The Storm Rages (3)
Yeon Hojeong lowered his head.
“I heard the two of you were meeting.”
Bok-ho Satae smiled as she spoke.
“You’ve been through a lot, Captain.”
“My efforts are nothing compared to the hard work of the Alliance’s guardians.”
Bok-ho Satae shook her head.
“All we do is sit around holding meetings and racking our brains, but you’re different, Captain. Thanks to your efforts on multiple fronts, we’ve had it easy.”
Bok-ho Satae had always thought highly of Yeon Hojeong.
The leaders of the Nine Great Sects each had their own personalities, but among them, Bok-ho Satae possessed an honest nature that revered justice and could not tolerate injustice. In her youth, that temperament had caused frequent clashes with her fellow disciples. Though she was a nun of the Emei Sect before she was a martial artist, her fiery passion had been excessive.
Yet as she aged, even she gradually found a measure of composure. Her strong sense of justice, however, never faded, and she matured into a character fully worthy of leading a sect.
To her, Yeon Hojeong was the very image of an ideal chivalrous hero.
He was intelligent, quick-witted, and possessed formidable martial arts. Such a talented individual always charged into the most perilous enemy territory, turning every operation into a success.
Some criticized his personality as overly aggressive, but even that never crossed the line. If anything, it would strike terror into the hearts of villains.
Setting all else aside, Bok-ho Satae found Yeon Hojeong’s nature reminiscent of her own younger self. Knowing how difficult it was to live with such a temperament made her like him all the more.
Yeon Hojeong bowed his head again.
“I am grateful for your kind regard.”
“Neither I nor the Qingcheng Sect Leader here doubts your abilities, Captain. We only feel sorry as elders of the martial world for constantly sending you on dangerous missions.”
Pung-byeok-ja let out a sigh.
“Once you become the head of an organization, there are times when you must weigh every action, even those you should naturally take. A single move of mine could bring harm to the entire sect.”
“I understand.”
“Still, once you have raised the banner of the Martial Alliance, you must act for the sake of righteousness no matter the outcome. Yet it seems I had forgotten even that obvious truth. That is why I have no face to show you.”
He revealed his honest feelings. His voice carried the deep anguish of a man who had wrestled fiercely with his conscience for many years.
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
“Even as the head of a sect, one must move for righteousness, but there is something more important, is there not?”
“Hmm?”
“Raising the next generation. Teaching them to punish evil and to act rightly as a matter of course.”
“Oh?”
“The Martial Alliance has many people. There is no need to feel so disheartened or ashamed. Qingcheng and Emei are renowned sects that have produced many outstanding warriors overflowing with chivalry.”
Pung-byeok-ja gave a wry chuckle.
“Don’t dress it up so nicely. I worry I might use your words as an excuse to grow even lazier.”
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
“The very fact that you say such things tells me you will never grow lazy, Sect Leader.”
“Haha, how embarrassing.”
Bok-ho Satae spoke.
“Still, we are grateful simply that you came. As the Qingcheng Sect Leader has acknowledged, we do not doubt your abilities, Captain.”
“Thank you.”
“Continue to lend your strength for the Alliance—and for the jianghu. That is all this old woman has to say.”
Not for the Martial Alliance, but for the jianghu.
It was a glimpse of Bok-ho Satae’s purity. As people age and develop a sense of belonging, they tend to prioritize their sect’s interests over the peace of the world, yet she had none of that.
Pung-byeok-ja spoke in a subtle tone.
“By the way, Captain.”
“Please speak.”
“Is there room in the Myeolsa Army? Our sect has quite a few promising young talents. I was wondering if I should send a few your way……”
“Hmph.”
Bok-ho Satae shot Pung-byeok-ja a sharp glance.
Pung-byeok-ja coughed awkwardly and muttered.
“What? It’s a good thing, isn’t it? Everyone knows Captain Yeon’s abilities. If they can learn from a warrior like him, it would be a blessing for them.”
“Do you think I don’t know what you’re really after? Don’t trouble someone who’s already busy.”
“What did I do to deserve that?”
“If you’re not a fool, you know Captain Yeon will become one of the core figures of the next generation. You’re trying to build ties with him through your disciples so Qingcheng can maintain a good relationship with him, aren’t you?”
“Oh my, you certainly have a sharp tongue, Satae. And even if that were true, what of it? Mutual learning and building connections are good things. Isn’t that right, Captain?”
Yeon Hojeong couldn’t help but laugh.
“If the swordsmen of Qingcheng help me, it would be an honor for me instead.”
Pung-byeok-ja snorted at Bok-ho Satae.
“See? Captain Yeon understands.”
Bok-ho Satae shook her head vigorously.
“You really haven’t changed at all since you were young.”
“Just say I’m still young at heart. It sounds better that way.”
The two shared a close bond.
Sichuan was home to the Tang Family of the Six Great Clans and the Qingcheng and Emei Sects of the Nine Great Sects. In a sense, it could be called the region where the orthodox factions held the greatest power in the Central Plains.
However, what truly shaped the atmosphere of Sichuan was the Tang Family. Unlike Qingcheng and Emei, the Tangs were a secular clan.
Yet even the mighty Tang Family could not control Qingcheng and Emei. Both sects were gatherings of ascetics. While they wielded significant influence, they stood apart from domination or governance.
Because of this disposition, the leaders of the two sects had grown especially close. In particular, Pung-byeok-ja and Bok-ho Satae had roamed the world together in their youth, purging evil wherever they found it.
