Chapter 363: Gathering of the Orthodox Faction (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 363: Gathering of the Orthodox Faction (4)
If you asked someone what held the Murim Alliance and the Orthodox Faction together, most would spout some nonsense about righteousness and justice. But I call bullshit on that.
In reality, anyone could join the Orthodox Faction if they had the desire. The truth was far more practical: fame and power were the true pillars supporting the Orthodox Faction.
The real foundation of their authority lay in the vast network of merchant associations spread across the land, and the martial artists who protected the common people. In this era, with the Gates of Demons a constant threat, the reputation of martial artists only continued to grow.
The world might have found a semblance of peace now that people had learned how to deal with Demons, but it would still be a dangerous place for ordinary citizens without martial artists around. These warriors received donations from the people they protected, and those with significant fame could even wield authority over entire regions.
These groups, affiliated with the Orthodox Faction, operated in specific territories. They kept the Demons at bay under treaties established with the Murim Alliance. They were the noble clans and the great sects.
Over generations, they built their fame, honed their martial arts, and even developed their own Divine Arts. With their established reputations and influence, they were effectively the rulers of their domains. They were tasked with managing any Gate of Demons that appeared within their territories, and they maintained their positions by ensuring their region's safety.
Among the many clans and sects, a select few held the most influence and were regarded as the true pillars of the Orthodox Faction. They were known as the Four Noble Clans of the Central Plains.
The Namgung Clan of Anhui.
The Moyong Clan of Liaoning.
The Peng Clan of Hebei.
And the Tang Clan of Sichuan.
These clans had existed long before the Gates of Demons appeared, and they now stood as the foremost powers upholding the Orthodox Faction. Of course, it wasn't just their long histories that secured their status. The martial artists born from their bloodlines were exceptionally talented, and their legacies spoke for themselves.
The title of Sword King had long been associated with the Namgung and Moyong Clans. That lineage was only interrupted by the emergence of the Sword Emperor, but that was an exceptional case. Titles related to the Dao naturally fell to the Peng Clan, while the art of poison was unquestionably the domain of the Tang Clan. This remained true to this day.
The current Lord of the Namgung Clan held the title of Sword King. The Moyong Clan had expanded its influence through immense merchant networks, though their martial prowess was considered less formidable. The Lord of the Peng Clan inherited the title of Dao King, and as always, the Tang Clan produced the Poison King.
Despite the passage of time, their influence remained dominant, solidifying their positions as the Four Noble Clans.
However…
You’re telling me that all of those guys are gathering in Henan?
I couldn’t help but frown at Peng Ah-hee’s words. Was she joking? But it didn’t feel like she was lying.
Snap, snap.
I turned toward the sound and saw Moyong Hi-ah biting her lip, her anxiety plain to see. Her reaction confirmed it—they were really coming.
After a glance at her, I turned back to Peng Ah-hee. “What do you mean? Why are the Lords coming here?”
“The reinforcements from the Alliance just arrived.”
“I know that too—“
I cut myself off as I realized what she meant. The arrival of the Murim Alliance’s reinforcements meant that the other clans had also been notified. I turned to look at the crowd. Their expressions were a mix of emotions, but relief was the most prominent. With their clans and sects informed, they knew help was on the way.
…If the reinforcements are arriving now, the message must have been sent at least yesterday.
It was probably sent the moment the black barrier vanished. The Heavenly Dragon Academy had been ambushed, resulting in the deaths of descendants from noble clans and sects. The Murim Alliance was responsible for overseeing the Academy, the most prestigious institution in the Central Plains. For such a horrifying incident to occur there… many would try to pin the blame on the Alliance, and they knew it.
They will likely call a meeting.
A Gathering of the Orthodox Faction. It was a council that brought together key figures to decide on a course of action. Even without considering that their own kin had been harmed, this meeting was crucial as it would determine the Alliance’s future.
For that reason, the highest-ranking individuals will probably come, too. Their mere presence here would underscore the weight of their influence.
There was a problem, though. This is happening faster than I expected. I’d anticipated this after Moyong Hi-ah mentioned it before, but it was unfolding much sooner than I’d hoped. I knew it was inevitable, but I hadn’t expected everyone here to already know about it.
