Geom Mugeuk came out of the Martial Alliance Treasury.
Jin Pae-cheon was waiting at the entrance, his back turned.
“Alliance Leader, I have come out.”
What did he bring out? Jin Pae-cheon was curious about his choice.
The moment he turned to look at Geom Mugeuk, Jin Pae-cheon's mind went blank for a brief instant.
In a real battle, it would have been dangerous enough to cost him his life; for a moment, he had no thoughts at all.
'The Gentleman’s Sword?'
Surprise washed over him.
Though he did not show it on his face, he was truly astonished.
He had almost let out a gasp of surprise.
"These are the three items I have chosen."
The Gentleman’s Sword was resting horizontally on Geom Mugeuk's outstretched arms.
On top of the Gentleman’s Sword rested a bottle of Clearstone Essence Oil, and beside it hung the Heavenly Maiden’s Dream.
Shocked, Jin Pae-cheon was speechless for a moment.
'He brought out the Gentleman’s Sword?'
He had never thought Geom Mugeuk would bring out the Gentleman's Sword.
The thought had never even crossed his mind.
Because the Gentleman’s Sword was a weapon that symbolized the Righteous Path.
It was a sword he himself had only ever looked at, never drawn.
'Is that really the Gentleman’s Sword before me?'
He looked again, and it was indeed the Gentleman’s Sword.
“Do you know what kind of sword that is?”
He asked just in case Geom Mugeuk had taken it without knowing its significance.
“Of course,” Geom Mugeuk said, looking down at the Gentleman’s Sword.
“It is the Gentleman’s Sword, the Greatest of All Time.”
His gaze, which had been on the sword, turned back to Jin Pae-cheon.
“I brought out the best sword of them all.”
Even though he had told him to choose whatever he wanted, he brought out the Gentleman’s Sword?
Jin Pae-cheon was flabbergasted and bewildered, to the point where he did not know how to process the situation.
Why had he not considered the possibility that Geom Mugeuk might choose this?
Jin Pae-cheon's gaze shifted to the Clearstone Essence Oil.
The most precious elixir of them all.
Perhaps because he was so shocked by the Gentleman's Sword, this felt less surprising.
Yes, he could give him the Clearstone Essence Oil.
He had saved his grandsons and, by extension, the fate of the Martial Alliance.
But the Gentleman's Sword was the symbol of the Righteous Path.
That sword was going into the hands of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect?
The martial artists of the Righteous Path would be in an uproar if they found out.
The repercussions might even be greater than when it was revealed that the Heavenly Wandering Hermit was a villain.
'I have to tell him no, even now.'
Jin Pae-cheon looked at Geom Mugeuk.
He was looking back with a mischievous face, as if he was very pleased.
Yes, he probably was pleased.
“What is that cloth?”
“It is a divine relic called the Heavenly Maiden’s Dream.”
Geom Mugeuk handed the Heavenly Maiden’s Dream, which had been draped over the sword, to Jin Pae-cheon.
“Three hundred years ago, it was an artifact from the Divine Maiden Palace, one of the three organizations that guarded the Heavenly Will Palace.”
Examining the Heavenly Maiden’s Dream, Jin Pae-cheon found nothing special about it.
'It has historical significance, but it is just a piece of cloth with no special properties.'
From Jin Pae-cheon’s expression and reaction, Geom Mugeuk could tell that he was the only one who could feel its sacred energy.
“May I ask why you chose this?”
“There is someone I want to give it to.”
Jin Pae-cheon returned the Heavenly Maiden’s Dream.
He did not ask who it was for.
That was not what was important.
He had to make a decision now.
Once they left this place, there was no turning back.
But in the end, Jin Pae-cheon did not say that he could not have the Gentleman’s Sword.
A promise was a promise.
And it was not just any promise.
It was a promise made by the Martial Alliance Leader to the Acting Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect.
“It was an excellent choice.”
Yes, how could it be a wrong decision for a martial artist who uses a sword to choose the Gentleman’s Sword?
Jin Pae-cheon shook off his lingering attachment and regret and sincerely congratulated Geom Mugeuk.
He resolved not to regret this choice.
It would not be a waste even if he gave him not just the Gentleman's Sword, but all the treasures and divine relics in that place.
