Somewhere in my heart, a flame ignited.
Under the leadership of my elder brother Deoksu, a pig bone feast was held in the Black Cat Hall.
I instructed to open all the doors of the Black Cat Hall wide, then hastily set up tables and mats in the main hall, inner courtyard, and outer courtyard to prepare for the banquet.
Lady Son and her attendants, following Deoksu's orders, busily carried the food.
Whether Namcheonryeon attacked or the Paegum Association came, it was none of my concern.
For now, I ate and drank.
A drink with Namgarak, another with Chasungtae, one with the Wall Commander, and I even poured a drink for the busy Lady Son, as well as for Ho Yeoncheong, who had struggled to teach his foolish disciple.
I went into the kitchen to give a drink to Deoksu, who was cooking the pig bones, and caught the fleeing attendants to make them take a sip as well.
Shortly after, the Twelve Divine Generals I had summoned arrived, and we shared drinks with the disciples after a long time.
In no time, I had exceeded my drinking capacity.
With a flushed face, I caught sight of some unfamiliar figures kneeling in the corner of the main hall.
"Who are you?" I asked them in a calm tone.
The three bloodied men looked at me in surprise.
"We are from Namcheonryeon, Lord Bangju," one of them replied.
"Oh, really?" It seemed I had momentarily forgotten in my drunken state.
I then called out to the passing So Gunpyeong.
"Gunpyeong, have a drink!"
"Ah!" So Gunpyeong hurriedly tried to escape, but I didn’t chase after him.
When I stepped into the inner courtyard, it was also a scene of revelry.
The Wall Commander was explaining what had happened earlier to the Twelve Divine Generals.
I casually approached and listened in, hearing talk of a letter, how Namcheonryeon was angered, and that the Paegum Association should not be left alone.
I nodded along with the Wall Commander’s words.
"Indeed. Our great military commander is right."
The white-clad man smiled at me.
"Great Master, you seem to be drinking quite a bit today."
"You should drink a bit too."
"Yes."
I handed the drink I was holding to the white-clad man and drew the sword at his waist.
"Master, may I borrow your sword?"
"Yes."
Holding the sword, I walked over to the plum tree, spun around it a few times, then stopped to perform a makeshift sword ceremony for my subordinates.
"To all of you from our sect, I ask for your support. I am the Lord of Hao Sect, Lee Jaha."
As I paid my respects, my subordinates, while drinking, began to pay their respects in return.
"We greet you, Lord."
Perhaps due to the effects of the alcohol, various responses flowed out.
"Lord Bangju, we also ask for your support."
As I gestured for space, the tables were pulled back by my subordinates, creating a wide area like a performance stage.
Drunk, I looked around and said, "Brothers of our Hao Sect, I am Lee Jaha."
I introduced myself while holding the sword.
"I was born in Iyang County and have been wiping tables in inns since I learned to walk. But that inn burned down and disappeared. Our Hao Sect began when that inn burned. Perhaps that fire has moved into my heart. Even now, somewhere in my heart, the flames linger. I am originally a worthless man, a man with a bad temper, a foolish man who changes from one thing to another, but because I was weak, the Hao Sect will stand on the side of the weak in the future."
I continued, holding the sword vertically.
"Those who do not harm the weak without reason are all my brothers. It does not matter if you come from the White Path, the Family, the Black Path, the Demon Path, a temple, a widow, a Taoist, a beggar, a merchant, a woodcutter, or a fisherman. You are my brothers.
However, if there are ordinary people who have not cultivated martial arts, the weak, frail women, beautiful women, kind-hearted women, children, monks, Taoists, drunkards, fortune tellers, courtesans, shamans, or nuns, and if there are fathers, mothers, uncles, sisters, brothers, and younger siblings who are struggling to make a living today, if anyone bullies them, regardless of whether they come from the Demon Path, the Black Path, the White Path, whether they are rich or poor, I will deal with them."
