Absolute Dominion

Chapter 6

Hwa-Ryun chose to explain the situation rather than provide an answer to her question.

“They’ve been pressuring us through the Palm Heart Clan.”

“What?”

This was news to her. She had been entirely engrossed in her martial arts training every day, so she was not aware of the sect’s affairs.

“Last year, we made a modest investment in the Great Merchant Association. The Palm Heart Clan invested in the Hubei Merchant Association, which was in direct competition with the Great Merchant Association. This led to a misunderstanding with the Palm Heart Clan.”

“Were you unaware that the Palm Heart Clan was involved in that investment?”

“Of course not. Had I known, I would never have invested in the Great Merchant Association.”

“How could such a thing happen?”

“It can happen, that’s how business works.”

Cha-Ryun’s eyes fixed onto Hwa-Ryun with a gaze that demanded accountability.

Her father was purely a martial artist. He lacked business acumen and was not inclined to make such investments. It must have been her sister who persuaded him.

Her sister had assumed the role of the sect’s chief strategist three years ago. Initially, her sister had a preference for scholarly pursuits over martial arts. She had stopped training after reaching the fourth level of the Red Silk Sword Technique. There was a specific reason her sister took on the role of chief strategist.

The previous chief strategist was Lim Cha-Bok, her father’s sworn brother. Trusting the bond they had shared since childhood, her father accepted anything he said.

But to Lim Cha-Bok, the friendship they had maintained was taken with a grain of salt. Seizing the opportunity, he embezzled a substantial sum of money and fled.

This betrayal was a tremendous shock to her father. Naturally kind-hearted and gentle, he couldn’t recover from the treachery for a long time. It wasn’t a topic he could confide in anyone about.

After the incident, Hwa-Ryun, who had departed to establish her own household, made her way back to the sect. She volunteered herself for the position of chief strategist.

Cha-Ryun was well aware of her sister’s deep affection for the sect and their family.

However, the role of a chief strategist inherently bred ambition. Without broadening their ventures, the significance of a chief strategist would remain unrecognized. Inevitably, she had to push herself beyond her limits at times.

Hwa-Ryun admitted frankly.

“Since then, they have been pressuring us at every opportunity.”

If she mentioned it in this manner, it must have been a serious issue.

Cha-Ryun sighed inwardly.

“So what now? Do you expect me to sell my body to rectify the mess you made?”

“If I could sell my body, I wouldn’t be asking you.”

Seo Baek, who had been listening, interjected.

“Hey, wife. The man standing next to you is called a husband.”

He chuckled, but neither woman paid him any heed.

“No. I’m not going.”

“This is your problem too.”

Cha-Ryun shouted in agitation.

“Why? If I don’t go, will they fight us? Will they devour us alive?”

Hwa-Ryun remained silent. Her silence spoke volumes on her stance.

Cha-Ryun was taken aback by her reaction.

“What on earth have you been doing all this time?”

“Nothing.”

In reality, there have been significant changes over the past few years. Hwa-Ryun had concentrated on expanding the sect’s influence. The number of martial artists within the sect had increased, and they had invested in various businesses to generate funds. Compared to before, the sect had undeniably grown stronger.

However, the Palm Heart Clan must have been closely scrutinizing these activities. And certainly not with a favorable view.

Seo Baek smiled and made his remark.

“Why don’t you consider it as gaining some experience, sister-in-law?”

It was an absurd suggestion. Especially with that bastard Jang In-Gyeol.

“It might become a cherished memory for you, sister-in-law. So…”

She felt a deeper annoyance towards her sister and their absent father, who failed to stop Seo Baek from making such comments, than towards Seo Baek himself. The unspoken pressure created a tense atmosphere.

She wished her sister possessed a more ruthless nature so she could lash out at her, but Hwa-Ryun had always been caring towards her younger siblings.

Although she was forcing her into this situation, that wouldn’t alter her sister’s inherent kindness or love. This realization only added to her frustration.

With a mix of emotions, Cha-Ryun coldly declared.

“I will never go! You can lie about your age and go yourself!”

Cha-Ryun slammed the door and stormed out.

“Our sister-in-law has quite a personality. She’s unmistakably your sister!”

