The Martial God with Psychic Powers

Worried that Yeon Woo Jin might be blamed, Hwangbo Gwang quickly stepped in to defend him.
“He bears no fault. These are my own feelings. On the contrary, he made it very clear he would never accept me unless I had your permission.”

Still, Hwangbo Won said nothing.
Hwangbo Gwang swallowed hard and squeezed his eyes shut.
Now it was coming—he was going to say something.

Whether it was a scolding or a slap, he braced himself.
And then—
“So do I.”

…Huh?
What did he just say?
“So do I”?
“I want to follow him too.”

Hwangbo Won’s response struck like thunder.
Eyes flying wide open, Hwangbo Gwang jerked his head up.
“Pardon?”

“What’s with that reaction? You’re not the only one who wants to follow him. I do too.”
“F-Father, you as well?”
“Yes. It’s driving me crazy. I keep thinking of our benefactor… wondering whether he arrived home safely, what he might be doing right now…”

It was exactly how he felt.
“I give you my permission.”
“…What?”

“Go and win his favor. Let’s make the Hwangbo Clan the first among the Five Martial Vassal Clans of Mushincheon.”
He had come to ask for permission, but now that it was freely granted, his mind momentarily went blank.
“What are you doing, boy? You asked for permission and I gave it. Why aren’t you off serving him already? Go—deliver him a message too.”

“Yes?”
“Tell him the Hwangbo Clan will serve as his vassal clan. And remember this—we must claim the top spot. We must be the first.”
Realizing his father wasn’t joking in the slightest, Hwangbo Gwang nodded solemnly.

“Yes! I will do my utmost to ensure our clan becomes the first vassal to our lord!”
“You’d better give it your all. From the looks of things, the Hebei Pang Clan’s movements are suspicious too. It seems they’re preparing to follow him as well. Same with the Zhuge Clan. The Namgoong Clan practically handed over their entire inner house. But everyone’s still just watching and hesitating.”
Looking straight at Hwangbo Gwang, he said,

“I was just hesitating too. But thanks to you, my eyes are open. We’re going to follow him anyway—there’s no point in wasting time.”
Hearing that the other clans were no different, Hwangbo Gwang’s expression turned resolute.
“I will secure our place, without fail.”
“Good! Now go—quickly. Get back and serve him.”

“Yes, sir!”
Watching his son disappear into the distance, Hwangbo Won murmured softly,
“…I should probably start preparing to serve him too.”

 
****
Back at Sincheonjang.

Hwangbo Gwang prostrated himself before Yeon Woo Jin.
“I’ve received permission, my lord!”
Yeon Woo Jin stared down at him, baffled.

He actually got permission?
“From this day on, the Hwangbo Clan will follow our lord! My father himself said he would serve you!”
“The clan lord as well?”

“Yes! He said the Hwangbo Clan would become your vassal!”
Looking down at the kneeling Hwangbo Gwang, Yeon Woo Jin slowly approached and helped him to his feet.
“I’ll be counting on you.”

It was permission.
Tears welled up instantly.
They were tears of joy.

Not once in his life had he ever imagined he would serve someone.
But now he had found the one he would follow for the rest of his life—and that man had accepted him.
In this moment, Hwangbo Gwang was happier than anyone in the world.

“With all my soul, with all my loyalty—I will serve you, my lord!”
The people of Sincheonjang who were watching—
They understood Hwangbo Gwang’s heart better than anyone.

After all, they’d gone through the same inner turmoil.
“Man, the competition’s getting fierce.”
“No kidding. At this rate, he’s gonna unify the Central Plains.”

“Well, that was always going to happen.”
“I’m curious what the Namgoong Clan’s going to say.”
“Oh, right! Hwangbo Gwang asked us to let them know as soon as he got back.”

“Go on, then. And make sure to check their reaction and report back.”
“Yeah, seriously. I wanna know. Hurry up and go.”
 

“What? He really got permission and came back?”
“That’s what I’m telling you.”
The one who delivered the news to Namgoong Myeong was a pyo-sa from the Sincheon Escort Company—someone he’d spent time living alongside not long ago.

“Even the Hwangbo Clan’s lord said he would serve our lord.”
“…What?”
“They’re going to become one of our lord’s vassal clans.”

“A vassal clan…”
To be Yeon Woo Jin’s vassal clan.
It sounded far greater than the title “one of the Five Great Clans of the Central Plains.”

