Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: The Baekri Clan
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Baekri Clan of Nanchang in Jiangxi Province.
A martial house founded by the Baekri family, it had reigned as the hegemon of the Jiangxi region for generations. Being called the hegemon of a province meant they had at least a solid foundation to contend for supremacy in the world, so one could easily imagine the extent of their prestige.
Even the most prominent merchants in Nanchang found it difficult to cross the Baekri Clan's threshold, and even if they did, meeting the clan head was nearly impossible without offering tens of thousands of taels themselves.
Yet the old merchant from Hunan Province had come to the Baekri Clan head, who knew no bounds to his own prestige. He hadn't offered a single coin. Instead, he had delivered a single message and secured a private audience.
"You've heard that the waterways of Dongting Lake have opened?"
"To be precise, it's the Great Righteous Alliance that has opened Dongting Lake's waterways."
"Can you take responsibility for that claim?"
"The merchant world and the martial world can never truly be one. Yet how could people living under the same sky remain entirely separate? Martial artists protect merchants, and merchants offer grateful recompense in return, maintaining a relationship that is separate yet united. But that's only when each keeps to their own place and doesn't encroach on the other's domain."
"You're bringing up old tales of the merchant and martial worlds, so I assume you have evidence?"
"On the very day Dongting Lake's waterways officially opened, the head of the Secret Shadow Pavilion appeared boldly for all to see, and the lake's pirates bowed their heads to him. What clearer proof could there be?"
"Did you say the head of the Secret Shadow Pavilion just now?"
The Baekri Clan head asked with genuine surprise.
"He claimed the title himself, and he's staying at the lair of the one who calls himself master of Dongting Lake's waterways."
The Baekri Clan head furrowed his brow gravely. When he first heard the waterways had opened, he'd viewed it merely as a matter for the merchant world. Of course, with Poyang Lake right on their doorstep, the Baekri Clan couldn't ignore it. They too had opened Poyang Lake's waterways generations ago and reaped substantial profits ever since.
Poyang Lake was much like Dongting Lake. It was a massive lake rivaling the continent's largest, connected to the Yangtze River that bisected the land from east to west. The difference was that Poyang Lake's pirates had been dealt with long ago, opening its waterways. That had only been possible because of the Baekri Clan's exceptional martial prowess.
The opening of Poyang Lake's waterways had become a major point of interest for merchants near Dongting Lake. They'd seen the profits the Baekri Clan had gained. But there was no martial house like the Baekri Clan near Dongting Lake. The White Sword Sect existed, but their strength was nowhere near comparable. If the Baekri Clan was renowned throughout the world, the White Sword Sect was known only in Hunan.
"The position of Secret Shadow Pavilion head has been vacant for a long time."
"You mean it's a fake?"
The old merchant brightened as he asked.
"Well, it might have been appointed recently, so I'll have to look into it."
"They didn't even inform you, the great pillar of the south bank of the Yangtze?"
"Appointing the Secret Shadow Pavilion head is the Alliance Lord's exclusive authority. And it's an internal matter of the Great Righteous Alliance, so please don't concern yourself further."
"If I've overstepped, I apologize."
"In any case, I'll investigate, and if there's an issue, I'll take appropriate action. But why come all this way just for that?"
"If you help reclaim Dongting Lake's waterways from those scoundrels, I'll allocate thirty percent to the Baekri Clan."
"Are you trying to tarnish my clan's name with a paltry sum?"
The Baekri Clan head suddenly flew into a rage. A chilling aura poured out like frost, enough to freeze the old merchant's soul. The terrified merchant bowed his head low.
"This foolish old man has erred. I beg your forgiveness."
The moment the old merchant groveled, the icy aura vanished in an instant.
"The Baekri Clan cannot be moved by gold. We move only when the path is just, and draw our swords only when our will aligns."
"Everyone in the world knows the Baekri Clan's history. This old man will never forget again."
"Since you say that, we'll leave it here. Let's do this instead. Forget the money—you said you're the old merchant? We'll consider it that you owe my clan a great debt."
"I can only be grateful for the clan head's generosity and righteousness."
At the clan head's words, the old merchant bowed with an expression of deep emotion. Watching him, the Baekri Clan head smiled in satisfaction.
'When my clan seizes the Yangtze's waterways, you'll repay today's debt.'
Sect Leader Sa Jung-gyeong of the Iron Lion Sect sat motionless in the training chamber.
Half a month, perhaps?
It had passed in a trance, as if possessed. He'd been glued to this spot like someone bewitched. Was this the reward for his determination? Or a gift from his ancestors, pitying their descendants?
Sa Jung-gyeong pondered such thoughts as he posed his question.
