Chapter 192: Dragon-Phoenix Assembly

The person who came to fetch her in the morning was Peng Choryeo.

“Ah, Choryeo!”

“Yes, Qing-ah. Have you been well? Nothing unusual happened, right?”

“Nah, what’s there to happen? Seeing you is the unusual event. Seeing you first thing in the morning really boosts my spirits. I’m so happy I feel like I could ascend to the heavens.”

At that, Peng Choryeo’s eyes widened.

“My goodness, listen to you, sounding just like some romantic playboy. If you were a man, Qing-ah, my heart might have fluttered a little, you know? You’re going to see the Alliance Leader, right? Get in.”

Qing boarded the carriage and headed towards the Murim Alliance headquarters.

“After this, are you going to the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly too, Choryeo?”

“Oh my. A woman as old as I am would just be scorned if she went to such a place. How tactless it would be to intrude where the younger generation is mingling. There are a few shameless friends my age who might go, but even seeing them makes me reluctant, really.”

“I think everyone would welcome you if you came…”

“They’d probably all be busy cursing me under their breath. Besides, there’s a separate gathering for the old Dragon-Phoenix Assembly attendees, so I should really stick with my own peers.”

During the ride, Peng Choryeo gave a brief explanation.

The Murim Alliance!

When the Murim Alliance was first formed, and the heroes gathered in Kaifeng Prefecture declared the union, it was the members of the Unorthodox Path who were beating the ground in regret.

Of course, the Orthodox Murim and the Unorthodox Path were always at each other's throats, so they were indeed terrified thinking, 'Ah, so those bastards are ganging up to beat us now.'

However, if the other side united, this side could simply unite as well, so that wasn't the real cause for regret.

The reason the Unorthodox Path was so bitterly regretful was because of the name.

The Murim Alliance. As if they were the only ones in the Murim?

Their regret stemmed from not forming their own coalition first and seizing that magnificent name.

Murim Alliance literally means the Martial Arts World Alliance. (Nod)

Only sects belonging to the Orthodox Murim, or those ambiguously leaning towards the righteous side, were allowed to join. It was a splendid naming choice imbued with the spirit of declaring, 'We do not recognize you Unorthodox Faction riffraff as part of the Murim.'

“The Alliance Leader is a man named Jo Hyeonryang…” Peng Choryeo explained.

To be the face of the Alliance, the Murim Alliance Leader, shouldn't one at least have their name listed among the Ten Great Masters under Heaven?

Thus, whenever the time to elect a new Alliance Leader approached, a fiercely subtle battle of reluctance unfolded among the elders of the Orthodox Murim who were among the Ten Great Masters.

They would feign humility and busily recommend other candidates, essentially passing the buck and forcing drinks on each other because none of them actually wanted the job.

After all, once someone reached the level of the Ten Great Masters under Heaven, wealth and fame were practically guaranteed; they had achieved it all.

Therefore, they preferred to pass off troublesome positions to their juniors and spend their time freely focusing on their own training or raising disciples.

Being the Murim Alliance Leader just meant more responsibilities and having to constantly maintain a dignified and cool facade. Why would the accomplished masters of the previous generation want such a role?

However, the election of the current Murim Alliance Leader was an exception. Ximen Surin had stepped forward first, offering to take the position.

Deeply impressed by her initiative, other elders suddenly vied for the leadership role as well, resulting in a fierce competition. Ultimately, Jo Hyeonryang was appointed as the Alliance Leader.

“Master did?” Qing asked.

“Yes. If Great Expert Jo hadn’t stepped forward, the Matriarch would have become the Alliance Leader,” Peng Choryeo confirmed.

While listening to the story, the carriage passed through the main gate of the Murim Alliance.

Peng Choryeo had to go pay respects with her family, so Qing went ahead to greet the Alliance Leader first.

Spear Sovereign Jo Hyeonryang.

He was revered as the Greatest Spearman Under Heaven by all spearmen, regardless of whether they belonged to the Orthodox Murim or the Unorthodox Faction.

Truthfully, spears generally had a rather poor reputation in the Jianghu.

‘Why wield a spear unless you’re some military general? Swords and sabers can stab too, so what’s the point of spearmanship, which is essentially just stabbing?’ they’d say.

‘And isn’t it hard for you guys to come up with cool monikers?’

And so on.

Because of this, there was a culture of mutual respect among spearmen, regardless of their factional alignment.

In such an environment, for the Greatest Spearman Under Heaven to gain fame as the Murim Alliance Leader, he naturally commanded immense respect.

Jo Hyeonryang appeared youthful for a master of the previous generation, looking like a middle-aged man in his forties.