Seo Baek said, making a pointless comment as he massaged Hwa-Ryun’s shoulders in an attempt to lift her spirits. Hwa-Ryun sighed, her gaze resting on his good-natured face.

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The streets of Wuhan were already teeming with people.

Although fifteen days remained until the Young Dragon and Phoenix Tournament and the Heavenly Dragon Tournament, many had arrived early to experience the celebrations.

Those who had attended martial arts tournaments before knew from experience that they had to arrive early to secure accommodations.

Especially for a grand festival like this year, where both the Heavenly Dragon Tournament and the Young Dragon and Phoenix Tournament were held together, fifteen days was not too early.

Of course, the innkeepers’ price gouging and unfriendly attitudes were irritating, but it was better than watching the spectacle while camping out.

As a result, Wuhan merchants were experiencing an early surge in business. Merchants from Hubei and other provinces flocked to Wuhan, and various events were held daily.

Cha-Ryun moved slowly through the crowd.

Wearing a bamboo hat with a veil, she remained unrecognized. Even without the hat, the crowd was so dense that it was unlikely anyone would notice her.

As she wandered around without purpose, her gloomy mood followed her around. The more she dwelled on it, the more she felt hurt by her father and sister. Of course, she understood their intentions.

Yet, she never anticipated they would ask her to participate in the Young Dragon and Phoenix Tournament alongside someone like Jang In-Gyeol, whom she considered trash.

Did they really see me as someone willing to accept such a proposition?

The voices of the merchants bellowed from all directions as they used all their efforts to attract customers.

“New goods have arrived! West Lake Dragon Well Tea, special half-price sale today only!”

In these days when counterfeits were rampant, selling the expensive Dragon Well Tea at half price was like advertising, ‘This tea is fake! Only fools would buy it!’ Yet, people swarmed to it, enticed by the ‘sale’.

“A mysterious sword hilt decoration crafted from luminous stone, glowing even at night, for just two nyang.”

Luminous stones weren’t that chea[, and even if a cheap light-emitting material was used, a glowing sword hilt at night seemed like a perfect way to get killed.

The world she saw as an adult was full of incomprehensible things.

Deceiving and being deceived, inflicting pain and enduring it as well.

The rumors she encountered were always stories where there were perpetrators and victims.

When she was younger, merely hearing the term ‘martial world’ made her heart swell with exhilaration, and glimpsing a sword at someone’s waist made her heart race. She had vowed to become a formidable martial artist one day.

But now?

Was she growing into the martial artist she had envisioned as a child? The older she got, the more she realized that honesty was no longer a virtue in the world of martial arts. The reality of the martial world was a cradle that nurtured all sorts of schemes instead, and this realization caused her confidence to wane.

Even within the confines of the sect, the martial world loomed before her with a menacing visage. How much more terrifying and ugly would the real martial world be?

She was probably afraid of the fact that she was now old enough to enter the world of martial arts. She tried to muster courage a dozen times a day, but the martial world still scared her.

Suddenly, the thought of drinking crossed her mind.

The only occasions where alcohol grazed her lips was during family celebrations. Yet today, she craved that tasteless drink.

But she hesitated to visit an inn and drink alone. What if someone recognized her and the news reached her father? If she were a parent, she would hate to hear, ‘Your daughter was drinking alone at a tavern.’

She longed for a companion to share a drink with during moments like this.

Her relationships with other people were always messy.

Her interactions were never straightforward. Men cast peculiar glances her way before any friendship could blossom, and women chose to be jealous of her appearance rather than try to build a bond to get to know her as a person.

Rather than deal with such thoughtless people, it was simply easier to remain alone.

Much like the jokes heard in the marketplace, the world was a desolate place.

“Ha ha ha ha!”

Cheers and laughter resonated from a bustling corner of the market. A street performance troupe was putting on a show.

One of the many things that proliferated after the war was these street performance troupes. Nothing soothed weary souls as effectively as art. Though few recognized it as art, numerous street performances had filled the hearts of many people with joy.