Though Pung-byeok-ja had softened with the passage of time, his attitude toward evil remained as fierce and burning as ever.
“By the way, what do you plan to do with us?”
“Pardon?”
Pung-byeok-ja’s eyes gleamed.
“The Mount Hua Sect Leader and Yong-hwa Jinin were sent to Hyeongdang. Are you planning to send us there as well?”
Though spoken lightly, he knew Yeon Hojeong had his own schemes.
The man before them had sent two leaders of the Nine Great Sects to Hyeongdang. Yet neither showed any discomfort toward Yeon Hojeong.
They were giants. No matter how one looked at it, the two of them were fully deserving of being called giants of the martial world.
Yeon Hojeong gave a bitter smile.
“If it had only been a matter of receiving instruction, perhaps. But they struck first with killing intent. I had no choice.”
“To be frank, the Mount Hua Sect Leader is one thing, but Yong-hwa Jinin is not the sort to act recklessly.”
The one who provoked him into acting recklessly was you, wasn’t it?
Yeon Hojeong nodded.
“You are correct. If I had not pushed things to the brink, Yong-hwa Jinin would never have aimed his Plum Blossom Sword at my throat.”
“Your throat……!”
Pung-byeok-ja fell silent. He had not expected that Yong-hwa Jinin had truly tried to kill Yeon Hojeong.
No matter how provoked, to attempt to kill the other party? This was no ordinary matter. Even if the target had been a lowly soldier of the Martial Alliance instead of Yeon Hojeong, it would not have been something to overlook.
Bok-ho Satae asked,
“This wasn’t your work alone. You carried it out together with the strategist, didn’t you?”
“You are perceptive.”
“Yes. If those two struck first with killing intent, it cannot be overlooked regardless of the circumstances. But if you moved with a clear purpose, then you bear some fault as well, Captain.”
Yeon Hojeong bowed his head.
“I have no excuse before my elders.”
Bok-ho Satae sighed.
“How could people who should know better act this way? The strategist included.”
“Would you like an honest answer?”
“Of course.”
“I am certain that one of those two is a spy.”
Shock flashed across Pung-byeok-ja and Bok-ho Satae’s faces.
Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
“Of course, it is only a suspicion. Nothing has been proven yet. However…… I am certain that the spy is almost certainly one of those two. That much is definite.”
“……”
“In the future, I will have to offer a deep apology to one of them. I may even have to pay with my life.”
“You see it as that dangerous?”
Bok-ho Satae let out a sigh.
“Is catching the Three Sects’ spies truly so important?”
She was not unaware of the danger spies posed or the power of the Three Sects. She simply had not yet felt it firsthand. If the information was true, the Three Sects were an unprecedented threat the likes of which history had rarely seen.
Yet no matter how true that was, handling matters this way would only breed resentment. That was what Bok-ho Satae believed, and it was also common sense.
Yeon Hojeong bowed his head.
“The strategist will explain the details…… but the Three Sects are far more dangerous than you think.”
“We know that, of course, but……”
“Setting everything else aside, one of the Three Sects has already infiltrated the imperial palace and seized control of high-ranking officials. If we cannot even catch their spies in this situation, we will be destroyed before we can even put up a proper fight.”
“……Hmm.”
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes flashed.
“I knew it was wrong, yet I did it anyway. In a sense, both the strategist and I have staked our lives on this. I don’t like acting first and making excuses later…… but please watch over us until this matter is settled. I beg you.”
After gazing at Yeon Hojeong in silence, Pung-byeok-ja let out a long sigh.
“To be honest, I trust your abilities, Captain, but I do not yet trust you as a person from the bottom of my heart.”
“I know. And that is only natural.”
“However, I do trust the Jegal strategist. For his sake, I will pretend not to know about this matter.”
“Thank you.”
Bok-ho Satae gave a wry smile.
“I trust you, Captain. I trust the strategist as well. So I will watch over you too. But…… I hope you do not cross the line.”
“I will make certain of it.”
Just then—
Kuuung!
Pung-byeok-ja and Bok-ho Satae were startled. A shockwave from the distant training ground had reached them in an instant.
“What is going on?”
“Ah, it must be Senior Pae Yul.”
“Pae Yul? From the Jeomchang Sect?”
“Yes.”
A moment later, Pae Yul and a Qingcheng swordsman arrived.
“I apologize for causing concern. I tried to finish the spar quietly……”
Pung-byeok-ja let out a dry laugh.
“That sword qi was extraordinary. It wasn’t something your meager sword arts could produce. So it was you, Pae Yul?”
Pae Yul bowed his head.
“I am sorry for interrupting your important conversation.”
“It was no interruption. We were merely surprised.”
Yeon Hojeong rose with a smile.
“In any case, may I take it that both of you have given your approval for the dispatch to the Black Dragon Department?”
Pung-byeok-ja and Bok-ho Satae nodded.
Yeon Hojeong cupped his fists.
“I will come visit again. Until then, please stay in good health.”
Once the two left the residence, they walked in silence for a while.
After a moment, Pae Yul asked,
“I unleashed the strongest shockwave I could, just as you said.”
“Thank you for your trouble.”
“What trouble? It was good to see Qingcheng’s swordsmanship after so long. By the way, did you get what you wanted?”
“I did.”
Fire ignited in Yeon Hojeong’s eyes.
“They were certainly suspicious, just as I thought. Their reactions were perfect.”