“I’ve heard the Hebei Pang Clan and the Zhuge Clan are secretly preparing to follow him too.”
That made him panic.
The first move had already been taken by the Hwangbo Clan—but second place was still up for grabs.

Namgoong Myeong stood up.
“Thank you. I’ll be going. I have to speak with my father.”
“Understood.”

 
Knock knock knock.
As someone knocked on the door, Namgoong Cheon called out,

“Come in.”
Creeeak—
The door opened, and in walked his son.

Namgoong Cheon, pausing what he’d been doing, rose from his seat with a smile.
“Well, well. What brings you to your father’s room at this hour?”
“I have something to say.”

“Do you now? Then come sit.”
As Namgoong Myeong took a seat, Namgoong Cheon placed his palm on the teapot.
Heat surged from his hand—fiery yang energy boiling the tea within.

Bubble bubble—
In moments, the tea was boiling. Pouring it into cups, Namgoong Cheon asked,
“Alright then, speak. What is it you need to say?”

“Father.”
“Yes?”
“What do you think of our benefactor?”

“…What are you getting at?”
“Do you… perhaps have any intention of serving him?”
Namgoong Cheon’s face twitched at the question.

“What… what is this all of a sudden? Out of nowhere?”
“I’m sorry. I was in a hurry and didn’t lead in properly.”
“In a hurry? What do «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» you mean?”

“Today… I received some shocking news.”
“Shocking news?”
“The Hwangbo Clan… they’ve declared themselves vassals of our benefactor.”

“…What?”
“On top of that, the Hebei Pang Clan and the Zhuge Clan are reportedly preparing to do the same. That’s why I’m asking—what are your thoughts, Father…?”
Seeing Namgoong Cheon’s stunned expression, Namgoong Myeong trailed off.

So that was his answer, then.
His father wasn’t going to do it.
But then, Namgoong Cheon suddenly sprang to his feet.

“Is that true?!”
“…Y-Yes.”
“Those damned bastards made the first move! They snatched the top spot from us! It’s my fault—mine! Our Namgoong Clan was the very first to meet our benefactor, and he’s even staying in our home!”

His face twisted with frustration.
Then he turned to Namgoong Myeong and said,
“Go at once. Dress in proper attire and come out.”

“…Sir?”
“Before it’s too late, we’re doing this too. Starting today, don’t call him your benefactor—call him your lord.”
“Father…”

“What? You don’t want to?”
“That’s not it! I’ve been wanting this more than anything! I’m just… overcome with joy.”
Namgoong Cheon laughed as he watched his son’s beaming smile.

“I kept it to myself because I was afraid you might get hurt.”
“I’ve been holding it in too, Father.”
“Hahaha… So father and son were of one heart. Very well! Then let’s go see our lord right this instant!”

“Yes, sir!”
 
The Namgoong father and son arrived at Sincheonjang in a single breath.

They ran straight in and prostrated themselves before Yeon Woo Jin.
“What are you two doing now?”
“We wish to serve you as our lord!”

“So suddenly?”
“This isn’t sudden! I’ve harbored this desire ever since you healed Seolhwa!”
…When had he healed Hong Seolhwa again?

That was two years ago.
They’d been holding that feeling in since two years ago?
“We were only restraining ourselves out of fear it might burden you—but then those Hwangbo bastards made the first move!”

It sounded like he was grinding his teeth as he said it.
“The Namgoong Clan will also become one of your vassal clans! We will serve with utmost loyalty! Please accept us!”
“What will the rest of your clan say when they find out?”

“They’ll welcome my decision once they learn of it.”
“If we’re speaking of ties, our Namgoong Clan has a deeper connection with you, doesn’t it? Please—accept us.”
Since he had already accepted the Hwangbo Clan, there was no reason to refuse the Namgoong Clan.

In the end, Yeon Woo Jin gave his consent.
At that, Namgoong Cheon and Namgoong Myeong lit up with joy.
Now they finally understood why Hwangbo Gwang had wept with such emotion earlier.

The overwhelming rush of feeling hit them too.
“We shall serve you with all our loyalty!”
 

Upon hearing that even the Namgoong Clan had become a vassal clan, the members of Sincheonjang reacted immediately.
Jang Woon turned to Sunwoo Baek and asked,
“Shouldn’t your clan be joining as a vassal too?”