"How did you know to come?"
"Our minds must be connected, Master."
Do Cheon's voice came from behind.
Sa Jung-gyeong knew it wasn't mere coincidence. He didn't know how far his first disciple had advanced, but the boy had always been watching. Pretending otherwise, yet always looking after his juniors and his master.
"Records say the Iron Lion King, so called, had a personality as pristine as jade. Even after mastering fist techniques, he pathologically hated having blood on his hands."
"I remember reading that too."
"A man like that would avoid striking foes directly, wouldn't he?"
"Likely so."
"As I thought! Then this must be it!"
Sa Jung-gyeong thrust out his fist.
Pa-sus! Pft!
A few strands of blue energy shot from his fist, vanishing like a snuffed candle at a chi's distance (about 30cm). It had no apparent power, more like a curious magic trick than a martial art. But Sa Jung-gyeong's face lit up with excitement.
"What do you think?"
"You've found the true path of the Thunder Barrier Fist, Master. Congratulations."
Do Cheon smiled faintly.
Only then did Sa Jung-gyeong let out a long sigh of relief.
"Good. Now I have something to celebrate with my disciple."
"I'm happy too, seeing you rejoice, Master."
"I want to be even happier. Would that be alright?"
"Nothing could please me more."
"As sect leader, am I neglecting you and the sect?"
"You took in strays like us and raised us this far—what more could we want? Now let us give back. Hand over the heavy burdens to me."
"Cheeky brat, you've grown arrogant in just a few days."
"Leading the sect these past days has taught me I can afford a little arrogance. But Master."
"Speak."
"The records say the Iron Lion King possessed over two jia of internal energy in his lifetime. That's why he could freely unleash fist techniques that projected energy as qi blasts."
"Meaning it doesn't suit me?"
"Yes."
"Then what should I do?"
"You mustn't shy away from getting blood on your fists, Master."
"I understand."
Sa Jung-gyeong nodded. He grasped Do Cheon's intent: forgo wasteful qi projection and strike directly with fist techniques.
"How's your martial uncle faring?"
"He's doing well—well enough that you need to step it up, Master."
"Stirring competition among us old folks?"
"Don't go calling yourself old out there. You'll get slapped."
"Brat, you're beyond words now."
"You raised me well, Master."
"Thanks, kid."
"Then I'll stop bothering you and go."
"Go on."
Do Cheon departed. Sa Jung-gyeong sat alone, smiling contentedly for a long while.
"Did you all skip breakfast and lunch together? All I hear are groans!"
Iron Mountain appeared, mocking them.
Steward Seo turned and gave a slight bow.
"It seems really stuck."
"Come on, even so—five grown men can't budge it? Hey, everyone step back. Let me try."
As Iron Mountain rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward, the five workers retreated. In the inner courtyard behind the Iron Lion Sect's main hall stood a massive boulder they were trying to remove. Somehow, Iron Mountain had shown up just then.
"Wow, as a kid it looked house-sized, but now it's just two arm-spans?"
Iron Mountain spread his arms; half the boulder fit in his embrace. Even two arm-spans made it plenty large.
"Heave!"
Iron Mountain strained once.
The boulder didn't budge.
"Really dug in deep, huh? Fine, let's see if you can hold out like this!"
Iron Mountain took a deep breath, gathering strength from his dantian.
"Hraaaah!"
He roared with effort. Veins bulged like worms on his arms. The boulder twitched faintly—that was it.
Iron Mountain released his arms.
"Damn you, let's see who wins!"
Cracking his neck side to side, he steeled himself and gripped again. Muscles straining to burst, but the boulder only twitched faintly, refusing to move further.
"Tsk tsk! Disciples of the Iron Lion Sect can't handle a mere rock?"
Do Cheon's voice rang out. Iron Mountain flushed red and poured every ounce of strength into it. But nothing changed.
"Damn, roots must be deep. Just leave it."
Iron Mountain shook out his hands and backed off. Face still red, he deliberately avoided eyes from Do Cheon, the steward, and others, slinking away. Watching him go, Do Cheon shook his head and asked Steward Seo.
"Why remove it?"
"You granted me full authority as steward, so I acted on my judgment alone."
"That's not it—I'm just curious why. Does it look bad? This was a fun play spot when we were kids."
"It's an eyesore."
"Eyesore?"
"From a feng shui perspective. If it wasn't here originally, someone with a grudge must have planted it."
Do Cheon wasn't well-versed in scholarship, let alone feng shui or geography.
"Explain it simply."
"The sect's foundation is an emperor's site by feng shui standards. The earth's energy ideally bolsters one's fate. But this boulder blocks its flow. As you know, all energies stagnate and rot when blocked."