However, Qing's Master had also reached a state of youth reversal, to the point where she looked like Qing’s young mother when they walked side by side.

So he's in the Profound Realm, Qing understood.

“Ximen Qing, Outer Disciple of the Divine Maiden Sect, greets the esteemed Spear Sovereign. I am lacking, but I diligently study the sword under the guidance of Ximen Surin. I would be grateful if you would look kindly upon my still insufficient skills.”

“Hoho. I was wondering what fairy-like child had arrived, thinking perhaps she was lost from the heavens, but it turns out you are a little fairy of the Divine Maiden Sect. Yes. I am Jo Hyeonryang. But, hmm. Did the Matriarch not come?”

“Master conveyed her regrets, stating that she is unfortunately unable to attend due to pressing matters within the Sect.”

“Is that so? Hoho, what a pity. The female martial artists of the Murim will surely be disappointed. Hoho, hohohoho, hohohohoho.”

Somehow, his laughter, though sounding like a chuckle, seemed laced with genuine feeling.

Indeed, Jo Hyeonryang’s face visibly brightened.

“Yes, child. You appear so young, yet you are already lingering at the edge of the Peak Realm. How old might you be this year?”

“This girl came of age this spring, reaching twenty.”

“Truly twenty? The Matriarch has struck absolute gold with her disciples in her later years. Wait… yes! The Divine Sword of Crescent Moon! That’s right. I remember now.”

“Divine Sword of Crescent Moon?”

Seeing Qing’s expression, Jo Hyeonryang laughed, remarking that her face revealed everything, showing her transparent nature. “You didn’t know? The Sect Leader of Mount Hua praised you, marveling that seeing you was like witnessing the Yue Maiden herself, a talent worthy of a divine sword. The authority imbued in that moniker is on a different level, wouldn’t you agree?”

What, I had a moniker? Divine Sword of Crescent Moon? Ooh. Isn't that cool? A look of satisfaction spread across Qing’s face.

Jo Hyeonryang laughed again.

“Ah. Yes. You mentioned being an Outer Disciple? That implies you are not bound by restrictions on marriage. Might you perhaps have an intended currently in mind? Honestly, the child is far too good for my great-grandson, but such is the meddling of an old man.”

“An intended? At present, I find myself quite occupied with honing my skills, thus I haven’t given my heart elsewhere. And regarding that great-grandson, are you perhaps referring to Young Lord Jo Hakche?”

“Oh, you’ve met him?”

“I saw him from a distance, but…” Qing’s expression became complicated.

In response, Jo Hyeonryang’s blood pressure seemed to rise slightly. “Ahem, yes. His conduct can be somewhat improper, but fundamentally, he is not a bad fellow. And that kind of man, for his woman, would give his very liver and gallbladder—no, not just that, he’d likely offer up all five viscera and six bowels.”

“How could a man’s appreciation for feminine beauty be considered a flaw? Hmm. Is it… a flaw?” Qing wondered aloud, her Ximen Surin-style beauty walk faltering slightly. Should I really be covering for his behavior when he visited me while I was undercover as a beggar? Is that truly right?

“Aigoo, it’s all my fault,” Jo Hyeonryang lamented. “The signs were there when he was young, but because he’s my great-grandson, I just spoiled him rotten. Completely. I told my son to discipline him, but he just goes soft in front of his grandson. Then he should have at least pressured his own son! My, what a fine state this family is in. It’s as if our clan is destined to produce a public enemy of the Murim. If word gets out that a sex fiend has appeared in the thousand-year Jo Clan, how could I possibly face my ancestors after death?”

It was a sudden, unexpected lament.

However, Qing, being an expert charmer of the elderly, didn’t falter and delivered the words he wanted to hear.

“Please do not worry too excessively. I’ve heard that the men of the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly unanimously praised him as a thoroughly dependable and magnanimous older brother figure. That must surely be because his fundamental nature is bright and generous.”

Of course, that was only when there were no women in the group, Qing wisely chose not to add the unnecessary qualifier.

“Yes, the boy’s core character is good,” Jo Hyeonryang agreed readily. “Ever since he was young, he knew how to share with others and couldn’t turn a blind eye to hardship; he’s just too kind-hearted. That’s actually why I worry. He’s been scammed several times. I mean, does that even make sense? How can the heir of the thousand-year Jo Clan go around getting scammed? He opens his coin pouch for anyone who looks even slightly pitiful, forgetting that not everyone who is poor is necessarily virtuous. I truly hope he finds a wise woman who can firmly hold his rather frivolous disposition in check.”

In truth, the amount of Good Karma Qing had observed emanating from Jo Hakche was quite substantial.