Are they in a hurry? Were they trying to resolve the situation as quickly as possible?
As I wrestled with these thoughts, Peng Ah-hee spoke again. “Is it really okay?”
“What is?”
“I’m asking if you’ll be okay.”
“What do you mean?”
“Did you not just hear? All the Lords are gathering.”
“What’s the problem with that?”
Peng Ah-hee looked at me, speechless, as if she couldn’t believe what I was saying. Why was she reacting like that? Given the severity of the incident, it wasn't strange for the Lords of the Four Noble Clans to gather, let alone the Ten Sect Alliance. Lords from other noble clans were likely coming as well. With so many master martial artists converging here, I might even see most of the so-called Hundred Masters of the Central Plains.
One thing, however, bothered me. Will Father come as well? He was a loner who spent most of his time with the Gu Clan, but I was sure he’d received the message, as the Gu Clan was still considered a noble clan.
But I doubt he’ll come. I didn’t believe Father would involve himself over a situation like this. It had taken Gu Huibi’s capture to make him leave the clan last time. Would he really come for an incident that I was involved in? I doubted it. That was the Father I knew. He’d probably send a representative instead. I predicted that the Captain of the First Army, who was soon to become the Fourth Elder, would come in his place.
Even if not now, I’ll have to see Father eventually. No matter how I looked at it, only Father knew what had happened to my mother, and he was the only one I could turn to for guidance. It had been the same in my past life. Only he possessed a deeper understanding and greater knowledge of the martial arts I practiced. Given my current instability, he was ultimately the only one who could help me. Even if it made me uncomfortable, I’d have to seek him out. The mere thought made me feel sick. I regretted forcing down breakfast this morning.
“What do you mean, ‘what’s the problem’… are you really that dumb?” Peng Ah-hee’s voice cut through my thoughts.
“Are you trying to pick a fight?”
“Are you unaware of your surroundings?”
“Hmm?”
I glanced around after her prompting. I noticed the girls looking around nervously. Why were they all acting like this just because their fathers were coming?
“And so what?”
“They’re all girls who have been following you around.”
“…”
Her words left me speechless. Caught off guard, I quickly erected a sound barrier around us. “Why bring that up out of nowhere?”
“Oh? So you’re not denying it. I guess you knew all along, huh?” Listening to her sent a wave of dizziness through me.
“I’m asking why you’re even bringing that up—“
“I’m asking if you’ll be okay after all the Lords arrive and see this situation.”
“…Huh?”
“If they see their precious daughters chasing after one man… will you really be safe?”
“…”
How should I put this? It felt like I’d just been hit with a terrifying, undeniable truth.
Her words forced me to consider the girls individually. Tang Soyeol’s father was the Lord of the Tang Clan. The current Poison King was known to have the gentlest nature in the clan's history, and the Moyong Clan’s Lord cherished his daughter deeply. Remembering the lengths the Tang Clan’s Lord had gone for the Poison Queen in my past life…
…Hmm.
A sudden, primal survival instinct kicked in. Before the Poison Queen earned her title and perfected her Ten Thousand Poisons Immunity, it was the Poison King who was the undisputed master of toxins and daggers. If he saw Tang Soyeol’s current state…
…I might have to be very careful with what I eat from now on. A chill ran down my spine. I was especially nervous because, unlike in my past life, I hadn’t developed any immunity to poison. …Perhaps I should start working on that now?
The Lord of the Moyong Clan was also a problem. In fact, he was an even bigger one. When I glanced at Moyong Hi-ah, our eyes met. She quickly looked away. Hey, you’re the last person who should be avoiding me right now…!
What do I do about the White Heavenly Sword? The Poison King was one thing, but the bigger problem was the mess Moyong Hi-ah had created. What had she told him again? I believe she said that I was planning to break off my engagement with the Namgung Clan to be with her. Because of that, she’d convinced her father to bring more support and business to the Gu Clan.
Oh, wonderful… Seriously. I don’t think I have a way out of that one. The Moyong Clan had already established several businesses in Shanxi, making the area much more prosperous. If the Gu Clan suddenly formed a business alliance with them because of that… Then I’m fucked. That meant I wouldn't have any excuse. I had no intention of breaking my current engagement, after all.