Because he had saved his grandsons' lives.
If giving away the Gentleman’s Sword became a problem, he would gladly take responsibility.
This was his problem, not Geom Mugeuk's.
Now was the time to express his sincere gratitude.
“Thank you for what you did.”
Geom Mugeuk looked at Jin Pae-cheon with a touched expression before bowing his head respectfully.
"Please stay healthy for a long, long time and watch over us."
“Hey, you. Is that something the Young Cult Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect should say to the Martial Alliance Leader?”
The two of them looked at each other and laughed.
“Let us go back now.”
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
Geom Mugeuk tucked the Heavenly Maiden’s Dream and the Clearstone Essence Oil into his robes and fastened the Gentleman’s Sword to his waist.
Although Jin Pae-cheon had firmly decided to give it to him, his eyes unconsciously drifted to the Gentleman's Sword.
The attachment still lingered.
As he felt his heart waver again...
'Ah! I cannot be a gentleman!'
Jin Pae-cheon let out a wry laugh as he started walking.
Shhhh.
Just as when they entered, the fog within the formation parted on its own, creating a path.
“Are you going back now?”
“No. As I mentioned before, I plan to call my friends, have a celebratory banquet for Ha-gun, and then return.”
The first time he heard it, he thought it was just something he said.
It seemed he really intended to hold a celebratory banquet.
“If someone does not raise a flag and say, ‘Let us gather,’ we might never see each other again. I am usually the one who raises that flag.”
Jin Pae-cheon knew how difficult that was.
He himself was like that. 'I am Jin Pae-cheon, why should I? If you want to see me, you should contact me first.' Honestly, it would be a lie to say he did not have such thoughts.
“Why do you try so hard to gather?”
“Because I like it. I like my friends. I like Ha-gun, I like Young Alliance Leader Bi of the Unorthodox Alliance, and I like my other friends too. It is fun and enjoyable to see them. That is why I raise the flag. Of course, Alliance Leader, you might suspect that flag is a battle flag for the battlefield, but it is just a happy ‘everyone gather here’ flag.”
Jin Pae-cheon smiled faintly at Geom Mugeuk’s joke.
“Alliance Leader, do you not have friends like that?”
Geom Mugeuk asked, even though he was well aware of what happened with the Heavenly Wandering Hermit.
It was Geom Mugeuk’s effort, as always, not to let the wounds of the heart be buried, even if the body was.
If you have lost one friend, you should make a new one.
“Why do you not try raising a flag, even now?”
Jin Pae-cheon looked at Geom Mugeuk with a surprised face.
He wanted him to raise the flag himself?
“If the Alliance Leader raises a flag, the entire Martial World will be shocked, so you will have to write in big letters on it. ‘Absolutely no other meaning, this is a flag for fun!’”
Jin Pae-cheon laughed out loud.
Truly, Geom Mugeuk was probably the only person who could make him laugh like this.
And while wearing that Gentleman’s Sword, no less.
“If I raise a flag, who would come?”
Then, Geom Mugeuk mentioned people he had not expected.
“There is my father, is there not? And the Unorthodox Alliance Leader is also there.”
…
Geom Mugeuk added, as if he meant it sincerely.
“They might be secretly waiting for someone to raise a flag.”
With an expression that said he was hopeless, Jin Pae-cheon started walking again.
He thought it was nonsense, but he was suddenly reminded of the three-party meeting.
It had been more enjoyable than he expected.
Just as he thought it might be nice to gather again, Jin Pae-cheon flinched.
'What nonsense am I thinking!'
As the two of them emerged from the formation and walked through the inner courtyard, someone was waiting at the spot where he had parted with Jin Ha-ryeong earlier.
“Alliance Leader.”
The person who greeted Jin Pae-cheon politely was none other than Jin Ha-gun.
When he had entered the training grounds, he had ordered his subordinate. 'If Geom Mugeuk comes looking for the Alliance Leader, you must call for me.'
It was so he could see his face before Geom Mugeuk returned to the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect.
Jin Ha-gun asked Geom Mugeuk.
“Did you choose a good gift?”
He had heard from Jin Ha-ryeong that their grandfather had taken Geom Mugeuk to the Martial Alliance Treasury.