“Elder, would one forsake righteousness merely out of fear of being deceived?” Qing asked gently. “Even if you try to save ten people and nine turn out to be deceivers, you still succeed in saving one. I hear that such actions are befitting of a great expert, so please, do not trouble yourself too much.”

“Yes! Right! Those are truly comforting words indeed! How I envy the Rabid Bit— ahem ahem. The Matriarch is truly enviable. In one’s later years, is there anything more enviable than the blessings of children and disciples…”

She had been told simply to announce her name and leave, but the Alliance Leader’s sudden outpouring of grievances had unexpectedly lengthened the greeting.

It started with worries about his great-grandson, then transitioned into complaints about how the Murim Alliance operated far too slowly for his liking, how the world was in turmoil everywhere, fretting about those Demonic Cult bastards and the Blood Cult this and that.

Anyone else his age would have long since stepped down from their duties to leisurely roam and focus on training, but here he was, stuck in the Alliance, forced to clear his throat with an ‘ehem’ and maintain a weighty demeanor, lamenting how harsh his fate was in his twilight years.

His only remaining joy, he grumbled, had been watching his great-granddaughter’s cute antics, but now she was all grown up and did nothing but trail after that Jade Qilin fellow, tsk tsk tsk.

In response, Qing deftly selected only the words he wished to hear, providing a pleasure as immensely satisfying as scratching an itch he couldn’t reach.

That’s right. Qing was specialized in dealing with the elderly, a veritable master manipulator of elders (the nuance in the Central Plains language felt a bit different from the Western equivalent). Melting the heart of a lonely, busy old man was as effortless for her as folding a finger.

“I’d have no greater wish than to pair my grandson with you, child, but I also feel it might be doing you a disservice,” Jo Hyeonryang said warmly. “If it weren’t for the Matriarch, I would have adopted you as my daughter. Since my heart feels this way, please come visit this old man occasionally and be my conversation partner. Would that be alright?”

“Of course. Ah, but weren’t there other people waiting for you?”

“Yes, this job is just like that. What’s so important about a mere greeting that I must sit here looking stern all day, just watching people bow their heads? Yes. Let’s meet again soon. Go to the reception hall and tell them the Alliance Leader has granted you the Mucheon Pavilion. They will provide you with lodging.”

“Yes, Elder. Thank you for your consideration.”

“Keeping an old man company is the consideration; I’m merely doing my duty. Yes, let’s meet again soon.”

Upon leaving the Alliance Leader’s audience chamber, she found the Peng family members seated around a tea table outside, waiting.

Qing offered a nod to Daoist Gentleman Peng Xian, whom she had met previously, waved to Peng Daesan and Peng Choryeo, and then stepped outside to ask a Murim Alliance warrior for directions.

She proceeded to the reception hall, relayed the Alliance Leader’s message, and was guided to a tall pavilion situated against the rear wall of the Murim Alliance compound.

Entering the Mucheon Pavilion and ascending the stairs, as soon as she reached the sixth floor, the attendant guiding her opened a door that blocked the corridor and stated matter-of-factly:

“The esteemed guest may use this entire area.”

It was a lavish corridor, sumptuously decorated with silk. Seeing at least eight visible rooms, Qing inquired again.

“Does that mean I get to choose my room? Perhaps I could look inside them all before deciding? If possible, I’d prefer the largest one.”

The attendant smiled and replied, “You are welcome to use all of them. The entire sixth floor serves as the esteemed guest’s accommodations. However, please note that my colleagues and I, who are assigned to attend to the guest, reside in the rooms at the very end of the hall. Should you require anything, please pull the signal cord located by each bed.”

“Ooh.”

Qing’s eyes widened.

What, I get a whole floor all to myself? Hmm. Totally awesome.

Although Qing realized within a single day that the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly itself wasn't particularly exciting, Ximen Surin had specifically told her to go and mingle with her peers there.

Qing wasn't so dense as to misunderstand that this wasn't literally about playing, but rather about familiarizing herself with faces and exchanging names – essentially, networking.

Just as Peng Daesan had mentioned, the banquet cuisine couldn't compare to the taste of freshly made, piping hot dishes straight from a restaurant; most of the offerings were dishes that were either fine served cold or were intentionally served cool from the start.

Hmm. I’ll go today. Rest tomorrow.

Besides, what else was there to do when alone, other than sleep more?

Her plan was set: Today, she would go to the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly and make separate plans with friends. Tomorrow, she would finally explore the Central Plains' number one market, which she still hadn't seen completely.

She figured she could go to a teahouse, stuff herself with snacks both solid and liquid, and use the opportunity to chat.