But this isn’t my fault. It was only fair to blame Moyong Hi-ah since she’d caused this without consulting me, but I couldn’t say anything with her staying silent, clearly aware of her own guilt. What was she thinking… I didn’t know why she had done it, but I supposed it was partially my fault as well. I felt this especially when I considered that she wasn’t the type to make promises she couldn’t keep.
…What should I do? I wondered if the Lords would really take action against me because of their daughters. …No, the real problem is that I feel like they actually would.
The whole situation was a mess. As usual, one problem led directly into another. I’d often thought about it, but it really felt like I was living life on the highest difficulty setting. I don’t even know anymore.
I wondered if the meeting would really happen, but judging by the girls’ reactions, they seemed to know something. People from the Alliance were coming and going, and there were some who seemed clueless, but they were from lower-ranking clans and sects. Even now, there’s still a division in ranks? It’s exhausting, honestly. The Murim Alliance still didn’t seem to get it. I didn’t understand why the supposed heart of the Orthodox Faction acted this way. If I could have, I would have gotten rid of them all.
“Oh, right.”
“What now?”
“My father will likely dislike you too.”
“…”
I frowned at Peng Ah-hee’s remark. What nonsense was she spouting now?
“…Do you like me too? Sorry, but I-“
“Do you want to die…? And why am I being rejected when I didn’t even ask you out?” Her sharp tone carried a hint of killing intent. That was a violent reaction to a simple question.
“It would’ve annoyed me even if a handsome guy said it… but you look like a mantis-“
Peng Ah-hee stopped abruptly, sensing the chilly atmosphere that had descended. All the other girls, who had previously looked exhausted, were now radiating a cold, sharp aura. Namgung Bi-ah, who had been stifling a yawn, spoke to her. “…Mantis?”
“…N-No, I, um…”
Namgung Bi-ah didn’t say more, but her tone made it clear she was annoyed. Peng Ah-hee flinched. Namgung Bi-ah said nothing else, instead fixing her with a cold, piercing gaze. After a moment, Peng Ah-hee’s face twisted into an awkward expression.
“…I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.”
After Peng Ah-hee’s apology, Namgung Bi-ah and the other two girls turned their heads away. I clicked my tongue at the sight. …These girls. I should be the one getting the apology. Why were they the ones receiving and accepting it? I hadn't even gotten an apology myself yet.
“So… why does the Lord of the Peng Clan not like me?” He didn't even have a reason to ha- …Oh, perhaps he did. I’d forgotten, but I was the one who broke off my engagement with Peng Ah-hee. It had been because of my big mouth. It would be strange if he liked me after that. It wouldn’t be surprising if he hated me for it, but Peng Ah-hee spoke as if that wasn’t the reason.
“It’s not because of the engagement.”
“It’s not?”
“No.”
Then what was it? Was there something else? Peng Ah-hee spoke, running a hand through her short hair. “My father. He can be quite jealous.”
“Jealous?”
“Yes.”
After she said those words, a bitter expression crossed her face for some reason. “Jealous.”
* * *
After our brief conversation, I made my way to a secluded part of the forest. I had ensured the girls were eating their meals and checked that Tang Soyeol and Namgung Bi-ah were recovering well. It was a relief.
I even thought about bringing them a Marble of Qi. I still knew of a few places with medicinal herbs that I hadn’t yet visited. I considered fetching some for them, but it seemed unnecessary since they were being well cared for. One thing that concerned me was the scar that would remain on Tang Soyeol’s thigh. That detail troubled me. She smiled brightly, insisting it didn’t bother her, but I still felt concerned.
The meeting… It’ll probably begin in a few months. Judging by the distances the clans had to travel, the meeting was likely to convene at the start of summer. So, about two months from now. The biggest issue was that I couldn’t leave until someone from my clan arrived. If a student left on their own and was ambushed, it would only bring more trouble to the Murim Alliance. That meant I was stuck here for a few months.
Tsk.
When I asked Gu Jeolyub about it, he told me they had already been informed by the Alliance. He said he hadn’t been able to tell me earlier because I was always wandering around. But it wasn’t critical information. In short, the Alliance had sent messages to the clans and sects about the incident, and a Gathering of the Orthodox Faction would take place soon. More precisely, it would happen once the Qinghai Sword regained consciousness.