I looked at my Hao Sect brothers and laughed, the alcohol completely taking over my heart.
"Though my skills may still be lacking compared to the strongest in the world, just yesterday I practiced breathing techniques, and the day before that as well. In the past, I trained my strength with the brothers of the Black Cat Hall, and not long ago, I received advice on swordsmanship from a senior I met by chance in the Jianghu. I am a man who grows stronger little by little every day, the Lord of Hao Sect, Lee Jaha. I will now show my brothers the sword techniques I have been practicing lately."
I struck the plum tree lightly, then stepped into the swirling plum blossoms.
There, I swung the sword in a drunken manner, blending with the plum blossoms.
It was a chaotic dance, but I didn’t care.
I swung the sword under the influence of alcohol.
With one strike, a clump of plum blossoms was cut in half, and I sliced it again into four pieces.
Mixing the sword wind, I thrust at the center, and the shattered plum blossoms scattered in all directions in an instant.
It was a meaningless dance.
However, I momentarily gazed at the fluttering petals, then infused the sword with the fragrance of the plum blossoms.
Whoosh! I watched as the reddish energy gathered on the sword, then released the sword energy outward and added a slight twist of the Absorbing Energy Technique, causing the fragrant sword energy to break into tiny pieces like plum blossoms and scatter in the air.
This was my interpretation of the Thunder Sword Technique, Plum Blossom Fragrance.
I smiled as I looked at the plum blossom fragrance.
The scattering plum blossom fragrance burned all the floating plum blossoms, turning them into dust that quickly vanished.
I was relieved that I had infused less energy.
My subordinates, having confirmed my marvelous trick, erupted into applause.
After my brief introduction and sword dance performance, I took my leave from the gathered crowd.
Then, my subordinates, disciples, and brothers all stood up and paid their respects to me.
I threw the sword to the watching white-clad man.
When I approached Chasungtae's seat and extended my empty cup, he poured me a drink.
"That was impressive, Lord."
As I received the drink, I grabbed Chasungtae's shoulder.
"Our Hao Sect's Chasungtae."
"Yes."
"You must not die. To survive, train hard."
Chasungtae nodded seriously.
I engaged in a drinking contest with him, and this time, the alcohol surged through me.
The Wall Commander approached me and said, "Lord Bangju, are you alright? You've had too much to drink."
I waved my hand to dismiss the Wall Commander and plopped down under the plum tree.
After closing my eyes for a moment...
I gathered the alcohol energy in my body and concentrated it at my fingertips, like when I was performing the Detoxification Technique.
This was a trick applying the principle of detoxifying poison.
After a while, the alcohol energy condensed at my fingertips and dripped down like droplets.
It was a method I had used for detoxification, but it also worked for alcohol.
I quickly dispelled the alcohol energy and looked at my subordinates with a clear face.
They stared at me, surprised that I had suddenly regained my sobriety.
In a calm tone, I said to my subordinates, "I have sobered up, so you all drink comfortably. Tonight, I will stand guard."
While my subordinates remained silent, Hong Same asked, "Understood, Great Master."
I walked back to the main hall and looked at the messenger from Namcheonryeon, who was still kneeling.
"Why have you come? Did you state your purpose to me?"
One of them replied, "We have come under the orders of Lord Namcheonryeon to demand participation from the Black Cat Hall."
"Do I have a reason, justification, or cause to participate?"
The three seemed at a loss for words.
One of them finally replied, "We could not dare to ask Lord Namcheonryeon that."
I glared at the three and said, "I see. But do you think I look like a man weaker than Lord Namcheonryeon?"
"We are lacking in skill, so we cannot say."
"Is Lord Namcheonryeon a top master of the Black Path?"
"That is not the case."
"Tell that arrogant messenger to relay my words."
"Yes."
"If you act disrespectfully one more time, I will come find you. At that time, you will have to elect a new leader. Get up."
The three stood up, helping each other.
