with different ages, hobbies, hobbies, and level of martial arts were gathered in one place, there was a possibility that friction would arise and the relationship would deteriorate.
Still, the fact that this meeting continued despite the side effects means that it achieved more than that.
What played a significant role in such a policy was the formation of personal connections among late-term indices who would become the main players in the future situation.
“Amitabha Buddha’s Theravada is called resonance. “I would like to once again express my gratitude to the donors who traveled this far to be here.”
“It was nothing. If this were not the case, when would we visit the Shaolin Temple called Taesanbeukdu of Wulin?”
“you’re right. After coming out into this wide world and experiencing it, I feel ashamed of the fact that I have been a frog in a well. “I think I now understand why the adults in this group said those things.”
“Hahaha! That’s the same for me too. I thought my brother was the best player in the midfield, but I broadened my perspective, right? Oh, by the way, I am Peng Wonso from the Peng family! “This is really nice!”
In a place where most mature adults reside, the number of young late-stage exponents was not very large.
Naturally, they gathered where their peers were, and that’s how they exchanged greetings and got to know each other.
“Rather than that, it looks like the Moyong family and the Kunlun family will not be participating as expected. “I wish I could have seen it this time.”
“ah! I know the circumstances of Mo Yong-se. The closest thing to that place is our Panga, so we hear news from time to time, but this time, with a large horde of demonic bandits sweeping through Liaoning, they don’t have the time to pay attention to anything else. “Hebuk is also busy preparing for that.”
“Well, the distance is so far away that I can’t help you. “I guess I can only pray that I get through it well.”
Although there were some people who knew each other because the distance was close, most of them had never seen each other before, so the conversation was conducted cautiously and politely.
Murim Alliance meetings are events held approximately every 4 to 5 years.
Other than this time, there were not many opportunities for people who were far apart to get to know each other, so they were all interested in each other and actively engaged in conversation.
But there are bound to be weird people everywhere.
“You seem to be busy fighting with barbarians in the outskirts. “I hope they continue to fight among themselves and pay no attention to this side.”
There was momentary silence at the man’s suddenly loud voice.
However, even in such a cold atmosphere, the culprit, the person from Sacheondangmun, just shamelessly raised his head and glanced at the audience as if asking.
“…Now that I think about it, it hasn’t even been opened this time. “But I heard that Hoo Gae personally came to the last meeting.”
“The circumstances are obvious, but it must be difficult.”
“…Well, I guess it can’t be helped.”
The crowd’s response to him was to not make an effort to react.
Since everyone had been thoroughly trained not to cause friction within their respective factions, they were concerned that they might get caught if they stepped forward carelessly.
“Isn’t that a good thing? Even if the beggars came, there would only be a dirty smell. “If you go out now, beggars are all over the place, so what kind of beggars are learning martial arts… Tsk.”
Of course, the childish boy who had been forced into a position he didn’t want didn’t pay any attention to such circumstances.
Words and actions that cruelly shatter the hopes of a family that had hoped that things would change a little once they went out and experienced the big world.
It must be even more heartbreaking because he seemed to grow up calmly while he was with the adults when he came here.
‘It’s a typical cliché. A guy like that will cause trouble later on.’
Hugo, who was quietly watching the scene from a step away, tilted his head and stroked his chin with a serious expression.
For the first time in a long time, his cliché detector was reacting loudly.
Doesn’t it feel like foreshadowing is being laid out one by one?
‘I’m anxious. It feels like something is going to happen at any moment.’
The main purpose of following him to this meeting was to collect as much information and actual conditions of each region as possible.
At the same time, there was also an aim to expand influence by building friendly relationships with each power.
However, a sudden ominous feeling began to creep up my ankles, and somehow I could not keep up with my steps.
Although his physical level is not that high, his mind has already reached a distant level. There is no benefit in ignoring his intuition…
“Ha, Confucius! “What are you doing here alone?”
The moment I was thinking that.
That anxiety became reality in the clear voice of Namgung So-ran, who approached me with a bright expression.
As soon as she finished speaking, all eyes around her turned in this direction.
In a place where young people gathered, a beautiful woman could not help but become the object of attention, and the men gathered here were also secretly keeping an eye on her.
Even so, in a situation where the ratio of women was not high, she was the center and they all hung out together.
I couldn’t bear to approach the Geumnam’s social gathering first, so I was just waiting for an opportunity to talk to him, but there was a man in the middle of it all, Namgung So-ran, who showed interest first…
‘Oh my.’
And among those gazes was the one from Sacheondangmun, who had been abusing aggro until just now.
Hugo sighed inwardly without realizing it and quietly closed his eyes.
“Oh! Confucius, are you still on friendly terms with these people? This is the Hwang Bo-segae, the Hwang Bo-yun Women’s Association, and this is the Ami faction…”
“Nice to meet you, Sohyeop.”
“Amitabha Buddha.”
She took the initiative and introduced me to the women I had been hanging out with.
I was grateful, but right now, I was smiling awkwardly, wishing I could cover up the bad time a bit, when suddenly my eyes met—.
‘Oh, this was intentional.’
Two eyes sparkling with interest.
Those obsidian-beautiful eyes were full of strange kindness and the will to never let him be quiet.
‘Actually, considering my purpose, this isn’t that bad.’
In this league of their own, it was not easy to talk to them on equal terms with only the status of ‘Jegal family’s gourmet’.
However, she, a lady from a famous family, not only introduces people to her connections but also attracts their attention like this.
‘Okay, it would be more efficient to use this. Rather, it worked out well.’
Actually, it wasn’t that difficult to deal with that childish guy who slowly started to start the engine with a frown on his face.
Hugo, having made up his mind, smiled at those who were looking at him.
“Where did you eat that…”
But before Danggi, who objected, could utter a few words.
Buzzing…
Suddenly, a chaotic commotion came from outside.
At the same time, an unexpected message was delivered inside.
“They say they are from the Kunlun Sect!”
With those words, the attention of not only the place where the late exponents gathered, but also other people’s attention was focused in that direction.
“In Kunlun?”
“Huh, how did you get here?”
“You would have had to make quite a few sacrifices to cover that distance, so why go to that length?”
That has to be the case.
Although the Kunlun faction was undoubtedly one of the nine factions, it was a faction located in Cheonghae Castle, on the outskirts of the central plains.
Considering the complex terrain, the distance from Kunlun School to Shaolin Temple is more than ten times the distance from Zhuge Dynasty.
When I thought about how many fights there had been on the way from the Zhuge family to here, I couldn’t help but gape.
Moreover, isn’t that a place where there are always fierce battles, so much so that it is said to be the front line against the Demonic Cult?
‘for a moment.’
However, the moment he heard the news, the sense of crisis tickling Hugo’s head rapidly expanded.
And in the next moment he realized that he had been completely mistaken.
‘Why did you think that the cause of the ominous situation was only the conflict between the late-stage indexes?’
In fact, their jealousy poses no threat to you.
Of course, no matter what they do, there is no chance of a crisis, so why would there be any reason to feel anxious?
‘Then this is it.’
In other words, the cause of the ominousness lay elsewhere.
For example….
[“All ready for battle! All Arhats to their positions!”]
A voice filled with inner strength rang loudly throughout the temple grounds.
And at the same time.
Kwaaaaang—!
With a huge explosion that shook the air.
A magical energy so powerful that it chilled Hugo’s senses began to rise like wildfire.