The Murim Alliance is one thing, but the Kunlun Sect must be having a hard time as well. No matter how the incident occurred, since the Kunlun Sect was responsible for managing the Heavenly Dragon Academy this year, they were bound to be blamed for failing to prevent the ambush. In truth, even the Qinghai Sword had been defeated by his opponent.
…Tsk. In a world where people loved tearing each other down, this was inevitable. …Even though it’s going according to my plans, I’m not very fond of it.
I’d learned many things in this life that I hadn’t known in my past one, and I was progressing faster than I’d anticipated. I’d aimed to reach the Fusion Realm around the age of twenty, but I’d achieved it a few years early. I also wanted to leave the Heavenly Dragon Academy this year, and this incident practically gave me the perfect excuse.
I’m still concerned about Jang Seonyeon, though. Not a trace of him could be found, and I hadn’t been able to ask the World Tree about it. Everything was progressing better than I’d expected, but I felt more unsettled than at peace with all the things happening behind the scenes. I think I started feeling this way after encountering the Heavenly Demon.
It’s impossible at this rate. The fact that I reached the Fusion Realm before I was even fully grown… I couldn’t deny the flicker of pride I felt. I’d thought that progressing at this pace would be enough, that I might even be able to take the Celestial Sword’s place someday.
However… I was a fool for thinking that. The encounter with the Heavenly Demon had reminded me. It was way too slow. Far too slow for me to reach my goal. Replace the Celestial Sword? Not at this rate.
It has to be faster.
Elder Shin had told me to let go of my impatience and trust in myself. I understood that sentiment more deeply in my heart after reaching the Fusion Realm. But still… How could I do such a thing, Elder Shin? It was easier said than done. And my current situation was only making it harder.
“This is frustrating.”
The more I thought about it, the more I realized that a slow and steady pace wasn’t the answer. If there was no shortcut, then I had to make one.
Rustle.
Just as I took a breath, I sensed a presence behind me. I turned my gaze toward the source.
“So, you’re finally ready to talk?”
The voice was calm, neither too deep nor too high. The figure before me was Bi Eejin, known to others as the Dragon Warrior. But to me, he was the young man known as the Dishonored Venerable. Should I even call him a young man? He was realistically an old man.
Bi Eejin approached me, waving his hand. I’d sensed his approach, so it was no surprise. To be more accurate, I was the one who had called him here.
“You could’ve just come to see me. Why lurk around watching from a distance?”
Since yesterday, I’d noticed Bi Eejin intentionally lingering nearby. Considering his personality, he was likely showing his presence to send me a signal. If I had to guess the reason… …He was probably telling me to come talk to him when I was ready. He was being considerate. We did, after all, have a few things to discuss. He’d witnessed my Demonification, and he’d likely noticed the shift in my martial arts from the influence of Demonic Qi.
“You seemed rather busy, so I waited for you, Young Expert.”
“…I thank you for your kindness.”
“It’s nothing. I didn’t come here for gratitude. So, I take it you have some time to talk now?”
“Yes, but before that.”
I considered how to explain things to him, what he might want from me, and whether I could answer all his questions. Ultimately, the most direct approach seemed best. I clenched my fist and bowed respectfully as I spoke.
Bi Eejin’s eyes widened at my sudden show of respect. “Young Expert, it isn’t necessary for you to-“
“…How could I not?”
Bi Eejin’s smile disappeared, and his expression became serious. He looked as if he knew what I was going to say.
Swoosh-
A sudden chill ran down my spine, making my back feel as if it had turned to ice. Yet I continued.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to realize.”
At my words, Bi Eejin slowly ran a hand through his hair, brushing it back from his forehead. By now, any trace of his usual expression had vanished. He still looked like a young man, his skin smooth and unwrinkled, but his current expression was that of someone else entirely. More precisely, it wasn’t Bi Eejin’s expression, but that of the man known as Bijuu.
After taking in his expression, I finished what I had to say.
“This lacking junior greets the Dishonored Venerable.”
As the words left my mouth,
Swoooosh-!
An immense, overwhelming presence erupted from the Dishonored Venerable.