Chapter 303 The Deferred Matter

Chapter 303: The Deferred Matter

The news that the First Prince Gwejeonggi and the Third Prince Gwehanggi of the Four Kings had been eliminated from the competition spread like wildfire across the entire province of Jiangsu.

The news could not help but send shockwaves through the entire Four Kings Alliance.

The most likely candidate, who was believed to be certain to become the next Great King barring any unforeseen circumstances, was none other than the eldest son, Gwejeonggi.

For this reason, throughout Jiangsu Province, everyone—warriors and common folk alike—could be heard discussing Gweojeonggi incessantly.

“Have you heard the news? That Lord Gweojeonggi has lost his eligibility as successor?”

“What? What are you talking about? Why would Lord Gweojeonggi suddenly lose his eligibility as successor?”

“Tsk tsk, you really are slow to catch on. He’s been colluding with physicians from both families all this time, poisoning members of the Fourteen Royal Houses, you say? And only the heads and key figures of families that didn’t support him, no less.”

“What?! Master Guijing did such a thing?!”

For the warriors of the Four Kings Alliance, who permitted ambushes, surprise attacks, and one-against-many combat, the one thing strictly forbidden was poison.

Therefore, regardless of anything else, poisoning someone using toxins was an act the Four Kings Alliance warriors despised above all else.

So naturally, the people of the Four Kings Alliance felt no sympathy for Gu Zhengqi once they learned the truth.

“Ha! That petty little man nearly became the next Four Kings! How utterly ridiculous!”

“Exactly. What a relief we discovered it in time, don’t you think?”

Thanks to this, the warriors of the Four Kings Alliance could accept Gwae Jeong-gi’s elimination very naturally and quickly.

Now, their focus naturally converged on one thing.

“So then, does that mean Master Gwae Chang-gi is now the only one left to become the next Four Kings? There are no competitors left, right?”

“Oh, come off it! There’s no lack of competitors! What about Master Seolpung?”

“Huh? Seolpung? Ah, you mean that descendant of the Seol family who was just recognized as the successor? Come on, he couldn’t possibly be a match for Master Gwaechanggi…”

“Huh, really. This guy knows nothing. It was Master Seolpung who uncovered Master Gwaejeonggi’s plot this time. And in the process, all thirteen of the Sawan families who were poisoned by Master Gwaejeonggi decided to support him.”

“What?! Really?!”

“That’s not all. I hear the followers of Lord Gwejeonggi and Lord Gwehanggi have joined Lord Seolpung’s ranks. Now, in terms of sheer power alone, he’s actually surpassed Lord Gwechanggi.”

“No, how could that happen so suddenly…”

Seolpung could instantly rise to become the most likely successor to the next Great King.

All this was thanks to his direct elimination of Gweojeonggi, a formidable rival.

“Huh! So now it’s a one-on-one showdown. Given Prince Gwae Changgi’s temperament, he’d never acknowledge anyone unless they were stronger than himself, right?”

“That’s right. That’s why the enthusiasts are already predicting that the next Grand King will be decided by a one-on-one showdown between those two.”

“Huh, that should be quite the spectacle. If they do fight, I absolutely must go see it, right?”

“Right? I’d definitely go too, if only the place and time were announced.”

It was at this time that the members of the Four Kings Alliance were heightening their anticipation for the showdown between Seolpung and Gwaechanggi.

Meanwhile, Seolpung’s group, having absorbed the forces of Gwaejeonggi and Gwaehanggi, did not return to Jiangsu Province. Instead, they remained in Anhui Province, reorganizing the absorbed forces.

The new members joining Seolpung this time came from two different factions, making it essential to establish their hierarchy and reassign them.

Therefore, Seolpung and Seonwoojin personally interviewed each one and then reorganized them into two main groups by mixing members from both factions.

As a result, Seolpung’s current forces comprised five supreme masters, over thirty peak masters, and about a hundred first-rate warriors, all divided into two battalions.

Of course, since the masters belonging to the Jinjiang Wanda and Banhai Chai families—the maternal clans of the Gwejeonggi and Gwehanggi—were simply sent back, the number of supreme masters was not particularly large.

However, considering the caliber of those within these clans—such as the peerless master of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Arts, Gan Zhaoxing, and the equally formidable master Bai Qiliang—their strength could by no means be called weak.

In fact, considering that Xue Feng still held no formal position within the Four Kings Alliance, it was arguably an excessively formidable force for the independent faction of a single heir apparent.

Seolpung gathered key figures after completing the power reorganization and began the meeting.

It was a meeting to determine their course of action moving forward.

Seolpung looked around at the people and spoke.

“Thanks to the help of everyone here, I, who until recently was nothing but a lone wolf, have now built a force that can hold its own anywhere in the martial world. I thank all those who have been with me thus far, and all those who will join us from now on.”

