The Road to Mount Huang

Dokgo Jin observed the man before him with quiet intrigue.

His confidence far outstrips his circumstances.

From what Jin had gathered of the alliance's internal balance, if the Limitless Hall Master commanded five parts of the political support and the Supreme Harmony Hall Master held four, Sagong Wun of the Cloud Sea Hall barely possessed two. While two parts was by no means insignificant—enough to decisively tip the scales if he threw his weight behind one of his senior brothers—it remained virtually impossible for Sagong Wun himself to claim the throne of Alliance Leader.

As if reading his thoughts, Sagong Wun offered an easy smile.

"You have the look of a man wondering by what miracle I could ever become the Alliance Leader. Am I right?"

"...Something like that."

"It is quite simple, really. The successor Master truly desires happens to be me."

A flicker of interest crossed Dokgo Jin's eyes.

The Northern Heaven Alliance Leader has the Cloud Sea Hall Master in mind as his heir?

It was unexpected. Judging by Sagong Wun's unshakable composure, it did not seem to be an empty boast.

If that is truly the case...

"Of course, irrespective of Master's wishes, I fully intend to claim the seat through my own strength," Sagong Wun added. "And I have every confidence I will."

Dokgo Jin could not help but ask, "What is the basis for your confidence?"

Sagong Wun's answer was so thoroughly bizarre that it caught even the stoic Dokgo Jin off balance.

"I am the youngest, are you not aware?"

"...Pardon?"

"Eldest Senior Brother is in his fifties, and Second Senior Brother is pushing his late forties. In contrast, I have only just turned thirty-six."

"..."

"Master remains remarkably hale and hearty. He will hold the seat of Alliance Leader for at least another thirty years. When that time comes, who else will be left with the youth and vitality to succeed him but me?"

Dokgo Jin was utterly speechless. Sagong Wun was genuinely arguing that by the time the succession arrived, his senior brothers would be old and decrepit, leaving him to inherit the position by default.

"Is that... truly your only reason?"

"Hmm? Does my reasoning strike you as flawed?"

"Under ordinary circumstances, perhaps. However, supreme masters enjoy vastly extended lifespans. I hardly think that is an outcome one can take for granted."

"You are right. Yet as men reach that age, worldly ambitions naturally wane. Especially for martial lunatics like my two senior brothers. By then, they will be far too absorbed in testing their martial arts against one another to spare a glance for the throne."

Dokgo Jin found the logic baffling.

What preposterous nonsense...

It was so completely absurd that he could not tell whether Sagong Wun was jesting or speaking in deadly earnest.

And yet...

One detail refused to leave his thoughts.

The Alliance Leader considering the Cloud Sea Hall Master as his successor...

Even to an outside observer, it made little sense. The Northern Heaven Alliance Leader was a sovereign who walked the Path of Hegemony. No one in the Jianghu would believe that such a man intended to pass his mantle to the weakest of his three disciples.

"My eventual ascension is a foregone conclusion," Sagong Wun continued smoothly. "However, even if that day arrives, it would be troublesome if my foundation were too frail, wouldn't it? That is why I am currently gathering the talents who will become the core pillars of our alliance in the future."

"And you consider me one of those future pillars?"

Sagong Wun nodded without hesitation.

"Indeed. To tell the truth, since you only ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠recently joined our alliance, I was somewhat hesitant at first. But Grand Elder Yong recommended you most vigorously."

Grand Elder Yong did?

Publicly, Grand Elder Yong maintained strict neutrality among the three hall masters.

Could he secretly be backing the Cloud Sea Hall Master?

If not, there was no reason for him to suggest Dokgo Jin to Sagong Wun.

"..."

Dokgo Jin looked at Sagong Wun with renewed scrutiny.

Does the Cloud Sea Hall Master truly hold an unseen card?

Dokgo Jin was well aware of the intricate web of factional politics within the Northern Heaven Alliance, and he had intended to make contact with the hall masters when the right moment presented itself. Based on Wi Geum-seong's intelligence, he had judged the Limitless Hall Master to be the most formidable contender.

Yet if Grand Elder Yong stands behind the Cloud Sea Hall Master, the entire board shifts.

Such was Grand Elder Yong's towering influence within the alliance. Of course, it was possible the elder had offered the recommendation purely out of goodwill, harboring different motives beneath the surface. Yet the very fact that he maintained open channels of communication with Sagong Wun carried tremendous weight.

