Chapter 197
Chapter 197
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 197
Chapter Title: Good News
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Mount Kongtong.
The greatest mountain in the west.
The site of Peach Blossom Paradise.
Ever since Guangchengzi, the teacher of Emperor Huang who is said to have first opened human civilization, settled here, Kongtong Mountain had long been revered as a major holy site of Daoism.
No wonder there was even an expression like "Beneath the Northern Dipper and Polaris lies Kongtong," proclaiming its supremacy.
Thus, the disciples of the Kongtong Sect lived with the pride that they stood at the center of Daoism, even if they dwelled on barren land.
No matter that Qingcheng was the heart of the Heavenly Master Dao or that Wudang was home to Zhang Sanfeng, the greatest sage of Daoism today—they could not match the ancient traditions and history of their own sect.
But lately, that pride was starting to crack.
"You still haven't breached the path?"
"W-We are ashamed."
"How the hell are you handling things that you can't even punch through a single damn ravine like that! If time drags on and the rebels gain the upper hand, then what...!"
In the West Pacifying Palace atop Kongtong's Execution Peak sat not the sect leader, but the Scholar of Teachings.
As his goatee quivered with rage, the faces of his disciples sank lower and lower.
'If you're so dissatisfied, why doesn't he go to White Snow Valley himself!'
'Aren't the secular disciples protesting like mad about what's going on...!'
'With the branch families' moves unpredictable, we're short on manpower just watching them through the night.'
Right after the Kongtong assembly, attended by branch families and secular disciples alike, ended in failure for the coup.
The Scholar of Teachings and his followers flailed desperately to drag out the sect leader, True Person Sunghak.
But True Person Sunghak's resistance was no small matter.
With the aid of his loyalists, he broke free from house arrest in the West Pacifying Palace and fled to White Snow Valley as a bold countermeasure.
White Snow Valley was a ravine boasting such steep and treacherous terrain that even beasts were said to never escape if they mistakenly entered.
Indeed, a decade or so ago, during the invasion of the Demonic Cult's Beast Clan, the previous sect leader had mounted fierce resistance centered there, tying up their advance.
That was why the Demonic Lord Beast Clan had been helplessly crushed by the counterattack of the Martial Alliance after reorganizing their forces.
Now, the sect leader was using that prime defensive line against the Scholar's faction—the very one the Demonic Cult invasions had relied on blocking.
The problem was that the layout of White Snow Valley had been passed down only to successive sect leaders.
Naturally, this was infuriating for the Scholar of Teachings.
No matter how many disciples he sent to capture the sect leader, they always returned empty-handed from White Snow Valley.
As time passed, the pressure on his faction only grew.
'Why persecute the sect leader like this? If the issue is simply inviting outside forces, why not just vote no confidence first? But resorting to house arrest!!'
'How can you use force to oppress him! No matter his faults, True Person Sunghak has led our sect flawlessly for the past twenty years!'
First came the fierce backlash from the branch families and secular disciples.
If True Person Sunghak had ruled poorly, it might have been different, but his wise governance had earned him widespread support, so the Scholar's faction was losing its justification with time.
On top of that, various sects in Gansu martial society were aligning with them one by one.
Even suppressing them with the Kongtong Sect's authority had its limits.
This was causing tremors in the Scholar's faction.
Moreover, statements from the other Nine Great Sects were far from favorable.
'Qingcheng, longtime friend of Daoism's Kongtong, will never sit idly by in this strife. The misguided flock, lay down your swords and return to your places.'
'Ami, friend to Sunghak, hopes Guangcheng's bright teachings endure long in Gansu martial society. We will sternly punish those who seek to obscure it.'
One could say Qingcheng and Ami were tied to the Tang Clan.
But Huashan and Zhongnan were no different in siding against them.
'Huashan and Zhongnan express deep concern over this incident and condemn the escalation harming the common folk.'
Even phrased diplomatically, it meant they could not accept the Scholar's coup.
And then.
'We of the Tang Clan hold the Kongtong Sect accountable for this blunder in treating us as Demonic Cult.'
Intense pressure from the Tang Clan, deeply offended by the justification the Scholar's faction had raised.
If time stretched on like this, the faction was doomed.
That was the conclusion the Scholar and his disciples had reached.
'That guy, so mild-mannered usually—why now of all times...!'
The Scholar recalled True Person Sunghak's carefree face and slammed his fist on the desk.
Bang!
"Are you all mute or something! How can you offer no answers!"
"We beg your forgiveness."
"Forgive us, Elder."
"Three days."
The disciples hastily lifted their bowed heads at the Scholar's words, spat out as if swallowing gravel.
"Break through White Snow Valley within three days. This is an order from your Seventy-Sixth Generation Elder."
"B-But three days is too tight! Our disciples are scouring the Scripture Pavilion to grasp the valley's layout—if you just grant a bit more time—"
"Do you even know how many days it's been since you started that! With that vile Sunghak's summoned Tang Clan demons threatening our sect at any moment! You think we can leisurely rummage the pavilion then!"
"!"
"!"
"!"
The disciples' faces instantly drained of color.