Having said this, Seolpung paused briefly before bowing respectfully toward the assembled group.

Upon hearing his words, all the warriors present smiled warmly and exchanged fist bumps.

They knew better than anyone that they were the outsiders who had recently been eyeing Seolpung.

Therefore, even if they faced discrimination for a while, they would have had no grounds to complain. Yet, here was this thoughtful gesture, mentioning them alongside the existing members.

It was a consideration they had never once felt from either Gwejeonggi or Gwehanggi.

They couldn’t help but smile warmly, sensing their new master would be very satisfied.

In that warm atmosphere, Seolpung spoke again.

“There isn’t a single person here who doesn’t owe gratitude to someone for getting us to this point. Yet, despite that, no one can deny that achieving such a favorable outcome was largely thanks to the wisdom of my sworn brother here, Sunwoo Jin. Therefore, I intend to seek Jin’s counsel regarding our future course of action . I also ask all the new members who have joined us to regard Jin’s words as my own and follow them accordingly.”

Seolpung finished speaking and turned his gaze toward Seonwoojin.

All eyes immediately focused on him.

Everyone present had witnessed Seonwoojin’s skill and wisdom while opposing Seolpung, so not a trace of doubt could be found in their gazes.

Moreover, having witnessed the devastating defeat of Gam Jak-hyeong, the Three-Pronged Spear, who had recently faced him in combat, their gazes held not a trace of resentment, but rather overflowed with admiration.

Amidst the focused gazes of all present, Seon Woo-jin slowly opened his mouth.

Thank you for valuing my limited wisdom so highly. I will continue to do my utmost to ensure favorable outcomes. Now, let me discuss our future plans. As everyone anticipates, Brother Seolpung’s task from this point forward is to defeat Master Gwaechanggi. Rather than confronting him directly, I recommend achieving an accomplishment worthy of his recognition—as he himself mentioned earlier.

It meant to earn his recognition rather than confront Gwae Chang-gi directly.

Hearing this, everyone who had naturally assumed a confrontation with Gwae Chang-gi would occur wore puzzled expressions.

Especially the Samjishinchang sensitization type was the first to ask in a gruff voice.

Ever since his one-sided defeat to Seonwoo Jin not long ago, he had been unable to shake his sour expression.

“Why not just face him one-on-one? Since he claims to love fighting, why not beat him up? It doesn’t seem like Prince Seolpung would lose…”

Seonwoo Jin answered with a faint smile.

“Of course, that would be a very easy and quick method. Since Brother Seolpung is unlikely to lose, using that method would subdue him quite simply. But even so, I recommend the retreating method because our current growth rate is excessively rapid.”

Gamjak-hyung frowned and repeated Seonwoo-jin’s words.

“Excessively fast?”

That was something neither Seolpung nor the others had ever heard before.

The group all listened intently to Seonwoo Jin’s explanation with expressions of interest.

“Defeating Master Gwaechanggi and becoming the heir to the Four Kings should no longer be too difficult. But Brother Seolpung isn’t aiming to win the martial arts tournament—he wants to become the Four Kings who will rule the Four Kings Alliance. But if he becomes the heir to the Four Kings so quickly, what will the people of the Four Kings Alliance think of Brother Seolpung?”

At that, Dong Soun, a collateral branch of the Yangju Dong family and betrothed to Seolpung, suddenly replied as if she had just realized something.

“Ah! They might think the Four Kings Alliance was taken over by an outsider!”

As someone belonging to the Four Kings Alliance, she was apparently the quickest to realize it.

At that answer, Seon Woo-jin gave a slight nod and smiled faintly.

“That’s right. It was still too soon for the martial artists of the Four Kings Alliance to consider Brother Seolpung as one of their own. Some might even see this as an invasion by outsiders. Moreover, the relationship with the Gwae family will remain a potential threat.”

Seolpung reacted most sensitively to those words.

“Relationship with the Gwae family?”

Neither the common folk, nor the Gwae brothers, nor even themselves knew it, but in truth, they were Seolpung’s half-brothers.

That’s why Seolpung, who had lived alone since childhood, felt a certain affection for the Gwae brothers.

Although he had crossed an uncrossable river with Gweojeonggi and Gwehanggi, Seolpung’s wish was to maintain a good relationship with the other brothers as much as possible.

Sunwoo Jin could somewhat anticipate Seolpung’s feelings.

Having once felt similar emotions toward his half-brothers in the Sunwoo family, it was a consideration he could afford.

He explained as he looked at Seolpung.