Their bodies were battered, having been trampled by the officers.
I pushed my way between them and put my arms around their shoulders.
"Alright, let’s escape the Black Cat Hall. I will guide you. My subordinates are busy drinking today."
"It’s alright."
"Shut up."
I guided the three, who were terrified, to the front gate, with our arms around each other like drunken brothers.
At the front gate, the three, looking very frightened, hurriedly paid their respects to me.
"Lord, then we will take our leave."
"Thank you for sparing us."
"I will relay this to Lord Namcheonryeon."
One of the messengers, who had been eavesdropping on the conversations at the banquet, asked me, "Ah, Lord, I apologize, but should I relay it as the Lord of the Black Cat Hall or as the Lord of Hao Sect?"
"I am the Lord of Hao Sect."
"Understood."
I looked at the faces of the three and gestured for them to come closer.
"Come here. I will open a path for you. If you go as you are and report what happened, the chance of being met with a blade is very high."
The messengers replied in a tense tone, "We will listen carefully."
"I heard that the Lord of the Black Cat Hall is already dead. It is true. I killed him. An unidentified master appeared and overwhelmingly defeated and killed the Lord of the Black Cat Hall, his master Daenachal, Ilryongnogun, Master Su, the Black Line Master, Dongbangyeon, and many other well-known masters here. I beat them to death with a club, killed them with an axe, defeated them in a contest of strength, tore them apart, and burned them to death."
"……."
"That was me. I am Lee Jaha, the Lord of Hao Sect. You didn’t know?"
"Yes."
"In particular, this Lord of Hao Sect is known for killing only the leaders and then gathering the subordinates, resulting in a massive army. You must have heard of it too?"
"Yes, we have heard."
"My ears have been ringing from it."
"That would be the case. If one has any sense, how should they treat me after hearing this?"
One of the messengers correctly replied, "It is only right to visit with respect."
I nodded.
"Correct. But you were disrespectful from the moment you appeared. That is why my subordinates trampled you."
"I apologize."
"If you want to live, make sure to mix what I just said well and report it to your superior. You suffered a lot, unable to eat the pig bones and being trampled by my subordinates."
"Yes, then we will take our leave. Lord."
The three messengers took a few steps before turning back, and one of them paid their respects to me.
"I heard what you said outside. I will relay it well."
I waved my hand.
"Since it was said in drunkenness, you don’t need to take it seriously."
"Yes."
"But I am serious. Do you understand what I mean?"
The two messengers looked at me with blank expressions, but one smiled with a bloodied face.
"I understand. Then, Lord, we will return."
"Safe travels."
I personally saw off the messengers, closed the main gate, and turned back.
There were quite a few people, and some of my subordinates were finally tasting the pig bones.
I walked over to one of my subordinates tearing into the pig bones and asked, "How does it taste?"
The subordinate replied, "Lord, this is so delicious!"
I pointed at my subordinate.
"This is not something you can easily eat. Make sure to suck the meat off the bones."
"Hahaha. I am doing just that."
I looked around and said, "Anyone who hasn’t eaten pig bones, raise your hand?"
Hands shot up from all directions.
I looked at those who raised their hands and said, "Oh, I haven’t eaten yet either. Put your hands down."
As the subordinates lowered their hands, they laughed.
Suddenly, the alcohol buzz faded, and I felt hungry, so I quickly soared into the air, leaping over the inner courtyard, then burst into the main hall.
"Where’s my pig bone?"
The officers, with greasy mouths, replied from all around, "It’s on the table!"
With my hands behind my back, I went to the head seat and found a small bowl with one pig bone sitting there.
I rubbed my palms together and sat down, grabbing the pig bone.
My subordinates suddenly looked at me, so I gave a brief remark.
"Let’s eat well."
My subordinates and brothers responded with smiles from all around, "Enjoy your meal."
I took a big bite of the thick meat from the pig bone.
In summary, this is how it went...
Today, me, pig bone, successful.