Chapter 64

When Jin Giwoo regained consciousness, he looked like he had aged ten years.

Though he had betrayed the family, Jin Il seemed to have not abandoned his filial duty as he lay prostrate with a deathly pale face, and Yuseong, who had to act the part of a respectful disciple, had no choice but to kneel beside him.

“Who’s going to speak first?”

“Th-this is all a misunderstanding. Please calm down and…”

“Misunderstanding? I heard clearly how you betrayed the family and tried to frame the youngest, so what exactly is the misunderstanding!”

Jin Il, who had been cowering at Jin Giwoo’s thunderous shout, raised his voice when the word ‘youngest’ was mentioned.

“Father! Didn’t you see the youngest using black magic? Why do you turn a blind eye to his faults and treat your own son so coldly!”

“We’re discussing your wrongdoings, so why bring Jinmu into this? And if we’re comparing the severity of crimes, Jinmu doesn’t even compare to you! Leaking martial arts countermeasures and endangering the family! What were you thinking when you did such a thing?”

“That’s something we can fully handle! If word spreads in the martial world that the Five Great Sects cowardly achieved victory by stealing martial arts countermeasures through a traitor…”

“You’re the traitor, so why frame Jinmu!”

“Because Jinmu isn’t blood of the Jincheon Martial Arts family!”

Watching Jin Giwoo and Jin Il argue with veins bulging in their necks, it was impossible not to speak up.

‘It’s awkward to say this in this situation, but it seems we didn’t need to worry about honor.’

-…

Yuseong, who had been judging the Jincheon Martial Arts family based solely on information provided by Wi Jinmu, finally understood the objective situation through their argument.

The situation of the Jincheon Martial Arts family could be summarized as a common over-the-top melodrama. [note]TLN: over-the-top melodrama or makjang drama.[/note]

Jin Giwoo, who dissatisfied with his talented-lacking children, took in an outsider as disciple and showered endless affection and attention.

Jin Il, who plotted to frame Wi Jinmu as a traitor and become a hero who saved the family from crisis to gain his father’s recognition.

And Wi Jinmu, who would have died bearing false charges if he hadn’t appeared.

If this isn’t a over-the-top melodrama, then what is?

“I know everything. You taught others in groups, even us brothers, but you taught the youngest privately. That’s when you passed down our family’s secret techniques, right?”

“That never happened! What I gave was only ordinary teachings, if you had even a quarter of a quarter of Jinmu’s talent, I would have taught you plenty!”

“Do you know something, father? Since the youngest came, father hasn’t praised me once!”

“There needs to be something praiseworthy to give praise! Look! Though not even twenty, Jinmu has already reached the peak of first-class. What about you at his age? Weren’t you just wandering around at second-class level!”

“Jinmu this! Jinmu that! Please stop!”

They say the world’s most interesting spectacles are watching fires and fights.

Yuseong, who had been absorbed in watching the fight, belatedly remembered his situation and fell into deep thought.

‘In a normal situation, it would be right to just cleanly restart. We could proceed the same as the first time until meeting Sa Taeryeong, then slightly change things afterward to smoothly wrap up the situation.’

If he executed the fishing operation targeting only Jin Il with more thorough preparation, he could end the situation without using thorny vine.

But Yuseong felt that wasn’t enough.

The ultimate goal of this quest was to prevent the Jincheon Martial Arts family’s closure by winning the martial competition.

But could they prevent the Jincheon Martial Arts family’s closure just by exposing Jin Il’s betrayal and making it public?

‘As he said, they might be able to sweep this martial competition under the rug using the traitor issue, but…’

Though he had heard from Wi Jinmu that martial artists value face and honor above all else, if the Five Great Sects brazenly play dumb, the Jincheon Martial Arts family would have no choice but to fall.

Objectively evaluated, Jin Il’s plan was too flimsy.

In the end, there was only one answer left.

‘Hey.’

-…I really feel like I’m going crazy. Could you leave me alone for a moment?

‘This is an important matter with the fate of the Jincheon Martial Arts family at stake.’

Perhaps some affection for the family remained even after seeing all this.

Sensing that Wi Jinmu was focusing on his words, Yuseong calmly continued.

‘There are two choices. First is to restart everything from the beginning, make it as if the black magic use never happened, and only expose Jin Il’s identity. Obviously, we could protect your honor.’

-Let’s do that!

‘However, if you choose this option, there’s a high possibility we won’t be able to prevent the Jincheon Martial Arts family’s closure.’

-…What’s the second option?

‘Going all the way with this. Your honor will be dragged through the mud, and you might face punishment or be expelled from the family. But the chance of the Jincheon Martial Arts family surviving will be higher.’

After staying silent for a moment, Wi Jinmu spoke in a resolute voice, having seemingly made his decision.

-I’ll take the second option.

‘Really? Compared to the first option it’s higher, but choosing the second doesn’t guarantee the Jincheon Martial Arts family will definitely survive, you know?’

-It doesn’t matter. If it weren’t for Master, I would have starved to death in a back alley when I was young. Without the Jincheon Martial Arts family, I couldn’t have become such an excellent martial artist. I’m here now solely thanks to Master and the Jincheon Martial Arts family. If there’s even a slightly higher chance of the Jincheon Martial Arts family surviving, I’ll gladly bear any disgrace.

‘Well, suit yourself.’

Though Wi Jinmu’s self-sacrifice for the family felt frustrating, he didn’t try to stop him.

It wasn’t his concern anyway.

Besides, going with the second option meant he could aim for an unexpected bonus, so he had no intention of stopping him in the first place.

“Jinmu.”