My brother has already made enemies of the Gwaejeonggi and Gwaehanggi brothers—that is, the Jin Gangman family and the Bunhaechae family. While His Majesty the Four Kings punished them harshly, it wasn’t actually a bad thing for my brother. It allowed him to block their schemes at the source, preventing them from clinging to their ambitions. The problem is that while you haven’t yet secured sufficient support within the Four Kings Alliance, you’ve already faced enemies that are far too powerful.”

At those words, most of them now murmured in understanding at Seonwoo Jin’s explanation.

“Hmm.”

“That’s true.”

In the martial arts world, military might was undoubtedly the most crucial factor, but that did not mean political skill was unnecessary.

For what lurked behind one’s back was often more fearsome than the great bandits before one’s eyes.

In that sense, having already built up grudges with two influential families of the Four Kings and Thirteen Clans was likely to remain a persistent headache for Seolpung even after he became the Four Kings.

Xian Wujin continued speaking.

“That’s why I believe it’s necessary to build good relations with the other brothers of the Gwae family—Gwae Chang-gi and Gwae Seo-gi. Merely having their support would make the people of Sawanryeon feel much closer to our eldest brother.”

Having said that, Seon Woo-jin silently murmured another reason he hadn’t shared with the others.

‘And my brother will gain good brothers too.’

Seolpung nodded in agreement.

“A good idea. I absolutely agree with your opinion, brother. What do the others think?”

Seolpung asked, scanning the people around him.

Then everyone nodded in agreement.

The reason Seonwoo Jin gave was perfectly reasonable, and besides, there was no one yet with a strong enough standing to raise objections to the plans Seonwoo Jin had devised and Seolpung had agreed to.

Seolpung then looked at Seonwoojin again and said.

“Then our next course of action will be to build achievements worthy of Gwaechanggi’s recognition.”

After a moment of thought, he opened his mouth again and asked him.

“Hmm, if it’s the Jin I know, you probably already have a plan for that, don’t you?”

At that question, Seon Woo-jin gave a sly smile.

Conversing with Seolpung, who knew him well, was indeed comfortable.

He nodded and answered without hesitation.

“Master Gwaechanggi declared he would defeat Namgung Jo, the Heavenly Sword Lord. So to surprise him, we must defeat an opponent even greater than that. Someone who is among the Thirty-Six Great Families and simultaneously possesses formidable power.”

Upon hearing this, the Three-Pronged Spear, Gan Zhaoxing, frowned and retorted.

“One of the Thirty-Six Great Families who also commands a powerful force?”

As one of the Thirty-Six Lords of the Realm, he felt somewhat slighted that Seolpung and Sunwoojin were seeking another target instead of him.

But when Seon Woo-jin spoke next, he had to realize he wasn’t being ignored.

Their goal was simply too grand.

Seon Woo-jin smiled slyly and said.

“Others may not know this, but among the Thirty-Six Great Families of the Realm, there is already one whose debt we must repay. None other than the Honam’s Finest Sword, Wei Jeong-guk.”

The First Sword of Honam, Wei Jung-guk?

Upon hearing that name, those present instantly tried to recall who he was.

And in the next instant, they all couldn’t help but wear expressions of utter shock.

It was because he realized that he was not merely one of the Thirty-Six Great Families of the World, but the leader of the Hyeongsan Sect, a colossal martial arts faction that dominated the entire province of Honam.

“Ho, the Sword Master of Hunan, Wei Zhengguo?”

“Th-that’s too…”

The Xingshan Sect was a colossal sect rumored to potentially rank among the top even among the Nine Great Sects, let alone the Five Great Families like the Nangong Clan.

Yet Xian Wujin was now declaring he would fight that colossal sect using only Xuefeng’s forces.

It was a moment when Xuefeng’s power, which he had boasted was strong enough to be recognized anywhere in the martial world just moments ago, suddenly felt pitifully small.

White Bone Demon Hong Chu stammered as he raised an objection.

“Se-seonwoo, young master. I-isn’t that a bit too much to ask? I believe our faction could hold its own against any of the Four Kings and Thirteen Clans. But the Hyeongsan Sect—isn’t that a force that should be compared not to the Four Kings and Thirteen Clans, but to the entire Four Kings Alliance?”

At his words, most people nodded with weary expressions.

Everyone agreed it was unreasonable.

At that moment, Seolpung spoke up.

“The Hyeongsan Sect…”

All eyes in the room immediately turned to Xuefeng.

Their eyes held the expectation that he might be able to dissuade Seon Woo-jin from his reckless plan.

But the moment Seolpung smiled slyly and spoke, their eyes could not help but fill once more with the light of despair.

This was because Seolpung had said this:

“I was already uneasy about leaving them behind. This works out well. I can finish the task I put off.”

Seolpung’s subordinates, who had been satisfied just moments ago at having found a good master, now plunged into deep despair.

It was a feeling they had experienced in less than an hour since becoming Seolpung’s subordinates.