“I only brought out the most amazing things.”
Jin Ha-gun looked at the Gentleman’s Sword fastened on the opposite side of the Black Demon Sword.
Having never seen it in person, he did not recognize it as the Gentleman’s Sword.
One thing was certain: it would not be a waste no matter what treasure Geom Mugeuk took.
“Thank you for what you did this time.”
He knew that he had been able to become the successor all thanks to Geom Mugeuk.
“Are you going back right away?”
He had naturally assumed he would be returning to the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect now.
“Me? I am not going.”
"What?"
“I am going to have a party to celebrate you. You became the successor, so we have to have a celebration. I have already called all our friends.”
“Which friends?”
“You do not even have that many friends, why ask?”
Flustered, Jin Ha-gun looked at his grandfather.
Jin Pae-cheon just watched the two of them silently.
"Why? You do not like it?"
“It is not that I do not like it, but.”
Honestly, he was happy.
This celebration would be a gathering of those who would offer the most sincere congratulations.
"Here, and this."
Geom Mugeuk unfastened the Gentleman’s Sword from his waist and held it out to him.
“My gift to you, to commemorate you becoming the successor.”
The person who was truly surprised at that moment was Jin Pae-cheon.
It was a shock beyond mere surprise.
He had never dreamed that Geom Mugeuk would give the Gentleman’s Sword to his grandson as a gift.
Jin Ha-gun waved his hands, refusing.
“No, it is fine. What gift!”
For a moment, Jin Pae-cheon's face twisted into a pained expression.
Geom Mugeuk teased him slightly.
“You will regret it later.”
"I will not regret it. It is your gift, so you should keep it.”
Geom Mugeuk started to fasten the Gentleman’s Sword to his waist again.
Jin Pae-cheon watched him with eyes full of lingering attachment.
As he was about to put it on his waist, Geom Mugeuk held the Gentleman’s Sword out to Jin Ha-gun again.
“Take it. I chose it to give to you. Do not ignore a friend's sincerity.”
Looking at Geom Mugeuk, Jin Ha-gun glanced at his grandfather.
Since his grandfather was the one who gave the gifts, he wondered if it was okay to accept this.
His grandfather said nothing and just stared at the sword.
For some reason, he seemed more tense than usual.
He was not the type to be nervous even in front of thousands of enemies.
Geom Mugeuk pushed the sword toward Jin Ha-gun.
“I received other great gifts from the Alliance Leader. So do not feel burdened and take it. It is nothing special, and if we drag this out, I will just be embarrassed. Come on!”
“Thank you. Then I will gratefully accept.”
In the end, Jin Ha-gun accepted the Gentleman’s Sword.
The moment he took the sword.
"!"
Jin Ha-gun's gaze changed.
He knew the moment he held it.
'This is no ordinary sword.'
Jin Ha-gun slowly drew the Gentleman’s Sword.
Shiiing.
The Gentleman’s Sword finally revealed itself to the world.
It was the Gentleman’s Sword, showing itself again after a long time.
"Ah!"
A gasp of admiration escaped Jin Ha-gun's lips.
The sharp edge flowing along the blade was unlike anything he had ever seen.
It truly felt as if it could cut the heart of the person looking at it.
He could feel the sword's breath.
A deep and elegant breath.
It was the first time he had ever felt such a thing from a sword.
He had not seen all the swords in the world, but he could still tell.
This sword was the greatest of them all.
Jin Ha-gun slowly infused his inner energy into the sword, introducing himself.
As if in response to his greeting.
Vwoom!
The sword let out a short hum.
After that first communion, he sheathed the sword again.
Jin Ha-gun's heart pounded as if it would burst.
"You said it was nothing special?"
Geom Mugeuk smiled and answered Jin Ha-gun’s question.
“It does not suit me. I am too far from being a gentleman.”
Gentleman?
For a moment, Jin Ha-gun's eyes widened, and he shouted.
“The Gentleman’s Sword!”
At his startled cry, Geom Mugeuk nodded.
“Yes, it is the Gentleman’s Sword.”
Jin Ha-gun was stunned.
How could he not know of the Gentleman’s Sword, the Greatest of All Time?
That legendary sword was in his hands, given as a gift.