They had sympathized deeply with the internal strife justification during the coup.
But that didn't erase the pressure from the Tang Clan.
"Three days. Fail to wrap it up, and you'll all face severe punishment!"
"...."
"Did you hear me!"
"Y-Yes!"
"W-We obey the command!"
The disciples fled the West Pacifying Palace in haste.
The Scholar began hurling everything on the desk.
"Aaagh! Aaaah! Tang Clan! Tang Claaaan! You mangy dogs! If not for them—"
The mounting pressure day by day was making it hard for the Scholar to keep his wits.
Until the coup plot, he had clutched dreams of owning the world.
But harsh reality kept suffocating him.
The war situation favored him despite growing pressure—why was breathing so hard?
It was then.
『If you aim to rule a giant sect like Kongtong, you must show boldness especially now. Seems your vessel isn't up to it?』
The Scholar froze mid-motion.
He snapped his head up, eyes mad.
"You!"
『Calling me out so openly? Well, I'm all for spreading that you've allied with our house. Makes future dealings smoother.』
Tremble!
His clenched fist shook violently.
That bastard.
The culprit who had incited his peaceful life, shattering Kongtong's peace...
He bared his teeth ferociously.
『I told you not to appear rashly! If even your shadow is spotted, I'm finished—finished!』
The voice's owner, who had irked him, was the South Palace Clan's envoy.
Precisely, the master of the Shadow Thunder Division's Third Squadron.
A heavyweight ranking in the top thirty even among the entire South Palace Clan, yet he always lounged casually.
And whenever the Scholar needed something, he fetched it like a magic pouch.
But that very convenience was the Scholar's weakness.
Having made "reject outside interference" his banner, exposure of his South Palace ties would strip all legitimacy.
『I'm here with good news for you.』
『Good news? Trying to mock me again—』
『The Tang Clan has finally moved.』
『!』
『They call it the New Storm Squadron. Led by the Nine Dragons Branch Family's Little Life Half-Evil.』
『.......』
『What do you think? Good news, right?』
『.......』
The Scholar's mouth went dry.
He vividly remembered Little Life Half-Evil from their Nine Dragons Branch Family encounter.
A boy hero who, young as he was, overcame any pressure unflinchingly and stood tall.
The very image he had longed to be but never became.
He resented and envied the Tang Clan for producing such talents endlessly.
It fueled his crisis that Kongtong would be devoured by them.
And now that hero was coming to Kongtong?
In person?
『...How is that good news? Now the Tang Clan will pressure us openly—block them and whittle their forces?』
『Hahaha. As if. You should hear people out to the end.』
The voice chuckled heartily before continuing.
But it dripped with murderous intent.
Thick killing intent.
『They're all dead.』
『!!』
『Before even crossing Sword Realm. Removed in secret, so the Tang Clan won't pin blame.』
『...How?』
The Scholar couldn't believe it.
The boy hero he saw seemed an unbreakable sword.
But.
『That's the South Palace for you.』
『!!!』
『Call it New Storm Squadron all they want—still no match for our house.』
『.......』
『So, Scholar, time to get serious. Become the Seventy-Sixth Generation Sect Leader... right?』
『.......』
『Isn't it?』
『.......』
『As promised, we'll keep filtering out Tang Clan and other pressures. But... don't think such favors last forever. I'm pragmatic—no investing in the futureless.』
『.......』
『You gave your disciples three days; I'll give you three. Answer by then.』
『.......』
『Just a mere cave, no? Hand over that cave for absolute security—Kongtong has no reason to refuse.』
The South Palace demanded two things.
First, full alliance between Kongtong Sect and South Palace Clan.
The other.
'Relocation of the Guangcheng Tomb. What's inside that they want it so badly?'
The Guangcheng Tomb, where Guangchengzi was said to have cultivated Dao and ascended.
The South Palace Shadow Thunder Division obsessively fixated on it.
Currently guarded by trusted disciples, but they sought full ownership transfer.
'Is it really some Demonic Cult leader's manual hidden there?'
Impossible to know.
But if the Tang Clan had truly moved, their actions would grow bolder.
Yield the now-empty holy site for safety, or stubbornly risk losing the barely seized power.
He stood at that crossroads.
『...I'll consider it as positively as possible.』
『Hahaha. I trust the Scholar's wisdom will choose right.』
The voice vanished.
"...."
The Scholar sank into long silence.
South Palace. Tang Clan.
He hated it all.
In this tangled world, he just wanted to escape.
"...."
Finally, he fetched an incense burner from a room corner and placed it on the desk.
Lately, when his head ached, he used it to forget worldly troubles.
He couldn't recall when he started.
But one thing was sure: inhaling its scent calmed body and mind, and an inner self offered solutions.
A feeling not his own.
He had once recoiled at the absurdity, but no longer.
"Immeasurable Buddha, Immeasurable Buddha—"
The Scholar lit the burner.
Whoosh!
White smoke filled the room.
Seated in lotus position, his consciousness sank into the depths.
Focus faded from the Scholar's eyes.
Reincarnation Demon God Chronicles