Chapter 5
– I Told You I’m Not Interested (2)
Seok Jin-ho chuckled as he watched Seok Man-ho glare until the very last moment before leaving.
It seemed his cousin still thought of him as the Seok Jin-ho of the past.
But he didn’t think that was such a bad thing.
“Having Seok Man-ho as the first signal flare to show that I’ve changed… not bad.”
For the descendant of a merchant clan, Seok Man-ho’s talent wasn’t the worst.
Slightly above average.
Still, within the Seok family, that level of talent was considered quite high.
“Though only within the Seok family, really.”
“Are you all right, Young Master?”
“Of course. That brat is nothing. Honestly, even associating with him is beneath my level. More importantly, how is your training with the Heavenly Extreme Iron Carapace Art going?”
“Hehe! It’s tough, but fun too. I think it’s even making me healthier.”
“If mastered, that external martial art can withstand even the force of inner energy. You must continue with diligence.”
Seok Jin-ho’s expression hardened as he spoke firmly.
But his eyes were filled with warmth.
Despite the harsh and painful training, Tak Yun was keeping up surprisingly well.
“I’ll master it and protect you, Young Master!”
“I doubt it will ever come to that. But… I’ll accept the sentiment.”
“You never know. And besides, vermin should be dealt with by fellow vermin.”
“Don’t suddenly belittle yourself like that. To me, you’re no different than a real younger brother.”
“Y-Young Master…”
Tak Yun’s already wide eyes grew even larger.
That single heartfelt remark left him overwhelmed with emotion.
But Seok Jin-ho only chuckled at his expression and patted him on the shoulder.
“The Heavenly Extreme Iron Carapace Art is also for your sake. To keep you healthy and strong by my side. Ah, though I guess that makes it for my sake too, doesn’t it?”
“I like that even better, hehe!”
“You little rascal.”
As they talked, Seok Jin-ho arrived at the banquet hall.
So many guests had come that the inside of the hall couldn’t contain them all, spilling into the courtyard. Even then, it was so crowded that it was hard to find a place to step.
“This is incredible. Even more than last year, it seems.”
“Even the heads of the Ten Great Escort Agencies are here.”
Murmuring as he recognized familiar faces, Seok Jin-ho wasn’t particularly surprised.
They were impressive here, but in the greater scope of the martial world, they weren’t all that significant.
In fact, the likes of Song Il-gang and Go Cheok, whom he’d met just days ago, were far greater figures.
“Wow…”
The word crowded as ants came to mind. But even amidst the throng, clear divisions existed.
The invisible walls of status were obvious.
There was a distinct line between the mainstream sects and the secondary ones.
As he observed that, Tak Yun’s voice of awe rang out.
“So you’re a man after all, Yun?”
“Ehehehe!”
Looking where Tak Yun was staring, Seok Jin-ho smirked.
Two women stood out so much that one couldn’t help but notice them anywhere.
With beauty so dazzling, they drew a swarm of young men around them like bees to flowers.
“That’s the age for it, I suppose.”
“Young Master, you really don’t feel anything?”
“Women are all the same. Meet them up close, and they’re no different. Still… I’ll admit it’s better to look at a beauty than a plain one.”
Tak Yun blinked in surprise.
Something about the Young Master’s attitude was too different from other men.
Like an old man who had already lived through everything, he showed not even the slightest trace of desire.
“Don’t tell me you’ve never even had a first love, Young Master?”
“It’s all in books.”
“Ah, I see.”
“But in the end, it’s all meaningless. No matter how much they swarm, flowers don’t fall into one’s hands that way.”
He clicked his tongue.
If chasing like that could win them, they wouldn’t be flowers to begin with.
Such women had to be made to loosen their own sashes willingly.
“Two of the Five Beauties of the Martial World, no less. They didn’t come to last year’s birthday banquet.”
“The Huashan Sect and the Zhuge Clan, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, sir!”
Tak Yun answered with unusual excitement, only to shrink back awkwardly as nearby heads turned at his loud voice.
But Seok Jin-ho didn’t care at all.
“Those are certainly some great families.”
“It just shows how high the Grand Elder’s prestige is.”
“Perhaps.”
Tak Yun looked proud, but Seok Jin-ho felt little.
Though they called him grandfather, he wasn’t truly so.
Even in his memories, he could count on his fingers the times he’d actually met the old man since birth.
“With all these great figures, we might have to wait a long time.”
Tak Yun, still sneaking glances at the beauties, spoke with some concern.
Just looking at the line, it was obvious it would take ages.
“If I were a legitimate heir, I wouldn’t need to wait. But that’s only for the direct line.”
“Ah, Young Master…”
Hearing what sounded like self-deprecation, Tak Yun’s expression darkened, not knowing how to respond.
“I’m not belittling myself. Just stating facts. I’ve no intention of leaving, anyway.”
“Then I’ll support you to the end!”
“That’s enough. Two are better than one. Besides—seeing this, coming here wasn’t entirely pointless after all. Heh.”
Seok Jin-ho grinned.
Earlier, Seok Man-ho had strutted about arrogantly, but here he was scurrying around like a servant, desperately currying favor with young talents from noble families.
