Chapter 85: The Return Banquet
Maybe it was because our stay at the Righteous Alliance had lasted longer than expected...
but everyone had clearly missed Kunlun.
They wanted to return to the embrace of the sect as quickly as possible.
Perhaps that was why.
After leaving the Righteous Alliance, we barely stopped to rest.
We moved fast enough to cross one or two mountains every other day.
Then, after days of relentless travel...
“...Look over there!”
Myeongjeon, walking at the front of the group, raised his hand and pointed ahead.
A familiar sight awaited us in the distance.
Snow-covered peaks rising so high they seemed to tear through the sky.
Clouds flowing mysteriously around those towering mountains.
Then Myeongjeon's voice followed.
“It's Kunlun.”
At once...
everyone's pace quickened.
We continuously used our movement techniques as we cut through the rugged mountain paths.
After traveling like that for some time...
a familiar road leading toward the sect finally appeared.
At the end of it stood the tiled gatehouse we'd all missed so much.
And hanging above the main entrance was a massive plaque.
Kunlun Mountain Gate
At last...
we had returned to the Kunlun Sect.
Disciples stood guard at Kunlun's main gate.
As we approached...
their eyes widened.
“E-Elders...? Ah, the tournament group...!”
One of them immediately turned and ran inside the mountain gate.
“The Dragon-Phoenix Awakening Tournament group has returned!”
A short while later...
people began pouring out through the gate.
Kunlun disciples in gray Taoist robes rushed toward us.
“You're finally back!”
“We heard every one of you made it into the main tournament! That's incredible!”
“Taoist Mujin, they said you even reached the finals!”
The cheering crowd wasn't made up of disciples alone.
I could see laborers who worked for the sect.
Even people from the inner quarters were peeking out to look.
Calling it a grand welcome wouldn't have been an exaggeration.
The entire entrance was quickly packed with people.
Jin Gwangung lightly cleared his throat as though none of this was a big deal.
“Seriously. Why are they making such a fuss when we didn't even do anything that impressive?”
Yu Gwangcheol smiled.
“Let them enjoy it.”
Then he looked toward the crowd.
“How often has Kunlun had something like this to celebrate?”
I nodded inwardly.
For nearly twenty years...
Kunlun had distanced itself from the martial world and lived almost like a secluded sect.
It had focused entirely on serving as a barrier against the Demonic Cult.
There had been very few occasions where Kunlun had displayed the dignity expected of one of the Nine Great Sects.
The only thing involving Kunlun that martial artists had talked about much in the past decade...
was probably my defeat of the Thousand Poisons Old Demon.
Either way, seeing everyone in the sect smiling like this isn't bad.
I glanced at the others around me.
Judging by the pride on their faces...
they seemed to feel the same way.
Then...
a disciple hurried through the crowd toward us.
He gave Jin Gwangung and Yu Gwangcheol a martial salute.
“The Sect Leader is waiting for you.”
Jin Gwangung answered as though he'd expected it.
“Understood. We'll go immediately.”
Yu Gwangcheol nodded as well.
Then gestured toward us.
“Follow.”
The crowd gathered at the mountain gate immediately opened a path.
The noisy atmosphere from moments earlier settled down the instant the Sect Leader was mentioned.
So this is the weight carried by the position of Sect Leader.
We headed straight toward the Sect Leader's Palace.
The disciples guarding the entrance opened the doors as though they'd been waiting for us.
Inside...
Sect Leader Cheon Gwangcheon was already there.
He looked at us with his usual benevolent smile.
Yu Gwangcheol lowered his head.
“Sect Leader. We have returned.”
Cheon Gwangcheon answered warmly.
“Welcome back.”
“You've all worked hard.”
Yu Gwangcheol and Jin Gwangung responded in turn.
“Worked hard? We merely did what needed to be done.”
“Of course we worked hard. Stop giving me annoying jobs like this from now on.”
Cheon Gwangcheon burst into hearty laughter.
Then he took each of their hands in turn.
A moment later...
his gaze shifted toward the Dragon-Phoenix Awakening Tournament participants, including me.
“You all did well.”
His voice was warm.
“I heard all four of you reached the main tournament.”
“Thanks to you, the martial world has clearly seen the strength of our Kunlun Sect.”
The first thing he emphasized...
was that all four participants had reached the main tournament.
He's being considerate toward Yu Seola and Hyeongwon, who were eliminated earlier.
I found myself lowering my head at the Sect Leader's thoughtfulness toward the younger disciples.
Yu Seola and Myeongjeon both looked brighter after hearing the praise.
“Reaching the final eight of the Dragon-Phoenix Awakening Tournament is already an excellent achievement.”
Cheon Gwangcheon continued,
“I hope you continue training diligently and keep raising the name of Kunlun in the future.”
He looked at us.
“Do you understand?”
“Yes! We will remember your words!”
All of us answered together.
“Good.”
“I trust you.”
Cheon Gwangcheon smiled softly.
Then his gaze settled on me.
Deep joy was visible in his eyes.
He didn't say it aloud...
but I could tell he was especially pleased that I had reached the finals.
After looking at me for a moment...
he turned toward everyone again.
“I'm planning to hold a banquet tonight.”
Jin Gwangung tilted his head.
“What's gotten into you?”
“You hate things like banquets.”
Cheon Gwangcheon laughed.
“Haha. Shouldn't we hold a proper celebration for the disciples who spread Kunlun's name throughout the martial world?”
The moment alcohol was mentioned...
Jin Gwangung's face immediately brightened.
“Excellent!”
He grinned.
“It's been a while since I've had a proper drink!”
Cheon Gwangcheon smiled at the sight.
Yu Gwangcheol, however, muttered under his breath.
“Ahem. Absolutely shameless.”
He glanced toward the younger disciples.
“There are children here too.”
Though...
his own expression looked just as bright.
The Sect Leader continued.
“I'll have the banquet prepared.”
“Until then, all of you should rest and recover from the journey.”
“Understood.”
We all gave a martial salute...
then left the Sect Leader's Palace.
The moment we stepped outside...
Jin Gwangung stretched both arms high above his head.