Even if he currently supports another hall master, it means his allegiance is far from set in stone.

Sagong Wun's eyes shone with clear, unclouded resolve.

"Become my man, Dragon Tiger Plaque Master. Together with me, let us usher in a new era for the Northern Heaven Alliance—and for the entire Jianghu."

"..."

After a moment of quiet contemplation, Dokgo Jin spoke.

"I am grateful for the offer. I will give it thought."

A subtle furrow creased Sagong Wun's brow. "A refusal, then?"

"As you know, I have not been in the Northern Heaven Alliance long. I wish to observe and understand the situation properly before making my judgment."

Sagong Wun offered a thin, knowing smile.

"Meaning you wish to weigh me against my senior brothers, or perhaps look deeper into what manner of man I am."

"..."

"A cautious young man. Any ordinary novice would have knelt in overwhelmed gratitude, but you are the Dragon Tiger Plaque Master, after all."

He resumed his stroll, hands clasped behind his back as he continued:

"Did you know? There was a time when I, too, fought desperately to earn the Dragon Tiger Plaque."

Now that he mentions it...

The first and second holders of the plaque were none other than the Limitless Hall Master and the Supreme Harmony Hall Master.

"Since both of my senior brothers had achieved it, the prevailing expectation was that I should naturally follow suit. And truth be told, I wanted it just as fiercely." A bitter smile touched Sagong Wun's lips. "Yet I failed. Though I cleared all three gates of the Dragon Tiger Pavilion, the plaque was withheld from me."

The Dragon Tiger Plaque was granted only to those who conquered the Three Gates in a single attempt and earned the absolute acknowledgment of the Pavilion Master. Though Sagong Wun had displayed astounding martial prowess, he had ultimately fallen short of winning the master's recognition.

"Even now, having reached a realm of martial arts that surpasses the Pavilion Master, the sting of that failure remains. And so..." Sagong Wun paused, turning back toward Dokgo Jin with an enigmatic grin. "Since I could not obtain the Dragon Tiger Plaque, I resolved to have the Dragon Tiger Plaque Master instead."

Perhaps...

Dokgo Jin had the distinct impression that this, above all else, was the man's true motivation for trying to recruit him.

"I understand your position well," Sagong Wun said, his face brimming with self-assurance. "I possess too much pride to beg two or three times. Once you observe me from by my side, you will come to realize that I am a man worthy of serving as your lord. When that time comes, you will seek me out of your own accord."

Observe him from by his side?

Dokgo Jin did not quite understand what the hall master meant.

"You will know soon enough."

A few days later, Dokgo Jin finally understood Sagong Wun's cryptic words. He had been designated and requisitioned as a personal escort for the Cloud Sea Hall Master's upcoming journey outside the fortress.

Though the Three Hidden Halls held supreme prestige without direct military authority, their masters were by no means idle.

As direct disciples of the Northern Heaven Alliance Leader, their presence carried immense weight in the outside world. From time to time, they were dispatched to visit affiliated sects and clans within the alliance's sphere of influence—a diplomatic display meant to project supreme authority and prevent any wavering loyalties. As noted before, the private martial retinues of the Three Hidden Halls were far too sparse to adequately protect a hall master on such journeys. Consequently, escorts were requisitioned from various military divisions across the fortress.

And for this particular outing, Sagong Wun had personally included Dokgo Jin.

I did not expect him to pull me to his side in this manner.

Thanks to this assignment, Dokgo Jin had the opportunity to observe warriors from various combat divisions. Counting Dokgo Jin, thirty martial artists had been assembled to form the Cloud Sea Hall Master's escort. Among them were fighters from the Five Banners of Northern Heaven—including the White Tiger Banner—as well as warriors from the Outer Fortress.

Dokgo Jin subtly released faint ripples of qi, discreetly probing the caliber of the gathered warriors.

Mostly at the First-Class Realm.

Yet among them, one figure stood out conspicuously.

That man...

He was of slender build, with shaggy hair covering half his face and skin burnt dark as charcoal. An oppressive, gloomy aura clung to him, prompting those nearby to give him a wide berth. Yet beneath that unkempt exterior, the inner qi he harbored was as sharp as an awl and remarkably dense.

A master of at least the Peak Realm.