"It becomes baleful qi, malignant energy."
"Yes."
"Is the sect's decline because of this?"
"Unlikely. Whoever chose this site by feng shui wouldn't leave such a blight. Probably, after the Iron Lions vanished, someone harboring resentment did this."
"So it might have kept the sect down all these years?"
"Who knows. Even perfect earth energy can't make an emperor of one born weak. Conversely, one born with emperor's energy rises regardless."
"I get it, but it still feels complex."
"I haven't studied deeply enough to explain more."
"Anyway, it's malign by feng shui, so best remove it?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll remove it."
Do Cheon nodded and approached. Stopping before the boulder, he pressed his palm to it. Crack! Craaack! The sounds rang out successively, and the massive rock shattered into pieces. The workers' eyes went wide, and even Steward Seo showed real surprise. But Do Cheon was startled for another reason.
The moment he split the boulder, he'd felt a flow in the earth, like a tremor. Faint and fleeting, but his senses caught it.
'Was the steward right?'
Do Cheon probed the ground beneath his feet. Sensing underground flows wasn't easy. Deep below, like massive fireballs everywhere, heat emanated. Above it, streams of water flowed here and there—some thick and swift like rivers, others thin and slow like brooks.
In those complex underground crevices, Do Cheon found a cool, wind-like energy flowing. He followed it.
As Do Cheon moved away, Steward Seo murmured softly.
"Even geomancers who study the earth for decades desperately hope to sense its truth just once before death..."
Do Cheon stopped at the entrance to Lion Hall.
Facing away from Lion Hall, he saw earth energy converging from three directions.
He turned toward Lion Hall.
The energy headed to Lion Hall's center. Energies gather, clump, and fill when they converge. Do Cheon entered Lion Hall.
"Young Master Do!"
Byeon Ryeo-gun's voice came from behind. Do Cheon turned to see her approaching with a maidservant.
"Oh, what is it?"
"Seems the issue is with you, Young Master Do?"
"Pardon?"
"Why so serious?"
"Ah! Right... You said you studied mechanisms extensively?"
"Yes. My master taught me well."
"Then come with me."
"Me?"
"Yes."
Do Cheon thanked the maidservant and dismissed her. Byeon Ryeo-gun quickly expressed her gratitude. Then Do Cheon led her into Lion Hall.
The earth energy was clearly gathering underground in Lion Hall. And his master was cultivating there now. To confirm, Do Cheon headed to the underground training chamber.
"Hm? What now?"
Sa Jung-gyeong turned at Do Cheon's presence.
"Sorry, Master. Need to check something briefly."
Do Cheon introduced Byeon Ryeo-gun.
"This is Byeon Ryeo-gun, the girl I mentioned."
"Ah! The Secret Shadow Pavilion head of the Great Righteous Alliance. Pleased to meet you. I'm Sa Jung-gyeong, leader of the Iron Lion Sect."
"I've delayed paying respects to the host. I'm Byeon Ryeo-gun."
"You're a guest, so no need."
"No, by etiquette, we're the rude ones. But with such grave matters entangled, we've knowingly imposed. Please forgive us."
"Ha! You speak so eloquently."
"Thank you for seeing it that way."
As they exchanged greetings, Do Cheon felt drawn to the inner wall of the chamber.
"It's beyond here..."
Like typical underground chambers, it was sealed by solid bedrock. Do Cheon ran his hand over it but found no mechanisms.
He stepped back, still facing the wall.
"There's definitely space beyond that wall... Miss Byeon."
"Yes?"
"Could you take a look?"
"Me?"
"You're the expert in mechanisms."
"Not quite an expert."
"Still better than me. Please."
"Is that alright?"
Byeon Ryeo-gun glanced cautiously between Do Cheon and Sa Jung-gyeong. Realizing his slip too late, Do Cheon turned to his master.
"Sorry, Master. I sense a hidden space beyond that wall."
"Really? Fascinating. Miss Byeon, would you check?"
It was the sect leader's request.
Byeon Ryeo-gun bowed to Sa Jung-gyeong, then stood before the wall Do Cheon had examined. She ran her palms over it, then stepped back to inspect the floor thoroughly.
"No mechanisms."
Do Cheon's face fell in disappointment.
"Push on that wall."
"...!"
"If I'm not wrong, the one who made this used the simplest method to create an entrance tougher than any mechanism."
At her words, Do Cheon approached and placed his right hand on the bedrock. He slowly channeled internal energy. A jia of energy was what one accumulated in sixty years of meditation. As Do Cheon exerted a full jia's worth, astonishingly, the entire bedrock wall began sliding backward.
Grrrrrrrrrrrumble!