The most popular theme for these performances was, without a doubt, the Great War between the Orthodox and the Demonic that transpired two decades ago. Numerous tales recounted the valiant deeds from that era, and today’s performance centered on the legendary clash between the Heavenly Demon and Ak Bul-Hyun, the leader of the Orthodox Alliance at the time. No one actually knows if the two had ever actually engaged in combat though.

The performance was reaching its conclusion. Perhaps that was why the lines became excessively melodramatic and moralistic.

“Do you now realize the horror of your vile ambitions? Look! Who will compensate for all that noble blood? Do you believe your death can atone for their sacrifices?”

“The dream of unifying the martial world ends in such futility…”

Ah, such lines, born from a lack of imagination.

She would rather throw darts during the time they were reciting those lines.

“You fool! You are still dreaming.”

“Ak Bul-Hyun! I will definitely kill you!”

“Come! I will show you the eternal and unchanging way of the orthodox path.”

The two clashed. They must have had basic martial arts training, as could be seen by their nimble movements across the stage.

After a few more exaggerated exchanges, the Heavenly Demon finally succumbed to Ak Bul-Hyun’s sword.

The audience erupted in cheers and applause.

Cha-Ryun shook her head.

“Nonsense!”

It was a truly pathetic performance. If the real leader of the Orthodox Alliance had defeated the Heavenly Demon, there would be a hundred monuments commemorating such an event in the Central Plains by now. Moreover, the actor portraying the Heavenly Demon looked crazy with his fierce red makeup, making him resemble an actual demon.

“No matter how demonic the Demonic Cult is, this performance is too biased.”

Of course, they couldn’t perform a play where the Heavenly Demon beats up the leader of the Orthodox Alliance in broad daylight.

At that moment, a voice came from beside her.

“I agree. It’s really the worst.”

Startled, she turned to find a young man standing with his arms crossed. He had been there for some time.

The man immediately drew her attention. Not just hers, but any martial artist would notice him.

The first thing that caught her eye was the two weapons strapped to his back. A massive sword that appeared heavy even at a glance, and a saber longer than a typical one, crossed in an X shape.

Many in the martial world carried multiple weapons. However, they were typically of the same type, like twin swords, or a main weapon with a secondary one. It was uncommon to see someone wielding both a sword and a saber.

Moreover, the sword and saber were so large and lengthy that it appeared challenging to even draw them from his back. The handles were wrapped in white and black cloth, respectively, with the fabric hanging down to his waist.

It seemed as though he was attempting to be fashionable according to the latest trends among the youth, or perhaps they were stage props used by performance troupes.

He had a kind and amiable appearance. His eyes were particularly clear and deep, with a hint of mischief, making him appear younger. He looked like a wealthy young master who had dressed up for an outing.

What caught her attention even more were the tattoos on the back of his hands.

On his left hand was a blue dragon, appearing as if it could ascend into the heavens at any moment.

On his right hand was a red evil spirit, vivid and terrifying, as if it would snap its jaws shut if touched.

The contrasting tattoos gave him a truly unique look.

“The Heavenly Demon’s Nine Calamities Demonic Art is an unbeatable demonic technique. No one can overcome it in a one-on-one duel.”

He spoke as if he had witnessed the Heavenly Demon’s martial arts firsthand.

“Furthermore, Ak Bul-Hyun stands no chance against him.”

The elderly men nearby furrowed their brows and cast disapproving glances his way. To the conservative elders, the leader of the Orthodox Alliance was a revered figure who protected them from the evil Demonic Cult.

The man remained indifferent to the stares he was receiving.

“Moreover… the Great War between the Orthodox and the Demonic didn’t have such a trivial conclusion.”

His demeanor and tone were so serious that he looked like he was one of those who fought in the war as well. But that was impossible. He was a young man, likely around her age.

Cha-Ryun turned her attention back to the stage, where the actors were taking their final bows.

‘Pathetic.’

Why do people boast so much? Isn’t boasting the most vulgar way to protect yourself? When she used to attend banquets with her father, everyone would brag about themselves as if they would be ignored or forgotten if they didn’t.

‘Well.’

On the other hand, in today’s world, what harm is there in a bit of boasting? Modern martial artists valued practicality over chivalry. It was a world where individuals would stab their friends in the back for a few coins.

The man who had been standing behind her now took the spot beside her.