But Sunwoo Baek waved his hand in dismissal.
“Hey, you think just anyone can become a vassal clan? You need the wealth and size to back it up. My family’s a mid-sized clan—we can’t afford it.”
“Yeah, even just maintaining the Five Vassal Clans of Mushincheon takes astronomical amounts of money.”

“If my clan tried to spend like that, we’d go bankrupt in under a year.”
“At this rate, it’ll be nothing but Central Plains clans lining up.”
“Don’t forget Mushincheon has the Shin Clan. And soon enough, the line between the Central Plains and Mushincheon won’t even matter.”

“You’re right. Our lord’s going to unify the world anyway—what’s there to worry about?”
“That’ll be fun too—vassals from Mushincheon versus the new ones.”
“They probably don’t even realize that the real competition isn’t about who’s the next heir.”

“Exactly. They’re probably off dreaming happy little dreams.”
After chatting back and forth, the conversation shifted to the Divine Dragon Tournament.
“Oh right—you guys are entering the tournament, right?”

“Yeah. Sunwoo Baek and I will represent Sincheonjang. Bang Woon and Jo Deok are going in under their own sects.”
“They said special training starts tomorrow for that.”
“Sigh… How long’s it going to last this time?”

“Probably about a week.”
“A week? That’s seven months in the formation.”
“You’ve got to at least reach the level of a Five Great Clan’s young lord.”

“So what kind of cultivation level are we talking?”
“At bare minimum, fifth level of the Hwagyeong Realm.”
“If you lose at the Divine Dragon Tournament, you face the black-eyed lord.”

At the mention of the Black-Eyed Lord, everyone involuntarily shivered.
Yeon Woo Jin, with his black eyes—was terrifying.
Then Jang Woon spoke.

“Focus and grind like hell. The real reason our lord is pushing us so hard isn’t the Divine Dragon Tournament. It’s the war with the Demonic Cult that’s coming. If we want to survive that, we’ve gotta train like maniacs.”
“You’re right. Just hearing that makes me feel like I can’t afford to relax. I’m going back to train.”
“Yeah. Let’s go.”

 
“…You. What are you doing here?”
Namgoong Myeong and Hwangbo Gwang had stumbled across someone.

It was none other than Jegal Un—who had already been stationed at Sincheonjang.
“Our Jegal Clan got here first.”
At Jegal Un’s words, the two of them furrowed their brows—then quickly realized what he meant and scowled.

Hwangbo Gwang especially looked crestfallen.
He’d been so sure they were the first—and had been proud of it.
“Looks like you’ve all decided to follow the lord.”

“Yeah. We really thought we’d be the first…”
Jegal Un wore a smug smile.
“Sorry to disappoint you, but our clan was the first to serve him.”

“Damn it.”
It felt like they’d lost something.
“How long have you been here?”

“It’s been a while. I was in secluded training. The lord told me to prepare thoroughly for the Divine Dragon Tournament.”
If Yeon Woo Jin had personally trained him, then Jegal Un wasn’t to be taken lightly.
Yeon Woo Jin had made it clear:

If they showed a disappointing performance at the Divine Dragon Tournament, they wouldn’t be accepted as subordinates.
Fire sparked in the eyes of all three.
This had become a battle for their clan’s pride.

And it wasn’t just the three of them competing.
Jang Woon and Sunwoo Baek, as well as Bang Woon and Jo Deok—all formidable talents—were also contenders.
They had to defeat every one of them.

Only then would they truly stand out in Yeon Woo Jin’s eyes.
The problem was—it wouldn’t be easy.
They were all growing stronger at terrifying speed.

By the time the tournament arrived, they’d likely be at the same level.
Time, at least, was on their side.
One day outside equaled a month inside the seclusion formation.

But that only made the pressure greater—because now they had no excuse not to get ahead.
And then they ran into Jegal Un today.
Seeing him walk out of the seclusion chamber just now only made them feel more urgent.

Namgoong Myeong was the first to move.
“I’m entering seclusion starting today. I’ll see you at the tournament.”
As he disappeared, Hwangbo Gwang turned to Jegal Un.

“I’m going into seclusion too. You’d better be ready.”
Once they were both gone, Jegal Un’s face stiffened.
He had only come outside for a short break…

“…Haa. Guess there’s no helping it.”
Letting out a deep sigh, Jegal Un turned and walked back toward the seclusion chamber.