Yuseong raised his head at Jin Giwoo’s voice calling him, seemingly having finished the fight.

A gentle voice different from how he addressed Jin Il.

From that subtle difference alone, Yuseong could guess how much Jin Giwoo cherished Wi Jinmu, and he inwardly gave a bitter smile.

After all, he was the one who had ruined such a close master-disciple relationship.

“Yes, are you hurt anywhere?”

“Thanks to Senior Brother being considerate, I’m fortunately fine.”

After hesitating for a while as if afraid to face the truth, Jin Giwoo finally spoke in a trembling voice.

“Jinmu. Did you really dabble in black magic?”

Jin Giwoo still hadn’t lost faith despite witnessing it with his own eyes.

And Yuseong shattered Jin Giwoo’s last remaining faith.

“Yes. I learned black magic.”

“That can’t be! What were you lacking that made you learn black magic? Could it be that this bastard Jin Il deceived you into dabbling in black magic? Yes, that makes sense. Having plotted such a vicious plan to frame and expel the youngest, black magic would be…”

“I’m sorry, but learning black magic was entirely my own decision, not something someone forced or tempted me into.”

“…”

“Fa-Father!”

Having received such a severe shock that he was about to lose consciousness again, Jin Giwoo barely managed to regain his senses only after receiving support from Jin Il.

“You foolish thing! Why, why did you dabble in black magic! A person who could have made a name for themselves in the martial world, why turn to black magic!”

“Didn’t I tell you? That fellow was rotten from the start.”

“You stay quiet!”

Even in this situation, Jin Giwoo was showing unconditional affection while Jin Il was showing unconditional hostility.

‘Perhaps choosing the second option was good for Wi Jinmu.’

Though only Jin Il was exposed, who knows who else might be jealous of Wi Jinmu.

Though he might lose both honor and martial arts, Yuseong thought it would be better to go out into the wider world than remain in such a family.

“I’d like to propose a strategy to Master and First Senior Brother.”

“Strategy?”

“Yes. A strategy.”

Not forgiveness, apology, or anger, but a strategy?

Both men’s eyes filled with questions at the word that didn’t fit the situation.

“What do you mean suddenly bringing up strategy?”

“It’s a strategy that can untangle all the twisted threads at once and satisfy everyone. The Jincheon Martial Arts family will escape the crisis of closure, First Senior Brother Jin Il’s betrayal will remain buried, and I can make a name for myself in the martial world as Master wishes.”

Yuseong began passionately speaking to the two men who were staring blankly at him.

And the next day, daily life continued as if nothing had happened.

The only changes were Jin Giwoo’s haggard appearance, Jin Il’s expression as if possessed by a ghost, and Yuseong training tirelessly every day.

And a few days later, the day everyone had been waiting for finally arrived.

* * *

The area around the martial arts arena was so packed with thousands of people gathered like clouds that there wasn’t even room to step.

This was because rumors had spread about the young later-stage practitioner’s fierce battle, his consecutive victories against stronger opponents, and the black magic used by his third opponent, drawing countless people from the surrounding areas.

“Wi Jinmu of the Jincheon Martial Arts family enters!”

“Woaaah!”

“Wi Jinmu! Wi Jinmu!”

Waving to the audience, Yuseong spotted the Five Great Sects people gathered in a corner and couldn’t help but laugh.

Their previously relaxed appearance was nowhere to be seen, replaced by clearly agitated expressions.

Since the day Sa Taeryeong used black magic and Hwangbo Seong’s inspection team began their investigation, the reputation of the Green Clothes Martial House and their allied Four Great Schools had been thoroughly dragged through the mud.

‘If they lose this martial competition, the Five Great Sects are finished.’

The situation was already bad with public opinion against them for supposedly using black magic.

If they lose fair and square in front of so many people on top of that, the Five Great Sects won’t even have the strength to recover and will completely fall.

Though they probably never considered any option besides winning from the start, now they’re in a desperate situation where they must win this competition by any means necessary.

‘That desperation will lead you to defeat.’

Of course, this was assuming the plan succeeded.

“Wi Jinmu of the Jincheon Martial Arts family! So Jeongak of the Blue Dragon Gate! Come up!”

At Hwangbo Seong’s call, Yuseong proudly climbed onto the martial arts arena.

“By the authority of the Murim Alliance Inspection Division, we will resume the martial competition that was postponed due to an unfortunate incident! As everyone knows, according to the agreement, the losing side between the Jincheon Martial Arts family and the Five Great Sects will pay compensation for resources spent in this war and enter closure! And…”

Hwangbo Seong paused briefly, looked back and forth between So Jeongak and where the Five Great Sects people were, then spoke in a voice like a growling beast.

“I hope this martial competition will be conducted fairly. If another unfortunate incident occurs, you’d better be prepared for how the Murim Alliance will respond.”

The Five Great Sects people’s expressions twisted hideously as if they’d bitten something bitter at this blatant taking of sides.

‘I wonder what would happen if I used Thorny Vine again here.’

-Please stop. No matter what, people won’t be fooled twice.

‘Looking at how that Hwangbo Seong guy is reacting, I think they might fall for it.’

-Do you want to see me go crazy?

While teasing Wi Jinmu and looking around the audience seats, Yuseong’s gaze stopped on some familiar faces.

“…”

Jin Giwoo with complex eyes mixing various emotions, and Jin Il with a faint smile.

Though he wanted to expose all the truth and turn everything upside down, this wasn’t his life but Wi Jinmu’s.

Having steeled himself, Yuseong looked at So Jeongak and wiggled his finger.

“I have some urgent business, you know? So let’s end this quickly.”

It was time to finish the long, long quest.