As soon as she turned to face him, he made a proposal which made it seem like they were old friends.

“I’m thirsty. Let’s go get a drink. If you’re not keen on drinking during the day, you can have tea.”

“With you?”

She stared at him in disbelief, and he looked back at her curiously.

“Why? I thought we were about the same age. I’m twenty. How about you?”

Damn, he’s older than he looks. He might be lying about his age by a year or two.

“And you should take that hat off. Judging by your figure, your face must be quite attractive too.”

It was a rather rude comment, but the way he said it was so natural that she missed the chance to get angry.

“Young people should just be friends. Don’t you hate people who are overly formal?”

She wanted to retort, ‘You talk too much,’ but his mouth didn’t seem to know how to stop.

“It’s my first time in Wuhan. You’re a local, right? Show me a place with good drinks and snacks and I’ll treat you to a drink.”

She regretted wearing the bamboo hat.

If he saw her face, he wouldn’t dare act so casually.

She decided to ignore him and turned away. He trailed her for a few steps.

She halted abruptly and spoke with a cold tone.

“Do you know me?”

“No.”

“Then why are you hitting on me?”

“What else should I do when I meet a woman for the first time?”

“What?”

His blunt words left her speechless.

“Do you want to get beaten up?”

“Don’t do that. I don’t fight with women.”

He said the one thing she despised most in the world. She hated men that looked down on women.

“With women?”

“Yes, with women.”

Fine, if that’s how you want to play it.

“Are you that strong? Strong enough to go easy on women?”

She grasped her sword menacingly. She wasn’t angry enough to actually harm him, but he was so annoying that she wanted to intimidate him a little.

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s not because I look down on women. It’s just that my mother, who gave birth to me, is a woman, so I won’t fight them.”

What? What kind of absurd statement is that? Cha-Ryun was at a loss for words.

“Women… sometimes they are hard to understand, but basically, I respect them. And if you met my mother, you would understand why I respect women.”

His earnest expression indicated that he wasn’t fabricating this to use as an excuse.

Fine, let’s not argue. I’m already feeling down.

Cha-Ryun loosened her grip on the sword handle.

The man flashed a grin and said.

“You possess a surprisingly straightforward personality.”

“What?”

He then grabbed Cha-Ryun’s arm and tugged her along.

“Come on, let’s go. I’m starving and dying of thirst.”

Cha-Ryun was startled by the awkward turn of events. It had been ages since anyone had grabbed her arm like this.

Cha-Ryun asked in an icy tone.

“Are you a martial artist?”

“So what if I am?”

“Then you should follow the rules of the martial world.”

For a moment, the man’s eyes deepened. He responded cynically.

“Do you believe this martial world is worth following the rules for?”

“…!”

Clang!

Why did she draw her sword?

It was instinctive. Even as she did so, Cha-Ryun regretted it. There was no reason for her to take her sword out.

But hearing those words ignited her anger. It felt as though something she both cherished and feared had been trampled upon in an instant. That must have been the reason.

Swish–

Her reflexive draw was remarkably swift. Of course, she had no intention of cutting him. She was just angry, but it was still a threatening and dangerous moment.

“Whoa!”

The man quickly dodged the sword and ran away.

The seriousness had already disappeared from his face, now replaced by a pout.

“Why so scary?”

Despite his words, his face was adorned with a relaxed smile.

Clink.

She sheathed her sword and turned away.

Her face turned red as it burned with embarrassment.

She felt like a novice who couldn’t control her emotions in a moment of anger.

But at the same time, she was furious.

Cha-Ryun stopped walking after a few steps.

Don’t be ridiculous. This martial world isn’t so bad that it deserves to be looked down upon.

She turned around.

The man was still standing there, looking at her.

Cha-Ryun addressed him with a composed tone.

“But you continue to live within this martial world.”

Why am I doing this when we won’t cross paths again after today?

The man smiled brightly. It was a kind smile, difficult to get angry at…

Even though his appearance seemed to be kind.

Cha-Ryun paid no attention to that, and turned around and walked away.

She left because of the market, the roadside… yes, it was because it was noisy.

She didn’t hear the whisper of fate in her ear.

‘…This is just the beginning.’