The same went for the three legitimate sons.
“There you are!”
“Why so late?”
As Seok Jin-ho observed his siblings fawning over others, two figures suddenly blocked his view.
But even before he looked up, his brow furrowed.
He knew the owners of those voices.
“I believe seats were prepared separately for the Huashan Sect and the Zhongnan Sect.”
“We old men thought it better to keep out of the way.”
“Otherwise the youngsters would be too busy minding us to enjoy the feast.”
Even at his open displeasure, Song Il-gang and Go Cheok laughed affably.
They weren’t fazed—he had been curt from their very first meeting.
“I find this unpleasant.”
“Still, isn’t it a bit much to be so cold? We’re elders and guests, after all.”
“…”
Seok Jin-ho gave no reply.
He knew if he humored them even a little, they would keep talking.
Though his appearance was that of a youth, within him was the heart of a weary old man.
So he simply cut off any opening.
“Well now, that stings. We’re martial artists acknowledged throughout the jianghu, after all.”
“And countless youngsters would give anything to learn from us.”
Their faces showed mock hurt, though their eyes sparkled with mischief.
Never before had a youth treated them this way.
Yet, instead of fear or deference, this boy showed not the slightest intimidation.
“I need to go see my grandfather, so I’ll take my leave.”
“We know your name, Seok Jin-ho. But it looks like you’ll be waiting a long while. Why not spend the time talking with us? It wouldn’t be to your disadvantage.”
They smiled, as if already knowing everything about him.
And yet, even then, they didn’t forget to keep wary of each other.
“I’ve nothing to say to either of you.”
“But we do.”
“Isn’t it difficult to study martial arts alone, without a proper master?”
Their words made his brow crease.
They had clearly investigated him.
“And what business is that of yours?”
“It’s not too late. Think again. With your talent, becoming the Plum Blossom Swordmaster isn’t impossible. Restarting may seem daunting, but with our sect’s martial arts, you could regain your lost cultivation quickly.”
“Hey, you beat me to it, you rascal!”
“Whoever strikes first wins.”
Song Il-gang wore a sly grin.
Better to lose dignity than lose a promising disciple. Dignity could always be regained later.
“Come to Zhongnan. I’ll raise you into a master who could crush even the Plum Blossom Swordmaster with ease. I swear it on my name!”
Go Cheok too raised his voice, unwilling to be outdone.
Though the world rated Zhongnan below Huashan, that only made him more desperate to recruit.
And Zhongnan’s martial arts were by no means inferior.
“What’s going on?”
“Over there—aren’t those Huashan and Zhongnan elders?”
Go Cheok’s loud declaration drew many eyes.
Especially the young men’s gazes sharpened.
For youths of small sects or cadet branches of clans, this was the dream—being noticed by great sect masters.
They looked at Seok Jin-ho with envy, some with open jealousy.
“Humph.”
But Seok Jin-ho only snorted.
If he had the kind of talent to draw such notice, he wouldn’t need this. It would have happened long ago.
And he despised those who hoped for fortune without effort.
Never in his many lives had Seok Jin-ho once relied on luck.
“Who is that boy?”
“Someone from the Seok family, it seems.”
“Someone Huashan and Zhongnan would vie over, from a merchant clan?”
“He’s not one of the direct heirs, but still… gods, I’m jealous.”
The three legitimate heirs of the Seok family were widely known in Hebei.
As the largest commercial clan in the martial world, their influence was vast, so naturally word of their succession struggle had spread.
But no one had bothered with the illegitimate branch.
“Then why does he look like that?”
“It’s the opposite of what you’d expect…”
“If it were me, I’d be on my knees thanking them.”
“Huashan and Zhongnan, both… unbelievable.”
The minor clan youths looked on with envy.
Huashan and Zhongnan weren’t Buddhist or Taoist sects either, so marriage wasn’t forbidden.
To them, Seok Jin-ho seemed unimaginably fortunate.
And yet… they couldn’t understand his attitude.
“I believe I already gave my answer last time.”
“But people can change their minds. And you know well how the martial art you train in determines the peak you can reach.”
“With our sect’s arts, even becoming the number one under heaven isn’t impossible. Truly, if you achieve mastery, you could stand at the very top.”
“And who, exactly, has achieved such mastery? Has anyone since your founder reached that height in Zhongnan?”
At Song Il-gang’s jab, Go Cheok’s face flushed red.
“Then what about Huashan? Has anyone perfected your vaunted Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword since the founder? Who else has ever released the fragrance of the sword?”
“Grr…”
The two glared, now bickering heatedly over Seok Jin-ho.
Yet, throughout, Seok Jin-ho’s expression never changed.
“I’ll be clear. I will continue training in the martial art I’m already practicing. So let’s end this here. Please, don’t waste your time.”
“Mm!”
“Hah!”
At his firm words, both men froze.
There was no room left for persuasion—his tone left not the slightest crack.
And strangely, instead of feeling insulted, what they felt most keenly was regret.
For men who dismissed ordinary talents without a glance, that was remarkable.