“The Alliance Leader gave me three artifacts from the Martial Alliance Treasury as a gift.”
The words Geom Mugeuk spoke now were meant for both Jin Pae-cheon and Jin Ha-gun.
“He is an Alliance Leader who has never touched a single item from the treasury his entire life. Considering his upright character, the Gentleman’s Sword would probably have remained stored there forever, right?”
He was right.
Jin Pae-cheon had no intention of ever bringing the Gentleman’s Sword out into the world.
“You grew up under such a grandfather, so how would you be any different? The Gentleman's Sword would have remained in the treasury for the next generation as well. That is why I caused some trouble. I thought the sword would only get to see the world if I caused some trouble. How is it? Now that you have greeted the Gentleman's Sword. Is it not happy to be out of that stuffy place?”
Jin Ha-gun did not know what to say.
“You really are something else!”
His words were right.
If it were not for him, this was a sword he could never have possessed.
Moreover, it was a gift given by forgoing one of the three items he could have had.
Jin Ha-gun looked at his grandfather.
His eyes asked if he could really accept this sword, and Jin Pae-cheon nodded.
Jin Pae-cheon did not show his emotions, but he was feeling immense joy.
He was much happier than if it had simply been returned to the treasury.
The Gentleman’s Sword would protect his grandson more reliably than anyone else.
Of course, the happiest person was Jin Ha-gun.
For a martial artist, what could be better than obtaining a fine weapon? But what if that weapon was the Gentleman’s Sword?
“Is it not great? So great you feel like dancing, right?”
It was so great that he almost fell into that trap.
He nearly answered yes.
“I heard the Gentleman’s Sword is the history of the Righteous Path. From now on, my friend will continue writing that history.”
Jin Ha-gun looked at Geom Mugeuk, who was happy as if it were his own affair, with trembling eyes.
He could not say anything.
Because no words could express this gratitude.
Jin Pae-cheon asked Geom Mugeuk.
“Why did you not say so earlier?”
Not knowing his intentions, he had needlessly worried about the Gentleman’s Sword falling into the hands of the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect.
“I did want to surprise you, but more than that, it was because I trusted you, Alliance Leader.”
“Because you trusted me?”
“Yes. Even though I brought out something I absolutely should not have, you did not stop me. I believed you would be like that, and you kept your promise to the end. Now, in my heart, you have become an even greater person, Alliance Leader.”
Jin Pae-cheon looked at Geom Mugeuk without a word.
Beyond the Righteous, Demonic, and Unorthodox Sects, beyond their statuses, as a martial artist—no, as a human being—he could only think that he was truly remarkable.
"Well then, I will be going."
Geom Mugeuk politely bid farewell to the Alliance Leader, then said to Jin Ha-gun.
“It will take some time for everyone to arrive. I will send you the time and place later.”
Jin Pae-cheon and Jin Ha-gun stood for a long time, watching his back as he ran off excitedly.
When Geom Mugeuk was no longer in sight, Jin Ha-gun spoke calmly.
“There were moments when I had given up. I thought I could not win against him. That no matter how hard I tried, I could not beat him.”
Jin Pae-cheon sensed that was not all, so he asked calmly.
"And how is it now?"
“It is not giving up. I intend to let him go first.”
At the questioning look, Jin Ha-gun smiled.
“A friend as exceptional as him should be sent ahead. Instead, I will silently follow him.”
It was by no means giving up.
Nor was it a determination to win at all costs.
It was the will to walk alongside Geom Mugeuk.
To silently walk in the same era, even if he was a little behind.
“Someday in the distant future, I might see him with white hair, sitting on a rock waiting for me. I will tell him then. ‘Thanks to you, I have come this far safely.’”
Jin Pae-cheon thought that his grandson, who had always seemed so young, had grown up a lot in such a short time.
He had always been worried.
Worried for the Martial World that Jin Ha-gun would lead, and for the grandson who would have to face that Geom Mugeuk.
But today, he had a different thought.
'I should not worry about these children anymore, I should cheer them on.'
As Jin Pae-cheon walked towards the Alliance Leader’s Hall, he said.
“When you meet him then, be sure to tell him. That I was worried sick he was going to take the Gentleman’s Sword.”