In any ordinary combat unit, a warrior of his caliber would hold at least the rank of vice squad leader.

Deep crimson robes... Is he from the Vermilion Bird Banner?

Yet his appearance matched none of the known squad leaders or vice commanders of that banner.

Which means he is a rank-and-file warrior...

What was more intriguing was that even his fellow Vermilion Bird warriors seemed to subtly shun him.

Who could he be?

Dokgo Jin only possessed detailed dossiers on prominent figures, making it impossible to deduce the man's identity.

The Northern Heaven Alliance truly runs deep. To harbor hidden masters of this caliber among the ranks...

Just as Dokgo Jin committed the man's appearance to memory and prepared to extend his senses elsewhere—

Snap.

Dokgo Jin's brow twitched. His wave of qi had been forcibly severed.

"..."

Wondering if it was merely a coincidence, he silently released another strand of qi. The result was identical. As if sharp shears had snipped a taut thread, someone had cleanly and precisely intercepted his probe.

Who was that?

It had been an imperceptible ripple of energy, a stealth art so refined that even an ordinary Peak Realm expert would never have detected it. Yet someone had read it flawlessly and cut it ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠down.

Dokgo Jin's gaze swept sharply across the crowd before locking onto a single figure.

Could it be him?

It was a man squatting on the ground, his long-hilted sword resting casually against his shoulder. He had unkempt stubble and wore loose white martial robes. Strangely, his attire bore no crest or insignia denoting allegiance. The implication was unmistakable.

He belongs to no division.

Yet he resided within the inner fortress of the Northern Heaven Alliance and had been selected for the Cloud Sea Hall Master's escort.

A guest from the Guest House Hall?

The Guest House Hall was reserved for unaligned experts who possessed the standing and credentials to reside within the fortress—in other words, masters whose prowess was recognized and honored by the alliance.

Fascinating. Outwardly, his aura appears First-Class at best.

His inner reserve and outward demeanor seemed utterly unremarkable. A man of such ordinary standing would never be granted entry into the Guest House Hall.

Hmm.

Dokgo Jin shifted his focus to the sword resting against the man's shoulder. Upon closer inspection, it exhibited several peculiar features.

The craftsmanship is unusual.

The circular handguard was completely plain, devoid of any ornament, but ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the most distinctive feature was the ring on the scabbard. Typically, a scabbard was secured to the waist by two fixed rings to keep it stable. This scabbard, however, had only a single ring designed to rotate freely. While seemingly inconvenient, in actual combat it allowed the wielder to swivel the scabbard effortlessly, altering the angle of the draw in an instant.

I feel as though I have heard of such a sword somewhere before...

Just then, the man raised his head and looked straight at Dokgo Jin.

Did he notice my probe? A mere First-Class warrior?

The man, who appeared to be in his early thirties, broke into a faint smile the moment their eyes met.

There is definitely something unusual about him.

Dokgo Jin studied him in silence. But before he could investigate further, a booming voice rang out across the courtyard.

"Attention!"

All eyes turned toward the speaker.

"Greetings to you all! I am Wu Il-gi, commander of this escort detail. You may address me as Squad Leader Wu."

Wu Il-gi was a Peak Realm master serving directly under the Cloud Sea Hall.

"As you have already been informed, our duty is to escort the Cloud Sea Hall Master. The mission will span roughly forty days, including the return journey."

Dokgo Jin's eyes sharpened.

A forty-day round trip means our destination is at least fifteen days' travel away.

It was considerably farther than he had anticipated.

The destination may very well lie outside the Northern Heaven Alliance's sphere of influence.

Which meant this journey was anything but a casual diplomatic excursion.

Where are we heading?

Others in the crowd harbored the same question, and one raised his hand to shout:

"Where is our destination, Squad Leader Wu?"

"Our destination for this mission is Mount Huang in Anhui Province."

At those words, the assembled martial artists erupted in whispers.

"Anhui?"

"Isn't that the territory of the Holy Sword Heaven?!"

"What is this? Are we marching into enemy lands to fight?"

Noticing their growing unrest, Wu Il-gi quickly added:

"While it lies within the domain of the Holy Sword Heaven, this is a formal diplomatic visit. There is no need for concern."

Dokgo Jin's heart stirred at the name ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of Mount Huang. He knew very well what lay atop those rugged peaks.

Could it be... our destination is the Namgung Clan?